#the way it took me like 5 years to save my money and within the last 18 months ive spent almost all of it just to be alive. ok.

[sodrippy]

genuinely how on gods green earth can one earn money while paying rent i cant do it its impossible im going nuclear

[whoyacallinyellow]

Could you do an alternative version of borrowed time but it's a happy ending? Like they meet again maybe a couple of months or years later and idk it's super fluffy (idk I loved ur Javier fic it made me cry so hard)

Borrowed Time II (.5)

Javier Escuella x F! reader

Spoilers: RDR1-2 events Content: 18+ mdni, high honor Javier, fluff, loyalty, canon typical events & violence, possible spelling mistakes, some google translated Spanish, (slight angst? sry couldn't help myself) Type: second pov (wc - 3195) / pc: my PS5 a/n: here's my mediocre yapping, anon! I believe someone suggested this to me before, so here we are :) (btw I took some writing inspo from my spotify playlist.)

Summary: Javier is left with nothing after the gang's demise. Enticed with returning to Mexico, he finds redemption within his loyalty to you.   

After being chased out of Beaver Hollow by the law, Javier found himself alone with Williamson. Somewhere in the sticks of northern Ambarino, where the risk of a grizzly finding them was higher than any lawman. 

Laying low and listening to Bill squaller on about Dutch for a month was about all he could stomach, Javier reckoned he liked Bill a lot more when he didn’t talk. 

As each day came to a close, one could guess where Javier’s mind wandered too. His bitter thoughts permeated on losing everything. Money, the gang, and you— Hell, the man didn’t know what to do with himself, considering you an extension of himself at this point. 

Where were you? Did you make it out okay? Were you hurt?

These were a couple of the many questions that swam in the sea of Javier’s head. 

“Are you still thinkin’ ‘bout that woman?” 

Bill’s words of disgust were often displaced through his racing thoughts, but he wouldn’t be wrong. You were all Javier had upon entering these foreign lands, now he possessed nothing but the rocks in his boots. 

The days would merge and turn into weeks, it didn’t take long for the plan of fleeing south to form in Bill’s lackluster head. Keen on the protection Javier could potentially bargain in Nuevo Paraiso. 

Javier knew he was a dead man returning south, under no circumstances was that a can of worms he wanted to open with—Bill Williamson, out of all folk. 

Besides, there was no man’s bidding Javier would consider doing to get the leverage Bill desired. But Bill’s ideas soon evolved into frustrated persuasion. 

“How do’ya know that woman wasn’t the rat, anyhow?”

Bill would rant about you, the delusions Dutch fed him would resurface, but soon be swallowed back down with the same loyalty Javier once held so close.

“My chica wouldn’t, I’m telling you, cabrón. She’d save your neck just as much mine.”

Perhaps not completely true, Javier’s apathetic statements held no power over Bill, but at least it stopped his ear from being chewed off. 

For all Bill was concerned, you were a coward just as much as the rest who left. Especially for plaguing Javier’s mind. 

Bill would resort to not just questioning your loyalty to the gang, but your loyalty to Javier all together. The bold claims would make Javier think back to Clemons Point. 

After a particularly nasty fight with Dutch, Molly sat on a nearby log as he sharpened his knife. He never knew what to say in situations like that, it was probably best he stayed out of it. 

“The way she looks at you…”

The timid words escaped her. Realizing there was no one else around she could have been talking too, he met her stricken gaze which glistened off the moonlight. 

“Huh?” 

He wondered, caught off guard by the illusive topic. Molly wiped her rosy cheeks before she tenderly spoke. 

“I wish I could look at Dutch the same.” 

Javier just stared at the tear-stained woman in pity, unsure what to make of her unanticipated words. 

That night's shift would give him plenty of time to think about it. Before eventually settling on giving you some extra attention. If it wasn’t obvious enough, he soon learnt that what you two shared was irreplaceable. 

There was no doubt to Javier that you loved him, every lead he went on, you’d listen for the horses. Ready to greet him by his hitching post for a kiss, or with small talk that was exclusive to you both.  

Javier would often get teased for the love you shared, perhaps some of it branched into jealousy. Not that he minded, the others knew you were off limits. 

So it was safe to say that Bill’s claims was one thing Javier didn’t take lightly. With curses spat, and threats thrown, Bill had no other choice but to eat his words. 

“Me ‘nd her go way further back than you and I.” 

Javier’s irate words would soon remind Bill where he stood— below you. 

That was Bill Williamson’s final straw for him to realize their parting was long overdue. 

“If you wasn’t a fool, you’d be comin’ with.”

Was the last thing he spat to Javier one cloudy morning, bedroll and guns thrown on his unkempt steed. 

You won't be seeing me again. 

Javier thought in vain. Watching Bill’s departure in silence, just as he watched yours— except their time was up. 

A cruel nightly cycle would leave Javier somewhere beneath the stars. The same night sky you’d lay him down gently in; he wondered if you were looking up at them too— or maybe you don’t think of him much anymore, just to get by. 

Dozing off provided no sort of relief, the same thoughts that ate him alive during the day showed no mercy for a night's rest. 

The dreams began after Guarma, and have stuck since. Most nights he would wake up confused, drenched in sweat, and frantically reaching for his gun belt only worn hours prior. 

Your sweet voice would unknowingly soothe his hurt, all while he dismissed your attempts of rebuilding the bond you once shared. Javier regrets the distance, but he’s not sure if he would ever be ready to talk about Guarma. 

Nonetheless, the terrible dreams always persisted, but managed to worsen after you left. They were so convoluted, Javier wasn’t sure which was a worse way to die; a watery grave, or succumbing to torture in a cage. 

Other nights, Javier would dream about the day he returned to you at Beaver Hollow, god only knew how long they were gone for. 

It was a rather gloomy day, at the end of the camp path was where he found you by your lonesome, as if you’ve been waiting for any sign of the missing men. Javier had seen better days, unshaven, wounded leg, and tattered garments that barely resembled the botched heist clothing he once wore. Javier approached you with a conflicted feeling of dread and relief, unsure of what to expect of you. But to the man’s horror, you crumbled before him. 

You were just as much of a mess as he was. A terrible feeling arose from within his ribcage and drifted up, he momentarily thought he was going to black out from the knot building in his throat. An unmanageable feeling in his legs had already begun to brew throughout the day, vibrating and distorting his ears, blocking out your sobs he created. A near breaking point was threatening to consume him— he didn’t even know what day it was, how could he not know?  

“You stupid bastard,” 

Fallen at his feet, he cradled you soon after his initial shock dissipated. 

“I know, I’m here now.” 

Javier could barely recognize the hoarseness of his own voice, the words felt foreign to say after being gone for so long. Hopelessness overflowed from within him, and seeped into your frame that he held. All he could do was shield you from the cruel world he created for you both on that barren dirt path. 

Your frantic pleas to leave would go unacknowledged, only to be substituted with soft hushes that were swept away in the trees. He couldn’t have just left, he had already sacrificed too much to quit now. Javier always swore Dutch would change your lives for the better. 

—

In the recent nights of Macfarlane’s Ranch, life was still. 

Javier’s dreams would evolve into a vessel of his old possession. Through bittersweet nostalgia, a buck would galavant by a stream, only to eventually stop and stand in triumph before fleeing into the distance. Those dreams offered Javier both temporary comfort and the humbling desolate nights he needed to return to you. 

While staring off into the plains, Bill’s idea would occasionally infatuate him. The uncut ties of Mexico were beckoning, it was only a day's worth of digging in. Javier wasn’t sure he was built out for the vaquero life anymore, but those old chains around his feet would pull him back down. 

Javier would eventually decide he wouldn’t watch the west die out, with false hopes of one last score followed by a life of freedom— he figured he already lost what made life rich. 

At the ranch, Javier would chat up the yokels, describing you to the best of his abilities. Which usually stumped him— you... well, you were just you. He’s never been apart from you to have to worry about your description— Javier was always there. 

Days passed without trace of you, it was probably best he left before the law caught wind of his excessive presence. 

It was hopeless, yet he prayed on the North wind that it would him to you. 

You could run the fool around in circles looking for your whereabouts. Hell, you could be in Timbuktu by now. Just like the day you left, the same hopelessness would creep upon Javier in those rare moments of disparity. 

Those moments would eat him from the inside out, that discomforting pit forming in his stomach was always enough to empty it on the ground. 

—

The aimless paths of New Austin was a place where the souls of saddle tramps go. 

Into the horizon of the blazing sun was where you sat, under the only tree seen in miles. Your shire grazed in between you and the lonely road, like a black flag it stood in the orange dirt. Not even it could escape the mourning which life embraced.  

You are not sure how much time passed you there, perched up under the tree, you’d watch the road. Studying the little silhouettes of cowpokes slowly growing as they approached periodically, all you thought of was Javier.  Hope overturned your grudge until they were near. 

Some of these men would simply tip their hat as they passed, others would offer you a ride to town, and a few just stared at you; their forlorn eyes scratched at the walls of your soul. As if they were trying to tell you something. 

Just as unfortunate as yourself, the nameless victims would soon be swallowed and spit back out by the blazing desert that awaited them. 

It wasn’t until a clear morning for Javier to stumble upon that fork in the road, leading to the tree where you sat; seeking the same retreat you did days ago. 

Sickeningly poetic; with no such weight on your shoulders, you seemed to have found the freedom Javier had been chasing all these years. Right front of him this entire time in the devoid lands of New Austin.

Usually well groomed, the man showed a five o'clock shadow, earning a more rugged demeanor his months away from the luxuries of camp. 

Lost puppy-dog eyes stared your way, being shielded by his bowler cap. The hair you used to run your fingers through was neatly tied back, and draping over his poncho. 

“Javier,” 

You greeted solemnly, your tranquil gaze greeting the man from where you sat. The thumping began in his ears as he staggered off Boaz, stiffly trying to shake the sudden feeling that your voice gave him. 

“hola amor.” 

He uttered awkwardly, approaching your newfound paradise underneath the old shady tree. 

“I reckoned you’d be in Tahiti by now.” 

You remarked bitterly, eyeing your lover from under the brim of your hat. He gripped the front of his gun belt, knuckles turning white and misshapen after all the years of abuse, the same hands that would be placed around your hips as he guided you through a busy town. 

Javier let out a rueful huff as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. It flustered him to be antagonized in such a low moment of his life, especially by you. 

But he simply did not possess the words and feelings begging to be shared with you— there were just too many. 

Expecting you to continue, there was a deafening silence. 

It was more than just the silence that plagued these western lands, but a sadness that often followed Javier everywhere he roamed, you could see it in his smile. 

The lands gave Javier a place to duck under his doubts and troubles for a time, like a buck stuck beneath the bottom wire. 

“It’s over,”

Javier’s voice came out as a whisper, thumb and finger caressing over the stubble on his chin. 

A conclusion which needed no further words, you understood. 

He never imagined it not meaning anything, but yet his brothers were reduced to the barrel he pointed. 

Small shines of orange bathed through the wilting leaves which provided your gracious shade. As you contemplated his words, a soft breeze accompanied the both of you. 

Finally arising to meet his frame, he towered over you slightly— lost along the way but finally found, 

you were no longer his partner in crime, nor a part of the Van der Linde gang— but just his chica he met all those years ago in Old Mexico, before the world was big.  

Javier knew he couldn’t make up for your lost time together, but for now, being with you would do. 

Without a word his arms wrapped around you and trailed down to the small of your back, the smell of rolled tobacco leeched off his poncho, a smell you’ve grown fond of over the years. As his cheek rested on the crown of your head, a different kind of silence was shared. 

“Oh Javi,” 

Your voice now both sorrowful and tender, it was impossible to hold a grudge against the warm honeypot eyes that yearned for you. 

“lo sé,” 

Javier murmured softly, giving into the relief that a calmer life brought. 

Behind where you rested revealed a testament the tree possessed. A bald spot in the maple-colored wood had bark torn away, faded letters with sap-filled groves were carved by previous visitors of the solitude tree: 

‘blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy’

Javier united your lips with a long awaited kiss, your cheeks softly being caressed by his thumbs. To him, it was like falling for you all over again. But this time, he wanted to do everything right. 

“Figured the law got you.” 

You mumbled one of your many worries after the man pulled away. Javier scrunched up his nose, cringing at your doubts. 

“Course not, nunca.” 

Eventually bidding your farewell to the tree, you joined Javier at Boaz’s saddlebags for what seemed to be a celebratory smoke. 

“They were hangin’ around that ranch, it’s not safe.”

You proclaimed, even the west had reminded you that a quiet cabin life was unrealistic. He hummed against the tobacco in between his lips, considering your words. 

“Where does that leave us?” 

Javier asked through an exhale. His sharp eyes squinted under the sun, staring at you in devotion. 

For the first time in a year, you made that choice together. 

With possessions on your shire and the both of you on Boaz, was where Javier liked you best. Feeling your heartbeat on his back always reminded him of Mexico, yet you were his home.

While riding, your hands would instinctively grasp Javier’s gun belt. Marking both the leather and his heart throughout the years you spent together. 

Later that day Javier’s buck would graze upon the open fields you crossed, only to scamper off once your horses made way. Its coat bright and shining off the sinking sun, he swore it’s the biggest one he’s ever seen. 

Expecting a comment, Javier thought maybe you dozed off, or perhaps he accidentally sipped his flask instead of his canteen. 

Aways up north yielded reassurance and prosperity, the man decided that tonight he would sleep instead of keeping watch, an unusual gesture he knew you both needed. 

Far away from the lands you once both resided, a comfortable wilderness separated you and any dangers— Maybe tomorrow night he would keep watch, but tonight, he just needed you. 

Javier’s shaking hands prepped a small flame, and smoothed out the creases of your bedroll that night. The same hands that would work a revolver effortlessly, and confidently beat in the faces of men in a moment's notice. 

but for you? they trembled. 

Fingers that had been busted more times than you could count were now fumbling through every button of your shirt, leaving a trail of his lips where his hands once touched. 

Nonetheless satisfied with these tasks, the crinkles beside his eyes would reflect off the flame as he flashed you a content smile. 

The fire crackled within your cozy makeshift camp, its orange flame lighting up Javier’s torso just enough to highlight the tones and scars on his chest. 

Javier was used to catching you staring, never failing to tease you about it. A mere husky chuckle and verbal warning would remind you of his diminutive willpower when it came to you.  

Joining you beneath the blankets, his body radiated with the warmth you craved. With a protective arm easing you towards him, your skin colliding with his was enough to wash all his hardships away. 

Your lips ghosted down his neck, causing a loose sigh to escape his lips. Javier cooed words of endearment, unsure if he deserved your regained affection. 

You felt him tense around you as your lips traveled down to his adam’s apple and the large horizontal scar that covered it. 

“lo siento,”

He muttered softly, finally getting the long awaited words out— It was for a lot of things, that scar was just one of them. 

His breath hitched and ran down your bare skin, your torso being consumed by his restless large hands. Only you reminded Javier of his scars, usually in a way of gratification, having earned them throughout your time together. 

But that healed slit along his throat brought the man waves of embarrassment, Javier was thankful for your love nonetheless, and you for his loyalty. 

With belated love and words begging to be said, Javier knew his lips had a lot of catching up to do. But tonight you both needed rest. 

As if it was tradition, he ensured you found your peace first, maybe it solaced the man knowing you were safe within his arms. 

Gusts of winds whistled through the trees, causing them to sing a song made just for the two of you. His coarse hands ran down your sides before settling at your waist, once again basking in what he could have lost. 

Up yonder was where the starry night sky shined just for him to see you. The constellations washed away his most honorable sins, and extended the borrowed time you both had been lent years ago. 

The blanket you shared was pulled over your shoulder, ensuring your undisturbed rest. Javier’s gentle lips ghosted over your cheek for just one more kiss goodnight. 

You were long asleep, closely tucked within the arms of the man you called home. Yearning to chase the relief your shared nights provided, Javier’s eyes grew heavy. Through a gentle state of somnolent, his prideful buck accompanied him in the meadow it frolicked. 

Whispered words slipped into the night and greeted his slumber. 

“te amo.” 

~

[inyujidraws]

1st | 2nd | 4th | 5th | 6th

More RadioMoon, yay. Impromptu marriage arc that happened after 4-5 years since Creon crash-landed in this timeline. They adopted.

Thanks everyone who came to my streams, watch me draw and talk cringe.

The rando in the first batch, he was a new comedian trying to break into the industry. While on the same way to work, Barry (placeholder name) introduced himself and started sharing some puns and jokes. Alastor didn’t find Barry impressive, and he refused to break his facade. Fun fact, Alastor would’ve murdered Barry later after that encounter, if not for Creon.

Barry got to live, because Alastor’s fecked-up face made Creon laugh so hard, it caused a chain reaction of laughter within the vicinity. So Barry became another reluctant friend in Alastor’s tiny circle. Occasionally Barry was a 3rd guest on Alastor’s radio program. Sadly the Great Depression wasn’t kind to Barry.

It took Alastor and Creon some time to figure out that their feelings for each other. They were quite comfortable staying a couple without the whole marriage ordeal. That changed when Creon stumbled on their soon-to-be son, Daniel. Creon was initially going to find another family who could take the kid in, but she grew attached. Alastor also warmed up to Daniel, especially when they bonded over their trauma of having garbage fathers.

I hadn’t thought about Alastor’s mother. Originally she would’ve passed away before Creon crashed. But where’s the fun in that? I wanted to add more chaos. Creon had returned from her international hobo trek, and accidentally bumped into Al’s mother Léonore. While staying as a paying tenant at her home, Creon saved Léonore from her canon death.

So Al’s mom got to be a grandmother later on. Didn’t really think about how she’d react to finding out Creon’s secret. I think Léonore would treasure Alastor’s happiness of finding love, even if the future daughter-in-law is a bio-engineered vampire.

Daniel grew to have an eccentric, but happy childhood after being adopted. Creon elected to stay home and raise and homeschool Daniel, instead of having Alastor split his time.

During the Great Depression, the “Marriage Bar” allowed employers to fire newly-wed women, or not hire married women. Creon still kept some side hustles, like doing tailoring. Also education wasn’t a huge priority for kids helping to bring money to the table. Some schools closed down, or were horribly underfunded.

[mavrellover91]

Surprise

Paring: Robert 'BOB' Floyd x Reader

AN: so this meant to be a short little dibble and I may have got carried away.

Word count: 2390

I give no permission to copy my work, translate it and/or post it anywhere else online. 

Warnings: Talk of family history of Infertility, Family drama, Angst and Fluff.

Being married to Robert ‘BOB’ Floyd was the best decision I’ve made in my whole life. He is the most amazing, caring and loving man I’ve ever met. After being married for a year we decided to start trying for a baby, thinking it would take some time to get pregnant. We got extremely lucky and got pregnant within six months of me taking out my IUD. I couldn’t believe it when I saw those two pink lines because all the women on my side have had some kind of infertility issues, with me and my 10 years older sister being my parent's miracle babies after years of fertility treatments and miscarriages. Bob and I had been saving money for our own fertility journey from the moment we got serious and had the baby talk when we were dating, so we wouldnt have to take out loans when we were ready for a baby. I know what a problem to have, getting pregnant without any medical intervention but I had spent my whole adult life thinking that I would have trouble getting pregnant. Here I was staring at a positive pregnancy test and I couldn’t believe it, so I raced out and bought one of every test I could find and took them. They all came back positive. That is how Bob found me sitting on the bathroom floor crying with at least seven positive tests around. Not the best way of telling him but I just couldn’t wrap my head around how quickly this happened.

I don’t know why but I was scared to tell my parents that I was not only pregnant but it happened without any treatments. I should have known that my mum would have been so excited and that she would have wanted me to not have to go through what she went through to have. It was the happiest day ever until my sister and her husband arrived. I know I should have seen it coming as she and I were never close but she made me feel like I was rubbing it in her face that I was pregnant and that she wasn’t after going on a similar journey to our parents. She would comment about how I am the golden child and of course, I would get pregnant without even really trying and how after 5 years of trying she had never had a successful pregnancy. I tried to keep my pregnancy updates to a minimum when she was around trying to be sensitive to her feelings but everything blew up the day I found out I was having twins at my 12-week ultrasound.

Bob wasn’t able to get the time off to come with me, so I asked my mum if she wanted to come with me and of course, she excitedly said yes. I thought I knew what would happen but when the technician said there was a second baby I was shocked. She checked everything and everyone was doing great. When the doctor came in and I asked how we missed the second baby at my first appointment and was told that due to them being in separate sacks one was probably hidden behind the other and when they were smaller it was easier for one to hide. After the appointment, I was still in shock that when we got back to my parent's place I forgot that my sister was coming over to have lunch with us. When she arrived I was on FaceTime with Bob telling him the fantastic news that our family was growing by two not one. Of course, he was over the moon, so happy that his eyes started to mist up. When my sister heard me tell him that I couldn't believe that we were having twins, she blew up saying that of course I was having twins, that everything has always been easy for me, which wasn’t true I worked hard for what I have, that I don’t deserve everything I have and that she hopes I have a miscarriage. The whole house went silent it wasn’t until my mum told my sister that what she just said to me was disgusting and that she was being horrible for even thinking that. I couldn’t believe that my own sister would say something like that. I packed up my things I left after giving my mum a hug and telling her that I was okay I just needed some time to myself.

I don’t know if god thought I needed some time away from my family, but when Bob came home that day he told me that he had been called back to Top Gun for a special attachment and wanted me to come with him. So we packed up what we would need, talked to OBGYN about what was happening and luckily they can hand my care easily over to OBGYN at the base hospital. We got on-base housing for the duration of our time at Miramar. It was nice enough and we got on with our lives. I FaceTimed my mum every day talking about how I was doing, how Bob was and how the twins were. Every time my mum tried to talk about my sister I would change the subject, I wasn’t really to even think about trying to fix things between us, which is something she obviously doesn’t want because she hasn’t even tried to reach out to me. I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive her for what she said. As the mission gets closer, I get to know everyone on the dagger squad, and we even have them around to have BBQs. After three weeks the day, I have been dreading coming to Bob and the other daggers are shipping off, not knowing if Bob is going to be one of the pilots picked is hard but I know that he is one of the best of the best and if he was picked he would try his hardest to come home to us.

The waiting to hear from him is agony but I try my best to keep myself busy. As I am a romance author I spend a lot of time writing, spending time in a world of my own creation. It’s about 10 pm when my phone starts ringing startling me. Picking it up I saw an unknown calling answering I couldn’t help but wonder if it was someone calling to tell me Bob was dead. So when I heard Bob's voice on the other end I couldn’t help but start crying. He tells everything he can that he was picked but everyone was back on the ship even though there was a moment or two that they thought Mav and Rooster might not have. He goes on to tell me that the higher-ups have decided that the dagger squad would be prematurely based out of Miramar and that I should start looking at houses in the area and that they had to stay with the ship for the next four and a half months as it makes it way back to Miramar. So I spend the next four months finding a house and packing up our old apartment with the help of my parents and a couple of friends. By the time the day that ship arrives back, I have everything unpacked and the nursery set up with the help of Penny and my mum who has been staying with me.

This brings us up to the present day where I roll my 37-week pregnant belly out of bed to get ready to meet Bob and the others at the dock. As I hop in the shower I feel a tightening across my belly, after a couple of seconds it stops and I shower thinking that is just another Braxton Hicks contraction, I have been getting them on and off for the past three weeks. I put on my favourite red sundress that shows off the bump beautifully. As the morning wears on I get more and more Braxton Hicks contractions, unknown to me my mum starts taking note of them how far apart they are and how long they last. She tries to get me to see my midwife but I tell her that they are Braxton Hicks and that I am going to the docks to see my husband. When we arrive on base 20 minutes I realise that these are not Braxton Hicks and that I am indeed in labour. My mum is on the phone with my midwife relaying what has happened and asking what I should do as I lean against the car door rocked from side to side. I know what I am going to do, I’m still in the early stages of labour and my waters haven’t broken so I am going to the dock and welcoming my husband and our friends home. Without saying a word I push myself off the car and set off towards the crowd of people waiting on the dock. I have to pause and wait as another contraction hits, they are getting stronger. “Fuck” I hiss through my teeth at the end. That fucking ship better fucking dock fucking soon I think to myself as I make my way to the front where a group of high-ranking officers are talking. “Excuse me. Hi, I’m Mrs. Floyd Lieutenant Robert Floyd’s wife and I was wondering……. A big contraction hits in the middle of my sentence, once it stops I continue… if you know how much longer until the ship gets in?” The officers look at me with wide eyes “Mrs Floyd the ship will be docking in 20 minutes and then it should be another 10-15 minutes before anyone will be able to leave the ship” one of the female officers says “Ok thank you” I reply as I turn to walk away one of the other officers says “Mrs Floyd why don’t you stay here with us, someone will get you are chair and I will see about making sure your husband is one of the first ones off” turning to one of the sailors nearby “Petty Officer Conrad can you please find Mrs Floyd a chair and maybe a medic or something as well” the Petty Officer runs off doing what he is told.

Coming back a couple of minutes later with a chair and another sailor. My mum has finally caught up and is holding me up as another contraction works its way through my body. God why did I think this is a good idea I should be in the hospital getting all the good stuff to help with the pain. A voice pulls me out of my head “Hi Mrs Floyd I’m Ensign Brooks please call me Amy” “Y/n” I reply through my teeth. “Y/n can you please tell me how far along you are and how far apart your contractions are,” Amy asks “37 weeks with twins and they are 7 minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds to a minute. Oh, and my water hasn’t broken yet,” I tell her. “That’s great, how about we get you to the base hospital and get you checked..” I do let her finish “No I want to greet my husband. I need my husband” I basically yell at her. “Ok, ok Y/n let’s stay calm” she says trying to calm me down as my mum rubs my back. Turning to the officers “Is there anything way we can get him off that boat in the next 10 minutes? I need her to be at the hospital as soon as possible”. The officers look at each other and come together and make a plan.

Just when I think I’m just going to have to have these babies without Bob. A set of familiar arms wrap around me. I look up into my husband’s eyes. How. When. I was so in my head that I missed the helicopter taking off and landing. “Robby” I say in disbelief “Hi beautiful, how about we get your stubborn ass to the hospital and have these babies ha”. Pulling me off the chair and into his arms which tighten around me for a moment. In that moment as if my body knows that he is here my water breaks all over his shoes. “Ok let’s go. What are we waiting for” I tell him. He starts laughing, along with my mum and the officers around us. He helps me into a nearby wheelchair and off we go. When we arrive at the hospital my midwife and OBGYN are waiting for us. They check me and I’m 6 cm. Two after arriving at the hospital I watch as my husband holds his newborn daughters. God Bob was born to be a girl dad, they are less than a hour old and they already have him wrapped around their fingers. There’s a quite knock on the door and my midwife pops her head in “ hi guys, how you doing mama? I have a couple of people out in the waiting room who would like to know if it is ok if they come in”. “I’m good, sore but good” I reply I look over to Bob who just shrugs and says “ up to you baby, you’re the one who gave birth to two babies” god he is so sweet and thoughtful, he’s going to make me cry. Smiling at that the midwife who basically has hearts in her eyes “please send them in, can’t believe they waited this long” I tell her while laughing. Not longer after that there is another knock and the door opens to the dagger squad. They greet me, Phoenix gives me a hug and ask how I’m feeling, as i reply the guys walk over to Bob and down at the girls. “They are so cute Bob” Rooster tell him. “Your luck they take after mother” Mav teasers Bob. “Well you truly are Baby on board on Bobby boy” Hungman states making everyone laughing. Catching Bob eyes as he laugh, I can’t help but think about how absolutely blessed I am and how life couldn’t be better.

[echost-lyn]

Somewhere around 12-1am, on 11/13/2022, and 5 days before my 20th birthday, my Father unexpectedly passed away.

It happened so fast, and we were all so confused, heartbroken, and so much more than words can express. My father hasn't had the best health in many years, and recently he has decided to get better and catch up with this health...But we guess it was just too late. We've struggled with crying spells for these last two days, on and off, but in general, we are staying strong and confident.

My Father was an incredible, no, remarkable man. He was brave, strong, funny, and sweet. No one is without their flaws, as he was quite the stubborn type in a lot of ways, too. But he had so much heart and passion. He was a great business man and had so much strength and resolve. He was a lover of science and computers and the sea, and had great ideals and stellar advice. We love him so very much. And I know a part of him is still within us.

We all cannot help but feel like we took him for granted in many ways, but to honor him, we have chosen to push forward in our lives. We know that's what he would have wanted.

My Mother will be opening a GoFundMe very soon, so I will update this with the post when the time comes. My Father is going to be cremated and we'll be putting his ashes in a special box, until we can afford a beautiful urn. However, we're going to need the money in order to do so. And while we are going for an apartment ASAP, and have no bills to worry about for this month, I'd love to have some money saved to the side for these emergency situations.

I'm opening my bank accounts at the moment.

Venmo - https://www.venmo.com/u/violetbuster Cashapp - https://cash.app/$violetbuster Chime (Chimesign) - $violetbuster

Email - voiiclesslyn@gmail.com

(I used to have a Paypal, but it got closed for specific reasons. If you want to pay but only have Paypal, don't be afraid to make an account on these other sites.) Note: Please DM me if these links do not work!

We need about a $1k for Father's cremation. We don't know if we have to pay before or after the process, but that's about as much as we need.

We also need about a couple hundred for any bills and the like.

Don't feel pressured to pay. Even if you can only donate a little bit, that's okay! Any little bit counts. Or share this message around, if you can. Thank you!

[cullenakingirog]

I posted 305 times in 2022

That's 277 more posts than 2021!

155 posts created (51%)

150 posts reblogged (49%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@blue-eyes-white-privilege69

@marhikit

@snowberry-pie

@dreadfutures

@bluephoenix1347

I tagged 279 of my posts in 2022

Only 9% of my posts had no tags

#dragon age - 78 posts

#marh rambling - 51 posts

#dragon age inquisition - 41 posts

#my art - 33 posts

#marh art - 32 posts

#dragon age 2 - 26 posts

#dragon age inquistor - 22 posts

#dragon age oc - 18 posts

#dalisay kato bagwisan - 16 posts

#commission - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#dalisay's sire named her that after her bearer insisted on alab naming her so she was named pure because alab hoped her heart would stay pur

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Inquisitor Drawing Meme 1: Skyhold Outfit

So I designed Dalisay's outfit with a lot of heavy references from Pre-Colonial Philippine outfits and it was fun to give her a lot of headpieces NGL. Dalisay’s vallaslin is different cause homebrew Dalish clan do be like that, she has the snakeskin which means safety, protection, health, shield and strength while the one on her forehead are people holding hands/family which means harmony and unity. These are what I imagine the Sylaise tattoo of her clan/people to be.

I've been wanting to do the Inquisitor drawing meme for awhile and since I have two leaders for the Inquisition, expect the second one, Mahalina, to come in soon!~

After Mahalina, I’m opening some OC portrait requests as commission samples cause I want to save some money because this country’s got me paranoid RIP

59 notes - Posted August 3, 2022

#4

"ito ba ang ninanais ng aking Ina at Amba Poon? Na ika'y maging datu at simulan ang pagbagsak ng ating angkan, o kasuklam-suklam na ama?"

TRANSLATION: "Is this what my mother and grandfather wanted?To see you become datu and to begin the fall of our clan, o loathsome father?"

My DA4 Main WS protag Himagsikan on the day of their rigged trial that led to their disownment and exile after years of leading and protecting their people while also trying to make peace between Clan Magsumakit and the others who their father had offended. Himagsikan's hair was cut to brand them as a criminal and traitor and also to bring shame to them, their jewellery and fine silks were also taken back by their father to be given to their younger sister and the protective spells that's been put in every tattoo of my Dalish clans were taken back thus leading it to become the plain white colour it originally was.

Clan Magsumakit will regret the fact that they didn't fight to keep the young leader within their clan after Himagsikan's exile.

Also, all these tattoos mean something! Each of the tattoos used by my various Filipino-coded Dalish OCs have either their wishes, dreams or sometimes their parents' wishes for them tattooed with the different symbols that meant the different wishes they have. For Himagsikan it's mostly tied to strength, guidance, courage, protection with only the sun and moon meaning life. You could tell their wish is uhhhh obvious

65 notes - Posted November 17, 2022

#3

See the full post

67 notes - Posted August 18, 2022

#2

Happy N7 Day! I decided to do a Dari/Garrus piece to parallel the Dari/Thane piece I did last time! This is either during shore leave in ME3 or post ME3 where Garrus, Thane and Dari are living together (yes I'll ignore canon thanky) and these two are just doing cute stuff cause dammit I want them to do cute stuff

74 notes - Posted November 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

EMERGENCY COMMISSIONS

Hi guys so this morning at 6 am, my elder sister found out  my younger sister had vomited and was shaking but limp but also in a way jerky in her movements, i took out money from my paypal to try and help with hospital funds but my dad just messaged us saying that we’ve exceeded the amount we had on hand (currently running on minimal sleep while also trying to run the house)

I’m opening commissions right now to try and help with the excess costs because apparently trying to make sure my family is healthy would mean paying an arm and a leg at the hospital

If you guys can’t afford to commission me, please reblog this!

See the full post

164 notes - Posted October 22, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[thesilenttraveller]

MY ANSWER

Ooh.. Long weekend is coming, need to utilise. Thought while filling up excel sheet in my office computer. Chill at home? its too hot outside, nope.. Parents will ask to do household chores! Go to hill station? Yes, let me check the train and flight tickets.. Shit.. All trains are booked, flights and hotels are way too costly. I can buy PS5 with that money. Shall I buy PS5? nope, its anyways way too costly. Agniv, need the data within 5 minutes, shouted boss.. wasted 30 minutes on searching. Need to search with more time.

Fast forward to evening that day-> scrolling reels while Atomic Habits laid in dust. DO YOU WANT CLIFFS AND BEACH AT THE SAME TIME? COME TO VARKALA, GREAT FOOD, GREAT NIGHT LIFE, GREAT FOR SHOPPING WITH VIEWS. UNIQUE PLACE JUST 1 HOUR FROM THE AIRPORT screamed one reel. Hmm.. interesting.. lets try the place. flights are anyways costly as the place is quite far from Kolkata, but atleast I can visit new place. Will save money by booking hostel.

Fast Forward-> trying to be awake at 2am sitting at Hyderabad airport which is my connecting airport. No A320s can cover all India.

Fast Forward-> Reached Thiruvananna... Trivandrum airport. early morning, the breeze itself makes you feel you are near coastal area. 40 kms more to my hostel. Sweet, will reach by the check-in time..

Full room to myself, nice.. Utilise the bathroom before the room gets full.. door opens.. enters 4 ladies, drenched in sea water. well, I feigned ignorance about their presence but every one of them were attractive. Hi, we need to change our clothes, can you excuse us for a minute? Hmm.. here goes my clean bathroom.. well, I can live with that. Also, I double checked with the hostel manager whether I mistakenly entered ladies dorm or not.

Went out for a walk. The place was absolutely stunning. Can watch the beach from the cliff above. Lots of temporary shops selling all beach clothes and accessories along the cliff. The place had a different vibe. The only con, its very hot and humid. Was feeling like the AC at the dorm is the destination I want to reach. I came back and was bombarded with questions from the ladies. Where are you from? how long you going to stay? can you ride scooty?The ladies were from Bangalore and was talking in their mother tongue in between which I didnt understand. I answered what they wanted to hear and made friends with 4 ladies at an unknown tourist place.

We rented a scooty and visited all the attractions.. did kayaking and learned surfing lessons. went for breakfast lunch and dinner together. At our last breakfast before we left for the airport, came the question from one lady, you are single right? Nope, I am married for 5 years......

I woke up suddenly.. Where am I? THIS IS THE LAST BOARDING CALL FOR ALL THE PASSENGERS FOR INDIGO FLIGHT FROM HYDERABAD TO TRIVANDRUM, REQUESTED TO PROCEED TO GATE NO 5 IMMEDIATELY. Oh, its my flight they are calling. Need to run.. Took my belongings and ran towards the gate. I ran and I ran excitedly, I ran happily knowing what my answer should be.....

[sgrtjts2805]

Challenges I Have Overcome

My name is Venice Lorraine Chiong. I was born on October 28th, in the year of 2005. My mother is Marrie Jane Chiong and my father is Mauricio Medina. I was delivered in a hospital at Ozamiz City which is where I lived for the first 7 years of my life.

In Mindanao, I remember spending my days watching the sunset and sun rise in front of me. I watched the plants grow larger each day until the day they also wither away. Along the way I learned that in order for plants to grow it needs nourishment from the nature like sun and rain.

Sadly my parents who supposed to nurture and support me were already separated before I was even born. Nevertheless this never held me back from growing and becoming a better version of myself. In the first few years of my life, my aunt took good care of me meanwhile my mother went abroad in order to support her family financially. I would on see her for a couple days within the year and by the time she would come home next time, i already grew as much as the plants around me.

By the time I was 5 years old, my mother came back and settled here for good since she already saved enough money to start her own business. Ever since then she has taken care more of me full time while my father would only come to visit every now and them, when it was only convenient for him.

By the time I was 7 years old, we moved to Cavite because my mother realized something that I never understood. I was confused at the time. All I knew is I had to stick to the person who has nourished and provided for me in order to survive.

It was very hard for me to adjust in a new environment since it was vastly different from the way things were in province. The way people communicated with one another and how they interacted with each other confused me so much as a child but worry not because soon enough, this child will be able to adapt to her new environment until she no longer know where she came from.

Years has gone by and the child has already adapted to this new place but she never felt like she fitted in anywhere at this place. She knew what not to do and what to do in order to avoid judgement but never knew what her purpose was in life. It took time for her to learn wher where she would fit in, where she would be understood and comfortable while being herself. Soon enough she will learn that she didn’t need to find a place but instead she only needed to find her people.

After awhile the child was finally 13 years old and she just graduated from Elementary School. She was excited because she can finally leave the people who made her life a living hell for years. In high school she was hoping to avoid the type of people who were rowdy and loud but only more people like this appeared even more. Therefore she had to learn how to ignore everything and become nonchalant towards irrelevant people. Suddenly, she finally found the people that provided her a safe space at this place although they were only a small group of friends she made sure to treasure them from the day she met them until now.

When she turned 17 she was already in Senior High School. She was no longer the girl who she knew before because she already learned how to use her voice and have goals of her own. By this time in her life she already realized that people come and go but some, stay because they are the real ones.

Now that I’m 18, time seems to be running so fast and although i feel unprepared when facing this new chapter in life. I know i will always figure things out along the way, just like I did before

(AUTOBIOGRAPHY)

[donnabroadway]

Reesa Teesa

I am not sure how many of us are on TikTok but there is a 50 part series by ReesaTeesa called  "Who TF Did I Marry?" Now, full disclaimer, I cannot justify spending 6 hours listening to someone recap their life and them bypassing enough red flags to line the race track of the Indy500, but that is not why we're here. I have watched a few recap videos and they all say the same thing, Reesa and Legion, her husband, moved way too fast and it was only when Reesa had space from Legion and could actually process what was being said and done, that she realized he was a liar but she met, moved in, married, and got pregnant by this stranger all within a few months. Way too fast. I could see if she was with him for years and he flipped but Reesa barely knew him and that is the problem with many modern relationships. People move way too fast because it proves that it's "real," only to find themselves in a mess because they didn't take the time to get to know the person they pledged their undying love and loyalty to. I know waiting isn't fun or sexy but waiting can save you a lot of time and money.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.~ Ephesians 5:6-10

I believe a lot of the conflict we have in relationships is not just due to differences in opinion but not really knowing each other. I've had relationships, not just friendships, where it seemed like we were building a long lasting friendship, but when the dust settled and everyone relaxed and became their true selves, a lot of differences were revealed and there were many personality clashes and we realized we didn't like each other or agree as much as we thought and the friendship ended badly because of the hurt and disappointment, at least on my part, because I really wanted the relationship to work and I not only didn't understand why it didn't but why it had to end the way it did.

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.~ Matthew 7:16-20

I am not a horticulturist, in fact I think I have a black, or at least a very dark gray thumb, so I don't know the difference between a peach, apple, or fig tree when they are just saplings and have to bear fruits, I only know which bears which fruits, once the tree has fully developed, even limes and lemons look similar until maturation happens and the only one who knows what was planted is the gardener and the tree, the rest of us have to wait until maturation. Tyler Perry wrote in his 2006 book Don't Make a Black Woman Take her Earrings Off, and said in Madea Goes to Jail, the play, that many of us have turbulence in our lives and relationships because we took a leaf, a temporary person, and put them in a position of a branch or root and instead of dying and going into its rightful place, we try to make it into something it isn't, and was never meant to be. 

And that is why we need to practice caution in relationships. I am not victim shaming or blaming, but if Reesa stepped back to think instead of getting caught up in the idea of being married to a high value man, having a nearly million dollar home paid for in cash, a couple trips to Europe, and a brand new luxury car, we wouldn't know who Reesa Teesa is. That relationship would have been grand opening, grand closing. Don't get me wrong, we wouldn't have the entertainment she is bringing online and she wouldn't have the blessings she is getting from her videos going viral, but one "wait a minute" would have saved her a lot of time.  

[looye29]

Product Name: Unblock My Hormones And Start Burning Fat TODAY With HB5 [ad_1] Click here to get Unblock My Hormones And Start Burning Fat TODAY With HB5 at discounted price while it's still available... All orders are protected by SSL encryption – the highest industry standard for online security from trusted vendors. Unblock My Hormones And Start Burning Fat TODAY With HB5 is backed with a 60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If within the first 60 days of receipt you are not satisfied with Wake Up Lean™, you can request a refund by sending an email to the address given inside the product and we will immediately refund your entire purchase price, with no questions asked. Description: How A Harvard Doctor Saved My LifeThe 5 Hormonal Blocks that make it impossible to lose weight…Plus, the 30 Second Fix that unclogged my hormones and helped me burn 1 pound of fat every 48 hours.Hi, my name is Sam Brooks…And in the next few minutes…I’m going to tell you about the scariest, most chilling day of my life.The day my 7-year old daughter found me lying on the kitchen floor, unconscious…And I was rushed to hospital in the back of an ambulance… As paramedics desperately tried to keep me alive.There were countless sensors and monitors hissing and beeping around me.I could hear doctors and nurses speaking in hushed tones…And even though my vision was blurry, I could see my husband sitting beside me, holding my hand.But I was paying attention to any of that.Instead, my mind was racing with thoughts…I thought of the rolls of nagging belly fat that I was always trying to hide.The inches of flesh that hung from my upper arms, making me so self-conscious.And my embarrassing chubby cheeks and bumpy lines that made me look 10 years older than I actually am.Anxiety, shame and guilt were my constant companions...And I was terrified that it was going to be this way forever.I got hot flashes at the most embarrassing times (like when giving a presentation at work)...I would get out of breath just from running up a flight of stairs…My joints were sore and achy…And my body didn’t feel like my own anymore.The worst part is that I’d tried everything to lose weight.I exercised every morning.I counted calories and ate a “perfect” diet.I gave up carbs, fats, alcohol, meat - just as the doctor ordered…And even stopped eating altogether, as I did long, painful fasts.Going 2 days, 3 days and even 5 whole days without eating a single bite of food.Yet despite my best efforts, the scale never seemed to budge.I thought I was destined to be overweight forever. However, it was this precise moment that took me on a dramatic and completely unexpected 2-year journey…That took me through the dark underbelly of the multi-billion dollar weight loss industry controlled by government and elite societies…But might very well save your life too.This 30-second metabolism-boosting secret completely changed my life.After years of torturous diets,  I melted away two pounds, almost overnight…And went on to lose a remarkable 34 pounds of toxic body fat from my hips, thighs, upper arms, belly and face... Faster than I ever thought possible!I dropped several sizes which made all my friends green with envy. My bulging belly, bumpy cellulite and jiggly love handles disappeared… My arms are so toned that for the first time in years, I have the confidence to wear a tank top…  And my stomach is so flat that I'm able to fit into the skinny jeans I wore in college! And without counting calories or denying myself my favorite foods.In fact, my new metabolism is so fast that regaining even a single pound seems impossible… And I have zero guilt when I open a tub of ice cream or eat a slice of pizza… Because lately, no matter what I've been doing, I'm able to treat myself without gaining weight.All thanks to a simple  30-second medical breakthrough that unclogs your hormones and forces your fat cells to shrink. This natural and inexpensive ritual was

discovered by a small, remote tribe in West Africa… … Without crash diets, endless exercise or even leaving the house!It’s been verified by peer-reviewed studies published in the Journal of Obesity and the American College of Endocrinology… This 30-second fix can help you to:It doesn’t matter if you’re in your 18 or 80… It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. .. It doesn’t matter if you’ve tried every diet plan, exercise routine or gym program… And it doesn’t matter if you have 10 pounds to lose, or 100 pounds. I guarantee that this 30-second fix will work for you. Just like it worked for Jillian, a dog day care owner from Texas, who says:“Down 19lbs so far. I’ve lost weight on fad diets before, but this is different. I’m losing fat from places where it’s always been stuck. And the energy, my god. It’s very subtle, not at all jittery. But it’s remarkable how much more I’m getting done each day.”And Mary-Anne, a nurse from Arkansas, who says…“I’ve lost 31lbs since I started! Everyone at work noticed and asked what I was doing. So I told them about the 30-second fix and now they’re doing it, too. The only annoying thing is that I always have to wear a belt now because none of my old pants or shorts fit me. But that’s a small price to pay ;) I love it!”I have to admit that when I discovered this information, I was extremely skeptical.After all, I’d been through, I thought it was impossible to lose weight without a punishing low-carb diet… Or suffering through long hours of cardio at the gym.But as you’ll see in a moment, it works better than anything I’ve come across. And while today I’m finding any excuse possible to slip on a bikini and run to the beach…For most of my adult life…I felt trapped inside a body I didn’t love.It started in my late twenties…At first, I just noticed that I wasn’t losing weight as easily as before…And even though I was pretty active and tried to eat healthy…Each year a little more unwelcomed fat would show up on my body…Mostly around my butt, face, arms, and neck…And because this fat didn’t ever want to leave…I started joking that my fat was like some awful house guest who overstays their welcome.I’d later learn that what I was dealing with…Is something called weight loss resistance…Which is the term for what happens when your body refuses to burn fat…But at the time I just felt frustrated…And thought maybe this weight gain was my fault…Or that there was something wrong with me.Yet by the time I hit my mid-thirties…Things had gone from bad to worst…Because not only was I starting to gain more fat around my tummy and my thighs…Suddenly there was a lot of other weird stuff happening in my body too.I started experiencing these waves anxiety that would hit me out of nowhere…My energy felt ZAPPED all of the time…Plus my sleep was getting worse and worse:I’d wake up in the middle of the night covered in sweat…Or I’d get into bed exhausted…Then suddenly get these booming adrenaline rushes.The cherry on top was the brain fog though…It felt like my brain was shutting off on me…I had the hardest time focusing at my job…And even little things…Like trying to help my children with their homework…Became very hard because I just couldn’t focus.Because what had started as a little weight gain…Was now me fluctuating between 30lbs and 50lbs overweight all the time…And not only did I no longer feel sexy…Or have any confidence in myself…But I was worried about the long-term effects of the weight on my health too.I thought about my mom…How she’d gotten bigger and rounder as she got older…Until she became pretty seriously overweight…And ended up having a fatal heart attack in her sixties…I’d promised myself that I wouldn’t ever follow in her footsteps…My blood sugar becoming more erratic…My energy levels at an all-time low…And I just didn’t know what to do.As all of this was going on…I’d tried countless diets…Yet those certainly didn’t seem to be working.Which had started off so promising (I’d lost 5lbs in the first few

weeks!)…But then ended in disappointment…As I quickly plateaued…Became fatigued and moody 24/7..Then gained back all the weight back…Plus a little extra for good measure.I’d later discover that the reason Keto didn’t work for me…And this is the same reason it doesn’t work for a lot of women…Has to do with those 5 Hormonal Blocks we’re going to talk about in a second…I just felt frustrated and depressed…Like I wanted to crawl into my bed and never come out.I’d gone from being a fun-loving, energized woman…To someone who felt shocked that her friends had the energy to go out and do anything at all.Like to a birthday party or a work dinner…It took me two days to recover…And it got to a point where I realized that this just wasn’t normal…I started Googling all the stuff I was dealing with (LOL).And while most of what I found was ridiculous…I did find one article that caught my eye.It was an interview with New York Times Bestselling Author Dr. Sara Gottfried…Dr. Gottfried said something that really grabbed my attention…“After digging into the research, I learned that 99 percent of weight loss resistance is hormonal” she said…And then later she added that…“It amazes me how easy weight loss becomes once hormones are back in their sweet spots.”Now this really made the hair on my neck stand tall…Because, like any woman who is honest…I’d blamed my hormones for stuff before…But I’d never really thought that they could be the reason why I was having so much trouble losing weight.And during the visit, I asked him to test my hormones.I was expecting him to say “sure Sam, whatever you want!”…So I felt CRUSHED when instead of doing that…He let out this arrogant little smirk…Then literally rolled his eyes!My dear old doctor told me that hormone testing is expensive and unnecessary…Then he proceeded repeat the same tired advice he’d been giving me for nearly two decades:“If you want to lose weight, you just need to burn more calories than you put in.”My doctor said it was all simple math…Then he asked me if I belonged to a gym…And by the time he was done talking…My face must have been beet-red as I walked out of his office…It was so humiliating and embarrassing how he lectured me…He was always just assuming that everything was MY fault…And yet when I - the patient - asked him to do a hormone test…He pretty much said “NOPE”…And that really ticked me off.“I’m done with him” I thought…I haven’t been back to that doc since.I wasn’t sure where to turn…I did look for other doctors in my town…But I was scared they’d just have the same reaction my doctor did…And I was afraid to go through that humiliation and embarrassment again.So I thought about just giving up…Just “letting go” and accepting that I’d never feel normal again…And that might have been where the story ended…If I hadn’t gotten a call from an old friend.It was a Thursday night and I was standing exhaustedly in the kitchen…She’d been overseas with her husband for the past year…But now she was back in the U.S. and she was calling to say hi.So at first we just chit-chatted and caught up…But then, as we were talking…I remembered something important.Jen had struggled with estrogen problems a while back…But then she’d seen some hormone expert that she’d really liked…And I remembered how she’d felt a lot better after…Plus she’d lost a ton of weight too.I’d always assumed that Jen just did estrogen replacement therapy or something like that…But when I asked her during our conversation…She let out this huge, belly-splitting laugh…Then said that I had it all wrong.“No way!” Jenn told me.“Estrogen therapy is expensive and scary as heck.Seriously you don’t even want to know about the side effects.I did fix my estrogen, but it was entirely natural.And it just wasn’t just my estrogen either…And really I owe it all to Dr. Wood...He’s the hormone expert I saw…Seriously the guy’s the best.”Well that was all I needed to hear…I was sitting in his office…Trying hard not to show my nervousness or excitement.

It was pretty crazy though…We’d barely even shook hands…But Dr. Wood was already describing everything I’d been dealing with in amazing detail…The weight loss resistance, the exhaustion, the brain fog, the anxiety…It was like he’d been living inside my head this whole time.Seriously, he knew EVERYTHING…And when I asked him how this was possible…He said it was because even though we’re always being told that weight loss is some mysterious black-box…That’s simply not the case…And he told me that these 5 Hormonal blocks can all happen in our body simultaneously…Resulting in a sluggish metabolism…Cells that are pumped full of fat…And brains, moods, and emotions entirely out of whack.And I’m going to share them with you right now too…So make sure you pay close attention…Because this is going to remove so much confusion from your life…And it will finally make sense why you haven’t been able to lose your excess weight.You’ve probably heard of your thyroid before…It’s a small, tiny gland located in the front of your neck…And your thyroid’s role is to take iodine, which is found in a variety of foods…And convert it into two thyroid hormones…Which are known as T3 and T4.These thyroid hormones are then released into the bloodstream…Where they control your metabolism.When your metabolism is functioning normally…It turns calories and fat into energy…Then sends this energy to your cells…Where it’s used to perform all kinds of essential functions that keep you healthy.But when your thyroid hormones are NOT functioning properly…It means that your metabolism doesn’t function properly either…And instead of burning calories like it should…Your metabolism stores those calories as fat.This is why, if you have issues with your thyroid hormones…You can starve yourself and workout all day…But you’re STILL going to encounter weight loss resistance and feel frustrated…Because even though you’re doing activities that normally WOULD burn calories…When your thyroid hormones are out of whack…They tell your metabolism to keep storing those calories as fat.This can leave you feeling exhausted, by the way…Because over the course of the day…You’re doing all of these things that require energy…Yet your body isn’t releasing that energy…It’s holding onto it…And if you frequently suffer from brain fog…Your thyroid hormones could be to blame for that as well…Because your brain uses up a lot of energy…But if your metabolism is broken and there’s no energy available…Your brain is starved of fuel.And your thyroid is just one of FIVE different hormonal blocks you may be facing…Imagine what it would be like to fix all 5 hormonal blocks at once?It could seriously be like the difference between being blind…And having perfect 20/20 vision…The difference is that dramatic.You have two adrenal glands that sit above your kidneys…And they produce a hormone called cortisol…Which is often referred to as a “stress hormone”…Because it’s released when you experience stress.Cortisol is very important to your survival…But when your cortisol levels are always high…Which can happen due to everyday stressors like:Your brain thinks you’re in survival mode…So it shuts down your metabolism…And even parts of your brain.Because even though your stress might be due to something “harmless”…Like your boss nonstop texting on a weekend…Your brain can’t differentiate between “harmless” stress…So it takes energy from anywhere in the body that it views as “non-essential”…Which includes your metabolism, your digestive system, and even parts of your brain…And sends this energy to places like your muscles and your heart…Which your brain considers essential to your survival.But you know what’s NOT essential to fighting or running away?So the fact that those places get robbed of energy makes sense…In fact, it’s actually smart of your brain to do this.Is that if your stress isn’t coming from a real threat…But from your 24/7 job…Then your metabolism, digestion, and brain always remain robbed of energy…It’s impossible to burn fat…And you constantly feel like your brain is in a fog.

And we’ve still got three more hormonal blocks left…So let’s keep things going.Estrogen is what’s referred to as a “sex hormone”…And when estrogen levels are too high, or too low…And aren't in balance with progesterone...Which is another important female reproductive hormone….It can very easily lead to weight loss resistance.One of the tell-tale signs of erratic estrogen levels…Is that you’ll notice more fat getting stored in your belly and hips…And you’ll notice that this fat is visceral and clingy…To the point where it feels like it’s impossible to get rid of it…No matter how much dieting or exercising you do.Erratic estrogen problems start in their mid-thirties…Then continue before, during, and after menopause.Is because as a woman exits her prime reproductive years…Which normally happens between the ages of 30 and 35…The balance between estrogen and progesterone can grow increasingly out of whack…And her estrogen levels will start to peak…While her progesterone levels begin to free-fall.And as women enter their 40s…This imbalance between estrogen and progesterone only becomes worse..Which can negatively affect your thyroid hormones …And lead to you putting on more and more pounds of fat.It’s for this reason that so many women are being pushed towards hormone therapies once they enter their 40s and 50s…But wouldn’t it be better if you could just keep estrogen levels balanced naturally…Without continuously packing on more pounds of fresh belly fat?Is that this is absolutely possible.I’ll show you exactly how to do it…Plus give you four more proven hormonal fixes…Insulin is a hormone that’s produced in your pancreas…And you’ve almost certainly heard of insulin before…Especially in relation to diabetes.You don’t need to be a diabetic to have insulin challenges…Because as world renowned health expert Dr. Mark Hyman puts it:“No contest: The monster hormone that causes weight gain is excess insulin.”Well with respect to Dr. Hyman…And it’s happening between all five of the hormones we’re talking about today.But while Dr. Hyman may be oversimplifying things a little bit here…There’s also a lot of truth to what he’s saying...Because high insulin levels definitely are one of the major reasons behind your weight loss resistance.Insulin helps your body convert the carbohydrates you eat into sugar (glucose)…And then tells your body to store this sugar as glycogen in your muscles.The problem though is that your muscles can only store a small amount of glycogen at any given time…And once your muscles’ about to store glycogen is maxed it…Your body has no choice but to store additional glycogen as fat.Obviously, that’s not good if you’re trying to lose weight…And it’s especially brutal when you combine high insulin…With the other hormonal blocks we’ve looked at so far.So is it any wonder that you’ve been struggling to lose weight?And all of this is before we add in the last hormonal block too…Which we’re going to go over right now.Leptin’s job is to tell your brain when you’ve had enough to eat.This is why Leptin is often referred to as your “fullness hormone”…Because when Leptin is functioning normally…You feel satisfied after each meal…And you don’t suffer from those gnawing cravings that can strike out of nowhere.That’s how Leptin is supposed to function…But when you start putting on excess weight…And you can’t burn fat no matter how hard you try…(Which both happen due to the other four hormonal blocks we’ve covered today)…Your fat cells start producing more-and-more leptin…And your brain becomes bombarded with leptin signals non-stop…Until it starts to ignore these signals entirely.This is called leptin-resistance…And as your brain becomes increasingly resistant to leptin…You can guess what happens:And it results in you putting on even MORE weight…Which in turn makes your leptin resistance even worse…You spend very day feeling hungry, angry, and depressed…Because it seems like you can’t stop overeating no matter how hard you try…And you feel MAD at yourself…Because you can’t understand why don’t have any self-control.

If that’s you right now…That’s where I was at too…And I’ve had all of those same thoughts….Which is why I was so surprised when…Something I’m going to repeat to you right now:It’s really, truly, not your fault.Your weight struggles aren’t due to a lack of willpower…It’s not because you don’t “want to be skinny” bad enough…The weight gain that’s been accelerating…The increased weight loss resistance…Those things aren’t being caused by you…They’re being caused by your hormones…And particularly those 5 hormonal blocks we’ve been going over today.What good is two hours on the treadmill…If your metabolism refuses to burn fat for energy?And what good are drugs that target your thyroid…Or risky estrogen therapies…When each of those things only targets one specific hormonal block…You’ve been BLAMED for your weight loss resistance by the folks in the diet industry…You’ve been NAMED as lazy by workout-addicts in the fitness industry…And you’ve been SHAMED for your anxiety and exhaustion by pill-pushing health professionals…The vast majority of the time… They are all caused by something that’s out of your control…The 5 Hormonal Blocks we’ve been looking at today. So I want you to make a promise to yourself right now…That you’re going to STOP thinking any of this is your fault…And START feeling confident again… You can win this fight against weight loss resistance and excess body fat… And I’m going to show you exactly how to do it… You see, as Dr. Wood explained…Even though these 5 hormonal blocks can come out of nowhere…And can stick around for years, or even decades…It doesn’t have to be this way.You just need to take proven scientific research…Research that too many in mainstream wellness are ignoring…Apply it to each of the hormonal blocks you’re facing simultaneously… You’ll find it’s shockingly easy to optimize hormonal health… While reducing the biggest blocks to your weight loss…So let’s go ahead and rifle through each of the hormonal fixes that Dr. Wood showed me…Then after we’re done…I’ll share the easy trick Dr. Wood showed me…Something that made it simple to apply all 5 of these fixes at once…And I’ve got to say that once started using this trick…It was like the floodgates burst wide open…And the fat just came pouring off.When your thyroid isn’t producing enough of its two main hormones – T3 and T4…Then these hormones can’t regulate your metabolism like they should…And fat storage, brain fog, and fatigue can all occur. So what’s the fix here?Well as Dr. Wood explained… You simply need to get your thyroid gland to produce more T3 and T4 hormones…Then make sure these hormones get released into your bloodstream…That way they’re able to control your metabolism…And the fastest way to produce more T3 and T4 hormones…Is to get more iodine into your diet…Because as I mentioned earlier… Your thyroid’s #1 function is to take iodine, then convert it to T3 and T4. But a recent study found that at least 2 Billion people are deficient in iodine …And if your thyroid’s not getting enough iodine…Then how can it make enough of the T3 and T4 hormones needed to control your metabolism? Which is why Dr. Wood recommends supplementing your diet with iodine-rich kelp.In a major double-blind clinical trial published in the American College of Endocrinology…It was found that “short-term dietary supplementation with kelp significantly increases both basal and poststimulation TSH [thyroid hormones].In another major study that was published in the journal Clinical Pediatric Endocrinology…Researchers found that when human subjects were given a daily supplement of kelp…It “restored their thyroid function and normalized their UICs [urinary iodine concentration].”iiAnd in yet another large study that was published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology out of Oxford…Researchers found that supplementing with just a moderate dose of iodine rich kelp extract improved the production of both T3 and T4.iiiDr. Wood also recommends adding more Copper, Iron, Zinc, Magnesium,

and Selenium to your diet as well…Because these essential minerals help transport T3 and T4 into your bloodstream…Where they power your metabolism and your cells.For example, a 2016 study in the Journal of Environmental Health found that supplementing with these minerals led to higher levels of T3 and T4 in the bloodstream…ivWhile in a 2014 study published in the journal Biological Trace Elements Research…It was found that thyroid-stimulating hormones were raised significantly in test subjects who were given a supplementary dosage of Copper, Manganese, Selenium, and Zinc.vSo this takes care of the hormonal block that’s happening in your thyroid…But we’ve still got four more places we need to get unstuck…So let’s keep going and turn our attention to:Ongoing stress can lead to an overproduction of a hormone called cortisol…And when cortisol levels remain high…It can lead to a weakened metabolism, immune system, and even brain.So when it comes to addressing this hormonal block…The one and only goal is to naturally lower cortisol levels.One way to do that is to never become stressed…But that’s a lot easier said than done…And if you’re a busy parent…Have a thriving career…Or really just live in the U.S. in the year 2019…Eliminating stress from your life completely just isn’t very realistic.This is why Dr. Wood recommends supplementing your diet with Rhodiola Rosea…Which has been proven in numerous clinical trials to:Rhodiola is a flowering plant that grows in the remote regions of the Arctic...And in a major randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study published in the Journal Planta Medica…When researchers gave test subjects either 576 mg of Rhodiola extract, or a placebo, for 28 days.They found that while the placebo group showed zero improvements…The Rhodiola group had produced significantly less excess cortisol…Even when they were presented with stressful situations…Plus they also showed less fatigue and better mental performance as well.viNumerous double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trials have also found Rhodiola to…Reduce stress, improve mental performance, and decrease fatigue…vii viii ix x xiIt’s no wonder Rhodiola was used extensively for years by the Russian Olympic medical training team to help their athletes optimize their performance and recoup faster from grueling training sessions.But most excitingly of all… New research in both humans and animals is finding that supplementing with Rhodiola can:Significantly increase the rate at which our bodies burn fatxiiReduce the content of bad, fatty acids in the bloodstreamxiiiAnd reduce the build-up of visceral white fatxivIn addition to Rhodiola… Dr. Wood also recommends adding Red Ginseng to your diet too…Because numerous studies have found that this root extract decreases cortisol levels and reduce stress…xv xvi xvii xviii Plus a major 2017 study recently found that taking red ginseng “can exert an anti-obesity effect in humans”…xixWhich is a finding that’s backed up by another 2014 human study…Where researchers found Red Ginseng to exert a “weight loss effect.”xxHonestly both Rhodiola and Ginseng are such exciting ingredients that I could go on and on about them…But we still have three more hormonal fixes to get to…So let’s keep trucking along.As you’ll recall, having erratic estrogen levels can lead to weight gain.That’s why Dr. Wood told me that I should consider supplementing my diet with diindolylmethane (or DIM for short).DIM is a natural compound that’s found in broccoli, cauliflower, and other vegetables…And a 2017 study published in the journal Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy…Which was the largest human study on the effects of DIM on human ever undertaken…A team of 8 leading scientists found that DIM led to a “favorable shift in estrogen metabolism”…And concluded that this research led them to support the use of DIM as a dietary supplement.xxiMeanwhile, in another human study, this one published in the journal Thyroid…It was found that when

patients received a DIM supplement for just 14 days…DIM “modulated estrogen metabolism”…Which really means that it shifts how estrogen is broken down in the liver into “healthier hormonal metabolites” that are linked with lower risk of various cancers and estrogen/progesterone imbalance symptoms such as difficult or irregular periods, fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease and more…Instead of either too high, or too low…Which is when fat accumulation is most likely to occur.xxiiPlus, in a 2017 study published in the journal of Molecular Nutrition and Food Research…When an international team of researchers from Purdue University and Seoul, South Korea looked at the effects of DIM…They found that it “suppresses high-fat diet-induced obesity”…Which led them to conclude that DIM has the potential to help protect against ongoing weight gain.xxiiiAlright so let’s keep things rolling…By turning our attention to:When your insulin levels are continuously elevated…It can lead to your body storing more and more of the nutrients you eat as fat…Which is one of the many reasons we want to keep our insulin levels in a normal, healthy range.The good news here is that is absolutely achievable…And there are a few approaches you can take.One approach is to reduce the amount of carbs, processed foods, and refined sugars that you eat…Since those are three things that can spike your insulin levels.Dr. Wood absolutely recommends cutting back on those things as much as possible....But he also believes that supplementing your diet with a cinnamon extract is something you should consider…Is because cinnamon is one of the best studied and scientifically supported ingredients out there….When it comes to supporting healthy insulin levels.In a 2015 study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine…Which was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled…Researchers gave 173 adults either 500 mg of cinnamon extract, or a placebo, for two months…And at the end of this 180 day period…The placebo group showed no significant changes…While the cinnamon group showed reduced insulin levels, lower cholesterol levels, and less erratic blood sugar…Plus those who took the cinnamon supplement also showed a reduction in their Body Mass Index, or BMI.xxivAdditionally, in a 2018 study, published in the journal Phytotherapy Research…Which was also randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind…Researchers worked with 66 women who had erratic insulin AND estrogen….And gave half of them a cinnamon supplement, and half a placebo.The researchers found that at the end of 12 weeks…“Supplementation of cinnamon significantly reduced fasting insulin” when compared to the placebo…Plus it also helped to support healthy estrogen levels too.xxvThose are just two of numerous double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trials on cinnamon…xxvi xxvii xxviiiAnd when it comes to cinnamon and weight loss specifically…In a 2017 randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled trial of 116 overweight individualsIt was found that taking a cinnamon supplement led to a significant decrease in waist circumference…xxixIn another 2017 study, this one published in Scientific Reports…It was found that cinnamon supplementation increased fat burning and reduced fat tissue dramaticallyxxx…While in a major 2019 review published in Clinical Nutrition looked at 12 trials on cinnamon that included 786 human subjects…A team of 6 scientists found that regular cinnamon supplementation led to decreased body weight, decreased BMI, decreased waist circumference, and decreased fat mass in adults.xxxiAnd really these results do make sense…Because insulin and weight loss resistance go hand in hand...And cinnamon is proven to directly help support healthy insulin levels.Alright, so we’ve only got one more hormone to look at now…And if you’ve missed any of the ingredients I mentioned so far don’t worry…Because after we get through this last hormonal fix…I’m going to repeat the entire list of ingredients for you.

Leptin is your “fullness hormone”…And when you start putting on weight…Which can happen as a result of the four other hormonal blocks we’ve discussed…Your body begins to overproduce Leptin.You’d think that would be a good thing…Since Leptin makes you “full”But when we produce too much leptin…Our brain starts to ignore leptin’s message…So instead of feeling fuller…We feel increasingly hungry and crave the wrong kind of foods.Dr. Wood let me know that getting Leptin under control is easy to do…It just takes adding a single ingredient to your diet…And that’s African Mango.In a major randomized and placebo-controlled trial published in the journal of Lipids…Researchers found that supplementing with African Mango for just 4 weeks improved body weight, body fat, and waist circumference…And also led to “significant improvements in leptin levels when compared with the placebo group.xxxiiMeanwhile, a 2011 study from Drexel University found that African Mango:“Is effective in reducing body weight and improving metabolic parameters in overweight humans”…xxxiiiPlus research published in the Journal of Obesity concluded that:Leptin levels decrease in patients given African MangoxxxivAnd in recent review of three randomized trials that included 208 participants…Researchers found that the average weight loss when supplementing with African Mango…Was a staggering 26lbs…Compared to just 1.5lbs for the placebo groups.xxxvAlright, so just to recap one more time…For Thyroid Hormones:Kelp, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, ManganesePlus, Dr. Wood also recommends adding in B12 and Bladderwrack (another type of iodine-rich seaweed) too…Rhodiola Rosea Extract and Red GinsengAnd now that you know all of this…Where can I find the best sources for each of these ingredients…And how much of each ingredient do I need to add to my diet?That’s what I asked Dr. Wood too…And the good news is that there’s an easy answer to both questions…Something that doesn’t require you to order a bunch of exotic fruits or seaweed online…Or to spend hundreds of dollars ordering a dozen+ supplements from all over the web.He realized that while there are ton of products out there that target these blocks individually…Nothing seemed to target all five of these blocks together, simultaneously.That was a big problem…Because fixing one of these blocks…Like your thyroid hormones…But if the other four hormonal blocks remain unaddressed…You’re still going to struggle to lose weight and feel 100%.If you plug one of the holes, the water will drain a little bit slower…But it’s still going to all pour out.If you plug three of the holes, the water will drain slower still…But before long, the bucket will be empty again.If you want the bucket to remain full…You’ve got to plug all five of the holes at once.Well it’s the same thing here…Fixing one, or even three of your hormonal blocks…It can slow things down a little bit…But if you really want to fix things…So you’re filled with energy…And experience thriving, fat-burning metabolism…You’ve got to attack all five of these blocks at once.And because there wasn’t any solution out there that addressed all 5 of these hormonal blocks…Dr. Wood realized he’d need to make one himself…And after months of research, testing, and experimentation…He ultimately created a first-of-its-kind hormonal support breakthrough…Something that has the absolute best forms of all 13 ingredients Dr. Wood recommends…And that contains these ingredients in the same dosages as were used in many of the studies you saw today.He included 500mg of Cinnamon Extract…Because that’s how much cinnamon people were given in the studies on cinnamon and insulin…600mg of Rhodiola Rosea…Because that’s how much was included in the studies on Rhodiola and Cortisol…150 mg of African Mango…Because that’s how much was included in the studies on African Mango and Leptin.And Dr. Wood did this for the thyroid hormone supporting ingredients too…Along with the amount of estrogen-regulating DIM that he added as well.

And HB5 stands for “Hormonal Balance 5”…Because this breakthrough is designed to support the balance of 5 crucial hormones in your body…Thyroid Hormones, Cortisol, Estrogen, Insulin, and Leptin.From the moment I began using HB5, I could feel things changing in my body…I started having more energy in the morning…That energy was lasting through the day, without any spikes and crashes…Plus I was sleeping through the night and actually waking up feeling rested.My anxiety started subsided almost right away too…It felt like the fog around my brain was lifting for the first time in ages…And I found myself smiling a whole lot of the day…Because my mood was just so much better.And of course then there’s the weight loss…For me personally, I lost 34lbs in around two months of using HB5…And while everyone’s body is different and results will always vary…I’m excited to say that I’m far from the only person who loves their experience with HB5.Mary-Anne in Arkansas says…“I had my doubts, but a week after using HB5 my husband noticed I didn’t have problems getting up in the morning. I was also sleeping better. I had more energy throughout the day, and I felt so good I started going to Yoga again. I missed feeling like this! Now I’m back and my husband and kids are so happy. Oh and I didn’t even get to the weight loss. The numbers on the scale are ticking down instead of up. This is the first time in a long time that’s happened. I’m so pleased and thankful!”“I’ve been using HB5 for 3 weeks and frankly, I’ve never felt so good! My energy levels are sky-high (even though I’m 61).  And my body has already changed. I’ve lost fat and gained muscle. My sleep is better and I feel younger and less bloated. And I’m confident it will only get better in the future!”“I was skeptical before ordering, but I decided to buy it anyway. And I have zero regrets! HB5 acts on my whole body. My heartburn and dizziness are gone. And I wake up fast and my energy levels are high throughout the day. That’s before I even mention the fat loss! I lost 8 pounds in the first 15 days and couldn’t be happier. So thank you, I’m so glad I discovered HB5”Now given the experience of Mary-Anne, Amy, and Dana…Along with how to take it for the best results.Well to answer the question about how you take HB5…That part’s pretty simple…You just take 3 small capsules each day…And each bottle of HB5 contains a full 30 days supply.Now I get that some people might roll their eyes at having to take 3 capsules a day…And that if it was just one capsule a day…That would sound better from a marketing perspective.Dr. Wood doesn’t care very much about slick marketing…He’s much more concerned with making sure that each serving of HB5…Includes all 13 ingredients at a clinically supported dosage…Which requires three capsules per serving.And really in the grand scheme of things…How much of a hassle is it to take three capsules each day…When it could mean that your decades-long hormonal logjam…Finally become unblocked…And you suddenly find yourself shedding pound-after-pound for the first time in years…As your brain fog is lifting…Your energy is returning…And you’re sleeping through every night like a baby?Just three small pills a day…To say “goodbye” to plateaus and weight loss resistance…And hello to automatically burning fat?That’s a trade-off I’ll take 10/10 times.So now let’s move on to the part you’re even more interested in…Well you should know that each bottle of HB5 is made right here in the United States…In a state-of-the-art facility that is GMP Certified and FDA Compliant…And every batch of HB5 is also sent to an independent third-party laboratory…Where they analyze it to make sure that what you see on the label…Is what you get inside each pill.And while HB5 is manufactured and inspected by a state-of-the-art lab…Right here in the United States…Many of the initial raw ingredients come to us from exotic places on the other side of the world.This includes fresh cinnamon extract…Which comes from

organic farms in Sri Lanka…Which is sustainably harvested in small batches off the Ivory Coast…Along with blooming Rhodiola Rosea…Which is grown in the frozen mountains of Northern Alaska.And when you put all of this together…With that being said though…I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure you can try HB5 for yourself too…By extending a special invitation to you…Where you’re going to be able to get your very own bottle of HB5…For the smallest investment humanly possible.And a lot of folks end up seeing him five times or more…But he gets so many folks such incredible results…Plus, it’s not like they had much of a choice anyways…Which meant if you wanted to follow Dr. Wood’s proven protocol in the past…Or you had to order each ingredient separately online…And then once you had all 13 of these different supplements…You still had to take them each day…Which amounted to swallowing dozens of pills per day…And that’s not very fun for your wallet, or your stomach.After experiencing HB5 for myself though…And witnessing the speed with which it took my metabolism from stuck…To a fat-burning engine…Or making it so damn hard for people to get access to HB5.So I made a deal with him…I’d be the spokeswoman…I’d set up this website…I’d get this message out to the world…But he had to agree to make HB5 available to the public…And for a price that anyone could afford.As you can imagine, we had a lot of back-and-forth on this…But ultimately Dr. Wood realized I was right…That he had a responsibility to help as many people as he could…So he agreed to let me put up this website…And to make HB5 available for a shockingly low price. Right now on this website…And only while there are supplies in stock…Because if you make the choice to stock up on HB5 today…And choose the most popular six bottle option…The price goes down even more…So go ahead and choose your discounted package of HB5 right now…And get started with your order..00 /each 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee A single bottle of HB5 will have you burning fat, noticing increased energy, and experiencing a better mood with less brain fog…Three bottles will do the same thing, leading to a major transformation in both your appearance and health…And six bottles of HB5 will feel like you are refreshing your hormones totally, from the ground up…So that your body burns fat and functions properly both now…So at this point, you’re probably wondering “how do I get started?”…And the answer is to simply click on one of the packages you see below right now…Then choose the amount of HB5 that’s right for you..00 /each 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee Once you’ve selected your package…You’ll be taken to a secure checkout page where you’ll enter your order details...And as soon as you’re finished…Your order of HB5 will be on its way out to you.This should be an incredibly easy decision for you to make as well because…Right now I want you to go ahead and select one of the three packages you see below…So you can secure your order of HB5 while we have supplies in stock.After that, it will just be a few short days until you receive your order in the mail…Then simply start taking your three small capsules per day…And begin to smile to yourself as you see that you’re losing weight…That you have more energy…And that your mood is dramatically improved.

Keep enjoying that experience day-after-day-after-day…And if you change your mind about your investment for ANY reason in the next 6 months…All you have to do email or call our award-winning, U.S. based customer support team...And they will immediately refund your investment with zero questions asked.Our customer service team’s phone number and email address is clearly stated:In other words, we make it EASY for you to get in contact with our support team…Which means if HB5 doesn’t end up being right for you…Just give our team a call or shoot them a message…And you’ll get a full refund with zero questions asked.Plus, your order of HB5 will still be yours to keep – you don’t need to return it.There’s no subscription, no auto-ship, and no gimmicks…You simply place your one-time order today, from this page…And either HB5 works wonders in your life, and you feel happier, fitter, and more energized…Or you get every single penny back immediately.And all you need to do is click on one of the packages you see below now…To get started with your journey to a healthier body..00 /each 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee We’ve reached the end of the road here.You could just let this presentation finish and go on with your day…If you do so, then God Bless you and I wish you all the best…But tell me, what’s going to change?If you’ve stuck with me for this long…Then it’s because you KNOW in your heart that your body’s not right…Whether it’s the desire to burn away embarrassing body fat…So you can feel confident and proud the next time you hit the pool or beach…Or you’re simply sick of feeling tired…of the fatigue and exhaustion…Or even if your hormonal blocks have already been diagnosed…And you’re simply looking for a better solution…The point is, you know that something needs to happen here…And I truly believe HB5 can be that agent of change.And check to see if there are still supplies of HB5 in stock.If there are, then it means you’re in luck…And that you are only days away from starting your journey to healing.Thank you for watching this presentation and take care..00 /each 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee Weight loss resistance often comes down to 5 hormonal blocks.These blocks have to do with: Your thyroid hormones (T3 and T4)Addressing any one of these blocks that you suffer from can be helpful…But unless you target all of them together, at the same time…Then you may never feel 100%...Plus you may continue to struggle to lose weight.HB5 contains natural ingredients that have been shown in multiple studies to help target at least one of these hormonal blocks.Here’s how the relationship between your hormones and each block works:Kelp, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, B12, and Bladderwrack.Rhodiola Rosea Extrat and Red GinsengCombined, these ingredients help you to address all 5 hormonal blocks at once…So that you can support the normal, healthy functioning of these hormones.When these hormones are healthy…Weight loss because much easier…Your metabolism is faster…And your body doesn’t default to wanting to create, or store, fat all of the time.HB5 comes with a 180 Day, 100% Money Back Guarantee.That means if you change your mind about this investment for any reason whatsoever…Simply contact our customer support team, and you’ll get an instant refund.

Plus, you don’t need to return your bottles…They’re yours to keep as our way of saying “thanks” for trying HB5 out.That being said, our refund rates tend to be extremely low…Because we only provide high quality supplement formulations that are backed by cutting edge, scientific studies.HB5 is manufactured right here in the United States, in a GMP Certified and FDA Compliant Facility.Your investment in our product supports American jobs and the American economy.Also, each batch of HB5 is independently tested by a certified, third-party laboratory.This ensures safety and quality…As well as confirms that what’s on our label is actually inside each capsule.Well our goal is certainly to keep HB5 available forever.Especially because we believe it can bring such powerful, life changing results to so many people.Because the ingredients inside come from all over the world…There are frequently times where supply may be unavailable.For example, if a supplier of raw, fresh African Mango has a bad harvest…It could take months before we’re able to get that ingredient and produce more HB5.That’s why I do urge you to go ahead and place your order today…Because if there are currently supplies in stock, you should go ahead and take us up on that risk-free order right away.Well like I just mentioned…All you need to do is place your order today.To do that, just move your mouse over one of the three packages see at the bottom of this page…Then click on whichever of the packages is best for you.Once you’ve done that…You’ll then be taken to our secure order page, where you’ll enter your order details…And as soon as you’ve entered your order, we’ll begin the process of shipping out HB5.Shipping takes about 3-5 business days…And you’ll also get a receipt email containing your order summary as soon as your order is complete..00 /each 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee .00 /each free US shipping* 180 day money back guarantee © - Harmony Health Labs - All Rights ReservedThe products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. *Free shipping on US orders only. International shipments welcome.ClickBank is the retailer of products on this site. CLICKBANK® is a registered trademark of Click Sales Inc., a Delaware corporation located at 1444 S. Entertainment Ave., Suite 410 Boise, ID 83709, USA and used by permission. ClickBank's role as retailer does not constitute an endorsement, approval or review of these products or any claim, statement or opinion used in promotion of these products.The website's content and the product for sale is based upon the author's opinion and is provided solely on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. You should do your own research and confirm the information with other sources when searching for information regarding health issues and always review the information carefully with your professional health care provider before using any of the protocols presented on this website and/or in the product sold here.

Neither ClickBank nor the author are engaged in rendering medical or similar professional services or advice via this website or in the product, and the information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider. You should not construe ClickBank's sale of this product as an endorsement by ClickBank of the views expressed herein, or any warranty or guarantee of any strategy, recommendation, treatment, action, or application of advice made by the author of the product. Testimonials, case studies, and examples found on this page are results that have been forwarded to us by users of "Enter Product Name" products and related products, and may not reflect the typical purchaser's experience, may not apply to the average person and are not intended to represent or guarantee that anyone will achieve the same or similar results. [ad_2] Click here to get Unblock My Hormones And Start Burning Fat TODAY With HB5 at discounted price while it's still available... All orders are protected by SSL encryption – the highest industry standard for online security from trusted vendors. Unblock My Hormones And Start Burning Fat TODAY With HB5 is backed with a 60 Day No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If within the first 60 days of receipt you are not satisfied with Wake Up Lean™, you can request a refund by sending an email to the address given inside the product and we will immediately refund your entire purchase price, with no questions asked.

[ohimesama]

10.2.22 Sunday

8:35 am

Good Mowninglezz... It is just weird, I feel heavy. I still have the windblow trap and the cult are funny now on "playing safe mode" coz they didn't help me at all for 15 years...

Weird,soul interference... I need attention angels!

8:37 am

This uncle Jun has a weird behaviour....Didn't even say a thing again to us here before going to his baranggay duty.... Weird!

10:17 am

Hmm... In this family and Cavite group and Manalo's cult,People on and off the screen... Who are guilty and not guilty???

10:25 am

Theory:

Many fake people surrounding me these days...

11:39 am

Done,cooking "chicken mechado and pork liver adobo"...

I still feel bitter,wanna get a job away from here... Longing to see people that I wanna see such as Mitch and young JP but now probably old...And some old good friends...

It is time to grow and analyze and it is ohkay to feel bitter... Missing some good old friends that I accepted my position that I was always and will always be their baby but I hope good old friends will respect my growth and progress...

My heart is longing...

1:35 pm

Theory:

I'm free coz I'm free of guilt... I never back-stabbed a friend that I considered... When I feel something that is negative to a friend that I'm considering,I actually tell it in-front of my friend.

To some new people who are envious of me and copied me and I don't know if they stole my old friends and new people who liked me and brainwashed them to hate me....I don't wanna meet them... I don't want them in my life...

1:39 pm

I wanna job away from here and I need money and I need something and longing to have new pretty friendships... I want many2x upper friends...

4:43 pm

I feel bitter...I miss being in the center and good old friends who are willing to embrace me as me... I don't wanna meet people who are fakes on me, who can't accept my babyish side...

I wanna leave the hometown... I feel bitter for people stole my stuff and my position in my life.

Plastics people, who wants me to be their supporter... I'm a good friend but I can't be a supporter for life...It will be a big no no,for me!

I feel jealous and envious... I lost my position and this cult took my seat for 15 years...

4:53 pm

I need money angels... I need a self-fulfillment/job coz I feel so self-pity... I feel so low....I'm burn out angels....I wanna express myself with the people,I wanna see and new upper friends who can simply accept me...

I feel so low... I feel low and stupid here in my hometown, I need money.....I need a job...

Will be my count down of my 41th birthday and I need a new story twist and I badly need money... I hope to get some nose trimming but I don't have money,yet...

5:35 pm

Uncle Jun already here from baranggay task... Simply observing here and flow2x for nothing and taking care of Neko, in a way...

5:56 pm

I feel self-pity...I don't belong to any particular cool organization now...I feel hurt here in the Philippines. This cult of Manalo made me uncool and unpretty that I used to be a cool person with a big heart in me...

I wanna leave the hometown... I feel self-pity...

6:10 pm

Still,have pelvic pain angels... Whew! Need an adjustment...

7:38 pm

Done,doing a lil bit of stretching and abs work-out...My pelvic is aching a bit,again it will be 1 year next month...

Still,having the windblow... So, many complexities and self-pity such as job and making friends and meeting upper men... I feel fat and ugly....I feel self-pity,I'm really self-pitying and we all know it is a bad emotion to have, to feel self-pity within you....I feel low coz I don't have savings....I wanna meet an upper men and losing my maturity sometimes and feeling old and not happy... I wanna be young with someone that I like and I feel old and getting older for nothing... I feel hurt for those "playing safe people in the cult".

7:49 pm

I'm serious it is really painful,my pelvic....It feels like there is an electricity running but with pain... It is weird!!!

9:34 pm

I still have the windblow trap....Done,doing our night time routine... Whew! Pelvic pain... I feel frustrated and bitter...

Everything is unfair for 15 years... I wanna have a self-fulfillment....I feel frustrated and bitter... I feel hurt!!! I lost attention and xfactor and my job... I feel low and stupid...

I feel ugly and fat... I wanna see people that I wanna see...

I wanna see donkey and travel...

I hate being copied that I'm dead here....Unfair to compete me....I can't fight, I'm trap by this windblow cult!

11:56 pm

I still have the windblow and I'm self-pitying... I wanna buy stuff... I want a job for my self-esteem... I feel low and stupid,I need money... My life is over-lapping... I wanna cry,I'm self-pitying... I wanna buy stuff... Whew!!!

[falcqns]

You’re Worth It

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x College Student!Reader

Summary: You visit Bucky’s apartment for the first time, and assure him that he's worth so much more than he thinks. 

Warnings: SMUT! age gap but its legal, very insecure Bucky, oral (f receiving).

A/N: Hope you enjoy!

You stood outside Bucky’s apartment door, watching your boyfriend dig his keys out of his skinny jeans, his other hand on a bag of groceries that contained your soon-to-be dinner. He pulled them out and located the door key, before turning to you. “Are you sure you want to stay here tonight, doll? I’m more than okay staying at your apartment.” He said, his eyes not leaving the ground in front of him.

You smiled, and placed your backpack on the ground beside you before turning and grabbing his stubbly face in your hands. “Baby. I want to stay here with you. I don’t care what it looks like. Whether it’s dirty or clean, the cutest apartment in the world, or the ugliest. It’s yours, and I want to see it.” You said, and he smiled before nodding. “Okay.” He said. He put the key in the door, and unlocked it. You followed him into the small apartment, and was immediately surrounded by the smell that was undeniably Bucky. 

You loved the way he smelled, you always had. He smelled like a field of lavender flowers on a beach, with a hint of salt water. He dropped his keys on the table, and turned around to face you. You placed your backpack on the floor again, this time by the table and looked around. There wasn't much, but he had a small chair and a side table, and a small tv stand where his tv sat. There was a chair in the corner by the kitchen island, and that was it. Your eyes ran over the pile of blankets on the floor, and you could feel your heart break.

He slept on the floor. 

He chuckled as you looked around. “Sad, huh?” He said, walking into the kitchen with the food in hand. “No.” You said, and followed him to the kitchen. “Like I said outside. It's you. You are building a life after a lot of suffering. Nothing about this is sad.” He shook his head as he took out the carrots and potatoes from the bag. 

“I couldn't even afford a full couch.” He said. You dropped your phone on the counter gently, and wrapped your arms around his waist. You rested your head in between his shoulder blades, and inhaled his smell. 

“Baby, it’s okay. You were gone for 5 years. So was half the world. Before that, you were living in Wakanda, where you didn't have to deal with the stresses of regular life. And, before that, you were trapped within someone who wasn't you. Don’t blame yourself for any of this. I love you for who you are.” You said, and Bucky turned around, his arms circling your waist. 

“How did I get so lucky?” he mumbled into your hair. You giggled, and lifted your head. “By saving my life,” You said, before pressing a kiss to his lips. He kissed back immediately, and pulled you closer. 

You pulled away when the need for oxygen became dire, and you smiled at them again. “All I did was pull you out of the way of a car that was out of control, doll.” He said, and ran his hand down your arm as you pulled out of the hug. “I would’ve gotten hit if you didn't. I’m not a super soldier like you are, its highly unlikely I would have survived if it weren't for my hero,” You mentioned, as you walked over to your backpack and pulling out your laptop.

Bucky chuckled, and watched as you sat down in the chair across from the tv. You tucked your feet under yourself, and sat your laptop on the arm before powering it on.

Bucky began to move about the kitchen and make the two of you dinner. No matter what you said, he couldn't stop feeling guilty about the state of his apartment. He could have at least bought a blow up mattress for you to sleep on, so you wouldn't be stuck sleeping on the hard wood floor with him. Better yet, he could have bought a bed. He had a bedroom, but he didn't feel comfortable in there. He glanced over at you while he washed the carrots in the sink and saw how you stretched your back before returning to your homework.

It wasn't an unusual occurrence for him to hang out with you while you do homework. He actually enjoyed watching you do school work. he could barely remember school, and he never got to go to college. Between working and taking care of Steve, he both didn't have time and couldn't afford it. Then the war started, and he thought about going after, but his capture by HYDRA kinda ruined that one. During his time in Wakanda, he had thought about going to college, but at that point he was still a wanted criminal and that was out of the question. He had been thinking about it more recently, and had decided to wait until he was finished making his amends to enrol somewhere. 

Mainly, he was just happy that you were getting an education. He planned on staying with you forever, marrying you, having kids with you, and growing old(er) with you, and he knew your future children would benefit from at least one of their parents having up-to-date school education. And, by up to date school education, he meant a curriculum that was developed this century.

He stirred the potatoes in the pot and smiled as he heard your fingers tapping on the keyboard. God, he loved you. You loved him for who he was, you didn't judge him, and most importantly, you didn't blame him for anything that happened. He hadn't been expecting to be so open with you about his past when he asked you out on a date, but you knew who he was instantly, and thanked him for saving your life. He may have physically saved your life that day, but he felt that you saved his life in every other way by just being yourself. 

He continued to listen to you tapping on the keyboard, the clicking of your knuckles as you cracked them, and the slow but rhythmic breathing as you focused on your work. 

Dinner was finished a few minutes later, and you closed your laptop just as Bucky was plating the veggies. You placed your laptop back in the bag, and joined Bucky on the ground to eat. 

“Did you finish your homework?” He asked, and you nodded. You swallowed before speaking. “Yeah. I can't submit it yet, but it’s finished and ready to go,” You said. 

The two of you continued making small talk throughout the night, and Bucky tried to find a way to convince you that the two of you should sleep at your apartment instead, but he knew that it wouldn't work. He tried to bite back the tears while you were in the showers and he laid out the blankets and pillows on the floor for the night. They almost fell again when he walked out of the bathroom from having his shower and saw you snuggled up on the ground, scrolling on TikTok. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he got a cup of water for himself and for you. He thought he had a handle on his emotions by the time he had settled next to you, but the dam broke when he laid down and your had found its way to your chest as it usually did. 

Your head shot up when you heard his shaky breathing and his sniffling, and you immediately wrapped your arms around his neck. “What’s wrong, Buck?” you whispered, and his arms wrapped themselves around your waist before he answered. 

“You deserve to be sleeping on a bed.” he whispered, and you shook your head. 

“No. Don’t do that to yourself. I know how weird it is for you to sleep in a bed, and that's okay. I’ve been camping before, and I’m perfectly fine with sleeping on the ground. I’m fine, baby.” You whispered, but Bucky still shook his head. 

“I should be able to afford a bed,” He said, and you sat up. “Stop. Don’t think that. You’re doing the best you can with what you have. You can barely afford the bills you have already because of what the government is paying you, which is way less than you should be. You’re doing great with what you have.” You reminded him, and he nodded.

“I know. But, I probably should have spent the little money I did have on a bed rather than a TV, but if I don't have the TV on, my mind runs to places I don't want it to. I know that’s not healthy, but neither is reliving everything I did for those years. I wasn't really thinking about having anyone to share my nights with during that time, so a bed didn't seem important. But, I should have bought a mattress when we started dating. Everything is just way too expensive compared to when I was growing up.” He said, a slight chuckle in his voice. You smiled, and pushed him back by the chest. 

He smiled suggestively when you straddled his waist, his hands coming to rest on your hips. “Lets not talk about it anymore, okay? Maybe me riding you will help you forget it.” You said, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips that were red and slightly swollen from his tears. He didn't say anything in return, but kissed you back while running your hands up your back and under your sleep shirt. He moaned when he felt that you weren't wearing a bra. 

“Naughty girl, not wearing a bra,” He whispered, as you kissed down his neck. He grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it up, leaving you in only your underwear. You moaned at his husky voice and ground your hips down on him. He moaned, and grasped your hips in his hands. 

He let you grind on him a little more, thoroughly enjoying it, before flipping you over. He trailed his hands down to your underwear, hooking his thumbs into the straps, before pulling them down your legs. 

He moaned when you were completely exposed to him. You looked at him with lust filled eyes, as he spread your legs, and settled himself on his stomach in between them.

He lifted your legs over his shoulders, and pressed kisses up your slit, making eye contact with you. “Fuckin’ beautiful.” he said, before diving into you. 

He swiped his tongue over your clit a few times, before attaching his mouth to it and sucking. You jolted slightly when you felt the cold metal of his pointer finger slowly push inside of you. He pushed it to the hilt, and then arched up to rub up against your g spot. 

You cried out suddenly and tangled your hands in his hair when his finger started vibrating right up against your g spot, causing you to fall over the edge into orgasm almost instantly. 

Bucky pulled off of you with a pop, and grinned, still moving his finger in and out while you rode out your orgasm. Once your breathing slowed, he pulled his finger out, and put it into his mouth, sucking your juices off of it. He laid on his back, and guided you with his hands until you were on top again. 

You began to shimmy down his body, but Bucky shook his head, and pulled you back up. “No. If you do that, I won't last, and I want to cum in your pussy not your mouth,” He said, and you bit your lip, and nodded.

His hands gripped your hips while you reached down for his now leaking cock, and gave it a few firm strokes, before lining it up at your entrance. You leaned forward and gripped your hands on his shoulder, before sliding down on him slowly.

“Fuck, doll. Always feels so damn good,” Bucky moaned, his hands tightening on your hips. You threw your head back and moaned as you began to move your hips, with Bucky’s help.

“Love seein’ you like this, babydoll.” Bucky rasped out, hit hips thrusting up to meet your movements. “Love how needy you get when you’re on top.” His words made you clench around him, and Bucky grasped your hips tighter to pull you down on his cock harder and faster each time. 

You could feel the pressure building in your abdomen, and you knew Bucky was close as well based on the movements of his hips. You ground your hips into his before continuing to bounce on him.

“F-fuck,” Bucky grunted as he was used over the edge, and released inside of you. You threw your head back as you felt Bucky’s cum smash against your walls, which sent you over the edge, and you shook as you came. 

A few minutes later, Bucky has cleaned both you and him up, and was coming back from tossing the wash cloth in the laundry hamper when he saw you sound asleep on the ground where he left you. He smiled slightly and carried you into the bedroom, along with the blankets and pillows. 

He laid you down and straightened out the blankets, and put your pillow under your head, before laying down next to you, and pulling you into his arms. He drifted off to sleep seconds later with the plan on looking for a second hand bed in the morning. You deserved to sleep on a bed, and so did he, he realized. 

At least the plush carpeting is softer than the hard wood. 

[bookofmirth]

Hey! What are your thoughts on the Archeron sisters dependence on Rhysand?

I love Feyre but the truth is everything she has was given to her by a man and every she currently has was given to her by Rhys. So technically at any moment, he can decide to take it all from her. Not that he would, but the issue is that he could and Feyre would have no say in that. She wouldn’t even have any of her friends left considering they’d all side with Rhys since they’ve known him for 5 centuries.

Also, Nesta. It’s clear Nesta wa super dependant on Feyre and I disliked her so much for it but why wasn’t part of her healing arc finding her independence away from Feyre? It’s clear she can easily make friends with others (I bet it’s super easy when they don’t have biased hatred for you) so I wonder why Nesta’s only option and story forward was finding her place amongst the Inner Circle.

I mean I suppose Nesta will now be dependant on Cassian since he’s her husband but the bigger picture is that both the female main characters journeys end with them BOTH being unhealthily financially dependant on their husbands (isn’t ACOTAR supposed to be some feminist empowerment?)

Anyways, just wanted to know your thoughts on that.

I think that this line of thinking highly underestimates Feyre; if Rhys took away everything, she would be just fine.

Feyre is the one who kept them alive in that cabin for 5+ years. Feyre is the one who took out Amarantha and saved Prythian. Feyre defended Velaris with her powers. Feyre was wildly destructive in Spring and maybe we are still mad at her for that, but she's hardly dependent on anyone else for anything.

I think there should be some context here, just for comparison. Rhys is ultra rich. He's super fucking rich, obscenely so. This would be like saying "well when Mrs. Bezos got her divorce, wouldn't she starve?" No. Not just because of the settlement, but because she has talent in her own right, and also because she can and will go out and work for a living. But my point with this comparison is that that sort of wealth is not normal, and people can live without it perfectly fine. If Feyre were to no longer have access to that wealth, she would just... be like a normal person again. But not even that, she wouldn't be back at the point where we met her in acotar, because she has gained a lot of power and social, political, and cultural capital since then.

If Feyre and Rhys split, or if he decided to stop allowing her access to his resources, she would probably just move to another court, tbh. She's fae now, and the powers that she was gifted when Made give her a ton of social and political sway as well. Rhys may have the money, but Feyre comes to the relationship with her own strengths that Rhys benefits from as well. Money gives him access to resources that not everyone has, but money is not the only source of power in Prythian.

I would argue that Nesta has found her independence from Feyre, and that's why Nesta isn't actually part of the IC, and that's why Nesta didn't automatically bond with all of them. She didn't want a Rhys handout job because she was tired of being dependent on Feyre. Trust me, Nesta hated herself for that dependence, too. Her besties are Gwyn and Emerie, who are not part of the IC. She's close with Az, and obviously Cassian. Based on how it looks like the story will go, she is going to continue training as a Valkyrie/with Valkyries; she has created her own space within the Night Court. I also think that Nesta finding her independence from Feyre was a necessary part of her healing arc.

Nesta isn't dependent on Cassian, either. Rhys gave her a house, so her situation there is secure. She works at the library, which Cassian has no say over. While Nesta did give up most of her fae power, she still has some, she is still High Fae (which is socially better than being Illyrian), and she is still Valkyrie and Orestian (sp?)

I think the tl;dr is that "power" manifests in multiple ways in Prythian (I wrote about that here), and so we should look at all the different types present that each character has before saying that one is at a disadvantage! Financial dependence can definitely lead to some sketchy situations or relationships, but reducing their relationships just to that ignores a lot of other things we know about the world and characters.

I could probably keep writing about this and I might add on later if I have more thoughts.

[half--agony--half--hope]

Travel nurse contract recap

Last week I finished my first 13 week contract as a travel RN Case Manager. Overall it went pretty well.

There were some issues the first few weeks due to ridiculous infighting between the CMs and about what things were whose responsibility that was clear to me was all being caused by one ridiculous SW who made everything a fight and took everything personally. She was also a traveler and when I started I was told she was becoming staff. In the end she must have angered the wrong person (once she literally got in a screaming match on the phone with an interpreter because she thought he was taking too long to ask questions) cause one day we just got told she wasn’t coming back. After that the whole team worked so well together.

All the other CMs and SWs were so welcoming and helpful. My biggest fear with traveling was that I am not a person who does well when I don’t know where things are what resources are available. I like being self sufficient from a deep seeded fear of being a burden. But everyone was always quick to answer questions or give tips. They all told me I adapted quickly and were ego boostingly sad when I left.

About a month before the end of my contract my manager asked me if I wanted to extend. I said sure. The pay was good (I saved in 13 weeks the same amount I’d been able to save in the past 5 years) and I was content and felt stable in my roll. But then the hospital corporate just never responded to the contract request from my company. After 2 weeks my recruiter suggested applying to a few other listings as back up. So I did.

I could have pushed harder to get the extension but within a few days of applying to other places I got offered a contact back down in OC California. It’s 3 12s nights working as a CM for the transfer center of one of the trauma hospitals. I am familiar with a lot of their processes because I have been on the sending end working with them many many times. It’s a bigger hospital than I tend to favor but I think since I will be transfer center and not dealing with actual patients on the floors it wont be so bad. The beauties of transfer center case management is never talking directly to patients/families and only dealing with the bringing in of patients and not the discharge issues.

I am happy that I will be back down in an area I know and around some friends. I am still not big on going to much (I did go to a Giants game while I was up there but nothing else touristy) so being able to just have dinner with a friend occasionally will be great.

Overall I am pleased with my decision to give travel nursing a try. 13 weeks flew by. Money was good. I felt like I was really able to help my patient population. Only had 1 issue with my manager where it felt like I was being thrown under the bus. Nothing really came of it and it was obvious she was just trying to blame her own miscommunication on me. Though that having happened just a few days after I was asked to extend likely played into me not being as willing to go out of my way to make the extension happen.

Here’s hoping the next contract goes as well.

[the-al-chemist]

Dragon Heartstring

Or, How Charlie Weasley Got A New Wand

A/N: This story has been buried deep within my pile of WIPs for some time, the idea for the story having existed since around the time I first started publishing the Hexley Saga. I got around to writing the first half between years 4 and 5, and the second half whilst writing Year 5, and I thought that today - the first anniversary of my first published story - was a good day to share it. It takes place shortly after the HPHM kids’ graduation from Hogwarts and shortly before Harry Potter’s first day at Hogwarts. Consider it a transition between the school years and adult years of the HPHM cast, namely Charlie, who is getting a change of wand to mark the occasion. We’ve all got our own headcanons about how and why Charlie ended up giving his wand to Ron. Here is mine. Enjoy.

Warnings: non-explicit wound description, references to canon character death, brief hint of innuendo.

In the spirit of saving money, the Chatfield family had decided to spend a week camping in the Devonshire countryside instead of going abroad, a decision which they came to regret on the second day of their holiday. Typically, the weather turned decidedly British, flooding their tent and all their belongings, and they were forced to change plans.

As Mr and Mrs Chatfield drove through the narrow winding lanes, quietly bickering over the top of the steering wheel and map respectively, they paused by a gateway, where a young girl was balancing with her feet on the metal gate, leaning over it to pat a group of black-furred cows, her back to them.

“Excuse me,” said Mrs Chatfield, having just won the argument as to whether or not they should stop and ask someone for directions. “We were wondering whether this was the right way to Ottery St. Catchpole?”

The girl turned away from the cows and towards their car, and she jumped down from the gate. She wasn’t as young as either Mr or Mrs Chatfield had assumed from her short stature; she must have been about seventeen, possibly even older. She had dark hair that hung in wet strands around her face, and hazel eyes that reminded them both of a cat. The yellow rucksack she had left by the gate looked surprisingly dry, given the rain that was still falling heavily from the sky.

“Yeah,” said the girl. “It’s not far, actually. Carry on over the bridge, turn left, and then there should be signs from there.”

“Is there a hotel in the town?”

“I dunno,” the girl shrugged. “I’m here visiting my family, I’ve always just stayed with them.”

Mr and Mrs Chatfield thanked the girl, and carried on driving towards the town. In their rear view mirror, they saw the girl wave goodbye, before turning back to the cows.

“I’d better be off, too,” Artemis Hexley said to the group of heifers, once the car full of  Muggles had driven away from her. “See you later, girls.”

She picked her rucksack up from the ground, and walked down the lane and over the bridge, turning right and following the path along the bank of the river until she came to a tall, ramshackle house made up of several stories stacked haphazardly on top of one another. Artemis walked to the front door of the house, winding her way around the chickens that clucked and pecked in the front garden. She knocked on the door three times and heard footsteps approaching on the other side.

The door cracked open, and Artemis was greeted by a single brown eye at roughly the height of her shoulder.

“Artemis!”

The door opened fully, and the owner of the brown eye, a red-haired little girl flew out from behind it, wrapping her arms around Artemis’ waist.

“Hey, Ginny,” said Artemis, returning the girl’s embrace and briefly resting her chin on the top of the crown of her head. “As much as I like your hugs, can we go inside? I’m soaked through.”

Ginny let go of Artemis’ waist and took her by the hand, leading her through the door,

“Mum! She’s here!” she called out, much louder than one might have expected for someone so small.

“Ginny, how many times do I have to tell you? Don’t shout through the house, come and find me to talk to me,” said a lady’s voice from the direction of the kitchen. The voice was followed by the figure of a short, plump lady, also with red hair, appearing in the doorway, her hands on her hips. She caught sight of Artemis, and immediately softened, taking her hands off her hips and stretching them out towards the dark-haired visitor, and pulling her into another hug. “Artemis, dear. It’s lovely to see you. Bless you, you’re sodden. Why didn’t you Apparate closer to the house?”

“I only Apparated around the corner, Mrs Weasley,” Artemis replied. “I just stopped to pat the heifers.”

“Well, you had better go and warm yourself up. Go through to the sitting room and get a fire started and I’ll fetch you a cup of tea.”

Artemis nodded and did as she was told. She had known the Weasleys - her friends Charlie and Bill’s family - for a while now, and had stayed at their house several times in the previous two and a half years. She felt almost as at home here as she did anywhere else in the world, and by now she knew that there was no point in turning down a hot drink from Mrs Weasley.

She went through to the living room, and removed her wand from her pocket. She pointed the wand at the fireplace, and flames appeared in the hearth. She sat by the fire, her knees pulled up to her chest, watching as the flames danced in front of her, her wand lying on the floor at her side.

“You know, your hair will dry quicker if you use your wand for that, too.”

Artemis grinned, and turned her face away from the flickering fire, resting her cheek on her knee as she looked at the owner of the voice that had spoken to her from across the living room: a young man of her own age, with a freckled face and hair as red as Mrs Weasley’s and Ginny’s, who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

“I’m serious,” Charlie Weasley continued, his face straight. “You’re making the floor all damp.”

Artemis pulled a face at him.

“Are you going to come here and give me a hug, or what?” she asked him.

“Only if you keep your wet hair away from me,” said Charlie, smiling and unfolding his arms as he walked over to the fireplace and sat on the floor beside Artemis. As he went to hug her, she shook her head vigorously from side to side, sending droplets of water flying over him. Charlie grimaced and recoiled from her slightly. “Really?”

Artemis laughed and picked her wand up off the floor, and with a wave, her hair and the water she had shaken onto the floor disappeared.

“What? I kept my hair away from you,” she said. “You didn’t say anything about the water itself.”

She went to hug her friend, but he pushed her away, shaking his own head.

“Absolutely not. You don’t deserve a hug after that.”

“Not even when I haven’t seen you for over a month?” asked Artemis. Charlie had been abroad for the previous six weeks, ever since he had started his new job in Romania. This was his first time coming back home, hence Artemis’ visit to the Burrow. “How long are you home for, anyway?”

“My Portkey back is on Sunday afternoon. I just wanted to see Ron before he goes off to school,” Charlie replied. The youngest of his five brothers, Ron, was going to start at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, from which Charlie and Artemis had graduated back in June, in only a couple of weeks.

“Charles Weasley,” said Charlie’s mum, walking into the living room behind a floating tray filled with mugs and a plate of ginger biscuits, “get away from that fireplace at once.”

Charlie looked darkly at Artemis and shook his head. Artemis stifled a giggle. Charlie worked with dragons. A fireplace was the least of his worries.

“Has he shown you yet?” Mrs Weasley said tersely, as the levitating tray stopped levitating and settled on the floor next to Artemis.

“Mum...”

“Shown me what?”

“Nothing,” said Charlie, not looking Artemis in the eye.

“Oh, really? Well, if it’s nothing, you might as well let Artemis see, mightn’t you?” Mrs Weasley’s voice was growing sharper by the second. “Go on. Show her.”

“Alright, alright,” Charlie turned to Artemis, his hand on the sleeve of his knitted jumper. “Just promise me that you won’t freak out.”

Artemis frowned, but she nodded her head. Charlie tugged on his sleeve so that his forearm was revealed, wrapped in a white bandage. He pulled his wand out of his pocket, and touched the tip of it to the bandage, which vanished.

Artemis gasped. On Charlie’s lower arm was the largest and deepest burn mark she had ever seen.

“Charlie, what the-”

“Freaking out,” said Charlie, pointing the index finger of his non-burnt arm at Artemis. “You promised you wouldn’t do that.”

“Well, that was before I realised that you had been turned into a living Guy Fawkes dummy,” said Artemis. “How the hell did you get that?”

“A dragon,” Charlie shrugged.

“Are you seriously going to try and shrug this off?”

Charlie shrugged again. Artemis fought the urge to punch him on his good arm.

“Apparently, the fire-proofing charm he used wasn’t powerful enough,” Mrs Weasley tutted, her hands on her hips once more. “I bet that had something to do with that wand of his.”

“I said you should have bought a new one before you left.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the one I have now,” Charlie protested.

“It has bloody unicorn hair poking out of it, Charlie.”

“It’s fine.”

“Fine?”

“You hear that, Artemis? My son gets burnt to a crisp because he won’t get himself a new wand, but according to him, it’s fine.”

“For Merlin’s sake,” said Charlie, his fingertips pressed to his temples, “can I just deal with one small, angry woman at a time, please?”

“Suit yourself,” said Mrs Weasley, turning to walk out of the room. “Artemis, dear, do try and knock some sense into him, will you?”

As his mother left the room, Charlie let out an exasperated sigh and pointed his wand to his arm again, replacing the bandage. Artemis had seen Charlie use that bandaging charm before, and she noticed that the bandage he had just applied to his own arm was nowhere near as neat as the ones he had conjured in the past. She lifted her eyes from his arm to his face and glowered at him.

“It will heal eventually,” he said, calmly. “It’ll just leave a scar, that’s all. And it’s not like you’ve never tried to set me on fire before,” he gave Artemis a small smile, which she didn’t return. Charlie shook his head. “Oh, come on, Artie. Don’t pull that face.”

“Don’t be a tit,” Artemis retorted, flaring her nostrils at him.

“I’m not-”

“Look at your arm, and look at your wand,” she hissed. “You need to get a new one.”

“I can’t afford it.”

“If that’s all it is, Charlie, I can pay for it.”

“I can’t let you do that,” said Charlie. “Look, I’ll carry on with this one for as long as I can, and save up, and then I’ll replace it.”

“Brilliant,” Artemis didn’t stop scowling. “In the meantime, I can start writing my speech for your funeral. I’ll make sure to tell everyone how proud and stubborn and downright bloody stupid you are, and how you’d rather get yourself killed than...”

Artemis’ voice caught in her throat, and her sentence went unfinished. Her eyes drifted to the fireplace, where she watched the flames lick at the air, the bright light and smoke stinging her eyes. For a few moments, the only sound filling the air was the gentle crackling of the hearth.

“Alright.”

Artemis looked back at Charlie. He’d uttered the word so quietly that wasn’t sure she had definitely heard him say it. He gave her a small smile, and nodded his head.

“Alright,” he said again. “You can buy me a new wand, and I promise that I’ll pay you back.”

“I don’t care if you pay me back or not.”

“I know you don’t, but I do,” Charlie nudged Artemis’ foot gently with his own. “Just don’t charge me interest. I know what you bankers are like.”

“I wouldn’t know how to charge you interest even if I wanted to,” Artemis told him. “I get other people to do the numbers for me.”

Charlie chuckled, then his face grew serious as he started to turn his wand over in his hands.

“It’s weird,” he said. “It just feels wrong, getting a new wand. It’s stupid but it feels like cheating, or something, I dunno...”

“I know. It feels like you’re losing a part of yourself. Betraying that part of you.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s not stupid. That’s how I felt, too, when I had to get a new one,” Artemis sighed. “Word of advice, try not to go for a blackthorn.”

“I’ll try my hardest, but I don’t think I get much of a choice,” said Charlie, his eyes on Artemis’ wand. “You got there in the end, though.”

“In the end.”

“If you had the choice, would you have your old wand back?”

“I... I’m not sure. At first I really missed it, but then... I got that wand when I was eleven, and so much has happened since then, and changed since then. I’ve changed, too. Or not changed, exactly... sort of, grown, I suppose.”

“You haven’t grown that much.”

“If I wanted someone to make fun of my height, I’d have gone to visit Bill,” said Artemis, raising her eyebrows at the impish-looking Charlie.

“Sorry, it was too good an opportunity to miss,” he shrugged. “But I guess a change wouldn’t be such a bad thing. And you’re right, this one is looking a little worse for wear.”

“That’s what happens when you use a wand to toast marshmallows on a bonfire.”

“Maybe don’t mention that in front of mum. She’ll really lose her rag if she finds out about that.”

“I mean, you’re a grown man now, Charlie. What you do with your wand is no one’s business but your own.”

Charlie wrinkled his nose and furrowed his red eyebrows.

“You really didn’t think about how that would sound until you’d already said it out loud, did you?” he said, looking at Artemis out of the corner of his eyes.

Artemis placed her hand over her face and shook her head in response, unable to answer through her quiet laughter. Charlie shook his head and closed his eyes as he too started to laugh.

“Honestly,” said Mrs Weasley, appearing in the doorway once more. “Look at the two of you, sitting there giggling like a pair of naughty schoolchildren.”

“Yeah, well,” said Charlie, opening his eyes and grinning at Artemis. “Old habits die hard.”

Charlie agreed to let Artemis take him wand shopping the following day during her lunch hour. After a full morning of lectures, she was feeling restless. She spent the final half an hour before the apprentice curse-breakers stopped for lunch counting down the minutes until she could get up and out of the uncomfortable seminar room. The second that they were dismissed, she threw her rucksack over her shoulder and ran through the halls of the bank to the main entrance, where a larger and louder crowd than usual had gathered. Dodging her way through the throng, she stepped out into the early afternoon sun that was illuminating the cobbled street of Diagon Alley, waving as she spotted Charlie’s familiar freckled face on the other side of the street, where he was leaning against the windowsill outside Eyelops Owl Emporium. Seeing her, he nodded his head in recognition and stood up, a smile spreading across his face.

“Sorry I’m late,” Artemis said as she reached him. She gestured vaguely to the crowd gathered on the front steps of Gringotts, “Had to get past all of that lot.”

“I’m used to that by now,” Charlie half-laughed, and frowned as he looked at the rabble. “What’s going on?”

“Reporters,” Artemis said, and Charlie nodded.

“They still not found the person behind the break-in, then?”

“Nope. It’s all still very big news here, the Prophet’s been all over it.”

“Well, it was a top security vault, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, but nothing was nicked, so it’s fine,” Artemis rolled her eyes. “But obviously, Rita Skeeter’s gotten involved and now there’s been a crowd like that outside every day. It’s annoying, really. Right, shall we?”

The two of them started to walk down Diagon Alley in the direction of Ollivander’s wand shop.

“How long have you got before you need to go back?” Charlie asked her.

“Doesn’t matter. They’ve got us all doing lectures for now, and there’s nothing they’re covering that I don’t know already, so I’m thinking I’ll just skip this afternoon.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s fine. Merula’s there, I can ask her tomorrow if I’ve missed anything interesting.”

Charlie frowned, but Artemis just smiled and carried on walking. Outside the wand shop, she paused, and her smile faded.

“What’s up?”

“Just thinking,” she said, tilting her head slightly, “I never thought to ask whether you actually wanted me to come with you.”

“Well, I assumed you would be, seeing as you’re paying,” replied Charlie. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, which is okay, by the way.”

“Of course I haven’t. You aren’t getting out of this that easily.”

“Worth a try.”

Artemis pulled a face, and sighed before continuing, “It’s just a kind of personal thing, isn’t it?”

“I guess,” Charlie shrugged. “I don’t mind either way. Do you have other stuff to do?”

“I do have a letter to send to your brother,” said Artemis. “I could go to the Owl Post Office and then come and meet you with my money?”

“Alright.”

“Just promise me you won’t run off with your old wand as soon as I’ve turned my back on you.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Artemis left Charlie at Ollivander’s and made her way to the Owl Post Office, where she paid a sickle to have her letter sent to Bill in Egypt, and spent a little while stroking one particularly friendly tawny owl. On her way back to Ollivander’s, she stopped to ogle a new model of racing broom in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies, and picked up a pair of milkshakes from Florean Fortescue’s ice cream parlour as an apology for once again arriving late.

However, when she got back to the wand shop, she realised that she might as well not have bothered with the peace offering at all; Charlie was still nowhere near ready to pay for his wand. Instead, he was standing alone in the shop, and every available surface was littered with open rectangular boxes.

“Bloody hell, it looks like an erumpent’s been let loose on the place,” Artemis said, looking around at the havoc. She placed the milkshakes down on the windowsill and leant against it, frowning at the disgruntled-looking Charlie. “Not found one yet?”

“Not yet,” Charlie muttered. “Apparently the wand chooses the wizard, and none of these feel like choosing me.”

“Someone must have told them about the marshmallows.”

“Definitely don’t mention that in here,” Charlie shook his head. “I dunno. Maybe we should just forget about this and-”

“Charlie, if you dare suggest keeping your old wand, I swear that I will take it from you and shove it so far up your-”

“Artemis Hexley,” a voice called out from across the shop. Artemis immediately stopped threatening Charlie and turned to smile innocently at the wandmaker, Mr Ollivander, who had appeared behind the counter. “What a surprise. I do hope you’ve not broken another wand.”

“Not this time,” Artemis said, pulling her wand out from her robes to show him. “All in one piece, see?”

“I do see. May I?” Ollivander held out his hands and Artemis handed him her wand. He held it up and tilted it in the dim lamplight, examining it closely. “Blackthorn and phoenix feather. Ten and a quarter inches, unyielding, yes?”

“I think so.”

“And is it serving you well?”

“It is now, yeah.”

“They do say that blackthorn wands need to pass through a period of turmoil with their owners to be fully bonded,” Ollivander handed back the wand to Artemis, regarding her over the top of his spectacles with a curious expression on his face, his eyes glittering. “From what I have heard, you have faced more struggles than most witches and wizards of your age.”

Artemis half-smiled and made a non-committal noise as she pocketed her wand. Her hand was gripped tighter than usual around the hilt. Beside her, Charlie swallowed before speaking to Ollivander.

“Artemis is just here as my benefactor today,” he said, smiling in a good-natured way, his voice consciously casual. “The perks of having a friend who works for Gringotts.”

He glanced at Artemis, whose mouth twitched slightly. She hopped up onto the windowsill and sat in the window, next to the two milkshakes she had purchased from Florean Fortescue.

“Is that so?” Ollivander asked, his voice low.

Artemis nodded, making a point to smile cheerfully, but Ollivander didn’t return her smile. Instead, his eyebrows furrowed, and he turned away from her and Charlie, scanning the shelves. Charlie looked over at Artemis and shrugged, before going over to the window and taking a sip from one of the milkshakes.

“You know, last January I received an owl from the Khanna Estate,” said Ollivander, still concentrating on the shelves of boxes. Artemis felt her whole body stiffen involuntarily. “They wrote to inform me that their most recent delivery of rowan wood would be their last ever delivery of that particular wood.”

Artemis closed her eyes. She felt a hand squeeze her right forearm gently, and she opened them again, her gaze firmly resting on the floor. Charlie removed his hand from her arm and shifted his position so that he was directly at her side. She looked at him, and he offered her a very small but reassuring smile, which she took a shaky breath before returning.

Ollivander, oblivious to Artemis’ discomfort, continued, “Of course, I understood the reasons behind the decision, terrible business. Terrible. However, it was a shame, they really did produce some of the finest quality rowan I’ve ever seen.”

“Where are you going with this, Mr Ollivander?”

Though his question was asked politely enough, Charlie’s voice held a distinctly sharp undertone.

Mr Ollivander returned to the shop floor holding a long narrow box, which he opened to reveal a wand, intricately engraved with a pattern consisting of several ancient runes.

“I tried to eke out my supply of Khanna rowan wood for as long as possible, but eventually, I had to use it all. This was the last wand I made with their final batch of lumber,” he said. “Rowan wood, dragon heartstring. Ten and three quarter inches, surprisingly springy.”

Artemis looked at the wand again and felt a tugging sensation in the centre of her chest. Never before had she wanted so much to touch a wand that wasn’t her own. She forgot all about the one in her pocket; she wanted this one. She wanted the rowan wand.

But, Ollivander had other ideas for the wand. He held it out, not to Artemis, but to Charlie.

“Perhaps you’d like to try this one, Mr Weasley.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Charlie replied, looking at Artemis apprehensively. She attempted to look nonchalant, as if she wasn’t fighting the urge to snatch at the wand and keep it for herself.

“It’s fine, Charlie,” she said, breezily. “It’s just a wand.”

Charlie inhaled deeply, before nodding his head.

“Alright,” he shrugged. “This one probably won’t want me either, anyway.”

Artemis forced herself to smile, and Charlie reached forward to take the wand. He picked it up out of its box and held it in his left hand. His eyes closed, and he drew his breath before opening them again. When he did open them, they were on Artemis, and were filled with an expression of apologetic resignation.

“It likes you, doesn’t it?” Artemis asked him.

“I think so, yeah. I’m sorry,” replied Charlie, and Artemis nodded, trying not to show her disappointment. “But, you know, if this one likes me, one of the others might, too. If you like, I can try some more, and-”

“What?” Artemis shook her head. “No, Charlie, that’s ridiculous.”

“I just thought-”

“Well, don’t think. Just wave the bloody thing so we know for sure it wants you before I go spending my money on it.”

Charlie sighed, and tentatively raised the wand, sweeping it across the front of him. From it emerged a flurry of small golden particles that danced in the air like fireflies before disappearing. He turned back to Artemis, looking as if he were about to ask her permission for something.

“I said it’s fine,” she told him, before he could say anything. “Mr Ollivander, we’ll take this one. Thank you.”

Mr Ollivander bowed his head. He returned to the counter, took out a quill,and scribbled on a small pad of paper. After almost a minute, he spoke.

“That will be four galleons.”

“Only four?” Artemis wrinkled her nose. She had never been good with numbers, but from what she could remember, both her own wands had cost almost twice that much. The wandmaker chuckled at the look on her face.

“But you see, Miss Hexley, you’ve already paid for this particular dragon heartstring once before.”

[justaloserwhowrites]

Hopeful Part 7

A/N: I will be posting the last part later tonight. It's gonna be a long one. Enjoy!

Pairing: Peter Parker x Female Stark!Avenger!Reader

Warnings: death, grief, disappearance (side note: these warnings are for the series as a whole)

Tony had figured it out and went to the team to propose a plan to save the people they couldn't 5 years ago. It took days of planning, and they weren't quite sure they could pull it off. Doesn't mean they weren't gonna try. While everyone was having some difficulty getting their stones, Tony had particularly screwed the pooch hard on this one, as he once told Peter. So, as a result, he and Steve traveled to Camp Lehigh in 1970. They were trying to just get what they needed and get out. One thing that wasn't accounted for in all his planning: seeing his dad.

"The door's this way, pal." Howard yells down the hall to Tony. This lead to Tony bumbling around trying to keep his cover. He hadn't seen his father in so many years that he didn't even know how to in front of him. He walked along with him making small talk.

"So, flowers and saurkraut. Got some big date night?" Tony inquires.

"Oh no. My wife is pregnant," Howard hesitates for a second, "and I've been spending too much time at the office."

"How far along is she?" Tony digs again.

"Uhh. I don't know," he holds his hand about half a foot from his own stomach, giggling a little. "She's at the point where she can't stand my chewing so we eat in seperate rooms. How about you? Do you have any kids?"

"Yeah. Two daughters." Tony smiles.

"I wish I had a daughter. Less of chance she'd end up just like me."

"You know there's nothing wrong with that. I thought my dad was the worst because we were so similar. Then, I had my oldest and she turned out just like me. I was horrified when I saw myself in her, but seeing her it made me like myself more and be kinder to myself. She brought out the best in me." Tony advises.

"Wow. I never thought of it that way," Howard comments as the two men exit the elevator. "Can I ask you something? Were you nervous?"

"Wildly."

"How'd you do it? Did you know how to handle everything? Did you feel qualified?"

"I puzzled together as I went along. I thought of my dad and what he did."

"My father never found a problem he couldn't solve with a belt."

"I always my dad was rough on me, but I only remember the good stuff now. He taught me the most important lesson in life."

"What's that?"

"No amount of money could ever buy a second of time."

"Sounds like a smart man."

"And he knew it." Tony looks at Steve pointing to the case.

"You know this isn't even here yet, but there's nothing that I wouldn't do for him. It was good to meet you, Potts." Howard's comments.

"Howard, everything's gonna be alright." Tony hands back the items he held for Howard. "Thank you for everything," Tony whispers giving him an awkward hug before disappearing.

Once they came back, they knew Nat was gone. They still had to go through with it for her honor. They assembled a makeshift gauntlet for Bruce to use to undo the snap. Through the pain, Bruce manages to snap his fingers.

You opened to see you were standing right where you were a second ago, but this time things seemed to shift and change before your eyes.

"Pepper." You manage to get out. "Pepper! Dad! Hello!." Tony hears you from the other room. Immediately, he runs into the kitchen where you stood before him. Alive again.

"(Y/N)?" Tony gently asks.

"Dad!" You yell running towards him. You are caught into a sweet, but bonecrushing hug. "You've been missing your root touch-ups, haven't you?" You laugh as a single tear falls down your cheek.

"You've been back two seconds, and you're already busting my chops." He says, wiping away from the sole tear on your cheek.

Good things never seem to last long. At that moment, you heard a huge rumble coming the sky. Without thinking twice, Tony shouts, "Unlock and deploy 17-B."

Within seconds, you were covered in a head to toe armor just before the missiles hit the building. The building collapses in its entirety. When the dust settles, you open your eyes to see Tony had shielded your armored body with his own.

"What the hell was that?"

"Company." Tony answers.