#A Sweet Winter Night

[soupdweller]

day 3: chill ✧˖°.

[abirddogmoment]

Two weeks with Aurora! Here's a recap of life so far.

Our targeted socialization was pretty successful, we managed a bunch of different experiences and she rocked them.

Monday: Busy street at rush hour

Tuesday: Train station

Wednesday: Construction site

Thursday: Bike path next to train line

Friday: Outside a coffee shop

Saturday: Baby hike in the wild

She's still doing great in overall good citizen behaviours. She has specifically been crushing:

✅ Sleeping through the night

✅ Name recognition

✅ Basic training skills

✅ Recovering from being startled

✅ Being crated quietly

Honestly she's doing amazing, I am so so proud of her. 💜

Areas for improvement for the week include:

✴ Bullying Pike (which is improving but still not great)

✴ Demand barking and overall noise level

✴ Chewing on the couch in excitment

Our biggest victories this week include:

🎉 Baby hike 2.0 with beautiful ranging, reasonable baby recall, and great enthusiasm

🎉 Calling off play with Pike on multiple occasions

Our big goals for next week:

🚀 Less harassment of Pinecone

🚀 Working through the foundation levels of the baby conditioning class I'm taking

Really excited for the next few weeks with this girl! 💜

[demelly]

sobbing over them WAAUGH <\\\3

[exittotheartscape]

Brought him a bouquet on the first day of spring.

[crucifiedlovers]

He loved the night better than the day, despite his occasional melancholic moments at night, and he loved winter better than summer.

Patricia Highsmith, This Sweet Sickness

[escespace]

Ok but let's talk about how well laid out the social organizations and traditions are. I didn't feel confused or lost and that's quite an achievement for me because sometimes too much description leaves me my brain with error 505

And Arthur's relationship with Merlin was intriguing from the start. Coming from Merlin's POV you'd think he'd be so oblivious to Arthur's actions and desires that the reader would overlook them too. But there is something in the back of Merlin's mind that gives him hope and makes him suspect (even if he doesn't want to admit it) that perhaps his feelings are reciprocated. That's what keeps the reader biting their nails waiting for a big move from Arthur. 

The unfolding of all the emotions and revelations was organic and fluid. Like them, it was not outrageously over the top but like their friendship, light and Heartwarming

The blink at Balinor and Hunith is also beautiful. 

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Merlin (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon Additional Tags: finding warmth, Angst, Yuletide Summary:

The citadel is coldest during Midwinter vigil, but warmth comes in many forms on that magical night.

Written for Kianspo for the 2011 Merlin_hols gift exchange!

[animezinglife]

He saved her a dance after all. 🥺

[softquietsteadylove]

This Year

"Gil?"

"Oh," he looked up from sweeping the floor of the shop, still wearing his suit and everything. He sniffled and swiped at his nose, "h-hey."

Thena came into the shop, letting the door drift closed behind her. She also still had on the dress she had worn to the school formal, with her white coat unbuttoned over it. "We turned around and you were gone. What happened?"

"Uh," he tried to turn around, pretending to sweep more thoroughly. He hunched around the stick of the handle, "well...remember how I was gonna ask that girl?"

"I recall."

Thena didn't really like her, but when he had asked her if he should ask, she had given him her support anyway. Thena was a good friend, like that. All their friends were.

"Well," Gil sighed, finally setting down the broom and toying with the tie that was loosened but still hanging around his neck. He must have looked so stupid, "she never showed."

"She stood you up?"

"Wait!" he rushed out, knowing that if Thena got out the shop door, she was going to run to that girl's house and throttle her with her bare hands. "I-I mean, I dunno, maybe she had something come up. Maybe...maybe she had something more important to do."

Thena walked closer to him by the front counter. She crossed her arms at him, "nothing should be more important, if she's the right person."

Gil sighed again, not done with his pity party. He still had the stupid flower he was going to give her, too. "Guess she wasn't."

Thena softened, losing the hard edges to her severe expression. Everyone always said Thena was so scary looking, and maybe he could see it if she was pissed off. But he never thought of Thena like that; she was actually really sweet and considerate.

"Then she's not worth your tears."

He sniffled again, but Thena reached up and brushed some off his cheek for him. It wasn't like he had any reason to act like a tough guy around Thena, anyway. After spending all their lives together, it wasn't like she didn't know he cried at sappy movies and videos of puppies walking for the first time.

"And if I ever see her-"

"Hey," he chuckled, grasping her hands in his before she could start naming the litany of things she would do to his failed date. "Look, it doesn't matter, okay?"

She still had a face that made it seem like it very much did.

"I mean," he shrugged, "just 'cause she talks to me in math doesn't mean she wanted to go out with me. Guess I could have thought of that before asking her, but whatever."

"Gil," Thena started and then paused. She liked to choose her words carefully. She looked at him, tilting her head because after hitting middle school he was finally taller than her. "You don't need her."

He chuckled, "thanks."

"I'm not just saying that as your friend," Thena continued. It was more words than he was used to, from her. "You are kind, and sweet, and as far as I'm concerned you are the only boy I have ever known to have any sense."

He snorted, "c'mon, what about Kingo?--or Druig? Or your own brother?"

"Certainly not," she rolled her eyes before paving over his interruption. "You are the best person I know and...and I would hate to think that you wouldn't believe me."

He did feel like the best, when she put it that way. He sighed, just staring at her under the hum of the fluorescent lights of the shop. He always thought they were kinda depressing, like in apocalypse movies, giving a weird tint to people's skin at night.

But Thena always looked so beautiful.

Thena raised on her toes, in the low heels she was wearing to match her dress. For having said that she was only going because their mother said that she had to if Ikaris went - which was a very Ajak thing to say - she certainly hadn't been lazy about her outfit.

Gil closed his eyes, smelling her perfume as she pressed her lips to his. He forgot about the broom, his arms looping around her back as she slid hers around his neck. He had never kissed a girl. He had - secretly - been hoping that tonight would be his opportunity.

This was far, far better than he could have expected.

Thena pulled away, her eyes darting around, looking at him and wondering what he was thinking. She must've let Sersi and Makkari do her makeup because her eyelashes looked darker and longer than usual. "Gil?"

He blinked, still just staring at her. He felt like he was king of the world, though! Man, kissing was way better than everyone made it seem. He had thought surely it had been overhyped, but no, definitely not.

"Gil!"

The rest of their friends also piled into the shop, also looking haphazard with ruffled hair and half buttoned coats. Sersi came charging in first, her hair bouncing around her. Ikaris slid in right behind her, looking the most frustrated. Makkari and Druig followed in after.

"Are you okay?" Sersi asked, "last I checked you were waiting for your date. Next time I go for some punch no one has seen you and Thena's gone too."

"Uh," Gil blinked, as if time had paused and now he was no longer holding - and kissing - Thena, but now Sersi was talking to him and Thena had slid three feet away. "Y-Yeah."

"Yeah?" Ikaris repeated, obviously not the one most enthused to have left the party. He looked over at his sister, though. Despite the rule that if Ikaris went, she had to go, Ikaris was still her brother (annoying and somewhat overprotective). "What?"

"What?" she asked back, even more defensively.

"What's wrong?" he asked more directly, walking closer to her as if he could smell someone expressing interest in her.

"Gil, are you okay?" Sersi asked him much more sweetly (what she saw in Ikaris, none of them would ever know).

"I'm okay," he smiled, nodding at her. The sting that had him dragging his feet all the way home and in here had faded. It almost felt totally healed, actually. "I, uh, got stood up."

"What?!"

That bitch. Makkari shook her head, although Druig was clearly in agreement with her, even if he was too much of an old soul to ever call a girl a bitch.

"Look, it's okay guys, really," Gil again tried to dissuade his much more bloodthirsty friends (Thena, Druig and Kari). "I think it might have been a misunderstanding, actually."

"You're making excuses for her," Thena pursed her lips. Although, given what just happened, maybe her distaste of his date wasn't just disapproval. He raised his eyebrows at her and she rushed to look away from him.

"I drive you all and no one can close a single car door?" Kingo huffed at them as he finally joined their little pity-party. He looked at Gil over everyone else's heads, "you good, big guy?"

Gil snuck another look at Thena, who blushed faintly. He chuckled, "yeah, I'm a lot better, now."

"Good," Kingo let it suffice. He had his moments of deep emotional understanding, always peppered in between his usual need for attention. "So, what's the plan?"

Everyone looked at everyone else, standing around in Gil's uncle's shop attached to their home.

"Uh, hey!" Gil smiled, finally tugging his tie off completely. "Gramps only ran out to get some pizza and stuff. I was just gonna lock this place up anyway. You guys can come in and...hang out, if you want."

"Party at Gil's!"

He smiled, relieved that he hadn't spoiled the night for anyone. Makkari and Druig happily linked hands and went to the fridges to pick out drinks for everyone. And he knew they would have no problem ditching the formal dance, dates or not.

Ikaris gave his sister another glare, but they were equally stubborn, so there was no way he was going to get any answers from her here and now. He let Sersi drag him away by the arm to pick out sweets.

Sersi did lean back to whisper to Thena, "I assume you went through with it."

Thena swatted her away, as well as Kingo, who gave her a look that seemed between Sersi and Ikaris' levels of knowledge. She ducked her head.

Gil swayed in her direction as their friends helped themselves to the family shop. He felt pretty confident for a guy who had been stood up on his first official date a mere hour earlier.

"You didn't have to invite us to stay," she advised him, also swaying in her hesitation to choose a direction.

He shrugged, pulling just one hand out of his suit pants pocket. "Hey, we should have some fun tonight, right?"

Maybe surprised by his optimism, she smiled. "I suppose you're right."

"Uh," he started and looked around, losing some of that confidence again. Thena just looked so pretty, it was hard to think straight. "I-I guess this is kinda lame, but..."

She stared as he pulled out the flower he had gotten from behind the front counter. "You got her a rose?"

"Well, I wanted to get something," he shrugged, snapping off the long stem like it was nothing. He chuckled, "i actually picked the white one because...it reminded me of you."

Thena let him slip the budding rose into the bun binding her hair together. She stared up at him.

"Sorry," he blushed, slipping his hands into his pockets again. "I'll pick you something more special, next time."

She smiled, visibly resisting the urge to touch it now that it was settled in her hair. She looked towards their friends, already heading towards the back door that would lead through his garage and to the house. She tugged at his sleeve faintly, "it'll be perfect."

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

hello!!!! i just wanted to ask if we can expect a continuation for the series u have going on,, the one where reader and sashisu are in high school and stuff?? i js wanted to know cause they way you write them is SO CUTE. something abt ur writing just feels so genuine and sweet and it actually makes my heart melt!! anyways, no pressure or anything i just wanted to know!! <33

anon this is probably the scariest moment of my life i don’t know what kind of crazy soul connection you and i have but . um . i’m actually…. in the middle of finishing the suguru part of that series 😭 like . right now . i’ll probably post it in a couple hours. i wasn’t satisfied with the series as a whole so i kind of unofficially scrapped it, but i’ll probably still post the parts i had planned — just on their own!!! i’ll probably go back and delete the satoru part i already have posted and then repost it on its own after rewriting it too…..

anyway. sorry for letting you down anon, i’m honestly really surprised anyone remembers it :’3 but yeah!!! the summer/suguru part will be posted today, and then the autumn/shoko part some other time…… and then maybe the winter part too…………. so . i mean. i guess i technically will be finishing the series, the parts just won’t be officially connected or anything like that!! i really hope that makes sense 😭 i’m just… not suited to writing series i think . but i’m soso overjoyed that you like my sashisu!! 🥺 i actually ended up taking the ending i had planned for that series and turning it into this fic, so feel free to check it out if you’re interested <333

[windydrawallday]

Seeing people migrate here and there for that Meta AI made think if dedicating a blog just for my art appart from here but- Is such a hassle for me.

And I tried that before. Twice. It never soared but i know is mostly my fault because i tend to not be constant with an art style/presentation to appeal/retaint attention over my work.

Thats another reason why i never managed fandom centered/ask blogs because once more, im such an inconsistent being + my brain thinks is a chore/responsability jdfshgfsgsdjf

So, ill keep here and being as chaotical as a cereal box prize: youll never know if youll get a high quality well-painted figurine or an abstract mix of shapes and colors bahaha -jkjkjk-

[widowshill]

vicki finding roger reciting dover beach like if u agree

[kedvesfiam]

[la-cocotte-de-paris]

Of the simplest pleasures in life, which among them are your favorites?

EATING A FRESH FUCKING BAGUETTE. DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THIS PAST NEAR-FULL YEAR HAS BEEN SANS LES VRAIES BAGUETTES

[baelontargaryen]

They laid them north to south, from ice to fire, and piled them high with soft cushions and sleeping silks.

— AGOT, Daenerys X

“We swear it by ice and fire,” they finished together.

— ACOK, Bran III

“He has a song,” the man replied. “He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire.”

— ACOK, Daenerys IV

Dany could not let it go. “His is the song of ice and fire, my brother said. I’m certain it was my brother. Not Viserys, Rhaegar. He had a harp with silver strings.”

...

“I remember,” Dany said sadly. “They murdered Rhaegar’s daughter as well, the little princess. Rhaenys, she was named, like Aegon’s sister. There was no Visenya, but he said the dragon has three heads. What is the song of ice and fire?”

— ACOK, Daenerys V

We have sworn you our faith by earth and water, bronze and iron, ice and fire.

— ASOS, Bran I

“Because they’re different,” he insisted. “Like night and day, or ice and fire.”

— ASOS, Bran II

“There is ice and there is fire. Hate and love. Bitter and sweet. Male and female. Pain and pleasure. Winter and summer. Evil and good.”

...

Ice and fire, he thought. Black and white. Dark and light.

— ASOS, Davos III

[creativegenius22]

On the eighth day of drawings, my true love gave to me…

A Cozy Sleigh Ride!

Thank you to @jokerislandgirl32 for this sweet suggestion! Zach decided to surprise Alessandra with a lovely sleigh ride through the park on a snowy winter night! They’re snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be!

Loved figuring out this sweet pose for the cute couple! The sleigh ride idea is so adorable and I love it! Remember to keep commenting your Christmas prompt suggestions on this post!

[cocofawn]

hi hi hi xiva !!! look how cute ur yuuta looks in the new art !! ꒰๑*´ᗜ`*꒱