#shingles treatment

[surinderbhalla]

Decoding Shingles: Insights and Prevention!

Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster, is like a spectre that can appear out of nowhere and disrupt your life with its painful presence. Imagine this: you’re going about your day, and then, out of nowhere, you start experiencing an intense, burning sensation on one side of your body. Shortly after, a rash of red, blister-like sores appears, leaving you in discomfort and confusion. What’s…

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#Health Insights #Herpes Zoster #Holistic Wellness #Immune system #Prevention tips #Shingles #Shingles Symptoms #Shingles Treatment #Skin Health #Vaccination

[teuer]

just got denied free health insurance 😎 God bless America 🇺🇸

#I make too much supposedly #they base it off potential monthly income #before tax if I work the entire 172 hours I’m scheduled to work I’m making 2100 before tax #and I can only be making that 1600 max a month #Like what #And then they gave me a number to apply with a different government agency and what they said I qualify for isn’t even worth it #either I chose to get half my ER visit helped while paying a monthly premium #or I pay for a different plan that will only cover primary care visit a year #I don’t even know what I can do for the shingles treatment #oh yeah for the visit option they wouldn’t even be able to help with the ER visit since they don’t backtrack #imma just kill myself

[1-ufo]

Got my second shingles shot this morning and I’m already feeling like shit.

#I’m young for this one but immunocompromised ppl get special treatment so #here we are #I hope in the future they can make this vaccine suck less but I don’t think anyone has been able to escape it’s unpleasant side effects #still way better than getting shingles tho #it feels better than getting chicken pox too tbh #I had those bad

[herpescureindia]

Herpes Cure Treatment in India, Including Free Options

 The journey to find a herpes cure is often laden with questions, concerns, and a quest for accessible solutions. In the vibrant tapestry of India's healthcare landscape, both traditional and contemporary treatments converge to offer hope and relief. Let's delve into the avenues of Herpes Cure Treatment in India, exploring not only effective treatments but also options that extend a helping hand to those seeking free alternatives.

Navigating Herpes Cure Treatment in India

Traditional Wisdom Meets Modern Solutions

India, with its rich history of traditional medicine, brings forth a holistic approach to herpes treatment. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system, and contemporary medical advancements are harmoniously integrated to address the complexities of herpes management.

Accessible Healthcare for All

Recognizing the importance of accessible healthcare, various initiatives and programs in India aim to provide Free herpes treatment in India at no cost. These efforts align with the goal of ensuring that everyone, regardless of economic status, can access essential medical care.

Herpes Cure Treatment Options

Ayurvedic Treatments

Ayurveda, deeply rooted in Indian culture, offers herbal remedies, detoxification therapies, and lifestyle modifications as part of herpes treatment. Ayurvedic centers across India provide specialized care, combining centuries-old wisdom with modern understanding.

Government Healthcare Initiatives

Government-sponsored healthcare programs and clinics in India contribute significantly to Free herpes treatment in India accessibility. These initiatives aim to make quality healthcare services, including antiviral medications, available to the broader population.

Community Health Camps

In various regions of India, community health camps play a crucial role in reaching underserved populations. These camps often provide free herpes screening, consultation, and basic medications, ensuring that healthcare reaches those who need it most.

FAQs

Q: Are Ayurvedic treatments for herpes widely available in India?

A: Yes, Ayurvedic treatments for herpes are widely available in India. Renowned Ayurvedic centers, particularly in states like Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, specialize in holistic approaches to manage herpes symptoms.

Q: How can individuals access free herpes treatment in India?

A: Free herpes treatment in India options are often available through government healthcare facilities, community health camps, and nonprofit organizations. These initiatives aim to provide essential medical care without financial barriers.

Q: Are there government-sponsored medications for herpes in India?

A: Yes, government healthcare programs in India often include antiviral medications for herpes as part of their essential medication offerings. These medications are provided at subsidized or no cost to eligible individuals.

Q: What role do community health camps play in herpes treatment?

A: Community health camps serve as outreach programs, especially in rural and underserved areas. They provide free screenings, consultations, and basic medications, ensuring that individuals receive timely healthcare interventions. In conclusion, the pursuit of Herpes Cure Treatment in India is a journey encompassing both traditional wisdom and modern healthcare initiatives. With Ayurveda offering holistic solutions and free healthcare options ensuring accessibility, India stands as a beacon of hope for those navigating the challenges of herpes management. Embrace the diverse healthcare avenues, and let the journey toward healing be inclusive and compassionate.

#herpes cure #free herpes treatment in india #herpes treatment in india #herpes simplex virus #treat herpes #cure for herpes in india #herpes outbreak #herpes treatment #herpes shingles #herpes medication treatment

[carmen-hathaway]

Exterior - Wood Example of a large beach style brown two-story wood exterior home design with a shingle roof

#patio seating #light hardwood decking #french doors #window treatments #wood shingles #wicker patio furniture #beige patio furniture

[healtheverywhere786]

Postherpetic Neuralgia Specialist in Coimbatore | Sri Ramakrishna Hospital

Tired of living with the pain of postherpetic neuralgia? We've got you covered! 💪🏼✨

Finding effective treatment options can be a challenge, but we're here to make your journey towards healing easier. Our team in Coimbatore is dedicated to providing top-notch care and relief for those suffering from postherpetic neuralgia.

Visit our website or give us a call at 7970 108 108 to discover how we can help you reclaim your life from this debilitating condition.

Don't let the pain hold you back any longer. Take that first step towards a pain-free future today! 🌟 #postherpeticneuralgia #treatment #Coimbatore

#post neuralgia shingles treatment in coimbatore #post shingles neuralgia treatment in Coimbatore #postherpetic neuralgia specialist in coimbatore

[colleendoran]

So grateful to have to kind of support of the Dunmanifestin team, Terry Pratchett's estate, and Neil Gaiman who pushed back the GOOD OMENS deadline so I could recover from cancer treatment and shingles.

Wish I could say it's all smooth sailing, but it isn't, especially those exciting neuralgia events.

But with all this pressure now off my back, I am able to get a little more rest, restructure my schedule, and am working steady again.

I should also mention that I had various focus and health issues while working on the Neil Gaiman graphic novel adaptations for Dark Horse. https://amzn.to/44R3aML

Had Neil and Diana Schutz not been incredibly kind and patient, I'd have never made it through TROLL BRIDGE in the first place, and then there would have been no SNOW GLASS APPLES and no CHIVALRY. And of course, Daniel Chabon was a saint of patience with me on those. Never an unkind or cross word.

I know there are other people who never seem to stumble and hit every goal, but I'm not one of them. And certain people used to be very contemptuous of issues I was dealing with.

I don't work with those people anymore.

But I think you can see the results I can get when I'm working with people who are willing to be flexible and patient.

I'm very grateful to the Dunmanifestin team, Neil Gaiman, Diana Schutz, and Daniel Chabon.

Couldn't do it without you.

#good omens #neil gaiman #dark horse comics #chivalry #terry pratchett #comics

[cryblo]

Roofing in Dallas

#Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary multicolored two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel with a shingle roof lanscape #window treatments #brown #texas #black trim windows #roofing #windows and doors

[herpescure7]

What Is Herpes: Symptoms, Causes and Herpes cure in India?

The infection is distributed among the body parts that are more prone to be infected with this. If a person’s genital is infected with blisters then it's known as a genital infection. In the same way, if the mouth is infected then we may call it oral herpes. If we talk about herpes cure in India then it’s still a vague question with no definitive answer to it.

#Free Herpes Treatment in India #genital herpes #Herpes Cure #herpes cure medication #herpes cure treatment #Herpes Shingles #Herpes Simplex Virus

[jsk12345]

How Acupuncture For Shingles Help?

Shingles, commonly called herpes zoster, is a virus infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox.

According to the CDC, up to one in every three Americans will develop shingles. Shingles can affect anyone who has chickenpox, but it is most frequent in adults over the age of 50. We will let you know everything about acupuncture for shingles in this blog post.

When you have shingles, you will develop a rash that will eventually become blisters. However, you will most likely experience pain in the affected location before the rash forms.

Shingles cause pain and a rash on one side of the body. Commonly affected areas include:

neck

eyes or face

chest

abdomen

If you’re suffering from pain, you might be wondering if acupuncture for shingles can help. Acupuncture is a Chinese medicine that helps in relieving pain.

What Causes Shingles

A weak immune system and stress are ideal causes for a shingles breakout. Most people have their first outbreak after a long period of stress that suppresses the immune system or after a big sickness that forces them to work overtime. The end outcome for persons who possess the varicella virus is the same in both cases: the virus, which has been latent for many years, suddenly has the opportunity to become active and trigger a shingles outbreak.

A few days before the rash occurs, the first indicator of an outbreak is uncomfortable or tingling skin. After that, it takes around 2–4 weeks for the rash, blisters, exhaustion, and discomfort to go away. In most situations, the rash and blisters will disappear, and the person may never experience another outbreak.

However, for some people, the nerve pain can last for months or even years, resulting in what is known as ‘post-herpetic neuralgia,’ or nerve pain. In addition, long after the infection has been detected, people may experience chronic searing nerve pain along the same path as the rash. You can try acupuncture for shingles, as it will help reduce pain.

Acupuncture’s Role in Shingles Treatment

A shingles outbreak can take three various forms, but the underlying cause is always the same: the varicella-zoster virus. Each of these patterns has a poetic description in Chinese medicine, and the acupuncture spots your acupuncturist will needle will vary depending on the pattern of breakout you have.

Pattern 1: Flaming Fire in the Gallbladder and Liver

The skin lesions in this pattern are red, hot, and packed with fluid. The pain feels like pinpricks and has a burning sensation. The person is generally feverish and irritated, with a dry mouth and a strong thirst. They could have been under a lot of pressure at work and in their personal lives. This behaviour will also be accompanied by excessive alcohol and sugar consumption and a bad diet in general.

The therapeutic principle, in this case, is to cleanse the liver and drain the heat. Each acupuncture point has a specific purpose, such as moving the liver qi or clearing heat. These will be needed, along with points to address pain, inflammation, stress, and a weakened immune system.

Acupuncture points will be needed over the patient’s body, even if the outbreak is on the left of the stomach, wrapping around the ribs to the back.

Pattern 2 — Damp Heat

Large blisters filled with yellow fluid distinguish this motif. Because their walls are weak and readily ruptured, they may be prone to infection. The person will have little appetite and will have difficulty digesting.

Treatment for this pattern, like treatment for the preceding pattern, entails emptying heat from the affected area of the body. However, because this pattern is associated with higher wetness, the points will also include points that drain dampness.

Spleen 9 at the uppermost part of the tibia bone in the hollow below the knee on the inside of the thigh and San Jiao 5, 2 inches above the wrist on the top of the forearm among the radius and ulna are two of the most common places for draining moisture.

Pattern 3 — Qi and Blood Stagnation

This pattern pertains to the previously mentioned post-herpetic pain and frequently affects older people who are weary and rundown. The discomfort is either pin-prick-like or characterized by tenderness in the rash location that worsens with movement. In addition, exhaustion, restlessness, a lack of appetite, and poor sleep are usually absent.

This is the chronic pain pattern, and most pain is viewed as a stagnation of qi (energy) and blood in Chinese medicine. Because pain occurs when the body’s energy is blocked and not flowing smoothly, the treatment for this pattern will include strengthening and moving the qi and the blood.

Why Does Acupuncture For Shingles Work?

Acupuncture is useful in treating shingles because it allows individuals to be treated particularly for their symptoms and constitution. The acupuncturist can detect the type of shingles the person has and utilize specific acupuncture points to correct the underlying imbalance that allowed the virus to appear in the first place.

Acupuncture sites can be needled to remove any heat and flow the qi, minimizing pain and edema. Furthermore, the immune system can be strengthened, which aids in fighting the virus and returning it to a latent form. Another advantage of acupuncture is that it can be used to treat any additional symptoms related to the outbreak, such as a headache or nausea.

Acupuncture helps to prevent this by needling around the affected area.

You can treat your shingles with acupuncture and with fewer side effects. You can contact JSK Acupuncture to know more.

Tags: Acupuncture Treatment For Shingles , Acupuncture, How Acupuncture For Shingles Help?

#Acupuncture #acupuncture clinic #Acupuncture Treatment For Shingles #How Acupuncture For Shingles Help? #JSK Acupuncture #Acupuncture For Shingles

[ilongfor-the-arts]

Tea and Music

Pairing: Marquis de Gramont x fem! Reader

Warnings: smut!, language, mild begging, choking, unprotected sex, use of “good girl”

Summary: Part two of Poetry in Motion! These are the events that happen after Marquis meets our ballerina reader.

Word Count: 6.7k

Read Part one HERE!!!

Taglist: @jiawalker

The limo crushed the small stones under its tires as it drove along the white gravel path. The entire estate was completely covered in trees and green once we passed through the golden gates. I couldn't see the sides of the gate from the car, so I assumed his estate extended for miles.

Not a blade of grass was out of place.

I would have flirted with Vincent sooner if I had known he was concealing a mansion.

Our conversation two nights ago was extremely straightforward. He introduced himself, and I asked him one question before he insisted on speaking with me in person.

His address was on a street I'd never heard of before. I thought that perhaps it was in the Paris slums. His fancy suits and elegant demeanor were just a ruse to convince people he was wealthy.

But, alas, he lives in a mansion. Who would’ve guessed?

As the car approached the large front doors, I tried to hide my surprise. His house was something out of a movie. To take it all in, I had to turn my head completely left and right. It possessed at least three levels. It was made of lovely white vintage brick and black shingles. Two poles supported an enormous balcony on opposite sides of the large double front doors.There were dozens of tall arched windows. The architecture was inspired by the French countryside, but it was elevated to the highest level.

It appeared vintage and loved, but not worn.

“Alright madame, we are here.”

My trance was broken by the posh driver.

“Oh, yes.”

He opened the door for me, offering his hand to ensure that I would not be inconvenienced in the slightest.

I could grow accustomed to this type of treatment.

I hoisted myself up by grasping his smooth palm.

“Have a pleasant visit, madame.”

He spoke with a classy accent. His elegance, however, couldn't compete with Vincent's. The elderly driver jumped back into the driver's seat and began bustling away, rocks crunching beneath the tires.

I cocked my head upwards, hesitant. I could feel nerves brewing within my stomach. The butterflies were flying free. I took a deep breath, steadying my mind.

I honed in on the rustling of the trees, waiting until the butterflies had completely dissipated.

I couldn’t believe I was about to enter the home of a man I had just met.

I knew his name.

I knew he liked ballet.

I knew where he lived.

And, that’s it.

I climbed the few steps leading to the glass double doors.

Should I knock?

No, he was expecting me.

I gently pushed open the door. The hinges didn't creak in the least.

The doors opened to reveal a large room with white marble floors and a double staircase that swirled to the top floor. The banisters were made of gold, the dark wood walls were covered in expensive-looking paintings, and each room was separated by a large, open arch.

“Hello? I’m here!”

The waves of my voice echoed around the large, nearly empty room. I felt dwarfed by the high ceilings.

“Welcome.”

my heart skipped a beat. Vincent appeared out of nowhere, sauntering through the archway on my left, hands in pockets.

He remained silent, waiting for me to break the tension.

“Uh-Thank you for having me… your house is beautiful.”

As the gravity of the situation became clear, my tone became somewhat shaky. Vincent gave a small smile.

“Thank you very much. I have quite a few estates-“

Woah, woah, woah. A few estates? As in more than one?

“But this one is by far my favorite. It’s lavish, and quiet.”

The trees gently rustled. In the distance, birds chirped. My heart was pounding in my ears.

“See? Nothing. No sounds except those of nature.”

My knees shook. Those two previous statements felt like one big, blatant sexual innuendo. I hoped that sex wasn't the sole reason for having me in this lovely estate that just so happened to have no neighbors for miles.

He leaned against the wooden arch, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his dress pants. Vincent furrowed his brow as he observed my concern.

“Please, don’t be worried. I know I was just given the pleasure of becoming your acquaintance. But, I assure you, I possess a sophisticated character.”

The corners of his mouth turned upwards.

“Come.”

He said this as he stepped away from the arch, motioning for me to follow him into the next room.

“I have something I believe you will enjoy.”

I returned his stare. His beautiful eyes shone with warmth. He seemed to have changed slightly now that I was in his house. He appeared to be... more at ease. Neither his gaze nor his tone indicated any discomfort. He was no longer concerned with maintaining any sort of facade.

I couldn't bring myself to be afraid of him.

I smiled.

“Alright.”

My short heels clacked against the marble. As I strolled past him, I captured his familiar scent and was overcome with nostalgia.

The room I entered was significantly smaller than the one prior. Rather than being adorned in paintings, there was merely one green landscape above the unlit fireplace. One wall was entirely covered in wooden shelves, each of which was crammed to the brim. When I looked closer, I noticed that each section was filled with vinyl records. Some are still wrapped in plastic, while others have clearly been loved for years.

“Oh wow! You have quite the collection!”

I exclaimed as I ran my fingers along the spines of various records. Marquis laughed, amused by my intense interest.

“Oh wow!”

I had to use a surprising amount of force to pry one of the vinyls off the shelf as it was jammed into a completely full rack.

“You have the music from Giselle!”

Vincent strolled over to me, leaning over my shoulder to observe what had captured my attention. It was a record, with a lady and man engaged in dance. The lady wore a blouse and bodice, while the man donned tights and a decorated top.

“Do you enjoy this ballet?”

His hot breath cascaded across my face and neck as he inquired. A shiver ran down my spine as I realized he had placed his frame directly behind mine.

“Yes, I do. I was in it a long time ago. And, ever since it’s been one of my favorites.”

“Ah, you were in it?”

I flipped the vinyl to the back, reading each track and reminiscing.

“Yes, I was Giselle.”

“But of course you were.”

I scoffed, dismissing his high opinions of me.

“It really was not that impressive. It was a small community theater, and it was years ago before I decided to pursue ballet professionally.”

“It makes little difference where you do it. I'm sure you danced as well as someone from the Opéra National de Paris. Your talent is just as visible in a small theater as it is in the world's largest.”

I pushed my finger between two vinyls to create a gap so I could slip the record back into its original position.

“You flatter me.”

Vincent dragged his fingertips along the spines. As he did so, I fixed my attention along his veiny digits, my brain beginning to slip into places it hadn't been in a long time. I closed my eyes, forcing my mind to return to the present. Vincent drew his gaze across the records, studying them and searching for a specific item.

“Ah!”

He discovered what he was looking for.

“Swan Lake, another one of my favorites.”

He pulled it from the shelf and began to study it.

“Tchaikovsky's music is a work of art. He manipulates the instruments, allowing them to move in a poetic manner. It truly is unparalleled.”

He cocked his head to the side, meeting my eyes.

“Do you enjoy this ballet?”

He raised his brows, inviting me to respond. I shuffled towards his hot body, nodding.

“Yes, of course, it’s a classic.”

This cover depicted a woman bending over a lake, with a swan at her side. Beautiful blues were used to paint the entire cover.

“One of my dream roles is the swan queen.”

Vincent's lanky fingers pried the record's cover apart, and he slid the vinyl into his palm.

“One day, that role will be yours. I have no doubt about it.”

He handled the record with extreme grace and care. Despite being a large and rather intimidating man, his touch was featherlight. He opened a small cabinet located in the middle of the shelves with his opposite hand, revealing a beautiful maroon record player.

“And when you appear as the swan queen, it will be your role for the rest of your life. The audience will know instantaneously that no performance before or after yours will compare.”

Vincent placed the needle on the record's edge. The sound of a rich oboe filled the entire room. He placed his hands on his hips and viewed the black circle spin in a circle. The atmosphere became cozy and inviting. Despite being in a secluded mansion in the middle of the French countryside, I felt oddly at home. My heartbeat was regular.

Vincent glanced over his shoulder.

“Do you drink tea?”

He inquired.

I was so enthralled by Vincent's lovely figure that I had to shake myself awake when he spoke.

“Oh! Yes, of course. I love tea.”

Vincent unbuttoned the cuffs of his white dress shirt, rolling his sleeves up to reveal lovely veins dancing across his forearms. I gulped, my face growing hotter as butterflies began to hatch within my lower abdomen.

“Would you care to drink tea with me on the porch as we indulge in this lovely music?”

I nodded, unable to hide the grin playing on the corners of my mouth.

“I would like that very much.”

-

Vincent brought out a large silver tray, atop which was a lovely china set with pink flowers and gold stems.

“I would expect a wealthy man like you to have help. Rich men don’t make their own tea.”

I said, my tone slightly mocking. Vincent chuckled, plopping down onto the cream colored cushions.

“I don't usually make my own tea. But I specifically requested that we spend the day alone. The bustle of people detracts from the peaceful energy.”

I put a sugar cube in one of the adorable cups and poured tea on top, watching the sugar break and dissolve.

I picked up the saucer and leaned back, my body relaxing against the plush cushions. I had a fantastic view. My back was to the house, leaving the entire garden open for inspection. The green stretched as far as the eye could see, interrupted only by a few healthy trees. The property had a gray gravel path that twisted and turned. At the horizon, the gentle hill of the land met the flawless blue sky.

The scenery was lovely. I wish I knew how to paint.

My hair was tousled by a gentle breeze. The soothing music wafted through the house, reaching my ears as a mere whisper.

“Are you enjoying the view?”

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, savoring the cozy energy as I sipped my tea. The steaming liquid poured down my throat, warming me from within.

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

I rested the cup in my lap.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself? I feel like we talk so much about me.”

I said, chuckling slightly.

Vincent sipped his tea while crossing his legs and gazing out at the horizon. His gorgeous side profile was highlighted by the gentle glow of the sun.

“My life is… not very interesting.”

His demeanor had transformed. Instead of being charming, he had become aloof.

“Oh, I’m sure your life is plenty interesting. I mean, come on, this house is ginormous! What do you do?”

Vincent grit his teeth, avoiding the question.

“I made all of my money in real estate.”

He returned my gaze, his fondness restored.

“Oh! That sounds interesting.”

I took another sip of my delicious tea.

“You must’ve gotten extremely lucky.”

He flashed me a tight smile.

“Yes, absolutely. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be where I am now.”

The birds in the distance chirped peacefully, blending with the music to create a cohesive energy that flowed through my being.

“Please, tell me if I am crossing any boundaries with this question.”

I perked up. He had piqued my interest.

“However, you are a very attractive woman. And you are constantly expressing yourself through the arts. I find it difficult to believe you don't have suitors flocking to you at all times.”

I gulped, my gaze fixed on the tea in my lap.

“Well, honestly, it’s difficult to keep a relationship when you’re constantly either in the theater, or searching for your next opportunity. The little free time I have almost never lines up with the free time of others.”

He fixed his gaze on me, listening intently to every word I said. I'd never had a conversation with a man who was so enthralled by me.

“I’ve had relationships, but it's difficult to make them stick. Lately, I’ve kinda given up. It’s stressful, y’know?”

Vincent hummed.

“Yes, I can imagine.”

He sipped his tea one last time, leaning back completely to display his stunning neck. He leaned forward and placed the china cup atop its saucer before assuming his previous position.

"Well, with me, you never have to worry about that, ma chérie." My few important obligations rarely interfere with my personal life. And, if they do, I promise to commit to our relationship and not let it fall through the cracks."

His dedication surprised me. I raised my brows.

“Well, that is very kind of you. I appreciate the reassurance.”

“That is, if pursuing a relationship with me is something that entices you.”

His statement piqued my interest. I suppose I hadn't considered the question, "What are we?" I was definitely interested in pursuing a relationship with him, despite only having become acquainted a few days ago. I felt a genuine connection, and I'd be a fool to pass up this opportunity.

Also, the reality that he was filthy rich drew me to him.

I finished the sweet tea, placing it on the black wire coffee table.

“Yes, I believe I would be interested in that.”

I gave him a genuine smile, which he returned.

“Good, I am glad to hear that.”

He folded his hands and tucked them into his lap, his gaze following. He was deep in thought, as if caught between reality and his thoughts. Vincent came to after what seemed like an eternity. He returned his gaze to mine. His attention had been drawn to a new emotion. He was looking at me with calculating eyes, as if he was carefully pondering what to say next.

This was unusual for him, as he always seemed to know exactly what to say.

“I don’t mean to sound creepy when I say this, but I have been admiring you for a while.”

To be honest, I didn't mind. And I didn't think he was creepy at all for expressing his admiration for me.

“In all honesty, I’m flattered. The way I see it, I wouldn’t put myself on the stage if I was afraid of extreme admiration. I mean, that is kind of the goal of a performer. Y’know, to make people fall in love with the performance.”

Vincent nodded, his smile widening. He was pleased with my response.

“I recall seeing you perform for the first time. It was about two years ago, in Coppélia. You played a minor role, but your beauty captivated me, and the more I sought you out, the more I fell in love.”

There was something sensual about the thought of Vincent admiring me from afar for years. It all seemed so forbidden, him watching me from a box, carefully calculating the best time to ask me out.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why didn’t you ask me out sooner?”

Vincent shrugged.

“I assumed you were in a relationship. I tried to forget about you, but you were always on my mind. Then I didn't see you at the Opéra national de Paris for a year. My job was particularly demanding at that time. It was best if I concentrated solely on that. So I didn't go looking for you. I assumed that chapter of my life had come to an end. Then I notice you're performing in La Bayadère. And I knew that whatever force governs our universe had given me the opportunity to become your acquaintance.”

I couldn’t stop my face from breaking into a grin. I’ll admit, it felt insanely good to be admired by someone.

“Are you a nostalgic person?”

Yes, extremely.

“Yes, I am.”

“Ah!”

He exclaimed, rising to his feet.

“In that case, I have one more thing I think you would like to see.”

I followed him through the house. If I didn’t have him, I would undoubtedly be lost. Each lavish hallway felt as if it extended for miles. I followed, and followed, and followed. Until eventually we reached a pair of black double doors. They were covered in beautiful flower designs. Vincent turned the golden knobs, pushing the doors open to reveal… a bedroom?

Wow.

It was a nice bedroom, to be sure. The floors were tan wood, and the walls were a dark brown color. A large, black chandelier hung from the ceiling with an expensive crystal thread. The bedframe, curtains, and dresser with a large mirror all looked like they were plucked from the queen's bedroom.

In fact, the whole place felt like it belonged to a king. The gold accents, intricate details, and visibly expensive fabrics all gave me the impression that I was in Buckingham Palace.

Vincent headed over to his dresser, which was located on the opposite side of the room as the bed. He began rummaging through various objects, searching for something.

“Ah! Here it is! I knew I kept it!”

He gave me... a leaflet? No, it's a program. It was the program from my first performance ever at the Opera Nacional de Paris, Coppélia. My eyes shot open.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe you kept this!”

I flipped through it, reading the names and contemplating all the wonderful people I'd had the pleasure of working with.

“Of course I kept it.”

I raised my eyes to him. He smiled, pleased that I had found enjoyment in this little bit of nostalgia.

“Um-”

I began.

“I-I don’t mean to take your memories from you.”

I said with a small laugh.

“But, would you mind if I kept this?”

“But of course! There is no need for me to keep a silly little booklet now that I have had the pleasure of meeting the object of my affection.”

We shared a moment of peaceful, happy silence.

“Besides, if it makes you happy, I'll gladly give it to you. We've decided to pursue a relationship. So, it is my responsibility to do everything in my power to please you.”

His gaze darted to my lips before returning to my eyes, implying something taboo.

His eyes grew dark. My posture became stiff. Vincent took a large step towards me, and I had to tilt my head almost completely backwards to look him in the eyes.

I was hit with a wave of déjà vu. I was no longer on the streets of Paris, but rather in Vincent's bedroom. This time, there was nothing preventing us from delving head first into our desires.

He cupped my cheek, running his calloused thumb over my cheekbone. My breath caught in my throat. My lower abdomen was in knots, more from anticipation than from nerves. There wasn't much that could happen on the dark streets of Paris. But suddenly everything was possible and within reach. All I had to do was reach out and grab them.

“The relationships you’ve been in… have any of them had the pleasure of…”

His voice trailed off, beckoning me to finish the thought.

I gulped, a lump forming in my throat.

“No.”

My voice quivered as I felt overpowered by his pressing gaze.

Vincent tutted crispy.

“Pity.”

He stated, his voice lowering to a sensuous whisper. I envisioned him whispering sweet nothings into my ear while thrusting mercilessly into my tight cunt.

My stomach flipped.

My knees shook.

All of the blood in my body rushed to my core.

Wetness began to pool in my panties.

I adjusted my weight uncomfortably, anticipating Vincent's next move.

He leaned forward, his lips inches away from mine. I desperately wanted to break the tension by pressing my mouth to his, thereby beginning the downward spiral of pleasure. However, my train of thought was derailed when I felt Vincent’s opposite hand glide up my thigh.

I squeezed my eyes shut, sighing in pleasure as his digits swiftly located my clothed clit. He tenderly massaged my sensitive bud. The subtle sensation was utterly euphoric. My head bowed forward, my hands anxiously clutching his white dress shirt.

Vincent jerked my head upwards, forcing my misty eyes to lock with his lust blown pupils.

“You’re already so wet, ma chérie. And I have barely even touched you.”

His velvety accent became 10 times more seductive now that it had fallen an octave.

“Oh, it will be so wonderful to watch you come undone.”

He pressed his plush lips to my jugular, applying gentle kisses to my neck as he continued to draw figure eights onto my clothed clit. I threw my arms around his neck, hanging onto his strong frame as my knees threatened to give out.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to bury my face between your thighs and taste your sweet little cunt.”

I couldn’t handle the erotic tone combined with the featherlight touches to my clit. It was far too much for my touch starved body to handle. needed something. I was ravenous for his mouth, his fingers, his cock. I wanted so badly to be destroyed by him, to be given such pleasure that I fear coming back to reality.

“Vincent.”

I said between heavy breaths.

“Yes ma chérie?”

My jaw hung upon, mouth unable to form coherent sentences.

“P-Please. I need you-I need you so bad.”

Vincent drew back, his lips slamming into mine. Our mouths matched like puzzle pieces. We were so glorious together that I swear I could hear angels singing in perfect harmony.

“What would you like me to do to you ma belle, hm?”

He said in between fiery kisses.

“Make me cum, Vincent, please.”

His tongue slid into my mouth, giving me a fleeting taste of his passion before he quickly yanked it back. I was flustered. Our connection had been severed, and I was unsure as to why.

Vincent grasped my chin, forcing me to keep my head still.

His hair was struggling to remain neat. The single, dangling strand was a great metaphor for his once well-kept demeanor now crumbling before my eyes.

“Beg. Beg me to fuck you. Beg me to make you cum.”

He demanded.

Mt jaw quivered. His hand had retreated from my core and now lay atop the swell of my hip.

“P-Please Vincent. I need you. I need you so bad.”

Vincent narrowed his eyes disapprovingly.

“Oh, ma chérie, I know you can do better than that.”

He placed his lips to mine, swiftly reigniting the flame before suffocating it once more.

“Be my good girl and beg.”

I locked gazes with Vincent, feeling his sexual energy course through my body in waves.

“Please-“

I began, my desire somewhat strangling the words within my throat.

“Please Vincent… Please, I need you to make me cum.”

I brought my palms to his chest, attempting to quickly unbutton his dress shirt. Unfortunately, my hands were far too jittery and the buttons were far too small for me to make any significant progress.

“What exactly do you want ma belle, hm? Tell me.”

His velvety accent wafted through me whenever he spoke, adding to the wetness that had begun to pool in my panties.

“Please, please. I need you.”

Thankfully, the sexual tension had subsided just enough for me to compose meaningful sentences.

“Please, please, I need you. I need your mouth between my legs. I need-I need you to fuck me. I need your cock so bad. Please, please make me cum it’s all I can think about.”

A devious smirk spread across Vincent’s face.

“Why didn’t you ask me sooner?”

He connected our lips, reigniting the raging fire of desire that burned between us. Vincent hoisted me off the floor, his large hands traveling up my short sundress and resting against my ass. He carried me with ease, his hands gentle but his lips aggressive.

Vincent tossed me onto the bed with little regard for tenderness. However, I was barely impacted by the blow, as the mattress quickly suppressed and conformed to my physique.

I lay, my gaze fixed upwards towards Vincent’s lanky frame. The dim yet sensual lights foregrounded the sharp curvatures of his face. His long digits located his top button and he began to leisurely undo his shirt without breaking eye contact.

Suddenly, I became aware that my dress had ridden up my thighs, exposing my evident desire. I grasped the hem, pushing it downwards in a futile attempt to conceal my yearning. Vincent ceased his movements, crawling over the end of the bedframe with haste.

His hand wrapped around my wrist, pinning my hand above my head.

My eyes darted upwards, the breath hitching in my throat as I perceived his close proximity. Vincent’s previously quintessential appearance was slowly dissolving. A few strands of hair had broken loose from their original location and were now dangling aimlessly above his brow. Furthermore, his shirt was halfway undone, exposing his prominent collarbone and somewhat highlighting his toned chest.

“Don’t cover up for me, ma belle.”

He murmured, his sultry accent sending a wave of desire to my lower abdomen. My cunt throbbed.

“I want nothing more than to see every inch of you.”

Vincent lodged his thigh between my legs, his clothed knee grazing against my hot core. I jolted, a wave of heat coursing through my body. My back arched instinctively, mouth falling open as I involuntarily ground my hips against his thigh in an effort to increase friction.

Unfortunately, he revoked his leg before I was able to procure further pleasure. His free hand followed the soft curve of my side, sending shivers down my spine. My body became cold with anticipation. Goosebumps rose along my skin.

Vincent’s calloused fingertips grazed against my clothed clit. Heat radiated from my wet core as I squeezed my eyes shut. My brow furrowed as he began to slowly draw figure eights onto my clit.

“Ah, you are so wet and I’ve barely even touched you.”

His soft lips connected to my jugular, peppering gentle kisses down my neck.

“I’ve thought about this moment for a long while.”

With his hands required to support his weight as he descended, his powerful clasp released my wrist. I entangled my fingers in his silky hair, further ruining his pristine image.

“Although I pride myself on maintaining a certain level of class, I can’t deny that I’ve often thought about how satisfying it would be to bring you immense pleasure.”

He continued to press his lips against my hot skin, his face now level with my clothed breasts.

Vincent leaned back on his knees. He dragged his eyes up and down my frame, running his tongue across his bottom lip. I suddenly felt small under his gaze.

His tender fingertips located the ball of my ankle, and he hastily removed both of my short heels, tossing them aimlessly to the floor. After he had discarded my shoes, he trailed his large palms upwards, caressing my calves, then my thighs. I watched intently as his veiny hands slipped under the hem of my dress. Vincent hooked a finger in the waistband of my panties, dragging them down my legs at a painfully slow pace.

Once I was fully exposed, he assumed a position between my legs. Thankfully, the bed was grand enough for him to lay comfortably.

All the blood in my body had rushed to my core, and I could feel my heartbeat throbbing vehemently within my lower abdomen.

Vincent trailed his moist lips along my inner thigh, gazing up at me devilishly through his lashes as he did so. He was well aware that his teasing behavior was propelling me into a state of lust filled desperation.

When he established that he had prolonged my suffering enough, he hastily buried his face between my thighs. I gasped, throwing my head back onto the opulent pillows. My thighs instinctively clenched around his head, but Vincent’s strong hands pulled my legs apart to free himself.

He flattened his tongue against my clit, taking his time to draw out his movements so as to not supply me with an orgasm too hastily. He was thoroughly enjoying the elongation of my pleasure.

After a brief moment of supplying delicate sensations to my clit, I felt the tip of his finger prod at my entrance. I threw my hands upwards, grasping onto the bed frame, my knuckles quickly turning white.

“Oh fuck!”

I exclaimed, grinding my hips against his gorgeous face.

“Vincent-Vincent your mouth feels so good, holy shit.”

I spoke in mangled cries, not caring to keep my voice down. After all, there was no one around for miles to be bothered by my proclamations.

His middle two fingers pushed into my entrance, thrusting upwards to stimulate my walls.

“You taste wonderful, ma belle.”

He uttered, continuing to fuck me with his fingers throguhout the duration of his praise. Vincent located my g spot. My nails dug into the bedframe, undoubtedly leaving prominent scratches. He took note of my non verbal cues.

Vincent increased the intensity of his fingers. Quickly, the coil of pleasure began to tighten within my lower abdomen. I bucked my hips against his face, but Vincent quickly stifled my movements by pressing my hips into the mattress.

“Are you close?”

He murmured against my clit. The gentle vibrations set my nerves ablaze with white hot desire.

“Yeah, yeah I’m so close.”

I mumbled, my arms beginning to tremble as I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt my orgasm begin to seep into the corners of my brain.

Vincent’s long digits expertly located my g spot with every thrust.

His warm mouth continued to duck and stimulate my swollen bundle of nerves.

The erotic sounds of his fingers fucking my cunt reverberated loudly throguhout the predominantly empty bedroom.

“Then cum for me, ma chérie.”

His endearing words proved to be the last necessary step in reaching my release. The tension that had built within my stomach exploded as I came gloriously all over his face. My back felt as though it had been rammed into a solid brick wall.

My chest heaved, and I found it arduous to supply my lungs with sufficient oxygen.

My eyelids began to flutter open as the movements of both his tongue and fingers slowed. When he removed his digits and mouth, I was overcome with a glorious sensation of complete satisfaction. Both my mind and body succumbed to bliss. I had never before experienced such an absence of disquiet.

Vincent climbed over me, his torso now bare.

I cracked a small grin, my palms flattening against the expanse of his soft chest. His lips shone with my arousal. I trailed my fingertips slowly downwards, halting when I reached his thick leather belt. I began to undo the buckle, however, Vincent caught wind of my intentions. With one hand, he engulfed both of my wrists, pinning them above my head. I gasped.

“Oh, no, not now.”

His gentle lips tenderly kissed the soft divot behind my ear. I took a deep breath, the scent of his pricey, heavy fragrance clouding my mind.

“I have waited far too long for this moment. It would be foolish of me to allow you to furnish pleasure when my desire has been consuming me for years.”

Vincent moved off of me and stood to remove the remainder of his clothes. With a pleasurable whoosh, he pulled his belt from the loops of his formal pants. Subsequently, he removed his shoes and allowed his trousers to gather about his ankles.

He met my stare, the mellow hue of the faint overhead lights collecting within his green irises.

“You look beautiful.”

Once again, the heat from my body began to travel downwards.

Vincent’s boxers were the final article of clothing to be removed. I gulped audibly, as his sizable cock was now standing fully erect.

Holy shit, I thought to myself.

He possessed one of the most winsome cock I had ever laid eyes on. I clenched my thighs together, my cunt eagerly clenching around nothing.

When he had finished undressing, he climbed back over me and our lips met once again. I melted into the kiss, exhaling sensually as I sunk into the plush mattress. Vincent’s hand grasped the hem of my dress, tugging it upwards until I was forced to raise my arms.

Thankfully, the supportive nature of the outfit allowed me to function in the absence of a bra. As a result, my entire body was now fully exposed for Vincent’s piercing gaze.

He discarded the dress and dropped his hips suggestively until his prominent erection pressed against my lower stomach.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, beckoning him to progress further. Vincent shuffled his hips, tip now dangerously close to my aching cunt. But, before he slipped inside of me, he raised a free hand and tenderly brushed a few unruly strands of hair from my damp forehead.

“If you wish to stop at any moment, merely apprise me and I shall cease.”

I gave him a nod, throwing my arms around his neck to provide an anchor. Vincent pressed his lips to my neck, applying a few gentle kisses before sliding his cock into my wet cunt.

My walls stretched, hastily conforming to his rather large girth. My back arched into his solid torso. I inhaled sharply as he buried the entirety of his length deep within me.

“Are you alright, ma chérie?”

His body stilled. I groaned in mild frustration.

“Y-yeah. I’m more than alright. P-please just fuck me already. I-I need you so bad.”

Vincent pulled back. His lips were plush. His hair was disheveled. His cheeks were a bright shade of pink.

His disarranged appearance was a stark contrast to the previously sophisticated man I had met at the start of this afternoon. However, I do consider the duality of man to be a topic of the utmost enticement. There is something captivating about the notion of commencing a relationship with someone who has a secret side that solely you have the pleasure of becoming acquainted with.

Without further words, Vincent began to roll his hips. The slight pain of his cock quickly dissipated to create room for immense pleasure.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head.

“Does that feel good? Hm?”

He spoke with a slight vocal fry. The raspiness of his tone elicited a visceral reaction. I dragged my nails along his smooth back, undoubtedly breaking skin.

He grumbled deep within his chest.

When I didn’t answer, Vincent pulled his face back, blown pupils meeting mine. I gazed at him through half lidded eyes. I found it difficult to ignite passionate eye contact when I was presented with the distraction of his cock expertly grazing against my g spot with every fervent jerk of his hips.

He wrapped a large hand around my neck. My pulse rose to the top of my skin as black spots began to cloud my vision.

“Come on, ma belle, be my good girl. Tell me how good I make you feel.”

I exhaled a shuddering breath.

“F-fuck… you feel so good inside me Vincent.”

I gulped.

“Y-your cock feels so good.”

Vincent’s skin began to sheen with a thin layer of perspiration. The unruly strands of brown hair deepened in color as they stuck to his forehead. I moaned pornographically as the grip on my neck constricted once more. My jaw dropped. The brief lack of oxygen only added to the flurry of incoherent thoughts bouncing around my skull.

“Oh, my, you’re such a good girl for me.”

He gulped, a soft sigh escaping his swollen lips.

“You’re taking me so well.”

The erotic words combined with his smooth accent contributed to the tightening of my lower abdomen.

I was close, dangerously close.

I could feel my body reaching the edge, and I would soon fall into a state of euphoria.

Vincent’s adjusted his hips ever so slightly, his tip now reaching deeper than before.

I instinctively turned my head away. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I buried my face into the bed. My brow furrowed. My eyes squeezed shut as I anticipated my release.

Vincent utilized his thumb to reposition my face.

“No, don’t look away. Be my good girl and look me in the eyes.”

I forced my eyelids open, meeting his piercing stare as ever so slightly increased the frequency of his thrusts. Every instinct beckoned me to throw my head back, but I fought the desire. And, I instead kept my eyes fixated on Vincent’s blown pupils that had almost entirely consumed his irises.

“I want to watch you. I want to see your face as you cum all over my cock.”

I gave him a slight nod, indicating that I could hear while trapped in my lustful stupor.

His hand traveled downwards, gently caressing my curves before reaching my swollen clit. Vincent applied gentle pressure, and, with that, I let go.

I kept my eyes fixated on him, allowing my face to contort as it pleased.

Vincent groaned loudly, his cum coating my walls.

He continued to fuck me throguh my orgasm. His movements gradually slowed as the fog of euphoria began to dissipate. My chest rose and collapsed with fervor.

When I deemed it safe to break eye contact, I allowed my eyelids to flutter shut. Suddenly, I became aware of the gravitational pull the bed exerted on my body.

Jesus, I was exhausted.

Vincent removed his cock from my core. However, he remained atop me, tenderly pushing my unkempt hair back to create mild uniformity.

“You may stay here, if you’d like, for however long you wish.”

His voice was as it had been prior to our physical encounter.

I giggled, my mouth breaking into a slight smile.

“Your house is magnificent.”

I met his gaze, his eyes now possessing a tender quality.

“I don’t know if I ever want to leave.”

I said with a scoff.

A smirk played on the corner of his lips.

“Then don’t, stay here for as long as your heart desires.”

#marquis de gramont x reader #marquis x reader #marquis de gramont #john wick series #john wick smut #john wick movies #john wick imagine #john wick fanfic #john wick #john wick 4 #bill skarsgard x reader #bill skarsgard #bill skarsgard smut #bill skarsgard fanfiction #bill skarsgard imagine #bill skargard #bill skarsgård #bill skarsgard icons

[chronically-ghosted]

my home is you

rating: general

pairing: frankie morales x f!reader

word count: 1.6K

summary: you warm frankie up after he stays out in the cold.

warnings: snuggling, neck kisses, absurdly large sweaters, family disagreements, mentions of financial hardships, the weakness of southerners when it comes to the cold, mentions of PTSD and treatment, discussions of a dead relative, but honestly just lots of fluff

a/n: @maggiemayhemnj it's here, thank you for your patience! and thank you to everyone who sent in prompts for my mini-challenge, Merry Thanksgiving Nonsense 2023 -- I had so much fun! this can be take place in the same universe as "in another life", but it doesn't have to!

also shout out to the boy irl who inspires all of this 🤍

There are certain things you pick up about a person after two years of marriage. 

In certain cases, you might learn how they prefer their socks to be folded up, or what brand of detergent they think smells the best. Maybe their eating habits after a bad day, or how quickly they go through shampoo. 

After marrying Frankie and listening to his endless business out and around the house, you can pinpoint his moods with startling accuracy based on what exactly he is working on. If it’s your car or his, he’s worried about something, more precise than any mechanic you could ever afford. If he’s working on rebuilding the engine Benny asked him to check out, then he’s focused, in a good but distant mood (you always get nervous when he hoists five hundred pounds above him with a crank) and you know he needs that time in his head. However - for some reason you may ask him about one day or you might just accept it as one of those things as he is the way that he is - when Frankie’s pissed, he works on the roof. 

Maybe because he gets to beat the shit out of something, but when you come home and he’s up there pounding off some rotten shingles, you know he’s had a very bad day.

Which is what you find after you pull up in the driveway from the grocery store one afternoon. Somehow in the hour and half it took you to get eggnog, butter, and melting chocolate (Santi’s annual Christmas bash only a week away), something had really set your husband off. You’d never seen someone so angrily staple down Plastic Santa and his reindeer before. 

So, you’d gone inside without calling out to him, knowing it was better to simply let him be.

That was over an hour ago. 

That was also when the temperature was in the sixties. The sun long gone, the air rapidly cooling down and with an oncoming and sudden wind, you wonder if it will be you who knocks some sense into him, or the weather. 

As you take your freshly-made eggnog bread out of the oven, you hear the clatter of his metal ladder sliding close. You rush to wash off your heads and clean down the counter as the garage door cranks up, his tool box jingling when it’s returned to the shelf. You hear the back door open and you sprint into the laundry room. He might head directly for a shower, in which case, what you’re doing will be rather irrelevant, but you desperately want that first smile, that thing that’ll make him grin and let the tension loose from his shoulders. On your toes, you move back a few towels and ugly Christmas sweaters you bring out only once a year in search of what you’re looking for that you bring out once in a blue moon. You find it and grin. 

You didn’t miss your chance. Frankie, with his head tipped back on the couch, eyes closed, arms locked over each other, is pink. Pink in the cheeks from exertion. Pink on his nose, ears, and hands from the cold. A true Floridan at heart, his body apparently shut down when exposed to temperatures below what you’d experience in the Caribbean. Couldn’t even make it to the shower to warm up, poor thing.

As quietly as you can, you sneak over to him, unfurling what you have in your hands. The instant before you sit in his lap, you see the tiniest quirk of a smile pluck up his mouth.

You open the triple XL sweater in your hands over his head. It practically falls over his shoulders so, without much difficulty, you curl up under the sweater and join him in the darkness. 

The enclosed space brings his cold nose close to yours and you kiss him gently, right on that pink flush. You rub your hands over his forearms, his skin icy to the touch. You can feel the chill under that ridiculously thin red t-shirt and you shuffle closer, hoping your body heat trapped so close to his will warm him up. In the half-dark, the scent of sticky, masculine sweat permeates the little air you have, dampening the pine smell of the sweater that you never can manage to wash out. 

You wrinkle your nose. “You smell.” 

Silence. And then –

He chuckles. “I know. But you smell like cinnamon.” 

Since you first pulled you both under, he moves. He unlocks his arms and you curl even closer. God, he smells much worse when you tuck your head into his neck, the curls pressed against his skin damp, the pulse in his throat strong, but you can’t find it in yourself to care. With a silent, long inhale, Frankie puts his big palms on your thighs, then your hips, and on an exhale, he pulls you into his chest, the bristles of his graying beard warm and scratching against your forehead. His fingers sit like external ribs – heavy, strong, protecting your heart. 

“Is there a reason you put your granddad’s sweater over us?” He asks after a moment, his voice rich and sweet like caramel. The sweater had been enormous on your granddad when he was alive, but he could never find a reason to get rid of it. You spent many Christmases making cookies or putting up the ornaments on the tree while he wore it and when he died, it was one of the only things you took from his house. 

“You looked cold,” you murmur into his neck. He hums his agreement and you get your wish: beneath your chest, you feel the anger and tension and shitty day he’s had flush out of him with every breath. 

 Your fingers, squeezed between his chest and yours, dig into that damp t-shirt. 

“Do you wanna talk about it?” 

Talking – never was Frankie’s strong suit, before and especially after he joined the military and learned to take everything on the chin. 

But, over the years and by carefully coming together over the landmines of the past, he started talking to you. And then he started talking to a therapist who specializes in PTSD. And then he started talking more and better and quite often with you. 

But it’s not easy. It doesn’t come naturally. He knows he’s safe, he knows you're safe, but there is an active choice made every time he opens his mouth. 

“My mom.” He says quietly. “She doesn’t understand why we aren’t flying up there for Christmas. And she doesn’t understand why I won’t let her pay for our plane tickets.” 

You squeeze your fingers, kiss his neck distractedly. Ever since you bought the house together, money’s been extraordinarily tight. You had suggested neither of you get gifts for each other this year, but Frankie wouldn’t hear of it. 

Frankie also loathes accepting money from anyone.

You inhale and Frankie does too, your minds silently on the same thing, the same anxious weight pulling you together in ways you couldn’t quite put into words. 

In your vows you talked about for better or worse. This is worse. 

Two years later, you redefine what partner means every single day with him. 

“I hope next year it’ll be different,” you say to his chin. You actually really like his mom, his family, and your stomach knots at the thought of them being disappointed in you. 

You’re starting to sweat beneath the sweater, up against the damp heat of your husband.

“It will.” Anger gone, he’s your sweet, committed Frankie again. The man that you put your faith and trust in time and time again, and would do it without question for the rest of your life. His palm rubs warm stripes up and down your back. “I know it will.” 

You sit in the darkness and the silence and the warmth of having a giant sweater tucked up around you and you listen to the beating of his heart. A sound you’ve found you can’t sleep without. 

“Thank you for checking on me.” 

He sounds so genuinely grateful your eyes flush hot for a moment. 

“Of course, baby.” You kiss his cheek, the wiry brush of his beard. “Always.”

He squeezes you extra tight when you make that promise. 

Always. 

Your heart beats, your eyes flutter shut. He breathes like he is at peace, with you wrapped up in his arms. 

Always. 

“I made an extra loaf,” you say after a long, content stretch of silence. You grin, even though he can’t see. 

“Yeah? The eggnog bread?”

“Mhm hmm. But you have to shower first.”

You giggle as Frankie pins your thighs to his hips as he swings onto his feet. The loose sweater finally falls over his head but you can barely fit through the head hole. 

“A shower it is, then.”

He walks on memory as you fight through the rolls of material. Finally and by some miracle, you get the sweater off you both as Frankie makes it into the bedroom. 

His hair is sticking up, sweat dried and statick-y, when he drops you onto the bed.

You didn’t know it is possible to carry the weight of the love you feel for Frankie and not burst into a million pieces.

You giggle as he pats down your own floating strands of hair and then tucks it behind your ears, his eyes finding yours. 

Beneath his gaze, you feel gigantic and small, shy and confident, terrified and pleased – all at once. You can’t possibly be the thing that fills his eyes with so much love.

“I love you,” he says, simply, obviously, so much and so little. 

“I love you too.” 

He tugs you to your feet and kisses you, a welcoming, familiar glide of his lips against yours. He keeps you close when he pulls back.

“I’ve had a very shitty day and you’re the only thing that makes it better. So, you’re going to take a shower with me and then we're going to watch any Christmas movie you want, okay, baby?” 

You swallow the tightness in your throat, the wetness in your eyes. His hands feel so big around your cheeks. 

There is quite literally nowhere else you’d rather be.

“Okay.”  

#merry thanksgiving nonsense 2023 #frankie morales #frankie morales x reader #frankie morales x you #francisco catfish morales #triple frontier #francisco morales #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal character

[kaywavy]

transforming soffits reorganizing keys formalizing immersion joints justifying kick extractors advising aggregates managing elbows recasting connectors achieving aluminum trowels officiating disks exhibiting absolute spigots progressing coil hydrants jerry-building reflectors informing casters inventing rubber hoists performing wrenches judging chalk adapters upgrading ignition paths

regrowing flashing recommending ratchets approving barriers sweeping impact fillers sewing mirrors detailing collectors enforcing measures distributing systems presenting plugs interwinding registers piloting ash diffusers gathering cranks supplying eave pockets undertaking scroll stops accelerating straps designing fittings protecting diamond boilers logging downspouts correlating shingles uniting mallets qualifying electrostatic lifts sharing clamps obtaining circular fluids ranking foundation gauges sensing miter brackets originating space networks translating drills regulating guards selecting gable padding utilizing pellet dowels reconciling artifacts altering pulleys shedding space filters determining vents representing mortar remaking flash rakers supporting funnels typecasting rotary chocks expressing junctures resetting auxiliary vises professing strip treads inlaying matter trowels questioning drivers forming edge fittings sketching blanks overshooting spark breakers rewriting controls playing tunnels inventorying buttons enduring joint handles effecting ratchet bibbs unwinding couplings forsaking vapor conduits defining sockets calculating heaters raising grids administering tiles measuring resources installing ignition remotes extracting corners manufacturing ventilators delegating consoles treating mounting stones enacting jig deflectors intensifying alleys improvising cargo pinpointing bobs prescribing arc masonry structuring metal chucks symbolizing lathes activating plumb kits adapting coatings fixing channels expediting cordage planning compressors enlisting hangers restructuring keyhole augers shearing ridge hardware collecting reciprocating bolts maintaining corrugated dimmers whetting hole collars conducting mandrels comparing assets compiling sealants completing paths composing equivocation wheels computing dampers conceiving electrostatic treatment ordering cotter grates organizing ties orienting ladders exceeding materials targeting thermocouples demonstrating emery stock expanding latch bases training wardrobe adhesives overcomming[sic] fasteners streamlining storm anchors navigating springs perfecting turnbuckles verifying gate pegs arbitrating arithmetic lifts negotiating outlets normalizing strips building surface foggers checking key torches knitting grinders mowing planers offsetting stencils acquiring bulbs adopting rivets observing avenues ascertaining coaxial grommets slinging wing winches instituting circuit generators instructing wicks integrating pry shutters interpreting immersion lumber clarifying coils classifying wood bits closing cogs cataloging matter strips charting holders conceptualizing push terminals stimulating supports overthrowing shaft spacers quick-freezing connectors unbinding ground hooks analyzing eyes anticipating gateways controlling proposition rollers converting power angles coordinating staples correcting benders counseling joist gaskets recording gutter pipes recruiting drains rehabilitating rafter tubes reinforcing washers reporting guard valves naming freize sprues nominating rings noting straps doubling nailers drafting circuit hoses dramatizing flanges splitting framing compounds refitting stems interweaving patch unions placing sillcocks sorting slot threads securing mode cutters diverting catharsis plates procuring load thresholds transferring syllogism twine directing switch nuts referring time spools diagnosing knobs discovering locks dispensing hinges displaying hasps resending arc binders retreading grooves retrofitting aesthetics portals seeking stocks shrinking wormholes assembling blocks assessing divers attaining lug boxes auditing nescience passages conserving strikes constructing braces contracting saw catches serving installation irons recognizing fluxes consolidating fuse calipers mapping shims reviewing chop groovers scheduling lag drives simplifying hoists engineering levels enhancing tack hollows establishing finishing blocks

[herpescureindia]

Understanding Herpes Outbreaks and Medication Treatment

 Herpes, a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), often manifests in periodic outbreaks that can be both physically and emotionally challenging. While there is no cure for herpes, herpes medication treatment play a crucial role in managing outbreaks and alleviating symptoms. Let's delve into the intricacies of herpes outbreaks and the medications designed to provide relief.

Understanding Herpes Outbreaks: The Storm Within

Herpes outbreaks occur when the virus, lying dormant in nerve cells, becomes reactivated. Factors such as stress, illness, hormonal changes, or a weakened immune system can trigger the reemergence of the virus, leading to the characteristic symptoms of herpes, including painful sores, itching, and flu-like symptoms.

Herpes Medication Treatment: Calming the Storm

In the realm of herpes management, antiviral medications take center stage. These medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir, work by inhibiting the replication of the virus. When taken during an outbreak, they can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms, providing much-needed relief.

Antiviral Medications: A Closer Look

Acyclovir: A pioneer in herpes medication treatment, acyclovir is available in various forms, including oral medication and topical cream. It effectively curtails the replication of the virus, minimizing the impact of outbreaks.

Valacyclovir: Known for its convenient dosing schedule, valacyclovir is the prodrug of acyclovir. Once ingested, the body converts it into acyclovir, enhancing its antiviral properties.

Famciclovir: This antiviral medication is particularly effective against the herpes simplex virus. It hinders the virus's ability to reproduce, mitigating the severity of outbreaks.

Medication Treatment Timing: Key to Efficacy

Initiating antiviral herpes medication treatment at the onset of symptoms or during the prodromal phase (early warning signs before visible sores appear) is crucial for optimal efficacy. Early intervention can shorten the duration of outbreaks and reduce symptom intensity.

Holistic Approaches: Beyond Medication

While antiviral medications form the cornerstone of herpes outbreak management, adopting holistic approaches can enhance overall well-being. Stress reduction techniques, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and staying informed about triggers contribute to a comprehensive strategy for managing outbreaks.

Empowering Individuals: Knowledge is Key

Understanding the dynamics of herpes outbreaks and the available medication treatments empowers individuals to take an active role in their healthcare. Regular communication with healthcare providers ensures that treatment plans are tailored to individual needs, fostering a collaborative approach to managing herpes.

Conclusion: Riding the Waves of Resilience

Herpes outbreaks may create stormy moments, but with the right tools and knowledge, individuals can navigate the waves of resilience.Herpes medication treatment provide a beacon of hope, offering relief during outbreaks and contributing to the overall management of herpes. By combining medical interventions with holistic approaches and staying informed, individuals can ride the waves with strength and fortitude, embracing a journey of resilience and well-being.

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[whoahoney]

A Girl Called Honey pt 3

Part 1. Part 2.

Summary: the pressure starts to weigh on Honey and Eddie learns some of the information he’s been looking for from an unlikely ally.

CW: fem!reader, some fluff, angst, honey cuts her foot, blood, wound treatment, mentions of abuse, mentions of drug addiction, mentions of child abuse, mentions of guns being used, parentified children, depictions of poverty. (If I miss anything plz lemme know)

A/N: this took way longer than I anticipated but I promise the fluff is coming! To all that have asked about Honey, I hope this makes the wait worth it 🥺

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

One Saturday while the sun was still coming up, Honey found herself on the porch smoking a cigarette. She was admiring the early morning gold warming up the sweeping blue when a plump old woman with a long gray braid came walking down the gravel road, a foiled casserole dish in hand.

Honey made the effort to pretend she wasn’t watching her, turning her thoughts back on the best way to go about patching the loose shingles on the roof without asking Jun. There was a rainstorm rolling in, and she didn’t wanna have to deal with a leak in the boys room at 3am—but the closer the lady came, the harder it got.

Eventually, they met eyes as the woman climbed the Munson’s porch steps and flashed a warm smile in Honey’s direction. Honey returned it, her wide tense smile making her eyes almost close until she slid the cig between her lips and hugged her knees to her chest.

She stared down at the dry skin on her legs, focusing on the thick skin callusing her knees before she rested her head on them. She could hear the tap tap tap the woman made on the door and her content sigh as she waited and hummed a tune under her breath. Honey snuck a peek between the spindles of the porch rail just as Wayne popped open the door with tired eyes.

He stepped out onto the porch with a smile and gestured to the old couch Honey always thought looked so comfortable. Wayne caught Honey’s eye and waved to her, “Morning, Miss Honey!” He called.

Honey blushed madly and held her hand up in greeting, “G’morning, Mr Wayne!” She locked eyes with the smiling woman again and nodded in her direction to be polite.

“Have you met Miss Margie, yet?” He called. Honey hesitantly shook her head no before Wayne waved her over. “C’mon, lemme introduce you!”

Honey stood to walk over and looked at the cigarette in her hand and wondered if she should put it out first.

I’m grown too, what does it matter? She reminded herself before finding the willpower to take a step forward, and then another and another. She stopped at the railing where Wayne and Miss Margie stood on the porch.

“Margie Davis, this here is Honey Haller.” He informed Margie.

“What a cute little name! It’s good to meet ya, Honey.” The woman smiled and held out her hand for Honey to shake. Flashing another tense smile, Honey took it and shook her hand gently, shock running through her when Margie squeezed her hand warmly.

“Y-You too, Miss Margie.”

“Honey lives over there with her brothers and sister.” Wayne informed Miss Margie. The woman’s eyes brightened, “Oh my! How many?”

“Uh, well, there’s ten of us all together.”

“Ten?!” The woman almost gasped in intrigue, looking Honey up and down, “and where’s your mama?”

“Oh, she’s— gone.” Honey answered and took a nervous drag. Margie’s eyes turned sad as Wayne’s narrowed in suspicion.

“Oh, my stars, you poor thing. Well if you ever need a break, I watch the neighbor kids almost every day!” She offered kindly.

Wayne must’ve noticed Honey’s sharp inhale at the idea of dropping the kids off with a stranger, because he jumped in, “She’s been watching ‘em for a long, long, time. Even watched Eddie back in the day! Right, Marge?”

“That’s right! Sweetest little brown eyes I ever saw.” She gushed. Honey’s cheeks heated, agreeing with her statement wholeheartedly—Eddie had gorgeous eyes. “I practically potty trained that boy.” She giggled and shared a knowing look with Wayne, the man joining in on her laughter.

Maybe it isn’t such a bad idea after all.. Honey thought, Mr Munson wouldn’t ever lead me astray, right? Honey nodded, “I’ve got a seven and eight year old Irish twin combo and then a four year old, a three year old, and an 18 month old. All boys.” She mentioned.

Their laughter filtered off as Honey took another drag, “Oh my!” Marge said again, “Those are all such fun ages, don’t you think?” She smiled, “Crayons on the wall, constant screaming, asking ‘where’s your pants?!’ Every five minutes?” The woman asked.

Honey’s smile was telling before she found herself giggling and nodding, “Yes! Yes, exactly.”

“Well, you let me know, Honey Haller, and I’ll have room for those boys to play for a couple hours!” She said as she descended the steps, “Wayne, will you get her my phone number? I got monkey bread in the oven, and the kids will be showing up soon, I gotta run!” She speed walked in the direction of her house, her soft arms swinging with determination.

“Marge, what’s this dish for??” He called.

“I owed you for fixing my dishwasher! It’s enchiladas! Tell Ed to toss it in the oven for 20 minutes on 350! We’re even!” She called back without stopping.

Wayne chuckled and shook his head, “She’s nuttier than a pecan tree, but she’s a good lady. Known her since school.” He shrugged.

Honey nodded, looking down at her bare feet in the bushy grass, her toes buried in the browning green.

Should I leave now? She thought as she took another drag.

“Y’care for some coffee?” He asked, heading towards his front door and opening it, leaving it open for her to walk with him. Honey glanced at her home, first, then Eddie’s van. Her house was still dark inside, no rattling or cries from any babies to be heard yet.

One cup couldn’t hurt, right?

She stepped onto the porch, the warm, heady smell already filling the air. When her feet hit the carpet of the small home, all she could do is look at everything on the walls. “Wow.” She must’ve said under her breath, cause Wayne chuckled as he poured her cup.

She was stuck to her spot by the door, wide eyes gazing all around, trying to read all the names of all the places on the hats and cups.

Nebraska, Georgia, Arizona, Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas—

“Here y’are.” Wayne sat a yellow happy face mug on the counter across from him. Honey walked forward, and picked up the cup to blow on it. She wanted to say thank you, but before the words came out, Wayne spoke again, “Y’like sugar? I don’t have cream.”

She nodded, “Yes, please—And thank you.” She rushed to add. Wayne smiled to himself as he turned to grab the packets they kept hoarded in a drawer. He dropped a few on the counter and dug out a spoon for her to mix with.

Honey shook the packet and tore it open, dumping it into the black roast coffee and repeating that process twice. “Have you really been to all these places?” She asked.

Wayne nodded as he sipped, “Mhm,” he sat his cup down, “I used to be quite the nomad.” He said fondly, looking over his collections.

Honey cocked her head and ran through her internal dictionary, wondering what a nomad was and made a note to ask Cal later. “Which ones your favorite?” She asked.

He held up his old white mug. “This one.” He turned it around and slid it over the counter to her, “Eddie got that for me on our first camping trip to Beaver’s Creek.” He smiled at the cup as she looked at the nature scene on the side, reminding her of the paintings Bob Ross did on PBS sometimes.

“I bet it was lovely.” She said, never really having been anywhere with her family, besides coming here.

Wayne chuckled, “Yeah, I hadn’t seen him smile so much since he came to live with me. I think that’s where we really bonded.” He nodded down at his cup.

Honey looked back up into Wayne’s eyes, wondering the stories he knew, the things he’d seen happen just in the trailer park alone, not to mention in the countless hours he’d spent watching Eddie grow up. “He’s like your own, huh?” She asked.

Wayne nodded, “Yeah, he is,” he took a breath in, spying an old picture of the two of them in the hallway, “He’s my boy. Y’know lots of people think no one can love a kid as much as a parent could—but… some parents just don’t love their kids enough.” He sighed taking a sip.

Honey nodded, “I’ll drink to that.” She sipped her warm brew, the scalding water barely touching her mouth before she tilted the cup back down.

Wayne chuckled, “I reckon those kids are just like your own, huh?”

Honey froze before shrugging, “I mean, we all gotta take care of each other. Juns been taking care of me a long long time, too.”

Wayne nodded with a grunt of agreement, “Well, around here, the neighborhood, when one of us needs something we’re all pretty good about helpin, Y’know? Like Margie down the road, I wouldn’t have been able to take Eddie when I did if it wasn’t for her.” He nodded, “He woulda gone to some boys home in Ohio.” He shook his head at the thought.

“But, uh, I wanted to give you this,” he took a scrap of paper that was stuck to the fridge and held it out between his fingers. “If Jun’s not around when you need him, got a leaky roof or need someone ran off,” he looked at her pointedly, “Call us. Even if it’s from your front door.” He made to hand it over to her before spotting a pen and scribbling down another number on the flip side— “And this is Margie’s number. Use it, missy. You’d be doing her a favor, really.” He clicked the pen closed on the counter and passed the paper to her.

Honey took it from him, looking at the clear numbers printed on the lined paper. She opened and closed her mouth for a moment unsure what to say, worried about what this meant about Wayne Munson, he seemed to have good intentions, but she knew lots of people seemed nice. “Oh, I—“

“—S’The least I can do, you been cookin’ my boy supper ‘most every night now, I’m hearing.” He said casually.

Honey balked, “Oh! Uh, yeah, is that-is that okay?” She asked unsurely. Eddie was 19, right? Was he going to get in trouble? Was she going to get in trouble?

Wayne smiled, “Yeah, of course, sweetheart, and if he’s ever over there too much, you’re allowed to run ‘em off, I know food ain’t cheap.” He chuckled and sipped. Honey could breathe easier after that, cracking a smile and taking a drink of her coffee even though it burned the roof of her mouth.

She set the mug down, “Thank you, Mr Wayne. If y’ever want a hot meal you can always come round for supper—or breakfast.” He nodded in gratitude at her offer. “And Eddie’s no bother, really. He’s… real nice to have around.” She smiled reassuringly.

Wayne nodded, “I’ve heard nothing but good things about your family, especially you—“

Their attention both went to the hallway, where a clatter and a couple clumsy thumps resounded. Wayne sighed, raising his mug to his mouth, “He’s awake.”

Honey’s heart stopped at the sound of a door getting thrown open, heavy steps running down the hall, Eddie’s bare abdomen on display as he tugged a shirt over his head, “Honey! What are you doing here?” Eddie asked, wide eyed and frazzled despite the puffiness around his glossy eyes. His hair was more wild than usual and Honey wanted nothing more than reach out and fix it for him.

“Oh, I was just, um—“

“—Where’re manners, Ed? And your pants!” Wayne pointed at the boys boxers. Eddie looked down and bolted, running back to his room as Honey giggled behind her mug.

“It doesn’t end, girl. It doesn’t end.” He shook his head in amusement, watching his boy fumble around in his room for some pants.

Just as she was opening her mouth to bid him a good day, a small voice hollered from the trailer next door, “Honey!!!” She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Go ahead and take it with you, I know where you live.” Wayne raised his cup in farewell, a chuckle behind his words as Honey raised hers in thanks and eased out the door to start her day.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

At the beginning of the week, Jun announced he’d be taking more jobs out of town for the extra money, meaning overnight stays. He’d chosen to tell Honey in front of the kids, knowing her reaction would be less explosive, her narrowed eyes and set jaw the only signs of tension. Jun avoided her gaze and took a bite of the tater tot casserole.

A thick silence stretched before Janie tentatively broke it by clearing her throat, “So.. picture day…” Janie mentioned as she stared at her plate.

Aaron nodded with a full mouth, “Oh, yeah, s’comin’ up!” He dusted off his hands and walked over to his bag that sat abandoned on the floor next to the front door and a pile of shoes. “—And parent teacher conferences.” Cal mentioned.

Honey and Jun shared a look across the table before Aaron returned and handed the papers to Jun to look over. “It’s only one night of conferences?” Jun questioned as he read the sheet. “For all three schools?” He flipped it over to find the back of the page blank, and flipped it back over to read through it again. “The 20th!” He said in a panic before looking over at the wall calendar depicting different national parks for each month. “I’m s’posed to go out on a job! I’ll be gone for three days…” he mentioned before meeting Honey’s eye again.

The girl’s face turned to stone, “You mean to tell me—“

“I didn’t know this was happening! Or else I wouldn’t have said I’d go!” He urged before passing the paper down the line of children til it came to Honey, who gave Jun a weary look before looking over it herself.

“What’s… lee—lie…lee—see—“

Cal walked over and squatted, putting his head almost against Honeys to spot the troublesome word and uttered, “Leisure, like no rush, no hurry.” He explained, pointing at the sentence, “All parents and guardians are invited to visit teachers and classrooms to discuss the performance of their students at their own leisure, 5-7:30.” He read.

Honey nodded along, not daring to look over at Jun as the telltale heat crept up her neck and cheeks. “Thank you, Callie.” She whispered as he went back to his seat and she read the next page about picture day. “So I have an hour and a half to see…” she looked at her fingers and counted, “like, what, 15 teachers?” She asked incredulously, though no one bothered to correct her.

Jun shrugged before resting his face in his hands and dragging his fingers through his brown hair. “I dunno what to tell you, sister—“

“—You can tell your boss you made a mistake.” She suggested, “You can’t make me go by myself!

“I can’t do that, I’ll look like a flake! You don’t have to go see all of them—“

Honey scoffed and shook her head, “Of course I do, Jun.” She muttered as she looked over the sizes and prices of each package of pictures as a knock sounded at the door. Aaron lurched out of his seat to answer it, relief flooding him when he saw it was Eddie.

“Hey, man!” He greeted as he pushed open the screen door for his friend, “So glad you’re here.” He breathed as Eddie stepped inside and peeled off his jacket. The evening air was cold this time of year, the long bridge of his nose tinted pink as proof. Eddie’s eyes fell on Honey’s and he smiled widely, “Glad I could make it.”

The corner of her mouth lifted in a smile, her chest loosening at his presence. She made to stand but was quickly waved off by Eddie, who already eased his way to the counter with his empty plate. “Go ahead and eat, Honey, I can get it.”

She watched him move around her kitchen with familiarity she loved to see, scooping his helping onto the plate left out for him in the near empty casserole dish, ‘the big one for the big kids, the small one for the little’ns’ as she’d told him.

In no time, he’d settled in his seat between her and Aaron, their knees bumping and settling against each other—the touch familiar and welcomed by both of them.

“What’d I miss?” He breathed as he stabbed his fork into a tot.

“Jun’s leaving!” Terry chirped through a full mouth.

“And Honeys pissed!” Tommy finished.

“Thomas Lee!” Honey seethed as she dropped her fork.

Jun reached over and thumped the boy on the forehead “C’mon now, not in front of your sister.”

“ ‘scuse me for wanting them to have manners.” Honey mumbled and resumed her eating.

“—and I’m not leaving. I’m just going to work for a couple days.” Jun shrugged and only glanced at Eddie to let him know he was speaking to him.

Eddie nodded, no reply coming to mind before Janie spoke up, “And Honey has to go to the open house by herself. Not to mention we have nothing to wear for pictures.” She sighed, her lack of wardrobe her only problem lately.

Honey dropped her fork again and sighed into her hands, rubbing her eyes and temples before standing up and walking to the kitchen, putting away the leftovers and wiping her hands on her shirt when she finished.

“Airn. Please take care of the dishes tonight.” She asked as she padded to the laundry room to switch the loads. “Anyone seen my cigarettes?” She asked as she made her way to the room she shared with her sister and baby brothers most days.

Eddie’s eyes shot to Aaron, who bit his lip as he rose to cross the room in two quiet, giant steps, setting the crumpled carton on top of the fridge where she typically kept them, and darted back to his place. The children giggled through full mouths and clacking forks, even Jun smirked at his brother’s antics as Aaron hollered, “Aren’t they on the fridge?”

Honey appeared a second later with her robe slung around her frame and some socks on her feet. “Thanks.” She sighed, grabbing them up as she passed and walked out the door.

No one seemed to bat an eyelash at her sudden departure, but Eddie could only eye the food she took two bites of, and the bread she hadn’t yet touched. Aaron noticed where Eddie’s focus lay. He nudged his elbow with his own and nodded towards the door when Eddie looked at him.

“Go to her.” He whispered as Janie told the table a tale from the cafeteria.

Eddie looked at the door, then her plate, and then back to his friend. “You sure? I don’t wanna bother her if she’s upset.”

“Honey can’t be bothered by the likes of you, now get out there and make her smile.” Aaron encouraged as Eddie nodded and then stood.

He grabbed her plate and fork before leaning against the door to open it, the cool night air blowing his hair back as it caught the door and swung it back a little too harshly, slapping the side of the house.

Honey whirled around, with a gasp, Eddie’s eyes and mouth round in surprise as he froze with her plate in hand. “Shit, I’m so sorry, that’s my bad.” He chuckled wearily as he set down her plate and closed the door with a click, his heart pounding up into his throat.

“S’okay.” She said quietly as he sat down on the step next to her.

“You, uh, you okay?” He asked with a gentle nudge to her bare knee with his own. She sighed heavily and nodded with a tense smile, “Mhm.”

Honey was curled over herself, her hands on either side of her neck in an attempt to calm herself. Eddie spotted the red welted scratches on the back of her neck where she’d been busy with her nails.

“Hey,” Eddie said, turning to her, “I don’t want you to lie to me, we’re friends, remember?”

Her eyes darted away before she nodded, “I’ll be okay. Just… A lot...” She sighed and shook her head at the loss of words.

“Overwhelmed?” He asked and she nodded in relief when he found the word she was looking for.

“Yes! Yes, that’s exactly how I’m feeling.” She nodded again before staring out at the grass. “Real overwhelmed.”

“Y’know Aaron could watch the kids for you while you go?” He mentioned offhandedly. “Put him to work.” He nudged her again with his elbow and smiled when she chuckled.

“He’ll put Janie in charge and disappear for hours, I already know.” She rolled her eyes and opened her sorry pack and slid out a cigarette, almost flat like it had been sat on. She gently pressed the creased sides and rounded it out before digging out her lighter and flicking it to life.

“I think I can swing it,” she said after a minute, her cigarette between her lips as she lit it, “—gotta keep my eye on the clock, s’all. Just— more worried about—“ she sighed and hid her face in her hands.

“What? C’mon, Hun, you can tell me. Let me help!” He offered with a kind hand on her arm. She lowered her hands and eyed him as she took a drag. “You want a cigarette?” She asked, holding out her pack.

Eddie tsked and gently lowered her hand before stroking her knuckles tenderly. “No, thanks,” his syrupy eyes shone in the blue evening light, hopeful and soft just for her. “C’mon.” He urged quietly.

She released a breath, and nodded, “I… ain’t got much to wear. And I don’t exactly look like a grown up—or sound smart like one.” She shook her head. “Doctors, teachers—mail men—“ she rolled her eyes, “It’s always ‘where’s your mom?’.” She chuckled and shook her head again, “I look like a child.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance before taking another draw.

Eddie shook his head insistently, his eyes practically bugging out, “You do not!”

Honey narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head, but Eddie wouldn’t accept that, “No! No, you probably just think that cause you see yourself in the same stuff every day. Stuff you probably don’t even like, huh?” He appraised her figure appreciatively, “You’re gorgeous, sweetheart, that’s not a well kept secret,” he chuckled wearily, as if it was a casual compliment, “I bet you just need to feel more comfortable in your own skin, Y’know? Feel more …like you?”

She nodded thoughtfully, “Yeah, I s’pose that’s true, but—“ she shook her head and smoked again, “I just don’t have the means right now. I’ll have to borrow a sweater from Aaron or something—and don’t even get me started on what the kids are gonna wear for their pictures.” She shook her head again, the thought seemingly pained her, clamping her eyes shut.

“I won’t.” Eddie quietly promised. “But I do think I know someone that can help.” He smiled, taking her hand in his, for real this time. And from the look in his eye, Honey knew she could trust Eddie to come through.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A couple days later after school, Eddie showed up with a large box in his arms and a smile on his face. “Special delivery.” He presented it as if he were a lowly jester entertaining the queen of his heart.

“What’s all this business?” She asked as she hefted it onto the counter and opened it up to find pastel pinks and blues and yellows, some denim peeking through from the bottom.

“Some stuff a few friends of mine decided they could part with! Gareth’s sister just had another growth spurt, or at least that’s what Ms Emerson said. And then, uh, Mike’s older sister Nancy added a few items to the cause!” He rambled as she took out each item, neglecting the sizzling pan on the stove, an extra toasty grilled cheese almost screaming for attention until Cal stepped over and saved the day.

Honey dropped the pink cardigan she was admiring once she smelled the burning and rushed over to her brother, “Aw, shit—just put that one on my plate, would you? I wanna go through these, if you don’t mind—“

“Go on!” Cal waved her away with the spatula and a smile.

Honey practically bounced on over with a giddy grin as Janie pulled out a lovely blouse. “Jane, that’d be perfect with that one green skirt of yours!” Honey urged. Janie blushed and agreed before she took off to go try it on.

“There’s a, uh—“ Eddie cleared his throat nervously, “—a, uh, dress! There’s a dress Nancy threw in there I thought you might—maybe you’d like it.” He shrugged.

Honey met his eye and blushed deeply, digging around towards the bottom to find a lovely denim blue dress. It had white buttons all the way down the front with clusters of pale pink and yellow flowers dotting the fabric every so often.

“Oh, Eddie—“ she sighed, as if it were brand new from the store and worth a pretty penny. She looked up at him with shining eyes and didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around his torso, to lay her head on his chest.

Eddie wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on hers to soak up the moment. He caught a glimpse of Cal and Aaron in the kitchen just a few feet away, smug smiles adorning their faces as they watched. “Thank you, so so much.” She mumbled.

“You’re so so welcome.” He dipped his head lower to her ear, “You’re gonna look perfect.” He promised before he released her. “It’s all yours, Honey.”

She smiled and nodded appreciatively, keeping the brimming tears at bay, enough to keep them from notice as she folded up the items she’d taken out and placed them back inside, scooping up the box to head to her room with a soft and quiet smile on her lips.

Eddie turned to Cal and Aaron as they pretended horribly to not have been watching the entire exchange. They whistled a tune as they went about buttering bread for the small skillet to toast before glancing up with knowing smirks, only to find Eddie’s stare locked on them with a bashful smile of his own tucked into the corner of his mouth.

“What?” He asked with a raised shoulder.

Cal simply shook his head as Aaron arched a brow at Eddie, “Where’s my box, Munson?”

Eddie’s smile dropped before he raised his middle finger and Cal giggled as he flipped a sandwich and Honey returned. “Eddie! Put your finger down.” She scolded before she grabbed it in her fist and shook it in passing to the other side of the house as she scoured for a laundry basket not filled with crap.

“Shit, sorry!” He blushed at the casualness of her touch, at her sharp tone with him. He wanted to hear it again, to see that pink flush in her cheeks and the shock in her eyes— it was just too cute.

She gave him a sidelong glance with lips folded inward to stifle her giggle at his next slip, disappearing for a moment before returning with a basket on her hip. “Next time I won’t let you off so easy, alright? Aaron don’t get away with it neither.” She nodded at Aaron who vehemently nodded his head.

“Oh, yeah, man, she damn near broke my finger last year.” Aaron tsked as Cal nodded, having bore witness to the event.

“To be fair, you kept doin it after I told you to quit.” She amended from the laundry room as she switched the loads over. She put her shirt over her nose, the sulphuric scent of the corroded pipes smothering her senses in the cramped room.

Aaron raised a shoulder and let it drop as he sliced the sandwiches and plated them up, glancing up as Cal searched the cabinets. “Honey, is there any tomato soup?” He asked while Aaron gagged.

“You’re fuckin gross—“

“Airn!” Honey seethed on her way back through, cutting between her brothers to open the next cabinet over to reveal the two cans of dented soup.

“Sorry!” He flinched and ducked to avoid a hit that wouldn’t come as she passed him to retrieve the smaller children from the boys room.

“Have fun with your hot cream of tomato water.” Aaron taunted in a whisper as he set the plates on the table. Cal stuck his finger up at his brother before turning his focus to finding a pot for his soup.

Eddie snickered as he followed after Aaron, sitting down on the floor as he stripped off his jacket to toss on the couch. Junior came out of the hallway and locked eyes with Eddie as he dried his hair on the way to grab a beer.

“Hun!” Jun called over his shoulder as he peered inside the fridge, “did you drink my last beer?”

Aaron balked before he spotted Honey coming from the hallway with James on her hip and Frankie and Randy at her flank. Honey’s eyes cut to Aaron’s before looking at Jun. “—Yeah, m’sorry.” She blew it off.

Eddie’s brows rose, finding it interesting that she drank beer, a sweet little thing like her.

Jun shut the fridge, and cut a look Honey‘s way before looking over at Aaron, who busied himself with his sandwich and avoided eye contact. “Alright. Well, I’ll go grab some at the store. Don’t do it again—please.” His last word was clipped like he hadn’t remembered it at first, but the effort was genuine.

Honey sighed and nodded, “Yes, s—I mean—Sorry. Won’t happen again.” She nodded at Jun and when he turned around she glanced at Aaron with a tense mouth before setting James in her lap and tearing up pieces from the sandwich on the small plate in front of him.

Jun sighed as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door. Frankie and Randy ran laps around the table, ducking under Aaron’s outstretched legs that rested on the end of the table closest to Janie, who wrinkled up her nose at his socked feet and turned her back to him.

“So, Callie and I were wondering—“

“Why’re you dragging your brother into this?” Honey asked, ready for a bombshell to drop.

“Cause Aaron and I were wondering…” Cal began for Aaron, “If we could stay late after school on Friday to play D&D with Eddie and the rest of the club.”

“—Hellfire.” Aaron smiled.

“—do y’all really worship the devil? Cause that’s what Linda Sealy told me when I mentioned you were our neighbor, but I don’t believe it.” Janie said idly before taking a bite.

Eddie almost choked as he drinks, finding Honey’s eyes wide and locked on him, “No! No, there’s no devil stuff. Just mythical creatures and monsters to slay—figuratively.” He chuckles airily before taking another bite.

Honey looks to Cal, wondering what figuratively meant, but decided to ask later when Eddie was gone, except Janie took it upon herself to chime in and be helpful, “That means pretend.” She smiled at Honey before her older sister could glower and avert her eyes. She felt Eddie’s gaze on her pink cheeks.

“Thanks.” Honey mumbles before James flips her plate onto the ground, cracking the ceramic. She only sighs in response as everyone else yelps in surprise and James begins to cry. “Take him.” She mumbled to Janie as she passed the babe over and stood to retrieve the pieces.

It didn’t appear to be a big mess, a few shards missing from the plate that she easily located and placed atop the broken dish and walked toward the kitchen to discard them—until she stepped on the last piece. “Goddammit!” She cried out, dropping the broken pieces in the sink and striking her fist against the counter.

“Oh shit!” Aaron said softly, making no move to help his sister. Instead everyone watched as Honey twisted around and plucked the long shard from the ball of her foot and inspected it with minimal tears.

Eddie rushed to her and took a glance at her foot before turning on the tap. “Let’s get you cleaned up—you have a first aid kit?” He asked. Honey leaned against the counter, holding her foot with a slight pout as she shook her head in response. “That’s okay!” He assured. “Wayne’s got one, some alcohol to clean it too.” He reached over, wet a towel, handing it to her to press on her foot while he twisted off the water.

He headed for the door, “Tie that around your foot—I’ll go grab it.”

“—Uh-uh, you’re taking her with you.” Janie said as he herded the smallest and most curious kids out of the room with Tommy leading the pack, “We don’t need that blood and screamin’ over here.”

Aaron shrugged as if to say ‘fair enough’ and turned to Honey with outstretched arms, “Alright, come on.” As he stepped forward she stepped back, “Hell no, you’ll drop me—I bet I can hobble on over—“ She claimed, taking a tentative step with her heel before hunching over and clenching her jaw with a guttural growl, “—jus-just get me over there.” She lifted her arm to sling around her brother and without thinking reached for Eddie too.

His shocked reaction faded quickly as he rushed to her side, resting a reassuring hand on her lower back, the feeling ignited the embers that simmered in the depths of her belly. She picked up one bare and scarred leg for her brother to cradle before looking to Eddie for quick confirmation and jumping when he nodded.

Cal held the door open as both Aaron and Eddie waddled through the door. Honey found that focusing on Eddie’s grip on her thigh took away from the sharp, stinging pain in her sole. She glanced down at the way his fingers dug into the plush of her thigh, close to the back of her knee, but higher than Aaron would dare to go.

Eddie savored the closeness too, each step through the yard made his shoulders buzz deeper and deeper beneath the skin her arm draped over. Her hand gripped his shoulder, her arm around him providing a certain type of relief he’d never really felt before. Maybe once, a long time ago.

“Careful up the steps,” Eddie uttered as they treaded carefully up the porch and to the door. “Here we are, get her into the bathroom down the hall.” Eddie instructed as they hobbled through the house.

Honey caught a glimpse of Eddie’s open door, the mess littering the floor and assortment of crushed beer cans tossed near a wastebasket in the corner of the room. The walls were barely visible, covered with memorabilia from his years collecting and hoarding away things he found interesting and representative of him.

A sharp turn into the bathroom, and she was being dropped onto the toilet. Eddie kneeled in front of her, tenderly gripping her ankle before he pushed her leg back to get another look. The angle sent his throat bobbing and he knew he needed to avert his eyes quickly. The blood had seeped out and covered her foot, painting her sole red.

“I think I’m gonna—“ Aaron began slowly, his face paling as he stepped out of the bathroom, “I should—“ He didn’t get to finish before he broke into a run out of the house, the screen door slamming shut with his departure.

Honey’s heart warmed at the idea of being alone with Eddie in such close proximity, despite the sharp throbbing in her foot.

“I dunno how he ever worked on a farm.” She rolled her eyes and Eddie chuckles at her spirit.

“We, uh, need to keep this up so it stops bleeding so much.” He suggested, placing her foot on the sink. “Keep it above your heart.” He informed her before walking back to the kitchen to grab the kit and rubbing alcohol.

Eddie had used it more times than he could count, not even being able to remember when Wayne stopped patching him up because he knew how to do it himself. What started off as gnarly scraped knees evolved into bruised knuckles and bloody noses, Wayne’s only critique being ‘you gotta learn when to stop running your mouth, boy, or at least learn when to hit first.’

“Okay, sweetheart,” he started back inside the bathroom, setting the kit in the sink and opening it up before sitting on the edge of the tub again. “Gimme your foot.” He slapped his thigh, the sound making her flinch before she tentatively obliged him, wiping stray tears of her unwavering cheeks.

Eddie looked back up at her when he placed his hand on her ankle and calf, “How’re you holding up?” He asked softly before carefully untying the now red stained rag.

Honey sighed, “I’m holdin’, that’s about it.” She closed her eyes as the fabric peeled off of the sticky skin, the wound only weeping a bit more. She hated that she worried more about the state of her ever-bare feet than the cut he doctored, the cracks on her heels and calluses on her toes, the dirt settled in the wrinkles and craters.

“Hey! S’not as bad as I thought.” He smiled at her and leaned over to inspect it some more before reaching behind him to turn on the tub. “I don’t think I’ll have to stitch you up, but ‘m still gonna have to clean it,” he said carefully and raised the bottle of antiseptic in warning.

Honey nodded and turned her body towards the tub, finding Eddie reaching out for her and guiding her over to sit with him.

She turned her foot over, dirty and cracked and even worse now that the blood was caked into the fine lines of her worse for wear soles.

Lovely. She thought as her non injured foot sank into the warm water and tingles melted down her shoulders.

“S’gonna hurt.” He warned, his eyes round and worried as he poised the bottle above the cut.

“I-I know. I can do it, y’know? If that’s okay.” She said quietly.

Eddie nodded and happily handed the bottle over, relieved he didn’t have to be the one to hurt her, even if it was with the best intentions.

Honey took a breath and poured it over the horizontal gash, wincing with a hiss as it dripped down her foot and into the tub. Eddie found his hand on her back sweeping loving circles between her shoulder blades. She handed the bottle over to him and he patted her back. “Atta girl,” he praised softly before standing up to lay out a bandage and gauze and obtain a washcloth.

Honey’s brain emptied like a pitcher on a hot day, her mouth dry and prickly as he settled on the toilet again, his elbows on his knees. “Here you go,” he said, holding the rag out. “Wash up.”

Honey nodded and took it, holding it under the running water and feeling her shoulders sag in relief at the sensation of the warmth running over her wrist and arm. “Your water gets so warm.” She said idly.

Eddie smirked, “Well, yeah, there’s only two people living here, so.” He shrugged. His biggest complaint was the water pressure, not the temperature.

Honey chuckled and began washing her foot, the shallow water tinting pink until she reached down and pulled the plug. “I can’t even imagine only living with one other person.” She said.

Eddie raised his eyebrows, “Really? Well, I guess I can see that since you’ve always had siblings, but, uh, do you ever…” he trailed off as he searched for the right words and Honey turned off the water and looked over her shoulder at him.

“Ever…?”

Eddie chuckled nervously as he ducked out of the room to retrieve a towel, finding her facing him when he returned. “Uh,” he kneeled before her and carefully dried both her feet, his hand gentle on her heel and happy for any excuse to touch her, “Like, think about it? Living on your own?”

Honey’s brow furrowed, “And leave my family?” She asked.

“No! No, I just meant—figuratively—“ he eyed her carefully, hoping he hadn’t upset her.

Her face softened and she nodded, “Figuratively,” She confirmed, and Eddie smiled and nodded for her to continue, “I ain’t given much thought to it much before. But now that I am…” she shrugged, “I dunno, I think being alone I’d.. well I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.” She chuckled at her lap before looking back up at Eddie with realization on her face. “I’d take long showers, that’s for damn sure. And I’d have my own soap, that no one else uses or squeezes out for bubbles. And I’d keep the water so hot, the room’s full of steam—have to crack a window so I don’t pass out.” She chuckled as she delved farther into the fantasy— dreaming of hot water that didn’t need the kitchen sink turned on to start.

Eddie’s smile shined at her, still on his knees before her and holding her feet hostage in the towel as he listened and hung on her every word. “Y’know.. you could… utilize the facilities while you’re here..” he suggested, though Honey’s head cocked in confusion, “—you could shower here if you want to, I mean—“ he shook his head at himself, he must sound like a condescending prick, “I could go ask your sister for your pajamas— if you wanted.” He stopped himself before the babbles could trickle further out of his mouth.

Honey looked surprised but not against the idea, running over her mental list of things to do before her—the kids went to bed. Dinner was gone, baths are taken, homework is done—lunches can wait til later— “Okay.” She said with a nod. “If you’re sure it’s okay with you.” She said. “And-and your uncle?” She asked unsurely.

Eddie barked a laugh, “Wayne would tell you the same thing, you’re not gonna get in trouble.” He chuckled, though he didn’t know just how true it is—how fearful she is of trouble.

She nodded again, “Okay, well, Janie’ll know where my stuff is.” She said tentatively, worried about what Janie would pick, the panties she’d send, if she’d bother to fold them up into her shirt and shorts like a decent human being.

Eddie nodded and raced to the door, “Use whatever you want!” He called over his shoulder, smiling when he heard the shower turn on and the curtain squeak closed.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Eddie was relieved to find Janie on the porch, taking out the garbage when he asked her to get Honey some clothes to change into. Janie grinned widely and nodded before hurrying back inside, knowing just the outfit Honey should wear.

She brought him a large paper bag and handed it over with the same smile she left with.

Eddie gave his most polite smile, the one he gives his teacher on the way past her desk when he’s late, and took long strides back across his yard.

Honey heard the thump of his shoes climbing the steps and her heart raced as she rinsed the soap from her body, holding her hair up on her head to save the hot water.

The soap was Eddie’s, it had to be. The drug store suave smelled of sweet citrus, the same smell that wafted off of Eddie every late evening porch step conversation they shared, wrapped up in the comforting cigarette smoke that clung to her wherever she went. It used to remind her of home, but now it reminded her of him.

Little did she know, the smell of cigarettes did the same thing to him, along with the smell of her lemon verbena.

She turned and let the hot water wash down her front, tilting her head back to let it run over her neck and shoulders. The light knock at the sliding door startled her from her peace and Eddie’s voice sounded through the barrier.

“Honey? I, uh, got your clothes for you. Should I just sit ‘em out here or?” Before he can finish speaking, the water shuts off and the shower curtain screeches open. He debates repeating himself as the silence stretches between them, the rustling of her towel smoothing over her body was barely audible before he heard her grab the handle and slide open the door enough to stick her head through, water droplets still clinging to her face and baby hairs.

“Thank you…” she whispers and crinkles her brow at the paper grocery sack before accepting it and sliding the door closed and peering inside of it

Eddie was stuck in the same spot with the mental image of Honey clad in only a towel, practically glowing from the hot shower, as he heard her crinkle the bag and cuss to herself. “You.. okay?” He asked tentatively.

“Yeah! Yeah, ‘m fine—just—Jane.” She grumbled.

Eddie chuckled softly and leaned against the wall outside of the bathroom, “What about her?” He asked.

Honey scoffed as she dressed, “She gave me her clothes, not mine.” Is all she said before she looked herself over in the mirror, feeling ridiculous. She’d make Janie regret this later.

“Too small?” He asked as Honey stuffed her dirty clothes in the sack and opened the door, her gaze on her feet.

“Somethin’ like that.” She mumbled as Eddie took her in with wide eyes and pink cheeks.

The nightgown was white and hit Honey about mid thigh, blue flowers dotted the material, her womanly curves rounding at the sides of the flowy skirt and a precious blue ribbon sat in the middle of the neckline, right below the cleavage on display. She sighed and looked up at him, his silence unnerving.

“I know, I look ridiculous.” She muttered as she tugged at the neckline and hobbled on down the hall, pulling at the hem next.

It takes a minute for Eddie’s brain to catch up before he’s following her into the living room, “No! No, you don’t.” Eddie offered as he stepped up next to the door. His eyes were wide and he struggled to keep them from relishing the exposed skin he’d never gotten to admire before.

Honey’s face burned in embarrassment before she met his eye and softened. “Promise?”

Eddie nodded and his eyes flickered down to her bodice before they snapped back up again. “Honey, I don’t think you could ever look ridiculous— and I’ve seen you with pop cans in your hair.” He smiles warmly.

Honey chuckles and looks at her feet, one foot bandaged and wrapped in gauze, “Thank you, Eddie. For everything.” She looks back up at him.

He nods and sends her a smile, “Happy to help.”

Her heart sinks a little at his casual tone, “What are friends for, right?” She asked.

Eddie’s face fell and he tilted her chin up to look at him, “Hey.” He appraised her wide eyes, her shock at the touch he gave her, “Thought we were… more than that.” His eyes flickered down to her lips.

She swallowed and her insides melted and pooled in her tummy, “Real—“

Her words were cut short by the harsh beating on his door making her jump away, behind Eddie. With a furrowed brow, he yanked the door open to find Jun’s fuming face staring at him, looking behind him to find Honey.

The man’s eyes bulged as he took one step inside and reached for his sister’s wrist, “James is crying, time to go.” He said lowly, giving her no time to say bye to Eddie or get her feet moving quick enough.

She tripped over her own bare feet and hissed as he pulled her down the steps and flung her toward the house, “Get inside, I’ll be there in a minute.” He said to her, though she didn’t look back at him as she hobbled inside with silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

Eddie worried about Jun’s judgment, quick to try to clear the air, “We were just—“

“I don’t wanna hear it.” Jim said, sliding the cigarette from behind his ear and digging a lighter from his shirt pocket. Eddie looked him over curiously before the man lit the cigarette and eyed him. “I know your type, Munson.”

Eddie wanted to roll his eyes but knew it was in his best interest to remain respectful. “And what’s that?”

Jun chuckled and exhaled his smoke, “C’mon, now. I ain’t stupid—“ he took a couple steps towards Eddie as he appraised him one more time, “I know all about the little operation you’re running out of your house. I know that your uncle either don’t know about it or he just don’t care anymore to say nothing.” He began with an eerie calm, “I know that you come around cause you like my sister, you like the free food, hell—you may actually like Aaron, but you don’t fool me.” He said and took another hit, “Honey’s had a lot of boys come around, lots of boys just like you that take what they came for and toss her to the side like trash—and I’m telling you, it ain’t happenin’ again. Not while I’m around.” The man’s eyes almost glowed with the quiet rage rumbling behind them.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stick to your side of the property line and say hi to Aaron in the hall, but you’ll stay the hell away from my sister.” He points a finger of finality in Eddie’s face before he turns to leave.

The hurt and anger swelling in Eddie’s chest erupted through his mouth, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, man!” He calls out desperately, “She’s—it's not like that! I didn’t even touch her!”

Jun stops and turns to him, curiosity gleaming in his eye, “Then what is it? What is it like, loverboy?” He asked, stalking back towards him.

Eddie’s words catch in his throat before he forces them out, “I—I just want her to be happy! I want to make her happy!”

Jun’s face softens at this and he nods, in understanding or for Eddie to continue, he didn’t know, but Eddie kept talking, “I like her—“

“You don’t know anything about her.” Jun said.

Eddie froze and sighed dejectedly, taking a moment before speaking again, “I know that she’s kind—and selfless,” he began, winning Jun’s attention, “I know she didn’t finish school, but I also know that she knows almost everything about flowers,” Jun’s mouth twitched, as if threatening a smile, “I know that she stayed up all night to help Janie with that history project— that she figured out how to stretch one loaf of bread for the rest of the weeks lunches—and!” He smiled, “—I know that she guessed the answer to the winning puzzle on Wheel of Fortune last week.”

“—Highly Trained Professionals, would’ve won a trip to Hawaii— she told me all about it.” Jun said softly.

Eddie nodded, “Well, I was there, man, and the look on her face was…” he shakes his head, “—literally priceless.” He met Jun’s eye again and it seemed to him that Jun knew exactly what he meant.

Jun nodded, eyes searching for words he didn’t know how to say, “I’m.. I’m sorry.” He spoke after a few moments of silence, taking a drag on his cigarette. “I jus—I seen this before, Y’know? Back home.” His face hardened.

Eddie nodded, the vagueness eating at him a bit. For a girl that came off so simple, the more Eddie got to know her, he found Honey wasn’t simple at all. “I… I actually don’t know. I want—“ he sighed and shook his head, “—nothing.” He gave up.

Jun crossed his arms and nodded for him to continue. “Go on. What do you want?”

Eddie looks at him and shrugs, “I just… I want to be someone she can open up to—someone she can talk to. I can hardly get her to talk—and when I do, there’s never enough time, Y’know?” He gives a sorry smile and sits down on his porch steps. When he looks back up, Jun is walking away to the Haller house, much to Eddie’s confusion.

But when Jun comes back with a chair, and the brown bag he went to the store for, it furthers his confusion. The man sits down across from him with a deep pull of his cigarette and a pop of a Pabst, “Continue.” He exhales his smoke out of the side of his mouth.

Eddie gapes like a fish out of water for a moment before finding his footing, “O—Well, alright, well, uh—“ he chuckles, “I… wanna date her.” He nodded simply.

Jun guffawed, “That’s cute, bud.”

Eddie crinkled his brow, “What?”

Jun shook his head and pulled out his full carton of cigarettes, holding it out to Eddie. The boy glanced from the box back up to him before reaching out and taking it. He spotted “J. J. H.” written in a scraggly hand across the top before he flipped the lid open and pulled one out to light.

“Nothin, I just…” Jun takes a drag and runs his fingers through his hair. “I just got you all wrong, I guess.” He handed Eddie a beer and blew air through his mouth in a heavy sigh before he slumped forward.

“S’all good.” Eddie shrugged. “It happens more often than not around here.”

Jun seemed to grimace at that before he nodded, “I know all about that.” He looked at the ground contemplatively. “Aaron told you much? About where we come from? About Honey?”

Eddie hesitated before he shook his head, “Not.. a lot.” Aaron had mentioned his time as a farm hand for a neighbor of theirs, driving tractors from the early morning til dark, working cattle through a chute; giving shots, palpating mama cows, cleaning hooves and stalls—he wasn’t afraid of any work as long as it put money in his pocket. He hadn’t mentioned anything past the farm, and Eddie hadn’t yet asked.

Jun nodded again— rubbing his hand over his mouth before looking up at him again, “Well that’s good—“ he chuckles to himself, “Honey don’t take kindly to people talkin about her. Given our… history… I don’t blame her.” He takes a drag, “I guess.. I s’ppose I could tell you somethin—about myself….but only because—” he takes a long hit and exhales, “…I trust that you’ll use it to your best advantage…”

Eddie perked up and nodded before leaning in intently.

“She’s six years younger ‘n me. So for a while she was… well she was my baby to look after.” He shrugged. “I’m actually the one that named her Honey.” He smiled to his beer, “lots of times we only had bread and honey, and she always wanted more—‘mow nunny’ she’d yell at me. All damn day.” Eddie smiled at the image, “When she was about James’ age, I’d find her up on the counter with her hand in the honey jar.” He looked up at him to meet his eye. “Still catch her sometimes.” He chuckled and Al did Eddie.

Jun inhaled his cigarette sharply and went on,“Our parents were… a little worse for wear, but not too bad at the time. They’re on a buncha shit, I couldn’t even tell you what the drug of choice is anymore. But back in the day it was just pot.”

Eddie swallowed, and nodded gently before taking a hit, thankful for the filter between his fingers to keep him busy.

“Time goes bye different when you’re high, I know how that is,” he gave Eddie a knowing look, “But they left us alone for days on end. Six year old and a newborn without milk—“ he shook his head. “I dunno, I see Terry and I see James and…” he scratches his jaw in thought, “well, I wouldn’t ever leave him in charge of James.” He chuckled and so did Eddie.

“Anyway, couple years after Honey, Aaron came, then with Jane and Cal she was able to help me more, so then Aaron was hers, Janie was mine, and then her and Aaron took charge of Cal,” he chuckled dryly. Then…” he sighed. “Then our mom left.” He tsked and took another drag. Eddie’s heart sank.

“I was fine. Didn’t really like the woman in the first place, but—“ he took another drag, “Honey took it hard. She was seven. I was thirteen. And suddenly she was the mama.”

He raised his shoulder and dropped it, “I mean, she kinda already was, but, after Nadine left— I dunno, maybe I wasn’t alright. Was having more problems with my dad—he started drinking a whole lot more, so I stayed at my cousins a whole lot—spent the weekends, then during the week. I-I really didn’t know what I was leaving her with—I mean, I guess I did—but—“ he groans and runs his hand over his face.

“Anyway, while she was in school, she met this older boy—Riley Phillips, just a couple years younger than me.” He grimaced like the name tasted sour on his tongue. “Anyway, I won’t say a whole lot about him cause I wasn’t there to see it all, but what I do know is—“ he clenched his fist and averted his eyes, “Honey ended up real hurt over him. The way he and his brothers treated her… it just… wasn’t right. And it ended up causing trouble for her at school too. Suddenly everyone in town is talking about Honey ‘the Whore’ Haller, and how she’s caught a disease or pregnant with a Phillips baby but no one knows which one.” He rolled his eyes. “She was only Janie’s age.” He took a toke off his cigarette.

Eddie’s face nearly crumpled before he wiped his hand over his mouth.

Honey ‘the Whore’ Haller.

He couldn’t imagine a whole town whispering about her like that; sweet Honey Haller, the star of every daydream he’s had since meeting her.

Honey; the girl that hummed tv show themes to herself while she folded laundry, the girl that spent one afternoon a week scrubbing the kids shoes so they’d be clean for school, the girl that danced barefoot on the grass in the fading sunset, a baby on her hip and her hand holding tight to the rambunctious toddler that spun and spun around her— the girl that made extra lunches for him and sent smiley face notes and a dessert just because she could.

He shook his head in disbelief, “I can’t believe anyone would say that about her.”

Jun shrugged, “Small towns, big assumptions. Plus our last name wasn’t ever a pleasant one back home. S’nice to be nobody for once in my life.” He scoffed and took one last hit on the cigarette and tossed it. “Besides. There’s a kernel of truth in every lie, ain’t there?” Jun narrowed his eyes as Eddie’s widened.

He didn’t wanna ask the question screaming from the recesses of his brain, so he asked a different one, “Then what happened?”

Jun sighed and nodded, choosing careful words, “Honey came to me and told me her truth— the truth—and Honey ain’t a good liar— I know Aaron took my last beer, she just didn’t want him to get in trouble.” He rolled his eyes and looked back down to the ground, “—anyway. When dad caught wind of what was going around town—“ he shook his head with more vigor and took out another cigarette to light, “—he didn’t believe her. Not like I did. And that night, when dad left and Honey was in bed, I.. well… I did what my dad should’ve done.” He took a drag and Eddie’s mouth gaped.

“I don’t care what nobody said, he was damn near 18! He had no business messin—“ he breathed deeply through flared nostrils and pinched the bridge of his nose and focused on calming his racing heart. “Anyway, before you get too scared—I didn’t kill him.” He chuckled dryly, “But he’s gotta fake knee now.”

Eddie’s mouth quirked up in a shocked smile, his heart a little lighter at the thought.

“Landed me in the pen for a few years. Spent my 21st, 22nd and 23rd birthdays in there. Met some real decent guys. Learned a couple trades—I’m real good at arts and crafts.” He admitted easily, “I’d send the kids stuff home— hand turkeys, Christmas ornaments, maybe some bracelets—that kinda shit. Tried to make sure they didn’t forget me.” He shrugged.

Eddie’s heart clenched thinking about his old man locked up in the state penitentiary for grand theft auto and aggravated assault. He’d never written a letter. Not even called.

“While I was locked up, Honey was too, in a way. That’s when they pulled her out of school—took away her shoes, her records, clothes—everything. I was the only person she could talk to, and I only called once a week.”

Eddie’s jaw dropped, “Are kid—her shoes?? Why?”

“She kept running off.” He groaned and Eddie shook his head in disbelief. “Found her hiding in the trees by the pond one night.” Jun ran his hand over his face and sighed as Eddie recalled that first conversation they’d shared—how Honey mentioned the beautiful tree up around the bend where they weren’t allowed to go.

“My dad was always a yeller. The beating wasn’t so bad when my mom was around. Sometimes the man had a mean streak. But after he met Tracy—started on the crank—“ He shook his head again, his eyes far off and haunted. “It got worse. And after I wasn’t around to take the brunt of his bullshit, he turned to Honey.”

Eddie’s eyes stung with tears and a lump rose in his throat as he nodded in understanding.

“—so after I got on the work program, started sending money home, Honey started saving it. And we hatched a plan.”

Eddie leaned forward intently.

“First time in three years I get to see my boys—first time meeting two of them—and I’m packing them up in the night to go squat at our cousin’s before leaving town.” He said quietly

Eddie shook his head, “You mean, you all… ran away?”

Jun nodded, “Mhm. And now you know a little more about me, isn’t that nice?” He said lightly as he stubbed out his cigarette and gulped down the last of his beer.

Eddie chuckled dryly and nodded, “Thank you… really, man. I appreciate—“

Jun held up a hand to cut him off, “Yeah, we’re not doing that.” He stood from his woven lawn chair and stretched with a groan. “You’re gonna thank me by showing Honey stuff she missed out on. Starting with a date.” He said before turning and leaving, dragging the chair behind him. “Don’t make a liar outta me.” He called.

Eddie stood from his porch, watching him in a mixture of awe and disbelief. “I won’t!” He raised his hand in farewell, his heartbeat fluttering like a hummingbird’s wings. He glanced over to the glowing window he now knew to be Honey’s and saw the stained bed sheet curtain jerk closed.

-

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[kittysdiary]

Chapter 4: Medical Esthetic Procedure Contraindications



So you’re considering getting some medical esthetic procedures done. That’s hot! But before you schedule an appointment or consultation here’s a quick guide of contraindications to be aware of!!

What is a Contraindication?

A contraindication is a condition we look for in the medical field that serves as a reason to not continue forward with a medical treatment due to potential harm the treatment may cause to a patient!

Laser Hair Removal:

Herpes and Cold Sores: Can you get laser hair removal with herpes or cold sores? Yes! But only if there is not an active breakout. We do warn the clients that the lasers we use are powerful enough to cause a herpes or cold sore breakout to occur so please proceed with caution!

Retinol: Use of Retinol’s are a huge no no! It can cause severe damage, burning or scaring if a laser is used! If you are on Retinol please stay off of it for 1 week before your laser hair removal procedure.

Seizures + Epilepsy: If you have a history of epilepsy please refrain from getting any laser or light treatment as it can induce seizures.

Bacterial Skin Infections: Infections can spread to other parts of the body if a laser is used.

Impetigo: This highly contagious superficial skin infection is something we as your medical esthetician should be aware of before continuing with treatment.

Cellulitis: This infection of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue should be cleared before you continue with any laser or light therapy.

Folliculitis: Laser treatments are not performed in areas of folliculitis but several hair removal lasers have been approved by the FDA for pseudofolliculitis barbae treatment.

Fungal Infections: Ringworm and Yeast Infections can not be treated with laser or light therapy until cleared.

Viral Infections: Active viruses are considered major contraindications for laser and light therapy.

Shingles: If there is an active outbreak laser treatment will not be used.

Common Skin Warts (HPV): Although some lasers are used to remove persistent warts, they are still considered contraindications.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): You will not be disqualified as a candidate for laser treatment, unless the outbreak is in an area of proposed treatment.

Open Lesions, Rashes and Sunburns: This includes open lesions from picking at the skin. Any unknown lesions or rashes will be considered contraindications. Sunburns are known to disrupt the skin barrier and are considered contraindications. Any suspicious lesions should always be evaluated by a physician prior to treatment.

Accutane: You must be off of Accutane for at least six months to a year, depending on a physician’s  preference prior to treatment with laser or light therapy.

Immediate Post-Operative Face Lift, Blepharoplasty or Neck Lift: Treatment is avoided for clients who are in post op from these treatments until a physician has given approval for laser or light treatment. 

Pregnancy and Lactation: Pregnancy and lactation are considered contraindications women who are pregnant or lactating, should wait after pregnancy + breastfeeding so a child will not be exposed before beginning or continuing laser or light treatment. 

Laser Tattoo Removal:

Laser tattoo removal shares the same contraindications as laser hair removal.

Red Tattoo Ink: Red tattoo ink is known to be allergenic. If you have experienced an allergic reaction to red tattoo ink, be aware that another allergic reaction may occur if a red ink tattoo is being removed by laser. 

Retinol + Accutane

Pregnancy and Lactation

Bacterial Infections

Viral Infections

Fungal Infections

History of Epilepsy or Seizures

Open Skin Lesions, Sunburns and Rashes

Microneedling:

Herpes + Coldsores: Please wait until an outbreak is fully healed! Estheticians can avoid microneedling the mouth area if you do have an outbreak but it is best to wait until the outbreak is fully healed to avoid any spreading.

Active Acne: Areas of active acne can be skipped over but if there is an all over outbreak it is best to wait.

Rosacea: Clients with vascular rosacea can receive treatment, but not pustular or nodular rosacea wait until the information has settled.

Atopy, Asthma, Hay Fever and Allergies: Any patient with a history of allergies maybe prone to urticaria, after needling due to the release of histamines.

Anticoagulants: Any supplements, known to prolong, bleeding time, may not necessarily be discontinued from treatment, but the risk of bruising increases.

Drugs and Supplements Associated with Photosensitivity: Any drug and supplement that can cause photosensitivity including Accutane is considered a contraindication. 

Fitzpatrick III and Above: Those with darker skin tones are not disqualified from treatment but it should be known that skin will appear puffy, bruising, if present might be visible in thin skinned areas and erythema (skin redness)  when super-imposed on brown, appears much darker. Patience with melasma or post. Inflammatory hyperpigmentation must understand that lesions will appear darker for several months before improving.

PSA: There are certain ingredients to avoid using when it comes to dermal needling. Ingredients to avoid include preservatives, fragrances, emulsifiers, emollient acids, dyes, coloring agents, and UV filters 

Before receiving a dermal needling treatment, you may be asked by your provider about allergy or medication, history, blood pressure/medication, bleeding disorders, eczema, psoriasis, immune system disorders, keloid, scarring, major illnesses, heart conditions, anemia and a lot of other general medical questions.

Body Contouring

Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding

HIV/AIDS

All forms of Cancer

Undergoing Chemotherapy

Immunodeficiency

Lupus

High Blood Pressure

Uncontrolled Diabetes

Keloid Scarring

Excessive Pigmentation

Vein Inflammation

Steroid Medication

Chemical Peels + Laser Resurfacing

Sunburn

Recent Surgery or Scars: Wait 6 months

Open Lesions, Skin Diseases, Inflammation, Varicose Veins, Infection, Metal Implants, Metal Screws, Metal Contraceptive Coil + Prothesis/Silicone Implants: Area will be avoided

Antibiotics: Must wait until completed medication course

Depilatory Creams: Wait 2 weeks

IPL or Laser Treatment: Area that received laser or light therapy must wait 2 weeks before receiving body contouring.

Areas with Botox: Wait 3 months before receiving body contouring.

Areas with Dermal Filler: Wait 2 weeks before receiving body contouring.

Sun Tan: Will be avoided

Chronic Inflammation: Speak with your healthcare provider before proceeding forward with a body contouring treatment.

PSA: Before receiving body contouring, your hydration levels will be checked your body must be 40% or higher for your hydration level. Hydration levels below 40% can cause cat like scratch sensations when receiving body contouring. Which is why low levels of hydration are considered a contraindication and you must wait until your hydration levels are at 40% before receiving treatment.



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