#baby surplus removal

[jaskier-n-crowley-diaster-ace]

Dream opening the shower curtain: Hob Gadling, do you know where- stop screaming- do you know where the biscuits are?

#queue #surplus baby removal #baby surplus removal #i love queue #cue the queue #sandman #the sandman #hob gadling #dreamling #dream of the endless #morpheus

[lemmetreatya]

Asking AOT men for Facials (x fem Reader)

Ahhh i had sm fun making this!! I’ll be posting the next part up with the other boys soon (hopefully bdjsks) but for now, enjoy! 🫶🏾❤️

contains: modern au, strong language, smut, oral sex, facials, blowjobs, hand jobs, mention of piss kink, masturbation, semi public sex, slight degradation, slight choking

Reiner

You asked him over text whilst the both of you were in the same team meeting

It was almost amusing to see him watch his phone light up and the embarrassment that painted his face once he read what your text said

now????? he’d text back in haste, not even caring that he was openly replying and not in the least trying to conceal his distraction from the head speaker, but you typed back that you’d wait until you got home (if this was any other time, that might have been a different response)

When the both of you got in, Reiner didn’t allow you to forget your promise for as soon as the front door was unlocked, he reminded you of your text

“Hey, remember when you texted me saying when we got home, you’d suck me off—”

“Rei—Look, can I at least remove my shoes from my feet first?” You easily laughed.

The man bashfully stood back, face turning red at his unveiled neediness. But you weren’t too phased, he must have been thinking about this moment all day

However, true to your promise, once you had removed your shoes and harphazadly hung your blazer onto the coat rack behind you, you got down on your knees in front of the man

Unzipping his slacks and then tugging him out of his boxers, you engulfed the man’s cock inside your mouth, warm hum at the recognisable feeling of him

Automatically, Reiner’s hands cupped at your cheeks. They were coarse, rough and slightly cold from the outside but still yet they were familiar and comforting.

If it wasn’t soft huffs of air, it was croaky I love you’s that kept spilling from the man’s mouth.

It was so evident in his voice that he was tired, and you were too, but it brought you small amenity that you could please him this way.

Bobbing your head over his length, you made sure to watch up at him so you’d be able to see when he was close. After his words started to fall off of his lips like prayers, you knew it was time.

“Baby…” he moaned, eyes fluttering shut.

You hummed, signalling you knew what he meant before releasing his cock with a pop and stroking him to completion.

Three tugs was all it took before he was coming all over your face, his whimpers minute as his orgasm ricocheted throughout his system.

You allowed the man’s semen to shower your features, enjoying the feeling of the droplets splashing your skin and the sporadic pumps through his shaft.

Reiner was clearly spent. Once he finished, he leaned back against the wall, his eyes still shut.

”God, I didn’t realise how tired I was.” He muttered more to himself. He waited a few seconds before he pushed off of the wall and attended back to you.

“Baby go clean your face so we can jump into bed.” He cooed.

With a triumphant yet equally as fatigued air about you, you stood up, using Reiner as leverage as you held onto his arm.

“I’m too tired.” You whined, face in a pout.

Reiner however couldn’t help but softly laugh down at you, the look of you pouting alongside his drying cum all over your face slightly amusing.

“We’ll wash it off together then.” He mused.

Jean

You asked him by cutting him off mid conversation when he was buzzing on about business economics — which you had absolutely no clue about (but made him sound sooooo much hotter)

“Because I’d told Martin already that if there’s any surplus product at the end of the tax year, then that can’t just be transferred over to the next, on paper it’s still a profit loss—” “I want you to come on my face.”

Frowning in slight confusion, Jean had taken your interruption as an excuse to take a sip at his still steaming PSL. He smacked his lips together before giving you an answer.

“What, like, give you a facial?”

“Yeah.”

The man looked around for about three seconds, taking another sip of his drink before standing it back down onto the table.

“Okay, sure. Toilets?” He jabbed his thumb behind him in direction of the public bathrooms.

The words had barely left his mouth before you were already out of your chair.

Sitting down on top of the closed toilet seat, you dragged Jean closer to you by a belt loop of his True Religion jeans. You unzipped and then slightly pulled down his jeans before laying your hand over his boxers. However, once your hand hovered over the lycra material, he lightly pushed it away.

“You don’t have to suck me off. This ones on me.”

With a perplexed face and your hands now resting on top of your knee caps, you looked up at the man.

“It’s not like its a chore for me to do. I’d be more than happy to blow you one.”

Still, Jean was adamant that you didn’t have to. At this point he had pulled himself out the top of his boxers, his hands gliding dryly along his shaft.

“I know babe but trust me on this one. It’ll be slay.”

Frowning even more, you corrected him.

“Jean, that’s not how you use slay—”

”Yes it is, now be quiet, open your mouth and get your boobs out.” He grunted lustfully.

Once he had said those words, you finally understood what this was about: one fantasy in exchange for another.

Obeying his commands, you shucked your off-shoulder collar over your breasts, pushing them upwards as you opened your mouth with your tongue laying flax for him to see.

With his breath already labouring at the sight of you presenting yourself to him, you could tell this was something he wanted to do for a very long time.

His strokes were becoming faster, the dryness of no issue to him as his eyes drew over your exposed body.

“Yeah. Just like that…” He breathed, eyes focused entirely on yours.

Squishing your breasts together, you looked back at him with hooded eyes, the raunchy feeling of doing this within the openesss of a public toilet, thrilling. You could already feel your nipples harden from the exposed colder air of the bathroom

It didn’t take long, but after a few more dry tugs at his cock, Jean made a strained noise before spurting his cum over your face, some of the droplets hitting your tongue.

You hummed in contentment as he continued to milk himself over you, your tongue lapping up any spillages that were accessible for it to pick up.

“You look so pretty like that.” Jean would breath out, smile wide as he couldn’t help but soak in the image of you with his cum having littered your face

whether or not you allow Jean to piss on your face right afterwards is for another story but hey if you ever wanna hear THAT one, you know who to come to🕺🏾

Levi

This guy would pretend like he’s above facials and act as if he’s beyond such a whimsical desire.

“But that doesn’t make sense. Why would you specifically ask for a facial if that’s only a byproduct of any sexual act? It defeats the whole purpose of everything if you’re just concerned about the end goal.”

Knowing however that he likes to try and always play it smart, you decided to play his game, arms folded over your chest.

“Okay, so if I asked to give you a blowjob — Which I know, and you know, you wouldn’t deny — and said for you to finish on my face rather than me swallowing, would you comply?”

The man would take this time to take a sip at his hot beverage, usually dark eyes peeping over the mug as he pretended to consider your terms.

“Possibly.” He’d mused.

Definitely, he did.

Levi would try to grunt quietly as you sucked him off, eyes innocently wide as you’d look up at him, mouth fit perfectly around him.

He’d hold a hand behind your throat, fingers dancing along your oesophagus as his palm hiked your neck in place.

“You always know what you’re fucking doing…” He’d mumble over you, his true feelings surfacing now that you had him under your jurisdiction.

You’d make an upwards hum in agreement, knowing how that always loosened him up and fastened his orgasm process.

However, upon doing that you felt his fingers tighten around your neck, the motion momentarily hiking your breath.

“Don’t get cocky with me.” He’d pry. He was always so mouthy during sex. “Gag if you have to, but stay quiet when I’m stuffing your mouth.”

Believe it or not, Levi’s vulgarity always showcased itself at these moments. Unlike to everyone else, he never used harsh or degrading words with you at any other time — even during anger. But you had talked it over with him and agreed that it was okay for him to be that tad bit rougher during sex. After all, it wasn’t his kindness that drew you to him in the first place.

Complying to his request, you no longer replied to the man in any verbal format. You continued to suck Levi’s cock, deep throating his length as best you could.

You reached a hand up to fondle at the man’s balls. Knowing how this turned him on, you listened out for the soft moans he’d normally let out. Lo and behold, he sung.

”Shit, I’m close…” He muttered, his faux personality for you slightly slipping.

Looking at him with wide eyes, you fluttered your lashes baitingly at him.

“Wan’ me to come on that pretty face of yours?” He’d chide, grin shit eating but slightly faltering as you could tell he was nearing his limit.

Even though he’d ask you a question, you know he didn’t expect you to answer. You only continued sucking until you felt him tug himself out of your mouth and squirt his seed all over your face.

The surprise of him pulling out so suddenly made you gasp in shock, resulting in his cum to spurt all over your face and some inside your mouth.

Once the man had passed his post-coital haze, his instant reaction was to apologise to you for the accidental spill.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean—”

”No, you’re fine.” You quickly reassured, your face slightly fixing in taste of him. “Although you need to be drinking more water, Champ. This shit acidic as fuck.”

Onyankopon

Facials were the ol’ regular schmegular for you two so when you proposed this to him, he was all for it, no qualms

“Oh, yeah sure.” He said calmly, looking up from his phone. “You tryna’ do research or something?”

With a puzzled face you cocked your head over at him.

“Research?”

”Yeah, research.” He turned off his phone, his attention solely yours. “I saw it trending online that some girls were getting their boyfriends to finish on their face in order to help clear up their skin and apparently it worked.”

With a surprised look, you cocked your head in his direction.

”Uh, Sir? What kinda trends you be seeing?”

With a groan, the man picked his phone up once again to unlock it. He instantly opened up one of his SNS apps and into the bookmarked options.

“I— Nah, don’t make this weird. It was an actual thing that popped up on my feed a few days ago.” He continued to scroll. “I only follow these typa blogs to try and understand when you talk about all that skincare stuff but this was one of the things they were promoting, look.”

Showing you his phone, Onyankopon referenced you the video he was referring to. And sure enough, there there was a video of a woman who was explaining how every time her boyfriend had finished on her face, it cleared up.

With a perplexed look, you looked back at Onyankopon.

“The heck? No scientific reasoning or nothing just cumshots and vibes?”

”Just cumshots and vibes.” He’d say as he shook his head in disappointment.

Suddenly, there was a pregnant pause between the two of you. If you listened hard enough, you’d hear the cog works turning between both your ears.

“You tryna find out?” You side-eyed.

“Bet.” He replied just as quickly

The familiar feeling of having Onyankopon in your hand was comforting. As you tugged your wrists up and down, your hand stroked his length dutifully.

“I know you initially agreed to this but if you want, you could always just spunk yourself into a container and then let me apply it once you’re done.” You said seriously, your face staring straight at Onyankopon’s.

He on the other hand was trying to concentrate on more important things — like the feeling of your hands on his dick for example.

“I… I’m not gonna lie.” He croaked, head momentarily leaning back before coming to look at you again, his cheeks blowing hot air out. “That wasn’t very Sexy Mysterious of you. I think I’m going soft.” He complained, eyes filled with a mix of uncertainty.

Pudging his for forehead with your free index finger, you made the noise of a red buzzer.

“Wrong answer, Fo’head. Everything I do is Sexy Mysterious.” Your hand continued to milk at the man’s dick, the look of fed up tolerance and arousal mixing on his face.

“The way I eat, is Sexy Mysterious. The way I talk, is Sexy Mysterious. The way I take a shit, is Sexy Mysterious. The way I bounce on this dick, is Sexy Mysterious.”

By now the man had his head flung backwards in mild disinterest but once he heard your last statement, his head perked up.

“Ouh, that— That last one was very Sexy Mysterious.” His eyes practically lit up. “Yeah, that was very Sexy Mysterious indeed. The brand of Sexy Mysterious itself, the Logo!”

With a sigh, you could only look back down at his dick again as you continued to stroke it, almost as if you’d been forced to do a chore.

”I swear, Onyankopon if you don’t just cum already.”

“Gosh, I’m trying.” He whined, clearly distressed. You could only huff at him albeit endearingly.

“Okay, I’ll be quiet now so you can concentrate, yeah?”

Onyankopon muttered a small thank you as his face contorted from begrudgal to pleasure. With his eyes squeezed shut, you watched as he softly bit at his bottom lip in attempt to concentrate on orgasming.

Soon enough, as you milked him to completion, the man wordlessly came his semen over your positioned face. A guttural groan left him once he started pumping white, the warm strips painting your features.

With a gasp of delight, you instantly let go of the man’s dick and started to rub the cum into your skin. Once he’d dissipated from his climatic haze, Onyankopon couldn’t help but look on with disarray.

“For science!” You gleamed once you caught his expression.

The man could only sigh with a somewhat indifferent face, his lip slightly upturned at the corner.

“For science…” He’d muse back.

#reiner x reader #jean x reader #levi x reader #onyankopon x reader #reiner braun #jean krischtein #levi ackerman #onyankopon #smut #aot reiner #aot x black reader #reiner x black reader #jean x black reader #levi x black reader #onyankopon x black reader #attack on titan #anime

[g0tmilkx3]

FOOLISH

Things were normal after their breakup. Well normal for them.

OR

Carmy doesn't have the balls to tell his family he and Syd broke up.

Warnings: MINORS DNI, Arguing, Angst, Past Relationship, Toxic Relationship, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Possessive Behavior, Unprotected Sex, Jealousy If You Squint, Alcoholism, Marijuana Mention,

Divider: firefly-graphics.tumblr.com GIF: trainstationgoodbye.tumblr.com

A/N:

I tried to remain as true to the characters as I could. That's why there's a toxic relationship tag. You and I both know what would happen if those two got together. The title is based on Foolish by Ashanti btw. Sorry in advance for any weird formatting. Tumblr is being weird but it's Posted on AO3 with the correct formatting.

The sun rose as it did any other day. When the birds sang and car horns cried to break up the melody, Sydney Adamu hustled to The Bear. Through the labyrinth she knew as Chicago she found a place that brought her relaxation and excitement. A place that raised her blood pressure while simultaneously bringing it down to a happy medium. She and her business partner slash idol (slash ex), worked tirelessly to curate the perfect dining experience. Well almost perfect. But, from Sydney's experience, they were near perfection.

A colorful knitted cap sat upon her head, her braids draped down below. With each stride, the blond tips would bounce against her back and shoulders creating a rhythm that stayed in tune with the music blaring from her AirPods.

°⋆ I’ve seen you with the lights off I’ve seen you and you think you love me I’ve seen you with your hat off I’m dreaming of a time you knew me ｡⋆

Wind swooshed around her, dirt twisted before her sending dust to scratch her eyes. Water tip-toed the rim of her lids.

°⋆ So baby, is it all you’ve got? Tell me if you got some more-ore I’m thinking of some time off, off. I’m dreaming of a time when you knew me ｡⋆

No matter how many times Chicago hurt her, she just couldn't leave. Brandished over her heart, a chain that anchored her to the city. A gold chain that she found hidden in a velvet box that was gifted to her by her ex-lover on her last birthday. Wearing it still felt stupid now, but she could never bring herself to remove it. Fleeting memories from her youth reminded her of who she once was. So strong-willed and outspoken.

°⋆ Some things never seem to fucking work ｡⋆

While she still retained much of her buoyant personality, it was becoming harder and harder to remain strong. Sanguine her lenses once were, now not so much.

“Eighty-six the foie gras chefs!” Carmy echoed, not taking his eyes off the sizzling slice of filet mignon in his skillet. He scooped up melted butter and herbs before pouring them over the scorching meat. A concentrated red stream of blood trailed down a crevice embedded in the meat.

“Yes, Chef!" The brigade echoed back, in a cultish chant.

"Eh, it was experimental anyways.” Syd shrugged continuing her prep of the day’s veggies.

Carmy chuckled sparing a glance at her as he plated what he'd just finished preparing. "And kind of illegal." 

“Are we still eighty-six-ing the-“

“Rum cake? Yes, Marcus is out today and we just don't have the coverage” He cut a small piece off of the beef and neared Syd. His voice became small as he reached her bubble. "There's a surplus of prepped dessert he made last night."

“Marcus? Out?” She took the piece of steak Carmy held out for her into her mouth without missing a beat. An involuntary moan bubbled out of her throat. “You’re unreal,” She could swear a pink tint spread across his cheeks, but he turned away to grab the plated dish before she could examine it any further. “I was just talking to him last night, what’s up?”

“His mom.” Carmy stepped aside as each member of the kitchen staff stopped by to steal a piece of his latest dish. Their eyes remained connected despite the intrusion of the staff stepping in and out of their line of sight. “I didn’t ask too much he sounded bummed.”

“Fuck, I should talk to him.” She frowned down at her station finding that most of what she needed prepped was prepped. “T, I did the veggies can you please get on the broth?” She called while wiping down where she'd just been working.

“On it Jeff!” Tina got to work as Syd made her way to the back alley removing her blues on the way. 

“Syd? I'll be right back Mom.” There was static breaking his voice up before he came through clearly. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Hey chef is everything alright? Carm was vague as usual…” Her eyes found the clear blue skies, there wasn't a cloud in sight. The expansive scape reminded her of his eyes. How he could convey so much to her in silence. So much goddamn information was stored in his eyes. Hidden away behind a sorrowful gaze that would forever follow Syd. His intense stare would probably follow her until the end of time. Those weren't eyes you so easily forgot.

It was a beautiful day, yes, but she had a hard time appreciating it. There was a jet gliding across the sky. She watched it ease across the pretty blue backdrop, leaving white exhaust behind it.

“Yeah my mom, she has a fever and a fever for you and me isn’t a big deal. But a fever for her…” He grumbled something she couldn't quite make out. Despite their distance, she could still feel the amount of stress he was under. He was her family. Everyone at The Bear was her family and each of them had unique relationships. “So I just decided to hold down the fort and make sure she’s doing all right.”

“Right, right” Syd turned just in time to see Carmy walking out the back door, cigarette in his mouth. Their eyes met briefly making her falter in her words. 

“Still there, Syd?” Marcus asked as a timer buzzed in the distance.

“I am,” She turned away, ignoring the burn in her cheeks. “How about I come by after work and bring you what the fam had today?”

“You the one!” He graciously exclaimed. “I gotta go, but alright just call when you're on the way.”

“Peace.” She shoved her phone into her back pocket and whipped her head to find Carmy already looking at her. Pounding just beneath her ribcage, her heart inflated with anticipation. The hair trailing the nape of her neck stood on end as goosebumps rushed up her arms. Their space remained shrouded in silence. How much time had passed? Seconds to minutes, minutes to who knows. They were rarely one on one these days. It was easier to navigate the sludge they'd gotten themselves into when other people were around to break the tension up. She wanted to leave but her legs remained still. There was something hiding. Something waiting to come out. She just felt it. So she stayed, listening to the industrial sounds of the city. The jet was now long gone, but its roar still hummed quietly beneath it all.

Carm's cigarette smoke floated past her. She quirked an eyebrow at her business partner who huffed while shaking his head. He hands her a cigarette to her which she hesitantly took. Despite not being a smoker. They needed something to break the ice these days and it sucked. In the kitchen, it was like nothing ever happened. Like they never fell in love, like they never broke up, but outside of the kitchen? Forget about it.

“Just got off the phone with my mom.” He ran a hand through his hair making it impossibly messier. "You don't smoke." He deadpanned plucking the cigarette from behind her ear and putting it behind his.

“You seemed bummed, didn't want to make it awkward.” She hesitantly chuckled before quickly looking at her feet. “Must've been heavy, the conversation with your mom. I’ve never known my Carmy to stop prep an hour to open for a smoke break."

“Your Carmy.” He muttered under his breath, hiding it behind a chuckle. "Yeah, well she has that effect on me." He stomped his cigarette out, feeling traces of guilt. Syd was never too shy to tell him exactly how she felt about cigarette smoke. She didn't mind weed though.

"Meat delivery was wrong... again." She mentioned trying to find anything to continue their conversation.

"We gotta find another fucking vendor." He cracked his knuckles, now that his cigarette was gone he needed something else to satisfy his vice.

"We do. But the guys we work with now are reliable." The two shared a look. "Semi-reliable and cheap. So we're stuck with 'em."

Another stretch of uncomfortable silence followed. More avoidant glances. More shuffling.

If only he just said what he wanted, she thought to herself. If only he'd release her by simply saying what he needed to say. She wouldn't (no) she couldn't leave without finding out why those baby blues of his were so downcast so pleading and so, so broken. But Carmy was even more stubborn after their severance, they barely knew each other these days. But this felt huge. It felt big, she could feel it vibrating that invisible cord between them. Disturbing the constant hum they sustained, even after everything.

"What'd your mom say?" She finally let her curiosity win.

There it was. His eyes flashed with something akin to fear and his lips twitched. He fidgeted even more. He was always in motion. Moving, moving, moving. “She asked to meet you y’know?” He rubbed a hand down his mouth, slowly nodding his head. He stared out in front of him, at nothing in particular. But she could see his anxiety beginning to bleed into his irises. She could feel it too and god she'd do anything to make it stop.

“You didn’t tell her?” Her thoughts were interrupted by that revelation. For the first time in a long time, she stepped into his space and caught his gaze. “Carmy it’s been weeks.” She stopped short. "No, months! Like two whole months!"

"Almost two months." He corrected earning him one of Syd's signature eye rolls. “I know, I know.” He sighed trying to drop her big brown eyes but it was proving impossible. Each time he'd find the ground or a spot just past her shoulder their shared magnetism would beg his attention. Forcing him to bare his soul.  “Look, only the crew knows. Richie just got back from vacation and I guess I just never see Sugar enough to mention it."

Carmy was still in denial that he and Syd had reached an end before Richie left. He spent the early days in a dreamlike state, hoping that he'd blink and everything would be back to normal. That he'd wake up and everything wasn't on fire and she'd look at him with the love she used to and not the resentment that now replaced it. Once he came to terms with it, Richie was gone and Sugar was far too busy to stop by, with the fresh addition to the family and all. The staff noticed but they didn't say anything. He wasn't going to say anything either. Tina realized what occurred when she saw their mirrored shame. Eyes avoidant and chemistry nonexistent. The family felt their disconnect as it trickled down to each and every one of them. Ebra was the first to slice the tension one day after closing.

"Tensions heavy." He called from a far corner of the kitchen, after a painful bout of awkward silence. "Trouble in paradise?"

Carmy's eyes met hers as she hesitantly dragged her gaze to him. If they told them it'd make it official. It'd make it real. Fuck him if he didn't want this shit to be the worst nightmare of his life. His throat was dry when she looked around the room. His heart pounded when she clasped her hands together and uttered the revealing truth.

"Me and Carm have decided to keep our relationship strictly professional for the betterment of the business." She sagged her shoulders. "Happy? Now come on let's get it chefs, we all wanna get home right?" She didn't look back at Carmy as she grabbed her cleaning utensils and escaped to the walk-in.

"Chef!" They called behind her. Tina's frown followed Carmy as he entered the walk-in behind Syd.

"Really?" He complained angrily. "Wh-wh-what are you doing? Why are you doing this to me?" His eyes searched hers. "That's how you choose to do it, Syd?"

"How the fuck else were we going to tell them? Sit them down one by one in our office. 'Oh yeah, your bosses aren't fucking each other anymore. Prepare your stations for a walk thru', that's real professional!"

He raised his voice, frustration boiling over. His face was hot with a thin sheen of sweat over it. The cool air of the walk-in did nothing to help. It only made it harder to breathe. Her angry eyes only made his breath shorter.  "Anything but that!" 

She sighed taking note of his erratic breathing. Once upon a time, she was the one that'd calm him down, now she was the source of his worries. How quickly the fucking tides change.

"Look, Carm I'm sorry." She avoided rubbing her closed fist over her chest. It felt wrong now. "I didn't mean for it to be messy, but we've been tiptoeing around each other for weeks they were bound to find out."

She brushed past him exiting their bubble. The eyes of the staff greeted her plunging her back into reality.

"Do you guys want a picture? A straight-to-DVD recording? Or what." She deadpanned before shouting. "Let's go!" She stormed to her station finishing her tasks.

This all happened after Richie left, a few weeks back. It wasn't like Carmy to just go and call up Richie during his time off. Call him for what? To give him the good news? Carmy didn't want to bother him with something so trivial and high school. "I haven't had the time to tell my family about us. Sugar took it upon herself to tell Mom about our first anniversary coming up and now… now she wants to meet you.”

Her eyes narrowed in skepticism.

Okay, so he wasn't being entirely truthful and he's pretty sure she knew it. He intentionally hadn't told anybody. He didn't want to. It'd make it feel too final. He and Syd breaking up just didn't sit right with him and he wasn't sure if it ever would. Sydney, however, didn't have a problem telling whoever. She was taking their breakup like a champ.

She frowned contemplating exactly how they got to this point. It began how any work romance started. Fleeting glances and red cheeks. Accidental touches that soon lingered. One too many hangouts that lasted way too long. One too many drinks led to a passionate and intense hookup. Then the inevitable downfall. Too much time spent with one another. Going to work and seeing each other, going home and seeing each other, seeing the best but the worst in each other. Uneven work distribution eventually began interfering with their personal relationship. They thought they could work through it, that was until it started affecting the workplace and their dynamic. One too many complaints from the staff of a hostile work environment and that was it. One of them just had to stop it. It was Syd who called it quits first, she knew Carmy would drag his feet and draw it out for a lot longer than it needed to be. Carmy didn’t have the energy to beg her to stay but his eyes said it all. She thought they fell back into step. Back to a neutral place, nothing deeper than coworkers. But every now and then they’d catch each other’s eyes or he’d get just a little too close to her and it was all so real again. But they knew better than to go back there. 

“We were together for less than a year-“

“I’ve never been with anybody for a year…” He interjected in a matter-of-fact tone. “Sorry, my family they just, they’re happy that I found someone to put up with me. It's sort of a big deal for them." It would've been a big deal for him too if only they'd actually made it a year. "God they’re gonna have a good laugh when I show up to dinner alone.”

Syd frowned looking back up at the sky. “My point is, I don’t think it should be this hard for us. You know disconnecting from each other….”

“We’re business partners.” He lamented. “We disconnect The Bear fails.”

“This place is never going to fail.” She shakes her head looking back down at him.

“I don't know Syd. Everything I touch...” He looks at her with a familiar echo of fear in his eyes. “Everything I touch fails.”

She watched him crack his knuckles, hands shaky, before walking back inside leaving her with her thoughts.

As promised after closing Syd made her way to her best friends' house with enough food for three.

"From what I've seen, that family is unwell." Marcus lightly jests. "I mean if Mikey is any indicator..." He widens his eyes trying to convey just how hectic the Berzattos were.

"Trust me Marcus I know." She sips her third glass of wine of the night. "I just wish I didn't care so much!"

"Carmy was your best friend once upon a time," He reminded, ignoring her eye roll. "Roll your eyes all you want sis. You two dated for a year, it's normal to still care about him a little bit."

Too bad she cared about him a lotta bit "Yes, but enough to be his girlfriend for one more night just so his family doesn't rip into him?"

"I mean," He shrugs. "It seems."

"It'd be a bad idea right?" More semi-expensive wine slid down her throat. "It'd be bonkers to go along with this, especially after the whole ordeal."

She was referring to her 4 weeks of crying on Marcus' couch, in sweats post-break-up. She was always sure to clean up nice and put on a smile when she went to work, but Marcus was there through the worst of it. He'd never seen her look so small, so vulnerable as she did the first few weeks after they called it quits. She'd lay her head in his lap and cry and cry until she fell asleep. When she wasn't crying she was talking about what she could've done, what he could've done. Which led to anger and then to the inevitable crying. She'd spend the mornings before work throwing up, it only just stopped a couple of weeks ago.

"Look, I don't want you going through that again. But you seem to really want to help out Carm and what's one night?" He poured her more red wine. "You're over him right?"

She gulps down her wine instead of answering. Maybe it was the wine but she could feel water gathering in her eyes. The air conditioning blew past her cooling the tears and making them all the more real. She shook her head, annoyed with herself for crying over him, STILL.

"Fuck! I'm sorry." Marcus rushed to her side and pulled her into a hug.

"No, no it's" She laughs through her tears as she wipes the fresh ones away. "It's the wine I promise."

"I'm still sorry for you know asking that." He replied. "Especially this early on."

"It's okay, friend.” She shakes her head and sniffles as she pulls away. "It's been some months, I should be able to talk about our," relationship. "situation without crying like a little bitch."

"I don't think there's a time limit on getting over someone you loved." He replies sincerely ignoring her previous self-dig. "And if you ask me two months isn't enough time to get over anything."

"Almost two months and good thing I didn't ask you." She teased, tugging on her coat. "I gotta dip but thanks for this."

"Do you know what you're gonna do?" He follows her to the door noticing the stumble in her step. “You can stay the night if you want.”

She leans slightly to the left, eyes hooded. Her face crumbled with each passing second, the tough facade tumbling down. “I’ve decided what I’m gonna do.” She drops her shoulders. "Have an extra pair of sweats waiting though."

"Yes, Chef." He salutes weakly as a worried frown grew on his face. Watching her struggle to slip back into her Crocs helped him make up his mind. “Okay buddy you’re sleeping on my couch, come on.” He easily guided her back to the couch.

”Grab the sweats!” She shouts behind Marcus as she laid back on the cushioned surface.  

“When is it?” Her words were hushed but clear. 3 o'clock on the dot had arrived and sleep evaded her still. She tossed and turn until her phone was in her hand and his number was being dialed. It was now or never. There was no way she was going to do this sober.

Of course, he’d pick up, the insomniac. “What?” He held his phone against his shoulder as he stirred his boiling ramen.

“The-the thing." She supplies, although with no explanation her words were useless.

"Syd, I don't-"

"When am I meeting your family, who isn’t Sugar.” She explains. "The dinner."

"Ah, I get it now." He stops what he was doing and turns away from the stove taking his phone into his hand. "You're drunk."

"Okay and?" She scoffs, "Look Carm, I decided that I'll lend you a hand now so later when I need a recommendation you'll help me."

"I'd help you, either way, Chef."

"I bet." She blew a raspberry. "So, when is it, big guy?"

"When is what?" He shot back.

"Carmy" She whines his name the way she used to. It made his heart pound and a smile spread across his face. It made his conscious mind melt away, replacing his thoughts with Syd, Syd, Syd.

It made him feel vulnerable and his voice got all soft and mushy, he'd feel embarrassed if he didn't enjoy how she made him feel so much. So, with a tone only reserved for her, he made her a promise. "Sunday night, 6. I'll swing by yours on the way."

"It's a date!” She says without thinking twice. “Or no it's not a date!"

"Drink some water and get some sleep Syd." He tutted fondly as he silently wondered when the urge to take care of her would go away. "I'll bring you some soup in the morning."

Before she could respond the dial tone interrupted her thoughts. "Asshole." She muttered affectionately before tossing her phone on the coffee table and nodding off to sleep.

True to his word the next morning he handed her a warm Tupperware container filled with his signature hangover soup. They both managed to show up before any of the other staff did. Despite sleeping over at Marcus' she managed to get up by five so she could go home, change, then hustle to The Bear.

“Did you-“

“No, I didn’t.” He shook his head. “Syd come on I know you’re allergic to sesame seeds."

She shrugs chuckling to herself as she uncovered the warm cloudy liquid. The aroma wafted past her reminding her why she trusted Carmy so much with her career trajectory. "We can all be victims of forgetfulness."

"I'd never forget something like that." His words were heavy. Weighted with what they both knew but didn't want to say.

Instead of a day filled with a familiar waltz the ex-lovers shared, their routine was filled with affliction. Damaging the very foundations of what helped the kitchen run so smoothly.

"You two are weird," Richie whispered to Carmy during their cigarette break. "Did uh something happen? You two aren't you know... tweedle dee and tweedle dum-ing it today."

"We uh we-we..." He breathed wanting so desperately to tell him exactly what was going on but he couldn't. The staff obviously hadn't shared the latest gossip with him and Carmy was grateful for the rush that kept them busy for much of the day. After tonight he would but not now. "Just nervous about tonight."

"Listen I already spoke with Donna, it's gonna be small just us. We're only popping open two bottles of wine."

"It's not the wine I'm worried about it's, it's." He pressed the heel of his hand against his eye. Weary of the conversation already. "I never wanted to mix Syd in with that side of the family, of me. What if she sees mom and what she does to me and she-she just leaves" He lets all of the air he'd been holding out. "What if she decides this place isn't worth it" that I'm not worth it "and she leaves for good?"

"Carmy, you're so much of a know-it-all prick I sometimes forget that you have no experience with women." He laughs then took a long drag from his cigarette. As if Carmy's dumbfounded expression alone stressed him out. "What the fuck are you talkin' about?"

"You're not listening cousin-"

"I am. Syd isn't going to up and leave you after meeting your shitty mom- no offense." He redundantly remarks. "If she was gonna leave she would've a long time ago. The girl loves you."

"I don't know...she, we-we arent-" The confession tasted bitter in his throat, the words were on the tip of his tongue when Richie interrupted him.

"She does, every relationship has its rough patch. Some last longer than others." He muttered, blinking away the memory of his once happy family. "She's nervous too according to Sugar."

"Really?" The hopefulness in his voice made Richie scoff at his naive cousin.

"Yeah, Syd's been asking her advice and shit about what she should wear and what Donna's favorite color is. The works."

Carmy exhaled feeling the tightening in his chest decompress. "You sure?" The hopeful lilt in his voice made his cheeks burn, but he couldn't really bring himself to care.

"Yeah kid, really" He blew a raspberry. "God I hope I'm never as gone as the two of you. Just foolish." He muttered the ladder part of his sentence to himself.

“A dress?” He tries not to let his eyes linger on her long legs, the same legs that wrapped around him night after night, but he failed. He noticed her outfit choice when he picked her up, but it took a while for him to muster up the courage to say something about it. 

“I wanted to wear something different.” She tugged at the hem. “Too short? You know I'm not a dress person.”

“No, no” He finally left her legs and met her eyes. “You look perfect.”

“Bear!” His mom swings the door open and pulled him into a hug, tears already kissing her eyes. “You look so handsome, and you combed your hair?” She teased tugging at a strand. She turns to Syd, tears welling up once again. “And look at you.” She holds her hand eyeing her up and down. “Carmy goes on and on about those pretty brown eyes of yours but he did not do them justice.” She pulls Syd into a hug as Carmen darts his eyes around looking for an escape route.

"I brought you flowers." She hands the Berzatto matriarch a purple assortment of flowers.

"Wow," She eyed the bouquet admiring the color. “Oh Bear, she’s,” Donna shakes her head. “She’s gorgeous, your babies are going to be just beautiful” She turned away and entered the bustling house before he could speak. The soft sounds of Frank Sinatra drifted past their ears as the door swayed behind her.

“Sorry,” He quietly winces. 

"Don't apologize," Syd hesitantly intertwines her fingers with his. "That's what any mom would say to her son and his girlfriend, remember?" She raised an eyebrow.

Carmy let a shaky breath go, gently wiggling his fingers in an attempt to calm his nerves. "Right, I just. I think I need a second outside."

Syd frowned before tugging the door closed and turning towards her counterpart. Her hands rested on his sweater-clad shoulders, forcing him to direct his full attention to her.

"Carm, just relax. It's just a dinner, we can leave whenever you want." She frowned when he shook his head, eyes blinking rapidly.

"M-my family, my mom. Everything is fucked... you-you see what happened with-" He couldn't say Mikey's name right now. It'd break him and he wasn't going to cry in front of Syd. She probably already thinks so lowly of him, after everything he put her through. He still felt indebted to her. "And I just don't want you mixed up in that."

"Well, good news! I'm black and I like to mind my business so we're golden. Now let's go inside, it's getting chilly." Carmy surprised himself with laughter making Syd crack a prideful smile. She grabbed his hand once more finding it a lot less shaky.

The dining room table was grand, littered with masterfully prepared dishes. The gift of cooking obviously ran in the family. Each of them took their place at the table. Syd's eyes trailed the room, beginning at the head of the table and moving counterclockwise. There was Donna who was on her third glass of whiskey followed by Sugar. Sugar's eyes were worried as she looked at her husband, Peter, who held their new addition in his lap. Next to Peter was Carmy who hadn't looked up from his plate yet. At the end directly across from Donna sat Sydney. She was a natural against the brut energy Donna gave off. Across from Carmy sat Richie who was going on and on about some MMA fight, his mouth filled with pasta. Sydney commented on it twice in disgust. Following Richie was Fak who wasn't invited but heard about the dinner and just decided to show up with some girl who seemed to mirror his energy.

Things continued smoothly as time lazily dragged behind them. The much-awaited grand finale usually took place during dessert. Donna was soon to amass their attention. Carmy braced himself as they all dug into their desserts. A nervous glance was shared between him and Natalie.

The lack of conversation could be heard. Silence in the Berzatto house was always so, so loud. The Berzattos were not quiet people, even Sydney knew nothing good lay ahead.

"So Sydney!" Donna began fondly, now beginning to consume her seventh glass of alcohol. She'd begun mixing brown and white two cups ago. "I want to know more about you, who is Chef Sydney the girl who stole our Bear's heart, and put up with him for a whole year!"

She could feel the shift in Carmy's energy, which naturally threw hers off but she quickly recovered.

"I'm from here, erm Chicago. And I've loved cooking since I can remember." She gives the blond woman a tight-lipped grin.

"Short, sweet, and to the point!" Donna chuckled, loudly. It went on for a second too long. "You gotta tell me, what's your secret for dealing with a basketcase like Carmy Berzatto? Because I tell you.."

An awkward silence descended down the table until it reached Sydney, who brushed it off easily. She glanced at Carmy, his eyes avoided hers as discontentment filled them. Upon closer inspection, she could see anger beginning to turn his face red. "Actually, it's been pretty easy." They matched eyes before she confidently turned to Donna. "He's an amazing person. He's attentive and caring he always takes time to listen and he's a big softie beneath all of that... machismo" She teased. lightly. "I've never worked with a chef so dedicated. So gifted-"

"Gifted?" Donna quirked a brow, almost mockingly.

"He cooks like... like nothing I've ever seen before, well 'tasted' before. I don't think he's ever made a bad dish in his life. It's what made me fall in love with him." His smile was small but present. It was reserved, only for her to see.

'You mean that?' He just barely tilted his chin.

'I've got you.' She gently nods once.

“Our big successful chef.” Donna interrupted their silent discussion. Sydney turned to her as her smile morphed into an unwelcoming snarl. Where fondness slept envy roared alive. “Too big to come and say hi to his mama bear.” Her fork clanked against her plate. The sound was reminiscent of swords being drawn, ready to head into battle.

”Hey, Donna could you tell me the tiramisu recipe?” Richie attempted to steer her attention away. "It's good as hell! Fak pass me the dish-"

”Ask bear!” She grinned at him. “It’s Mikey’s recipe the one he came up with alongside Carm!”

The table sat still, each head hesitantly turning towards Carmy. Richie found the table while Sugar attentively examined Donna. Peter examined Sugar, their babbling baby in his arms blissfully unaware of the building tensions. Sydney didn’t know why but Carmy looked so small. Not like himself. Her hand reached for his under the table, his touch made her shiver. Slowly, she pulled his hand to rest in her lap, cupped within hers. She placed her other hand above his cocooning his hand in her warmth and protection.

He sighed deeply as he looked into Sydney’s encouraging brown eyes. He remained looking at her as he spoke. “Mikey loved using half heavy cream half coconut cream. We figured it out one day when we didn’t have enough heavy cream," He finally gathered the strength to face his mother. "It came out perfect and we never changed.” Appreciative sounds filtered around the table.

“Oh, Carm.” Donna's laugh grew until it drowned out the room's quiet chattering. Her laugh dangerously teetered towards the sound of crying. The longer it went on the more Syd questioned if she was actually laughing or crying. Donna's hair covered her face and her hands trembled as she vibrated with sarcastic joy. “You are so special!” She clasped her hands together sending an echo around the room. “So special that you missed your own brother's funeral!” Her throat churned out louder and louder gurgling laughter until she fell into a coughing fit.

"Here Mom let's drink some water." Sugar handed her the cup of water Donna refused to touch all night.

"I don't need water!" The liquid splashed Natalie's legs as it fell to the ground under Donna's hand. "Go be useful and start the dishes!" She waved her hand behind her, not bothering to spare Sugar a passing glance.

Carmy exited the table, escaping from the world he so desperately wanted to leave. Donna was none the wiser, the alcohol content in her blood had exceeded normal levels and only her words were important in this moment. Each face surrounding the table was shadowed by the light of her vigor. Her stage was set and she was not going to let the moment pass without earning a standing ovation. Sydney turned to Sugar who darted her eyes in the direction Carmy went, silently telling her to follow. Which she did.

He sat on the steps of the house face buried in his hands. Without looking up he stuttered out. "P-please just leave, you shouldn't" He shook his head looking out at the street in front of him. "I never wanted you involved with this part of my life. Now you see why."

"Carmy." She slowly squeezed next to him, gently grasping his shaking hands almost instantly stilling them. "You are not your mother." She ducked her head catching his red eyes. His lashes were wet and his face flushed. "You're you, you're one of the best chefs at the best restaurant in Chicago if you ask me."

That earned her a chuckle, which she enjoyed. Warmth radiated through her chest when he grinned at her, despite his tears.

"How do you always know what to say?" He knocked her knee with his.

"Because, Chef, you're my Executive Chef I'm supposed to know you inside and out."

That seemed to sober him up and dry his tears. He'd forgotten that they weren't where they used to be. Not at all. Still, the words she used to effectively end their ten-month relationship replayed in his mind when he'd sit alone with his thoughts for too long.

"I think we just need to set some boundaries."

"Boundaries?" He repeated incredulously, tilting his head. "What do you even mean by that Syd?"

"We can't be together and run The Bear together, it's not working."

"Syd, you sound-"

"I sound what Carmen?" She narrowed her eyes challenging him.

"Afraid." He replied honestly. "You're just afraid, but that's okay because I am too." His hands wrapped around hers, pulling her closer to him with a gentle tug. Brown and blue watched each other, their noses brushed. His lips ghosted across hers and they tingled at the feeling. She was feet away from him when he blinked again, pulled from the haze they often created when in close proximity to one another.

"I'll clean out my drawer tonight." She left out the door before he could argue. He watched her go. That was all he could do. She left him, his lover, his soulmate, the one thing he thought he'd gotten right... she left him.

"Earth to Carmy." She snapped her fingers pulling back his focus. "Dude you gotta stop staring at me like that." She teased but he saw her throat move alongside a nervous gulp.

"Sorry, I just..." He shrugged. "I'm just happy that you're in my life still after" He waved his hand. "After everything. You're the only sure thing I have."

These were the times Sydney felt her defenses were down. That all of the hard work she put in to get over him was simply a farce. A mask she wore to avoid the deep-cutting pain that their separation left her with. He just had to look at her, sick those intense eyes on her and she was suspended in his delicate grasp. He was saying so much. Professing his love, apologizing for whatever, begging her to come back. She felt it all, she read it all just from a simple gaze. She hadn't realized her eyes had fallen closed until his nose brushed up against hers, and her lungs sucked air in begging for the burning to stop. She could feel gentle bursts of air tickling her glossy lips and he'd begun to feel a hint of stickiness rubbing against his.

"Carmen!" Donna burst through the door ruining what they'd just created. The rest of the dinner table was in tow. Their faces were worried, they'd obviously been trying to talk her out of going outside. But Donna was a Berzatto and you didn't tell a Berzatto what to do. "I just came to apologize." She stumbled forward as Carmy stood to his feet to catch her. "I ruin everything." She sniffled, mascara-dyed tears trailing her face. "I'm sorry Sydney." She turned to the stunned girl, nearing her to pull her into a hug but Carmy grasped his mothers' arm pulling her back.

"Let's go to bed ma." He began leading her back inside without another word.

Syd watched them go, feeling pangs of sadness in her chest as Carmy and Richie helped her to bed.

"Claire said she was sober the last time she came to dinner." Fak's friend, Kelly, whispered her statement to Fak but Sydney heard. Sugar knew that Sydney heard because her eyes widened along with hers.

"Wait, Claire? As in Carmy's ex-whatever?" Syd questioned as her brow twitched, the warmth that spread across her face was due to something other than nervousness now.

"I feel like I said something I shouldn't 've." Kelly's eyes widened as they bounced between each of them. She awkwardly cleared her throat before slowly turning away and walking back to the dining room.

"Hold on, come back-" Sydney started to follow her but Natalie stopped her.

"A few weeks back Carmy brought Claire to dinner," She informed her before quickly adding, "He said it was innocent and they just randomly ran into each other."

She shouldn't care. She really shouldn't. They weren't together anymore and this was all fake. He had his own life and he was obviously living it. She had her own life and she had to start living it sooner or later. It's her fault for thinking highly of a man with deep-seated mommy issues anyway.

"It's fine." She pressed her lips together in a thin line. If Sugar was Carmy she'd be poking and prodding her for additional information. She'd see right through her mystique and ask what the fuck was up. But Sugar was not Carmy, she accepted Syd's answer and went back to the dining room.

The man of the hour walked back in, his face drained of energy. Richie patted his back before leaving for the living room. She wanted to be angry at him, but fuck he still held the key to her heart and he refused to return it. The fucker.

"Let'g go." He said just above a whisper and they went.

The car ride was quiet, aside from Carmy's outdated radio that played early 2000s pop through static. It wasn't until he pulled up to her house that the silence was sliced open. 

"Okay, what is it?" He shifted gears and turned to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She crossed her arms. He kept secrets she could keep secrets too.

"Sydney..." He huffed. "Please, just tell me, it's been a long day."

"Fak's friend said that Claire was at dinner with you and your family a few weeks ago?"

He paused pursing his lips. "Yeah, we uh ran into each other and-and she's a family friend so" He shrugged.

"Right, right" Sydney slowly nodded, her patience was running thinner by the second. "So, just a silly question!"

Carmy braced preparing himself. "What's up?"

"Why didn't you just bring her to dinner? I could've fucked off and spent my night with someone else. With Marcus or-"

"Marcus?" He cut her off. "What is it, are you two together or something? I've noticed how close you two have gotten." He challenged. "Funnily enough it was right after you left me."

"That's none of your business Carm!" She rolled her eyes, deciding to not dignify his accusation with a response. "I'm just saying, next time bother her with your odd jobs. I'm sure she's great at jobs!"

“Look nobody twisted your arm, okay?” He ignored her crude joke, voice raising only slightly. But in the tight space of his car, the smallest inflection made all the difference. He knows better than to raise his voice at her. “You willingly came."

“You might as well have twisted my arm! You put on that forlorn face. The one that makes you look like a wounded puppy-“

“Nice” He scoffs. “Really nice. Look just go, get out of my car.” He reached across her and opened the door. Her perfume clogged his nose and all he could do was think about how angry the smell made him. How she took it away and dangled it above him day in and day out. How she didn't even leave so much as a t-shirt with her lingering scent. One he could press against his face and inhale on the nights he missed her the most. He couldn't stop thinking about how someone else was enjoying her scent instead of him. How someone else got to see her more than him and listen to her ramble on and on about cooking and anything else that popped into her head. He couldn't help but feel bitter, it should be him.

“Yeah, whatever” She slams his door and rushes towards her apartment. On days like these, she wished her dad was behind the door waiting for her with his comforting smile. Ready to soothe whatever ill feelings she was experiencing. But when she unlocked her door she was met with darkness and silence. She was alone.

She’d just taken her shoes off and thrown her purse on the kitchen island when she felt a shift in energy. The air was thick and a creek sounded from the front of the apartment. He sighed heavily, it emanated from the cracks in the door. He knocks softly as if he didn’t want her to hear.

She stared at the partition, internally debating on what she should do. Perhaps if she stood as still as a statue, he’d surmise she was in the shower or didn’t hear him and leave.

“Come on Syd I know you’re there.” His thick accent made his words stick together.

“Weirdo.” She muttered sauntering to the door and swinging it open. Ugh, there goes those eyes again. 

“I heard that” He brushed past her and into the dimly lit apartment. “Look, I-“ He shakes his head, placing a closed fist over his chest. They hadn’t done it in a while. It felt way too intimate after their breakup. But drastic times called for drastic measures. He must've known how easily that'd make her turn to mush. “I’m sorry. Sorry I yelled and guilted you into coming to dinner and for being shitty in the car-“

“Woah woah woah slow down Carm” She meets him further in her home, clicking on a soft light. The golden glow created a halo above his head. “You call that yelling? I’ve endured much worse from you.”

“Unfucking believable! “ He throws his hands in defeat. “Can’t you just be quiet for like 10 seconds while I apologize? “

“Oh, this is an apology“ She points to nothing in particular. “It's great Carm, keep going!” He released a heavy sigh through his nose. Her brown eyes reflected the light and softened her hard gaze. Her deep skin glistened under the low lighting making her appear enchanted. Like something out of a Renaissance painting.

“God, you’re insufferable and stubborn." How could someone so breathtaking get under his skin like this?

She ignored the clarifying beauty he naturally possessed, nothing was going to distract her from what she needed to say. “You’re neurotic and have anger issues! Maybe take a therapist to dinner next time.“

“I wish I never fucking hired you!” He yells.

“I regret ever walking into that shithole!” She fires back.

He breathes taking in the gravity of her words. “So, that’s really how you feel?”

She ignores his inquiry because no she doesn’t feel that way. She counts the day she walked into The Beef as one of the best things that ever happened to her. But he didn’t need to know that. “Look I was waiting for the right time to tell you but," She takes a deep breath, preparing herself. "I’m leaving.”

“What? The Bear?” He felt like he’d just been gut-punched “I don't understand. You can’t leave?”

“I’m leaving, Carmen.” She stands her ground, on trembling legs, but she still stood her ground.

He blinked a few times feeling tremors of anxiety climbing his arms. “W-when?”

“Next month.” Her voice cracked. "I was offered a great position in LA and I'm staging there soon. Look, I've been scouting CDC's and I found a reliable one. He's hard-working and... Carm?"

He hadn't realized he was shaking until she gently touched his forearm. He jumped away as if her touch burned him. Their uneven breathing filled the room with sound. The distant sounds of cicadas screamed outside and the air conditioning clicked on before she decided to continue speaking. “Carm say something?”

“You can’t leave.” He repeats which made Sydney rolls her eyes. 

“I thought once upon a time that I’d never leave. That you… that we’d have The Bear as our baby forever but,” She blinks back tears, she’d die before he’d get to see her cry. “Things change and people change. Plus you just said you wish you never hired me."

“So this is it?” He mutters giving her those pleading eyes again. “That’s just it for us?”

“Yeah,” She slowly nods, brushing her hand over his. No matter what went on between them they seemed to have a force between them. Pulling them closer and closer without either realizing it. "This is it, I'll be out of your hair in a month.

“This can’t be it, Chef,” He says mere inches from her face. His eyes trail to her lips that sat waiting for him. “Look, I-I need you.” She could only gulp feeling the intensity of the situation set in. After their breakup things were sore for a while but they had lives to live. They never had a chance to double back, to have one last hoorah before lights out. "Sydney. I thank god every day that you walked into The Beef and accepted that position. I don't want you out of my hair."

“You don’t need me-“

“I do need you.”

"The Bear was always yours."

"It's ours. I can't imagine sharing it- this, with anybody else. Sydney." He slightly shook his head. "Don't do this, baby."

Maybe it’d undo all of the work they put into trying to hate each other. Trying to forget about the other's touch or the feeling of their lips on each other. But they could no longer deny what they wanted to do so badly. His hands still felt right around her, pulling her closer. His lips still fit perfectly against hers. She still loved to jump up into his muscular arms and wrap her legs around him. He preened at the feeling of her back in his arms like this, kissing him like nothing ever happened. She sunk into the soft foam of her bed as he laid her back and proceeded to climb over her. His mouth hovered over hers, hesitantly he opened his eyes in an effort to read her. The girl who stole his heart (and one day his last name) was still so hard to read. But at this moment she was open her eyes were honest. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Carnally. His yearning was near animalistic at this point. Not being able to kiss her and taste her for seven and a half weeks was making him go crazy, but here she was. His fix, waiting for him to make the next move.

"Syd, I...I don't want this to be just sex." He confessed. "I want you back. I'll do anything, I'll change anything. Just please, don't leave me." Her brown eyes flashed with something he couldn't put his finger on but her smile made his heart flutter. Her hand was soft as it gently ran over his ear and neck, despite the burns and cuts she endured over the years. He recalled her once saying shea butter kept her hands soft. She always smelled of it and this time was no different.

"Let's just enjoy this, yeah?" She leaned up kissing him as her arms pulled him against her body. His mind yelled at him to stop talking and enjoy the moment, but how could he if she was just going to walk right out of his life after?

They touched and kissed and rubbed against each other until Syd found herself on top of him. Her heat pressed against the stiffness that pressed against his jeans. Her sounds were intoxicating when his hands gripped her hips and controlled the speed of her gyrations. Over and over again she ground against him chasing sweet pleasure. He could stay like this forever. They both knew that. He never came in his boxers until she walked into his life and sat in his lap. She pulled away, desire in her eyes as she worked to open his jeans.

"Boles de Picolat." She says as her warm hand wrapped around him and began moving up and down.

"Fuck" He groaned. "Are you seriously thinking about the menu, now?" He panted already seeing spots. He hadn't had sex or even masturbated after their breakup, so he was embarrassingly close to coming from less than ten strokes of her hand.

She slinked down his body and made him curse god as her warm mouth sucked him in. His eyes rolled when his leaking tip pressed against the back of her throat. Her velvety smooth mouth swallowed him down as her throat gagged from the spurts of come dripping out of him. "Sorrysorrysorry" He wasn't sorry. His hips twitched as she continued worshiping him, he was still hard and ready to feel her all over.

"I didn't want to forget." She giggled innocently, his dick still twitching in her hand which made Carmy feel all types of hot. He gently grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him so he could kiss her. He tasted the saltiness of his release lingering on her tongue, but he didn't mind. "Also don't apologize. The point is to come." She yelped when he rolled them over. His shirt was the first to go followed by her cardigan. Her dress came off as he leaned back down to kiss that adorable smile off of her face.

"How many?" He questioned as he kissed down her body. He could smell her arousal mixing with the mango and vanilla of her perfume. He kissed her clothed valley, feeling just how turned on she was through the lacey fabric.

"How many what?" She questioned.

"How many times do you think I can make you come?" He used his finger to push her panties aside so he can finally taste her. He moaned like a little bitch when her tangy cream melted on his tongue.

She whimpered, trying her hardest to keep her legs open but it was becoming harder with each pass of his tongue. Her thighs were pressing against his ears, vibrating in no time.

Like the ocean kissing the shore, he rolled his tongue over her swollen bud relishing in the high pitch sounds mewling from her mouth. He loved her like this. She walked around The Bear like she was the toughest thing out of Chicago. Never taking time to relax and rest. But Carmy knew just how to sedate her. He knew how to turn her brain to mush so she had no choice but to relax under him. He hadn't realized he'd forgotten to remove his rings until his fingers were knuckles deep inside of her, but by the volume of her moans, she didn't mind. She constricted his fingers as he pressed over and over against that sweet spot within her. He pulled back to observe at her pulsating entrance mesmerized at the beauty of her body. God why the fuck was he jealous of his own fingers. Her hips jerked and her cunt pulsated rapidly as her first orgasm washed over her.

She didn't have time to fully recover. When she blinked he was lining himself up at her entrance, his red, leaking tip rubbing her over throbbing clit.

"Carmy,-" She began, tone unreadable. As it usually was. She was always so worried. He cut her off by shoving his fingers soiled with her pleasure into her mouth. She deserved to experience how good she tasted.

"Sh, just enjoy it." He slowly pressed into her loving the dazed look that overtook her face. She nodded obeying his command as he began gaining pace. He removed his fingers when she moaned filthily head thrown back in ecstasy.

"Fuckfuckfuck" She breathed already feeling another orgasm climbing her body. His pace accelerated pulling her leg a bit higher on his hip so he could fuck her through her second orgasm.

"That's it" He encouraged against the shell of her ear. "Let go, love." His groan matched hers as she squeezed him, writhing through another orgasm. Her moans were growing louder and louder as he continued fucking into her at the same pace. Her thighs were touching her belly now as his hands held her legs up. A simple glance down at his hands commanding her body made her sensitive rose throb with pleasure. "Again, already?" He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fuck you-" Her words were cut off when he adjusted his angle and found some hidden button that made her words slur into unintelligible stuttering. He grinned watching her let go again, this time pushing him closer to the edge.

"You're so beautiful" He panted feeling his orgasm creep up his body. "You're my beautiful- fuck- my beautiful girl, all mine." He let an embarrassing noise echo through the room as he released long white stripes inside of her. She met his thrusts wanting to draw his orgasm out as long as possible. His throat was raw as he gulped down air trying to regain his composure but tremors of his release were still running through his body like an electrical current.

Later that evening they lay beside one another in her bed. She rested against his chest and he inhaled the sweet smell of her hair feeling his heart burst. Then something hit him.

"Earlier you started saying something but I stopped you," He could hear the tiredness in his voice. "What were you going to say?"

She hummed drawing a circle on his chest with her finger. He kissed her forehead. Since he'd gotten her back in his arms he couldn't stop adorning her face with kisses. "That I uh...I was just gonna say, I love you."

He figured. It still freaked him out how well they knew each other. "I love you too."

#sorry about formatting tumblr fucks everything up #thats why i posted on ao3 #should there be a part two? #maybe titled unfoolish (iykyk 👀) #the bear #the bear fx #sydney adamu #carmy berzatto #ayo edebiri #carmen berzatto #jeremy allen white #the bear spoilers #sydcarmy #chefs kiss #the bear fic #carmy x syd #syd x carmy #carmen x sydney #sydney x carmen

[dandelionrevolution]

Good News - March 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi! Also, if you tip me on here or Ko-fi, at the end of the month I’ll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn’t use each week - almost double the content! (I’m new to taking tips on here; if it doesn’t show me your username or if you have DM’s turned off, please send me a screenshot of your payment)

1. Scimitar-horned Oryx: A Story of Global Conservation Success

“Eight years following the first reintroductions of the species in a protected range in Chad, the species has been downlisted to ‘Endangered’ [an improvement from “extinct in the wild”] in the most recent IUCN Red List update.”

2. Thailand moves closer to legalising same-sex marriage

“Under the law, it describes a marriage union as one between two individuals, rather than a man and a woman. It will give LGBTQ+ couples the ability to adopt, have equal access to marital tax savings, rights to property and the ability to decide medical treatment when their partner is incapacitated.”

3. Juvenile platypus found in NSW: a sign of breeding success

“A baby platypus was discovered in the Royal National Park less than a year after 10 were reintroduced to the area, marking the end of a half-century local extinction. […] “Finding the juvenile platypus is a clear sign the reintroduced population is not just surviving but thriving, adapting well to their environment, and contributing to the genetic diversity and resilience of this iconic species.””

4. New Laws Protect Bird-Friendly Yards From Neighborhood Rules

“A blossoming legislative trend prevents homeowners associations, which set landscaping rules for a growing number of Americans, from forbidding native plants.”

5. Bookstores Around The World Are Flourishing Again

“[I]t’s not just the major chains like Barnes & Noble that are flourishing, as the US book sales market continues to both grow and diversify, the majority of the retail book market is controlled by small indie stores.”

6. 'Like a luxury condominium': Providence zoo unveils new red panda habitat

“"Kendji and Zan's new home boasts a spacious two-story, climate-controlled indoor space designed to mimic their natural Himalayan habitat," the zoo said in a news release. "This ensures their well-being regardless of fluctuating Rhode Island temperatures and humidity."”

7. The first CULTIVATE Mobile Research Lab on food sharing in Barcelona

“[Volunteers] engaged in growing, cooking and eating food together, and redistributing surplus food, as well as other actors involved in food sharing and sustainable food systems in Barcelona and its surroundings.”

8. New Methane Rule Will Reduce Natural Gas Waste, Generate Money for Taxpayers, Help Address Climate Change

“The Bureau of Land Management’s final rule on reducing methane waste from oil and gas production on public lands will conserve critical energy resources, with the added benefit of decreasing toxic pollution [….] The rule will benefit wildlife, public lands, water resources, and nearby communities. By requiring royalties for wasted methane, the rule will also generate more than $50 million each year for American taxpayers.”

9. 'Exceptional' Two-Headed Snake Undergoes Surgery in Missouri

“Tiger-Lily's [the snake’s] abnormal ovaries were then removed during surgery at the Saint Louis Zoo Endangered Species Research Center and Veterinary Hospital on March 11. The procedure went smoothly, with her ovaries being successfully removed, and the snake is recovering well.”

10. Aruba Embraces the Rights of Nature and a Human Right to a Clean Environment

“A draft constitutional amendment would make the Carribean nation the second country in the world to recognize that nature has the right to exist.”

March 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

#hopepunk #good news #deer #conservation #endangered #animals #africa #thailand #lgbtq #gay rights #gay marriage #same sex marriage #platypuses #australia #hoa #native plants #wildflowers #bookstore #books #zoo #red panda #barcelona #spain #food #food insecurity #interdependence #natural gas #climate change #snake #palm beach

[steeldaisies]

Still Loving You

Summary: Eddie fights with reader before going into the upside down.

Pairings: Eddie Munson X gn!reader

Warnings: verbal conflict, ptsd, mentions of gore -blood and wounds, crying from both (if I missed something lmk)

Word count: Under 1k (ik, sorry)

A/n: I actually wrote this a month ago and I didn’t feel confident enough to submit it

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“Y/n we don’t have time for this right now!” Eddie’s yelling startles you and the party while everyone rushes back into the RV to leave the surplus store. Steve starts the engine, sending you all back on the road heading to the clearing near the trailer park. You move from beside him and crouch down right in front of his low hanging head and remove Eddie’s hands from his face. “What do you mean? I’m coming with you dammit!” Eddie stares at you hard, squinting, as his face goes into a scowl. Your stomach turns in a knot from what happens next. His voice goes low and harsh as the words leave his lips, “I don’t want you to.” Everyone suddenly felt awkward attempting not to look at you, looking anywhere else.

You stifle a sigh, tears wanting to spill over the edge looking into Eddie’s eyes in disbelief. He sits up shaking his head and looks out the window as if to state he was done with the conversation. Taken aback by his response you blink away the tears and move to go sit beside max in the booth. You overhear Steve talking to Nancy about his dream. You smile to yourself at how nice the dream sounds. Seeing how Steve looks at Nancy you fidget with your hands on the table wondering what just happened with Eddie.

Kissing into the side of his neck right at the sweet spot under his ear as the last act of intimacy. Eddie shudders, you're not sure if it’s from the pain or the pleasant feeling of the kiss. “Y-you always knew just what to do to make me feel better.” “Not always… I’m sorry about earlier- in the RV.” Tears start to well up in your eyes so you close them, feeling the sting. Eddie reaches his hand up, caressing your cheek lightly, using the pad of his thumb to brush away the tears that have managed to escape. “Sweetheart no d-don’t,” he hums trying to get the words out. “No sorries. I just d-don’t want you t-to get h-h-hurt,” he managed to confess voice croaking. Carefully and with a whisper he starts to sing,

“I-I need your love

I'm still l-loving you

S-still loving y-you, baby”

Knowing what the lyrics were to that song, you know what he was trying to tell you. You push your face into Eddie’s palm and let out a sob smiling down at him. “I’d do it over again with you. Starting now!” He smiles up at you and chuckles weakly. Tears now falling down the sides of his face. Moving his hand from your cheek to the back of your neck and you feel the weak tug as he silently asks you to kiss him. You lean down kissing his blood stained lips. His lips move softly tickling like feathers against yours.

For a moment he made you forget. You forgot his pain. You forgot that you were in a toxic air filled separate dimension. All you could think about was how much you love him. “I love you so much Eddie you’re okay, we’re going to be okay” kiss. He stops you tugging on the nape of your neck, “I love y-you sweetheart…” he pulls you back for another kiss. As you kiss him again, suddenly he stills. You pull away to look at him feeling his arm slump down to his chest.

You see the final heroic act of Eddie Munson was not allowing you to watch him die. He’d rather the both of you feel all of your love for each other, than to see sadness in your eyes. “Eddie…” you whisper, not believing at first. You grab his hand from his chest squeezing, “Eddie baby please! Please don’t- no no no no no!” You lean down sobbing into his chest. you’re still holding his head in one hand and his hand in your other one.

You didn’t hear him at first so you jump when you feel a hand on your back. You sit up and look up over your shoulder at Dustin. You forgot he was even there. You suddenly felt so alone. You were. Dustin felt crushed seeing the look of grieving heart break on your face and the calm sleep-like appearance of Eddie in your lap. Tearfully Dustin spoke,”y/n we gotta go.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

//If you absolutely hated this I’m sorry it’s literally been 10 years since I wrote and submitted a fanfic on any platform. So please be kind!

Also, please don’t copy my work but feel free to reblog, comment, and like!!

Thanks!

#stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x gender neutral reader #eddie munson x gn!reader

[lolz88]

Dairy cattle misconceptions pt 1

Ok so while a majority of my cattle expertise is in beef cattle, I still know my fair share about dairy cattle

Note, I am not a certified expert though I have years of experience

These are all things I’ve heard or been told

1. Dairy cattle are forced to produce milk with hormones

This is a fairly common sentiment I have seen across the board and I’m happy to report to you, it’s false. While milk production can be taxing on an animal, it’s as natural for a cow as breathing.

Here in Canada dairy cattle cannot be given unnatural hormones or chemicals to increase milk production, Milk is tested regularly and if there is any trace of chemicals or hormones from medication for example, the batch must be tossed.

The only exception to this is the occasional oxytocin injection to help the cow drop her milk, the oxytocin is absorbed into the cows body and doesn’t contaminate the milk. Though keep in mind that this is a once or twice occurrence with cows new to milk production.

The only thing that can reliably increase milk production that is legal ( In Canada) is the animals feed. Cows who have a very high protein and carb intake can often produce more milk as they have the energy stores to do so.

A Dairy cows milk production is for the most part, entirely natural ( chemical free), dairy cows were selectively bred for hundreds of years to be able to produce as much milk as they do

Now this isn’t to say that it’s always what’s best for the animal, but that’s why farmers strive to care for and produce better animals

2. Cows are forcefully milked against their will, and their milk is stolen

Now this, is entirely untrue, the thing is, if a cow doesn’t want to do something there’s not really a way to get it to cooperate, and when it comes to something as sensitive as an udder your shit out of luck

Milking cattle isn’t stealing but more an exchange, you feed, shelter and care for them and in exchange you get milk, it’s a partnership.

There’s also the fact many cattle enjoy being milked, as milking is facilitated through the production of serotonin, which is what allows cattle to produce milk in the first place,

This is what facilitates automatic milking robots, cows will be milked on their own free will, choosing when to be milked

A little milking fun fact, cows can be so excited about milking, that the serotonin causes the muscles in their teats loosen and they start to leak milk

Not to mention that a commercial dairy cow, on average a cow produces around 4x as much milk as her calf can drink in a day, your not “stealing” a calves food, your taking the surplus

3. Calves are stolen from their mothers

This is a bit of a more touchy side to dairy, but calves are not stolen from their mothers, they are often removed for many reasons

Firstly, dairy cows are more often than not terrible mother’s, they have basically had the it maternal side bred out, and are the most dangerous thing to their calves after predators, many dairy cows will often abandon or even forget they had a calf, and some of the worse ones will consciously lie on their calves just after they’re born, or they may step on, kick or ram their calves into the ground. These cows are essentially unfit mothers and their calves are taken away for their own safety

On top of the attempt murder, calves are born with no immune system, so to increase their survival chances, they are quarantined and monitored often in calf huts, during this time they are fed their mothers colostrum, or first milk filled with essential nutrients and such, that help build up their immune system. Once old enough they are often moved to communal pens with others that are the same age so they can socialize and bond, they stay with that group into adulthood and milking

It seems cruel from the outside but it’s necessary, understanding calf behaviour is difficult through a human perspective, calves don’t cry for their mothers, they cry for food even after eating. Cows don’t call back to their babies cry’s out of sadness but more to quiet them. Cows don’t feel the way humans do, after a year it’s surprising to see a cow still close to its calf

If you have any more questions feel free to ask, and I’ll let y’all know

#farm living #farmlife #farmers #farming #dairy industry #dairy cows #milk #agriculture

[beardedmrbean]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers advanced on Wednesday a modest income tax cut, one of several tax break proposals as legislators weigh how to use a record budget surplus.

The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved the two bills that collectively provide $82 million in income tax cuts by adjusting the lowest and highest tax brackets. The bills now move to the full House of Representatives.

One bill would eliminate the current 2% tax that people pay on the first $500 of taxable income for single people and $1,000 for married couples who file their taxes together. The other bill would gradually reduce the 5% state income tax rate — paid on taxable income over $3,000 for single people and $6,000 for taxpayers who are married and file their taxes together — to 4.95% in 2027.

“These are modest tax cuts that will not jeopardize the budget, but they are steps," Committee Chair Danny Garrett, who sponsored the legislation, said. “We're building this. We've done these over the last three or four years. So, when you add up the cumulative effect of those, it's pretty substantial.”

With a record budget surplus, lawmakers are eyeing possible tax cuts this year, including possibly removing the 4% sales tax on food. Alabama is one of the few states that fully tax groceries. Lawmakers have discussed removing the sales tax on food for years but have been hindered by the cost to the state education budget. Removing the tax on groceries would cost the education budget more than $600 million annually.

"It will truly make a difference for our families," Democratic Rep. Curtis Travis, of Tuscaloosa, said.

Travis spoke during a press conference about tax cuts proposed by House Democrats, including removing the sales tax on groceries and eliminating the state income tax on overtime pay.

Sen. Arthur Orr, who chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation Education budget-writing committee, has proposed to phase out the state sales tax on some foods, such as milk, eggs, vegetables, fruit, whole-grain breads and baby formula. The bill would remove the state sales tax on food items that are covered by the federal Women, Infants and Children nutrition program for low-income women and young children.

Garrett said using the program list would focus the tax break on “healthier type food items” while limiting the financial cost to the state education budget. He estimated that it would cost the state $200 million annually.

“This is what the education budget could sustain at this point in time, particularly given the unknown future financially for the country and for the state,” Orr said.

#nunyas news

[charlottejanne]

Good evening, my dears. Today I would like to tell you about a very interesting historical person, about whom there are many legends and histories, namely Mary I Tudor, nicknamed "Bloody Mary".

🖇️The way to the throne

the birth of the daughter of the English king Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon was a real miracle. Before her, all the queen's pregnancies ended with the child dying in the mother's womb or immediately after giving birth. therefore, the happiness of the parents knew no bounds when they finally had a live, healthy baby girl, who was named in honor of Henry's beloved sister, Mary Tudor, Queen of France.

the girl grew up, got an education, was engaged in horse riding and falconry, and also studied the work of Christian poets and, for fun, read stories about women who sacrificed themselves - Christian saints and ancient warrior maidens.

Her life changed when Henry decided to annul the marriage with her mother, as a result of which Maria lost all rights to the crown, turning into an illegitimate daughter. in the following years, her life depended on how her relationship with her stepmothers developed (and she had plenty of them - Henry VIII married 6 times, and all his wives, except the last one, either died, or he executed them, or divorced them) . so, for example, in his father's second wife, Anna Boleyn, whom he later beheaded due to a false accusation of treason, Mary was made a servant of the queen.

But her fate is such that at the age of 37 she still becomes the queen of England.

🖇️ Where did the nickname "bloody" come from?

• it turns out that Maria was not called "bloody" during her life. The nickname "Bloody Mary" appeared in English written sources only at the beginning of the 17th century, about half a century after her death!

•On the contrary, during her lifetime Maria was known as the kindest and most merciful ruler of England in the 16th century. if you compare the degree of bloodthirstiness of Maria and her father with her successor-sister Elizabeth I, then you get a completely different picture.

•Under Henry VIII, 72,000 people were executed, under Elizabeth I there were 89,000 executed, and under Mary - only 287! that is, the same "Bloody Mary" executed 250 times less people than her father, and 310 times less than her younger sister!

•because under Maria I the common people were not executed (with the exception of a few isolated cases), mostly representatives of the elite were executed, for example, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and his close associates. And during the reign of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, mass executions were carried out. under her father, most of the executed consisted of peasants.

•At that time, it became more profitable to sell sheep's wool to the Netherlands than grain, and much less labor was needed to graze sheep than to grow grain. therefore, land plots were taken from the peasants en masse, which immediately turned into fenced pastures. Many peasants throughout the kingdom were left without land and homes. They were forced to wander, begging for alms. then Henry VIII decided to get rid of the surplus population, which did not bring him any economic benefit, and established the death penalty for vagrancy and begging.

under Elizabeth I, to the mass executions of the homeless and beggars, which resumed again under her, mass executions of participants in popular uprisings were added (they began to occur almost every hour) plus executions of women suspected of witchcraft.

•in 1563, Elizabeth I issued the "Act Against Spells, Witchcraft and Witchcraft", after which the "witch hunt" began in England. Since the queen was an educated, intelligent woman, it is doubtful that she really believed in witchcraft, especially in such a ridiculous one as causing a storm by removing stockings. by the way, this is a real "Stocking Affair" that happened in Huntingdon. A woman and her 9-year-old daughter were hanged because, according to the court, they sold their souls to the devil and unleashed a storm by taking off their stockings!

•Why then did Elizabeth issue this act? the point was that at that time the economy of England was in a very deplorable state (due to the decrease in profitability from the export of wool and woolen fabrics). Due to this, taxes were constantly raised to make up for the lack of money in the treasury. and the increase in taxes caused a storm of indignation among the people and the above-mentioned numerous uprisings. In order to explain all these difficulties and failures, it was necessary to find a "scapegoat" and turn the anger of the people on him. Therefore, it was decided to blame "witches" for everything. it's like they cast a spell on the silent man, and life in the kingdom is getting more and more complicated.

Taking into account the scale of the bloody massacres of Henry and Elizabeth, one wonders why it was Mary who called it bloody. and the whole point is that during the 16th and 17th centuries in England there was a struggle for power between the representatives of the two branches of Western Christianity - Catholics and Protestants. Henry and Elizabeth were Protestants, and Maria was Catholic. Protestants finally won only in 1688.

but no matter what we say about poor Maria, she remains an interesting person about whom books are written and movies are made.

-Thank you for your consideration 💋

˚₊⋆Your Charlotte 💓˚₊⋆

#my notes #bloody mary #mary tudor #england #history #histoire #reading #queen

[whooftown]

How to minimize shedding in dogs

You adore your dog, but the constant shedding isn't your favorite. Even though shedding is a normal part of your dog's renewal cycle, the excess hair can be quite exasperating. There are numerous ways you can cut down on your dog's fur loss. Here you will get to know some pointers for reducing shedding in dogs. Dog NGO Chandigarh maintains a tidier living space by minimizing the hair loss.

Tips to reduce shedding in your fur baby

To minimize shedding, it's important to provide proper care for your pet. Here are a few tips to consider.

Regular brushing is the key. The more you brush your dog, the less loose hair there will be, which helps prevent excessive shedding. Especially during the fall and spring shedding seasons, aim to brush your dog at least twice a week, or even more frequently if your schedule allows. For breeds with double coats like Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, Corgis, and Shetland Sheepdogs, it's beneficial to use a grooming tool explicitly designed for removing shedding hair.

Maintain regular baths. Bathing your dog regularly is an effective approach to reduce surplus hair. Prior to bathing, ensure you brush your dog comprehensively to eliminate as much hair as possible before they get wet.

Use a blow dryer. Following your dog's bath, start by towel-drying and then employ a hair dryer with warm (not hot) air to further dry their coat. While the coat gradually dries, utilize a brush to aid in extracting loose hair. Ensure you brush from the skin outward to capture the maximum amount of hair. Continue this brushing and drying process until your dog's fur is completely dry.

Brush post-drying. Once your dog is fully dried, give them another thorough brushing. This step will result in a significant amount of additional hair being removed. This is an essential step to take, as capturing this hair now is important – otherwise, you might discover it on your carpet later on!

Seek advice from a vet. If your dog is exhibiting excessive shedding or patchy hair loss, it might signal an underlying health concern. Issues such as skin infections, allergies, and even certain medical conditions like cancer could contribute to the heightened shedding. Schedule a comprehensive check-up with your veterinarian. They can identify potential root causes and provide recommendations for addressing and minimizing shedding in dogs.

Conclusion

In addition to your efforts to reduce shedding in dogs, there are various strategies you can adopt to maintain a pet hair-free home. Regular vacuuming, utilizing lint rollers for your attire, and draping washable blankets over furniture your dog often occupies are effective measures. Contemplating a flooring change is also worthwhile. Carpet tends to accumulate your dog's hair, while tile or hardwood floors are more manageable to clean when living with a shedding dog.

[jaskier-n-crowley-diaster-ace]

Yo imma say it

My favourite thing about The Sandman (comics and show) is that just EVERYONE IS DUNKING ON DREAM, like Mr Gaiman really just went "I'm going to make him everyone's problem and everyone his problem" and it's fantastic, this personification of a concept needs therapy and instead we are playing whack-a-mole, brilliant!

Extra: even Hob Gadling trying to be Dreams friend is a slap to the face I'm head over heels in love with this mess of a thing

#queue #surplus baby removal #baby surplus removal #i love queue #neil gaiman #cue the queue #sandman #the sandman #dream of the endless #dreamling #hob gadling #morpheus

[veterinary-innovators]

Do Pet Reptiles Need Water?

Nothing is more crucial to a reptile's care than having a clean water source. The most vital nutrient is actually water. What you need to know is as follows:

Water should ideally be offered in a sizable shallow dish. Many reptiles require soaking to remove their skin correctly. It's crucial that the reptile can escape the water bowl securely and without difficulty in order to prevent drowning (particularly with babies and tortoises).

If a reptile has urinated in the bowl, change the water more frequently than once every 24 hours.

Water containers must be cleaned daily with soap and water and disinfected every week.

Some lizards, such as chameleons and anoles, won't drink from bowls. Provide them water by misting the sides of their cage or nearby plants.

A different method includes dripping water onto the tank's leaves. Utilizing a paper or plastic cup will work for this. Make a tiny hole in the cup's bottom using a pin—the rate at which the diameter of the hole determines the cup empties. Water drops will fall from the cup into the cage if placed on the cage's roof. Place a second cup or dish under the leaf to prevent the surplus water from contaminating the cage. In comparison to dripper tubing, this system is simpler to disinfect.

Any sign of illness exhibited by your pet should require a visit to your animal hospital Boulder, CO for proper medical attention.

#animal hospital Boulder CO

[lorentsenneal28]

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[vilstrupbundgaard]

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To improve grapple the time you get in a day, take in a project for it! E'er baby-sit bolt down the Nox ahead and ca-ca a number of what you mustiness catch through with. Prioritise everything on the lean and crossbreed tasks remove unmatched by one and only as you fulfill them. Take into this habit, and you should pass on more than goals and have to a greater extent clip in the daytime. Do not be afraid to say populate to give you unequalled when you are workings. Hang a ratify on the door, put away the threshold and occlude your sound calls when you penury to have something through. This volition assistance you go along your rail of view and focus on the undertaking at reach. You wish be Former Armed Forces Thomas More rich without any interruptions. If you determine that you're non getting things through with in a well-timed manner, it's metre to block and guess well-nigh how you're doing things. Are you able-bodied to pore? If not, why? If you would alike to be a best clock time manager, it's crucial to describe the just and big points of your flow work on. Prioritise the tasks in your day. Tasks that aren't inevitably significant arse film up your Day. If you require to concentrate your efforts where they'll do the most good, have for certain you find out the precedency of apiece job as you get it. Create a number of things you take to do and start with the most of import tasks. In set up to become a master of time management, you involve to prevent both the short- and the long-condition in heed. Although it May smell Sir Thomas More fertile to rivet on one labor alone until it's complete, press that opinion against the bigger scene. If you're putt away major jobs in ordain to terminate tyke ones, you English hawthorn be wasting away a bully distribute of clock time! Don't await for the stopping point min to sire something through if you encounter yourself perpetually keister docket. For example, when you of a sudden think an important task that has to be taken tutelage of earlier quintet today, you won't be able-bodied to bugger off anything else done! Deflect being a slave to deadlines and carry off clip More wisely. It's non ever possible to dumbfound everything on your heel curbed cancelled. In fact, it's all but unacceptable. Nigh of the things you spend your time on achieve zip. You should prove to over what you can, just now be certain your goals are naturalistic. Hail to grips that no one and only is 100% efficient. On that point are no robots among man beings. You won't be staring in your finish of effective metre direction. Totally you tin can do is try, and make heavy to do your better. Don't bugger off foiled if roughly days are break than others. That's the nature of it. Populate are expected to be on prison term. When you are not on time, not only when are you disrupting your ain clip management, you are disrupting others as substantially. Seek to construct surplus clip into your each day design. This will assistance you touch deadlines and take a leak every scheduled appointment during the Day. Read to mark between crucial and pressing tasks. They are non the Sami thing, and this is necessity to your time schedules. You rear get tasks that are a integrate of the two, along with convention tasks on your leaning. Scarcely recollect that items that are crucial are not always urgent and vice versa. When you sustain to a fault very much to do, don't do it whole. Smell at your to do listing and realize what you butt designate to others. Anything that fundament be fairly passed on to friends, category and subordinates at knead entirely should be. Ever do your best, and never use delegating as an self-justification to slack off, just defecate for certain everyone is pull their angle. Now that you wealthy person learn the clause above, you are non separate of the radical of populate WHO but cannot bring off their fourth dimension. The to a higher place helpful tips are what you motive to build prison term direction a air. Employment these tips to care your time and in turn, love your life.

[lifestylelaguna]

All Under ₱1,000: Prep For Back-To-School Season With These Budget Buys

Parents, it’s back-to-school season once again, and this year, kids will finally be back in school as face-to-face classes resume in the country. After over two years of online classes, though, it’s understandable to feel a bit lost when it comes to preps for in-person schooling, as well as to feel extra nervous about kids’ safety. On top of these, the rising school costs can be overwhelming for any parent—and we’re not just talking about the tuition fees!

The good news? We’re here to help you out with our round-up of wallet-friendly back-to-school buys that are not only stylish and functional, they’re meant to last the whole year, too! With these covered, you and your young ones can focus on enjoying this new season while staying safe in the new normal. Bonus Tip: You can get up to 50% off when you shop via the SM Malls Online app from August 1 to 31! Get dibs on the deals here.

The Essentials

Check out these affordable but high-quality picks at SM.

School Bags

Images from ShopSM

SM Accessories Backpack with Frog Design - Purple, ₱599, ShopSMSM Accessories Trolley - Submarine, ₱899, ShopSM

Missed shopping for your kids’ school bags? There’s a bevy of colorful and practical options waiting for you at The SM Store. Aside from choosing a style that matches your child’s personality, don’t forget to check the material: Bags made with nylon, like this purple backpack, are water-resistant and quick to clean. The bonus pouch can also be used for her new normal essentials, like masks or sanitizers. Prefer a trolley? Go for a lightweight but heavy-duty option with lots of pockets and inside storage.

Pencil Case

Images from The SM Store and ShopSM

Plastic Iridescent Pencil Case, 2 for ₱100, The SM Store

Miniso Marvel Pencil Case, ₱89.50 (from 179), ShopSM

Keep your learners’ writing tools organized in these cute minimalist pencil cases that are light to carry—and light on the pocket, too! Available in fun colors and designs for both boys and girls, they’re washable and are roomy enough to accommodate just the right amount of pens, pencils, erasers, and other knick-knacks. 

Lunchbox

Images from The SM Store 

Cool Bento Lunchbox and Lunch Bag with Removable Ice Pack Set, ₱299.75, The SM Store

Lock & Lock Jumping Cats Lunch Bag Set, ₱779.75, ShopSM Make lunchtime extra fun and safe with these meal kits complete with a carry-on bag. The Cool Bento Lunchbox features three compartments for your bento-style meals plus removable ice packs, while the Lock & Lock set comes with an airtight 350ml food container, a 300ml water bottle, and a spoon and fork—all in an insulated bag.

Water Tumbler

Image from ShopSM

Hydrofresh Stainless Steel Active Tumbler with Straw Spout and Handle 1L, ₱399 each, SM Surplus Shop

Keep your child hydrated all day long with a tumbler he or she will love! These babies from SM Surplus are a steal: The vacuum insulation lets drinks stay either hot or cold for up to 12 hours, while the sleek design makes it easy to store in their bags. It features a flip spout with straw that makes it easy for your child to drink any time or even when busy studying. Tip: Add waterproof stickers to avoid mix-ups with other kids’ jugs. 

Notebooks

Images from The SM Store Advance We Bare Bears Writing or Compo Notebooks - 6 pieces per pack with plastic cover, ₱100, SM Stationery at The SM Store

7-Pack Spiral Notebook Set - Assorted, ₱100, The SM Store Whether your kids like cheery character designs or prefer a more simple but stylish aesthetic, SM’s Stationery section is chock-full of choices—from this We Bare Bears set that already comes with plastic covers (a bonus in any parent’s book!) to this pack of multi-colored spiral notebooks that costs just ₱100 for seven pieces. 

School Shoes

Images from ShopSM

Easy Soft Kids Girls’ Shoes - Claire, ₱499.75, ShopSM

Fisher Price Boys' Auhley School Shoes, ₱899.75 ₱700, ShopSM

Leather shoes that won’t break the bank? Keep your eyes peeled for awesome deals and discounts from trusted brands at SM, where you can score stylish pairs under ₱1,000—like these doll shoes from local brand Easy Soft and round-toe boy shoes from Fisher Price.

Rubber Shoes

Images from ShopSM and World Balance

Sugar Kids Girls' India Rubber Shoes, ₱599.75, ShopSM One Up by World Balance PLAY ON Kid’s Shoes, ₱1,599 ₱899, World Balance

F2F classes means back to PE! Make sure your child has the right ankle support during PE and other playtimes with his classmates with the proper footwear. Some things to consider: breathable leather material, soft inside cushion, easy lace-up or velcro closure, and comfortable wear. Allow a bit of allowance so they’re not too tight when worn with socks. 

Safety Must-Haves

These new normal items are musts in your kids’ arsenal!

For daily protection: 

SM Accessories Kids’ Airbon Mask, ₱149 ₱50, ShopSM

Blurb: Pack 2 to 3 extra masks!

To keep them from losing their masks: 

Mask with holder, ₱99, Kultura 

For hand hygiene: 

Watsons Ethyl Alcohol Spray, ₱29 (60ml), Watsons

For wiping down surfaces: 

Pigeon Antibacterial Wet Tissues - 20s, ₱99, Baby Company

For mask storage: 

Mask case, ₱95, Beabi

Get Your Kids Vaxxed

For extra protection, get your children vaccinated at vax sites at SM Supermalls nationwide! Check our online tracker to know where you can get primary, booster, or pediatric shots for your family.

To find more of your child’s back-to-school F2F essentials, follow SM Supermalls on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or browse through the full SM Directory to find more shops and brands. Check out the mall entry guidelines and updates on mall hours here. 

For pick-up/delivery, call the SM Customer Care hotlines via 8876-1111, 0917-876-1111 or 0908-876-1111. You can also order via the SM Malls Online app. 

[myceratops]

me literally every moment of everyday of my life: Hi! I bet you're wondering how I got here

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[trash-posts-or-storage-bin]

It's my 8 month anniversary and john fucking oliver got me to call a sex line, damn that man

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