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purplesurveys · 3 years

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Are you better at cooking dinners or making cakes/biscuits/sweets? I can’t make any dish. I wonder when I’ll get my ass up and start learning...

Have you ever cut someone else’s hair? I wouldn’t dare; I have no skills in that department at all.

Who was the last guest in your house and what were they staying for? Angela and Hans came over so we can watch Sowoozoo.

How many long term relationships have you been in? One.

Do you sleep with all the lights out, or do you leave a lamp or even the television on? My default is lights out, but sometimes I’ll fall asleep with my night lamp still on and that’s fine too.

Who is one person you have forgiven, but still have not “forgotten” what they have done? I don’t really do forgiving.

Are you a fan of Lana Del Rey? No. I’ve tried listening to her songs but I find them too slow for my liking.

Do you know your blood type? It’s O but I keep forgetting what specific type.

Do you know your mother’s birthday? Yes.

Have you got your period at the moment? It’s on its last few days.

Have you ever been pregnant? Nopes.

How old were you when you first went on a plane? I was around 10 or 11, can’t remember exactly. But it was in 2009 and we headed to Boracay.

Have you ever had to take out a loan for anything? No. OMG, adult activity I don’t quite understand just yet hfdhfkdjfhdf.

Are both of your blood parents still in your life? Yeah they’re both grumbling right now just outside of my room because the power went out lmfao.

When was the last time you went apple picking? I’ve never done this. Apples don’t grow here.

Someone asked you what you wanted, what would you say? My pay for the last two weeks haha, but that’s not coming until Friday.

Have you ever been drunk at school or work? No, I wouldn’t dare. I’m pretty unpredictable when I get drunk, so I’d rather stay safe haha. I’ve worked while tipsy, but it had been outside of work hours.

How many bedrooms are in your house? 4. One for each kid, then my parents’.

Are you smart about computers? Nah.

Have you ever played Just Dance for Wii? We didn’t have the game on our Wii, but I’ve played Just Dance before, just at other peoples’ houses.

Do you own a Xbox 360? We were a Playstation household.

Would you ever do a sex tape for a million dollars? Erm, sure, whatever.

So, do you need a nap? I think I should be taking one for the sake of my health, but I won’t.

What would you rather be doing? I stumbled upon a Facebook post of this newly-opened store in Greenhills that exclusively sells photocards and I wanna head the fuck over there rn with Angela. That store concept is practically unheard of so it’s a big deal and I wanna go there as I’m 100% sure the BTS ones would sell out pretty fast. But they heightened the stupid COVID protocols yet again and we have to stay at home, so there’s that.

What sport are you the best at? Table tennis.

Do you have a little sister? What’s her name? Yeah but she’s turning 21 this year, so little wouldn’t be accurate anymore. We call her Nina at home but everyone else calls her by her full first name, Janina.

Do you complain a lot? I do complain a lot but I also do the thing that is causing the complaint right after so I can shut myself up lmao.

Would you rather go to an authentic haunted house or an ancient temple? Both sound fun but I’ll probably take the temple. Yay for learning something new about culture!!

Do you like fruity or minty gum? I don’t mind flavor when it comes to gum because they fade out anyway.

Are you looking forward to any day of this month? My company set another mental health break day this upcoming August 27th, so I’ll be thinking about that day throughout the month.

Have you ever gotten detention? We don’t have detention.

Is there a traumatic event that you’ve experienced that’s changed your life? Sure.

Do you buy a majority of your clothes from a certain store, or do you just pick out items of clothing you could see yourself wearing, not caring about the store it came from? The latter. < Same. I can be brand-conscious sometimes, but generally if I find something cute, regardless from where I found it, I’d grab it.

Have any of the artists you’re fond of released new albums recently? Technically yeah. It was a single album.

Would you ever keep your favorite animal as a pet? I already have two of them.

Ever cried so much you threw up? Possibly.

Who is your best guy friend? Hans.

What do you two do when you hang out? We usually eat out and have a drink or two.

What is a movie that you thought you would hate but you ended up loving? Spotlight, just because it looked boring at first glance. It turned out to be very riveting and the screenplay was fascinating as well.

Do you even like horror movies? Yes, but they’re best watched with other people.

Do you live in the country? Nopes.

What is your favorite accent? I don’t have one.

Have you ever had a boyfriend your parents didn’t like? No.

Do you drink Pepsi or Coke? I had the chance to try out Pepsi when we went to Taco Bell two weeks ago - it was my first time to have it and it was...actually pretty good??? The soda-hater in me was scandalized HAHAHA but it was good!!! I think I prefer Pepsi now.

What do you plan to do on your 21st birthday? My 21st birthday started out terribly because Gabie’s family didn’t want her to hang out with me on a Sunday (the day my birthday fell on), so we were in an argument the whole day. Angela saved the day when she planned out an impromptu dinner + arcade date for me, and that was the only good part of the day, really. I’d rather forget the rest of it.

Do you have any person in your family with an addiction to beer? I don’t think so.

Do you take a lot of pictures? I’m starting to, now.

What kind of face wash do you use? Good ol’ water.

Does drama always seem to follow you? Not these days.

Does anybody in your family race? Nope.

Are you closer to your mom or dad? Dad, I guess. But I wouldn’t particularly call myself ‘close’ with either.

How much money did you used to get from the ”tooth fairy?” I never received money from them.

How long do you want to live with your parents? Maybe up until my mid-20s? Late-20s at the latest. I’m not exactly in the position to move out yet. The money I make at the moment would probably just be enough to cover rent, and just rent. I’d end up starving to death hahaha.

Do you have a laptop or desktop? Laptop.

Do you like your parents? Sure.

Do you secretly like someone? I don’t.

Would you ever date your best male friend? No. I also wouldn’t do that to Angela.

What are you currently listening to? Moon by Jin! Such a comfort song.

Do you want to be single? Yes.

Did you go out or stay in last night? I stayed in and was knocked out pretty early since I had been up since 1 AM.

Have you pretended to like someone? No. I don’t see why I would have to that.

How is your heart lately? Just filled with nothing but Bangtan at this point haha. It’s doing well!

Are you wearing socks? No. Socks bother me for the most part; they make my feet feel a bit suffocated.

What do people call you? Robyn.

Do you get stressed out easily? Yeah, I’m quite the overthinker.

Have you ever been taken to the emergency room in an ambulance? No, I’ve never actually been inside an ambulance, whether it came for me or for another person.

What is wrong with you right now? I should probably cut back on the vaping, for one.

Do you own something from Hot Topic? No.

Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone? It’s hard for me to sleep with someone else. Even when I had been in a relationship, I usually only got to fall asleep an hour or so after my partner already dozed off.

Do you still talk to the person you last made out with? No, I cut ties at the start of the year and have been substantially better since then.

Have you ever seen your best friend cry? I honestly don’t think so. I’m the bigger crybaby between us.

Did you get any compliments today? My mom thanked me for covering for Cooper’s shots today since they ended up being quite costly.

Have you ever gone to a beach? Yes, it’s one of my absolute favorite places to be.

What would you say if someone asked you to get high right now? Pass up on the offer.

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Yes.

Have you ever done volunteer work just because you wanted to? I’ve never had the ample time to, so no. I’ve always wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, though.

Do you have long nails? They’re not dramatically long, but they have started to grow out.

Do you like the gender you are? I don't like or dislike it, honestly. I'm just neutral. < Same.

Do you generally look nice in photos? I think this is the case these days, yeah. I’ve started feeling more confident and I think it’s able to translate in photos.

Have you ever had a stick insect as a pet? No.

What colour are your father’s eyes? Dark brown.

If I handed you a concert ticket right now, who would you want to be the performer? BTS DUH

Name three facts about your family? I come from a family of lawyers; many of us are big history buffs; and many are also fantastic cooks so I don’t know where that talent could have possibly gone when it come to my generation hah.

Would you ever get into a long distance relationship? If I’ve reached a certain level of investment in the relationship, I could probably handle it.

What’s the most thoughtful present you’ve ever received? A Punk shirt and Petals For Armor physical CD from Andi this last Christmas.

What’s your favorite hot beverage? Hot chocolate. < Yessssss!

Did you ever play an instrument? If so what? I don’t.

Would you rather carve pumpkins or wrap presents? Carving pumpkins sounds fun, especially since I haven’t tried it before.

Do you think you’re important? Idk. I don’t really like drawing attention to myself though, so that could probably answer your question.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? Andi wrote a letter for me to accompany the aforementioned Christmas gifts they gave, and it remains to be my favorite letter I’ve received. They essentially reminded and affirmed me that I’m stronger than I think I am, and that I’ve been through a lot and have grown a lot, and that that growth is seen by people around me.

Have you been diagnosed with any mental disorders? No.

Have you ever moved to another state or country? If so, how did it feel to be new? Just to different cities, but considering how tiny my country is, the move is quite insignificant lol.

Do you know how to properly eat food with chopsticks? I’m 100% sure I don’t know how to properly hold chopsticks, but I have my own way and it works lol. Fake it til you make it.

Are you more of a leader or a follower? Definitely a follower, but I can step up in certain situations. < Same. I don’t mind leading, especially considering the control freak I can be lolol.

What was the first thing you ate today? I haven’t eaten anything today. I skipped breakfast since I brought Cooper to the vet, and by the time I got back the dining table had already been cleared. It’s fine though, I don’t feel too hungry.

If you could spend the day, doing absolutely anything, with anyone, anywhere, what would it be like? I’d be with Angela, Reena, and Hans at that insane new photocard store I talked about earlier. IDEALLY, we’d probably pick up a photocard or two if the ones we want aren’t sold out yet (lol a rarity), then we’d have some nachos and stuff right after and just talk about all things Bangtan lol with Hans cracking us up the whole time since he is just naturally hilarious.

If I were to ask you how you are doing, and you were only able to answer completely honestly, what would come out? Content. Happy. I feel warm and loved and surrounded by the best people.

What is the one thing that you have been avoiding that you should do? Learning how to cook is one.

Is there anything that you wish you could take back? Not really.

What, in your mind, could make you truly happy? Being in the purple ocean with my best friends.

If you could change one conversation in your life, what would you say differently? Would it have REALLY made any difference? A part of me wishes my final face-to-face conversation with Gabie had been a more solid closure, just so we could finally put a hard stop to that chapter. But at that time I thought we would continue talking, so there had still been some stuff lingering in the air when we called it a day and parted ways. So in a sense we never really got closure when I finally cut ties, which the ESTJ in me remains to be nagged by, but I try not to be bothered by it anymore considering how much better I am doing right now. We didn’t know the future at the time, so it’s okay the way things turned out, ultimately.

When is the next time you’ll change your hairstyle? Will you color it? I have no clue. It’s not really a priority.

Do people normally say you’re a fast typist, or are you rather slow? I’m fast.

Have you ever been considered the ‘smartest person in school?’ Nah.

How many drugs are in your system? Just caffeine.

What’s on your schedule for tomorrow? Werkwerkwerkwerk.

Do you currently have any bite marks/hickeys on your body? Nopes.

Do you call anyone baby? I don’t.

What’s your current mood? I’m prety neutral. I wish I could be out right now, but stupid Covid and stupid quarantine. But I don’t really mind staying at home, either, so. I’m just so-so.

Do you think you are a good person? I hope so.

What were you doing before filling out this survey? I watched Sunday mass with my family.

How late did you stay up last night? Around midnight.

When was the last time you cried really hard? I cried just a few days ago because period hormones, but the last time I cried hard? I’m not sure. April maybe?

Is your hair longer than your shoulders? LOL yes it’s soooooooo long already.

#survey #surveys

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kylieswesting92 · 3 years

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The Healing Power Of Breath

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before use.

The symptoms of stress can often be sneaky, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what is out of balance in our body. With stress and anxiety, our breathing becomes shorter, our muscles become tighter, and our minds become busier. There is a very good chance that stress can be directly affecting your health. The good news is, you hold the key to your own, natural stress relief.

Breathing is part of our biological nature. Something we hardly have to think about, and that our bodies do naturally on their own. However, when our bodies become stressed, overworked and anxious, our breath becomes shorter, shallow and restricted. Oftentimes we don’t even realize that we aren’t taking in a full complete breath, but the effects that it has on our bodies, is very real. The simple act of breathing in and breathing out, doesn’t just keep you alive, it provides our bodies with a vast array of immediate and long term health benefits. When you add the practice of mindfulness (holding awareness) to your breath, you are practicing an art known as breathwork, that is centuries old, and is extremely therapeutic.

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”

– Unknown

Have you ever just sat and watched a newborn baby breathe? They breathe in deeply from their diaphragm, their little bellies expand and contract with each cycle. Their whole body is immersed in the breath itself. Most of us in this day and age, with the triggers and stresses of daily life, have forgotten something so innate within our DNA. We now find ourselves detached from diaphragm breathing, and we often breathe from our chests. This can create excess tension in other parts of our body. When we breathe from our chests, instead of our diaphragm, we do not reap the full benefits of the breath itself. We use the muscles in our shoulders, necks, and chests to expand our lungs, which can result in neck pain, headaches, and an increased risk of injury. As our bodies compensate, this can also cause our posture to change as well, as our shoulders begin to slump forward. Shallow breathing also robs our bodies of vital oxygen, stress relief, and pain killing endorphins.

The Science Of Breath

When we take in a deep healing breath, it supplies our bodies with much needed oxygen. Your body’s cells need oxygen to live and carry out their basic normal functions. Our lungs are also responsible for getting rid of carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of our cells. The simple act of breathing, supplies our whole nervous system, muscles and organs with vital life force and anti-inflammatory properties. When our breathing is constricted, our bodies can suffer from a surprising wide range of ailments.

“When we breathe in a shallow way, the body remains in a cyclical state of stress—our stress causing shallow breathing and our shallow breathing causing stress. This sets off the sympathetic nervous system, the branch of the autonomic nervous system that primes us for activity and response.”

– Headspace.com

Essentially, our bodies then become more likely to contract acute illnesses, irritate pre-existing medical conditions, and extend the duration of healing times.

“Shallow breathing doesn’t just make stress a response, it makes stress a habit our bodies, and therefore, our minds, are locked into.”

– John Luckovich, an apprentice Integrative Breathwork facilitator in Brooklyn, New York.

Did you know that there are many different types of breathing techniques that are beneficial to our overall health and wellness? These conscious breathing techniques that we will get into more in a few, help us tune into our bodies and offer a holistic approach to natural stress and pain relief.

Origins of Breathwork

We can trace the practice of breathwork back through time, to our ancestors and their sacred daily rituals. Throughout history, breathwork has been referred to by many names, depending on region, religion and language. The Chinese call this lifeforce energy qi, and Hindus call it pranayama or “prana” which literally translates to “controlling the breath” in Sanskrit. Many yoga practices, ancient and current, feature Pranayama technique. There are over fifty Pranayama methods out there, some more notable than others. Buddhist Monks from all over the world have been practicing the art of Anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) for centuries. “Ānāpānasati is now common to Tibetan, Zen,Tiantai and Theravada Buddhism as well as many Western-based mindfulness programs. Anapanasati is to simply feel the sensations caused by the movements of the breath in the body, as is practiced in the conditions of mindfulness, meditation and grounding. Simply put, mindfulness is the art of holding awareness, within whatever activity you are doing.

In more recent times, there was a German psychiatrist by the name of Johannes Heinrich Schultz. Johannes had developed what is known as “autogenic training” in the 1920s as a method of relaxation. The practice is based partly on slow and deep breathing. It is still probably the most-known breathing technique for relaxation in the Western world today. Although there are many different terms to describe breathwork, they all have the same defining principle; mindful awareness of the inward and outward breath. While in the past, breathwork has been closely tied in with meditation and yoga, today the art of breathwork has evolved into a more modern practice that can be done all on it’s own. Many holistic practitioners and teachers have now begun to practice and experiment with different patterns, lengths, and repetitions of inhalation, exhalation and retention (holding your breath).

“Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is relax.”

– Mark Black

Connecting The Mind, Body, Spirit

Breathwork has a unique way of balancing and connecting our mind, body and spirit. This connection allows us to think clearer, relax easier, and live healthier, more harmonious lives.

Body:

Breathwork has been known to relieve pain and inflammation, due to the release of endorphins

Stimulates your lymphatic system by releasing carbon monoxide. Breathing is actually responsible for 70% of toxin cleansing within your body

When your body has plenty of oxygen, the better your organs perform and function. This also allows for more efficient digestion, and even an improved immune system

Can help lower blood pressure. When our bodies relax, our blood vessels dilate which improves circulation. Deep breathing also slows and helps regulate your heart rate

Our posture can even benefit from breathwork, allowing us to breathe in from our diaphragms rather than our chest, which puts strain our neck and shoulders

Mind:

When we become stressed and anxious, our brains release a chemical called cortisol, which is known as the “stress hormone”. When we take more complete breaths, our heart rate slows, bringing in more oxygen and more endorphins- which play a direct role in our mood and our pain levels

There are more and more studies emerging that show how breathwork can help treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD

Mindful breathing can help you access and bring awareness to the deeper parts of your mind. The areas of your brain that hold trauma, triggers, and buried emotions. This allows you to make a connection to possible layers that need to be healed and released

Spirit:

Breathwork can feed your spirit. When you practice the art of conscious breathing, you can move beyond your physical body and brain, to connect with your core, your spirit, the essence that is YOU

Simply being in the moment, focused just on your breath, allows you to tune out all distractions, and be fully present to the sensations within you. Allowing for a calm connection to spirit and all that is

Gratitude. Many find that practicing breathwork offers an opportunity to be truly grateful for the incredible capacity and ability our bodies hold, to heal, release and acknowledge anything that no longer serves us.

“What consumes your mind, controls your life.”

– Unknown

Techniques, and Apps To Support You On Your Journey

Since breathwork has become more mainstream, there have been quite a few apps and websites that have been created to support you on your breathwork journey. These helpful apps and websites also offer meditation techniques, blogs, mindful practices, and other helpful stress management tools. Some of our favorites that we encourage you to check out are: Headspace, Breathwrk, Calm, MindBodyGreen, iBreath, and Waking Up, by Sam Harris. If virtual support isn’t your thing, there is a wide range of skilled practitioners and teachers all over the world, that can help guide you through your journey. We encourage you to research practitioners with several different healing backgrounds, and find someone that you really resonate with.

Are you eager to start your breathwork journey right this instant? Although breathwork can be practiced literally anywhere, it is helpful to find a quiet place, where you can sit comfortably or lie down with no distractions. So whether it is a quiet room, out in nature, or you are sitting in your parked car, relief is just a few breaths away. Here are three breathwork techniques that are perfect for beginners, courtesy of MindBodyGreen.com:

When you feel overwhelmed: The 4-7-8 breath

The traditional way of doing 4-7-8 breathing is to empty the lungs of air, breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, exhale out of the mouth for 8 seconds, and repeat at least 4 times.

As you breathe in, imagine the grounded and nourishing energy of the earth, mountains, trees, plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs coming up into your body. As you hold your breath, visualize the breath spiraling up the center of your body (through the seven chakras) and pulling any energy or thought that does not serve you. Then as you exhale over 8 seconds, imagine that excess energy releasing out of the mouth, and visualize light pouring through the top of your head back down to your feet and the earth below you.

When you need an energy boost: The 4-4-4-4 breath

To practice this technique, start by releasing all of the air from your chest, and hold your breath for 4 seconds, then breathe through the nose for 4 seconds, then hold your breath for 4 seconds, then exhale out of the nose for 4 seconds. Repeat this cycle for 5 minutes to feel the effects.

As you are inhaling, imagine the earth element of the north rising up and nourishing the physical body. As you hold your breath, imagine the breath swooping through the mind like the wind element of the east, clearing out any thoughts that do not serve and keeping the thoughts that do serve you. As you exhale out of the mouth, imagine the fire element of the south that resides in the center and heart of our body, burning any thoughts and feelings in our emotional heart and belly to release through the mouth (traditional box breath exhales out of the nose, but I like to exhale out of the mouth to incorporate the heart energy).

As you hold your breath for the last 4 seconds, ask the loving higher self, the gentle feminine water element of the west, to come into your presence and be with and guide you through the waves of your life.

When you feel yourself getting worked up: The 5-5 breath

To start, focus on the natural rhythm of your breath to obtain a baseline length of each inhale and exhale. Then for 1 minute, breathe in for 4 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. Then repeat for 5 seconds, then repeat for 6 seconds, and if you want to, gradually expand to 10 seconds. Start with 5 minutes total and work your way up over time to 20 minutes. Imagine the earth energy rising up into the body, and then the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in the body that you no longer want to hold on to, releasing out of the body through the exhale.

The best way to know which technique is right for you is to first identify what you are struggling with and what you are seeking. These are suggestions, but as with any healing modality, it is best to experiment with each form to see which one feels most aligned with where you are. Remember, your breath is your inherent healer and guide inside of you.

There are many different breathing techniques out there, and it usually takes some time and practice to find the ones that really resonate with you. We encourage you to have some relaxing fun, and experiment with different methods until you find the right fit for your needs.

“Breath is the power behind all things… I breathe in and know that good things will happen.”

– Tao Porchon-Lynch

Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil, CBD Can Help Bring Balance Back To Your Life

In a world where stress is running rampant, it is important to have more than one tool in your toolbox. Meditation, earthing, journaling, physical activity and yoga are all beneficial ways to help support your healthy lifestyle. In addition to these practices, there are also other ways to support your quest for calm. Hemp Oil and CBD are quickly becoming popular amongst people in search of holistic, natural ways to combat stress, pain and anxiety. Using a Hemp Oil product to start your day, and even prior to your breathwork practice, may offer a wide range of stress relieving support. Although we have a long way to go with research, there are many current studies that support the possible benefits of adding a Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil that contains CBD to your wellness routine.

CBD (found in Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil) has shown promising results, to help alleviate and possibly diminish symptoms of stress and anxiety, by working directly with your Endocannabinoid System. The main function of the ECS is to aid in the balance of all other bodily systems, including our immune system. The Endocannabinoid System is a universal regulator composed of enzymes, endocannabinoids, and endocannabinoid receptors. Endocannabinoids within the body interact with endorphins, hormones, immune cells, and cell regeneration, among other biological processes. The ECS was officially discovered during a 1988 study which revealed that these receptors, the most abundant neurotransmitter receptors found in the brain, reacted to cannabis compounds similarly to its own compounds. Endocannabinoid receptors exist throughout the brain and body, with CB2 receptors being present in high quantities in the immune system.

“The endocannabinoid system, though relatively newly discovered, is extremely important and is responsible for two basic activities. The first is to modulate pleasure, energy, and well-being. The second is to slowly nudge the body back to health in the face of injury and disease.”

– Dr. Michael Moskowitz in his book CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medical Cannabis.

It makes perfect sense, that when our ECS is out of balance, the effects can be felt, and it can begin to take its toll on our bodies. Synchronicity

aims to bring your mind, body and spirit, back into balance, and back into sync. We have lovingly crafted the most efficacious, Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil on the market. Never using harsh extraction methods, and utilizing the entire hemp plant to bring you the full potential and full effect. Our Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil is a welcome companion to any wellness routine. We carry a wide range of capsules, aromatherapies, tinctures and topicals for you to experiment with, and find what works for you. After all, your body knows best. We encourage you to reach out to our team of customer care experts, that are here to help answer any questions that you may have. At Synchronicity

we believe a balanced body, and a healthy mind is the secret to a happy, fulfilling life.

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ertrunkenerwassergeist · 4 years

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Dreams of Our Past - Chapter 28

Aaaannnnd done! Here’s the Link to AO3

In which Ardyn has a bonding moment with Solaris and much introspection happens.

Featuring: fierce princess warriors, Ardyn's mother, making breakfast, the author's bad attempt at writing Latin and another brief hint at the meta plot.

Warning: vomiting, Ardyn's not so nice thoughts and talk about a funeral

There's a part in this chapter that's written in Latin. I wrote it myself and as a consequence it won't be very good, please keep that in mind XD Just posting the translation here so nobody will get confused.

Eos sleeps, Her hair is the light Of the sunset.

A black wing brings the night And I look up Towards the sky, Where the stars are shining.

Ardyn VI

8.6.755 ME

Insomnia, Deep City

Kingdom of Lucis

Ardyn waited until Noctis and his Amicitia were well and truly out of earshot before he made his way deeper into the room on uneven steps. He came to a stop next to the stool his nephew had sat on and glanced down at the frail girl sleeping in the rickety bed.

The marks of the scourge could still be seen along the right side of her face, pale, smoky shadows beneath her paper white skin. It would be so easy to make it bloom in full again, see the blackness spread and consume until this girl was just another creature poisoning the shadows of the night. The scourge within his own blood yearned to connect with what remained in her, to strengthen it and see what kind o daemon she would become.

With a high pitched hiss Ardyn wretched his gaze away from her, moved towards the window and pushed it open to keep his actions from following his thoughts. He would not alienate what precious family he had found here to satisfy a baser need that, technically speaking, wasn't even his own. No matter how much he wanted to take revenge on the Amicitia line for what Gilgamesh had done to him.

The air outside the window wasn't any less muggy than inside, but it carried a hint of freshness that was lacking within the room and helped him calm his thoughts. He refused to follow baser instincts and the bad habits Besithia had been trying to instil within him. That just wouldn't do. He was Ardyn Lucis Caelum, eldest son Atalanta Lucis Caelum the Unyielding, she who, despite everything, had managed to keep most of Cavaugh beneath her banner as the last remnants of Solheim began to crumble away, husband to Gratia and father to Jubaris. He would not disappoint them again.

Turning his attention back into the room, he walked back to the girl's bedside and cautiously lowered himself onto the stool, as if he was afraid the scourge within him could leap up again like a ravenous beast. Which wasn't that far off, he thought.

His gaze lingered on her features as he bent down to pick up the crumbled blanket on the floor and tucked it tightly around her. The scourge didn't only sap you energy and your mental fortitude, but also stole your body warmth as millions upon millions of tiny parasitic lifeforms spread in your body and made it habitable for themselves.

There wasn't much of anything of Gilgamesh in her. Ardyn didn't know if he should be relieved or not about that realization. Maybe there was something in the shape of her eyes and the form of her brow and, if he read her bone structure right, she would grow to be quite tall with unusually wide shoulders for a woman.

A quiet moan ripped him out of his musings. Ardyn helped her turn towards the edge of the bed and vomit a thick black substance into the bucket. He wrinkled his nose in slight disgust but kept up a quiet stream of soothing mutterings to help keep her calm.

“Where...?” she murmured, blinking up at him in incomprehension.

“Do go back to sleep, my dear. Everything is alright. It will be better in the morning, you will see,” he soothed, carding a large and slender hand through the child's hair.

Strange, he thought as her eyes fell shut again and she relaxed in sleep, that he had not forgotten how to do this after all these long years.

Ardyn tucked the blankets back around her and tapped his fingers along the length of his cane in the rhythm of a nursery rhyme the words of which he had long forgotten.

“Is the mean blackness gone?” came the quiet question from the door.

Ardyn twisted around on the stool and saw Solaris standing in the doorway. Her unruly shoulder length hair was even wilder than normal which made the subtle similarities between them even more obvious. It was strange to see someone with this many Solheimr characteristics - other than him - in this day and age. She looked at him with her honey and gold coloured eyes that suddenly reminded him of his mother, without the usual hesitation that had been there whenever she looked at him. He wondered what had changed.

“Not quite yet, dear one. The mean blackness is very stubborn,” Ardyn answered just as quietly.

Solaris nodded thoughtfully, as if that was the only thing that could make sense and carefully made her way over to him. Oh, the beautiful minds of children.

Her gaze flickered hesitantly up to him and Ardyn was willing to wait for her to figure out what she wanted to say. He had seen her be shy and uncertain, sometimes even mistrustful, around people she didn't know and hoped she would open up to him in the future.

“The scary man's yelling at tata 'n' mati,” she mumbled and fidgeted with the material of her long sleeping tunic.

“Oh? Should we go down and check on them?” he asked, watching her reaction carefully.

He was more than willing to eviscerate an entitled Amicitia, if the chance presented itself. Solaris shook her head.

“Mati yelled right back,” she stated, a fierce, childish pride in her eyes.

“Should you have been down there? I imagine young princesses such as yourself should be in bed right now, to grow into fierce warriors.”

Solaris frowned. “Don't warriors hurt people?”

“The good ones only do it to protect those they love,” he explained and suppressed a pained grimace. This wasn't a conversation he of all people should have with an eight year old girl.

She wrinkled her nose cutely as she considered his words for a few moments, then she nodded decisively. “I'll be a fierce and good warrior to protect mati 'n' tata 'n' Astra and everybody else I like. Like Vox,” she declared, determination lacing her voice.

Ardyn nodded seriously and with all the gravitas this situation deserved. “I'm sure your parents will be happy to help you.”

Suddenly nervous again, Solaris twisted her fingers into her tunic and looked down. “Will you help me?” she mumbled shyly and barely audible.

“You... want me to help?” he asked completely baffled. That wasn't something he had expected.

“Mhm.”

“As my princess commands,” he said and sketched a formal bow, which wasn't all that effective sitting down, but hid quite successfully the turmoil that was surely showing on his face. This was a form of innocent trust he had never thought would be directed at him again. At her giggling he sat back up again, blinking rapidly.

A tiny hand grasped the hem of his own tunic and without thinking about it he wound his arms around the small girl looking for comfort. One hand clutched his cane like a lifeline. Solaris hugged back just as tightly as he did and he had no idea how it happened, but suddenly she sat curled up in his lap, her head against his collar bone and his arms securely around her. Ardyn studiously ignored the painful twinge in his knee this position brought him.

Before he knew it, he was softly swinging back and forth while humming an ancient lullaby his mother had sung to him and Somnus when they had been barely Solaris' age. Within minutes her eyes fell shut and her breathing deepened, fast asleep after all the excitement so late at night. Or early in the morning, rather.

What a precious and resilient child.

Ardyn continued to hum the lullaby about bidding goodbye to the mother of light as the sun set and dancing in the moonlight as she, who had created the world, protected them from what lurked in the Deep. It was a song about the circle of night and day, about joy and protection and hope.

Hope, he thought, what a dangerous commodity. So easy to disappoint, yet so difficult to really kill. He had thought hope had died within him when his wife and son had been murdered by his own brother and Shield, when the darkness of Angelgard had entombed him, but obviously he had been wrong. There was no denying the deep rooted warmth in his chest, it's edges bubbled with a nervous anticipation.

Thoughtlessly he smoothed a hand through the sleeping girl's hair. It was too early to tell what the best way forward should be, but it would definitely be the best for him to stay here, he thought as his gaze flickered to the older girl sleeping in the room.

A soft knock against the door frame made him look up. There stood Hiemi with a soft look on her face.

“How's she doing?” she whispered as she came to a stop next to him.

“I think that everything that happened during the last week is finally catching up to her,” Ardyn answered with a slight grimace. “She asked me to help her become a a fierce and good warrior so she may protect everybody she holds dear.”

Hiemi nodded, a grim look in her eyes. “Healer and I've been waiting for that to happen for a while now. Not her wanting to be a warrior, but I can see it, even if my husband may not want to. The two times I let her handle a knife she showed it the respect it was due, at least.” She side eyed him when she noticed his hesitation. “You can ask, you know?”

“I gather our resident and conscious Amicitia didn't take the revelation well?” he chose to say.

Hiemi couldn't help her amused snort. “Healer told me about him, but by the sun, that man has a bad temper.”

Ardyn just raised an eyebrow at her. He had heard her and his nephew arguing once about table-cloths of all things.

“Why you,” she huffed in amusement and made to gently shove him in the shoulder. She didn't touch him, however. She had without a doubt picked up that he wasn't very comfortable with other people touching him suddenly. Ardyn shot a small teasing grin at her.

“Everything will turn out all right with them, I think,” Hiemi continued after a few moments of silence. “For all his faults, I get the feeling that Gladiolus is incredibly loyal. When I left, Healer was trying to convince him to not stay away from his work.”

Loyal, huh? Well, Ardyn would just have to make sure this Amicitia stayed loyal to the right person. Otherwise there was still another one, younger and more malleable that could replace him.

“If he scares Solaris again with yelling at you and my nephew there will be consequences,” he promised, protectiveness and a quiet menace lining his voice.

Dark green eyes pierced his own golden ones, searching for something. What it was he couldn't say.

“If he dares to hurt or scare my children knave Gladiolus will have to answer to me.” That was as much a threat as it was a promise.

They shared a heartbeat of silence full of certainty that no one would survive hurting this new generation of Lucis Caelums. Solaris gave a quiet huff in her sleep, bringing attention back on herself. Hiemi's gaze turned soft and warm as her eyes fell on the sleeping form of her daughter.

“Come, I'll take her back to bed. There's much to be done today and we could use your help, Ardyn,” she said and carefully gathered Solaris in her arms, lifting her with little difficulty.

Ardyn nodded but stayed seated for a while longer, watching over the youth in the bed and making sure she wouldn't need the bucket again. He made a face as he touched the black goo within it with one finger. Dark mist steamed out of it and sank into his skin. It was decidedly uncomfortable. Shaking out his hand after nothing remained, he stood up.

What he had just absorbed was... strangely muted, inactive almost and if it increased the pressure he was already feeling in his blood, he didn't notice.

Slowly he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Gammer was already there, kneading dough and humming a disjointed melody. Apparently she was coming over most mornings now, since the Shadow Market was mostly closed until it was clear all the bridges had survived the earthquake without further damages.

Noctis and his Amicitia sat at the heavy wooden table, cups of tea between them, and talked quietly amongst themselves. Gladiolus, or whatever his name was, was obviously not happy about something, but to the man's credit, he kept listening intently to what Noctis was saying.

His nephew looked up when he heard him enter the kitchen and smiled. Ardyn's answering smile was maybe a tad bitter when he saw not only Jubaris, but also Somnus reflected on the young man's face. He nonetheless followed the silent invitation to join them at the table. The Amicitia boy looked at him with curiosity clear in his eyes.

“Gladio, may I introduce you to my uncle, Ardyn. Ardyn, this is Gladiolus Amicitia, my Shield and one of my oldest friends.” Noctis' voice was a strange jumble between the need of the Deep City tongue to swallow every letter not needed to make oneself understood and the clear cut dialect of Noble Lucian. Which only made it more headache inducing.

Ardyn nodded in greeting, wishing he had thought to bring his head for a bit of dramatic flair. Oh well, there would still be more opportunities for it in the future, no doubt.

“Uncle?” asked Gladiolus with a raised eyebrow. “Like you think of him as such, or for real your uncle?”

“By blood and magic, he's my uncle,” was the answer.

The Amicitia boy looked at him with large eyes. Ardyn's answer was a wide Ifrit-may-care grin that would have made Iedolas livid, a daring edge clear in the way he tilted his head.

“This guy is a Lucis Caelum? For real?”

Should he be insulted by that? He probably should.

“Yes, for real,” confirmed his nephew, his tone laden with relief and amusement. Which, rude. But it had been so long since he had been acknowledged by his true name that he would let it slide, just this once.

“Huh.”

“Seeker of Vengeance, come, I have an important task for you,” called Gammer from close to the door that led to the backyard.

Fighting down a sudden wave of apprehension, Ardyn looked over to her. She hobbled back into the room, rolling a large wheel of cheese next to her like a child would a hoop.

“By the sun, where did you get that cheese from?”, Noctis exclaimed and shot up from his chair to help.

“No, Healer-of-the-people, you sit back down. It's not your help I require. You and your Shield don't have much time to find back together again. You should use what you have.”

With a sigh Noctis sat back down. His eyes followed Ardyn as he stood up and made his way over with uneven steps.

“What by Pitioss?” he could hear the Amicitia boy mutter beneath his breath.

He ignored his nephew's answer in favour of concentrating on the task before him.

“What is it you want me to do, Flame Whisperer?”

Gammer cackled and batted her eyelashes in a way that could have been called coy, if the woman hadn't been so old.

“Such flattery. It's hard to come by these days, indeed it is. Help this old woman make breakfast. You're supposed to be pretty good at that, Seeker of Vengeance.”

He blinked at her and swallowed down the remark burning on his tongue. Instead Ardyn helped her lift the cheese wheel onto a part of the counter that had been cleaned up beforehand, which was quite the feat between an old woman and a man that couldn't stand on his own two feet equally. It was nearly half as large as Gammer was tall, it's waxen skin smooth beneath his hands and had a strong smell that made his stomach grumble with hunger.

Under her guidance he cut the wheel open and grated some of the cheese into pockets of formed dough that were already partially filled with cut mushrooms. It wasn't heavy work by any means of the word, but it was something to do that didn't involve sitting around, thinking and talking. No matter how much he liked to talk under the right circumstances.

“Your thirst for blood has begun to ebb away, the fires of your soul are calmer now,” she said after a while.

Ardyn just hummed non-committally and chose to remain otherwise silent. Gammer huffed full of indulgence.

“A storm is on the horizon,” she intoned in a voice that made his hair stand on end. “You will need to decide soon what you will do once it hits. And hit it will, with a furiousness that hasn't been witnessed since the days the Empire of the Sun fell to fire, treachery and swords.”

Was she... was she talking about a second war between the Astrals? Did Ifrit want to ignite yet another Kingdom for some perceived slight? Somehow that didn't sit right with him.

Gammer gave another bone dry cackle at his incredulous stare, her brown eyes twinkled with a hint of red in the light of the hearth. He felt like he was missing something very important here. Then she started to hum, slow and melancholic, as if she were singing a lament, while deftly closing the finished pockets of dough now filled to the brim with mushrooms and cheese. It was the same song he had hummed to Solaris not an hour ago.

Eos dormit,

Sua crinis lucem est

Solis occasum.

Words swam to the forefront of Ardyn's mind, Gammer's hummed words overlain by the whisper of his mother's sweet voice.

“Please stop,” he whispered.

The song stopped. Only then did he realize how tightly the nails of his left hand had dug into his palm, a row of bloody crescents now lay there. He stared at them, his mind numb and strangely empty. The scourge in his blood shivered in quiet anticipation and fear. When he finally managed to look up he saw the old woman's eyes resting on him, understanding shimmered clearly in their depths.

“There lies wisdom in old songs,” she said. “Mothers are wise to sing to their children.”

Ardyn dearly wanted to drown somebody, preferably himself in lieu of not wanting to harm his family. Instead he took a deep breath and cast a careful look to where his nephew was sitting. A violet eye glimmered at him in concern, but the boy was still listening to what his Amicitia had to say. Ardyn smiled wanly and concentrated on cleaning the grater in the stone basin that served as a sink.

Ala nigra fert noctem

Et video sursum

Ad caelum,

Ubi stellis claricent.

The voice of his mother continued to whisper in his mind. Ardyn huffed in annoyance and shook his head to banish the sweet and sorrowful melody from his mind. Carelessly dropping the grater next to a pile of clean dishes, he stepped out of the room without another word to clear his head. He could think later, right now he needed to breathe.

Wisdom.

He had strived to be wise once. Look where that had gotten him.

Before he knew it, he was standing on the cobbled road in front of the old villa, leaning on his cane and breathing heavily. It had been a long, long time since he had thought of his mother. He couldn't remember much of her. Flashes of her sweet singing voice, wild locks of flyaway red hair and scarred, dark skin. A deep breath shuddered through his lungs.

He really didn't want to keep thinking about it, wanted to keep walking the way the... Gods had paved for him, wanted to just stay here with his nephew and his wife and children and forget the world even existed. But...

There was still something within him, buried deep and old and tired that wanted to help make the world a better place.

If this old lullaby would really help to prevent a new Astral War, he would do his best. But not today. All Ardyn wanted to do was to rest and just be. Sit at a table with good food and good company. The Gods had waited for over 2000 years, they could wait a day longer.

Satisfied with that conclusion he felt prepared enough to go back inside. Without a doubt breakfast would be finished soon.

From down the shadowy street he could see a lantern bobbing towards him. Curious of who would be out and about this early in the morning, he stayed where he was and waited. It was a small and frail woman with greying hair. Tulia Philon he thought her name was. Deep shadows danced beneath her tired eyes and her shoulders were curled inwards, as if she had suffered a heavy blow. She looked so different from the lively woman he had met just a week ago.

“Dearest Tulia, it is good to see you again,” he greeted her. He lowered his head nearly far enough to call it a bow. “Though I wish it would be under better circumstances.”

“Salve, Ardyn,” she she said and dear Gods, even her voice sounded tired. “I heard you had woken up and came to see you.”

He tilted his head in curiosity. Him? Not his nephew? Old hands gripped the ring of the electric lantern tighter as Tulia looked up at him.

“Would you do me the honour and speak at my husband's funeral?” she asked and looked like she would burst into tears at any moment.

“Oh, I... If it is your wish, of course.”

She gifted him with a trembling smile. “I thank you. You have no idea what it means to me. You were the last person to see him alive, to talk to him and it is tradition to speak of a person's last... last moments.” Tulia took a shuddering breath. “The funeral will be in two days at sundown. Healer will be there, too.”

“It will be my honour,” Ardyn responded and was only half surprised he actually meant it.

He had known Sallust for barely three days and he hadn't exactly liked the old man, but he hadn't disliked him either.

“Thank you,” Tulia said again and made to turn around.

“Why don't you stay for breakfast? There will most certainly be enough for one more, and a good meal in good company goes a long way to brighten the day.”

For a few seconds she looked at him oddly but agreed in the end. Ardyn smiled the best healer's smile he was still capable of and guided the grieving woman inside.

#ffxv #dreams of our past #ardyn lucis caelum #ardyn izunia #bad latin #I did my best XD #this whole chapter is basically introspection with a smidge of meta plot #my fics #geist writes

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jeichanhaka · 6 years

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If Any Would Avenge: 22

Chapters 01-10|| Chapters 11-20|| Chapter 21|| Chapter 22|| Chapter 23

|| Chapter 24|| Chapter 25||

Chapter 22: The Viand Flits

Centuries Back:

“...you...what did…? Argh…uh….” He muttered, struggling to keep his eyes opened and his mind focused. The bottle of ale fell from his hands, its tainted brew spilling over the worn wooden floor of the shack. He followed next, and as he fell his gaze lingered on the crafted jewelry chest laid on the nightstand at the foot of the bed.

“Wealth...that’s all you care about.” Isobelle muttered, watching as Brennan collapsed, lulled into the grasp of a sleeping curse. Her eyes narrowed, her lips pursed into a thin line of contempt, she towered above the man. “Seven years and you still….” There was a pause, her body tensing and fists clenching in thought. She glanced out the window towards a cluster of similar huts and shacks, and houses made in the stone ruins of a once prosperous castle. “These people need help. I won’t abandon them. I….” Another pause. “Perhaps one day you’ll understand why.” She muttered and left, picking up the jewelry chest on her way out.

Standing outside of George’s house, keeping watch on the entrance and walkway, Brennan scowled. Despite being dimmed with age, his memory of Isobelle and the day she placed him under a sleeping curse was scorched into his brain. There were many things that he’d forgotten about that day and the years he spent caring for her after saving her from Fortunato.

“Why am I thinking of her now?” Brennan grumbled, itching to leave but rooted where he stood by the hooded woman’s magics. Even before the last word left his lips he knew the answer - it was the hooded woman. Her face and eyes, and even her attitude and posture were reminiscent of Isobelle. Not identical but enough to suggest that whoever the woman was, she was descended from Isobelle. His eyes narrowed. They widened when he heard a twig snapping behind him, and then felt someone grab him, the next moment feeling the chill of a hook pressed against his neck. “...Killian.”

“Shut up.” Scowling, his hook pressed against the other man's throat threateningly, Killian growled. After Captain Kidd had been captured and the truth of the accident five nights ago was revealed, Maleficent and Regina decided to release Killian. And though he'd first thought of going home to be with his wife and child, the pirate had opted instead to hunt down the thing that had taken his deceased father's form. “I have no idea what kind of fiend you are, but you'll regret taking my father's form and helping Nemesis set me up.”

“Son, I....”

0000000000000000000

The Realm of Nemesis: Before the Curse

The last of the assassins dropped to the ashen ground and crumbled to dust, its heart crushed by Rumplestiltskin. The Dark One watched coldly as the last assassin’s ashes joined its brethren, the sight satisfying but not enough to overcome his annoyance.

“Hard to believe, that not a single one of these fools knew who hired them.” Rumplestiltskin muttered, shifting his attention from the dust towards the rest of the realm. A forest, filled with dried out trees with needle thin leaves, sere and crisp. The ground itself just ash and dust provided little sustenance to the dismal foliage, same with the shadow laden skies.

Wordlessly taking stock of the now lifeless realm Rumplestiltskin scowled, growing curious at how the realm sustained its forest. It took him less than a minute to pick up the faintest trace of magic emanating from the center of the land, near a cliff overlooking the whole forest. His senses keen, he teleported to the cliff summit. There, placed quite a few feet from the cliff edge, he found a giant canvas, framed in silver. His eyes narrowed, sensing magic from it – a peculiar magic that was foreign to anything he'd ever encountered or that any Dark One ever encountered.

More than ancient, it chilled him, but at the same time drew him closer, tempted by a mix of curiosity and desire for power. Rumplestiltskin approached the canvas, eyeing its blank surface before reaching out towards its magic irradiated surface. Barely had he reached for it when he unconsciously bristled and backed away, repelled by it both magically and from fear of its origins. “Impossible....” He muttered, eyeing the canvas from a few feet away. “...it'll explain the dreary, withered scenery here, but this is...extraordinary. Is this really that realm? The Unwritten...?”

Suddenly there was a rumbling sound as the whole realm shook and the canvas shifted, moving physically closer to him. Its magic irradiating out further, reaching towards him and his dagger, hungry for his magic. He cocked an eyebrow and shook his head, holding tightly to the Dark One dagger. “Sorry, no. This is mine. And....” He paused a moment as the shaking grew stronger, and the magic irradiating from the canvas became more hostile. “...I'll take that as my cue to leave.”

Present: Storybrooke

Watching the Dark One’s face as the man pulled out his heart, Fortunato laughed and his sneer grew wider - as wide as a Cheshire smile. His scarlet eyes glowed vividly as he watched Gold glower and squeezed the heart in his hand. The organ crumbled apart in the Dark One’s palm with barely any effort - so little effort that Gold’s eyebrows rose in bewilderment.

“That’s….” Gold growled through clenched teeth, his dark and livid eyes glowering at Fortunato, who remained standing despite his heart having crumbled to dust. He bristled and snarled. “How are you still standing?”

“How?” Fortunato echoed, his mouth pulled wide in a Cheshire grin. He chortled and laughed exuberantly, relishing the other man’s anger. “Simple. You can’t kill someone who’s not alive.”

Clenching the Dark One dagger tightly, Gold eyed the jester-clothed assassin closely, absorbing Fortunato’s words. His mouth twitched. From the moment he’d accosted the assassin he sensed something off about the man, but once he realized the blood staining Fortunato’s tanto was Belle’s, he'd dismissed both caution and curiosity in favor of slaughtering the fool. “...You’re telling me you’re already dead?”

“Undead.” Fortunato corrected. “I died many years ago, buried and sealed alive behind a wall in a crypt. I sustained myself for a while by feasting on the rats infesting the place, at least one of which was infected by plague. A particularly fatal plague. The Red Death, as the people in my realm called it. Hundred percent fatal.” Fortunato paused, considering the contradiction. “Somehow it killed my body, but not my consciousness.”

Hatred and anger lining his face and lighting his eyes, Gold grabbed Fortunato by the throat. Fist wrapped firmly around the assassin’s throat, Gold quietly considered the man’s words. Having been doubly angered by Fortunato - first by the man trying to steal the Dark One dagger and then upon realization that this fool was the same one who attacked Belle - Gold hadn’t registered the foreign magic emanating from the assassin. Nowhere near enough to be a threat to him, but stronger than every other Nemesis assassin he’d encountered.

“Interesting….” Gold muttered, his eyes twitching upon noticing Fortunato’s over-pointed, sharpened incisors. Between that and the type of magic he sensed from the assassin, it was clear to him what Fortunato was. Less clear was how it was possible. ‘Vampirism was eradicated from the Enchanted Forest and all other transversible realms long ago. Erased from being, same with all other conscious-undead variants.’

“What’s interesting?” Fortunato hissed and wrapped his hand around Gold’s wrist. Crimson eyes gleamed when he saw how the Dark One flinched at the coldness of his grip. Deathly cold and dry. And rank.

“You. Your existence.” Gold replied, his brain replete with all he knew about magic and all he understood about the sort of magic behind Fortunato’s condition. “Conjuring and reanimating the dead as will- and mindless puppets has always been possible using dark magic, but what you are is impossible.”

“...a necromancer I met once said the same thing.” Fortunato smirked, his crimson eyes growing a darker shade of red. “Told me I couldn’t be real - I quickly relieved him of that assumption by tearing out his throat.” He sneered, his sharp incisors peeking out from under his lips. Bemused, he leered at Gold and at the Dark One dagger held in the other’s hand. “You, though, won’t need such convincing. You’ve been to the realm of Nemesis.”

“Just you try doing that to me, dearie.” Gold snarled, bringing the sharp edge of his dagger to Fortunato’s neck. “I’ll tear you apart and scatter your limbs across the realms. You can spend eternity in pieces.” He paused, gazing into the undead man’s eyes keen for any trace of fear or apprehension from the hereto smug assassin. When no hint of such revealed itself, Gold’s scowl deepened and his eyes darkened. “You may think you’re impervious to harm, but I wouldn’t bet on it, vampire. As the Dark One I’m well-versed in all manner of dark magic, including that which it’d take to kill someone with your particular affliction.”

Fortunato merely chuckled, his lips stretched out in a cold and bemused smile. Despite the Dark One dagger being pressed against his throat, he stared into Gold’s eyes and laughed. “I doubt that.”

“You’re quite the arrogant fool. I’m going to enjoy destroying you, dearie.” Gold hissed, raising his dagger above them in order to stab Fortunato, its ebony blade radiating dark magic. “This is for Belle and our unborn child.” He growled and swung down the dagger, aiming for the vampire’s chest.

“Why thank you then.” A voice interrupted, and a gloved hand grabbed hold of Gold’s arm, stopping his attack. The brief pause allowed Fortunato to back away and disappear into the shadows, leaving only a few ashes behind. Furious the Dark One glared at the interloper, readying his magic to expel or kill whoever this new fool was. His eyes widened when he felt his body freeze in place, refusing to budge.

“What the hell?” Gold growled, recognizing the effects of squid ink and growing even more furious, as well as a tad concerned. His anger darkened eyes glanced at his dagger still clasped firmly in his hand, before returning to glower at the fool who stopped him killing Fortunato.

With a youthful face, filled with cold beauty that could cause Adonis envy, the interloper stared back at Gold. Not an hint of worry in his eyes, his perfect face void of even the smallest trace of humanity. It took only seconds for Gold to place the young man.

“You...you’re the one from Nemesis’ realm.” Gold seethed. “The strange young man who vanished without a trace.”

The youth simply nodded his head, a mirthless, smug smile on his face. His eyes, a dark chestnut speckled with a lighter brown, gleamed as though relishing the Dark One’s anger rather than fearing it. It was a look that riled Gold, but also chilled him. Moments later the youth grabbed the Dark One dagger, wrenching it from Gold’s fist.

“You’ll leave that alone if you know what’s good for you, dearie.” Gold snarled, anger and fear spreading through him at sight of his dagger in the youth’s hand. That gleam in the young man’s face - unless he’d misread it, it was highly likely that this stranger was going to kill him. He swallowed as the youth neared closer, near enough to stab him with the dagger. As the squid ink wore off - mere seconds after the youth let go of Gold’s wrist, it having been on the youth's gloved hand - the Dark One bristled. Eyes darkened with anger and alert with apprehension, Gold watched his dagger in the young man's hand.

“Oh?” The youth muttered, his voice filled with feigned offense and shock, his tone grating the Dark One, whose face twisted from anger at the youth. “But I thought you said this was for your unborn child.” The young man held up the dagger, gazing at its ebony blade, his words laced with fake surprise. “Oh, you meant your unborn dead child, not your erased one….” He muttered, shrugging pronouncedly in a ‘oops’ gesture before continuing on in the same mocking tone. “Oh, of course, you meant destroying Fortunato was for your child, not that this...Oh, well.” The youth smirked, turning towards a table covered with papers both blank and covered with scribbles. He lingered on the pages, waiting with bated breath for Gold to absorb his words and glean their true purpose. His expectant expression darkened when the older man simply growled, his wit blinded by anger.

“You’ll regret your mirth once I get my dagger back and rip out your heart, you son of a….”

“No. Shut it.” The youth ordered, brandishing the Dark One dagger. Gold immediately fell silent. The youth shook his head, frowning, though the twitch at the corner of his lips suggested that he was still relishing the Dark One’s frustration. “That’s just unfair to her. Seriously.” He thought a moment. “Though if you wanted to call me a son of a bastard, that’d fit better. Be fairer, even, considering….” His bemusement shifted to cold anger when Gold continued to glare at him, not even bothering to really listen to his words. “...would stabbing you still be considered patricide even though I’ve been erased from the story?”

“Patricide...what?” Gold’s eyes widened, the power of the dagger compelling him to answer despite his confusion. “You’re not….” He sucked in a breath, the rest of the youth’s question breaking through his anger. “What do you mean by erased?”

“Unwritten. You know, like the Author’s book.”

Before the youth even finished his response, Gold already backed away in shock, his expression an unfathomable mix of horror, hope, and disbelief. “You....”

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davidcolinsusa · 3 years

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The Healing Power Of Breath

“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”

– Unknown

The Science Of Breath

– Headspace.com

Essentially, our bodies then become more likely to contract acute illnesses, irritate pre-existing medical conditions, and extend the duration of healing times.

“Shallow breathing doesn’t just make stress a response, it makes stress a habit our bodies, and therefore, our minds, are locked into.”

– John Luckovich, an apprentice Integrative Breathwork facilitator in Brooklyn, New York.

Origins of Breathwork

“Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is relax.”

– Mark Black

Connecting The Mind, Body, Spirit

Breathwork has a unique way of balancing and connecting our mind, body and spirit. This connection allows us to think clearer, relax easier, and live healthier, more harmonious lives.

Body:

Breathwork has been known to relieve pain and inflammation, due to the release of endorphins

Stimulates your lymphatic system by releasing carbon monoxide. Breathing is actually responsible for 70% of toxin cleansing within your body

When your body has plenty of oxygen, the better your organs perform and function. This also allows for more efficient digestion, and even an improved immune system

Can help lower blood pressure. When our bodies relax, our blood vessels dilate which improves circulation. Deep breathing also slows and helps regulate your heart rate

Our posture can even benefit from breathwork, allowing us to breathe in from our diaphragms rather than our chest, which puts strain our neck and shoulders

Mind:

There are more and more studies emerging that show how breathwork can help treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD

Spirit:

Breathwork can feed your spirit. When you practice the art of conscious breathing, you can move beyond your physical body and brain, to connect with your core, your spirit, the essence that is YOU

“What consumes your mind, controls your life.”

– Unknown

Techniques, and Apps To Support You On Your Journey

When you feel overwhelmed: The 4-7-8 breath

When you need an energy boost: The 4-4-4-4 breath

When you feel yourself getting worked up: The 5-5 breath

“Breath is the power behind all things… I breathe in and know that good things will happen.”

– Tao Porchon-Lynch

Full-Spectrum Hemp Oil, CBD Can Help Bring Balance Back To Your Life

– Dr. Michael Moskowitz in his book CBD: A Patient’s Guide to Medical Cannabis.

It makes perfect sense, that when our ECS is out of balance, the effects can be felt, and it can begin to take its toll on our bodies. Synchronicity

we believe a balanced body, and a healthy mind is the secret to a happy, fulfilling life.

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