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ficsnroses · 5 years

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Friends With Benefits Part 3 - Keanu Reeves x Reader

Chapter 3 ~ The Calm Before The Storm.

Part 1 Part 2

I got sick of looking at the previous series cover lol

Word Count : 2503

Warnings : blowjob ahead, proceed with caution. Emergency contraceptive use. Fluff. 18+.

Summary : What happens when two, lonely friends start seeing and confiding in each other for sex? A tricky friends with benefits love story, when feelings get in the way.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, friends 🖤

Fluttering your eyelids open to the dewy morning sun, you blinked open and away the sleep of the night. You found yourself in Keanu’s bedroom, where you’d been many times before, but never first thing in the morning. You felt a small smile creep onto your honey dripped lips, grinning at the remembrance of last night’s past.

With a slight shift and a pull of the shared duvet, you winced lightly at the tension between your legs. The sex was amazing last night, and although it was supposed to be focused on pleasing Keanu and easing his stress from training, he made sure to take care of you real well towards the end. That’s the type of lover he was, he always made sure to pay extra attention in pleasing his partner, in all the right ways.

You felt the spot beside you still weighted, Keanu nonchalantly dozing off still, with the escape of small snores off his lips filling the serene room. Turns out, he does snore a little, unbeknownst to him. But, it wasn’t a loud or annoying snore, it was calm. The type that lulls you to sleep as white noise, letting you know you’re not alone as you lie awake into the dark hours of the night. The type that provides assurance and company, lets you know you’re not alone.

Propping yourself up with a yawn, you debate on whether to wake Keanu, or not. He looks so at ease. Its nice to see him like this – you normally don’t get to see him this vulnerable and at peace. A close second may be the way his eyes close in ecstasy when he first feels your tight core wrap around his member each time you find yourselves getting intimate, however. But that was different. This peacefulness seemed different, more carefree.

He’s sprawled on his back, with the duvet coming just up to his mid. He has an arm draped over his forehead, resting to block out light, with his other arm rest beside him on the bed. You divert your gaze lower, down to a slight rise in the duvet just below his waist.

Morning wood.

Your eyes widen slightly; you weren’t expecting to see that first thing in the morning. Although, there was nothing weird about it, per say, its just a thing that happens to guys. Of all people, you were probably the one that shouldn’t think much of it. You literally had sex with him all the time.

Grinning slightly, an idea sprung in your mind.

Licking your lips, you move the duvet off of yourself, before crawling closer to Keanu. He’s still snoring away, completely unknown to your awakening. You lift the duvet off him, gathering it near the rear of the bed, before positioning yourself on your knees to his side.

In nothing but a pair of boxers, his length looks absolutely delicious, stretching the fabric, the outline of his cock prominent on the seams. So appetizing. Your lips practically dripped sap.

You were never really one for tasting men. Sucking someone’s dick seemed rather…silly? to you in your previous flings.

But with Keanu, something inside you clicked and change your perspective on the topic. You loved knowing you were making him feel so good. You loved knowing how you made all his sensitive nerves tingle, sending piercing shocks of pleasure through his body.

You loved the way he fit and filled inside your mouth, you unable to speak, your every thought & feeling obstructed with him jammed in your mouth whole, leaving you so vulnerable, nothing but the sole purpose of making him forget all his worries darkening your mind. The way you could feel his delicate skin, each vein in his girthy cock, all stored away in your inviting, alluring mouth. To make him feel good. To make him at ease. That was all it was about.

Tucking a few strands of hair behind your ear, you palm his clothed length. With a slip of your fingers into the waistband of his boxers, you swallow in anticipation. Leaning down, you graze your lips over the bulge of the fabric, lightly nipping, tugging with your teeth. Your hot breath over the lump clearly made his cock rise bigger.

Keanu’s lips part, and he stirs blithely in his slumber. You pull down the band of his boxers, watching his cock spring out in release. Seeing him erect still surprises you, despite how many times you’ve had him. It baffled you that he even fits inside you.

Groping his balls, you run your warm tongue from the base to his shaft, swirling it around his tip before diving back down an inch of the way, lips wrapped around him. As mentioned, he’s quite big. You can’t take him in whole yet, although you have been training yourself to, and you’ve sure made progress. Keanu’s quite encouraging actually, he’s always been patient and won’t try to make you do anything you can’t.

Sinking him deeper into your mouth, you swirl your tongue around the circumference of his cock. You start with shallow bobs, loosening your jaw. As he grows fully erect, you take more and more of him, hallowing your cheeks, occasionally letting him out of your mouth with a “pop” sound.

Keanu’s eyes blink open as the feeling of you sucking him off becomes too much for his tranquil state. He props himself up on his elbows, still laying on his back, and catches the striking view of you, his pre cum drenched cock shoved deep into your mouth.

With a soft moan, he brings his left hand to tangle in your hair, pushing it back out of your face.

“Y/N….oh god.” He whimpers, fighting the urge to close his eyes and lean his head back in delight.

“That’s it, baby, just like that.” He groans, as you bob up and down faster now. He lightly pushes your head down on him, just enough to guide you, but not hurt you, or make you take more than you can.

With doe eyes, you stare up into his eyes, cheeks hallowed.

He watches you suck on his member, incoherent gags falling out of your mouth, the sound of throaty slickness bobbing him.

‘”Oh…Y/N…..I’m not gonna last long, hun.” You hear him just above a whisper, his morning voice course and gruff. Taking him deeper and deeper, you use your hand to pump the remaining length, twisting. Within seconds, a few particularly robust moans evacuate Keanu’s mouth.

“Y/N…oh Y/N…fuck baby. You’re so good to me, baby.” You hear Keanu praise. “Fuck, oh god…” he grunts, eyes shutting tight as his grasp on your hair stiffens. You feel his warm, creamy release into your mouth, shooting ribbons cascading down your throat.

Licking up each and every drop of the velvety cum off his shaft, swallowing, you finish with a wipe of your mouth.

“Good morning,” you smile up at him, still on your knees.

“Good fucking morning it is, that may have been the best I’ve ever woke up.” He chuckles. Creeping up off his back into a sitting position, he pulls you close by the wrist. “You have to let me return the favour, darling.” He says, smirking, eyes fixated on your bottoms.

“I’d love to, but I really wanna get a hold of the pill. The faster you take it, the better it works.” You sigh, raising up, off the bed. Keanu had came inside you the night before, and unfortunately that was still a problem you had to deal with this otherwise lovely morning.

“Of course.” He says, running his hand through his hair, yawning. “I’ll leave you to get dressed. I’ll make us some coffee.” He says, lifting the duvet and planting his feet onto the wooden floor.

He walks up to you on the way out, and places a warm kiss to your cheek.

“You really didn’t have to, princess.” He brings his lips closer to your ear. “I’ll be returning the favour. Soon.” He whispers, before walking out of the room.

•

After some freshly pressed dark roast, Keanu and you venture off to the drugstore. You take his car, him in the driver’s seat. With the radio playing 70’s hits in the background, Keanu breaks the comfortable silence.

“Work today?” he asks, eyes on the road.

“No, was planning to work from home actually.” You reply, looking out the window.

“Wanna watch a movie or something after?” he proposes. “Maybe go out for some brunch?”

You ponder for a moment. Many of the times, you found yourself pondering your relationship. What were you two? You weren’t dating, but you were intimate. You were friends, you guessed, but what friends sleep together on a regular basis, and still hang out and go normal friend things? It confused you. But you were going along with it – because you cared for Keanu genuinely, and your relationship, no matter what it was, meant to you. It really meant to you.

“Yeah, I guess. Wooden Spoon?” you propose.

“I was literally thinking that.” He laughs lightly.

Walking into the drugstore after getting parked, Keanu stays close by your side as you lead the way. Thankfully, you didn’t need a prescription for plan B. Just a series of uncomfortable questions with the local pharmacist.

“When was your last menstrual period, ma’am?” she asks you. You’re leaning on the counter, Keanu by your side, looking into the distance, glancing around. It wasn’t that these things made him uncomfortable, its just that…he wasn’t your “boyfriend”. He wasn’t sure if he should walk away, or stay beside you.

“Uhm..about 3 weeks ago.” You reply, quietly.

“When most recently did you engage in unprotected sexual intercourse?” the pharmacist asks, taking notes.

“Last night. Around 11:00pm.” You say. The pharmacist looks Keanu’s way as he awkwardly smiles. It made you sort of uncomfortable that she knew you & Keanu had had sex. It’s more of a private thing, you felt.

“Have you used emergency contraceptive in the last month, and are you using any other forms of birth control?” she asks.

“No, and yes. Condoms.” You say, quietly again.

“Okaaay miss, and finally, do you have any allergies, and are you currently taking any other medications?”

“No, and no.” you say. The pharmacist hands you a box contained in a small paper bag. “There you go, ma’am. $45.50.” she says, punching it in the till.

“Debit.” Keanu says, lightly nudging you to move a little so he can pay.

“Hey, its okay.” You say, taking some cash out of your purse.

“No way, I got it.” He says, swiping his card. Picking up the bag off the counter, he places his hand on the small of your back. “Shall we head out then?” he asks.

•

You stopped for brunch at The Wooden Spoon, sharing some laughs and having a good time. To be honest, you often found yourself enjoying this side of him the most. Just his unabashed company. His friendliness, his concern and care, his beaming personality.

The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence as you gazed out the window, Keanu had rested his hand on your thigh. It wasn’t really a romantic gesture, per say. More of a…”I’m here for you,” type of way. You think.

Once back at Keanu’s house, he unlocks the door, letting you both in.

“I’m just gonna go change, pick out a movie till then? Absolutely no rom coms this time, by the way!” he exclaims, laughing.

“Can’t make any promises. Oh my god, can we watch Love Actually? Its almost Christmas!” you beg.

“No no no, you made me watch it 3 times last year, I’m putting a cap on any Christmas movies until at least December 15th.” He eyed you, climbing up the stairs.

You smiled lightly to yourself.

•

Bringing your phone out of your pocket, you opt to browse Netflix for a film. Finding your social media handles tagged in a series of paparazzi pictures said otherwise.

“Keanu Reeves Out To Lunch With Seemingly Girlfriend” reads a tabloid, accompanied with a series of pictures scattered over Instagram.

“The pair have been spotted around town frequently, could this mystery woman be the one who has stole the long time bachelor’s heart?”

You felt your heart drop. It was dawning on you now, more than ever before. You constantly had a voice in the back of your mind, pressuring you, questioning what you were really doing with Keanu. What really was your relationship? It seemed you two were stuck in the middle of a bridge, hanging onto loose threads of both sides of the band.

You were not dating, that was for sure. But you were friends, good friends. But you also were engaging in sexual intercourse. What type of good friends go out for brunch, sleep over at each others houses, watch movies but also fuck at the same time? It was stupid.

And now, the media had you pinned as his lover. It all seemed wrong.

Keanu and you both mutually decided – it was just sex. All you two wanted from each other was sex. No strings attached, no commitment, just intimacy, which both of you otherwise lonely individuals needed from time to time.

All of this extra stuff, like doing things together, going out together, had to stop. You weren’t his girlfriend, and he wasn’t your boyfriend. You were friends with benefits. That’s all. You couldn’t continue this fallacy of just being “really good friends”.

You knew your weak heart. You’d fall for him. You’d fall hard, and that would ruin everything. It needed to be just sex.

With a patter down the wooden stairs, Keanu advanced towards the living room where you were situated, after grabbing a bottle of cold water.

“Find anything, Rudolph?” he snickers, handing the water bottle your way for you to share with him. In his arm, he had a blanket tucked away, supposedly for the two of you as well. He had changed into a white t shirt, with a pair of sweatpants, his long subtly brunette kissed hair freshly combed back. He smelled of a renewed layer of crisped pine cologne.

“Actually, I think I’m gonna head out. I really gotta get that work done.” You say, raising yourself off the couch and grabbing your bag.

“Oh…okay?” Keanu utters, a confused gaze plastering on his face. “Can’t it wait a couple hours?” he questions, running his fingers through his hair.

“No, unfortunately.” You weakly smile, before heading towards the door, him trailing behind.

“Oh, alright. Wanna meet up tonight then?” he proposes, smirking.

“I’ll be swarmed all day, sorry. See you around, Ke.” You wave, as he opens the door for you.

Letting yourself out, you hear him reply under his breath. “Okay, bye for now then.”

With the thud of the large door closing shut, Keanu leans against the door frame, taken back.

“See you around? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he thinks to himself, brows furrowing together.

Everything had been going pretty well, since she got there the previous night. They had mind blowing sex the night before, she slept over and woke him up in a rather sinful way, and they grabbed brunch together, having a pretty nice time.

Had he done something?

>>Chapter 4>>

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irelise · 5 years

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the yew tree 2.6-7/?

Erik has worked with Sebastian Shaw, mutant revolutionary, ever since Shaw rescued him from human experimentation when he was a boy. He is reluctantly enlisted to assist in Shaw’s newest scheme: seducing the wealthy and enigmatic Lord Xavier and claiming his vast fortune. With Shaw posing as Xavier’s doctor, Erik goes undercover as Xavier’s personal manservant to convince him to fall in love with Shaw.

But Xavier has secrets of his own, and it isn’t long before Erik starts having second thoughts about the whole thing…

(the handmaiden inspired au - no canon knowledge required

part one now on ao3!

and click here for the beginning of part 2!)

Warnings for this part: suicide ideation, sexual exploitation, depression, referenced human experimentation, dubious medical ethics, referenced suicide Rating: M Word count: 4379

6. Time passes. Days, months, years, all blurring into each other, an endless grey haze.

Sometimes Charles wakes with his heart in his throat, a suffocating pressure crushing down on his ribcage. He needs to do something – this can’t be the rest of his life, it can’t–

He doesn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified when the panic always, inevitably, fades away, replaced by a familiar numbness and tired resignation. Waiting to die, he thinks cynically, staring at the worn golden tassels of the rug. Maybe today will be the day one of Uncle’s machines shorts out his brain.

Time passes.

7. Charles first meets Sebastian Shaw during a particularly lurid reading of The Misfortunes of Virtue.

Such readings are entirely routine by now. Eyes on the page, look up every few words. Meet the eyes of a specific man in the audience, smile at him like the reading is all for him. Back to the book. Rinse and repeat. He floats somewhere above his own body, telepathy spreading loose and uncontrolled through the hall like a cloud of spilled ink. Lust, predictably, is the dominant emotion, colouring the room in a humid and stifling haze. Charles lets it wash over him. Through him. It’s been a long time since it had any effect on him.

But something is different tonight. There’s someone – someone’s mind – a sort of unnameable brightness, an otherness…

A man in the second row. He lounges in his seat, perfectly at ease, as if the performance is nothing more remarkable than a night at the cinema. Charles meets his eyes. The man had introduced himself to Uncle as Dr. Klaus Schmidt, but inside his head he thinks of himself as Sebastian Shaw – or perhaps that’s another alias internalised for so long and so often that it had become the truth.

Sebastian Shaw smiles at him. It is an inviting thing, a lingering look of appreciation, a touch of flirtation. Power and confidence radiate from him.

But he has Uncle’s eyes, cold and calculating.

Charles smiles back at him, serene, and continues his reading.

***

The second time he meets Sebastian Shaw is in his bedroom.

Charles had been in his study paging through the newest volume of Human Genetics when he felt the approach of two minds. Uncle’s he automatically walls off, but the presence next to him – Shaw, Schmidt, whatever he calls himself – is like a beacon. Intrigued, Charles gets to his feet and returns to his bedroom, ready to play the role of the gracious host.

The door swings open and Uncle steps in, eyes sweeping dismissively around the room. Usually Uncle would summon him down to the lab for this sort of business, but sometimes he enjoys invading Charles’ rooms, an unsubtle reminder that Charles has no right to privacy.

Charles is long past the point of minding. He gives Uncle a cordial smile, impeccably polite. “Good evening, sir. And who might your guest be?”

Uncle grunts. “It’s your new doctor. Wants to give you a check-up tonight. No need to play stupid, he knows all about your mind tricks.”

“Ah.” Charles’ smile doesn’t flicker as he inclines his head at Shaw. “In that case, how do you do, Dr. Schmidt? Charles Xavier, at your service, but I think you knew that already.”

“Pleasure,” Shaw says, and the interest that lights up his mind is real. “I’ve read all of your work, Lord Xavier. You have some fascinating ideas that I would love to take further.”

His work – currently, a collection of review papers summarising the state of knowledge in genetics and related disciplines, with suggestions for future experiments carefully crafted to nudge the field in directions that are less inhumane. Charles supposes he should be grateful that Uncle permits him to publish under his own name and keep up correspondence with other scholars. The reception to his work has been positive, but Charles hadn’t expected Shaw, of all people, to mention it out of the blue. Although momentarily thrown by Shaw’s compliment, Charles recovers easily. “That’s very kind of you to say so. My position limits the type of work I can engage in, but I try to make the best of the resources available to me.”

Shaw makes an approving noise. “Someone must keep up with the vast body of knowledge at our disposal, separate the wheat from the chaff. You do good work.”

Behind Shaw, Uncle clears his throat impatiently. “You two done?”

“Yes, we should get on with things, hmm?” Shaw motions him closer, so Charles goes. Already, he’s starting to drift from his body again. In the kitchens, one of the cooks is gritting her teeth against the pain as she runs cold water over the angry red burn that covers her arm. Someone is out working late on the grounds, cursing the moonless sky. And further down the road, closer to the town–

“Strip,” Shaw says, so Charles does.

“Stand there,” Shaw says, so Charles moves where he directs, and Shaw takes measurements for his height and weight, for the circumference of his waist. Distantly, he can hear the rustle of sheets as Uncle settles down on his bed, watching his naked body with undisguised greed.

“Stay still,” Shaw says, so Charles stands there, arms straight and palms resting against his thighs. Shaw circles him, inspecting every inch of his skin: first with his eyes, then with his gloved hands, feeling at every minor blemish, every mole and freckle. For some moments Shaw lingers over the scars etched on his back from the time Uncle decided a live demonstration of The Whippingham Papers was necessary – You should feel right at home, what with that charming English public school upbringing of yours, Uncle had said, and the audience had laughed.

Charles closes his eyes. His head is empty and quiet.

“Open your mouth,” Shaw says, so Charles does, and Shaw checks his teeth and gums like he’s an animal for purchase. Not even ten minutes ago, this very same man had spoken to him like an equal. It seems so far away now.

“Spread your legs.”

It’s all you’re good for.

Impossible to tell where the thought had come from. Perhaps it’s from himself. Charles allows his telepathy to carry him further away.

Hands, gloved by impersonal latex, squeeze his testicles, checking for lumps and abnormalities. Charles allows the sensations to wash over him. Through him. He is not affected.

His body is not his own.

He does not care what happens to it.

A slick noise penetrates the air as Shaw lubricates his fingers. Uncle’s interest in the proceedings batter down on him in a red tide. Charles’ eyes fix on the window, the yew tree a constant reminder in the distance.

“Bend,” Shaw says, so Charles does, bending at the waist. Shaw braces one hand against his hip. One lubricated finger presses gently past his sphincter, calm and professional, and since Charles’ body doesn’t fight it the finger pushes deeper into his rectum. Shaw palpates the delicate internal tissues, feeling out the prostate gland from apex to base. It’s all over within a few minutes, and after that Charles silently dresses himself as Shaw and Uncle talk.

“I’ll run more tests later, for blood pressure and the like, but at this point in time it doesn’t seem like there’s anything physically wrong with him – aside from the migraines, he’s perfectly healthy. It’s going to be hard to find out what exactly is causing the migraines, since we can’t very well cut his head open and take a look inside… Could be the telepathy, could be something else, we’re starting to see some proof that some people just get migraines for no real reason…”

Charles is vaguely curious about their discussion, but it’s hard to focus when he’s so far away, curled up in the mind of one of the townswomen as she gives her husband a perfunctory kiss goodnight.

“…his extensive medical records, I’ll try him out on a new medication regime,” Shaw is saying. Charles struggles to pull himself back to the present, knowing it’s important, but he’s drifting off again when he hears–

Lord Xavier. Charles.

Charles blinks. That voice – it’s Shaw, a telepathic communication shining with the same brightness that glows in Shaw’s mind. It’s not the first time someone has communicated with him telepathically – it’s a regular part of Uncle’s tests – but never before had he heard a mental voice this clear.

He does not reply. It’s one of his self-imposed rules.

Shaw and Uncle continue their conversation, but Shaw’s voice continues to twine around his mind, intimate as a lover. Come meet me tonight, Charles. We have so much to discuss. Surely, you’ve noticed by now that my mind is different.

Superior.

I’m like you.

Tonight, Charles. By that tree at the edge of your property. Meet me there.

***

He does not trust Shaw.

He is fascinated by Shaw.

These are not mutually exclusive things.

Left to his own devices once more, Charles retreats to the study. Without hesitation, he reaches out, creeping on silent cat’s feet into Shaw’s mind.

Shaw is – complex. Mutant, as he had implied, and old, far older than he looks, a veritable treasure trove of experience, his mind humming with that beautiful energy that had drawn Charles to him in the first place. He shines bright with a fire and passion Charles had long ago lost.

But for all Shaw’s disdain of humans, the deeper layers of his mind are remarkably similar to Uncle’s. They have the same greed, the same drive to take things – people – apart in the name of scientific inquiry, the same potential for petty cruelties…

Charles would like nothing better than to never enter Shaw’s mind again, but he blocks out his discomfort, focusing on the task at hand. He needs more information.

It’s rare that he digs through memories, a light-fingered thief snatching at precious moments he has no right to. Most of the time, Charles is content to be a silent observer, drifting aimlessly in the present. But too often he loses himself entirely and reaches deeper than he means to.

He does it on purpose now, sinking into Shaw’s mind until he is Shaw, squinting through the darkness of the grounds as he walks to the yew tree for their rendezvous. His mind is a buzz of plans and low-grade irritation – Marko has ruined the Xavier boy what a waste of power waste of potential I should kill him for it – and Charles carefully wills Shaw’s thoughts to dwell on the subject of Uncle, spinning out into a web of associations and memories.

Years and years of partnership, he and Marko and Trask; after all, the humans are useful pawns and scapegoats and of course neither of them know he is a mutant and what he has planned for them eventually…

He is not a traitor to his own kind. He is never the one to hunt down and capture fellow mutants. But once they’ve fallen into human hands – well, he’s really no different from a parent who allows his children to stumble and fall, to make their own mistakes and grow. Besides, he always rescues them in the end, after they’ve had a chance to learn their lessons. So what if it takes a few years?

Anger, hate, fear – they are the best teachers. They are the source of power.

Charles shudders at that familiar philosophy, heard so many times before from Uncle’s mouth, from his books. The urge to flee almost overpowers him, but Charles stays put and continues to eavesdrop on Shaw’s growing ire – where is that damn boy, gonna be late for my meeting with Azazel, fucking nobles, he’s worse than Emma, Christ I need to make some time to go through things with Emma, we need to figure out how to deal with little Erik Lehnsherr…

Vitriol. Disappointment. Fatherly pride. Murderous intent, blood-red. Whoever Erik Lehnsherr is, he inspires a tangled web of emotion so deep and powerful that it sends Charles reeling.

Before Charles can stop himself, his power threads carefully through Shaw’s mind, plucking out more memories:

A tall, lean figure pacing in front of a small crowd of mutants, his movements as economical and graceful – deadly – as a shark on the hunt. “My brothers and sisters…” Erik says, and the memory is both blurred and vibrant, a multitude of similar scenes overlayed on top of each other. Shaw’s paternal fondness is an undercurrent through it all. My little firebrand, he thinks, proud. Possessive. Erik is his. His finest creation.

Shaw’s mind flicks to memories of Erik as he was, a sweet little boy. Not even three years spent under the scalpels of human scientists had fully snuffed out the innate sweetness and honesty in Erik’s nature. The first few months after his rescue Erik had been a persistent shadow, wary as a kicked dog and just as starved for attention. Oh, little Erik tried to put up a strong front, bristling and snapping at everything, but the slightest bit of praise had Erik hanging onto his every word. Shaw loves them the most at this age; young minds are so malleable, so easy to mould in the proper way. It’s no difficult task to feed Erik’s fear and hatred, shaping him into a weapon against the humans as easily as Erik shapes his metal.

His only regret is that he hadn’t taken a firmer hand with Erik. “Brothers and sisters,” Erik says once again, in another time, in another memory. Shaw had written the speech for Erik, but Erik’s next words come as a shock of cold water: “Today, we free our captive brothers and sisters! We’ll bring down the complex around the humans, we’ll unleash a devastation they’ll never forget!”

“That wasn’t what we had agreed on!” Shaw snarls, an indeterminable amount of time later, and this memory is blazing red with fury. How dare he; he had raised Erik like a son, he had made him into everything he is now, he had given him everything. “This was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission only!”

“We know they have mutants held captive there, how much more reconnaissance do we need?” Erik snarls back, and by God, Shaw’s hand itches. He wants to slap Erik. He wants to choke him, to hear the splintering of bone and the bloody rip of torn flesh.

“No,” Erik continues. The air around him hums, crackling with magnetic energy. “I won’t let the humans experiment on them one second longer.” His eyes narrow. “And I can’t believe you’re even thinking about leaving them there. What the fuck, Sebastian?”

If only he knew.

Shaw’s memories jump again, and these are worn with time and distance. A rumour, heard from a friend of a friend, about a child patient who brings horrendously bad luck. Needles bend and dull around him. Instruments, always the metal ones, suddenly warp. Pipes leak, wiring falls apart.

Shaw is not a traitor to his own kind. He would never hunt fellow mutants. But this is more like – like sending someone to be trained. A few words in the right ears, and little Erik Lehnsherr is suddenly an orphan, another missing child for human authorities to forget about. It’s all very laughably easy. The humans all think Shaw – the clever, ever-reliable Dr. Schmidt – is one of them, and Shaw reads all the reports they send him on little Erik Lehnsherr, charting the jumps in Erik’s power until he’s grown enough to be useful. Then it’s a simple matter of rescuing him, Erik’s own personal knight in shining armour. He kills little Erik’s tormentors right before the boy’s wide, terrified eyes, relishing the fear and betrayal on the faces of the human scientists even as he gathers Erik into his arms, shushing and soothing him. Mine.

Mine.

Unsettled, Charles pulls back from Shaw’s mind, but not far enough. All those memories of Erik he had roused had awakened something dark in Shaw; Shaw’s mind whirls round and round in furious circles – need to deal with him he’s too popular with the young recruits, how dare he how dare he, he’s going to ruin all my plans, he’s mine, he’s taking what’s mine…

Charles is no stranger to thoughts of violence, but Shaw’s fevered imaginings are more visceral than most. He’s murdered before. Erik Lehnsherr will only be another name in a long, long list.

God. Charles pulls back completely. He’s done it again, gone where he had no right to and fucked everything up in the process. Would Shaw be so homicidally angry if Charles hadn’t pulled up all those memories?

He needs to fix this. The thought of meeting Shaw, alone, fills Charles with apprehension, but he gets to his feet anyway. Shaw is no threat to him, Charles reminds himself. He’s already been dismissed as a weakling, and while Shaw’s mind may be a shifting mess of hypocrisy and double standards, Charles has the impression that Shaw is genuine in his desire to avoid harming other mutants – except, of course, when his power is threatened.

The grounds are chilly, and it’s colder still under the shadow of the yew tree. Shaw’s smile is a knife in the dark. “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come,” he drawls.

Charles smiles in return, perfectly serene, perfectly bland. “Did you need something from me?”

“I’m here to make you an offer.”

“Oh?”

For all his outward calm, inside, Charles is scrabbling for the right thing to say. Uncle’s friends are easy, but Shaw – Shaw is a fellow mutant. Kin. The textures of his mind are rich and vibrant, with an extra depth to his perception of the world that no human can hope to match.

And yet.

He’s seen into Shaw’s mind. He’s felt the clinical touch of his hands. The man in front of him is not – will never be – someone worthy of his trust.

“Let’s hear it,” Charles adds, covering his uncertainties with a layer of cultured calm.

Shaw’s eyes sweep over him, an examination Charles is intimately familiar with. “You know, Charles, when I first heard of you, I thought you’d be an empty-headed little boy. You’ve been alone all this time, haven’t you?” He crowds closer, into Charles’ space, reaching out to grasp his chin, but Charles firmly pushes his hand away. Shaw smiles. “See? I thought I knew your type. I thought you’d latched onto the first mutant you see. The first person to give you a kind word. The first person to treat you like…an adult.”

There’s no mistaking the heat in Shaw’s gaze, the desire sparking in his mind, and Charles feel his throat close and his chest go tight. He forcibly pushes it all back and meets Shaw’s eyes evenly. “Clearly you thought wrong.”

“Clearly I did. Marko’s already ruined you for everyone else. So!” Shaw rubs his hands together. “Like I said, I’ll cut you a deal instead. Do you know why I’m here?”

Charles could look, but he doesn’t have to. Shaw is all but shoving the answer at him. “You want many things, but primarily, you’re after my fortune.”

“That’s right. We both have something the other wants. You have your money, and I… Well. I have a key.”

“A key,” Charles echoes, sceptical.

“You want to get out of here, don’t you? Be with your own kind?” Shaw’s hand rests heavily on his shoulder, and this time, Charles doesn’t push it away. The night is still and silent save for the rustle of the yew’s branches. He’s so very tired. “Of course you do. I know all about you, you know. I know how Marko has been controlling you. Leashing you.” Fingers tap at Charles’ temple. “Let me set you free.”

Charles shakes his head minutely. “Uncle didn’t…” It was nothing Charles didn’t consent to. A mutual promise. A deal, just like the one Shaw is trying to make with him.

Shaw tuts. “He has you brainwashed. You sure you’re the telepath here?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Well, think about it. I could help you be so much more. I lead a whole group of our kind, you’re more than welcome there. I’ve got a telepath with me. You want training? She’ll help you unlock your potential. You’re never going to get anywhere with a human like your uncle.” Shaw spits the last word like a curse, lips curling into a sneer.

Charles should want those things. He thinks he does want those things, in some deep and buried part of him, but it’s an abstract desire, a yearning for something impossible. Even now, the mansion looms on the periphery of his vision like an unavoidable shadow, and the branches of the yew overhead blot out the light of the moon.

He thinks about a rope of silk. A memory of desperation; choking.

He cannot go on like this.

“What do you want in exchange?” Charles finally asks. “Money?”

“Not even all your fortune,” Shaw says, indulgent. Triumph radiates from his mind. “I’m a fair man; we’ll split it. Run away with me, Charles. When the time is right. Do we have a deal?”

Uncle had said those same words to him a lifetime ago. Charles is no braver now than he is back then, but he likes to think he’s grown wiser. For all his seductive promises, Shaw is no true ally – just look at what he plans to do to that man, Erik Lehnsherr, his own faithful right hand.

“Yes,” Charles says quietly. His mind is racing with the beginnings of a plan. “But you must realize running away isn’t enough. Uncle will never stop hunting me.” His heartbeat pounds painfully against his chest. Charles licks his suddenly dry lips. “We need to…”

He falters, breaking off. The choking pressure against his ribcage is growing too much to bear. Get a hold of yourself – he doesn’t understand it, it makes no sense that the mere mention of Uncle should send him dizzy and shaking with fear and adrenaline…

Shaw watches him, pity in his eyes, sneering disgust in his mind. “You’re that afraid of Kurt Marko? He won’t get his hands on you, I promise.”

“You can’t,” Charles stops, swallows, tries again. “You can’t stop him.”

“Oh, I won’t be the one stopping him,” Shaw says. Smugness lights his mind again, and Charles picks up the image of a glittering vial. “I’d be a poor spouse if I don’t get you a wedding present, hmm? So, here’s my promise to you. I have in my possession a vial of opium, highly concentrated. Drink it all and you’ll go to sleep and never wake up again. Put it in your drink, put it in his, I don’t care. Either way, you’ll never end up in his hands again.”

Charles can tell from the tenor of his thoughts that this is all a game to Shaw. Shaw isn’t in the business of killing a fellow mutant unless he’s defied, but he’s not above games of petty manipulations. All along, he’s been expecting Charles to take the opium. To take the painless, peaceful way out, leaving Shaw with the entire fortune.

The worst part is – it’s tempting. It’s what he had wanted for all these years.

He still wants it.

No. Focus. He has a plan. He has a responsibility. Erik. He won’t let Shaw kill him. “Let’s hope it won’t come to that, shall we. I’d much rather never see Uncle again.”

“You’re the one who said he’ll never stop hunting you.”

“He won’t.” Again, his throat closes up, but this time Charles presses on grimly. “Unless he thinks I’m dead.”

That gets Shaw’s attention. “Oh?”

“After…” And it feels so strange to think of the future, to know that something may break up the grey haze of his days, “After the wedding, after you have a claim to the fortune, I want to fake my death. I need a body for that.”

It takes no prompting at all for Shaw’s thoughts to immediately flick to Erik Lehsnherr. “I can arrange that.”

Charles nods. “Find me a manservant,” he says. He needs some way to get close to Erik somehow, to warn him. “My current servants all report to my uncle. Find me someone honest. Someone straightforward. We’ll use him as my body double after the marriage. There’s no need to have more people involved than needed.”

It’s not the most solid plan. Already, Shaw has his doubts – he’s loathe to let Erik anywhere near Charles – but Charles wants this to work so badly that he’s reaching out before he can stop himself, bending his self-imposed rules. Let Erik stay here a few weeks, a few months, out of the way, he whispers into Shaw’s mind, using Shaw’s own voice. He picks out the threads of suspicion in Shaw’s psyche, smoothing them away into calm, nothing to worry about, the Xavier boy is too cowardly to do anything, Erik will never listen to someone he thinks is a weak, sickly human…

It’s been many years since Charles has allowed himself to want something so badly. He can’t do it in good conscience, not when he knows his thoughts are poison, a miasma seeping into the skulls of good, innocent people and altering them to suit his whims.

But Charles lets go now. Accept it. Accept it. Accept the plan.

After a second, an eternity, Shaw nods.

“You know,” Shaw says, “when I saw you in your room earlier, I thought Marko crushed the spirit out of you already. You were so cold, like a perfect little doll.”

“Is there a point to this?”

“Oh, just that you’re even colder than I expected.” Shaw chuckles. “Didn’t think you had it in you to plan a murder in cold blood. But I like it. I’ll be seeing you, Charles.”

Shaw walks away, leaving him alone. Charles looks at the mansion, then at the height and breadth of the yew tree, and he rests his hands against the bark. It’s cold and rough against his skin; dead. His chest feels unaccountably tight again.

He’s only ever wanted to do the right thing.

He just wishes he knows what the right thing is.

(next part)

#cherik #xmfc #My writing

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sewingpatches · 5 years

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I’m only going to cover fabric as the accessories (besides the exact weapons) can be bought at your ren faire or local convention. And while I recognize you’re gonna do your own twist on it I’m going to give you notes as if you’re trying to pull off her exact look 😁

So you’re in luck as most of this stuff is straight lines and easy.

For her shirt you can buy the cheapest button up shirt pattern you can find, then decide how much longer you want the hem to be. Margo’s is just below her knee. When ordering fabric make sure whatever length you want to add to the shirt you double it, for both front and back pieces of your shirt. So like if I want 20 or 30 inches to the hem, I buy either an extra yard and a half or a two full yards. I can’t tell what the front closure is on her shirt so if it’s loose enough you could just sew it together, attach an invisible zipper, or do some kind of hooks n eyes. I would hold off cutting the shirt’s fringes/strips(?) until you make your belt/cincher. Once you have it then I’d say to cut it as low as you can go without it showing at the bottom of the belt. If you want to avoid sewing your own shirt, then shopping for a very long button up shirt would be your next best option. Look for boho styles at your thrift store or department store. For both sewing or non sewing try to keep your options on nature fibers like cotton or linen to keep the heat off of you and let your outfit breathe. I personally like buying cotton gauze or tissue linen for my bottom most layers as they are very thin and comfortable. Knits are not a bad option as that way you won’t need to hem the edges of the strips to keep it from fraying.

Next layer is her off gray long vest. She does wear it under her stripey coat. This one you could use your shirt pattern and just alter it slightly. I would do this after making your shirt so you know exactly how the pattern works and fits.

As the vest does not close you can take in the front so it doesn’t cover your shirt and hangs open more. Do not alter the sides or shoulders unless you absolutely need to. If altering the shirt pattern, draw out your final sewn edge and then draw on your seam allowance. I would do atleast and 1, but no more than 2 inches. If you’re shopping for it, just look for another button up dress or tunic that is a very light cotton or linen. You can take off the sleeves but I highly recommend hemming the armhole to give you a clean finish. But if you’re wearing the stripey coat then it’s up to you on that. The hem of the vest is about the same as the shirt.

Next up is the stripey coat. This will be tougher to shop for so you’re better off sewing it yourself. Once again you could get away with using your shirt pattern by altering it. However I highly recommend making a mock-up before using your stripey fabric to make sure you have the sleeve right. It’s the length and over all comfort I’m worried about. Honestly the baggier the better? And you can take it in as needed at the very end.

Now it’s belt time. You’re going to have to draft out the shape of the front for yourself, then add a normal 5/8 seam allowance on all edges. You can do either the soft pentagon shape or an easy rectangle. I would go with a finished width of 2-2.5 inches if doing the rectangle. It looks like a linen fabric to me, but I would use very heavy denim to line the back or insides and interface the linen for a good base. Sew three sides of your rectangle, leaving the part that attaches to the bits of belting alone. For the belting lengths themselves you’ll need a dressform that is your size or a handy friend. Both methods are the same, but I will write it out as the later. You will need clear plastic wrap and duct tape. Wrap your high and low waist in the plastic wrap, then cover that in duct tape. If you want the belts to be tight, then careful wrap the duct tape tighter than looser. Your friend will then use a sharpie to mark your desired length of the belt, the center front, center back, and your sides. Once the very basic shape of the belt is done, have your friend carefully cut along the center front line. Then when youre free, tape up the center front but don’t loose the center front lines. Use scotch tape to temporarily attach your linen belt front and trace it on. Ignore the seam allowance we left open, only drawing the finished edges. Remove that now draw on how you want your belts to lay. Margo has some angled belts that go diagonal. I’m guessing her belt opens in the back as well as the front. Since it’s hidden under her vest and coat you do not need to use hooks and eyes in the back. Any drawing mistakes can be covered in duct tape and drawn over.

Once you’re happy with the look you can cut out the stripes of duct tape as a pattern. If you’re using elastic instead of belting you don’t need to add seam allowance. But please be careful going tighter if your body is not used to the pressure. Running around ren faire all day can take a toll as it is so please take it off if you feel any discomfort. Even if it’s just during a water break or lunch. You can always wear one of Margo scarves as a sash instead. Anyways, once you cut all your belts to desired lengths and know which are in what order, attach the belts to the front closure pieces carefully. Use a basting stitch to temporarily attach the belts and check now to see if that belt needs to be tighter or looser as you go.

Now her pants are a whole other beast you cannot use your shirt pattern on. However you can use a pj pattern instead. I recommend the baggie drawstring kind that have pockets. She wears hers at her natural waist under her belt, so don’t go cutting down the waist line. On the pj pattern extend the sides as desired. The front of the pants go up, so remember to curve up the front pattern piece. But leave the back with a straight line. For the cuff, measure out a circumference that the widest part of your foot can go through, and use that measure meant to make a rectangle that is however long you need it by about 2 inches wide +seam allowance on all sides. You can always go longer and add elastic to the cuff to make things even easier. You’ll gather the hem of the pants into the cuff, uneven gathering is fine as Margo’s centers on the front. If you’re planning to buy your pants, see if anyone is selling some harem pants? Otherwise look for very nice pj pants. You’ll want to add a cuff to the bottom, so if you don’t mind shortening the pants you’ll just cut off about 3.5 inches, then again however short of a circumference you can fit your foot through, and reattach that as a cuff.

After that she wears lil sweat bands on her wrists you can make out of strips of muslin fabric, just wrap and tie around your wrists. Then more thin linen or muslin fabric for her scarves.

Hope I helped 😅

I know it’s a lot of info so if there’s any clarification needed let me know. I recommend sewing everything as much as possible if that is in your interest or skill set. Take your time with it if this is your first project and buy ten yards of muslin to test out your patterns on before cutting your good fabric. This outfit is supposed to be comfortable so don’t try to make the shirt or the pants too fitted as your belt and drawstring in the pants will do your fitting for you. Also remember to pack sunscreen and water and take breaks. Have fun at ren faire, @nebulousgayshit!

#the magicians #margo hanson #sewing #cosplay #nebulousgayshit #fillory clinton

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kellylanesvault · 3 years

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How 42 Year Old Mom Flattened 20 Pounds of Belly Fat During Locked Down

The average U.S. waist circumference has also grown to an average 38.8 inches, up more than 1 inch in about a dozen years.

It’s more than a fashion crisis.

Belly fat, or visceral fat, is the most dangerous type of fat there is.

This deadly fat wraps around the organs deep in your abdomen, spiking your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and metabolic syndrome.

You can’t see or pinch visceral fat, and it’s often associated with a large waist.

Ditch it and you’ll not only save your health, you’ll also lose weight and trim your waistline.

The good news is you can start blasting both types of fat today with these 10 healthy habits:

>>THIS Super simple trick that helped me burn at least 2 pounds a day while having milkshake and custard doughnuts for breakfast <<

Ditch Diet Soda

How bad can your calorie-free Diet Coke habit be for your belly?

Belt-bustingly bad, researchers say.

A study in the journal Diabetes Pro found that people who drank two or more diet sodas a day had waist-size increases that were six times greater than non-drinkers.

Diet drinks are loaded with deceptively sweet artificial sweeteners, which, researchers say, trick the metabolism into thinking sugar is on its way, spike insulin levels, and shift the body from a fat-burning to a fat-storing state.

Eat Three Squares

For years, diet experts beat the “multiple small meals a day” drum—an eating rhythm purported to “stoke the metabolic fire!”

Now, some researchers are singing a different tune. A study published in the journal Hepatology found that snacking between meals contributes to increased abdominal fat.

Researchers say the findings suggest three balanced meals may be the way to go. Try weaning yourself off the snack wagon by nixing your morning nibble first.

Research suggests mid-morning snackers tend to consume more throughout the day than afternoon snackers.

Eat More Walnuts

Dietary fats are kind of like lovers.

Some of them make you a better person, and others—as you often discover too late—are catastrophically bad for your health.

The good news is, unlike shoddy boyfriends, dietary fats come with red flags.

The absolutely worst match for your apple-shaped figure? Saturated fats.

A study published in the journal Diabetes found that while unsaturated fat can help reduce abdominal fat, saturated fat can increase waist size.

Saturated fats, like the kind you’ll find in baked goods and red meat, “turn on” certain genes that increase the storage of fat in the belly, researchers say.

Polyunsaturated fats on the other hand, activate genes that reduce fat storage and improve insulin metabolism.

At about 13 grams per one ounce serving, walnuts are one of the best dietary sources. Sprinkle a handful on your morning oats or entree salad for belly-busting benefits.

Skip The Bootcamp

Open any fitness magazine, and it’s clear: high intensity interval training (HIIT) is having a bit of a moment.

But when it comes to your shrinking your belly, the start-and-stop exercise strategy won’t get you anywhere … other than into a larger pair of pants, researchers say.

A study published in the Journal of Obesity found people who performed interval training on an exercise bike for 24 minutes three days a week, actually gained 0.7 percent abdominal fat over a 12-week period.

Meanwhile, those on the same dietician-regulated diet, who performed traditional aerobic exercise—45 minutes of continuous moderate cycling three days a week—lost nearly 3 percent of their abdominal fat over the same 3-month period.

The study authors did note that HIIT improved fitness, but suggest that the only evidence to support interval training as an efficient weight loss method was research using young people who were already lean and healthy.

Remember: Workouts are only half of the equation; abs are made in the kitchen as they say.

Eat the magical beans, Jack

There are diet pills on the market that actually work. They’re called beans.

Researchers suggest beans, as they’re particularly rich in soluble fiber, can lessen the accumulation of abdominal fat deposits.

A study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that for every 10-gram increase in soluble fiber eaten per day, visceral fat reduced by 3.7 percent over five years.

Fill up, without filling out, with just 1/2 a cup of beans.

If the musical fruits tend to leave you bloated, stick to canned varieties that have soaked long enough to break down much of the gas-causing oligosaccharides.

Swap coffee for green tea

Green tea and weight loss are a natural pair.

Sipping on green tea throughout the morning has proven to whittle your waist, but too much coffee has the opposite effect.

What makes green tea so waist friendly are compounds called catechins, belly-fat crusaders that blast adipose tissue by revving the metabolism, increasing the release of fat from fat cells (particularly in the belly), and then speeding up the liver’s fat burning capacity.

In a recent study, participants who combined a daily habit of 4-5 cups of green tea with a 25-minute sweat session (or 180 minutes a week), lost 2 more pounds than the non tea-drinking exercisers.

Meanwhile, a research team in Washington found that the same amount of coffee (5+ cups/day) doubled visceral belly fat.

Be Unrefined

It’s not carbs, per se, that lead to belly fat; but the type, researchers say. In fact, whole grains are a dietary staple of people with the littlest middles.

A Tufts University study found that participants who ate three or more servings of whole grains per day (oats, quinoa, brown rice, wheat) had 10% less belly fat than people who ate the same amount of calories from refined carbs (white stuff: bread, rice, pasta).

Further research is required to figure out exactly why this is the case, but the hypothesis is it has to do with the high fiber and slow-burn properties of whole grains.

When it comes to diet, being unrefined is a good thing!

Sprinkle Pepper Everywhere

Meet Piperine, the fat blasting ninja!

A powerful compound found in black pepper, piperine has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine to treat multiple health conditions including inflammation and tummy troubles.

But recent animal studies have found that piperine may also have the profound ability to decrease inflammation and interfere with the formation of new fat cells—a reaction known as adipogenesis, resulting in a decrease in waist size, body fat, and cholesterol levels.

More pepper, please!

Use coconut oil for cooking

What smells like an exotic vacation and can shrink your waist faster than your favorite Zumba class?

You got it: coconut oil.

A study of 30 men in the journal Pharmacology found that just 2 tablespoons per day reduced waist circumference by an average of 1.1 inches over the course of a month.

What makes coconut oil superior to other fats is its medium chain triglycerides. Unlike the long-chain fatty acids found in animal sources of saturated fat, coconut oil doesn’t seem to raise your cholesterol and is more likely to be burned as energy than stored as blubber.

At roughly 117 calories per tablespoon, it’s a near identical caloric swap for olive oil. Plus, its high smoke point makes coconut oil great for just about every dish, from eggs to stir-frys.

Indulge in Dark Chocolate

It’s every chocoholic’s dream: Research now shows that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate can reduce overall body fat and shrink the waist.

A study among women with normal weight obesity (skinny fat syndrome) who ate a Mediterranean diet that included two servings of dark chocolate each day showed a significant reduction in waist size than when on a cocoa-free meal plan.

Researchers say it has to do with the flavonoids, heart-healthy compounds in chocolate that have important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Just be sure you’re reaching for a bar with at least 70 percent cacao, and stay away from the “alkalized” stuff, which has a significantly reduced flavonoid content.

One last thing… you should try this super simple ritual that burns 2 pounds of belly fat per day…

“All this by your something-something ritual?” I asked.

I met an old friend for lunch last year and I was super impressed with how she lost 72 pounds in 3 months.

She said, “It’s not so much about the the so called ritual but more about how it releases fat-blasting molecules that signal your brain and body to burn off pounds and inches of trapped fat quickly and naturally.”

Even though I was skeptical, I’ve been struggling with my weight over the last few years, so I gave it a shot and watched the same video she did.

Well, it’s only a couple weeks later and you know what they say about how “you can’t transform your body overnight”…

They’re right — it actually took me 14 days to lose 20 pounds.

Now it’s my girlfriends asking ME what I’M doing differently

Imagine your body being beach ready before Memorial Day.

Imagine enjoying the foods you love: pasta, wine, or even a dessert — completely guilt-free.

And imagine feeling good and living your life without obsessing about every single calorie you eat…

All while knowing your health is being protected by one of the most powerful natural healing rituals ever discovered.

Click here to see the super simple ritual that helped me melt away 20 pounds in just 14 days

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dippedanddripped · 4 years

Link

In 2013, a series of provocative music videos competed for pop culture’s attention. There was Kim Kardashian’s bare breasts bouncing for Kanye West’s “Bound 2,” then Disney-alum Miley Cyrus scantily clad and swinging on a wrecking ball. But it was “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke’s comeback classic that was easily the most memorable. Not for Thicke’s own star power (or even the subsequent backlash regarding the song’s problematic concept of consent), but because of the sample-sized models strutting coquettishly around him.

Only one of the three made an instant impression. “Blurred Lines” created a sex symbol of bodacious beauty Emily Ratajkowski overnight, catapulting her to household status with Kate Upton-esque momentum. Naturally, the rumors and rumination about her body began right away. We’d all been hypnotized by the pendulum effect of her proportions, which just couldn’t be real. “Let’s just Google her measurements,” a friend suggested. When we uncovered the circumference of Ratajkowski's breasts, waist and hips (roughly 35”-24”-34” according to hotmodelsactress.com — a size two), the comparison began.

We didn’t know it then, but Ratajkowski’s body ascribed to what has long-been fashion’s “golden ratio.” A measuring tape should reveal breasts and hips sized no higher than 36 inches (preferably 34”), and a waist no higher than 25” (preferably 24”). The standard is believed to be implemented after WWII, when a fabric shortage meant designers relied on smaller bodies to optimize profitability.

Over the past decade, the industry has been at its most inclusive yet. Fashion has gradually become a little less sizeist, racist, ageist, even ableist (even if only with a healthy dose of tokenism to impress the digital gen). As such, many curve girls have become supermodels in their own right — an unthinkable prospect at the turn of the millennium. But while the desired height of women on the runway has grown in the meantime (5’9” upwards) and we’re seeing diverse body types in the mainstream for the first time, the sample size has barely fluctuated.

“There is a practical reason that most models are the same size, and that’s called a sample collection,” Tom Ford told WWD in 2018. “You make a sample collection [according to] a standardized selection of measurements for models… Whether we all decide to start making all of our clothes in the next size up, that’s a different thing. But there is practicality, there’s a reason models are a standard size.”

For women who are six feet to fit fashion’s standards, they would have to weigh in at a near-impossible 115 pounds, claims @shitmodelmgmt. The anonymous Instagram-anchored fashion industry watchdog made headlines several years ago when they offered an open call to models who’d been harassed by designers, photographers, agents and casting directors — eventually emboldening models enough to call out predatory celebrity photographers on their own). Now, she’s using her platform to confront a different injustice in the industry. After conducting a poll of 4000 models, 65 percent claimed to have developed eating disorders to adhere to sample size expectations. In response, SMGMT created a petition to raise the sample size from size zero through four, to six through eight. So far, 15,000 have signed.

“I wanted to see how many of my followers were naturally [sample] size, and the majority of them are not,” she writes on its homepage. “In order to cut down to the required measurements/weight, they are having to resort to unhealthy means like starving themselves, restrictive diets, overexercising and other ways that severely risk their health.”

Within the past week, the outcry over too-small samples has reached fever pitch. Stylist Francesca Burns, formerly Fashion Editor of i-D, took to Instagram to reveal she’d been on set with a “tiny” model (no bigger than a US size four), who could not do up a pair of Hedi Slimane Celine pants. None of the Celine looks the stylist had pulled fit the sample-sized model, which made Burns feel like “a creep.”

“This is so unacceptable,” Burns wrote. “It is fundamentally wrong to suggest that this is the norm. It isn’t. We also have a responsibility for those in our care on set and to make sure beauty standards are not limited to a size that is completely unrealistic for the majority... Things have to change in so many ways but how hard is it to size things up?”

Fashionista editor-in-chief Tyler McCall was one of many industry insiders to endorse Burns’ message. While she understands why production of a singular small size is both efficient and cost effective, she describes the standard as a “big stumble block for true inclusivity.”

“Those ‘standard’ measurements destroy girls at such a young age,” adds agent and casting director, Kevin Chung. “Weight loss pills, working out incessantly to the point they are physically and mentally unable to do their job. It's a shame, but it's also not their fault… We need to be more cognizant of different body types and not all bodies are able to achieve those measurements — and that is okay. [Models] shouldn’t have to alter measurements to fit an unattainable standard.”

When Lauren Graves was scouted by IMG in 2002, she was 13. Her younger years were dedicated to high fashion, although now she’s just as frequently hired for lifestyle/commercial, beauty, fit production and showroom modeling. The pressure of working in fashion at a young age meant she was “always hungry,” and she now only works with a range smaller, boutique agencies. While she entered the industry at size two to four, standing over 5’10”. After various eating disorders, now-recovered Graves’ wears a six or eight and models curve.

“When your dream is to model, you listen to your agencies when they say, ‘Hey listen, I need you to lose [X] pounds, you would be so much more marketable,” Lauren says. “Some girls are genetically very thin, but it's not common. I would say a large portion of the girls fitting these sizes are trying very hard to. For fashion, most agencies will tell you to lose weight anyway.”

Kevin agrees that those models are few and far between. “There are a handful of models who are naturally lean at 5’9” to 5’11” — that's just genetics. But there are even more models who aren’t size zero through four and below 5’9.”

Dylan Wardwell is one such model. Although she faces other challenges in the industry as a trans woman, she is naturally a 5’10” size zero and has never been criticized for her size. Still, she knows plenty of models who aren’t allowed to work until they drop weight. For this reason, despite the potential repercussions for her own career, she acknowledges raising the sample size would be “the best thing” not only for the industry, but for society.

“It can’t be that hard to make a more inclusive show if brands put in the effort,” she says. “I think everyone likes to blame this standard on ‘the way it is’ instead of realizing we all as individuals contribute to this culture.”

“Being a fit model you get to work behind the scenes with production and design teams, and the change wouldn’t be hard,” Lauren adds. “They just haven’t done it.”

“It's a bit of a chicken-versus-egg,” echoes Tyler. “Designers will say they maintain sample sizes because those are the models they're given to work with, and casting directors will say they have to make sure models can fit the sample… we're talking size zero or even double zero, that's a hard target to hit for most grown women.”

Curve model Chloe Vero has walked the runway for Tommy Hilfiger and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty, securing magazine covers and major campaigns. Vero is one of the “lucky ones,” a model who’s not straight-sized but remains in demand season after season. While Chloe’s grateful for her success, she still catches herself wondering what professional heights she might have reached if she were smaller.

“I have to remind myself that it is the lack of acceptance that is making me feel this way,” she says. “I’ve been on sets where I’m the only one who is my size working and everyone else is significantly smaller than me and that takes a toll on you mentally. Working on sets that reflect our day to day lives and how we interact with the world around us can allow for a safer and more comfortable space.”

With the exception of your waist being ten inches smaller than your hips (the clothing production standard across almost all sizes), curve modeling has very few mandates. This kind of forward trajectory, Lauren opines, can be credited to the lifestyle realm who capitalized on a missed marketing opportunity: “A lot of commercial and indie brands are now working with models who represent the consumer because they’ve recognized the money that can be made off large portions of the population.”

When it comes to high fashion, Kevin can’t imagine petitions facilitating a palpable shift without support from the top down. “Until the people in power leave their current roles, we won’t see real change. Bigger people shouldn’t have to fight for clothing in their size range; designers should just have them because diversity should be inherent. People should not have to tell you to be more inclusive — that's inhumane.”

While she “doesn’t want to be a downer,” Tyler shares this sentiment. “There are so many players and so many moving parts in fashion with something like this that it would be almost impossible to get everyone on board. It's more a question of keeping the pressure on to see that representation, and supporting those who are getting it right.”

Dylan just wants a world in which she isn’t measured at castings — “If I fit the clothes, I fit the clothes” — whereas Chloe hopes the future might usher in the same opportunities for curve models as straight-sized. For his part, Kevin is ready to see fasting and diet pills made obsolete, and nutritionists as well as mental health counselors made accessible to models.

Any real change, Lauren says, will have to start and finish with designers. The narrative that clothes “fall better on slimmer figures,” or that “less fabric” or “small breasts” is easier to work with is perpetuated by those at the drawing board. Until they prioritize creating clothes for healthy bodies, we’ll all remain enslaved to measurements.

“They have an opportunity to break the mold they've always worked with, and make the clothes to fit a body — not that a body is forced to fit into,” she concludes. “Designers seem afraid of breaking the old mold, even though in my opinion, that’s what creativity is.”

#samples #models #stylist #streetwear blog #fashion blog #sample size

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kathydsalters31 · 4 years

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The Best Hiking Backpacks for Small Dogs

If you want a backpack for your small dog – which is generally accepted to be dogs 25 lbs or under – but are having a hard time finding one that fits, you’ve come to the right place.

Looking for Backpacks to Carry Your Small Dog in? Check Out This Article.

I’ve been hiking with my small dogs for over 15 years. I also worked at a large outdoor retailer for 6 years.

I’m not only familiar with what is available but a good judge of quality gear (my standards are even a little higher than most I think).

While my little dogs don’t wear a backpack to carry their own stuff – mostly because the ones available are too small to be of any use to me – I have been on the lookout for what would fit.

Below are my recommendations for backpacks that will fit small and very small dogs.

How Much Weight Can a Small Dog Carry in a Backpack?

The first thing you should think about is whether your small dog can carry enough weight to make investing in a dog backpack worth it to you.

The amount of stuff your small dog can carry in a dog backpack is primarily determined by their weight.

I suggest not exceeding 8-10% of body weight.

Don’t just guess. Weight your dog’s backpack on a scale before heading out on your hike.

A more common suggestion is no more than 10-12% of your dog’s body weight but remember this weight includes the weight of the pack.

Subtracting 2% to compensate for the weight of the backpack itself gives you a more realistic maximum weight your dog should carry on a hike.

Dog Weight8% of body Weight10% of body weight5 lbs/2.27 kg0.4 lb/6.4 oz/0.18 kg0.5 lb/8 oz/0.23 kg10 lb/4.54 kg0.8 lb/12.8 oz/0.36 kg1 lb/16 oz/0.45 kg15 lb/6.80 kg1.2 lbs/19.2 oz/0.541.5 lb/24 oz/0.68 kg20 lb/9.07 kg1.6 lbs/25.6 oz/0.73 kg2.0 lb/32 oz/0.91 kg25 lb/11.34 kg2 lbs/32 oz/0.91 kg2.5 lb/40 oz/1.13 kg

In most cases, you will be limited by capacity. Likely to run out of space before the back gets too heavy.

For example, I have an XXS Doggles pack for my Dachshund and I can fit a small amount of treats, a small ball, and roll of poop bags. With the pack, that weighted 8 oz or half a pound.

Also keep in mind that the weights above are the typical maximum.

Your dog will need to start with ¼ to ½ of the suggested maximum, gain strength and confidence, and then work their way up to carrying the full weight.

However, your dog may be able to carry closer to 20% of their body weight after a lot of practice and conditioning. It’s typically not recommended though unless your dog is an athlete.

How to Choose the Correct Size Backpack for Your Dog

There are a lot of articles out there on properly fitting your dog for a backpack.

There is no need for me to rehash the details but here are the basics:

The most important measurements you will need to know when selecting a pack for your small dog are:

Neck circumference at the base

Girth around the widest part of the rib cage

Weight

Length (optional – some packs don’t list this measurement in their size chart)

Compare these measurements against the size chart for the pack you want to purchase (size charts will vary among brands) to make your selection.

A snug fit is very important so it doesn’t shift around or the load doesn’t slip to one side when weighted.

A snug fit is very important so your dog’s backpack doesn’t shift around, or the load doesn’t slip to one side, with weight in it.

Now, here is where my personal experience with outdoor gear and hiking with dogs comes in.

Most articles you find about choosing a pack for small dogs does not include information about small dogs under 30 lbs. So here is my advice.

While it’s important that you don’t end up with a pack that is too small for your dog, choose the smallest size that will fit.

Straps can stretch when they get wet and with wear. The chances are, you will have to tighten the straps on your dog’s backpack at some point to keep it from sliding around.

Because of this, you’ll need leeway to shorten the pack straps.

For a small dog with a deep chest and small waist like Dachshunds, when selecting a harness with a chest strap and also one further back (like the ones from Ruffwear), you will want to find a pack that is a shorter length along the back.

Ideally, the whole back to fit the widest part of them (the rib cage).

Dog backpacks are not designed to fit such a wide size range (ie. it’s expected that the circumference of the dog is similar throughout their length.

For dogs with a more prominent breast bone, a harness with a strap that is designed to run down the middle of the chest will likely slip to one side.

This will shift the weight of the pack and cause the pack to chafe your dog.

If your dog has a prominent chest bone, it’s ideal to choose a dog backpack without a strap that runs down the middle of the chest.

Note: unfortunately, those are less common but can be found.

Keep in mind when you get an extra small dog backpack for a tiny dog you may lose functionality to the level that there is no point. Maybe just for the cute factor or novelty.

The two main issues are the volume of the pack is too small to carry anything useful. Also, when a design is shrunk down small, the zippers may become difficult to operate.

Also remember that, although most dog backpacks are integrated with some kind of harness, they may not or that harness may not be good enough for you to forgo your dog’s regular harness for it.

If you plan to put a dog backpack over your dog’s regular harness, be aware it could increase the risk of chafing (personally, I don’t recommend it for this reason).

Also, you may want to size up if your dog is in between in order to make room for another harness underneath.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links (Amazon Associate or other programs we participate in). As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Backpacks for Tiny and Extra Small Dogs That Hike

Tiny and extra small dogs typically fall into the 5-15 lb range or smaller.

Examples would be Chihuahuas, Yorkies, and Miniature Dachshunds.

It can be near impossible to find dog backpacks for dogs that small because companies don’t make them (I guess they haven’t caught up to the fact that there are a lot of very small dogs hiking trails with the big dogs).

Also, I’ve found the companies that do make dog backpacks to fit the smallest hiking dogs, don’t keep a lot of them in stock.

Because of this, they may “exist” but be out of stock and hard to track down.

Because most of the top brands that make dog hiking backpacks don’t make them small enough, you may need to look at some lesser known brands.

Be careful of quality with these “off brands”. It is possible they won’t be as durable as the made from the top manufacturers of outdoor dog gear.

The upside though is that several of them are dups (knockoffs) of the more popular dog backpacks but significantly cheaper.

Since I own and hike with Dachshunds, I’m going to start of my list of suggestions with the best dog backpack for Dachshunds. This one will work for other tiny dogs too though.

Doggles Extreme Backpack

The Doggles Extreme Backpack is one of the smallest dog backpacks I’ve found and the best one for Dachshunds in my opinion.

It’s one of the only ones that doesn’t have a strap that runs down the middle of the chest. Since Dachshunds have a prominent breast bone, this is important (see the fitting section above for why).

Furthermore, it has a short back length so it’s most likely to fall entirely above your dog’s ribcage (so a significantly skinnier waist is not an issue).

According to the size chart, the XXS size fits dogs with a 12-19in/30-48cm girth and holds a volume approximately equal to one cup (half cup on each side). This size will fit most miniature Dachshunds, Yorkies, and Chihuahuas..

The XS size fits a dog with a 17-25in/43-63cm girth and holds a volume approximately equal to five cups (2.5 cups on each side). This size will fit small dogs on the larger end of the spectrum like Westies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Jack Russell Terriers.

This harness is available in grey and pink as well as grey and black.

You can also find a knockoff of the Doggles Extreme Backpack on Amazon.

It’s significantly cheaper but the size chart is different. Specifically, the XS small size seems to fall within the range of the Doggles XXS above but covers a smaller range.

If you want to try this knockoff instead, be sure to double check against your dog’s measurements.

Some fitting notes from personal experience with my Dachshunds:

The XS is just big enough to fit my 10.5 lb Miniature Dachshund even though, according to the Doggles size chart, she should be in the middle of the range for the XXS size.

The size chart says the XXS fits a dog with a chest circumference of 12-19in and her chest measures about 15.5 inches. However, I have to extend the chest strap almost as long as it will go to fit her.

The neck strap fits her, although I have to adjust it down to almost as small as it will go. For reference, the base of her neck measures 12 inches and the front of her chest (width) measures approximately 6 inches across.

My other girl is 11 lbs with the same neck measurement but a chest circumference of 16.5 inches. The XXS would be too little for her so I would need to size up to the XS.

Unfortunately, size charts are not always precise. It may take some trial and error to find a dog backpack that fits your very small dog correctly.

Outward Hound DayPack

Another pack that comes in a small size is the Outward Hound DayPak.

The small size fits dogs that are at least 10.5 inches in length, with a neck circumference of 8-10 inches and a girth of 16-20 inches.

While the length and neck of this dog backpack is very small, the chest circumference seems disproportionately large in comparison.

I imagine this may only fit a specific breed of dog with a barrel chest like a Puggle.

Like I said, some of these smaller size dog backpacks are difficult to find. I only found the lime green and teal Outward Hound DayPack in small on Amazon.

Alcott Explorer Dog Backpack

The Alcott Dog Explorer dog backpack size small fits a dog with a 12″ – 16″ chest circumference, which is a typical range of a very small dog.

The size chart also lists a waist circumference (14 – 20 inches) but the pack doesn’t look that long so I am unsure whether the back strap would sit far enough back to hit a small dog’s waist (ie. it will probably sit on the portion of the rib cage furthest to the back).

However, this pack does appear to be a little longer than some so maybe this would not be the best choice if your dog’s waist measurement is significantly smaller than their chest circumference.

Purchase the Alcott Explorer Dog Backpack HERE.

Wolf Republic Ranger Napsack

I’m presenting the Wolf Republic Dog Napsack as another option because the size range goes small enough to fit little dogs. The size small will fit a dog with a 11-20 inch girth.

Also, it’s made of canvas (vs. the typical ripstop nylon) and has a cool, retro look.

However, it’s very expensive compared to the dog backpacks listed above.

You can find it HERE.

Backpacks for Small Dogs That Like to Hike

A little easier to find packs if your dog is just small (typically 16-25 lbs), not very small, tiny, or teacup size.

All of the above dog backpacks will work for small dogs as they come in larger sizes.

When looking for a backpack for a small dog above 15 lbs, your choices will include all of the ones I mentioned above plus maybe the options below.

The size of small dogs on the larger end of the spectrum opens your options a bit though. Many of the more mainstream outdoor dog gear brands make backpacks to fit them.

Some of the most popular dog backpacks that may fit are:

Ruffwear Approach Dog Backpack

Ruffwear is one of the best manufacturers of dog gear in my opinion. I frequently refer to them as the “North Face of dog gear”.

The approach dog backpack is their medium volume pack designed to be worn on an all-day hike.

A lot of thought went into this pack, including weight distribution and range of motion, and it can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

The XS size fits dogs with a chest circumference is 17-22 inches and the small fits dogs from 22-27 inches. There are larger sizes available beyond that too.

Check the price on Amazon HERE.

If you want to take your dog on multi-day backpacking trips and need more room, although I don’t suggest adding more room with a small dog, and it doesn’t come in an XS, check out the Ruffwear Palisades pack.

The cool thing with this one is the panniers can be removed so you can use just the harness.

Hurtta Trail Pack

Hurtta is a brand that originated in Finland and I think the quality of their products is comparable to Ruffwear.

Hurtta also pays attention to load distribution and the pack can be removed so you can use just the harness on it’s own (same as the Ruffwear Palisades pack above).

The Trail Pack comes in a small size designed to fit dogs from 20-40 lbs. It will fit a dog with a neck circumference (at the base) of 17-24 inches and a chest circumference of 22-30 inches.

You can purchase it HERE.

How to Train Your Dog to Wear a Backpack

Since my small dogs don’t wear a backpack, I am not the best one to give advice on this.

Training your small dog to wear a backpack may take some additional research.

I’m also not the best person to help you with training your small dog to wear a backpack because my dogs are pretty used to me putting random things on them and heading out.

Here are a couple articles that can help you though:

Introducing your dog to wearing a pack, getting your dog used to balancing and space awareness, and increasing the weight and improving fitness – Trehugger

3 methods for getting your dog used to wearing a dog backpack – Wag Dog Walking

What Can You Put in a Very Small Dog Backpack?

You aren’t going to be able to fit much of what you regularly bring on hiking adventures in a very small dog backpack.

You’ll have some more leeway if your dog is small and not extra small, but you will still be limited.

Here are the things I typically bring and my thoughts about putting them in a very small dog backpack, based on experience.

Besides the obvious leash and collar or harness:

Dog jacket – Your dog’s jacket may fit in a backpack for small dogs but definitely not for tiny dogs.

Dog boots – Some small dogs don’t need to wear dog boots (including mine) but, if your dog wears them, they would likely fit even in the smallest pack.

Unused dog poop bags – I would rather have them on me so they are super handy. Putting them in your dog’s back could prevent you from having to take yours off to get to them though.

Full dog poop bags – my dog’s poop is very small so I could fit at least two of these in our very small dog backpack.

Water bowl – A very small collapsible plastic one may fit inside a pack but a small collapsible silicone dog bowl like I use will only fit in the larger-size packs.

Extra leash – If you bring an extra dog leash in case yours breaks, gets lost, or you find a stray dog, the chances it will fit inside your small dog’s backpack is slim.

Alternate harness – I always bring an alternate harness in case the one my dogs are wearing starts to chafe. This likely won’t fit in tiny dog backpacks but might in a larger one.

Treats, food, and water – You may be able to fit some of this in a small dog backpack but it will be such a small amount that there might not be any benefit to putting it in there.

Ball – I occasionally bring a small dog ball to toss around during our lunch break. One of these should fit in even the smallest dog backpack.

No matter what you decide to put in there, it’s important to make sure the load is balanced – that both the right and left panniers have approximately the same weight in them – or the pack can shift and rub.

To me, the amount of stuff I could fit inside a very small dog backpack is so negligible that I don’t bother.

Especially when the risk of chafing is increased for my dogs with one on.

They sure look cute though and would elicit a lot of laughs and comments on the trail.

Whether you want your small dog to carry a backpack when hiking is up to you. You may find it to be advantageous.

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source http://www.luckydogsolutions.com/the-best-hiking-backpacks-for-small-dogs/ from Lucky Dog Solutions https://luckydogsolutions.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-best-hiking-backpacks-for-small-dogs.html

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barryswamsleyaz · 4 years

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The Best Hiking Backpacks for Small Dogs

If you want a backpack for your small dog – which is generally accepted to be dogs 25 lbs or under – but are having a hard time finding one that fits, you’ve come to the right place.

Looking for Backpacks to Carry Your Small Dog in? Check Out This Article.

I’ve been hiking with my small dogs for over 15 years. I also worked at a large outdoor retailer for 6 years.

I’m not only familiar with what is available but a good judge of quality gear (my standards are even a little higher than most I think).

While my little dogs don’t wear a backpack to carry their own stuff – mostly because the ones available are too small to be of any use to me – I have been on the lookout for what would fit.

Below are my recommendations for backpacks that will fit small and very small dogs.

How Much Weight Can a Small Dog Carry in a Backpack?

The first thing you should think about is whether your small dog can carry enough weight to make investing in a dog backpack worth it to you.

The amount of stuff your small dog can carry in a dog backpack is primarily determined by their weight.

I suggest not exceeding 8-10% of body weight.

Don’t just guess. Weight your dog’s backpack on a scale before heading out on your hike.

A more common suggestion is no more than 10-12% of your dog’s body weight but remember this weight includes the weight of the pack.

Subtracting 2% to compensate for the weight of the backpack itself gives you a more realistic maximum weight your dog should carry on a hike.

Dog Weight 8% of body Weight 10% of body weight 5 lbs/2.27 kg 0.4 lb/6.4 oz/0.18 kg 0.5 lb/8 oz/0.23 kg 10 lb/4.54 kg 0.8 lb/12.8 oz/0.36 kg 1 lb/16 oz/0.45 kg 15 lb/6.80 kg 1.2 lbs/19.2 oz/0.54 1.5 lb/24 oz/0.68 kg 20 lb/9.07 kg 1.6 lbs/25.6 oz/0.73 kg 2.0 lb/32 oz/0.91 kg 25 lb/11.34 kg 2 lbs/32 oz/0.91 kg 2.5 lb/40 oz/1.13 kg

In most cases, you will be limited by capacity. Likely to run out of space before the back gets too heavy.