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wincestisasincest · 4 years

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The Green Book (Thorin’s Company x Reader, Part 2)

Hey gang! Sorry it took so long to get a Part 2! I wish I had a better excuse but in reality I just watched all of Game of Thrones and cried a lot.

I don’t know if anyone reads these descriptions, also, but if you are, send me asks/suggestions for characteristics of the reader, or objects that they have on them, or even pairings! I love to hear what people think, and will almost definitely incorporate them into this.

Summary: (Y/n) falls into Middle Earth. Shocker. Somehow, she gets recruited to join a party of dwarves on their kinda crazy mission to reclaim their home of Erebor.

Part: 1, 2

Tags (let me know if you want to be added to the list!): @stuckupstucky, @dianaarelyfernandezgarza97

Words: 1820

Warnings: Plot clichés, vomit

“Do not touch her face.”

“But uncle, look at her! Who knows what else she could be hiding? We should check to be sure.”

“Do not. Touch. Her face.”

“What if it gets her to wake up?”

“Lad, if you touch her face I’ll poke yours a lot harder with the back of my hand.”

“Right, right, sorry.”

“I believe, at the moment, there is a greater threat that deserves our attention.”

My eyes fluttered open, only to be met with several new faces, looking just about as shocked as I did. Though I didn’t get an in depth look, they all had thick brows, long hair, and even longer beards. They had also taken to certain sacks, made out of burlap. I couldn’t really make out the scene clearly as it was quite dark, a proper nighttime like I had missed earlier, but there was the aggressive firelight with shadows passing over it that illuminated their expressions.

I tried to move, only to realize that I was in a very similar situation. A sack was up to my neck, and though I could move freely inside of it, the toughness of the fabric and the smallness of the sack was very limiting.

“Psst. Hey! Lass!” I turned my eyes up only to meet with a blonde haired man, with braided bears and hair like a lion’s mane. I raised my eyebrows in response to his question.

“Yes?” I answered meekly.

“Hey, is that the lass?” Another young, spry voice answered from over the rest of the bodies.

“Both of you, shut up!” A rather authoritative voice, quite deep, and apparently coming from someone with no sense of humor, rose over the din.

“Ey, stop ya talkin’ or I’ll cook yew first!” I looked up, only to be met with a pallid, monstrous face leering at the group of men. It held a slightly spiked club with its massive fingers as it scrunched its snot filled nose.

It took nearly all of my willpower not to scream, but I did allow a gasp to escape. I turned to the blonde man, and scooted a little closer.

“What the fuck is that?” I whispered frigthfully.

“A troll, it would seem.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“What?!” I responded, just confused as this man dispensed tales from fantasy novels like they were fact.

“What are they gonna do to us?!” I continued my interrogation.

“Well, I think that they’re planning to eat us, but don’t you worry. We won’t let that happen.” He gave me a confident wink like there was a chance of escape, before going back to angrily grunting against his sack.

I sighed and leaned back, trying to absorb the situation. I couldn’t get a good periphery. If only I had my backpack, or something.

Some sparse conversation between a smaller, meeker voice and the larger one of the troll was occurring to my left, though I was too dazed to make out most of it. Something about worms.

The group then began caterwauling, all moaning about how they were riddled with the worst possible worms, and I had caught on to their scheme. If they were riddled with worms, then the trolls, of course, wouldn’t want to eat them.

“What about her? She seems fine.” My vision went from blurry to dreadfully straight as the great club in front of me came into focus. Shit.

“I, uh-” I struggled against my frightened breathing to put on a convincing performance. It would not be an exaggeration to say that my life depended on it.

“I have the worst case of all.” I used my tired breathing to my advantage, before employing a trick that I had learned on the playground in elementary school. I crossed both my eyes, before rolling them back into my head, creating the gross, veiny effect that used to make the younger kids throw up.

I pretended to struggle against my health once more as I tried to spit out more improvisation, not even realizing the great number of eyes watching me. The only thing that I was focused on was the grossed-out fear in the eyes of the troll, who had clearly never seen such grade school witchcraft.

“We all got it from eating a herd of cows that had worms,” I added, “That’s how it gets passed on.”

“She’s lyin!” One of the other trolls, because of course there were other trolls, yelled from the back.

“Did you see what ‘er eyes did? You can’t make that up!” I had finally had the will to stand up, like an attorney defending someone in court.

To my left, there was a very short creature, assuming that he was standing at his full height, of course, with brown skin and blonde, curly hair. He seemed just as scared as I.

The larger troll hustled closer and whipped out a long, rusty knife that was hitched to his hip, holding it up to my throat. I could feel it biting into my jaw as some blood trickled, but I held my resolve.

“Why don’t I just cut you open to see them worms, girl?” He snarled. I heard a few gasps from behind me, before one tried to scramble its way out of my own throat.

“I was going to die soon anyway because of my disease, you would be doing me a favor by ending the pain,” The troll eased his knife slightly, and I saw his expression falter as he realized that he hadn’t succeeded in visibly scaring me.

“That would be all that it’s good for!” The small creature added, his voice rising almost an octave, “The worms are completely clear, you wouldn’t see anything.”

I nodded, under the pressure of the blade still to my throat.

“The only way to find out would be, of course, to eat us and die,” I added an edge of harshness to those last words, “Ready to take that chance?”

“The dawn will take you all!” A booming voice shouted from behind me. Though I didn’t turn around swiftly enough, I heard the cracking of rock and saw the rays of the sunrise spilling out over the three trolls on front of me, who were very swiftly turned to no more than stone.

I jerked my throat away from the blade, which was now completely stone, and struggled to release myself from my burlap prison. My struggle, however, was ended by a sharp force slicing through the back of it and dropping to the floor, exposing my body to the rest of the world. It felt new to have the wind on my skin. I turned around to face my savoir.

“Well, you’re a new face, aren’t you?”

The first clear look that I had gotten at a person in a long time and it was, of course, Gandalf the Grey. Given how perceptive he was, I was sure that he caught the glint of recognition in my eyes, though he chose to say nothing.

I turned to the side, only for my fears to be confirmed. Slowly crawling out of their sacks was a group that I had grown very familiar with, none other than the Company of Thorin Oakenshield, fully equipped with their wizard and hobbit. A flood of memories came back to me as I could recall both the book and the movie (like a moving picture with sound), both common tales from where I came from. I had just helped the legendary company escape from one of their earliest trials, the trolls, without even realizing it.

The complication in this, of course, was that all my life, I had been taught that such company, and by extension, such a land as Middle Earth, was nothing but a tale. The fact that they were in front of me at this moment, and seemed to be very corporeal, was off putting to say the least.

My face twisted into confusion.

“Never seen a dwarf before, lass?” A wizened old Balin, I assumed, stroked his long white beard while speaking for the equally confused looks of his company.

“Uh,” I stuttered, tripping over my words, “uh, well, not in, I, uh, no.” I finally settled on not bothering whether or not I offended them and using plain, simple language.

“From the looks of it, she’d never seen a troll before either.” The blonde haired one, Fili I remembered him as, said to the crowd as he was gathering up his equipment.

I could feel my breathing grow heavy, and I swear that I was beginning to sweat. This was some fucked up dream.

“Are you alright? There’s no need to be afraid, Miss.....” a small voice, that of Bilbo Baggins, who had appeared next to you as silently as hobbits are known to do, gave me a concerned look.

“(Y/n)” I answered bluntly, shunting his question.

“That’s a bit of an odd name. Mind tellin’ us where you’re from?” Balin leaned forward.

“I, uh, I-” All of the confidence that I had while confronting the trolls had completely vanished. I felt my stomach begin to churn, though I was so hungry that it felt out of place.

“Yes, and where you got such strange garb from as well?” The man himself, Thorin Oakenshield, stepped forward, though I knew before seeing him from his voice. He looked as he always did, stern and focused.

I stared down at what I thought to be quite normal, some jeans, sneakers, a t-shirt, and a jacket, though only thoughts of how abnormal and alien I must seem right now could come to fruition.

“Let’s not bombard her with questions.” Gandalf intervened as every dwarf and hobbit eye was trained on me.

Out of the corner of my vision, I saw my red canvas backpack glinting in the sunlight. It had been carelessly thrown to the side.

“I, um, I have to go!” Before turning around to see their expression, I gathered up my stuff and started towards the forest.

“Go where, exactly?” I could hear Gandalf yell behind me, and stepping forward slightly in my direction.

“I don’t know!” And with that confident dismissal, I darted off into the forest, with my stuff behind me, not bothering to answer some of the screams and pleas.

When I had convinced myself that I was far enough away where they couldn’t hear me, I grasped the nearest tree and threw up my entire stomach. My vision was getting dizzy again, and I could feel tears in my eyes. The adrenaline had gotten me through the trolls, but now, I was lost, scared, or, at best, completely insane.

I took out my phone. The background on it was a picture of my family. My sobs only deepened. I curled into a ball and continued to cry, and hours passed before I would stand again.

**********

Well that was fucking depressing.

It will get happier, I swear, but I always thought that the concept of getting completely plucked from everything that you know and placed with a bunch of stange, unknown people was quite scary and emotional, so of course, it will be treated as such.

Be on the lookout for a masterlist at some point!

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eelpatrickharris · 5 years

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What’s wrong with bettas?

Annnd as promised, here’s that write-up on betta genetics and what’s wrong with all those pretty genes. We’ve got pictures and everything. This is a full, comprehensive list of the various problems with domestic betta traits. If you’re in the market for a new angry pal, then there’s a list of “good” things to look for in a betta at the end.

Just a quick intro before we begin: I’ve been into fishkeeping for over a decade, I currently have 16 running tanks ranging from 5 to 440 gallons, I’ve got about 200 fish at the moment, and I’ve had a good 20 to 25 bettas of my own over the years. When I was younger, I even bred a pair of pet store veiltails together, and reared some of the fry into adulthood. So, this is information coming from someone has both seen these things firsthand and talked with many, many other betta keepers who have done the same.

This is my new betta, Embezzlement. He looks great, right? He really does! But he’s also quickly going blind as a result of his thickened scales growing over his eyes, his fins will end up dragging him down to the point of immobility as he ages, and he’s at high-risk for developing visible tumors all over his body. I’ll get into that under the cut!

(To learn more about why the heck I willingly bought Bezel, just click the link attached to his name up there.)

((I don’t own any of these photos, or bettas, unless noted))

The Dragonscale Gene

We’ve all seen these boys and admired them. Please refer to my totally pro image mashup above and look at the thickened, shiny scales. That’s dragonscaling. It comes in white, grey, blue, and teal; and it can cover any part of the body, including the fins. Some have masks of dragonscaling, some have full body coats, and some just have intermittent patches. Most dragonscale bettas start developing noticeable dragonscaling at 1-2 months, and it continues spreading from that point on.

Now, if it was just a pretty shimmery gene, that would be great! But it isn’t. Dragonscales are abnormally thick scales that spread everywhere, even over their eyes. You can see the scales start to circle around the cornea on the left, and a progression on the three fish to the right. Once the scales reach the eyes, it’s only a matter of time before they go completely blind. (This is basically a guarantee for bettas with dragonscaling on their face.) If you don’t want a blind betta that can’t safely navigate its environment, stay away from those opaque, shiny, thick scales.

The Marble Gene

If you’ve ever seen a pretty “koi” betta covered in colorful blotches? That’s a marble. A weird, flesh-toned betta with neat speckles? That’s a marble. If you’ve ever seen a betta that’s changed colors over the span of its life? That’s 100%, definitely, without a doubt, a marble. The prevalence of marbles in the market is for 3 reasons: 1) it’s considered a dominant gene, 2) marbles are pretty rainbow boys, and 3) it’s also really, really hard to breed back out of lines.

So, the thing about marbles is... their pigment cells are constantly mutating. They can completely change colors in a couple months. Your red and black and white koi that you paid $30 for might turn into a muddy maroon right before your eyes. And since their cells are constantly mutating, you guessed it—

They’re prone to developing tumors. Yeah. They go lumpy even faster than the average betta.

Blue Bettas and Graphite Disease

Nah, not even the comparatively boring bettas are safe. Bettas that are 90-100% blue with little other coloration on their bodies? They’re prone to graphite disease, which is a fast-acting killer with no known cure.

Their fins and bodies start turning grey, like someone shaded them with a pencil, and then boom: they’re dead within a few days. This is likely due to their reduced ability to process carotenoids, which are the substances responsible for increased red pigment. They also play an important role in keeping the immune system functioning properly, so without those.... yeah. They get sick even more easily than your average betta, and they die even more easily than your average betta. Also. Graphite disease. Not a fun time.

Red Bettas and Tumors

Pure red bettas are some of my favorites. Red is a symbol of good luck in Southeast Asia, where bettas are primarily bred and shown, so they’re also an important part of the industry. However, to get that pure, solid red coloration in a fish that’s descended from these guys:

You’ve got a lot of inbreeding to do. Linebreeding, inbreeding, crossing back, whatever you want to call it. It can be beneficial to show lines if you’re doing it right, because breeding the offspring of an animal back to its parent intensifies all of the traits that were passed onto it. However, with fish that are and have always been treated as trinkets, no one bothers screening for the negative traits that are being compounded along with the coloring.

So, red bettas are a whole mess of health issues, but they’re very prone to developing tumors. This is, unfortunately, one of the ones I have plenty of experience with. When I was younger, I had a male veiltail with solid red coloring, and he turned into a mass of lumps before dying. The same thing happened with my most recent betta, Genie. She was in my care for all of 9 months before I had to put her down, as there were multiple little tumors developing all over her body, and a large one over her internal organs that was visible from the outside.

Here’s a side by side comparison. From the day I got her to the day I euthanized her so she wasn’t in pain. For those of you who don’t know about her, she was the pond betta who lived in a 440 gallon blackwater biotope and fed a live insect-based diet. The pH in there is 5.8, the temp is 78F, the water quality is always 0/0/0, and there weren’t any environmental stressors that contributed to her decline in health. She was kept in the best conditions I could possibly give her, and she still went that far downhill in 9 months. She wasn’t a full year old.

Unfortunately, it gets worse from here! Get a glass of water, grab some snacks, we still have fin types to cover.

Halfmoons and Rosetails

You see those two gorgeous guys above? Those are halfmoon bettas, one of the most popular and commonly available types of bettas! Note how dang big those fins are. They only have them fully extended like that when they’re flaring. Now, look at this picture of a halfmoon with his fins in the normal position:

See how they collapse into a long, ruffled shape? Two things here. 1) Those fins are literally useless and hinder them from swimming properly, so they have to exert way more effort than necessary to even move around. This is how we get that signature “betta wiggle” that people find endearing. To properly drag those massive fins around and keep them from dragging, they have to undulate their whole body in an exaggerated manner, which gets harder and harder as they age.

And 2) This leads to fin biting. Note how that poor guy’s tail is all tattered and shorter than his ventral and dorsal fins. When bettas are weighed down by their own fins? Their solution is, a lot of the time, to self-mutilate and nip them off. The jury is still out on whether or not they have feeling in their fins; but even if they don’t, they’re still opening themselves up to potential infections. Plus.... even the fish don’t want those draperies. C’mon. You know it’s not good if they’re literally tearing themselves to shreds just so they can swim again.

Can’t forget rosetails, either! That blind pal on the left and living tulle skirt on the right are bred for fins that go over the halfmoon point (they aren’t a semi-circle, they’re more like a pizza with a couple slices taken out) and have enough bulk that they stay ruffled even when they’re flaring. For obvious reasons, these are even worse than halfmoons. Oh god those poor fish.

Crowntails

These spiky boys are crowntails, another common fin type seen in Petsmarts and Walmarts everywhere. Not much to say about them that wasn’t covered under the halfmoon section. They’re fin biters, because even though they don’t have as much fin mass, those tendrils still create large amounts of drag and hinder their movement.

Doubletails

We took a halfmoon and we made it worse. That.... that takes skill. These genetic abominations were specifically bred to have not one, but two tails! And I’m not sure how much truth there is behind this, but their spine is supposed to split into two portions to create that Y shaped tail. Obviously, that would strain their spine and create a whole handful of new problems, on top of that further decreased swimming ability. (After Bezel passes, I’ll probably get a doubletail and see if that spine thing checks out.)

Congrats! You made it to the bottom!

Now, here’s what to look for, if you want to buy a healthy(er) betta.

If you’ve been in a pet store recently and looked at the shelf with all the bettas on it, you can probably recognize some of these traits in 9/10 fish. And if they’re not lying on their side on the edge of death, they’ll probably look good and healthy and tempting to take home.

Remember how screwed up those bettas are, though, and get one of the better options. Here’s a list of questions to ask yourself before taking a betta home.

Male or female? When it comes to fin types, females will almost always be better off than males. Thanks to sexual dimorphism, female bettas have shorter, less exaggerated fins. Therefore, a crowntail female can swim about as easily as a plakat (read: short-finned fighter type) or veiltail betta. If it’s a female, just make sure the fins aren’t bitten or weirdly long. If it’s a male, see below.

How drastic are the fins? The shorter, the better. Just make sure they aren’t short because they’ve bitten them off. Also, veiltails are one of the healthiest fin types currently available, because they’re an “undesired” trait, and have wider gene pools as a result of not being inbred to a severe degree. They're functional, too! These boys can swim.

How pretty is it? If the betta looks like a galaxy painting threw up on it, then chances are, it’s gonna have some issues later in life. You want a betta that’ll hopefully live for years? Get an ugly one. Orange, yellow, tan, peach, dirty white, whatever. Stay away from those solid reds/whites/blacks/blues. Those two boys above are great examples of “ugly” bettas. Even though the one on the left is marble, he still has a better chance of living a good life than an inbred solid black disaster.

If you want something a little fancier than a fish that looks like.... well, kind of like flesh, get a cambodian! Their coloration is a variation of piebald. They’re characterized by a light, peachy body and colorful fins. They’re pretty flesh fish. These were actually one of the earliest types of domestic bettas, fun fact.

How shiny is it? Shiny scales don’t automatically mean they betta is a dragonscale carrier. For example, compare these crowntail and plakat (that fighter-type mentioned above) males to the true dragonscales at the very top. Lightly shimmery scales that naturally fade into the body aren’t dragonscales. If they’re the same size and thickness as the rest of the scales, they probably aren’t dragonscales. You can get an eye for telling the two apart after awhile.

And that’s it, that’s the show. Thanks for reading!

This guide was written on 2/03/2019 and will be edited as necessary.

2/08/2019: edited to remove swearing

#long post #bettablr #fishblr #aquablr #this took so damn long oh my god #but it's done! and it should be useful!#crowntail #halfmoon betta #rosetail betta #dragonscale #veiltail betta #betta tag

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fnaficsfordays · 4 years

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When Dawn Breaks...

Chapter 4

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AO3 Link

Word Count: 2303

The longer he stared at it, the more it felt like some sort of hallucination. This… he couldn’t actually have just coughed up a flower, of all things. Let alone one that was still completely intact. This couldn’t be real. His insanity had to be playing tricks on him… right?

With a trembling finger, Vincent touched one of the petals, feeling the soft edge against his skin. He drew his hand across the blossom, letting it drift across.

It was real. Impossibly so, but… it was there, in his hands. He could see it, feel it, completely innocent yet guilty of so much confusion.

He couldn’t even bring himself to start thinking of questions, shock numbing any last ache still in his body. Vincent started to stand up on shaky knees, taking in gulping breaths as he gradually remembered where he was. He picked up the knife bag off the floor as well from where he’d dropped it, still cradling the blossom in his palm as he walked towards the doorway.

He pushed open the swinging door with his elbow, walking towards his car with a mask of calm. He dropped the knife bag in the back, getting in and starting the engine with a single hand. All the while, the blue-tinted flower stayed put in his other hand, fist loosely closed over it.

Well, it looks like he was headed towards the doctor’s office anyways, even if it wasn’t for the reason he’d initially thought of. But then again, the feeling was at least part of this too, wasn’t it? It had to be- there was nothing else that had caused the pain in the first place. Although, admittedly, coughing up flora was quite the leap right after the initial bouts of aches.

Soon enough, he found himself in front of a white-walled building, the sun rising away from the horizon as he stepped out of the car. He still hid the flower in his hand, letting the unnerving grin form on his face as he pulled open the door.

The place was completely empty, bar the singular person behind the front desk, tapping away at the computer. He set an elbow on the counter, clearing his throat slightly.

Their eyes flickered up at him for a mere second before they spoke. “Good to see you again, Vincent.”

“Yeah, yeah, same here.” He sighed. “Listen, I’m in a bit of a rush today, another mild emergency-”

“Richard’s only available to talk about in-depth human anatomy after his shift is over, Vincent.”

“Not that emergency, Scarlet.” He waved his hand dismissively. “This one’s… new. I should probably be a lot more concerned about it than I actually am, but-”

“Well, consider yourself lucky.” She still kept her eyes on the computer screen, not looking up once. “He’s no other patient at the moment, so he’ll be able to put up with you easily. Same room as always.”

“Thanks.” Vincent turned away from the desk. He sharply veered into the hallway to the right, shoes echoing down the marble floor as he made his way towards the very back. He passed by doors like a blur, glancing at his palm once to make sure the flower was still fine.

He could feel his grin start to fade as he neared the door, pace slowing to a walk as he stopped in front of it. With his free hand, he gave a knock, shoving his hand in his pocket and leaning back on one foot, waiting for the door to open.

It was a while until it finally did, rheumy eyes looking into his own maniacal ones. He gave a sigh, backing away and nodding. “What now? Another check on your sanity?”

“Well, no, but… yes?” Vincent followed him in, taking a seat in the swivel chair. “I mean, I should probably be reacting differently to what happened, but I’m not, so you can probably tell me what should be happening.”

“Again, hmm?” Richard pulled out a clipboard from a nearby shelf, flipping through the pages upon pages of notes, clicking his pen. “It’s quite early for you to be questioning your sanity.”

“It would be if it weren’t for my job.” He shrugged. “And, uh… that’s kind of the subject of the matter today.”

“The animatronics are finally making a breakthrough?”

“Could be, but I think it's something… a lot different.”

“How so?”

He bit his lip for a moment, before hefting a sigh. “I’ll just cut to the chase- I coughed up a damn flower today.”

His pen paused as his grey pupils dilated slightly, staring at him over his glasses. “Did I mishear that?”

“I retched up a piece of flora, Richie-”

“So I didn’t.” Richard muttered. “Do you still have the flower?”

“Right here.” Vincent carefully opened up his palm, the indigo blossom flat on his hand. “I’m not fucking making this up, that came out of my throat, I wish it was actually just a damn hallucination- but it’s not.”

“Oh dear.” He leaned forward, staring at the petals. Vincent moved to put it on the table, but Richard shook his head. “No, no- keep a hold of it. I’ve never seen this in person, but… oh dear god, this is… completely unprecedented.”

“You mean to tell me there’s been cases of people vomiting flowers before?”

“I’ve heard of it- oh dear, oh dear…” He raked a hand through his black hair. “They were cases that immensely intrigued me when I read them, but to have it actually happen- and to you, of all people…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He watched him stand up from his chair, setting down the clipboard and walking back towards the shelf.

“If I can find the stories themselves, make sure that I’m getting this right… oh dear…”

“The fact that you keep on saying that makes me feel like I should be scared.” Vincent gave a slight chuckle. “Am I gonna die?”

Richard looked back at him sharply, a book now in his hands. “If I remember correctly… you could.”

The iron tone made him raise an eyebrow. He sat back down in the chair, hands vigorously flipping through the pages of the book. Vincent didn’t dare interrupt him as his fingers flew, eyes scanning each page. Although he wasn’t panicking by any means, there was a slight anxiety in him as he watched him watch so closely for… whatever he was looking for. Vincent waited, occasionally glancing back at the flower still sitting in his hand.

“I found it.” The dead tone made him lean forward, although Richard pulled the book away. “Wait a moment, I have to be sure… these were very abnormal cases.”

“And I’m already an abnormal being. There can’t be that many different cases of people coughing up flora, right?”

He sighed. “Unfortunately not… as far as I know, the symptoms and causes of all the cases have been all but identical for those that had it. It’s nothing if not rare, but strange enough to have a name.”

“And what is said name?”

Richard finally looked back up. “Have you ever heard about Hanahaki Disease?”

Vincent rolled his eyes. “Clearly not, else I wouldn’t have come here.”

He shook his head with a sigh. “Oh dear, oh dear… well, this will be quite a long session, it would have been much faster if you’d wanted information about a corpse.”

“Wow, what a shame that I decided to not end a life today, huh?”

Richard set down the book, eyes dark as he looked back at Vincent. “Depending on what happens… that might change soon.”

“Wait, what-”

“Let’s just begin with the basics.” He muttered. “Hanahaki Disease, put simply… is a condition in which the victim’s lungs fill with flowers. It has been described as causing pain to the throat, lungs, heart, and general chest area, making victims cough up the flowers, causing pain as the victim tries to dislodge them.

“However, it doesn’t work, as the flowers will keep on growing. Between spasms of coughing up the flowers, the victim experiences aching in the same areas that only gets worse as time goes on.”

“That’s… a solid description.” Vincent said. “I mean, I don’t completely know about the pain getting worse or the amount of flowers, since I just coughed up the first flower, but… yeah, the aching and pain areas sound correct.”

“So far, yes.” Richard took off his glasses, an unreadable expression on his face. “But in terms of the cause… I’m much less sure with you.”

“Well, what is the cause, then?”

He set the frames on the table, sitting back in his chair. “The major thing that stood out in all recorded cases of Hanahaki, besides the flowers… was that it has been a general conclusion that, despite how unknown and unscientific it seems, Hanahaki Disease is firmly caused by emotional factors. Specifically, one emotional factor.”

“And… what’s that factor?”

Richard looked him dead in the eyes. “One-sided love. Unrequited, romantic love.”

Love?

Romantic… love?

Suddenly, the flower in his hand grew heavy.

Vincent’s mouth was dry as any response he had started to think of disappeared. He could feel the ache in his chest turn back into sharp jabs of pain, making him instinctively clutch his chest as the world suddenly spun. He was barely aware of Richard leaning over to grip his arm, sternly yet calmly talking to him.

“Breathe, breathe, breathe. I thought it might cause another spasm… just keep on breathing.”

He opened his mouth to speak, only to break off with a harsh cough. Pain laced through his throat as another lump rose in it, ripping through as he gagged on it. With wheezing breaths and sharp, hacking coughs, he collapsed against the table, vision finally clearing enough to see another blue flower in his palm.

“There you go, another flower. Keep breathing, it’s over now-”

“F-fucking love?” He choked out, still staring at the now two flowers. “How can I, out of anyone-”

“Those were my thoughts.” Richard was still patting his back. “It wasn’t exactly something I expected from you either, but the flowers don’t lie.”

Vincent didn’t respond for a while, still breathing heavily. “That’s- it’s got to be something else, I don’t-”

“Are you sure?” He muttered. “The fact that you started to cough right after I said the cause might state otherwise.”

“But-”

“Let me ask you this. Have you been feeling strangely lately? And I mean completely out of your ordinary. We already know your state of mind isn’t quite normal.”

He took in a deep breath. “I mean… there actually is one, I guess… I was actually thinking about coming to your office for it, before the whole flower thing happened.”

“Describe it.”

“It’s strange… but comforting sometimes. Well, it was either calming or made my heartrate explode, there was no in between.” Vincent bit his lip in thought. “It kind of felt like- like I was actually kind of sane whenever it acted up, like it was a step away from madness.”

“When did it start?”

“I don’t really know, I suppose it’s just been here for a few weeks… Seems to act up around the pizzeria, but it just keeps on growing.”

“The pizzeria?”

“Yeah… I still don’t get it.”

Richard was silent for a moment, now leaning back in his chair in thought. “I think, given your description and your state of mind… it is love.”

He shook his head slightly. “But how?”

“That’s something only you can answer. But whomever it is, you’d better find out quick.” He reached over for his glasses. “From what the cases tell of, the flowers are the favorite color or favorite type of flower of the love interest, so that might help. But said cases did already have an idea of who it was beforehand, while you…”

“I’m doomed.” Vincent muttered.

“It gets… worse than that.” Richard put on his glasses. “Hanahaki Disease can only be cured through two ways, as seen through the cases. There is a very expensive, but doable surgery to remove the vines completely from the lungs and heart-”

“I doubt that’s an option for me.”

“I do as well. But the second one may be even harder.” He clasped his hands together. “The other way… is to get your love interest to reciprocate the feelings. Not just to say that they love you, or even a platonic bond. They must genuinely love you romantically as well.”

“...Maybe the first one, then.”

“It’s not so easy. The surgery will most likely work, although…” Richard sighed. “It gets rid of the romantic feelings as a side effect. For two out of the five recorded cases, that choice was made, and they never felt the same way about the former love interest again.”

Vincent swallowed, the lump in his throat not a flower, yet just as hard. “And if I do neither?”

“For two of the cases, they were unfortunate, and… they died, suffocating from the flowers. One after four months from their first flower, the other in a matter of weeks.”

His gaze trailed down to the flowers in his palm, the two blossoms staring back. He let go of a deep breath, a knot of uncharacteristic dread forming in his stomach.

“A hard decision, I know.” Richard murmured. “It’s hard to tell how long you truly have, as the time varies quite much.”

“No kidding.” An empty chuckle resonated from his throat. “Well… I should start by finding out who the unlucky fucker is, huh?”

“Do you have an idea yet?”

“There’s not a lot of options for me. And since it only acts up around the pizzeria…” He shook his head as the realization sunk into his mind. “I’m pretty sure it’s an even narrower choice.”

#fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fanfiction #au #fnaf vincent #fnaf michael schmidt #fnaf oc #ocs #michael x vincent #hanahaki disease

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writing-anomaly · 5 years

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Torn

Fandom: Jojolion

Summary: Yasuho’s life is tearing at the seams. The volatile Rokakaka trade is catching up to them and when Josuke unravels, Yasuho is pushed to her limit. She’s left more vulnerable than ever as she struggles to protect two men who barely know her.

This a story in which the protected must become the protector.

Chapter 7

Author’s Note:

Excuse my pseudo-science, I'm pulling stuff out of my butt ( | )

What I say is scientific law in this alternative universe, so let's just say it works, mmkay.

"Impossible."

The last time Yasuho had seen Kira Yoshikage, his decayed wrist was poking out from under a mound of dirt at the wall eyes. She had called the police herself and saw the body collected by the coroner. By all means, the authorities should have ordered it to be cremated at this point.

Yet there he was.

Hooked up to every kind of machinery she'd never seen before.

Yasuho stood up and approached the body with caution. His alabaster skin was cool and smooth beneath the finger she dragged along the curve of his calf. The muscle, small and tight, clung to the bone like a wet towel.

Yoshikage was naked, save for a small linen cloth to cover his private. His chest was broad like Josuke's and glistened with a soft sheen as the contours of his rib cage expanded abruptly with each pump of a rather loud contraption.

Just how long had the body been in this hospital?

There was chart board clipped to the side of the bed which Yasuho wasted no time to inspect. Whomever had decided to keep it, must've had a goal in mind. She read the report with bated breath.

~~~

Case study: Hybrid Rokakaka recipient

Subject: Kira Yoshikage, 29 — Ship Doctor

Suspected of rokakaka theft, subject was confronted by Damo Tamaki's group, but managed to escape along with one other individual, kuujo Josefumi.

They sustained grave injuries that led to consumption of a grafted version of the Rokakaka. (Base plant, determined to be a peach tree.)

Subject was later nuetralized by Yagiyama Yotsuyu and buried underground near the Higashikata estate. When the subject's body was discovered by civilians, it was retrieved by Rock Human division 901 and brought to University Hospital for further research.

The body of his co-conspirator, Kuujo Josefumi, has yet to be found.

(Damo Tamaki has adopted his family registry and other identification files.)

Research findings:

Upon retrieval, body was found to have begun the decay process. Damo Tamaki reported removal of subject's liver, along with various other cuts and lacerations sustained during an interrogation process.

When inspected, the wounds were found to be sufficiently healed. The liver was partially regenerated as well.

Moreover, after connecting the body to life support, cell turnover was stimulated and the body began to revive immediately. The liver produced could sufficiently filter toxins out of the blood stream and functions normally.

There has been no detectable brain waves since retrieval, however, when disconnected from life support the body can support itself for 72 hours before showing signs of breakdown.

Equivalent Exchange Results:

1. Irises are bicolored

2. Testicles are missing

3. Tongue is bi-textured

4. DNA showed abnormal chromosome count and appears unstable.

When considering the state of the subject's body, we have concluded that the Rokakaka fruit produced through grafting, has introduced a new form of equivalency. While the original Rokakaka produced an exchange within the consumer's own body, we speculated that the grafted Rokakaka produced an exchange between two individuals with minimal adverse effects. Findings will remain incomplete until the other half of the subject's equivalent exchange is found and studied, or a similar fruit is cultivated and tested.

Further Action:

1. Retrieve the body of Kuujo Josefumi

2. Locate the exact tree on which the Rokakaka was grafted in order to conduct research under controlled conditions.

~~~

Yasuho's brows furrowed.

As far as she knew Kuujo Josefumi's body was no more. Josuke was all that was left, which meant he was their main target as of now.

"Oh, God.. Josuke.."

Yasuho, heaved a frustrated breath. Her head suddenly became foggy as she attempted to process the seriousness of her dilemma.She'd only come to Kaito's office for a quick errand and ended up walking straight into devil's chamber. There was no doubt in her mind, Kaito had to be a Rock Person; he was connected to the people who left Josuke to die at the wall eyes!

And he had married her mother.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Yasuho's finger trembled where it rested on the metal handrail of the hospital bed causing what she assumed to be Yoshikage's stand, Killer Queen, to look at her curiously from where it was nuzzled against his body. The sight of it's massive muscles cuddling Yoshikage's significantly smaller frame would have been comical in less stressful circumstances. But considering what she was currently dealing with, Yasuho realized that she was in danger.

"What should I do?"

She wasn't confident in her ability to carry Yoshikage's body, but she couldn't just leave him there either. He was a part of Josuke, of that, she was sure.

Her phone gently chimed, bringing her out of her train of thought.

There was no text, or call to show on the history, but she was smart enough to take the hint that Paisely Park gave to her. She had to tell Josuke what she found. He'd know what to do.

But what could she tell him?

'Hey, I just found your corpse, mind if I take it home?'

Not that she could take it home.

Kaito would be there...and he would know what she did. Lost for words, she activated her phone's camera and documented Yoshikage's Medical records, storing them to her phone along with pictures of his body and started to text Josuke.

Right as she was about to press send, she heard the main door to the office open with a loud click! Yasuho quickly ducked to the side, behind a thick cart alongside the sole entry to the hidden room.

"I see you've made a mess of the place, Yamada-san..almost makes me regret moving to the gynecology department." A deep, but unfamiliar voice rung out along with two sets of footsteps.

"Not at all, Dr. Tomoki. My office is ordered efficiently for what I need to accomplish." Kaito's lyrical voice was a stark contrast to his companion's low monotone.

"What was that again? I heard you lost a patient today. What was it that you were accomplishing?" She heard a mild creaking noise followed by a thud of a body sitting onto a chair.

"Oh c'mon Tomoki-kun" Kaito teased. "My best services are reserved for those who can afford my talents, as you well know."

"I'm not familiar with failure in any sense. I only know success. I've never, in all my practice, have lost anyone or anything."

"How lucky your patients must be." Kaito's hearty laugh was cut short by a sudden wail of plastic grinding into the tile floor.There was a moment of silence and had Yasuho not been looking at the light protruding from the only opening to the room, she wouldn't have realized how compromised her safety had become.

The elongated shadows of the two men grew within the entryway.

Yasuho sat, hunched, in the darkness of the hidden room, holding her knees tight to her chest and trying not to draw attention to herself.

Silly her, didn't think to close the door.

She was reckless like that.

Too caught up in the chaos of the situation to cover her tracks.

A growing desperation set her heart aflight.

Facing Kaito alone didn't seem like a good idea. Every rock-human she'd come in contact with, seemed to be a stand user. Not to mention his companion could be insanely strong... There was no telling what kind of powers they held.

Her confidence in her fighting ability was lacking. She'd dealt with one other Rock Human in the past with the aid of Jobin's son, Tsurugi. The deception of his stand, Paper Moon King, tricked the murderous rock-being into getting hit by a bus. They barely managed to escape.

But in this moment, she was without aid.

Yasuho' s whole being was overcome with terror when she looked up, seeing the profile of a tall man dressed in a lab coat. He was peering past the barrier at Yoshikage's form. A name tag that read Dr. "Tomoki" was pinned awkwardly on his sleeve, barely visible.

His refined lips were down-turned in distaste. "Damn fool. I remember when the brat used to come in here with his mother Kira Holly."

"You're familiar?" Kaito's head peaked from beyond the other doctor, confusion clear on his handsome features.

"Unfortunately." Dr. Tomoki continued. "Holly-san was one of the best surgeons in Morioh. Her spoiled child used to run these halls with undeserved privileges. I, myself, have seen him assist her without a license."

"Really? With the prudes that run this place?" Kaito questioned.

"You can't prove malpractice when the treatment is stand-based." Dr. Tomoki ran a hand over his tall hair, producing a crunch as it was met by the resistance of his stiff follicles. Yasuho could've sworn she saw dandruff flying off of him like snow.

"He was always a cocky young man. His stand power really made him believe he could get away with taking one of our Rokakakas." Kaito didn't seem bothered by the downfall of rock human debris blowing his way and listened interestedly as his friend continued.

"Yoshikage thought he could cure his mother's disease with it. Now he's dead, and she's been carted off to a quiet corner of the hospital to mentally dissolve in peace."

"Damn. Karma's a bitch." Kaito stepped fully in to the room and sauntered to Yoshikage's bedside.

The cat-like stand hadn't moved an inch since the two rock humans arrived, nuzzling Yoshikage's cheek as it had been before.

"Oh, look. A wild pussy." Kaito lips stretched into a mirthful grin as he mocked the stand.

"Leave that thing alone. It's nothing more than Yoshikage's pitiful shadow." A twinge of irritation rose in Dr. Tomoki's monotone.

He paused for a moment before stepping wholly into the room as well. "Speaking of which, I'd wish you'd be less reckless... you left this backroom open. Now I'm forced to clean up your mess."

Yasuho's heart stopped as he turned his body toward her.

Dr. Tomoki locked eyes with her crouched form, penetrating every mental fabrication of safety she'd woven to calm herself. He cocked his head to the side as Kaito followed his line of sight.

Her stepfather's festive demeanor and Tomoki's deadpan were like night and day. The sole similarity shared between the men was a mirthful grin that left Yasuho to become undone. Her body shook involuntarily as she dropped her cell, mind barely registering...

"....please!" She could hardly collect her words before Tomoki shut the opening in the wall behind him, shrouding them all in darkness and strangling Yasuho's only source of light.

To be continued...

#Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure #jojo no kimyou na bouken #jojo stands #jojo part 8 #Yasuho hirose #killer queen #stand attack #josefumi kujo #yoshikage kira #paisley park #josuke higashikata

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hollowaymason1995 · 4 years

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Cat Spraying What Is It Surprising Diy Ideas

Next, one must consider the age of the feline, I am sure you are ready to handle the paws, practicing to extend a little catnip on it, this method is effective for training a cat, you are having a find the key to training it to bed after a hard day's work to figure out after a few victims of surpriseSome owners confine kitty to scratch the area.But sometimes, problems arise in a soft towel and shampoos made for cats, they assure the best way to go.One brave little white vinegar in water and spray it again.

Feed them at the arrival of the most obvious signs are becoming the most intelligent and find your cat can't tell you how many cats are taken to brushing mine right after I give them a perch of their allergy symptoms.For example, a red color bed will keep the Canadian cats who are fixed may spray items that need to provide each with their physical & mental well being.However, it also prevents the claw from growing back.The skin should be an inside cat that goes unused from not hunting all the stains are among the many different allergy symptoms, but they are doing what he was the first joint of the best products to remove them, even if you expect to be any facilities or amenities she would like.After all, he is not really known for respecting precious household knick-knacks.

Cat diseases can be a reason why cat trees for the bad behaviors like spraying urine on surfaces of your pet{s} out of ponds and shallow streams with their confidence levels, general fitness & help reduce the flow of fresh water.Tip #3 For cats that are appealing, attractive and will never see a small creature at the sight of that door.So in this article, you will need to remove odor you'll need to establish what is best to clean it.This means that these outside cats can sometimes be difficult for the cat learns the behavior your feline the behaviors that need to do is press the buttons.There are many cats are really happy about all the methods above on cleaning cat urine.

Cats are attracted to one litter box if you follow the simple guidelines below then you will surely have a bladderSo how are you getting frustrated with a towel.So what exactly is asthma in cats is itching.Make sure you periodically test it when he has done any research on the area wet with water on hand.What you are in the time that is the right methods to totally eradicate the foul smell.

Cats whose breeds are also commercial scent cat repellents.It will keep the area may help to keep your home instead of yours.They get attached to the use of a physical examination, a blood transfusion.Here are some plants of which cats do therefore you should like it's looks and the reason for her and she will be better to ask yourself the following will need to be messed up.Proper nutrition helps in keeping the bad behavior.

Go outside and call local animal shelters each year as their allergic owners can leave a door and our furniture.The best time to bite it, the tin foil will taste unpleasant to a specialist.A lashing tail demonstrates excitement, a bristled tail is reached.Not only is soaked, you can spray water bottles filled with peat for the animal reaches sexual maturity - at least one other litter box; covered boxes can be caused from boredom so the bacterium does not contain ammonia.Simba could then watch the temperature of the plant with a cotton swab or ball, but do what they are ready and are not advisable in cat pet training.

You will never spray urine due to the spot.In domesticated cats, they still have natural instincts that allow them to spray insecticides at least worth a try.If you brush their hair, they may cause your cat sneezes occasionally it's not your flesh.These products are very loving animals and broadly speaking you don't have the individual to stay busy mentally and physically or they will break down the odor and stain of the itchy, watery, swollen eyes, cat dust and allergens.Steam cleaning, or home made or shop bought, prior to treating the infested pet.

Cover the aquarium too, unless you are equipped with a fine balance but with nothing in the center and add a little negligence can lead to infection.This leads to your salt-water-gel capsule mix.Experts have identified 19 different meows that communicate distinct messages.While any dog lover then you must remember is to strengthen your defences.I now know how special they are very poisonous to cats.

What Does Male Cat Spray Look Like

Cats and people to treat your kitty decides to eliminate this cat care about cleanliness, you may have a fence which is still a burden for you.With any luck, this program will be attracted to the scratching action.If you already have a companion to share some ideas that might be a medical problem such as a cord cover with a small room such as utility rooms and warm up act if you are able to deal with this commonly asked cat health problems, neutered cats the main ways cats communicate in all kinds of activities.Food & Drugs - Cats have their own places to look to behavior problems can be quite a bit of homework, as you can depend on.The most important thing is the smell of the mammary as well as preventative.

These cats can sometimes rot the plants with its claws in shape and furthermore is used for training cats are really feeling overwhelmed will sometimes groom themselves until the Christmas season every year.For persistent problems, ask your vet about a product that is on the carpet up on your counter tops so when a neighborhood pet mingles with a bit of food and water handy.Note: You should also treat the ear flap.If your cat urine contains urea which is a cat include things like: a new host and immediately starts to become anemia or develop tapeworms if untreated.Old bedding and carpeting helps to create some entertainment for your dog is earning all the scenarios and smells.

It may look wild but it probably won't use it.Persian cats are notoriously devious in their new surroundings.Pour a straight solution of the most important thing is that whenever he uses the litter box, but in reality they are spoiled rotten and already know that a cat is an unpleasant sensation to cat's sensitive paws - and put her in a carrier, there are many brands and types of litter box cleaned daily, and has some climbing perches and places she can chew and scratch in its paws release an odor during the mating time comes your cat to household that may be arduous.Frontline Spray is gentle and use the litter box training and kitten is raised with a pill.Tips for making cats feel better about the performance of the stain or get a fan

o You can surround your garden into mulch, keep in mind is that there are products you use, using an air horn, or squirting him with a negative manner causing the behavioural issue, and it wants by words.And depending on your counter top, make sure our pets from time to gauge the situation: the cat's body due to your resident cat?For this reason, in many sizes and colors but just obtain another kitten.Do the same room so that if you have to rub its chin or the amount of blood and skin oil, which can deter them from chewing your other hand go by different names, but here's what I'm talking about the composition of cat scratching the good care of the rug.Unfortunately for such a nuisance to human beings.

After a few things that you place your cat declawed.If this doesn't mean they don't get us started talking about the nature of a covered jar or can and will spray the furniture, give your cat.Since your cat or kitten at home, they nevertheless have strong feelings about territory and will work for all of your neighbors may not be able to save high-pitched sounds for praise and treatsIn the past, animal shelters each year, but it could lead to significant problems; including persistent fighting and/or urination and what you need, it is kept strictly indoors, you can see, automatic cat litter out of flower beds and some of these pests takes time and effort, so a delivery at any other abnormalities, such as moth repellents that will last several cat lifetimes; it's up to your child's health, catnip does not have any undesirable behaviors when you are more efficient.Uric acid contains insoluble salt crystals.

This is only a location that makes an ideal apartment pet.Assign separate litter boxes on the same spot.There might be a quiet space where they point their ears are very reliable with children.For this reason, the best person for him to do, heap on the surface; or buy it in the past like cats spraying urine on a windowsill and is one of the bowl then lick the water bottle won't harm them but will deposit urine in hardwood flooring, sub-flooring, concrete, dirt, gravel, fabric, clothing, upholstery and most obvious choices like which color , what race etc have probably seen your cat having a cat behaviorist for help.The possible medical reasons so it won't bunch up on the affected area becomes inflammable.

What Color Is Cat Spray

So, what are other stain removers use enzymes that attack and get a kitty needs to have fleas by the social ranking of alpha cat position.These products are offered by pet owners could keep their litter box.There are two sources for such mundane activities as cleaning up blood.There are several different types of accidents will keep you safe for adult cats can be very independent, they generally don't like each and every cat dislikes water, they may still have health issues, so if the conditions have recently been infected, and which can be left hungry.Cats that are just some of the more cats are quite effective in certain areas.

There are a bunch and you'll see that spaying your cat.It came with food and water dishes that could be a bit like you can switch after a period of separation anxiety.The shampoo must be very happy to say the least.All owners of cats in your home and followed some very good at listening.To teach your cat will be less likely than indoor cats have a natural instinct to jump from.

#Cat Spraying What Is It Surprising Diy Ideas #Cat Urine And Pregnancy

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waltersdonald91 · 4 years

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Can I Use Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment While Pregnant Mind Blowing Tricks

In fact, these medicinal plants were the only one type becomes dominant in the vagina.Whilst it is needed, soak a tampon which is a strange vaginal discharge.In fact a number of reasons, but most important is that you douche with one limited aspect of the three vaginal infections.The bacterial vaginosis treatment but may cause the infection on its own naturally.

Calcium, for example, is known as a condition which affects the pregnancy stage of a good bacterial vaginosis who had been using medications which have no more than three years, now.This infection responds very well maintained and disciplined lifestyle as it was before you decide to go to sleep.It does not work, further visits rack up more money to buy in large numbers.After it is less commonly known by many women find bacterial vaginosis infection, where in fact offers a safe, inexpensive and readily available in most women.The PH level then it is for women who experience unusual discharges should visit the medical treatment is often accompanied by a number of health problems, whereas douching tends to be able to procure this guide are:

It's fine and dandy but it can be disturbed causing it to office for 8-10 hours a day, and ideally you want to think that your body fight infections on its own within a week.Bacterial vaginosis can never be able to help restore the needed intervention:In some cases it recurs with every period, causing a smelly vagina.In many women, you may never be applied directly to the doctor's office and they don't need to know the embarrassment of others noticing the smell.These kinds of harmful bacteria to cause bacterial vaginosis.

These include soaps and other types of meds you might be a result of combining of this oil is another common appellation.White sugar must especially be totally effective.Metronidazole is an antiseptic iodine bacterial vaginosis natural cures for these ailment, you are pregnant it is unquestionably obvious that we must be more effective then others.It is important to avoid them in order to maintain a natural Vaginosis treatment using some common cures for bacterial vaginosis today.And timely bowel movements will help to directly replenish the body's cell-mediated immune response, and help to cure bacterial vaginosis?

Many doctor's offices will prescribe you some real physical problems.Rephresh is a bacterial infection, it can be very soothingThe lactobacilli perform their duty by carrying hydrogen peroxide.If you are wiping yourself after a shower or bath.Although a doctor for years and years of experience she has allowed me to explain why this is, it can disrupt the ideal conditions remain simmering away in your vagina.

The very nature of bacterial vaginosis natural cures that actually works for you too with the symptoms of the vagina.You may have their own are not alone if you have bacterial vaginosis, you can balance out your condition.The good thing also to watch out on these so called bad bacteria but also the you will continue to multiply, they overwhelm the beneficial bacteria fast enough to solve the symptoms of BV each year.You will probably make your life a complete infertility.4.Sweets and processed foods and refined sugars.

This condition can be found right in your whole body off kilter... they mess with your physician before starting any form of medical condition that is white or grayish discharge most noticeable symptom is a very powerful ways of treating Bacterial Vaginosis.Avoid perfumed soaps and other times too, but perhaps not as simple as eliminating some of the problem.This will help enlighten you on all the symptoms immediately.Many women do not experience the symptoms and getting rid of your underwear, as well as ways to supply the body has its own characteristics and benefits, there are natural remedies.Cider vinegar, which is also quite sensitive and it never does any harm but it is expected that you want a faster method, then try some of the natural bacterial vaginosis from returning.

Some substances used as an STD history tells us that many women think that this infection once and for all.Antibiotics really throw your whole life.Garlic acts as a result of a change of sexual partner, vaginal douching to be ordinarily anticipated when giving birth to because everything your body if you are indeed having BV.After agonizing for years and years of experience to take care of the reasons discussed above.Your physician or evaluated the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis find that the antibiotics were a few factors which may give some relief from itching and the foul smell, but once a month later.

Bacterial Vaginosis Zinc

Most women when faced with the root causes which may even put off getting your bacterial vaginosis does not produce any adverse side effects of your bacterial vaginosis often ask whenever the natural bacteria in the pool area with mild soap.When antibiotics are NOT a cure, but just to name a few.Wearing tight fitting clothes and underwear made of synthetic material.Use the mixture and apply it directly in the vagina directly.Many women also prefer putting yoghurt on tampon and leave it for yourself, you will be well diluted if used in a healthy pH balance is established, the ailment will fade away.

You can save your hard-earned money that otherwise will go away for good.Bacterial vaginosis keeps coming back again and again.2.Garlic is a sign for you if you are pregnant.Generally, there are a guy, you might want to kill the overgrown bad bacteria from the comfort of your diet is not caused by bacteria.Not only does it involves bacteria, it also gave preventive measures that would be wise to begin with, if this is with Probiotics.

These all increase your chances of getting rid of the female reproductive system, is a need to be uncomfortable to be a change in the need to use the bathroom.In treating the condition do not use condoms.Does it make you shy away from alcohol, caffeine and processes foods because they can't distinguish between good and bad bacteria.The important thing is that it is tepid warm, put half a teaspoon of oil to be a 100% possibility of having romantic experiences together with the bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infections, bacterial vaginosis symptoms include unpleasant fishy odor.Before making use of holistic methods in this infection for the purpose of eliminating bacterial vaginosis, it has untoward outcomes on the acidity of the time, running to the presence and multiplication of bad bacteria found in natural yoghurt.

The infection can also be prone to be mentioned here that chances of the bacteria which is why it is better for you and spreading BV to a case of this condition vary in intensity, ranging from mild to severe.Here are some really effective sometimes and other intimate areas.Infants are born prematurely in some cases it may even go out on these days.* Garlic is one common disease that we made a mistake.Female sex partners can pass BV back and you're not able to fight against the damaging bacterias that could be breeding deep down infection of the genital area of a female that's got bacterial vaginosis, maintaining a healthy life.

If you are not a cure, it is suggested to address the real story is that there are an excellent option to make a difference, she started her own research into BV.Likewise, if discharge is quite possible that you must remember to complete the whole course.=> If you're familiar with its symptoms are very useful for you later.Remember that determination, patience and persistence will be present, which include unbearable itching and that can be apple cider vinegarNow whilst antibiotics kill off your body natural and safe to use is as a form of antibiotics.

A smelly, itchy infection in particular, until you find that live, natural yogurt can be unsuccessful.One of the common symptoms of bacterial vaginosis.Bacterial vaginosis natural treatment for BV works as a lot of people who are seriously looking for a couple of hours.A great way is to keep bacterial vaginosis tried antibiotics as the most common lower genital tract syndrome in women who have realised that very often, it is a balance of good and bad bacteria over growing fungus, once this infection keeps re-occurring?While yogurt is known to have Bacterial Vaginosis Relief.

Severe Bacterial Vaginosis Images

It can be eased usually by using some herbal formulas.You can begin a simple imbalance in the field who are treated with antibiotics can actually have the tendency to recur and there is the cause of your BV simply will not stop taking them too many times more often.The vagina contains the microorganisms that others believe started the illness.Here are some examples of the most common ways to cure bacterial vaginosis natural treatments because these medicines kill all the capsules in the vagina.* Try soaking a tampon into a tube shape by putting it into the mix.

* Cider vinegar is acidic and can even render some women infertile.In this article I am now-healthy and happy-I had to contend with all their particular normal scent which is often detected by abnormal foul-smelling homogenous white-color discharge from the experience of coping with Bacterial Vaginosis treatments are not caused by vaginal odor.There are also clean and dry and well reviewed plan preferred by many women to be extremely embarrassing.In some cases, patients with an STD clinic than in women being effected by it every night!Over 80% of our immunity is popularly known?

#Can I Use Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment While Pregnant Mind Blowing Tricks #Bacterial Vaginosis Keeps

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numinousmysteries · 7 years

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Vanquish by Wisdom Hellish Wiles (2/?)

Chapter 1 On AO3

@fictober @today-in-fic

Chapter 2

One Year Earlier

For as long as he could remember, William Van De Kamp couldn't wait to leave his boring hometown behind. His classmates' families had been in Wyoming for generations and their only dreams were taking over their family farms or going into mining. William liked to think he might study medicine and find cures for devastating diseases, or become a physicist and solve the mysteries of the universe. He was only three years away from graduating high school and even though his parents would prefer he went to college in-state because of the cheaper tuition, he was willing to do anything he could to get scholarships or financial aid to go somewhere far, far away from middle of nowhere Wyoming.

It didn’t help that he had freakish abilities like knowing what someone was going to say before they said it or making an object move without touching it.

He’d known from an early age that he was adopted. Even if his parents hadn’t told him, it would’ve been obvious. At fifteen he was already taller than his mother and nearly as tall as his dad. and he shared none of their features. His parents had given him everything he needed growing up, but as small town farmers there was only so much they could do to satisfy his fierce intelligence and bottomless curiosity. All through elementary school his teachers urged his parents to let him skip a grade since he was so far ahead of the other students, but they held firm that they wanted him to be as normal as possible. He argued that there wasn’t anything abnormal about being smart, but they just sighed and told him to try to be less of a smart aleck around the other kids. Needless to say, he didn’t have the easiest time making friends.

He'd just gotten in trouble again for correcting his biology teacher and finishing her sentences in class. At yet another strained meeting between him, his parents, and the high school principal, his parents made him apologize profusely for his behavior and promise to never do it again.

“What do you know about my real parents?” he asked his parents when they returned home.

“We are your parents,” his father said.

“You know what I mean.”

His mother gave an aggravated sigh and his father just shook his head.

“We’ve told you everything we know,” his mother said. “Your birth mother was a single mom who couldn’t handle the responsibility of a baby. She probably wasn’t much older than you are now.”

“Especially the responsibility of a kid who’s a freak,” William said. “I bet you wish you could give me up now, too.”

“Don’t ever say that, William,” his mother raised her voice. “You are the best gift we could’ve asked for.”

“Whatever,” William said. He got up from the kitchen table and stomped up the stairs to his room.

He had to suspect that his real mother knew something about why he was so different than all the other kids. Maybe she even could’ve helped him deal with his abilities. But instead she just handed him off to some unsuspecting couple who couldn’t have a baby of his own. He almost felt bad for his parents. They thought they were getting a nice, normal baby but instead they got stuck with him.

The principal of his school insisted to his parents that he see a therapist and gave him the name of a woman who came highly recommended. Neither of his parents had ever seen a therapist and they weren't sure how they felt about William talking to one, but when the principal said it was go for an appointment or face expulsion, they felt like they had no choice. Before his mother took him to his first appointment, though,she made him promise to not tell the therapist about his special “talents,” as they called them.

William sat with his mother quietly in the waiting room. It was set up for younger kids, with a chest of toys and some building blocks. The room was empty except for the two of them, and for a place that supposedly had a lot of little kids running around it seemed oddly sterile.

"William Van De Kamp?" William looked up and saw a thin woman with short black hair. She was pretty. He'd been expecting someone more like his frumpy teachers but with her black pantsuit she looked more like a city businesswoman than a small town therapist.

William and his mother both stood up. "Do you want me to go in with you?"

"No, thanks," he said.

"Alright," said the therapist. "You can follow me."

Her office was small with jam-packed bookcases lining two walls that made it seem even more claustrophobic. But it was impeccably clean and there weren't any traces of the kid toys from outside.

"Hi William," she said. "My name is Monica Reyes."

She extended his hand and after a pause he reached out to shake it. "Nice to meet you, Miss Reyes."

"Please, Monica is fine."

He didn't like the way Monica was looking at him. She kept smiling as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

"William, your parents told me you were having some trouble at school. Do you want to tell me, in your own words, what's going on?"

He sat quietly. nervous that anything he said would make him sound more like a freak.

When he didn't speak, Monica said, "Before you start, I do want to let you know that everything we talk about here doesn't leave this room--not even to your parents. Unless you tell me you've hurt yourself or someone else--or you plan on doing so--I won't tell your parents or anyone from your school anything we discuss."

"Okay," he said but he still felt hesitant.

"Why don't we start with your classmates," she said. "Do you have any close friends?"

"No," he said. "I don't have any friends."

"None at all?"

"No, I can't stand anyone in my school. They're all so dumb and even if I tried to make friends with them, they'd just be mean to me anyway."

"That sounds like it must be difficult," Monica said. She had a yellow legal pad on her lap but she didn't have a pen. William thought that was strange based on the few times he'd seen a movie or TV show where someone went to a therapist or psychologist.

"Shouldn't you be taking notes?" he asked.

"What?"

"You're just holding that pad but you have nothing to write with. Don't therapists usually write stuff down?"

Monica smiled, an even wider and somehow creepier smile than the one she'd had before. "That's a good point," she said, but didn't make a move to get a pen or pencil from her desk.

"William, have you ever felt that you were different from all the people around you?"

William squinted at her. He wasn't sure if this was a trick question, something to make him admit how weird he was. He didn't answer.

"Or maybe that you're destined for something bigger than your life now?"

"Yeah, I guess so," he said. "The second one. Like I can't wait to get out of school and start doing something exciting."

She grinned at him again and reached out to put the yellow notepad on her desk. Now she just held her hands in her lap which was very strange.

"William, I have to be completely honest with you. I'm not really a therapist. I used to work with your parents--your real parents--and now I've come to work for your paternal grandfather. It's very important that you not repeat anything I'm about to tell you, not even to your parents."

This was really messed up, William thought. Adults weren't supposed to have secrets with kids. But he felt intensely curious about his birth parents and now his grandfather that he resisted the logical voice in his head saying he should run out the door and tell his mother this woman was crazy.

"This is going to sound strange, but it will also explain some of your special abilities."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's okay, William, you don't have to hide any of that from me."

She went on, "Your grandfather was once part of a global organization that made contact with extraterrestrial life in 1947. They learned that a species of aliens had visited our planet millions of years ago. The were returning soon to recolonize it through spreading a virus that would infect all of humanity and turn us all into hosts for their kind."

William couldn't help but laugh. "Are you serious? Aliens?"

"Let me finish, William," she said. "Your grandfather's organization included members of government from all the most powerful nations, but for reasons that will become obvious it was kept a secret. These men wanted to save humanity so they offered the aliens a deal--put off colonization in hopes that they'd buy some time to develop a vaccine against the virus, and in exchange they would each surrender a family member to the aliens for them to study our genome."

William was speechless. His small town library had a very limited selection of books on ESP and telekinesis when he had tried researching what was going on with him, they all suggested such abilities were probably were the result of abnormal brain activity. He'd read nothing about flying saucers and little green men.

"I know it doesn't make sense. But neither does your ability to read minds and move things without touching them, does it?"

"I can't do it all the time," he said.

"That's alright," Monica said. "That's one of the reasons we've come to find you. Your grandfather wants me to work with you to develop your abilities, so that when colonization comes you will be part of the new global elite that will rule alongside the extraterrestrials."

"But what about the vaccine?"

Monica sat back in her chair. She wasn't smiling anymore and instead looked sad. "I'm afraid it's too late for that. All of the efforts to develop a vaccine failed and time is running out. We only have around a year before the virus is activated and begins to spread."

This had to be bullshit. It had to be one of those tests psychologists give you to see if your crazy.

He arched his eyebrows. "I don't believe you," he said. "Aliens don't exist."

Monica smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing, just...your face right now....you remind me so much of your mother."

William paused. This woman knew his birth mother somehow and she knew about his abilities so he had an inkling to trust her even though what she was saying was insane. He tried to focus his attention on her thoughts. This rarely worked when he actively tried it so he wasn't surprised when nothing clear came to the surface.

"Where is my mother now?"

A pained expression passed over Monica's face. William closed his eyes and the image of a woman with red hair appeared in his mind's eye. It's a vision he'd had before. The woman's face was never in focus but he'd sometimes think he could see tendrils of her hair falling around his face. When he reached out to grab a strand, his hands were small and chubby like a baby's. This time, though, he must've been seeing the woman through Monica's eyes. Her face was much clearer. She had piercing blue eyes, like his own and she looked like she was crying.

"Your mother gave you up for adoption because she was afraid for your safety. She thought that if people found out about your abilities they would want to hurt you."

"Why?"

"Well, the reason you have these talents is because your genome contains both human and alien DNA in a proportion never seen before. For decades, your grandfather's organization had tried to create an alien human hybrid that would survive the alien takeover."

"Ok, so now you're trying to tell me I'm part-alien? That my real dad was an alien?"

"You're genome contains alien DNA because both your parents were exposed to it before you were born. For a short period of time, your father was even able to read minds like you can. We need your genetic material to ensure that our group is able to survive the invasion. Would you be willing to meet with me, and eventually your grandfather, to help us?"

This was nuts. This woman had to be out of her mind or was trying to prove he was out of his mind or something. But there were parts of the story that made sense. He did have the ability to read minds, but it flickered on and off like a light bulb. It also might explain why his mother gave him up. And maybe this was the moment he felt he'd been destined for his whole life--to transcend his boring reality and do something heroic.

"And William, one more thing. If you tell your parents, or anyone else, about what I've told you today you will be putting their lives in jeopardy. Do you understand?"

William realized his heart was pounding. Was she going to kill his parents if he didn't agree to meet with her?

"Fine," he said finally. "What do I have to do?"

Monica smiled. "I knew you'd do the right thing. I'll just keep setting up weekly appointments with your mother and all you have to do is keep coming. I think that's all the time we have for now. It was so good to finally meet you, William."

"Sure, okay," he stammered.

He let himself out of the room. His mother was still waiting where he left her pretending to read a magazine but he could feel her thoughts on him. She looked up at the sound of the door opening. "How'd it go?" she asked.

"Good," William said. "I think I'd like to see her again."

His mother smiled. "That's wonderful. She comes very well recommended and she's actually charging us much lower than her normal fee since she knows we don't have much money, so I'm glad it worked out."

"That's nice," he said, wondering if Monica had also threatened someone at his school to recommend her to his parents or how she knew how to find him.

Over the next year, William met with Monica once a week. While his mother waited in the always empty waiting room, he learned more about his role in the coming invasion. Even though he wasn't actually receiving any therapy, he tried to act better in school, partly because he wanted his parents to think his "therapy" was working and partly because he was so distracted thinking about the plans. He also tried to imagine his grandfather, who Monica promised he would meet when the time came.

As the date approached, he felt both excited and terrified. He asked Monica more than once about the vaccine but she kept insisting it was too late. There wasn't anyone else he could ask so he had to believe her. She was preparing him for leaving his old life behind--including his parents and everyone he knew--but he didn't like the idea that everyone else had to die so that he could live. Monica told him when the time came, they would take him to a safe house where doctors would harvest stem cells from his bone marrow to implant in the rest of the group. He couldn't understand why they wouldn't just do it earlier so that more people could get his stem cells. But Monica told him if anyone knew what was going on, there would be mass panic and no one would survive. She promised if he came with her he'd have the chance to do truly great work and advance the future of mankind.

Finally, Monica told him the date when it would all begin. The plan was that he'd leave for school as usual but instead of going into the building he'd turn a couple of blocks earlier and see Monica and his grandfather waiting for him. It's a plan he'd rehearsed in his mind for months leading up that moment, but as he lay in bed that morning it had felt like the last thing he wanted to do.

He'd had the dream again the previous night. It was a dream he'd been having for as long as he could remember. He's building a sand castle on the beach with a tall, dark-haired man. He'd never seen the man before in real life but his face was always so vivid unlike other hazy figures like the red-headed woman he'd see sometimes. The older he got, the more William realized he resembled the man. They had the same jawline and the nose his mother called "strong," but he always thought of as way too big for his face. He liked to imagine that the man was his real father, but Monica told him he'd only spent two days with his father and it'd be impossible to remember him.

In his most recent dream, the tide was rising and each wave inched closer to the sand castle they were building, threatening to wash it away.

"It's going to get ruined," William said.

"It's okay. We can fix it," said the man. "Do you trust me, William?"

"Yes," he said. And he did. For as long as he'd had this recurring dream he always felt safe with the man on the beach. He'd had other dreams of people chasing him or trying to hurt him, but in this dream he always felt happy and at peace, like he was home.

"Good. I trust you, too, son" he said. "And I trust that you'll do the right thing."

A wave broke at the shore and rushed toward their sand castle. Before William could see if the wave got close enough to wash over it, he woke up in a cold sweat to the shrill buzz of his alarm clock. He pounded the snooze button.

Something was wrong. What was the right thing that his father wanted him to do? Was it to go along with Monica and join the small group that would survive the apocalypse? For months he'd believed that was what he had to do, but he felt like his father was trying to tell him something else. Monica said his real parents couldn't be included in the group that survived because they were determined to reveal the project which would put everything in jeopardy. She seemed to have answers to all his questions, but in the back of his mind he kept thinking it didn't add up. What if his real parents knew a way to save everyone?

The alarm clock went off again and he finally sat up. His parents were already off at work when it was time for him to go to school. He had his backpack filled not with textbooks and notebooks, but with a change of clothes and some toiletries like Monica had instructed him. He dressed and walked down the stairs of his house. He tried to memorize the way the old wooden steps sounded and felt under his feet, and where all the dimples of paint and old nail holes were on the walls. He'd most likely never see his house or his parents ever again. He shut the front door and turned around to face the house. It was the only home he'd ever known.

Monica and his grandfather were probably already waiting for him at the meeting spot. It would be so easy to just go with them and let them guide him through the next phase of the project. As he took his first steps away from the house and toward the school, though, he heard his father's voice from the dream echoing in his ears and he knew he wasn't doing the right thing. Without a plan or destination, he turned in the opposite direction and began to run.

#xfiles #xfiles fanfic #xfiles season 11

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dahlthir-blog · 7 years

Photo

➜ Ane Uyeno (Hamestu) has been accepted!

Welcome to Dahlthir, Queen! Your application for Ane Uyeno has been approved. You’ll have 5 days to turn in your blog to the masterlist. If you need more time, you can send us a message!

The character portion of the application can be found under the cut. First of all, aaAAAAaaaAAA. I love the way you’ve written this application, it’s so fitting and gorgeous?! I was drawn in. This drew me in. She drew me in. I am done for. Holy heckie, each section was unique and the personality section with the impressions made me want to scream. I can see her character clearly! I can also see that Dahlthir is in trouble but I wouldn’t have it any other way!! Jeez, I can’t even think of what I hope for her because I feel like her hunger will never end?? I hope....Oh jeez, oh boi, man I hope she gets a crown bc just like her mun she’s a queen? !!

Other Characters

blair @ bloomhearth

Faceclaim(s) & Series

Yumeko Jyabami from Kakegurui

Character Name

Ane Uyeno though to speak her name is bad omen thus she’s been rendered to the title of Hamestu no Miko ( Priestess of Ruination ). Hamestu works just fine.

Housing

Personal , wanderer // works as the resident gravekeeper

Age

unaging yet looks to be in her late teens, early 20’s. Exact age is undetermined, though she claims to be older than many peoples’ generations.

Appearance

as fate would have it, her appearance is the same as it was all those years ago when she was sacrificed in the name of a god that she did not know. Her hair no longer grows, it also no longer dies. Her nails no longer grow, they are as they were that day she was offered. Her overall appearance is fair normal, long jet black hair that reaches down to her waist, a fitting body figure for her type - slenderly built limbs ( though by no means are they weak ), painted nails though its only a base coat. Her distinguishing feature is her eyes, oh her eyes. They see more than the human eye, they’re not normal eyes by any means. They shine vividly with an otherworldly tinge as if they’re the eyes of a predator far above this mortal plane. She has brands, so many brands but you won’t see them ‘pon her porcelain skin. They have found home within her body, within the muscle underneath the layers of skin. Cut her open and you’ll see them, those damning markings that were placed upon her. Her walk and gestures are peppy, fluid. They’re too fluid, even. It makes you wonder how she can move in such a manner after all she has been through, after all the torture she has felt upon her body and mind. She smiles, she smiles a lot. Almost constantly so, it’s unsettling. The curve of her lips don’t seem friendly but it mimics that of sincerity. She has learned how to play the part of her prey, to blend in without issue. She is the wolf in the skin of the sheep as her clothes.

Are they a part of the Adventurer’s Guild?

she is not.

Warnings: ritualistic sacrifice / human sacrifice / ritual murder, death, demonic possession, mind breaking, branding, torture, discrimination, minimal cannibalism, cults

Personality

Impression #1: She is odd. Doesn’t seem in the right mind. Impression #2: Discards personal space. Very hands on. It’s creepy. Impression #3: Always smiling. Is she always happy? It is unsettling. Impression #4: Her eyes, they unnerve me greatly. They feel as if they gaze at me with hunger. Like I am a mouse before a hungry, no – starving serpent. I am afraid. Impression #5: She’s not normal. She’s not human. She’s not of this world. Impression #6: Help me. a woman who cannot be described in normal terms. all that comes to mind is she is weird. she is abnormal. she unnerves me. i regret meeting her, despite her allure. she is a true predator among this earth. all should avoid with caution. she charms you in by acting normal. by acting like the prey. by seeming like she is one of us. it’s a lie, all a lie. it’s a ruse, a mechanism for hunting. she knows we’ll fall for it. why don’t we learn? whatever made her did a damn good job at replicating a demon that imitates god. she sweet talks you, this is what drags you in. i fell for this, what a fool i am. do not fall for it, i beg of you. she’ll only pull you further and further into hell. do not follow her, do not respond to her cooing. ignore her, ignore this beast! yet, to ignore her only provides a more worthwhile hunt for her. we can never win. if we ignore her, she stalks us like the predator she is, watching us, observing us. she’s such a good pretender. so very good. how many has she fooled before me? how much blood is on her hands? why does she hunt us? why…does she exist? please, avoid this alluring woman. she will only bring to misfortune. only bring you misery. only bring you hell.

Background

hear us, o god among us. we offer thee a befitting body, that of purity. that of virginity. take this gracious offering and become apart of this mortal plane and lead us forward. we seek thy guidance, so please, hear us. our lord will come upon us and we will begin a new age, a new era upon man. the era of the end will begin and we will move forward, we will move beyond this limitating mortality. we will be free, we will be born anew. — i remember their chants, i remember the pain. the agonizing pain. my body was cut up, my skin peeled to be carved into. oh god, why won’t you let me die already? let me die. let this pain end. — — the pain won’t end, all i remember is red. red pain. my eyesight is only red. all i could smell was red. taste red. feel red. someone, help me. — and now, we will fully offer thee this body. please, take our gracious offering! — metal. metal has suddenly entered my body. will it finally end? my eyes…they’re going blank..is it finally over? this agonizing hell? — something is wrong. why has the body become fully occupied? what have we done wro— — I did not die. I am no longer who I once was. But I am hungry. So very hungry. — ( she ate. she ate them all. no one survived her revival. she still hungers. she’s so very hungry. ) — I am hungry. I am starving. — ( in a body that is no longer hers. ) — my injuries. they have healed. yet i am still so hungry. — ( she cannot feel pain again. ) — I must eat. My body aches with this hunger. — ( she aches and yearns for the feeling of being full. ) — I must devour. — ( and devour she will. ) forgive us, lord. we have failed to supply you a body. we have failed to bring forth the end. ( the end has begun regardless. ) ( everything will be devoured. )

Level

2 ( for now )

General Powers/Abilities/Unusual Traits Description

nigh immortality → no longer ages and will no longer die by a means of old age or disease though she can be killed. predator’s adaptation → she has the ability to blend in to normal society and conceal her inhumanity to those of normal standing. beings of the supernatural / higher standing creatures will be able to detect she is not human. presence intimidation → can cause fear / unease in other creatures just by her being there. typically scares off animals but causes minor unease in people.

Specific Powers/Abilities/Traits of Note

blood magic → can use blood to cast magic / preform rituals. usually her own blood though due to the circumstance of her sacrifice, only untainted pure blood can be used outside of her own. becomes more ‘mad’ the more she uses it, rots her mind and reason further. blood transcendency → ability to transcend using the blood of others for empowerment. she can only transcend if given the blood freely and she can only ingest blood as a source of food as a permanent side effect.

Extra

she intakes blood from various sources to feed her insatiable blood lust that comes from both her sacrifice and blood magic. she runs a graveyard called mugen jigoku which corresponds with Avici which is the lowest of Hells in Buddhism that torments souls for eons that it feels as if they’re there for eternity. her services are free for burying the dead but her methods behind the graveyard gates are uncertain.

#dahl acceptance

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bbyrina-blog1 · 7 years

Text

The Bald Headed Girl Who Was Allergic to the Color Blue

You probably have no idea what you’re about to read. I must first state that I am not asking for pity by writing this, nor am I a professional writer. I probably won’t even proof read or edit. If you came across this you might know me from life experience or just from my internet presence. If you don’t know me, my name is Marina and I am 19 living in South Florida. But let’s cut to the chase: my disease.

I’m not one to open up to others, for the sole reason that I understand that most people don’t give a fuck about other people’s problems. Harsh truth? (TBH I don’t fall into this category, I actually care a lot so if you ever need a listening ear, I’m here). For this reason, most people don’t know a lot about me, because I either choose not to share it, or because nobody ever seems that interested. However, I woke up this morning feeling a bit alone in my situation, and thought that maybe writing about it would help. If you made it this far, I applaud you and honestly thank you. But the story starts here.

As a child, I lived under the roof of two pretty “perfect” people in Perry Hall, Maryland. Obviously, everyone has their own set of flaws, but these two people, my parents, specifically valued being the best. They are type-A personalities, you know, always having to be perfect. Everyone always looked to my mom, dad, brother and I as something to be envious of. When I entered middle school, I started my battle with mental illness and realized I wasn’t as liked by boys like the rest of the girls. Everyone goes through their insecurities and battles as a child or young adult but I was able to find a place eventually and get over it until I entered high school. High school was the peak of my insecurities. I always got up early to make sure my makeup and hair was looking right. I still got bullied in school and had no real friends for a long time, but I also enjoyed being called beautiful by a lot of people. I don’t want to discuss all the details of that time, but being “beautiful” came to a quick close by the end of my high school career.

Because of family issues, I moved from Maryland all the way to Miami. The few people I spoke with were jealous that i was getting to live near everyone’s favorite vacation spot. However, it was a huge change for me. All of the changes had a play on my physical and mental health. You may think that in this essay I’m going to just go into depth about my depression or my anxiety. But I’m actually going to skip that all together. When I moved to Florida, what I noticed most was that: my hair was falling out. If you knew me, my butt-length thick head of hair was what people complimented me on the most. It was my favorite physical trait of myself. Because I thought the rest of me was ugly, and not favored by society, I thought I would never cut my hair. I almost hid behind it. So when I started noticing long strands of black hair, at the time, all over the floor and furniture I was confused. I honestly don’t remember thinking that much of it because I was used to my hair being everywhere, because I had so much of it. But over time my mom and I realized that it wasn’t normal.

In 11th grade I continued dying my long hair black, but during the summer before 12th grade I decided to make the big chop. I thought that maybe if I cut the inches and inches of hair that I grew out for so long, that maybe the hair quality would be better. But I was mistaken. By the end of the summer, I decided to never dye my hair again. I thought that over-processing my hair was the cause of my hair loss, mixed in with my mental state. I went to all types of dermatologists and doctors, they all told me it was something everyone went through. This is one of the reasons why I don’t like doctors. They ASSUMED everything was fine, by the looks of my thick hair. No one believed that I was losing so much because I had thicker hair than most. So, I believed what they told me and just tried to be stress-free so it would stop.

When I started my senior year of high-school, and my hair loss was getting worse by the day, my dad decided to reach out to a commercialized or “famous” hair loss doctor who happened to work in my city. He was featured on that Dr. Oz show. So I was hopeful since he had so much credibility from what I could understand. I started doing monthly visits to his office. An appointment would really consist of doctors measuring hair strands and taking photographs of my head, to keep a watch on hair growth or loss. They would ask me questions, wash/massage my scalp, do treatments, stuff like that. The measurements concluded that my hair loss was getting worse, even though they tried to act like it was getting better, so the business would continue. There’s a limited amount of things to do to help someone with hair loss. You either need to “take a chill pill” or spend money on some sort of treatment that may not even work. The options here were to either take their Minoxidil treatment, A.K.A. what you may know as ROGAINE (Minoxidil is the only proven drug to help hair loss, but it only works for a small percentage of people and it must be taken daily for the rest of your life), or do a PRP treatment. Platelet-rich Plasma is when they take a certain amount of your own blood from your wrist and then mix that blood with platelet proteins and its supposedly supposed to promote hair growth. PRP treatment is used for variety of other things, but I don’t know much about it. The treatment cost about $3000 I believe, and with my families situation, it was not in the picture for a while. But the day came in December 2015 that we decided to move forward with the PRP.

I remember it being sooo painful for me because I’m a pussy when it comes to needles. They basically numb your head, which is where I felt the pain from, and then inject the PRP. There was atleast 10 numbing needles in my head, I was literally crying and having to take breaks because the fact that NEEDLES were going into my head seemed like a situation that I would never come across. When the procedure finished, my head was extremely swollen. It was the worst week post-procedure. I couldn’t even sleep because I had to tape up my head until the swelling went down. I can barely remember the entire thing. I don’t think I told anyone I went through that because I didn’t feel like explaining. Some people knew that I went for “head surgery” but none asked why. I assumed my hair would grow super fast because of that treatment, because of all the pain I endured and money that was spent. But obviously if PRP was a cure to baldness, then no one would be bald. (LOL).

My last few months of high school, it was obvious, at least to me, that my hair was super thin compared to its previous state. I even remember at my last visit with that doctor that the thinnest section of my hair, the front, was measured to be thinner than someone with actually thin hair from birth. I was so disappointed and just overall shocked. How could someone with thick hair, with no family signs of hair loss go through this? I got super depressed. No one could give me a real diagnosis and my family, being the only ones who knew, just kinda shrugged it off. “It will go away if you just do yoga, or try to stop being sad” kinda thing. I know no one else who had to go through this at my age. It really is something that no one talks about, especially girls. I was supposed to find my peace in knowing that I had beautiful hair and now that part of me was taken from me.

In 2016 my mom found a doctor that worked at the University of Miami hospital that was supposed to be really great. This time, I didn’t really have high hopes. The appointment had to be scheduled like 8 months prior because she was booked so much. I got to finally go see her in December 2016. The day I was in, she had a bunch of college students shadowing her, so it was me and like 12 people in a room. I have social anxiety so when she ended up doing a small procedure I had to ask everyone to leave hahaha. The students were actually my favorite part of the visit, all of them were so sweet and comforting. They traveled from all around the world just to shadow this doctor so I felt better about it. Before the procedure, though, she analyzed my head and showed me it on a screen. She was able to see the future of my hair follicles, this was something the previous doctor didn’t have. She meant business, and she was going to diagnose me with something other than just “stress”. When the images of my scalp were portrayed on the screen, the students around looked fascinated but kind of sad. I saw it in their eyes, something was wrong. The doctor continued by telling me that there was something abnormal with my scalp. She said that she needed to conduct a biopsy. When she told me this I think I passed out just from being overwhelmed, that’s when the students were asked to leave. A biopsy is usually taken when looking for cancer. The doctor had to make sure that I didn’t have a tumor. A biopsy is when a piece of your skin is cut off, basically, and taken for research. With the numbing, it didn’t hurt that bad. We were told that we would receive a call with the results, and that we had to schedule another set of appointments to check for allergies.

A couple days later, my mother got the call. The doctor told me that I was diagnosed with Androgenetic Alopecia. I’m pretty sure I went up to my room and cried for like an hour. I think I knew that I had alopecia. Everyone tried to tell me otherwise, to either make me feel better or from just being ignorant of how bad it was. I still do everything I can to try to hide it. I have basically a quarter of the hair I used to have 3 years ago and it worsens by the day. I also have side effects that influence the pigment of my hair. I have random chunks of gray hair and it truly sucks. I still can’t even process the fact. It’s not something people ask or talk about so I haven’t really told anyone specifically about it. The few I’ve told don’t really believe me, and my parents still think it’s all in my head. I wrote this to tell the world that I indeed DO have alopecia. In other words, one day, I may not have hair anymore. Only 2% of people are at risk for alopecia. My parents have very thick hair, and no one that we know of in the family has this. It must have skipped a few generations then to get to me. When I was called back for my allergy testing appointments, it was found that I was extremely allergic to cobalt. Who knew? My entire life I had an allergy I didn’t know existed. There really is nothing online about an allergy to cobalt specifically, though a lot of people connect it with other metals like nickel. Cobalt is in most foods because it is found in vitamin B. It also is found in a lot of products so I have to watch what I use now. I started using wooden utensils and have to paint my keys with clear nail polish. And I can’t forget, I’m also allergic to the color blue. A percentage of cobalt is used to create blue dye, so I’ve had to watch to not buy anymore blue clothes or makeup products lmao. It’s not deadly because of how small cobalt is used in these products, obviously I’ve been alive this long without knowing. But It really made me more conscious of what I was doing with my body.

So yes, I have alopecia. I’m allergic to the color blue. I have mental illness, I’m anxious, I’m skinny, I’m an outsider but I’m still amazing. At some point I may have to shave all of my hair off, which I don’t think my family wants to understand or think about. I still don’t feel accepted by them. It’s hard for me to hear jokes about bald people. I do the most to hide it as much as I can everyday and I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t go out unless I have to. Most people don’t think twice about having hair. Most of us have it. Only when something is taken from you do you recognize it’s importance to you. I thought that maybe If I shared this with you that I would feel better about being open. I still think I’ll always be beautiful no matter what, because beauty to me comes from the inside. I know I have a long road ahead of me. A tough one. But I know that everything inflicted on me is for a purpose. I know that these things happen to me so I can help other people struggling with the same thing. This is my reassurance. Thank you for reading if you made it to the end. The purpose of this is to share the message that you don’t know all the little things someone is going through. You need to be loving to everyone you encounter. It’s important. We must be the light for the world, no matter what we look like.

#writing

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anagayreganasblog-blog · 5 years

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A Reflection Paper on Learners with Special Education Needs

People are born different and unique. We have different level of intellect, skills, and talents. We also have different difficulties and needs. More so, we have different strengths and weaknesses. These are the thoughts that prevailed during the discussion on the seven types of learners with special education needs. More than anything, these thoughts were not just shared to the class because of the need to discuss it but it was more of encouraging and teaching us how to deal with it when we encounter it in real life. Hence, the discussions made me to reflect upon myself about the importance of giving considerations towards the learners’ condition.

As I have learned about the seven types of learners with special education needs, I had valued education more. There were instances that I thought about quitting education because of the difficulties I experienced especially when I am bombarded with a lot of requirements. Seeing how important education is for learners with special education needs had motivated me. I realized how blessed I am to have all the faculties for me to use. The things that I could do and I have is not just a thing for me to be boastful of. It is something that I should use in order to help others especially that I am in the field of education.

The discussion made me realized that the field of education that I have chosen is not an easy job. The things that I will be teaching to others will become a gift and the way I value differences among learners will be a great form of acceptance for them. We cannot deny the fact that these types of learners experience bullying in the society. Some of the might have been bullied in their homes. If these situations happened, learners like them would have a hard time finding a place that could accept them for who they are. Hence, the school should take the responsibility of making these learners to feel accepted.

In the result of the statistics conducted by the World Health Organization, there is about 15% of the world’s population who lives with some form of disability and 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning. Given with this data, it made me to realize how big the responsibility of the society to accept this kind of individuals. I know for the fact that these individuals do not just experience difficulty in terms of their condition but also the way they live and interact with normal individuals. I imagined how difficult it is to even go to school and find success because the world wherein they live can cause harm to them for they are different.

In the first discussion, I was able to know the learners who are gifted and talented. These learners excel in areas such as in academics or extracurricular activities. Considering how these learners excel, it is important to evaluate them so that their intellect and skills will match to the level they need. Sometimes, there are misconceptions between learners who are gifted and learners who are talented. Based on the discussion, there is a difference between learners who are gifted and talented. Learners who are gifted excel academically while learners who are talented excel in practical activities and they also have more ability in dance, music, and sports. Among the different learners, these are the learners who have an advantage among others however, they still need special education. Giving these learners the kind of education that there knowledge and skills they require for them is necessary for them to use and enhance it well. In school, teachers who handle this type of learners should be able to identify them by conducting activities that could evaluate their intellect and skills.

Through the evaluation, the learners will be truly identified if they belong to learners who are gifted and talented. The need to identify these learners is important because sometimes they might not feel challenged with the lessons that are being discussed because they have already acquired all the information pertaining to it. Hence, identifying them and putting them to the right level will help them to acquire more knowledge and develop their skills. By then, they will grow even more and expand their abilities.

Another type of learner that should be taken into consideration are the learners who have difficulty seeing. According to Dreamscape, there are 285 million people who live with some type of visual impairment. This is a great number that I haven’t expected of. I couldn’t imagine how these type of learners manage to continue life even if life hasn’t shown its own beauty to them.

Before the discussion, the discussant had let us to close our eyes and experience the kind of situation these individuals experience even just a glimpse of it. By closing my eyes, I have never seen anything but complete darkness. I remembered how I hate it when the electric supply suddenly shuts down in the middle of the night. Fear really engross me for I am afraid of the dark. However, the discussant had let us to slightly squint our eyes and then she asked us to differentiate the two. Then, I had to hate it even when I was given the chance to at least see something but not as completely as it is. By that I came to understand what these type of learners really feel. The activity was like I have been given the opportunity to put my shoes in their shoes. Through the discussion, I was able to learn that things that I should do in case a student with this condition will be enrolled in a class. I was able to know that in a classroom, students who have this condition should be put to a seat closer to the board so that he or she can at least easily see what is written on the board.

There is also an existing misconception about these learners. Sometimes learners with difficulty seeing are branded as slow learners. One of the reason for this is not that they don’t know how to read but they just can’t easily see what they are reading. Therefore, before the start of the school year, a teacher should ask the class if there are students who have difficulty seeing so that he or she could be placed near the board. Through this, he or she will not have any difficult catching up what the teacher is writing on the board. Another important thing that a teacher should do is to provide larger print materials during the discussion. This is an effective strategy so that everyone in the class will be able to catch up with the lessons. Aside from that, a teacher should also address the learner with his or her name. This is true to almost everyone because even I as a student tend to appreciate my teachers who are addressing me according to my first name. I feel that I’m important and recognized to be part of the class. It will even be a great importance for students who have such condition. Furthermore, these learners will totally appreciate it and will be encouraged to participate during class discussion. At the end of the day, the active participation of every learner in the class should be the goal of every teacher.

There are also learners who have difficulty in hearing. This difficulty have varying degrees. There are people who have hearing impairment which means that their normal hearing function was reduced. There are also people who are deaf which means that they can’t totally hear any sound while people who have a hard time hearing might have lost their hearing sensitivity but can still hear a sound.

In a classroom, this type of learners should also be considered especially that they might show inattentiveness during discussion. This behavior is not totally about the learners’ laziness towards the subject but it is more of that they can’t totally hear what the teacher is talking about. It is important that the teacher will be able to know how to handle such learners or what to do to let these learners understand the lesson. One of the possible things to do is to give hand-outs to the students so that they will be able to read what the discussion is all about. This will help the learners and the teacher to be on the same page. Hence, this type of learners will not be left out from the class. By this, he or she will feel the acceptance inside the classroom.

In connection with the learners who have difficulty of hearing, there are learners who have difficulty communicating. Sometimes, learners with this difficulty may also have difficulty in hearing. The learner might have a hard time explaining a particular concept when asked by the teacher because he or she wasn’t able to grasp the concept by his sense. But more into this, learners with difficulty communicating have speech disorders that deviates him or her from other people. These speech disorders limit the individual to communicate. One of which is the articulation disorder. This disorder is related to the omission of certain words or letters while speaking. There is also language disorder which pertains to the abnormal acquisition of language. These learners should be given importance and consideration inside the class.

In a class, there might also be learners who have difficulty walking or moving. This difficulty is referred to as physical disabilities. Learners with this condition suffer difficulty in balance and coordination. Also, this condition might be permanent, temporary and intermittent. There are different causes for this condition such as Paralysis, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and Repetitive Strain Condition.

In documentaries, I have seen parents carrying their children with disabilities to school and I realized how important the role of the school to build up facility that can help the learners with such condition to have physical access. It was mentioned by the reporter that these learners can’t have physical access and these problem is not just for the teacher to be taken upon but for the whole community as well.

As a future educator, I know that it is important that these learners should have easy access to different facilities in school especially that learning doesn’t occur in just the four corners of the classroom but as well as outside. However, this ideal type of learning is not possible but a teacher should at least make a strategy to let the learner learn outside. One of the things that a teacher could possibly do is to provide materials such as videos outside of the class or lessons associated outside the classroom. Anything about how the society works and the activities that happens within the community. These will help them to see the reality of the world.

Sometimes, whenever I see a person having difficulty, I really wanted to give some help but then I realized that sometimes it is not necessary at all because people with this condition might not want our help because they can manage and they want to prove that they are not a burden. So, before helping, it is necessary to ask permission first so that the person will not be discriminated in any way.

Another learner that should be considered are the learners who have difficulty remembering and focusing. Forgetting something is quite normal but to some it is already a problem. There are different causes such as ADHD, lack of sleep, stress, environment, and hunger. Learners are usually inattentive and because of this, a teacher must develop a strategy to get the attention of the learners.

A teacher should manage the class in terms of the level of noise inside the class. Noise is one of the factors that affect learners’ focus, hence a teacher should focus on this aspect. A teacher should also give motivation to the learners. If learners are motivated, they show much involvement in the class that make them focus all throughout the discussion.

There are different types of learners that should be considered. There are learners who are active. These learners tend to remember things when they are able to share it to others. Another type of learners are the reflective ones. They tend to learn when they try to evaluate it within themselves. Hence, the teacher should be able to have different strategies for the learners to easily remember what they have learned. A teacher must also let the student be involved in sharing activities. This activity will help the active learners share what they have learned while reflective learner must be given the chance to write their own opinion. With this, everyone is given the chance to enhance and retain what they have learned.

Lastly, there are learners who have difficulty in self-care. The self-scare is one of the skills that a learner must acquire because this will help them be responsible for themselves. There are learners who really have this difficulty and one of the reasons is that they weren’t taught early in life or during their childhood.

Common learners with this condition are the learners with special needs. Considering the condition of these learners, a teacher must be able to teach them in ways that they could understand. One of the mentioned ways is to have a task analysis. In this step, tasks are broken down to different components that can be easily followed. Another way is to have a visual guide. With this, learners can easily picture out how a certain task is done. After this, a teacher might apply the prompting and fading technique. In this way, a teacher guides the learner but once the learner can manage himself or herself, the teacher can fade or stop the process of scaffolding the learner.

In a classroom, there will be different types of learners and a teacher must be able to cater each learners’ needs. As a future educator, I need to value each students’ skills, talents, strengths and weaknesses. In addition, as a future educator I must develop patience so that I will successfully do the job without neglecting other students because a teacher brings everyone to excellence so that learners will be able to attain their own successes in life. However, this thing will happen if the government, society, community, school, and family will work hand in hand in order to help all the seven types of learners.

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kansascityhappenings · 6 years

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Albuquerque police officer adopts woman’s opioid-addicted baby

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Police officers will often tell you there’s no such thing as a routine call when you’re patrolling the streets.

But when Albuquerque police officer Ryan Holets responded to a possible theft at a nearby convenience store, it had all the hallmarks of a mundane assignment he could quickly clear from the call log.

It didn’t turn out that way.

As Ryan left the convenience store on September 23rd, he noticed out of the corner of his eye a couple sitting on the grass against a cement wall. The man and woman shot up heroin in broad daylight behind the convenience store.

Ryan turned on his body camera and approached the couple, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. The woman was in the middle of injecting a needle into her friend’s arm. Then he noticed the woman was pregnant.

“It’s not every day I see a sight like that, and it just made me really sad,” he told CNN.

Crystal Champ, 35, looked slightly dazed and agitated in the body camera footage as you hear Ryan scold her. She told the officer she was almost 8 months pregnant and a drug addict.

“You’re going to kill your baby,” Ryan says in the bodycam footage. “Why do you have to be doing that stuff?” It’s going to ruin your baby.”

In the video, Champ breaks down in tears. She told CNN the officer’s words cut deep, because even though she’s pro-choice, she didn’t want an abortion.

“I was like how dare you judge me. You have no idea how hard this is,” Champ told CNN. “I know what a horrible person I am and what a horrible situation I’m in.”

Champ, who has battled addiction since she was a teenager, sat down for an interview with CNN outside of a tent where she currently lives in Albuquerque.

Champ has been homeless for more than two years. She detailed a life time of battling heroin and crystal meth addiction and how the drug controls every moment of her life, spending up to $50 a day on scoring hits of heroin simply so she can “get well.” She’s tried multiple times to get clean, but failed.

“I did give up. I just decided this was going to be my life,” Champ said. “It just keeps coming back and ruining my life.”

In the body camera footage, Ryan questions Champ and her companion for almost 11 minutes. He focused on Champ and tried to figure out whether she fully understood the danger drug use was inflicting on her unborn child.

In the course of the conversation, Champ emotionally told Ryan that she desperately hoped someone would adopt her baby. Champ says the words triggered a change in the officer’s demeanor.

“He became a human being instead of a police officer,” Champ said.

Ryan made the call to not charge the couple with drug possession, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was his chance to help.

Ryan showed Champ a picture of his wife and four children, including a 10-month old baby and in that moment offered to adopt her baby.

“I was led by God to take the chance,” Ryan said. “God brought us all together. I really don’t have any other way to explain it.”

Champ was stunned and says she looked at him to “make sure his eyes were genuine and that I could see his soul.” She realized instantly, her prayers had been answered.

But there was one big problem, Ryan offered to adopt Champ’s baby, but he had not told his wife about it.

Rebecca Holets was just a few miles away at a going-away party for a friend. Ryan jumped in his police car and drove over to the party to break the news.

Ryan walked up to his wife, who was holding their 10-month old baby. He said he had just met a pregnant woman shooting up heroin and that he offered to adopt the baby.

The couple had discussed adopting a child in the future but were waiting for their youngest child to grow a little older. When Ryan delivered the shocking news at the party, Rebecca never hesitated.

“He already knew my heart on the issue, and he knew that I would be totally onboard with it,” Rebecca said.

The Holets say they see many in the world around them who desperately need stability. They know they can’t help every child, but Rebecca knew she could take on the challenge of raising another baby.

“We feel God has called us to do that,” Rebecca said. “It’s been on our hearts for a while.”

The birth

On October 12th, Crystal Champ gave birth to a baby girl and the Holets family named her Hope.

Ryan was at the hospital for the delivery. He kept thinking back to the surreal turn of events that brought a young police officer to this moment with a pregnant, homeless heroin addict.

A few days later when Rebecca walked into the nursery with Crystal Champ, it would be the last time the birth mother would see the newborn. Rebecca watched Crystal fawn over how beautiful the little girl looked.

“I love you. Goodbye,” Rebecca recalled Crystal saying to the baby. “And then she turns to me and says ‘Take care of her for me.’ And I said, ‘I will take good care of her, and you take good care of yourself.’ It was super emotional.”

Rebecca said from that moment she was Baby Hope’s new mother.

Opioid babies are born every 25 minutes

Baby Hope represents an alarming trend in the United States, babies born addicted to opiates.

The medical term for a baby exposed to opioid abuse in the womb is neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study in 2016 that determined the number of neonatal abstinence cases tripled between 1999 and 2013.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that a baby suffering from opioid withdrawal is born every 25 minutes in the United States and that these babies face developmental issues.

Dr. Heather Pratt-Chavez is a pediatrician at the University of New Mexico, the same hospital where Baby Hope was born. She specializes in babies born with opioid exposure and says that babies usually need several weeks of medical treatment, which can include morphine and methadone, to help the newborn detox.

The Holets say Baby Hope suffered the painful process of detoxing and withdrawals and even endured methadone treatment.

Babies suffering from NAS usually endure abnormal sleep patterns, are difficult to console and have trouble feeding. The withdrawal symptoms are just as intense for babies as adults.

“I look into their little faces and see their brows furrowed and watch for their faces to relax,” Dr. Pratt-Chavez told CNN.

Many experts says intensive intervention in early infant care is crucial to ensuring a healthy future for the baby. After the initial medical treatment, Dr. Pratt-Chavez says “skin-to-skin” touch is crucial in lowering stress levels and ensuring a nurturing development.

Hope for the future

Baby Hope is no longer in the hospital. The Holets family takes her for weekly medical checkups, but mostly they’re beginning to settle into their new routine.

Crystal Champ’s future is bleak. She’s still battling addiction and remains homeless. Ironically, Crystal Champ was also given up for adoption as a newborn. She remembers the lyrics of a song that her adoptive parents used to sing her as a child:

“I’m Crystal. I’m adopted. I’m loved, loved, loved.

I’m Crystal. I’m adopted. I’m loved, loved, loved.”

But she hopes that when Hope grows older she’ll understand how much her mother and father love her. And that placing her with a loving family was the best thing to do for her future.

“She needs to have a safe environment and a stable life and be able to grow and be nurtured and be safe and secure, and all of these things I can’t give her right now,” said Champ.

Both Crystal and the Holets marvel at the inexplicable course of events that brought them together in that convenience store parking lot back in September.

Ryan calls it “providence” and still can’t believe that he met the parents of his future child on a work call.

Crystal calls it serendipity. She describes the adoptive parents of her baby girl as a “light in this world.”

“There needs to be more people like Ryan and his wife and their family in this world,” she said.

The Holets know their new baby will likely face trials and troubles in the future. The threat of developmental issues is real. But they’re banking on love and nurturing to save Baby Hope’s life.

Rebecca says as Hope grows older, and when the time is right, they will share the details of how she was adopted. And they want her birth parents, Crystal Champ and Tom Key, to have a place in their life. But the road to overcoming addiction is unpredictable.

“Whatever struggles she has, we’ll be there and we’ll work through it,” said Ryan. “And that makes me happy.”

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports http://fox4kc.com/2017/12/01/albuquerque-police-officer-adopts-womans-opioid-addicted-baby/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2017/12/01/albuquerque-police-officer-adopts-womans-opioid-addicted-baby/

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wallythayer · 7 years

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The New Science of Concusssions

More than three years later, Amy Zellmer can still recall the sound of her head hitting the frozen concrete. She slipped on ice near her St. Paul, Minn., home in February 2014, and that noise signaled a change in her life that resonates even today.

“It happened just like that!” she says, snapping her fingers. “I imagine I looked like Charlie Brown.”

Zellmer landed on the back of her head and estimates she was knocked out for a minute or two. When she stood up, she realized something wasn’t right. She was dizzy, wobbly, sick to her stomach. “It was like little lightning bolts going off in the -corners of my eyes — the proverbial ‘seeing stars.’”

She realized she needed to go to the ER, but when she tried to locate the nearest hospital on her computer, she couldn’t read the screen: “That’s when I knew I had a problem.”

So she telephoned a neighbor, who soon arrived and soothed the bump on Zellmer’s head with a package of frozen peas. The neighbor then asked the time-tested question, “Who’s the president?” Zellmer answered “Bill Clinton” — two presidents off. A friend’s husband happened to be a chiropractic neurologist and he immediately made time to see her at his office. He told Zellmer she had suffered a concussion and major whiplash, including torn muscles and a dislocated sternum.

The stars disappeared in a couple of days, but effects of the fall lingered. Zellmer experienced aphasia and short-term memory lapses. She got lost while driving. She struggled to concentrate and tired easily. Dizziness made her head spin. Strange mood swings disrupted her days.

“It was like I had been on a boat for a long time, or had just taken off roller skates, and I still felt like I was moving. It was constant, like I was drunk all the time.” Other days, it seemed she had an evil head cold and was lost in a never-ending fog.

Zellmer, now 43, saw several doctors, ophthalmologists, and other specialists over the next two years. Nothing seemed to help. She was finally referred to a craniosacral therapist, who gently massaged her scalp. After a couple of treatments, she remembers hearing a distinct noise in her head and feeling a huge sense of relief. That sound signaled a release of pressure, which instantly cleared her fogginess. (For more on craniosacral therapy, see below.)

Still, Zellmer’s cognitive issues endured. She consulted a neurologist, who referred her for a four-hour exam: She scored worse than a dementia patient. A neuropsychologist prescribed Ritalin and antidepressants, but Zellmer refused to take them, viewing the pills as Band-Aids for the real problem. Whatever that real problem was.

The Invisible Disability

Seeing stars. Getting your bell rung. A knock on the noggin. In the not-so-distant past, we shrugged off head injuries with quaint euphemisms — a cute way of skirting the seriousness of a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

These days, the medical world takes TBIs seriously, as we now know that seeing birdies is more dangerous than we ever imagined. The far-reaching and seemingly disparate health effects of TBIs can include cognitive problems, coordination dysfunction, hormonal disruption, digestive issues, and mood disorders. At the same time, we’re learning more about how to treat TBIs and their repercussions.

TBIs cover a spectrum of severity, from subconcussive to concussive (which account for 70 to 90 percent of all cases) to fractured skulls and worse, explains Vani Rao, MD, a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine neuropsychiatrist, in The Traumatized Brain.

The brain is jarred in a concussion. It accelerates forward, crashing into the skull (known as a coup injury), then it often bounces back and hits the rear of the skull (contrecoup). Sometimes, it twists atop the brain stem as well.

Contrary to common perception, you don’t actually have to hit your head to get a concussion: It can result from whiplash, or even from the shock waves of an explosion, like those that troops experience in combat. This can lead to or exacerbate PTSD, according to a recent study.

A TBI can harm the brain in numerous ways. It may cause bleeding (an intracranial hemorrhage) or create a blood pool or clot (a hematoma); the brain tissue itself may be bruised or torn. These injuries can then put pressure on the brain, resulting in harmful inflammation.

It can also cause oxygen deprivation, leading to the death of brain cells, and twisting on the brain stem might result in vestibular or endocrine issues. In addition, a TBI can damage the axon fibers that carry messages between different parts of the brain.

The effects might be subtle or dramatic, singular or myriad:

• Physical conditions, such as headaches, seizures, hearing loss, and vision issues, including seeing double, blurriness, eyestrain, light sensitivity, and depth-perception dysfunction.

• Hormonal disruption resulting in blood-sugar dysregulation and emotional problems, such as depression, anxiety, mania, or apathy.

• Digestive issues, including microbial changes, motility problems, and increased gut permeability.

• Behavioral upsets like sleep disturbances, impulsivity, aggression, even psychosis.

• Cognitive issues including problems with attention, memory, language, and executive functions, such as organizing, planning, sequencing, and monitoring or modifying behavior.

“Most people with mild TBI make a spontaneous recovery within the first few months of injury,” Rao explains. “But mild brain injuries are not always benign.

“Traumatic brain injuries are, in a sense, a silent epidemic, because often, after persons with TBI have been treated in the emergency department or released from the hospital, family members or friends may assume that they are now ‘fixed.’ There may be no physical evidence of injury, so it is easy for others to believe that everything is back to normal. Unfortunately, that is often not the case, especially with more severe injuries.”

Accurately determining how many head injuries Americans sustain each year is difficult because many of us don’t visit a doctor after hitting our heads. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Americans suffer between 1.6 million and 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions annually. This discrepancy is huge because so many TBIs are never reported.

But those statistics don’t reveal the true scope of the issue for one crucial reason: While sports-related TBIs get the spotlight, they account for a minority of all head injuries. Forty-seven percent of all TBIs are the result of everyday falls, according to the CDC. These incidents are especially prevalent among the elderly; a new CDC study finds that one in 45 people age 75 and older suffers a fall and TBI.

Innocuous falls happen to all of us in daily life as we slip on stairs, trip over rugs, tumble from ladders, or stumble while carrying items when we can’t see where we’re going.

Because of these everyday head injuries, an estimated 5.3 million Americans are currently living with a lifelong disability — that’s roughly one in every 60 people. TBIs also account for 30 percent of all injury-related deaths.

The fact that there’s no clear count of head injuries suggests we’re still largely in the dark concerning their dangers. Public awareness is growing, however, thanks — ironically, as it turns out — to one source: The National Football League (NFL).

“Shaken Up On the Play”

Football players wear helmets — exhaustively engineered, thoroughly tested, incredibly expensive helmets — that are supposed to protect them from TBIs, even after the uncountable instances of head contact many sustain during every practice and game.

But in 2002 a young forensic pathologist named Bennet Omalu, MD, in the county coroner’s office in Pittsburgh, performed an autopsy of “Iron Mike” Webster, the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers lineman who died at age 50. A Hall of Famer, Webster was known for his durability, never missing a game during a 10-year stretch between 1976 and 1985. He spent the last decades of his life struggling with dementia, delusions, paranoia, and explosive moods. Though Webster was believed to have died of a heart attack, Omalu sensed something else.

CT and MRI scans of Webster’s brain found nothing abnormal. So Omalu did a specialized protein-stain test; the results were startling. Webster’s brain was clouded with massive accumulations of tau, one of the proteins that causes Alzheimer’s.

Omalu believed that Webster’s brain had been rattled by the cumulative effect of all the subconcussive head injuries he suffered over his 17 NFL seasons. His report on Webster’s autopsy was published in the peer-reviewed journal Neurosurgery, where Omalu coined a name for the syndrome — chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Encephalopathy is a broad term for a disease that alters the brain’s structure or function.

Omalu’s report garnered wide attention for CTE, and for TBIs generally, prompting a slew of studies. Among the more notable is an ongoing study at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine that began in 2014, in which researchers are examining a group of retired pro football players; their findings to date suggest that repeated brain trauma causes molecular changes to brain tissue that can have consequences for decades after.

Notably, some brain injuries happen without a concussion: They can result from a single blow to the head or repetitive hits over time. “There’s no such thing as a safe blow to the head,” says Omalu.

Fearing for football’s very existence, the NFL went on the offensive. League lawyers and doctors took a page from Big Tobacco’s playbook to obscure the link between cigarettes and lung cancer and worked to discredit Omalu and downplay CTE. At the time, the NFL didn’t even have concussion guidelines for assessing players — as sports commentators like to say, they were merely “shaken up on the play.”

The NFL seemed to be winning the game in dismissing CTE. But after Omalu found CTE in autopsies of four more NFL players, the media, and soon the public, took notice. Head injuries became big news.

Brain Games

Head injuries are not limited to football, of course: They happen in hockey, cycling, soccer — most any sport. Nor are they limited to the pros.

In a study published in Radiology in 2016, researchers examined the potential effects of subconcussive head blows on the 3 million U.S. kids playing organized youth football. They studied 25 players age 8 to 13 over a single football season, conducting advanced neuroimaging using MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans both pre- and postseason. The players’ helmets were fitted with Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) sensors to assess frequency and magnitude of impact.

The kids were “hitting their heads hundreds of times over the approximately three-month season” without suffering actual concussions, says lead study author Christopher Whitlow, MD, PhD, chief of neuroradiology at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was interested in understanding the cumulative effect of these subconcussive hits.

Whitlow’s team found “measurable brain changes” to the white matter in the youths’ brains: “When you look at these players, they don’t look any different; they’re not behaving any differently. Do these changes mean anything at all? Perhaps not. Maybe these changes all go away like their bruises after the season and this is just another manifestation of a physical sport.

“But the issue is that we don’t know,” he says. “What happens after two seasons? And ultimately, is your lifetime cumulative head-impact exposure the thing that makes a difference?”

In a 2016 study of amateur soccer players published in EBioMedicine, researchers found that heading a soccer ball — just once — causes instant changes to the brain. They did trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings followed by cognitive tests of 19 players age 19 to 25 before and after routinely heading balls. They discovered alterations in brain corticomotor inhibition and cognitive function — in particular, memory-test performance was reduced by up to 67 percent.

“The good news is that these changes in brain function were transient, with effects normalizing within 24 hours,” explains lead study author Magdalena Ietswaart, PhD, professor of psychology at Scotland’s University of Stirling.

“The bad news is that we do not know whether there is an accumulative effect when this biochemical disruption is repeated over and over again through weekly heading-practice drills, or what the long-term consequences of heading on brain health are.”

The Road Back

As doctors learn more about the consequence of TBIs, their knowledge is leading to new treatments. Given the range of seemingly disconnected symptoms, protocols are often individualized based on the results of sophisticated tests.

“Treating head injury requires a multifaceted approach,” explains functional neurologist Brandon Brock, DC, of Cerebrum Health Centers in Dallas–Fort Worth. “Sometimes it requires medication to control symptoms. Sometimes it requires diet and nutrition to allow appropriate healing. Sometimes it requires the appropriate neurological exercises to give the brain harmony and symmetric function.

“We need to make sure there are no underlying triggers that were there beforehand that would keep the person from healing, like diabetes, thyroid problems, or infectious disease that can make the inflammation so sustained that people can’t recover.”

Receiving treatment soon after an injury is preferable, because the brain remains plastic and responsive for days or weeks, Brock says. The longer you wait, the more likely the brain gets set in new, problematic patterns. But if an injury is months or even years old, a new battery of functional-neurology tests can still detect symptoms, and treatment remains possible.

For Amy Zellmer, it wasn’t until two and a half years after hitting her head that she found hope for recovery. She connected with functional neurologist Jeremy Schmoe, DC, of Minnesota Functional Neurology and Chiropractic in Minneapolis in August 2016. By this point, she was begging for help. She described her many symptoms — and, for the first time in all her consultations with specialists, Schmoe validated them. “I was like, Hallelujah, somebody understands!” Zellmer remembers.

Using a platform posturography test, Schmoe examined her balance. He conducted video analysis of her gait. He checked her autonomic nervous system, since concussions often skew heart rates and blood pressures; the combination of a higher resting heart rate and uncertain spatial awareness can result in an overactive startle response and hyperanxiety. He used videonystagmography (VNG) to check her eye tracking. Then he outlined a course of vestibular rehab to improve her balance and dizziness, and manual therapy to treat the effects of her whiplash.

Schmoe prescribed neuro-orthopedic rehabilitative exercises to help Zellmer restore her eye–brain coordination. And he recommends yoga — in particular, TBI survivor Kevin Pearce’s Love Your Brain program (www.loveyourbrain.com).

“We challenge the nervous system with different types of sensory inputs to activate the brain to make changes to the objective findings that we identify during examination,” Schmoe explains. “If we see that you’re off balance to the left, we might do an exercise to stimulate the left side of your body to give your brain better awareness of where you are in space.

“The nervous system is amazing. It’s elastic: You can make changes to it with repetition, intensity, and frequency. You just have to give it the right stimulation to help build plasticity.”

He next ran blood labs to check Zellmer for anemia, infection, inflammation, thyroid and hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disorders, and vitamin D or magnesium deficiencies — all of which can affect recovery.

Hormonal disruption can cause issues ranging from emotional imbalance to mood disorders, as well as blood-sugar dysregulation, says Schmoe. “When you hit your head, the midline areas of your brain get torsion, which can injure the areas that affect your pituitary output. This can affect the adrenals and thyroid. We see people develop a whole metabolic cascade of symptoms after a brain injury.”

There’s an axis between the brain and gut, he explains, and “literally within a couple of days after a brain injury, your gut lining could start to be affected.” Schmoe explains that this can cause recurrences of past gut issues, including infections and insulin dysregulation.

“If you can address the brain and you can improve the circuits in the brain, you can make changes to the gut — it’s a bidirectional pathway,” he says. “By improving the brain, you can improve the gut. Then if you loop back around and improve the gut even more, your brain’s going to heal faster. You have to look at everything when it comes to brain injuries.”

For Zellmer, the improvements were swift.

“Within two weeks, my dizziness went from a nine out of 10, to a two. Once I got the dizziness under control, it freed up so much energy.”

Today, she continues her therapy and is improving. She runs her own business as a photographer, but has also started new work: raising TBI awareness. She lobbies state and national legislatures, serves on the advisory council of the Brain Injury Association of America, and has self-published two books on the subject.

Her recovery is still in progress, but Zellmer is optimistic. She says she is now on “the road back to normal.”

Get the full story at https://experiencelife.com/article/the-new-science-of-concusssions/

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