#it smells like artificial watermelon for some reason | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

Text

Survey #463

“the siren sings a lonely song of all the wants & hungers / the lust of love, a brute desire”

Describe the person that you would like to be in three years. I want my mental health to be in great condition, I really want to be in much better physical shape, ideally be living with somebody in our own place, have a job I'm happy with, have an improved social life, my own license and car... Think back to when you first met your significant other (or ex). Was your first impression of them accurate? It's funny, I honestly don't remember what my first impression of Girt was. I don't even recall our first interaction. I'm sure it was most likely that he was friendly, because he is and always has been. What is your most noticeable personality trait? Probably that I'm really, really shy. What kind of natural disaster is most common where you live? Hurricanes. Which of your family members do you resemble the most? I guess one of my immediate sisters? People tend to say stuff like they can definitely tell we're related. Have you ever had an animal get into your attic? No. Who knows you better than anyone else? Hell, probably whoever reads these. When was the last time you started a “new chapter” of your life? I guess you could call dating Girt a "new chapter." I have a much, much stronger feeling of this attempt being more successful than the last now that I've been able to change my angle on how I see him. What’s the most expensive thing your car needed to get done? I don't have my own vehicle and never have. If you had a thousand dollars to spend on a pricey brand you like but can’t really afford (until now of course), which ONE brand would you choose? *shrug* Most products of highly expensive brands I find hideous anyway. Do you still talk to any of your old teachers? Yeah. One is a close family friend and actually our landlord. Does your family still use the home phone or are you all on cell phones now? We haven't had a landline is yeeeeaaarrrrsssss. Ever go to another school’s prom? No; my boyfriend went to the same school as me. Do you ever venture into the woods? What do you normally do there? No; we live in the city now. :/ When I DID live in the woods, I absolutely loved wandering around with my camera for stuff to take pics of. Does your significant other ever make you mix CDs? None ever have but omg I wish that would be adorable. How did you dress your freshman year of high school? I was one of them emo kids. Would you ever date your best friend of the opposite sex? WELP that's what I'm doing lol. Would you say you have a high sex drive or not so much? I'd call it normal? Higher sometimes, lower other times, but not to either extreme. Come with an unpopular opinion. Silent Hill: Homecoming is a great game and while there's a lot of fan service from the movie, it belongs in the series. It's actually my second (or third)-favorite installment. Most of the SH community absolutely hate that game. What’s the worst thing a friend has either done or said to you? A lot of shit Colleen would say if we got into arguments. She'd ridicule effects of my depression, said I'd never know what it's like to pay my own bills, stuff like that. She's hateful as fuck and everything cut deep. What’s fake about you? Like extensions, fake nails, botox etc. Nothing physical. If you got the chance, would you audition for a reality show? No. Have you ever gotten into a Facebook fight? More than once. What’s the cheesiest thing you’ve ever experienced irl? Hm, I'm unsure. Favorite flavor of jelly bean? Probably watermelon. Do you use Tinder? If yes, have you ever met up with someone you matched? No. You do you, but if I understand Tinder correctly, it just seems... really shallow to me. Like don't you JUST see their picture to decide if you're interested or not? It just enforces the false belief that appearance really matters in love. You just poured your heart out to your crush and all he/she does is respond “k”. What do you respond/do? Well, I don't have a crush anymore; my boyfriend and I literally exchanged "I love you"s last night. That's not a crush. But for the sake of the question, I'll imagine I was single and this happened, in which case I would be both hurt and annoyed. Like, either tell me you return the feelings or not. It's not hard. What's your favorite thing to order from McDonald’s? I usually get a quarter pounder w/ cheese or a McDouble, occasionally with a small or medium fry, depending on how hungry I am. When do you feel your sexiest? Never, hunny. What's your favorite emoji? I don't really have one? It just depends on what the situation calls for. What’s your skincare routine? I don't really have one... I just use a washcloth to clean my face. Who all out of your immediate family smokes? My dad and stepmom. Do you like incense or candles better? Incense, totally. Do you respect your parents? Yeah. What’s your bf/gf’s name? It's technically Donald Jr., but since high school, I've known him as Girt, a nickname I won't explain for his privacy. Do you wear glasses? Yeah. Do you like The Beatles? I honestly don't. Except "Hey, Jude." What was the last reason you got excited? Last night. When we were saying goodbye, I was scared to, but I told Girt I loved him, and he immediately said it back confidently. My heart did like five flips. I'm still over the moon about it. Yes, we just got back together, but we've been in each other's lives as a constant since HS, and after changing my angle of how I looked at him, it's not at all platonic anymore. Do you know anyone who drinks the pickle juice from the jar? Sara does alskdjfklwejrl;er Name something crazy that’s happened recently? Uhhhh... I dunno. My life is very uneventful to have something really "crazy" happen. Can you say for a fact that you’re happy right now? I'm happy about some things, but also nervous and self-doubtful. Have you ever zip lined? No, but they look fun. I'd just be really scared of losing my grip. If you broke your computer, would you be able to fix it on your own? Ha, no. Have you ever been on a boat and got sick? No, but the one time I was at the beach and on a boat riding to an island, I was TERRIFIED I was going to get sick because of the waves. I didn't, thankfully. Did you sleep well last night? For the most part. My new mask might just be working. Do your parents try and plan your life for you? Not at all. Do you have any pictures of you kissing someone? Yes. List two things about yourself that you find embarrassing. My weight and how dark my leg hair is. Do you like to cuddle with your pet when you are sad? Yes. Do you find piercing attractive or unattractive? h o t Do you have any secret hiding spots in your room? To put money, yes. Do you like parmesan cheese on your spaghetti? Ew, no. I don't like parmesan. Does your best girl friend have any talents that you don’t? Yeah. She can animate well, for one. And sing like a fucking champ. Do you have any video game systems in your room? Which one(s)? My Nintendo DS Lite is in here. Well, and my laptop is a gaming one. What color eyes does the last person you kissed have? ... Oh WOW I've known this man for a fuckin decade and somehow I'm not sure??? But I want to say light blue? Have you ever taken a ride in a helicopter? No. Have you ever visited hot springs? No. How slowly or quickly would you say you eat? I'm aware I eat too fast, because my mom will point it out almost without fail if we eat in sight of each other. I'm not a messy eater at all, just... fast. Chewing your food and swallowing isn't a complex task. I've made active efforts to slow down, I just haven't been able to succeed. It doesn't feel normal. That and I've come to discover that when I chew food TOO much, I don't like the mushy texture of it in my mouth. What did you do the last time you were with friends? Yesterday Girt and I planned to watch shitty Netflix anime for some laughs, but we wound up starting Attack on Titan, which I am officially pretty into. What kind of cologne/perfume do you like the opposite sex to wear? I don't care if they wear any or not, so long as they know how to clean themselves and therefore not actually smell bad. If you celebrate Christmas, do you get a real tree or an artificial tree? We always use a fake one. Is there someone who means a lot to you but they don’t know that? My sisters probably don't, really... Is money important to you? Live your whole life poor and I want to see you answer "no" to this. Have you ever watched a meteor shower? No. Do you like Slim Jims? LOOOOOOOVE them. Would you rather write a mystery or love story? Love story. Are you muscular? No. Working for it. Do you have one of those removable hand-held shower heads? Yes. Originally, this house didn't, but I hated it so much that Mom bought one. How many burners does your stove have? Four. Has your car ever been broken into? Mom's hasn't.

#survey #surveys #random questions #lyrics: ''blood milk and sky'' by white zombie

3 notes · View notes

starkeristheendgame · 4 years

Note

slutty omega peter bought a strawberry-flavored condoms and wants to try them out on his Alpha, tony.

I hope this bring your idea to life! I kinda twisted it a little so I hope that’s okay! Ages aren’t specific so you can imagine anything you’re comfortable with. I really enjoyed this and thank you so much for the prompt!

As a side note, never buy alcohol or banana flavoured lube/condoms. Trust me. They’re nothing but disappointment. JuicyLube does a wonderful Bubblegum and a pretty nice Strawberry/Watermelon!

TW: Daddy kink | Breathplay if you squint | ABO dynamics | Dick choking (?)

Frankly, this whole ’you’re a fragile, pretty little thing and I don’t want to break you’ method of approach Tony seemed to have adopted in regards to him since they’d begun to date was really grating on Peter.

Okay. So he was a little inexperienced. In terms of real time experience. He had enough sex toys that even Tony Stark had raised an eyebrow, and his porn folder was the largest file size on his entire computer. His over-average masturbation habit was the entire reason they’d begun to date in the first place.

And yet, the moment it became ‘official’, it was like Tony became his damned father, not his Alpha and partner. He fussed over how much he ate, when he went to sleep, if he was okay every five minutes. And worst of all? They’d barely done more than kissing and grinding, some clothed groping.

So, sue him. Peter was going to play dirty. It had been a month and if he didn’t get Tony’s dick in him some way or another, he might actually just implode. And then Tony would have to clean up and explain it to May, and.

And that brought him to now, exactly two days after he had furiously and triumphantly clicked the purchase button far too harshly. The box was small and unassuming, with nothing internal to say what lay within. Peter tore into it a little savagely, eager to put his plan into motion. The packets were small and slim, a pretty shade of pink. The foil crinkled a little as he moved it around, staring.

Strawberry flavoured condoms. Well, this one was. He’d bought a few different flavours, but he liked strawberries over any other fruit.They were sweet, sometimes with a little sour undercurrent, and he found as an artificial flavour they were better than the others. He gave a wicked smile and hid his stash, waiting eagerly for Tony’s return.

He didn’t have to wait long, at six on the dot the elevator doors opened, revealing the long slope of Tony’s back as he stood, staring out at the world through the veil of the Tower. He was wearing one of his sharpest suits, a sleek, black Tom Ford that was burnished with dark, dark red flowers. It was Peter’s favourite. It matched Tony’s scent. Musky and woodsy but with a sweet, faintly flora undertone.

“Welcome home, Daddy” Peter called from where he lounged on the couch, thighs splayed to be sure his sweet scent had filled the room. Tony turned almost immediately, nostrils flaring as his dark gaze swept over his Omega. Peter knew it had been a hard-working day by the tightness in Tony’s shoulders, the delicate ridges between his brows, but Tony smiled when he saw him, warm and welcoming as he strode towards the couch.

“Hello, sweetpea. Sorry if I’m late - Work was a nightmare” Tony greeted, sinking down onto his knees in front of Peter like a worshipper to a God, nuzzling into his thigh as Peter sat up, buried long fingers in his soft, dark hair with a pleased hum. “You smell excited” the older man noted, hands rubbing at the sides of Peter’s thighs as he tipped his head to look up at him.

“Close you eyes” Peter instructed, grinning as Tony blinked at him warily, but obliged, long lashes dipping down. Peter squirmed to reach his pocket, careful not to make too much noise with the wrapper, though he spoke to cover the crinkle. “Open your mouth” he added next, watching as Tony frowned, but followed the order, lips parting just enough for Peter to slide the package between his teeth.

Tony made a questioning and semi-affronted sound, waiting for a beat before slowly opening his eyes. Peter giggled as he went a little cross-eyed trying to see the package, leaning forwards eagerly to watch his reaction. Tony shifted and reached up to grasp the packet, eyeing it with a perplexed pull of his brows.

“A condom?” He asked, brows lifting as he looked up at Peter questioningly. The boy huffed and rolled his eyes, plucking the packet from Tony’s fingers and tearing into it. He wasn’t overly careful, because the condom wasn’t about the safety; it was about the taste, and he drove two fingers into it, enough that he could push those latex-clad fingertips promptly into Tony’s mouth.

The Alpha gave a surprised mmph but then paused, tongue sliding along the covered pads of Peter’s fingers. “Mm’erry?” He mumbled around his mouthful, looking up at Peter in an amused but still confused manner. Peter gave a delighted nod, withdrawing his fingers and carelessly tossing the soiled condom and packet onto the coffee table. He had another.

“If you don’t wear this and let me lick you like an envelope, I’m going to stage a protest” Peter announced, squirming his way into standing upright. Tony cast him a bemused look, rising when Peter tugged at his shirt collar and moving easily when Peter pushed him down onto the couch. Tony sprawled elegantly before collecting himself, and reached up to scruff the Omega, dragging him down and onto his knees in the space between his spread thighs.

“A protest, hm? And what exactly would you do, Pup? Ban me from sex?” There was an Alpha bite to his mocking, and a gentle teasing that let Peter know the bite wasn’t serious. He leaned against the hand that held him, baring his neck even as he pat himself down for the second condom, forcing a pout to settle in place of the submissive, meek expression.

Tony said nothing, but watched with a baited look as Peter set aside the new packet and reached for Tony’s cock, palming it lovingly through his pressed slacks. It hardened under his touch until he was working at it with purpose, gripping the shape through the soft fabric, thumb pressing where he knew the tip lay, his pleading gaze fixed on Tony as he reached for the buttons.

“Please, Alpha. You won’t let me ride your knot. You won’t let me taste your cum. Won’t bury yourself inside me. Wanna - Have’ta get it somehow” Peter begged shamelessly, cheeks reddening when Tony’s hand tightened, thumb digging into the hinge of his jaw, Peter’s needy whine making his cock thicken under his fingers.

“Oh, but Pup. You don’t even want to taste my cum. You just want something to hold your little treat in place” Tony chastised, his free hand reaching down as he leaned forwards, to grasp cruelly at Peter’s cock. The Omega whimpered, sucking in a deep breath of Tony’s scent, flared with arousal. He could feel slick making his asscheeks sticky, and he didn’t wait to reply, fingers fumbling with Tony’s zipper. The Alpha was wearing dark, silk boxers that strained over his impressive length, and Peter would’ve dived forwards to taste it, except Tony’s grip held him steady, forcing him to simply part the material instead, drawing his cock out into the air.

It was a gorgeous thing. Long and hard, thick like a drinks bottle. The tip was cut and dark pink, shiny with pre-cum. The soft swell of his knot-hold at the bottom just visible through the parted silk and cotton. If Peter had his way, he would push up, climb onto Tony’s lap and sink onto it until it was choking his throat. As it was, he forced himself to let go of the hard, warm skin, reaching shakily for the condom.

Tony’s intense gaze tracked him, right to Peter peeling the condom from the wrapper, careful not to touch it too much. He didn’t know if the flavour was in the lube coating or the latex itself. A soft, low Alpha growl had him freezing, gaze flicking carefully up to Tony, who was smirking at him. “Mouth” the Alpha commanded, letting go of his scruff and lounging carelessly back onto the couch, hips jutting slightly and cock curving into his stomach.

Peter faltered. It was all well and good practising on bananas, but…

Tony allowed him to use his hands to start off, just to get the condom properly situated over the tip of his cock. The Alpha hissed a breath, eyes going half-lidded as Peter shuffled between his knees, licking his lips eagerly. “You smell so good, sweetheart. So slick. Always so hard, keeping my hands to myself”.

Peter wanted to snap then why the fuck are you?! But Tony’s hand buried deep in his hair, threading through the soft curls and pulling him down until his hot breath fell over his cock, making the thick length twitch and drool.

“Go on then, Pup. Daddy’s had such a hard day, be a good little Omega and make me feel better, then. Take a fat load and my knot down your throat” Tony hummed, free hand loosening his tie. And, yeah. Peter knew that Tony wouldn’t actually be able to knot his throat, but the idea and the words had fresh slick flooding his boxers, a breathless, high keen escaping as he dove down eagerly.

At first, it was awkward. He couldn’t suck, because that would suck the condom right off and down his throat. And he couldn’t use his hands, so he had to try and roll the slippery latex down the stretch of Tony’s cock with his tongue and teeth. The ache of his jaw as he worked at Tony’s cock was delicious, and the sweet, almost sickly strawberry was thick on his tongue and made him drool.

Both, then. Lube and latex. Tony hissed as he worked his tongue over the roll of latex, making a noise of frustration when it wouldn’t go down any further. The lube was too slick and he couldn’t focus on breathing and working it down. “M’pha” he whined helplessly, letting his mouth close over the hot, pulsing length, swallowing what remained of the coating.

Tony took pity on him, running a soothing hand through his hair even as he swallowed a moan, eyes rolling back slightly. “Okay, sweetpea. You can use your hands” he permitted, voice a low rumble as his hips jolted into the wet, tight heat of Peter’s mouth. Peter managed to pull the condom down properly and sat back briefly to breathe and suckle his fingers clean.

It wasn’t like real strawberries, it wasn’t juicy and sweet-sweet, but it was still good, still had his eyes rolling as he shuffled on his knees, thighs aching. It was good, though, basking in the scent of his Alpha, breathing in his arousal. The sensation of his long cock stretching his mouth wide, cutting off his breathing. He couldn’t wait to taste the real thing.

“Good, sweetpea?” His Alpha checked in, stroking through his hair fondly. Peter nodded, looking up dotingly at his Alpha before he dove back into his task, laving his tongue over the smooth latex and slurping the strawberry, sweet flavoured drool. Tony was doing his best to maintain control above him, slow, rumbling growls emitting here and there, but the slow-burn of heir sex life had clearly taken the toll on them both.

Tony’s thighs trembled with the effort of not fucking into Peter’s mouth, and his low moans accompanied Peter’s high, throaty keens. The Omega was drenched, grey sweats stained dark with his slick, the scent sweeter and over-powering that of the strawberry as he suckled hard, like he was trying to lick the taste right out of the latex.

“God, baby. So tight. My little slut”.

And.

And Peter was cumming with a yowl, swallowing harshly around Tony’s cock as his hips jolted forwards, tapering off into a whimper as fresh slick soaked his thighs and cum made the front of his boxers as sticky and wet as the back. Tony gave a sound of surprise, hands fisting tightly in his hair as his hips jerked into the sudden suction.

“Christ, sweetpea. Like that, hm? Being my little slut? Fuck. Should’ve done this sooner. You could be bouncing on my knot right now. Spread open wide over it; being stuffed full of my cum” Tony panted, scent thick with desire as he thrust up shallowly into Peter’s mouth. Peter whined, already desperate to cum again, despite still twitching from his first.

He scrabbled at the condom, only barely managing to pull it away and to impale his throat on Tony’s cock in time, ears filled with the yelped, surprised moan from above as thick, hot cum flooded his mouth. The strawberry taste was still there from the condom and it was a curious mix of salty-sweet, overwhelming and too much. He spluttered, choking on the never-ending liquid and watching some of it spurt from his mouth, dribbling back down Tony’s cock as he fought to swallow as much as he could.

“Such a good Omega, baby. So good for me. Taking all my cum” Tony rasped above him, hands petting at his jaw to encourage him to pull away and catch his breath. Peter was a mess of drool and cum, wiping uselessly at his chin. He felt gross and sticky, but sated and happy, blinking dazedly up at his Alpha with a sticky, white smile.

“So…Can you knot me now?”

435 notes · View notes

neocity-sarai · 4 years

Text

Under the Lights

۞ mark lee x reader (based on my fic “fight for you”)

۞ alerts: kissing, spicy dancing, language, angst (thank you for 200 followers. that’s just a number that doesn’t amount to how much true support I have received. seriously, thank you!)

۞ inspired by this lovely edit made by @/kpopmood on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV4rvsaB0hE&t=12s (please go check out the creator’s videos!)

It’s funny how the night time used to be your favorite part of the day. It’s the way the moon would shine, casting it’s light on the rippled puddles in these streets, colors would bounce off the artificial rainfall and on all the glowing city sign boards. That was how it was. Walking through the city would make your heart swell with excitement- how everything was immersed in a pool of technicolor, eyes bright with adventure. That’s because he was there. Mark. Mark Lee. The boy who saved you from some homeless man that was trying to hit on you. He looked so noble then, doe eyes gazing at you, lips curled into a smile. It always replays in your mind, the memory of the way your cheek feels on Mark’s shoulder. The way that his warm, soft lips feel on yours as people bustle along the city streets below you. The way he’d play his guitar and his singing voice as you drifted off to sleep. Every time the night overtakes the sun, he’s all the runs in your mind. It’s like a cycle that never really ends even when you’re awake and doing something else. Now, you’re all alone again. That night that Mark died. His crimson blood stained on your hands. It never really washes off. You spent months blaming yourself, blaming yourself for the loss of the one person you never wanted to lose. Foolishly, you thought you could fix it. Kynigos had inputted a function into everyone’s headsets that you could leap into different time periods, view memories, and create an all encapsulating virtual environment all stemmed from your mind. That’s what you used to get to know Mark better, seeing the inside of his life. It’s what made you fall in love with him, this innocent, handsome dork.

[months earlier]

Are you sure about this?

You laugh, “I want to dance, silly!”

You waste no time, grabbing Mark’s hand. It was Haechan’s birthday, Mark’s best friend. Of course, you had met Mark’s other friends in the meantime too. Haechan, Jeno, and Jaemin were already wasted drunk in the bar that you were at and downing several shots of liquor didn’t help your case either. The bar was a wide space, strobe lights of violets, indigos, and red beat to the pump of the music as virtual dancers twirled their ribbons in light cages. Other strangers gathered around the bar, clamoring to dance and to drink. Normally, you’d never go to a place like this but somehow, Haechan had convinced you to have fun with the group anyway. You couldn’t say no.

You were dressed in a pretty outfit, makeup to match the sequins of the giant disco ball, and it makes Mark gulp nervously every time you would brush arms. He was dressed in a nice satin shirt and some jeans, complete with his favorite pair of dress shoes. Mark doesn’t budge when you try to pull him to the dance floor, staring down at your hand clamped over his. You turn back at him, “Is everything okay?”

Mark nods almost too violently, “Yeah! I’m just- surprised is all.”

You have to shout over the bass that shakes the floor and makes the tiles glow a million colors, “Surprised over what?!”

Mark shakes his head, “I don’t know how to dance well!”

You slap him in the back, “It’s fine, come on!”

By the time you squeeze your way through all the people, you try to pay no mind to the girls who are dancing on their dates or the drunkards who are dancing alone. You start to move your body, rolling and moving your hips to beat of the song innocently. Mark stands still, watching you as he moves shyly, trying to wiggle to the beat too. Others may laugh but you think he has his own charm. He laughs along with you, fingers covering his eyes because of how embarrassed he is. With the alcohol that runs in your veins, you stop moving, pulling him closer, “Just relax, Mark.”

He stops too, eyes widened from your proximity, “I-okay.”

You put your arms around Mark’s neck and you notice how he bites his red lip, eyes fluttering everywhere, “Can I, uh-”

You take it upon yourself to guide his clammy hands onto your hips, his touch surges electricity down your spine but try hard not to show it. Finally, you feel Mark relax next to you as he lets out a sigh when he rests his forehead against yours. You chuckle, moving together in syncopation, “See, you got it.”

Mark smiles, eyebrows raised, “Only because you’re leading.”

Then, your friends find you both in the middle of the extremely crowded, sweaty dance floor and you can tell because of Haechan’s drunk yells and Jaemin’s curses when he can’t stand up straight. The lights fade from a multitude of colors to a stark violet shade, the song switching tempos to a slower, more sensual beat. It sparks heat on your body, fingers craving for wild touches and the boy who’s in front of you. Being Mark, he panics a little, caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere. Because he lets go of you, you can’t but feel disappointment. Jeno, drunk off strawberry smirnoff and lime margaritas swings you around to him, “Come on, y/n! Dance with me!”

You laugh, tripping over your own heels. Still, you jump up and down with Jeno and the rest of the boys, riding the beat along with them as people begin to dance on top of you. Everything is blurry and it feels like you’re losing yourself into blinding light, your hair sticking to your skin from how hot it is. You let the music run through you, wracking through your body. You almost don’t realize that Mark is standing by you all as he watches you, Jeno, and Renjun. Mark looks away, fists curled into his palms. His lips are slightly pouted, his perfectly styled hair becoming more messy. So, you tread back to him, pushing past all the girls who glare at you for interrupting their energies, but you don’t care.

“Is everything okay? We can get out of here if you want-”

Mark stares at you, wasting no time to pull you flushed against his chest, his hand protectively flat against the small of your back, “Why are you dancing with him when you were dancing with me?”

You realize that Mark’s tone is deeper than before, his shy attitude abandoned before you can respond to his command, “We just kind of got caught in the moment, I’m really sor-”

Mark’s lips barely brush past your ear, he growls a little, “Be close to me, y/n. I want you right here.”

You’re startled by Mark’s sudden shift in attitude, it makes you shiver from the thought.

“Okay.”

So you both let yourselves go. You dance with Mark, letting him twirl you under the lights and you swing your hips against him, not actually having danced with anyone like this before. Mark groans from your body against his, his fingers curled tight on your hips. The bass shakes your bodies, rumbling through the atmosphere like earthquakes and even though your feet are numb, you still keep going. Then, Mark spins you around so you’re facing him, “Let’s go.”

Before you can reply, he’s whisking you out of the bar and out of the virtual portkey at the entrance. Suddenly, you’re back on Everlane street which is the street where you and Mark had first met. Outside, the night sky is covered with a net of swirling stars and cars zoom across the sky overhead. Robots advertise menus for the cafes and restaurants that line the sidewalk, romantics happening on every corner. The breeze in the night smells sweet, bringing back the flood of memories. Mark begins to lead you into the double doors of his 3 story apartment, reaching in his jean pocket for his keys. You follow him up the stairs, entering the living room that is familiar to you. The apartment feels like Mark. It’s a studio apartment, the furniture beiges and whites, the carpets a light grey. Just as Mark throws his keys onto the counter, he grabs you by the shoulders, his hands warm on your skin, “I’m sorry if I acted weird back there. I was just looking forward to dancing with you and drunk ass Jeno swept you away…”

Mark’s eyes are sad, his lips pouted as you bring your hand to the curve of his cheek, “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”

Mark jokingly frowns, “I think I would’ve gone crazy if they touched you.”

You laugh, “I love you. Nobody else, okay?”

Then Mark presses his forehead against yours, his arms wrapping around the waist of your dress where you ribbon belt is tied before smashing his lips against yours. You stumble back on your heels, your back and Mark’s hands against the rim of the counter like he’s trapping you in. You run your hand through Mark’s silver hair, drunk off the cologne that he wears. Mark bites down on your lip, making you groan. You mumble on his lips, “You’re not upset right?”

Mark chuckles, running his hand along your thigh and moving down to press kisses to your neck, “What if I said that I was?”

You tug on Mark’s hair, you’re absolutely breathless, “You shouldn’t be. There’s no reason to.”

Mark pulls your ribboned belt, letting it fall to the floor on a pile, “Shouldn’t you prove it to me then?”

Mark goes back to kissing your lips and you mumble, “How should I do that?”

And expecting him to take things further, Mark reaches behind you for something in his coin bowl that’s shaped like a watermelon slice. You pull away from his lips, staring at the pair of keys he has in his hand. Mark jangles them, “Y/n, would you like to move in with me?”

You eye him with shock, “Wait- did you just- wait, for real?”

Mark nods, “I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now, just didn’t know when.”

“So you’re asking now?!”

Mark smiles a toothy grin, threatening to burst into laughter, “Yes?”

You smile into your hands, “I’d love to.”

Launching yourself into Mark’s arms, he catches you, kissing you with fervor once more.

[current time]

Tomorrow, you had a mission. Ever since Mark’s been gone, you and the boys have been working to clear levels and gain more skills. You swore to yourself that even though you couldn’t bring Mark back, you didn’t want men like Mr. C going around killing people. Everyone calls them the Underground, a mafia-like organization that tries to take advantage of the Kynigos system and force kids to do their dirty work so they don’t get caught. They rob people of their points, their skills so that they can become more powerful. They don’t have morals and they don’t care either. So, you and the rest of the boys formed the Right Compass, an organization of hyper-intelligent headset users to combat the Underground. Renjun and Jaemin are in charge of the tech, Chenle and Jisung are in charge of outreach and recruitment, and you and Jeno are the honorary agents. Besides Mark, you trusted the boys more than anyone else. After Mark’s passing, it brought you closer together-- forming the Right Compass in Mark’s name.

Your mission was that the government had sent an infiltrator spy to scout the Underground levels, to crack down where the heart of the organization is. No one knows and that’s why you and the boys have been tracking leads since you first knew about it. There’s some sightings, maybe a cloudy witness here and there but nothing definite. Your mission was to find the undercover spy and convince them to do a covert operation with the Right Compass. You wanted them to see how strong you were as a united front and how many members had solved crimes, big or small. You and Jeno had packed light. You had dressed in all black so that you could blend into the shadows, your beam-powered guns strapped to your holster.

Jeno nods at you, his glass-lenses sitting on the bridge of his nose as he coats them with invisibility spray. You do the same, it makes you both less noticeable. You nod, hopping up on your hoverboard as Jeno does the same, shooting up into the sky. You ride your board over the city, the lights glowing under you as people who walk the streets look like tiny ants from your view. Jeno goes first, his tall figure blasting into an emerald portal that opens up in the middle of the sky. You follow him, being swallowed by green light as you’re both transported to the Underground levels. Everything looks starkly different in the Underground. It’s like a black hole, the streets are covered in grime and trash, alleyways shrouded in secrets. Everyone’s cloaked as they walk along the bars that are locked with passwords and gambling shacks, dog fights happen on every corner. You’re reminded of why people don’t come here, at least good people don’t. Jeno motions you over, pointing at a ledge on a roof, “Land over there, turn on shadow mode.”

You do as he says, your body disappearing into the dark sky that’s as black as charcoal, no stars glow overhead. When you and Jeno land, you scoff, “It’s filthy here, why would people want to live in a place like this?”

Jeno presses a button on his hoverboard that makes it condense into a cube like a transformer as he shoves it in his pocket, “It’s the Underground. People don’t come here for fun, y/n. Well they do, just not the good kind.”

You nod, “Where’s the lead this time?”

Jeno opens his map on his wristwatch that Renjun built for him, the map appearing as a scan of the entire area. “Well, for starters after tracking the government’s traces, there’s been a link at this bar. There’s someone in there who can help us to find the undercover agent.”

“Let’s go then.”

Climbing down from the ledge, you and Jeno disguise yourselves with outfits that make it seem you belong, tattoos cover Jeno’s arms and you tease him at how it suits him. He smiles, pulling you close to him as you both make your way to a dark sector of alleyways. You pull the rim of your hat down, careful to not show your face. You can’t risk being caught, or even worse, killed. As you pass, burly men who smell of cigars eye you with contempt. Women who have several layers of makeup and ripped outfits glare at you but stare atJeno with hungry eyes and it makes you intertwine your fingers with his. There’s a tone of surprise in his low voice, “Everything alright?”

You nod, keeping your head down, “Just fine. Just blending in.”

You try to ignore the rapid beating in your heart. Half because it’s Jeno and the other half being you haven’t forgotten about Mark and it makes you feel guilty.

You finally stop at the entrance of the bar, the stench of smoke and vodka making your eyes burn. A blue dial pad appears on the door, the number turning. Surprisingly, Jeno enters a code with nimble fingers, the lock becoming undone right in front of you. Jeno turns back to you, “Don’t drink anything and don’t talk to anyone. I’ll handle the talking. If anything happens, you run and get to the portal okay?”

You find yourself wanting to argue back but now isn’t the time. All you can do is agree. When you enter the establishment, it’s everything you expect it to be. Big men drink at the barstools, women play pool as they sip their beers, and the bar is decorated with oriental decorations. A woman struts in front of you, walking like a feline as she runs her long nails against the skin of Jeno’s bare arms and it makes you grimace. He smiles with his eyes, adjusting his black turtleneck up to his nose. You think he looks like an undercover ninja rather than an agent. Jeno walks towards a red velvet curtain by the side, pulling it to reveal people making love to each other on the velvet booths and you can’t feel any more uncomfortable. Jeno doesn’t really have an expression. He walks to the clerk booth, speaking to an asian woman who’s applying eyeliner on her lids.

“Are you Misty Kinazawa? We’re looking for Ghostboy.”

The woman doesn’t answer. She wears a red oriental dress, jewels hang off her bun as she annoyingly chews her gum with a smack. You and Jeno look at each other in confusion, growing impatient. Finally, she sets her mirror down in irritation, “I don’t go by Misty anymore. It’s Rae now. And who are you?”

Jeno looks around before tugging down the edge of his sleeve to show her the compass tattoo on his wrist, “Right Compass. We spoke on the phone.”

Rae cackles, “Ah right- those kids who promised to pay me right? Ghostboy’s probably here somewhere, check in the back room.”

Jeno pulls out a wad of cash from his jacket pocket, “Thanks Rae. Have a nice night.”

Rae scoffs, counting the bills as she cocks her head in the direction of the back room. You and Jeno pass by the sex club and you swear that you would have torn your eyes out if youweren’t on a mission. Entering the back room, Jeno sweeps away a suede emerald curtain and what you find behind it is insane. The entryway opens up into a humongous warehouse room, submerged underwater. It’s a huge floating cube of water, filled with a large crowd of club-goers. It reminds you of that night, that night when Mark had pulled you close. Jeno rubs his temples, “How the fuck are we going to find an undercover agent in this crowd?”

“Let’s split up, cover more ground. Meet back up here?”

Jeno looks at you with concern, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah- have more faith in me. I can take care of myself.”

Jeno nods, “Okay. Meet back here right after. We’re tagged so just ping my location on your wristwatch and I’ll come find you.”

You both enter the cube, the music transitioning from muffles to blaring electronic sounds, sweaty bodies crashing into you like a vortex. Jeno heads left so you head right. You remember looking at Ghostboy’s file, he’s supposed to be wearing a gold armband. His frame is medium height, yet you don’t know what his face looks like. Jeno’s right, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. You start by weaving through the bodies, girls falling into you from being too drunk. Even though everything is underwater, you find that you can still breathe. Must be why a virtual world is most desirable, technology can do everything.

People get in your way, boys hooting and hollering at you, trying to rip off your cloak. You swat them away, trading through the ocean of bodies. The music makes your head hurt, the air becoming suffocating to you. The smell of various drugs permeates, making you want to vomit. Still, you keep going. You look for the gold armband in a blur of blue, keeping your hand on your gun under your coat. You hear Jeno’s voice through your headset, “I can’t find him! Any luck on your side?”

You scream into your voice function, “No! I can’t! It’s too loud and there’s too many people!”

Before you turn away, you see someone. There’s someone who stands a few feet away from you, shrouded in a white outfit but a mask for a face. They call it a virtual glamour, to disguise the real person’s face. From the looks of it, the person- male it looks like he’s staring right at you. You scream at Jeno, “Wait- there’s someone! I’m following them!”

“Wait for me!”

You hang up on Jeno, pinging him your location as you make your way to the person. They turn tail and run and you leap over drunk people who have crashed to the ground as you try not to lose them. Finally, you chase the person through a series of tapestries until you reach the back exit. Shoving the door open, you enter back onto the street, glancing around for the mysterious vigilante.

Then, in an instant, the white clothed figure points a gun at you, “Who the hell are you?”

It happens like oil being added to fire, exploding your heart into a million rapid beats, making your knees grow weak. That voice. That voice. You hold your hands up, turning to face them, trying to see through the glamor. Like a glitch, the glamor flickers in and out and it takes your breath away.

The face that you see is identical to Mark’s.

“I asked, who are you?”

You fall to the ground weakly, your hand curling in the dirt, “How is this possible- there’s no way- no, I saw you die that night! this isn’t real!

”You start to wail, “Mark! It’s me! Y/n!”

Mark raises his eyebrow in fury, “Who?! How do you know my name?! Where are you from?!”

He doesn’t recognize you. Is it really him? But he looks exactly the same. His eyes, his lips, his cheeks. His frame. It’s all the same.

You point your gun at him, starting to sob, “Mark- please! It’s me!”

In an instant, Jeno yanks open the door, his hand flying to his gun the moment he sees you and a boy pointing handguns at each other. You scream, “Jeno, don’t shoot!”

Jeno puts his gun up, making his way to you by putting a protective stance in front of you. But that’s when it dawns on him, who is he staring at? The face of his brother, his best friend, his comrade on the streets from childhood. Jeno screams at him, his ears burning red from the cold, “Who are you?! Why are you using Mark’s face as a glamor! Show yourself impostor!”

Mark knits his eyebrows together, unclipping his white cloak, revealing a cyber-kinetic arm that’s sparking with electricity and tiny wires. The gears in it churn with gold ropes, the circle on Mark’s palm glowing red, “I don’t know who you people are, but tonight will be your last night alive!”

Just when Jeno is about to pull the trigger, you shove him, the bullet ricocheting off the ground. You launch your whole body in front of Mark, even though you’re tripping over yourself and with your whole heart you shove your necklace in his face. It’s a portrait of you and Mark from back then, a gift from Mark for your birthday.

Tears are streaming down your face and you swear that your heart is going to burst from how fast it’s going, “Please! Just listen to us, please. I need you to see.”

You grip the chain of the necklace, watching his expression fade from anger to confusion. He runs the pad of his thumb on the picture, “It seems that this is me. But how-”

You shake your head wildly, “I don’t know. But don’t you get it? you used to know us! You used to know me!”

Mark shakes his head, “This is impossible, I work for an organization. I always have. I’m a machine! I would have never crossed paths with you.”

You look back at Jeno, and you see him shake. He treads slowly towards you, “Don’t you want to find out? You have two options. You can kill us now or find out what happened. We’re your only lead.”

Mark lowers his arm, the fire in his palm dimming, “I don’t wish to find out because I assume what you’re saying is some made up scenario. I suggest we don’t run into each other in the future. I won’t be so merciful.”

Like that, Mark swings his white cape on, hiding his face under his hood. He types in a code that appears in front of him, a white motorcycle appearing in its place. Hopping on, he speeds way down the street, leaving you and Jeno alone in the musty night. Tears stain your cheeks, “I have to go after him, Jeno. I don’t expect you to follow me.”

Jeno stands next to you, putting an arm around your shoulder, “We. We’re going after him. We have to.”

You and Jeno hop back on your hoverboards, disappearing into the dark.

14 notes · View notes

cutiecrates · 4 years

Text

Cutie Reviews: TokyoTreat September 19

I can’t believe it’s been like 3 months since I last did one of these o_o I mean, it does feel like it’s been some time- but not that long. I’d blame it on Pokemon Sword, but I just got it last week so I guess I can’t. But it did partially have to do with why I was putting this box off, besides a little intimidation because I’m still getting into the swing of things again...

(Warning: melted chocolate pics inside!)

Okay, so as you guys can see for this month we got a paper, which usually only happens when there is an issue going on with an item. Well, for this month, it’s basically saying that they mislabeled the AJ Curry item in the booklet as something else.

The Lucky Treat for this month... do you guys remember? :3 this is the one I actually won! If you want to see the prizes in full detail, check out this blog post! The Prize for the contest features some Dragonball and Gintama figures and candy.

The booklet also features an article on flavors of the month, some basic Japanese, and Pocky!

Watermelon Soda & Melon Jelly DIY

For our fruity theme this month, we got a watermelon flavored soda by Kirin. The drink only contains 15kcal per 100ml, and if I understand this right, the bottle contains 480ml? I can’t really read it- and I suck at math, but that doesn’t sound too bad right?

It smells exactly like watermelon candy/artificial watermelon, and you mostly taste that while drinking it- but the after taste brings to mind a real watermelon. When I was younger I used to love watermelon flavored things, but now that I’m older I find there’s only a few I still like now, so I kinda like this. But I can’t see myself wanting to drink the entire thing either, I’ll probably share it.

Also, I like how the packaging makes it look like a watermelon.

- - - - - -

Our DIY item I’ve reviewed before (I’m pretty sure because I know I had it before), and because of how quick and easy it is, I didn’t see the point in making a whole separate post about it.

This is a “jelly drink“, in that it starts out liquidy when you mix it, but the more you mix and let it sit, the more... slime-like it becomes. With the color and texture it feels like you’re making a slime rather than a snackish-candy-drink; in saying that, if you’re someone who doesn’t like slimey textured food items, you probably won’t like this.

I have to admit that with its green coloring, I got a little grossed out because of what it reminded me of <_< but I assure it delicious, although light on the melon flavor. It’s also fun to make and play with.

Caramel Corn & Melon Bread Cookies

Next is the ever-so-popular Caramel Corn by Tohato. However, this pack is kind of special because its the last share pack I will be getting in this box! We weren’t supposed to get one at all, but somehow this ended up being my mystery item they included. Luckily I like caramel corn.

If you’re looking for a sweet, crispy snack then I’d recommend trying them. Each little bag of original flavor Caramel Corn is 56kcal, and they come in several flavors for all sorts of tastes, even those you might normally see in crunchy-crispy snacks; like ice cream and soda!

My only issue with these is that sometimes they’re too sweet. I’m used to the normal flavor by now after eating it so many times, but whenever I try a new flavor I can usually just eat a handful before I want something else. But they always taste good :P as long as you eat them within a few days of opening- they go stale pretty quick.

- - - - - - - -

Our next item is a melon bread cookie pack by Yaokin. These seemingly plain cookies are packed with a melon flavoring; and chocolate, as I discovered after I took the picture.

The three flavors of the melon and chocolate combined with the cookie give the entire taste a light sweetness that isn’t overwhelming. It seems dry but the thin chocolate provides a little moistness, I didn’t feel like a drink was necessary after eating one.

Mint Taiyaki & Chocolate Mint Pocky

I’ve said this countless times but for anyone new, I love mint and chocolate mint flavors~

The taiyaki (a fish-shaped cookie or cake filled with cream) I have had before, and as you can see this one came to be very beaten up. I’m not sure what happened because nothing else was mangled in the box, but I assume it could be because of the airy chocolate insides melting.

It’s still very tasty though, and as you eat it, you feel a cooling mint effect in your mouth x3 each one is 89kcal. These are by the brand Meito, and they come in several flavors so I would recommend trying one if you ever see them.

- - - - - - -

Meanwhile, you can also see that the pocky suffered from being in the heat and kept in a box for so long. These weren’t the only thing that suffered in the box.

Anyway, these Pocky come in a 2-set pack, making them perfect for sharing or just giving to someone special or in need of a pick-me-up. The stick is chocolate, while the chocolate cream over it is mint. Per-pack, these are 165kcal.

According to the box, these are good until May, and they taste fine even in this shape. But the flavoring is very light in my opinion, so I’m not sure how I feel about them.

Gudetama Custard Chocolate & Detective Conan Chocolate Bar

Yeah... I think these 2 items got the “heat deformation“ worse than anything else in the box. Surprisingly they are also both by the brand Furuta.

The gudetama bag of chocolates consists of a small chocolate filled with a softer, creamish sort of white chocolate flavored like custard. Each one is 54kcal, and as you can see pretty messy to try to eat as a result of them melting in the packaging.

Honestly, I’m not really into these. They still taste the same as they did back when I opened the box and tried one, but I’m not really crazy about the taste; they kind of remind me of a chocolate brand I really don’t like. They’re not the worst chocolate I’ve tried though.

But I will say that just for the adorable Gudetama theme, they are still worth trying. Especially if you know someone who likes Gudetama.

- - - - - -

Our next item (which I know is really hard to see in this picture) is very common, because it frequently shows up in the Kawaii Box. These are the chocolate bars that are filled with wafer and chocolate cream, then coated in another layer of chocolate that resembles a log of wood. Furuta makes them for several series, like Sanrio and Disney.

This one featured a Detective Conan wrapper, but it was pretty messed up by the time I got the chocolate out, so I had to discard it. It was also strawberry-chocolate in taste, and it was very yummy! It reminds me of the Apollo strawberry chocolate, which I would also recommend trying. They’re one of the smaller, cheaper Japanese candies you can easily find on Amazon.

Watermelon Gummies & Soda Soft Candy

This box was kind of repetitive in my opinion, because here we are at another candy I’ve had before. These watermelon gummies by Kabaya came in a Kawaii Box a few months back prior to this one. The entire bag is 159kcal, and something I appreciate about them is that the pack is resealable.

I like these gummies because they’re soft, and the sweetness is very light, but you get a lot of watermelon flavor. They have a refreshing quality to them too, so I think they would make a great summer snack.

- - - - - -

Our next item is by Coris, and it is a soft, chewy candy stick flavored after Soda (which is comparable or also labeled as ramune, you can tell the difference between soda flavors and cola because of the coloring. Cola is usually red or brown, while soda will be blue or white). The candy consists of a chewy tube filled with tightly packed powder, both of which have soda flavoring.

Although it’s not as chewy, these remind me a lot of a Hi-Chew. It’s very tasty, and it’s smooth chewiness makes it feel really nice in the mouth x3 I really like it.

Aj Curry, Yaokin Soba, and Petit Kabuki Rice Crackers

AJ Curry is a fairly common snack you can find in various Japanese snack packs or online, as such as I’ve had it a couple times before. Each bag is 38kcal, and you get a bunch so if you’re looking for a little snack I think these would be a good choice.

I will mention that these expired back in December, but when I opened them they didn’t taste stale, although now I’m beginning to notice it. The flavor is fairly light and I would assume by the name they’re going for a curry spice flavor, which I can taste- but they also remind me a lot of Bugles.

- - - - -

Also by Yaokin, we have this soba snacking noodle and puff pack, flavored after the sauce you would find on soba noodles. You can eat these as-is, or the booklet even recommends putting them on some cooked noodles. Which is something I see a lot of people do, but I never tried it myself.

These expired at the end of December, and they have a weird taste- but I’m not sure if its due to expiration or if its just how they taste. I haven’t had them for a long time. They smell really good, but they have a sort of... fishy aftertaste? To be fair though I haven’t really been a fan of these though, so I’ll probably give them to someone else who I know would like them.

- - - - -

Our last item in this pic is a pack of rice crackers, and I got very excited to see these; I love rice, and I love rice snacks (especially savory ones). I really wish we got more of them!

The flavor is light with these -it reminds me of soy sauce- and they have a soft-crunch texture. I’ve had them before but I will gladly welcome them again because I really like these ♥

Wasabi Nori & Natto Umaibo

I can’t say I’m a big fan of wasabi or natto- but it’s always fun to try something new (within reason that is, there are things I never plan on eating). Our first item is this Nori (seaweed) stick similar to jerky. I have tried one of these before, but I don’t remember what flavor it was; I will say that they remind me a lot of squid though.

As much as I like eating seaweed, I can’t say this is my favorite form of it. You get the taste, but it’s pretty chewy, and honestly a little unpleasant from the wasabi flavor. It’s not terrible, but not something I would choose again.

- - - - -

I love umaibo, but would you believe this one reminded me of wasabi way more than the seaweed did? I never actually tried natto before, but I do know there are like... wasabi or musardish flavoring for it from what I’ve seen. I think that’s what I taste while eating it. But it’s pretty light; this expired back in December though so that might have played a part in it.

It actually tasted really good. Nothing comparable to my favorite Umaibo flavor (corn potage), but I didn’t dislike it at all.

Fried Potato Chips & Yuzu Lemon Salt Chips

These are our last 2 items of this box. Our first item is a small pack of fry-style potato chips. They look a bit like the AJ Curry don’t they?

These don’t taste bad, but they’re pretty plain in comparison to the other items in the box. They have a light flavor, but it’s basic, nothing special. They got a nice crunch though, and they don’t taste bad. If you’re not really into unique flavors this would probably be up your alley.

- - - - -

Our last item is a frequent one by Calbee we often get the pleasure of trying :3 and I mean that very sincerely, because I love their chips (I suggest trying the pepper ones if you ever see them!). They range from basic savory flavors to the more adventurous fruity ones, sweet chocolate dipped, and even some spicy ones like wasabi. But they also have basic chip flavors too.

I think I’ve tried at least 5 variants of their chips, and so far not a stinker among them. They have a high calorie count though, which is the one downside; but as long as you don’t eat them all at once or frequently, I don’t think its too bad.

Now, as I discovered from getting this box, lemon-salt is a fairly popular flavor combination. At first it sounded kind of strange to me, but it always tastes pretty good. You get the refreshing sweetness of lemon with a cut of saltiness, so there isn’t usually any sourness.

Which is exactly how you could describe these chips. They taste really good, and the flavor is a bit lighter than usual so if you’re new to it these might be a good place to start.

♥ Cutie Ranking ♥

Content - 3 out of 5. I complain about repetition a lot, and sadly this box jammed that button hard for me. Only 4 items were extremely new to me, while the rest was either the same flavors or different ones. BUT, if they had to do repeats I’m glad they were items I actually liked. I was also happy not to see a bag of kit kats. I love them but I was getting tire of them <_< and I find it ironic that even though we no longer got share pack items, I still got them from the random item! Quality - 3.5 out of 5. A fair amount of items were either expired or melted, warped chocolate but to be fair this box is about 5 months old, it’s not Tokyo Treats fault. But in saying that, I’m rating this based on the fact these items aren’t likely to hold over long, but they mostly all still taste the same/pretty good. Theme - 5 out of 5. Well I can’t say the items were fresh by the time I got to them, but they were tasty :P Total Rank: 7 out of 10. I wasn’t very happy with this heavy repetition (for me personally, I know that can’t be helped because there’s a lot of new people who can say they never had these before), but at least everything was yummy. I disliked one item out of everything, and even then it wasn’t unbearable or nasty. I also didn’t like how badly this box handled itself over time, and out of every box I got I think this one had it the worst. Usually they hold up so much better. But it didn’t ruin the box, an with next months box being Halloween based, I can’t wait to see what we get~

♥ Cutie’s Scale of Yummy ♥

1. Rice Crackers - ♥ Very very VERY yummy ♥ 2. Soda Soft Candy - Delicious ♥ 3. Chocolate Bar - I love Apollo chocolate x3 so considering this tasted like it, I really liked this one. 4. Melon Jelly Drink DIY - I usually don’t include the DIY items, but since I reviewed it here I didn’t see a point in excluding it. Very tasty, but the melon is really light.

5. Natto Umaibo - I was kind of surprised I liked this as much as I did. I wasn’t expecting to. 6. Mint Taiyaki - given its poor shape, it didn’t taste as good as my previous one did. But it was still yummy~ 7. Lemon Salt Chips - I’m not sure they’re my favorite of this brand, but I did like them. They make me think of a non-sour lemon meringue. 8. Watermelon Soda - Initially I didn’t want very much but over time I began to like it more, and it seemed to lose that artificial watermelon taste. 9. Watermelon Gummies - Sweet and soft, very refreshing. 10. Melon Bread Biscuits - Pretty tasty, and I like the chocolate cream. I feel like that added something to it. 11. Wasabi Nori - I wouldn’t choose this again, but I didn’t hate it. 12. Choco Mint Pocky - I thought I would like these a lot more, but they’re not as strong as the chocolate mint I’m used to. 13. AJ Curry - these taste fine, I never disliked them. But they were never my favorite either.

14. Gudetama Chocolate - It’s very cute in packaging but the taste wasn’t the best.

15. Fried Potato Chips - Nothing wrong with them, but they didn’t offer much.

16. Caramel Corn - don’t get me wrong, I think they’re delicious, but it’s just the same thing with these every time.

17. Yaokin Soba - I never liked this, and i still don’t.

#tokyo treat #cutie reviews

2 notes · View notes

livingcorner · 3 years

Text

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Indoor Garden

Whether you’re been wanting to save yourself trips to the grocery store for fresh produce or the latest pandemic is making you long for a taste of nature, starting a garden seems like the most logical answer to your troubles. But if you’re a city dweller without a backyard space or you constantly deal with inclement weather, it’s not the most feasible option. One solution: Bring the outdoors—and all its luscious greenery, dirt, and smells—inside with an indoor garden.

Not only does gardening in your humble abode count as a fun new quarantine hobby, it can also have profound health benefits, according to research. Studies have shown that gardening (in or outdoors) is linked to an increase in life satisfaction, psychological well-being, and cognitive function, as well as reductions in stress, anger, fatigue, and depression and anxiety symptoms.

You're reading: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Indoor Garden

“Plants make me smile and do exactly what the research has found—lower my stress and elevate my mood,” says Melinda Myers, gardening expert and host of the Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series. “Tending plants, watching them grow, and continually learning as I try new plants and techniques keeps me excited and interested in trying more and sharing what I have learned with others.”

And you don’t need to be a plant master to successfully start an indoor garden. To Julie Bawden-Davis, founder of HealthyHouseplants.com and author of Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, the special touch needed to tend to an indoor garden isn’t necessarily something you’re born with. “I would say that everyone can develop a green thumb,” she says. “It’s like anything else—you need to practice. The more you practice, the greener your thumb will become.

Ready to give indoor gardening the old college try? Follow this step-by-step guide to starting an indoor vegetable garden or herb garden and setting it up for success.

Step 1: Decide which herbs and vegetables you want—and are able—to grow.

Before you dump some soil, seeds, and water in a pot and call it a day, you need to carefully plan out your indoor garden. Ask yourself: “How much room do you have to garden indoors? Will you use artificial light to expand planting options? And what herbs and vegetables do you eat and use when preparing your meals?” says Myers. These questions will help you figure out which herbs and veggies—and how many of each—you’re able to maintain in your growing conditions. If you’re planning on using only natural light in your slightly shady apartment, for example, you wouldn’t want to grow peppers. And if you only have one tiny sunny area of your living space, you probably won’t be able to grow dozens of plants.

The Best Vegetables for an Indoor Garden

Since natural light can be a challenge while growing indoors, Myers recommends choosing plants that can tolerate a bit of shade, such as leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, and kale. These greens take around 45 days to reach maturity—meaning you can have a fresh salad in a month and a half. As for veggies outside of the greens-realm, Myers suggests choosing radishes, beets, and carrots, which can hold up against some shade, for indoor gardens. If patience is not a virtue you’re known for, microgreens are the best bet—these small but nutritionally mighty greens can be harvested just 10 days after planting the seeds, she says.

If you’re hoping for fresh homegrown cherry tomatoes, eggplant, or peppers, you’ll have to put in a bit more effort. These plants need the most sunlight and grow flowers that need to be pollinated in order to create fruit. Unlike leafy greens, root crops, and tubers, which self-pollinate, these plants typically rely on bumble bees and wind to move pollen from the male to the female reproductive structures, according to the Gardening in Michigan extension at Michigan State University. Since there aren’t any bees around your indoor garden to help with that organically, you’ll have to do the work yourself by using something such as kids’ watercolor paintbrush to transfer pollen from one flower to another, says Myers. Depending on the variety, it’ll take anywhere from 65 to 110 days for the plant to start producing edible goodness, she says.

The veggies you’ll probably want to avoid growing in an indoor garden: Pumpkins, watermelon, and squash—and not just for the obvious size issues. These plants tend to climb, sprawl, and overall take up a lot of space, says Bawden-Davis. Beans and peas aren’t the easiest to grow inside either, as they grow on spreading vines, she adds.

Read more: How to Build a Vertical Garden Frame? | Slick Garden

The Best Herbs for an Indoor Garden

For indoor herb gardens, choose basil, chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme—flavor boosters that often thrive indoors and under most gardeners’ care, says Myers. Rosemary and bay leaves can be a bit more challenging to maintain, while cilantro likes cooler temperatures and requires several plantings to build up enough supply to actually use in your cooking, she adds.

Using Food Scraps for an Indoor Garden

While you’ve probably seen those Facebook videos that show someone loading up a pepper with soil, followed by a time-lapse of a stem growing straight out of the veggie, growing with any food scraps you have lying around the kitchen isn’t that easy. It’s not always the most productive way to grow vegetables, but it can be done, says Myers. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, and onions tend to work best with this method.

Starting peppers and tomatoes from seeds left from last night’s dinner takes a lot of time, and you might end up with something that tastes and looks very different from the vegetable you collected seeds from, says Myers. The reason: The types of veggies you get at the grocery store are hybrid plants, meaning it was created by crossing plants from two different “pure lines,” or lineages of plants that have been inbred. Since this hybrid plant contains genes from two distinct family lines, its offspring will have a random mixture of genes from the original pure lines, giving you both desired and unwanted characteristics, according to South Dakota State University.

Step 2: Choose between a soil-based or hydroponic indoor garden.

Using pots filled with soil is the most common way to grow herbs and veggies indoors, but it’s not the only way. In indoor gardens, potting soil helps anchor the plants, provides air space for oxygen to get to the roots, and serves as a reservoir for water and nutrients, says Myers.

However, hydroponic gardens, which involve growing plants directly in water sin soil, are becoming more popular. In this growing system, freshwater helps provide oxygen to the roots, and liquid fertilizer is added to the water to give plants the necessary nutrients typically found in soil. “Hydroponic growing takes knowing the correct mix of nutrients to put in the water, so it can be a little more complicated than planting in the soil,” says Bawden-Davis. “However, there are hydroponic growing systems like Aerogarden that make it easy to do.”

Deciding whether to use a hydroponic system such as an Aerogarden (Buy It, $169, amazon.com) or pots with soil all comes down to your price point and growing space, says Myers; hydroponic gardens tend to have a high price tag, but they often come with artificial lighting so you can grow anywhere.

Step 3. Figure out your indoor garden location.

In general, the best location for an indoor garden is the area with the best light, says Bawden-Davis. Putting your plants up against a window is A-OK—under the right conditions. If you have northern-facing windows, plants can sit directly on the sill, as the light isn’t so intense and hot that it will harm them. Western-facing windows, however, may be too hot, and plants will need to be placed two to three feet away from the windows, says Bawden-Davis. Your local climate matters, too: Gardeners in the North may need to back their gardens away from cold windows in the winter, says Myers. You should also avoid placing your indoor garden where it could receive drafts of hot air (think: heating vents) or cold air (like the air conditioner), which can damage plants, she adds. (Related: How One Woman Turned a Passion for Farming Into Her Life’s Work)

If your only available indoor garden space has zero sunlight, you’ll need artificial lighting. This full-spectrum artificial light (Buy It, $15, amazon.com) simulates daylight and is available in various types of bulbs, including ones you can screw into light fixtures you already have in your homes, says Bawden-Davis. Just make sure to position these grow lights directly over the planters for the best results, notes Myers. To give your indoor garden an extra boost of sunshine, consider placing pots on a reflective or white surface, which will bounce light back into the plants from below, she adds.

Step 4: Choose containers to grow your produce in.

If your indoor garden is going to be soil-based, pick up containers that are suited to the plants you’re growing. Tomatoes and peppers need at least a one- to two-gallon pot for smaller varieties, and a three- to five-gallon pot for larger, while greens can grow in most sizes of containers, says Myers. To ensure each plant’s roots have enough room to grow (important for giving the plant enough energy to produce veggies), use separate containers for each large vegetable plant, though multiple plantings of small greens and root crops can be grown in the same container if there’s enough room for them to reach their full size, she says.

Along with the size of the pot, the features of the container itself can make or break your indoor garden. Opt for plastic containers, which are lightweight and hold moisture longer, and those that have drainage holes to prevent the soil from becoming overly saturated, says Myers. “I like to place my containers on trays or saucers filled with pebbles,” she says. “The excess water collects in the pebbles and the pot is elevated above the excess water to avoid root rot. It also saves time pouring off the excess water each time I water my plants.”

If you’re more of a “set it and forget it” person, consider buying a self-watering container—a style of pot featuring a water storage tank underneath the plant. Much like a dry sponge quickly absorbing any liquid it comes in contact with, parched soil will pull water up from the reservoir when it needs it. The result: Instead of watering a few times a week based on your intuition—running the risk of overwatering or under-watering—you only need to fill the water reservoir when it’s running empty. This extends the time between watering and helps those who tend to neglect their plants or don’t know when to water, says Myers. She recommends a self-watering planter with the TruDrop System (Buy It, $139, amazon.com)

Step 5: Load it with soil.

Whatever you do, don’t dig up some soil from your backyard or neighbor’s outdoor garden and pour it into your pot. Instead, use a quality potting mix, says Myers. Potting mixes have a balanced mixture of peat, compost, or coir (the fuzzy fibers of a coconut shell) to hold moisture, as well as vermiculite, perlite, or rice hulls to promote proper drainage, she explains. The soil from an outdoor garden, on the other hand, may not hold enough water (or hold too much), be depleted of essential nutrients, or be too heavy and dense, which can pack together tightly and make aeration difficult. (Related: Your Guide On How to Make a Compost Bin)

When choosing a potting mix, look for one that’s light and fluffy, and if you’re going for organic veggies, use a mix that’s certified and labeled by the Organic Materials Review Institute, says Myers. Aside from good ‘ol dirt, potting mixes may contain fertilizer, so be sure to check the bag, so you know how often you should be fertilizing. Some boast a “starter charge” of fertilizer that’s used up after two or three waterings, while others, labeled controlled-release, time-release, or slow-release, include a fertilizer that provides small amounts of nutrients over a long period of time, explains Myers. If your chosen potting soil doesn’t contain fertilizer from the get-go, consider adding one that contains the right amount of nitrogen for vegetables plants (which need less than leafy plants and grass) and slow-release to provide a steady flow of nutrients. Nitrogen is the key nutrient for plant growth and helps create lush, green leaves, which then help capture the sun’s energy, convert it to sugar, and ultimately create delicious vegetables, per the Northeast Organic Farming Association. “It reduces your workload, and I am all about that,” she says.

You can also add moisture-retaining products to help hold water near the plant roots and reduce the frequency of watering. One sustainable, organic option: Wild Valley Wool Pellets (Buy It, $11, wildvalleyfarms.com). “It can be incorporated into the potting mix to reduce watering by up to 25 percent,” says Myers. This feature makes it extra important not to overwater your indoor garden, as plants growing in soil that is too wet won’t be able to get enough oxygen, leading to root death, stunted growth, and yellowing leaves, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Read more: How Thick Should the Mulch Be in a Planting Bed?

Step 6: Plant those seeds, transplants, or scraps.

Once you’ve picked up your containers and soil for your indoor garden, it’s time to choose your seeds. You’ll probably have the best selection with online seed companies (try: Sustainable Seed Company, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, or Johnny’s Selected Seeds), but your local garden center will likely carry them in the spring, says Myers. Pick up seeds that have a high germination rate (meaning many of the seeds end up sprouting) and are dated for the current season, she says. While some seeds can last for years when managed correctly and kept in a cool, dark place, the germination rate usually declines with age. Your best bet: Passing over the discounted seeds that were packaged two years ago and grabbing one dated with the current year instead. You should also look to the label for the estimated size the plant will get once it’s full-grown, says Bawden-Davis. “If it gets much bigger than two feet or so tall and wide, it’s probably not a good choice for indoor growing, as it will get too big,” she explains.

Planting Seeds

When planting seeds, place them at the depth recommended on the packet. Keep the potting mix slightly moist (think: a sponge that has been wrung out) until the seeds sprout and the seedlings begin to grow, suggests Myers.

Planting Transplants

In the summertime, you might be able to score transplants from garden centers, which take less time to get to the point of being ready for harvest than seeds. Plant the transplants at the same depth as they are growing in their original container. Once the plants have successfully rooted and started producing new growth, you can harvest a leaf or two as needed, and this regular picking will actually encourage the plants to continue producing, says Myers.

Planting Food Scraps

Some of the best vegetables to grow from food scraps are those that produce shoots—aka sprouts—as they age or when placed in water. These shoots are the new growth from seed germination within the vegetable and are where leaves will develop. Some vegetables, like carrots, turnips, and other root veggies, will only re-grow their top leafy greens when placed in water. Onions, garlic, scallions, and leeks grow shoots when their stems or bulbs are placed in a shallow dish of water, while sweet potatoes begin to sprout at the tip when left in the pantry too long. To grow potatoes from these scraps, cut the sprout off a few inches below the growing point, plant in potting mix, and water as needed. For regular potatoes, which sprout across the vegetable, cut the potato into pieces so that each chunk has a sprout or two. Plant in potting mix and water as needed.

To grow herbs from scraps, cuttings may be used. Choose a three- to four-inch cutting of a firm stem with leaves, remove the lowest leaf, and stick it in a moist potting mix. Keep the potting mix moist until roots form, about two weeks, then reduce watering frequency. Keep the potted cutting in a bright location out of direct sunlight, and move to a brighter location once rooted.

Step 7: Water your indoor garden.

How often and how much you water your indoor garden plants all depends on your growing conditions and the age of your plants. In general, “the warmer you keep your house, the lower the humidity, and the sunnier the location, the more often you will need to water,” says Myers.

For seeds that have sprouted and began to grow, gradually extend the time between waterings and water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are starting to dry, making sure to pour out the excess, says Myers. With newly planted transplants, keep the top few inches of soil slightly moist for the first few weeks, then gradually reduce your watering frequency as the plants become more established, she says.

A good rule of thumb: “If the soil is dry when you stick in your finger or a moisture meter, then it’s time to water,” says Bawden-Davis. And tap water is typically fine to use for your indoor garden, but if your plants look to be affected by the minerals in your tap water and are getting brown leaf tips, try switching to filtered water, she adds.

Step 8: Fertilize your indoor garden.

If the fertilizer in your potting mix or the slow-release fertilizer you added at the time of planting has run its course (the packaging will tell you how long it lasts), you’ll likely want to continue using some kind of fertilizer, especially if your plants are showing signs of nutrient deficiencies, including pale leaves and stunted growth. You can continue adding slow-release fertilizer as directed on the label, or use liquid fertilizers that are added directly to the water, says Myers. Opt for one designed for flowering plants or a balanced fertilizer, which has the same amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—the three fundamental nutrients in plant nutrition. These fertilizers are applied every two weeks or month (again, check the label), but consider starting with a diluted solution, as fertilizer recommendations are usually designed to achieve the maximum level of growth and could actually be more than your plants require, says Myers. Over-fertilizing your plants can cause sudden, immense growth, but the roots may not be strong and large enough to supply the plant with enough water and nutrients, possibly reducing the number of vegetables it can produce.

If you’re using a granular fertilizer, make two-inch deep holes, one to three inches apart in the soil with a tool that’s smaller than the diameter of a pencil. Then, sprinkle the fertilizer directly into the holes and cover with soil and water, says Bawden-Davis.

Step 9: Don’t get discouraged.

Whether you think you have a green thumb or not, know that it’s totally normal if your kale plant shrivels up or your basil looks sad and droopy, so don’t call it quits before you take a bite into something you’ve grown with your own two hands. “Everyone that gardens kill plants—it’s part of the learning process,” says Myers. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help—gardeners love to share their knowledge, passion, plants and produce.”

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/your-step-by-step-guide-to-creating-an-indoor-garden/

#livingcornernews

0 notes

vikrantbhagat · 4 years

Text

Why Vaping Is More Dangerous Than Ever ?

Vaping is taking in rage from an e-cigarette, pen, or other contraption. These contraptions work by warming a liquid containing nicotine, cannabis or various prescriptions. Candy-like flavors incorporate to their appeal.Vaping is the climb and various people think it is less risky or less addictive than cigarettes. The truth is vaping is more unsafe than you may might speculate.

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are being exhibited as the "safe" new choice rather than customary cigarettes. By February 2020, reports of 68 passings and more than 2,800 vaping-related hospitalizations as a result of lung ailments have explained that vaping can be fundamentally more unsafe than smoking.

What are E-cigarettes?

E-cigarettes are battery-worked contraptions that were from the outset shaped like cigarettes, however at this point consolidate vape mods, Juuls, and vape pens. Some seem like streak drives or highlighter pens, making it basic for youths to cover them in plain view. The brand-name things contain nicotine, an addictive drug that is typically found in tobacco and that enlivens, causes stress during withdrawal, and thereafter feels loosening up as continued with introduction follows withdrawal. It is the nicotine in cigarettes that makes smoking so addictive, and the proportional is substantial for most vaping and . These electronic things license nicotine to be taken in, and they work by warming a liquid cartridge containing nicotine, flavors, and various artificial materials into a smoke. Since e-cigarettes heat a liquid instead of tobacco, what is conveyed is seen as smokeless.

Is Vaping Safer than Smoking Traditional Cigarettes?

The key differentiation between standard cigarettes and e-cigarettes and related things is that the last don't contain tobacco. Regardless, it isn't just the tobacco in cigarettes that causes harmful development and distinctive authentic infections. Standard cigarettes contain a dress once-over of engineered mixtures that are shown damaging, and e-cigarettes have a segment of these comparable manufactured substances.

You can purchase all your medicines including Nicotex chewing Gums online on 3MEDS-Indias online medical store

While smoking can cause lung dangerous development, chest threat, emphysema, coronary ailment, and diverse authentic diseases, those infirmities generally speaking make following a long time of smoking. Strangely, in 2019 it ended up being sure that vaping could cause seizures and certified lung hurt after just a year, possibly less, taking into account CDC reports of patients hospitalized for lung hurt achieved by vaping.While there have been alarms about the possible peril of e-cigarettes for a long time, it was not expected that they could cause such genuine mischief in such a short period of time.

Youngsters, Children, and Vaping

The degree of youngsters who have endeavored e-cigarettes has more than quadrupled starting late, with 25% of seniors and 20% of sophomores vaping in just the latest month. In addition, 1 out of 5 focus schoolers who said they had endeavored e-cigarettes moreover said they had never smoked standard cigarettes.

Signs that your adolescent might be vaping

Smells sweet or fruity for no good reason

Is unsteady, anxious, or crotchety

Has a hack that won't vanish

Has worn out looking eyes, shifts in direct and perspective, change in sidekicks or activities

Has a dry mouth, extended thirst or nose channels (e-liquid has a drying sway)

Online purchases using your charge card or packages that come by means of the mail station

Here are 5 Facts that we need to consider Vaping

1: Vaping Vs Smoking: Not Yet Safe

E-cigarettes heat nicotine (removed from tobacco), flavorings and diverse manufactured substances to cause a disintegrated that you to take in. Customary tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 engineered substances, countless which are hurtful. While we don't know absolutely what engineered mixtures are in e-cigarettes, Blaha says "there's essentially no vulnerability that they open you to less noxious manufactured mixes than standard cigarettes."

Regardless, there has moreover been an erupt of lung wounds and passings related with vaping. It is attested that 60 passings in patients with e-cigarette, or vaping, thing utilize related lung injury (EVALI).

It is recommended that people:

Do whatever it takes not to use THC-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, things

Keep away from using easygoing sources, for instance, sidekicks, family or online merchants to get a vaping contraption.

Do whatever it takes not to modify or add any substances to a vaping contraption that are not expected by the maker.

2: Vaping Vs Your Heart and Lungs

Nicotine is the fundamental administrator in both standard cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and it is incredibly addictive. It makes you need a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is also a hurtful substance. It raises your circulatory strain and spikes your adrenaline, which extends your heartbeat and the likelihood of having a respiratory disappointment.

You can also download the 3MEDS app which provides genuine online medicines at a discounted price.

Is vaping terrible for you? There are various inquiries regarding vaping, including what engineered mixes make up the smoke and how they impact physical prosperity as time goes on. Rising data prescribes associations with unending lung disease and asthma, and connection between twofold use of e-cigarettes and smoking with cardiovascular infirmity. You're introducing yourself to a wide scope of engineered substances that we don't yet grasp and that are likely inconsistent."

3: Electronic Cigarettes Vs Traditional Ones

Both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes contain nicotine, which investigation suggests may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine,Many e-cigarette customers get extensively more nicotine than they would from a tobacco thing — you can buy extra-quality cartridges, which have a higher gathering of nicotine, or you can assemble the e-cigarette's voltage to get a more noticeable hit of the substance.

4: Electronic Cigarettes Aren't Good For the Health

Despite the way that they've been displayed as a manual for help you with halting smoking, e-cigarettes have not gotten Food and Drug Administration underwriting as smoking end devices. A continuous report found that by far most who proposed to use e-cigarettes to kick the nicotine affinity ended up continuing to smoke both standard and e-cigarettes.

5: New Generation Vs Nicotine Addiction

Among youth, e-cigarettes are more popular than any customary tobacco thing. In 2015, An examination uncovered that e-cigarette use among auxiliary school understudies had extended by 900%, and 40% of energetic e-cigarette customers had never smoked standard tobacco.

There are three reasons e-cigarettes may be particularly tricking to youths. To begin with, various young people acknowledge that vaping is less destructive than smoking. Second, e-cigarettes have a lower for every usage cost than ordinary cigarettes. Finally, vape cartridges are routinely point by point with flavorings, for instance, hard organic product filled treat and watermelon that interest to more young customers.

The Bottom Line

E-cigarettes, juuls, and other practically identical things have not been around adequately long to choose the naughtiness they cause as time goes on. Disastrously, various people, including youths, are under the inclination that e-cigarettes are shielded or that they are incredible in helping people quit smoking conventional cigarettes.3MEDS-online pharmacy store in India,is concerned with health and fitness of their customers and therefore believes in providing knowledge about healthcare to their customers. Studies by the FDA show that e-cigarettes contain a segment of unclear hurtful manufactured inventions from standard cigarettes, regardless of the way that they don't have tobacco. There is evidence that a part of these destructive manufactured mixes can cause DNA hurt that can cause threatening development. More noteworthy, the reports of adolescents and adults who gave or were hospitalized due to vaping are proof that vaping can be unsafe impressively after just a large portion of a month, months, or years.

-Vikrant Bhagat

#3Meds #besthealthcarecomapnyinindia #24hoursmedicinedelivery #nicotine #vaping #e-cigar #e-cigratte #smoking

0 notes

healthfoodbeauty · 4 years

Text

14 Best Food to Eat With a Migraine for Everyone

Migraine is like an unwanted guest who comes unannounced and it's hard to get rid of. You need the best food to eat with a migraine. If you often suffer from headaches, then you probably need to know how difficult it can be in those moments. Migraine is not just a headache. It causes very severe pain, usually in the area of the head, forehead, and eyes, which can last from a few hours to a few days. In addition, migraines can cause sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or even vision problems. Women are the ones who suffer from migraines more often than men. Unfortunately, children are also affected by this unpleasant feeling of pain. Estimates suggest that about 5% of children, unfortunately, develop migraines. While after puberty, migraines are more common in girls than in boys. Of course, you can take pills or possibly exercise to try to cure the pain. However, these drugs have an immediate, temporary effect, which means that the headache can always return.

Signs of migraine

About 20% of people who suffer from migraines experience signs and vision problems before the first symptoms appear. They can see a flashing light, wavy lines or dots, or have blurred vision. Some people feel a strange smell or taste, often yawn, or feel muscle fatigue and tension. Until 24 hours before the onset of migraines, some people may notice a change in mood, or more precisely, begin to become excited, irritated, or depressed. Here's something else you can do, and that is to change your daily diet.

Food is what reduces migraine attacks

Paying attention to proper nutrition is one of the best possible defense against migraines. Consuming natural foods without preservatives or artificial flavors is one way to get rid of headaches. One study found that a vegan diet was the best way to eliminate and reduce migraines. A plant-based diet is also a good way to improve your health. Eat an orange, yellow and green vegetables such as zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach to fight migraines. Drink carbonated, spring or tap water. Rice is also good, especially brown. Eat dried or boiled fruits, such as cherries and cranberries, but also natural sweeteners or flavorings such as maple syrup and vanilla extract. Although there are some foods that cause migraines, there are some foods that can help you fight it effectively without much effort. Today we reveal to you which foods will help you get rid of migraines. Spinach Spinach is a plant with many possibilities and benefits to having better health, including migraines.

This extremely green plant contains riboflavin, a type of vitamin B that helps prevent migraines. Caffeine If you don't overdose, caffeine can really help with headaches. Many painkillers contain small amounts of caffeine because it helps absorb other substances faster. Be careful not to take more than 500 milligrams of caffeine (5 cups of coffee) a day, as this can lead to headaches, warn Everyday Health. Consume chamomile, rosemary or ginger tea and reduce migraines Take a 15-minute break, make yourself some tea and drink it slowly in a quiet room. Chamomile tea contains substances that will reduce your pain and help you relax and rest. Rosemary tea is believed to prevent pain and migraines. Ginger is used to treating many inflammations, including headaches and dizziness. Ginger is especially helpful in migraines. Put two pieces of ginger in half a liter of hot water, cover the dish and let it boil very quietly for half an hour, then consume. Almonds and magnesium against migraines To treat migraines, you need to take in certain amounts of magnesium. We procure the required dose from 80 grams of nuts, ie almonds, claim the Journal of Neural Transmission. Avocado against migraine In case you need more reasons to love this wonderful fruit, then keep in mind that avocados are also effective in fighting migraines. It is rich in antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin. By consuming avocados you can not only get rid of severe headaches but consuming them can also prevent their occurrence in the future. Figs are a great remedy against migraines Figs are great overall for our health and organism, they help us to deal successfully with many diseases. As for migraines, they should also be on hand when headaches begin. According to experts and their research, this fruit contains potassium, which helps reduce inflammation and prevent headaches. Salmon and migraine The presence of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B-2, and regular consumption of salmon, prevents platelet aggregation, a process responsible for the frequent occurrence of migraines. It also reduces inflammation and helps you fight migraines completely. If you like do not have migraines, consume sweet potatoes We all eat sweet potatoes because they are very beautiful and delicious. But they also help you fight migraines. They contain ingredients such as vitamin C, vitamin B1, and potassium. By eating sweet potatoes when you have a headache, it will reduce it and calm you down. Watermelon and carrots so you don't have migraines This is exactly how you consume these two foods and you will get rid of migraines. Because drinking water helps relieve headaches, eating foods like watermelons, carrots, cucumbers, and celery can also be very helpful. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of headaches, don't forget to control your water levels, always drink plenty of fluids. Quinoa and kale In addition to all the other health benefits we get from these wonderful and healthy foods, vegetables like quinoa and kale help prevent migraines. Quinoa contains riboflavin, magnesium, and iron, and prevents migraines. On the other hand, kale contains omega-3s and fiber, which is also a great remedy for headaches. Together, these vegetables are great food so you don't have migraines and are healthier. Yogurt against migraine According to the latest research, riboflavin, part of vitamin B, is the most effective means of preventing and treating migraines. That's why we need to consume yogurt more often because it is rich in this element. Add yogurt to your daily menu if you often suffer from migraine attacks and enjoy the positive results and you will certainly be much better off. Cherries for fewer migraines Cherries, in addition to being a delicious fruit for everyday eating, also contain the active ingredient quercetin.

Quercetin is a very powerful antioxidant and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. All research shows that consuming cherries can reduce headaches, including migraines. So include them in your daily diet as a remedy for migraines. Freshly squeezed lemon juice cure migraine Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C, and lemon juice is known for its health benefits, and an effective fight against migraine is part of its health benefits. Whenever you have a severe headache or migraine, simply mix a little lemon juice in a glass of water, add 2 teaspoons of salt and drink the wonderful drink. It will immediately reduce the inflammation and make you feel better in a very short time. Cinnamon paste so you don't have headaches Take a few cinnamon sticks and grind them into a powder. Then add a little water to the cinnamon, creating a thick mixture. The next thing you need to do is apply this paste on the key points and on the forehead at times whenever you have a migraine attack. This natural home remedy effectively fights migraines and relieves pain. Wait about half an hour for it to work, then wash the paste off your face.

Foods that cause migraines

Foods high in sodium, as well as foods with additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, cause migraines. In addition, eggs, tomatoes, onions, dairy products, and wheat should be avoided in the daily diet. Other foods and products that cause migraines include pasta and bread, alcohol, especially red wine, caffeine, chocolate and nuts (nuts, almonds, hazelnuts).

Observe the following reasons so that migraines do not occur

Other triggers for migraines include stress, alcohol, changes in weather, changes in sleep patterns, and certain medications. Recent studies and research have shown that some dietary and lifestyle changes can help reduce the frequency of migraines. Follow the weather forecast Most people who suffer from migraines think that certain weather conditions cause severe headaches and migraines. Recent research shows that when it comes to weather changes, rising temperatures are the biggest problem. Each rise in temperature by 5 ° C increases the risk of headache by 7.5%. Other weather phenomena that increase the chances of migraines are strong sunlight, high humidity, strong winds, too dry air or significant changes in air pressure. Normally, you cannot influence the weather, but you can take other measures that will minimize the risk of migraines. Whenever you notice a change in the weather forecast, you should start eating healthier, sleep regularly for 7-8 hours and relax more. Yoga against migraine The benefits of practicing yoga are great for preventing migraines. With the help of yoga, we get improved blood circulation in the body, excellent relaxation, healthy blood pressure and increased level of neurotransmitters. All of these benefits make yoga a great remedy for headaches and migraines.

Regular use of yoga is a very successful natural remedy for chronic headaches and migraine reduction. Eat regularly and healthily to reduce the chances of migraines Don't skip meals and try to eat at the same time every day. Do not follow strict diets or unbalanced diets. Consume the healthy foods we have already mentioned above in the text, foods that have been proven to be extremely good in preventing migraines. Sleep regularly after 7-8 hours to avoid migraines If you sleep too much or too little, then you increase your chances of getting a migraine. Therefore, set your alarm clock to wake you up 7-8 hours after going to bed. It is also very important to sleep in a dark room. Exercise regularly but in moderation Regular physical activity reduces the number of headaches and the intensity of migraine pain. However, you should not overdo it and force your body. Moderate exercise is best, as intense physical activity can have a counter-effect and cause migraines. Wear sunglasses to avoid migraines That's right, although it may seem a bit ridiculous, sunglasses are good for reducing the chances of migraines. Whether it's summer or winter, it's advisable to wear polarized sunglasses. The glare of sunlight from water, metal, glass or snow can cause migraines. Go for a massage and relax so you don't have migraines Although massage is not directly related to migraines, relaxation from massage relaxes the muscles. Practice at least once a week to allow yourself to go for a massage. Relaxation of the body itself prevents headaches caused by muscle tension. https://youtu.be/zNcTLNuH2EM

Finally, a few tips on what to do when you have a migraine and how to reduce the pain

Lie down and relax in a dark room, it is best if you can get some sleep at least for a while. Use warm or cold compresses. Warm compresses on the head and neck will relax your muscles. On the other hand, cold ice packs tighten the area and reduce migraine pain. Massage the areas where you feel pain. Gently press the areas where you feel pain and massage them. Ask someone to massage your shoulders and neck to reduce tension so you can relax. Drink 1-2 coffees or another caffeinated beverage. Caffeine in small amounts can help when you have a migraine. But be careful not to consume 4-5 coffees at all, because that will only make your condition worse. Use essential oils. Smelling or lubricating essential oils will help you relax. Lavender, ginger or peppermint oil are especially recommended. They help relieve pain and reduce migraines. And most importantly - relax. Minimize stress as much as you can, because according to all research, it is considered the number one cause of migraines. Read the full article

#FoodtoEatWithMigraine

0 notes

infinitum-imaginaerum · 7 years

Text

Blind // Yoo Kihyun - 08

Blind Chapter 7 / Eight / Blind Chapter 9

The tags on your dog’s collar jingled as he jumped down from the bed, but the sound of your door creaking open was quite possibly the loudest sound of your life. Your heart was beating in your ears, but not even that drowned it out. Steadily you sat, gripping the covers in your lap as your eyes strained to look through the darkness. The door had opened enough for a body to slip through, but you still weren’t able to see so quickly you reached over to flip the lamp on.

It startled you, Kihyun’s face poking through your door, and a hand cupped over your heart as you exhaled your held breath. His eyes were concerned, his brow drawn together as he looked at you.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“You scared the shit out of me,” you replied, your hand falling away from your chest to rejoin the other.

“Yeah, well, your scream wasn’t particularly inconspicuous,” he mentioned and you nodded in agreement, zero protest about that—you were, however, slightly shocked that he could hear it in his total narcoleptic state downstairs between two doors.

“It was just a nightmare,” you replied as he slinked into the room. The light from your lamp lit up his torso with a tinge of rust color, bare in all its glory—at least this time he was wearing pants. He must have found all of his clean clothes piled on the dresser in his room.

“I’m sure I can guess what it was about,” he told you, ambling closer and closer to your bed, causing you to grip your covers tighter and tighter.

He had slight bed-head. His black hair ruffled, but not unruly. His eyes were tired, a little red from being woken so abruptly. It was in the rusty light that you finally could see the scars on his body. Plenty of knife wounds, it appeared. It wasn’t so many that they distracted from how smooth his skin was otherwise, but enough to be noticeable. Enough to count on two hands. They mostly covered his back; you noticed earlier when he turned to close the door.

A low growl perked your ear and you glanced over to your most loyal pal who was pretty hesitant to have Kihyun in such close proximity in your bedroom. You nodded to him, and his ears previously pinned back resumed to their normal floppy state as he curled back up on the large pillow in the corner of the room.

“I didn’t realize you had a dog,” Kihyun commented as if it were nothing.

“He’s very protective of this space,” you replied, seemingly unable to hike your covers up any higher to cover yourself, though you were perfectly decent from the waist up.

What was going on in Kihyun’s mind, you weren’t sure. What on earth possessed him to continue moving closer and closer to you, you didn’t know. But he kept coming without hesitance, all the way until he was seated on your bed, his face no more than a foot away from yours.

“Are you okay?” he asked again.

“Physically, yes,” you replied, eyeing his face.

“Mentally? Emotionally?”

“Questionable, and a wreck,” you breathed as he moved a little bit closer. Closer and closer he moved until one of your hands freed your comforter to press on his chest, as you had the previous day. His skin was soft and warm under your fingertips, developing goosebumps to your cool touch. You could feel his breath against your cheeks, he was so close. His eyes seemed to glitter in the dim light as you looked into them. His nose—cute and pointy, perfectly fit for his face. His lips were slightly parted, perfectly pink, teeth closed. There was where you caught yourself staring a little too long.

“I don’t think I ever properly thanked you for saving me,” he said after a few moments, bringing your eyes back to his.

“You don’t really need to; I mean, if you do it can wait—”

“Thank you, very much, for saving me. There’s no way I’d be here, alive on this earth right now, without you,” he interrupted, clearly thinking it couldn’t wait, that he had to tell you right now. Your hand had already slipped from his chest, rejoining your other hand in your lap as you listened to him speak.

“It’s... you’re welcome,” you replied.

“Try to get some rest, and no more bad dreams,” he wished, standing from your bed to leave the room, but not before planting a hand on your night stand, the other taking your chin so he could press a kiss against your forehead. You could feel the blush burning your cheeks and your hand moved up to touch the burning flesh with your fingers. By the time you could compose yourself enough to look up to spot him again, the door was already closed and you could hear his feet patting down the stairs.

You sunk back down into your bed, a sigh unexpectedly passing your lips before you rolled over, pulling the covers up over your shoulder to try and get back to sleep, and surprisingly, it wasn’t that difficult. For the rest of the night, you slept soundlessly. You didn’t even wake when your dog jumped back up on the bed to take his rightful place with you.

The alarm clock rang three or four times in the morning before you finally woke, that’s how soundlessly you slept. When you finally muted the dang thing, it was already approaching eight—way too late for your liking and you lethargically rolled out of bed to enter the bathroom and rush through your morning routine.

It wasn’t anticipated to be a busy day, but you did have to leave to go to town to get some food and things—nothing big; but you would need more gauze to re-bandage Kihyun’s wrists. So, once you were dressed, you patted down the stairs yourself, fingertips grazing the railing just in case. But you paused abruptly at the bottom of the stairs, shocked to see Kihyun was already awake.

“Good morning,” he said without even turning around. He was standing in the kitchen by the stove; you could smell something cooking but couldn’t put your finger on it.

“Good morning, Kihyun,” you replied, tentatively approaching the kitchen, your boots tapping the hardwood as you ambled slowly.

“You eat a lot of western foods for breakfast,” he commented.

“My father lived overseas for many years and adopted the taste—I’ve had it since I was a child, grew up with it,” you replied, moving close and closer, step by step, until Kihyun turned around with a bright smile on his face.

“That’s fine,” he stated, holding a plate out to you which contained two fried eggs, some toast, a bit of rice, and some fruit.

“You made this?” you asked him.

Kihyun nodded and moved past you to take a seat at the table. “I hope that’s okay. I’ve grown a bit of an appetite being here,” he laughed nervously.

“No, that’s fine… I’m just…surprised,” you replied, turning to join him at the table.

Your first bites were slow, but the food was well prepared so you sunk in a little, comforted by a home-cooked meal by someone other than yourself. “You look like you’re dressed to go out,” Kihyun observed.

“I have to go get some groceries and things,” you responded, pushing around a piece of cubed watermelon on your plate only to pick it up and pop it in your mouth. Kihyun nodded, but you couldn’t see.

“And things?” he questioned.

“I was thinking about going to see Minhyuk and my dad; but since you’re awake, I’m not sure now,” you added after a moment. His eyes changed at the sound of Minhyuk and suddenly he was losing his appetite. Thankfully, by that point, his plate was already mostly finished.

Kihyun’s hands found his lap as he stared at the table just in front of his plate. “Minhyuk,” he commented, thinking about the horrible things that group could do to a man until his mind flashed to yesterday’s events—the whole reason he cooked breakfast in the first place, as a sort of misplaced apology. “Is he okay?”

“There’s no way for me to know for sure until I go down there,” you replied, pushing around your egg whites now with your fork, untraditionally Korean of you.

“Can I go?”

“I think it’s best if you don’t.”

“I want to see him—”

“You will, just not today,” you finally said, ending the conversation as your eyes found his. “You’re still sick and you still need to rest, and the guys are undoubtedly still wondering if you’re alive or not. I will go see him, and I will update you when I get back.”

Kihyun didn’t have a choice but to agree when you mentioned that you’d clean up and stood from the table, your own appetite having been lost half way through your piece of toast which you promptly dumped in a bag that would go out to the compost.

It wasn’t long after that Kihyun was curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped tightly around him, some hot tea on the couch side table as he flipped through channels on your TV as you were leaving. You pulled on a coat as your boots thudded towards the front door. “Don’t answer the door for anyone, not that anyone would knock. Try to get some rest,” you told him and was out the door with the nod of his head.

Once more you made your way down the mountain, in a different direction now towards a shed near a mountainside street. Inside, a small motorbike that you used for in town travel. You started it up and were on the street in no time. First stop, the hospital. You had called your dad on the way to see if Minhyuk was checked in (you weren’t quite sure why he wouldn’t be) before your dad asked to join you. Suddenly, there was so much investment in this young male he didn’t even know, but when he saw how damaged he was, on top of the fact that you were housing another, he became increasingly curious.

He met you at the hospital and directed you to Minhyuk’s room. You stepped up to the sliding glass door and the motion sensor tripped, letting the two of you in after the application of some hand-sanitizer.

Minhyuk was asleep at the moment, so you inspected his monitors. His vitals all looked good, but when you noticed the amount of tubes and wires he was hooked up to, you weren’t sure if the vitals were artificially enhanced or not.

“Minhyuk?” you called quietly, reaching out to touch his arm and he jolted awake, causing you to jump back and quickly pull your hand away. He looked at you with no recollection of who you were, but eyed your dad with slight recognition.

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice much stronger this time.

You offered your name, but followed it with, “I’m here on behalf of Kihyun.”

Kihyun struck with him well, almost so well he started to panic.

“Kihyun, he’s dead,” Minhyuk said sadly, watching your face for any expression to confirm his beliefs.

“He’s alive, Minhyuk. He’s living with me for now,” you explained. “You were in the clearing; you and your gang normally go there, right? They wasted you, Minhyuk. The men you trusted the most. You’re here because of them, do you know that?”

Minhyuk’s expression was somber as he looked away from you and shook his head. He glanced up to look at the wall and you could see the flame of anger fill those eyes. “Kihyun’s alive,” he reiterated.

“He’s alive,” you confirmed.

“How do you know all this, about me and them?” he asked, his eyes glancing to your father, before glancing to you.

#kihyun #yoo kihyun #kihyun scenarios #monsta x #monsta x scenarios #blind series #it's slow but I promise things will get more interesting soon #MINHYUK THOUGH #i hope nobody reads these #these tags I mean #hahahahahaa

41 notes · View notes

thecoroutfitters · 7 years

Link

I was raised on a farm and always had freshly grown foods. Then when I moved to the city, I started buying foods from the grocery store, and noticed right away the inferior flavors.

After a year or so, I started noticing other problems with eating store-bought food, but it took me a few visits to the doctor to make the correlation.

Here are some of the top reasons to grow your own food.

Chemicals

In addition to vitamin C and polyphenols, samples of strawberries evaluated by the Environmental Working Group showed that non-organic varieties had over 20 different types of pesticides! Yup, how often have you just opened up the fridge, grabbed a strawberry, and popped it into your mouth? If so, you ate a little more that you thought – and not in a good way!

Even if you wash your produce, there’s often no way to get all of the chemicals off of your food unless you peel it. Since the skins of most fruits and veggies contain a large percentage of the nutrients, that’s a bad thing. Besides, why should you have to peel something before you eat it, unless it’s a banana?

Of course, you have two other options: you can eat the pesticides or you can buy organic. The first option is basically a non-option unless you want to expose yourself to agents that cause everything from skin rashes to liver failure and cancer. The latter option is crazy expensive.

There are no chemicals on anything that I grow at home.

Discover the golden days’ practice for getting all you can eat food without buying from the supermarket!

Nutrients

More people than ever since the industrialization of agriculture are nutritionally deprived even though they eat plenty of food. Never in the history of balanced diets has there been such dichotomy. The term “a starving, well-fed person” used to be an oxymoron, but not anymore.

Deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, and vitamin K are prevalent, and you have to eat three apples today to get the nutrients that were in just one at the turn of the last century. This is because commercial agriculture has farmed all of the nutrients right out of the soil.

My food is grown in nutrient-rich soil, so I know for a fact that it’s packed in nutrients. My food is flat-out better for you than store-bought food. Here are the top nine most nutritious foods for your survival garden, if you need a place to start.

Convenience

What could possibly be more convenient than picking your own food right off the plant or tree? Or grabbing a jar of your own spaghetti sauce right off the shelf?

No need to stop at the store, and to be honest, if you combine all of the hours that you spend at the store, along with the travel time, It takes much less time to grow and preserve your own food than it does to buy it.

Cost

There’s no way to calculate the cost of a single tomato, or even of a quart of sauce. I grew my entire 50 tomato plants for less than $8 total and yielded no less than 10 pounds per plant. Since one pound of vine-ripened (non-organic) tomatoes costs at least $2.50 per pound at the store, and you won’t buy a jar of good sauce for less than $2, there’s really no comparison.

So, what would you do with the thousands of dollars per year that you save on food? Go on vacation? Remodel your house? Put a big chunk of change down on a new car? Do whatever you want to do with it, because you no longer have to waste it on chemical-coated, nutrient-poor food!

Self-Sufficiency

This is possibly one of the best benefits of growing my own food. You see, I live in an area vulnerable to hurricanes, and I’ve been through three major ones and a handful of minor ones and tropical storms. Fortunately, we’ve always came through relatively unscathed, but the three big ones did leave me without electricity – one for almost three weeks, one for a week and a half, and one for a couple of days.

One of the many problems of being stuck in South Florida in late summer with no power is that it’s crazy hot. Food goes bad quickly so all you really have after a couple of days is what you have stockpiled. The first time, I was broke and didn’t have much money to stockpile or to buy a grill, so we were stuck eating cheap garbage that didn’t require cooking.

The second time, I was a little better off, but I still ended up eating expensive canned foods from the grocery store that were full of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Luckily, the last time, I didn’t really run out of ‘real’ food because it was only a little less than two days.

Still, it was enough to make me think. The first two storms were within a year or of each other – Charley and Wilma. And in addition to Charley, we had a lot of near misses in both 2004 and 2005. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t much within my capabilities to grow much, but I started growing some. I swore I’d never get stuck like that again.

Now, I’m able to say that we can get through a month if we need to without sweating it. And we’d eat well, too! It took me over a decade to find my way back around, and I’m still not where I want to be, but I’m a long way from that 20-something girl that ate cold canned spaghetti-o’s because she was completely dependent on a grocery store, and too poor to stockpile store food!

Flavor

Taste is what it all comes down to, right? If it tastes like crap, you’re not going to want to eat it.

Well, let me tell you – if you start drinking fresh milk and eating fresh produce, then switch back to store-bought, you’ll most certainly notice a difference. Milk, in particular, was the major thing for me.

There’s a weird metallic, chemically flavor to store-bought milk that you don’t notice if you’re used to it. But when I made the switch from fresh, it was almost cringe-worthy.

Vegetables have a weird texture, too. Tomatoes are mushier and peppers and cucumbers aren’t as crisp. Corn isn’t as sweet. It’s just lacking. That’s not to say that you can’t get good-tasting produce at a store because you can. It’s just a crap-shoot, even in the same shopping trip.

The bottom line is that there are a ton of reasons to grow your own food and very few reasons not to. Even if you live in a small space, you can grow something.

Herbs take up no more space than a houseplant and make your house smell good. Tomatoes and even watermelons are available in small bushes meant for small spaces. And surely you’ve seen the upside-down strawberry kits at your local superstore; you can grow many foods upside down.

Homegrown food tastes better, is better for you, and is much less expensive. It’s fairly easy to grow, even if you have problems getting around; you can always grow raised beds or use vertical gardening.

I’ve written a book about how to grow delicious nutritious food. It includes how to grow it, various ways to prepare it and preserve it, and even how to butcher your own meat and tan your own hides.

It’s a diverse book that, if you were to gather all of the information yourself, would cost a fortune, but we kept the cost low because the goal isn’t to get rich – it’s to share information about the skills that have been handed down to me from the generations before me.

Check it out – between it and the five different bonus gifts, you’ll be glad you did. And so will I – I don’t want to see these skills lost!

If you have any comments about why growing your own food is better than buying store-bought, please share them with us in the comments section below!

This article has been written by Theresa Crouse for Survivopedia.

from Survivopedia Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

#SHTF #TEOTWAWKI #MARTIALLAW #BUGOUT #PREPPERBAG #USAF #USSOCOM #ARMY #NAVY #SurvivalFirestarter #Sur

1 note · View note

dreamworksworddump · 7 years

Text

Summer AU

(I got this idea after riding uphill two miles for a slushie. I felt like this is something Lance would do.)

Sweat drips from his hairline and into his eyes, and runs down his back like condensation on a wet glass. He still feels the stupid urge to swat, even though he knows that it’s not another gnat crawling under his shirt. The artificial breeze gently rippling his shirt does nothing the alleviate the heat. He could peddle faster, sure, but he’s still got another half mile uphill before they reach the gas station.

Sure, he could’ve stayed at home, and let Hunk make one out of their pooled resources, but he wanted a real slushie. One that’s too sweet, and melts in the bottom before you can drink it, with ice crystals that melt just as they meet your tongue. In the summer heat, a slushie like that was practically heaven. He could have the mango one, even though it tasted more like pineapple, or maybe he could mix the coconut with-

“Dude, watch-” Hunk starts, and Lance turns, only to miss the very thing that he had been warning him of. His front wheel divots into the pothole, and his handlebars swerve, nearly steering him into the street. He regains control of the bike, but he’s rolled back to flank Pidge because of the struggle. He offers a thumbs up and a smile, which only makes his handlebar swerve again.

Pidge rolls her eyes and continues pedaling, with occasional boosts from the engine she’d added to it a few summers ago. Personally, Lance thinks the extra weight isn’t worth it, but hey, if Pidge thinks it’s helpful, fine by him.

“Why couldn’t this wait until Matt got back from work?” Pidge huffs, each word an almost insurmountable effort; even Lance had gotten over trying to talk and peddle uphill, and they had been riding in silence for the past half hour because of it.

“Because I want a slushie now.” Lance says, as Hunk jogs to cross the distance between them. Hunk had abandoned the idea of pedaling, in favor of walking and dragging his bike along with him, like a toy dog on a string. The handlebars swerved on every pothole they crossed, as if trying to escape his sweaty grasp. “Besides, it’s right there! No point in turning back now.”

A square, red sign rises above the hill, fluorescent lights flickering weakly under the sharp rays of the sun. With renewed vigor, Lance pedals over the final slope and into the flat driveway. For the first time in nearly an hour, he can glide without effort. Behind him, Hunk is struggling to climb back onto his bike, and Pidge is keeping to her original speed. They park by the side of the building, kickstands scraping concrete as they slide off of the hard, leather seats.

His legs tingle as they walk into the gas station, air conditioning feeling like blizzard winds on their overheated skin. The sweat on his hairline dries almost instantly, and for a moment, he doesn’t want to move from the doorway. And then he remembers the whole reason why they came.

Lance makes a beeline for the slushie machines, lined up in an orderly row. Neon colors swirl within them, the smell of sweetened syrup filling his nose.

“I’m getting watermelon.” Pidge says, grabbing the medium sized cup. She takes a few sips of water from the drink counter before filling it up. “So you guys need to pick different flavors.”

Lance grabs a cup, and is about to reach for the pineapple, when he realises that his pocket feels a little empty. He sticks his hand through the worn cotton, and his thumb sticks out the other side. He pulls the remaining change out and starts to count. Maybe if he’s lucky, he can afford to buy a kid’s cup for himself. Maybe he didn’t lose too much change.

But there’s only eight quarters and six dimes left when he counts it, just enough to buy two medium drinks. He sighs. He dragged his friends here with him on the promise that he’d buy; it’s only fair to let them have their slushies. If he’s lucky, maybe Hunk will make him one at home.

“What flavor are you getting?” Hunk asks, moving his cup to create the perfect cotton-candy swirl. He sticks a straw in it at an angle, giving the drink the appearance of something classy, versus a gas station ice drink.

Lance shrugs. “I dropped some of my money on the way here. I’m not getting one.”

Hunk and Pidge exchange a look, and then turn back to Lance. “We’ll just share. I mean, it’s not like they don’t have an abundance of straws here.” Pidge says, motioning to the forest of white covered straws in the display behind her.

“Yeah, dude. You’re the one who wanted the slushie so bad. It’s only fair.”

Lance opens his mouth to protest, only to close it as the sight of Pidge’s glare. “Okay.” He relents. “Let’s go pay.”

They eat their slushies in the shade of the small oak growing by the curb, passing around drinks as they converse, content to stay there until the lowering sun calls them back home.

OoOoOoOoO

Shiro didn’t like him being out so late on his own. Especially when he was chasing after cryptids. Keith usually respected what Shiro wanted. He’d do practically anything for him, but not this time. He’d found a really weird footprint that morning, and had been tracking it’s trail ever since. Keith was ninety percent sure that it was Mothman, or something related to him, and he wasn’t gonna let this chance go. Even if he was totally unprepared for night tracking. Even if he’d run into about three poison oak trees and was itching like crazy.

Ahead of him, he could see the glow of a fire burning. It was either mothman’s fire, or that of regular humans. As much as he’d prefer it to be mothman, he doubted that he’d have a phone with a charge on it.

He pushes through the brambles and kudzu and branches, and is almost through to the other side when he hears a shaky voice. “Who’s there?”

“Keith.” He says, pushing through the final barrier separating them. The vines and growth stick to him, and when he stands up, he’s covered in mud too.

“Stay back.” The boy warns, a log held in his hand like a bat. “I’m warning you.”

Keith pulls the vines off of him, and throws them to the ground. The mud is still on his shirt, but his face is visible now. “My name’s Keith. Can I borrow your phone?” It takes every ounce of self-control he has not to yell. Jeez. Isn’t it obvious that he’s human?

The boy blinks, brown skin changing colors with the flickering of the fire. “Uh, okay.”

The smaller one, who’s sitting on a log, a plastic bag separating their pants from the damp log, tosses the brown boy a phone. He offers it to Keith, and then pulls it back, a hanky thrusted in it’s place. “Clean your hands and face off first. You look like you’ve been rolling in the mud all day.”

Keith wipes the mud off with quick, angry movements slapping mud to the ground. “I’ve been chasing Mothman all day.”

The boy snorts, and offers him the phone once more. Keith takes it and dials Shiro’s number, the only one he knows by heart. It rings, dull noise a contrast to the call of the cicada that continues to sing from somewhere in the bushes. “Hello. Who is this?”

“Hey Shiro. It’s Keith. I’m using, uh, a friends phone.” Keith replies. He doesn’t have any friends here, not so soon after their move; but it’s a lie that will keep Shiro from freaking out, so he goes with it.

“Right, and you’re doing what? Where are you and why didn’t you call sooner?” Shiro says, and Keith immediately feels bad for disobeying him; Shiro has a tendency to worry, especially after he came back from the war.

“I...uh...” His mind goes blank, and he doesn’t really know what to say. The brown boy takes the phone from his hand and holds it against his ear.

“Hey there, Shiro. I’m Keith’s friend, Lance. Sorry he didn’t call you sooner, but his phone died when we were out at the lake.”

Keith can hear Shiro’s tinny voice through the speaker. “I- uh, Hello, Lance. I’m afraid Keith hasn’t told me about you yet.”

“We met him this afternoon. He kinda stumbled into out camp, but we’ve adopted him now, so he’s stuck with us.”

“Who’s ‘us’?” Shiro asks, ever the stern one.

Keith sits down on an open log, and feels the dampness of rot seep through his pants. It doesn’t bother him; he’s already dirty. “Pidge,” Lance points at the smaller one, who tossed him the phone. “and Hunk.” He points at the big dude, with the stature of a football player. He offers Keith a kind smile.

Lance continues talking to Shiro, talking him out of his frenzy with the promise to get Keith home safely the next morning. Hunk whispers, “Leave the mud on the poison oak; it’ll help with the itching.”

Keith nods, and sits there awkwardly until Lance is done. “Did you seriously say that you adopted me?”

“Yup.” Lance replies happily, sitting back down between his two friends. Pidge takes the phone, and slips it into a ziplock bag before dropping it back into her bag.

“And then you invited me to your campfire.”

“Yup.”

Keith snorts. “That’s ridiculous. I could be a mass murderer or something, and you just invited me to stay the night with you in a remote location.”

“But you’re not,” Pidge says, not looking up from her computer. “because you were looking for Mothman, and I highly doubt that a cryptid hunter is gonna be a mass murderer on the side.”

“And it’s not that remote.” Hunk adds. “My house is only a mile away.”

Keith settles into the log, and pulls a map from his backpack. “I must’ve followed the trail wrong then.” He mutters. “The footprints led this way, but-”

“You were seriously tracking Mothman?” Lance asks in surprise.

“Yeah. What of it?”

“Nothin’. That just seems kinda cool for a dude who got poison oak his first time in the woods.” Lance says, leaning into Hunk’s broad shoulders. “Maybe next time you could ask the locals for help.”

Keith’s cheeks burn under his lazy gaze. “Maybe I will.”

OoOoOoO

Keith doesn’t have a choice the next morning when Shiro finds their camp, determined to meet each of them face to face. Suddenly, his whole summer is intertwined with theirs, doing impossible things, like tracking aliens or simply stupid ones, like jumping off of Backman’s cliff naked. But as the gentle summer breeze turns into the brisk one of autumn, and the notion of school isn’t so far away, he finds that he didn’t mind it so much.

(Yeah, I got lazy. Tumblr deleted my progress twice.)

#voltron #voltron legendary defender #voltron fanfiction #lance voltron #voltron pidge #hunk voltron #keith (voltron)#voltron shiro #vld shiro #summer au

8 notes · View notes