#Backpacks with multiple compartments

[zuvihbags]

 Buy The Magnific Collection Of Laptop Bag For Office From The Zuvih.

Buy the all new magnificent collection of Laptop Bag for office from zuvih. Visit the collection of backpacks starting with Outdoor backpacks, Lightweight backpacks and Backpacks with multiple compartments.

[goxbags]

Premium Business 15.6'' Multiple Compartments 2 Way Use Convertible Laptop Backpack Gox Bag

Laptop backpack has premium design with independent back compartment for laptop up to 15.6" size. Main compartment meets daily carry needs. This smart design allows client to organize all the belongings separately in a reasonable way. Zipper pocket on the top is for small necessaries such as sunglass.

The backpack has the folds in the corners, which ensure not only solid in shape but also enough capacity of the front zip pockets. Padded handle and shoulder strap in air mesh guarantee the breathable and comfort use. Side handle allows to turn it into a suitcase in one second.

Specifications of Laptop Bag

Size

W30xH42xD12cm     W11.8"xH16.5"x4.75"

Material

Polyester

Color

Black

Features of Laptop Bag

Durable and waterproof main material

Two separate compartments

Top and side handles allow two ways carrying

Interior multiple open pockets

Laptop Bag Benefits

Front top pockets for quick access to necessaries such as sunglass

Back independent laptop compartment

Invisible front zip pocket

Converted into a carry bag with side handle design

Breathable air mesh padded on the back and shoulder strap for comfort use.

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

the something blue

lilac, chapter sixteen

a/n: i gotta admit, I felt pretty proud of myself back when i came up with the title for this chapter. really clicking into that big brain of mine, giving it multiple meanings

summary: Casting one last glance over your shoulder at the celebrations still in full swing, you slowly made your way out front to where your car was parked among all of the guests’. 

warnings: lumberjack!frank castle x reader, angst, lumberjack AU, past domestic violence, crazy ex trope, wedding, kidnapping, crying, violence, cliffhanger

word count: 917

∼ gentle reminder that feedback, but especially reblogs are the way you support writers on here ∽

previous chapter | series masterlist | next chapter

masterlist | join my taglist

As you pulled open the zipper on your backpack that was momentarily resting on the wobbly porch bench, a small smile tugged at your lips as your gaze washed over the dancing figures distantly in the garden. Softly lit by the twinkle lights strung from the trees, you caught sight of Donna, in the middle of the grassy dancefloor, swaying closely with a man about a head shorter than her, the strong embrace she had around him smooshed his face far into her bosom. Twirling around, she caught the eye of both Otto and your father who were off to the side, dancing as if they were in Studio 54. 

Shifting the tupperware of cake under your arm, you fished out your phone from your bag’s front pocket and began to type out a message. 

Y/n: Finally done! Hope you’re not asleep yet because I am on my way!

And just a few short moments later, your phone plinged with a reply.

Frank: Don’t worry, sweetheart. I am wide awake.

Smiling softly to yourself, you tucked your phone away, nearly shoving it into the folded-up cotton of the underwear you’d rid yourself of just minutes earlier when you had dipped inside to grab your stuff from your room. 

Closing the front compartment, you slung the backpack over one shoulder and smoothed a hand down over the deep green velvet wrap dress that enveloped your curves, hugging you and cascading off like a waterfall. 

Casting one last glance over your shoulder at the celebrations still in full swing, you slowly made your way out front to where your car was parked among all of the guests’. 

With gravel crunching beneath your modest heels, you neared your vehicle, tugging your bag around to your front as your fingers fiddled after your keys. Halting just as you neared the door, you glanced down a moment before finally finding the keys at the very bottom of your bag. 

But just as you fished the jangly bundle out and moved to unlock your car, heavy pairs of footsteps rustled in the gravel behind you. 

Absentmindedly glancing over your shoulder, assuming that it was just a sleepy wedding guest ready to go home, you instead spotted two big, rough-looking individuals that you didn’t recollect from the day’s festivities. Just as you opened your mouth to speak, your words ended up muffled as they rushed and closed the gap between you, one of them clasping a palm over your lips, nicotine staining the harsh flesh and burning in your nostrils. 

The cake and the keys tumbled to the ground with your backpack soon following suit as they grabbed you, lifted you off your feet and hauled you towards a close by dark van you hadn’t even blinked at before. You tried to get free, kicking and screaming in their grasp, but all your struggles granted you was the loss of both of your shoes.  

As they threw you into the back of the vehicle, the tumble itself onto the cold metal floor left you breathless and aching, the alarmed words, “what are you–,” escaped your lips just before one of the men stepped in after you and the other slammed the door shut. Sitting down on the small bench on the side wall, his hands dipped into a duffle bag as you squeaked, “let me go!” 

Not even casting a glance off in your direction, he just conjured a roll of duct tape as you soon felt the van begin to drive off. 

Leaning in, the man captured your wrists and began to bind them up. 

“This must be a mistake, I-I think you’ve got the wrong person,” tears rolled down your cheeks as he moved to restrain your ankles, “i-if you just stop and drop me off, I promise I won’t go to the authorities,” you trembled like a leaf on the grimy floor, “please, just let me go!”

“Shut up, bitch,” he shot back coldly. 

Casting a glance over your shoulder at the small window that looked to the driver’s seat as well as the night’s swallowing darkness they speeded into, you tried to ask, “w-where are you taking me?”

“I said,” the man looming above you growled before he tore off another piece of tape and forced it over your lips, “shut up,” soon following it up with a dark cloth bag that he tugged over your head.

Disappearing into the void, you had no idea how long the bumpy car ride took. Could have been an hour, could have been a day. The time was impossible to decipher as all you could feel was the paralysing terror that ravaged every inch of your being. 

But at some point, the van did roll to a stop and you heard the doors again be ripped open. 

A shrill yelp muffled against the tape as you felt numerous rough hands grab a hold of you and haul you out. Your balance was non-existent as your bound feet met freezing concrete, the bruising grips being the only thing holding you upright.

It took a moment for your eyes to adjust to the harsh fluorescent light after they ripped the dark hood off, a few strands of your hair following with them in the action. 

You were in a parking garage of some sort, but that discovery wasn’t what made you nearly faint. It was the familiar, suit-clad man standing before you with his ring-adorned hands shoved casually into his pant pockets. 

“Hello, doll.”

© 2024 thyme-in-a-bubble 

[touyas-multi-purpose-saline]

DAY XXI. — SELF-HARM

cw: SELF-HARM, Gore, Graphic Descriptions of Bodily Harm, Violence, Threats, SUICIDE Threats, Manipulation, Gaslighting, Abusive Relationship, Body Horror, Blood, Graphic Descriptions of Human Body, Unhealthy Relationships, Yandere, Slight Mention of Vomit, Controlling Overhaul, Uncomfortable Scenarios, General Dark Content Not Suitable for Immature Audiences. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. 18+ ONLY!

author's note: This day is extremely graphic and disturbing. This is not meant to be a healthy depiction of a mental illness of a self-harming individual. Overhaul is clearly unstable romantically and using violence against himself as a way to control the Reader. Please be considerate and kind to individuals who self-harm and do not let this form a stereotype. There are parts of this fic that are based on personal lived experiences. They were triggering and horrific. I do not condone unhealthy behavior in any aspect! This is STRICTLY fiction! Do not force yourself to read if you're uncomfortable.

word count: Approximately 1.6k words.

Boyfriend: Where are you? (13:52) 

Boyfriend: Answer your phone. (14:26) 

You missed a call from Boyfriend.

Boyfriend: Now. (14:28) 

Boyfriend: Where are you now? (14:49) 

You missed 2 calls from Boyfriend. 

Boyfriend: Where are you? (14:55) 

Boyfriend: Who are you with? (14:56) 

Boyfriend: Are you cheating on me? (14:56) 

Boyfriend: Tell me. (14:56) 

You missed 17 calls from Boyfriend. 

Boyfriend: Attachments: 3 Images. (15:31) 

Boyfriend: My blood pressure is getting dangerously high again. You’re the one doing this to me. If you were being a good girlfriend and answering me, I would be healthy. (15:32) 

You missed 24 calls from Boyfriend. 

Boyfriend: The thoughts are back. I’m getting sick. I’ll kill myself if you don’t answer. (15:59)

Boyfriend: Attachment: 1 Image. (16:00) 

Boyfriend: I’ll cut my throat in front of you. Answer me, or else you’ll be the one who killed me. (16:00) 

You missed 38 calls from Boyfriend. 

— 

A laugh echoes in the car whenever you fling yourself out, waving and howling with your friends. They bid you farewell, and all of you immediately do multiple really quick slaps of your thigh that end in waves goodbye. Your best friend snorts before honking the horn a couple of times, gripping the gear shift and putting it into reverse. You step back, watching them roll away from the tiny and cracked parking lot of your apartment complex. They accidentally hit a pothole, which makes all of you cackle whenever the car bounces, but you get a deadpan from your best friend before they kick it into drive and start to officially pull out. Watching them drive off, turning onto asphalt and speeding away, finally starts to cement the exhaustion seeping into your bones. 

Your hair feels gross whenever you swipe it back, sticky with chlorine and sunkisses. A groan leaves your lips before you slowly pivot around, scratching the dome of your head and yawning. The trek back to your pad sucks, and ascending the stairs sucks even more. But soon the stairwell ends with a scuff of your flip flops, and you’re hobbling towards your door. The sling backpack crossed over your chest feels heavier with each step, so you readjust it and sigh. Your sopping wet towel and swimsuit are in there, and it feels like the water weight never fully left them. Another groan, and you almost wail to the heavens whenever you realize your keys are stuck in the front zipper of the bag. With a heaving breath, you lazily swing it around and fumble with the zipper. 

You’re relieved to see your keys, wallet, sunglasses, and phone happily tucked in its confines. Great. Glad you didn’t misplace those—you're always doing that. You fish out the keys, but you don’t close the compartment again and don’t turn the bag around. Too much work, and you’re focused on dangling the keys and shoving your key into the lock and turning. It clicks, you smile with a million dollars, and you push the door open to cross the threshold. 

Ahh, home sweet home. The smell of candles and incense wafts into your nose despite being doused, and you can’t help but steal a few more breaths while you close the door with the sole of your flip flop and walk in. You kick off your flip flops while you struggle with removing your bag, but you manage to snag it off, so you toss your keys onto the key rack and start digging around for your wallet and phone. Your fingers curl around both, so you retrieve them and let your bag sag again. The coffee table coughs whenever you plop the wallet down, but you pay it no mind before you touch the screen of your phone. Since you left to go swimming, you kind of just chucked it in the backpack and kept it there, so you probably missed some notifications. There’s a slight sense of dread that itches at the back of your mind, but you feel weird thinking that. It’ll be fine. It’ll be— 

The screen lights up. 

The backpack thunders to the floor, basketballs hitting brick walls, and you stare in abhor at your phone. 

13 texts and 82 missed calls from—from, they’re from, from— 

Kai. 

That dread you’d felt really does start to sink into your pores, and the distinct feeling of needing to cry starts to crawl up your legs. Noo, no. This is the worst time yet. He’s never done this many calls or, you pause, he’s getting worse. Kai’s become so paranoid, so controlling—no, he’s thoughtful and caring, that's what he told you—of your life now. No. He’s just being considerate. He cares about you, but maybe it’s just a touch too overbearing. No, it’s not. You shouldn’t think things like that. Your hands are shaking. You can’t think. Oh, God, you can’t—

Kai left voicemail. He left. Voicemail. He. 

Your whole body is clenching whenever you unlock the screen and weakly locate your phone app, the red 82 a terrifying face to stare at. You swallow, you can’t swallow, you swallow, and click and head for the voicemail. 44 voicemails. You click on the first one. 

“You told me that you would always answer your phone if I called. Didn’t you say that you would always be there for me? Why are you ignoring me? You didn’t tell me you had plans today. Angel. Angel, I’m getting—Getting. Angel, I…” 

That one ended. Your mouth is cotton. Another one. 

“Yeah. You didn’t tell me you had plans. Do you see other men? Is there another man in your life? Am I just a piece of meat to you, angel? You’re more than that to me. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted and more. So why are you being so bad?” 

There are more. You randomly click this time. While the voicemail plays, you drop your notification screen down and start reading the text messages. Horror and dust dances in your gaze. 

“I feel like I’m about to get sick. I’ll find you. Did you think you could escape from me? Did you really think you could leave your husband, angel? I’ll make sure you can’t leave me anymore. I’ll slice your ligaments off. I’m so sick. I can’t feel my stomach. You’ve made me sick with your disease. Why are you doing this to me? I don’t want to hurt you. I. I think you don’t understand me. You’re—mine. Mine. We belong together—meant to be mine, my wife. I. I can’t let you escape anymore. I will—” 

You end the voicemail before it’s done—41 seconds out of 2 minutes and 57 seconds. The images of Kai’s bloodwork is a monster that has you petrified, frozen to stone and chalk underneath its penetration, underneath the reality. The numbers are rocketing up. You did that—you’re stressing him out, making him worried. Did you forget to tell him you were going swimming with your friends? Everything is spinning, choreographers and calibration. You stumble forward, falling to your knees, head whiskers away from splitting on the edge of the coffee table. You click on another—the last one.

“I have a better idea, angel.” 

Silence for 16 seconds before it ends. You feel like you can’t breathe, what was a comforting haze of burning wicks and scents becomes poisonous mustard that makes you hack and gag, cracking your ribs. Tears are already leaving your eyes, stinging your cheeks as you shakily open your texting app to finally respond to Kai. 

You don’t get the chance to before— 

Boyfriend: Attachments: 1 Image. (17:03) 

Boyfriend: Come to me right now and I’ll put it back to normal. (17:03) 

Vomit is in your throat, pouring lungs and heart out from the bars of your teeth, and you’re choking and sobbing. Frantic thrashes of your mind pump everywhere, mushrooming, and your eyes are peeled back into your head and your sight is glued to the screen. You start yelling, the sounds caught in your uvula, and you’re shuddering. 

Kai’s arm is on the screen. What was left of it. Mangled, twisted, dog bites and bitter and waxy burns. Parts of his flesh are flayed back, lolling like a tongue in warm summer air, and you hiccup. Blood is drenching his arms, his pants, his jacket, the floor, flecks of blood on his sneakers. You can see every single tendon, all of them strings, pale and taut, and they’re stretched out in vicious smiles, glaring at you. His bones are cracked, splintering like broken tree limbs, shooting high into the sky, dusty, moldy. Warped fingers, zigzags and bent upside down, his fingernails tearing off of the fruit and juicy as they dangle helplessly at the cuticles. Veins are slapping everywhere, tentacles, confetti on a piñata, the fat white and soggy. His muscles pinch together, rippling into shapes, triangles, squares, intricate bows over the gaping wounds, wrapped around the limb. 

And you’re gasping, clenching your stomach, bile in your nose, strings of pool water and snotty fireweeds over your top lip. Darkness, shadows, the house is sinking in on you, you’re mud in the ground, clay. 

Your phone throbs. 

You blink salt and saline. 

Boyfriend: Come home. (17:05) 

The phone clatters to the floor, shattering dreams, worms under your skin, twisting around and hopping to the door, to Kai, to your boyfriend, husband, to save him from being sick because of you, you’re claws and feral on the ground, Kai the only destination. 

And you don’t look back.

[candycandy00]

The Trade Part 3 - A Dabi x Reader Zombie AU

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Smut. 18+. Zombie Apocalypse AU. Oral, stripping, voyeurism, handjobs. I know I said part three would be the final part but it got too long!

The following week was more eventful than your past several months in the woods combined. The most notable change was the number of zombies wandering into the woods. You ran into them occasionally before. It’s not like they were a particularly rare sighting. But now you were seeing multiple zombies each day. You avoided most of them, either climbing trees until they passed you by or simply going the long way around a certain area. A few times you had been forced to kill them. 

You also ran into Touya more often, three times in one week. The first time you found him in his camp, the sound of jangling metal cans alarming you before you even saw him. A group of zombies were stumbling over the wires to get to him, the biggest group you’d seen since you’d stopped going near cities. There had to be at least twelve. 

There were already five dead at Touya’s feet, and he was swinging his bat like a madman, screaming curses at the zombies as dark, dead blood flew through the air. You hurried over and killed a couple yourself, but he really hadn’t needed your help. Once he’d calmed down, he’d seemed happy to see you. Almost immediately, he’d offered a trade. You could rest in his camp and eat a hot meal with him in exchange for a handjob. It was a hell of a deal, so you accepted. 

You sat beside him on a log as he watched the small fire, his pants open, his cock hard and standing straight up. You carefully stroked his length, using the precum leaking from his tip as lube. You started slow, then worked up speed as he moaned for you to go faster, harder. His head was tossed back, the scarred flesh of his neck exposed and somehow alluring. 

The way he groaned and reflexively thrust his hips up against your hand excited you. And when he finally began twitching in your grip, you knew he was close. Just before the first shots of cum escaped, you suddenly leaned over and wrapped your lips around him, catching the warm fluid in your mouth. 

You heard his surprised voice saying, “H-hey! You don’t have to do that…”

But his voice died away as you used your tongue to clean him up. When finished, you sat back up and wiped your mouth. 

“I thought this would be better than avoiding stepping in it all night,” you said, trying to sound indifferent. 

He stared at you for a moment, as if trying to figure something out, those beautiful blue eyes making you feel self conscious. “I’m not complaining,” he finally said, then stood up from the log. 

The second time you ran into him, you were fleeing four zombies that had cut off your path in the woods. You had slammed your heavy backpack into the head of one of them, but apparently not with enough force to destroy its brain, as it had simply climbed back to its feet. 

You were running toward a tree you’d passed earlier that looked easy enough for you to climb but still high enough that the zombies couldn’t reach you. As you fled, one of them had grabbed hold of your hair and pulled you back. You screamed and thrashed, losing your composure. You hadn’t been in this much danger since the early days of the outbreak. 

Suddenly the zombie’s grip had loosened, and you turned to see Touya, smashing the brains of all four of them in quick succession. When they were all dead, you stood there, shaking. 

Touya had only said, “Come with me,” and led you to his camp. He gave you food and water and didn’t ask for anything in return. He even let you sleep there that night without any sort of trade involved. 

Now you were on your third encounter. You’d found his van in the woods, and walked around it until you spotted him, messing around with a small side compartment. When he looked up and saw you, his eyes went wide. He suddenly took hold of your arm and pulled you closer, then pushed your back against the side of the van. The backpack you’d slung over one shoulder fell to the ground. 

You were surprised, because he’d never been this aggressive since that first time he found you looting his van. His body was so close to yours that you could feel his body heat, and he placed one hand on the van beside your head. 

“I’ve been thinking about you,” he said, and there was a hunger in his eyes that you hadn’t seen before. 

Your heart was beating so fast that you were sure he could hear it. But you kept your voice steady and said, “Oh? And what kind of thoughts were you having about me?”

He leaned his face closer to yours. “I was just thinking how I haven’t really touched you yet. Not the way I want to.”

You couldn’t stop a blush from spreading over your face. What had gotten into him? Had he been feeling lonely? Or was he just frustrated that there had been no trade last time? You gave him what you hoped was a flirty grin and said, “Are you proposing a trade?”

He nodded. “Let me touch you, wherever I want,” he said in a husky voice. 

Your own voice sounded small and nervous by comparison as you asked, “What will you give me in return?”

His lips found your neck, just barely brushing over your skin, his metal piercings grazing over you in a way that sent shivers through your body. “Anything you want,” he answered, finally kissing your throat. 

You swallowed, trying desperately to keep calm. “Okay,” you said in a quiet voice, and that’s all the confirmation he needed. 

His hands moved over you greedily, sliding under your tank top and then under your sports bra, shoving them both above your breasts so that he could squeeze and grope the exposed flesh. Then his hands were unbuttoning your denim shorts. One hand slipped inside your panties, fingers eagerly parting your slicked folds to reach the hypersensitive nub within. 

You moaned, your hips instinctively bucking off the side of the van and against his fingers as two of them pushed inside you while his thumb stroked your clit. His mouth was still on your neck, but it was moving down toward your chest, where it eventually closed around one hard nipple. 

“T-Touya…”

He glanced up at you, but said nothing. His tongue ran over your breasts as his fingers pumped in and out of you. When your legs began to tremble, you put both your hands on his shoulders to keep from collapsing. His thumbnail lightly scraped over your clit, and you came on the spot, clenching around his fingers and moaning his name. 

Your legs gave out, and he quickly caught you in his arms, holding you steady until your orgasm passed. Then he stood back to give you space as you panted to regain your breath. When it was over, you buttoned your shorts and pulled your bra and shirt back down as Touya went back to work on his van. 

“So what do you want for the trade?” he asked, a little more sheepish than usual, as if he were embarrassed. 

You sat down on a nearby rock and watched him tinker in the side compartment. “I want you to tell me more about you, where you’re heading, who you were before all this, that kind of stuff.”

He looked over at you with a surprised expression, clearly not expecting that. He sighed and closed the compartment, then walked over and sat on a log across from you. “How about I answer five questions for you?”

“Deal,” you said, your mind already forming the questions. “For starters, what was that all about just now?”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“As soon as you saw me you were all over me,” you told him. “That’s not how you usually do things.”

He averted his eyes from yours, staring at the ground. “Two days ago I found some zombies eating someone at the base of a tree. There wasn’t much left of the person at that point. Just bones and gore mostly, and a few strands of hair… the same color as yours.” 

In your mind, you could picture the scene, and you could see how he would have jumped to conclusions. “So you thought I was dead.”

He nodded. “You sleep in trees. I thought maybe you fell out in the middle of the night, maybe even broke your back and couldn’t move while zombies gathered around you.”

A grizzly fate, and probably true for whoever the poor soul was that Touya had seen. But thankfully, it hadn’t been you. You felt a familiar heat in your face when you realized what his words meant. Suddenly his desperation for you took on a different meaning. 

“Got another question?”

“Yeah,” you answered, gathering your thoughts. “What did you do before the outbreak?”

“You mean like a job?” he asked. “Not really anything to be honest. I’d just got my license to do piercings at a tattoo parlor, but all this shit happened two days before I was supposed to start.”

Looking at him, at the various piercings dotting his face, his answer made sense. You tried to decide on your next question. You really wanted to ask how he got his scars, but you didn’t want to be insensitive. Above all, you didn’t want him to think the scars bothered you. If anything, the opposite was true. You found them intriguing. 

So you went in a different direction. “Why didn’t you want to stay with your family during all this?”

Touya stared at you for a moment, his blue eyes seeming to darken slightly. “I don’t get along with my old man, and he’s in charge of the whole household, even in a situation like this. He’s used to bossing people around I guess. Being a politician and all.”

You’d never been very interested in politics, so you probably wouldn’t have recognized his father if he told you his name. But you had always heard stories about “dirty” politicians. You couldn’t resist asking, “Was he the good kind of politician or the corrupt kind?”

Touya held your gaze as he said, “The kind that beats his wife and kids.”

Your mouth fell open, but you had no idea what to say. You thought for a moment, but all you could come up with was, “I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”

Touya shifted on the log. “Yeah, I know. And before you ask, I did try to get my mom and siblings to come with me. I didn’t just run off and abandon them. But they felt safer with him I guess. He’s supposedly trying to be a better person lately. Not that I’m buying it.”

You decided to drop the matter of his father and ask about something else that interested you. “How many siblings do you have?” 

His expression lightened a little. “Three. All younger. One sister and two brothers.”

“I’m surprised,” you said with a laugh. “You don’t give off big brother vibes at all.”  

Touya laughed too. “Took years of practice, trust me,” he joked. “And oh yeah, that was your fifth question.”

You were surprised. “What? Really? I thought that was four!” You went back over the conversation in your mind, and realized that you hadn’t counted when you asked what kind of politician his father was. You sighed dejectedly. “Oh yeah, I guess it was five.”

Touya grinned. “That completes our trade then.”

You were about to speak again when a loud gunshot rang out in the distance and put you and Touya both on alert. You both sat there perfectly still, listening. It was a rifle shot. You’d heard it occasionally over the past week, always far enough away that it didn’t directly endanger you, but too close to ignore. You glanced at Touya to find him wearing a grim expression. 

“Fucking idiots,” he muttered. “What kind of moron keeps firing off a gun? That’s why there’s so many zombies in the woods lately.”

“I think I know who’s doing it,” you told him. 

He looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to go on. 

“The night before we officially met, two guys approached me in the woods. They had rifles. They knocked me out, tied me up, and made it clear they planned to rape me. I managed to get away and hide from them. Haven’t seen them since.”

Touya’s face had shifted from curious to disgusted. “Fucking animals. If you see them again try to lead them to me. I’ll bash their fucking balls in with my bat.”

You smiled at the thought. “Thanks. But they had a lot of weapons, including those rifles. I think they’re the ones firing the gun. I think they’re luring zombies to the woods on purpose. Maybe to smoke me out.”

He grinned again. “I can deal with their rifles. Don’t worry about that.”

After talking with him a few minutes more, you stood up and walked over to the van to retrieve your backpack, then pulled it onto your shoulders. 

Touya glared at you. “What are you doing?”

You shrugged. “Leaving?”

He frowned. “There’s more zombies out here than ever. You just told me you were almost raped by two guys with guns who might still be after you. Are you seriously gonna keep doing this alone?”

You were quiet for a moment, then said, “I didn’t hear any offers to let me stay.”

He sighed. “You need an invitation? Fuck it. Fine.” He stood up and looked you in the eyes. “Stay. At least until the gunshots stop and the zombies thin out. Stay with me.”

You thought you might melt into the ground at that moment, but instead you dropped your backpack onto the ground and went back to sit on the rock. “Okay,” you said, then flashed him a smile. “So what’s for dinner tonight?”

He laughed. “Get off your ass and help me make a fire first, freeloader.”

The two of you worked together to set up camp, not knowing at the time that your fragile sense of safety was about to be demolished in a few days. 

********

Three days later, the two of you parked the van in the woods, set up the wires and cans over the doors, then walked to the river to wash up. You decided to take turns bathing while the other kept watch, since there were so many zombies around. 

Touya went first, stripping off his clothes without a moment of hesitation and walking into the water with his soap. You tried to avert your eyes, but your gaze kept being drawn back to his toned, scarred form. 

“You can look at me,” he called from the river, wearing nothing but a grin, “just keep one eye on the woods!”

“Yeah, yeah,” you called back, scanning the trees for movement. Touya’s bat was lying at your feet. 

“You might as well,” he said, drawing your eye back to him as he was lathering up his hair. “I’m definitely gonna be looking at you when it’s your turn!”

You blushed and said, “Pervert!” But you were smiling. 

When Touya was finished, he dried off and dressed, then stared at you until you sighed and began peeling off your clothes. He watched, of course, though he had the decency to remain quiet. You didn’t feel as embarrassed as before, maybe because he’d seen you naked twice before, or maybe because you were just becoming more comfortable with him. 

You entered the water, which only came to about mid-thigh, and soaped yourself up. Even though Touya was keeping watch, old habits died hard, so you watched the woods as well. You had a strange feeling that you should hurry, so you quickly rinsed off and went back to the riverbank to dry off. Just as you were pulling on a clean pair of shorts, you heard it. 

Jangling cans. 

Touya heard it too. He picked up his bat as you pulled a T-shirt over your head, not bothering with a bra. He’d already shoved your dirty clothes in his own bag, so the two of you dashed into the trees, toward the van. 

You didn’t make it far. Just a few yards into the woods, you both spotted them: zombies, spread out all among the trees. You didn’t have time to count, but there had to be at least fifty. 

Touya backed up to stand right in front of you, the bat clenched in both hands. You pulled the knife from your thigh holster. The zombies had already noticed you and were closing in. 

You leaned close to Touya and asked, “Should we go back and cross the river?”

He shook his head. “No, they’d follow us and we’d just end up trapped on the other side with no supplies. We should try to break through them and get to the van.”

You nodded, but you definitely didn’t feel great about that plan. Your strategy had always been about evading danger, not fighting it. You could handle a couple of zombies but the sheer number of corpses shambling toward you now with their outstretched arms and snapping teeth made you want to sprint in the opposite direction. 

Touya took his eyes off the horde long enough to look at you over his shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said, “I’ll protect you.”

Dark clouds were gathering in the sky, and as heavy raindrops began to pour down over the forest, Touya shifted the bat to one hand and took your hand in the other. Then, he ran into a narrow gap in the zombie herd, pulling you with him. 

Tag List: 

@crunchtits @jabberwocky-92 @myst1cfish @missrosegold @dreamybxnny @hotvillainapologist @faetheral @touyasmaid @dabislittleprincess @cutebutdelulu @snowprincesa1 

[mtyout]

99PERCENTHANDMADE

Welcome to our journey through the great outdoors, where adventure meets the artistry of craftsmanship! In this blog post, we'll explore the essential gear that enhances your outdoor experience, starting with the perfect hiking backpack. Discover how a well-designed hiking backpack can elevate your trail adventures, keeping your essentials organized and within reach. Next, we’ll delve into camping backpacks, tailored for those overnight excursions into the wild, where comfort and practicality are paramount. 

Hiking Backpack

When planning your next outdoor adventure, having the right gear is essential, and a quality Hiking Backpack is at the top of the list. A well-designed hiking backpack not only carries your essentials but also ensures comfort during your journey. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting, selecting a backpack that meets your needs can make all the difference.

A Hiking Backpack is particularly useful for long trails where you need sufficient storage for food, water, and other gear. Unlike standard bags, these backpacks are crafted to distribute weight evenly, reducing strain on your back and shoulders. Look for features like padded straps, adjustable waist belts, and various compartments to keep your items organized. Investing in a Camping Backpack that is 99 percent handmade ensures that you’re supporting craftsmanship and durability. Each piece often reflects the care and attention that goes into its construction.

When choosing your Hiking Backpack, consider how long your hikes will be and what items you'll need. Packs come in various sizes, and finding the right fit ensures your comfort and balance. Additionally, look for waterproofing features to protect your gear from unexpected weather changes. Remember, each adventure is unique, and personalized packs can cater to specific hiking scenarios.

Camping Backpack

When it comes to outdoor adventures, having the right gear is essential, and a Camping Backpack is at the forefront of this necessity. A quality camping backpack not only provides ample space to carry your essentials but also ensures comfort during those long hikes in nature.

Choosing a Camping Backpack involves understanding the specific needs of your journey. If you're planning a multi-day hiking trip, you'll want a pack that offers sufficient capacity while being lightweight. Look for backpacks that include features such as adjustable straps, ventilated backs, and multiple compartments to keep your gear organized.

It's worth exploring what makes a 99 Percent Handmade camping backpack truly unique. The handcrafted approach allows for personalized touches that mass-produced models often lack. From intricate stitching to unique fabric choices, these backpacks embody both functionality and artistry.

Ultimately, investing in a quality Camping Backpack is about enhancing your outdoor experience. The right backpack will make your trips more enjoyable, allowing you to focus on the beautiful landscapes and the tranquility of nature rather than being weighed down by an uncomfortable pack.

99 Percent Handmade

When it comes to outdoor adventures, having the right gear is essential. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, 99 Percent Handmade offers a stunning range of products designed for hiking and camping enthusiasts. Each item is crafted with care and attention to detail, ensuring that your experience in nature is as enjoyable as possible.

For those who enjoy camping, the Camping Backpack from 99 Percent Handmade is a must-have. Its thoughtful design and spacious compartments make it easy to organize camping gear, food, and personal items. You can trust that everything is made with durability in mind, ensuring your backpack lasts through multiple trips under the stars.

What sets 99 Percent Handmade apart is their commitment to exceptional craftsmanship. Each hiking and camping backpack is made with a deep respect for outdoor enthusiasts, ensuring that you have a reliable companion for all your adventures. If you’re looking for gear that resonates with both style and functionality, check out https://www.99percenthandmade.com/.

In conclusion, embracing the outdoors is made easier with a Hiking Backpack or a Camping Backpack from 99 Percent Handmade. Experience the difference of incredible craftsmanship and explore nature with confidence!

[nifflermini]

Finding You (Semi Eita x Reader)

Hey All! So this is based off an old idea I had and that actually started my Tumblr. It’s deleted now, but for anyone who remembers that, this is kind of how it ended :)

I waved to some of my teammates, hugs all around while yellow and purple pom poms hung from my bag. For the first time in a little bit, it didn’t feel like one of the shiny smiles I’d alwyas used for dance. This one felt real. My time in America was great, and I’d be back in time for auditions for Laker Girls next year. but For now though?

It’s time to go home.

Immediately after waving to my teammates, I sent a text to my cousin. He was waiting for me in Japan already, having flown in from France a few weeks ago.

Me: Hey! I'm coming home soon :)

I pocketed my phone quickly, my lips tugging into a smile when I felt a buzz against my legs.

Walmart Wonka: Aww, Finally I get to see my favorite person! Me: Oh, I didn't know you finally met up with Ushi-Gushy? Walmart Wonka: That was low. Me: Love u <3

I slid my phone back into my pocket, an excited grin dancing on my lips as music thrummed through my head. Not a huge contrast to when I’d first made this trip, my backpack was filled with memorobellia causing me nostalgia from these four years away from home. Away from my friends, and family. Away from Semi. I hissed as my backpack shifted, the one sharp thing in there poking my back as my fingers were wrapped tight around the handle of a purple suitcase.

As I lifted my suitcase into the overhead compartments, my thoughts drifted right back to a certain grey-haired musician and my cheeks warmed. A dull ache thrummed through my chest. We’d talked over the past few years. A few texts, some errant phone calls every few months. But that pit that had lived in my stomach since I’d left felt like it was slowly finally starting to shrink. I checked my messages, knowing darn well that I wasn't going to have any messages until I landed in Japan. I kept checking anyway.

Only my friend Sophie really came to visit, and Satori was the most updated since he’d call and text me everyday when he woke up, ensuring that I’d remember to take care of myself. I wonder what’s changed. Has Semi changed? I huffed a little in annoyance at the butterflies that still fluttered in my stomach at the thought of not just seeing him,but just him. What if I've changed? If I have changed, will he like it? What if we don't have the same connection we had when I left? In the months before I’d left things were going terribly for me. I’d been evicted, and couldn’t find anywhere to sleep, prioritizing dance over everything else, and completely hyper focused on getting my dance skills intact for Laker Girls auditions.

When I’d ended up on the streets, Satori’d called Semi, and the instant I’d met him, we clicked. The two of us were two peas in a pod, able to talk to almost anything and everything all the way up until the night before I’d left.

When he almost kissed me.

i bit my lip, trying to distract myself from my thoughts until I heard familiar chords in my ears, Semi’s first song with his band floating through my skull.

”I picture you in the center of the sun. I took a pill, but it didn’t help me numb. I think of you, even when my eyes are shut, but I never really know just where to find you…”

"There's my favorite cousin!!" Satori shouted as soon as he saw me, earning multiple weird looks, and a jab to the stomach from me.

“Why are you like this?” I said as he pulled me in for a hug.

“because I missed my baby cousin!” Satori said, wiping fake tears when he pulled away. “Four years since we’ve seen each other in person.” He said, checking over me. “You look okay though. Not malnourished or anything.” I rolled my eyes.

“You absolute drama king.”

“i’m just looking out for my cousin! My little Snickers!” I sighed at the resurgence of that nickname. Every Halloween, without fail when we were little, I would steal everyone’s Snickers, and nothing else. Thus, I was dubbed Snickers by my entire family.

“i haven’t had a snickers in forever…” I sighed, as we walked out of the airport.

“I have some in the car. Well, I hid some in the car. Semi Semi keeps eating them and thinking about you.” I eyed my cousin, immediately averting them when he smirked over at me, his red eyes narrowing as he too looked away. “So… how’s that going?”

”what going?” I asked, instead looking across the parking lot instead of at my cousin.

“you and Semi Semi.” He said, smirking at me.

“oh. It’s not. We aren’t a thing.”

“WHAT? Then what was the point of psychoanalyzing him? We’re going to talk about this at our next therapy session!” He declared, and I gave him an odd glance.

“Therapy?”

“most of the time, Semi doesn’t need therapy, but he tells me he gets the random pangs in his chest since you left.” Satori explained, smirking at me.

i truly hate the hope that bubbles up in my chest at that. But trying to squish it is almost as useless as trying to squish a roach. At least the hope- however scary it is- is a pleasant feeling.

“maybe you should tel him about those pesky feelings of yours.” He mused. My eye twitched in response.

“Get out of my head!” I shouted, while he laughed.

“love you Cuz, you’re not slick. Honestly neither is he.” Satori said with a small shrug as he unlocked the car, and popped the trunk.

“what do you mean, niethr iz he?” I asked, heaving my suitcase into the trunk, and walking around to the drivers side, and remembering something.

“Different sides.” Satori said, as he unlocked the car. My cheeks warmed a little as I walked over to the passenger seat as my cousin tried to convince me that one of my friends, capital FRIENDS liked me the same way I liked him. “The boy wrote you a song!” Satori exclaimed, and I shook my head.

“Right. Except I don’t remember anything about him writing me a song.” I said as he started the car.

“It was with the band. So maybe around two years back?” I tried to go back in my head, and all I could remember was the one single that was in my head.

“no chance. I’ve listened to all his music, and I’ve never heard-“

“He didn’t tell you?” Satori asked, and I rubbed my forehead.

“He told me every time the band released a new song, or that one album.” And every time, I’ve listened to it on repeat.

But Satori doesn’t need to know that last part.

“oh, you’ve heard it then. You just don’t know it.” He said, smirking slightly as I blinked, just ridiculously confused. My eyes then wandered back to the streets of my hometown, and I smiled at views of familiarity.

I sighed, a small nostalgic smile on my face. Same bag and suitcase, some of the same stuff in it with small idiosyncrasies. This time though, it felt like a different me. i just wondered if it was a better me or not. "Semi's still in this building?" I asked, glancing at my nodding cousin, who swung his keys around his index finger a smug smirk on his lips.

Four years... I thought as I walked up the stairs, stomach flipping as I felt a full stair where that chip in the stair used to be.

Four years since I’ve seen this place… I thought as I passed the peeled paint in the stairwell, that still let the faded ugly wallpaper peek through.

Four years since I’ve been here, and yet… somehow, I don’t feel much different… My thoughts turned to only slightly irritating hums as I raised my fist to knock on the familiar wooden door. The anxiety kind of quelled as I spotted the same little sticky note that had somehow stuck to the door frame through all these years. I guess he never moved it.

And finally. That familar smile, the familiar scent of vanilla, the familar heart-stopping eyes of Semi Eita.

"Four years, huh?" His voice sounded the same too. I blinked, a slow smile crawling onto my face. I nodded, dropping my bag on the floor, and opening my arms, as he opened his, letting me back in, almost as if I'd never left.

"Hi Snickers” He whispered into my ear, as I snuggled into his chest, hearing and feeling our hearts skip a beat. “I missed you.”

"I missed you too." After years of talking on the phone, video calls, texts, letters, care packages, and finally I'm back, and I know for sure that, I found him.

Hello all! For my underrated boy, because I love him too <3

Have a great day, and make sure to drink some water!

--Niffler--

[anwiel13]

The Rammstein festival backpack in the "Reise Reise" design with multiple functions:

two large side pockets

large patch front pocket with included poncho

bottom with straps for attaching sleeping mats or sleeping bags

detachable hip belt with pocket – can also be used as a single fanny pack

lid compartment with additional document pocket outside and inside

foldable comfortable seat mat (approx. 39 x 30 cm)

key ring with carabiner

practical rain cover for the backpack

large laundry net with cord stopper

padded back section with laptop compartment in the back

dimensions: approx. 60 x 30 x 20 cm; approx. 40 l volume

material: 100% polyester

[investmentassistant]

How to travel without luggage: a guide to minimalist adventure

Traveling without luggage might sound daunting at first, but it offers a liberating experience that can enhance your adventures. Imagine breezing through airports without waiting at baggage claim or seamlessly hopping on and off public transport without struggling with bulky bags. Traveling light is not only more convenient but can also save you money and reduce travel stress. Here’s a guide to mastering the art of traveling without luggage.

Embrace the minimalist mindset

The first step to traveling without luggage is adopting a minimalist mindset. This means being intentional about what you bring and focusing on necessities. Start by asking yourself what you truly need for this trip. Consider the weather, activities, and duration of your stay. For a weekend city break, you might only need a few clothing items, toiletries, a smartphone, and a wallet. Many travelers find that they can fit everything into a small backpack, making the journey hassle-free and mobile.

Choose the right bag

When traveling without traditional luggage, selecting the right bag is crucial. Opt for a versatile, durable backpack or a crossbody bag with multiple compartments. Ensure the bag is comfortable for extended periods and has secure closures. A small, 20-liter backpack can be ideal for short trips, offering enough space for essentials while being compact enough to carry comfortably throughout your journey.

Pack multi-functional clothing

The key to packing light is choosing versatile clothing that can be mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. Opt for lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabrics that dry quickly and can be worn in different settings. Choose a reversible jacket or a pair of pants that convert into shorts, allowing you to adapt to various climates and situations with minimal clothing. Consider items that serve dual purposes, such as a scarf that can also be used as a blanket or a sarong that doubles as a beach towel.

Use packing aids

Packing aids like compression bags and packing cubes can help you organize your belongings efficiently and maximize space. These tools allow you to fit more into a smaller bag while keeping items accessible and neat. Using a compression bag for clothing and a small packing cube for toiletries can significantly reduce the volume of your packed items, making it easier to manage on the go.

Simplify your toiletries

When it comes to toiletries, less is more. Opt for travel-sized products or multi-use items to save space and weight. Consider solid toiletries like bar soap, shampoo bars, and toothpaste tablets, which are not only compact but also help you bypass liquid restrictions at airports. A single solid soap bar can replace body wash, shampoo, and even laundry detergent in a pinch. This minimizes the need for multiple bottles and simplifies your packing list.

Leverage technology

Take advantage of technology to reduce physical baggage. Instead of carrying books or maps, use e-readers and digital maps on your smartphone or tablet. Store important documents, itineraries, and tickets in digital form to keep your paperwork minimal. Download travel apps that offer offline access to maps, translation services, and local recommendations, ensuring you have everything you need at your fingertips without the bulk.

Plan for laundry

If you’re traveling for more than a few days, plan to do laundry during your trip. Many accommodations offer laundry services, or you can pack a small, portable clothesline and some detergent to wash clothes in your hotel room. A quick hand wash and air-drying can keep your limited wardrobe fresh and clean, allowing you to travel light without sacrificing cleanliness or comfort.

[4veslil]

Headcanons | Paul Lahote | You're Paul's SO and Neurodivergent

A/N: Hello! I thought this would be a great way to introduce myself to tumblr! I am currently writing a slow burn Paul Lahote Fic but to engage with the Twilight Fandom more I decided to do this! If you are interested in my VolturiOC/Paul Lahote Fic though here's the link! This is my first time doing Headcanons but please bare with me! Also if you have any requests I am willing to write for every Twilight character for preferences, imagines (<1.5k words), blurbs, drabbles etc. I will NOT write smut, not comfy with it and even if I did put an dni, children aren't stupid, we all faked our ages online once upon a time. All I ask is dni if you are underage! This blog 18+ only! Thank you for clicking on this and hopefully, I will hear some requests soon! Without further ado, ENJOY! ★ MASTER LIST HERE ★ P.S. Bullet points with a * is based off my own ND. Hope you don't mind!

This is new territory for Paul so he does what he does best- panics, gets irritated that he's panicking; get's angry when he can't calm down; goes for a run before finally, finding himself sitting at a library computer (in that order).

He sits at the library for hours researching before he's got a notebook of information on neurodivergence and enough questions for you to find it endearing.

He also takes out a few books written by people with ASD and ADHD and reads them front to back before skimming through them again to take notes.

When you get back home he's ready and puts you in the hot seat.

By the end he knows the normal stuff like favourite foods, animal and colours but also the textures you avoid, your quirks, your favourite fidget toys, what makes you overstimulated; everything that makes you tick.

You woke up the next morning to Paul ripping the tags off all your clothes, letting you know he's ordered new pillows for the living room to replace the velvet ones; he also got reusable cotton pads for the bathroom.

He keeps a hairband on his wrist for when your hair tickles your neck and causes your tick*

Paul also ordered some special ear plugs. He gets multiple- one for your backpack, one for his car's glove compartment and one pair to have on his person.

Paul also asked what your favourite fidget toys are and did the same as the earplugs.

Paul got you matching keyrings with the same fidget toy attached. His is black and yours is your favourite colour.

Paul knows a diary, schedule or to-do list doesn't work with you. He makes household tasks sound like a secret Pack mission, he makes chores fun.

Paul makes sure to put post-its about the house, sets your reminders on his own phone and reminds you gently. He knows you getting annoyed at the reminders isn't personal.

He double (more like triple) checks his notebook before he gets you something.

All his gifts have something to do with your special interest

Any clothes he gets you have tags removed and washed with your favourite detergent before he gift wraps them.

Paul is more than prepared for a break down, he doesn't try to touch you during those.

He knows not to feel rejected when you flinch away or say no to a hug. He just smiles and makes sure not to be too loud or make sudden movements around you.

Paul asked about masking and he could tell you were lying when you said you don't mask around him.

Paul takes you hiking to a secluded place in the forest and phases into a wolf if you've had a bad week. He lets you lay on him and read, just so you can unmask and relax. You find it easier to unmask when he isn't human.

You can go quiet and Paul learns to get comfortable in the silence, silence used to be the calm before the storm, now he sees it as the storm passing by at a distance.

Paul knows you hate touching carboard that's been in the fridge or freezer, after food shopping you find he's opened everything and repackaged it.*

Paul speaks straightforwardly, his communication is clear, especially when it's important or knows you're already overstimulated/overwhelmed.*

When you meet the Pack Paul hates how confused you look when some of the banter goes after your head- he tells you not to force yourself to laugh, says he finds it funny when you don't humour the boys.

The Pack started taking advantage of things going over your head, when Paul pointed it out you shrugged it off because it was only a bit of banter.

Paul pretended to leave it but roughed up the Pack (more than usual) when they were sparring, or would accidentally ram into them while running.

The Pack say he's whipped when they see memories of Paul letting you pet him in wolf form.

At Christmas Jared gets you a pink collar with studs for him, teasing you of course. While you're confused (and distracted) Paul yeets it at Jared's head.

When he gives a gift- of course it's something from your latest hyper fixation.

You get overwhelmed at the Pack's beach hang outs. You are not familiar with everyone's imprints and you get anxious.

You both sit a little away from the Pack and their imprints, silently laying together or drawing in the sand.

Paul always makes sure you're included in the conversation when someone approaches.

He holds you tight in his arms when you're feeling agitated because he knows you like to be squeezed, it grounds you.

Of course, when he found this out he ordered you a weighted blanket.

Paul wants to know everything, all your likes and dislikes- what's safe and what's not.

Paul smiles ear to ear when you tell him he's listed in the "safe" category, he notes it down with a smug expression.

But his face (half-)teasingly drops when you joke he's a close second to your all-time, favourite movie character.

He loves how your mind works, sometimes out of the blue you'll say something so off topic and he'll make you explain where you got that- he's fascinated by it and how easily one thing links to the other.

When the bad days happen he makes sure to just be there, knowing not to touch you- that you just want him by your side.

On those days he makes all your safe foods and separates them on the plate based on your specific eating criteria. He doesn't entirely understand but doesn't tease you for it either.*

He shares your safe food list with Emily because he knows you get embarrassed about eating in public- you used to get teased about how plain and boring it was.*

He goes back to the public library to look up the quiet shopping hours at your favourite stores and what restaurants have your safe foods.

Paul wants to understand everything about you and where it comes from, he fills up one notebook after the after and doesn't let you peek inside.

You try to reason they're all about you so you should get to read them, he still refuses.

The day you finally manage to get a hold of his notebook, you close it after reading the first page. On it is written: "Notebook #3 - everything I know about future Mrs Lahote"

[wastelandmoony]

Déjà Vécu: Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Mop Head & Co.

Characters: Remus Lupin/Reader, Sirius Black/Reader (no use of y/n), James Potter, Petter Pettigrew

Summary: Transferring to a new school is tough, it's even more difficult when you find out you're a witch.

Warnings: Minors DNI, 18+ only!, angst, anxiety/overwhelming feelings, language

Read on AO3

Companion Playlist

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 1st, 1971

“My brave little witch,” she cooed, straightening the strap of her daughter’s leather bag, “be sure to write us as often as you can—“

“—we want to hear about all of your classes, and please tell Professor McDonegal we send our best,” her father added.

“McGonagall, dad. And I’ll write every week, Mum, I promise,” she leapt into her mothers arms, getting in one last hug before she boarded the Hogwarts Express. She could feel the tension in her mother’s shoulders as she inhaled the comforting floral scent of her hair. This world was new for all of them, she just happened to be the only one that got to stay in it. Boarding school had never even been considered by her parents; she had perfect marks in every class, she’d never had any behavioral issues, sending her away wasn’t in the cards.

———

The letter arrived in late July, coming as a shock to her parents, but for her it was vindication. Though raised by Muggles, she had always known she was different. At age 7, she had unintentionally levitated the backpack of a bully at school, terrifying him to the point of tears. No one had seen except for a handful of other children, the cries of “magic” and “witch” were brushed off as youthful exaggeration when called to the teachers attention. The strange outbursts would happen when she became too emotional, whether it be good or bad. It would start in her fingertips, feeling like an electric current that could not be contained, sending sparks pulsating through her hands. 

When an older woman in a tall pointy hat arrived at their small flat in Surbiton, she was afraid that everything this strange lady was saying was just a practical joke. There isn’t such things as wizards, and magic, and wands…right? The turning point was when the woman transformed into a small tabby cat in front of their eyes. She thought her parents would keel over right then and there, but instead they sat on the floral couch, clutching their hands, mouths agape. The questions flowed freely shortly afterwards: How safe is this school? How expensive is it? She’ll be there for how long? 

She hadn’t uttered a word since the older witch arrived, just watched in silent awe as she confirmed all of her childhood suspicions. Professor Minerva McGonagall, as they had come to learn, was the Transfiguration instructor at Hogwarts, the school she would soon be attending (if her parents approved, that is). She’d never even been to Scotland before, and now she was to be shipped away to the highlands to learn potions and charms? There was a war raging in her body as excitement and nerves battled for dominance—and excitement was winning.

As her parents ushered the professor to the door to depart, they were still asking a multitude of questions trying to wrap their non-magical heads around the bombshell that was just dropped into their lives.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” She interrupted softly from behind her mother, gazing up at the the witch’s stern but kind eyes, “are you…is this real?”

Professor McGonagall crouched down and took her hand, “Yes my dear, this is all very real. Hogwarts is very excited to welcome you in September; I believe you’ll do great things.” 

And with one small reassuring smile, she vanished from their doorstep.

———

Pushing her way through the cramped train corridor, she peered into each passing compartment in the hopes of finding an empty one. After multiple failed attempts, she finally found a deserted room towards the back. Dumping her bag onto the seat, she ran towards the window. It was cold to the touch as she pressed her forehead against it, waving to her parents on the smokey platform. Her mom was crying as they turned around to leave, dad throwing a reassuring arm around her quivering shoulders.

The train whistle blew, and she fell back into the cushioned bench seat. She had looked forward to this, but the reality of everything was now crashing down. 

She was alone.

Maybe she didn’t belong here, maybe all of this was some kind of mistake. She was beginning to hyperventilate, and desperately searched for some sort of distraction. As she dug through her bag to find a book, the compartment door slid open, causing her to jump.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I thought this one was empty,” the sandy haired boy mumbled. 

His fair skin was flushed slightly pink, and her eyes drifted towards a scar peaking out from the collar of his sweater. He turned to leave, and she held out a hand to stop him.

“No, it’s okay, you can sit here. I don’t mind,” she offered him a shy smile that he returned in kind as he sat across the compartment. 

She turned her attention to her book. Making friends was never her forte, most of the other kids she had grown up with thought she was weird (i.e. the levitating book bag incident), so she found solidarity in-between the well-loved pages of her favorite books. 

“’Tis moonlight, summer moonlight, all soft and still and fair; The solemn hour of midnight breathes sweet thoughts everywhere.”

She looked up to find the strange boy staring back at her, the smallest hint of mischief behind his eyes. 

“I’m sorry?” 

“Bronte,” he pointed at the book in her hands, smirking as she put the pieces together. 

The book fell shut in her lap as she gazed back inquisitively.

“You like poetry?” She asked, she’d never met someone else her age that read poetry, let alone could recite it.

He shrugged, the too-long sleeves of his sweater falling over his hands in his lap, “I read anything I get my hands on, honestly, but poetry is easier to digest sometimes. I enjoy the duality of it; it can devastate in a single line, or romanticize the mundane.”

His honesty made her smile. 

“I’m Remus Lupin, by the way. Are you a first year too?”

She nodded and offered her name, “I’m a little nervous, I just found out about all of this two months ago.”

“Oh, you’re a muggleborn?” 

She nodded again, slowly. After learning about the magical world in July, she did all of the research she could about this other reality hiding in plain sight, though there wasn’t much she could actually find, save for the books she bought in Diagon Alley (her parents didn’t stop talking about the trip for days after). She read about the stigma placed upon blood status, muggle-borns in particular. The list of pure-blood families, or Sacred Twenty-Eight as they were supposedly referred, was etched into her mind. The thought of judging another person based on their blood status was completely asinine, and she had spent the rest of the summer preparing herself for ridicule. She refused to be ashamed. She was a muggleborn, she was special. 

Expecting Remus to say something awful, or recoil from her presence completely, she braced herself for rejection. 

Instead, he leaned forward slightly, smiling kindly, “My mums a muggle too. Dad’s a wizard, so I got to grow up with both worlds which was kind of nice.”

She exhaled, her chest warming with a fondness for this new boy. Is this what friendship felt like?

As she pondered the notion, the compartment door slid open once again, this time a little too forcefully, startling them both.

“Oi! Pete! There’s free seats here!” A tall spectacled boy called down the corridor. His black hair was a mess, sticking up in random directions haphazardly. He turned to the compartments two occupants and smiled, “Mind if we sit? Everywhere else is full.”

Remus moved his book bag onto the floor, motioning for the other boy to join. She didn’t particularly want more people around at the moment, but was ultimately too afraid to ruin whatever had just begun with Remus. 

The black haired boy flopped down, just as two others appeared at the doorway. Another dark haired boy leaned against the doorframe, paler and not as tall, uniform shirt untucked and sleeves rolled up to this elbows in what she could only assume was an attempt at looking cool. His hair was on the longer side, falling over his eyes occasionally.  A smaller, blonde kid lingered behind him, peering over his shoulder with small watery eyes. 

“Thank Merlin, I thought I was going to have to sit with my cousins up front,” the long haired boy exhaled as he dramatically collapsed onto the bench next to his friend. 

The smaller one sat next to her softly, clutching his book bag in his hands. He seemed very nervous, and it made her feel a little better at her own current state. 

“We wouldn’t have let you sit with those dirty snakes, right Pete?” The messy haired boy tapped the blonde across from him with his foot. He was well put together besides the mop on his head, with a shiny leather bag with the initials J.P. engraved in gold near the handle. 

“Snakes?” She asked, staring at him in confusion.

“Slytherins, “ the paler boy groaned, “My whole family has been Slytherin going back like 500 years or something, so I’ll probably get sorted there too.”

“Bollocks, Sirius. You’ll be a Gryffindor, like me and Pete,” Mop Head adjusted his glasses, shooting his friend a hopeful smile.

She looked across at Remus, who immediately understood her questioning gaze. 

“They’re Hogwarts Houses. There’s four of them, and every first year gets sorted into one,” he explained quietly, without an ounce of pity or patronage in his tone.

Mop Head shot a glance over at her, “You don’t know about the houses?” 

She shook her head, suddenly feeling ashamed, even though she had promised herself not to feed into predisposed ideas about blood status. In her research about the magical world, she had completely neglected researching Hogwarts, too absorbed in other aspects such as magical creatures and wandlore. The houses didn’t concern her too much; who cares what team she rooted for, they’d all be taking the same classes at the end of the day.  

“No I’m—I was raised in the muggle world.”

Sirius visibly tensed in the corner, and Mop Head glared at the reaction. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled, pale face flushing and falling to the floor in shame, “habit…”

 Turning his attention to her, the boy with glasses smiled, “That’s cool! I’ve never met a muggle before, what was it like?”

 “Uh, it was…okay? I guess? I always knew I was different, so it was very validating to be proven right,” she let out a small chuckle, “Remus’s mum is a muggle too.”

The boy across from her nodded proudly.

Sirius looked up, “Did you ever ride in one of those…big, metal boxes with wheels?”

She furrowed her brow, and he stared back at her eagerly, blue eyes piercing through her. 

Remus spoke up from across the compartment, “Are you talking about a car?”

She burst out laughing, Remus following swiftly. Next to her, Pete started to giggle as well, glancing around at everyones faces in reassurance. 

Sirius looked over at Mop Head, confused and slightly embarrassed. 

“Yes, I’ve been in a car loads of times,” she said in between laughs, “it’s the primary mode of transportation where I’m from.”

His light eyes softened when she spoke to him, the corner of his mouth turning upwards ever so slightly.

Remus chimed in, “Have you ever heard Muggle music?” he spoke directly to Sirius, “It’ll blow your mind, mate.”

“Oh! Sorry, we never properly introduced ourselves, did we,” the boy next to Remus said suddenly, “I’m James Potter, that’s Sirius Black,” he pointed to the boy in the corner who saluted in turn, “and this here’s—“

“—Pete,” She interrupted, looking over at the shy boy next to her. He looked up and smiled gratefully. James gave her a questioning look.

“You said it earlier,” she giggled, watching as he recovered the memory.

“Peter Pettigrew, it’s nice to meet you,” the small boy next to her extended his hand. She shook it, smiling back at the grinning face of her seatmate. 

Their surnames weren’t lost on her. She recognized three out of the four, they were part the Sacred Twenty-Eight, yet the only one that seemed to have a reaction to her blood status was Sirius. She made a mental note to look up the Black family later. 

The next few hours were filled with more laughter and handfuls of new magical candy, something that the other boys took great pleasure in introducing her to. James gifted her his chocolate frog card, explaining the premise and insisting that she could now start her own collection. Not one to be outdone, Sirius handed his over as well, explaining in great detail the wizard depicted on the front. Her and Peter took turns tossing Bertie Botts Beans into each others mouths, gagging audibly when she unfortunately received a sweaty sock flavored one. Out of all of the candy they bought from the trolley, Peppermint Toads were by far her favorite. Remus was hoarding most of the chocolate, stashing some in his bag for later. When she ran out of Peppermint Toads, he reluctantly shared his, smiling slightly when he saw how happy they made her. They learned more about each other, like how James and Peter are neighbors back home and grew up together, and how they had just met Sirius that morning on the platform, though you’d never know it by how close him and James seemed already. When James asked Remus about the scar on his neck, the cabin got quiet as the color drained from Remus’s face. After a few moments, James backtracked, “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, it’s okay.”

Remus cleared his throat, “No, it’s just…it’s a long story. I’d rather not rehash it right now.” 

James changed the subject quickly, going off about the Hogwarts Quidditch teams (and promptly explaining everything to her without being asked). 

Once the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station, the five of them filed out of the compartment and onto the crowded platform. A scruffy looking man in a long brown coat called for the first year students to follow, leading them down a pathway to a fleet of small rowboats bobbing on a lake as dark as ink. Her hands began to shake as she watched some of the students climb in and embark on the next leg of their journey. The fear was slightly irrational, something she was keenly aware of, but dark water would always terrify her to the core. Who knows what kinds of creatures could be lurking underneath? More alarming was the fact that the boats seemed to be maneuvering by themselves, without the use of any oar or motor. Beside her, Remus could feel the trembling of her limbs, and he reached out to intertwine their fingers. 

“It’ll be alright,” he whispered, “we’ll all go together.”

It didn’t cease her shaking, but the words gave her a slight boost of courage. He made her feel safe in a way that only her parents ever had. 

James and Sirius clambered into a boat the first chance they got, eager for adventure. Peter climbed in after, more cautious but trying to hide it from his new friends. Remus was next, even as he stepped over the ledge of the wooden boat, he never let go of her hand. 

He waited at the back, motioning her forward, “I’ve got you, just step over and don’t take your eyes off me.”

She complied, gripping both of his hands as she climbed over, immediately sitting closest to the back. The boat lurched forward and began the journey across the Black Lake, James and Sirius leaned over the front, splashing each other while Peter watched on and laughed. 

“Do you think we’ll see the giant squid?!” Sirius yelled excitedly, sitting up straight and peering over the dark waterscape. 

Her eyes went wide, “The what?!”

Remus’s foot made contact with Sirius’s ankle, shooting him a look that shut the long haired boy up instantly. She mapped the scars on the back of Remus’s hand, something to keep her mind off the fact that they were currently sailing across a black abyss that apparently contained a massive man-eating (she assumed) cephalopod. How did someone so young have so many scars? As she ran a thumb across a mark on his knuckle, she realized he had never even asked her what she was so afraid of; the semantics didn’t matter to him, he just knew she was terrified and jumped in to help without question. Something must have happened to him, something big, that forced him to see true fear up close. She looked up at his profile in the dim light, wondering how someone so sweet could have been made to suffer so greatly.

The small boat turned slightly, curving around an embankment, and Remus squeezed her hand, “Look!” 

There it was.

Hogwarts. 

If one hand wasn’t holding onto Remus, and the other gripping the wooden seat, she would’ve pinched herself. It was better than she had imagined. The towering castle glittered in the night, each glowing window sparkling against the lake like stars. The entire boat had gone silent, each of them staring up at the stone turrets in awe. 

When the boat finally came to rest at the docks underneath the castle, she almost collapsed; she’d never been so happy to be on solid ground. The scruffy looking wizard from the train platform led the entire group of first years into the castle, up through a winding stairway that seemed to go on forever. As they continued on, she made sure to take in every bit of the surroundings, wishing nothing more than to spend the rest of her days memorizing every crack and stone of this place. 

Through her daydream, she failed to notice that Remus was no longer beside her, only realizing it when Sirius bumped into her shoulder as they all came to a halt in front of a set of large doors. A familiar older witch emerged from a corridor and stood in front to address the group.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” Professor McGonagall bellowed, “you will now be entering the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into your houses. Following the ceremony, the Start of Term Feast will begin.”

She felt Sirius tense beside her, glancing over to see that he was staring at the floor, his dark hair falling over his face.

“You okay?” She nudged him with an elbow.

He shook his head, “Not particularly…”

“Why? What’s the matter?” She was having a hard time understanding how anybody could possibly be upset at a time like this. They were at Hogwarts for goodness sake!

“I don’t want to be placed in Slytherin…I don’t want to be like…like them…” Sirius mumbled.

“Would it really be that bad?” She shrugged, and he returned a confused expression.

“You’re a muggleborn, you don’t understand what it’s like—“

“—try me, then,” but before Sirius could answer, the large doors swung open, taking both of their breath away.

[modafirmauk]

Exploring the World of Designer Bags and Accessories

Designer bags are more than just fashion statements; they're functional companions for our daily lives. But with so many options available, navigating the world of designer accessories can feel overwhelming. This guide explores the diverse world of Designer Purses & Wallets for Women, messenger and Crossbody bags, backpacks, and even pre-owned finds, providing you with the information you need to find your perfect match.

Purses & Wallets: Everyday Essentials with Style

Purses and wallets are the cornerstones of any bag collection. When choosing a designer purse, consider your lifestyle and needs.

Totes: Perfect for carrying everything you need, totes are ideal for busy professionals or anyone who loves to be prepared. Brands like Longchamp offer spacious yet stylish options.

Clutches: A timeless and elegant choice for evening outings, clutches come in various sizes and materials. Explore Bottega Veneta's woven leather clutches for a touch of Italian craftsmanship.

Crossbody bags: A versatile option for everyday wear, crossbody bags offer hands-free convenience. Saint Laurent's iconic "Le Sac YSL" is a classic example.

Wallets are equally important. Consider functionality when choosing yours:

Cardholders: Ideal for minimalists, cardholders offer a slim profile for everyday essentials. Mulberry offers sleek and stylish cardholder options.

Bifold wallets: A classic choice, bifold wallets provide space for cards and cash. Gucci's signature leather bifolds offer a touch of luxury.

Zip-around wallets: Offering security and multiple compartments, zip-around wallets are perfect for those who carry a lot. Michael Kors offers a wide range of functional and stylish zip-around wallets.

Stylish Messenger & Crossbody Bags: The Perfect Blend of Form & Function

Messenger and Crossbody Bags offer a stylish alternative to traditional backpacks. They're perfect for carrying essentials while maintaining a polished look.

Messenger bags: Offering a professional and practical vibe, messenger bags are perfect for work or school. Burberry's iconic check print messenger bags are a timeless choice.

Crossbody bags: Versatile and fashionable, crossbody bags come in various sizes and styles. Chanel's classic flap bag is a timeless crossbody option.

Women's Leather Backpacks: Luxury Meets Practicality

Leather backpacks are a stylish and practical option for everyday use. They're perfect for carrying heavier items while maintaining a sophisticated look.

Structured backpacks: Ideal for work or travel, structured backpacks offer organization and style. Balenciaga's City bag is a popular choice for its sleek design and functionality.

Convertible backpacks: Offering versatility, convertible backpacks can be transformed into totes or Crossbody bags. Tory Burch's convertible backpacks are a practical and stylish choice.

Pre-Owned Designer Bags: Sustainable Luxury for the Savvy Shopper

Looking for a unique and sustainable way to enter the world of designer bags? Consider pre-owned options. Reputable online platforms and vintage stores offer a treasure trove of authentic pieces at a fraction of the original price.

Environmental benefits: Choosing pre-owned reduces your environmental impact by giving a new life to existing bags.

Unique finds: Discover rare and vintage pieces that are no longer available in stores.

Cost-effective: Enjoy the luxury of designer brands at a more accessible price point.

Choosing the Perfect Designer Bag: It's All About YouUltimately, the perfect designer women’s handbags are one that reflects your unique style and complements your lifestyle. Consider your needs, explore different brands and styles, and don't be afraid to invest in a piece that you'll cherish for years to come. Whether it's a timeless purse, a practical backpack, or a unique pre-owned find, the designer bag world offers something for everyone.

[duffel-bag-review]

Journey Essentials: Choosing the Best Travel Duffel Bags

Duffel Bag Review:

The duffel bag is designed to meet the needs of travelers, gym-goers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. There's no doubt that the modest duffel bag is very essential to the travel world their overall simplicity, versatility, and durability have stood the test of time. Bestduffelbag.com is an online resource for those who love fashionable & trendy duffel bags. We have also compiled a detailed guide on how to choose the best duffel bag and travel accessories to suit your travel needs.

Choose the right duffle bag for your travel essentials

Key Features:

Material: The duffel bag is crafted from [durable material], ensuring longevity and resistance to wear and tear.

Size: Available in multiple sizes, including [dimensions], catering to different packing needs.

Compartments: It features [number] of compartments, including [specific compartments for shoes, electronics, etc.], allowing for organized storage.

Carrying Options: Equipped with [handles, shoulder straps, and/or backpack straps], offering multiple carrying options for enhanced comfort and convenience.

Durability: Reinforced stitching and robust zippers ensure that the bag can withstand rugged use and heavy loads.

Versatility: Suitable for various occasions, whether it's for travel, sports, or everyday use, providing flexibility for different activities.

Pros:

Spacious: Ample storage space for clothing, gear, and essentials.

Durable: Built to last, with high-quality materials and construction.

Versatile: Suitable for different purposes, from weekend getaways to gym sessions.

Comfortable: Padded straps and handles enhance carrying comfort, even when the bag is fully loaded.

Stylish: Sleek design and modern aesthetics make it a fashionable accessory.

Cons:

Limited Organization: Some users may find the organization options lacking, especially for smaller items.

Weight: The bag itself may add significant weight, particularly when packing heavy items.

Price: While the quality justifies the cost, it may be relatively expensive compared to other duffel bags on the market.

Water Resistance: It may not be completely waterproof, so caution is advised during inclement weather conditions.

CLICK TO FIND OUT THE BEST DUFFEL BAG IN 2024

Overall Impression: The [Brand/Model Name] duffel bag impresses with its durability, versatility, and comfort. While it may have some minor drawbacks, its overall performance and quality make it a reliable choice for anyone in need of a dependable travel or sports bag.

[saselfdefense]

Saftey and specs of the Byna SD & Byrna LE

The Byrna SD and LE: A Comprehensive Guide to Safety and Usage

In today's increasingly dangerous world, it's more important than ever to be prepared for self-defense. While there are many options available, one emerging option that is gaining popularity is the Byrna SD and LE. These non-lethal self-defense devices offer a unique combination of features that make them an attractive choice for a variety of users. Understanding the Byrna SD and LE FeatureByrna SDByrna LEOverall DimensionsLength: 5.1 inchesLength: 5.9 inchesHeight: 1.3 inchesHeight: 1.5 inchesWidth: 1.2 inchesWidth: 1.4 inchesWeight7.5 ounces11.2 ouncesProjectile Capacity5 rounds7 roundsEffective RangeUp to 60 feetUp to 80 feetSightsNon white dot sightsFixed rear sight and front sight with a white dotPower Source8g CO2 cartridge12g CO2 cartridgeProjectile TypesPepper balls, irritant gel, rubber balls, Tear gasPepper balls, irritant gel, rubber balls, Tear gasMaterialPolymerPolymerAdditional FeaturesNoneSights, capacity, rangeColor OptionsBlack, Pink, Tan, Gray, OrangeBlack, Pink, Tan, Gray, OrangeProsPortable, lightweight, affordable, effectiveExtended range, higher projectile capacity, high-visibility sightsConsSmaller projectile capacity, lacks sightsSlightly larger and heavier, slightly higher priceBest forEveryday carry, concealed carry, personal protectionExtended self-defense engagements, professional use, specialized applications The Byrna SD and LE are both hand-held, non-lethal self-defense devices that fire pepper balls. Pepper balls are small, impact-resistant capsules filled with a potent pepper spray solution that can temporarily incapacitate an attacker. The Byrna SD and LE are designed to be easy to use and effective in a variety of self-defense situations. Key Features of the Byrna SD and LE - Non-lethal: The Byrna SD and LE do not use conventional ammunition, and they are not considered to be firearms. This makes them a good option for individuals who are not comfortable with or cannot legally own a firearm. - Compact and lightweight: The Byrna SD and LE are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry on a daily basis. They can be easily concealed in a purse, backpack, or glove compartment. - Multiple applications: The Byrna SD and LE can be used for a variety of self-defense situations, including home defense, personal protection, and animal deterrence. - Effective against a variety of attackers: The Byrna SD and LE are effective against a wide range of attackers, including individuals of all sizes and fitness levels. - Safe and reliable: The Byrna SD and LE are designed with safety in mind. They have a safety mechanism that prevents accidental firing, and they are made from durable materials that can withstand even the most demanding self-defense situations. Safety and Usage of the Byrna SD and LE It is important to follow the safety guidelines and instructions provided with the Byrna SD and LE to ensure that they are used safely and effectively. Here are some key safety tips to keep in mind: - Read the manual: Before using the Byrna SD or LE, it is essential to read the user manual thoroughly. This will familiarize you with the device's operation and safety features. - Understand the law: Familiarize yourself with the laws and regulations in your area regarding the use of non-lethal self-defense devices. Always use the Byrna SD or LE in accordance with the law. - Practice regularly: It is important to practice using the Byrna SD or LE regularly to become proficient in its operation. This will help you to use it effectively in a self-defense situation. - Store the device safely: Store the Byrna SD or LE in a safe and secure location, away from unauthorized individuals. - Clean and maintain the device: Regularly clean and maintain the Byrna SD or LE to ensure that it is in top working condition. Additional Tips for Using the Byrna SD and LE In addition to following the safety guidelines, here are some additional tips for using the Byrna SD and LE effectively: - Be aware of your surroundings: Always be aware of your surroundings and potential threats. - De-escalate the situation: If possible, try to de-escalate the situation before using the Byrna SD or LE. - Use the device as a last resort: Only use the Byrna SD or LE as a last resort, when you feel that your safety or the safety of others is in immediate danger. - After using the device, seek medical attention for the attacker if necessary.

Conclusion The Byrna SD and LE are valuable self-defense tools that can provide peace of mind and protection in a variety of situations. By following the safety guidelines and using the device effectively, you can increase your chances of staying safe and defending yourself from harm. Read the full article

[realtorjamier]

D.C’s Best Picnic Spots!

Where to go, what to bring

Dining al fresco in D.C. doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, if you want to avoid making reservations, waiting in line and eating elbow-to-elbow with strangers, planning a picnic is a great alternative. There are so many scenic (Instagram-worthy) spots to throw down a blanket and enjoy this simple and charming tradition. Here we’re sharing some of the best places in D.C. for a picnic – as well as some tips to make your picnic pleasant for all involved.

Hauling your provisions 

Although traditional picnic baskets are cute, your best bet is to purchase a modern, sensible picnic backpack since activities in D.C. typically involve walking some distance from your car or taking the metro and hauling a heavy hand-held basket will be cumbersome. Check Amazon for some great options. You can find backpacks with comfortable padded straps and efficiently organized compartments for cutlery, plates, napkins, a cooler, a blanket and more. You might want to invest in two backpacks and share the load with a friend.

Picnic food ideas

Reimagine the ordinary sandwich, chips, and soda. Take it up a notch and serve baguettes; or take it up two notches with quiche, charcuterie boards, fancy salads, and refreshing cocktails. Make sure most of your meal consists of finger foods (easy to eat) so you don’t have to worry about multiple plates/cutlery. And don’t forget dessert! 

Another culinary option: order food-to-go from your favorite D.C. restaurant. You’ll still need a method to transport it to your picnic destination, but letting someone else prepare and pack the meal will involve less work on your end.

Don’t forget to pack

Sunscreen

Anti-bacterial wipes

Wet naps

Garbage bags

Bug spray

Places to picnic

We’re providing some tried-and-true venues here, but there are so many more possibilities. Wherever your destination, make sure you learn about parking options (or Metro stops) in advance. Also, do a little research to make sure your spot is picnic friendly and open for visitors.

Between Constitution and Independence Ave., SW

Known as “America’s Front Yard,” this iconic spot is punctuated by the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and flanked by Smithsonian museums. The long, grassy swath is often crowded, but people-watching can be just as fun as gazing at the patriotic landmarks.

1100 Ohio Drive SW

Located at the southern tip of East Potomac Park between the main branch of the Potomac River and the Washington Channel, Hains Point offers beautiful views of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River and the Washington Channel. It’s an ideal spot for bird watching and also has a playground and restrooms. A four-mile loop allows you to take in the many different species of cherry trees while hiking or biking. 

Located on the Potomac River and accessible by George Washington Memorial Parkway

This 90-acre island is a memorial to America’s 26th president and features miles of trails through wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands. Ranger-led programs are available. 

16th Street and W Street NW

A spectacular cascading fountain, reflecting pool, statues, and more will be your backdrop at Meridian Hill Park (also known as Malcolm X Park). If you’re there on a Sunday afternoon, you’ll most likely be able to watch a full-blown weekly drum circle party starting at 3 p.m., a tradition that began in the 1960s.

The Yards Park (and Dancing Fountains)

355 Water Street SE

This public space along the Anacostia River has gardens, water features, a dog run, a boardwalk and a shaded overlook.

Wisconsin and K St., NW

This 10-acre park curves along the Potomac River shoreline and includes a large fountain, benches, overlooks and large open lawn areas. A labyrinth with geometric turns encourages quiet contemplation as you wind your way from the outer edge to the center. Stadium-like steps leading to the river edge are a favorite place for picnickers. 

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Independence Ave. SW and 7th St. SW

The sculpture garden is free to enter, offering more than 30 works of contemporary and modern art displayed year-round — and picnics are permitted.

[mrexxquisite-blog]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Nike Hoops Elite Pro Basketball Backpack - White Red Blue - New w Tags (2 left).