#Arden rambles in the garden

[ardenation]

just finished sweet tooth season 3(netflix show).

*sigh*

if you haven’t watched it yet, I’m about to convince you why you should.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE WATCH IT IS SO SO SO SO GOOD IM SERIOUS TRY IT OUT AT LEAST YOU WILL CRY NO LESS THAN FIFTEEN TIMES WHEN WATCHING IT THE PLOT THE TWISTS THE CHARACTERS PLEASE OH MY GOD THIS FUCKING SHOW CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER

also, the main character is a cute little deer boy who suffers. like a lot. so there’s a lot of angst for your angst feeding pleasure!

[yamy-brett]

Happy 91st Birthday, Jeremy. You are sorely missed.

From JEREMY BRETT PLAYING A PART by Maureen Whittaker. Quotes by Jeremy Brett.

"It all started for me on 3rd November 1933. I began life with everything a child could wish for. We had a huge, glorious, country house on the outskirts of Berkswell, near Coventry, with tennis courts, squash courts, horses and dogs and a wonderful, terraced garden created by my artistic mother, Elizabeth. The family was spoiled rotten, for we had three live-in staff, plus four other people who came in to help. We always seemed to be entertaining a houseful of fascinating people; the door was always open.”

The Grange, where Peter William Jeremy, was born, is a beautiful house with sweet smelling flowering wisteria on the front elevation and nestled in a magical vista of gardens, landscaped by Elizabeth, known as “Bunny”, who was the centre of this loving family.

The Huggins family was a significant part of the delightful Berkswell village in Warwickshire. William and Elizabeth had decided to move to the rambling, attractive Berkswell Grange in 1929 to accommodate a growing family. The three boys, John, Michael and Patrick, needed somewhere to play and to ride, so a large, impressive house was chosen in nearby Truggist Lane. The house featured seventeenth century timber framing, and nineteenth century additions, including a tiled roof.

Due to its grandeur and welcoming hostess, the Grange was the centre of village events, of Christmas parties, of afternoon teas and of music and entertainment.

William and Elizabeth were both keen archers, so it is no surprise that Jeremy took this seriously and belonged to the Woodmen of Arden, a notable club for the sport. “The whole family were taxophilites. Actually, my mother was a brilliant archer, won many awards. She had a special lightweight bow, and when I was growing up, I used her hand-me-downs. Looking back, I must have been about four or five when my father gave me my first lesson. The outfit is really glamorous – Lincoln green cut-away tailcoat, buff waistcoat with gold buttons, shite slacks, shite shoes and a New Zealand style hat that turns up at the side…”

Archery Week was hosted by the Huggins family at the beginning of August each year and to accompany the competitions on the extensive grounds at the Grange, they featured special balls for about 30 or 40 people for dinner, followed by dancing in the ballroom. “The dancing finished so late that breakfast was often served to the guests before they left for home the following day.”

“Naturally, I’d been practising like mad for the occasion. Firing at 100 yards I nervously let the arrow go. It wobbled in the air and my astonishment landed smack in the middle of the target. I was made Master Forester on my first day – a title which carries with it sitting at the High Table. Socially, archery can be pretty heaving going. That day the lunch ran to 12 toasts and I remember staggering out afterwards full of venison and summer pudding, cheeks pink from the port and nose still twitching from my first pinch of snuff…”

He told one interviewer that he had “a marvellous youth with every kind of animal under the sun, from ferrets to rabbits to mice to horses, to monkeys even. It was like a paradise, and a gorgeous home.”

Jeremy had a very special relationship with all animals. He welcomed dogs as earnestly as he welcomed his friends and often on his knees to greet them, face to face. His own dog, Mr. Binks, was a Jack Russell terrier that he affectionately called his “hound of heaven”.

Elizabeth’s reputation was always one of kindness to others, especially towards the homeless in the community. Gypsies and vagrants were frequent visitors expecting to be fed, have a wash or receive fresh clothing, and Williams shirts or trousers, could often be seen on these visitors leaving the Grange. Mrs. Huggins would go out and find Gypsies, taking them back to the Grange – the Colonel would come home from work to find a “Gypsy encampment with great cauldron in the walled courtyard, and clothes being dried in the saddle-room.”

During the Coventry bombing on 14th November 1940, in which more than four thousand homes were destroyed, including the 14th century cathedral, Jeremy’s mother, alerted by the sirens, the noise of exploding bombs and the sight of leaping flames across the open countryside, left her family to drive to the nearby town to what she could to help those who were caught up in the devastation. “The whole city was ringed with leaping flames, bathed in brilliant moonlight and a few searchlights were sweeping the smoke-filled sky.” Consequently, one family was taken into the Grange and 42 members of the extended family lived there until alternative accommodations could be found. There was no question in her mind about the decision; it was simply her first and characteristic response to suffering. “She was a dazzling woman, half Irish and fully Quaker, and ran our home, a large country house deep in the Black Country outside Coventry, in a sort of Flower Power way, always filling it with people that she’d picked up. I remember her bringing home a whole family called Weston during the war, and all of them stayed in our stables.”

Elizabeth Huggins had an enormous effect on the growing Jeremy and some would say that he was very like her in his response to others. “My mother had this extraordinary way of making us flower, and she had open doors and windows in her soul – that’s the only way I can put it. Everybody came to my mother. She was like a light of great warmth.”

What an amazing beginning to a brilliant gentleman.

This is just the very beginning of JEREMY BRETT PLAYING A PART by Maureen Whittaker.

[telekinetictrait]

God help us – for art is long and life is short! (Faust: First Part, written by Johann Wolfgang Goethe and published in 1808)

hiiii heres the first part of what will (hopefully!!!) be a series of western women's fashion from 1800 to today. obviously, not all women looked like this or dressed like this. in fact, most didn't - these are largely going to be looks worn by women of a higher socioeconomic class, at least until maybe the 1880s. this is for a few reasons, mostly being, uh... availability of cc. i'd love to MAKE some historical cc but my laptop won't run blender. another reason is that the fashion of the upper classes is typically better recorded than that of lower classes, especially before the advent and popularization of photography. i'm just rambling now.

anyway! the first part: 1800-1809. we see the opulence of the georgians cling onto fashion in bows, feathers, and jewels. we also see the rise of waistlines to the iconic empire waist, and the influences of neoclassical aesthetics in fashion. hairstyles in particular were emulating those of the ancient greeks, also pulling a bit from the stuarts. this decade also allows me to share one of my favorite tidbits of fashion history: the coiffure à la titus! for a short time in the 1790s through the 1810s, some women (french women especially) took to cutting their hair short and choppy. the reasons range from inspiration taken from a popular play at the time, to symbolizing solidarity with women executed via guillotine. some men at the time thought that having short hair was actually hazardous to women's health, so while the titus cut wasn't the norm, it was widespread enough to cause quite a storm!

you'll notice that 1806 is missing. that's because the dress i used, uh... completely messed up the arms and i did not notice until i was making the gif. if you wanna see it, it'll be under the cut.

cc links + creator tags under the cut!!

see my resources page!

adelais : clepysdra's padme snail hair / ice-creamforbreakfast's vittoria pendant / hanalinori's morning in the garden dress / oydis' willow armlets / oydis' eloise flats

aelita : plasma-jane's athena hair, updated by my-historical-sims / s-clubs laurel crown (tsr download) / kaguya-fox's nioh oichi hair branch / simsonico's shining nikki shy lady dress conversion / dancemachinetrait's lydia flats

alanis : peebsplays' regency bun / joliebean's joanna earrings / leeleesims1's throw it on accessory wrap / dissia's amy accessory sleeves (tsr download) / zeussims' estrella gown

amalthea : simsonico's shining nikki shy lady headband conversion / mothz's accessory necktie / serenity-cc's accessory frilled turtleneck / sifix's hope dress (tsr download) / simsonico's shining nikki reminiscence of flower fan conversion

anamarija : okruee's cicero hair / pixelunivairse's pearls necklace / gilded-ghosts' bingley gown / maushasi's acc. lace top (search 'lace', accessory included in file) / dancemachinetrait's pemberley gloves / leonalure's transparent priestess scarf or here (REUPLOAD, original download on shady site. leonalure – if you see this and want me to take it down, just let me know!!) / dancemachinetrait's lydia flats

aoide : teanmoon's helen updo / zeussims' dreamer earrings / gilded-ghosts' highbury chemisette / sifix's giselle dress (tsr download) / dancemachinetrait's pemberley gloves

arden : bedisfull's feel my rhythm rose straw hat / izuko's urban animal faux fur scarf / gilded-ghosts' emma gown / dissia's ayiana accessory sleeves (tsr download) / simsonico's shining nikki reminiscence of flower fan conversion / joliebean's satin tip shoes

astrid : sadlydulcet's set 22 hat (search 'set #22') / nightingalesongx's low side bun / simsonico's shining nikki shy lady necklace conversion / dancemachinetrait's pemberley gloves / simsbrush's regency dress / dancemachinetrait's kitty flats

azucena : buzzardly28's gesina hair v2 / magnolianfarewell's venus dress / dustyratt's emma frost cape / dancemachinetrait's pemberley gloves / dancemachinetrait's kitty flats

thanks to @clepysdra @ice-creamforbreakfast @hanalinori @oydis @my-historical-sims @plasma-janes @kaguya-fox @simsonico @dancemachinetrait @peebsplays @joliebean @leeleesims1 @dissiasims @zeussims @serenity-cc @okruee @pixelunivairse @gilded-ghosts @teanmoon @bedisfull @nightingalesongx @simsbrush @buzzardly28 @magnolianfarewell and @dustyratt

(heres the failed 1806)

[tinyletterz]

♡ flowers of our love— [ savanaclaw + octavinelle ]

: different flowers and their meanings that describe your relationships :

♡— contains: gn! reader, fluff, biting on floyd's part

: heartslabyul. savanaclaw + octavinelle. scarabia + pomefiore. ignihyde + diasomnia :

— [ note: this and this for meaning references ^^ the urge to just put mushrooms for jade was strong but i found a plant that wasn't a mushroom and to make it perfectly clear i love floyd like omg best guy ever loml ]

—leona kingscholar

strong bonds of love and levity — larkspur: when you're dealing with stressful events, he tries to joke about it in hopes of lowering your stress. playing with your fingers while he's drifting to dreamland. the way his eyes soften ever so slightly when he sees it's you who woke him up. giving advice that helps you through day-to-day scenarios. sharing stories of when you were younger, the good and the bad. leona often drags you to nap with him in the warmth of the botanical garden, away from other eyes. he makes intense eye contact with those piercing green eyes while a shit-eating grin adorns his face. lazy kisses to your forehead after he wakes up. always reminding him you love him, and though he rolls his eyes he never forgets.

—ruggie bucchi

pure love and wishes — dandelion: gifting you handmade presents whenever he feels like it. the way his heart flutters when you offer do do some of his chores. sharing hopes and dreams together under the starry night sky. stealing kisses from each other became the most frequent game between the two of you. ruggie loves it when you play with his hair. he brushes off compliments but he keeps them close to his heart when they're from you. cooking family recipes together in the kitchen. the way he delicately places a flower crown atop your head. subtly trying to take your things only for you to scold him softly. volunteering to help the kids where he lives and ruggie can't help but admire how you make the other children smile.

—jack howl

loyal love and i'll never tell — daisy: always being by your side when you need him. the way jack laughs when you tell him something funny. being the person to confide in when the other needs someone to talk to. teasing jack about his tail wagging despite him saying it isn't. jack is more independent so he rarely asks for help, though he never has a problem if you want to help him with something. warm hugs that make you want to melt into jack's hold. the embarrassed look he wears when he tells you something romantic. preferring to say your actual name rather than a name of endearment because there's something intimate about saying your name.

—azul ashengrotto

arden love — balsam: azul can never seem to find the right words to say and ends up a flustered mess. having dates in the mostro lounge. jade and floyd teasing azul around you while azul's face turns pink. if he's talking too much a simple kiss should keep him quiet for a while. listening to him ramble about business even if the topic bores you. azul adores calling you dear and love that you may think he forgot your name. assisting you with homework but his help doesn't come for free. telling him that he's worth every ounce of your love and care when he starts to spiral. on days he doesn't see you, he always makes it a point to call you or even drops his plans to meet with you.

—jade leech

admiration and solitude — heather: sly remarks and comments that cause your heart to flutter. jade entertains every conversation with you and let’s you know he’s listening with a nod. walks through the botanical garden to show you what he recently grew. when you ask jade about his hobbies, his eyes widen, and you listen to him talk. helping out at the lounge on busy days. teasing you with his signature grin. if you manage to surprise him his ears turn light pink (firm believer that his ears turn red when embarrassed). holding hands while walking through the hallways to class together. creating terrariums together in jade's bedroom so you can take care of your own little ecosystem.

—floyd leech

you're adorable — white camellia: skipping class to find you because time spent without you is dull. he always steals you to bring you to the mostro lounge. floyd's grin and laugh when he catches you off guard. holding you tightly on bad days until he's 100% certain you're feeling better. biting your skin, not enough to break skin, is just another way he shows you he cares. gifting each other random things because they remind you of one another. him telling you you're cute while you're doing anything. floyd always picks up the phone when you call him, even on days when his mood is sour, and your voice brightens his day. affectionate pet names that your classmates do question. doing all the "cheesy-romantic human" things together.

[holylustration]

Writer Asks

Thank you for the tag, @galateaencore! What a fun thing to wake up to :D

When did you start writing?

Since a pencil was put into my hand! My mother always encouraged my writing, and used to do small illustrations to my childhood ramblings.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading more than what you write?

Not really. I think "I write what I read" is an apt statement for me. I love romance and I am not ashamed to say it.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

If someone said my prose was like that of Jacqueline Carey's in Kushiel's Dart, or Katherine Arden's in Winternight Trilogy, or even Angela Carter, I'd be over the moon. That's the style I try and aim for: lush, effortless, flowing prose.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I have several:

My office, at my gaming computer. Right now, a bit cluttered with my work laptop, chapstick and various nail polishes as I sort out how I want my wedding nails to look. All my tarot cards and gaming ephemera are behind me in a built in bookshelf, and my nail supplies are all nestled safely within some ikea drawers against the wall, guarded by my legion of cat-chewed planties.

My bedroom, in my bed, with the string lights on. Everything is either white or off-white, with green accents. It may be a California king bed, but you'd be surprised how little space you or a laptop can have when you have four cats who all think mom's lap is the best place to be.

Family room, on the deep-seat leather couch, cocooned in blankets, when the lights are low and the fireplace is going, so there's only orange warmth against the harsh glare of the laptop screen. Still fighting for a space to put my computer when being swarmed by cats wanting a place to sleep (my lap).

Outside, in the screened in patio. The interior façade is very Nordic bathhouse, with its knotted wood panels. When its been properly cleaned, it is a nice place to sit in early summer or fall. I do often get distracted by watching the various creatures that make my garden their home, but I've never missed my word count yet.

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Go for a long walk outside while listening to music. Never fails.

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

I don't know about themes, but certainly there are character types that I like to revisit. There is comfort in that familiarity.

What is your reason for writing?

To scratch the itch in my brain and to release pent up emotions. In times of great stress and sorrow, I find myself drawn to the page.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

Any comment is thoughtful. I am an equal opportunity comment lover. That said, I am always fascinated about what is resonating with my readers, whether it was a description, or a conversation, or something else entirely.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Well, beyond that they're thinking of me at all (which is nice in and of itself), I'd hope that they find my stories entertaining.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

Using language and sentence structure in a way that is interesting and varied, so that the reader doesn't get bored.

How do you feel about your own writing?

I am proud of it! More often than not, I'll reread a chapter and think, "Damn, yeah, that prose is fire. What a banger line. Go me!"

When you write, are you influenced by what others enjoy or might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

Because this is a hobby, I write for me. If others like what I write, that's great! This car is big enough for anyone who wants to come along for the ride.

Tagging @pallysuune + @themagnificentmags + @redbatchedcumbermayned + @theevilscribbler + @jaal-ama-daravv + anyone who wants to tag in!

[lyssentome]

15 tags, 15 mutuals

Tagged by @eli-writes-sometimes , thank you!

tagging: @isabellebissonrouthier @toribookworm22 @notalazysod @reysfictionalworlds @harinawa @promptinator-writes @moonandris @ryns-ramblings and open tag (I know this isn't 15 but shhh)

Doing this for Alexius from Heirs of Starlight because I do not talk about him enough and Arden has been getting too much attention, as much as I love him.

1. Are you named after anyone?

I was named after my mother's best friend. I remember him as the honorary uncle, and a much more fun one than my actual relatives.

2. When was the last time you cried?

My mother's death anniversary. I've gotten to a point where I don't cry as much about it anymore, but I was feeling particularly emotional this year for some reason.

3. Do you have kids?

No. Maybe one day.

4. Do you use sarcasm?

Sometimes, especially when I'm annoyed. Compared to Arden and Valeria I'm as genuine as they come though.

5. What's the first thing you notice about people?

Their eyes and the shade of their aura. I don't intentionally seek out how dark or light someone's aura is when meeting them, but it happens involuntarily, so that is something I notice.

6. What's your eye color?

Dark gray. They look black in darker lighting, which is convenient when I don't want to be recognized in public.

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Definitely happy endings. I like scary movies, but I'm inclined to indulge in happy endings more. The world has so little happy endings, I think we deserve some happy endings even if they're fictional.

8. Any special talents?

I'm not sure... I'm a retrocognitive, if that counts. Personally I would count that as a curse rather than a special talent. It's not always pleasant to be able to see into other people's memories exactly as how they remember it, especially when it happens involuntarily.

9. Where were you born?

Contrary to popular belief, I wasn't born in Kayore like most Terician royalty. I was instead born in the coastal city where most of my mother's side of the family resides, Laucean.

10. What are your hobbies?

I like being around nature, usually in the form of hiking or simply observing things in the palace gardens. I also like reading and playing the flute.

11. Have you any pets?

Sort of? I have an animal I've bonded with, but I wouldn't call him a pet because I'm not keeping him, he just shows up when he wants to. It's a black dog, but I'm not sure what he actually is. I know he's not just a regular stray dog though. I think he might be a hellhound or something similar.

12. What sports do you play/have played?

Apart from mandatory physical training, I haven't done much sports except for hiking and swimming. I don't think those count due to those being mostly recreational to me.

13. How tall are you?

(Completely disregarding that centimeters and feet would not be used here ofc)

I'm 188 cm tall, or around 6'2.

14. Favorite subject in school?

I really enjoyed ethics and natural sciences.

15. Dream job?

In another life I would like to work with animals and/or something nature-related.

[micaiahfalkov]

"Gabapentin?" Micaiah repeated, the name sounding unfamiliar and strange on their tongue. The Eyes of Eden had never been much involved in modern medicine. There had been a town doctor, Dr. Austin, who had come from the city. But even then, the most prominent medicine had been herbal alternatives and prayer. It'd taken a while to get used to the changes on Panopticon, but Micaiah had learned to embrace them. "I would like to try it. See if it helps. We could try the pharmacological methods in addition. I mean, double is always better, right?."

Though, their legs weren't their main reason for the visit. When Arden offered a massage, Micaiah shook their head. "Oh, it's not that bad. But thank you." There was something else that had caught Micaiah's attention, making them perk up in their seat.

"You'd help us? That'd be great, honestly. Only if you have the energy, of course, but we could use the extra hands. Tomas is gonna be happy about it, too." Anything related to the Agrilands and them functioning well seemed to make Tomas happy, at least. And it'd be a good opportunity to spend more time together. "Especially since you know what you're doing. It's kind of relaxing, isn't it, gardening?" Micaiah's gaze trailed to their legs, his palms pressed up against their knees. "I used to do it all the time. Where I came from. Spend time in the gardens, working. It was just nice, planting something and caring for it and watching it grow. And it helped me settle when I came here." The priest smiled, absently, before looking back up at the doctor. "Sorry. I'm rambling. I just really enjoy my work. I don't think I've ever asked you how you got into gardening. Did you like it before you came here, too?"

“Micaiah,” Arden greeted him, smiling. “Of course you can call me Arden. We’re far past formalities now.” She noted the way his body relaxed slightly as he elevated his legs and frowned. Suffering was part of the job but even after all these years, it still tugged on her heart to see someone in pain.

“We could try some new medication. Gabapentin typically works well with nerve pain.” Arden continued. “Of course we’ve got some non-pharmacological methods we could try to reduce inflammation like ginseng tea and increasing your garlic. I’ve got some garlic growing back home that I can bring to you.”

“Do you want me to try to massage your legs for a bit? See if that brings some relief?” She asked.

“If you both wanted, I’d be happy to pitch in with the harvest. I’ve got more free time than I need. I usually just end up spending more hours in here, but some outdoor time might be nice.”

[takingcourage]

Face to the Sun

Pairing: Jaime x MC

Word Count: 1,000

Note:  Several weeks ago, @krishu213​ asked for a Jaime x Arden fic for day 27 of the @julychoiceschallenge​ (”sunflowers”). I love this request for several reasons: 

It’s Jaime Lewis, and writing about him is always a delight. 

I was a long-time resident of the Sunflower State, so it brings up happy memories of my midwestern roots. 

Since In Stasis, I’ve had a headcanon about sunflowers and what they mean to Jaime. Having an excuse to explore it in more depth was a real treat. : ) 

Anyway, enough rambling! Suffice it to say that writing these experimental little drabbles put a smile on my face. I hope they bring you joy as well!

April

A thin layer of ice clung to the toe of Arden's shoe, though it turned to droplets by the time she arrived back at their front door. Skimming her soles across the rough fibers of the doormat, she stifled a shiver.  As she reached for the handle, she cast a woeful eye over the patch of mulch outlined by popsicle-stick stakes. Thick as the wooden chips were, they weren't enough to warm the soil below.

Checking it had become a part of her daily routine, almost without fail. Jaime still didn't know why; but for her, it was difficult to think of the spot without a smile cracking her lips. He'd obliged her whim, leaving the area blank as he drew up plans for the rest of their landscaping. Someday -- hopefully sooner rather than later -- he would understand her motives.

If only spring could feel her sense of urgency.

May

Opie's wet nose shocked the bare skin of Arden's forearm, and she fought to keep her grip on the packet of seeds as he traveled down to her wrist. Brushing him back with a giggle, she shifted her feet a few inches to the left. As Jaime whistled to attract the dog's attention, she slid the ruler further down the narrow trench, stopping to press in a seed every six inches.

Though she knew nature would soon take its course, she didn't want her efforts to be sporadic. Their front garden had become Jaime's pride and joy, and she'd be devastated if her surprise detracted from it in any way. She’d measured this first row carefully, making certain to leave space behind for subsequent rows in the coming weeks.  

Reaching the end of the trench, she began covering what she’d already planted. Jaime watched from the other side of the lawn, an inquisitive slant to his brow. She raised a hand for a campy wave, matching his grin as fine particles of dirt fell back to the rich, dark earth.

June

Arden could still remember the first time she'd heard Paula complain of having a black thumb. She'd hopped up to her toes and gazed over the fence, expecting to see a cursed pirate spot marking the woman's hand. Instead, the hand gripping the watering can appeared completely ordinary. Somewhat disappointed, Arden had slumped back against her side of the pickets to retrieve the book she'd been reading. 

Some eighteen years later, she was grateful to note that she didn't share the other woman’s affliction. Last month's sprouts had grown strong and steady, thickening to leafy stalks that seemed eager to take on the growing summer heat. Though still unrecognizable, she knew Jaime had guessed their genus nearly a week before. He'd remained quiet on the matter, but she’d noticed the particular attention he’d been giving the short, gangly rows. Though each of his plants was well cared for, not all of them reminded him of his adopted mother. 

As she watched him tend them through the window, Arden wondered if any of his construction-paper facsimiles might be in the attic with Paula’s other mementos. He’d spent that first summer making endless recreations of his new mother’s favorite blooms, brightening her kitchen in a way that real flowers never could.

July

Curing a finger around the thick stem, Arden gently tugged the bloom toward her nose. The flowers, still developing, had become unmistakable as the month progressed. Though the curved yellow petals held no scent, she smiled at the sensation of them tickling her nostrils. 

From several yards away, Jaime began counting down from three. She froze into place, still pretending to sniff the bloom as he captured the picture with his phone. Although she'd been photographing the plants regularly, this was the first image since they had started to dwarf her. 

She beckoned him toward her for a second pose, releasing the stalk to wrap an arm around his waist. Rising up to kiss his cheek, she collapsed into laughter when her lips could only reach his jaw. Noting her predicament with a grin, he bent a few inches lower before attempting the next shot. 

August

Many of their first blooms had been laid to rest at Northbridge Memorial Park, the most stunning assortment having been reserved for two late-summer bouquets. The next row had been taken to the retirement community a few miles from their house. The third and fourth rows still stood before the house, towering over the porch rail like a wall of sunshine. 

They’d deliver another set of homemade arrangements before the summer ended, replacing the faded blooms with ones that could still bring light to the quiet spaces. 

Many weeks before, Arden had researched the meaning of sunflowers over a lunch break. Among other sentiments, they stood for warmth, adoration, and affection. She didn’t know if Paula had been conscious of the symbol, though the descriptions fit her life well. Its other attributes -- loyalty, positivity, and gratitude -- still shone through clearly in her son. 

September

Arden formed her palm into a cup, using the fingers of her other hand to search for bits of flower that had mixed in. Dumping the plump seeds into a jar, she allowed the debris to scatter to the mulch below. She watched for a moment as the specks drifted under the golden light from above.

They hadn't planned it, but their evening of sorting had fallen on the first sunset of autumn. Jaime sat across the porch, singing below his breath as he picked through the seeds. A year and a half into marriage, she was beginning to develop an appreciation for that country music station he favored. The genre had never been her style, but her husband's renditions did hold a certain appeal.

He met her look, his lips still forming words that were almost silent. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure as she realized the tune was directed toward her. Still feeling the weight of his gaze, she separated the next handful of seeds between their three containers. Some went into the bucket for roasting, others into the one for birdseed, and the rest clattered into the plastic jar labelled next spring’s planting. 

[destielfanfic]

Group Ask #182

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And even bigger thanks to all folks who help us to find lost fics! You guys are the real MVPs!!!

Ask #1 ( @wingsandimpalas ): there’s this fic…#1

Hey I was wondering if you can help me find a fic I read a year ago or so, it’s set after season 9 Cas was made to fall by metatron and he grows up a human called (Johnathan I think) and he becomes a hunter and finds Dean again who’s retired and dean tries to restore Cas’s memories as and Cas starts to fall in love with dean. It’s been bugging me for a while so I thought I’d turn to you

Relevant tags from our Tags Page - #Season 9, #fallen!cas, #hunter!cas

Ask #2 ( @rolling-stoned-girl  ): there’s this fic…#2

Hello. I need help finding a fic. It's a case fic with Sam, Dean, and Cas. They go to Louisiana and take down a psychic. I think Dean ends up getting cursed or something. It starts out with bad nightmares and then it gets progressively worse. Dean can't tell the difference between reality and his nightmares. I know that it's on AO3 because I had it in my Marked for Later but I accidently deleted it and can't remember the name. Thank you! Arden

Relevant tags from our Tags Page - #case fic

Ask #3 ( @isittoo): there’s this fic…#3

Hi, I can't find a fix where Cas didn't really like his boyfriend and then he randomly got proposed at a stadium and everybody hated him for saying no and then he met dean. I never had the change to read it but a really want to

Ask #4 ( @ladyjuliaph): there’s this fic…#4

Okay I feel like my previous questions are a rambling mess. To summarise, this page is truly gold! And I'm looking for a certain fanfiction; it's a story where omega!cas bought alpha!dean as a protector and he makes him burgers from ingredients in his garden. His neighbour is a creap though and he sells honey at a market. Thank you!

Relevant tags from our Tags Page - A/B/O

Found by @justjennyj!

Buying an Alpha by xHaruka17x [NC-17, 50,000 word count] Castiel has gone through a lot is his life and most of it was painful. Now he has a simple life, but something is missing, and the idea of buying an Alpha looks very attractive to him.

Ask #5 ( @igettoloveyou ): there’s this fic…#5

Hi. :) I'm trying to find a fic I read ages ago but never saved. It is set in highschool and basically everyone loves Dean, except Castiel because one morning Dean was having a bad day and took his anger out on Castiel and Castiel has hated him ever since. Dean wants nothing more than to apologise and approaches Castiel on his walk home. Does that sound familiar at all? Thank you. :)

Relevant tags from our Tags Page - #High School

Important Note - these are all lost fic asks we currently have in our Inbox. If you don’t see your ask here or on previous Group Asks, and you haven't received private answer from us, please resend the ask! Recently we discovered that when we include links in our answer, there’s a good chance that it will not reach the OP. A lot of our answers have gone missing and we were only able to find it out thanks to contacting our followers directly via DM.

[eccles4il6by]

Taken by Susan Arden epub online

Taken by Susan Arden epub online

Taken by Susan Arden epub online True or False: Susan and her husband met at Starbucks? Bestselling author Susan Arden lives outside Nashville in a spot that is more country than city. Early mornings, you can find her writing romance in the company of three cats and her kelpie pup. To unwind, she tends rambling blackberry bushes or an expansive flower-herb-veggie garden. Susan enjoys word game…

[ardenation]

THOUGHTS ON (some of) SWEET TOOTH SEASON 3

Just my rambles. Also I only remembered sweet tooth existed 2 days before the third season came out so I quickly re-watched season 2 and then season 3 right after AND WHEN I TELL YOU I HAVE THOUGHTS ON THIS SHOW.

spoilers under the cut

Okay, I can't remember which order the episodes are so I'm winging it here and just word vomiting. in my defense my best friend is away camping and I have nobody to yap about this to so tumblr gets it instead.

The first thing I can remember is that whole thing with the bat kid. OH MY GOD. that poor kid man. it's so awful how his parents raised him to believe that what he was was unfit for society, below humans, and not natural. no kid should have to grow up like that. I don't completely blame the parents, but there were some very, very bad decisions made. and the fucking scene where the dad tries to cut off the baby's hybrid traits??? I got SO reminded of when Gus' antler was cut off. baby boy was mutilated. but the difference between the scene with the baby and gus was that nobody was there to stop it from happening. nobody was there to wrangle the saw out of that guy's hands. bruh. tears. I fucking hate it here.

also live laugh love Rani <33

uhh I dunno what comes after that so let's jump to the boat episode! *laughs nervously*

That. freaking. episode. broke me. I didn't even want to keep watching after that (lie) because it was just so incredibly awful. just when they walked onto that boat for the first time and It was dead silent? goosebumps. especially after finding that dead body. by the way, this is when I started to dislike Dr. singh. bro fell way off after Rani left. anyway, I did not trust Darwin AT ALL when he was introduced. I thought he was shady as all hell. Glad I was proved wrong in the end, though. not important. let's talk about those dead bodies and what Gus had to do because that is a whole rodeo.

I admit, when I first heard he was going to have to find and toss dead bodies overboard my first thought was 'FUCK yes trauma angst trauma angst trauma angst' because what can I say, it's how my brain works. it started off pretty chill, the deer boy doing some nice yardwork and tossing the flowers overboard. okay. this is fine. oh, shit, now he's found dead bodies. oh my god he's crying. oh my god i'm crying. MY BABY. MY BABY BOY, WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS TO YOU?! anyway that was probably the most fucked up thing I have ever watched in my life. kill me. kill me- and the fact that he kept all the people's little things as ways to remember them? what the fuck. what the hell netflix. why would you do this. he's just a little kid. I'm going to kill someone. ALSO I fucking KNEW Darwin was going to get sick. I was watching it with my little sister, and when he popped up I went 'bet you Gus is gonna look away and darwin's finger is gonna start twitching' then BOOM. also, that makes it so much worse. at this point I was like, how many more people is this poor kid going to to lose? WHY IS HE SO TRAUMATIZED???

hahaha. boy oh boy.

side note, why was Siana and Birdie actually so cute? I would've loved for their relationship to be explored more before... yk. and Nuka?? my baby. my darling. she means everything, actually.

wait what happens next?? idk

episode 7 time! or at least the end of it.

first of all, FUCK YOU DR. SINGH. I LIKED YOU AT THE START BUT NOW?.ALL THIS DESTINY BULLSHIT 'it's my destiny to kill gus' BRO YOU JUST SAID YOUR DESTINY IS TO MURDER AN INNOCENT CHILD?? WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR BRAIN. THIS IS WHY RANI LEFT. and when Adi was getting closer and closer to stab Gus, when he was screaming and kicking, I was actually going to vomit and cry. what the actual fuck. why is this show so incredibly messed up. it's not even funny. this is the most disturbing shit I have seen in a while which is saying a lot. the sheer horror of the things in this show once you start to think about it is insane. anyway before that whole thing I genuinely thought 'hm I think that blood on Adi's knife in the vision thing is actually big man's blood because he probably protected gus' and I was half right? I was not expecting Birdie to be killed AT ALL. It totally took me by surprise. once again, this show is so horrifying and sad. Gus crying over Birdie. i'm going to die. he's an orphan. why is this stupid world so mean to this kid?? he's turning into fucking Peter Parker for god's sake! I really, really thought big man was going to die in that cave. and imagine if he did? Gus would've lost both his parents AND his father figure in just a few months. I would've lost my mind. anyway. birdie's dead. jesus fucking christ. WHY. JUST WHY. NETFLIX, STOP HURTING MY BOY.

Alright, let's see if I can remember literally anything that happens in episode 8.

It was such an emotional rollercoaster fr. I felt like I was getting emotional whiplash every five seconds. he's gonna die! wait, he's gonna live! now this guy is actually gonna murder Gus! wait, now this guy turned good and saved him! holy shit, everybody is going to die- holy shit EVERYBODY IS DEAD! wait, Gus cut himself to bleed on a tree and now they're alive! oh my god, Gus finally snapped! wait, now his dead dad is popping up and convincing him to save people again! OH MY GOD BECKY IS DEAD! WAIT OH MY GOD SHE'S ALIVE! (I think that one was the worst) NO is big man going to die on that mountain?? oh good he's not! omg jordan actually died in the crash!

....there was no resolution to that one. good riddance. sorry Jordan fans.

and then we had the whole reveal of Gus being the narrator the whole time- how tf did I not predict that?? Also, am I the only one who doesn't like stuff that does those huge timeskips where it shows the main characters when they're old. is it just me who doesn't like it. okay i'll go

let's talk about Gus and Wendy for a second. honestly, throughout the whole of season 2 and three there was a little nagging voice in my head saying 'it's a boy and a girl interacting.... you know they're going to end up together' and I would tell my head 'stfu, I wouldn't really like that because there are no good girl boy friendships in any media ever that's completely platonic (mostly, anyway)'. I was hoping SO SO badly Wendy and Gus would stay platonic besties forever, simply because it's cute and stuff like that barely happens. praying to GOD. but I knew deep down it was hopeless from the start. I don't like when media does that. 'oh, look! it's a boy and a girl of the same age meeting as kids! OBVIOUSLY the only possible route to go from here is romance, RIGHT?' I mean i'm biased as a gay enby chronically online person who thinks these stereotypes are shit but it's true. don't get me wrong. I love wendy. I love her so, so so much. but just- WHY?! I was at least hoping it would be somebody we didn't know or something. oh well.

i mean, I guess they only held hands a few times and sat together as old people, so maybe there's a tiny little chance it wasn't romantic? but they also had grandkids. yk what fuck canon. they're old besties. I think they'd be cute either way but I just prefer them friends.

SO. the sweet tooth fanfic community. it's admittedly nonexistent. I went to check the tag earlier and like- what?? it's ALL weird shit. there was like three good ones but just like why Is that all of what's in our fandom?? guys, we have not done well.

I call upon all ao3 authors and encourage them write sweet tooth (if you want to). It doesn't even matter if it's a short fluffy or angst drabble, we just need to wash the weird shit out. go ahead and post that 200 word interaction you wrote between big man and Gus in the aftermath. we need more good fic in this fandom, DESPERATELY.

and why did the writers put Gus through so much. like his dad dies, he's captured, traumatized, mutilated, shot in the leg, shot in the back, traumatizedx100 on the boat, watches his mom get murdered to protect him, has his father figure almost die multiple times, has a scientist try to kill him with a knife while holding him down multiple times, fucking snaps, and idek. WHYYYYYY. WHAT DID HE EVEN DO TO DESERVE THIS?? WHAT DID ANYBODY DO IN THIS SHOW TO DESERVE ALL THAT HAPPENED TO THEM?????? man....

I think that's all that's in my brain? this wasn't really a review just me spitting words.

moral of the story, I have adopted Gus and that is that. if you managed to get through all this you have a longer attention span than everybody I know combined when they try to listen to me ramble so congrats lmao

and I know I only brought up a few things but don't even get me started on Zhang, Rosie, and her kids because I will not shut up. and Jordan. Jordan why did you do that. and Munaq, that poor guy. ANYWAY I gotta stop talking now cuz it's 9:45pm byeee

[ardenation]

I’ve only known about EoW Zelda and Tri for about a day but if anything happened to them I would kill everyone in this room and then myself

anyway, Zelda as an earthbound sprite cuz it’s cute :D

design under cut

I use pixel art to help make designs lol also I AM SO EXCITED FOR SEPTEMBER 26 AHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[ardenation]

I saw these lillies in my neighbor's garden and couldn't help but think they looked a little bit like sundelions, just with the placement of the colors reversed. maybe it's just me but they're pretty nonetheless :D

[ardenation]

OKAY DESIGN FOR ZELDA AND TRI ARE PRETTY MUCH DONE

(I’m actually so high on adrenaline I think I can get the stitching done by tomorrow 😊)

[ardenation]

PLAYABLE ZELDA?? OK WAIT JUST A SECOND IM GONNA DESIGN AND STITCH A CROSS STITCH THING FOR HER BRB

[ardenation]

I FINALLY FINISHED SKYWARD SWORD AND ARE YOU SERIOUS.

THE BOSS BATTLE. IMPA. ZELDA. THE ENDING MONTAGE. THE MUSIC ALMOST MADE ME CRY. I low key would’ve finished this game sooner if I knew how gut wrenching the ending was gonna feel ngl. I think skyward sword is. kinda my everything. also, looking forward to finally being able to write accurate lore in my fanfics lol