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aggressive-positivity-network · 4 years

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Spy and a very laid back love interest who is always bugging them to "just relax" and "chill a little bit"?

Oh god, this would be the best dynamic EVER. Spy would learn to chill and the partner would learn to care. It’s just...so wholesome...

Non-Emergencies:

Spy would simultaneously be trying to keep up his face-of-stone persona while also hyperventilating.

“Do...is the screw under the sofa? Perhaps next to the TV stand? If we don’t use every piece it may fall apart. Sacre...do you even care at all?!”

You raise your eyebrows. “Okay, you know what, let’s hear it.”

“Pardon?”

“If we don’t find the screw, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“YOU KILL YOURSELF ON THIS DEATH TRAP DISGUISED AS A SOFA!”

“How?”

You got him there. He thought for a while, not wanting to admit he was wrong. While he was pondering, you lift up your leg and you find the lost screw. You had been sitting on it.

“Looking for this?”

Spy snatched the screw away from you, cursing under his breath. You can’t help but snicker.

“Listen, if furniture killed, IKEA would have gone out of business long ago.”

“Oui, oui, you are hilarious. Hon hon hon.”

“Aw, you’re so cute when you get all worried about me.”

“Go to hell.”

“Only if I can take you with me.”

After Work:

A lot of times, Spy will come home from jobs absolutely exhausted. He usually finds comfort in you. The Frenchman has told you when he was particularly tired that you “smell like home.” If you are still up, he’ll sit next to you on the couch and eventually fall asleep on your shoulder.

However, every once in a while, he will walk through the door, his eyes wide, his body shaking, and his hair a mess. After those nights, he is always jumpy and anxious for the next week or so.

During those periods, you make sure to give him some extra TLC. You take over meal duties for a while, you make sure to watch shows that don’t have gunfire, screaming, or combat, and you make sure to pour positive thoughts back into his life.

“Spy, I saw the cutest Pomeranian! I know you’ve said you always wanted one.”

“My barista was French, and her name is Mimi! I may have a bit of competition...”

“I saw a double rainbow on the way home! My grandpa always said that double rainbows meant a happy marriage - I guess he was right!”

You’d know he’d be feeling better when you’d come home to the smell of camomile and disinfectant...he always cleaned and made tea when he was in a good mood.

It was also his way of “making it up to you.” He’s always embarrassed about his episodes, but you always secretly like loving on him a bit.

He never let you treat him this romantically otherwise - he felt it was his responsibility to swoon.

But, despite his aversion to being spoiled, he always seems to have a smile on his face when you surprise him with gifts and loving words.

Problems With Being Assertive:

Even though you are as kind as you can to everyone, sometimes kindness isn’t enough. But due to your large family and little personal time growing up, you are a little too forgiving when it comes to how people treat you.

Spy, however, is intolerant of any disrespect. He has scared off many telemarketers and belligerent Girl Scouts with his withering looks and sharp words.

One night, you both were at a restaurant, and you ordered a salad to eat before the main course, as this establishment was known for taking their sweet time with dishes.

Twenty minutes later, your salad arrives, absolutely covered in cheddar cheese. Because you’re lactose intolerant, you had ordered no cheese AT ALL, but your salad had so much cheese you couldn’t even see the top of the lettuce.

Now, Spy has an almost scary memory, and knows exactly what you ordered, but he doesn’t say anything except that you should probably ask for another salad.

“This is their job, mon chéri. If they did not do it correctly, that is not your fault.”

You finally do pluck up your courage and ask the waiter to get a salad without cheese.

They are reluctant, saying that wasn’t what you ordered the first time, but a glare from Spy sent them scurrying back to the kitchen. You get a little irritated.

“Honey, they’re trying their best. Working at a restaurant is hard enough already without remaking something I didn’t have to eat.”

Spy raised his eyebrows. “Something you didn’t have to eat? That you expressly asked for? At a restaurant?”

“You know what I mean.”

The salad comes back and it is very obviously the same salad but with handfuls of cheese picked off. There was still quite a bit left.

Spy is now visibly angry, and you look to him for help, but he shakes his head. He wants you to deal with this on your own. You can’t rely on his social bravery forever. He just gestures to the waiter, who is already starting to walk away, and smiles.

You take a deep breath.

“I’m really sorry, but there’s still cheese on it...I can’t...I can’t eat it.”

The waiter rolls his eyes. “If we make your salad again, you’ll have to pay for all three.

“There’s...only two.”

“You sent it back, we remade it, and now you want me to remake it again. Three.”

“But then why did you add cheese this time?”

“You ordered it.”

“I did not order cheese on my salad! I am really, really lactose intolerant! And...and I ordered no cheese so I wouldn’t be throwing up all weekend! So why would I order cheese?”

“You should have informed us of any allergies you had.”

“I did! By asking for no cheese! What, do I need a doctor’s note to eat here?!”

The waiter started to say something else, but you cut him off.

“It wouldn’t even be that big a deal if your food didn’t take an hour and a half to get here! I haven’t eaten since breakfast, because all my orders got backed up! I just wanted a salad! A salad to eat while your gourmet chef put your gourmet dishes in a gourmet microwave! I thought I could come in, talk with my beautiful husband, and eat a little more than I should so I could konk out watching Nailed It! when I got home! I don’t want to argue with you! I just want a damn salad!”

You strike the table, causing your silverware to clink together. You put your head in your hands and massage your temples for a few seconds.

“So. A salad. With no cheese. Not extra, not some, not picked off. None.”

Spy grinned, impressed.

“I would listen to them if I were in your position, mon ami. You have cleaning duty tonight, no?”

The waiter nodded slowly.

“Let’s just say I have to book a hotel when they accidentally eat dairy. It even set off the fire alarm once, didn’t it, dearest?”

You cock an eyebrow, but you agree to play along. He didn’t have to take it that far.

The waiter blushed scarlet and retreated back to the kitchen. He didn’t say anything all night, and followed each of your instructions to a T.

Once you got back in the car, you smacked Spy on the shoulder.

“Set off the fire alarm?! Seriously?”

“I have been lying all day, mon amour. Forgive me if I wasn’t exactly up to snuff this evening.”

“We can never go here again! Ever! I’ll be known as the guy who almost blew up the bathroom!”

“It isn’t such a loss...I much prefer dining in anyway.”

There was a silence. Suddenly, Spy wrapped his arms around you and kissed you so suddenly you almost fell over. He pulled back after a while, taking his mask off.

“You are so irresistible when you’re angry...”

You giggled. “Did I find a sweet spot?”

“Oui. Most definitely.”

“We’re not going to go to the movies, are we?”

“Unless you prefer the smell of stale popcorn to get you in the mood.”

“You had better make it up to me after tonight.”

“Oh, I will, mon chou. I will.”

**************

I know that this is a little shorter than usual, but I wanted to leave a little more to the imagination. Besides, some bigger HCs are coming up, and I don’t want you to be reading a novel every time I answer a request.

Call this a Non-canon Novella!

#tf2 #tf2 fandom #tf2 ask blog #tf2 headcanons #tf2 headcanon #tf2 spy #tf2 x reader #spy x reader #answered ask #answered request #request

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vesuvian-american · 4 years

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Main sick reacting to a Mc who is touch starved ???? Don’t have to do this one if you don’t want to

I always wanted to do this one, I just went through the roughest of patches, and I’m still in it but I randomly got the energy to actually get at these requests I have. Lets get started!! I’m touch starved too!

Asra

He’s more than happy to comfort you when you need a little extra TLC

He’s the lazy type, always ready to close up shop a little earlier than usual just so he can lay in bed and hold you

He’s peppering you with kissing and just breathing you in for as long as you like

He rubs circles into your back and when he does break away from you its only to make you both some tea

He always makes sure to keep you comfortable and happy, giving you all the love you need

Nadia

Though her responsibilities require more attention she always makes sure to keep you close by

Always holding your hand and keeping close eyes on you

When she does have a moments peace during the day she’s sure to give you all of herself

Giving you kisses, holding you, making sure your personal needs are met and fulfilled until shes free again at night

Be ready for a very intimate bath that evening, she’s tending to you and taking care of you just the way you like

Julian

He’s touch starved too and he knows just what to do to remedy the situation

He slinks into your lap so you both can feel at ease

You pet his hair and he holds tightly on to you

He’s whispering sweet nothings while you both just start to relax in each other’s arms

When you both head to bed to sleepily continue this cuddling, you both scooch close under the blanket becoming tangled in each others limbs, he loves reminding you how much he loves you when he has you this close

Muriel

He’s touch starved but he doesn’t know it, but if you teach him he’ll try to help

Holding you close eases both of your anxieties

Though at first it seems like you’re mostly helping him out, when you get him to lay down with you he hugs you tighter and presses his face into your neck, and thats more than you expected

He squeezes you tight and rubs his hand up and down your back softly with the other hand kneads into your hip

The closeness makes him blush more than he ever has but he’s not going to be letting go anytime soon, he likes this and its good for the both of you

Portia

Pillow pile time right after shes off work

You, Portia, and Pepi are quick to cuddle up to one another and Portia is never shy in giving you that affection you need

Half the time you never have to ask, she like being affectionate

You never have to be afraid to ask more of her, shes happy to help and make you feel loved

Lots of kisses all over your faces, this will continue until you laugh

Lucio

He’s touch starved too but he wont ever admit it

He’ll just cuddle up with you “because you asked” but really he’s been looking forward to the alone time all day, itching to get into your arms and forget about everything else

He becomes really soft and sweet when you both are alone, finally able to drop the “I’m hard, I’m tough” act he has been holding together all day

He’ll ask for kisses though, even when he doesn’t need too

He holds you face with his hand using his golden one pull your body closer to him

He’ll hold you close like this until you fall asleep and he loves to watch you like that, at ease and safe with him

#hc #fluffy hc #main 6 #asks #requests #headcanons #headcanon

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galaxybeginnings · 5 years

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😇🤒 🎃💄👅👀 👃👂 ✋🦋🎄 ☔❄🍓🍦

Kiss Symbols - 😵 S-So many to do… combining what I can….

😇🤒👅👀 - Surprise/Sick/Tongue/ (Heavy Make out Session with possibility of sex)

Miyaki had been battle a cold for the last few days which caused her to cancel a date with Sea. She had even promised to go see him at the hospital during his lunch hour but that wasn’t happening either. Sniffling she was on the search for the tea she normally drank during times like these. Earlier she had even taken some cold medicine which was making her feel a bit off. As she pulled down the tea can she was looking for she heard him call her name. Turning around there he was, standing on the other side of the island with a slightly worried look. Behind him by the door was her brother heading out but giving her a nod of approval for once.

A few sniffle and a sneeze struck her causing the can in her hand to drop. Sighing a bit she went to get it only to have Sea’s hand enter her line of sight. Looking up with his face inches from her she blushed a bit which was a little hard to see through her fever flushed cheek. Thanking him she took the can and assistance to stand. He of course shooed her out of the kitchen and to the couch. Having a doctor as a boyfriend means that one can get extra scolding for not resting while sick. As she took her place on the couch she watched him.

When he came over with a mug of the tea she shifted so he could sit next to her. As he did an urged surged through her. As the sound of the mug being placed on the coffee table was heard she called his name and as he looked at her she kissed him. Was the cold medicine making her bolder or losing to her feelings for him? She didn’t mind as she moved herself closer to him.

Arms wrapping elegantly around his neck she got even bolder. Hesitantly she let her tongue press against his. Responding the best she could to his lead as it seemed he was passed the surprise stage. Her breathing had grown heavier against his lips as she started letting him slowly take control of the kiss. She wanted more as she started to feel his hands touch her skin just under her tank. A small short moan hummed in her throat at his touch. She didn’t stop him. Her intensified kiss was to encourage him for more.

🎃💄👃👂 ✋🦋 - Halloween/Lipstick/Eskimo/Ear/Hand/Butterfly

The leaves crunched under the feet of pedestrians. Her hand was in his as they were making their way to what he was calling a halloween gala. She was a bit nervous since this was going to be the first time she went to something like this but she was willing to since this was to raise money for the childrens ward to make sure that their program can help all no matter what their social standing.

She had decided to use this as a chance to be in her Lunar form. There was no way that anyone would suspect her as this on a night like tonight. It was a lot of fun actually for her to put together an outfit for herself that fit a theme he had pulled from a hat - Greek gods. She had found a wedding dress online that needed some TLC which she was able to do with the help of the cafe owner’s wife. It was a bit harder to find one for Sea but they were able to and honestly, she might have overdone it with all the details. When he had come out in the completed costume she broke out if a burning red blush.

While she did final adjustments outside the event hall, she looked up at him before giving him a quick kiss, her hands cupping his face. Pulling away she saw that she had left some lipstick on his lips. Giggling lightly she wiped it off before pressing the tip of her nose to his. “Thank you again for inviting me to this.” She then lightly kissed his cheek, ear and then taking his hand she kissed his palm. Blushing darkly she shyly said, “J-Just so you remember that you came with me…” Pressing her palm to her lips she felt selfish to have said this.

A small squeak came from her when his face once again was in hers. Her eyes fluttered which inadvertently caused butterfly kiss. She was such a mess that it was going to take a lot to calm down before going in.

🎄❄- Mistletoee/snow

A gentle snow fell as the two stood under a light tunnel near the hospital. Sea was on call tonight so Miyaki decided to bring him dinner and some coffee. Nothing is better than non hospital coffee. Last time she had tried some when she visited it tasted like burnt water instead. She was happily snuggled in his arms as he hugged her from behind. Hearing him chuckle she looked back at him to see why only to see him pointing up. Looking up she saw that there was a small bundle of mistletoe hanging above them. Feeling her cheeks heat up she looked back at him to only feel his lips on her, an intense but sweet kiss being given to her. One of her hands cupped his cheek as she melted.

☔- Rain

She struggled to keep up with Sea as they ran through the sidewalks with her grocery bag on her shoulder. As she was about to catch him he had suddenly stopped, grabbed her wrist and pulled her under a tree that seemed to give basic coverage. As she tried to wring out what she could from her hair he hugged her. Looking up she couldn’t help but smiled since his hair was sticking to his forehead. Freeing an arm she brushed away the sticking strands before giving a light kiss. “Seems like the rain is our enemy and blessing at the same time.” Giving a light giggle a gentle blush was on her cheeks.

🍓🍦- Shared Food/Ice Cream

Having just finished her work shift she came out of the kitchen with one of the last desert of the evening. Setting it before Sea she took the booth seat next to him. It was a simple strawberry shortcake but with vanilla bean ice cream to go along with it. As she was about to take a bit of the cake Sea stole the bite that was about to be hers. Pouting a bit she instead took a bit of the ice cream. Feeling his gaze on her she looked at him sheepishly. There was no possibly way she could be bold for this even though a small image had appearing in her mind. After swallowing the bite she pecked his cheek.

#seakiumi #THIS IS THE MOST IVE WRITTEN IN ONE REPLY EVER IN MY LIFE #|| Lunar Princess ||#|| Galactic Replies ||

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facepalming-since-chernobyl · 5 years

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Why Kara and Lena’s so called “friendship” is toxic :)

You can’t trust them.

In any close relationship, trust is essential—this goes double for an established friendship. But if you have a confidant who you can't share important information with, trust could be an issue, Elridge says. “If you find yourself not being able to trust a friend—their intentions, their word, their confidentiality—check the status of your friendship.” Did Kara reveal who she is? No. Also “Friendships are built on trust. After all, if you can’t rely on your BFF, what’s the point of having one? So, Bonior says, "If you don't trust that they have your best interests in mind... that's often a sign that something's not working."

The last ep of season 4 suggest that Lena had bad intentions and she probably plots a revenge. The tea is – Kara doesn’t trust Lena enough to inform her who she is and is AFRAID of Lena’s reaction.

You’re giving more than you’re getting.

If your friend always seems to need your help, but can’t return even the smallest favor, then chances are they’re toxic. You can tell, Bonior says, when "there's a big imbalance between what you're giving and what you're getting." Case in point: that friend who always monopolizes the conversation with what's going on in her life.

When was the last time Kara turned to Lena for help? Remember when Lena visited “sick Kara”, brought her soup and then started to talk about James? Exactly.

Lack empathy

They don't feel your pain.

Remember when Lena used her position of power and forced Kara to do her job? Oh yes, she is a business women and she needs to take care of her company, because of course Kara doesn’t writing that article would have hurt Lena’s business. And good to know her money are more important than Kara :)

You know they talk sh*t about you

While “there's a spectrum of talking about people behind their back,” according to Bodior, if your friendship is starting to resemble an episode of the Real Housewives, it’s probably toxic. The key, she says, is knowing if your friend is speaking out of genuine concern for your best interests or not.

Aka Lena talking shit about Supergirl to Kara in the end of season 3. Yeah, her stans will say Lena didn’t know Kara is Supergirl, but a) Lena called Supergirl her friend when it suited her before and even built her a freaking statue, b) it doesn’t change that Lena talked shit about Kara. Also, if you think Lena would have not trashed Kara like that, even if she had known who Supergirl was, then lol, you don’t know Lena Snowflake Luthor at all. And friendly reminder it’s because Kara doesn’t trust Lena enough.

You don’t think they have good intentions

Well, Kara doesn’t, but we know Lena is pissed off, “hurt” and evil ;3

You make excuses for them

When a friend is known for their bad behavior, they put you into the uncomfortable position of justifying their actions to others—and that’s toxic.

Classic SC relationship with Kara always making excuses for Queen Lena. And remember how Kara broke a guard’s arm basically for Lena?

They're freeloaders

They take advantage of your generosity and give nothing in return. They can stay at your house for months or years without chipping in for groceries, or even offering a thank-you.

When Lena talked with Kara about Mon-El? After SIX MONTHS and only because Lena bought CatCo to… clear her name. But she brought soup when Kara was sicks! Yeah, and then started talk about herself.

They're judgmental

They pass harsh and critical judgment based on their own ideas. They're not open to hearing your version of the story – did Lena EVER listen to Supergirl or Kara?

You don't know why you're friends with them

Once upon a time, you two were inseparable. But now, you feel like you're on two different planets. While your priorities evolved and changed over the years, your friendship—not so much. "Just because you have a history with this person doesn’t mean you need to have a future together," says Lombardo. "...You are not responsible for this person’s happiness, and you will not be able to change them (no matter how much you wish you could)."

Guess what? It’s not Kara’s job to make Lena happy, it’s not Kara’s job to make Lena good, it’s not Kara’s job to keep Lena from harming others. Also, what Lena gives to Kara? What Kara takes from this so called friendship, besides the fact it makes her a liar. Supercorp friendship is ONE-SIDED :)

You have to be careful around them

Does it always feel like you’re walking on eggshells, afraid of saying or doing something that will make them fly off the handle? Classic sign.

Why Kara doesn’t criticize or points Lena’s character flaws out? Right, because Supergirl knows Lena will throw a tantrum.

They won’t stop criticizing you

When a friend is always judging you, it can do a number on your self-esteem. Somebody who constantly belittles you and points out your flaws—we all have them!—might not have your best interests at heart.

Lena and her classic “you have a god complex”. But ok, ok, Lena did praise Superigirl. She even founded a statue of her… and then she said she has a god complex or that big amazing tantrum from s4 when Superigirl again pointed out the harun-el issue.

All you do is talk about them

An important part of friendship is give and take; sometimes you’re going to need some extra TLC, and sometimes they will. But if your friendship is consistently lopsided and solely focused on their needs there might be a problem. “If you notice that you’re always the one counseling, loaning, or saving in the relationship, then that friendship has the potential to be toxic.

Again, when Kara went to Lena to talk about her personal problems? And unfriendly reminder about the “sorry I didn’t talk to you about your boyfriend who had to leave Earth six months ago but I had better shit to do”.

They're energy vampires

Healthy relationships leave you feeling emotionally fulfilled. Not so with a toxic ones. “You’ll leave an interaction with a toxic friend feeling drained,” Elridge says. “This could be because of the drama they bring, or because of the heavy lifting you have to do with them without any reciprocal support.”

“Friendships should provide daily bouts of joy in your life. What a friendship should not bring in to your life is stress,” says Tammy Shaklee, relationship expert and founder of H4M Matchmaking. “It should not leave you feeling anxious, obsessed, or drained.”

Classic Supercorp :)

Everything is always super dramatic.

Of course, life is not without its ups and downs. It’s only normal that drama will pop up…but if a friend seems to thrive on that drama and is constantly sucking you into it, it may be cause for concern.

Lena’s life is a constant drama and she drags Kara into it.

You never have a chance to speak

Hi Lena, it’s so nice of you to bring me a soup when I’m sick and I’m so happy we can talk about your relationship problems with James, I love you :))))) Hey, Lena I need to confess I’m Supergirl, but ok, let’s listen to your constant man’s pain :)

Deliberate Humiliation

Gentle teasing is part of many good friendships, but being shamed in public is another story.

Lena and her you have a god complex said with venom in front of DEO agents. And then in front of Alex in s4.

An Inconsistent Personality

Everyone experiences different moods, and of course, you can’t expect all of your friends to constantly be in a good mood. On the other hand, if you have a Jekyll and Hyde friend who is joyful one might and furious at you the next, you’re in an unhealthy dynamic that’s hazardous to your mental health.

Lena turns from your best friend to GO DO YOUR JOB in a second.

Emotional Blackmail

Toxic friends often withhold affection or support depending on the circumstances. This is because their love is conditional and highly based on what you can do for them. So, if you say you can’t go to a social event then the friend may refuse to take your calls, or be cold in conversation until you change your mind.

Or they will threaten to fire you :)

Blame

Everyone makes mistakes in relationships. Good friends can apologize for their part in such arguments or other clashes.

Lena never apologized :)

They're liars

They habitually lie with every intention to deceive you. They tell improbable stories which you know are far from the truth.

This goes for Kara. But it goes for Lena now, after the sweet finale of season 4. Alsom she lied about harun-el and kryptonite. And didn’t say a shit

They're resentful

They never give up their ruthless nature. If they believe you have wronged them they won't forget until their mean-spirited wrath is launched on you. – aka the plot for season 5 :)

#anti sc #antilena #gmo lena #kryptonite lover #my shit

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madamlaydebug · 6 years

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In the midst of the winter doldrums, baths are an easy way to give yourself a little TLC. A nice warm soak soothes pain, relaxes muscles, loosens stiff joints, relieves stress, and primes you for a good night’s sleep. It’s also just a chance to be alone and escape with a good book.

Want to make that bath session extra therapeutic? Look no further than essential oils! Extracted from plants and herbs, essential oils bring the healing properties of Mother Nature right to your tub. Read on to learn how you can use essential oils to get an ultra-relaxing sweet-smelling scrub.

How To Use Essential Oils In The Bath

Just adding a few drops of oil to the bath won’t really do much: as you probably know, oil and water don’t mix! You must first combine your oil with a “carrier” that you can then add to the bathwater. For any essential oil you pick, mix 3-6 drops with half a cup of fragrance-free castile soap, fragrance-free shampoo, or jojoba oil. Add this to your bathwater while the bath is running and then swish it around with your hand.

Oils To Use

Some oils are more popular for the bath than others. We recommend the following:

Chamomile: Gentle even for babies, chamomile oil has a soothing effect on muscles and helps heal irritated skin. Its calming properties are great to ease tension.

Rose: Used in beauty routines for centuries, rose oil is excellent for all skin types! Its emollient, anti-septic, and anti-inflammatory properties moisturize the skin while healing irritation.

Lavender: This aromatic purple flower is proven to have a sedative effect on the mind and is great for helping with anxiety. Use it to relax and for a good night’s slumber.

Eucalyptus: When inhaled, eucalyptus has the ability to clear the sinuses and ease any breathing problems that come from congestion. Treat yourself to a eucalyptus bath when battling a cold (eucalyptus oil is a strong oil, so you’ll only need a few drops of it).

Tea Tree: Used widely in skin products, Tea Tree oil is one of the best natural ingredients for skin. It’s anti-microbial, excellent for acne, and helps with psoriasis and eczema. It’s also got a rejuvenating scent!

Oils To Avoid

Certain oils are best to keep out of the bath as they might irritate the skin. Steer clear of the following:

Thyme

Cinnamon

Cassia

Clove

Oregano

Ginger

Mint (spearmint, peppermint, etc.)

When purchasing oils, make sure that your oils are 100% pure and therapeutic-grade. Even though they smell nice, never put undiluted oils on your skin.

Time to light some candles and turn on the faucet!

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paperback-writers-blog1 · 6 years

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Release my soul

By: Mod McCartney

Rating: T

Paring: John/Paul

Summery: Paul has always had supernatural powers. Most of the time he doesn’t really like having them, but he never has truly hated them until they destroyed everything.

Warning: Death

The as promised super sad fic I wrote this 2 years ago now.

Tissues beyond this line.

John stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He had been for about 45 minutes, though it felt like 45 seconds. He had finished styling his hair ages ago. Now he just stared back at his own almond eyes. He couldn’t deny it anymore. He was in love. That wasn’t a scary thing in itself. What was scary was that he was in love with his friend, his male friend, Paul McCartney. He had been trying to deny it for months now, ignore the dreams, ignore just how much hotter he seemed to get under the collar when he saw Paul in those leather trousers. It was not, as he claimed, the heat of being in the Cavern Club. But it was a very tiny club with a lot of bodies so it was at least believable. The only person who didn’t believe him was himself, and that he could live with for now. But gradually he was noticing the obsession with Paul getting worse. When had he memorised his weekly timetable? How was it he could never remember quite how Mimi liked her tea but he could make it perfectly to Pauls taste? Why did he remember the silliest of things Paul said but could barely remember his own birthday? And that morning it had hit him like a tonne of bricks. Knowing he was going to see Paul today, he thought to himself how he had to make sure to look extra good, put in a bit of extra work on his appearance. He was making himself look good for Paul. Because he wanted Paul to notice him. He wanted Paul to fall in love with him. Eventually he managed to tear his eyes away from the mirror to his watch, realising if he didn’t hurry he would be late. Normally John didn’t care much about timings but with Paul every second was precious. For Paul he was on time if not early. He couldn’t put his finger on what it was about him. It was like there was a presence, a calming aura about Paul that made everything seem okay. He was such a positive and happy person, it was almost impossible to be sad around him. John had enough negativity around. No wonder he was drawn to this lad who seemed to make everything better almost magically with that gorgeous smile, cute chubby cheeks and of course those large doe like eyes. He just made John feel safe in a way he never had. His life had been so unstable and Paul was like that bit of stability, that certain thing he knew he could turn to. Thinking about it all like that, there was no wonder he was head over heels, or as John liked to put it, arse over tit, in love with Paul. Before he knew it, John had grabbed his guitar and headed out to catch the bus, ignoring Mimi’s yells of “glasses John!” He was so deep in thought he almost forgot to get off the bus. His head was far away, luckily he had made the journey enough times he was almost on autopilot. His feet just took him to Pauls front door. He heard himself knocking and realised he had to come back to earth. Last time he had freaked Paul out a bit, just standing at his door and staring. John had come back to himself sat in the McCartney’s kitchen, damp cloth on his head and Paul hurrying to make tea. Another thing John loved was Pauls need to care for people, however small. Sometimes John found himself exaggerating or even faking how he felt just for some of Pauls care. Oddly enough, John had realised a simple touch of Pauls hand could cure him, if he really did have a headache (or, more likely hangover). The door opened and Paul stood there in a simple white t-shirt and jeans, smiling widely. John stared at him for a moment. He looked stunning smiling like that. And within seconds John found him grinning back. “Well are ya coming in or are ya gonna stand grinning like a loon at my door all day?” Paul teased, shaking John out of his thoughts. Quick, John thought, reply with something witty and impressive! “Fuck off McCartney.” He grumbled. Oh bravo. His brain scolded him sarcastically. He inwardly cringed as he stepped into the house. Paul however, just laughed his sweet, light laughter. John just followed Paul up to his room, ready to start their usual song writing and listening to whatever new thing either of them might have picked up at the docks recently. Again John cringed as he remembered he had left his new records at home. Paul kept noticing John pulling funny faces. “Are you alright?” He asked softly. John of course saw this as a perfect opportunity to get a little of that Paul tlc. “Bit of a headache.” He mumbled trying to sound as off as possible. Paul didn’t say anything. Usually if he told anyone he had a headache, their response was “How many last night then John?” But Paul never said anything like that, he never judged him or told him it was his own fault, even when he knew it was. Instead he just went to get the usual tea and cloth and focused their first 20 minutes of their time together on making sure John was okay. John of course had been lying about feeling ill, however, just something about Paul seemed to make him feel better. John just couldn’t understand it. When Paul asked about playing today, John said he could. He was more than ready, feeling better than he had in days.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“What’s the matter with you, John?”

Pauls question cut into Johns daydreaming. It had been about a week since he realised he loved Paul and his obsession had somehow gotten worse. It was getting to the point he could barely be around him without daydreaming or staring at him. Paul had obviously picked up on this behaviour and it was starting to worry him. John seemed so distant lately. Of course John had always lived in his own crazy world that Paul sometimes didn’t understand, but it had never been to the point where he would zone out for a few minutes, blush, actually blush apologise then a few minutes later start zoning out again. He would stare at Paul. Paul could feel Johns eyes on him even when he wasn’t looking, the staring was that intense. Once again John was blushing. Paul knew the next thing out of his mouth would be an apology. He decided to cut in before John had a chance. “Really what’s wrong with you? You’ve been off for a few weeks now an its been getting worse this past week.” He looked so concerned for his friend and honestly John was touched he seemed to care so much. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Paul had that concerned look on his face that just made you want to tell him everything. Because for a moment he looked like he had all of the answers you needed. But John couldn’t admit to him that he was queer for him. His own pride got in the way of that, and when John couldn’t be truthful, when he trying to hide something, he got defensive. “It’s nothing alright?!” He snapped at Paul, getting up to move away from Paul. He couldn’t look at him. “It’s obviously something! You’re not yourself!” “Oh an you know everything about me do you?!” “I know a fair bit! And I know you’re not the type to just… go about daydreaming! Anyway, I was talking to Stu, George and Pete and neither of them seem to notice you’re acting-” “You’ve all been talking about me behind my back?!” John yelled, cutting Paul off. He glared at the younger boy angrily. Paul shrank back his already big eyes even wider as he looked up at the older, and now pissed off, boy. “I…I was worried about you…” He said in a quiet voice, almost close to tears. John deflated at that. How could he be angry at sweet little Paul? He had been worried about him. And if he was talking to others about it, it must mean he had been on Pauls mind quite a bit. “I’m fine.” John sighed. “I mean, fine physically. Just…been thinking a lot recently.” Paul relaxed as John confirmed he wasn’t ill or anything. But if he had something on his mind, Paul figured it might help him to talk about it. It had before. “So whats been on ya mind?” He asked gently. John looked over at Paul, almost snapping back that it wasn’t any of his business. Almost. But of course it was. It was completely Pauls business because it was Paul on his mind 24/7, as he imagined what Paul was doing at that very moment, as he played Pauls favourite songs over and over until he had them perfect, just to impress him the next day. But the major thing that made it Pauls business was the fact that Paul had been starting to creep into his fantasies at night. John had only admitted it to himself a few days ago but John now wanked himself off to fantasies of Paul. What it would be like to kiss him, to touch him. What it would be like for him to touch John. What Pauls mouth would feel on his- “John!” Pauls voice snapped him back to reality. At first he thought Paul was just trying to get a response but when he looked over he noticed Paul was staring wide eyed and slightly terrified at him. Or more exactly, at his jeans. John looked down. “Oh fuck!” He turned away from Paul. Thinking about those fantasies had caused him a little problem. He was now hard in front of Paul and he couldn’t be more embarrassed even if Paul commented ‘is that it?’ He quickly went about thinking of horrible things, of Mimi, of dead kittens. Eventually he managed to pull himself together. It took even longer for him to turn around and face Paul who was sat watching John curiously, his head slightly tilted. “John…dya fancy someone?” Paul asked carefully. Of course there was only one answer John could give without sounding extremely creepy that he zoned out in his best friends room and popped a boner. “Y…Yeah…” He mumbled looking down. Paul just smiled. “Oh…well…who?” “Ya don’t know em!” John snapped back. “Someone I went to collage with!” Paul looked confused. There was only one person that John really kept in contact with from his college. But that was absurd! Still, Paul had to ask, if only to confirm his suspicions. “Stu…?” He asked carefully. John looked at him. This would be a good test to see how Paul would react to the news that he might be queer. “What would ya do if it was?” He asked. Paul simply shrugged. “Not much really. Up to you ain’t it?” John relaxed a little. Of course Paul was not judgemental about that. John almost hated him for being so perfect. He kept staring at Paul. He could accept him if he was queer, but what if he knew John was queer for him? Now John could be the impulsive type and this was driving him insane. In a moment of madness and not much thinking, John moved closer to Paul. “It’s not Stu, it’s you!”

Paul had been staring at John for what felt like forever. His eyes wide and mouth slightly open, stilled with shock. Him…John was in love with him?? A million thoughts raced through Pauls head, namely how did Paul feel about that, was it possible he could love John back? But there was a little matter that kept making its presence known to Paul. There were things John didn’t actually know about Paul and that he might not like, or would change his perception of him. What he could do… what he was. Paul realised John was watching him expectantly, almost hopefully waiting for a response. Paul looked up at him and realised he might have some feelings for his friend that were more than just friends. He craved Johns approval, his praise. He did things he would never do just to impress him. He often fought Stu for Johns attention. Paul hadn’t properly realised, or even dwelled on it much until John said that. He almost told John all that. But instead tears welled up in his eyes and he remembered exactly what he was, and how there was no way John would believe him let alone accept that. Paul shook his head. “I…I can’t…I can’t!” John looked quite upset. He looked down, looking as rejected as he felt. “Oh…I see…” Paul looked devastated at the pain on his friends face. “N…No John it’s not-” “No it’s okay, Paul, ya don’t have ta explain yaself. I understand.” “No! Ya don’t! It’s not you! It’s not because I don’t want you! It’s me! You don’t know…you don’t understand! It could never work because there is no way you could understand! I don’t!” John watched Paul have this little breakdown very confused. Pauls rantings weren’t making any sense. “Understand what?” “What I am!” “An…what are you?” “I don’t know!” That stumped John again. How could Paul be upset and not know what he was upset over? What did Paul mean he didn’t know what he was? Was he queer too? Was he struggling with it? John was so used to rebelling and doing his own thing, breaking rules just for the hell of it he never really thought that Paul would have a much harder time accepting this extremely illegal feeling. Though to John the law was stupid, because it was stupid to him to be arrested for feeling something positive, especially love. “Paul…Ya gonna have to explain a bit more.” “I can’t” “Ya can. All the things ya heard from me an never once have ya judged me or made me feel like shit about it like others have had. The very least I could do is listen to this problem, even if I can’t be much real help. A load shared right?” Paul finally looked up to Johns face. He could see the sincerity. Was that love always there? John truly cared about whatever was bothering Paul. He truly wanted to help. He wasn’t just being nosy. Paul took a deep breath. “It…It’s just…I can…do things…that others can’t. Strange things…supernatural things…an…if I was with anyone they would need to understand…an not hate me for it” John stared at Paul, quite confused by now and reasonably so. The more Paul explained, the more confused John became. Supernatural? “Ya not a vampire are ya?” John joked, but there was a slight nervous edge to his voice. The intensity Paul was speaking with, if he said yes, right now John might just believe him. “Oh no nothing like that.” Paul replied, comforting Johns worried and very active imagination. “But it does kind of involve death.” That got John worried again. What the hell could Paul be on about? “Look, Paul luv, ya gonna need to properly explain what ya mean. I promise not to laugh or whatever. I just need ta know. Because I don’t think anything will ever make me not love ya. At least a little.” Paul gave a deep breath then nodded. “Alright…I’ll try to explain…it might be difficult to get ya head around, I have trouble sometimes but just…stick with me. Basically… I can see…well…souls…trapped here an….an I just…help them find peace. But I… I can do other things like…like calm people or…or heal little aches and pains…” John was about to flip. Was Paul some murdering nutcase who made himself believe he was ‘saving souls’ when in reality he was killing people?? But then he thought about the other things Paul had said about calming and healing and John realised he had noticed that about Paul. It kind of made sense that it was some kind of supernatural power. “I believe you.” Paul looked up barely believing his ears. “What?” “I believe you Paul. Cos I’ve felt it. I’ve been in the worst mood or had the worst hang over an you…just bein with you makes me feel so much better…almost better than before the bad mood…an…I don’t think anyone in a million years could come up with that souls thing.” Paul assessed him for a few moments before it sunk in. John accepted him! John loved and accepted him. Before he knew what he was doing, Paul was on his feet and kissing John.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

John walked into his and Pauls London home. He had noticed Paul staying behind after the recording session. He mentioned he just needed to pop off for a moment. By now John knew what that meant and was used to it. So he spent some time with Ringo and George messing about, playing cards and drinking a little. After a few hours, John figured Paul must be done and decided to go home. Though he wouldn’t be that shocked if he wasn’t. John had actually seen Paul do his thing. It looked to him like Paul was talking to thin air, but he knew it could take hours to get a soul to accept they were dead, let alone help them. Sometimes when Paul managed to make them realise and understand what had happened, he would have to comfort them for a bit too. John knew he couldn’t leave Paul for too long though as it often got him down. He could get a bit too personally involved and make a connection to the person and it would put him in a bit of a funk. It would then be Johns job to help cheer him up. When John entered the house though, the pained sobs he heard from the bedroom made him stop and cringe. That could only mean one thing, and it would take all he had to help Paul through this. This was the worst one of all. Those pained sobs of anguish, the feeling that he couldn’t go on like he was meant only one thing. A child. Paul had so much difficulty himself with helping children. It broke his heart and made him never want to help another soul again for fear it would be another child. John made some strong, sweet tea then carefully entered the bedroom. “Macca?” He called softly, more to alert Paul to the fact he was there than to get a response. Paul looked up, his eyes red and full of the pain he was feeling, his face tearstained. He had been crying into a pillow, my pillow, John realised, which he was now hugging tightly to his chest. John put the tea on the bedside table and sat next to Paul. “How old?” He asked gently. Paul pulled that pained face again and rested his head on Johns shoulder. “Four.” He said quietly. “Run over.” John cringed at that. Not only because of the age, but he himself hated hearing about the road accidents because of Julia. No he couldn’t think of that. He had to concentrate and help Paul through this. “S…She was…was just so sweet…I…I couldn’t…I almost couldn’t but…but when I…I tried to…to leave she…she cried…she…she hurt with…without me to…to…” John hugged Paul tightly. He had heard that was the case, that the soul would be in pain if left to wander. It was part of the reason some actually went out of their way to find someone like Paul, just to end the pain. “Don’t be upset then darlin…” John said gently. “Ya helped her…she’s happy now yeah? Without you...she would be in pain…She would-” “I can’t do it anymore John I just can’t! Too many times it…its someone far too young an I can’t do it!” “I know it’s hard but-” “No you don’t! You don’t know what it’s like! You don’t understand how you feel like you’ve killed them! That it’s your fault they have to die! You don’t sometimes see the family stood around crying their hearts out! You don’t know!” “I know, because I can see what it does to you! I can see it tearing you apart but Paulie…what ya doin…its necessary! It’s needed! Oh darlin…don’t think like that…you’re not killing anyone or taking them away…without you they would still be taken away but…” John stopped and tried a different tactic. “It’s like Julia…” He said quietly. “It’s like Mary…wouldn’t you prefer to think they were no longer unhappy or in any pain? Wouldn’t you like to think that instead of roaming the earth looking for relief from the pain they had found a sort of….afterlife of happiness?” Paul sniffed and looked up at John then slowly nodded. He didn’t care that John always talked him around using Mary as an example, it always worked. He would hate to think of his mother in that much pain. He knew the family of that little girl would definitely take comfort believing she wouldn’t be in pain. That she would be waiting for them. John smiled a bit, knowing he had calmed Paul down and made him think rationally, made him remember he was helping not hurting. Without a word he handed Paul the tea then sat back and cuddled him, happy they were okay for tonight but more than ready to deal with this tomorrow.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

John was fast asleep as Paul lay next to him, just staring. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was. He couldn’t believe he had found someone who despite knowing what he could do, what he had to do, loved him and helped him through it. But for years he had been plagued by a little secret that if John found out, might turn him against Paul. Paul didn’t know how he could live with that, how he could get through each soul without John, not just the children. He would always be so down afterwards and no one had ever made him cheer up quite like John could. John didn’t think there was anything he didn’t know about Paul and correcting him, especially with this nugget could send John spiralling. It was worrying Paul so much that gradually he had been losing more and more sleep, as it invaded his dreams. He would wake up and be too scared to sleep again that night. So he would just watch John sleep. Sometimes John caught him. Paul jumped when John moved next to him. “Stop starin at me.” He mumbled in his usual grumpy way. Paul just forced a laugh. “But ya so handsome.” He said, leaning in to kiss Johns cheek. That made the corners of Johns mouth tug into a little smile. Paul smiled back a bit, even though John couldn’t see that and went back to his thoughts. John realised Paul was distracted. He had been noticing it more and more. He originally thought it was the thought of the souls weighing him down, but that theory was quickly disproven as Paul would normally open up about that, this one though he shut John out and refused to let him know. But it was affecting Paul so much, John couldn’t take it anymore. He sat up so quickly Paul jumped. “Right, this has gone on long enough. Ya need ta tell me whats botherin ya. Ya losing sleep over it!” Paul gave a little sigh. “It’s noth-” “If you tell me it’s nothing one more time I’ll deck ya. Just tell me Paul. I thought we didn’t have secrets anymore?” “I don’t want to upset ya!” John wasn’t expecting that answer. “Why would it upset me?” He asked cautiously. Paul bit his lip. “Because it’s about Julia…” John froze at that. Paul very rarely brought his mother up, and that suited John just fine. He made himself believe he didn’t need her then he wouldn’t have needed her now. “Oh.” He said a little harshly than he meant to. “See ya already upset! I can’t…” “No…I’m not…Paul it’s okay…tell me…what about Julia?” Paul watched John for a minute then got up and went to the window. “I…it was me…” John looked even more confused. It was too early in the morning for riddles. “You who what?” “Who….Who helped her…yknow….move on…” Paul added knowing sometimes when he was half asleep John needed things pretty much spelled out for him. John did sit thinking about that for a moment before he realised what Paul was telling him. “It was you…who…who…you…you sent her…?” Paul slowly nodded. He knew John could go two different ways, good or bad. He had never actually spoken to a family member of a soul before. It would be a bit odd to walk up to a stranger and say, “Hey don’t worry about Bob anymore mam, I made sure he made his way to the afterlife.” It would take about two seconds to get him arrested. So he was a little curious to see how John would react to this. Of course John’s initial reaction was to blame Paul. The hate glaring at Paul made it obvious that’s what he was thinking. “John…look…I’m sorry…I just-” “It’s your fault! I just got her back an you took her away!” John yelled, tears of anger in his eyes. He was so hurt he needed to blame someone and Paul had been involved in the process and was there. It was easiest to lash out at Paul, releasing some of that repressed fury over the whole incident. “No! John it’s not like that! You know its not! I don’t pick…it wasn’t me who…it was that…that policeman that…John please don’t be angry!” Paul begged. John had always told him it wasn’t his fault, that he needed to do this. Had he been lying? Did he really think Paul was a monster? John couldn’t hear anymore. He couldn’t think straight. He locked himself in the bathroom. He needed to process this properly. While John was sorting himself out, Paul curled up on the bed, hugging himself and crying. This would be it. He should have told John from the start. It wouldn’t be so painful, he wouldn’t have become so reliant on John. Now he was and he just didn’t know how he was going to go on if he left him.

A few hours later a tear stained but calmer John emerged from the bathroom. Paul was lying on the bed still, staring at the wall, unable to cry anymore. He just sniffed a lot. “Macca?” John called softly. Paul sat up and looked at John sadly. John couldn’t bear the sight. Paul had helped Julia stop feeling pain, he had helped her find whatever eternal happiness souls went to, he shouldn’t have made him feel bad about it. “John…I…I won’t anymore…I won’t-” “Shhh no Macca…I’m sorry…I shouldn’t have blamed you…” John moved forward and pulled Paul into a hug. “Shhh darlin… I should be thanking you…you helped her…I’m glad the last person she could properly talk to…that really helped her was you….” Paul looked up then pulled John onto the bed for a proper cuddle. With that weight off his chest he felt like he could properly sleep again.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Paul groaned. He couldn’t sleep in the cold, drafty farm house in the best of times, but right now he was alone, as John was over in America, as he often was when he was working on some new music. Their band had gone great, dominating the 60’s music scene, but come the dawn of the 1970’s they realised they couldn’t keep up with that sort of demand anymore and were all quite happy to fall into solo projects. Though the media would have the public think they fought each other tooth and nail. That was fine. None of them really cared much anymore. It wasn’t like the early days where they went out of their way to impress the press. They had a solid fan base that each had their favourites and would follow their solo projects. Of course John was not quite as active as the others. Paul was happy about that. John had developed a taste for recording in America and every album would stay over there. Paul would join him as much as he could, but he had their farm to look after. By now they were almost like a married couple and Paul just hated being without John. He hadn’t been without him since he was 14 years old. No matter how many times it happened, Paul just couldn’t go back to that. As he lay awake he thought about the past ten years. Yes they had definitely fallen out of the public eye and were not as hunted. They could even walk down a street safely enough now. Though Paul did love the sanctuary of the Scottish farm they lived at. At the end of last year he and John had had a very serious talk about the next ten years. Paul had begged John not to be in America so much, maybe do some at Abbey Road, or even his own little studio Paul had built in their grounds. But here it was nearly a year later and John was in America, recording. Paul hoped he would be finished soon. It was the beginning of December and Paul didn’t want him to be away for Christmas! He was always worried about John cutting it fine and getting stuck over there until the next year. As he lay though, Paul realised he wasn’t just missing John. He had an overwhelming urge to get to America as soon as possible. He didn’t understand that at all, but he supposed he had a few days spare which he could use to visit John, maybe he could help out a bit, get this album done faster and have John back where he belonged, next to him. He got up, unable to resist any longer and packed a few things. He didn’t need to take much. John had a flat over there where they kept a bunch of necessities for visits. He just took some fresh clothes. Even then, Paul didn’t pack much at all. Not the usual suitcase for at least a week, more like an overnight bag. That confused Paul but he couldn’t bring himself to pack more. Something was telling him he wouldn’t need it, though he had no idea what. In the end he just gave up and went with it. He quickly gave a nearby friend a call, leaving a message on the answer phone, saying he would be gone, would they mind looking after the farm for a day or two until he was back? With that he was in the car and driving to the nearest airport to get a ticket to the next flight to New York. There was an uneasy sense of urgency throughout the journey. He felt like he needed to be there now. That all of this was not going fast enough. The car drive took a while, as they lived in the middle of nowhere. The wait for the 9am flight seemed to be an age and the flight itself, Paul usually slept. But he couldn’t and those hours felt like lifetimes. When he finally landed it was nearly night time. Not extremely late. It wasn’t quite 8pm yet. He relaxed a little knowing he was a short cab ride to the Dakota. He was certain John would be done for the day. If not he knew exactly where to find him. Luckily, Paul had dollars saved from the previous times he had been over with John. He realised spending up was silly, as they were likely to be over again in a few months. He also kept some for emergencies. He was glad he did now. It felt like an emergency. Pauls stomach was in knots the entire cab ride. At first he thought John wasn’t there, and was about to tell the driver to go onto the studio, however he noticed John actually arriving practically the same time. He paid the driver and got out, feeling so relieved and happy to see him. A big grin appeared on Pauls face. “John!” He called out. The next few second were like a blur, but at the same time slowed down. John, recognising the voice, not quite believing it was Paul, turned. He was confused but of course ecstatic he had come out. That was the last thing either of the men remembered until the loud bang, echoed through the streets. There were many other noises, screaming, shouting, people appearing from nowhere. Paul watched the scene with wide eyes, a little confused. John seemed to look extremely surprised and a little in pain at first, falling back, before getting back up and looking at Paul confused. He felt Paul was too far away. In fact it was physically hurting him that Paul was so far away. And everyone else around him was a blur, passing through time at seemingly their own rate. It was like he wasn’t wearing his glasses. Had he dropped them? There was just Paul, standing looking like he had seen a ghost in front of John. But Paul was not looking at John. He was looking behind John. He watched as what John perceived as blurs, were actually people, members of the public….paramedics…police… John being lifted….then John stood there….No this couldn’t be happening.

No.

Not John.

Not now.

This certainly wasn’t what Paul wanted to greet the 1980s with. But there he was, stood as clear as day, looking so confused, in so much pain right in front of him. John’s soul. Paul could barely walk towards him. Now he understood the urgency. But why him? Surely there were people like him someone in New York. This was certainly the only time he had ever travelled a significant distance for this. Maybe they did have a connection deeper than this life time, as John would claim. He would call Paul his soulmate and…fuck. Paul felt dizzy. He felt like he was going to throw up right there. He was still until there were only them two left, staring at each other across the street. “Paul…” John whimpered, the pain in his voice very real. He was too far away. He needed him here now! He would make it stop hurting. He always did. In his head he hadn’t made the connection yet, he hadn’t realised. Johns little cry broke Pauls heart. He had to go to him. He carefully crossed over until he was right in front of John. John hugged him tightly and instantly felt the relief as the pain disappeared. “What’s going on Paulie? What are ya doin here? I feel funny…” John pouted. Paul couldn’t answer. He just looked at John as the tears started falling. He couldn’t do this. He knew when this moment ended, when John accepted what Paul said, that would be it. He would be gone, forever. Paul wasn’t ready for that! John was only 40! He was only 38! They weren’t thinking of such things! They weren’t preparing to cope! They should live forever, shouldn’t they?? “Paulie…Macca…”John spoke again. “Macca ya scarin me…what is it? Are you okay?” “Me?!” Paul suddenly shrieked making John jump. “It’s…it’s you who…who…Oh fuck John…I…I can’t….I can’t…” “Can’t what? Paul what’s going on?” John demanded. Paul knew he had to tell him. “John you…You’re dying John…” He choked out. At first John just wanted to laugh. He wanted to think Paul was making a joke. But he could see the pain on Pauls face, he could see the struggle and he knew this was for real. He was dying. He stood in shock not sure what to do. “Dying….” He repeated. Paul just nodded. “Ya…Ya gonna have ta go soon…” “But you…Paul…When will I see you again?” “I…I don’t know…” “Will I?” “If…If that’s what you…you want then…I guess…” “When?” “When I…” John thought about that. And he knew what Paul must be thinking. “Paul don’t you dare. I will see you again. But when I do, you’d better have grey hair and a face full of wrinkles!” Paul squeezed his eyes shut as more tears escaped down his face. “How can you possibly think I can go on without you?!” he wailed. “You can darlin… you can. I know you can. An ya will. Please…for me…keep helping…ya needed here…make the living happy with ya music…save the souls from pain and misery…Paulie…Please…promise me…” “I…I can’t I can’t!” “Promise me ya gonna live ya life Paul! Ya gonna live it as full as ya can. An I promise I’ll be waiting for ya, however long that takes.” “John…please… Stay alive….why won’t ya stay alive?!” Paul shouted angrily. Why was John doing this to him?! “I would if I could, you know that…I don’t want to leave you as much as you don’t want me to go.” Paul took some deep breaths and calmed down. He nodded, understanding it was not Johns fault. It had just been a last grab at keeping John alive. Maybe if he thought he would survive he would stop dying and… it was a silly thought. “Paul ya gotta promise me ya gonna live ya life or I ain’t goin nowhere. I’d haunt ya until ya did.” “I’d let ya. I need ya John! But ta…ta do that I’d have ta stay here…ya…ya can’t move from…” “Then ya would leave me in pain. Ya don’t want that do ya?” Paul shook his head. Eventually he realised he had no choice. The kindest thing he could do for John was release him from the earth. And John seemed to be ready to accept this was what was happening. “Alright Johnny…I promise…I’m gonna live my life…I won’t give up.” “Atta boy…there’s my brilliant Paulie…I know ya can do this…” John gently stroked Pauls cheek. Paul closed his eyes and enjoyed the last contact he knew they would have for what could be years. John leaned in and gently kissed him. When they broke apart, Paul knew it was time. “John! I can’t-!” “Paulie ya promised…please…please ya can...” Paul took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around John, crying as he felt him slipping away. Just before he was gone, Paul heard in a tiny whisper of Johns voice, his last request.

“Think of me, every now and then.”

#McLennon #mclennon fic #John Lennon #paul mccartney #I know I hate me too

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graceandgorgeousbd · 3 years

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Sonya Dakar’s DIY Winter Skin Care Tricks

Windburn, sunburn, or just extreme dryness? If you’re going on a beach or ski vacation this winter your skin will need some extra TLC. Luckily, there are easy, all-natural solutions for any complexion emergency—no matter where you spend your holiday. We chatted with celebrity skin care guru Sonya Dakar— who keeps Sofia Vergara, Bar Rafaeli, and Gwyneth Paltrow’s complexions clear—and learned how to cure the worst cold weather skin woes.

WINDBURN

If you’re hitting the slopes this winter, windburn can be a major problem. The icy air can cause painful blistering on exposed skin and “in some cases it can even cause you to develop rosacea,” says Sonya. Fortunately, there’s a one-step solution to curing the painful effect. “Slather flaxseed oil, sweet almond oil, or grape seed oil, onto your burn every 30 minutes,” suggests Sonya. “These oils are packed with omega 3, 6, and 9, which will calm skin and relieve discomfort within 24 hours. In three days, the burn will peel off and reveal a brand new, radiant surface.”

SUNBURN Don’t slack on the SPF just because you’re in the snow. A higher altitude means UV rays reach you even faster in cold mountainous climates. “The rays reflect off the snow and are double the strength,” says Sonya. Another common cause of sunburn during the wintertime? Hitting the tropics and forgetting that your skin—which hasn’t been exposed to sunshine in a while— will be extremely sensitive to the powerful rays. Whatever the reason for your first or second degree burn, Sonya always suggests one product. “Apply a thick coat of yogurt to the burned area,” she says. The plain yogurt you chose must be from cow’s milk with no sugar added. “You’ll instantly feel your burn cool—the lactic acid is pulling the heat out of your skin,” says Sonya. Keep the yogurt mask on the area until it dries, then cake another layer on top every few hours. “After 24 hours your sunburn will be completely healed, with no blisters or spots!” To prevent sunburn while skiing, first layer flaxseed oil, sweet almond oil, or grape seed oil, onto skin. “Then apply SPF 30 and top with a light coat of Vaseline to seal in the protective mixture,” suggests Sonya.

Can my moisturizer substitute for primer? Many save that extra step in the morning and use moisturizer as face primer, but both products bring different valuable qualities to the table. Primers are formulated to smooth uneven skin texture, whereas a moisturizer’s main purpose is to bring hydration, protection, and

Of course, with today’s hybrid BB and CC creams (and maybe someday even DD creams), there’s overlap to both. “I think they can be both used together, but it really depends on the client,” weighs James. “Primers might make it easier—you might skip it in winter and layer a moisturizer instead, but it could help your foundation stay on in hotter weather as an extra barrier.” If you say the more steps the merrier, remember to layer your moisturizer underneath your primer first.

DRYNESS

It’s important to take extra special care of your skin even if you’re not jetting-setting this season. Moisturizing means more than just slathering on a heavy cream. You must hydrate your body first before applying lotion or oil—it’s a key step many of us aren’t aware we skip! “One of the biggest mistakes people make is taking too hot of a shower,” says Sonya. “High temperature showers can dehydrate your body by up to four cups of water. If your skin is red when you step out of the shower, the water is too hot.” Exfoliating is also essential during this time of year. For a gentle DIY scrub, Sonya suggests mixing one teaspoon of flaxseed oil, sweet almond oil, or grape seed oil with a bag of your favorite tea (try bergamot, jasmine or lavender). Massage the blend onto your face twice a week to increase cell turnover and brighten dull-looking skin.

Author : CINYA BURTON

Source : beautylish.com

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michiigii-writes-mysme · 7 years

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“Can I have a Dirty Werewolf?”

RFA Coffee House AU - Halloween

Pairing: Zen x Reader/MC

Summary: The RFA are baristas at Rika and V’s cafe. Contains fluff! …Not as dirty as the title sounds. <3

Word Count: Approx. 1500

Protip: The ever-so-generous @digitalscratch-arting bestowed upon me an illustration! (I’m so happy!!)

Halloween wasn’t for everybody, but its main perk was obvious: the excuse to dress up as a colourful character with minimal judgement from the public. And anybody could appreciate a good costume, whether one dressed up or not. You couldn’t help but admire some particularly intricate outfits as you walked to your favourite coffeehouse: Rika’s Coffee Shoppe.

It was a crisp day; just warm enough that trick-or-treaters could openly wear their more practical costumes. The sun was close to setting, so there were a few witches sporting warm scarves, and you spotted one or two ninjas wearing a fluffy hat. You had to smile at that; practicality and panache collided.

As you swung the cafe door open, the usual bell that you were familiar with hearing was replaced with a witch’s laughter.

That’s different, you thought, looking up in surprise and seeing a tiny plush pumpkin swinging where the bell used to be.

“HAPPY HALLOWEEN!” Someone screamed from the counter, then laughed when you flinched.

“Seven!” you exclaimed, your voice sharp, but an involuntary smile starting across your face.

There were three of the usual baristas at the counter: Seven was leaning casually near the register, doing nothing useful, Saeran had his head down as he wiped the counter down, and Yoosung was finishing off the drinks for a small group of girls at the end. The twin redheads were wearing coordinated costumes; Seven was dressed as a pharaoh, complete with ornate headdress and jewelry, and Saeran had a mummy costume on. However, on closer inspection as you came close, you realized Saeran was wearing his favourite sweater and jeans underneath costume bandages. He didn’t look like he had planned his costume.

“…Did you get ambushed by Seven this morning?” you asked the quiet barista.

“How could you tell?” he deadpanned, giving you a bland look.

You both shared apologetic smiles, yours warm and bright, his cool but not unfriendly. Saeran often got caught in the wake of his brother’s shenanigans. It was all too easy for you to imagine Saeran coming down to breakfast, half awake, only to be attacked by Seven with a giant roll of mummy bandages. Thankfully, this was one of Seven’s more harmless pranks.

“Your usual?” Seven called to you from the register, his heavy jewellery tinkling as he waved enthusiastically at you.

“Yes, please!” you answered, heading over to him, already pulling your wallet out.

“Aw, but you didn’t even look at my special menu~!” Seven pouted, motioning to the chalkboard behind him, “Look! I worked so hard on it!”

You raised your eyebrows, then looked up to the menu board. There were fancy mixed drinks designed especially for the holiday. Some were cold, most were hot, and they all had names that had something to do with Halloween, like “Boo-berry Tea” and “Vampire Elixir.” And somebody had doodled decorations representing each drink beside their description.

“Oh, those are cool!” you complimented, seeing how detailed the new drinks were, “Did you make the recipes up yourself?”

With a glint in his eye, Seven started to answer, but Yoosung quickly interrupted, stuffing a napkin into the red-head’s mouth. You saw that the blond was wearing a black cat costume, with a leather belt for a tail and black mask over his face. He looked oddly familiar…

“Saeran and I did,” Yoosung interjected, giving Seven a dirty look, “We stayed up late for the past three nights, taste testing and experimenting. Seven was supposed to help, but he ended up just sucking down whipped cream the whole evening. If he even showed up.”

“What…well…I named the drinks!” Seven protested, his eyes filling with alligator tears.

You smiled at their antics, knowing this was a typical day for all of them. You half-listened as you continued looking at the new menu.

“Nope, still Saeran and me,” Yoosung insisted, crossing his arms and ignoring his friend’s tears.

“I…wrote the board?”

“That was Saeran! You were supposed to help, and you didn’t show up at work until we were already almost done decorating the board. And then you said, ‘Eh, you’re almost done, anyway!’ then you ate a whole cup of whipped cream.”

“…I drew the kitty pawprint in the corner there,” Seven said meekly.

Yoosung fell silent. You saw him glance at Saeran, who was now polishing the coffee mugs. He made a tiny nod, and Yoosung’s expression softened.

“Fine. You drew…” the black cat turned his gaze to the board, searching for Seven’s handiwork, then he frowned again when he found it, “…that dinky thing right there? That’s it?!”

“Have you chosen your drink yet, valued customer?” Seven jumped in, hurrying to lean over the counter towards you with begging in his eyes, “Please?”

“Um…I would like to try…could I get a Dirty Werewolf?” you requested, looking at a Chai-based drink. It looked hot, spiced, and tasty.

“Comin’ right up!” Seven said eagerly, and with that, he ran off to the back room, out of sight.

He ran so fast that your hair shifted in the direction he had disappeared to. Even Saeran and Yoosung looked stunned.

“Do…” Yoosung paused, then looked to the back room door, “Why…?”

Saeran openly sighed and continued with polishing mugs. Seven didn’t take long; soon, you all could hear his footsteps reapproaching…as well as someone protesting?

“…-et me go! My shift doesn’t start for another half hour! What’re you doing, Seven?!”

Crashing through the door, the red-haired prankster hauled another of the cafe’s baristas behind the counter. There was a blur of red mixed with silver hair, and suddenly, a tall, beautiful man in costume tail and ears stood before you.

“Your Dirty Werewolf, just like you ordered!” Seven grinned, motioning to his coworker.

“I’m not dirty, you-…oh. Oh!” Zen started to growl at Seven, but he stopped and softened as soon as he realized that it was you at the counter, “Uh…h-hey! Hey, how are you!”

You smiled and greeted him back, slight embarrassment colouring both your faces. Zen had been your secret crush since you started visiting this cafe. He was handsome and sweet and courtly, with just the right amount of romantic cheesiness to make you weak at the knees without feeling too guilty about it. Being who he was, he was always popular with the other ladies who visited the coffeehouse, but he always drew a rose on your coffee cups when he served you. You didn’t know if it was special, or not, but the gesture still warmed your heart.

“You’re a werewolf!” you said, gesturing at his ears and tail.

“Yeah! Not a dirty one. Not really. Just a werewolf,” Zen said quickly, the points of fangs barely visible as he spoke, “Uh…what’re you dressed as?”

“Hm? Oh…” you looked down at what you were wearing, then chuckled, “Uh…the heroine from one of my favourite games. She wears a beige sweater-dress like this one.”

“I like it! You’re really cute!” Zen blurted, then clapped a hand over his mouth.

Seven started to laugh, but Saeran slapped a hand over his brother’s mouth, stifling his own laughter with his other hand. Yoosung, you could see in the corner of your eye, had slapped his forehead before continuing to pour a drink.

“Really?” you asked without thinking, the notes of hope in your voice completely silencing the twins, “Th…thank you! I like your costume, too…it suits you.”

Zen chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders, and he leaned more casually against the counter. “I’m glad you like it.”

“He wasn’t even gonna dress up until V said it was mandatory,” you thought you heard Yoosung mutter to Saeran.

“I, um…I ordered a Dirty Werewolf,” you said shyly, “But I was kind of expecting the one with cinnamon…”

“Oh, wel-“ Zen started, but mid-word, Seven shoved a stick of cinnamon into his mouth, effectively silencing him.

“As ordered,” Seven grinned, ignoring the glare Zen was sending him.

“Please take the Zen to go,” Yoosung sighed, handing a completed handcrafted beverage in a travel cup to Zen, “He’s been making your drinks with ‘extra TLC,’ as he calls it, since you first started visiting, and frankly, it’s getting exhausting.”

“Really?” you asked again, constantly being surprised that evening. You turned your gaze to a now openly blushing Zen, “You…you have?”

“…guys, I really don’t need the interference,” Zen grumbled, “Do you have any idea how emasculating-“

“Is that a flower that you’re drawing on that cup, there?” Yoosung asked, looking pointedly at your Dirty Werewolf.

All of you could see that Zen was drawing a rose onto your cup with a special red marker he had in his apron pocket.

“…your drink, princess,” Zen mumbled, holding the drink out to you.

“Thank you,” you smiled, taking the cup and subconsciously cradling it over your heart, “…I’m sure you draw flowers for all the girls.”

“…Just my favourites,” Zen said reluctantly, then coyly added, “And I only ever have one favourite.”

He gave you a smouldering, suggestive gaze, and you felt your face heat up in response.

“Um…s…so when does a Dirty Werewolf get off work?” you said offhandedly, the slight quaver in your voice betraying how casual you wanted to sound.

Saeran had to stifle Seven’s giggles again.

“About 10:30, tonight,” Zen said sheepishly, “How about you come here, and I’ll treat you to dessert?”

“I’d like that! Um…I’ll see you then?”

“Yeah! ..and happy Halloween!”

-fin-

iT’s sTiLL HaLLoWeEn sOmEwHeRe…!

So, @monkeyhazard on the Zine Team posted this:

So. That inspired this fic! And Halloween gave me the excuse to make Zen a werewolf. Otherwise, we’d have a crazy, supernatural coffee house AU, and that’s a bit of a hat on a hat…

Yoosung’s costume was a reference to Chat Noir (from Miraculous Ladybug)! Saeran, I wanted to tease with Seven, and I wanted them to have matching costumes. Jumin and Jaehee were supposed to make appearances, but they didn’t really fit into the story… Jumin was supposed to be a magician, but all he did was add a cape, and he happened to be pale from a cold, so he was accidentally dressed as a vampire. Jaehee, I wanted to wear a maid costume. V and Rika were supposed to be a Grim Reaper (black cloak, anyone?) and Neil Gaiman’s Death, but again, I didn’t have much of an excuse to add them.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!

#Zen x Reader #Zen x MC #Hyun Ryu #MysMe Zen #Mystic Messenger Zen #Mystic Messenger Fanfic #MysMe Fanfic #fluff

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sippin-on-red-wine · 7 years

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Fluff Blurb

Can’t sleep so why the hell not. I have no idea how to write “fluff” but here’s what just came out of my head.

Ed had been feeling ‘off’ for maybe about a week now. He had never missed a performance due to illness, and he wasn’t about to start now. Luckily, you were traveling with him at the time and could keep an eye on him. Not that Stu or the other crew guys wouldn’t, but it was very Ed-like to not complain about not feeling well, or turn down a pint with the boys after a show when what he really needed was rest.

So he pushed through the promos, the meet & greets, the interviews, the travel. With you by his side. You fetched him glasses of orange juice and put honey & lemon in his tea. You were his scapegoat to go back to the hotel and rest during any downtime. The show was a live, televised holiday event and he did not want to miss it or give a second-rate performance.

Ed being Ed, knocked it the hell out of the park. His newest single was out and already adored by millions – but hearing it played with a nearly 100 piece symphony orchestra – it wowed even you, someone who had heard the song too many times to remember.

You were so proud of him, and the two of you made love later that evening after the performance. It was sweet, and slow, and gentle – just what you’d both needed.

The next day of traveling home was particularly brutal, and Ed’s sickness seemed to really kick in now that his subconscious knew that he had a month long break for the holidays.

You had returned to your flat, Ed insisting on carrying nearly all of your luggage as per usual. A coughing fit hit him as he rolled the suitcases in the front door, and you had sent him away to change into something comfortable and find some cough medicine.

You set the bags off to the side, you wouldn’t need anything from them right away. Ed came back out to the living room dressed in plaid fleece pajama pants and a hoodie, his arms wrapped around himself.

“Are you cold, bub?” You asked, the shiver on his skin almost visible from across the room.

He nodded, the thick frame of his eyeglasses standing out more than usual against his creamy complexion, all dotted with faint freckles.

He settled down on the sofa and you scurried over to cover him up with a couple of the throw blankets you kept out here in the old wooden trunk-chest.

You propped the couch accent pillows up under his head and tucked the blankets all around him. He seemed slightly more at ease, though it was alarming to see him this way – no longer the cackling child with his head thrown back in laughter, or the thoughtful boyfriend who tried to do everything for you when you were together – because he carried so much guilt for being away so much. He looked small, wrapped up there on the sofa.

“That better, babe?” You asked, rubbing his back.

“A little bit, thank you sweetheart…” his voice was all full of rasp (not the good kind).

You wracked your brain, trying to think of something you could do to make him feel better. He was already on DayQuil and cough medicine… he just needed a little rest and some TLC for his body to recuperate.

“Teddy, I’m going to run down over to J.D.’s and pick up a pint of soup for you, okay?” His ocean blue eyes peeked up at you, looking grateful.

“No, love, it’s freezing out–”

“Hush,” you said, brushing your thumb over his pale pink lips. “I’ll be right back.”

And so you had donned your parka, hat, scarf and mittens, and made your way back out to the sparkly snowstorm. Thankfully it was a short walk.

Short, yes – but the wind was whipping snow and ice around and your eyes burned and the tip of your nose was red from the cold, you were sure of it. But you had retrieved two pints of scratch-made chicken dumpling soup, plus a bag of biscuits to go with. A quick run-in to the corner store got you a bottle of 7-Up, the same drink your Grandma had always given you when you were little and had the flu. You would forever associate it with feeling better, and you hoped Ed would catch those placebo feelings as well.

You walk into the apartment, kicking your boots off on the tray by the door and locking it behind you. You set down your quest’s prizes on the kitchen counter and glance over at the sofa, where Ed is huddled up under blankets galore, asleep.

You shake out of your cold weather gear and shuck your jeans, leaving them in a pile on the kitchen floor. You’d been wearing one of Ed’s long sleeve thermal shirts all day and it would be fine to sleep in.

You sat on the edge of the couch, gently tracing the outline of his bicep through the layers of blankets. You hadn’t wanted to wake him, but you thought getting a little something in his stomach would be for the best.

He awoke with a start, jumping out of his skin a bit, just for a second, til he got a grasp on his surroundings. “Sorry, Teddy, I didn’t mean to startle you…. I’ve got soup, do you want some now?”

He pushed back the covers, freeing his arm, reaching out to touch your pink, wind-chilled nose.

“C’mere,” he whispered, not even intentionally - his voice was gone. “Stay with me.”

He turned onto his side, facing away, toward the back of the sofa. It was luckily an extra-deep couch, or else this may not have worked. But you sidled up on the cushion behind him, letting him be the little spoon, which he loved.

You wrapped an arm around his chest and he tucked it below his, holding it close to his heart.

“G’night Teddy,” you spoke quietly.

“Babe? Thanks for taking care 'f me. Don’t deserve you…”

#ed sheeran #ed sheeran fluff #ed sheeran fanfic #no smuts #first attempt #cuddles #snuggly sleepy sick teddy #blurb #blurbs #fluff

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bskye7 · 4 years

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What makes the perfect routine? . For me, it's a holistic approach. Aromatherapeutic, visually welcoming, comfortable wear, real results... The entire experience from start to finish 💚 . This weekend I'll be indulging in some favourites as well as a few new additions, including . @tataharperskincare Hydrating Floral Mask . @botanicals.skincare Cooling Foot Lotion . @maxandme_oils Sweet Serenity Rescue Balm . @leafologyskin Tea Seed & Olive Wonder Balm . @leahlaniskincare Siren Brightening Serum . @mallowandwhite Blossom Balm . and more 😊 . Notice the trend for moisture right now? 😅 My hands and face are needing extra TLC from all the washing (and yes I've been washing my face extra as well! If I go out I want to ensure all exposed parts of my skin are thoroughly cleansed so I don't risk anything 👌) . What makes for your perfect routine?? . . #beautylovers #stayhome #textures #skincarelineup #skincareroutine #skincarelover #ecoblogger #skincareblogger #saturday #aromatherapy #allnaturalskincare #greenbeautycommunity #greenbeauty #nontoxicliving #nontoxicbeauty #textureshot #stringofhearts #plantlady #holistic #naturalwellbeing #selfcare #popofcolor #selfcaresaturday #supportsmallbusiness #ecobeauty #beautyflatlay #smallbusinesssaturday #ShadesOfSkincare (at Norwich, Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-SW5XkpDLd/?igshid=1fx52llysa9mg

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gothify1 · 5 years

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Oh, and they're $18 and under.Everyone has different needs and goals when it comes to their hair. Some of us (ahem, me) need volume and damage repair thanks to a fine texture or perpetual color treatments, while others want anti-aging benefits or major curl TLC. Regardless, we feel confident saying that everyone wants their strands to reach their full, healthy, and yes, expensive AF-looking potential. We have some really great news on that front: You don't actually have to pay a fortune to get hair that looks like a million bucks. Many of our favorite shampoo and conditioners are actually hiding away in the sparkling aisles of your nearest drugstore, and we're here to guide you toward all of our favorites. Whether you're seeking the best drugstore shampoo and conditioner to achieve beach-inspired mermaid waves (yeah, we're pretending it's not winter, too!) or need an affordable, cult-classic purple elixir to bust your brass, we have your strands covered just ahead. Keep scrolling for the nine best drugstore shampoo and conditioners that are budget-saving dupes of our more expensive favorites. Just like Moroccanoil's cult-loved favorite, Tigi's more affordable formula features a strategic blend of both moisturizing and strengthening components��a dream power couple for those with damaged, dry, color-treated, or break-age prone strands. Hair is left feeling soft, shiny, and more vibrant in color thanks to the formula's conditioning and moisture-balancing perks. You probably should pay a lot for your color, (you often get what you pay for in that industry), but let us be the ones to tell you that you don't necessarily have to pay a lot for your color-protecting products. If you're looking to save some money but still want the hydrating and shin-inducing benefits of a more expensive formula like Kérastase, we recommend opting for Matrix's pH-balancing and color-safe formula instead. Not only does this duo keep your hair soft and tangle-free, but your strands will also retain their post-salon vibrancy up to nine weeks after your dye job. Just like Earth Nectar's essential oil– and botanical-based blend, Paul Mitchell's deep-cleansing shampoo and conditioner is fortified with nature's best: natural tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and lavender to draw essential circulation to the scalp, remove buildup, and gift strands with all the shine you'd expect from a way pricier option. FYI: Shimmer Lights was one of the OG purple shampoos on the market, and it's remained a brass-busting obsession ever since. Since a purple shampoo should be an enhancement (aka you're not using a purple shampoo every single time you wash), it's really not worth spending an arm, leg, and entire paycheck on your formula. Plus, they all do the same thing—truly. Like Briogeo, Hempz uses the loveliest ingredients from Mother Earth to elevate the look, feel, and overall health of your strands. While Briogeo's beloved formula features ginseng, biotin, ginger, and maltodextrin, Hempz's more affordable dupe has equally luscious MVPs like sweet pineapple, honey melon, and its signature hemp seed oil, which work harmoniously to volumize and plump a limp hair situation. For the ultimate creamy, cleansing wash experience, we recommend Shea Moisture's epic combo pack—just like DevaCurl's luxe formulas, which are intended to keep your natural oils and curls intact, so too does the trio from Shea Moisture. With, of course, a helping hand from strand-loving ingredients like hibiscus, coconut, and crucial silk proteins for extra softness and strength. Our hair is an extension of our skin, and just like we see noticeable shifts in our complexions as we age, the health and condition of our hair will also change. That's why, investing in an anti-aging formula that boosts density, moisture, and resilience is a great alternative if you're looking to stave off brittle, weak, or thinning strand prognosis. We love Alterna's cult-loved Caviar line, but if you need something that's a tad less taxing on the bank account, Kenra's shampoo and conditioning duo is seriously brilliant. Enriched with snail essence, it makes for a potent blend of proteins proven to combat dulling, thinning, breakage, frizz, dryness, elasticity, porosity, scalp irritation, unmanageability, and changes in texture. Even though you don't even need conditioner with Amika's cheekily named texture shampoo, you'll still save yourself $10 dollars with Pacifica's beachy wave-inducing pairing. All-natural, the formula boosts hair with moisture and control while key tropical additions like sea algae, banana, and chamomile deliver on your surfy mermaid hair dreams. If a smooth, ultra-sleek finish is what you're after Tresemmé's iconic keratin-spiked shampoo and conditioner is practically legend. (Even among the brand's non-drugstore competitors.) Dripping with luxe ingredients like marula oil and silky texture-inducing keratin, it's a steal at just $6 per formula. Up next: The Top-Rated Shampoos and Conditioners That Make Me Forget I Have Fine Hair

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trenttrendspotter · 5 years

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The Hot Spot in Naturals

The Hot Products section at the recent Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore was one of the buzziest spots to be in the naturals industry from September 11-14, 2019.

“Every fall the exhibit halls at the Natural Products Expo East are bursting with products that are increasing consumer awareness about the importance of organic and supporting trends within plant-based, hemp and agricultural innovation,” said Lacey Gautier, Group Show Director.

The attention wasn’t all on the new brands. This industry is full of legacy brands continuing to innovate how we eat, supplement, groom and live.

Here are some of the highlights we spotted:

The best new frozen snack: The proud winner of Expo East’s 2019 Nexty Award, Crazy Richards, continues to innovate and remain far from ordinary peanut butter. Their Wholly Rollies, which won for Best New Frozen Product, are a simple treat that delivers 10g of protein in every bite so it makes an excellent nutritious alternative to your everyday desserts and sweet snacks.

Protein anywhere on anything: What’s better than protein? Protein you can take on the go. What’s better than protein on the go? Protein on the go that can go on anything. That was the thinking behind Vegetarian Traveler and their Protein Toppers, which allow you to add an entire 16 grams of plant-based protein to any meal or snack with just a spoonful of their soy, garbanzo, and pepita bean medleys.

Water your way to a healthy gut: Making sure you get enough fiber in your diet can be difficult, and supplemental beverages are growing in popularity. Probiotic beverages are all the rage, but a lot of people don’t know about prebiotics. Hellowater is the first of its kind, a drink that supports prebiotic health and the first fiber-infused water of its kind. Now you can boost your fiber intake and your hydration in one sip!

Feel no pain: If you’re plagued with joint or muscle pain, you can be desperate to find a surefire fix that won’t break the bank. Now you can get the same balm that Gwyneth Paltrow reports has helped her knee pain. The CBD-infused pain relief creams and balms from Muscle Mx provide both a heating and cooling therapy and are said to be great for pre- and post-activity muscle strain and pain.

A hybrid super berry to ward off sniffles: Cold and flu season will be here before you know it! The latest line of ElderCran products from Norm’s Farms is a great way to bulk up your immunity with the most natural method. Combining the farm’s famous black elderberries and antioxidant rich cranberries, Norm’s Farms’ new ElderCran supplements and tinctures are the first of its kind to make such a variety of super immunity boosters.

Eating Cleveland’s best: When people are looking for a snack or meal packed with probiotics they don’t often consider sauerkraut as an option. Not a lot of people realize that sauerkraut is full of not only probiotics but nutrients we might be lacking from our diets as well. Luckily, Cleveland Kraut makes a variety of flavors of kraut to be enjoyed with any meal no matter what’s on the menu and works great as a side or as a topping.

Ready to eat banana-based ice cream: If you though Halo Top was the end all be all of healthy ice cream options, then you haven’t heard of Frönen. Created with those who suffer from celiac disease and dairy sensitivities in mind, the ingredients of Frönen’s ice cream are stripped down to the sweetest essentials: honey, coconut cream, and banana with cocoa powder, strawberries, and maple syrup for taste.

Getting to the core of the nut: The Nature Nut beauty line take all-natural hair care to the next level. With five core nuts from Israel, Nature Nut products are rich in Vitamins A and E to help ensure you’re getting the best for your hair in every wash.

Worry-free cookies: The makers of the famous Bite Me Inc. cookies introduces the Bite Free line—its safe for people with allergies and doesn’t compromise on taste and flavor. It continues to delight our palate!

Year-round sun protection: Skin protection and nourishment are the name of the game for Babo Botanicals, which produces a wide selection of skin and hair care options for whatever might need a little extra TLC. They’ve long been lauded for their baby and childcare products. Probably their most important product, their year-round sun protection for kids is delicate enough for your baby’s skin but strong enough to deliver outstanding SPF protection no matter the weather.

Feeding children’s minds: It can be hard to get kids to eat healthy food that nourishes their bodies and their brains. But more and more brands are emerging that make healthy eating for kids easy and delicious. For example, Braniac’s line of DHA-infused yogurt is yummy and portable and best of all, it’s brain food for kids.

When avocado and chocolate meet: This product is for the Nutella fiends out there! Prepare to be converted to D’Avocado—a chocolate spread made entirely of avocado and cocoa powder. These simple ingredients make for a delicious plant-based smear that’s good for you too!

A different species of mushroom jerky: Like I said, plant-based proteins are all the rage and alternative jerkies are no exception. The NY Mushroom Co. is making a jerky in a league of its own. This brand, founded with an eco- and animal-friendly mission in mind, uses locally grown shiitake mushrooms and hand-crafted flavorings to deliver a snack you can feel good about eating.

Beyond bread and cauliflower crust: Move over cauliflower! Soon egg white wraps will be the new normal. Egglife, similar to brands like Crepini, uses alternative ingredients like egg whites to make their wraps bread-free for eaters who need to respect diet restrictions but don’t want to skimp on flavor.

Aloe sprinkled yogurt:– Aloe has long been considered a great digestive aid. Now it’s right in your yogurt. The Japanese yogurt brand Alove has introduced a line of aloe vera yogurt, jumping on the latest green alternative food trend that you can drink or enjoy like a traditional yogurt snack in a variety of refreshing flavors.

Pesto power: The founders of Le Grand were way ahead of the plant-based trend when they started this artisanal food company that swears by “the power of plants”. All of their products are certified vegan and their pesto—which comes already blended in a stylish and eco-friendly silver pouch—is a sure-fire way to top an already tasty dish with a powerful green addition.

Taking tofu to town: With all the new plant-based proteins on the market, this legacy brand continues to innovate. Tofu Town products offer delicious vegetarian and vegan food options with an emphasis on green eating and living. The sheer variety of their products from organics spreads (Veggie Street) to veggie sausages, burgers, and cold cuts (Veggie Life) to vegan butter (Blumenschmalz) makes sure you’ll never get bored at meal time.

Fruit juice of the Philippines: Ever heard of Calamansi? It’s a lemon-like fruit that grows deep in the heart of the Philippines. Often referred to as a Golden Lime, this little fruit packs a punch of Vitamin C, is a natural anti-inflammatory, and has been used in cold/cough remedies for generations. Mansi uses Calamansi in their newest drink, offering American audiences their first taste of the powerful and fragrant therapeutic super fruit.

It takes two to make a baby: Like the name suggests, Pink Stork is a great source of supplements and teas for pregnant women, new moms and for women looking for help with fertility. But what’s cool about them is that they also offer fertility supplements for men!

Next gen feminine care: The food industry isn’t the only place offering greener alternatives. Made for women by women, the Honey Pot offers a complete line of herbal feminine cleansers and wipes. Their coolest product is their “herbal” pads and pantiliners made out of pesticide-free cotton and infused with essential oils which can help with cramps and discomfort. We were also quite impressed with NannoCare which uses infrared technology to help with menstrual discomfort. During certified third party testing, women who used the NannoPad experienced less pain (at 95% confidence) and fewer days of menstrual pain and showed significant reduction of painkillers being used for menstrual cramping.

A different kind of chip not seen before in naturals: You’ve probably seen Vegan Rob’s before—their colorful packaging is hard to miss! And the flavor of these vegan snacks is equally explosive. In fact, Vegan Rob’s were the first to make a healthier Pringle style chip!

The latest plant based alternative milk: When most people think of foods rich in antioxidants they think of fruits or vegetables, but recent research has shown that flaxseeds are actually hugely rich in antioxidants. While it can be difficult to incorporate flax seed into your diet, the Manitoba Milling Co. makes it easier than ever to get a fix of flax with their delicious Flax Milk and ready made muffin and pancake mixes.

The 2020 Natural Products Expo East will move to The Philadelphia Convention Center Sept. 23-26.

As Seen in Whole Foods Magazine

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