#beyondthebitterness

[naturallivinginsider]

Bitter Gourd: Nature's Elixir

Don't be fooled by the name! Bitter melon packs a juicy punch of vitamins and minerals. This "elixir" supports digestion, boosts immunity, and regulates blood sugar. Enjoy it in refreshing drinks or creative dishes for a taste bud adventure with big health benefits…Read more 👇

Juicy Health: The Magic of Bitter Gourd Elixir

Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon or Momordica charantia, is a vegetable with a distinct bitter taste. Bitter gourd juice is derived

[temperedbydarkness]

AU - Beyond the Bitterness

Sometimes neglected. Sometimes abused.

Who knew that the Fae and humans were near enough genetically to reproduce together? It was something that was kept quiet, a taboo that one shouldn't break. The trick about it was that the half-bloods were consitered even more attractive by the humans, because though the willowy frames were fine to look at, the half-bloods tended to adopt the greater musculature of the humans. Their featues became a blend of both human and fae, making them desirable. Strong, agile, exotic, these half bloods were the rave, though the stigma against producing one ensured that most of the time it didn't happen. Sometimes the half fae didn't look it, and could be adopted into families. They'd look just like a very beautiful human, with their darker eyes, and the darker hair colors.

Riku hadn't been so lucky. He had been born with a shade of the fay, a silver hair tone of a slightly darker shade than most. His brilliant ocean teal eyes also marked him. There was no way he could pass by as full human, and thus, he had been written off, sold to another for an inflated price. The hands that had gotten a hold of him had not been kind ones.

For a number of long years, Riku had done everything he could to survive, to hold the piece of himself away from his owner. He had tried to hold on to the light of hope that someday he'd escape from the darkness of his life. Surprisingly, some relief had come up, for his owner had made a mistake. He had gotten arrested for something or other, somthing Riku didn't care about. All he cared for was that he had been removed from the situation. He hoped that possibly he would have a chance to be free.

Of course not. Humans liked to keep what they owned. Riku merely had been transfered to some sort of shelter, a holding place for parents to go with kids to get their first pet, or people whom had been negligent enough to lose their others came to find the cast aways. Riku had even been moved into a less visited area, because he had been deemed in need of 'rehabilitation'. What that even meant, Riku wasn't sure, but he knew he would fight it. He would continue to fight until he was able to walk in the sun without belonging to someone else.

Someplace without bars. Resting in the room they had given him, he glared blandly at the bars that marked the door. The viewing window was open and clear, but the door itself was a barred door. Riku merely watched, waiting for the next rotation to come by and give him a bit of entertainment. If nothing else, the visits gave him something to do, since he was able to people watch. Sometimes he could make the more observant humans flinch. Riku wondered with muted curiosity whom they would sent this time.