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#mild hearing loss
MildHearingLossProblems #30
Discovering that the rest of your family can actually hear people talking from INSIDE the bathroom. Like. They’ll be in the bathroom and then they walk out and just casually join the conversation and I’m like “????…How????!!!”
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ear-deals · 2 years
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The Best Hearing Aids For Mild Hearing Loss
Here're a few tips to help you decide which type of hearing aid is right for you. If you want help finding the correct type of hearing aids for your specific needs, don't hesitate to get in touch with EarDeals now.  https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/ear-deals/688386338970566656
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martyrbat · 1 year
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batman: shadow of the bat #0
[ID: a flashback of the outside of Wayne Manor at night. A narration box (unrelated to the scene) reads, “Ya think he's got a guardian angel, or somethin'?” Inside the manor, Leslie Thompkins and Alfred Pennyworth are talking in regards of young Bruce Wayne. They sit in a magnificent library at a small table as Bruce sits at his own desk that's across the room and has his face buried in a book. Alfred reassures her, “— Worried about him, Doctor Thompkins? I can assure you there's no need! Master Bruce has the manor to live in — myself to look after him — the best education money can buy—”. Leslie cuts Alfred off before he can continue rambling out more examples. She tells him, “It's what he doesn't have that bothers me, Alfred. Friends — hobbies — the kind of life a normal teenager looks forward to. He spends all his time in the gym, or here reading. I don't think he ever recovered from his parents' death.” We're shown Bruce, now in a close-up and able to see the book he's reading is titled ‘Lip Reading For Beginners’. Bruce peers over the book intensely as Leslie continues to express her rightful concern, “He almost seems obsessed!” END ID]
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jincheeto · 1 year
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marceline saying huh to literally everything because she literally goes to/performs a bunch of concerts and I KNOW her hearing is a little messed up.
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I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THE FUCKING JAIDEN ANIMATIONS CLIP
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magz · 5 months
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Not every person with significant hearing loss or inability hear - including identified hard-of-hearing and deaf,
Know sign language or fleunt
nor connected to Deaf culture
Sometimes just know hand sign (not sign language - not have grammar n other stuff),
Sometimes forced speak (even when unable - whether from other disability or same),
Sometimes forced rely on whatever remnant hearing ability or hearing aid have available (or forced onto)
As audist society n ableism, will try take away language + community + options that not make seen "broken" person
Because priority erroneous make "need accommodate fully hearing people" instead of humanize d/Deaf
N is very important that "hearing" people not treat those deaf n hard-of-hearing etc. people as incomplete or fake,
when is those ableism that did that on first place
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thornofthelily · 1 year
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Based on @raccooncass 's headcanon on hearing loss across the various Redacted characters, definitely not all projecting my own hearing loss struggles into this.
Starts off with some angst about sensory loss but quickly gets more affirmative and positive. (Obviously yes these are my own perspectives and I'm only a little hoh your mileage may vary etc etc)
Anyway mini fic under the cut!
"Sweetheart, you okay?" Milo called as he let himself in their apartment front door. "I tried to call and see if you wanted any take out, but…" 
He stopped when he saw his partner pace past the doorway, a frustrated scowl on their features. "Sweetheart?" He called again, a little louder, but tentative. 
When they answered, their voice was strained. "I heard it, I know I did, but I can't find the damn thing. Can you call it again?" 
A discomfort settled in Milo's stomach. He wished it was from the fast food he'd planned to share with them instead of this. "Uh, sure thing. But do you still have it on vibrate…?"
They shot him a look, and he just sighed and shrugged one shoulder as he fished out his cell. Only a few taps were needed before he heard the soft buzzing from somewhere in the office. But they weren't looking towards the sound—his partner's eyes were locked on his. 
"You can hear it, right?" The tough Department investigator who was chomping at the bit to take out a Shade just a few weeks ago, who snuck their way into his own apartment to interrogate him, who gave him shit with a wry grin while they healed him after taking out their target, now looked and sounded on the verge of tears. 
"Yeah, well I'm a wolf. I got better hearing than you anyway."
"It's not that much in human form though, is it? My hearing really is just like this now."
He almost said it's only the one ear though, right? before catching himself and biting his tongue. Ever since they fought off the Shade together, his Sweetheart's been unable to hear out of their right ear. Healers took a look and said it might recover with time, but there was nothing more they could do. It's been nearly two weeks since then, though, and nothing has improved. 
"Hey, hey it's alright," Milo soothed, as the call went to voice-mail and the phone went silent. 
"No, it's not," they bit back, bitter and angry. "Milo, I'm a damn investigator, what am I supposed to investigate if I can't fucking hear? I'm a Stealth, I'm supposed to be good at infiltrating, getting information, not getting caught, but I know I'm talking louder than I used to, and… and I can't even hear my own damn phone ring!" They pressed their fists into their eyes, trying to physically hold back the tears. 
Milo wrapped his arms around them, crushing them close against his chest. "You'll adjust," he promised, using the words the healers offered back then. "I know it's tough now, baby, I know it sucks to lose this part of yourself, but your body will adapt. You can still be the damn finest Investigator that Department has, no matter your ability."
They sniffled into his shoulder, arms tight around his waist. He could feel them nod even as they snuggled in closer, squeezed tighter. But it took longer before the subtle shuddering of their body slowly subsided. When they were ready, they took a deep breath and stepped away. "Okay. Try it again. Let me figure this shit out."
It took two calls before they picked up on the buzzing noise, but they kept walking away from it, wrinkling their nose when they'd lose the trail. Milo tried to chime in with assistance but they hushed him each time. When Milo called a third time, they closed their eyes and focused, not moving for the entirety of the incessant buzzing. Then, without warning, they disappeared from sight as they cloaked. If Milo hadn't gotten used to this sort of thing by now, he'd have imagined they just vanished. He could only barely sense their aura as they moved into the office, and this time he heard the ringing on his end stop.
"Good job, Sweetheart," he said into the receiver. 
"I can't tell where sounds are coming from," they replied in a tone so quiet he could only hear it on the phone, not even where their voice should be carrying from the room over. "That's what's fucking me up, you know?"
"Whaddya mean? You can hear where it is outta your good ear, right?"
"It's the fact I only have the one ear." They said, but their voice sounded kind of excited, like it did whenever they got a lead. Milo smiled despite himself. They still had such a shitty poker face. "The way we can locate objects by sound is because we have two ears—your brain picks up the sound from two different inputs, and it can triangulate the direction based on where it sounds louder. But since I'm down to one, it's harder to tell where the sound is coming from. I can't track it as good. But you know what that means?"
Milo's heart bloomed with something deeper than admiration, stronger than affection. "Yeah? What is it, Sweetheart?"
"It just means I gotta get better."
— 
Gym time together was always a lot of fun. Not only was it a good way to spend some quiet time together, even if they couldn't talk much, but Milo also got to see some sweet eye candy of his Sweetheart. While he worked on his deadlifts, his eyes always wandered back to them on the leg press machine. And thank his lucky stars for the angle, he could see them partially reclined back, face pinched in concentration. The strain of each breath as they extended their legs, the wash of relief when they gently clacked the weights back together, it reminded him a little of more private times, alone in their bedroom. Yeah, working out together was always real nice.
At the end of their set, they took a deep steadying breath and adjusted their earbuds, just visible in both ears. Milo had asked why they wear two when they can only hear one, but they said it feels weird and off balance to wear them any other way. But as he set down his weights, intent on walking over and asking if they wanted to… you know… get out of there… some other guy interrupted them wiping down the equipment. 
At first, Milo saw them take out both earbuds, genuinely listening to whatever the guy was asking. But it clearly wasn't just a simple request to use the machine next, because Milo saw how his mate's eyes glazed over in annoyance, their mouth tugging in a frown. They popped their left earbud back in and kept cleaning, occasionally nodding and pursing their lips to mmm in acknowledgement. Milo couldn't help but laugh and watch the scene as the guy got increasingly exasperated before leaving, and that was when Milo walked over. 
"Have fun chasing off your admirer?" He teased. He could feel the freshly minted mate bond pulse when they smiled at him, fully removing both earbuds and tucking them in the arm band that held their phone. 
"Is that what he was? I couldn't hear a thing," they shot back, comfort and calm pouring from their usually quiet, soft aura. Was this was being mated felt like? Like everything was right and true when you look at each other? Not even thinking about being jealous because you are so sure, so solid, so confident that this is the person for you?
"I love you, Sweetheart," Milo laughed, looping an arm around their waist and kissing them once, light and soft. "Let's get home."
-
Milo always secretly loved any occasion to dress up, though today his excitement was a little dampened by his mate's obvious discomfort with the whole thing. It was some work party held by the Department, and they were expected to make an appearance. In addition to the general discomfort and anxiety their job could inspire on a typical day, today was worsened by the choice of venue—a loud, small, crowded restaurant. 
While their hearing comprehension adjusted years ago for an average conversion, busy, noisy places still made them anxious, the overwhelming noise jarring to process and hard focus on any one conversation. Milo slid up against their good left side, speaking low but clear in their ear: "Hey, Sweetheart, you holding up okay?"
They managed a thin smile but their hands moved quick and fast, signing out, "No," quick and simply. 
Milo rubbed their back, biting his lip. They both started taking sign classes as a backup just for situations like this. At first, he'd wondered if maybe they should try some telepathy classes at DAMN and learn some basic mind-to-mind communication, but for one, he wasn't sure how far he could manage with his weaker Shifter magic, and two, sign seemed more… comfortable. On the down low. A lot of empowered people learned some telepathy to make up for communication shortfalls, but sometimes the unempowered get it right. It felt more personal, more them, and his mate liked the idea it might not be something their peers were as familiar with. Trust a Stealth to like being a little secretive for fun. Now signing when they couldn't hear real well became a sort of grounding tactic for them, an easy way to communicate and not need to strain to pick out one voice in a crowd of dozens. 
"Do you think they'd notice if you leave now?" He signed.
Their grin widened to a wry smirk. "We only just got here, babe. Of course they would."
"You're a Stealth," he replied with a laugh. "Tell them you were cloaked." 
That got a chuckle out of them, a full-on adorable face-wrinkling chuckle that wrung some of the stress from their eyes. "Tried that before," they signed sheepishly, hands close to their chest. "Didn't work."
That made Milo laugh too. "Can I kiss you?" He signed, while smiling and looking deep in their beautiful eyes. 
In response, they hooked one finger under the knot of his tie and pulled him close, giving him a warm, deep, but brief kiss. Tonight might suck, but afterward, they can go home and relax in peace and quiet, there for each other like they will for the rest of their lives. 
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sal-fishing · 8 months
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me to sal fisher
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hillbilly---man · 9 months
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I hate how every time Mitch McConnell (the devil) is in the news I'm forced to defend his draft dodging because people who don't know anything about optic neuritis can't help themselves from posting hot takes about how it's bullshit that he was discharged from the military for it
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quotidianish · 1 year
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I’ll get to your requests my dudes just sick as fuck rn
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wherekizzialives · 1 year
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Living with Hearing Loss
I’ve been mulling over writing a blog series about my hearing loss for a long time now. I had intended to get something drafted so that I could post during Deaf Awareness Week, which happened between 1st and 7th May, but what with one thing and another I didn’t manage to do that. However – working on the duel principles of better late than never and don’t put off until tomorrow what can be begun…
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ladyimaginarium · 2 years
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while studying both ASL ( American Sign Language ) and PISL ( Plains Indigenous Sign Language ) it's honestly so intriguing with how different they are, particularly the sign for “friend”, it's so beautiful tbh especially with the knowledge that PISL wasn't just for D/deaf/HoH Natives, but by hearing Natives, too, to tell stories and enhance ceremonies and use as a nonverbal communication when hunting, communicating across long distances, when it's too noisy or when you need it to be very quiet and essentially acting as a de facto language for so many different nations. and then i& get mad bc our indigenous sign languages are critically endangered and are even less protected than our indigenous spoken languages. but it makes me& all the more determined to learn PISL and occasionally weave it into how I& sign with ASL.
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MildHearingLossProblems #29
You hear a faint sound coming from the other room.
Now it’s time to play a game called, “is someone talking to me or is it just the house creaking?”
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ear-deals · 2 years
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The Best Hearing Aids For Mild Hearing Loss
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If you are mild hearing impaired, you may not be aware of it, but your hearing is slowly deteriorating. According to the WHO – World Health Organization, around 1 in 5 people over 60 have moderately severe hearing loss. If you are one of these people looking for a way to improve your hearing, hearing aids may be the best solution.
Types of Hearing Aids
A few types of hearing aids can be used for mild hearing loss. These include:
· Cochlear Implants
· Total Hearing Aids
· Auxiliary Earphones
· Speech Generators
Each type of hearing aid has unique benefits and drawbacks, so choosing the one that best fits your needs is essential. Here're a few tips to help you decide which type of hearing aid is right for you:
Consider getting cochlear implants if you're experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss. Cochlear implants are the most effective type of hearing aid for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, and they can help restore full communication and independence in many cases. However, they're also the most expensive option, so factor this into your budget.
If you only need occasional assistance with hearing, consider getting a total hearing aid. Total hearing aids are designed to amplify all sounds in both ears equally to help people with moderate hearing loss hear more clearly without needing amplification. Total hearing aids tend to be less expensive than cochlear implants, but they may not be as effective.
Choosing the Right Hearing Aid for Your Needs
If you have mild hearing loss, you may be wondering what type of hearing aid is best for you. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The best hearing aid for your needs will primarily depend on the severity of your hearing loss and your personal preferences. However, there are a few factors to consider when choosing a hearing aid for mild hearing loss.
First, you should decide how severe your hearing loss is. A standard earplug or earmuff may be adequate if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. However, you will likely need a more advanced device if you have severe hearing loss. In addition to severity, your lifestyle is another factor to consider when choosing a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss. For example, if you are primarily a listener who does not need to use the phone or watch TV loudly, a standard earplug or earmuff may be sufficient. However, an advanced device may better suit you if you are more active and need to hear things in noisy environments.
Personal preference is another consideration when choosing a hearing aid for mild to moderate hearing loss. For example, some people prefer over-the-ear hearing aids because they look more fashionable. Others prefer in-the-ear hearing aids because they find them more comfortable. And still, others prefer hearing aids that are clip-on or headband style. Ultimately, the best way to find the perfect hearing aid for you is to try a few different models and choose the one that best fits your needs.
When it comes to choosing the best hearing aids for mild hearing loss, it's essential to understand what level of hearing loss you have. Many people assume they need a high-end hearing aid with a high-pitched voice. However, this isn't always the case. Many people with mild to moderate levels of hearing loss can benefit from standard Hearing Aids available at most retailers. If you want help finding the correct type of hearing aids for your specific needs, don't hesitate to get in touch with EarDeals now. One of our experts will be happy to assist you in finding an appropriate device.
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boneless-mika · 2 months
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As a child when I told a teacher I literally didn’t hear the school bell why was the response “well you should’ve seen the other kids going inside!!!” and not “holy shit that’s a loud noise, you clearly need a hearing test”
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bonefall · 4 months
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Herb Guide: Deaf Warriors and Hearing Disabilities
UPDATE 1: Added more harshness to the lipreading section based on initial feedback; minor rewording of some lines!
A reference for Warrior Cats fans creating characters with hearing loss, blending human advice with cat biology, written for an in-universe perspective on living with and managing such disabilities.
AKA Bonefall casts Spell of Stop Being Weird About Snowkit on all amoebas in 500 mile radius
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[ID: A headshot of three cats, a brown tabby with a shredded ear (Strikestone), a solid white cat with blue eyes (Stonewing), and a gray cat with a mane (Dovewing).]
In the five Clans, hearing loss is both one of the most common sensory disabilities, and one of the most intense to adapt to. Through any mix of simple infections, birth abnormalities, or even just getting older, any given Clan can expect at least 1 in 4 of its cats to have some form of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is any impaired ability to hear, defined as not being able to hear noises under 20 decibels. Deafness is "profound" hearing loss, which means their hearing STARTS at a noise that is 81 decibels (ex: motorcycle, middle-distant clap of thunder) or louder. Most deaf people can still hear slightly, but sound is "muffled" and they can only hear VERY loud noises.
Hearing loss = Any impaired ability to hear. Normal hearing is 20 DB or lower.
Hard of Hearing (HOH) = Mild to severe hearing loss; starts between 21 DB and 95 DB.
Deaf = Profound hearing loss at 95 DB or higher; a clap of thunder is a quiet whisper.
MOST hearing loss will affect one ear more strongly than the other, and the cat will be HOH. The vast majority of cats with a hearing disability will still be able to understand their Clanmates, if they're just spoken to louder and more clearly. Cats who are born deaf (congenital deafness), however, tend to have profound hearing loss which affects their ability to understand speech.
Cats rely on their hearing and sense of smell much more strongly than they do on their eyesight. With hearing that's 4x more sensitive than a human's and can differentiate between 1/10th of a pitch, a Clan's healer would recognize hearing loss as a disability long before humans would even notice a problem.
Since hearing loss starts with the high-pitch noises that prey makes, like squeaks and chirps, hearing loss is a major reason for a senior warrior to begin to consider retirement. However, with proper support and accommodation, ANY warrior could adapt to this disability; Especially cats born deaf and younger HOH warriors with lots of time to re-learn.
This guide covers;
Common Causes
Traits and Challenges of Hearing Loss
Communication: Signs, lipreading, and more
Unique Challenges Clan-by-Clan
Sources are linked in a separate post, here, and linked again at the very bottom!
(note: this guide doesn't cover devices of any kind, but one of many reasons why cochlear implants are controversial is because an implant will destroy that remaining hearing. They aren't hearing aids; hearing aids amplify sound. Aids and implants are two different things)
Common Causes
There are DOZENS of ways to destroy the incredibly sensitive ears of a cat. ANY infection or injury can lead to permanent damage. That can include,
Injury gone sour, from battle, hunting, accidents, etc
Concussion, or a hard enough blow to the ear
Ear Mites, especially if the cat can't stop scratching it
Swimming in cold or dirty river water
Fungal or bacterial infections
Allergies, which can lead to sinus infections. Even an infection in the mouth or throat can spread to the ear!
There doesn't even need to be an infection. Around the ages of 7 - 11, a senior warrior may begin to gradually lose their hearing. Sometimes, through genetic factors or degenerative disease within the ear, an even younger warrior will lose it for "no reason."
It just happens, and it's incredibly common. They will usually begin to notice it when they stop being able to hear and hunt small rodents, because hearing loss will start with high-pitched noises.
Healers can do very little about this, besides attempting to clean any wax out of the ear canal with flax oil and a dab (such as moss, wool, or cloth). There are SO many ways for it to happen and so little in the way of treatments, that it's practically inevitable.
The majority of hearing loss is from infection or disease, but the most predictable way to see deafness in the Clans is in kits born white with blue eyes. In fact, ALL pure white cats are more prone to being born deaf!
Pure white without blue eyes: 17% to 22%
White with a single blue eye: 40% (and usually on the side of the blue eye)
White with two blue eyes: 65% to 85%
In an afflicted kit, the inner ear will rapidly degenerate. They typically lose most of their hearing by their 4th day, and will only be able to faintly hear extremely loud noises.
Of course, there's also various other birth defects that can result in deaf and HOH kits, even if they aren't white with blue eyes. The ear canal and hearing organs can just not form correctly! Any kit could be born with hearing loss, and they can have any type!
If the loss came from injury or severe infection, chronic pain in the inner ear is also common. Nothing can be done about this besides painkillers such as poppy seeds. This condition is rare in born-deaf cats.
Most cats with hearing loss will also permanently hear a repetitive, single-note sound. For most it's a faint, tinny "ring," but others can hear hissing, crackling, or humming in high or low pitch.
At first, this constant noise can be distracting or even debilitating, preventing them from focusing or sleeping, until... you just get used to it.
There is no way to turn the noise off. It can get worse or better, but it's forever. Sleeping and not being stressed out will help, but over time, they typically learn to tune it out. Being reminded of it is usually annoying, just like when someone reminds you about manual breathing.
(We call this condition tinnitus. It is up to you what you would like your cats to call it, the same way they refer to pneumonia as greencough. Tinnitus is a LOT broader than this little snippet, but this is not a guide about tinnitus, this is about hearing loss)
So to summarize that,
There's a billiondy-million ways to damage one's hearing.
Losing your hearing from age or disease usually results in being hard of hearing (HOH) as opposed to deaf, and is likely to affect one ear more than the other.
It starts with high-pitched noises like rodent squeaks.
Cats born white with blue eyes have a massive chance of being born deaf; their inner ear degenerates.
But, any kit could be born with any type of hearing loss, not just deafness.
Most cats with hearing loss will hear a distracting, repetitive noise. They just learn to tune it out.
Traits and Challenges of Hearing Loss
Hearing impaired cats are LOUD.
Even warriors who have mild hearing loss will often end up speaking much louder so they can hear themselves, or not notice the sounds they're making as they shift around in their nests, scuffle sand at the dirtplace, or trample through crunchy leaf litter.
If one of their ears is better than the other, they'll usually try to stand with their "good side" facing any speakers or other sources of noise. They might appear to be constantly standing at an angle, with their head turned towards the sound. It might be so second nature that they don't realize they're doing it.
Plus, a cat with hearing loss in only one ear will lose their hearing's "distance perception," the ability to pinpoint a sound's location. EXACTLY like how losing the sight in one eye causes the loss of "depth perception," they will have difficulty telling how far away a noise actually is.
Warriors who lose their hearing later in life typically have years of experience in knowing how prey behaves and what sorts of actions make noise; but cats born deaf have to be taught this.
Instead, born-deaf cats tend to associate "sound" with "vibration." Echoes, rumbles, and the sensation of their own humming or laughter can feel very pleasurable. Their whiskers are so sensitive that they can even feel drafts of air from someone speaking in front of them! Because of that, cats with impaired hearing do better with low, rumbling "sounds" rather than high-pitched ones; even when they can't hear either. They can feel lower pitched noises.
(NOTE: Decibels are the measurement of volume, and Hertz are the measurement of pitch. These are different things, NOT interchangeable. HIGH pitch and LOW volume are lost first.)
This is why hunting is so difficult when cats begin to lose their hearing. Their sense of smell and sight can be perfectly intact, but a lot of how a cat hunts is in listening for delicate little sounds and balancing them in both ears to figure out prey's exact location. So, when a cat is learning to hunt without their hearing, they have to rely on their other senses and keep their whiskers low, dusting the ground with their chops and front paws, in hopes of their quarry making a vibration they can feel.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget that cats have carpal whiskers! They are short whiskers on the front paws of a cat, used primarily for "grappling" with other cats and struggling prey. They are less sensitive than facial whiskers, but still very useful for a hearing impaired warrior.
"Dusting," keeping the face low, is still more effective than relying entirely on "Sweeping" movements with the paws.
The younger the cat is, the more time they will have to practice and master this. Cats born deaf, who have never relied on hearing before, are usually better hunters than older warriors learning completely new techniques.
But. Clan cats aren't the only danger in the forest.
A warrior who is deaf or hard-of-hearing will not hear danger approaching, and is easy to sneak up on. Even if they keep themselves completely quiet, an intelligent fox or an enemy warrior can launch an unexpected attack on their unsuspecting target. The wilderness is dangerous, and it's not feasible to keep one's whiskers pressed to the ground at all times, even if vibrations did carry far enough to detect such danger before it's too late.
So, it would be recommended for warriors with hearing loss to not wander too far without a hearing Clanmate capable of alerting them to sounds.
They also will have a VERY difficult time acting as part of a "battalion," in large-scale battles.
In fights with dozens of entangled warriors, while they're focused on fighting the cat in front of them, they will have a hard time hearing commands. Even if well-trained in visual cues like tail signs, deaf and HOH warriors might fail to respond to yowled orders like, "RETREAT" or "SECURE THE ENTRANCE."
Even if the warrior isn't fully deaf, battles are loud and chaotic! It's very likely that such orders would get lost in the clamor of hissing and screeching cats, if the cat has any difficulties with hearing at all.
In summary,
Cats with hearing disabilities are loud.
Hearing loss in one ear will cause the loss of distance perception, and they will often stand at an angle with their good ear facing the noise.
If they were born deaf, they have to learn what makes noise.
Highly tactile, they tend to rely on whisker-sense to "replace" their hearing.
Keeping their facial whiskers low to feel for vibration, "dusting," is a very useful technique.
"Sweeping" with the carpal whiskers is also useful, but less so than "dusting."
They are in increased danger from things sneaking up on them, and shouldn't go anywhere unsafe without a buddy.
Following battle commands in large-scale battles will be difficult or nearly impossible, making them bad "team players."
Communication: Signing, lipreading, and more
(psst! @twiigbranch has a free-to-use version of pawspeak if you credit them!)
Since the majority of these cats lost their ability to hear later in life, most warriors with hearing loss will speak "normally." By "normally," that means they will talk the same way they did their whole lives, just louder so they can hear themselves better.
Over many years, they may begin to stop enunciating their words, 'slurring' their sentences, and their pitch may be a little off. Even then, it's rare that a Clanmate would be able to "tell" they have hearing loss just from their cadence.
But, meanwhile, cats who are born deaf will have a very complicated journey with speech.
It's PIVOTAL for the kit's development that the family and the Clan takes an interest in trying to communicate with them. Deaf children often become isolated from communities that don't seem to care about them, the same way any other alienated child would. This can result in trauma, lack of self-confidence, and behavioral issues.
Even if your project doesn't have Pawspeak (or doesn't have it yet!), kittens WILL find ways to communicate with their family and Clan. Sign language can evolve organically from home signs, unique gestures that will rise for a deaf child to speak with their family. BUT, the sooner they're introduced to a true sign language, the better they will be able to communicate.
Sign languages can also die naturally, simply fading away if the next few generations don't keep them alive. It's possible for the Clans to have gone through a few, over the years!
(Note: Sign languages are full languages, not just "physical versions" of a spoken one. American Sign Language and British Sign Language are from totally different families, even further from each other than English and Russian!)
It is also possible for cats born fully deaf, who have never heard words, to learn how to speak verbally... but, this takes a LOT more time and effort than using a sign language.
Teaching a deaf warrior how to say words is not quick, or easy, and is a very physical process. It involves a lot of dedicated practice time back-and-forth, with the apprentice placing their paw on their mentor's throat to feel their voice, and being coached on how to mimic the exact inflections of every word. It can be very repetitive, and very boring.
Even with lots of training, speakers born deaf have a noticeable "accent." They pronounce consonants better than they do vowels (aeiou), and often lack tone and inflection. Each warrior is an individual, and using a speaking voice is a skill some will be better at using than others.
Lipreading is very difficult. Most warriors born deaf will never learn how to do this, or even want to, as it takes an immense amount of time, effort, and tutoring. It will be more common for cats with more moderate hearing loss, especially if they lost their hearing later in life.
These are REQUIRED for a proper lip reading;
Clear view of the face. If the speaker is too far away, moving around, covers their mouth, stands in a dark place, or has their back turned, their lips can't be read. There are many ways that the view of the face could be obstructed.
Slow, clear speaking. If they're talking too quickly and mumbling their words, it will be extremely difficult to catch all of what they said. A better lip reader will be able to read faster.
Mental awareness. A cat who is tired to exhaustion, unable to focus, or not expecting to be spoken to will not be able to process what's being said. Lipreading is an action that takes brainpower.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: A single speaker, not overlapping with others. Lip reading is nearly useless during clanwide arguments. If there's tons of cats talking over each other, shouting out and interrupting, responding to unseen lips in the crowd, or even if an important speaker is just at a bad angle for the deaf warrior's line of sight to catch, they will not be able to catch everything.
Lipreading is also an action that takes focus. If the cat is tired, unable to concentrate, or isn't expecting to have to read lips, they won't be able to process what words the mouth was forming. It works best one-on-one, in clear lighting, looking straight ahead at the speaker... and even then, the BEST lipreader might only catch 40% to 50% of the words said.
So, it's truly reading. Interpretation. It isn't straightforward like language is. From, "I see a herd of deer, all of them are bucks" they might only catch, "...a... deer... of them... bucks." They will have to guess the meaning based on context!
(Look into a mirror. Quickly chant "Red right wrong" three times. Do you see how similar your lips look to form those words when you're not trying to clearly enunciate them? That's what lipreaders deal with.)
So, while there are other options, a sign language is absolutely the best choice if possible in your setting. Especially for cats who were deaf from birth, sign language is the ideal solution.
VERY IMPORTANT TIPS FOR WRITING A HEARING DISABILITY:
Please avoid them speaking with broken grammar, in third person, or with overly simplistic vocabulary, as if they are a toddler or a caveman. If a deaf cat is taught to speak, they will also learn grammar. BAD: "Examplefur go hunt. Me catch mouse good." OK: "I'm going hunting. I'm good at catching mice."
They will not suddenly "forget" how to speak if they lose their hearing, unless they have another condition such as brain injury.
Lip reading is inferior to signing.
They cannot perfectly catch every single word spoken in all conversations via lipreading, especially when the speaker isn't making an effort to include them, or it's during a disorganized group argument.
In ideal conditions, 30% to 40% of the words spoken will be picked up, and the reader will "fill in" the missing vocab with guesswork.
Teaching a deaf cat to speak verbally is a dedicated process, not something they easily "pick up."
Cats born deaf will almost never pick up lipreading, it is more common in milder forms of hearing loss.
Showing hearing clanmates making an effort to include hearing-impaired warriors, like doing translations or just making sure they understood everything, is massively appreciated.
A good culture around hearing loss is the best thing in the entire world for these cats. Support, respect, and acceptance are sincerely the most important factor in how well a hearing impaired warrior adapts with their disability.
So with that in mind, let's also explore the unique challenges in the terrains and culture of each Clan.
Unique Challenges Clan-by-Clan
Because of the nature of this disability, certain Clans are going to be more difficult for a hearing impaired warrior to function independently in, both in terms of environmental hazards and of culture.
Deaf and HOH warriors will not hear the sounds they're making if they step on noisy terrain or accidentally rustle nearby plants. Some enemies also rely more on stealth to attack their targets than others, and some territories will provide more places for prey and predators to hide. Water-related hazards will naturally cause there to be MORE disabled cats in some Clans more than others, which could mean that there will be less stigma and better community.
Environment means a lot to a cat with hearing loss!
RiverClan
Because this Clan is notorious for swimming in the river, they would have a massively higher rate of hearing loss (and scent loss) than other Clans; ESPECIALLY in late autumn and winter. This also means their healers would be MUCH more experienced with treating ear problems in general; but that's a subject for another guide!
(to answer a stray question before I eventually make that guide: RiverClan can make primitive earplugs out of beeswax to protect their hearing, but may need to trade with ThunderClan to acquire that.)
The important thing to note is that compared to other Clans, RiverClan has the highest rate of having HOH warriors. This means that there would be better support systems for hearing loss than in other Clans, and a cultural "bank" of techniques and knowledge to be shared.
They still have the same proportion of kittens born deaf compared to other Clans, but apprentices without hearing in RiverClan would have a bigger pool (heh!) of mentors who have experience with accommodating their disability.
Plus, you don't need to hear fish to catch them. While they'd still have issues hunting water voles and other wetland-loving rodents, fishers aren't at a significant disadvantage when it comes to providing food to the Clan.
Advantages--
High concentration of cats with similar disabilities provides community, and influences the broader culture to be more accommodating
Healers would have lots of experience with the injuries and illnesses that lead to hearing loss, leading to better treatment
Hearing is not necessary for catching fish, and thus has almost no bearing on how skilled a hunter would be.
Mentors would have better techniques for teaching deaf apprentices
Disadvantages--
Will not hear drowning cats. If you drop into that water you're on your own, bucko
Winter will be even harder than usual, when the river freezes over and fishing becomes more difficult.
Overall, RiverClan is THE best Clan for a deaf cat to be part of.
WindClan
With wide open spaces and lots of hills that offer a good vantage point, sight and vigilance is much more important for survival in a moorland than hearing. There's even an advantage to Pawspeak here; you can communicate from across the open moor without screaming out your location to all the prey!
On top of that, moorland has low-laying vegetation. It isn't a grassland, or filled with splashing water, or covered in crunchy leaf litter. There's not a lot of things TO accidentally make noise on, unless the warrior is trying to hide in a gorse or common heather bush, and WindClan is notorious for relying on speed over stealth anyway.
The one drawback to being a deaf moor-runner is that they will not hear baying hounds. Dogs are extremely common in moorland, either as sheep herders or as companions to human hunters shooting grouses. That said, the fact that hounds are the ONLY big predator they'll need to worry about immediately makes WindClan's moor safer than any woodland territory.
Badgers, boars, and foxes hate open spaces like moorland. It's just dogs that are a big concern, and hawks for smaller cats. There are very few "sneaky" predators in this area; most rely on speed.
So being a moor-runner is one of the best jobs that a warrior with hearing loss could have in the Clans... but the minute that they start to have problems listening to any orders, a tunneler should stop working underground immediately.
Deaf apprentices should be excused from their mandatory tunnel training, except to learn how to do evacuation drills.
There is no light underground. Even if they're capable of creating rushlights or are willing to sacrifice glowworms, that light will be dim at best, and could snuff out at any moment. Communication will become impossible with a deaf cat, and even moderate hearing loss will endanger any warrior who gets separated from their team.
If something as drastic as a cave-in or a flooding happens, they will be in extreme danger. They can't be properly warned unless they're pushed by a fellow digger, and they will not be able to notice anything that isn't rumbling. If they DO end up getting trapped under rubble, they will not hear a rescue party calling their name.
It's not just themselves they have to worry about, either. Not being able to warn or coordinate with their excavation team will put ALL of them in danger.
Advantages--
Moorland requires sharper eyes than ears to begin with.
Lack of ambush predators makes this territory particularly safe without hearing.
Quiet terrain makes sneaking less neccesary in the first place
Pawspeak is especially useful across wide distances
Disadvantages--
Hounds are still a massive danger; they could get very close before they're noticed, if they're upwind.
Will not receive a warning cry in case of any hawks or approaching predators.
Tunneling would be profoundly dangerous with a hearing disability; should be heavily discouraged.
Overall rating is that this is the second best Clan for a cat with hearing loss. RiverClan's sense of community still gives them the top seat imo, but if the attitudes of their Clanmates are good, WindClan's moor is an easy territory to adapt to.
ShadowClan
This one is going to depend on what version of ShadowClan the Erins feel like writing that day, or which one you've chosen for your own project. Do they live in a dry pine forest? Or a wetland?
If you're using the idea that ShadowClan lives in a dry pine forest, especially if your project exists in Britain where spruces, firs, and larches are non-native and thus the territory is a timber plantation, refer to the new growth section in ThunderClan below.
I do not abide by that idea, because Aengus the Prize Winning Hog did not emerge from a cranberry bog for me to disrespect him in this way <3 love ur local wetland <3
(quick note: a swamp is a wooded wetland, a marsh is an open wetland, a bog is acidic, and a fen is neutral/alkaline. Wetland is the general term here.)
Wetlands are rich with soggy ground, muck, and microbe-ridden stillwater. Though ShadowClan cats don't swim for fun, they would end up with more ear infections than most Clans through accidentally falling into the swamp. It's likely that they have the second-highest rate of hearing loss in the 5 Clans, but still significantly below RiverClan.
The lush, thick ferns and reeds provide lots of cover to the notoriously stealthy Clan, but to a warrior who can't hear, this terrain is loud and frustrating. The squish of mud under your paws and the rustle of undergrowth is very hard to adapt to if you can't hear it. ShadowClan's prey of birds, frogs, and water-rodents will respond to any accidental noises by fleeing, quickly, making hunting difficult.
Plus, ShadowClan doesn't rely on one, large, deep, stony body of water like RiverClan does, which seems to be sedimentary rock and open marsh all around. Predators are lurking everywhere in wooded swamps, and could sneak up on a warrior who can't hear them. Foxes, badgers, and boars are a danger in this territory.
All that said; ShadowClan still doesn't seem to rely on just rodents. They eat a lot of amphibians and reptiles, which are not hunted by sound. Most of the techniques they use to catch them can just be taught verbatim to a deaf apprentice, or continue to be used the same way by a warrior who has lost their hearing.
Advantages--
Concentration of warriors with hearing loss from falling into dirty water may provide community and support.
Has a good selection of prey that doesn't rely on listening to be hunted effectively.
Disadvantages--
Swamps, wooded wetlands, are dangerous and attract predators.
Lush foliage and soupy ground make moving quietly difficult for a deaf warrior; but not as difficult as leaf litter.
So, this Clan would be firmly middle-of-the-line in terms of its accessibility to a cat with hearing loss. It would depend a lot on how you plan to approach ShadowClan in your own project; such as if you plan to build out more campbound activities, see them as being social or antisocial with their Clanmates, and what kind of territory you choose for them to have.
SkyClan
As of the time of writing this guide in 2023, when the only decent description of SkyClan's new territory is from a single chapter of Squirrelflight's Hope, it's very difficult to figure out what sorts of terrain challenges a warrior with hearing loss would face at the lake.
Hopefully I can come back and update this later!
But it's most likely is that they have a diverse, varied territory, involving the climbing of steep hills and gorges. Even at the "gorge" territory, a lot of hunting would need to take place outside of the rocky parts of the ravine, in the sparse woodlands and countrysides nearby.
For hunting on sparse woodland, see the advice for ThunderClan. Most hunting in British countrysides is going to look very similar to WindClan's open fields, so refer up there for that.
Because of how close they are to humans, both in the Gorge and at the Lake, it's HIGHLY recommended that warriors with hearing loss avoid twolegplaces. ESPECIALLY towns. Between cars, crowds, and grabbing hands, these places are already dangerous (and sensory hell) for warriors with great hearing, but outright lethal for a hearing impaired cat who won't hear these things coming.
So while the majority of the Clan is jack-of-all-trades and regularly mixes up the particular terrain they hunt in, this is going to be harder for hearing impaired warriors. They have to invent brand new, unique techniques for ALL of these different environments, some of them more difficult than others. Because of that, it will naturally be easiest for a deaf warrior to "specialize" in a particular type of terrain.
This could result in some pretty intense feelings of alienation, as their hearing Clanmates regularly mix what sorts of places they tackle. Without even intending to, they could end up making the warrior feel very left out!
In terms of the culture though, SkyClan seems notoriously accommodating. Between the part-time-kittypet daylight warriors and the way they invented an entirely new mediator role for a cat who didn't enjoy hunting and fighting, it would likely be one of the BEST Clans in terms of supporting a hearing impaired warrior, even in spite of having a "standard" rate of hearing loss since their territory is not particularly wet.
So, it's very likely that they would WANT to fix the fact they've accidentally made their Clanmate excluded, and seek solutions that work for everyone. If any Clan besides RiverClan had a Pawspeak interpreter translating Leafstar's words, it would probably be these guys lmao
Advantages--
Varied terrain means there will be at least a few places that aren't too hard for them to adapt to
Sparse woods, open fields, and even gorges, the three most common terrain types, are at worst decent for a deaf cat to hunt in.
VERY accommodating culture, the absolute best outside of the Clans with a high hearing loss percentage.
Disadvantages--
Generalist training, where every warrior handles vastly different terrain types, will exponentially increase how much training a hearing-impaired warrior must learn.
Being unable to join with their Clanmates in hunting across the entire territory could feel isolating
Rating: Close to top tier, but variable. It's going to depend somewhat on the personality of the warrior. While SkyClan will likely make a big effort to include them, the reality of needing to learn several sets of parallel skills and the way they might feel like an "outsider" for specializing could cause extra distress. Especially for a warrior losing their hearing later in life.
ThunderClan
Because of their collaborative culture and hunting style, described as snobbish and bossy by other Clans, it's very likely that ThunderClan would struggle the most with a specific type of ableism. Since they value group cohesion, it follows they may force Assimilation onto a disabled warrior rather than Accommodation.
As mentioned earlier, Pawspeak is the best thing for the comfort of a deaf warrior... but it might not occur to this Clan to encourage the majority of the Clan to adapt to a minority of warriors.
But it gets worse. Forests are AWFUL terrain to hunt in if you can't hear. Imagine walking in a field with a bunch of invisible landmines, and if you step on one, it broadcasts your EXACT location.
It's difficult to tell if your mouse is running away because you crunched a leaf and made a sound... or because a bird in a tree SAW you and is now raising up an alarm cry. If you can't actually hear what the noise was that scared your lunch away, you might blame yourself for being clumsy as a fox barrels towards you!
When it comes to forests, there are significant differences between an old growth forest and a new growth forest. BOTH of them are going to be extremely difficult for a disabled warrior to adapt to, but old growth is harder.
OLD GROWTH
In both, ground litter is a challenge, but especially so in an old growth British forest. Natural forests there are primarily mixed oak, which drop twigs, leaves, and acorns all over the ground.
These areas are bountiful, productive, and brimming with life. Both in terms of prey and predators. The varied canopy of natural, mixed-age trees allows sunlight to filter through and create an "understorey," providing lots of food and cover to lots of different animals. Unfortunately, foliage is not a deaf warrior's friend.
As previously mentioned, a mix of areas for animals to hide in and a surrounding of rattling plant life is the worst possible combination for a cat who can't hear. Worse, hunting rodents depends massively on hearing them through the leaf litter, thanks to those high-pitched chirps and squeaks which are the first thing to vanish when a cat loses their hearing.
This would be so bad that it's likely ThunderClan "works" its youngest members much harder than its seniors, assigning apprentices and young warriors to significantly more hunting patrols. Since hearing loss is so common that it's practically inevitable, and the security of a Clan allows these wild cats to live to such old ages, it would be "common sense" to ThunderClan to structure things this way.
Old growth patches are practically food pantries for Clan cats, but hearing impaired warriors will have a HELLISH time trying to hunt in them.
NEW GROWTH
When a forest is new and all of the trees in a stand are about the same age, they create a uniform canopy. Like a continuous tent. This means they're so effective at blocking out sunlight that there's virtually no understorey.
No understorey means no food. Or very little food. But it also means no cover. And, usually, significantly less leaf litter. This is because in Britain, most of these types of forests are non-native conifers. Sitka spruce and douglas fir are the two biggest offenders-- and that's significant because nothing here has evolved to EAT the products of those trees.
In ThunderClan, Tallpines is an example of this, but this type of terrain could pop up anywhere that's seen massive destruction.
No understorey to feed prey, no products of the trees which native animals can eat, a silent floor covered in pine needles which offer no hiding places, almost chilling uniformity of the strange trees in evenly-spaced rows...
All of this to say that there's an irony here, that the hearing impaired warrior will be best at hunting in the most barren parts of the forest.
There's much less things to trip up on, or rustle. Prey can be plainly seen out in the open. Gray squirrels are the most significant prey that can utilize these areas, and they DO make a hearty meal for a Clan cat. Additionally, these areas are particularly silent because they're so barren, which might make them seem "creepy" to hearing warriors, but that wouldn't bother a deaf warrior one bit!
Advantages--
Cultural sentiment of "all for one; one for all" may lead to more dedication from the Clan as a whole in connecting to the hearing impaired cat
Which could be a blessing or a curse, depending on the individual warrior's feelings.
Ability to work efficiently in the most barren parts of the forest
Disadvantages--
Cultural emphasis on collaboration in group hunting likely leads to deaf cats being encouraged to adapt to the patrol rather than their own strengths.
May result in more emphasis on teaching lip reading and 'speech therapy,' rather than the adoption or implementation of Pawspeak.
Very difficult to stay quiet in a forest if you can't hear the crunch of leaf litter and twigs.
Lots of cover means random bullshit can spring out from any corner; abundance of ambush predators.
Cover also means there's a lot of places for prey to hide, and hearing can't be used to pinpoint the location.
Lots of rodent prey, which relies on hearing high-pitched noise to catch.
Rating: F MINUS, SEE ME AFTER CLASS. By FAR the worst Clan for a warrior with hearing loss to be part of, for both practical reasons, AND cultural reasons. Awful awful awful, absolutely abysmal, failing grade. Dark Souls for deaf cats
Though remember! This part of the guide is a suggestion. You do not need to include ableism in your own projects if you do not want to, and I hope with the information that you now have, you know how to better avoid it!
"Sources?"
Right this way~
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kzuhae · 29 days
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𝓑𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝓕𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃’𝐒 𝓑𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑(𝓢)!
── SANO BROTHERS┊TOKYO REVENGERS
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premise. emma sano’s brothers are off limits, no matter how much you want them— or how much they want you.
content. sano brothers / f!reader. smut. dark content. best friend’s older brother(s) trope. mini series : three parts. age gap (1, 4 and 11 years). reader has known the brothers since childhood. dubcon. manipulation / coercion. virginity loss. car sex. drug use (cigarettes). petnames. drummer!izana. pervert / creep!sano brothers. penetrative sex. no protection. alcohol. band!tenjiku. corruption. possessive behaviour.
more specific tags found in each fic’s description.
interactions & reblogs are appreciated .ᐟ ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა
¹new message from jia ෆ sano brothers have my heart btw
comment if you want to be on the taglist! (must be 18+)
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── AM I YOUR TYPE, PRETTY? c. 2009
⌗ emma’s brother, manjiro sano : one year older.
content. smut. dubcon. alcohol. drunk / tipsy sex. car sex. unprotected sex. manipulation ++. coercion. virginity loss. fingering (f). pervert!mikey. marking. slight childhood friends. edging. reader is shorter than mikey. praise &&. a little degradation.
you told emma your feelings for her older brother weren’t anything serious— but what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her, right?
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── LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM! c. 2011
⌗ emma’s brother, izana kurokawa : four years older.
content. smut. dubcon. unprotected sex. manipulation ++. coercion. hair pulling. fingering (f). pervert!izana. slight vouyerism &&. exhibitionism. marking. mild choking. nipple play. degradation ++. praise. riding. improper use of instruments. izana has a tongue piercing.
after mikey, you swore you would never fuck another one of emma’s brothers— but maybe one time with izana is okay. . . ?
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── WE’RE NOT SLEEPING TONIGHT. c. 2015
⌗ emma’s brother, shinichiro sano : eleven years older.
content. smut. dubcon. drug use. unprotected sex. manipulation ++. coercion. fingering (f). pervert!shinichiro. creampie. oral (f). doggy / prone bone. marking. praise. squirting. edging. overstimulation. service dom!shinichiro. tummy bulge. creampie / breeding kink. missionary.
shinichiro’s tactics won’t work on you now that you’ve been through his brothers, but who do you think they learned it from?
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