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disabled-dragoon · 2 years

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Disability Aids: Where to buy

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about disability, sensory and mobility aids and where to buy one, so I’ve decided to just collect a global list of everywhere that I can find! I try and update this monthly. If there’s one you want me to add on or change, just say!

Links and information under the cut!

Updated: 12/10/2023

Disclaimer: Any link marked with (*) cannot deliver outside of their country of base/international shipping policies are unclear at the current moment of writing.

Follow this link to find a list of databases that have information on disability aids around the world.

Global:

The Active Hands Company: Based in the UK but operating globally, this company deals exclusively in grip aids that can help and be used by people with various disabilities- including limb differences, cerebral palsy, arthritis, brachial plexus injuries, stroke survivors, multiple sclerosis, nerve and spinal injuries, TBIs and much more. You can find their FAQ page here if you would like more information. They do ship internationally, but please be aware that they are currently warning of a potential delay to orders due to postal strikes. Some products they do include: angled knives, gym/sports grips, zip grips, cutlery grips, anti-spill aids, magnetic laces, openers, small item grippers, specialised mugs and hand splints, to name but a small few.

Handicare: I’m putting this one here as they have a global office, offering their services in 40+ companies, as well as offices in Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK, USA, and Spain, with their HQ located in Sweden. Their aim is to “provide solutions and support to increase the independence of the physically challenged or elderly people. They offer accessibility products (i.e. stairlifts and their installation), patient handling and care equipment, and vehicle accessibility solutions.

Invacare: This company is located in Ohio but has offices all over the globe so I’m putting it here. There’s a tool on this website that will direct you to the closest office/country to you. Products they offer include independent living aids i.e. shower and bathing aids, comfort aids i.e. bedding and furnishings, manual mobility aids, powered mobility aids, and patient transfer aids.

Karma: I believe this company is originally Taiwan based, but I am putting it here because of their extensive global service network, including supplying to the NHS! They offer a range of powered and manual chairs, as well as accessories, and have a tool on their site that allows you to locate your nearest seller.

Kuschall: I can’t find where exactly this company is situated, and all social media links take me to Invacare Europe so for this purpose I’m assuming they are at least partners. There is a tool to let you change to your country’s nearest site, and dealership locator. This site deals in specialised wheelchairs. They have a visualiser tool which I really like, which lets you see the wheelchair that you chose and refine its features i.e. handle colour, frame colour etc. etc.

Medline: This is a global institution dealing in delivering hospital grade supplies to patients around the world. Some products include: hospital grip/slipper socks, fall prevention equipment, skin health, maternity equipment, face masks and wound care! There’s a tool on the website as well that will link you to the site for/closest to your country.

MEYRA: **TW for flashing and eye strain** There is an option on this site to change the page language. Headquartered in Germany, MEYRA operates as a wheelchair manufacturer and rehabilitation aid supplier across 70 countries, and offers a range of manual wheelchairs, active and sport chairs, electric wheelchairs, children’s manual wheelchairs, Netti brand rehabilitation wheelchairs, as well as other rehab products and seating and ramp solutions. There are options on this site to change page language and font size.

Performance Health: To clarify, I’m not entirely sure on the overall delivery policies of this company, but they appear to have offices in America, Australia, Canada, France and the UK (there is a tool on the site to switch between each respective country). They sell podiatry, daily living, mobility, orthopaedic and therapy aids- e.g. braces, fall prevention, hot and cold therapy, tape, exercise tubing, mats, compression products, insoles, incontinence products, wheelchair, crutches and ramps, to name a few. You can search by category or brand.

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Australia:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)ActivTec: This is an equipment maintenance service, suggested by @hell-on-sticks. Last update they helpfully added:

“Adding to this that if you're in Australia, ActivTec is a national company that does disability and mobility equipment repair that can be done both privately or through the NDIS. They've got offices all over the place - mostly east coast, I guess you can't be disabled outside Perth on the west coast or something /s - but it's always a good idea to know where you'll go if your aid or equipment breaks.”

You can find the company’s FAQ page here for more information.

Gilani Engineering: Based in New South Wales and offering a range of mobility and living aids, disability vehicle and home modifications, Gilani also offers installation on select products, and international shipping. Their product lists are too extensive to list entirely, but items include: wheelchairs (including paediatrics), powerchairs and scooters, wheelchair ramps (and installation) and accessories, bathroom, bedroom and living aids, patient transfer aids, home lift and grab rail installation. They also sell a large array of vehicle modifications- such as dual pedal systems for driving instructors, steering lollipops, alternate braking and accelerating systems, access solutions and boot hoists, to name a few.

Incontinence Products: Caringbah based and supplying “washable, reusable and disposable incontinence products and continence aids”, this company aims to market towards men, women and children at an affordable price. They do deliver internationally! You can find shipping information here. Some products they offer include: diapers and diaper bags, wipes, clothing protectors, onesies and body suits, swimwear, beds and mattresses, chair, floor and mattress protectors, beamers, gloves, face masks, and many others.

(*)SwitchSticks Australia: A company specialising in luxury and engraved canes, as well as the seat cane (a cane that can be turned into a stool when needed) and accessories. The international shipping policies of this company are unclear.

TabTimer: “TabTimer™ is an Australian Company dedicated to supplying devices to help people and their carers keep medicines, nutrition, hydration, toileting and regular personal care tasks on-time using assistive technology and assisted listening reminder devices.“ -TabTimer, About. This company offers timing and medication aids, including diabetes equipment, pill organisers, talking watchers, help and SOS buttons, alarms and alerters, large clocks and talking reminders, to name a few. They deliver internationally.

Canada:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Access Abilities: Claiming to be award winning and with stores in Oakville and Etobicoke, this company offers mobility equipment purchasing, rental and repair services. They also offer free in home assessment services, home delivery and set up, and aid in helping to find funding for equipment. According to the company, products they stock include “mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, lift and recline chairs, stair lifts, CPAP and more. We stock the best brands, such as Pride, Invacare, Tena, Bruno and Maple Leaf Wheelchair.” -Access Abilities, Products. International delivery policies are unclear.

(*)Action Medical: The following text is from the “Service” page of the website:

We provide a full range of services on all the equipment we provide to you, and even the equipment you've purchased elsewhere. Services range from basic repairs and tune-ups of existing equipment such as walkers or lifts, to installations and set-up of new equipment in your home, such as grab bars, platform lifts, ramping systems, etc. We can even help you with home and vehicle adaptations to make your lift more accessible. Contact us for more information.

You can find the company product list here. International delivery policies are unclear.

Canes Canada: Thank you to @sugarsh0ts for the recommendation! This company ships “anywhere across North America”, and says that international deliveries may be subject to a holding policy, but you can contact them with any questions. They offer to deliver your canes uncut, or cut them for you if you send your measurements (and offer information on how to properly measure a cane!). A few examples of canes they offer include: standard canes, hiking canes, novelty canes, seat canes, folding canes, men’s canes, women’s canes, animal handle canes, extra tall canes, collector canes and umbrella canes, and many many more, including forearm crutches and accessories like cane holders! You can also browse by price, and there are separate sections to search by colour, handle style and material style!

FlappyHappy: A stim toy business for “autistic children, teens and adults”. You can find their tumblr here and a list of products here. I quite like that you can search for specific types of stim toy i.e. chewables or fidgets or tangles etc. They do offer international shipping; you can find more information on shipping here. If you need discreet packaging, you can ask for it.

(*)Independent Living: “Independent Living is a business dedicated to personal freedom and mobility. We have been a supplier of mobility aids and personal care products to the elderly and persons with disabilities since February of 1988.” -Independent Living, About. There is no pricing or delivery information on this website as I believe you have to contact them directly with any enquiries (their contact details are here, and the enquiry form is here), or visit their store, located in Regina, Saskatchewan.

(*)LifeSupply: LifeSupply sells to “patients, caregivers and medical professionals” within Canada, offering an extensive range of products that include but are not limited to: mobility aids, maternity equipment, IV equipment, acupuncture, catheters, baby and child care, incontinence care, veterinary and pet supplies, personal care equipment, orthopaedic equipment, respiratory care, and beauty and skincare products, to name a few. I’m unsure, but I think this company can deliver some products outside of Canada, and delivery prices would depend on the delivery weight. You can find more information here.

(*)The Mobility Market USA: A partner of The Mobility Market UK, this is essentially the same concept- second hand mobility aids sold and bought by mostly disabled people- but it delivers across the US and Canada instead. Again, you need to make an account to buy and sell items, and it is my understanding that you have to contact the sellers directly (there should be information on the advertisements) if you wish to make a purchase. There is an option to translate this website into other languages (besides English) if you require it.

(*)Senior Store: Though they can also deliver to the US, I’m not entirely sure on the international shipping policies of this company. The products they offer are too extensive to list individually, but the categories they fall in are: Covid 19 related products, lift chairs and recliners, bathroom safety, mobility, bedroom and livingroom, personal aids, incontinence products, kitchen & dining, pillows and seating, therapy products, bariatric products, foot, hand & elbow, alarms, special clothing, special phones & alarms and leisure products, They also offer rental on some products i.e. those of hospital grade.

Sidestix: Though they only (at the moment of writing) seem to offer two types of forearm crutches, they do offer a vast array of crutch accessories as well as this thing they call Fingrips which appears to be specialised handles, mainly for cycling. They ship internationally and have stores based in Canada, New Zealand, USA and Australia.

France:

(All links in French in case translator needed)

(*)CENOMY: A French supplier of AAC and communication equipment, and a redistributor of Liberator UK. You can find their products here, as well as a wider catalogue/shop here. As well as communication equipment, they also offer sensory aids- both in terms of sensory devices and objects to create a sensory environment. Other items offered include eye tracker and eye control equipment, supports, adaptors and alarms, touch tablets, software and environment controls. The site crashed before I could find information on international delivery policies.

Hop’Toys: This company does deliver outside of France, however they do not deliver in the DOM-TOM or outside of the EU; for further delivery information and prices please see this link. They mainly deal in sensory aids, learning and education aids, and communication equipment (as a distributor of Liberator UK). They also offer items in relation to specific disabilities, such as Alzheimers, adhd, sensory issues, visual impairments and hearing impairments. Items offered included weighted bedding and clothing, school aids, daily and eating aids, sensory and motor games, occupational and speech therapy aids, and skill development aids (including behaviour management, social skills, facial expressions etc.).

Senior Boutique: I couldn’t find much in terms of delivery information, but they claim to deliver all over France, and services in Belgium allow for international delivery, but please check this with them. They distribute a wide variety of disability and healthcare aids including hobby aids (i.e. gardening aids), daily living support (bathroom aids, eating aids, comfort aids etc.), clothing, mobility aids (including the Ta-Da Seat Cane) and incontinence aids, amongst a wide variety of others.

Germany/Deutschland:

(*)Mein Hilfsmittel: Parts of this site are in German and may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company rents manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, rollators, stair climbers and oxygen generators across Germany. You can find a list of the products they rent here, information on renting here, and contact details here.

(*)Prenkte Romich: A distributor of Liberator UK and seller of AAC equipment across Deutschland, Austria and Switzerland; they do not ship to other countries. You can find shipping information here. This page is in German so will need to be translated if you are unfamiliar.

Ossenberg: “One of the leading German manufacturers of forearm crutches, walking sticks and orthopedic aids.”- Ossenberg, About Us. There is an option to read this page in either Deutsch or English, so if you are unfamiliar with either it may need translating. To buy as a private customer, please follow this link. Personally, I like that certain products (like wrist straps, forearm crutches, walking sticks etc.) have their weights, basic sizes and materials stated in their product titles. On international shipping they say: “Of course we also ship our products abroad. However, the shipping costs vary depending on the country and region.”

Italy:

AllMobility: This company was founded by two disabled people. They created and now distribute the “Buffalo 150″ transfer board, selling it in 15 countries abroad. Disability aids that this company sell include: ergonomic aids, transfer and mobilisation aids, hygiene aids, daily living aids, positioning aids, and paediatric aids. I can’t find information on pricing on this site, it’s my understanding that you have to request the information from the company. Also, while they distribute all across Europe, I believe you have to contact them to find out if/how they can ship to your country. There is an option to change the language of the site between English and Italian.

(*)Bodytech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company specialises in products such as ergonomic chairs, wheelchairs, cushioning and positioning aids. I cannot find information on international delivery, or pricing. It is my understanding that you must contact the company for a quote.

(*)Cambratech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if unfamiliar. Cambratech is a company that specialises in the creation of disability aids for people who are visually impaired. Their aid catalogue includes items such as sticks and stick accessories, alarms and clocks, tools, reading and writing aids, home and daily living aids, technology aids and sport and hobby aids. I don’t think this company offers delivery outside of Italy.

Japan:

Rakuten Ichiba: Naturally, this page is in Japanese so may need to be translated if you’re not familiar. I think this company offers international delivery- you can find delivery information here. The range of items they offer is extensive, including, but not limited to: braille (signs, guiders, paper etc.), contact lenses, medication management and assistance devices, communication aids, mobility aids, incontinence aids, treatment machines, body measuring devices (glucose monitors, weight monitors etc.), sanitary aids, first aid equipment, face masks, medical clothing, and much much more.

Malaysia:

(*)HomeCare Shop: I’m not sure on the international policies of this company, but you can find a list of store locations here. They sell items related to continence care, PPE, nursing care, orthopaedic support (including sport support), personal care equipment, foot care, nutrition and supplements, and mobility aids. There are also specific sections on their site in relation to being bedridden, childcare, stroke care, diabetes care, beauty and health, fall prevention, back pain and body pain solution, elderly care, post-surgery care, hypertension and sports injuries.

(*)Pinang Medical Supplies: The operator of HomeCare Shop, they work to supply medical and disability equipment to hospitals and clinics, with the HomeCare Shop geared towards the public. I am not entirely sure on the international delivery policies of this company, but they have 20+ stores across the nation (click here for store locations) and stock a significant number of global brands (click here for a list).

New Zealand:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Creative Living: **Potential warning for eye strain**. This company provides a range of products to ensure better kitchen and bathroom accessibility. I can’t find anything regarding delivery policies, but they are the sole provider in New Zealand of the UK based companies, “Nicholls and Clarke” and “Impey Showers”. There is no pricing information, though I think this is because you have to contact them about your specific needs in regard to product fitting. Their contact information is here.

(*)Mobility Centre: This company is a not for profit organisation that aims to deliver “a range of products from small daily living aids through to mobility scooters and wheelchairs” to allow customers to live an “independent and active lifestyle”. Options on the site allow you to shop by category (bedroom and seating equipment, braces, supports & rehabilitation, crutches and walking sticks, daily living & kitchen aids, grab rails and ramps, incontinence products, mobility scooters and power chairs, toileting and bathroom equipment, walkers & walking frames, and wheelchairs), or by condition/disability. You can also rent and/or hire some equipment from here. They only deliver within New Zealand, and do not deliver overseas or to PO boxes.

(*)Northable: Northable allows for the sale and hire of disability equipment, such as: mobility aids, daily living aids, home and bedroom aids, continence aids, and bathroom and toileting aids. They claim to be committed to ensuring “that we are providing you with the correct information and equipment suited for your individual needs.” -Northable, About Us. You can find contact information here.

Orthotic House: A company that “helps bridge the gap” of disabled and specialised footwear, including socks. They have men’s, women’s, children’s and unisex footwear ranges, and claim to be able to ship anywhere in the world, though the shipping rates on their website are created with Australia and New Zealand in mind. You can find shipping information here. There is an option on the website to change the pricing according to Australian, Canadian, British, New Zealand and US currency standards.

South Africa:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)CareChamp: There are a couple of instances of heavy italics on this site, in case you struggle with that. Based in Cape Town, CareChamp aims to “set the highest standard of home care in South Africa”, providing comfortable care and services to clients across South Africa. As well as selling mobility aids, they also offer rental services on certain products, and home care services with trained nurses. They also aim to set up a college in the future. I do not believe this company delivers internationally. You can find their FAQ page here.

(*)Medop cc: “Leading manual and electric wheelchair suppliers in South Africa” -Medop cc, Homepage. Delivery policies of this company are unclear however, they have offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town that allow for operation across South Africa, as well as operating through dealer networks in Botswana and Namibia. And, though their speciality lies in the supply of quality manual and electric wheelchairs, Medop does also provide personal care equipment, such as canes, crutches and rollators, bathroom aids, patient lifts, pressure care, hospital beds, and much more. Personally, I like the FAQ page that gives quite extensive advice on choosing the right wheelchair.

(*)Prima Care: Prima Care supplies medical and mobility equipment across South Africa, with offices and showrooms in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. They also hire and rental services, and I do not believe they offer their services outside of South Africa. You can find rental information here, and product information here. For further information and contact details, see here.

(*)Pro Mobility: Originally dealing in adapted vehicles and hoists, the founders of this company opened their first concept shop in Cape Town in 2021! It is, and I quote, “a welcoming, wheelchair friendly space for any person with a disability or impaired mobility to come and see all the available items”. I don’t believe they ship internationally, and I think you have to contact them or visit the showroom if you’re interested in purchasing/renting their equipment. You can find their contact information here.

Spain:

(*)Eneso: I’m not entirely sure on the delivery policies of this company, and if you are not familiar with English and/or Spanish, this page may need translating. Eneso offers a range of sensory equipment, communication equipment, learning resources, adapted toys and activities (for children and older) and computer aids (including switches, buttons and mounts). They also offer items in relation to creating sensory environments.

INDESmed: This company is based in Madrid but claim to deliver all over the world. There is a handy tool on their website that lets you see if they have a store in your country as well. They offer a range of crutches, walking sticks, walkers, walking boots, compression socks and reading glasses, with a few accessories for each- like ice shoes for canes!

KMINA: Please be aware that this page may need to be translated if you visit it. I believe this company does ship internationally as they appear to have an active Amazon shop, as well as bases in Spain (to ship to Europe) and America. They provide an email on their website to arrange other shipping where possible as well. This company mainly deals in crutches, walkers, accessories and bathroom aids. It looks like you have to buy each crutch individually (if you’re wanting a pair) but I am not sure.

Taiwan:

Kymco: **Potential TW for flashing lights when you click the link***. This is a company headquartered in Taiwan but they do have global offices. A motorcycle and ATV distributor that offers a range specialising in mobility scooters and powerchairs, I can’t find any price information but I believer there is an enquiry option for any item you are interested in.

(*)Step2Gold: Had an anon recently direct me to this company. They deal in a specialised seat cane called the Ta-Da chair. It seems to be more streamline than the average seat cane and is opened via a twist function, but the price is quite steep. They do not sell directly to individuals, but they do have distributors of the Ta-Da Chair in North America, Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Greater China, and Australia. They also have a distributor map (which you can find here) that allows you to pick your nearest distributor. Here is another link to a post with a few other distributors.

Thailand:

(*)Freedom Move: There’s an option on the site to change the language from Thai to English, but it may need to be translated if you do not speak either language. Also the prices for products were given as Baht so if you are unfamiliar you may need to use a currency converter. Freedom Move sell four main products/brands: the Ta-Da Chair, the EVOSS cushion (a specialised support cushion, that supposedly aids pressure distribution when sitting and promotes circulation), the HurryCane cane, and an electric scooter. But I also noticed neck and shoulder supports as well as a portable massager. You can find the products here. I am unsure on international delivery policy.

(*)Kaigo Sensei: I don’t know if this company delivers internationally. They sell electric wheelchairs- light and reclining, patient transfer chairs and the Ta-Da Chair. You can find their products here, and shipping information here. Parts of this page may need translated.

UK:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

Ability Superstore: A large UK distributor of mobility aids ranging from sensory items, pet care, mobility aids, kitchen aids (i.e. preparation boards, baking equipment, specialised utensils), bathing aids, toilet aids, clothing and grooming aids, skincare aids, hobby aids, accessible games and leisure items, and exercise equipment to name but a few. I think they deliver outside of the UK, but if you are ordering from outside of the UK (or from certain postcodes which you can find here), you will have to contact them for a quote.

(*)Age Co: This is an organisation owned and operated by Age UK, a registered UK charity that aims to help and provide a better quality of life for older people i.e. by combatting loneliness, dealing with the cost of living crisis, protecting against covid etc. Age Co claims that 100% of their profits go towards Age UK. Products that they offer include: car insurance, motor breakdown cover and care, funeral plans, legal services, stairlifts, homelifts, bathing equipment, incontinence aids and personal alarms. I cannot find any information on delivery outside of the UK.

(*)Aidapt: A UK based distributor of mobility and daily living aids. I’m not sure if they deliver overseas, and unfortunately it appears you have to make an account and login to see the prices, but their product range is extensive. Items they offer include, but are not limited to: mobility aids (crutches, canes, manual wheelchairs, rollators, ramps and accessories), adapted cutlery, gardening equipment, reclining living and lounge chairs, bathing, hygiene and bedroom aids, handlebars and rails, daily living aids (trays, footrests, cushions etc.) and many many others.

Careco: A UK based company that offers a variety of living and mobility aids, from mobility scooters to stair lifts, to car boot hoists to transfer aids. They also offer a range of refurbished mobility aids in different styles, for cheaper than you would expect. They do claim to deliver to an international client base, but please contact them with questions/for a quote.

Cool Crutches: As the name suggests, this is a UK company that, much like Neo-Walk, offers an incredibly colourful array of walking sticks and canes, as well as offering replacement parts! They are suitable, according to the FAQ page, for anyone between 5′ and 6′5″, and are height adjustable. The colours and patterns are varied (and there is even an option to design your own!), but the prices are quite steep. They do offer international delivery! You can find their delivery page here, which also contains a list of prices for delivery. Thank you to @disconnectivetissue for directing me to this one.

(*)CompleteCare Shop: This company delivers to both mainland and non-mainland UK, with delivery charges available on the website, however they are unfortunately not able to deliver internationally. I recently bought a rollator from here that came quite quickly and in excellent condition. They offer a large collection of mobility aids- rollators, walkers, wheelchairs, scooters etc.- and other disability aids for all aspects of life, including bedroom aids, daily living aids (seats and hygiene products, for example), kitchen aids, medical equipment (like crutches, rehabilitation equipment, hearing aids etc. ) and even disability aids for children. An enquiry form can be found on the site if you have any questions.

Disability Horizons: Disability Horizons was a lifestyle magazine ran by a selection of disabled writers, for the disabled community, exploring issues and stories relating to disability, that unfortunately closed in April of this year (2023). They also run a shop, sourcing and distributing a range of disability aids from across the UK, and they can arrange overseas shipping! Products offered include: adaptive clothing and t-shirts, art and cards, home aids, kitchen aids, books, mobility aids, living aids, wheelchair aids, bathroom aids, vitamins and car aids. You can find a link to the online magazine site here. The shop is still running, though may be rebranded in the coming months.

The Dyslexia Shop: This shop is UK based but it does deliver internationally! They do an incredibly amount of learning resources for neurodivergent people, but specifically people with dyslexia and dyscalculia, including, but not limited to, tinted paper and notepads, different types of specialised grip pens, overlays, educational games, sensory toys, teaching aids and software. And they also offer an incredible range of books, both childrens books i.e. teaching about disability, featuring disabled characters etc., and non-fictional books on the topics of dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, disability education etc.

(*)Essential Aids: They sell a vast array of disability, mobility, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, work and leisure aids, as well as offering a range of childrens disability aids, sensory aids and NHS aids as well. They have aids that help in hobby areas (i.e. writing, gardening, sewing) and exercising, they sell comfort aids and warmth aids. They have outdoor aids as well, like ramps and hand rails, which is just fantastic. I do not know if they deliver internationally but you can contact them to check, and they use Royal Mail services.

Feet Feet: A company dealing in “orthotic insoles to treat every major foot condition”, this site is organised so that you can sort by specific condition, product or seek advice regarding an ailment. Products offered include bunion correctors/splints, foot massagers, assistive sock aids, support braces, insoles, risers, lifts, shoe cushioning/padding and callus cutters and much more.They do deliver internationally! (I think) You can find delivery information here.

(*)HealthAndCare: Unfortunately this company cannot deliver outside of the UK at the moment, but all mainland UK deliveries are free, and the majority of products can also be delivered to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and offshore UK islands! Their product range is extensive. They offer a large array of braces and supports- from back supports to shoe insoles- general health and pain relief items, daily living aids (including but not limited to: hearing aids, bathroom aids, mobility aids, kitchen aids and medication storage), sports and rehabilitation equipment, education equipment, and even safety training!

(*)Healthcare PRO: So I’ve had a look and they don’t deliver overseas, but they do deliver to both mainland and offshore UK! Here you can find more delivery information. Healthcare PRO offers a range of health, living and mobility including telephone aids, reading and writing aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, bathroom aids, eating aids, bedroom equipment, hobby aids, games, alarms, reachers, monitors and sensory equipments etc, a long with a vast array of other items in all categories. They also offer a selection of childrens aids as well.

(*)Incontinence Choice: This is a UK company that specialises in incontinence products. They offer a range of items, including incontinence pads of varying sizes, bed and chair protection, adult nappies, washable and disposable incontinence pants, as well as a range of both female and male incontinence products. They also offer products from some specific brands, such as Age Co, TENA, Vivactive and Always, and have a discreet delivery process. Unfortunately they only offer shipping to mainland UK and certain non-mainland territories. There is no option for international delivery at this time, and there is a notice on the website that delivery services have been impacted by the Royal Mail strikes, but they are working around it. Here you can find more information on delivery, including the non-mainland territories they deliver to and prices.

Liberator: A UK supplier of extensive AAC equipment including switches, joysticks, apps and software, learning aids, adapted stylus’, controls, adaptors, cases, eye tracking and control software, pointers, and accessible computer equipment, as some examples. They have a large web of international redistributors which you can find here. They also offer training regarding some software and devices that they sell. You can find information regarding funding and assessment here. They also offer sensory aids.

(*)Manage @ Home: A company that deals in disability aids for a variety of every day activities, including mobility aids, eating aids, leisure aids, door handles and bathroom aids, amongst others. Currently they deliver to UK mainland, as well as UK islands and Northern Ireland, though if ordering from the latter two you are advised to contact the company about delivery. I’m not sure what their international shipping policies are or if they ship outside of the UK.

(*)The Mobility Aids Centre: I’m waiting to hear back about international delivery information but I’ll update when I do. They have a showroom in Peterborough, England if you wish to visit them in person. The Centre claims to pride themselves on offering mobility aids that “is more than just wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids, bathroom equipment and small living aids”, providing things such as pushchairs, standing frames and bespoke wheelchairs as well. They also offer things like sensory loss aids, peddle exercisers, therapy equipment, medication aids, fall aids and specialised furniture, to name a few.

(*)The Mobility Market: I found the link to this on the website for Scope, a well known, registered disability charity in the UK, and I’ve had a little look around. It’s essentially like ebay for mobility aids; it’s people selling their mobility aids to others in need. There is no definitive amount of aids on here so if you’re looking for something specific, i.e. like a cane, it might not be there the first time you check. Objects are second/third hand, and, depending on how much the seller lists them for, can still be quite expensive, though noticeably less so than some other providers. You can also list your own mobility aids as well, but to both buy and sell you need to make an account. I do not know what shipping policies are like- I imagine it depends on the seller- but they do have a partner site that operates across the US and Canada.

MobilityPlus+: A UK based company that claims to ship worldwide. They deal in electric wheelchairs, rollators and accessories, and also include shipping costs for international shipping on their website if you are not from mainland UK. From personal experience, they’ve been excellent when it comes to replacement parts for my chair though obviously I don’t speak for everyone.

Mobility Smart: This company can arrange to deliver outside of the UK but to do so you have to call them. They have instructions for this on their website, as well as information on finding your country dialing code and a currency converter. If you’re in the UK, they have a showroom! As well as mobility aids, they offer items in categories such as paediatric care equipment, daily living aids, driving aids, continence aids, bathroom aids, ramps, specialised footwear and medical equipment, amongst others.I have been informed that there tends to be a markup with this company when it comes to continence aids, in comparison to stores like Age Co or Incontinence Choice, so please be aware of that.

Not Your Grandma’s: Do you find yourself wanting colourful compression socks but can’t find any designs you like? Do you struggle to find designs that fit? Maybe your disability has left you feeling overwhelmed and you’re just looking for advice. Well! This company (suggested by @cripplecore, so thank you for that) may just be what you’re looking for! They specialise in colourful compression socks, but also offer some disability stationary and accessories. Their founder also has a blog/handbook and podcast relating to all things disability, and is looking to release a range of larger sized products, and offer a waiting list for those interested. Personally, I think this site looks incredibly cute! (They also offer international shipping!). I have ordered from here and think it’s great, if not a but pricey.

Neo-Walk: You may have seen this company on Dragons Den. They offer an array of colourful and customisable walking sticks and accessories, as well as offering a 10% student discount (using a code that can be found on their FAQ page and with proof of student ID)! They also offer international shipping.

(*)Podiatry World: Podiatry supplies equipment for foot and leg care, and products they offer “arch supports, bunion protectors, gel socks and straps, impressions, instruments and packs, foams and felts, rotary tools (burs), treatment chairs, pain relief products, and much more.” You can find a list of their products here. I’m not sure on international delivery policies.

(*)Quingo Scooters: Quingo mobility pride themselves on their five wheel mobility scooters, which they claim to offer more stability and manoeuvrability than regular three and four wheel scooters. They offer a few different models, ranging in price, as well as a motorised wheelchair, accessories for all models, payment plans, and the option to test drive before you buy! I can’t find any information on international delivery, but they claim to deliver anywhere in mainland UK, and they have a “sister distributor” in the US by the name of Comfygo.

(*)RNIB: Or, the Royal National Institute of Blind People. An organisation in the UK dedicated to ensuring and providing accessibility for those who are blind, partially sighted, or otherwise visually impaired. I took this quote from the site directly: “We have a wide range of products for both adults and children who have sight loss or a vision impairment. All our devices and tools are designed to help you do more at home, work or at school.You’ll also find a range of book titles in audio, braille and large print, and leaflets on eye conditions and living with sight loss.“ This link will bring you to the organisations website (with information on dealing with sight loss, eye health, the aims of the organisation etc etc.), and this link will bring you to an interesting piece on their work in making video gaming more accessible!

(*)Sensory Direct: I’ve checked an unfortunately this company is unable to ship to PO boxes, or overseas unless you hold a trading account with them. You can find information on delivery, i.e. prices, locations etc. here. This company deals specifically in sensory aids, with tools on their website allowing you to sort by age category, condition and environment. They offer a vast array of items including, but not limited to, weighted blankets, sensory toys, classroom kits, educational aids, weighted clothing, puzzles, toys, games, chewys, seating, lighting etc. etc. They also sell products to aid with the development of skills, such as life skills, social skills, fine and gross motor skills, creative skills and sleeping.

Single Handed: @parafoxicalk introduced me to this company through this video, showing a member of the company reviewing a grip toggle, so you may have seen them doing the rounds! Single Handed aim to design carry technology of the “highest quality”, “for able-bodied and less able people alike”, allowing for “easier use [carrying] for those with balance, shaking, or disabilities which make carrying a traditional tray more difficult, dangerous or even impossible in some cases.” They’re eco-conscious in their designs, deliver internationally, and deal in anti-tip trays, grip toggles, glass collectors, and large double handed mugs.

(*)Skiggle: This is another site I found, courtesy of Scope. Skiggle is a registered disability charity, providing help to disabled people (adults, young people and children), their families and their carers by offering a place to rehome surplus disability aids. It’s like a more relaxed version of The Mobility Marketplace, in that it is a sellers community of disabled people, in which you can post ads selling your items, or ads asking for certain items. The majority of items that I have seen are free/relatively cheap, but there are certain items that may be priced (i.e. car seats, mobility scooters) and the site reviews these on a case-by-case basis. I quite like the look of this one to be honest. Here’s the FAQ page if you have any questions regarding the marketplace.

Smartcrutch: Thank you to @some-weird-queer-writer for pointing this one out to me. I have been informed that they are also available in America, Canada and potentially Australia, but there is a notice on the site to contact them if you have any questions so you can find that information here. I’ve dug a bit further and it appears they do deliver overseas. This site offers an array of colourful forearm crutches, in sizes XS, S, M and L (extra small, small, medium and large), as well as “spares” (a range of spare crutch parts i.e. pivot screws, ice shoes, replacement feet and straps). Prices on the XS crutches range between £74.99-£114.98, whilst prices on all other sizes range between £131.99-£227.98. I believe there is also the option to buy either a single crutch or a pair.

The Stick & Cane Shop: Walking sticks and accessories with a twist. Like a stick for all occassions type of deal, this company specialises in sticks for walking, for formal/fancy dress, for country walking, for collecting, and for doubling as an umbrella. They also offer accessories and adjustable sticks.

(*)WalkingSticks: At the time of writing this, this site cannot deliver outside of the UK due to courier issues, however if you are able to benefit from it it seems amazing. Despite the name, they sell everything from canes, to crutches, to walkers, to even mobility aid accessories. And you can search by specific requirements, features and prices!

(*)Whizz-Kidz: “The UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users.” This company is a bit different to the others in that it is a charity and you, specifically, don’t buy the equipment; there is an application process instead, a waiting list and then they may or may not provide the equipment for the young person (under the age of 18) in question. Here is information on the application process (FAQs, eligibility criteria etc.), and here is a link to wheelchair training workshops that they offer for people aged 2 to 25 years old, including workplace training, school training and sports. They are a charity so there is an option to donate as well, and they also offer youth group services, support for families and siblings, and work placement/employment opportunities.

USA:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

1800Wheelchair: Thank you to @cesium-sheep for directing me to this. They said, quote, “It was a mediocre experience and their branding is very senior-focused but they have a huge selection of all kinds of mobility aids.” I’ve had a look at that seems to be the case; they offer a vast array of wheelchairs included lightweight, heavy duty, beach, commercial, transport and bathroom wheelchairs, as well as accessories i.e. bags, cushions etc. As well as scooters, lifts, walkers, bathroom safety aids and accessories (including shower stools, hand held showers etc.), furniture, pediatric aids (wheelchairs, furniture, bathroom care), accessories and parts. As well as distributors across America and UK, it appears they also have distributors in both France and Canada!

Advantage Medical: A supplier of rehab and physical therapy equipment, including hand therapy, mobility aids, exercise equipment, patient transfer equipment, tapes, daily living, CBD, PPE and much more. They can arrange for international delivery “nearly anywhere in the world”, though customs and duties are the responsibility of the customer. Here you can find more information on shipping.

(*)Comfygo Mobility: A “sister distributor” of Quingo Scooters, that deals in mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and accessories for each. They offer a slightly wider ranger than their sister company, and also offer repayment schemes when purchasing. I’m not sure on their international delivery policy, but apparently, as well as their own stores, they may be found on Amazon, Ebay and sometimes Walmart.

(*)Comfy Splints: Exactly what it says- they sell adult and paediatric splints for the hand, elbow, knee, ankle and foot, with the goal of making them as comfortable as possible. I can’t find any explicit information on international delivery, although they are partnered with companies that do deliver globally, like Medline and Rehabmart, so I may be wrong. They have contact information listed here if you have questions.

Fettermans: A US based company that offers free shipping to continental US, Fettermans is also partnered with Amazon, Walkeasy and Sidestix. They deal in crutches (for adults and children), crutch hand grips and other accessories!

(*)HealthSmart International: HealthSmart provides a range of crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs (as well as accessories) as well as a number of other disability aids, including, but not limited to, blood pressure monitors, physical therapy aids, bedroom and bathroom aids, and professional medical equipment. They claim to deliver some products internationally, however upon further digging the website also says they are currently only shipping within the United States, so please contact them if you have any questions regarding this.

(*)ICS: This company deals in orthotic shoes, socks and insoles for those with diabetes, AFOs (ankle foot orthotics), arthritis, partial foot amputations, and general foot issues- promising a comfortable and “perfect” fit. They also offer a specialist fitting service, that I think allows you to find the perfect size and shoe for you. Shoes for both men and women are offered across a variety of brands, and when searching for shoes you can filter by gender, foot width, boot height, brand and shoe size. I can’t find any information in regards to international delivery.

(*)Mobility Warehouse: They mainly deal in mobility equipment- powerchairs, scooters, rollators and living chairs- but also offer a range of bath safety aids, mastectomy care, diabetic shoes, compression socks and hospital beds in store as well. They also offer replacements, repairs and servicing of the equipment you buy from them should you run into issue. International shipping policies of this company are unclear.

Pride Mobility Corporation: As well as the US and Latin America, this company has bases across the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Middle East, Slovakia, Slovenia and Canada. They also offer a tool on the website to find your nearest dealer. They offer a wide range of mobility and power chairs, lift chairs and mobility scooters, as well as rehab equipment.

Rehabmart: I think this company ship internationally. It is founded and operated by qualified occupational and physical therapists, and sells a range of medical, mobility and rehabilitation equipment. They claim to sell over 18000 products, and there is an alphabetised list of the categories they deal in.

Sensory Tool House: They do deliver outside of North America! However some of their products may not allow them to so it’s best to check your order. They have an online chat function and typically get back to you within a day or two.This company offers a range of “products and services [to] specifically support those who are neurodivergent and/or have a disability”, as well as offering community events at some of their locations (i.e. sensory play and sensory rooms), teacher, student and carer resources, training (in workplace and educational environments), and the ability to create a wishlist/gift registry. At the moment of writing, they appear to offer 850+ products, ranging from such things as educational products, toys, guides, utensil supports, folding chairs and weighted bedding, to name just a few.

Therapy Shoppe: “If you're looking for innovative sensory products, fidget tools, educational toys, occupational therapy tools, autism or special needs toys for learning, play, self-regulation, sensory integration, handwriting, motor skills development, fidgeting, and much more... you've come to the right place!” -Therapy Shoppe. This is a US based company that deals in the supply of sensory products. You can find delivery information here, including shipping charges. They do deliver outside of the continental US, but there is a minimum delivery fee and prices are based on overall order weight. Again, refer to the delivery information for more details.

(*)SwitchSticks US: A partner of SwitchSticks Australia and HealthSmart International. They specialise in walking sticks, quad sticks and seat canes. International shipping policies are unclear.

WalkEasy: A partner of Fettermans Crutches, they work with crutches, canes, parts and accessories, and it is my understanding that they deliver internationally as well. Their selection seems to be somewhat varied, ranging from platform crutches to cane holders for walls, and they offer replacement parts for most of the items they stock.

TheWrightStuff: If you’re ordering from outside of the US they offer contact information to get a quote, which you can find here. They only offer English speaking customer service at the time of writing. Again, thank you to @cesium-sheep for the recommendation. As well as mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, etc.), this company also offers more generalised disability aids including, but not limited, to gardening and exercise equipment, writing aids, utensil grips, adaptive reading aids (i.e. magnifiers, lights), adjustable tables, gas cap removers, bedding, comfort accessories, bathroom aids and dressing aids, to name a few.

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nautiscarader · 4 months

Text

What the hecking heck has happened? - a post-not-really-mortem

What the hecking heck has happened?

So you might have noticed I have been absent for the past 2.5 months. So, where have I been? What has happened to me?

Well, you see, I got this magical music box, and when I opened it, I was transported into a different world full of talking frogs, toads and newts! I've had wonderful adventures, made lots of friends and-

Yeah, nope. I've been in a hospital.

WITH NO INTERNET

I feel you, Anne.

But let's start…

Serious warning: I will be describing my stay at the hospital, and it may get touchy for some of you. Proceed with caution.

Chapter 1: "Not so much Fall as Saunter Vaguely Downwards."

So in mid-November I fell from my bed. I have multiple sclerosis and for the life of me I couldn't lift up. I had lots of bruises, so I had to be taken to hospital to clean them and then do something more with my illness… But that is just the beginning…

Chapter 2: The ballad of lemon cocaine

So here I am, lying in bed, getting meds, and around day 3 the nurse brought me a small cup full of white powder. I looked at her and blurted out "What am I supposed to do with it, snort it?" and she replied "No, sir, you're supposed to mix it in your tea or soup… " and she went away. That powder was some protein to help my wounds rebuild, btw.

But a few weeks down the line there was a twist: they gave me another powdered drink, and this one was lemon-flavoured! So I was mixing them up and called it "lemon cocaine". And it was delicious.

Chapter 3: And then shit happened

There is this nasty thing called Clostridium which gives you diarrhoea. And I caught it. So for the next ten days… well, I was busy, shall we say.

Yeah.

Chapter 4: "we got robbed!"

Imagine my surprise when one day I get a call… from Police. Turns out someone broke into my and my neighbour's basements.

So I've had another thing to worry about.

For exactly two days.

Because the thief took my neighbour's power cutting tools… AND PUT THEM ON AN AUCTION SITE.

WITH LOTS OF PICS [READ: EVIDENCE]

So that went smoothly, we both recovered everything stolen.

chapter 5: Then I was robbed.

Of some shirts. Because I was putting my used shirts and shorts in a special, red garbage bag. What I did not know is that red garbage bags are used for hazardous materials.. you can guess what happened.

RIP to my original Wakfu kickstarter shirt.

Well, it had a rip, so…

Chapter 6: Return of the shit.

So… one day my doctor came and said straight to me.

Another 10 days…

Chapter 7: I am thick skinned

And that is a problem for applying cannulas (cannuli?). Those things they insert into veins to make drips work. Apparent;y my skin is thick and locating blood vessels was incredibly difficult sometimes. The record was 6.Six times they stabbed me until it worked.

And even when they worked,the band-aids they used just wouldn't stick to my skin.

Chapter 8: Hot potato, cold potato.

So here is a thing: I don't like lying next to a heater, especially at night. I have troubles with breathing, get sweaty, etc. So naturally, they've put me right next to one. But it was okay,cos I could just turn the knob to 0, right?

No,I couldn't.

One nurse couldn't.

Second one couldn't.

A PLUMBER couldn't.

So they had to move my bed to the opposite side of the room, with the plumber telling me he'd fix it.

That was the last time I have seen him.

But after a week they moved me from neurology to neurology rehab ward, where…

They've put me in a bed next to another heater!

But this time, there was a twist… or rather,there wasn't. COS THERE WAS NO KNOB.

It took them three weeks to find one.

Chapter 9: Rehab

So I was moved to a rehab ward, where every day I was being stretched, twisted and reassembled so I can move a bit better.And honestly, all the workers they were flipping fantastic - so compassionate, so understanding with patience of saints. I will cherish time I spent with them forever.

Chapter 10: Christmas on closed ward

Time moved on, and, well, Christmas has arrived. And we've had a really neat Christmas eve celebrations! I even got an unexpected present - the mother of another patient in our room (of 4) got each of us a Gilette razor - kinda useless for me,since I was using electric one, but it was so neat, wrapped in red ribbon and all! And she baked us all cakes! And brought a small Christmas tree. Luckily, I had some sweets of my own, I gave them in return. I know it may sound silly or insignificant, but it really was a heartwarming moment.

Chapter 11: In which I became Mr. House

So, no joke, all this time as I have been lying and doing nothing, I was composing this post in my head, with gifs. And one joke would have been that I looked like this:

but I felt like this:

Well.

WELL, WELL, WELL.

Imagine my surprise when one day my rehab guy put me onto THIS COCKING MEDIEVAL TORTURE RACK.

I mean, I have always suspected that irony is another force in our universe, but that has to be a definite proof, right?

I was actually feeling pretty down that day, but when I saw this, I started laughing like a maniac. I explained the joke, since he never played FNV, but he laughed too. We started calling it "mr House treatment".

Chapter 12: The wheelchair.

Around week before Christmas, I was put for the first time on a wheelchair.And after a month of being immobile… it was exhilarating,to finally be able to do SOMETHING on my own.

And then mid-January I got my own! For free! Something something government funding, something something disability insurance, yadda yadda, who cares? I now had a wheelchair!

So for the next two weeks I have been training to make my body adjusted to my new permanent part.

And then… I was out.

AND THEN I NEARLY THOUGHT THE THIEF STOLE MY ROUTER. But no, it was simply hidden for cleaning.

So all this time I have been thinking, which character should I try to identify with?

Maybe Oracle?

Or that kid from that one ATLA episode?

But then I realised there is only choice…

I AM NOW COCKING DAVROS!

So, what now?

As of right now, I am officially disabled.

I take tons of meds, have nurses to help me, and I have to learn to live anew.

It is tough, sometimes really tough.

So I ask you all to be a bit more patient with me.

I will be slower with updates, fics, etc. because I am slower now IRL.

But know that if you are reading this, then you are my friend and I love you.

Oh, and speaking of fics.... Nah, I'll leave it as a surprise ;)

Oh and here is an unnecessary sequel!

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caesarinsalata · 5 months

Text

Intermission: Part 2

Including the rare occurrence of DIGITAL visual aid 😄

INTERMISSION

Part 2

A Year into Rehab

“Have you seen Ed, Al? He's due for an appointment.”

“Um, no actually…” Alphonse thought for a moment. “I haven't been able to get the time to check on him. I'm sorry, I've been busy.”

Winry shook her head. “Don't worry. I'll find him. He's probably in the Library or something. I don't expect I'll find him in his bed.”

Al gently smiled. “Let me know, when you find him, if he's okay.”

“I'm sure he's fine, Al. Don't worry too much.” She patted his shoulder before walking down the hallway to search the Palace for Edward.

Her first thought was to look in the Library. That boy wouldn't be able to stay in his room and rest. He's bound to be busying himself with research of some kind. Keeping Ed from analyzing or learning things was like pulling teeth. Hopefully he wasn't researching how to take her handy work apart. He'd just end up ruining it.

Coming to the doorway of the Library, she pushed the curtain open and looked around. Sure enough, there was someone with golden, blonde hair who had now styled it into a braid that reached his shoulders. He was leaning to one side, with his cheek resting on his hand, sitting at the table positioned in the middle of the room. He was facing away from the doorway, so he wouldn't know if anyone was coming in.

“How did I know you'd be in here…” She shifted the tool box on her shoulder and walked up behind him.

He didn't respond.

“Ed?”

She moved around him and leaned down to see that he was sound asleep. A scoff came out of her as she put her tool box down on a chair at the table. Ed softly snored as Winry looked at what he was doing. She couldn't read a lick of it, but it had diagrams of prosthetics. Arms, legs, hands, feet. So he was looking into her work. She'd consider it endearing if she didn't know he was going to use that knowledge to mess with it when she wasn't around. Glancing back at Ed, his head was going to fall off his hand if she didn't wake him up.

“Ed.” Winry thought about it, then decided to gently slide Ed's hands out from under his head. He's gonna hate her for this, but it was going to be so funny. His head smacked into the book under his elbow.

“AGH!” His head shot back, covering his forehead with his hands. “What the hell-” Blinking through the pain, he spotted her. “Winry?!”

“How was your nap?”

Still rubbing his forehead, he closed the books and shoved them aside. “Fine, until you showed up…” Shifting in his chair. “What do you want anyway?”

“Hello to you too, Ed.” Lifting the tool box onto the table and placing her hands on her hips. “You keep forgetting to show up for adjustments.”

Ed leans back in his chair and groans. “It's getting stiff. I can't go down the stairs. And I'm not asking Al to carry me.” Crossing his arms, he extends the leg out from under the table at her. It made a creak and Winry visibly winced. He attempted to bend it at the knee, but it protested angrily.

“You haven't been oiling the joints have you?” Putting her head in her hand, disappointed in his carelessness.

“I thought that was Al's job?”

“I can't trust you to do anything…”

“Wha- Hey! I've been moving and resting appropriately, just like you and Granny wanted me too. Don't I get some credit for that?”

Winry had pulled up a chair and rested his leg on her thigh while he talked at her. “Your physical therapy suffers if you don't oil it. It can mess with your stance and hurt your hip if it's stiff.” Yanking tools out of her box, she removed the outer casing of his knee first, lubricating the joint before it was damaged by continued grinding.

“Yeah, yeah…” He feigned disinterest while he watched her fiddle with the inner workings of his leg.

“So…” Winry didn't look at him, she was too busy checking the length of both legs to see if he needed it adjusted yet. “I see you've been taking an interest in my work.” Finally glancing up at him.

He blinked, confused for a second, then seemed to put the pieces together. “Oh, yeah…right…” He glanced over at the books. “I was just curious if we had any books about these, since they're so unheard of here.”

Winry couldn't help but smile. Ed said thank you and studied her interests in his own way. He was hard to read sometimes, but at others, he was plain and simple. “So you'll happily look into what I do, but you won't take care of it? Am I hearing this right?” Resealing his knee cap.

Ed clicked his tongue and pouted.

“How long have you been sitting in here?” She replaced her tools in the box, closing it after. Letting Ed take his leg from her so he could bend it in and out. Still looking at it with amazement as he wiggles the toes.

“Not sure…” Ed stood up, pushing the chair out and grabbed the stack of books he had. “I've been losing time lately. I'm not even sure it's even still daylight outside.” Turning away and looking at the spines of the books to double check where he got them from. His walking wasn't terrible after a year into therapy, but he occasionally leaned too far to one side and upset his balance enough to almost lose his footing.

Winry didn't like the sound of that. “Is that normal?”

Ed glanced back while he was pushing a book onto a shelf. “Well…not particularly,” Thinking about it a bit more. “It has been happening a lot more often lately. Al told me I've been sleeping a lot.”

“Do you know why?”

Ed just shrugs, coming back over to sit back down. “Trauma can do a lot to a person. Or maybe it's due to expending all my energy walking around in circles for hours with nothing to do. They won't let me do anything, not to mention Al, no matter how low maintenance it is.” Shooting his arms into the air. “I could just use alchemy! I'm so bored!” He just slouches in his seat.

“Is the library not keeping you enough company?”

“One can only reread the same books he's read for years so many times.”

“Hmm, you haven't read the ones on the higher shelves yet?”

Edward challenges her with a dark glare. “Watch it…” Trying to telepathically remind her ‘We're literally the same height.’

Winry just smiles. “What? What did I say?”

Ed sat up and braced his hands on the edge of the table, steaming. “You know full well what you were insinuating!”

“Yeah, yeah…” Mimicking him a bit with her response. Winry thought about something for a moment. If Ed was bored because no one would let him do anything productive and Al was too busy doing a two man job already, Winry could assist Ed, so he feels useful again as well as getting him up and moving; She liked this idea.

“Hey, Ed.”

“Yeah?” Taken back by her outlandish response to their usual banter, he relaxed and raised an eyebrow at her. Confused as to what gave her pause.

“How about we do some work together?”

“Huh?”

“Al's too busy to watch you and the adults won't let you help, so how about we do what we can together? You can work on your therapy and I can be there to catch you.”

Ed just blinked, wondering where this drive came from. “Uh, why?” It's not like he didn't want to do his part of the work, he's the most selfless person in this palace, save for Al, of course, but he didn't want to rope Winry into this. She wasn't a slave, she was virtually just a regular resident here. She had no reason to lower herself to doing work for the palace. But he sensed it obviously wasn't for the Palace’s sake. “Where is this coming from?”

“Just get up!” Winry hopped out of her seat and yanked Ed out of his. He almost fell flat on his face as he regained his footing and yanked his hand from her. She stopped and looked back, confused.

“You're not contractually obligated to maintain this palace. I'm not letting you take on Al and my responsibility.” He appeared to be protective, more so than angry about it.

“I'm no stranger to physical labor, Ed.” Winry rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand again. “Stop thinking about the technicalities of it all and let's get you up and outside or at least moving instead of holding yourself up in a dusty library.”

Ed frowned while his arm felt like it was being pulled out of socket until he was able to match her pace. He still didn't like this idea, but at least it got him out of doing nothing.

#fma #fmab #my doodles #fullmetal alchemist #edward elric #doodles #my art #freckles #drawing prompt #fma art #fma fanart #winry rockbell #xerxes au #xerxes #fmab art #fmab fanart #fullmetal alchemist fanart #fullmetal alchemist brotherhood #digital art

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3terna15unshin3 · 11 months

Note

hi!! would you consider writing a blurb where matty has the rahab conversation with este? like he sits down and really explains what it was like and how be struggles (maybe there’s some tears and este is super supportive and comforting)

love your work sm <3

Hi!!! thank u!!

I must say tho, I have very little knowledge on or personal experience with drug addiction and rehab, so i didn’t really feel comfortable writing anything more in depth just in caution of accidentally portraying it inaccurately or using insensitive language or romanticizing it in any way. since i do think it’s a bit odd and some ppl do cross a line when using his addiction as really intense and triggering angst😬😬😬

only sometimes tho! it can be tastefully done :) and i’m glad u requested it! anyway thank u again here it is hehe

(tbsg series masterlist) ((also please send me more requests i’m desperate))

warnings: mentions of addiction and drug use, angst

To stand it upright, Matty lifted the heavy metal to him and Este’s newest piece of furniture for their bathroom. He had spent the past half hour building the majority of the shelf, with Este passing him any tool or screw he was needing. Now that the contraption was standing, they only had a couple of stray pieces to get attached.

But before he could, his ringtone sounded. Este glanced at his screen and watched it flash ‘Frankie’ across the top. She racked her brain to think of if she’d known such a person, but it didn’t ring a bell.

“Just decline it for me, love.” Matty instructed after reading who was ringing.

She obliged and pressed on the power button to hang it up. “Who’s Frankie? Don’t want to speak to him?” She said jokingly.

He chuckled a bit. “Not that I don’t want to speak with her, maybe just not at the minute. I’ll just call her back later,” His wrist twisted a screwdriver to secure another slat.

“Oh, okay.”

Frankie’s a girl, Este digested. She thought it was a bit bizarre that Matty didn’t answer her first question, but rarely let her contextless thoughts develop into jealousy. Este’s nosy self was more eager to know what the call was about—regardless of who it was from. But she decided to leave it.

He threw her a smile and leaned all the way over to plant a kiss on the skin right in front of her ear. “Mind passing me that last screw?”

Este doesn’t mind, smiling back as blood rushes to the spot where his lips once were, while he silently continued building. When Matty glanced back at her, the shelf now complete, he could read the curiosity on Este’s face. So, he elaborated. And Matty didn’t mind elaborating when he was with her. Since he knew she’d listen.

“And Frankie’s a woman I met in rehab. We’ve kept in touch since so she calls time and again,” Matty explained, “She usually wants to talk something out, since she’s had a bit of a rough journey since treatment. Not a lot of family left. Whether it’s for advice or just for someone alike to listen. But I’m in manly-builder-testosterone mode. Didn’t feel like a good time to answer. Even though she does enjoy sharing what she’s been through and would probably love to meet you. I don’t want to unload all of her shit onto you. For your sake,”

“If her shit’s on you then it can be on me. I don’t mind. Your shit is sort of my shit too,” she said.

They burst into laughter as both of their eyes diverted to the toilet they sat next to, the ironic and gross sounding language making them giggle.

He stood back to admire the shelf that stood beside the sink, raising his hand to chew on the skin around his nails. Once his explanation was finished, his mouth stayed shut and slightly pressed. Eyes darting around the space to make sure everything was in place. Este could see that the topic was making his muscles a bit tense.

“Yeah, it is.” Matty agreed, still laughing at the poo jokes. The two of them started to transfer the various body and skin care products from the draws below the sink onto the freshly built shelf; in comfortable silence.

“I guess I haven’t really told you much about my recovery, have I? Rehab, and everything,”

“No, not really.” She shrugged, not wanting to pry.

Eventually the sink didn’t look crowded anymore, and the supplies that usually sat messily were organised. Having only recently moved in together, it was an obstacle to have to balance their belongings in the same space. So, Este sunk down to sit on the floor and lean against the wall to rest in satisfaction. They’d made good progress.

He copied her and they sat hip to hip.

“I spent most of the treatment I did in Barbados alone, believe it or not. There were plenty of nurses and doctors, but I was pretty isolated. That was until I met Frankie.” Matty tucked his knees under his chin. “I think meeting her was the first time I met anyone just as a human—no self expression, no signs of culture, no pre-conceived expectations, no representation of status. There was this insane level of purity within our connection. We were just two broken people,”

Este’s eyes didn’t leave his as he continued on. She listened intently and thoughtfully.

“But we were from the same road,” he revealed. “Not even just the same city, or town. The same road. Minutes of walking between where we grew up. And finding that out felt super emotional,”

His fingers fidgeted nervously, opening himself up more and more as he spoke. Matty found comfort in Este’s presence, though, and sought the feeling of her hand on the back of his neck or the in and out of her breath against his skin.

“Wow,” she whispered briefly, wanting him to continue. Este was fairly close, so the breath he craved grazed him ever so slightly as she spoke. It calmed him down.

“Since we’d been on the road for so long, and I obviously was having trouble coping with it, things had been so loud. Constantly. But I think the equine therapy, and meeting Frankie—it was the first time in ages things were quiet. And I really drank it in,”

She ran her hand up and down the front of his leg lovingly. “I’m so happy that you’re on the other side of that now. And that you had access to treatment that worked for you. That’s the hardest part sometimes,”

Matty nodded.

“The horses did do something, that’s for sure,” They chuckled together, “When we retire in like 40 years and move out to the countryside maybe we should get a couple. I’m a whisperer or sorts now, I think.” he suggested.

Este leaned her head down onto his shoulder, internally cooing at the mental image of the two of them growing old together. Maybe somewhere rural up north—near Manchester, to be close to family. She’d have a greenhouse and maybe grow fruits and veggies during the summer for them to eat. A couple of horses, like Matty suggested. Este had never met a horse in person, but she was sure she’d like them if he did.

“That sounds like a plan.”

He pressed his lips delicately to her forehead, dreaming of the same things that floated round in her mind. They lounged in silence—still sitting on the floor across from the sink and toilet.

“You know,” Matty started again, “I still have this dude’s number in my phone. He was my dealer here in London for a bit. I ran to him when I scored for the last time,”

There was a pained expression on his face, like he had to work through his own disdain for that time in his life before admitting it aloud. It shocked Este, realising that speaking about his addiction could be so heavy; since he was usually so open and honest about it to anyone who was curious. But this was different, as Matty dug to the parts of himself that he had learned to keep personal. He didn’t have to think twice about letting Este see them, though.

“It was early 2019. I’d been clean since rehab—and at this point I’ve honestly forgotten what brought me to the point of relapsing. But what I do remember is the morning after. I saw my mum and Louis. And it just broke me,” His sentences had long pauses between them and his voice broke over and over. The sound of it sent a pang through Este’s heart, the two of them immediately nuzzling closer into each other’s comfort. “The guilt was all-consuming. I was so ashamed knowing that I was hugging my little brother still strung out from the night before. Smiling at him while lying about being clean,”

Matty dropped his head into her lap, slow salty tears trickling onto her bare thighs. She wiped them away, hands lingering on his face since she knew he liked them there.

“Oh, Matty,” A lump formed in her throat but she swallowed it down. She spoke gently. “Can I ask why you still have his number?”

He thought about it for a second. “It’s sort of a reminder, I guess. That I have the power now. That if I wanted to call, I could. But I don’t want to anymore.”

Matty’s eyes looked up towards Este and they shared a bittersweet smile. He laid his hand on top of hers that still sat cupping his cheek, lifting it to plant a kiss on her palm and quickly setting it back.

“And I know that if I ever wanted to—even a little bit—that I’d have you there. To tell in a heartbeat. And the boys, and my family. We’d do anything we’d need to do. Together.”

And with their bottoms against the cold concrete, Matty picked up his phone to call Frankie back, fearlessly pressing the speakerphone button. Este interlaced her fingers with his, waiting for her to pick up, and their chests rose and fell in sync.

#tbsg #blurb #meste blurb #the 1975 #matty healy #matty healy fanfiction #matty healy x oc #the 1975 fanfiction #matty healy fic #ask

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all-the-things-2020 · 4 months

Text

Late Night Talking - Chapter Three

Summary: Dieter and Emily go on date number two at Venice Beach.

Rating: PG

Notes: I’m writing exclusively from Emily’s POV but will include little transcripts here and there to show Dieter’s perspective. I gave Dieter a brother named Friedrich. They call each other Freddy and Deet.

[Telephone call between Dieter Bravo and his brother Friedrich]

Friedrich: What happened now?

Dieter: Why do you assume something happened? Maybe I’m just calling to hear your amazing voice.

F: Because it’s one o’clock in the fucking morning, Deet.

D: Shit, sorry. It’s only ten here. But Freddy, I have to talk to you. This is big, bro.

F: Work big or personal big?

D: Personal. I think I just met the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.

F: [sighs] Is this going to be like Jonathan?

D: No. Nothing like Jonathan. That was just … I was stupid then. And horny. But Emily — her name is Emily — she’s amazing, Freddy.

F: I’m sure she is, but don’t get ahead of yourself. You always leap without looking.

D: I know but there’s something … we just clicked, you know? Met her in a bookstore and we went to another one for our first date. Couple of drinks, dinner at a tapas place. Nothing fancy but … I haven’t felt this alive since I stopped using.

F: I’m happy for you, Deet, but be careful. Don’t jump into anything. Promise me.

D: I’m gonna marry her.

F: Give it a year. If you still feel the same way, then go for it.

D: A whole year?

F: A whole year. Promise me, Deet.

D: [sighs] I promise. But mark your calendar. I’ll be calling you a year from now to tell you we’re engaged.

F: If you say so. Look, man, I need to get some sleep.

D: Okay, sorry. I just … I had to tell you.

F: I know. Make good choices. Night.

[Call ends]

****************************************************************************

I texted Dieter as soon as I got home and he replied instantly.

Me: Home safe

Dieter: Same here. Had a great time tonight.

Me: So did I

The typing indicator showed up, then disappeared, then showed up again. When it disappeared for a second time, it stayed off. I was puzzled until my phone rang.

”Hello.”

”Hey, I hope you don’t mind but I figured it’s easier to do this talking than texting. I hate texting, anyway.” He chuckled softly.

”It’s fine,” I said. “So, you had a good time?”

”A great time,” he corrected me. “I … look I’m not really that good at this kind of thing. In my line of business you get people fawning all over you and they always want something … it’s hard to trust, you know? But I didn’t get that from you.”

”I know you’re famous and all that, but you’re still just a guy,” I said. “I had that bubble burst a long time ago when one of my friends introduced me to one of the members of a band their Dad knew. I thought it was going to be magical and he turned out to be boring. Literally spent most of the time talking to her Dad about some kind of woodworking tool he’d bought and how he was trying get his son to make a bird house.”

Dieter laughed. “I’m not that boring, I hope.”

”Not at all. But you’re still just a guy. Who happens to make his living pretending to be other people and gets paid obscene amounts of money to do it.”

”Not that obscene,” he said. “At least, not for a while.” He cleared his throat. “Look, before we go any further, I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m kind of fucked up. I mean, more than the usual ‘everybody’s messed up one way or the other’.

“I’ve been in rehab. I was using a lot of shit to escape reality and … I almost died on the set of Cliff Beasts 6. Like literally OD’d and they had to restart my heart. I swore off the hard stuff after that and checked myself in. No more coke, no more acid, no more mystery pills.

”And I connected with my therapist there. She’s amazing and she gets me. So I have rules now. Alcohol if I’m with other people, never when I’m alone. Nothing stronger except this one brand of edibles that mellow me out when I’m super anxious. And I’m on meds to straighten out my brain chemistry. And I have a session with her every week. So, that’s me …”

“I knew about rehab,” I said carefully. “It was on the Internet and gossip magazines. But I didn’t know you almost died. That must have been really scary.”

“Scared the shit out of me,” he said. “There was this girl who worked at the hotel. She’s the one who found me and helped revive me. She professed her love for me in the ambulance and … it lasted about three weeks. I woke up one day and realized ‘Shit, I’m in my forties, and this girl’s in her twenties. What am I doing with my life?’ And I checked into rehab the next day.

“I had to drop out of a couple of projects, and my career was already heading down the crapper anyway — I mean, Cliff Beasts? — so I’m kind of starting over.”

”That’s okay,” I said. “Like I said, you’re just a guy who happens to be an actor. Your job doesn’t have anything to do with why I enjoyed the evening with you. We would have had fun if you were a CPA or a garbage man or whatever.”

“Yeah, and that’s why … I’d really, really like to see you again. Soon.”

”So would I,” I said. “I’m off work for the summer so my schedule is wide open.”

“How about Sunday? I have some shit to take care of tomorrow for a charity. Wait, that didn’t come out right, it’s a charity, it’s not shit …” He sounded a bit flustered. “Sunday. We can go to the beach. Unless that’s too long a drive for you?”

”Traffic shouldn’t be too bad on a weekend. And I haven’t been to the beach for a while. I’d love to.”

”It’s a date then. I’ll … I’ll text you tomorrow what time to meet and where, if that’s okay?”

”That’s perfect,” I said.

”Well, I should let you get to bed. I’m sure you’re tired after listening to me all night and driving and everything.”

”Yeah, you should get some sleep, too. Got to be fresh for the charity shit, right?”

He laughed. “Yeah. Good night.”

”Good night.”

The call ended and I sat on the couch staring at my phone for a few minutes. Then I texted Sam.

*****************************************

We were on the boardwalk at Venice Beach. It was a hot day, so the place was crowded, perfect for people watching.

“Oh, my God, your dog is so cute!” Dieter fairly ran across the boardwalk to a young couple with a Corgi on a leash. It was wearing a bow tie. “Can I take a picture?”

I followed more slowly, ready to apologize to them for my date’s ridiculous behavior, but they were already making the dog pose and look even more adorable, if that was even possible. Dieter snapped a picture of the dog, then shoved his phone at me before getting down on the ground. “Get a picture of me with the dog,” he said. His goofy grin was irresistible. I snapped a couple of pictures of him and the dog, then we chatted a bit with the couple. The dog was a boy, named Kirby, and while he seemed to enjoy the attention, he was a bit aloof, as Corgis often are, until he very solemnly and daintily licked my hand. His owners gushed over how he doesn’t normally like strangers and I should feel special.

“She is special,” Dieter said, giving me a squeeze.

They awkwardly asked for an autograph and a selfie. Dieter obliged, with me taking the photo for them. We said goodbye, and Dieter wistfully watched them walk away. “Now that made my day,” he said.

I arched an eyebrow at him. “You’re on a date with me and meeting a dog is the highlight of your day?” I teased.

“No, no, I didn’t mean it like that,” he blustered.”Like, the dog is the icing on the cake. You’re the cake.”

“Come again?”

He scrunched up his face. “It’s like … okay, icing is nice, icing is great, but by itself it’s kind of gross. Too sweet. You need the cake to give it meaning. The cake is the foundation. The icing is optional but the cake is essential.” He shook his head. “I’m not explaining this right.”

I grabbed his hand. “I think I can see the sentiment behind this rather tortured metaphor,” I said. “Cake is good even by itself; icing enhances it but you don’t really need it.”

“Exactly,” he said, raising our joined hands to his mouth. He kissed the back of my hand. “This would have been a great day even without the dog, but the dog made it even better.”

“I’m only letting this go because it was a Corgi,” I told him. “Any other breed and I’d be insulted, but damn, Corgis are adorable.”

He laughed and put his arms around me, pulling me in for a kiss. A skateboarder zipped past. “Get a room, boomers,” he yelled.

“Hey, we’re Gen X,” Dieter yelled back. “We don’t give a shit!”

“You are such a dork,” I said, laughing into his chest as he flipped the kid off.

“Ah, you love it,” he said.

“I do,” I admitted. “You’re ... adorkable.”

“Now who’s making shit up?”

“Shut up and kiss me again.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

****************************

“Let’s go in the water,” Dieter said, tugging at my hand and leading me off the boardwalk and into the sand.

“We don’t have bathing suits,” I protested. I stopped to take off my flip-flops; it was nearly impossible to walk in sand with them on without tripping over my own feet. Dieter pulled his own shoes off as well, and we continued across the beach, shoes in one hand, holding hands with the other.

“We’ll just get our feet wet,” he promised. “Come on.” He whined like a little kid who wanted candy. “Pleeeease.”

I laughed. How could I resist him when he was such a goofball? “Okay, but not too deep,” I said, realizing I sounded like a mom. “I’m not getting all wet and then having to sit around in soggy shorts the rest of the day.”

“I’ll be careful, I promise,” he said, but there was a wicked gleam in his eye that I didn’t quite trust.

We waded out into the water, letting it lap against our ankles, the occasional wave breaking harder and splashing us up to our knees. “Next time, we’ll wear our swimsuits,” he said. “Bring a boogie board or something.”

“I can’t swim,” I admitted. He stopped dead, staring at me.

“What?!,” he said incredulously. “You grew up in SoCal and never learned to swim? How is this possible?”

I was embarrassed, but decided to tell him the truth. “I have a phobia about water,” I said. “If my face gets in the water, I panic. I failed swimming in high school, the only F I ever got on my report card.”

“Well,” he said, “we’ll have to fix that. Lucky for you, I have a pool at my place, and I’m a very good teacher.” He slid his arms around my waist. “Do you need to get out of the water right now?”

“No,” I said. “This is fine. This is fun. It’s just when the water gets on or around my face.”

“Okay, then,” he grinned. “Let’s play some more.” He darted off down the beach, splashing water behind him as he ran through the surf. I gave chase, laughing as I tried to catch up. He was a total goofball, but he was my goofball.

*****************************

I was pretty sure I had a sunburn. We’d been good and applied sunblock before we got out of the cars, and reapplied later, but I could still feel the heat on my skin. “Ooh, shave ice!” I cried as we came around a corner. It was a very hot day and nothing is better on a hot day than a shave ice.

We bought two large shave ices, cherry for me, and a multi-hued mixture of flavors for Dieter. “You’re boring,” he said, pointing at my solid red treat with his plastic spoon.

“Not boring,” I said. “Classic.” I took a big bite and savored the sweet, cold ice as it melted on my tongue.

He shook his head and dug into his own ice, as we sat on a bench facing the ocean. The on shore breeze kept the heat from being overwhelming and the shave ice cooled me off quickly.

“Ah, shit, brain freeze!” Dieter said, holding a hand against his forehead.

“Don’t eat it so fast, doofus,” I said, poking him in the side with my elbow.

He stuck his tongue out at me. It was dyed a dark purplish color from the combination of flavors. “Gross,” I said. “See, that’s why I go with the cherry.” I stuck my own tongue out, knowing it would be a bright red.

“Well, you certainly don’t need lipstick,” he said, pulling out his phone and taking a quick photo, which he showed me. My lips were cherry red.

“Ah, you’ve discovered my cunning plot to replace makeup with shave ice syrup,” I said. He leaned in for a kiss.

“Mmm,” he said. “It tastes better than lipstick, I’ll give you that.”

I shoved him away. “You’re so weird,” I said. “Eat your shave ice before it melts.”

“You’re so bossy,” he grumbled, as he shoveled another spoonful of ice into his mouth.

“I work with teenagers,” I reminded him. “I think I can handle your sorry ass.” I took a big bite of my own shave ice, but instantly regretted it. “Ow, ow, brain freeze!”

Dieter nearly fell off the bench laughing, and I joined him, as soon as my head stopped pounding.

***********************************

The sun was low in the sky as we made our way toward the parking lot. “Next time we’ll get here later, rent bikes, and stay to watch the sunset,” Dieter said. His arm was around my waist, his sunglasses sliding down his nose as he gazed down at me.

“That sounds wonderful,” I replied. “But how about our next date, you drive out my way?”

He scratched his chin with his free hand. “I guess I could,” he said. “Is there anything out there to do?”

”I hope you’re being facetious,” I told him. “Because only I can diss where I live.”

He chuckled. “Totally facetious. Besides, as long as I’m with you, who cares where we go?”

”Smooth, Bravo, real smooth.” I tugged his arm, pulling him to a stop. I went on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek, in one of those delectable little bare patches in his beard.

”It worked,didn’t it?” he said smugly.

#pedro pascal character fanfiction #dieter bravo #dieter bravo x ofc #the bubble fanfiction #dieter bravo fic

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darklydeliciousdesires · 18 days

Text

Sky Full of Stars - Chapter Nine.

Huge thanks to those of you still reading this! It's so strange when I come to post, as in the writing we are well into part three of the story and currently six years ahead of this time, and so much is different to how it was back here! I can't wait to share that with you all :)

Previous chapters - One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight

Tag list - In the comments

Words - 4,136

Warnings - 18+ content throughout. Minors DNI!

Waking up in her bed, for a second his brain tricked him into thinking she’d still be there, Adrien reaching to find nothing but an empty space. He sighed a little, looking at the time on his phone. Eight ten in the morning. It’d be one twenty-five in the afternoon in England, where she’d flown to three days before to begin filming, his own five-week stint in France to film Midnight in Paris beginning the following week.

His flight was two days from then, but he had a few commitments in the city planned prior to leaving, so had stayed at hers since his place was such a haul to get to and from. Five hours drive, or an hour and a half flight and then fifty minutes by car from Syracuse airport. It made sense to stay put.

One particular commitment he was looking forward to took place later that day, meeting someone he hadn’t seen since before Christmas, someone who when she glanced up from the table as he approached, looked a thousand times healthier than she had before.

“Homeslice!” Jen spoke warmly, standing to give him a huge hug after he’d placed his tea down.

“Hey you. God, you look amazing! It’s so good to see you,” he replied, kissing her cheek. And hell, she truly did. She had colour in her face, her eyes were bright, and her smile lit up the entire room. It was about a million miles away from the pale, heroin sick mess he remembered seeing in the hospital back in Pittsburgh. Also, she’d gained a few pounds in weight, and it suited her. She was still slight in frame, but definitely less scary thin than she had been.

She was dressed so differently too compared to on tour Jen, wearing a pair of grey skinny jeans and an ecru coloured sweater that sloped off one shoulder, the only thing remotely rock and roll about her look being the reveal of her half sleeve of tattoos, as well as a smudge of smoky eyeliner.

“Thanks, man. Got that fresh outta rehab glow!” Indeed, fresh out she was, leaving the facility the week before, staying a little longer than she’d originally intended in order to feel completely certain that she was strong enough in her tentative recovery to do so.

She’d been in regular contact with Jade, also talking to him a lot over the phone as well, the pair striking up a friendship, much to his girlfriend’s joy. It was important her favourite people got along well. Truly, what had happened had bonded them on a very special level, Jen knowing she could never, ever repay such.

Sitting down, her face crumpled a little, waving her hand dismissively as she began to sniff. “Ignore me. I’m okay, I’m alright. I’m just so grateful to you. You saved my life, man. That’s like, the biggest deal there is.”

“Hey, come on,” he spoke, grasping her hand, his face softening. “I did what anybody would have done, finding you like that.” Gracious as always. Jen squeezed his hand tightly before letting go, picking up her coffee as he continued. “So, how are you finding being out in the world again?”

“Difficult,” she confessed, widening her eyes a fraction. “I’ve learned so many coping tools now though, how to get through situations that would previously have made me use. Still, doesn’t stop me from missing it.”

“I meant to ask you over the phone, but I take it that it’s nixed you being able to take opioids for your back now, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I can’t even risk using anything derivative. It’s a slippery slope, man.”

He could well imagine. “Do you mind if I ask you why you turned to heroin? Tell me to butt out if you want. I tried to ask Jade if she had any ideas, but yeah. She shut it down immediately.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “She handled it about as well as I expected her to. Is she still blaming herself for not noticing?”

“Oh yeah,” he revealed, eyebrows fluttering upwards as he scratched his chin. Trying to tell her otherwise had fallen on deaf ears, as they both knew it would. For him at least, it was becoming a concern. Her coping mechanisms for distress were not healthy, and it worried him, how much she internalised what caused her pain.

“She needs not to. I was a sneaky son of a bitch with it, man. As for why, yeah, you can ask. You’re the one who found me OD’ing, I fucking owe you that much, Adrien.” Sipping her coffee, she took a breath, ready to tell all to who truly was the first person outside of her immediate family and therapy circle. He made it easy, though. Jade was right; he was a fantastic listener, as she’d discovered through tentatively getting to know him on tour and over the phone while in rehab.

“Taking the pain pills, it wasn’t all about my gnarled up back, dude. It’s like, I have all of this crazy energy constantly whirling, I always have. It’s why my dad - may he rest - was the first person who put a set of drumsticks in my hand when I was six. I was always tapping, tapping, tapping, y’know? Except dad happened to notice it with a natural rhythm.”

Adrien nodded, listening without interruption as she took it back much further than he was expecting.

“He thought it’d occupy me, learning to drum, burn out a little of my zany energy, and it did to a degree. But nothing ever stopped the noise in my head, which I’ve since learned has been me suffering from high functioning anxiety for pretty much most of my life, man. The therapist I saw in rehab really helped me identify it all, dug to the root cause. Smack eventually became my outlet for shutting my brain off so I could fucking sleep.

“I didn’t make it easy on myself, snorting blow as much as I was to shake the sluggish feeling I had. At first, I was just shooting up a few times a month, when being drunk or naturally exhausted didn’t work. It was the classic thinking of not seeing I had a problem, because it was only once in a while, y’know? Addicts, they ain’t always like those dudes from that movie Trainspotting. It can look different. This chick I met at the centre, she was a fucking CEO of a massive company, shooting up at the weekends to just feel all floaty and nice for the afternoon before returning to her life.

“She was like me, though. Not a longstanding user, but got more regular, and then she fucked up and took too much. I won’t be fucking up again, because I fucking love my life and having been so close to leaving it, it frightened the shit outta me, man. Again, I am so fucking sorry for putting you through that. I know I’ve told you a million times, but I gotta make my peace with it, that it was a guy who I barely knew as you were back then, my best friend’s boyfriend, no less, who found me.”

God, she was such a force. Her revelations made him see her in a completely different light to how he once had. She still had that energy about her, but it was tempered now, probably down to her finally receiving the correct treatment for her anxiety, he guessed. “I think you’re really something, just seeing you had a problem and dealing with it so head on. No hiding, no denial, just like, ‘yep, this is what’s wrong, and this is what I gotta do to fix it.’ That’s a really admirable trait.”

A shy smile danced across her mouth, Jen running her hand through her long, wavy hair. “If my shit needs fixing, then I’m not gonna run and hide from it. Can’t do that and not expect the inevitable implode.”

He looked a little uncomfortable for a second, in indecision whether to voice what was on his mind. Luckily for him, Jen read him like a book. “She does it, we both know that she does, and yeah. You ain’t the only one who wishes she didn’t.” Taking a deep breath, she puffed her cheeks out, smiling thinly. “To be fair to her, it’s a behaviour she’s fallen into without much checking from those closest to her. We all did, man. Us girls, I think from a very young age, we didn’t hold one another accountable for our shit, y’know?”

“No, I don’t,” he smiled, a little baffled. “Explain?”

“So, you know how young we all were when we first started out. We were seventeen when we cut our first album, except for Jess at sixteen. We were kids, still. Children! And we got thrown into the machine, these five babies who were catapulted to huge fame so damned early. Too early, man.

“With every person who praised us though, there were another five wanting to cut us down, from critics even to contemporaries in some cases. It bonded us so tightly, protecting one another from it. I think we took care of each other so damned much, that we never saw our flaws, or we let each other get away with it more than we should have. I'm not saying it’s anybody else’s fault other than our own, like me and my addiction, Katie being very aggressive when she sets her mind to it, or Jade being a control freak who internalises her pain, but yeah. It’s what we did.”

He remembered back to how he’d felt at seventeen, and then tried to apply how he would have coped if his fame had begun right there and then, going from a nobody to someone effectively shot out of a canon into such huge prominence. It made him shudder. No wonder they’d bonded so closely. “That actually makes a lot of sense, that you’d protect each other to that kind of degree. I worry about her still continuing to do it though, at almost thirty-two. I know I haven’t been on the scene long, but your friend? She means the world to me.”

A happy grin illuminated her mouth, reaching to cup his face momentarily with both hands. “You’re such a good fucking guy, Adrien. I’m glad she’s found you, because some of her exes...” she trailed off, letting out a long breath through gritted teeth. “Ivan was definitely the worst, because of what happened, but yeah. There were some straight up douchebags for a time. Of course, she blamed herself for all of it going wrong, because that’s her.” Pausing she fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug. “There’re things I could tell you, but you should probably hear it from her, y’know? Except...”

“Except she isn’t likely to tell me until she stops panicking that she’s gonna mess up what she has with me, too?” he offered, watching her nod deeply.

She pointed a well-manicured finger at him. “Bingo, dude. I mean, she does seem like she’s settling to the idea. Probably because she can see that you’re not a douchebag like the rest were. You don’t have any red flags she’s actively ignoring. In fact, the only thing she’s mentioned so far that’s negative is that you sometimes give her tummy ache with that big ole’ cervix banger you have between your legs!”

It was an unfortunate moment for him to finish his tea, snorting with laughter into the cup and almost choking. “Oh, god,” he groaned, wiping a hand down his face as he felt his cheeks warm a little. “You girls, shit. You all probably know much more about my junk than I’m comfortable with.”

She barked a laugh, thinking how adorable he was, how easily embarrassed he got. “Yeah, but it’s all good, man. All good!” Pausing, her smile crinkled her eyes, cocking her head. “She thinks you hang the moon and stars, my gal. She’s really in it with you.”

He nodded. “I do know, yeah. It's nice to hear it confirmed from one of the people closest to her, though. I haven’t ever met anybody like her. She’s so ridiculously lovely, so down to earth as well. One thing I really like about her is just how normal she is. There’s nothing pretentious about the woman. Just before Christmas, she mentioned that she was going out for lunch with her friend Tony while I was heading to an interview. I opened her apartment door and there’s Anthony fucking Bourdain standing there! Or the time I came downstairs shortly before she went away and she’d just chilling on the couch, drinking tea with Iggy Pop like it’s the most normal thing in the world.”

She shrugged lightly, playing with the little empty packet of sugar next to her coffee mug. “It is for her. She doesn’t see people’s fame; she just sees them.”

Of course, she did. It was what had drawn him to her so much when they first met. “That’s if she even knows who they are. I’m still not over the whole Dalai Lama thing. God, I nearly ruptured something when she told me about it!”

Throwing her head back, her laughed filled the space. “Ahh, shit, yeah, yeah. That was the best one I think she’s ever done! There I was, man, on the side of a dirt road in Kathmandu, crying with laughter at her.”

Their coffee date wrapped up shortly after, the pair moving to their next destination. They were heading to watch The Conversation, the film that Jade had taken a pause in touring from to film, and which had premiered in the US two days before, the lady herself attending the London premiere the previous evening. It was her first major role, playing Lydia Todd, a prolific serial killer confined to a psychiatric unit, starring across from Edward Norton, the FBI profiler tasked with conducting a series of interviews with her.

Adrien had been looking forward to it just as much as Jen, both taking a seat at the back, chatting quietly while they waited for the lights to dim. For the following ninety-seven minutes, they were glued to the screen, the performance of the woman they both adored absolutely flooring them. The way she played creepy, calculated, yet a little vulnerable wrapped up in a bow of somebody who was horrifically psychologically damaged was flawless.

“What we’re watching,” he leaned to whisper in Jen’s ear, “is the movie that’ll put our girl on the map.”

He wasn’t wrong. The critical acclaim Jade received in the weeks that followed had the industry buzzing, her name and status in the acting world elevated hugely. There she was, riding a huge wave of success, and he couldn’t be there to celebrate that with her by her side until March. He counted the weeks, then the days of Skype calls, phone conversations and hundreds of text messages keeping them both going, until before they knew it, she was jumping into his arms again.

“Oh, my life, I missed you even more this time around than the last!” she exclaimed, her bum being squeezed in his big hands as he carried her through her apartment, sharing kisses, thrilled to be wrapped around him again. “And I want to show you just how much, but I need a shower. I smell of armpits and plane.”

“Alright, I guess I’ll reluctantly put you down.”

It wasn’t for long, though. After washing and working shampoo from her hair, she was rinsing the conditioner out when she heard the bathroom door open. “Couldn’t wait, hmm?”

The shower door opened, his body pressing to hers, arms encircling her as his mouth buried against her neck. “Not even for another second.”

That hunger was matched, her arm winding back, hand sinking into the soft of his dark hair, hair she couldn’t believe had grown so much in two months. A sigh poured from her sensuous lips like wine as his hands gently squeezed her tits, nipples pinched to pebbles, his cock hardening against the small of her back.

Her skin skittered with the hum of reconnection as his hands lowered in an alluring glide over her wet skin, anticipation starting to melt down her spine. He didn’t leave her waiting on it for long, one hand descending to push into the heat of her folds, the other gently clutching beneath her jaw as he turned her head, leaning to plant a kiss of fire and honey upon her lips.

Tingly heat prickled as his fingers glided through her folds, the sweet dew of her pussy slicking against his touch, a shuddered breath fluttering from his mouth to hers as she quickly began to gush against his fingers. Their want spiralled like a tornado, kisses becoming more urgent, her body wracked with shivers as he rubbed tight circles over her clit, her walls stinging with the need to feel him inside her.

Turning, she wound her arms around his neck, Adrien lifting her, shunting her body against the tiles and without ceremony or warning, dropping her straight down onto his cock. He kissed the gasp the fell from her mouth, teeth nipping her lower lip, grunting low as her legs tightened around him. His fingers dug a hard clench beneath her thighs, driving up into her with force as the water cascaded down his back, lips sliding from hers to once again tease hot kisses against the column of her throat.

Panting against his mouth, she stared him in the eyes, nails dragging through his hair, fingers clenching to tug gently. “God, you turn me on so much. You’re so fucking gorgeous.”

Truly, he’d never felt as heavily coveted by a woman as he did the one who had completely captured his heart. She near constantly made him feel good about himself, not that he particularly suffered with confidence issues. It was always nice to hear how much he stirred her desire, though.

Rutting into her core hard, he groaned deep as his mouth found hers again, lost in the eye of her storm even though truly, he was the one driving it, all the love, longing and need for her mingling and sending him mindless. The blaze of him caught at her edges, sent sparks skittering within her blood, his hips driving like a piston against her.

It was too wild to last beyond pure, basic urgency, a heated fuck of primal need within the water and steam, sending them both soaring rapidly to their bliss. It ripped through her like a current, her nails clawing down his back, that feral edge toppling him as he spilled deep into her, teeth clamping upon the side of her neck. It glimmered through them gently in the wake of such intensity, tiny pin pricks suffusing, both panting hard as he set her back down to her feet, entwining as they kissed.

Once out, dry and dressed, they headed out for dinner, both catching up with one another properly.

“Seriously, do you have any idea how proud of you I am?” he began after they’d eaten, Jade moved to his side of the booth they’d been seated in, his arm draped around her shoulders. “Watching you as Lydia wasn’t like I was seeing you there. Jade was gone, it was all her, this complete other person.”

To receive such praise from her extremely accomplished boyfriend, a man whose talent was so renowned, it honestly bowled her over completely. “I was so nervous about it. I worried constantly that I’d overplayed her in some moments and fallen victim to underplaying in others. She was so complex, and I wanted to do the nuance of the character justice, so hearing you say that really does set me at ease.”

Kissing her head, he smiled widely. There was no bullshit with her, not false modesty. She honestly had fretted – and still was – over the performance that had earned her such critical acclaim. “You were amazing. I said to Jen that it was the movie that’d put you on the map, and I was right.”

Turning to him, she rested her forehead to his, nuzzling him softly. “I love you so much.”

“And I love you about a thousand times more, Moo.”

Crinkling her nose, she shook her head. “Not possible.”

“Yes, possible.” He kissed her softly, pointing at her. “Don’t argue with me.”

Laughing, she reached for her drink, leaning into him as she finished it, the simple happiness of that moment something she knew would be remembered for a long time. They headed back to her apartment after that, walking the twenty minutes hand in hand, enjoying the weather beginning to finally warm as winter made way for the imminent arrival of spring.

Once in her building, she checked her mailbox, Adrien telling her he’d forgotten to collect it for the last couple of days. As expected, it was full.

“Look at this!” she exclaimed, yanking the bundle out. “She’s nine months pregnant with post!” Her words made him laugh, finding himself playfully whacked upon the shoulder with the clutch of letters as they walked into the elevator.

Placing the letters down on the counter in the kitchen, she pulled a bottle of wine from the rack, Adrien disturbed from kissing the side of her neck by his phone ringing.

“It’s my dad, I’ll be in the lounge.”

She smiled, pouring a glass and placing it into his hand. “Okay, sexy mans. Tell him I said hi.”

He winked before turning, Jade pouring herself a glass before sorting through the pile. Invites to gala’s, functions, other celeb-type events all in the form of fancy cards sent in decadent looking envelopes, and amongst them, a handwritten one. The postmark stated Omaha, Jade frowning as she slid her thumb under the sealed join, trying to figure out who she knew in the Nebraskan city, the realisation suddenly hitting her when she took in the handwriting.

It was the neat scribe that had written three years' worth of lovely birthday and Christmas cards to her, from a woman whom she had been very fond of, once upon a time. What reason did Polina Kuznetsova have to contact her now, though?

“Dear Jade,

I am contacting you on behalf of my son, for of course he cannot. I truly do hope this letter finds you well. Ivan is doing great in prison; his father and I are very proud of his progress after being so very ashamed in the aftermath of the way he treated you. Please, do not think my words in this letter will ever condone what he did, for I do not, but you must understand a few things. The steroid use, it changed who he was. It did. You know that as well as I do. He was night and day in difference, the man he was when using and when he was not. He feels much remorse for how he treated you, and he wants for you to reach out and contact him. His details are included below.

You two made a wonderful couple, and he wishes to build something again with you in view to eventually reconnect and repair the damage he did upon his release. I think that you should consider this, I honestly do. He still loves you, and to be brutally honest, you both had blame in the relationship. You put your career before him time and again, and I cannot blame him for being hurt over that...”

She didn’t need to read the rest, the words from a woman who might have said she didn’t condone her son’s actions, but didn’t give a damn enough to even for one second consider what her letter would do to a woman who truly - not that she’d admit it - wasn’t over what had happened to her. Her words about the blame, too. It hit her like a knife to her chest...

“You never make time for me, Jade! Always this tour, or that movie! You on the move constantly, that’s why it happened! It was your fault that we...”

The panic of it, his voice in her head, everything she’d so tightly pushed down began to rise. It was too much. Her limbs felt light and tingly, the breath stolen from her lungs, turning to grab her bag. It was without stalling or thought that she ran from her home, back out into the New York night, needing to be alone as her emotions crashed within like a bomb.

It was beyond her completely that who she should have run to was the one she’d left behind in her apartment.

#adrien brody #adrien brody fanfiction #adrien brody smut #adrien brody fanfic #adrien brody fic #adrien brody x ofc #sky full of stars #adrien and jade

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chaifootsteps · 6 months

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Kesha was never the party girl animal Viv thought she was. She was more rock and country. Everything about that party girl persona was fabricated by her abuser, (the one who was the reason why she went to rehab for an ED, and other kinds of horrible shit that will never be brought to justice) she HATED the lyrics to die young. So I can see why she didn’t want to be credited as someone she never was, but she still got credited, so either she’s unaware or doesn’t care. I don’t think Viv ever saw who the real Kesha is and never will.

Nope. Pretty sure Viv sees most people as one of two things: tools to be captured and used, and perfectly curated images in her mind.

The real Kesha isn't fun to her. The real Kesha is of no use to her.

#Anonymous #vivziepop critical #kesha #actual blog post

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alarrytale · 3 months

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An actual publicist says there are no long term fake relationships these days. I'm confused.

https://www.tumblr.com/sunnywiththescoop/743534350327578624/why-are-the-big-fandoms-so-reluctant-to-accept?source=share

Hi, anon!

Link. So first of all. If this is a real publicist, do you know what a publicists job is? To spin narratives in favour of their client. It's their job to make you believe celebrities relationship are real and not fake and made up by publicists. It also seems like they're trying to call out PR relationships as something that's chosen by celebrities in stead of pushed by publicist. It might be true, or they're trying to place themselves in a good light. So all this coming from a publicist? Colour me skeptical.

Second of all, i think you're misunderstanding what they're saying. They're not saying there are no long term PR relationships anymore, they're saying there are few publicist made up ones. They're saying the celebrity themselves choose this as a tool to promote themselves. It seems like they're saying it's tried and tested and doesn’t work anymore, which i somewhat agree with.

PR relationships are supposed to be short, because it has a single purpose, to promote a film, album or a product. The promotion periode is often a set time, and then they move on to other things to promote. So if a fake relationship last longer than the promo period, either it's a huge success and the celebrities themselves want to continue for their own gain and not the product they're promoting (like Zend*ya and T*m). Oftentimes the reason the fake relationship is long is because it's about something other than PR. It's usually bearding, but can also be for image rehab.

#also this publicist sounds a bit native sorry #i think they're underestimating what someone like sony is willing to do to control the narrative around harry #stunting #pr relationships #boyband politics

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clickerflight · 10 months

Text

Esial : Part 6 - Hospital

Masterlist

Part 5

Here we go! I'm having so much fun with this story. I was a little stuck for how to continue, but I have some plans and some plot that will link into Joseph's story and everything. Is a good time. Anyways, here you are.

Content: Vampire whumpee, hit by car, broken leg, road burn, hospital setting, lacerations from glass, surgery, open wound, gun mention (not used)

..............................................

Esial didn’t know any of these people. There were people all over Kyle’s home, looking at things, using weird tools, and taking Kyle away.

Esial nearly lost it when some people came in with strange things covering their hands, putting Kyle on a board that was made from something Esial still did not recognize, and started rolling him out.

Joseph had a hold of him, and spoke quickly. “It’s okay, man. It’s alright. They’re going to get him some help, okay?”

“NO!” Esial hissed, trying to break free, but he was still weak from the regeneration, even if he was full of animal and human blood. “No!”

“I know, man. It’s gonna be okay, yeah? You’ll see him later.”

Neither Joseph or Esial watched as Joanna was taken from the room.

“Please, please, I-” Esial didn’t know how to express what he was feeling. He had some words, but not enough. He didn’t know what was going on, he didn’t know who these people were, he didn’t know why Joseph was a vampire like him but seemed so very different. He didn’t know what anything was made of and he craved the blood of the humans ducking in and out of the room.

“Is he the one who nearly drained the woman?” another weird vampire asked. She had more pockets on her clothes than Esial had ever seen, and she seemed very formal.

“Ah, yes, Granger,” Joseph said. “It was definitely self defense, though.”

The woman hummed. “Alright, we’ll need to get him to the rehab center and into the hands of the employees there. Get him taken care of and we’ll come by to ask him some questions.”

“Works for me,” Joseph said with a nod. “Come on, man. Let’s go somewhere quieter.”

Esial hissed. He was confused, he was scared, and he didn’t want Kyle to die. Kyle was the only person who had been kind to him since he woke up and he didn’t want that kindness to be repaid in blood and violence.

“Hey,” Joseph said, a strange crooning entering his voice as he spoke. “You’ll be alright, kay? How about we go to my apartment and I’ll make some calls.”

“Don’t want calls,” Esial said, his voice thick with emotion. “Don’t want- I-” Esial sucked in a breath, the air still laced with the scent of blood. “I want crocodiles.”

“What? Nevermind, we’ll unpack that later. Just come with me.”

Esial sobbed, stumbling as he was tucked under Joseph’s arm.

“You’ll be okay,” Joseph said as he helped Esial down the stairs and to a slightly ajar door.

Esial looked around the room, surprised that the design was the same as Kyle’s home.

“Alright, let's get the blood off you first. You’re kind of small. I’m not sure I have any clothes that will fit you, and none of Muir’s things will fit you in the slightest.”

Esial nodded faintly as he entered a room with a seeing glass. Esial stared at himself for a moment. He had watched himself in Kyle’s seeing glass for a while when Kyle had been out, but it was still strange. His hair was curled around his face, dark and long enough to brush his collar bones. He looked so frail, though maybe less so with the blood smeared on his face and arms.

Joseph took a rag from one of the drawers and started wiping the blood away after soaking the rag in the magically appearing water. Esial closed his eyes, holding still as the other vampire muttered to himself.

“There,” Joseph said, tossing the rag into a basket by the sink. “Wait here. I’ll get some clothes.”

Esial watched him go and looked around the bathroom. He didn’t want whatever clothing Joseph was going to bring him. It was going to be weird and suffocating like the clothing Kyle had brought him.

He pulled off the blood stained garments and grabbed a towel from a stack of them. He froze for a moment, mind flashing to Joanna, picking at the fabric while she pounded words into his head. He shook his head. Her blood was inside him now. He felt like he had taken a part of himself back.

Still, he put the towel down.

Joseph came back, holding a couple of things. “Alright, this will probably work and- Oh geez. I didn’t think you’d… you know what, never mind. Here you go.”

Esial took the shirt and pants and slipped them on, pulling at the fabric uncomfortably.

“Are you tired?” Joseph asked.

Esial wasn’t. He felt like he had electricity surging in his veins, telling him to find Kyle. But he wanted to be away from Joseph, so he nodded.

“Thought so. You’ve had a crazy night. Here, you can take my bed. I’ll have the couch for the night.

Esial nodded. He wanted to skip to the part where he was alone. Joseph kept talking as he showed the way to a room and Esial made a show of getting cozy, but he wasn’t listening. The only thought on his mind was escape.

“Good night. Wake me up if you need anything,” Joseph said and he turned out the light using the little switch by the door and left, closing the door behind him.

Esial was up in a moment, digging through everything as silently as he could.

He found fabric in the closet with a texture he didn’t hate. It wasn’t as stupidly soft as what he was wearing, that was for certain.

He pulled off his clothes and threw them across the room in a fit of stressed out anger before tying the large sheet of fabric around himself in a way that was similar to his old clothes. He tore off a strip from another length of fabric, using it to tie his hair back.

After making sure everything would stay, tearing off another bit of fabric to use as a belt just to be sure, he started looking for a way out.

To his delight, he discovered that the glass in the windows could be slid to the side, and the mesh beyond was easy to pop out. He did so and leapt out, landing on the hard flat rock that seemed to line everything outside.

With that, he lifted his head, smelling for Kyle. The man had been bleeding so it was easy enough to find the trail. Until it wasn’t. Kyle’s scent mixed with the smell of caustic burning things, like the smell that rolled off of the car Kyle had brought him here in.

Esial was smart. He was a hunter. He could figure this out.

He paced in circles, taking in deep breaths and pausing to clear his sinuses. There were differences in the smells. The burning from Kyle’s car smelled different from the others. And there was a very different burning smell mixed around Kyle’s scent.

He took off running, following it and memorizing it at the same time. They had a headstart on him. His speed seemed to be returning sure enough, though, so he wasn’t too worried. Besides, they had to stop somewhere. That was how hunting worked. The prey had to stop somewhere to rest and he would catch up when that happened.

At least, that had been the plan.

Something bright appeared on the stone ahead, and Esial froze, trying to figure out what it was that was approaching so quickly.

There was a loud noise that blasted through the air and he flinched back, trying to run from whatever was making it, but the lights slammed into him, sending him off the rock and into the prickly growth alongside it. He heard something, maybe a door? And voices.

He didn’t wait and took off limping. His leg was definitely broken and his arms were badly skinned but he kept going. They were healing anyway.

He ran as fast as he could, falling into a couple of ditches and slamming his shins into rocks.

He got back to the hard rock, running when his legs healed properly. The pain had been Nothing compared to regenerating, but he still made sure to throw himself off the rock whenever another set of lights showed up through the dark. He skidded to a halt when he saw the city. It was huge, and bright. There were lights everywhere, and some buildings in the distance that were large enough to probably touch the sun barge as it flew overhead. The smell rolling off of it was nothing he’d ever experienced. He covered his nose, coughing and retching. The scent was so hostile. There was no fertility here. Just bad smelling rock and acrid burning.

He did not forget his task. He had to find Kyle, and so, after a few eye watering minutes of gathering himself, he forged ahead.

His feet hurt, the rock sapping moisture from him at every step, the smell burned in his sinuses, he still ached from being hit by the lights, and he just wanted things to make sense. He gagged everytime he smelled for the trail, but he managed to find it again, and he took off running.

There were people here, occasionally, coming out of buildings or walking along the stone paths. There were more of the lights, attached to cars, but they were moving much slower here.

“Hey!”

He turned and saw a man looking at him, concern and a bit of fear showing on his face. “You alright?”

Esial didn’t have time for the distraction and bared his fangs at the man, hissing. The man stumbled back, pulling out a rectangular object and holding it to his ear.

Esial heard something about ‘feral vampire’ and ‘threatened me’ but he was running again.

The car passed in front of a huge, bright building. He picked up Kyle’s smell again and dropped the car trail to pick up that on. He forced his way through the doors, surprising the people on the other side.

“Sir, are you-”

Esial hissed, dashing past them and slamming into a door that he found wouldn’t open for him. He drew back his hand and punched through the glass to the side of the door, forcing his way through and ignoring the cuts in his feet and hand.

Blood trailed after him as he rushed through the bright halls, past rooms that smelled of injury, sickness, and awful acrid things he couldn’t quite place.

His blood scent was strong and distracting, as were the many noises in this place and the loud blaring that lit through the halls as people shouted at him.

He didn’t care. He needed to make sure Kyle was alive. He needed to know he was going to be okay. He needed to- he wanted-

He wanted his crocodiles.

He forced his way past strange people in strange clothing, an unstoppable force as he found Kyle. He was laying on a table, eyes closed and masked people standing over him, one with a blade in hand. Were they priests? Were they removing Kyle’s organs to have him mummified?

He shrieked, diving forward to fight them off.

“Get out!”

“It’s feral!”

“The patient!”

“No, leave. Get out!”

The priests left quickly, though Esial could hear people coming so he grabbed the nearest heavy object and shoved it in front of the doors. He did so with a few more things before backing off, breathing hard. He ran to the table, ripping off the strange thing on Kyle’s face.

“Kyle,” he cried horsley. “Kyle, please. Wake up, please.”

He glanced down at the wound and back at Kyle’s face. He shook the man a little, tears now running down his face. “Please, wake up. Please, I’m scared.”

Kyle’s heart was still beating, the beats lining up with the soft beeps coming from an object with moving lines and symbols. Esial didn’t know what sort of witchcraft it was, but it only made him more nervous. He looked down at his bleeding arm, backing up into a corner to pull shards of glass from it. He stumbled back to Kyle once he’d done so, shaking him again, now openly sobbing.

“Please, I’m scared, please don’t be dead. Kyle, please.”

Kyle groaned, his eyes fluttering and Esial choked on his saliva in surprise.

“Kyle!” he cried as men started to ram the door.

Kyle opened his eyes, looking around in confusion. “E-Esial?”

“Oh, thank Heka! I don’t know what those priests were doing to you, but we need to go!”

“Go?” Kyle croaked, looking around. “Am I in a hospital?”

“We need to go! They’re going to get in!” Esial said, frantic.

Kyle looked down his body and made a very strange noise. Somewhere between a croak and a yelp, with the undertone of ‘about to be sick.’

“Surgery? Esial, am I in a surgery room?”

“Why would I know!? We need to go! There’s still time to-”

“You’re bleeding.”

“Kyle!” Esial whined, voice trembling as there was another bang and the stuff in front of the door moved.

“ESIAL!?” Kyle shrieked, sitting up slightly to see better. “Did you just break into a hospital and barricade us in a surgery room while they were in the middle of operating on me!?”

“I only know what half of those words mean,” Esial whispered, bringing his shoulders up to hide. Kyle was angry at him and he had no idea why. He was trying to save Kyle’s life.

Kyle stared at him, and Esial didn’t like how pale he looked. “I… I thought I was help-”

The doors slammed open and Esial flew back to the corner. There were weapons in their hands like the one Joanna had.

“No!” Kyle yelped. “No, don’t shoot him! I can explain. Please, he’s just scared!”

Esial made himself small as one of the men said, “What’s going on here?”

“He, augh, he’s from 3000 BC. He’s been just a heart for 5000 years. He just barely, mmm, he barely regenerated. He thought I was in danger. Don’t hurt him!”

Esial stayed pressed into the corner, trying to look small and harmless. He was in a lot of trouble, he knew that now.

"Please. Just, um-" Kyle rubbed his head, glancing back at Esial.

"It's alright, sir," said the leader of the armed men. "We'll take him to the station and keep him safe for a bit. Do you know if he has a rehab worker assigned to him?"

"I think Joseph Blackham was taking care of him?"

"Alright. Lay back down. We'll take care of this."

"Kyle," Esial whimpered as the man approached steadily.

"Go with them, Esial," Kyle said, looking exhausted. "They won't hurt you."

Esial trembled as the man bent down, pulling him up by his good arm.

He looked back at Kyle as the priests ran in again, covering the wound and preparing to move Kyle.

Part 7

Esial: @whumpsday @honeycollectswhump @writereleaserepeat @tragedyinblue @hyrules-sleepiest-knight

From Dust to Ashes: @whumpsday @writereleaserepeat @currentlyinthespiral

#vampire whumpee #immortal whumpee #confused whumpee #hit by car #broken leg #road burn #hospital setting #surgery #open wound #gun mention #lacerations from glass #look at him #he's so confuse #he so confuse that it's almost funny #who am I kidding #i did laugh a little while writing this one

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