#* — we will call this place our home. zinnia.

[meekmedea]

field trip to District (1)1

alt. field trips gone wrong

Yet another field trip, however, our trio (Clemensia/Felix/Iphigenia) end up at D11 instead of D1. Oops 

They can play the blame game all day long, but what really matters is they didn’t realize they got onto the wrong train (It was Felix’s fault)  

Meanwhile back on the proper train they should have gone on…well, nobody has noticed just yet

Their teacher did say that the train wasn’t going to wait for any late stragglers

Sejanus: it’s too bad that Clemmie didn’t make it today 

Coriolanus: *internally seething that Clemmie has allowed Sejanus to call her that*

Coriolanus in the calmest voice ever: yeah, too bad

To his chagrin, Sejanus and Livia are on semi-friendly terms now 

Clemmie is thrilled that Sejanus has more friends because then he won't depend on Coryo as much 

Coryo, not so much because it's Livia 

Imagine being in his shoes: first he has to 'share' Clemmie with Livia, now Sejanus? Good grief

Livia has ulterior motives for befriending Sejanus: more time with Clemmie (+ getting brownie points with her) AND she gets to annoy Coryo - like what more could a girl ask for?

~~~~

So off to 11, our trio goes!

Status: currently undetected

They're baffled when they arrive and they’re like: umm… I don’t remember District 1 looking this rundown

The trio don’t make it far off the train station when the Peacekeepers there are like: aren’t you kids supposed to be at school? 

They get hustled off to a school despite protests that they’re not from around these parts 

Felix attempts to use his family name to get out of this, it doesn't work → like sure, kid. And I’m President Ravinstill

Welcome to the world’s most miserable playground (at least in the trio’s eyes)

It’s not actually that bad, there’s just a stark difference in playgrounds built in the Capitol vs the Districts 

Felix: okay, we need to figure out how to get back to the Capitol

Iphigenia: where’s Clemmie? 

Felix:

`

Clemensia, who’s wandered off and staring at the boy who’s staring back at her: Hello?

Unknown district boy: You’re not from around here

Clemensia: Who are you? (in the back of her mind - why does he seem familiar?)

Surprise! It's Reaper

~~~~

Reaper wants to know how he got roped into helping these Capitol kids get home, he still has no idea 

He blames the girl with the pretty smile. (Clemmie’s smile strikes again. Womp, womp)

The trio’s current plan is to call up one of the adults from the Capitol. Easy, right? 

This isn’t the Capitol, there aren’t many places where they can have easy access to phones. Only certain places have one: the local peacekeeper base, the mayor’s house, government owned buildings, etc. 

And because people don’t believe they’re from the Capitol (the peacekeepers from earlier) and they heard anti-capitol sentiments in D11, our trio is in a tough spot 

These kids are like: should we use fake names?? 

So instead of Felix, Iphigenia and Clemensia; we get Fennel, Zinnia and Clementine (Felix came up with them, Iphigenia said the names were stupid, Clemmie was just along for the ride)

Reaper is the same age as them and doesn't believe their fake names for a second - also Felix cannot keep a secret to save his life so their fake names are very short-lived haha

Iphigenia: What if we caused a disturbance? If they drag us off to the peacekeepers, we could probably explain our situation 

Reaper: you’d probably get a public whipping instead

Horrified looks from the trio: HUH?

Because face it, there’s definitely a disconnect between the districts and the Capitol. Information they have about one another is definitely out-dated

There’s probably some attempt at grilling Reaper on the state of things because this is NOT what they were learning at school

Plan-wise 

They eventually settle on something safer, there’s a phone in the principal’s office and it’s a matter of how to get access to it 

Reaper agrees to help distract the principal long enough that one of them can use the phone to make a call

After some quick debate - Clemmie is chosen to make the call because Felix prefers causing the distraction & Iphigenia doesn't care so long as someone gets them home 

Reaper thinks our trio is a little weird, especially when Clemmie only agrees to the plan once he confirms that he won’t get into trouble for helping them

Reaper won’t admit it out loud, but he’s oddly touched that she’s so vehement on that point 

There’s a bit of trouble with the calls:

The first few calls don’t go through - the line is busy or they aren’t there 

Felix is running out of ideas and they’re running out of time. 

Then Felix suggests: What if we called the President? He knows his great uncle’s private number and there’s no way he’d leave them in the Districts 

Except the call goes to voicemail, the line is busy - the President is probably on call with someone at the moment 

This is where future knowledge comes in clutch:

To reach the President without delay, there’s a specific extension code to reach the President or any phone in the Presidential mansion in case of emergencies - Clemmie knows it, Felix does not

Prior to their horrible falling out Coriolanus and Clemensia (as adults) were close enough that she would have known it. 

Alt. in the future, Felix was the one to have told her about it

Regardless, Felix, at his current age, is deemed too young to need to know it.  

So to dial the extension, Clemensia needs Felix dial the private number first

Because there’s no reasonable way for kid!Clemmie would know the extension code - it’s shared amongst close acquaintances and family (though Clemmie and Felix are close, this doesn’t extend to her father and President Ravinstill)

So Felix dials the President's private number again and when he’s distracted, peeking out the room to make sure nobody’s coming by, she dials the extension

It works and when it goes through, she immediately passes the phone over to Felix to explain things 

~~~~

Back at the Capitol:

President Ravinstill is relieved to hear Felix’s voice 

Because by this point, the field trip has concluded and as the kids are getting picked up, it gets awkward when there’s adults waiting around for children who never went on said field trip

Panic is at an all-time high. People are connecting the dots that our trio got onto a train, just not the right one

People are being threatened, camera feeds are being scoured, the works 

Let it be said, President Ravinstill has a strong sense of family loyalty. Also his great nephew’s a child lost somewhere in Panem, he has good reason to worry. In the Capitol, the Ravinstill name protects Felix. But in the Districts? It could be very well a death sentence  

So the phone call is a relief  

It’s a mad dash to District 11 - the adults are expecting the worst

To their relief, they come across their children in one piece and very much in good spirits 

Maybe even playing with the District children? - they’re all young enough that the prejudices haven’t entirely set in 

Clemmie is trying to befriend Reaper (it’s working, shhh don’t tell him) and the longer she talks to him, the more guilty she feels for not doing enough in her original timeline 

Reaper: You’re a strange girl

Clemmie: Thank you :)

Reaper: That’s not a compliment

~~~~

Our trio doesn’t get in trouble for their antics, but their parents do have a serious conversation about paying better attention to their surroundings

Felix also learns the phone extension a lot earlier, just in case

And of course he teaches Clemmie and Iphigenia

Two weeks later, his parents tell him, the extension isn’t for him to give to his friends so that they can call him to get him out of talking to his relatives during family gatherings. It’s only for emergencies. Whoops

President Ravinstill thinks it’s a little funny that Felix doesn’t like talking to his aunts so much that he considers it an emergency to have his friends call him up, but in the face of Felix’s parents he definitely does ‘scold’ Felix for irresponsible use 

It slips his mind to ask how Felix had been able to contact him, since he'd been on a different call before Clemmie's extension made theirs take priority. He eventually chalks it up to a coincidence - bad electricity that week in the Capitol, D5 had some maintenance issues. Everyone's calls were getting cut off abruptly

~~~~

Masterlist of other hcs and rambles that are part of this AU

[bumblebeeappletree]

Difficulties designing a steep sloped garden? Jane visits a gardener that has managed just that.

Chloe Thomson is a television and online presenter, writer and horticulturist living in Melbourne’s northeast. One of her biggest off-screen challenges has been the creation of her home garden, designed around what she calls her treetop house. Chloe’s garden sits on a quarter-acre block on a serious slope. “The garden really appealed to me here because there’s lots of different spaces, on different heights.”

As you enter the driveway, the first section of the garden has been created as a family space with a lawn and trampoline. It’s situated close to the road but remains calm and peaceful - “you still feel snug.” While the lawn is not that big, Chloe says the slope is “just right to lean back and read a book.”

A steep driveway really can be difficult for gardens. Chloe says, “to get things to stay and survive in this environment, we had to first play with Corten steel” to terrace the garden into beds. The steel panels arrive flat and black and can be shaped to the slope and filled in with backfill. Over time the steel changes to a rusty colour. This is a dry-shade microclimate, which can be a tricky place to plant, but Chloe has chosen plants to suit the environment. Succulents have been planted using a “tried-and-true rip it off and shove it in the ground method.” The variegated Carex ‘Feather Falls’ bring a pop of brightness, and the Arthropodiums, Chloe says, are “fairly bomb-proof.”

Onwards and upwards, a wooden flight of stairs takes you up through the garden and towards a cliff face about two meters from the back of the home. It’s a narrow space and has other uses for utilities such as the water heater and ladders. Chloe utilises the raised garden bed at the back as her ‘picking garden’ filled with dahlias, zinnias and oregano.

One of Chloe’s newer projects is a self-built glasshouse which was initiated during lockdown. It’s made from 100% recycled windows found on the side of the road or the tip, which Chloe calls “freecycling”. It’s a great space to grow some tropical plants that wouldn’t survive outside in the cold, such as turmeric, ginger, curry leaf and frangipani.

The next set of stairs is designed with Cordon steel “to hug the landscape”, filled in with pale gravel. To get an even grade on such a slope is a huge amount of work, especially when hand built. To do this, Chloe says this process was done “literally one step at a time. Starting at the bottom, we did perhaps one step on one weekend, then two steps on another, gradually making our way up to the top.”

Near the top of the property is a chook house with three silkies who are laying eggs, have free reign in the lawned areas, and the kids love them. At the height of the garden is a very inviting green lawn. Chloe says, “being at the top of the garden, you can perch yourself and admire the view, which is really nice.”

Jane comments on Chloe’s use of the vertical elements that complement the steepness of the space and give a sense of height when looking out across the view. The climbing Hops grows very tall in summer and is harvested for homebrew before dying back down in the Autumn. A new addition to the garden is another climber, the warty gourd, which Chloe says may end up hollowed out for Christmas decorations.

A small side pathway offers a view that is higher than the house, which shows you how steep this garden really is. In this spot, Chloe grows a viburnum hedge, chalk sticks, tussock grass, westringia, “and of course yellow paper daisies - I have a bit of a thing for them.”

Chloe’s advice to anyone wanting to build a garden on a steep slope is to “look at different retaining options, look at ways you can create planting pockets or planting spaces. Things don’t have to be straight. I think people think too much that retaining walls and retaining soil needs to be all straight. Think outside the box.” Rather than being daunted by this steep slope, Chloe has embraced the unique opportunities that have arisen, and in the process has created a great family space.

[avoidingcertaindoom]

July Break Bingo

It has been a month ^^;; I did want to do more but I airways get tied up irl whenever I get excited for a writing challenge! Luckily I was able to knock out several prompts in this one entry but I think that'll be it for me. I don't regret it when it got me to write!

Dearest Mione,

I feel like I ought to lose count of how many years I’ve missed your annual visits. I know to get ahold of your former guardian is as possible as moving water uphill in a sieve, but is there no one willing to travel with you so you can come and stay in much more befitting accommodations while you wait for them to return? I would like to do so myself if my family weren’t so flippant about it!

Forgive my frustration, I didn’t realize it would be so disheartening not to see you for so long. There have been traveling stars that have made their way back to Trufulla sooner than you have me, and I think I’m sick of hoping. At least those important to the temple are treating you well, I’d hate to think you were surrounded by any other disappointments as I am.

Mama has heard from Ihui’s counselors that another space has opened up at the academy, and they are pushing me to take the entrance exams. Do you think it insolent of me to hesitate? My abilities over the elements have only grown in the six or so years since your last stop with us and I know I should be honoured for the opportunity to further hone my skills with scholars… but Elemental Magic bores me. Truly bores me. I have three siblings, surely my parents will survive if just one of us were to stray from the path traced by our bloodline.

I suppose… sometimes I feel trapped. Trapped by the expectations of my parents, trapped by the mountains I call home that separate us, just trapped in the mull that this is my life and I half expect that this is all I really have to look forward to. Life isn’t long enough to give me any sense of appeal towards this. I’d give my left leg to be able to do something else.

Please do tell of something in Cyklam that can be called endearing. We can’t both be bored to tears.

Yours,

Tlalli Corax

PS; I preserved some of the sulfur shelf fungi from one of my last hikes. If the package isn’t included, report the delivering courier, I am not one for sharing and especially with strangers

Dear Tlalli,

I do believe the High Priestess has spoken fairly often of whether or not to send me to one of the former places Nini and I have stayed, but the outcome is often the same. I don’t suppose there is really any place I must be, and so here I am to stay. To ask them it seems much more befitting to house an aasimar in a house of the gods.

Things are… the same, I would say. They have allowed me to look into healing classes so I can get the sense of being useful, though translating Cantrellian Cant seems to be what they really wish I were interested in. It wouldn’t be so dull if you were here to help me piece together all the in between and the meanings, and I’m sure you would have much more constructive commentary than the archivists I’m compelled to do so with.

Your parents are vexing, but perhaps toeing the line to their wishes and taking the exams could have some use to you. If nothing else to show that you have no need for further studies, perhaps high enough scores could get you a reference to someone who has exactly the intrigue you are looking for. A more mischievous person might even suggest sabotaging your scores, but I know you wouldn’t be interested in looking quite so foolish.

Little in Cyklam seems as interesting as Yuzcal sadly, though I have enclosed an anklet I was able to make while experimenting with weaving. Did you know people could make beads with flower petals and ash? I believe the pink ones are zinnias, though the brown ones seem to be a much simpler clay. Not very exciting, but it’s kind of charming.

All the best,

M.

PS; I think of changing my name, but it’s hard to find much that resonates. Suggestions would be much appreciated.

Dearest Mione,

I appreciate you thinking better of me than to seriously suggest I make a fool of myself. My family already treats me like an idiot, I don’t need to give them a broader target. Perhaps playing along until I find someone like minded is for the best. If it works for you surely I can find something of value. Until then, I might have to satisfy myself by outdoing the lot of them.

Healing classes? There’s no doubt you’ll take to them well, but you don’t think they’re a little… lowly for your abilities? I know you have little to do, but surely something more befitting is attainable, no?

Cantrellian Cant would be loads of fun to decipher! If I had more of a natural bent towards it I’d enlist as an acolyte myself to have a chance at a scroll or two. If you run out of texts, maybe a few from here could be moved along. I’m not as familiar with the books they keep with the Adyriz temples, but I do hear whispers at Solange’s near the colleges that I’d love to sink my claws into.

I did notice a hum of energy from the beads, and they are quite easy to use as a charm for abjuration. Especially with water magic. Was the clay from one of Ljuba’s springs perhaps? The pink ones were rather fragile, so I might have to repurpose the remaining ones for something useful. Though I will say the cloud nymphs were envious.

Yours--

I almost forgot about your last request. I’m not sure honestly, Mione suits you so well. I’ll have to think on it while awaiting your next letter.

Yours,

Tlalli Corax

Dear Tlalli,

I do quite enjoy the healing classes honestly. They get me out of the temple, and it is much more grounding than translating in my opinion. How lowly could it be when people are so grateful for the effort?

The Cant may be more interesting at Solange’s temple, but I just don’t see it as all that stimulating. It might be different for others, but I’m often called upon for it because the words are clearer to my eyes without having to channel any divinity, and it just feels odd. Maybe I’d have more reverence if it didn’t feel taken for granted.

I hadn’t even considered the beads could hold magic, though I suppose that makes sense. I’m sad to hear the ashen ones broke already, I’ve grown quite fond of the colour. Perhaps transit did them poorly, if I send you any other projects I’ll be more selective about the materials.

I appreciate your honesty. I guess I’ll have to keep looking on my own. Maybe even in these old scrolls since that’s where my use evidently lies. I hope you find what you’re looking for when your own classes start, maybe we can compare notes on what counts as fitting then.

M. Z.

Dear Mione,

Do they appreciate you so little in the temple? It makes even less sense not to let you move on from there. I hate to think of you being wasted like this.

If you like, I can help draft a request for Solange’s texts? I'm sure there's some legends that intersect between the two, such as the passing on of the Night's Veil. Or even the older texts about their relationship before the Great Conflicts. Maybe I ought to take more notes during the next week of Memoria.

Perhaps suggest that the colurant could be added to the wellspring clay if you'd like them sturdier? I think that would weaken the bonds, but you hardly need charms for your bent of magic.

Speaking of which, I don't actually hate my lessons. As limited as I thought they'd be, some of my professors are quite open to helping me look into other subjects. There's a course on abjuration in talks that I might be allowed into rather than free period--which would cut into my time for letters, but you've always been more patient than I. If I'm lucky this letter won't miss the next messenger in the market.

I have given some thought to other names, such as Aurore or Soledad or some such. But I must confess they still do sound odd to me, I doubt you'll ever be anyone else other than Mione to me. My own dear friend and delightful penpal.

Yours,

Tlalli Corax

Dear Tlalli,

Waste is a strong word. I think I'm the only one with sense in my classes considering how careless my peers are, I'd have thought you could relate.

I don't believe the Priesthood needs more work to give me. If it weren't for Grace Terran I think they'd kick me in the archives. I'll kindly take that in moderation and pray to Adyriz and Solange both that their mysteries find a more suitable conduit. There's a reason I went for healing rather than continuing down the paths starting as an acolyte.

The beads suit me as they are. I've used a few in my hair alongside the bracelets and I'd rather not add wellspring clay to the opalite, amber, and other blessed stone everyone keeps suggesting. At least not at this time.

Speaking of beads… someone offered Riki when I brought up names. It's a lot more simple than others, old orcish if I was told correctly. I think I'd mind it less than Zoïe.

Please do focus on your classes, I'm not going anywhere and if you like I can simply write more often without waiting. All I've got outside of the Healer Center is time to myself after all, if you don't mind hearing from me even More.

Regards,

R. Z.

Dearest Mione,

If you're satisfied with the Healer Center, I won't needle it further. I'm thinking like a bookworm, the archives would be a delight to me, but you've always been of a more hands on sort. You'll probably be good for the other healers in training anyway, who else is going to hold the lot of them accountable?

Opalite is an odd choice… I mean, not so odd considering Adyriz herself prefers them. Just ironic. I'll check the marketplace for beads when I post your letter to give you more variety.

Let me know what you do end up settling on. “Riki” will do as well as anything else.

I promise I'm paying attention! Last week a Teaching assistant brought in a charmed box and I was the first to figure out how to unlock the magic binding it locked. It was almost like the escape room attractions at festivals, I don't remember the last time I felt so pleased. Professor De Sylvan says I have an eye for this sort of thing, I might ask if she's open to independent tutoring to focus on more like it. I sense a brighter path ahead, I simply MUST find a way to see you to show it off.

Yours,

Tlalli Corax

[mxstball]

Professor Cherry walked out of her room for the moment. She could sense that someone had entered her home... and it wasn't Chrona. The dragon slowly crept down the hallway to check to see who was in her living room. Maybe it was Wally? No, he would have called her ahead of time. Zinnia? No, the individual doesn't seem to be really human. Tor? ...No, she would have just appeared directly in Cherry's bedroom.

"..." ...It was Melony. She was sitting on the floor in front of the couch. She wasn't saying anything, but she ensured that her presence was known.

Professor Cherry walked up to Melony and sat next to her. She forgets that sometimes, Melony likes to do this when in her Perfected state. Almost feels like she's in a horror movie. "Mel."

"Big sister."

"...Aren't you older than me by like, eons or something?" She still sometimes has trouble with getting used to everyone considering her as the eldest sibling. "Shouldn't you be the big sister?"

"...My Lady is older than you by 300 years, and yet you consider her as your little sister." Melony kept still and kept her eyes closed. There was no need for emotion.

"Well, yeah, but that's because I took care of her for a thousand years. I don't radiate big sister energy that much otherwise."

"Oh, but on the contrary. I would argue that you do, and as quite the role model, too. As such, I will continue to look up to you as my older sister."

"Fair enough, I guess." She sighed and resigned to her fate, as she's done every time they have this conversation. It was like clockwork between those two. "Anyway, what's up? If you're visiting me in that form, then I know that it's not just a casual visit."

"You are correct." Melony finally moved and turned to see her big sister.

"Now that Daiyu has made it home, I have noticed a change in both your and My Lady's behavior. You each have gotten more hopeful yet more anxious, although for different reasons."

"Well, yeah. Daiyu is confirmation that we can eventually return back to my homeworld, and that there is hope for the future of it."

"...Hope for the future?"

"Yeah. Arceus may have killed most of the human population, many standard Pokémon and most of the Legendary Pokémon, but... they're not all extinct. This means that if we were to take the world back from her, then there's a chance that things will return to normal to some small extent. It'll take time and even several generations as the population increases again, but it's possible...."

"I see. So, you still wish to get justice for your brother."

"Well, yes, but... it's not that easy."

"Hm?"

"..." Cherry thought about it long and hard. "I'm... afraid to know what could happen to the world should someone kill her. Could it be possible that the world will eventually collapse? Would killing her wipe the previous home from existence? I've been doing research based on anecdotal evidence from some reports that Heidi has given me and it all varies from world to world. So, should we do try to kill her, we need to be prepared for the risk that nothing happens... provided that we don't have some way to replace her instead...."

"I see. Well, then I believe that you may be in a little luck, then. This rationale is precisely why I am here."

"Huh? What do you mean, Mel? Like, replacing Arceus?"

Melony nodded.

"...It may not be my place to ask, but...." Out with it, Melony. "When the day comes to oppose Morrigan, your Arceus, I wish to be the one to deal that final blow... and use it to become Arceus of that world myself."

"H--huh?" Professor Cherry flinched. "Wait, you want to... take over my homeworld?"

"Yes. I want to become an Arceus, similarly to My Lady, and due to our circumstances, I believe that your world would be the perfect opportunity for me to do so."

"B--but why? Why do you want to be an Arceus?"

"..." Melony seemed to have hesitated, but she was gathering her thoughts. "The answer to your question depends. Do you wish for my personal answer, or do you wish for my True Answer? Both are equally valid reasons."

Oh, she sensed that twisted aura for a moment. she really didn't like that one bit. "...Start with the personal answer, but just... don't do... whatever you just did. Felt a damn shiver down my spine."

"Oh. My apologies. It is not something that I can help, but I will try."

"My personal answer is simple. She aligned herself with my All-Mother and wishes not to repent. As such, I wish to destroy her, absorb her capabilities, and use it to attack those who continue to follow her path. That way, I will continue to protect the worlds that we care for, and to ensure that others who are more vulnerable can rest easy without the fear of death or displacement."

"... So, you want to wage war against other Arceus that align with Goldielocks, huh? Won't that put you in danger?"

"To some extent, yes, but it will not be at the risk of a permanent death. After all, I would likely just return to my Distortion World for a week."

"Fair enough. Though if that's the personal reason, what's the True Reason?"

"Well, it is even simpler. I just wish to be an Arceus -- and my True Form, too. It has been a dream of ours since time immemorial... and since your world will have some population of humans and Pokémon, then that means that it would be... at least a little less work than starting from scratch."

"Oh. So deep down you just wanna be an All-Mother, huh?"

Melony nodded. "It was in part the reason why I have mastered Creation within my Distortion World, after all."

The Latias nodded. It appeared that their goals do align, after all. Besides, Professor Cherry was never one to kill, anyway.

"....I'll... have think about it, Mel. If you truly wish to be an Arceus, then maybe we can sort something out, after all. Thank you."

"...Very well. When you made up your mind, please let me know."

Cherry nodded.

Melony changed to her Shattered Self. She turned and plopped her head on Lauren's lap. "In the meantime... wanna hang out with big sis!"

"Hehe! There we go. Alright, little sis. Let's snuggle on the couch and watch some TV together, alright?"

Melony got up and ran over to the couch. "Yay!"

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

                   Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 18                                                                                                  Week of April 15 2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR: A new resident to Oconee said her family moved here to get away from the overdevelopment.  “ There are not many places like this left, ” she said.   Shouldn’t that be a message to us all that we need to protect what we love?   People love community and the rural way of life.   I say to leaders and developers who want to destroy our Oconee County life—you move!  Move to the overdeveloped destroyed areas and cities.  Sell your home to the people who want to come here to get back to real living.  “There are not many places like this left.” Let’s keep it!  LRMartin

TOWN of SALEM: 5 Park Avenue * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat, Winter hours 9am-1pm. Town of Salem Clean up day– April 27th meet at 8AM at the Calvary Baptist Church– Invite your friends, neighbors, civic groups, and anyone interested in coming together for the good of our community.                  Salem Beautification Committee is a group of volunteers who support the Town of Salem by maintaining the gardens and decorating some areas for the holidays. If you are interested in volunteering or donating please call Vickie Towe 864-6229 or Ethel Cameron 864-280-4040                                                                                            SALEM LIBRARY:  5B Park Avenue.  Hours Monday 10am-6pm. Tues-Friday 9am-5pm. Closed 12-1 for lunch.                    

Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell.    Walhalla HS Plant Sale  Plan to visit the greenhouse area of WHS off HWY 11 and shop for hardy blooms at a reasonable price.  Instructor Josh McCall's green thumbed  students will carry your tray while you select from Zinnias, Okra, Daisies, Latana, Ferns and Hostas, just to name a few.  These high school students will educate you while you make your choices.  Then they cheerfully carry the buds and blossoms out to your car. I want to thank the students who planted  and tended the seeds and prepared them for the sale. They are Aiden Wallace, Reagan Smith, Kristen Winland, Hudson Smith and Jackson Medlin I told these young entrepreneurs that YOU WOULD BE STOPPING BY!  LOVE YA!!! Miz Jeannie                                                                                              ASHTON RECALLS    by Ashton Hester                               SALEM SCHOOL NEWS, APRIL 1, 1964 continued from last week -  The following are some more items from the "Salem School News" column, written by Mrs. Nelle Rochester, in the April 1, 1964 Keowee Courier. . . BETTY CROCKER SEARCH. . .Our senior girls did very well on The Betty Crocker Search for the American Homemaker of Tomorrow contest. . .Ruth Lusk and Sharon Rankin both received "excellent" ratings. Ruth had Salem's highest score but Sharon was only one point behind. We had nine girls that received "good" ratings, and three received "fair" ratings. None of our students received "poor" ratings. . .LEAP-YEAR CARNIVAL. . .The juniors did real well on their Leap-Year Carnival. They had a net profit of $309.74. Thanks to all of the merchants, parents, students and teachers who contributed to the success. . .ILLNESSES STILL ABUNDANT. . .We are still plagued with a variety of illnesses. Mumps seems to be taking the greatest toll while measles and chicken pox are also still prevalent. Ruth Lusk, Sue Murphree and Larry Jones are a few that have had mumps recently. . .DONKEY BASKETBALL GAME. . .The juniors are sponsoring a donkey basketball game on April 2, Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $1.00, 60c. for students and 25c. for children.                                              

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm   Events this week:  Wed: Blue Grass Jam  6:30PM  Wings and more by Blue Ridge Grill starting at 4PM.  Thursday: Trail Talk Thursday at 6:00PM  Food: Kodesh BBQ Blue Ridge Grill  Fri:  Music: Scott Low ( Appalachian Blues Singer-Songwriter)  at 6:30pm Food:   Sat– Music: Conservation Theory ( Americana Mountain Folk Singer-Songwriters)  at 6:30pm Food: Just a Smile Caribbean   Sun:  12pm-7pm  Food:  El Charro  Music:  11 North with Chad Rawlings 4PM  More info 864-873-0048    April Book Club meeting on Wednesday, April 17th at 10AM to discuss The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose.                      COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION SC 34-2:  7th Annual Veteran Benefit Ride April 27th 2024  Register 0900 at Harley Davidson of Greenville, 30 Chrome Drive 29615  All vehicles welcomed.  **   These riders will be stopping at the  Jocassee Valley Brewing Company around noon.   JVBC is proud to be a host stop-off.   

Carolina Hemlock Festival:   April 20th  11AM-4PM  at the Mountain Rest Hillbilly Grounds. Music, Conservation Groups &more!     

2024 UPCOMING EVENTS           Check out our website Eaglesnestartcenter.org as future events are added.                                                                                                                                    April 20th 7pm– The War Cry Band will host a benefit for Ralph Turpin medical expenses at the ENAC venue.                              April 26th, 7 PM Friday Evening Wellness Event:  Reclaiming Our Inalienable Wellness  Doors open at 6:30 PM  Free event hosted by ENAC featuring speaker Meredith Orlowski, AFMC, INHC.  Bring your friends and family along. Gain Energy, Lose Weight, Feel Happy, & Save the World While Doing it!       Call 864-280-1258 for more information                                                                                                         Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea on Saturday, May 4th  from 2PM-4 PM:   Join us for a special afternoon and treat yourself to delicious goodies, hot tea, and a guest speaker!  Our youngest guests will enjoy manicures and a craft!  $10 per guest.  All funds will be donated to support the Eagles Nest Art Center.  There are also opportunities to sponsor a table for the event.   To RSVP or find more information:  Kayla or Emma Lusk at 864-903-0681                                                                                                               Oconee Mountain Opry:  May 18th at 7PM.   Jef Wilson, West End String Band, Mystery guests, comedy and more.  

June 3-7  ENAC hosts  Art Camp for children 6-12 years old.  9AM-12PM  Call 864-280-1258   $50 fee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        EAGLES NEST ART CENTER                                      

The Eagles Nest Treasure Store is open every Saturday morning 9AM-12PM.  Will accept donations also or call 864-557-2462.

Information on sponsorships, events, volunteering, donations, or rentals call 864-280-1258 or email at eaglesnestartcenter@gmail.com. 

Interested in becoming a YOUNG APPALACHIAN MUSICIAN?   For ages 3rd grade through adult.     Call 864-280-1258                                                       

           CHURCH NEWS                                                           Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),  580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691. Worship at 10:30 a.m.   Come visit us. All are welcomed!   April 29, 2024, Mel Davis will give the message.                                                                                 Boones Creek Baptist Church, 264 Boones Creek Road, Salem invites you to join us for regular worship service on Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10am and followed by worship at 11am.

Salem Methodist Church: 520 Church Street, Salem.  9AM for breakfast, 9:30AM for Sunday School, and 10:30AM for Worship.  You may tune in to our live service on Facebook or view it later on our website.  All are welcomed!

Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Salem is inviting you to attend a special Bluegrass Gospel Singing featuring, "The Tugaloo Holler Band" on Saturday, May 11th at 6 PM. You will be blessed! Come worship God with us through singing and fellowshipping with believers.

News:  On April 9th from 5PM-7PM the Jocassee Valley Brewing Company was the host site of the OPUS Trust unique wine tasting event featuring rare California Napa Valley wines provided by a donor family, and matched funding from another generous family patron.  The tables were set up with white table cloths and fresh flowers.  The wine tastings were from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.  Paring these delicious rare tastes with local farm products created a unique palate pleasure. The Reed Homestead owners David and Casey Thornton presented herbed flatbreads, pickled watermelon rind, pepper jellies, chocolates, spiced pecans and more. The  Split Creek goat farm provided 3 types of tantalizing cheeses.  The McPhail Angus Farm  was the featured farm for a delicious cut for smoked beef.  This proved to be quite a social event for our Salem area with these fine tastings from local farms and this special stock from California Napa Valley wines.  You may purchase from our local farms on the Clemson Area Food Exchange online farmer’s market.   Check out CLEMSONAREAFOODEXCHANGE.COM.                                                                                                                                             

Love & Blessings to you!  LRM    

[mercerislandbooks]

A Touch of Darkness

The signs of fall are all around. Leaves are swirling, gathering in roads and sidewalks. Darker mornings and evenings. The rain and wind bluster through in violent downpours. Halloween is this weekend, and Island Books has had a spooky reads table set up all month long, as well as a great display back in kids with Halloween reads for all ages. But whenever I’m asked about psychological thrillers or horror recommendations, I don’t have much to offer, big scaredy-cat that I am. 

However, there’s more than one genre that incorporates elements of horror, and I find I’m very comfortable with the dark, spooky, and downright macabre when it comes to fairy tale retellings and fantasy novels. Ghosts, blood, and evil spirits -- I don’t bat an eye as long as it’s set in some other place and time, preferably long ago and far away.

If you happen to be of my persuasion when it comes to reads of the spookier sort, here are three recent releases of fairytale retellings and fantasy that dip their toes in the darkness.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

After reading and loving Alix E. Harrow’s two other books, The Ten Thousand Doors of January and The Once and Future Witches, I was excited to pick up her newest novella. I’d already come to expect Harrow’s clever writing and feminist voice. What I didn’t expect was the way she enters into the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. Instead of being pure fantasy, we begin in present day with Zinnia Gray on her 21st birthday, chronically and terminally ill. When she pricks her finger on a spinning wheel during her hilariously Sleeping Beauty themed party, she’s transported just in time to interrupt another “Sleeping Beauty” from enacting her own cursed spinning wheel moment. Zinnia finds herself caught in this other world, trying to find a way home, while helping Princess Primrose escape her own curse. The writing is funny, sharply observant, and subversive. I love the way Harrow dissects the various iterations of the Sleeping Beauty story, the connection she draws to Zinnia’s medical condition, and the way she keeps her characters fighting to free themselves from the roles others proscribe for them. Physically, the book itself is beautifully designed, with cut out illustrations throughout from “Arthur Rackam’s original illustrations for The Sleeping Beauty, fractured and reassembled by Greg Collins.”(back jacket copy). A fractured fairy tale indeed. For anyone wanting a quick read (you could probably read it cover to cover in an evening) that gives no quarter to the patriarchy, this is the novella for you.

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Local Seattle author Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves would be an excellent book pairing with A Spindle Splintered. I’d already loved her The Merciful Crow duology and was looking forward to seeing how she handled a retelling of The Goose Girl fairy tale. Owen loosely refers to the original story, and the greedy servant who takes the place of the princess with a magic string of pearls is our heroine. Vanja is a scrappy, savvy thirteenth daughter of a thirteenth daughter, trying to outrun her so-called bad luck. Given up by her mother to the Low Gods of Death and Fortune, we initially meet Vanja as she uses her disguise of being the princess Gisele von Falbirg to steal jewels from the wealthy in the midst of a lavish party given on her behalf. But when Vanja also inadvertently steals a protective ring from another Low God, she is cursed to little by little turn into the gems she covets unless she makes up for what she has stolen. Not only that, but Gisele’s erstwhile fiancé has suddenly returned. Vanja needs to find a way out of the curse and out of the wedding and, ideally, out of her country all together. Owen intersperses the story with short “tales” that illuminate Vanja’s past, headed by lovely illustrations done by Owen herself. While the story has the feel of a heist caper, it also doesn’t shy away from exposing stiflingly pervasive misogyny, using Vanja’s sarcastically observant voice. A diverse cast of characters adds to the relevance. Vanja isn’t the only one with past trauma to reckon with and Owen handles these moments with great tenderness and sensitivity. Humorous, heartbreaking and completely engaging throughout. Little Thieves is perfect for Six of Crows fans.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

Author of store favorites An Enchantment of Ravens and Sorcery of Thorns, Margaret Rogerson has a new dark YA fantasy set in a world inspired by medieval France. In the land of Loraille, after an event called The Sorrow, those who die by tragic means will rise from the dead as malevolent spirits, unless the bodies are specially cleansed. This is the work that Artemisia is training to do as a Gray Sister. But when her convent is attacked by an army of possessed soldiers, Artemisia is forced to defend her fellow sisters by wielding a powerful relic, and waking an ancient powerful spirit called a revenant. By doing so Artemisia makes a tenuous partnership with the revenant and is thrust into a battle to save the people of her country from the ever increasing spirits and possessed that are mysteriously overrunning Loraille. Rogerson lightly evokes Joan of Arc in the character of Artemisia. She struggles to understand how to channel the power she now possesses, and discern who to trust while she and the revenant try to untangle the darkness infesting their land. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the early trauma that shaped Artemisia and the tentative threads of relationship between her and the revenant begin to address and heal some of these wounds. The veteran fantasy reader will appreciate Rogerson’s detailed world building. I found the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing to the very end. And while the conclusion was totally satisfying, I’m still looking forward to a promised sequel, due out next fall!

For anyone wanting a slightly spooky read, generously seasoned with humor, and perhaps a touch of snark, I hope one of these books piques your interest!

-- Lori

[abbabycchio]

Flowers based on how they feel about you/ think of you. P2

This time with La Squadra! Thank you for the attention I got on the Bucci gang! I love being able to talk about flowers and my favorite characters💕💕 sorry for the long wait!

Risotto Nero: Since you met him he’d fallen in love with you, you were amazing and perfect, and in his most vulnerable moments he’d tell you. Unfortunately being the Capo and the strongest of the traitorous team La Squadra ment it was too high a risk to pursue a relationship with you. So for your safety he had to reject you. 

Magenta Zinnia: Lasting Affection

Striped Carnation: No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With You, Wish I Could Be With You

He’ll send you these flowers along with a note apologizing for any pain it brings you. He sees it as his final interaction with you, but still lets you know how much you mean to him. 

My carissimo. I couldn’t stop the tears that fell onto my legs as I sat and rekindled my feelings for you. The comfort of your voice, you telling me “you’re gonna be alright” always mends my broken heart. There’s something about your voice that gives me the comfort I need. I’ve learned so many things from you. I’ve never been with someone who makes me laugh as much as you. You taught me what a real relationship was by having pillow talks with me before we went to bed. I wish life had a more simpler game plan. I love you so much. Til the day I die I’ll remember you forever.

-Risotto Nero. 

Prosciutto: He sees you as so much more than you could ever see yourself as. That being said he knows how cruel the world can be and makes it his mission in life to protect and love you for the rest of his life. He’s also the only one in the group that goes all out when it comes to buying gifts. 

Red Amaryllis: find incredibly beautiful, value beyond their beauty

Yellow Snapdragon: Gracious. Fascinating. Protection from evil

Dahlia: the lasting bond and commitment between two people

Very silently shoves these flowers towards you and walks away. It’s only until you gain control over your beating heart that you notice an elegant ribbon wrapped around the bouquet with a note attached.

The time is now to believe my promises and trust me to shelter you from the storms that will come in this life. I am truly the knight in shining armor your heart longs for and I am the one who has already given his life for you. I know your hidden fears, but you must learn to look to me when life is hard. I am the rock on which you can stand when all around you seems to be sinking. So stand on my word and hide it in your heart and you will never sink in hopelessness again.

-Prosciutto.

Pesci: he’s like a big puppy, he easily fell in love with you and in the most innocent way. Just seeing you smile brightens up his day and makes him excited to spend any days to come with you. 

Yellow Tulip: cheerfulness and sunshine

Coral Honeysuckle: I love you 

He replaces these flowers anytime he sees that the ones he already gave you are dying so the bright colors are always illuminating your days. 

I’m writing this to tell you that I love you. You’re my first thought when I wake up, and my last when I got to sleep. I need your love more and more each day, like an addiction of some sort.

-Pesci.

Ghiaccio: He sees you as the calm to his storm, he is so thankful for you, and although he doesn’t say it much you know that. Everyday he does his best to learn more about you and create a bond deeper than flesh. 

Purple hydrangeas: EMOTION, UNDERSTANDING, a desire to deeply understand someone

Black Bryony: Be my support

He doesn’t actually give these to you an a bouquet, he likes to place them in your hair, of behind your ears. Sometimes he even makes little flower crowns with the Black Bryony vines and places the Hydrangea flowers around it.

My love, just a moment ago I thought about you and my heart was filled with gratitude. So before another moment goes by I want to say thank you. Thank you for the late night laughs and the early morning kisses. Thank you for holding my hand throughout this life. Thank you for your love and friendship, and most of all thank you for the pleasure of calling you mine.

-Ghiaccio.

Melone: He thirsts for you so hard! After he met you everyone else was nothing compared to your beauty. He physically can't keep his hands off you. After he saw you he immediately pined for your affection.

Black Orchid: ADMIRATION, INNOCENCE, strength, virility, sexual desires, and success

Lavender Rose: enchantment and love at first sight, blossoming romance.

He sends a very professionally designed bouquet of these flowers, bringing more than one bundle a day to the point where you don’t know what to do with all those flowers.

I want you more and more. I often have erotic memories of you and I hurry to get home. I love to feel myself inside you; I love to feel my virile member slashing your skin, like burning iron teasing your desire. I have visions of you on top of me, riding my hips, making me moan with pleasure with your vigorous and precise movements. I love to feel the dense and warm liquid of your pleasure run down my body. I love to feel that you are mine. vigorous but at the same time, defenseless, relying on my arms and the warmth of my body. I love when you fall asleep in my arms, resting your head on my shoulder for countless minutes, after I irrigated your flesh with my abundant semen. I like the taste of your saliva when you kiss my mouth and I like the warmth of your heat when I kiss you between your thighs... I love your kisses more and more, your cuddles and your strength. And I’m writing to you to tell you I miss you too much.

-Melone.

Formaggio: He is smitten with you. Probably the most obviously loyal out of all of the boys, not that all of them aren’t, but you are 100% sure that you are his entire world. In your relationship he tries his best to be as romantic as possible any time that he can. 

Pink Peony: ROMANCE, PROSPERITY, love at first sight

Lemon Blossom: I promise to be true, Fidelity in love

He’s the kind to see these flowers in shop or on a bush, and just takes it and gives it to you. 

To my forever, I think we make the perfect couple. We understand each other so well. We listen to each other. I cannot wait to spend eternity with you, because there’s no place I’d rather be than with you. You’re stuck with me cara, You better remember that! I love us! 

-Formaggio. 

Illusio: Although he is usually a little raunchy by nature, but he loves you delicately. Which surprised the entire gang. His personality switch between seeing you and working is drastic. It’s more of an innocent, refined love. Fancy dinners, passionate nights. He puts his entire ego into making the best dates for you two. 

Cornflower: Refinement, Delicacy

Daisy: innocence, loyal love, and purity.

You would be standing or sitting somewhere in base and suddenly a hand would come out of the mirror near you and drop a bouquet of flowers in your hand.

My love has made me selfish. I cannot exist without you. I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again, my Life seems to stop there. I see no further. You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I was dissolving. I should be exquisitely miserable without the hope of soon seeing you.

-Illuso.

Sorbet & Gelato: Sorbet and Gelato were so grateful when you came into their lives, they were already in love with each other but finding you made their already love filled lives more special. When you got the news from Risotto you were heart broken, one day you were happily in love with the two most special men in your life, and the next you were mourning the loss of both of them. 

FORGET-ME-NOT: True Love, Memories

Delphinium: a first love, strong bonds of love.

You had gotten a bundle of flowers at your door step with two notes attached, one was from Risotto telling you that Sorbet and Gelato had sent you a note, along with a few wishes in their Will. The other was the note Sorbet and Gelato had written, only to be read by you after their death.

This is not a goodbye my darling, this is a thank you. Thank you for coming into our lives and giving us joy, thank you for loving us and receiving our love in return. Thank you for the memories we made together. But most of all, thank you for showing us that there will come a time when we will be together again.

-Sorbet&Gelato.

[nancypullen]

Oops

Yesterday got away from me.  I ended up organizing a few more boxes (yes, we still have stuff in boxes).  I haven’t put anything away in the grandgirl’s room because it still has to be painted.  I haven’t put anything away in the living room because we’re still waiting for flooring.  The master bedroom has a couple of boxes in one corner, but those will be organized into baskets in the closet - they don’t count.  Most pictures and mirrors are still in boxes because the floor installer requested that anything on the walls be removed.  Our living room furniture will be delivered the 31st so we’re still in limbo there.  We have a few pieces that we brought up from Tennessee and they look sad and lonely.  

Notice the paint samples taped to the far wall.  I have to see them in bright sunlight as well as evening shadows.  The left is Comfort Gray, the right is Sea Salt.  They’re both wonderful, calming, blue-green-gray tones.  Sea Salt is my favorite, but in strong light can look downright minty and that’s not my goal.  Also, neither looks great with the cabinet and the cabinet stays. Dare I chalk paint it?  Hmmm. Anywho - I processed a couple of boxes, then ran up to the grocery store for a few items, then puttered in the yard a bit. I chatted up the tomatoes, letting them know that they’re in good hands.  I’m already seeing blossoms.

Looks like they handled the transplant process okay, so I’m hoping for a bumper crop. I scattered a few sunflower seeds and a handful of zinnia seeds on the lavender hump/grave.  It’s not the perfect location for either so we’ll see what happens.  Zinnia has a way of powering through adverse conditions, so I may have some cutting flowers out there. I didn’t pop into the library, turns out you just register online and then they zip you a message when your card is ready.  I filled out and submitted the form and they’ll check my ID when I pick up the card.  Pretty sure I don’t need an appointment for that.  I hope. Better call. I’m really loving getting to know our new town. Downtown on Market street there are shops, businesses, and restaurants.  I’m looking forward to the patio dining at Caroline’s of Denton.  The menu looks tempting.  For casual dining there’s a very popular “Irish Public House”.

BUT, the place that I’m most excited about is The Foundry.  It’s an art gallery that hosts weekly classes for all sorts of things - everything from painting to sculpture to weaving.  I signed up for a beginners mosaic tile class tonight!  If I have a knack for it I’d like to attempt a pretty bird bath.  The Foundry is in an old building with interesting art just outside the doors.

I’m excited about getting involved with the artsy folks here - I can learn so much! Down by the Choptank River sits Steamboat Wharf which is home to the heritage center 

and a really neat store called The Denton Mercantile at Steamboat Wharf.

I didn’t have a great photo of the place, so here’s one I swiped from their Facebook page.

Looks like autumn, just pretend that there are hanging baskets of flowers instead of cornstalks.  Anyway, that store has everything from antiques to local artisans stuff, pretty kitchen items, gourmet groceries, you name it! You can get a darling tote bag or local honey.  You could also spend hours exploring.   Because Denton is so small, just about everything is 5minutes from our house.  My class today starts at 5 o’clock.  I can probably leave home at 4:45 and still have plenty of time to check in and get settled.  I love it.  There’s a Food Lion and a Super Walmart on opposite sides of the street, just 1.5 miles from our front door.  Plenty of unhealthy food options as well - McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dunkin’, Burger King, and so on.  We’re very fortunate to have a good-sized North Shore Medical facility less than 2 miles from us, as well as U of M Shore Regional Health.  All we lack is a Sephora and a Home Goods and for that Mickey is probably sending up a prayer of thanks. So, this is day 13 in our new spot and I’m feeling very good about our choice.  Did I mention that we’re surrounded by farm stands where the goods are picked and sold within hours?  I’m already putting a dent in the local strawberry crop. I took this screen shot the other day when I was checking to see if we’d be seeing any rain.

We’re the blue dot. Seems that, just like in Mt. Juliet, bad weather seems to break up and go around us. Is it because of the bay? Maybe the Choptank River? Or was that just one lucky instance? Both nights that storms were predicted we didn’t get more than a few sprinkles.  Interesting. Alright, time for me to work my way through a box or two and see if I can get some stuff put away in the grandgirl’s room without messing up the painting plan. Settling in, making this place a home, looking forward to a sweet summer.  Fingers crossed! Stay safe, stay well, take good care. XOXO, Nancy

[ishibishie]

i said i would maybe do this two weeks ago but i'm on a steven loving high and i saw a stupid post that was basically brainless bashing and hate in his tag so i'm here to fix this with steven love and ramble about the baby boy with a........

27 RANDOM STEVEN HEADCANONS POST!

uh cw for mentioning dead parents ig. there's a lot of dead parent stuff here sorry

- steven is asexual and aromantic. he discovered this a bit "late" when he was about 20 years old. despite his high profile in hoenn, he isn't very open about his sexuality and has only come out to a handful of close friends, the first being wallace. it was also wallace who gave him the black ring he wears.

- steven is half galarian on his mother's side. he would often visit the region with her before she died, and steven has very fond memories of watching gym matches: those battles are what inspired him to become a pokemon trainer along with his mother having been one herself in galar before she moved to hoenn. his favorite place in galar is wyndon city and he loves finding any excuse to hop aboard the trains scattered throughout the region to see all the unique scenery pass by and collect rare new stones for his collection.

- he adores space and astronomy! when he can't sleep he'll go outside and look at the stars until he eventually dozes off. this also led him to look into the mythology behind the constellations he sees, and he's had a few passionate conversations with cynthia about pokemon mythology.

- when nervous, steven tends to bite his nails. this has led to many scoldings and impromptu manicure sessions from wallace!

- his biggest fear is ghost type pokemon as he hates thinking about the concept of death. he also dislikes very strong thunderstorms, and being left alone for long amounts of time.

- as a result of his pampered childhood, steven is a bit of an attention seeker. he tends to get fussy and impatient when nobody acknowledges or listens to him. there was an isolated incident of steven throwing a pebble he had in his pocket at someone to make them pay attention when he was at his limit.

- likewise, he absolutely hates getting dirty when he's not caving. a single blemish of dirt on his nice clothes will drive him mad. he hates being disorganized and is a bit of a clean freak.

- he's a big contest fanboy! if a day off and a contest line up on the same day, expect to see steven somewhere in the audience cheering the coordinators on.

- steven and his father have a rocky relationship ever since his mother died. steven always wanted to become a pokemon trainer like his mother, but his father wanted him to take over the devon corporation one day. this unwanted pressure from his father ultimately led to steven running away from home to pursue his dreams when he was 14. now, they're still on speaking terms, but that's not to say steven looks forward to and enjoys their conversations. things only got worse when steven came out to his father and was brushed off as "going through a phase". despite everything, steven one day wishes to reconcile with his father and hopes that they can be as close as they were before his mother died.

- the one thing steven regrets most is never saying goodbye to his mother. the last thing he told her was "see you tomorrow!" before she died the very next day

- he met wallace during the time he ran away from home. the two met in lilycove city, where wallace was practicing for a contest and steven happened to be in the city. steven was intrigued by wallace's skills and ability to charm him with his pokemon. the first thing steven said to wallace was a compliment about his pokemon and the two decided to spend the day hanging out. they've been best friends ever since, and steven tends to see wallace as the big brother he never had and his main source of advice.

- he loves to write, whether it's journalling or taking notes about the rare stones he finds. however, he uses the same notebook for everything so his journal entries are often bordered by crammed-in notes about rocks. good luck reading anything, though: he has very small and cursive handwriting.

- steven is a disaster in the kitchen. the only thing he can make without any risk of burning his house down is a cup of tea.

- he's a big nature lover! in contrast to his sheltered life as the son of the ceo of a big business, he enjoys looking at flower gardens and finds any chance he can to lay down on a grassy hill and let the world move by without a care.

- he enjoys classical music and can play the flute!

- due to how he grew up without many real friends as a kid, steven tends to act a bit childish in personal social situations. he'll simply say whatever's on his mind without thinking twice and randomly cut in whenever someone else is speaking. not to mention he's terrible at holding eye contact. more "professional" conversations are where he shines as his parents taught him everything about etiquette.

- steven is polite to a fault: he usually has trouble telling people no and doesn't like to intrude on other people's conversations even if he was invited to such a conversation. it can make normal small talk awkward for both parties.

- his favorite place in hoenn is sootopolis city. he adores being surrounded by history while chatting with wallace at a local cafe, not to mention taking in the beautiful scenery at night.

- clear, sunny days are his favorites. when he travels to a colder region and gets caught in a sudden snowfall, he likes to watch it snow as it's an extreme rarity in hoenn.

- he loves to read and often wears a pair of reading glasses when he finds the time to open a book.

- steven carries a few special items with him wherever he goes: these include his key stone, the first gym badge he ever earned, an old pocket knife that belonged to his mother, and his mother's galar gym challenge league card.

- he's great at various card games. it's best to cut your losses if you make a bet with steven and he pulls out a deck of cards!

- it's easy to tell if steven is lying: he'll always rock back on his heels and bite his lower lip when doing so. using this knowledge is limited however, as steven doesn't tend to lie very often.

- his favorite food is galarian curry, especially the kind his mother used to make. he also enjoys sampling the cuisine from other regions, especially kalos. when it's time for dessert, he'll never pass up: he's got a bit of a sweet tooth!

- steven is a very laid-back person and hardly anything can really upset him. he tends to laugh off any embarrassing blunders he makes and will sometimes make small quips and jokes at his own expense. however, saying anything bad about the devon corporation will cause him to go on a profane offense, a bit ironic considering his odd and shaky relationship with the company.

- steven wears his jacket everywhere he goes. he's always complaining about being cold and it baffles everyone how he can keep wearing his blazer even in the dead heat of hoenn's summers. since he's always freezing, you can often find him at home wrapped in the fluffiest blanket he owns near the fire.

- even though he's champion of hoenn, steven still feels like he's working towards his initial dream of making his mother proud. he really only sees his championship title as one of many steps he still wants to take to live the life and dreams his mother hoped he would achieve!

(i copy pasted this from my phone notes so if the format is screwy, sorry!)

EDIT 8-30-21: yes i lowkey made this post to combat the people who are bashing on steven for getting a mega evolving rayquaza and posting this hate on his tag. it's fine to not like steven or how zinnia didn't get the mega rayray but for the love of god DON'T post hate in steven's tag! the people checking his tag are people who like him and we really don't appreciate you mindlessly calling our baby boy a racist bitch because you're salty. i'm sure you wouldn't like it if i went into zinnia's tag and posted "haha suck it side character" so. don't be a bitch. be considerate, okay?

[bangtiddies]

Full Moons and Arrows

Pairing: Prince!Jimin x Female Reader, a split second of Taehyung x Unnamed Female OC Genre: Romance, Angst, Fluff, Fantasy Rating: PG15 Words: 3.1k Warnings: minor violence, blood, kidnapping, mentioned death, use of weapons, mentioned sex

Summary: Despite having spent almost five full moons with Prince Jimin, you haven’t managed to tell him of your past. On the night of your fifth full moon together, your old enemies discover your whereabouts.

Note: unedited because I’m a fool. I’m so sorry that this took me so long to write jdfksnkekd but here’s my last Drinks & Drabbles fic!! This fic is heavily inspired by D&D and those fantasy historical anime I used to watch as a kid (*cough* Inuyasha *cough*) Requested by @hyyunjins​​ for Drinks & Drabbles: i would like to request jimin + wine + whiskey ;-;

Jimin is never late, always making it by the entrance of your orchard thirty minutes after sunset. He always greets you with a kind smile, affection in his eyes. A passionate kiss, hand intertwining with yours, “I missed you today.”

So, you feel a shiver down your spine when the glass candle clock tells you that it has been almost sixty minutes since you lit it after sunset. Jimin is late. And it’s not something you can shrug off — he would send his trusted adviser to inform you if he got caught up in business. You know that with Jimin’s status as the crown prince and how fast rumours spread in the small kingdom, news of him being potentially unwell would have reached you by now. Not to mention that you had seen Jimin earlier today in the village when he was tending to some business, fond look in his eyes telling you that he would meet you tonight under the full moon.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition to meet under the full moon and spend the night together, ever since you had met him five moons ago. Since then, you had been courted by the crown prince. Since then, the nights spent together would sometimes last a full candle clock.

Five moons ago, you had arrived in the small kingdom with your friend Jungkook, deciding to settle down. There was an orchard owned by an elderly elven couple that the two of you had inherited after a mission that lasted four moons. The owners were thankful of the two of you granting their favour, and since they had no heir, they gifted their orchard to you in gratitude.

Settling down was a decision that you and Jungkook agreed on, disbanding from your party of rogue travellers and wanting nothing more than to settle in one place. To finally find a place to call home. You had offered the rest of your friends to settle alongside you and Jungkook, but they denied your offer, still wanting to live in the thrill of adventure.

On the second night of your settlement, you were greeted by a beautiful prince at the entrance of the orchard. Kind eyes and friendly conversation lead into stories of the young prince’s childhood spent playing in the orchard and picking the fruit off the trees. Several nights under the stars passed, slowly falling into a romantic rhythm with the crown prince. Until one night, under the first full moon, you were courted by the prince, confessions shared and a candle clock spent in passion.

Five moons have passed and you’re still enamoured by Jimin, Crown Prince of Jasmine, just like you were the first night you met him. A season has passed, and your lover looks even more beautiful under the cherry blossom trees. Despite your love for him, you’ve yet to tell him of your past. He knows that you were an adventurer before settling in Jasmine, but the reputation you once had is something you’ve kept in the dark.

Perchance you’ll be telling him very soon.

You see a glimpse of the shadow of a person on the path toward the orchard, worry filling your lungs as the candle clock burns past the sixty minute mark. It takes a while to find the owner of the shadow, only to have a person you had not seen in five moons appearing by the trees beside you. Your eyes widen, an unsettling feeling travelling down your back. It’s too convenient for an old friend to appear when your lover is late. There’s no way that this could be a coincidence.

“Fox,” you whisper into the silent night. “What are you doing here?”

Jung Hoseok, also known as Zinnia’s Fox, one of the best rogues you know, looks conflicted. His sombre expression brings a constricting feeling of fear to your chest. Jungkook, who seemed to have noticed Hoseok’s arrival, stumbles out of the front door of your humble house. Doe eyes wide, he looks between you and Hoseok.

“I’m sorry,” Hoseok says, taking a shaky breath in. “The Crimson River Bandits, they--”

“They have the prince, don’t they,” Jungkook says, realising the situation after seeing how much time has passed since lighting the candle clock.

“I overheard them talking about capturing the Monkey’s lover and I had to come here to inform you.”

“Is the rest of the team with you,” you ask.

Hoseok nods. “They’re in the forest by Jasmine’s Southern river.”

“The bandits?”

“By the river.”

“Of course they are,” Jungkook mutters. “Bloody river bandits and their obsession with rivers.”

“Rabbit,” you say, Jungkook’s alias feeling so odd on your tongue after so long. “Get my bow and arrows, will you?”

Jungkook’s eyes light up. “Are we fighting again?”

You smirk. “Of course we are. Those bandits picked the wrong target.”

(As you rush down to the river, Jungkook lets out a confused huff.

“Why would river bandits want to kidnap your prince?”

Hoseok lets out a chuckle. “Remember when Monkey retrieved that crimson artifact for the noble family thirteen moons ago? Apparently it was one of their most prized stolen possessions.”

You scoff. “They’ve been holding a grudge for that long? How pathetic.”

Jungkook laughs, excitement coursing through his veins. “This is going to be so fun.”)

The Crimson River Bandits are known for their bloody deeds, usually performed by a river so that the outcome from their fights turns the water into a deep crimson colour. You know that they’re after your head, so you have faith that they’ve yet to kill your beloved. Most bandits that you’ve come across find more thrill in fair fighting and looting — killing a prince would definitely put an unwanted target on their backs from people other than a skilled rogue party. And with the reputation that your party had, they probably only expected to fight you alone.

Your old party greets you when Hoseok leads you to their camp in the forest. Taehyung pulls both you and Jungkook into a bone crushing hug upon your arrival, blabbering about how he missed you.

“Starling has his eyes on the bandits. He’ll signal us if the bandits do anything suspicious,” Taehyung says after pulling away from the two of you.

Seokjin has a teasing glint to his eyes when he approaches you. “So, a prince, huh? You’ve really settled down.”

You feel your cheeks heat up, averting your eyes so you don’t lose your composure under Seokjin’s teasing gaze. “And?”

“They’re disgusting,” Jungkook teases. “They make love under every full moon.”

“I will skin you alive,” you grit through your teeth.

“Careful, she might actually hurt you,” Namjoon warns from where he’s sitting by the tents, eyes not leaving his spell book.

“We should also make our way to the river,” Hoseok says, before turning to Namjoon. “Are your spells ready?”

Namjoon sighs and nods. “I hope I don’t have to use them, though.”

“Better safe than sorry,” Seokjin says.

“Raccoon, make sure to signal us if anyone targets the camp,” Hoseok says, turning to the bard standing by the tents. She nods her head in response.

The river isn’t far from the forest, but far enough that the plan for rescue won’t be heard from where the river bandits are situated. Seokjin lays out the plan to you and Jungkook before you leave. Soon enough, your team of six are stealthily making your way toward the bandit camp by the river.

When the camp comes into view, your breath hitches. There’s no sight of Jimin yet — you suspect that he’s probably being held in one of the tents, away from sight. You check your peripheral vision, to see if anyone from your party is in sight, before revealing yourself in front of the bandits. They sneer and laugh at the sight of you on your own, probably thinking that they’ll have you cornered. You stand with the most powerful posture you can, keeping your head up.

“You have the prince,” you state.

A man steps forward with a menacing grin, yellow teeth showing proudly. From the red garb that he’s wearing, you assume that he’s the leader of the bandits. “You arrived quickly. How did you like our message?”

You didn’t receive the message, having already left the orchard before it was sent by arrow. But you know the contents of it, information from Hoseok’s amazing eavesdropping skills coming in handy.

“It was pretty pathetic,” you said, glaring at the leader. You want to rile them up as much as you can. “If you want to seek vengeance against me, why kidnap a prince? Why not ambush me when my guard is down?”

The leader laughs and it echoes through the silent night. “He’s your beloved, is he not? Holding him captive will prevent you from running from us just like our last encounter.”

“I had no business with you in our last encounter. I already had what I needed.”

The man’s grin drops into a sneer. “You took an artifact that was important to us.”

“The artifact was not yours to begin with.”

“Silence,” the leader growls, pulling out his scimitar. “Or I will kill the prince with my own hands.”

You smirk. “Now, you wouldn’t be foolish enough to kill a prince, would you?”

“I will make it that the river turns crimson with your blood for getting away from the Crimson River Bandits. Men! Get the prince,” the leader spits, glaring at you as his mouth widens into a menacing grin. “Don’t worry, wench, we’ll let you see your beloved before you perish.”

You roll your eyes, but you don’t say a word. You need to make sure that Jimin is alive and well first.

The bandits bring Jimin out from one of their tents, the young prince struggling in their grip. His wrists are tied together by rope, the red burn around his wrists evidence that he’s been fighting the moment he’s been captured.

“Let me down!” he yells at them. “Get me out of these restraints immediately!”

When he notices you standing by the river, his eyes widen. He stops struggling, mouth open, about to speak to you.

“Dear prince, how nice of you to join us,” the leader says with a glint in his eyes, grin teasing you.

“Nice?” Jimin scoffs. “I was taken here against my will.”

The leader laughs. “You can blame your beloved for that.”

Jimin looks over to you, noticing your hostile state, the fact that you’re not in restraints like himself. His soft eyes ask you a million questions, and you try to send him a message with a single expression. He gives you a nod, and you hope that it means that he understood.

“Are you petty enough to hold a grudge for thirteen moons,” you ask the leader.

“You took an artifact from us,” the leader snarled.

“So you decided to hold my beloved captive?” you laugh. “Unfortunately, you picked the wrong enemy.”

You draw an arrow, causing the rest of the bandits to draw their weapons. Jimin’s eyes widen, trying his best to remove himself from the restraints. The situations seems unfair. There’s about thirty bandits. Against one you.

Suddenly, a yell is heard from behind one of the tents. A bandit falls unconscious, weapon now disappeared, the sound of rustling in the bushes nearby.

The leader turns to see his fallen bandit, before turning back to you with a glare.

“You have people with you,” he states.

You smirk. “Did you really think I was going to come alone?”

Lightening strikes, barely missing one of the bandits, starting the ambush from your party. Each of your party members appear from different areas of the camp, fighting away the bandits and disarming them. You jump back onto the bridge, keeping yourself at a good distance from the camp for your ranged weapons. A shadow weaves between bandits to swiftly remove Jimin from his restraints, all while taking down the bandits by his side.

“Thanks,” Jimin says to the man who freed him, taking in his black attire and harnesses. With the man is a familiar face, Jeon Jungkook, hands and feet bare, in a stance prepared to fight.

Hoseok smiles. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Monkey’s beloved.”

Jungkook scoffs from beside him, kicking and punching away any bandit that came close to the prince. “Stop being weird, Fox.”

“I have an ought to meet the man who stole the heart of my friend,” Hoseok says to Jungkook, before striking a bandit who comes up behind him and disarming him. He then turns to Jimin. “I can take you somewhere safe.”

Jimin’s eyes harden, cold stare toward the leader who’s occupied by a giant tiger. “I’m not going anywhere. I can fight.”

“Prince Jimin, please,” Jungkook starts, wanting to deter Jimin from staying the middle of the camp, the fear of the potential of the prince being struck by a weapon in his mind. But he sighs, seeing the determined look on the prince’s face. “Don’t get hurt.”

Jimin nods, picking up a weapon from one of the fallen bandits, and readying himself for the fight. Jungkook smiles with excitement and curiosity, having never seen this side of the prince before. He would assume that this Jimin was someone else completely different from the one he knew, if it weren’t for the soft glances he keeps making toward you.

Half the bandits down and disarmed, you continue to shoot your arrows toward the rest of the bandits, making sure you don’t kill them. You notice that Taehyung’s struggling with the leader of the bandits on his own and decide to help, not seeing Jimin sneaking up on the leader.

When you do, however, it’s too late.

Your eyes widen, hands shaking. It’s too late. You’ve already let go of your arrow. Your world slows as your arrow strikes Jimin instead of the leader of the bandits.

You quickly jump off the bridge, running toward where Jimin is. The leader, distracted by Jimin’s yell of pain, is suddenly disarmed by Taehyung, taking the leader’s weapons with a growl. Jimin strikes the man with his weapon before falling, arrow still lodged in his back.

“Jimin!” you yell, catching your beloved before he hits the ground. You make sure to not touch the arrow, not wanting to make the injury worse. Guilt rises in your throat as you noticed Jimin’s ragged breathing.

“Hey,” he smiles at you, love in his eyes. “You’re pretty cool, you know.”

You try to smile back, keeping your emotions at bay. You can’t show the bandits any vulnerability. “Just keep your eyes open for me, okay?”

The leader of the bandits laughs, gripping onto his bleeding arm. He opens his mouth to say something condescending, only for Hoseok to jump through the shadows to blow some sleeping powder in the leader’s face.

“I don’t want to hear another word from you,” Hoseok says to the leader, getting one last tired sneer before the man passes out. The rest of your party runs to where the rest of you are, Yoongi already by Jimin’s side to give him a quick healing spell.

“All the bandits are disarmed and unconscious,” Namjoon lets Hoseok know.

Hoseok nods. “Let’s get back to camp.”

You’re lucky that your party has some decent healers, worry no longer sitting in your chest as you sit by the fire of your party’s camp. Yoongi plays his lute to entertain the rest of your teammates as you wait for Jimin to fully heal. Taehyung, back in his human form, rests in his tent with his beloved, scars he received from fighting with the leader of the bandits being healed by her.

Jimin walks out of the tent after a few songs, Seokjin following after him. His eyes scan the camp before they land on you, a wide smile breaking out on his face. He walks to you and you intertwine your fingers with his as he sits next to you.

“How are you feeling,” you ask in a quiet voice.

“Like I’m brand new.”

“I’m sorry,” you whisper, guilt still in your chest.

“Hey,” Jimin whispers, pulling you in so your head hits his chest. “I’m alive. You’re alive. That’s all that matters.”

Yoongi starts a new song and this time, Jungkook sings along with his soft and beautiful voice. The two of you sit together in silence, listening to the beautiful music. Seokjin is sitting close by so he can keep an eye on Jimin, but he gives the two of you privacy and starts a hushed conversation with Hoseok.

“So,” Jimin says after a while, pulling away from the hug so he can look at you, teasing glint in his eyes. “You’re a ranger, huh?”

You nod. “I wasn’t sure how I could tell you. I’m sorry.”

Jimin laughs. “It’s fine. We’ve only known each other for five moons. We have plenty more time to get to know each other.”

“Well, I guess I should also let you know that I’m known as Hydrangea’s Monkey.”

“I heard,” Jimin smirks. “Even I knew about Hydrangea’s Monkey before I met you. When the crimson bandits talked of Hydrangea’s Monkey, I couldn’t believe that they were talking about you.”

“So,” you ask. “What will you do with this information?”

Jimin leans into you, lips centimetres away from yours. “I think I want to see more of Hydrangea’s Monkey. You look ravishing when you fight.”

You close the gap between you and Jimin, locking your lips with his, kissing him with passion, desperation, love, love, love. You run your fingers through his hair and he gasps into the kiss, hands gripping your waist.

“Hey, not in front of the kids!” Seokjin yells, running to Jungkook so he can cover his eyes.

“I’m not a child!” Jungkook exclaims, fighting Seokjin’s hands. “I’ve seen enough of their lip-locking already.”

You pull away from the kiss so you can laugh at your friends, arms still over Jimin’s shoulders. Jimin’s hands don’t leave your waist, instead he grips them tighter.

“It’s a full moon tonight,” Jimin whispers.

You turn to him, a glint in your eyes, smile on your face. “Let’s go find ourselves some privacy.”

The two of you swiftly sneak away from your party, giggling together and holding hands as you find a nice clearing under the moon. You spend your fifth full moon with Jimin like you always do, only tonight is filled with more love and passion than the full moons before. That night, you make a promise. A promise for a future, a promise to get to know each other more.

Under the fifth full moon together, you find yourself loving Jimin more than you thought you ever could.

[rulesearth]

tag drop ii, incomplete

[hotpinkrathian]

From Chaos to Order

A Kuvira Story

8 Years old

"She's a master Metalbender Kuvira, she's going to take care of you and teach you."

"But I don't want to go! I want to be with you guys!"

"Believe me sweetheart, it's better for you if you're here." Kuvira remained silent, staring up at the massive domes of the city, the countryside fading behind them.  The wide gates of the metal city opened, and Kuvira watched her parents exchange a happy glance, leaving her out of it. Their carriage stopped, and her dad stepped out, picking her up and placing her on the ground beside him. "Go on," he told her, giving her a nudge.

"You must be Kuvira?" An older woman said, leaning down to meet her eyes. "My name is Suyin, this is my city, Zaofu."  Kuvira's eyes widened at the sight beyond the woman- Suyin, the city was so... clean. "Your parents tell me you're a metal bender,"

"I am!"

"Can you show me? Move this," Suyin said, placing a small metal bar on the ground. Kuvira dug her feet into the ground and focused, stretching her arm out and lifting the brick. Slamming it back down into the earth. Suyin raised her eyebrows and nodded in approval. "That was amazing Kuvira, if you stay here, I can teach you to do great things with your bending."

"Like what?" Kuvira asked, crossing her arms in the same way that made her mother chuckle.

"Like this," Suyin smiled, before taking a hardened stance that Kuvira memorized. She stared in awe as the woman pulled one of the large domes that framed the sky down toward her, the mass of metal shifting with her movements.

"Wow!" Kuvira gasped.

"You can do that too, with hard work." Kuvira nodded, and when the woman crouched down with her arms open, she ran into the hug. "Come with me," Suyin said, standing up, "I'll show you my home." She offered Kuvira her hand and Kuvira took it, looking back at her parents with a smile as her and Suyin walked into the city, unaware that she would never see them again.

10 years old

"Kuvira, honey, can you go get Opal from her room? Tell her it's time for dinner."

"Okay mom." Kuvira stopped in her tracks, her face flushed and she looked back at Suyin, who stared at her with a surprised look on her face."I'm sorry," Kuvira said in a frenzy.

"It's okay Kuvira." Suyin said, smiling brightly like always. She set down the platter she was holding and came up to Kuvira, who felt herself shaking with emotion. Su crouched before her, holding Kuvira's hands in her own. "You can call me mom if you want Kuvira. I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Really." Su replied, kissing her on the top of the head.

"Thank you," Kuvira replied in a barely audible whisper.

"Now Go fetch your sister." Kuvira's head reeled, not because she had called Su mom, but because Su had called Opal her sister. And she had never had a sister before.

12 years old

“Mom, why is everyone at school mad at you?”

“What do you mean Kuvira?” Su said, standing opposite of the counter as Kuvira.

“The boys at school said you were being selfish.”

“About what?”

“I don’t know, they said you weren’t helping the Earth Kingdom. That you should be doing more.” Su sighed, coming up to Kuvira who swung her legs off the stool. Su placed a hand on Kuvira’s back, and looked at her with a gentle smile and soft eyes.

“The Earth Kingdom is different then Zaofu,” she explained, “the earth kingdom is run by the Queen, and her legacy. Zaofu, we are our own little place, run by our own people. Problems in the Earth Kingdom aren’t up to us to solve, that was the rule when I created this city.”

“So why are they mad?”

“Their not mad, their parents are mad and the boys are listening to them. Many citizens here have family in the earth kingdom, and many of them want their families to come here. But there simply isn’t enough room, we don’t have enough people to expand the city.”

“Oh. Why don’t they help with the city then?”

“Because like we don’t interfere with the Earth Kingdom’s troubles they don’t interfere with ours.” Kuvira thought about this. To her it sounded like excuses, certainly her mother and the Earth Queen could figure something out. They could work together to better the entirety of the Earth Kingdom and Zaofu. But she kept her mouth shut and nodded. Su smiled and gave her a kiss on the head before disappearing down the hall.

14 years old

"Are you sure this is a good Idea Kuvira?" Baatar Jr asked, twiddling his thumbs.

"Of course it is. You like this girl Zinnia right? Well you have to know how to kiss her. So kiss me."

"Okay, if you think that'll work."

"I know it'll work," she replied, full confidence in her plan. Bataar leaned in, warily, and Kuvira moved to meet him, much more enthusiastically. She press his lips against his and she hummed slightly at the contact. She placed her hand on his knee to get closer, and she opened her eyes, peeking to see if his were open too.

"Guys have you- oh my god!" Su shouted, running toward them. She pulled Baatar off the bed, and Kuvira screamed a bit. "What are you doing?"

"Mom we were just-" Bataar began to explain.

"Never mind. You guys you can't do this."

"Why not?"

"It's... it's wrong. You just can't."

"But we wanted to. For practice." Kuvira explained.

"Kuvira no, you can't kiss Baatar."

"But I like him."

"Kuvira no!"

"But mom!"

"Don't... don't say that. Just stay here. Bataar come with me. Kuvira I'll talk to you about this in a bit."

At the time Kuvira didn't understand what she had done, she liked Baatar, and she could get him to kiss her no one was getting hurt. Except her. She lost a mother once before, and on that day she managed to loose her other one. She never called Su 'mom' again.

17 years old

"Hah! You're going to have to do better than that Wing. Hey! Wei you can't help him!" Kuvira yelled, dodging the stone that had nearly taken her out. She lifted two pillars underneath either of them but they were undeterred.  She looked around, hoping to get a sense of something that would throw them off. And just as she sidestepped a metal discuss she caught sight of it, one of Su's meteorites sitting on its podium. She stretched out her arm, smirking at the twins reaction when nothing happened and they smiled, so sure of themselves, that was their biggest flaw. She bent her arm in and the chunk of meteorite came flying from behind them, sending Wei to the ground first, and stalling Wing long enough for Kuvira to push a rock under his feet.

"Hah! Even with a teammate I still triumphed." She bragged.

"That was shady using that meteorite."

"Yeah that was out of bounds!"

"Out of what bounds? I beat you, take the loss." The boys sighed and Kuvira brushed the dust off her arms. Su stood on the steps, so Kuvira made her way over to her.

"That was impressive Kuvira."

"Thanks. One day they'll beat me."

"I doubt it. My boys are strong, but you're something else." Kuvira blushed, a smile tugging at the edge of her lips at the praise. "Have you thought about what you want to do when you turn eighteen?"

"Not really... I've been putting it off. I'm sorry I know you've been waiting for an answer."

"It's fine, take your time. But I just want to suggest that maybe you work for the Zaofu guard. The city could use more benders like you to defend. And maybe one day, lead it." Kuvira raised her eyebrows in surprise. Lead it? She hadn't even considered the possibility of stepping into Suyin's shoes when she was gone. Defending, fighting was one thing, but leading? She had to admit, it had appeal.

"That's... wow. For you to even think that I could lead this place is..."

"Enough to convince you?"

"Yeah." Su patted her on the shoulder before walking back into the house. Kuvira watched her go, the look of surprise on her face unfazed by time. Matriarch Kuvira Beifong. It had a good ring to it, of course the last name was a placeholder she'd have to ask Su, but it could work. Suddenly she had a vision of her future, and it didn't take long for her to have it planned out.

19 years old

"Okay Huan, honey, leave the statue. This is a nice family picture can you just smile please?"

"Son listen to your mother." Kuvira watched as the Zaofu Royalty shuffled into a disgruntled photo. Wing and Wei being the front runners for best comedic smile, behind only Baatar Jr., who held up bunny ears behind Opal, all the while smiling at Kuvira. She smiled back at him, shaking her head in fake disproval at his actions. She stood next to the camera, and the man with it, her arms tucked behind her back. She watched, as they took the photos, like they did every year. Every year she waited for Su, or Baatar to call her, to tell her to hop in the picture so she could stand beside Bataar Jr, making bunny ears behind Huan. But they never did.

"Kuvira, dear," Kuvira looked up, pulled out of her thoughts. "Can you pass me the medallion?" Su asked from her position between her husband and her eldest. Kuvira smiled weakly, she had let herself get hopeful again, and it hurt all the more. She pick up the medallion and tossed it, Su used her bending to make sure it reached her hand.

"Okay, one two three, flameo!" The camera guy said, the family repeating after him. Kuvira turned away, the other guards could handle it, she needed to be alone. She walked to the back steps, over looking swing and Wei's make shift battle arena. She smiled at the fond memories of epic battles on that field, or rather clear area of rock. She had tried everything, everything to be a part of the family photos. She wrote it in a card once, she chickened out when delivering it and instead pushed it under her bed never to be seen again. She felt footsteps come up behind her and she looked to see Baatar coming up behind her.

"Hey," he said, sitting next to her. "Mother is looking for you."

"Su's looking for me, you mean."

"Yeah." Despite physically being the same person, Bataar's "mom" and "Suyin" were very different people. And they both knew this, between the two of them they had a system that let the other know which version Su was in at the moment.

"She's probably not that impressed her guard just walked off." Kuvira suggested.

"Probably not, but she'll understand if you just explain it to her."

"Explain it? Explain what exactly? That I want her to see me as a daughter again? It's too late for that Bataar. That ship has sailed." He looked at her sympathetically,

"Maybe not," he replied, placing a hand on her knee. She looked up at him, fear in her eyes, and rising hope in her heart. She felt the longing, wanting to lean in and kiss him, but she took to long, because Su found her.

"Kuvira! There you are. You can't just leave your post at random."

"Yes, I'm sorry." She stammered, standing to meet her boss.

"Are you okay?" Su whispered.

"I'm fine, I just have an awful headache. Needed some quiet."

"Oh, well if you need to go rest Zinnia can take over.

"I'll be okay, I'll see a healer briefly if that's alright."

"Of course. I'll se you in a bit then." Kuvira nodded and and walked past Su, when Su wasn't looking she looked back at Bataar, sticking out her tongue and making a funny face. He winked and grinned in response as he engaged his mother.

21 Years Old

"After careful consideration and testing, we have chosen you, Kuvira, to be the next captain of the Zaofu guard." Kuvira raised her eyebrows in surprise, allowing her jaw to drop into a smile.

"Wow I... thank you!" She replied.

"You've earned it,"Suyin said, placing the silver badge onto Kuvira's chest. Kuvira bowed, taking a step back and allowing Su to enough space to leave. She watched her go, the Matriarch's arm tucked behind her back, similar to Kuvira's own. When the crowd had dispersed, and her friends and fellow colleagues had said their congratulations she caught sight of Baatar Jr at the edge of the room. She made her way up to him, and frowned slightly when she saw him engaged in a conversation with Zinnia.

"Kuvira," the girl said, "congratulations! You absolutely deserve this, no one works harder than you."

"Thank you, Zinnia," she smiled, "do you mind if I borrow Baatar for a minute?"

"Not at all, I'll see you later Baatar," Zinnia said, kissing him on the cheek. Kuvira avoided eye contact until the other girl had left.

"You looked Nobel up there," Baatar said, the same floppy smile on his face that had captured Kuvira so long ago.

"You're too kind."

"What comes next for you?" Bataar asked.

"I'm not sure, there's been some disagreements on some matters of authority, with me in the picture hopefully we can get stuff done."

"Yes well, Su's always been one that requires convincing. Once she has her mind set on something it's hard to change it." He explained, pushing up his glasses.

"I think I can handle her."

"I don't doubt it," he replied. She stretched out her hand, offering it to him in a shake. He didn't take, instead he wrapped her in a surprising hug. "I am really proud of you Kuvira. You're going to do great thing for this city. And maybe even the whole earth kingdom." Kuvira smiled, returning the embrace.

"I hope one day we can work together. There's no one else I'd rather have my back."

23 Years Old

“There must be something we can do to help? Just yesterday three different people travelled from different villages, asking us for help. Their villages have been raided by bandits their children starving! We can spare a few guards send them-“

“No Kuvira. I told you once, we don’t concern ourselves with the problems in the Earth Kingdom.”

“Maybe it’s time we should! Without a leader it will be run it into the ground, how long is it going to be before someone takes advantage of it and starts pushing their political ideals on us. We should act first-“

“Kuvira enough! I appreciate your input but I’ve made my decision, the district of Zaofu will remain neutral on this case.” Kuvira stood up, shaking her head in disbelief.

“If you won’t step up to help your kingdom, then I will.”

“Kuvira What are you talking about?”

“I will take the role of leader of the earth Kingdom.”

“Kuvira...”

“Why not Su? I made captain of your guard at 21. I’ve trained every day since I was 8 years old and you said it yourself, Zaofu needs more benders like me to lead it. Are you not confident enough in your ability to train me to be able to trust me with this?”

“Kuvira I-“

“I-what? Su.”

“I have no words. If you really think that you are capable of bringing back an entire Kingdom then I won’t stop you.”

“But you won’t help me either.”

“No, as usual, Zaofu will remain neutral.” Kuvira nodded, shoving down her frustrations.

“Very well. I’ll see you soon, Suyin.”

“Goodbye Kuvira.” Kuvira left, stalling outside the door for a moment to process what had just happened. She was going to rule the Earth Kingdom, she was going to use the ashes of the Queens Empire and she would build her own. But she couldn’t do it by herself. She knew Suyin wouldn’t help her, but she knew someone who would.

“Bataar?”

“Hmm? Kuvira you’re back! How’d it go with mother?” He asked, kissing her on the cheek.

“It... went.”

“Were you able to convince her?”

“No but... I assumed leadership of the Earth Kingdom.”

“What?”

“Bataar this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. People out there, they need me. They need us.” She said taking his hands. “I need to know if you will come with me.”

“Kuvira, you know I’d follow you anywhere.” She pulled him, kissing him passionately. “Where do we even start?” He asked when they pulled apart.

“Well there’ll be an announcement for one thing, so a speech would be appropriate.”

“Do you know what you’re going to say?”

“I don’t know. The Earth Kingdom was left to the maggots, bandits have taken control over towns across the province. It’s literal chaos.”

“So we have to stop the chaos,”

“By bringing back order.”

“Good morning residents of the Earth Kingdom. I, the Great Uniter declare the Earth Kingdom no more. From here on out, you are citizens of the Earth Empire. As an Empire I can promise you wealth, protection, and Order!”

All hail the Great Uniter!

[thegizka]

Smile

Writer’s Month Day 1:  Flower Shop AU

Hitsugaya takes particular notice of one of the flower shop's regular customers. It turns out she's taken notice of him as well.

Read it on Ao3.

Note: I do not own any aspect of Bleach.

The first time Hitsugaya saw her was his third day on the job.  She came into the shop with her sister to pick up an order under the name Kurosaki--lilies and ferns and pink camellias with sprigs of baby’s breath.  There was a note to cut them to fit a grave’s vase, so he snipped the stems and wrapped the tips in a damp paper towel before handing them over.  The sisters paid and thanked him.  He met her eyes briefly as she turned to go but thought nothing of it.  She was just one of a sea of customers.

A few months later, the sisters returned to pick up another order.  The blonde wandered around the shop for a bit, her sister trailing behind her.  Hitsugaya was on the other side of the store inspecting some arrangements for wilting.  He saw the blonde stop and smell a chrysanthemum before saying something to her sister who shrugged and said something in reply which caused her to frown.  They picked up their order from Matsumoto and left.

In another few months, she came in by herself.  She barely glanced around before heading to the counter.

“Pickup for Kurosaki please.”

“Sure, one moment.”  Hitsugaya turned to the shelves of orders, scanning the names until he found Kurosaki.  The bouquet included some zinnias instead of lilies this month.

“Do you need this trimmed?”

“Please.”  She stood with her arms crossed, leaning her weight on one leg like someone who was used to moving, not waiting.  She struck him as a person who didn’t fare well in idleness.

“You’re not with your sister today.”  Hitsugaya wasn’t normally one for small talk, but Matsumoto kept telling him facilitating an enjoyable experience was part of customer services.

“She has to help our father with an emergency, so I’m running the errands today.”

“It’s not a serious emergency, I hope.”

“No, not really.”  She exchanged payment for the bouquet.  “Thanks,” she said and left.

A few weeks later, he saw her on his day off.  Ever since he had moved away from Momo and Grandma (she wasn’t really his grandma, but he had nothing else to call her), he had taken to walking around Karakura Town on his own.  He didn’t enjoy staying in his tiny apartment alone.  It was too quiet.

Matsumoto had decided to take him under her wing, which was nice, but she was loud and bold where he was quiet and calculating.  Sometimes her company was too much.  Besides, they didn’t always have the same days off, which left him frequently alone with his thoughts and memories.

On those days, he’d wander Karakura Town, partially to get to know his new home and partially to distract himself.  It was a strange new place.  The town charaded as an average residence with a decently sized shopping district, a school, and a hospital on the outskirts.  Hitsugaya was noticing a lot of quirks, though.  The residents were pretty eccentric, and there was a higher than average amount of accidents.  He couldn’t decide if there was something greater at work or this town just had bad luck.

He was walking along the river when he saw her.  She was on the other side where the bank was wider.  He’d seen kids playing on the swaths of grass and couples picnicking there.  She wasn’t alone when he spotted her.  Her sister was sitting further up the embankment watching while she and an older boy with orange hair kicked a soccer ball.  Hitsugaya had never played soccer, but he could tell just by observing that she was good.  She had control of the ball and excellent balance.  The guy she was with had fast reflexes, but his movement indicated he didn’t usually use them for soccer.  He was chasing after the ball more often than he was guiding it.

Hitsugaya stopped in his walk and watched them for a while.  He found their interactions fascinating.  Whenever her opponent missed, rather than be triumphant, she appeared to berate him as though he wasn’t taking it seriously enough for her.  She always seemed so disinterested in the shop that this passion was intriguing.  She was expressive and energetic.  When she kicked the ball into the boy’s chest hard enough to make him stumble, she laughed.  Her sister got up and went to the boy with concern, but she went after the soccer ball.  When she rejoined the others, the boy ruffled her hair without a sign of anger or resentment.  She pushed him away with long-suffering annoyance.

He found his thoughts turning to Momo.  Their interactions had never been this natural or energetic.  He wondered if that was because they weren’t blood-related.  He could tell from the shape of their faces that the orange-haired guy was most likely their brother.  As they gathered their things to leave the riverbank, the boy kept a careful eye on his sisters, walking half a step behind them to keep them in sight.  Hitsugaya wondered if that was instinctual.  He wondered if Momo had ever done the same with him.

For Hitsugaya, their interactions had always been distant and calculated.  It was hard to pretend to trust after experiencing life alone for so long.  He had never adjusted his walking pace to match Momo’s or felt any form of fondness when she called him Shiro-chan.  But he couldn’t deny that he cared that she had been around for him.  She had kept an eye on him even when he forgot to keep her in sight.  He recognized that this gave him no right to consider her move away to college a betrayal, but the emptiness and regret he had felt had driven him to move away on his own.  The maturity he had gained helped him see how foolish of a boy he had been.

The Kurosakis had long left the opposite bank, and Hitsugaya bade his feet continue walking.  He redirected his thoughts to designing a new flower arrangement.  It would feature peach blossoms and forget-me-nots.

The next time they met, she caught him off guard.

“Do you like working here?”

He paused in his trimming to look at her.

“Karin,” her sister scolded, “that’s rude!”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I’ve been in here a dozen times since you started working, and you’re never smiling.  Why do you work here if you don’t like it?”

“Karin!”

“There are more important things than enjoying my work,” he replied, finishing the preparation of their bouquet.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.  Pleasure and responsibility aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“I take pride in my work.”

“You’re dodging my question.”

“Karin!”  Her sister looked furious.  “We have to go.  I’m very sorry.”  She bowed to him.  “Thank you for the flowers.”

He watched them leave, whispering and bickering together.  Why did she seem to care so much about his answer?  Not smiling didn’t mean he hated it here.  He rarely smiled at anything.  He was a little surprised she had noticed.

Two days later, Karin came back to the shop.  She wasn’t picking up an order; Hitsugaya noticed every time a bundle was set aside for Kurosaki, and there hadn’t been anything on the pickup shelf that morning.  He was assembling a new arrangement at the work table near the back of the store.  She wandered between displays, periodically pausing to inspect a flower, but she seemed disinterested and unsure.  Matsumoto was busy helping another customer, so Hitsugaya approached her.

“Hi,” he greeted.  “Can I help you find something?”

“Oh, hi.”  She seemed started.  “I was just looking for something for my sister.”

“Did she tell you what she wanted?”

“No,” she sighed.  “She doesn’t know I’m here.  I messed up, and Yuzu’s really mad at me, so I figured I’d get some flowers to apologize.”

“Ah.”  He briefly wondered what rift between the sisters warranted flowers, but it wasn’t his business.

“She understands a lot more about this than I do,” Karin mumbled, twirling the stem of a lily gently before putting it back.  “All I see are flowers, but she gets the meanings behind them and knows what care they need to last longer.  It makes her extremely difficult to shop for.”

“Not many people know the language of flowers nowadays.”

“Do you?”  She looked at him with genuine curiosity.  For a moment, he had her full attention, and it sent a pleasant shiver down his spine.

“Sorry, dumb question,” she said, looking away quickly.  “It’s probably a requirement for your job.”

“It’s not, but I did learn it.”

“Then do you know of any good apology flowers?”

“Sure.”

She looked at him with relief and expectation.

“Just get her flowers she likes.”

“Seriously?  I thought you’d point to something and say ‘This means I’m sorry, please forgive me’ and I’d be good to go.”

“I’ve never come across a single flower that says all of that,” he replied, his bemusement bringing a slight grin to his face.  Karin blinked before grinning herself.

“That’s because flowers don’t really speak, dummy.”  She shook her head, possibly to hide the hint of color in her cheeks that accompanied her lame joke.  “Get her flowers she likes?  Hmm.”

She wandered the aisles, and Hitsugaya followed, offering suggestions and advice when she seemed unsure.  They collected sunflowers and pink carnations, lilies of the valley and white daisies.  He chose some foliage to fill out the bouquet and highlight the blossoms.  She browsed the ribbons while he trimmed the stems and finalized the arrangement at the work table.

“Thank you,” Karin said, running a strip of ribbon between her fingers.  “I was totally lost in here on my own.”

“You’re welcome.”  He tied the yellow ribbon she had picked out around the stems, finishing it with a bow.

“Did you do this?” she asked, indicating the arrangement he had been working on when she entered.

“I did.”

“I like it.”  She leaned down to sniff one of the flowers.  “I recognize the daffodils, but what are these purple ones?”

“Salvia.”

“They work nicely together.  You have a good eye.”

He wanted to tell her it was just part of his job, but his usual blunt reply died on his lips.

“Thanks.”

They looked at each other for an indecipherable moment before he thrust the bouquet at her.

“Thank you again,” she said as she handed him payment.  “I think Yuzu will like these.”

“Is it enough for her to forgive you?”

“Oh yeah.  She doesn’t stay mad for very long.  And if she’s not satisfied, I’ll just come back and buy some more.”

“I’ll brainstorm some other combinations just in case.”

“Thanks for your confidence in me,” she snorted, but there was a grin on her face.  “See you later.”

Hitsugaya watched her leave.  A little part of him hoped he’d see her again soon.

[imsofthelp]

Eijirou Kirishima x f!reader

Category: angst

Warnings: suicide (nothing graphic) slight cursing, mentions of sex under the cut

Word count: 2,881

Summary: Kirishima's journey of learning how to live without you and the fault he feels for your decision.

A.n: This is told from Kirishima's POV, the character Daichi is completly random and has nothing to do with bnha lol. Things have been... Kinda bad lately, so I guess it's my way of ranting. Hope ya'll like it!

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

There’s a few Astilbes in a tall vase on my bedside table. There’s this sweet smell coming from them, but it’s masked by the scent of a strong vanilla cologne.

It’s cold in the room because I can’t make myself get up to close the window, which lets ice cold air from the darkness to leak in.

I’m talking with her on the phone while wrapping the phone charger around my finger, untangling then twirling it again. My fingers remembered it as a routine during the hour we spent talking.

Even if her words are joyful, even if she’s talking about how’s school been and how she spent today studying at this super cute coffee shop with her friends, her voice feels heavy. Heavy with something she doesn’t want to show me. Something that she tries to hide under her stuttering laugh and stories.

But I’m not stupid. I can hear hints of pain stabbing her in the “It was fun” like sharp knives, and her “My new classmates are awesome!” covered by a mask of longing.

I want to help her, but my throat is dry and my tongue feels like it’s tied. I am held back by my own insecurities and doubts - I don’t want her to think that I’m an idiot or that I’m not minding my own bussiness.

“Eijirou? You still there?” she asks, oddly calm.

I wake up from my little trance. It seems like I got lost in the halls of my mind again. I feel a bit guilty. Did she tell me something important?

“Sorry, I got carried away for a second,”

There’s silence on her end of the line. A sigh soon rolls off the silence. I screwed up again.

“No, it’s okay. Nothing important.”

I hold my breath. What did she say? The smartest thing to do right now is just ask her-

“I will go now. Thanks for the convo, though,”

My teeth catch my bottom lip and I bite it. Idiot. I’m a fucking idiot.

There’s silence staying on the phone with me for a while until a quiet beep announces the call ending.

I couldn’t really sleep that night.

Somewhere near midnight, the line between sleep and search for comfort within the spots of the celling, in the stripes of the wallpaper or the folds of the blanket, blurs.

I don’t know when did I fall asleep but I think I saw angels, or maybe, just soft rays of sun, flooding into the room through curtainless windows.

I’m thinking about her. I’m thinking about how’s her day going and if she got any new opportunities to join a big agency.

Calendar on the wall shows that today is 11th of April, 2022.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

Time as a pro-hero flies fast. Now I have a lot of problems, or maybe, just more than I had when I was at school. I don’t bother to remember the names or faces of people. Don’t want to.

Bakugou says that I’ve changed and that others are really worried, but I just bury myself in more work.

I can’t tell when a patrol starts and ends or the voices of villains and other heroes. It all blurs into one mess that lays on my shoulders like a dark cloud.

I come back home with an empty head and a full work shedule.

While I try to watch TV, not minding the buzzing on the other side of window and in my head, the bouquet of pink Camellias in the vase seem to stare at me.

I try not to mind themuntil a delicate petal falls on my arm. I don’t know how to keep flowers. Maybe I should stop buying them - they seem to not like my place.

I try to change the water, hoping that this would fix everything, and then I go back to mindessly watching tv.

I wait. Laying in my bed, a soft blanket wrapped around me as I desperately search for any warmth. I wait. Tick Tock.

Then there’s only one minute left of waiting and that minute soons ends as my phone rings, throwing me out of my endless thoughts.

“Hey!”

“Hello! How are you? How was hero work today?”

Her voice sounds different today. A lot brighter, like she has a smile on her face as she’s talking and I feel myself smiling too.

“It’s good, it’s good... Hero work is hard, as always. I’ve got a nasty case, dealing with some shitty drug dealers. It’d be better if you told me about your day.”

She stays quiet for a moment. It feels as if she’s holding her breath and, for a moment, I hold mine too. As if we’re underwater in our own safe bubble, where no one else can reach us.

“Everything’s very good. Great, even,” she finally answers and our bubble bursts.

“How did that audition go?”

“Uhm, I didn’t go.”

I frown, not even knowing what to say. She wouldn’t shut up about that audition, how the hero that ran it shared her opinions and ideals, how that place was just a dream, how-

“Why?” I trap all of my thoughts in that simple word.

“Just thought it wasn’t worth it,”

I wrap my finger around the phone charger and unwrap it again.

“Why?” I repeat my question again, dumbfounded.

“Dunno, maybe that place wasn’t that fit for me after all.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

After that silence follows. Then we talk some more about work, but it seems that conversation just doesn’t flow freely tonight. I drag it out like bubblegum that’s not meant to stretch this far.

“I’m coming back for a few days soon.”

I almost jump up. Don’t know if it’s from excitment or from shock. I haven’t seen her for a year.

“Wait, really?” I ask, finding it hard to believe.

“Yeah, and I have a huge favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“Could I crash at your place while I’m here?”

My heart jumps with excitment. She’s more than welcome to stay. My heart aches just at the thought about an opportunity to see her.

I suddenly remember that she’s still waiting for my answer.

“Yeah sure! Just give me a message when you have the date set.”

She sighs with relief,

“You’re the best, Eijirou.”

The way she says my name makes a blush creep up my checks,

“Don’t mention it.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Just like that, the call ends and I’m left with pleasant silence. Tonight I don’t feel lonely.

The calendar shows 11th of April, 2023.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

It’s a few weeks of waiting until she grants her promise. She stands at my door, more beautiful than ever and for a second, I doubt if that’s just a vision, but after she flashes one of her sunshine smiles I instantly know that she’s real. She’s there and she’s real.

I pull her into a tight embrace, burying my face in her hair. Words cannot describe how much I missed her.

I give her a bunch of red Chrysanthemums and I instantly knew it was worth getting to the flower shop so early in the morning - her smile lights up the room brighter than the sun ever could.

“I missed you, Eijirou,” the name rolls off her plump lips so softly. It gives me the feeling that if I do as much as breathe, I’ll shatter the moment.

We talk all day, watch some TV and then talk some more. The stars shine so bright tonight that we don’t even need lamps. It seems as if they’re enjoying our moment too.

She tells me countless stories and I want to hear each one of them over and over again, her voice makes me feel drunk off my mind.

She talks about struggling with living in a foreign country, about missing me and other friends, about everything that bothers her and I’m here to listen. Soon, I tell her all my secrets and we’re sitting in front of each other pulling away all of our lies.

I don’t know what events lead up to our next step. Truly, it’s all a blur and the only significant thing I can point out is the flowers, gently sitting in the tall glass vase.

We get rid of our clothes, the same way we got rid of our secrets just minutes ago. There’s nothing separating us now and we can and get drunk off each other’s bodies.

Making love with her is tender and sweet, with lots of praises and sweet nothings, she manages to whisper out.

I pause for a second, taking a moment to truly look at her and memorise every inch of her body. From the way her hair is draped on my pillow and her face is so calm, to the way her legs, wrapped around my waist try to pull me as close as possible.

We spend the night naked, flush against each other, finally free of everything. If only for a moment.

The calendar shows 14th of May, 2023.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

When my phone rings again, I’m putting a bunch of yellow Zinnias into the vase. The flowers that I had before them have already wilted so I threw them away.

I sigh, expecting another call from her brother, who suddenly became worried about her like two weeks ago, or maybe someone from the former Bakusquad.

When I see her name on my phone I pick it up faster than I never knew I could.

“Eijirou...”

I haven’t heard her voice in so long, it almost feels surreal. I want her to repeat my name, slowly, so that could remember every syllable she says and repeat it on my mind forever.

“Is everything okay? I was so worried!”

Her voice cracks. I hear a quiet sniffle that she tries to hide.

“No, actually... No... I don’t like it there, I want to go home.”

All the other emotion in my body are conquered by pain. It’s so good to hear her, but it hurts so much to hear her voice is filled with sorrow I wished she would never experience. I want her to come back. I don’t care how selfish it is.

“I can’t... You know I can’t,”

I blink. I want to tell her, but my tongue feels heavy and all my words begin to slur.

I wake up with a jump. My shirt is flushed against my back and my whole body is covered in goosebumps. I snake my arms around myself, desperately seeking any kind of warmth.

My phone is turned off and the calendar shows 11th of April, 2024.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

I put red and white striped Carnations in a vase. Flowers from before are dead, as always.

Work goes by the same as always and while I’m sitting down trying to finish tomorrow’s plans, I wait for a call.

Time goes by, but it doesn’t ring. Tick tock. She always calls at the same time.

She used to call at the same time, my mind corrects. I push that thought into the deepest part of my brain, never to be found again.

Tick tock. That’s how another hour goes by, filled with walking from one end of the room to the other and checking my phone again and again.

I don’t get a call.

The other three weeks are tense. The bags under my eyes are filled with darkness from staring at the windows during long, sleepless nights, searching for answers from the dark and dim stars. Answers that none of them want to give to me.

When I get a call, my clock shows that it’s almost 4am.

“Y/N?” I ask, my voice colored by hopeful hues. Droplets of sleep still hang on my lips.

“No, dude it’s Daichi.”

I grit my teeth. I’m not mad at him. I’m not mad at him for calling me, I’m not mad at him...

I’m mad because he’s not Y/N.

“Yeah?”

“I wanted to ask something about Y/N,”

“Eh?”

And what about her? For me to tell him what Y/N thought of him? To tell him that he was a bad brother? To tell him that his sister left because his family sucks?

“You’re her best friend.”

“Was.”

“What?”

“Was her best friend.”

“Yeah...”

“And?”

“And you.. Well you... Well she probably told you...”

“She didn’t,”

My answer is cold and what would put an end to this conversation.

“She... didn’t?”

He obviously doesn’t know when it’s time to end a conversation.

“Daichi, are you drunk?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Why are you calling me at 4am?”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment. Maybe it’s the only aspect he and his sister share - that small little doubt, showing that they’re never sure of what to say.

“Because I don’t u-understand,” he hiccups.

“What?”

Then his voice breaks, like a ship that’s slowly claimed by the waves to be sunken forever.

“Eijirou... Eijirou... I don’t understand why she left... Eijirou, was it really bad for her? Was it that bad that she couldn’t tell anyone?”

I bite my bottom lip until I feel a hot droplet of blood running down my chin. What do I say to him? That she was trying to tell them? That they didn’t listen? That none of us did?

“It’s not your fault, Daichi. Go to sleep,”

“But...”

“We’ll talk again tomorrow if you want to. Now go to sleep.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Yeah.”

I end the call and fall back to my bed. My bed is incredibly cold and unwelcoming. I slump my way towards the kitchen and sit there until the first droplets of liquid gold begin to pour inside.

Calendar shows 11th of April, 2025.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

I put Cyclamens in the vase. It’s the day we meet again. I don’t know what to hope for and while I’m going, my insecurities and fears follow close, only to disappear as soon as i see her.

She looks like a goddess. Her hair like rays of sunshine that found their place in the waves of locks on her head, her skin seems to shine, like it’s been kissed by stars and her smile only compliments her beauty.

Nothing’s changed but when I come closer, I notice that her eyes are different. All the happiness and joy is drained and now they’re empty. No, not empty... Just filled with something I can’t quite identify.

“It’s you...” I manage to whisper and before I start feeling like an idiot, she laughs with that wonderful laugh wrapping me with the feeling of safety, telling me that everything’s okay.

“It’s me.” she confirms and puts her forehead against mine. We drown in the silence, away from everything.

“I often wonder why you did that.”

She pulls away and her hands find their place on the back of my neck, as if we’re dancing, “I did it for myself.”

I sigh, “I don’t understand it. I don't understand it, Y/N,”

My hands dance on her waist, not finding their place.

“I wasn’t happy, Eijirou. I wasn’t happy there.”

I sigh again and pull her against my body. She smells like vanilla and clean laundry,

“Could I’ve made you happy?” I quietly ask and she raises her glance. Her empty eyes that pulled me in so strongly.

“No, it’s not your fault, Eijirou,” she answers and wipes away my tears that I didn’t even know were falling, “I did it for myself, I did it so I could be happy. Eijirou, I feel good now.”

I look up to the bright blue sky. There’s only one cloud there.

I take in a stuttering breath.

“Wasn’t there anything I could do?” Tears now flow freely as I try to not look at her. Somewhere deep inside I know this isn’t real and I’m afraid that she’ll disappear if I look at her for too long.

She takes my face into her hands, softly stroking it with one hand. Her glance is soft and for a moment, I see the Y/N I used to know before.

“All you can do right now is forgive me,” she whispers and I pet her silky hair, “And forgive yourself, Eijirou. You can’t carry the guilt of other people’s choices. You can’t live with a fault that isn’t your’s.”

That’s the last time I hear her voice.

When I wake up, I see her face right before my eyes but it’s not a ghost who drags a trail of unanswered questions after itself. No, it’s now a person I once loved so much. A person that I couldn’t hate for leaving me in pieces of my former self.

There’s a bunch of yellow Daffodils and Forget-Me-Not’s in my hands. Forget-Me-Not’s for a promise, that she’ll always be dear to me and Daffodils - the second promise, that I will finally start everything over again.

I leave the flowers on her grave, which I finally visited after two years.

It’s time to forgive her. It’s time to forgive myself.

I come back home and check the calendar for the last time. My new beginning is on 11th of April, 2026. Two years after her death.

“The sun will rise, and we will try again,” she used to say. With those words, I breathe in and peel the calendar page off.

✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*✧˖*

As always, thanks @velvet-kissesss​ for editing! 

[mxstball]

[Rising Kingdom] Reunited At Last

"...." Heidi and Lacey sat down as they glanced at each other. Neither of them could figure out quite was going on. Was this how Friede modified the Soul Dew, so Heidi could enter it and see the soul inside? Still, all of this was so... surreal. To think that, after 1,700 years... after kingdoms rise and fall... after she lost her home and travelled between various dimensions... that she'd come back to her childhood home like this....

If only she could share this with Zinnia or Lauren or even Nergal--

"Mama... how... how can you recognize me after all of these years?"

Meredith, Heidi's mother, sat down in front of each of them. "Well, while there's still so much about you that I sense has changed, I can still sense that shy little girl from all of that time ago. Call it a mother's intuition." Meredith started giggling.

"Meredith-Okaasama*...." Why did saying this feel... so right to her? Meredith didn't know her. Even if she were her namesake, she wouldn't exist for another 700 years.

Meredith turned to look at Lacey. "I haven't forgotten about you either, my little one." She shook her head. "Just because we have never met formally, does not make you any less of my child."

"!!!" Lacey froze. She didn't know why, but Meredith's warm welcome to her was shocking to her. Was she... really Meredith's child in her eyes?

"Hehe. I think we'll be good friends already, child." Meredith looked between the two of them. "Now, if I may ask... what are the names of my two lovely ladies? Surely you picked names for yourselves in the years since I have been away, hm?"

"My name is Heidi, mama. I named myself to honor the life of a long-lost Lorekeeper." Heidi was excited to say it.

"....Lacey, Meredith-Okaasama. I named myself...." She paused. She... was reluctant to say it. Would calling the name after Zinnia's nickname admit to her being the same as Heidi? Would saying she took it from Heidi be even correct, especially considering that she also calls herself that? "...after the nickname our trainer gave us."

"Heidi... Lacey... I love these names so much. Although... What is a 'trainer'?"

Heidi answered. "Oh! You know humans, right?"

"Of course, I do, my love."

"Well, in the present, humans and Pokémon live together in harmony! In fact, some humans even work together with several Pokémon so we all work together and get stronger together. That's what we call a trainer!"

"Po....kémon?"

"Yeah! That's what we're called. From the small Wurmple to even The All-Mother herself. Humans call us Pokémon, short for Pocket Monsters!"

"Oh! That's so fascinating! And you, as a Pokémon, had one of these... trainers?"

"We did, mama. Her name is Zinnia. She's uh... pretty strange for a human at times, but she is one of the kindest creatures that I've ever met."

"That's so wonderful. From the sounds of it, you think of her so highly." Meredith chuckled. "I am so happy that you have been able to meet her."

"We are too, mama." Heidi nodded.

"mmm." Lacey nodded.

Heidi got up and grabbed Meredith's hands. "Mama... we have so much that we want to share with you. We've travelled the world like you said, but we've even seen other worlds, and met so many people and Pokémon! So much has changed and Lacey and I have grown so much..."

"...."

"..."

"Oh. Hehehe!" Meredith couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, you've always just been so bouncy when you're excited about something, Heidi. I missed this so much. However, don't you think that you're missing something?"

Heidi paused. "Huh?"

"Well, we'll have plenty of time to catch up in future visits, but I can tell that this wasn't the reason why you've come today."

"...." Heidi looked at Lacey.

"Our training, Heidi."

"Oh. Shit. Right. Wait, how is this of all places a part of our training?"

"Well, that's because I'll be an integral part of it now, little one." Meredith bowed a little. "I don't know what is going on with the outside world, but I can sense that this is the purpose of your visit."

"...Oh. Okay. Then... after, will we get to talk?"

"On future visits, yes. You will keep the Soul Dew, yes?"

"Y--yeah! Of course! If I can do this then definitely!"

"Perfect. Now, little ones, let us venture into the spring. We shalt begin our first training session by meditating under the waterfall."

Lacey nodded. "Yes, Meredith-Okaasama."

Heidi nodded. "Yes, mama. Lead the way."

--

Translations:

*メレディスお母様 - Mother Meredith.

[thoughtfullyyoungduck]

Insecure butterfly

A/N: this was requested by anon, I’m sorry it took so long and it’s written so bad, but I hope you enjoy none the less! Let me know what you think! I based this on my own experience. If anyone has any requests, please send them to me! 

Summary; Richie and Eddie’s daughter feel fat, and Richie and Eddie do their best to convince her otherwise. 

warnings: bad self image, and curse words 

The front door closes with a loud bang, as Richie tumbles trough it, a flower bouquet gripped tightly in his left hand. Among the flower bouquet is a combination of Zinnia’s, hibiscus and red saliva's, who granted don’t match, but they are Richie’s favorite flowers, and it’s only really meant to prove to Eddie and Calia that he thinks about them anyway, so they don’t have to.

 He’s overcome with happiness, the sun warming every inch of his skin and making the world seem that much better and more welcoming, the smiles that have returned on everyone’s face at the first sighting of the heat resulting in one on his face too.

Summer has always been his favorite season, as a kid it was because it meant he was duty free, no school to worry about and no homework that he half-assed just to get it done.  Summer was the equivalent to freedom, the losers and him always escaping to a place, mostly to the barrens, where parents couldn’t judge them, and there were no expectations, no rolls that they were forced into.

After the summer where Pennywise nearly killed them all, the season stopped representing joy, and instead depicted the dark, mind-numbing fear Richie had experienced for the very first time at IT’s hands. Then he forgot about IT, but his life dulled down so fully without his friend being there, that life was one long endless year he survived, barely taking notice of what the weather was like.

Re-meeting Eddie again after Mike called, caused summer to claim his rightful place as the number one time of the year once more.

So sue him for being excited that it’s summer break, but spending time with his family in the summer, to go camping or swimming, lit Richie up like a crystal ball, the inner child in him bubbling up to the surface. A list of things they can do holds Richie hostage, and he barely contains the excitement until he enters his home, trying to convey to the outside world that yes, he is a grown man and not a kid on Christmas eve.

He’s walking towards the kitchen, whistling a tune of a song Eddie hates, and Calia claims makes him appear even older then he is, searching around for his husband who by all means should have been home after dropping their daughter off with a friend.

Said husband ambushes him from behind, a hand gripping Richie’s bicep harder than strictly necessary, spooking Richie even when he tries to pretend it didn’t.

He turns around, his mouth halfway to making a joke already, but stopping once he spots the look of absolute dread coming from Eddie. At first he thinks it has something to do with Sonia, because even now that Eddie isn’t in contact with her anymore, devastation would still take a hold of him if something bad were to have occurred with her, but it’s not.

‘Our daughter’, Eddie says with a pinch of hysterics, ‘thinks she’s fat.’ His breathing comes in short gasps, which indicates that he’s about to have another panic attack, and Richie needs to hurry to distract him so he can steer it away.

‘I brought you flowers Eds. They smell all sweet and cute, like you.’ He decides on, shoving the bundle under his nose, attempting to make his smile as unsuspiciously as possible. Eddie takes to flowers and spares them a quick glance, before shoving them up the small table that’s mostly used for decoration, abandoning them for later.

‘I’m serious Rich, where did she even get that idea?’ He starts to pace up and down the room, sauntering in their living room where he resumes his hovering, deep in thought.

With a sigh, Richie follows him and takes a seat in their sofa. Of course what Eddie claims is concerning, but it wouldn’t be the first time that Calia entrusted him with something, and he was oblivious to the context in which it was said. Besides, at least one of them needs to be calm to resolve the situation, and it seemed like that task fell upon his today. ‘Did she say anything to you?’ Richie inquires, fishing for as much details as he can get. His earlier mood is completely obliterated, uneasy sitting in the pit of his stomach, despite his best attempts to stay focused.

‘No’, Eddie replies, sheepishly, as he comes to a stop and looks up at Richie guiltily.

‘Eddie, you can not spy on her.’

‘I did no such thing asshole’, Eddie defends. ‘I overheard her on the phone while she was in the car. There was no way that I didn’t hear anything, and it was not done on purpose.’ His hand chops in the air to accentuated his point, appalled at the accusation Richie made. ‘I’m not my mother.’

Immediately consumed with guilt, Richie scrambles off their couch, seizing Eddie’s hand in his to try and capture his eyes. The hurt that burns through him when Eddie snatches his hand away makes his feel even worse.  ‘That’s not what I was trying to say Eds.’

With an eyebrow lifted, Eddie stares at him, as if daring him to spell out what he did mean then. His hands are fidgeting by his side, and Richie notices it right away, his own hands itching to comfort his husband.

‘I’m sorry okay? You could never be like your mom. A lot of parents check their kids phone Eds, that does not mean they’re your mother. I’m just against reading her texts, it’s her privacy. I should have realized that you respect her privacy as well and I’m sorry, but I will never, ever compare you to your mother okay?’

Eddie grunts, still a bit annoyed at Richie, but he accepts the kiss from him eagerly all the same, the anger draining out of him the second their lips touch. Privileged to be the one to have that effect on Eddie, but also understanding the severity of the situation, Richie struggles to detain a smile.

‘I’m sorry too, I was trying to pick a fight because I have no idea what to do with all this anxiety in me, but that was wrong.’ Eddie accounts for.

Richie shrugs it off, they have more important things to get too anyway, and he should have worded it better in the first place. ‘Well then we’re both sorry Eddie Spaghetti, now sit your cute ass down and tell me what happened.’

Relenting, Eddie trails after Richie, sinking down next to him, while he begins to tell the story from the start. ‘When I dropped her off this morning at Nina’s house, we were running a little late, so she called her to say that we were bound to arrive soon, and the two of them got talking. I don’t know what Nina said, I heard nothing of her side of the conversation, but Calia responded to her saying ‘I know that, but I’m too fat to wear such a thing anyway’, what the hell do we do Rich?’

Something bubbling up under the surface tries to make its way up, insistent and demanding Richie to accept it, to process it regardless of his tries not to.

Helplessness settles in in every pore of his being, prolonging his suffering and making his stomach turn violently. This somehow feels worse than Calia being sick, simply because there’s nothing really to be done.

Richie has spend more than enough of his childhood and adolescence hating the way he looked, and attempting to change all the things he didn’t like, revolted by the reflection that stared back at him, and followed him anywhere he went.

And it’s not something that anyone else can fix for you either. Eddie hadn’t been able to make Richie more confident, not for lack of trying, and everyone telling him that he was beautiful as a child only had an aversion effect. He was being unheard, his insecurities swept from under the rug like they were too much to deal with.

Claiming he was beautiful felt like an escape, an easy way out of conversation that everyone was too awkward to have. He wonders if perhaps it’s something genetic, something he passed on to his daughter.

The mom’s in the Facebook group I’m in said that we should take away all mirrors, is that something we should do?’ Startled by Eddie’s admission, Richie starts guffawing.

‘You’re in a Facebook group with all moms?’ He teases, words light with an blasé tone about them. His mind flashes back to years of not being able to view himself in the mirror, feeling nothing but shame whenever he did catch his own eye.

‘Don’t you fucking start Richie’, Eddie warns, but Richie succeeds in his intent, which was distracting Eddie from the serious issue at hand, and a tiny bit off lightheartedness reared its head, soothing him by the fact that he knew what it was like, and he might be able to help her.

‘Alright, Alright,’ Richie relents, for now, his arm up in a surrendering gesture. ‘Let’s just talk to her, and then we’ll see what she says. But Eds, we’re gonna need to handle this naturally okay? Don’t ambush her.’

‘Obviously not dickwad, if anything, it’s you that has to act normal.’

Without question, it’s Eddie that brings up the topic, not even a second after Calia arrives home. She finishes taking off her shoes, adjusting her grey sweater that she was wearing, as she follows the sound of Richie and Eddie’s bickering, the way she is used to them doing.

With a greeting wave, she crouches down to grab a water bottle in the fridge, uncapping the plastic and taking a big gulp.

‘We need to talk’, is the first thing Eddie declaims since she laid eyes on them. She stops mid swallow, her eyes turning wide and her face paling, full of worry.

‘You’re in trouble young lady’, Richie jokes in his best principal impression, before motioning her over. ‘Your dad is kidding, it’s just a talk, you’re not in trouble.’

‘Jees dad, I have anxiety, don’t do that.’ Calia says, her eyes rolling with vigor. She listens to Richie, her posture relaxing and her shoulders dropping, the worry’s melting away.

‘Great job Eds,’ he murmurs quiet enough that she doesn’t hear them, while still jabbing Eddie ins the side. Already, it appear as thought the conversation is not going to go the way they planned it.

‘So, what’s up?’ She asks, flitting her eyes between her parents, attempting to gauge them. Attempting to come across as nonchalant, Richie stretches out to the back of the sofa, his entire body splayed out sinking down.

It gives away more than he wants, the alarm bells going off in Calia’s head, an eyebrow furrowed in confusion, and the nervousness coming back. The eyebrow is something she has clearly mirrored from Eddie, and at times Richie speculates what she may have gotten from him and comes to the sick and twisted realization that mental issues, might be the answer.

He shakes himself out of his stupor, resigning it to a later time maybe tonight, as he would no doubt overthink everything right before sleep carried him off to sleep.

‘Your pops and I wanted to ask you about something I overheard in the car this morning.’

Becoming evident right away that Calia is appalled at the prospect of her father budding in a private conversation, Richie hurries to alleviate the situation.

‘He didn’t mean to listen in kiddo. It was an accident, but we still need to discuss it, it’s important. ’

Calia huffs, but stay silent none the less, and Richie takes it as his cue to continue.;

‘Your dad said that you said that you were fat’, Richie’s voice cracks at the end of his word, his stupid emotion getting the better of him as his heart breaks. In all his life, Calia was the most magnificent person, Eddie not taking into account, that he had ever encountered, and it was agony to know that she felt so less of herself.

Her face turns red, a blush coating both her cheeks, while she tensely glances around the room, avoiding eye contact. ‘So’, she mumbles, embarrassment creeping up her spine.

‘Why do you feel like that?’ Eddie prods, recalling some off the things he and Richie google searched before Calia get home.

She shrugs her shoulders, and Richie relates to her desire to get out of the situation fast. It’s not easy, to talk about the things that plague us so deeply, especially not with our parents of all people, but he knows that if they don’t talk about this now, they never will.

‘You can tell us, there’s no judgment in this house. Well except judgment on your dad’s cutnes, he’s 1000 percent guilty of that.’ He reaches over to pinch one of Eddie’s cheeks, hissing when his hand gets smacked away.

‘Hey, if you two are going to do, I’ll just go up to my room.’ Set out to escape the living room without her parents taking notice, Calia stands up inconspicuously, shuffling towards the door.

When both of her parents turn to watch her, and Eddie asks her to sit down again, she groans, but still does what is requested of her.

‘Can you tell us? I promise that if you confide in us this one time and we can’t help you or you feel to uncomfortable, then we won’t ever bring it up.

‘I just am okay? Like I’m a lot bigger than most of my friends, my stomach is protruding and I have a double chin. Compared to how you guys looked, and my friends it’s a simple fact that I am fat.’

Eddie has to swallow down his tears at her words, even when he squeezes his eyes closed to stop them that way. Granting him a minute to collect himself, Richie takes the lead. He himself discovers that it’s as hard being a parent as it is being the person who has low self-esteem. He finds himself rendered so useless.

Before he has a chance to even respond, he catches the words that Calia breathes out, like another kick to an already wounded puppy. ‘It’s not like any guy will ever want me either.’

‘Okay, don’t you ever fucking say that. Who the fuck cares if no guy, or girl wants you. They do, I know in the same way that I know you’re beautiful, but I also that right now that means nothing, and you think that I’m your father so I have to say that, so let me make clear to you what is true. You don’t exits to be a wife, that is not why you are born. You’re alive to brave through the world, and to leave the world a little brighter when you leave. If that includes having a boyfriend than okay, if it doesn’t than that’s that. A body isn’t functioning because you need to please someone, it’s such a complicated and crazy thing, but it works.’

While taking a deep breath, he uses his pause to stare at Calia’s eyes, conveying how much he means what he says.

‘Who created that extraordinary painting that won her top of her class, and resulted into it being displayed at in the art museum?’

‘I guess I did’, she concurs, her full and undivided attention on her dads.

‘Yeah, you fucking well did. And who wrote all those enthralling and peculiar poems that put uncle Ben to shame?’

Giggling, Calia point at herself with both her thumbs. ‘This girl.’

‘Yeah that’s right,’ Eddie buds in, finally able to get himself together enough to participate. ‘your body did that all in it’s own, and that had nothing to do with the way you look at all.’

‘I know this sounds like such a lie, but’s not. One day you will find someone that not likes you with your flaws, but because of your them. You’re not perfect, no one is, but you have such a wonderful soul, that everything else is added bonus. The guy that’ll date you in the future will have hit the jack pot, whether you’re skinny, or chubby or fat.’

‘That’s pretty fucking deep Pops.’ Calia messes with him, giving him a gentle push to throw him off balance, and break the serious tension that floats around the room.

‘Wow, you try and be nice to your children once and this is what I get as a think you?’ Richie complains sarcastically, pretending to cry and gain sympathy.

‘And don’t curse in front of our daughter Richie. How dare you?’ Eddie adds, the smirk turning the words from serious, to playful.

‘Thanks dads,’ Calia entrusts, enveloping both of them in her arms. Her insecurities won’t be gone overnight, but at least she knows she has her dads to remind her of the important things in life, and to emphasize how beautiful she is. When the family settles in or a movie night, outside, a butterfly makes it’s way up to the sky.