#Crochet Party Supplies

[thecrochetcrowd]

7 Halloween Crochet Patterns + Tutorials

Crochet Sophisticated Top Hat Exciting New Top Hat From the same designer that did the Halloween Top Hats, she has come back this year with a new spin to it. As seen on the right, you can definitely see there is a change. Red Heart has been busy launching new Halloween projects for this year. Let me give you a few ideas to inspire you further. See lists below and they are clickable links to the…

[gender-trash]

god damn it i need a better social life (robot board game nights still haven't recovered from pandemic world; i keep skipping robot club meetings because everyone keeps FUCKING talking about LLMs; my brain has decided that video calls and so on are Not Actually Social Interaction). was going to join a quilting circle or something but it looks like the sf quilters meetup i found on meetup.com is still online only :/ i KNOW some of you live in the sf bay area... would anyone come to, like, a recurring thursday evening craft meetup or something in san mateo??

[msbarrows]

Heyy i saw ur post abt potentially crocheting around usb cable chargers, and wanted to let you know that this can be a fire hazard. Because the cable is covered you cant check if the cable is damaged. Usb cable are low voltage so the risk is lower than normal cables, but its still there

That's part of why I mentioned being picky about my USB cables; it's all too easy to break the manufacturer-supplied cheaply made plastic-covered cables that typically have minimal or no strain reliever between the plug heads and the cord. I have had so many USB cords die over the last decade or so because normal daily use caused the cord to start coming apart at the join. Once that happens the crochet would be wasted since it's not like you can transfer it to a new cord.

Also, this is the style of cord I use now:

A nice long integrated strain reliever plus a woven cord cover that you'd need to physically cut to cause it to split (and is supposedly made of bulletproof fibre so it's not easy to wear through or cut). These suckers last, I still have my initial set of three micro USB cables, in pretty much perfect condition, that have seen years of use (I still have some older devices that need that plug shape) plus a more recently purchased set of USB-C cables. Even the cable that sees the hardest use (used for recharging my tablet while reading in bed, which is what most often killed the manufacturer-supplied cords) still looks in perfect condition.

I think I mostly just want what I was originally looking at, which is crocheted vines/garlands that I can wrap along the top bar of my metal bed frame. The covered cables look pretty, but the yarn would probably pick up dust and stains over time and wouldn't be removable for cleaning, unlike the garland which I could just hand wash, or even toss in the laundry in a small mesh bag.

[inkabelledesigns]

Ever since building this shelf with my grandpa and brother in law over the summer, I've had so much fun dressing it up in different ways. Right now it's very Bendy themed, so I have all my completed customs from Bendy and the Ink Machine and Bendy and the Dark Revival, along with my figures that I've never had a good spot for before. XD There's even a few fun gags in there, like the rubber duck to represent our inky duckies from the BATDR Cast Lovestreams, or the box of miniature coca colas up near Joey (Dave Rivas really likes Mexican Coca Cola). I even put up one of my mannequins to represent Carl! (The funny thing is both of my mannequins have names, that one is usually called Hermes.) And of course, I love the functionality of it being an actual bookshelf, so we have all the Bendy books there in the order they came out. Now I can pick them up to read far more easily. I would have more plushies here, but they all live in other parts of the room. Big ones go on the bed (plus Sammy), and little ones go in the beanbag chair. The two shoulder riders are just so small and actually stand upright, so I felt they worked best here.

I've never really had all my lil guys out like this before, it's nice. And of course, for the one non-Bendy portion, I had some fun. So earlier this year, I got the Rainbow High set that was Skyler's studio tools for fashion design for half off. I specifically wanted it so that my mini me doll would have a desk and art supplies, and it did not disappoint! As you can see, we're making good use of it, along with a couple of other doll accessories, like Neon Frights Draculaura's laptop, a Barbie teacup I found thrifting, my Sammy Lawrence Lego as a "doll for dolls", and even a Disney ILY 4Ever cupcake, because of course we need that. XD My cousin very graciously crocheted me this Mario mushroom, and I've been using it as both decor and a doll footstool, since it's a toadstool. X'''D I tend not to use a lot of my doll furniture, but now that I have a spot for it? I think I want to make an effort to play with it more. Like, I need to find where I put my kitchen set now. Clearly we need to have a doll dinner party. XD

[maybeitsalivescribbles]

TTD - First Meeting 1/4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 and end

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

Hero stopped on the threshold of the old warehouse. They examined their surroundings, as if to check what was hiding beyond them. Of course they could see nothing. There wasn’t any light. The voice itself seemed slightly deformed with some kind of white noise – it had to be a transmission.

“Why ?” they asked politely.

“Because you won’t see another day again if you step in.”

Hero tilted their head. They grabbed their flashlight, and – what ? They squinted their eyes, but the ray of light bounced on the darkness and went back to them.

Now, that didn’t seem very normal.

“I see what you mean,” they said.

Then they shrugged and entered. A booming laugh resonated as the doors locked themselves brutally behind Hero:

“You’re mine now ! Miiiine ! You belong to the eternal night of everlasting darkness !”

“Uh. Um, okay.”

The laugh stopped and the voice sounded suddenly a bit sulking:

“That’s all ? No witty remark ? No cutting repartee ? I thought you were a Hero. I’m disappointed.”

“Sorry. I’m just trying to do my job. But I have things to say.”

“Let’s hear it, my little prey.”

“Well, there were a bunch of burglaries in this part of the town, and the managers of the stores always complained about the lights that went out no matter what they did before the act. So I’ve investigated a little and I’ve pinpointed this location.”

“How very smart of you, prisoner. You’re the only one who could find the truth and stay alive this long. No doubt you must be special.”

Embarrassed, Hero rubbed the back of their neck.

“Nah, I’m not very high-ranked, actually.”

“I’ve seen you before, though. I remember.”

Hero stroked one of their crochet twists and absentmindedly smiled:

“Yeah, the rainbow beads help, usually. It’s not because I work as hard as I can that I’m very important.”

“Why are you on my trail all by yourself, then ?”

“ As far as I know, you haven’t killed anyone. You just stole the supplies you need, I have the list... so forgive me if I’m not very much intimidated. I mean, you took a lot of Twinkies ?”

“Food’s survivor.”

“It doesn’t even last very long, actually.”

“...You must be the life of the party. Well, it doesn’t matter. I salute you for your efforts, but your time has come to an end.”

“Is that so ?”

“I control shadows, little Hero. My powers are beyond your reach.”

“Yeah, but you use them to steal Twinkies.”

“Would you stop with that ? Very well, I shall make you forget all about them. Behold my lair and despair !”

Pale blue dots weakly illuminated the huge warehouse. A large screen appeared by the ceiling, revealing a hooded figure, but Hero’s attention was somewhere else. There were forms around them that at first they took for furniture – and in a certain sense they were. One of them could certainly be viewed as a chair, if you forgot the huge spikes on the seat, just as the wooden frame in front of it had been made for people to lay down, if the manacles could be taken into account. Hero stared at all this, at the cages on the ground, at the chains on the walls, and stopped walking, their heart suddenly beating way faster. There were traces of red here and there. All of this was separated from them thanks to a glass wall.

“Have I just seen you shudder, Hero ?” simpered the voice. “Or are you still convinced that I’m not so dangerous ?”

Hero did wince. They also took a step back and a deep breath before seeking for an opening.

“I can assure you there’s no way out”, said Villain. “Unless you are strong enough to smash the doors you came from, but then you’d have already broken out by now. Or do you think I’m foolish enough to be around ? Are you so mad for revenge that you have to seek me out?”

“I’m not mad yet. I just want to check something.”

“You should be. I count my victims by the dozens and no one realized that because you heroes are that disastrous. Many disappeared, but no one cared about them. You want to make me think you do? ”

“Yes.”

Hero finally found what looked like a door. After fumbling for a moment, their hand closed on a handle and they could get to the other side. Surrounded by darkness, the torture instruments looked as sinister and impressive as their function implied. Right until the moment when Hero’s fingers brushed against a huge spike and pushed.

Their thumb went into the metal with no problem and left a mark. This time, it was Hero’s laugh that boomed in the room.

“It’s tin, isn’t it ?” they asked to the hooded figure. “Man, it’s impressive. You made me believe it for a minute. The blood is painting, right ?”

“...Maybe.”

“It’s like you’ve made a ghost train ride all by yourself. You’re an artist. I mean it.”

They rubbed their hands together to get rid of the red painting:

“But I have to catch you now.”

The voice growled in answer:

“Then come to find me, nemesis. That’s what you’ve just become.”

“Thank you. I will bring you Twinkies in prison.”

“Oh, I will end you.”

*

(Yes, it's the first time these two dorks have met. Sequel here)

Back to the These Two Dorks masterlist.

Or back to Hero x Villain Masterlist.

[that1garrulousfan]

OC AND/OR DRAWING IDEAS FOR ARTBLOCK

🌸 - Interacting with a canon character

🎀 - Dress them in your favorite outfit and/or an outfit you wish you had

🔥 - a r s o n

🎃 - Halloween costume

🦾 - Robot or cyborg

🎤 - Singing

🎁 - Reacting to a present they received or waiting for a reaction from someone they gave it to

🛍️ - Shopping

👑 - Royalty

😈 - Villain

🖤 - Emo/punk/grunge aesthetic

🪡 - Working on a sewing projecting (or crocheting!)

🔪 - Horror art

🧥 - Investigator or a detective

🎬 - Film director

🤿 - Snorkeling and/or swimming

🥸 - Disguise

🍂 - Autumn

🍀 - St. Patrick’s Day

🪖 - Soldier

👾 - 8-Bit

🧤 - Gardening

⛲️ - By a water fountain

🎄 - Decorating a Christmas tree

⚽️ - Playing soccer/football

🏀 - Playing basketball

🏈 - Playing football

🎾 - Playing tennis

🏐 - Playing volleyball

⚾️ - Playing base ball/soft ball

🏓 - Playing ping pong

🪵 - Gathering firewood or just with logs/wood

🎡 - At a carnival

🕷️- Reaction to a spider

💐 - Giving or receiving flowers

💌 - Confession

😒 - Annoyed and/or sarcastic

🤣 - Laughing

🎫 - Buying tickets

✈️ - In an airplane or at an airport or boarding the plane

🐚 - Collecting seashells and/or at the beach

🤩 - Amazed

🌝 - Waiting for a reaction (specifically a prank or something obvious or “You’ll see” expression)

🎮 - Playing video games

🍔 - Eating a burger or other fast food

🎒 - Buying school supplies and/or getting ready for school

☔️- Standing in the rain with an umbrella

🌂 - Going out into the rain

🚗 - Driving and/or driving test

💅 - Painting nails

🧣 - Wearing a scarf

🤳 - Selfie (maybe with a few friends)

🪺 - Stumbling across a bird’s nest

🍳 - Making breakfast

🛹 - Skateboarding

🥧 - Baking a pie and/or cake

🪩 - Dancing and/or at a party

🤡 - The character’s most embarrassing moment

✨ - Star gazing

⛳️ - Playing golf

🪅 - Breaking a piñata

❄️ - In the snow

🛝 - In a liminal space

🐍 - Their reaction to a snake

🍉 - Eating a fruit

🍽️ - Setting up a table (maybe as a waiter for a restaurant or just a family/friend dinner?)

🕶️ - Wearing cool shades

🥠 - Opening a fortune cookie

🩰 - Ballet

🎼 - Learning and/or practicing music

🎯 - Playing with darts

🚲- Riding a bike

🛴 - Riding a scooter

🎪 - At a circus (maybe a d i g i t a l one???)

🖼️ - Admiring art (or not)

🍋 - Trying to eat this

🍨 - Eating an ice cream

🥯 - “A bagel… Two bagels.”

🎢 - On a roller coaster

🎭 - Acting

🛶 - Kayaking or canoeing

📸 - Taking pictures of random objects for no reason :]

🪐 - Trip to space and/or on a planet

💻 - Working on something on the computer

🙌 - With something they admire

🌶️ - Trying a spicy pepper

🫖 - TEA PARTY

🪨 - Rock climbing

🪃 “Wanna know the difference between your honor and my boomerang, Zuko?” “What?” “Your honor will never come back.” “THAT’S NOT FUNNY, SOKKA—“

⛽️ - Getting gas

🧭 - Using a campus

🏕️ - Camping

🌳 - Sitting under a tree

I may reblog and add more later but I hope this helps for now!! Best of luck y’all!! 💖

[jellysimbean-blog]

Sims 4 legacy challenge

~ Run the show~

This legacy challenge was solely created to play as the owner of different types of businesses

Rules

There is no set rules , just focus on having fun. Change this up or follow along, you choose.

You pick what Careers you want for each generation unless stated otherwise

Make money how ever you choose plus the ways listed for each generation.

Generation 1

*PetsCorner*

- Make money from selling puppies and or kittens

- Make money from pet shop

        Aspiration - Friend of the

          animals

       Suggested traits -  Cat lover, Dog lover, Loves outdoors

    

• Open a pet shop Brindleton Bay

• Adopt a stray

• Have at least 2 litter of puppies/kittens

• Sell puppies/kittens for profit

• Have twins/triplets

• Next gen sim Master pet training ( Optional )

Generation 2

                          *Veterinarian*

- Make money fishing 

- Make money from Vet clinic

    

           Aspiration - Your Choice

          Suggested traits - Overachiever, Generous, Proper

• Open a Veterinarian clinic anywhere but Brindleton Bay

• Master fishing

• Reach at least 4 star rating

• Have at least 1 child

Generation 3

*Music shop*

- Make money writing

- Make money through Music Media production

- Make money from Music shop

Aspiration - Musical Genius

Suggested traits - Music lover, Insider, Outgoing

• Start a Music Club

• Marry a music lover sim

• Have 5 children

• Write and publish at least 7 songs

• Get Music signed (Optional)

Generation 4

*Art Craft*

- Make money from art store

- Make money from flea markets selling arts and crafts

Aspiration - Painter Extraordinaire and Fabulously Wealthy

Suggested traits - Maker, Creative,

Art lover

   

• Master painting

• Only sell the artwork/Crafts you created and art supplies at shop

• Meet spouse at an art gallery

• Have at least 1 girl

Generation 5

*Bakery*

-Make money having Bake sales with sales table

-Make money from Bakery

Aspiration - Appliance Wiz

Suggested traits - Family Oriented, Perfectionist, Glutton

• Master Baking

• Enter pie contest at least once

• Have at least 1 child and Adopt at least 2 Child sims

• Have a Lemonade stand

• Have at least one Slumber party

• Get engaged but never marry to a sim with the Lazy trait

Generation 6

*GhostFuel Restaurant*

-Make money from restaurant

-Make money as a paranormal investigator

-Make money from side jobs

Aspiration - Your Choice

Suggested traits - Clumsy, Paranoid, Lovebug

• Have romance with at least 3 different

coworkers

• Be best friends with Parent(s) and or Grandparent(s)

• Marry a customer

• Sell your restaurant after reaching 3 stars

• Have at least 1 boy and 1 girl

• Become a paranormal investigator

Generation 7

*Clothing department*

-Make money through career

-Make money from shop

-Make money Knitting/Crocheting

Aspiration - Villainous Valentine

Suggested traits - Your Choice

  

• Join style influencer career

• Open retail shop at rank 3 in career, work at both jobs

• Never marry

• Have 3 children but all be half siblings

• Master Knitting

Generation 8

*Florist*

-Make money from shop

-Make money from flower arrangements

-Make money from Career

Aspiration - Soulmate

Suggested traits - Romantically Reserved, Green friend, Socially Awkward

•  Join gardening Career

• Master flower arrangement skill

• Have only 1 child less its twins etc.

• Have a Spring wedding

• Retire from career

• Plant and grow only and all types of flowers

Generation 9

*Farmers Market*

-Make money from Market

-Make money Canning

-Make money from stalls

Aspiration - Country Caretaker

Suggested traits - Rancher, Vegetarian, Animal Enthusiasts

• Open a Famers Market selling plant and animal products

• Own at least one cow and two Chickens

• Obtain the Golden treat

• Register as a Farmer with Ministry of Labor (Optional)

• Have 4 Children, 1 set being twins

• Win a ribbon from the Finchwick Fair

Generation 10

*Trailer Park landlord*

-Make money from renters

-Make money from Career

-Make money from woodworking, Flea markets( flip items there), and Dumpster Driving

Aspiration - Eco Innovator and/or Fabulously Filthy

Suggested traits - Recycle Disciple, Freegan, Cringe

• Join Civil Engineer Career

• Dumpster Drive, use any furniture found to decorate properties (Optional)

• Go to flea markets for used furniture, and decorate properties (Optional)

• Create furniture from woodworking , and decorate properties (Optional)

• Woohoo in a Dumpster

• Master handiness and woodworking

• Have 2 children

• Have second child before first child become a teen

[madelineserenity]

Matron (& Reaper Nurses) Headcanons

for fredthemosquito :D

Matron & Reaper Nurses

• Whenever there's a calm evening at the hospital, the nurses will sit together next to Matron with cups of tea. Sometimes they'll talk about their day or have a laugh together, other times they'll sit in peace and quiet, where the only noises that can be heard are the clinking of teacups being returned to their saucers, and the shifting of paper bags being lifted slightly for a sip. Matron has a large cup that she can hold properly; the Gold Watchers insisted on having it made for her. Other than that, it looks the same as the rest of the cups, white with gold trim and light blue flowers. She'll hand it down to the nurses to have her tea made, then they'll return it to her. She usually has chamomile.

• She can't play board games properly (her hands are too large to pick up small tokens or dice) but one of the nurses will play for her, sitting next to her desk so they can hear each other clearly. She makes the decisions, the nurse rolls dice and moves pieces across the boards, and reads cards out to her. She enjoys playing games very much, even if it's in an unconventional fashion, but sometimes she wishes she could join in "properly" and roll her own dice.

• She can be harsh on them - she runs a tight ship - but deep down she loves them very much. She's just not the greatest at showing it, as like them, she's been hurt by men she thought loved her. Spending small moments with them or just sitting at her desk, having a one-on-one with a nurse about their pasts and their trauma, is where it shows best.

• They're a massive help. She actually wouldn't be able to run the hospital without them. They bring her painkillers for her back pain, help her wash up in the evenings, bring her healthy food and drinks, keep her company, and even after all the decades they've been together, never mention cigarettes or smoke around her. They refuse to fuel or reignite the addiction she had in life. She still thinks about them occasionally, but they've become more of an old habit now rather than an addiction. In the past, when they did come up, they refused to supply her. Going cold turkey so suddenly did a huge number on her, but they took care of her and continue to do so today.

Matron

• Massive, MASSIVE sweet tooth. Even though the nurses help her monitor her slowly (and safely) decreasing weight, they know to never not replace her cut rock candy when she runs out. She can and will lose it. (she likes the fruit kinds best but she's also not opposed to a humbug once in a while)

(unrelated but this is the stuff that's available to me and OHHHH my goddd it's so good. i don't even like cherry flavoured things usually but even they have surpassed my expectations)

• She'd like to take up knitting or crochet to keep her hands busy, but she's not sure how to get started, especially with the issue of having large hands.

• She loves painting her nails, even though her gloves conceal them when they're done. It makes her feel pretty and confident in her new body, which she often feels insecure in because of her size and having to wheel around. Most of the time she wears soft pinks and nude shades, although a glittery light pink is also fun.

• Really enjoys organising birthday parties for the nurses, although none of them remember their old birthdays, so they just go with the day they became a nurse. It helps her express love for her found family, but she also loves thinking about "Would she want streamers around? I know she's a grown mature woman who likes keeping things neat but surely she'd love waking up to streamers around just for her..." She loves it so much she'll start planning months in advance if there isn't another one coming up soon.

• She can't travel around most of the hospital due to her size, but you can bet your ass she'll be near-yelling "I NEED MORE" at a poor nurse standing there with a box full of streamers while she decorates her hall. For once, being tall is actually very useful.

• She loves rainy weather. She can't see it (no windows) but she loves the sound of rain hitting a roof somewhere in the hospital. She does NOT like hail, very intense rain, or heavy winds. The loud noises make her anxious, although being told what they are helps a lot. She especially hates wind that throw tree branches at walls.

• If she were to watch a sad movie or read a sad book with the nurses, she will be the first one to start crying. Her tough exterior hides and protects a sensitive woman inside. It starts dissipating when she's with the nurses and there's no-one and nothing else to bother her (e.g. a mortal)

[eva-knits12]

Going to Michaels with CE Characters

Steve Rogers:

Steve has never been to Michaels.

Steve is overwhelmed at first.

You take him to Michaels because you need to get a few things for Natasha's bridal shower.

You get the items.

You two also bring James.

James sits in his stroller, peacefully napping.

Steve gets some colored pencils, some drawing pencils, and some sketchbooks.

He loves drawing you and James.

For Mother's Day, he plans on giving you a sketchbook with tons of drawings of James.

You get some yarn, knitting supplies, and crocheting supplies because you want to make a blanket for James.

You get James some palm crayons, and a huge coloring book.

He loves it.

You also find a few picture books for James.

You get a few beads, some really cool gems, and some jewelry making supplies for Sam's girlfriend, Vanessa, who is an up and coming jewelry designer.

You get a discount, thanks to the coupon for 30% a regular priced item.

Steve is impressed.

You explain that the coupons are a bargain, and that you can make your own sale that way.

Steve wants to go to Michaels more often.

Ransom Drysdale:

You and Ransom go to Michaels.

Ransom and you want to get your wedding photo framed.

You go to the framing department.

You get your wedding photo professionally framed.

A week later you and Ransom pick up the photo.

Ransom decide to take you to the yarn department.

You buy enough yarn to make your new husband a sweater.

Ransom wheels you to the bathroom because you need to throw up right now.

Stupid morning sickness!

Why does this always kick in at the most inconvenient of times-when you're out shopping, when you're at home trying to sleep, in the car, where you keep plastic bags within reach as a just in case.

You're done throwing up, so you dig in your purse for some mouth wash to get rid of the taste of puke.

You rinse your mouth out.

You and Ransom pay for your purchase.

Ransom has also loaded you into your wheelchair.

He takes you to the yarn department and you get some yarn to make a blanket for the newest Drysdale.

Little do you know right now that it will be TWO new Drysdale's.

Nine months later, you have your blankets made in white and blue for Harlan, and white and pink for Katherine.

Ransom wouldn't trade this for the world.

He gets to make new memories.

Ransom also gets several frames to display his favorite photos of you and him, and gets a frame for each ultrasound of the twins.

Andy Barber:

Andy and you are planning a Fourth of July party and a birthday party at your new house!

Andy and you go, but you have to go to the ladies room several times to throw up.

You're pregnant, and are very sick with morning sickness because of it.

You're morning sickness is worse than it should be.

Several days later, you're hospitalized for hyperemesis gravidarum.

It's not acute morning sickness, it's the morning sickness from hell!

Andy takes you Michaels to get some yarn to make a blanket for the baby.

You also get some wedding supplies.

You and Andy have your wedding in the backyard on a nice warm weekend in September.

You and Andy wouldn't have it any other way.

Joy is born in March, so you go to Michaels and Hobby Lobby a lot for baby shower supplies.

Colin Shea:

Harper will be turning one, so you and Colin look for things like cake decorating supplies, party supplies, and little party bags.

You find a ton of stuff!

You even get some yarn.

You want to knit Harper a sweater and Colin will get a pair of socks and a sweater.

Harper has brought so much love and joy to the Shea household.

Colin is writing a journal of how much he loves you, and you are writing a journal of how much you love him.

You find some palm crayons for Harper.

You present Harper her birthday presents, and she loves her palm crayons.

Everyone loves Harper. She even has balloons that celebrate her birthday, including a balloon that says 1.

You and Colin couldn't be happier or prouder.

Frank Adler:

Mary has a project due for school.

You, Frank and Mary go to get the needed supplies.

You also walk out with some yarn to knit a blanket.

Mary sees some kids learning how to crochet, so she wants to try it.

You buy her the needed supplies, and you sign her up for a class.

She has fun with it, because it helps her unwind at the end of a long day from her advanced classes.

She has a genius level IQ.

Frank gets a few decor items for his mancave and workshop.

You get a few things for the wedding.

It's an amazing outing because you guys get McDonald's after.

You and Frank want Mary to have some normalcy.

You wouldn't trade this for the world.

Jake Jensen:

There's an old-school arcade, so you drop Jake off.

You get some yarn to knit a blanket for both of your twins.

Jake is busy trying to score the highest on Donkey Kong.

"Jake, what are you going to do once the girls come?"

You laugh, and Jake stands behind you, placing his large hands on your developing bump.

"Mmm, honey bun, this is something I'm giving up once our girls are born."

"I won't have time for video games, the girls will need all of our attention every waking minute," says Jake.

Jake kisses your shoulder.

You wouldn't trade this for the world right now.

Johnny Storm:

Johnny understands that you have to make weekly trip to Michaels.

They have deals every week.

You can't resist a bargain.

You have enough yarn, but you're knitting a sweater.

You also buy enough yarn to make Johnny a blanket.

That Christmas, you present Johnny with his hand knit sweater, and his hand knit blanket.

Johnny loves them!

Johnny gets you an amazing white gold necklace with a heart, and a yellow gold necklace with a circle on it.

You understand the symbolism of each.

He put a lot of thought into them.

You wear them layered, you wear them every day.

Johnny uses the blanket every day, and even wears the sweater often!

He picks you up bridal style, and you both make love, with the blanket right on the bed.

Johnny is the best boyfriend you've ever had.

He's very appreciative of you and of everything you give him.

You're appreciative of everything he gives you because he puts a lot of thought into each gift.

Pete Brenner:

Pete and you are shopping for wedding items.

Your mom is with the both of you, and she picks up fabric to make the ring bearer's pillow.

Your mother insists on sewing this pillow.

You pick up some yarn to make a shawl for your wedding dress.

Pete picks up some wedding favors.

He finds things like small mint tins, mints, mesh bags, and even really cool centerpieces.

It's an amazing afternoon.

You, Pete, and your mom go out for dinner afterwards.

You eat at your favorite place.

You, Pete, and your mom have pizza and lemonades for dinner.

Dessert is a nice chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream on the side.

It was the best afternoon, because it was about spending time with the people you loved the most, Pete and your family.

Cole Turner:

You need to get some classroom supplies.

Cole drives you to Michaels.

He's not going to let you carry anything.

Plus, you've been teaching all week.

You get the classroom supplies, and some yarn to knit Cole a nice sweater.

You love your fiance, Cole.

Your ex-boyfriend NEVER did this for you.

You reveal the news when you're in the yarn department.

You ask Cole which yarn would go with the white-the yellow, the green, the blue, the purple, or the pink.

"Honey, are we?"

"Yes, Cole. You're going to be a dad!"

"Honey, I love you so much!'

"No pregnant fiance of mine is going to keep pushing this cart, or carry anything," says Cole.

His hand goes right to your stomach.

When you guys check out, Cole won't let you lift or carry anything!

He helps you in his truck.

He carries you back into the house when you get home, because no pregnant fiance of his is going to be on her feet!

He takes the packages in because no pregnant fiance of his is going to carry or lift ANYTHING.

The next morning, you and Cole watch the sunrise on the porch swing, and spend the entire morning on the swing.

You'll be coming to Michaels more often!

Cole gets his sweater, and your baby boy, Lucas and his twin sister, Dawn, gets their baby blankets.

[welcome-home-art-dump]

Welcome Home x Kaiju reader scenarios:

Tiny reader!

Pov: through an unknown term of events, Reader has gone from the size of a building to the size of a gecko.

[Yes, you look strange, but you're mini, what'd you expect?]

🏠 Home:

"Creeeak?? Squeak! Squeeeeak!"

🏡 He'd be obviously surprised, as evident by his pupils shrinking in alarm. But once he realized that you were finally able to visit Wally, he was very happy.

🏡 he found it cute when you react in awe to his colorful interior, even feeling a sense of pride.

🏡 loves to see you try and paint with Wally and creaks in amusement when you get yourself covered in paint. He also watches as you tried to draw.

🏡 it'll take him off guard when you suddenly climb the walls, but he lets it slide since you don't do any harm.

🏡 Is slightly worried that Wally's fixation on you has increased slightly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🍎 Wally:

"Oh my... what a lovely surprise."

🎨 He'd be surprised, but he'd be very happy to be looking at you without the sun glaring into his eyes and even more so that he's able to hold you.

🎨 he instantly takes you on a tour around Home, especially showing you his art room where his art supplies are.

🎨 Loves to watch you try to draw and paint, often stopping his own painting sometimes to discreetly watch your endeavor.

🎨 he enjoys it when you perch yourself on his shoulder, though he kind of has an issue with holding you properly.

👁 he has an even bigger issue with sharing you, sometimes tightening his grip on you when someone approaches.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🦴 Barnaby:

"Whoa! The tables have turned, eh kiddo?"

🐶 he'd be dumbfounded, but now that you're smaller, he can finally give you proper hugs and have an easier time making puns.

🐶 he now has you ride on his shoulder or head, and his tail wags at finally being able to do so.

🐶 sometimes has you assist him in acts, acting like a ventriloquist. (Almost considered juggling you but didn't want to risk hurting you.)

🐶 sometimes playfully ruffles your hair and messes it up to mess with you.

🐶 there's a lot of short jokes and puns in order, as well as short related nicknames, his favorite being "little Kai."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🪀 Julie:

"*excited squeal* you're so cuuuuute!!"

🧸 Once she saw you, she could have burst with excitement and adoration.

🧸 almost instantly scoops you up into her embrace, exclaiming over and over on how cute you were and how she could finally hug you.

🧸 she was excited to tour you around her house, showing her collection of toys and dolls, and invites you for tea parties and occasionally plays dress-up with you using her doll's clothing.

🧸 she's more than happy when you fall asleep nestled in her hair or in a pile of her stuffed animals.

🧸 is ecstatic to finally be able to play games like tag, hopscotch and hide-and-seek with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🪶 Poppy:

"(N-Name)? Is that-? What did-? How did you-? O-Oh feathers, come here, dear."

🍪 she'd be shocked and confused, but somewhat relieved now that she can properly keep you safe. She was also happy to be the one holding you for once.

🍪 she'd handle you like frail porcelain, and gets worried when Julie and/or Wally start handling you a tad roughly. [I.e. bicker over who's turn it is to hold you]

🍪 she created your tiny outfit while you watched, gave you a few crocheting and knitting pointers.

🍪 When she bakes, she always lets you lick the spoon and feeds you the first bite of everything.

🍪 sometimes you'd fall asleep while riding her back, to which she'd gently tuck you beneath her shawl and reminded everyone to be quieter when you slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🦋 Frank:

"Oh, (Name)? That's an... interesting change..."

📚 Would be taken aback by your sudden change in size, but he was actually glad he didn't have to worry about you accidentally crushing anything.

📚 he still flinches whenever you start flying about since you fly so quickly.

📚 he inwardly finds it cute when butterflies suddenly land on you.

📚 if he's in a good mood, he'll let you perch yourself on his shoulder.

📚 Gets anxious when Julie and the others aren't careful with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

☀️ Sally:

"Oooh, a change in roles, I see?"

🎭 She'd be initially surprised, but pleased to see you were now able to be held.

🎭 She saw your size shift as a "change in roles" which mean she was now the one protecting you.

🎭 now when playwriting, She'd cast herself as a princess and you'd be her "animal companion" everytime.

🎭 sometimes she'd outright play as a hero who'd be responsible for saving you and protecting you, and more often than not, she takes the role a tad too seriously.

🎭 this sparks a bit of conflict with Julie and Wally since they want a part with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

🐛 Howdy:

"Oh...! Howdy keeper! What happened?"

🛍 he'd be taken off guard, but glad to have you in his store for once.

🛍 he'd instantly show you where the (fruit) and (candy) were, and would give you a few for free.

🛍 he'd appreciate you helping around the store, and found it cute how you fluttered around when helping out.

🛍 sometimes during downtimes, he'd lightly play with your wings [with your permission], and would idly wonder when he'd get his own wings to join you whenever you took flight.

🛍 sort of keeps an eye on you from his shop window, to ensure the others weren't too rough with you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

💌 Eddie:

"Wh-... Keeper? What happened?"

✉️ he'd be surprised to be the one looking down at you, but now he had the chance to properly return the kindness you've shown him.

✉️ he'd be the one giving you head pats now, and when he wasn't working would invite you into his office to craft with him.

✉️ sometimes if he was caught up in work, he'd have you deliver some mail around the neighborhood.

✉️ he'd have you ride in his satchel if you were tired.

✉️ he hides you in his satchel or under his cap if tensions are higher than usual. [I.E. the competition between the Wally, Sally and Julie reaching a tense level]

Idea is from a reader from my book.

Still open for suggestions.~

[karin-gespenst]

Butterflies and Tears - Season 12 episode 8 rewatch

during most of my crochet projects I watch so much Call the Midwife that I don't recall which project went with which episodes. Now I'm on a baby blanket for a nibling in the making.

So I'm making the Butterflies pattern and it turns out beautifully. While working on it I rewatched Trixie's wedding episode and had many thoughts about it. Many tears, too.

Calling the Yu baby Lizzie is a choice I would not have made. This baby's entire story starts with "Your mom died the day you were born. In fact, they cut you out of her corpse so you didn't die, too." and giving her the same name as her mother brings up that story time and time again. Of course, with a tragedy like this, the pain will be enormous anyway, but maybe pick a name that is not so completely chained to this horrible accident.

SMJ made me cry with her reading. I also cried because Judy Parfitt reminds me a lot of my grandma in her last years. The snark, the being done with aging, the dismissing of worries that people tell her about because she's seen so much worse - and the profound love of her family and trust in the Lord.

Geoffrey is a delight and please can he come back instead of Matthew? Trixie does not need a husband per se, but having family around does her good. Including Geoffrey with the hen night was wonderful, and I love the relaxing beauty treatments in contrast to the lively party they had for Lucille.

completely relateable: Phyllis exhausted after the prospect of saying goodbye to another young woman she has raised from chick to grown up nurse. Let's count:

Delia left with Patsy, Sister Mary Cynthia is recovering somewhere off screen, Barbara is gone forever, Valerie ran off in the middle of the night, the first batch of pupil midwives has graduated, Doctor McNulty had to leave to get better, Lucille half a globe away, Sisters Winifred and Frances back at the Mother House, Trixie about to get married, and now Nancy maybe leaving? It's very good that Sister Julienne secured a new supply of young pupil midwives. And got rid of that pesky council rent threat.

The scene with Nancy and Trixie sewing the blue fabric bow into the seam of the wedding dress was sweet. They shared a room for a long time and sometimes had a relationship just like sisters.

Burning down the hotel to justify the party in Poplar was a heavy plot hammer. Especially after the dead mother and impromptu C-section scene. That felt like just piling on the problems: suits, flowers, blood, rain, death, fire, missing nuns - I swear, I'll never get married in church, and don't come near me with white dresses or high heels or any other item just begging to malfunction at the worst moment.

Does Timothy just have bad luck or is it usual for medical students to encounter this many deaths in their first year? It would be awesome to see him talk to some of his fellow students about the cases he has seen. Maybe he could bring home a friend some day? A special one? *wink wink*

[rosenbraut]

I hope I'm not coming off as rude or too nosy, but I am curious -- how do you afford to buy all the perfumes that you do??

Hi 🍓! Perfumery is almost my only hobby that costs money. In other words, I pay for only one streaming service, I don’t buy or play video games, I rarely go out to eat, I don’t party or go drinking, I don’t buy painting or craft supplies, I don’t travel on my own or go to concerts etc. Most of the money that I spend on non-essentials I spend on books or perfume. In this context, I’m not sure whether I even spend more than the average gamer or craftsperson would on their hobby. Apart from that, I don’t buy most of the perfume I talk about. For the most part, my interest in perfumery will result in me sniffing my way around perfume shops without buying anything at all. If I do end up buying something, it’s usually the result of much consideration.

On that note: a piece of advice. Always, always check trustworthy(!) perfume websites for discounts etc. Where I live, that’s mainly Flaconi, Douglas, Perfumedreams, Galeria. The differences in pricing can be 50€ and more. I’ve become an expert, switching between multiple sites, tracking sale events etc. Most expensive or niche brands offer discovery sets with discounts, too. In most cases, the discovery set is more than enough to sate me, so the lure of “spend 40€ on 5x1.5ml and get 40€ off of this 250€ perfume” doesn’t end up being relevant for me — that IS a good deal if you do end up loving a fragrance, however.

In short: I afford my perfumes because I don’t buy that many, and I buy little else. But I understand the question, it sounds so prestigious a hobby. In the end, it’s a hobby like all the others — you could spends thousands at a time, buying batches of expensive niche perfumes that are hyped on social media. Just like you can buy endless extension packs for games or get a fifth set of glittering crochet hooks. You don’t have to go that route to enjoy yourself, however :)

[canis-or-cannotis-lycaon]

TIMING: A Few weeks ago LOCATION: About the Town PARTIES: Alan @alan-duarte & Gael @lithium-argon-wo-l-f SUMMARY: Gael and Alan chance into each other at a bookstore and they explore what similarities they have that connect them. CONTENT WARNINGS: cheating mentions, drugs mentions

“I just … It never quite looks realistic enough. You have no idea how much supplies I have thrown away out of sheer disappointment,” the clerk didn’t seem to know a whole lot about modelism and Alan was submerged with regrets while the other attempted to come up with a solution Alan already had tried. The answer, unsurprisingly, didn't come from that guy, but from a voice behind. “Anyway…” He didn’t like when people were so nosy they interrupted someone’s personal conversation. He frankly hated that. Turning toward the intruder, the realtor frowned, and the more he thought about it, the more his eyebrows furrowed. That could work, actually. 

“That’s… smart,” a bit more technical than what he was used to coming up with, quite frankly. “Are you also into dioramas and model making ?”  ______________ Why were all these books derivative? Gael was looking for a hobby, not a lullaby, which was all most of these books had to offer him. He rolled his eyes, already having wasted too much time in one area when he could be anywhere else actually reading and just picked one up - it seemed to be about crocheting, of all things. Whatever, maybe he could donate it to the school library. He made his way to wherever the line was and as he approached, he found a man in an active, if one-sided discussion with the beleaguered clerk, though Gael’s unusual hearing could pick up the conversation before he saw them. From what he gathered, there was an attempt to make a simulated fire for a… model or something, he was just guessing and he had half a mind to leave himself out of it but he felt for the clueless employee and he gave a noncommittal shrug, speaking loudly enough to make himself heard behind the duo. “I, uh… recommend a silicon bi-pin lamp with a dominant wavelength of 605nm,” He suggested, leaning slightly and keeping his dark eyes on the back of the stranger who at first seemed to shrug him off before acknowledging what he said. Gael straightened back up as the man turned and asked him about the subject material - so he was right. “I hadn’t really thought about it before,” He admitted casually. “I constructed a model RBMK-1000 Reactor for a presentation on Chernobyl once but I don’t know if that would qualify.” ______________

“Oh you just came up with a solution on the spot then,” there wouldn’t be any awards held for being incredibly responsive, Alan hoped the other was aware of that. His gratitude and respect were, however, worth more than an Oscar. They were rare. “Haven’t meddled with electricity in a bit, though I suppose I’ll have to bring the soldering iron out of the closet again,” the clerk was standing right next to them, and Alan could tell from the held up, weak index , that he was wishing he could vanish or be just anywhere else. “I think I’m good, thank you so much,” for nothing. With a warm smile, he watched the younger man walk off. The werewolf wondered what this guy specialized in, before deciding he didn’t really care. Some people just were useless from start to finish.

“So you do know a thing or two about model making,” this man, however, seemed to know things. That was a lot more valuable. “It wouldn’t be my first pick, but you know, to each their own, right?” A nuclear reactor really wasn’t his idea of a good subject, but the same could have been said about the many planes he had sitting on shelves in his basement. He started out with those, but they were now all in cardboard boxes, getting forgotten. “You said a lamp with… That wavelength, is it a color thing, or …” High school was far away, but he remembered a thing or two from his physics classes. You had to be good at it to be in the air force, although mechanical sciences were more deeply anchored than optical ones. “I’ll need it to flicker. Maybe a transistor could do the job, what do you think?” A pause. “I don’t want to hoard your time, of course. If you have better things to do…” He trailed off. “Yeah, I really don’t want to hold your leg man, you’ve already done your good deed,” he smiled, yet something about his eyes seemed to carry hope and was silently begging him to have no life outside of helping him out.  ______________ The stranger was blunt in his response and opinionated to boot but he hadn’t dismissed Gael yet so the latter figured he must’ve done something right. Or at least not wrong. “A transistor might work but I think you’d be better with, like, a diode to give it that flicker effect,” He replied, setting the book down and placing his hands in his pockets and keeping his gaze on the model-maker. He quirked an eyebrow as the other man seemed to give him an impression of wanting to continue this conversation - either that or Gael had gotten worse at reading people. Either way, he got some hint (though whether or not it was the right one was to be determined) and he gave another small half-shrug. “I literally have nothing better to do,” He removed a hand and gestured to the crochet book he picked up out of boredom. “Gael, by the way,” That same hand reached out in an initiation for a handshake from the stranger.  ______________ “Mmm, maybe,” crossing his arms over his chest, Alan reflected on his options. There wasn’t much he could do now other than try it out now. His gaze went toward the book in the other man’s hands. Crocheting. Not the most common hobby, but who was he to judge? “Crocheting and electronics isn’t a combo you often see,” he commented with a light smile. Holding out his hand to shake, Alan introduced himself as well. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Alan.” 

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before,” not that he knew everyone, but having been born here, raised here, and having lived here most of his life gave him the sizable advantage when it came to knowing folks : 6 degrees of separation and whatnot. “Anyhow, I’m… have you played Dark Souls?” He paused, “I’m doing the campfire, hence the need for a flickering fire,” he explained. “I haven’t played in ages, I probably couldn’t beat the first boss these days,” he scoffed, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Anyhow, you wanna help me find that diode ? That clerk seemed a bit lost…”  ______________ Alan. Gael wondered as he ran the name through in his head a few times if he knew who this guy was in passing but ultimately concluded that he most likely hadn’t, at least not consciously. “Oh yeah, I moved here a few months ago at the start of the semester,” He explained, putting his hand back in his pocket. There was a pause as the model-maker named Alan asked him about Dark Souls and he had to rack his brain for a moment. “I have not played Dark Souls,” He admitted. “BUT I can help you find that diode; that shouldn’t be a problem.” Regardless of the reason, he wasn’t one to turn down a challenge. “You haven’t, like, checked online for it, though, right? There’s a lot of kits that might have what you’re looking for without the hassle of running around trying to find it.” He suggested.  ______________ “Semester?” Only two categories of people spoke in semesters: professors and students. If people could go back to college at any moment of their life, he doubted this guy was a student. “You teach at the University? I did a conference there last semester,” a pause. “For the business students. I’m a local business owner,” Alan scratched a spot behind his ear absent-mindedly, feigning humility. He had none, but that was apparently unbecoming. 

“Aw, you’re missing out. It’s hard, I’m not gonna lie, but…” He trailed off. He used to play those games with his first husband, though Rafael was always a lot better at them than Alan ever was.

“You’re in electronics? Engineering?” He tried to guess, as he tagged along down the aisle. “I suppose so. I’m not huge on Amazon, but there’s also the hardware store if…” He trailed off. “Yeah, Whitlocks might have it. It’s a 5 minute walk though,” he pursed his lips. “I can offer payment in drinks at the bar, or guided tours of the town,” both would be an introvert’s nightmare, he supposed, but there was a chance the guy was sociable enough if he had the nerve to interrupt a conversation to offer help.  ______________ “Oh, yeah. I teach chemistry.” Gael replied, keeping his gaze on Alan with a sense of curiosity in his tired, yet energetic eyes. He put a pin in the part where the other man said that he owned a business; he was sure to mention it later. “And I do suppose there’s no better teacher of business than someone who owns one,” he added. He paused, noting that Alan trailed off and he wondered if the latter had some memory that kept him from finishing what apparently made Dark Souls so great because if they were going off that brief explanation, Gael wasn’t really sold on “you’re missing out, this game is hard”. As far as he was concerned though, it was small talk that sprung from the model thing so he didn’t think too much about it. “I’ll pass on the game and take your word for it but I certainly won’t say no to a drink,” He agreed. “I’m guessing you’re from around here if you’re willing to offer a tour in exchange for a diode.” ______________ A chemistry teacher at UMWC named Gael. Monty’s words echoed in Alan’s memory then. It couldn’t possibly have been anyone else but this guy. He had promised he’d be discreet about it, and Alan liked to think that he was good with people, when he wanted to be. “Pardon me, but I think I might have heard of you through a common friend,” he pointed out. He lowered his voice. “The man from the farm?” It wasn’t the most comfortable conversation to have. Alan had been through this too, and he didn’t like it then. He sure didn’t like it now. 

“I’m from around here, yeah,” he nodded along, motioning the other to tag along. “My family has been in the region for three generations already, so I suppose you can say I know the area like the back of my hand,” mostly the real estate market, mostly the woods. He avoided certain areas religiously. Yeah, you could say he knew the town well. “Since you won’t say no, I’ll take this as a yes.” ______________ Alan motioned for Gael to follow so he did, but not before his brain seemed to bounce the words the other man had said around in his head longer than he’d have liked. Common friend, ‘man from the farm’? His mind put two and two together rather quickly; this must’ve been the aforementioned princesa that Monty told him about, the snooty friend who Monty spoke fondly of! His mind buzzed with questions but he didn’t want to make it seem like he wasn’t listening to the rest of what Alan had said. So, he instead brought up the second part of the new conversation first. “Three generations?” Gael repeated. “So you’re part of the old blood of the town.” He wondered why he’d never heard the name before but then again, he didn’t know Alan’s last name so for all he knew he might’ve, just in passing. “That means you have insider knowledge on where to get the best coffee and you won’t take me somewhere soul-crushingly disappointing.” He laughed as the duo walked though it didn’t last long and it tapered into Gael turning his head to look curiously, if a little mournfully, at Alan. “You’re… the one Monty told me about, aren’t you?” It was Gael’s turn to lower his voice. “The uh… the other one who sleepwalks.” The professor knew that sleepwalking wasn’t a new concept but he hadn’t had anyone to talk to about it before aside from Monty, and even then, he couldn’t help but get the idea that Monty had something possibly even worse than him. Possibly. His wasn’t–  ______________

“Oh, I suppose you could say that,” there were a lot of families who had been here longer, but the Duartes could pride themselves on being true locals, if that was even something to be proud of. They should have prided themselves on having no one in the family disappear mysteriously, after living in this town for a whole century now. Alan would have been the first to fall this way, he realized. Somehow, he survived. Perhaps he shouldn’t have. Maybe he wasn’t supposed to. “Oh you bet, I won’t be taking you to Starbucks, that’s for sure,” he assured him with a pat on his back. 

“Well, yes,” he set his hand back in his pocket, offering the other a slight smile at the mention of sleepwalking. Yeah, he had once thought about that too. It made a lot more sense than oh, maybe I turn into a wolf at night and wander off into the forest to meet my people. “I’ve been sleepwalking for about ten years now,” his smile grew, and his expression changed. There was no need to get sappy about this. Alan knew, however, that the wolf attack needed to be mentioned. “It started after I got into the woods, one evening. I was heading back home, figured it would be shorter…” He trailed off. This was, all things considered, quite the intimate thing to share, but maybe it would make things easier in the long term. And maybe he’d make friends with another member of his species too? It had been a while, and he missed having someone around who could properly relate. “Anyhow, I couldn’t see much of a thing, but a wolf attacked me that night,” he paused. “Call it trauma, or… I don’t know,” lycanthropy, “but I’ve had those sleepwalking issues ever since…” ______________ Gael listened intently, keeping his eyes on the businessman as the latter spoke about his experience. He found himself comparing what Alan was saying to his own memories or lack thereof… the night, the woods, the attack, the hospital. The way the other man spoke made it seem like– well, he had been dealing with it for ten years so surely he had a much better grasp on what it was, right? A wolf attacked Alan, but Gael couldn’t remember what had happened to him; he just assumed he was mauled by a bear that night in the woods - the scar that screwed up some of the nerves in his lower back was certainly big enough to feel like a bear. “That’s… interesting,” Gael said slowly, keeping his voice from becoming mournful as Alan didn’t speak of it as something he was still… well, not struggling but it was something he was dealing with. He had a few questions he wanted to ask, suddenly feeling as though maybe he didn’t sound quite so ridiculous to someone who had similar sleepwalking issues and Alan was surely a master of coping mechanisms by now, right? He didn’t seem so alone, and yet… The thoughts got mixed up in the chemist’s head and he frowned to himself for a moment. “Ten years?” He repeated softly. “Have you ever, I don’t know, gone to see someone about it?” He hastily added “Not that there’s anything wrong with– I mean that–” He stuttered and cleared his throat, suddenly gripped by some unfamiliar emotion. “Sorry, I didn’t think… I didn’t mean to be nosey,” He concluded awkwardly. “Uhm… Monty told me about you though,” Gael smothered the unfamiliar emotion with a grin; he wasn’t sure if this was what Alan wanted but then again, he also wasn’t sure if Alan wanted to discuss their shared condition. He wanted to ask about the blood, the bodies, the nightmares but he also didn’t want to turn their pleasant conversation into one of either discomfort or begrudging formalities. Or something. Maybe if Alan wanted to discuss it further, he could bring it up on his own terms, in his own time. But until then… “He speaks highly of you.” ______________

“Is it?” Alan’s eyebrows raised in inquiry. It was uncommon, for certain. People didn’t usually have surviving a wolf attack crossed out on their bucket list. He would have rather it never happened. His life was better when he didn’t know about all this, and yet… Would he have walked this road, met these people, if he hadn’t crossed paths with a werewolf? “Nah,” he shook his head. He had, once, but there wasn’t much the therapist could do other than try to rationalize what happened, and ask Alan all sorts of questions he wasn’t willing to tackle. 

Part of him wondered whether the therapist knew. Not once was PTSD mentioned as a cause for his blackouts, and that always seemed weird to him. He didn’t particularly want to find out if the guy knew though. He didn’t want to delve back into that part of his life. This was why he had been hesitant to help Gael out, when Monty asked him, but now that the man stood before him, Alan wondered how he could possibly do anything but that. Still, he didn’t care to elaborate about this, not now. 

Sticking his hands in his pockets, Alan’s eyebrows raised. He knew Monty had spoken to Gael about him, and he didn’t really mind it, considering the circumstances. “You’ve barely asked me any questions,” he pointed out. This much was not entirely true, but Alan figured that this was how he would get the other to ask all his questions. “C’mon, you must have questions that need answering, more important than whether I saw someone to cope with it,” he pointed out with a sympathetic smile. It was easier, pushing the attention away from oneself, in vulnerable times, but Alan was one to do that too, and he could easily spot it. 

“Monty? Of course he does, and I’ll speak highly of him too,” as it usually did at the mention of the zombie, his face lit up. “He’s a great man, and I doubt you’ll meet someone more selfless than him around town,” he affirmed. He hadn’t met everyone, but he’d stand by that statement either way.  ______________ “Yeah, he’s… there’s something about him for sure,” Gael agreed first, his expression softening as he remembered that morning. “He’s…” The man fell silent and simply caught the expression on Alan’s face - the latter, until recently, had this look that wasn’t stern but it was professional but when he brought up the cowboy, sure enough he could tell that the man was affectionate towards Monty. He was starting to wonder who wouldn’t be. Gael also wondered what questions Alan could’ve been referring to. “About… the sleepwalking,” He muttered, glancing down for a moment before his eyes regarded the businessman once more. “I think the questions I have aren’t… I don’t know, it’s–” What, hard to explain? If there was one person he could maybe explain it to, it would be Alan, another man who was found in the woods with nothing but a sleeping bag to protect his manhood. “I guess the biggest one I have is ‘how do I fix it’,” He surmised. “Though I suppose the biggest one should be ‘what’s wrong with me’.” His eyes danced on nothing in particular, as though he were reading something but it was in his head. “But that’s… I don’t know, sometimes people just sleepwalk.” He shrugged. “I got mauled by a bear one night; I remember NONE of it but I assume it just jostled something in my brain.” He glanced down again. “I’m sure I’m just overreacting. I’ve been known to do that,” Gael cast his gaze back to Alan. “You ever think that? That maybe it’s really not a big deal but something in your mind makes you think it might be?” ______________

“How do you fix it?” Yeah, that was precisely why he didn’t want to do this in the first place. He had been there, in denial, trying to figure out what was making him wake up far from his bed, exhausted and lost, wishing it to fucking stop. “You need to learn to control it, those moments where your mind slips,” he eyed him. It was all Alan could do about this : help Gael control it. This was perhaps how he’d make him aware of what he was. What’s wrong with me was a trickier question, somehow. There was nothing he could say that wouldn’t be a lie to some extent. “Same thing that’s wrong with me. We got attacked by a wild animal and it changed us,” that wasn’t really the full truth, but it was all he could do right then. 

“A bear heh?” That didn’t track. It didn’t track with what Monty told him. “You remember being attacked by a bear though, I assume?” Another day, he would have to show him his scar, and perhaps that would help Gael with coming to terms with it all, but that wouldn’t be today. Alan was unable to do that today. He wasn’t sure he would be able to do that at all, and just thinking about it made his expression tarnish.

“I think it’s as big a deal as you want it to be, like everything,” you could care or choose not to give a shit, but the reality would catch up on you and bite you in the ass. “I think you should deal with it sooner than later. You don’t want someone catching you wandering around like that, huh? Not everyone’s going to react like Monty,” no, someone would try to put a bullet in him. “If you want, I can help you with that, but it’s not going to be easy,” a tiny part of him hoped he would refuse, but the guy seemed like a good man, and with werewolves being a rarity, Alan could have used someone extra to share his struggles with.  ______________ Gael paused for a long moment, listening intently to everything Alan was saying though the more he spoke, the more something started to knot up in his throat, making it hard to swallow, literally. He didn’t remember being attacked by a bear - how could he? People told him it was a dog but he wasn’t about to consider that it was a dog. What had to have happened is that the way he and Alan were attacked just… created some neurological damage to them. Short-circuiting in their brain, a psychotic defect that caused them to sleepwalk and kill things in that state. Animals, right? Just animals. He thought he liked it better before this topic of conversation came up. Control it. Control what, the parts where he falls asleep, has terrible nightmares where he prowls through the woods as some… demon, then wakes up God-knew-where, in pain, with no idea where he was. “Those are just dreams,” Gael muttered to himself. Maybe they weren’t as alike as they thought, which was fine but the thought that whatever was happening was something that he could change, something that affected him so deeply, it writhed around inside him like snakes. And then there was the part about someone else finding him and Gael realized that… Monty was the only one who had so far. Every other time this defect flared up, he’d woken up lost, hurt, as though he got pulled apart and put back together but he had also been alone. There HADN’T been a Monty or someone else. The professor, uncharacteristically, remained silent during most of this and he pulled his arms close to his stomach, folding them over each other in thought as his brow knitted. Alan offered to help but he found the connection between the help and what it was for nonexistent. “I wouldn’t want to impose,” was what Gael said first, now avoiding eye contact with the other man. “And it– it sounds like how to fix it is that I check myself into a mental ward.” He added before he could stop himself. “Alan, the way you’re talking makes it seem like we’re… I don’t know, werewolves or something.” He scoffed though he said the word itself almost completely silently. “I can’t tell you how to think or what to feel but this sounds like an issue I need medication for.” He clenched his jaw for a moment before glancing back up at Alan, his expression softening. “Sorry, I’m– sorry. I didn’t mean to… I appreciate the offer for help but…” He faltered. ______________

Alan fell silent. He didn’t really have that sort of patience in him, the sort that would allow him to just smile, shake his head gently and explain once again what he meant. He was terrible at this. Talking people into buying or selling was effortless, but things that directly concerned him? Heh. Pass. 

The realtor looked away, hands in his pockets. His gaze fell to the floor. “Just dreams, yeah.” He scoffed. This was fucked up. 

How was he supposed to let this guy know that he was never going to have a normal life ever again, that he’d never be normal? How was he supposed to tell someone that they’d been bit by a supernatural creature, and that they were now one too. 

He’d been through this before, all by himself, and he remembered just how unpleasant it had all been. Alan would force himself to shift until he could begin to control it, even if that meant forcing his bones to grow and shrink, his guts to shift in his stomach in a matter of seconds. At the same time, because he worried himself to death, wondering if one day he’d not accidentally end up mauling his husband, he’d grown further and further away from him. He’d disappear around full moons on business trips, reappear a few days later, feeling tired, filled with guilt, one that Rafael, all too human, could only associate with the worst kind of treason. 

Alan felt like crying. Though he tried not to let it show, and fought the urge to let it pour down, his lip quivered, and as he nibbled on it, he had no other choice but to look away. It was a damn good thing Gael was too damn embarrassed to even look at him. “You’re right,” he snapped. “Maybe we’re both fucking mental,” if his words came from a place of hurt, it certainly didn’t make them fair. “I’m not a damn psychiatrist. I don’t know why Monty thought I’d be able to help you with that.” This was no longer about his failed marriage then, but this creeping feeling that had been steadily rotting inside of him : how much of him had died that night? Was he the same person as before or pretending, like a kid playing house ? He was a monster now, this, he knew for a fact. He could try and save face, claim that nature didn’t build monsters, that nature didn’t care for good or bad, he didn’t feel much like a good person. “But you think I’m batshit for suggesting you could learn to live with it. Maybe you’re right.”  ______________ The two were silent, Gael trying to find the right words to smoothly transition out of whatever was happening right now to more pleasant things - ‘how is that game?’ ‘what kind of coffee do you like?’ and ‘what do you do aside from make models’ were all questions that absently floated in his brain space. However, he wasn’t anticipating when Alan suddenly reacted the way he did. Almost immediately, surprise painted Gael’s face, shortly followed by a cocktail of emotions, mixing being taken aback, a measure of anxiety and more guilt than he wanted - he had a feeling that by saying what he said, he was risking implying that Alan was the same, even if Gael didn’t think they were. “N-no, that’s not what I meant,” Gael tried to explain, his tone shifting. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that– I just…” He sighed, his pride taking a backseat. “I’m sorry. Of course you’re not mental. You’ve been dealing with this a hell of a lot longer than I have and it was wrong of me to think or assume that…” He fell silent again before giving a tired shrug. “That I would know anything about anything.” He had to think about what the best course of action would be going forward - Gael had unintentionally created a minefield, he felt, and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin this potential connection with Alan or possibly even Monty for insinuating that he was wrong. “I… I don’t understand,” He said slowly, his eyes dancing on his hands that were clenching and unclenching in front of him, trying to work out the stress that suddenly accumulated inside him - a fight or flight response to the animal knowledge that he WOULD be left alone with whatever this was that Alan said. “But…” Lie. “I believe you.” Lie. “I’d like to take you on that offer for help.” He gulped. “I trust your insight.” His gaze rose and he looked at Alan, searching for that connection, the wires he unintentionally frayed in an attempt to gather them back up to salvage this. ______________ “Eleven years. I’ve been dealing with this bullshit, this fucking insane bullshit for eleven years,” he might have not been in his other form then, Alan’s eyes glimmered with a light, with a wrath akin to a dog’s. “But sure, go to the doctor, see what they have to say,” he fell quiet then. Rubbing at his face, if only to rid himself, to wash himself of his annoyance, Alan strode a few steps ahead of Gael. He wouldn’t have faulted him for walking the other way while he could. Most people didn’t particularly stand for this sort of behavior, and they were right not to. 

He walked past a bench. He turned around and went to sit there. Where was he even going, striding like that. “I wanted it to go away,” he knew the other could hear him. They had good ears, their kind. Even if he stood meters away now, of course he could hear him. “I thought it would go away, but it won’t go away,” though his words still were spoiled with angered notes, his shoulders no longer seemed so tense, and his eyes didn’t seem to be filled with thunder anymore. “You don’t believe me,” who knew? Maybe he did believe Alan. The wolf sighed, still he turned around to look Gael straight in the eye. “You will have to trust the process. It won’t be an immediate answer to your problems,” but perhaps he’d manage, and maybe through helping Gael how to get a hold of his other self, Alan would finally learn not to detest a whole side of him. ______________ Alan spoke and Gael’s gaze filled with sympathy, knitting in the middle. Eleven years. Gael hadn’t even reached one yet and he didn’t want to anymore but eleven years was sitting on the surface of his mind, simmering, taking its time to sink in and he wasn’t sure when or even if it would. Maybe they were different, maybe Alan really was a… werewolf or whatever but maybe Gael’s problem was something else…? When the other man stormed past him and went to sit on a bench, Gael turned and his gaze followed him though he himself didn’t move at first. Would it be better for him to just… leave? Leave Alan without having to entertain the chemist’s foolish notions anymore? Walk away, tell Monty that he made a mistake, that Alan wasn’t what he needed. Eleven years of sleepwalking, waking up alone, lost, wounded. Was that going to be Gael’s fate? What could Gael possibly do about this, about Alan, about anything? He should turn and walk off as Alan did, return the resentment and the bitterness. Maybe they couldn’t connect. And yet… ‘I wanted it to go away.’ More words in his head. ‘I thought it would go away.’ Alan spoke as though Gael was beside him and yet the other man remained where he was, able to hear him as though they were sitting across from each other at a table. ‘You will have to learn to trust the process’. He clenched one of his fists again, looking down at it. He noted earlier that when Alan spoke about the length of time that he’d suffered, there was this look in his eye, something that reminded Gael of himself. He exhaled and slowly, letting his shoulders droop slightly to make himself seem a little smaller, he made his way to Alan where he turned on the spot once before sitting down next to him, next to the man he didn’t know aside from the things that he felt other people didn’t know. A diode was two parts, sending the flow of energy in the same direction. “Okay.” Gael breathed, somehow knowing that at his lowest that Alan could probably hear him too. Just another side effect of the brain damage, he assumed. “Okay.” He repeated. “If you’re willing to help me then I’m with you.”  ______________ There was silence for a moment, and Alan figured Gael was going to do the only sensible thing then and leave his side. He’d tell Monty things didn’t work out, that perhaps Gael wasn’t ready yet. But the professor seemed like a genuinely good guy, and he felt bad, letting him leave without warning him about what could happen if he didn’t manage to get some sort of self control. He wasn’t sure what it was that convinced the other to trust him. Perhaps it was best not to know. 

He didn’t look at him, still he nodded. “I think it would be good for you,” a pause. “I think it might do me good too,” having someone like him to talk to would be nice, and it would give him a purpose a bit more noble than what he did for his job (not that he saw himself doing anything else). At last, he tilted his head toward Gael, and though he still bore the traces of his outburst of anger, Alan’s face seemed to have softened, and he uttered an apology he knew the other would be able to hear. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so bad at this,”  ______________ Alan chose to look at him again and Gael saw a new, if somewhat hidden, emotion under the latent anger that creased his features. While the aspect of it benefiting the chemist seemed to lighten part of the weight he felt on his shoulders nowadays, he wasn’t going to admit that the thought that it would help Alan made him much more accepting of the idea; he truly found it easier to do things for other people and as far as he was concerned, this was an issue that Alan had for much longer and it didn’t seem like he had anyone to really talk to these problems about. Then again, maybe the professor was just projecting. “You don’t need to apologize,” Gael assured just as quietly. “I shouldn’t have just… sprang any of this on you, especially when you were just out and about looking for a diode for your model.” He couldn’t help but give a half-laugh that came out as a scoff, as though highlighting the ridiculousness of how they got to be talking about what they were talking about. He cleared his throat. “But, uhm… I really appreciate your willingness to help.” ______________ “You’re still helping me out with that diode,” he gave the other a small smile, unlike his usual near-arrogant one. “No copping out,” with a scoff to match Gael’s, Alan gave the other werewolf a pat on the shoulder as he stood back up. “C’mon, let’s go get that drink, then we can figure out when to start working on that sleep walking nonsense,” he’d never been one for beating around the bush, he didn’t have the patience for that. In the end, all that mattered was that Gael agreed to get some help. Alan was both excited and anxious with the perspective of helping him find out what he was. It would be nice to have someone like him to be around, it would be devastating to see Gael lose his mind as he realized what his life would now be like now. Alan could only hope the latter would never come to be, but in the end, it was yet another aspect of life that he would have no grasp on. 

[jungle-angel]

Fall Prompts: Part 3

Guys if anybody has any ideas for prompts, send'em in!! I'm running on fumes!! (lol). Taking requests for Top Gun Maverick (any character), Outer Range, Bad Times At the El Royale, Catch 22, Salem's Lot and Press Play.

Waiting at the bus stop with the kids on the first day of school/dropping off/picking up

Walking through a spooky pumpkin patch or graveyards

Pumpkin spice coffee or baked goods

The smell of old books

Snuggling with a black cat

Whiskey/hot spiced liquor

Dyeing wool and spinning it on the spinning wheel

"It's looking a little spooky out there"

The kids playing in a freshly raked/blown pile of leaves

Making chicken soup for their s.o who is sick

"Everything smells like fall"

Binding together a homemade book and watching the leaves and rain fall

Needle-felting

"I can't believe Carhardt weather is here"

Wearing fuzzy slippers/socks

Morning on a fall camping trip

Sunday dinner after church with the family

First frost

Maple sugar candies

Sewing together a fall quilt

Singing a Halloween lullaby to their children

Chilly air that leaves the nose a little red

"God we've already spent a fortune on school supplies"

Fall hiking

"Well, the church pastor certainly knows how to throw an awesome Halloween party"

Feeling the fall breeze while sitting in the porch rockers/porch swing

"I'm loving the new decorations"

The sun setting but the trees are completely bare of leaves

Hot apple/pumpkin pie

Flying over the forest landscape which has turned to fall colors

"I feel like a bear getting ready to hibernate"

Taking pictures of the kids on the first day of school

Crackling fireplace

Making cuddly fall toys for their children

Making their s.o a flower crown using the potted mums on the porch

Their s.o having a drawing book full of cottagecore watercolors and it's also fall themed

"I think the owls are nesting again"

Reading in the candlelight/by the fireplace

Storing the harvest for the winter

"I swear, if I get bonked on the head with one more apple...."

Pressing leaves in an old book

Hand knitted/crocheted scarves and hats

Comfort foods

Sewing little flannel jackets for the kids

The whistling of the teapot and the smell of a hot tea

"This place looks like a real life gingerbread house!"

Falling asleep under the flannel blankets and sheets after a long day

Toasted pumpkin seeds

The family dog jumping in the leaf piles with the kids

Sleeping in their s.o's hoodie

[onceuponabookiread]

Photo dump from my newest hobby, candy making. Gummies, "honeycomb", and lollipops.

Ramble Warning

It started with a trip down an aisle at a store and the bright idea of saving money by making my own lollies. 4 months ago when I quit smoking, I fed the oral fixation part with dumdum suckers. The first month I went through 2 party size bags. Now I have a couple suckers a day, more if I'm stressed. But I saw the lolli molds and the candy mix and the flavors all right there and my brain latched onto it.

Supportive Husband did what Supportive Husband does and loaded up on supplies while extracting an agreement to make him watermelon hard candies. Now if I'm going to learn how to do something I'm going to LEARN. So off I went to the tickytock, youtubes, and general googleness to learn alllll about hard candy.

One convenient website offered the how and why of the science of it all in easy to understand lessons, including but not limited to: hard candy, pulled candy, caramel, fudge, honeycomb, brittle, and gummies. Further experiments and two more trips to stores and I can now open a small candy company.

So anyway add candy making to my collection of hobbies : baking, scrapbook, crochet, knitting, embroidery, cross-stitch, sewing, quilting, cosplay, jewelry, drawing, painting, writing, calligraphy, miniature dioramas, decoupage, macrame, beading, tinkering, origami, sculpting, I tried needle felting but I didn't stick with it, and I don't really know what to call the craft of making pompom critters.

[formeryelpers]

Be Nice Have Fun, 5011 York Blvd, Los Angeles (Highland Park), CA 90042

Party Art Community recently moved and changed names. It looked very cute and cheerful from the outside. The party and stationery store is Latina-owned & operated. The merchandise seems geared towards millennials.

The store is full of cute things, including stickers, gift wrap, greeting cards, party supplies, pens, pencils, notebooks, tote bags, snacks, candles, keychains, air fresheners, trays, crochet animals and food with faces, washi tape, pins, jewelry, personal care, etc.

Things that caught my eye: scratch & sniff Mexican food stickers and crochet spam musubi

The merchandise is on shelves along the wall with big communal tables in the center (where they have workshops). They also have balloons (including installation) and custom party favors. You can check out what they have on their website and online store.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.