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radiancejhb · 9 months

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The Art of Self-Care: Celebrating Women's Beauty Inside and Out

In the heart of every woman lies an unfathomable depth of beauty. While society often emphasizes the physical attributes of beauty, there's a deeper layer to it – one that combines strength, grace, resilience, and a unique spirit. And in the midst of our busy lives, every woman deserves a moment, however fleeting, to cherish and care for herself.

The Renaissance of Beauty

Historically, society's perception of beauty has evolved. The Renaissance period glorified fuller figures, representing abundance and fertility. The Roaring Twenties celebrated the slender, flapper silhouette. Modern-day perceptions encompass a broader spectrum, with an increasing emphasis on individuality and natural beauty. It's about embracing all forms, colors, sizes, and ages.

Beauty Beyond the Skin

A woman's beauty isn't just skin deep. It's the laughter lines that recount tales of joy, the silver strands in her hair that speak of wisdom, the stretch marks that narrate her journey into motherhood, and the scars that whisper stories of resilience.

But with the barrage of beauty standards that women are often held up to, it's imperative to remember that true beauty transcends what the eye sees. It's the spirit, the courage, the kindness, and the fire that burns within.

The Ritual of Self-Care

1. Mindful Meditation: Start your day with a few minutes of quiet reflection. Listen to your inner self, set intentions for the day, and practice gratitude.

2. Natural Skincare: Embrace products that are kind to your skin. Look for natural ingredients, and make time for a weekly facial mask or exfoliation.

3. Eat Beauty Foods: Include antioxidant-rich foods in your diet. Berries, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and citrus fruits contribute to radiant skin.

4. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins and keep your skin glowing. Herbal teas like chamomile or green tea are also great for the skin.

5. Embrace Physical Activity: Find joy in movement. Whether it's a dance class, a morning jog, yoga, or just stretching – make it a ritual.

6. Pamper Yourself: Once in a while, indulge in a spa day, a massage, or even a simple bubble bath with your favorite book.

7. Mental Wellness: Remember to care for your mental health. Talk about your feelings, journal, and seek therapy if needed. It's okay to ask for help.

Embracing Beauty in Every Form

The future of beauty lies in authenticity. It's about embracing imperfections and celebrating them. In an era of filters and edits, real beauty is in raw, unedited moments. It's the freckles, the gap between the teeth, the uneven eyeliner, the curly hair left untamed.

Every woman is a mosaic of her experiences, dreams, stories, and struggles. Each one, in her unique way, epitomizes beauty. In the end, self-care isn't just about skincare routines or spa days; it's about honoring the incredible journey of being a woman.

So, here's to celebrating every facet of women's beauty – the seen and the unseen, the loud and the quiet, the external and the internal. Cheers to the art of self-care and the women who embody it.

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chrissy-kaos · 21 days

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I went out to the bar with one of favorite people in the world tonight. It’s her bday weekend so I couldn’t miss it. Thought I looked cute but apparently not. Still went home to lay in bed alone.. apparently men don’t find mentally unstable trans women attractive, who knew 😂

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she-is-ovarit · 27 days

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"Approximately 80% of all patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases are women."

For those of you who might wonder why this is the case, to shock nobody, we can add this to the list of mysterious medical conditions women experience that still remain elusive to the medical field.

However, there's some speculation:

Female sex hormones

The X chromosome

Microchimerism

Environmental factors

The microbiome

Antibodies

Interesting, considering female human beings actually have stronger immune systems than males.

To briefly talk about maybe the most overlooked and dismissed cause of high rates of autoimmune diseases in women, chronic stress (which presumably falls under "environmental factors") has been found to be strongly correlated with autoimmune diseases across multiple studies ("...up to 80% of patients reported uncommon emotional stress before disease onset), which can be triggered by even just one traumatic event, and anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, etc. are extremely high for women in comparison to men.

Women experience PTSD two to three times the rate as men do (source), panic disorder is 2.5 times more common in women and girls than in men and boys (source), and generalized anxiety disorder (which is often treated as trivial and grossly overlooked) is again 2-3 times higher for women and girls than it is for men and boys (source). Behaviorally chronic stress and trauma also often presents differently between the sexes - "fight or flight" for men and "tend and befriend" (fawn and freeze) for women.

Men are more likely to commit physical, psychological, and sexual violence and women are more likely to respond to this violence by continuously be on the receiving end of their behavior and never leaving, even when their children are caught in the middle.

Chronic stress means persistent high levels of cortisol in women's bodies. There is sexual dimorphism in our immune systems. High cortisol leads to Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation (please, learn more about this).

This leads to heart issues, susceptibility to infectious diseases and auto-immune disorders, an unexplainable debilitating chronic fatigue that can lead to a bedridden life, multiple sclerosis, the progression and reoccurance of cancers, earlier HIV disease progression, and dementia. There's also the bidirectional problem in which HPA axis dysregulation, created from high levels of cortisol from chronic stress in the first place, also in turn biologically causes increased anxiety.

So...

Approximately 80% of all patients diagnosed with auto-immune diseases are women.

And auto-immune diseases are found to be strongly, strongly linked with stress disorders.

And women are several more times likely to experience trauma and stress disorders than males across the board.

And when stress is triggered, men are more likely to throw punches or leave and women are more likely to freeze and people please.

And men are vastly less likely to seek out a therapist to fix their issues or even demonstrate empathy for other men, instead using women as emotional crutches and punching bags.

And freezing and fawning for women often means staying in those same conditions even when there's a risk of death.

And staying in those same conditions when a woman has children and the means those children learn those behaviors and likely develop chronic stress themselves, and the cycle of trauma continues.

And even when women leave those conditions, we're far more likely to end up in re-traumatizing situations as we seek out familiar dynamics.

And even when we're able to break free from this dynamic, because we're far more likely to seek out and stay in therapy, we're still left with trying to resolve chronic, disabling, sometimes life-threatening health issues caused by HPA-axis dysregulation from chronic stress.

While HPA-axis dysregulation in turn generates anxiety, which then creates high cortisol, which results in a feedback loop.

This was supposed to be a short post, but I want to leave off with solutions. Please don't give up on your mental health. Religiously go to therapy. Have extremely high standards for yourself in your relationships. Practice diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, exercise. It's been found that moving your body through exercise, Thai-chi, sports, short walks, dance, whatever (to the best of your ability, if you're able) can really help - just know your limits. If you're not there yet take liquid vitamins as needed (vitamin deficiencies such as low B-vitamins, low magnesium, low good fats, and D3 also cause chronic stress, immunity issues, and chronic fatigue). Make those medical appointments. Eat well, socialize, rest (especially during a PEM or immunity crash), aim for 64 ounces of water a day. Leave miserable situations when you find your chance to. Learn the language of your body and listen to it, and have patience. I've had periods of being bedridden and unable to work. I'm getting better, but it hasn't just been one thing that has been a "fix". If this list overwhelms you, just pick one thing that's most doable. We matter.

#women's oppression #women's health #autoimmune disorders #feminism #global feminism #violence against women #domestic violence #female socialization #trauma #mental health #wellness #therapy #emotional health

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theereina · 6 days

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🦋 THAT GIRL CHALLENGE 🦋

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Start a daily gratitude journal to cultivate a positive mindset.

Practice mindfulness meditation for at least 10 minutes each day.

Set specific, achievable goals for yourself in all areas of your life.

Read a self-improvement book or listen to a motivational podcast each week.

Create a budget and track your expenses to improve your financial literacy.

Take a new fitness class or try a different workout routine to stay active and healthy.

Volunteer your time to a cause you're passionate about.

Practice self-care regularly, whether it's through skincare, baths, or relaxation techniques.

Develop a morning routine that sets a positive tone for your day.

Learn a new skill or hobby that interests you, such as painting, cooking, or coding.

Practice forgiveness and let go of grudges or resentments from the past.

Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who uplift and inspire you.

Start a savings account or investment portfolio to secure your financial future.

Practice assertiveness and boundary-setting in your relationships.

Spend time in nature to recharge and reconnect with yourself.

Take a solo trip to explore new places and gain independence.

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Schedule regular check-ups with your healthcare providers for preventive care.

Practice saying "no" to obligations or activities that drain your energy.

Explore different forms of spirituality or connect with your spiritual beliefs.

Declutter your living space to create a more organized and peaceful environment.

Practice random acts of kindness to spread positivity in your community.

Learn to manage stress through techniques like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.

Attend workshops or seminars to continue learning and growing personally and professionally.

Set aside time for creative expression, whether it's through writing, drawing, or crafting.

Practice self-reflection to identify areas for growth and improvement.

Cultivate a mindset of abundance and gratitude rather than scarcity and fear.

Set boundaries around technology use to prioritize real-life connections.

Experiment with different styles and fashion choices to express your unique personality.

Create a vision board to visualize your goals and aspirations.

Practice self-compassion and treat yourself with kindness and understanding.

Explore your passions and interests to find what truly lights you up.

Develop a morning or evening skincare routine to care for your skin.

Take up a regular exercise routine, whether it's yoga, running, or weightlifting.

Practice effective communication skills to express yourself clearly and assertively.

Set aside time for hobbies and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Invest in experiences rather than material possessions for long-lasting happiness.

Foster gratitude by expressing appreciation for the people and things in your life.

Practice forgiveness, both towards others and yourself, to release negative emotions.

Engage in acts of self-love, such as positive affirmations and pampering sessions.

Cultivate a sense of curiosity and wonder by exploring new ideas and perspectives.

Invest in your education and personal development through courses or workshops.

Practice empathy and compassion towards others, seeking to understand their perspectives.

Practice mindfulness in everyday activities, such as eating and walking.

Set realistic expectations for yourself and celebrate your progress along the way.

Surround yourself with supportive friends and mentors who encourage your growth.

Create a financial plan to save for future goals, such as buying a home or traveling.

Practice gratitude by keeping a daily journal of things you're thankful for.

Take time to relax and recharge by engaging in activities you enjoy.

Reflect on your values and priorities to ensure your actions align with your true self.

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ravenkings · 1 year

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the thing about sylvia plath and ted hughes is like...she obviously struggled with major depression throughout her life and was probably more sensitive than most people but like....ted hughes did cheat on her and i would actually be more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt if plath were the only significant other of his to commit suicide......but like.......the fact that assia weville, the woman he cheated on plath with, ALSO killed herself (and their daughter!!!) in a VERY similar way several years later is...................suspicious to say the least imo..........

#like weville probably struggled with her mental health as well but......like........idk man #i'm not saying he actually killed them obviously #but like.......two different women he was romantically involved with being driven to suicide (at least partially bc of his infidelity...)#...........yikes #suicide tw

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lycheeteeni · 1 day

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Foolish girl

Foolish girl, did you not learn from the past

To never chase, never go too fast?

Slow your pace, for in your race,

You’ll hit hard on your face.

Foolish girl, did I not warn you then,

That the toxic cycle will not end,

‘Til you see the signs, know when to run,

Devalued and discarded, you were only fun.

Foolish girl, you dwell on hopeless souls,

Though trials and tribulations, you take the toll,

Forging ahead, no regard for your own,

He will tear you down to the flesh and bone.

Foolish girl, why are you in shock?

His heart bound by chain and lock

Have you no dignity, no shame,

Your efforts futile, hopes he’ll maim.

Foolish girl, no deficit of better men,

For your wounds fester, inside your den.

Wake up, and see this isn’t new,

Good years, you only have a few.

04-16-24

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maxiglow · 25 days

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> this is your reminder to DRINK WATER!!

“but i already drank” have you already achieved your ideal water intake of the day? yes? congrats!! no?! then go drink it.

“i’m too lazy right now to drink water” but water is super important for your wellbeing!! and it literally takes less than 2 minutes to rise up, go to the kitchen, fill your cup and drink it!!

“drinking water is boring, i prefer soda etc.” water is the right way to hydrate yourself because soda isn’t pure water and has other prejudicial things inside.

go!! drink!! water!! do it for yourself, drinking water is self care ♡

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csuitebitches · 1 year

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Truth Bomb #4: Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t always feel right.

You may feel guilt even after doing something that was absolutely needed and making the correct choice.

You can’t make everyone happy and its fine. You are not responsible for anyone else’s emotions.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy or emotionally pain-free. Doing the right thing can sometimes alienate you from others or have an impact on your wellbeing.

Some people have a fear of conflict, fear of being left out or fearing being alone; but these fears must not stop you from standing up for what you believe in. Even if you’re standing up just for yourself and no one else, you’re doing the right thing.

Everything has a limit to it or it becomes unhealthy. Even “good” things such as extending kindness, being empathetic, giving second chances, listening to someone’s problems has a limit to it. It’s OKAY to establish that limit for yourself because no one else will.

Regardless of the outcome, even if you learn the hard way that you actually did something wrong, its still a lesson learned. Either way, its a win-win. You win some and you learn some.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Everyone makes bad decisions, sometimes with the right intent.

But not everyone works on themselves, protects themselves, and learns from their wrongdoings. To take accountability is difficult, but it is the first step to actually maturing for the better.

#c suite #powerful woman #ceo aesthetic #personal growth #that girl #productivity #strong women #getting your life together #feminine energy #balance #truth bomb #pro tips #guilt #dealing with guilt #emotions #emotional well-being #mental health #growing up #adulting

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svdaily · 3 months

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Booked my first spa treatment of the year for tomorrow, I'm so exciteddd.

#self care #self love #solo date #black luxury #black girls in luxury #black girls in leisure #soft life #soft black women #luxury lifestyle #wealthy lifestyle #health and wellness #mental health

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the-forest-library · 3 days

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McClure pointed out that even if adults with ADHD seem to be excelling, they are the ones who actually struggle the most.

“ADHD girls are at such high risk of behavior like perfectionism, silencing themselves, and masking behaviors in order to fit in and succeed in this neurotypical world with relentless demands and expectations of them to feel like they belong,” she said.

Perfectionism is one way that women with anxiety and ADHD attempt to control their environment since they feel so out of control most of the time.

#well this article came for my throat #adhd #actually adhd #women with adhd #mental health #neurodivergent #neurodiversity

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bonefall · 5 months

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I can't see how the writers still think Skystar's a good person. Like, twelve year old me liked him and thought he was interesting, but I was like twelve. And even I knew he was an irredeemable asshole after Moth Flight's Vision. If a twelve year old can figure this stuff out I have no idea what these grown ass writers were doing.

DOTC has a thesis, stated in The First Battle, that really explains everything.

"Fear and Greed" is just a fake-deep way to reinvent a Good and Evil dichotomy. Because Clear Sky's abuse comes from a place of fear, it means it's not malicious, unlike a "greedy" cat.

He can be "soothed," ergo, he's a fundamentally good person.

Post-First Battle, the books are focusing constantly on his feelings, how sad it makes him to not be trusted, how happy he is when people are on his side. All while he continues to screech at people who tell him what to do, manipulate and mistreat his son, and even still beats and mauls those who offend him.

But because it's "fear," that doesn't matter. That's a justification, an excuse. The writers don't seem to believe in good and bad actions as much as they do good and bad people. True 'evil' comes from a person who hurts others for the wrong reasons, like 'revenge' or malice.

It's abuse apologia. Plain and simple.

The truth is that abusers don't think of themselves as evil people, and everyone, even you and me, is capable of being toxic or abusive. Talk to those who have been abused and we'll tell you; we often stayed because we "saw the good," or even felt responsible for them. Abuse can be passed down through generations because the kids come to believe the way they were treated was normal and okay.

If you go through life thinking that abuse only comes from evil/greedy people, you won't see it when it happens right in front of you. Fundamental good and evil is childish. Abuse comes from fear all the time.

Abuse is about power and control. Fear of rejection, of losing someone, of pain, those are all very common motivators as the abuser tries to stop them from happening before they even begin. It doesn't MATTER that your abuser is in pain too, you NEVER "deserved" what they did in an attempt to break your legs so you wouldn't run.

But... we can all change. Even the worst of us. It's never too late to stop hurting others, move on to a better life, but some people never will. Skystar loves his power, and he keeps that power no matter how many times he misuses it.

He has no reason to change as long as his cruelty rewards him with status and authority.

But the writers are incapable of recognizing that, because for this entire arc, they were stuck in an absurd view of the world in terms of Fear and Greed. Abuse can be excused if he did it for the "right reason," and that makes him "fundamentally different" from the truly evil villains, Slash and One Eye.

Hopefully, it now makes more sense to you.

#I am completely sincere when I say that I am legitimately concerned for the mental health of these writers sometimes #It's a lot of words to say. Again. That evil is really really simple.#It feels good to get what you want.#Power gets you what you want-- Security. Assurance. Respect.#Everyone wants these things.#It's not about having a twisted and sadistic soul #I'm sure those exist out there. But they're so so rare #And you will get hurt if you need to believe that the only person it's okay to leave or distrust or hate is a literal monster #You can leave anyone who tries to control and hurt you actually!!#Even if they're in emotional pain and insist that they NEED YOU #You didn't deserve it! You never did! It's okay! They didn't need to be a monster. And you're not one for leaving either.#Or resenting them. Or recognizing that they can't be trusted.#Of course... well. Clear Sky DOES act like a monster in this text.#Gouging out people's eyes and slaughtering innocent women #But most of the time irl your abuser didn't like. Kill someone lmao #At some point the metaphor breaks down #BUT!!!#cw abuse #dotc hate #Clear Sky #Skystar #Anyway casting spell of I Love You on every abuse survivor who feels a connection here #bone babble

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aristotels · 2 months

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whenever i see another sexual abuse/rape/pedophilia scandal from the catholic church i think about the way this sites looooooves its disgust politics which result in doxxing queer SICKOS for drawing teenage mutant ninja turtles incest or whatever and treat this as the bane of the fight against sexual abuse and pat themselves on the back for preventing yet another mspaint drawing of being published online while in the real world, like two streets away from their houses, nuns are victims of frequent sexual abuse and are not allowed to speak about it because they would lose their entire livelihoods - because they will be removed from their conveants and have no education to simply leave the calling, they are coerced into being silent, rape is as frequent as it gets, and all this by priests who are seen as "good people" and moral verticales. im so glad we are on tumblr fighting about the newest genshin impact ships though

#just saw a new news article about a well known catholic bishop and artist #who sooo surprisingly (!) abused women sexually physically and mentally

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kafkaesquedyke · 1 year

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The new Velma show seems to neatly fall into this trend of tv shows (paramount heathers, leaked powerpuff girls script) that want to seem progressive by having a diverse cast, while simultaneously wanting to preserve that same edgy, punch-down comedy style found in 'centrist' or conservative media. They want the praise for having female, queer, and characters of colour while still retaining an audience made up of mainly edgy white men laughing at how ridiculous ‘the minorities’ are behaving. It’s a punch-down comedy wolf in progressive sheep clothing.

The fundamental flaw in this logic is that show runners assume the audience that would enjoy this humour will see past that supposedly progressive façade… and that often doesn’t happen. A lot of these specific edgy types see diversity as a red flag and immediately presume some type of agenda. It’s almost like seeing a minority participate in the joke (even though they’re still very much the punchline) zaps all the humour out of it or they can’t understand that the joke is still for them if it isn’t said by someone that looks exactly like them. And because they (especially, but not only, cishet white men) recognise all the jokes from things they like, but don’t find them funny anymore, the only reasonable explanation they have is that diversity is bad and makes it unfunny, instead of realising their inherent inability to recognise and relate to any character that isn’t a white man.

Meanwhile, an audience that would appreciate a diverse cast does recognise the comedy for what it is: cheap jokes made at their expense. At most there are occasional jabs thrown in at the white and/or male characters which often don’t relate to these identities in any fundamental or even realistic way. So you have this show that constantly uses their minority characters as punchlines and only includes vaguely progressive, but ultimately pretty universally accepted, messaging hoping progressive audiences will be enamoured with the occasional ‘girlboss moment™️’, while not noticing that vast amounts of regressive ideals.

In the end neither audience feels appealed to and the show is a massive failure. While it might be satisfying to see that these conservative audiences are too blinded by, let’s be honest here, identity politics to recognise something that is clearly made for them, ultimately all that is remembered is that ‘the comedy show featuring a lot of diversity’ failed. And it becomes harder for people who actually want to make media with, and especially for, minorities have a harder time getting any funding. Shows like these are a lose lose situation when it comes to furthering diversity in the media landscape and it’s increasingly frustrating to see this happen again and again.

#most of the criticism I’ve seen so far is hinging on the expectation that this show would be progressive because of the representation #but if you see it as just another family guy copycat you can see all the ‘weirdly problematic stuff’ not as flaws but part of the design #meanwhile most of the criticism coming from conservatives is ‘wokeness ruined scooby doo’#we can’t assume just because something features minorities that it is for those minorities #especially with the rise of anti-intellectualism and ‘the curtains are just blue’ mentality this seems to happen more and more #they also often feature the surface acceptance of women queer people and poc while still being very blatantly bigoted towards other groups #many of which are discriminated against as well but their activism efforts are not as widely recognised #so you might not have as much blatant racism and sexism but incredible amounts of ableism and fatphobia #meanwhile the more obvious bigotry is either subtler or deflected by characters pointing it out like that erases the joke #this isn’t even touching on how all of these shows also wildly misconstrue the purpose of the media they are adapting #scooby doo #hbo velma #velma 2023 #paramount heathers

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ditheringkestrel · 10 months

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i do understand people being pro royjamie over roykeeleyjamie due to the argument that neither of them deserve keeley and she is above their mess (especially after the finale). but I also feel that sometimes fails to take into account that keeley likes/is attracted to chaos and mess lmao like. canonically she has dated/been attracted to: a series of 23-year-old pro footballers, unhinged season one rebecca welton, roy fucking kent, and a billionaire heiress who was also her boss. I’m not saying it’s healthy but I am saying that her taste indicates she likes a project and I simply think she would be bored in a relationship with someone normal and well-adjusted

#all that to say I do think at the end of season three canon I do think she needs to focus on herself and her own mental wellness #and maybe her taste will change after that but. as things stand.#frankly I think it’s a tiny bit of the fandom-specific brand of misogyny that reduces women to #yass perfect queen slay too good for these unwell men #while ignoring their actual character complexities and flaws and issues #or at least it can be! it isn’t always #keeley jones #ted lasso #roy x keeley x jamie

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superheroworkouts1 · 3 months

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cerise-on-top · 5 months

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I love the Against PDA Laswell/Valeria x Jealous fem reader! Thank you so much!

Kate Laswell x GN reader

After a bad marriage, Kate never thought she would have another chance for a relationship

Then 💥BOOM💥 reader appears in her life!

But there's a problem....

Kate and her Ex partner have a daughter (Kate LOVES her daughter)

But she doesn't like the reader...

No pressure, take your time 🫶 and take care

You're welcome! That was a lot of fun to write! I got a bit carried away on this one, so it's quite long, sorry about that! This idea was really cute, inspiration really struck me on that one! Thank you for requesting it! Thank you for requesting in general, especially for the girls! I love them, but it's a genuine shame they don't seem to get as much love as the guys!!

Reader is gn. Only thing I can think of is that Kate's daughter, Luna, was about to get abducted, but reader saved her, so nothing bad happens aside from that. Luna and reader get along later, though, because I'm a sucker for happy endings and want Laswell, reader and their daughter to have a lovely future together. Some parts are almost like a drabble, other parts are more headcanon-y.

Remarried!Laswell, her daughter and Reader

It’s one thing to have the love of your life leave, all the memories, the good and bad, the small trinkets here and there, even just a small dessert call upon feelings that are much better left behind, left in the dark where no one could find them. If only it was that easy. During spring cleanings, Kate would find something to remind her of her ex wife every time. A brooch with a sapphire in the middle, an old recipe book, the very first wooly hat Kate’s wife picked out for their daughter, Luna. It was tiny, bearing the motive of snowflakes on a pink background. And to think their daughter has long since grown out of it. Time really does pass, regardless of whether you’re enjoying the moment or wishing the past had never happened. A few years ago, Kate’s heart would have been torn upon finding it, slashed open to show the insides of a still beating and bleeding heart. But that was the past. She had always been a strong woman, she had no choice, after all.

It was her wife, who gave birth to Luna, and it shows. She took after her so much, from the color of her eyes, her height, even her nose was reminiscent of her ex wife. She was absolutely gorgeous in Kate’s eyes. Her little girl grew and grew, but no matter how old she was, that was still her little girl. While Kate may not get the chance to see her all that often, a few times a year at most, both of them are usually overjoyed when they do get to spend time with each other. Even at 14, when it’s almost embarrassing to be seen with your parents, her daughter couldn’t hide her growing smile whenever she saw her mother. It was familial love in its purest form.

And eventually, you came along. Beautiful you, who was patient and understanding towards Kate. Caring you, who wouldn’t rush her into something she wasn’t ready for just yet while listening to her every woe whenever the melancholy of her ex wife caught up with her. Dazzling you, who gave her another chance at romantic love, slowly mending the holes in her heart. It was a give and take, always: No matter what it was you gave Kate, she’d return it tenfold. You, in turn, would do so as well. A kiss would turn into a necklace bearing a genuine ruby, an intimate and loving night into a vacation on the mountains or the beach. It took a while, but eventually Kate was sure you were the one. Someone, who would never betray her, someone, who would stay by her side, even when the world would stand against her. She was willing to arrange the most dangerous of missions for her most trusted people if something would ever happen to you. Kate was capable of pulling just about any string, get a favorable outcome eventually.

But no matter what she did, Luna simply didn’t seem to approve of you.

It started off with a simple mention of you. First, a friend. Her daughter didn’t seem to mind. She was glad someone was able to make her mother smile again. But when it turned into something more, something more serious, she would frown. An annoyed quip, a passive-aggressive remark, it was evident that no matter what Kate would tell her about you, the latter would react negatively. Regardless of whether you tripped while taking out the trash or proposing to your then girlfriend.

It would take a while for you to actually meet her daughter, but when you did she seemed distant at best and annoyed at worst. Anger wasn’t the solution to anything, so you tried to engage in conversation with her, give her small gifts you thought she might like. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, her birthday, you never forgot about her. But no matter how much effort you put into slowly building a relationship with her, you were rejected. She had two parents, she didn’t need a third one. You knew Luna was Kate’s everything, which is why it hurt twice as much when she seemed to hate you. Afraid of making things potentially worse, you were unsure whether or not you should keep going, it seemed almost pointless. Even when Kate told her daughter to be nice to you, to give you a chance at the very least, it didn’t seem to help.

In a cruel turn of events, disaster has struck. You were tasked to escort Luna home, you and Kate did live together, after all. A young girl and her “parent” usually wasn't something many people would look at twice, it was among the most ordinary things. After dusk, when the sun was barely enveloping the world in its warm rays, three men walked in your direction. Maybe it was your gut feeling telling you to be more aware of your surroundings, maybe Kate had told you to be extra careful these days and nights. Either way, they stopped walking when the two of you got closer. By then, even Luna seemed to realize something awful was about to happen. Just as you were about to walk towards the other street, two of the men lunged out at you, going after her.

This wasn’t something that should have happened, so for a split second you froze before reacting, Luna screaming out already. Even though both of you were shocked, scared out of your mind as she was dragged away into the nearest alley, something within you sparked. You were hoping you’d never need them, but Kate had given you lessons on how to defend yourself if you ever needed to, and this time was as drastic as it could possibly be. Using your knowledge on martial arts, you were able to take one of them down as quickly as possible, having him writhe in pain on the ground, unable to compose himself anymore. The third guy advanced towards you, thinking you to be easy prey still. He was taken care of even more quickly than the first one, adrenaline coursing through you. Your legs carried you at a speed even the raging storms would envy, Luna looking back at you, yelling for help still. Her mother wasn’t around, you were the only safer person left, the only aid in a battle she likely would have never won on her own.

She struggled, resisted the creep to the best of her abilities, flailing, biting, screaming. It was enough to buy you time to get to her. As he turned to you, you jabbed your index and middle finger on the spot underneath the larynx. Curses escaped him as he released her, holding onto his throat while gagging. Barely put together, he stretched his arm backwards, an obvious attempt at hitting you, the perfect opening. In a swift motion, you deflected him, taking his arm instead while using your knee to kick him in the groin. A direct hit, leaving him incapable of doing much else aside from whining on the ground, making the most pathetic noises imaginable to man. It mattered not, Luna was more important than anything else. Despite being aware of her dislike for you, this was an exception: You grabbed her by the arm, dragging her out of the alley and to the nearest light post.

She was quaking, her eyes watery as she bit back tears. This was no moment to show weakness in front of you. As she bit her lip, the force was enough to make it bleed, she took a deep breath while you looked her over, making sure she wasn’t injured. A few bruises would form from the rough treatment, but she’d be alright. You wanted to comfort her right now, tell her that she was safe, that you’d make sure not a single pig on this planet would harm her, but you couldn’t focus on that solely. What you had to do was make sure she’d get back home safely to her mother. Kate would kill you if something happened to her, or worse.

You hurried home, never letting go of her, your eyes darting around the streets. Barely anyone was out. Apologies and promises of safety, you spoke them all in a determined tone.

Luna looked at you as you pulled her along. Your touch wasn’t dreadful this time, it was far from detestable. Your hand was warm on her arm, your presence comforting. Maybe you weren’t such a horrible person to have around. And maybe, just maybe, you could keep Kate safe, too. Keep her happy, make sure she can smile forever, give her the solace you gave Luna just now. She wanted to stop, stand still and apologize for the treatment she had given you, it wasn’t fair. Not to you, not to her mother. But she kept going, her home perhaps a minute from where she currently was.

Only when the door fell closed behind you, after you locked it, could you finally take a breather. Luna was still shaken, but nowhere close to tears. Uneven breathing was all that plagued her, but she was finally safe again.

It was time to release her, apologizing for touching her without her consent. But for once, those eyes that seemed to show but resentment for you, they were tired. Although you had let go of her, it was her turn to hold your wrist, a small plea, almost silent, begging for you to not go just yet. It wasn’t your place to refuse and thus you gave her a nod, calming down from your own high. Your voice was so much more gentle than before. How was she feeling? Where was she hurt? Would she be alright?

There was barely a response, only one you could really understand.

You weren’t a monster, you weren’t going to drain the happiness from everyone she ever loved, Luna finally understood that. While your voice may have just barely reached you, she stood completely still for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around you, face buried in your shoulder. You were a good person, she was going to be okay. Everything was okay. She had her mothers and you.

A tight hug, you’d return it any day, looking to the corner of your eye as you noticed some movement there. It was Kate, shocked and worried, immediately rushing to her girl’s side, asking her what’s wrong. This wasn’t something Kate shouldn’t have known about, so with as much calmness as you could muster, you explained the situation to her. Luna carefully turned to her mother, Kate instinctively took her into her arms.

Sitting her down onto the couch, both of you stayed with her the entire night, even when she had fallen asleep. Small conversations sound through the living room. Kate couldn’t thank you enough. Her world was with her still, unscathed and mostly unharmed, because of your quick judgment and your capabilities. This was something she could never repay you for, even if you gave her an eternity of time. It was a rare sight to see Kate in any amount of disarray. She was of calm mind anytime, no matter what. Strong-willed, cunning, brave. Even she had her weaknesses.

But as concerned as she was during that night, she could notice a change in the atmosphere soon enough. Luna’s words weren’t malicious towards you anymore. A smile here, a chuckle there. When the suggestion of getting you a birthday present came, Kate was stunned for a moment. Her little girl and her spouse getting along, it seemed so far out. But any destination was reachable if you gave it enough time, if the circumstances were right. By no means would she ever wish anything horrible upon her girl, willing to kill those men in the same way a lion would kill its prey, but the situation had improved. Luna would ask about you, how you were doing, how the marriage was going, even giving you the present yourself. Almost shy, she handed it to you. You, too, seemed a bit surprised, but the scene was lovely. You and Luna finally got along. It was like something out of a pleasant dream. As you opened the present, your face glowing with glee, Kate, too, couldn’t help but smile.

#cod #cod x reader #kate laswell #kate laswell x reader #gn!reader #I am so gay for women and I was swooning during mw2 whenever laswell was on screen #I was so happy when she was a playable character in mw3 even if I can't play the game #started watching mw for Valeria and got absolutely hooked because of Laswell Farah Alex and Gaz #although I'm not hoping for a mw4 I am on my knees for more of the girls #because not to be cringe on main but the girls sort of have me in a chokehold #the things I'd do for a kiss on the cheek from them #having them praise me for doing well on something would actually just slam dunk my mental illness into the ground and kill it instantly #how did those tags go again?#not to be a lesbian etc etc #anyway thanks for requesting again!!#if you have any more ideas brewing feel free to come again! I love hearing about them <3

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