#Declutter and Earn

[confidential-couture]

Declutter and Earn: Why the Festive Season is the Perfect Time to Sell Your Luxury Items

The festive season is often associated with happiness, joy, and a desire to re-energise. Now is the ideal moment to clear your closet and sell your gently used luxury things for extra money. If you want to sell pre-owned luxury items, now is the perfect time to capitalise on this trend. The market for luxury items and accessories is surging as buyers look for the ideal festive presents. In addition to putting money in your pocket, selling these goods throughout the festivities supports sustainability. To give you the best luxury experiences, Confidential Couture offers the best sales and discounts. Here's why the festivals are the ideal time to post your second- hand luxury Chanel bags for sale, sell LV bags online, or part with your luxury watches and accessories.

 1. Increased demand for luxury gifts During the festival season Luxury products make excellent and meaningful gifts, especially during the festivals of light season. People are willing to spend extra on unique, high-end gifts for their loved ones. Popular luxury brands like Cartier, Rolex, Hermes, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton (LV) are always in great demand. This creates an ideal setting for those wishing to sell pre-owned luxury items. If you have a pre-owned Rolex or Cartier accessory that is gathering dust, now is the time to sell it. Many customers prefer to purchase pre-owned luxury, allowing them to acquire a prominent brand without the high price tag. The festival spirit frequently drives consumers to splurge on luxury products for themselves or as gifts, making it easier for you to sell Hermes handbags or even LV bags online. Festive consumers don't just buy for others; they also pamper themselves. The festive spirit, along with year-end bonuses or festivities savings, makes this an ideal time to offer pre-owned luxury items to buyers looking to indulge in high-end fashion without breaking the bank.

2. Earn extra money for the festivals Selling your pre-owned luxury items throughout the festive season can provide extra revenue when you need it the most. Whether you're hoping to support your festive shopping or cover the costs of festive events, selling pre-owned luxury watches or handbags can help you stretch your festive dollars. Luxury products frequently hold value over time, so selling them today might net you a significant profit. For example, if you have a that you no longer wear or a Louis Vuitton bag that no longer fits your taste, selling them can help you earn extra money just as festive bills are piling up. You may clear up space in your closet while making money by selling high-value goods like Cartier accessories or Hermes handbags. The demand for luxury things tends to rise around the festive season, which you may use to your advantage. Selling pre-owned luxury things now ensures that you receive top money, as shoppers are eagerly looking for unique and unusual gifts.

3. Sustainable and eco-conscious shopping Sustainability is a major trend in the luxury industry. Many purchasers are becoming more aware of their environmental impact and are choosing sustainable alternatives, such as purchasing pre-owned luxury items. Selling second- hand luxury Chanel, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton items fits perfectly with this eco-friendly trend. Reselling your luxury things gives them a second life, reducing waste and promoting the circular fashion industry. Eco-conscious shoppers are more likely to purchase used things, particularly during the festive season, when gift-giving is at its peak. Selling pre-owned luxury watches or accessories helps to promote more sustainable consumerism. High-end luxury items, such as Hermes handbags and Cartier accessories, are noted for their timeless quality and durability, making them perfect for resale and extended usage. As more purchasers choose sustainability, the market for pre-owned luxury products expands. Selling your expensive designer handbags, such as secondhand Chanel or Louis Vuitton, not only earns you extra money but also contributes to an environmentally conscious buying movement.

4. Convenience of Selling Luxury Items Online The proliferation of online marketplaces has made it easier than ever to sell expensive goods. Whether you wish to sell Cartier accessories or pre-owned Rolex watches, you may do it from home. Luxury resale platforms provide a secure means to sell high-end things while connecting you to a global audience of consumers. These platforms frequently offer additional services such as authentication, which ensures purchasers can trust the integrity of your goods. This is especially critical when marketing luxury brands such as Cartier, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Buyers are more likely to buy if they know the item is genuine, and internet platforms help to build this confidence. If you want to sell LV bags or Hermes handbags online, listing them on luxury resale sites might save you time and work. With just a few clicks, you can upload your products, select a price, and begin receiving bids from potential customers. The simplicity of online selling platforms allows you to reach a large audience without the inconvenience of in-person sales.

5. Unique and Rare Luxury Finds for Buyers

The festive season is when buyers are looking for something special. Luxury lovers frequently seek unique or discontinued items, making now an excellent moment to sell second- hand luxury Chanel, Cartier, and Hermes handbags. During the festivities, many shoppers look to the pre-owned luxury market for unique things that are not accessible in stores. Selling your pre-owned luxury designer handbags or watches during the festive season enables you to meet the growing demand for distinctive and rare items. Customers seeking a one-of-a-kind present may be willing to spend a higher price for a limited-edition pre-owned luxury watch or a discontinued designer handbag. This presents a fantastic opportunity to sell secondhand expensive Chanel or Hermes items. These legendary brands are always in demand, especially around the festivals when shoppers are more likely to invest in high-quality gifts.

6. How to Maximise the Value of Your Luxury Items To ensure you get the best price for your items, here are some tips for selling your luxury goods this festive season: Provide Proof of Authenticity: When selling luxury items such as Cartier accessories or a pre-loved Rolex, always include proof of authenticity, such as receipts, original packaging, or authentication certificates. This helps increase buyer confidence and can result in a higher sale price.

Set a Competitive Price: Do market research to ascertain your product's worth. Luxury brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes have a strong value retention rate, therefore pricing your things competitively will help them sell faster. Pre-owned Rolex luxury watches can attract high resale prices.

Take Quality Photos: High-quality photos are vital when selling your products online. Make sure you photograph your luxury accessories in ideal lighting, and accentuate any aspects that make the item stand out, such as logos, hardware, or unique design components.

Highlight Festive Appeal: When selling your things, emphasise their applicability for festive gifting. Many purchasers are specifically looking for luxury gifts, so structuring your items in this manner may draw more notice.

7. Why Selling Now Is Smart The festive season creates a perfect combination of strong demand, buyer enthusiasm, and a readiness to pay more for luxury things. Selling pre-owned luxury during this period assures that you profit from the demand, whether you want to sell LV bags online, Hermes purses, Cartier accessories, or any other luxury item. Taking advantage of the festive shopping frenzy allows you to sell pre-owned luxury items at the greatest price. This not only helps you clear out your clothing, but it also gives you the extra money you need for the festivals.

8. Get More Value from a Curated Collection One strategy to increase the selling potential of your luxury items is to group them into a curated collection. Buyers frequently find it enticing to acquire many luxury goods in one transaction. For example, matching your Hermes purses with Cartier accessories might result in a trendy look that improves the overall appeal of your item. Similarly, a pre-owned Rolex watch combined with a second- hand luxury Chanel bag might create an attractive gift bundle for luxury consumers. If you have a collection of Louis Vuitton bags or Chanel accessories, consider selling them all together. This may appeal to collectors wishing to extend their wardrobes or surprise a loved one with a thoughtfully curated premium gift package. Furthermore, by highlighting the timeless value and enduring excellence of these luxury objects, you may appeal to purchasers' emotions and allow them the opportunity to possess a piece of history. Limited-edition items, or those with distinctive qualities, can command a premium, particularly when advertised as rare or difficult-to-find collectables.9. Why Waiting Can Cost You The festive season is a time of increased consumer expenditure, especially on high-end luxury items. Waiting too long to list your things risks missing out on this demand. The festive spirit is fleeting, and once the festive season is over, customers may become more careful with their buying.

For those looking to sell pre-owned luxury items, the market circumstances are currently favourable. Platforms are crowded with eager consumers looking for the ideal luxury gift, and postponing could result in competing with a weaker demand cycle. Now is the greatest moment to get noticed and charge high rates for your luxury handbags, watches, and accessories.

Conclusion

The festive season is an excellent time to sell your luxury designer handbags, watches, and accessories at Confidential Couture, with increased demand, festive enthusiasm, and a focus on sustainability attracting more consumers to the secondhand luxury market. Whether you're trying to sell Cartier accessories, pre-owned Rolex watches, or LV bags online, this season is the greatest time to maximize your profits while supporting the eco-friendly fashion movement.

By selling now, you may tidy your closet, earn extra money, and assist customers in discovering unique, luxury gifts for this wonderful time of year. Make the most of the festive shopping frenzy—don't delay!

[astrobiscuits]

Astro observations part 6

🪻Individuals with Sun in Taurus degrees (2,14,26) are always thinking about money - how they can earn more money, what to spend it on. If it's in Scorpio or conjuncts Pluto, they'll often lie about how much money they actually have just to profit off of you. You'll often hear them say "I don't have any money" but secretly have stash of money hidden in their house

🪻Not only do Aquarius Suns have a lot of friends, they also befriend the shy/awkward/forgotten kid (me). I haven't noticed this with other Sun signs

🪻People with Venus in Leo/Leo degrees (5,17,29) often get complimented on their thick hair

🪻Asteroid Fraga (1105) conjuncting any of your planets/angles/nodes indicates your love for strawberries lol

🪻 Check your Moon in Webb (3041) Persona chart. It gives you more insight on the type of content you like to consume on the internet. You can also take into consideration the degree of your Moon

Aries 🌙 - *watches sports matches live*; *laughs at stupid, childish memes *

Taurus 🌙 - the one who always searches for tutorials; "how to bake lava cake", "how to remove a stripped screw"; hmm, maybe i should move *searches houses for sale*;

Gemini 🌙 - *watches memes*, doesn't care what kind of meme it is as long as it's a meme; *scrolls endlessly on r/todayilearned*

Cancer 🌙 - *watches baby videos*; the type that reads family drama posted on reddit, but also regularly checks what their own relatives post on social media

Leo 🌙 - the newest tea on their fav celebrities; they're the first to know what Zendaya ate this morning, where Tom Hanks went on vacation yesterday and if Kylie Jenner is pregnant again; awww a kitty *ends up in an endless loophole of cat videos*

Virgo 🌙 - "declutter with me" videos, "clean with me" videos; *checks their fav blog every day*; *watches workout videos while working out*; *checks e-mails 20 times a day*; ugh, i need to take a break *watches pet videos*

Libra 🌙 - "get ready with me for..." videos, "OOTD" videos, make-up tutorials; their pinterest is full of outfit inspo and aesthetic house decor; "red/green flags in a guy/girl" videos, "first date do's and don'ts" videos

Scorpio 🌙 - *watches every true crime documentary out there*; "Michael Jackson spirit box session"; time to do the deed *watches p8rn*

Sagittarius 🌙 - *saves bible verses all the time*; searches "how to manifest everything you want", obsessed with Neville Goddard content (i'm so sorry, i'm guilty of this); *decides to go on a spontaneous trip, so they end up watching travel videos*

Capricorn 🌙 - the type that doesn't use the internet for entertainment much; actually, you'd be surprised by how little they use their phone compared to the average person; probably has a daily time limit set on their phones, *reads memoirs and biographies*,

Aquarius 🌙 - twitch is their life basically; if they're not watching someone play a video game, then they're playing a video game; *follows LGBTQ+ content during pride month*

Pisces 🌙 - they're listening to music 24/7, has a playlist for every mood they're going through, *watches tangled for the 7th time in a row*; actually, they're always watching a tv series if not for a disney movie

🪻I noticed that most film directors (Hitchcock, Kubrick, Tarantino) have got Neptune in Gemini or Neptune in Gemini degrees (3,15,27). Besides Hitchcock, they also don’t have any aspect between Neptune and Mercury

[attitoadart]

Modern AU headcanon: Jean’s Bear Hat

It all started when Jean’s mom retired and finally found herself with more time on her hands. After beginning a much needed declutter of her house, she found stacks and stacks of pictures documenting her darling boy’s life and decided to join a local scrapbooking circle.

While working on a page dedicated to Jean’s first snow day, an older woman with kind eyes asked about Jean’s bear hat.

“Oh, the hat? I actually made it for him when he was a baby.” She smiles, looking at the picture and remembering how he loved the hat so much he insisted on wearing it past the winter, into the spring, and only relinquishing it in the summer when it became too hot.

“I wish I had one of those this upcoming week, it’s supposed to be freezing,” the old woman commented while bundling herself in layers preparing to face the cold.

This may have been just a passing comment to some, but to Jean’s mom this sparked another idea. She went to the craft store the next day and bought some new crochet hooks and yarn, filling her free time with even more crafting.

“I’m so excited for you to open your gift!” She beamed, handing a gift bag overflowing with tissue paper to her son and pulling him in for a big hug.

“Thanks mom, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Of course I had to, you’re my favorite child.”

“I’m your only child.” Jean smiled, rustling through the tissue paper until he reaches the gift at the bottom of the bag.

His eyebrows quirk inwards as he feels the knit texture and pulls out his new bear hat.

“Do you like it? I made it for you, just like the one you had when you were a baby!” She says, her eyes lighting up.

“I… uh…” Jean nods his head. “I love it, thanks mom.” He pulls her in for a hug and gives her a kiss on the cheek, knowing that his friends are going to tease him relentlessly for wearing his new hat when they meet up later.

“Nice hat, Jean-Bear,” Eren snickers as Jean walks over to meet his friends, everyone chuckling at his newest accessory.

“Shut up, Jeager. I have to wear it, my mom just gave it to me.”

“My mom just gave it to me,” Connie says mockingly, joining in on poking fun at his friend.

Sasha pulls out her phone and snaps a picture with the flash going off right in Jean’s face.

“Cut it out guys. I know it’s dumb, but she would be really upset if I didn’t wear it so I have to. Just pretend I’m not wearing it.”

“That’s not as easy as you think it is,” points out Armin, earning him a high five from Eren.

A gust of wind rips through the air, causing everyone to shiver. “See?” Jean points out, “I’m the only one who’s still warm, so suck it.”

They go through the rest of the day, Jean pretending to be annoyed and purely wearing the hat as an obligation. Secretly though, he loved how special it was that his mom took the time to recreate his bear hat.

He also relished in having bragging rights the next week when all of his friends got sick from the weather but he remained perfectly healthy.

Thank you for reading! This is a little illustration turned headcanon. It was floating around in my mind with the weather being freezing these past few weeks.

Have a drawing suggestion? Leave an ask!

[esshetic]

Solar Eclipse: Leaving Old Wounds Behind!

Leaving old ways of being behind.

We are having a Solar Eclipse New Moon in Aries on the 8th of April, packing power and punch, power to the people, with power, literally returning to the people. Which people? Those who are fed up with the oppressive power structures that are. How will it be returned? We take it back, with both hands!

We are the main characters.

The Eclipse is at 19 degrees Aries and according to degree theory, the 19th degree is associated with Libra, so the theme around this eclipse is You and I and We. I see this eclipse energy as a collective power struggle and not singular, meaning you are not alone in your feelings and experiences. We are now active participants on the world stage, rather than passive observers.

This new moon energy feels like an activation, a recharge of your batteries. It feels like you have been living life at 75%. However, with the letting go of the past and healing over the last two years, it now feels like you are living at 90% battery.

This is in part due to the collective healing work we have been doing. The generational wounds of colonialism, and capitalism have played a significant role. Also, those white-washing spiritual wellness capitalists... you get it, sound ridiculous. This spiritual decluttering is why we feel more energized. It is time for the hoarders to declutter their space, clean out the old. New health secrets are being revealed, and a breakthrough for medical science is occurring as we have collectively decided to rid certain diseases from our reality.

Those emotional triggers don't affect us the way they used to, huh?

It takes a village.

For the signs - this is collective healing and transmutation. Western spirituality has focused on the self, self-actualization, and personal manifestation goals, and never on the collective WE. We have been allowed to be selfish and self-serving, using ancient tools from ethnic minorities. No more. What do we collectively want? What do you want to manifest for the collective good?

CREATE YOUR FUTURE

Aries, Happy New Moon Eclipse! What better way to start the new world than with the brave first out-the-gate sign. You are first, taking the unbeaten path, and you will manifest for us the truth and the way by being brave and going first towards the unknown. This new moon is the new beginning that you have been waiting for, for a while. Walk in faith and not sight; the opportunities will arise when you are expectant of solutions to come.

Taurus, Happy New Moon Eclipse! The energy is dancing around in your 12th house, where you sleep, your cave of hibernation. The curtains are normally drawn, but it's wide open and the windows are open with the fresh air and sun rays streaming in unapologetically. You will hold space for us and manifest opportunities for wealth building for the new collective who are awakened and receptive to this new energy and new ways of being.

Gemini, Happy New Moon Eclipse! You are happy and excited like a labradoodle. This new moon is opening up your 11th house of earned income and collective efforts and community. This door has been closed off for a long time, Gemini, and with this new moon energy, you are creating for the collective fun, artwork that will inspire the world.

Cancer, Happy New Moon Eclipse! You are oh so tired, physically. This eclipse season has been an emotional rollercoaster, and you just want to sleep through it all. You are the ones who feel it all for us, transmuting the emotional highs and lows quietly for those of us who can’t, and we don't even notice! This new moon, you will get your flowers and be recognized for the emotional force that you are.

Leo, Happy New Moon Eclipse! The eclipse is in your 9th house, which will feel like a sunray blinding you. This energetic gateway is happening in your external reality; new horizons and opportunities are starting to take form. You, Leo, are a shining light in the hours of darkness for those who have lost their way. As you take a stand and shine, take pride in the positive effect you have on them.

Virgo, Happy New Moon Eclipse! This energy is bubbling under your 8th house. On the surface, on the day-to-day, things will look normal, but all the change is happening beneath the surface. You can feel it and have an instinct to do something different one day, which will bring a serendipitous exchange. Virgo, you are manifesting, trusting the process of change for us.

Libra, Happy New Moon Eclipse! This new moon has the opportunity to bring into your life a very important significant relationship. The energy is expanding your 7th house, making space for more opportunities. Live life outside the self-imposed box of what you think you are meant to do and be. Dear Libra, you are manifesting the element of surprise for the collective and creating more space for more good to enter our reality.

Scorpio, Happy New Moon Eclipse! The energy around this new moon for you guys is a little dark internally. Feelings of self-loathing and hate are bubbling to the surface for you to face. This new energy that is coming through in your 6th house needs to clean house first, hence why these emotions are coming through to be detoxed and released. You are manifesting deep change for the collective and are a transmuting powerhouse, allowing the old to go in peace.

Sagittarius, Happy New Moon Eclipse! This new moon is opening up your 5th house, of play, fun, and children. This energy feels like an ending or contracting, going into a ball, the way certain animals create these shapes when they want to appear small. This Aries energy does feel different this time around, and resistance is futile as change is inevitable here. You are manifesting grace for the collective who are struggling with letting go.

Capricorn, Happy New Moon Eclipse! This new moon is in your 4th house and I see a new home beckoning. If you have not signed the deed already, with a new home comes a new routine to get adapted to and a new neighborhood to explore. You are excited because you are ready and feel confident that you know what you are looking for and have decided what you want, which will allow things to manifest rapidly. Capricorn, you are helping the collective stand in conviction and confidence.

Aquarius, Happy New Moon Eclipse! The new moon is in your 3rd house, and I am seeing something coming full circle, and you are happy about it. Like the novel "The Alchemist," the protagonist finds the treasure back at his home, but you had to go on the journey to get to that point anyway! Something that you buried away is the treasure you have been looking externally for. The energy of wisdom earned is what you are manifesting for the collective.

Pisces, Happy New Moon Eclipse! This new moon is in your 2nd house, and I see a treasure chest, and you have the key in your hand, but you have not tried the lock yet. This is because the key in your hand opens a lock within and not the box in front of you. Material pursuits are not worth as much as godly spiritual growth, and this new moon is helping you go within to the immaterial. It makes no sense to choose the unknown, but you are manifesting dreams that money cannot buy and teaching the collective to dream bigger than capitalism.

[littlebearbigchub]

At my heaviest weight I’ve never been more certain that I only love fat. Several things have happened recently though that have pushed me to try to maintain a semblance of restraint.

1. I had to throw away a bunch of clothes. I was moving (ultimate motivation to declutter) and it was time to face facts: these shorts/pants haven’t fit in 30 pounds and

2. My food addiction has relapsed hard after I justified an extended binge as necessary to expedite a drug screen (I passed). I’m back to barely consciously downing hundreds of calories in junk through the night when my prefrontal cortex is too offline to inhibit acting on my core desire. I keep recommitting to eating light but at the end of the day when I tally it all up it’s about 3,500 calories 😅

3. I have chub rub now. CHUB RUB. HELP

4. It’s getting easier and easier to talk about the reality of my gain with people irl. People close to me can’t refute it any longer and this weekend I earned my first joke about it. I wasn’t even really the butt of things but it’s always such a euphoric slap in the face when anyone acknowledges my growth.

I’ve been trying to make plans to trim down again but I’m starting to suspect that this cycle of mine is just a coping mechanism. I love getting fat and I have every intention of continuing to gain.

[girlietips]

My summer plans🌊☀️

Thought I would tell you how I plan on glowing up during the summer

Summer is my fav time because I have more free time because I am still a student and I get to really focus on myself and my goals.

First things first I am going to try cycle syncing for the first time. I want to plan my month around what stage I’m in and do different workouts. This is just a test run to see how my body likes it.

I plan on meal prepping more consistent. I am going to have everything I eat that week already in my fridge by Sunday. This way I can meet all my macros everyday.

10k+ steps everyday. I finally cracked and got my frugal self to buy an Apple Watch so I am going to make sure I fill my rings everyday.

The hygiene is going to be on point. Nails and hair always done. It’s called hot girl summer for a reason.

I’m going to make sure I hangout with my besties twice a week and go on a solo date once a week.

Studying my German every single day for at least 30 mins.

I’m currently looking for a cute little part time job to earn extra cash to put alway for school.

I am going to volunteer and do some community service.

I’m going to get outside and catch some sun (with sunscreen ofc) the weather is too good to be inside.

Reading a book a week at least. Lots of self help and a few classics.

Decluttering and redecorating to make my life look like a Pinterest board.

Actually taking photos when I am out so I have memories.

Have a little summer fling. Nothing serious but I have focused on myself so much the past few years and I haven’t dated anyone. It has been really healing but I think I have learned a lot of boundaries and self love that I am ready to go on a few dates.

Anyway I’ll keep you updated if I remember. You guys should let me know your summer glow up plans I’d love to hear them.

[kquil]

PASSING NOTES

PAIR. : Remus L. x Eryn (moot)

SUM. : the silent pining between eryn and remus doesn't go unnoticed by their students and they soon grow a fanclub of little stalker cupids pairing them together

TAGS : silent pining ; passing notes ; modern au ; teachers au ; remus wears a suit and tie to school ; christmas decorating in the classroom ; cute lunch dates ; a classroom full of little stalkers and cupids ; the students shipping their teachers together ; fluff ; just fluff ; just admit you like each other already!

LENGTH : 1.9k

DEDICATED TO @diputy (1k cake request)

EVENT : CLOSED

“Oh! Remus?” you call out softly, reaching towards the tall brunette, who stops in his tracks to look at you fondly. 

“Yes, Eryn?” he asks, voice smooth and deliciously rich as his lips tug up into a charming smile. You won’t tell him but his warm gaze has your heart melting into the floor. 

“May I?” your hands reach up towards his collar and tie, waiting for his permission – a soft, accepting nod – before you proceed to adjust his mini-floral print tie. Working in a primary school with young children doesn’t entail very strict uniform or attire for the teachers, however, Remus continually insists on wearing a debonair suit and tie. He looks incredibly handsome in it so you have no room for complaints, it’s just that your choices of attire never seem to stack up well compared to his. 

Unbeknownst to you, Remus adores your choice of clothes because you look gorgeous no matter what you wear. You could wear a bin bag and he’d still be drawn to you, admiring your cute face, sweet lips and pretty eyes. He still fondly remembers when he first met you in university, where the two of you were working towards the same teaching degree. It was only his luck that the two of you managed to end up working together in the same school. 

“Thanks Eryn,” Remus’ chocolate brown eyes stare lovingly at you, “I bet I’d look like a mess without you, regardless of the suit,”

“You’re welcome,” as you happily chirp the comment, the two of you share a moment of soft serenity, comfortably close and exchanging sweet smiles. You don’t know how long the two of you would have stayed like that if it weren’t for a round of giggles breaking through the atmosphere. Synchronously, you and Remus turn to face a group of your students, all girls, huddled together with their little hands over their smiling lips as they giggle up a storm. They stare up at you and Remus with most deviously sparkling doe eyes. 

“Miss Eryn, is Mr Lupin your boyfriend?” one of them asks, earning a laugh from the tall brunette and leaves you to hurry the girls along as classes were about to start soon, never giving them an answer. 

“You weren’t much help, Rem,” 

“We work with children, you should expect fun questions like that,” he pokes your cheek playfully, “now stop being grumpy,” with a hand on the small of your back, he walks with you to your first lesson of the day. 

It was lunch time and since you and Remus had been close friends since university, you’ve gotten into the habit of packing and sharing lunches to eat together in your classroom. Today, it was your turn to cook lunch and you had gone with a simple spaghetti and meatballs with a side of cheesy garlic bread. To thank you for cooking, Remus went to heat up the spaghetti and garlic bread in the staffroom microwave before rejoining you in the classroom, where you were decluttering your desk. 

“This is delicious Eryn,” Remus compliments as you laugh. 

“You haven’t even tried the spaghetti and meatballs yet, dummy,” 

With a gentle touch, he reaches up and wipes some sauce away with a napkin, fond eyes staring at your lips as his fingertips tickle from the brief feel of their softness, “well…” he hums thoughtfully around his bite of cheesy garlic bread, “you know how much I love my garlic bread,”

“What can I say?” you start jokingly, “I know the way to a man’s heart,”

He laughs with his head thrown back and meets your eyes again with a spark of mischief in his chocolate orbs, “that you do,” his light-hearted comment makes your heart race and you barely miss him transferring one of his meatballs onto your serving of spaghetti. When you look down and smile happily at the extra serving, you also miss the look of hopeless admiration Remus stares at you with. 

“Lady and the Tramp!” snapping your head to the side, you observe another group of mischievous eyes peeking in through the glass portions of your door and have to keep yourself from rolling your eyes and grinning at the impish children who’ve made a habit of stalking you and your colleague, “That happened in Lady and the Tramp!”

“That means they’re in love!” a smouldering heat explodes over the apples of your cheeks and any attempt you make of quashing their chattering falls on deaf ears. Rather than children, they more so adopted the habits of a flock of sheep and a moshpit of ‘love’ and ‘they love each other’ and  ‘they’re boyfriend and girlfriend!’ echoes through the hallway as they make their escape back to their lunch break.

Again, Remus was of no help to you and laughed with his full body from the encounter, hands clutching at his stomach as his chin tips his head back. Unable to help yourself, you soon join in his laughter, eyes catching a brief glimpse of pink on his cheeks. 

Another day at school and it’s break time. You have just half an hour to put up Christmas decorations before the kids come back and you’re hurrying to put up the tinsel with a staple gun on a board. The only problem was that you were far too short to be putting up decorations without the aid of a stool. Huffy, you succumb to putting up the lower decorations first and leave the tinsel on the desks close by. 

To get into the Christmas-y mood, you have some faint festive songs playing in the background. Filling the air with a light and merry mood, you begin to sway to the music and hum along, happy to decorate despite being too short to put up the tinsel. Lost in your bubble of Christmas decoration and music, you barely hear a tuneful knock at your door. 

Turning with a jump, you face Remus, who wears a look of polite amusement, “I was wondering where you were,” he chuckles softly under his breath and slowly approaches, eyes briefly sweeping down to the abandoned tinsel. 

“What do you think Rem? Is it any good?” hands on your hips and eyes surveying your work, you move back for the wider-shot view. 

“Impressive,” he comments and pats your shoulder in approval, “But what about the tinsel?” the two of you stare down at the sorry pile of glittering garland. 

“I’m too short,” 

He laughs and picks up the decor, “well, good thing, I’m tall,” with a grin, you begin directing him through what coloured tinsel should go where and how to arrange it before stapling it into place with the staple gun. 

“Thank you so much Rem,” his heart flutters at the delighted smile you send his way. 

“No problem,” he approaches and pulls you close, his arm around your waist as he press a kiss to your temple and mutters into your skin, “anything for my favourite girl,”

The moment was lovely, warm and sweet. Your heart was racing, ready to jump out of your chest when—

“I told you they were boyfriend and girlfriend!”

“Yeah! They’re in love!”

“But they’re too old to be boyfriend and girlfriend,”

“Huh? Wha’s that mean?”

“They ‘r supposed to be married by now!”

Turning to Remus, you both wear a matching pair of amused grins, “They’ve really grown a habit of spying on us don’t they?” you hum observantly. 

“It’s quite funny, actually,” 

It was never said between the two of you but you’re both in silent agreement that you don’t mind if the kids continue sticking their little button noses into yours and Remus’ business. They’re too adorable to refuse and you both secretly love it. 

The classroom was bustling with the usual energy of young minds engaged in their learning, the air filled with the sounds of pencils scratching against paper and soft murmurs of concentration. Happy to see your children making good progress on their worksheet, you focus your attention onto marking the previous lesson’s work. Unbeknownst to you, a piece of paper was being stealthily passed from one small hand to another under their short desks. 

It was a simple note, but one that held a lot of weight in the hearts and minds of your little devilish matchmakers.

'Draw a heart if you think Miss Eryn and Mr Lupin should get married,' it read. By the time the note had made its rounds through the class, it was adorned with a collage of little hearts, each one drawn with the innocent hope of your students. Some were scribbled on, some were neatly coloured in and some were scratchy but still conveyed the unanimous agreement spread throughout the whole classroom of students.

Having finished the previous round of marking, you walked around the classroom and offered your usual help and guidance. As sneaky as they were, you eventually spotted the note and politely asked for it to be surrendered. 

A warm smile tugged at your lips as you read the note and observed the many little hearts drawn over the scrap of paper, touched by the sentiment and overwhelming support. With a gentle reminder for the class to focus back on their worksheets, you discreetly folded the note and slipped it into your pocket, deciding to keep it as a sweet memento. 

Your kids could be so adorable when they really wanted to. 

Later, during lunch, Remus entered your classroom with his usual charming smile and warm eyes. It was his turn to bring lunch and he eagerly presented you with tofu stir fry and egg fried rice. It was an explosion of flavour and you couldn’t stop raving about how delicious it was. 

“I had to impress after that unbeatable spaghetti and meatballs,” 

He winked playfully as you happily chimed in, “and garlic bread~”

“And garlic bread,” he repeats with a laugh

Enjoying your meal together, you share a light conversation as Remus’ eyes wander about your desk and eventually land on the note, which you had set aside on your desk. Curiosity piqued, he unfolds it and reads the message, on his handsome face, his lips broaden into a smile at the collection of the countless hearts. Without a word, he rounds the table to where you’re sitting, recounting the story of the note in a futile attempt to ignore the rising heat on your cheeks. 

“They thought they were being so sneaky but not too sneaky for me; they’re really too sweet–”

Gently, Remus pulls you out of your chair and into a warm embrace, pressing a tender kiss to your temple, "seems like we have quite the fan club," he whispers, his voice tinged with affection and amusement.

Leaning back, you meet his gaze and a knowing look is shared between you. It was a moment filled with unspoken words and deep understanding. The innocent wishes of your students had only echoed what was silently growing in your hearts. But no further words were spoken about the matter. As goes the little game the two of you silently insist on playing. 

As your day continued, there was a new lightness in your steps, a secret thrill in your hearts. The note, a simple piece of paper, had somehow managed to capture the essence of the budding romance between you and Remus, a romance that was as natural and beautiful as the love your students had for their teachers.

A/N : darling, im so sorry for being so behind on schedule! but i am here now and i hope you enjoyed your request! im sorry it took so long but omg! yours was so cute and domestic, i also hope you didn't mind that i kept it in the pining stage and never established anything official, i wanted to keep it cute and sweet and stuck to your favourite trope!

1K MILESTONE EVENT : CLOSED | NAVI.

1K MILESTONE MLIST

[potato-mato]

literally the money I earned from decluttering my stuff.. abonado pa 👀

[prismaticstreams]

How to balance all your interests when you have multiple passions?

I’ve been pondering how to balance all my different passions, interests, and side hustles, as I’m the kind of person who tends to love variety and easily gets excited about new projects. It’s often the completion part that I struggle with! This is a fairly common conundrum for certain personality types, and can also be related to conditions like ADHD. It can be really hard to know how to streamline and simplify things to make it more manageable and less chaotic.

Chronic illness can be a factor here too, as I often start a new project in a high energy period, but then may not have the physical energy to easily complete it. It can be hard to know how to handle this sometimes, as I can’t predict how I’ll feel from day to day or week to week. Sometimes I just have to let something go for a while, and accept that I will come back to it later. I also accept that there’s some projects I will abandon, and I don’t see it as a major problem as long as there’s no financial investment.

So how do you handle this tendency? 

I personally find it’s best to embrace it, and find ways to work around it rather than trying to pigeonhole myself into only one project, passion or interest at a time. However, if you’re trying to make money, earn an income or build a business - and you need to pay the bills with it to survive - then you will probably need to narrow down to one thing at a time for work. You can still allow yourself freedom to explore in your free time, though.

For example, I love borrowing a wide range of books from the library, and reading about a bunch of different topics at once. Switching from one book to another works for me and I find it stimulating. The great thing is that the books all get returned to the library, so they don't create long-term clutter. I also enjoy writing blog posts about a range of different topics, rather than sticking to one particular subject.

Same goes for my art - I have one style that I sell commercially, and then do whatever I want in the rest of my spare time as it captures my fancy. I find creating different IG/Tumblr accounts for particular art styles/niches works well. If it becomes popular and sells it's a cool bonus, but I don't worry too much about it making money. Digital art is great because it doesn't take up storage space, so I'm shifting from doing large pieces on canvas to doing more digital art.

Having said all that, I do have a bunch of blogs and Tumblr accounts floating around on the internet that I've forgotten about and largely abandoned. Same with old creative projects in storage. But it's okay, because I enjoyed exploring that idea/hobby/style for a brief period of time. Sometimes I go back and integrate creative stuff from the past into my current projects (for example, taking an old blog post and updating it for my current blog).

It can become a problem if you waste a lot of money on hobbies you forget about or business ideas that never get off the ground, so I’d recommend finding ways to avoid spending too much money to begin with. Ideally, it’s best to spend no money and find free activities, but obviously this is not always possible. My post about Decluttering My Fantasy Self may be relevant if this is you.

If you're multipassionate, I don't think there's one right or wrong way to manage your interests and hobbies. Some people like to focus intensely on one hobby at a time, then move on to something else. Others enjoy moving between different interests simultaneously to keep them stimulated. I've done both at different times in my life. Emilie Wapnick has a great book about this called How to Be Everything which is more focused on career, but you can apply the same principles to hobbies and side hustles as well.

[investmentassistant]

Reasons to praise yourself

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often overlook the importance of self-appreciation. Celebrating our achievements, no matter how small, can significantly boost our morale and mental well-being. Here are some compelling reasons to take a moment and praise yourself.

Accomplishing goals

Whether it's completing a project at work, sticking to your exercise routine, or finally decluttering your home, achieving a goal deserves recognition. Accomplishments, big or small, are milestones that show your dedication and hard work. Celebrate these victories to reinforce positive behavior and motivation.

Overcoming challenges

Life is full of obstacles, and overcoming them is no small feat. Whether you've managed a difficult situation at work, resolved a personal conflict, or navigated through a challenging period in your life, acknowledging these triumphs is essential. Praising yourself for your resilience and problem-solving skills can build confidence and inner strength.

Personal growth

Self-improvement and personal growth are ongoing journeys. Maybe you've developed a new skill, adopted a healthier lifestyle, or learned to manage stress better. These efforts towards bettering yourself are worthy of praise. Recognizing your progress encourages continued growth and self-compassion.

Acts of kindness

Being kind to others, whether through small acts or grand gestures, is a trait worth celebrating. If you've helped a friend in need, volunteered for a cause, or simply spread positivity, these actions deserve self-praise. Acknowledging your kindness can foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Maintaining balance

In today's fast-paced world, maintaining a balance between work, family, and personal time is an achievement. If you've managed to juggle responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed, give yourself credit. Praising your ability to maintain balance can promote a healthier lifestyle and prevent burnout.

Learning from mistakes

Mistakes are a part of life and learning from them is crucial. If you've reflected on past errors and used them as opportunities for growth, that's a significant accomplishment. Praise yourself for your humility and willingness to improve, as this mindset is key to long-term success and personal development.

Embracing self-care

Taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health is essential. If you've been prioritizing self-care, such as taking time to relax, eat healthily, or engage in hobbies, you deserve recognition. Praising yourself for self-care practices reinforces the importance of looking after your well-being.

Staying positive

Maintaining a positive outlook despite challenges is admirable. If you've been able to stay optimistic and spread positivity, it's worth celebrating. Praising yourself for a positive attitude can strengthen your resilience and inspire those around you.

Being authentic

Living authentically and staying true to yourself is a significant achievement in a world full of pressures to conform. If you've been embracing your true self, expressing your feelings honestly, and making choices aligned with your values, give yourself credit. Authenticity leads to a more fulfilling and genuine life.

Achieving small wins

Every day is filled with small victories, from getting out of bed on a tough morning to finishing a task you've been dreading. These small wins add up and contribute to your overall success and well-being. Don't overlook them; celebrate these moments to keep yourself motivated and appreciative of your efforts.

Self-praise is not about arrogance; it's about recognizing and celebrating your efforts and achievements. By taking the time to acknowledge your successes, you build a stronger, more resilient, and positive self. So, go ahead and give yourself the praise you deserve — you've earned it!

[vizthedatum]

I can be compassionate, kind, loving, helpful, and not always available if I can't afford to.

Yes, relationships of any kind need reciprocity. Still, if a relationship is draining me (it probably is not great for the other person), I need to figure it out with my resources and rethink my availability.

—

—

I know I have unreasonably demanded more than what people could give in the past. Or expected their love/commitment to be that missing piece that would “make things better.”

Of course, there were deeper issues within myself.

Also, I had to reevaluate my standards for friendships and relationships. There are things that I still will not budge on, and that's okay!! I do have relational needs, and I can move on from connections or change expectations if those needs don't get met or worked on.

—

I am currently struggling with a friend who needs a lot of help right now.

If I had more financial and physical support for myself (I live alone, work full-time, am always managing my chronic health, etc.), then I'd have more to give to this friend.

I have already invested a lot of time, money, advice, and energy into this friend.

It seems like they're alienating everyone too. And they can't make it to all the healthcare appointments that would help them.

They spiral into helplessness, which prevents them from doing the necessary things to function.

They're homeless and have been for a while. Sometimes it feels like we are making progress, and then they just… don't do what they need to do to help themselves.

And I refuse to be the ONLY person who can actually help them. Like no. I have tried to set them up with care coordination but… I cannot just fix everything for them.

—

I'm on my period, finally getting a stride on with my work tasks, and feeling like I'm getting somewhere with all my projects. My place is still a mess, but I have a plan for tackling it all. I tidied more last night, and it's really just laundry that I need to get to. (and some other than extra things to declutter but they're not a priority rn)

My life hangs on so many balances, it seems.

And I know I have more than this friend: I have a lot of systems in place, I have shelter, I have access to food, I have access to a lot.

But if I let go of my self-care and all the things I'm juggling… to help my friend, then it will take me so long to recover.

I might flare. I might get behind in everything. I might simply crash even more.

—

I have worked so hard on my mental and physical health to get to a place of stability even with my debt issues. It is not that hard to fall into a place of lack and… homelessness with my health and trauma issues (despite my education or support system - again all things that I cultivated and must continue to sustain).

Sometimes, it's like I work to earn the right to live.

—

I am already struggling to eat because of my PMDD/period.

—

And I know that helping them right now would completely drain me (and boundary-test me) because this has happened before.

It would be different if this friend could contribute anything back… but even their presence is emotionally/energetically draining because I feel like a therapist, care manager, and parent.

—

Thus, I have these challenging boundaries right now…. while I read (and respond, ofc!) the messages of their struggles.

And it just sucks.

It feels horrible and miserable.

[writer-darling]

Are You Ever Dreaming of Me?

Chapter 6: It’s Nice to Have a Friend | Read Chapter 5: Gorgeous!

I NEVER USE Y/N OR ANYTHING LIKE IT THANK YOU SO MUCH :) Rating: T - T ((for now, but there WILL BE explicit stuff later sooo (18+ MINORS DNI) Pairing: Ezra (Prospect, 2018) x F!Reader Warnings: Good old enemies-to-lovers trope. age gap (10 years). Nothing super descriptive for Reader but they are described as having hair. Tension, ofc, especially sexual tension out the wahzoo. Adult language. Alotta feelings and things of that nature. Banter. Flirting. It’s E-to-L, you know where this is going. Feral Ezra (he starts at a 77.5% but ends up at about a 80.3% in this chapter). Mentions/descriptions of food and alcohol. If there are any that I missed, please inbox me to let me know and I will add them in :) Word Count: 5.9k Summary!: Your friendship with Ezra is progressing. Through good conversations, card games, food and cider, you two are now becoming closer than ever before.

A/N: REWRITTEN AND REFORMATTED ON: 12/29/23

******

“Wanna hang out?" Yeah, sounds like fun

Video games, you pass me a note

Sleeping in tents, It's nice to have a friend,”

 You're still feeling giddy the next morning. Thankfully not hungover at all like you were dreading. You’re up earlier than usual and take the time to clean up your space, decluttering and organizing as you think back on your conversation with Ezra. He’d been so open, so sincere, so… endearing. It’s almost frightening how quickly your attitude about this entire situation has changed and you spend much too long trying to psychoanalyze it.

You hated - well, thought you hated - Ezra almost the entire time you’ve been here. And you figured he surely felt the same way! But now, after all his attempts to make nice… you’re starting to come around. And all because you seem to like him. If you were smart, you would set those feelings aside, you wouldn’t even bother giving him a shot. But, according to how things went last night, you’re as dumb as they come.

By the time you’re done, your tent is nearly spotless. It’s a good 20-square-foot setup with a cot on the far left and a “window” made of bendable plastic directly above it. You have the standard refresher/bathroom in the far right corner, then a basic kitchenette with a sink, cooler, and small burner setup directly across it. In the middle of the tent, in the pole to reinforce the structural integrity of the tent, while on the right - opposite to your cot - is a two-person table and a chair. You have pictures of home and maps of the planet on the walls, while your pack and all your belongings are settled in a small cubby near the refresher. Your cases of earnings are under your cot, stacked up tightly, and shoved to the very back.

 Even though you’re done fixing things up, your mind is as jumbled as ever Still, you decide you’ll circle back around to it at a later time. And your self-critiquing will surely only get worse.

 You shower and get suited up, checking your radio and changing the air filter on your suit. You grab the charger for your thrower, cranking it enough to have enough rounds for the day before making your way out into the daylight. It’s cloudy but warm out, and the suns will be at full heat by midday, but for once, you don’t mind it.

Ezra wakes early that same morning, finding himself feeling quite well-rested. He does a quick check of his equipment, ensuring that he's got the necessities for whatever the day may throw at him. He sets out soon afterward, and he seems to be in a better mood. The previous night has him feeling quite optimistic for the day, and he's hoping that things continue to look up.

 You make your way to the dining tent and go inside. You spot the two prospectors who messed with you last night but they take one look at you and quickly run in the other direction, clearly still scared of Ezra's protectiveness over you. You smile at that and get into the breakfast line, ignoring the other prospectors as they gossip about you and Ezra. You sit at your usual table, taking a sip of your coffee before you dig in just as Ezra walks into the tent himself.

 He can feel all eyes on him instantly. He keeps a stiff upper lip as he grabs a plate and begins to get himself some breakfast. He keeps his head down, focusing on getting his food before he can be accosted by the other prospectors. It's not long before he has his plate and coffee. He goes over to Denver’s table where he can sit down, and he takes a deep breath. "Greetin’s and salutations," he says, trying to be polite to the crew, "I hope everyone slept well last night. I certainly did."

 You see him and glance at him briefly with a knowing smile. The other prospectors act like nothing is up and instead bid him salutations and good mornings as well, nodding to his question.

 He’s happy that none of the others seem to be acting with any kind of awkwardness, and he's quickly done with his breakfast as he openly chats with Denver and the men around him. Denver’s eyes find you and he smiles, an appreciative look in his eyes. You return his smile with one of your own, nodding at him before going back to your meal

After a few minutes, Ezra stands up and gathers his plate and his tray, cleaning up after himself and heading for the door. "I'll be out in the field if anyone needs me," he says quickly, before heading out. He sighs in the warm morning air, and he can't help but smile to himself as he makes his way to the dig site. The memory of last night still feels like a dream to him, and the smile on his face reflects it.

 You hear him and watch him go. You debate with yourself before you stand up and make your way to the site with him. This will probably only fuel the rumors about you two but you don't care, though you know you absolutely should. You make your way to his area, a few yards west of your own. 

 "Ezra?" You ask with a smile on your face, knocking on the tree bark just beside him as if it were a door.

Ezra smiles as he hears the knock, and he's a bit surprised at your visit. “Good mornin,’" he says, turning in place just as he’s setting his pack and equipment down on the earth next to him. He smiles as he sees you and nods in your direction, motioning for you to come closer to him. "What did you need?" He asks once you’re close enough, his question coming with the utmost sincerity.

 You smile at him. "Morning… nothing, honestly I just um... wanted to check in. I wanted to walk over but you seemed pretty busy with breakfast and the rest of the guys. Did you sleep okay last night?" You ask him.

 Ezra's face lights up at your concern, and it seems to take over his whole face. He nods at you quickly as you ask about his sleep, and he can't help but smile at the kindness in your voice, and the sincerity. "Yeah, I... I slept really well. I've never felt so peaceful, so I couldn't be happier." There's a light twinkle in his eye as he looks back at you, his genuine joy obvious. "And you? How was your sleep?" He asks, turning his attention back to you.

 "It was good too." You say. "Whatever was in that cider must've been powerful stuff, I passed out almost as soon as I dropped onto my cot," you say with a soft laugh.

 Ezra laughs along with you at that, a small smile crossing his face. "Warned ya it was potent, didn’t I?" he teases, laughing again. "I've been meanin’ to ask you though..." He hesitates for a moment as if he's trying to figure out just exactly how to express what he's trying to say. "I... don't really know how you like to spend your free time here, but would you be interested in spendin’ some of it with me? Maybe playin’ some cards, or just... sittin’ and talkin’?" He asks, smiling warmly.

 You can't help it as you light up at the idea, the prospect of spending time with him actually seeming appealing to you. "Actually... yeah, I think I would like that." You say with a smile.

 Ezra smiles widely as you accept his offer, his happiness, and joy obvious to see. "Fantastic," he says, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "I was hopin’ you would say that because..." He pauses, his smile growing a little wider. "Well, I just... I really enjoyed our conversation last night. I don't want it to end there." He says this last part with a hint of sincerity, and you can't help but feel touched by what he’s saying.

 "I... I feel the same way," You say, your entire body turning warm as you realize you really mean it. "I had a really nice night and we promised that we would spend more time together, right?" You ask

 Ezra nods at your words with a smile, his whole face lighting up. "Yeah, that's definitely our agreement," he says with a warm, genuine smile. "So, if you're not too busy later today, I'm off-duty at noon. Do you wanna play some cards… with me?" He asks excitedly, his smile getting bigger with every word. He looks adorably sincere, and this time you’re actually trying to contain your swooning.

 "Absolutely." You say with a large smile of your own. "That sounds fun." You hear your alarms go off suddenly, and straighten up. Time for work. "Alright, I'll see you at noon? My tent?" You offer, heading for your area. You turn to look behind you and see the rest of the crew all coming out of the dining tent, gearing up.

 "Yeah," Ezra nods, the smile still plastered across his face, his eyes beaming with excitement. "See you at noon. I'll bring the cards." He says, his smile only getting bigger as he watches you go. If he could keep a smile on his face for the whole day he would, and he's finding it hard to keep himself from doing just that. Just as you're about to leave, he calls out again. "Have a good shift!" He shouts, his voice filled with optimism and untamed excitement.

 “You too, see you at noon!” You shout back over your shoulder before grabbing your helmet and putting it on, a wide smile on your face and butterflies in your stomach.

You can’t wait.

Ezra is practically giddy with excitement as he works, getting in a good morning shift. He's unable to focus on any other task for the rest of the morning as he goes over all the games he knows. He doesn't know how savvy you are with cards, but he’s hoping his own expertise helps. Truly, he wants to impress you. 

 He can't help but keep looking at his timer, watching the minutes tick away like an impatient child. Before he knows it, it's noon already, and he's more than ready to see you. He gets up and makes a mad dash for his tent, same as you. He gathers his card deck, it’s one he picked up at one of the kiosks on the Pugg long ago. He’s had it saved for a special occasion and this seems as good a time as any. He gathers his courage, makes sure he looks good, before he leaves his bunker to find you, and he's got a big, cheesy grin on his face as he walks over. "Hey!" He shouts as he finds you just getting to your tent, and waving. "You ready to play some cards with me?"

 You look up just as you’re stepping into your quarters, smiling.

 “Yeah, follow me.” You lead him inside.

 Ezra does an affirmative, a short nod of his head, and he follows along behind you. "What are we playin’, then? Can we play a game called ‘Speed and Spit’? That's a good card game." He asks, hoping to get a bit of a say in the matter.

 “I don’t think I’ve played that one.” You say, surprised. You know just about every card game under the sun. It was one of the only methods of entertainment out here. “Can you teach me?” You ask, not embarrassed to ask him for help for once

 Ezra smiles at your words. "Oh, definitely. It's one of my favorite games! I can teach you the rules and some different strategies for it. Trust me, it's a lot of fun." He says this with an energetic nod. "I'm sure we'll have a great time with it." He stops when he’s inside and gives you a wide smile. A sudden bashfulness overtakes you as you realize this is his first time seeing the inside of your tent since you joined the crew. Thank Kevva you cleaned up this morning.

"Well, this is quite an impressive space," he says as he looks around, taking in his surroundings with a pleasant surprise. "you really have it quite livable here, that's for sure." He says genuinely. You smile, feeling a bit of pride as he looks around, taking in all the little details.

 “Thanks, it’s not much but it’s home out here, right?” He glances over at you and nods. He looks around for a bit longer before he looks at your cot.

 “May I?” He asks. You nod, gesturing for him to have a seat. He grins and sits down. He notices how your scent immediately welcomes him as he sits and he tries not to make it obvious how much he enjoys that. Focus, Ezra. "Okay, well, the good news is this. This game does take a bit of intelligence to pick up," he admits as he begins shuffling the cards. "But it's not too different from games you've already played. I'm sure you'll pick it up in no time."

 You nod back, setting your pack down at the foot of the bed before you remove your helmet with a ‘hiss’ from the dome, then set both it and your radio aside too. “Is the game ‘Speed and Spit’ good for hustling?” You ask teasingly with a small sly grin. His chuckle in response is low and amused.

 "Sure, any game is good for hustlin’... assumin’ you're smart enough to pull it off," he says with a smirk, shrugging one of his shoulders, his eyes focused on the cards. “Think you can handle that?” He asks, his eyes flicking up to meet yours for a moment. You smile.

 “What did I say about underestimating me?” You ask with a grin. He smirks and averts his eyes back to the cards, his cheeks going rosy, likely remembering.

 "How about this... how about we have a friendly game to start, and then try our hands at gamblin’ later?" He asks after a moment, hoping that the prospect of gambling will appeal to your competitive side. "That sound good to you?"

 You nod, your eyes twinkling at the challenge. You never could back down from besting him, even now that you were friends. “That sounds perfect.” You say, smiling.

 Ezra's eyes light up at your response and he begins to deal the deck between you two, getting in a little practice as you talk. "So then, if we're not going to bet, what's the stakes?" he asks, looking over at you with a warm, genuine smile. It's clear that he's as competitive as you, and he's hoping for an engaging and challenging game. 

 "Whoever loses cooks for the other? That sound fair?" You ask, genuinely interested in this idea.

 He raises an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued by the idea. “Ooooh, I like that.” He says, feeling excitement as he finishes dealing the cards. "Alright, let's get started then, let's see who's a better cheater- I mean, better player." He laughs a bit at his own joke, and he smiles. "I hope you're ready to be taken down a peg or two." He says before leaning in and giving you a wink.

 “Oh, thank you for the warning, I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any cheating, then!” You say with a soft laugh, flushing a little at his wink. “Speaking of which: do you know any other games?” You ask him. 

 He nods, smirking a bit. “Oh, yes, an exorbitant amount.” He says.

 “Like?” You ask, intrigued and curious to know if he knows the ones you’ve played. He thinks for a moment before answering. 

 “Cribbage, whist, Egyptian ratscrew-” You can’t help it as you laugh, cutting him short.

 “Ok, you’re just making up words now.” He laughs too and shakes his head.

 “Not at all! I swear to Kevva herself these are all real.” He says, holding a palm up for a moment. 

 “Mhm.” You say with obvious doubt in your voice. He chuckles a little, excited at the idea that you don’t seem to know these games, which means he’ll get to spend his time teaching you.

 "Alright, well then. Do you wanna play first or shall I?" He asks the question while looking over at you, the newly shuffled deck still in his hand. His whole tone of voice is calm, friendly, and warm, but you can see the competitiveness burning inside his eyes. He's not going to take it easy on you, that's for sure.

 “You go first, and I’ll do my best to keep up as you explain how it works.” He grins. His movements are quick, efficient, and practiced. He's obviously got a few tricks up his sleeve in the card games department, and it's going to be an absolute blast learning from him. 

 "Alright, the goal is pretty simple," he explains as he lays out the first few cards and makes sure to give you a detailed explanation of each. That way, you have a basic understanding of the game before the next hand. 

 You nod, your expression concentrated as you hang onto every word he says as he explains. He’s as detailed as possible, and he makes sure to even include a few beginner’s tips for you. He wants to compete, as you do, but he mostly wants to have fun. In the end, making sure you both enjoy yourselves is his top priority, and he’s nothing if not fair. You have to admit, he’s a good teacher. He’s patient, and he doesn’t mind re-explaining or revising his explanation if you get confused.

"Do ya get it?" He asks when he’s done, looking up at you with an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

 “Yeah, I think I got this.” You say, and look up at him for a moment, your eyes glinting with a competitive streak as you realize this game seems relatively straightforward.

 Ezra watches intently at your reaction, and he finds himself grinning as he gets the answer he was hoping for. "Perfect, perfect!" he beams, "Alright then, show me what ya got!" he says with excitement. "Let's see who can out-cheat who." He chuckles, dealing out the next hand, and he seems just as excited as you are that the two of you are about to battle out this intellectual game.

 “Oh, you’re on.” You respond as you take a look at the hand you’ve got.

 “Can I ask you somethin’?” He asks as he also looks over his hand, already moving the cards he’s got. You smirk.

 “Is this your attempt to get in my head?” You ask, giving him a look of playful suspicion. He smirks back and meets your eyes, pouting a little as you give him that look.

 "Come now, indulge me. What's the other part of your story, hmm? The part of it we didn’t get to last night. Come, share but a single thread of it with me?" He asks, giving you his most sincere puppy-dog eyes.

 You smile and sigh, taking a deep breath. "Alright, fine. Well, like I mentioned earlier, I grew up on Amorna. A prospecting planet. My stepdad worked with various crews on the Fringe, but not as a prospector, a harvester. He was hired for all kinds of expeditions. From mercs to Karoclan. He was never away for long, he knew we missed him too much. But, whenever he came back he would always tell me about all his adventures and, I don't know, I suppose I just got too curious. Had to experience it all for myself, you know?" You say, meeting his eyes with a smile.

 "Ah, the call of the wild. I know it well." Ezra says, with a nod. "That itch to explore and discover, it's all so enticin’, intoxicatin’. And when you scratch it once, it only gets worse. A bit of a blessin’ and a curse, wouldn't you say?"

 You grin and nod. "Yeah, exactly. It took me a while since I didn't have the money saved up for the academy, that's why I'm barely a rookie." You say with a shrug. "But, I did it and now I'm here." You're proud of that, glad you stuck with what you've always wanted to do.

 "And you are all the more wonderful for it," Ezra says, with a warm smile, feeling as proud of you as you do at this moment. "To have followed that dream, against all odds, speaks volumes to what's inside you. And it's nothin’ but beautiful." He adds another little wink and you smile again.

 “What about you?” You ask, shifting gears as you play your next hand. “What brought you to prospecting?” 

 Ezra takes a moment to gather his thoughts. Once again, he seems to carefully take in your response before he forms his own. "Well, I...I have to confess I'm not entirely sure myself. Maybe I've always been drawn to the unknown, the unexplored. Maybe I was simply born with a floater’s heart." He says, with a smile. "And I suppose it also helps that the prospect of unlimited riches is a particularly powerful motivation." 

 "But, you're a vet, which isn't impossible but most people out here would've given up by now, even with the potential for getting rich. What else is in it for you?" You ask, curious to know his answer.

 "I must admit, I often wonder that myself," Ezra says with a laugh. "Maybe I'm just a bit mad. Or perhaps, a part of me hopes to find somethin' truly unique and remarkable. And if I don't? Well, then at least I get to live my life the way I'd always wanted. That's somethin’ I'm alright with." He says with a tone of pride and you smile, finding yourself more and more endeared by his honesty. You two move on to another topic soon after and the game goes on, both of you focusing on both the game and each other.

In the end, it's extremely close. You're just as skilled as he is, and you manage to pull off a last-second victory over him, much to his surprise. As soon as you do, he claps his hands together, the sound of his hands clapping filling the tent, and he looks up at you with an even grander smile than usual. "You're good," he marvels, "and this was just a trial run. I bet we could make a pretty penny playin’ cards with the other prospectors, huh?" He asks, his eyes lighting up as he smiles widely.

 You grin, almost not believing you’d pull it off. “I bet we could!” You say. “We should test it out tonight at the dining hall.” You say. “Oh wait, you’re cooking for me tonight, aren’t you?” You say with a smug grin.

 Ezra lets out a chuckle and rolls his eyes when you mention the fact that he's going to have to cook for you. "Yes, yes... fine, I'll cook for you. Good gracious, you're a ruthless gambler..." he says with a small sigh, but the smile never fades from his face and your competitive banter is exactly what he was hoping for when he agreed to the bet earlier. 

 “So what will you be whipping up for us?” You ask, unable to help your curiosity. 

 "Well," Ezra says, leaning in close. "I suppose you'll just have to wait and see. It will be a surprise!" He says, with a playful wink.

 “Tease.” You say, and your mouth is already watering at the look in his eye. Whatever he has planned, you can tell it's gonna be good. “Oh wait, shit I’m a terrible host, I didn’t even offer you anything.” You say and stand up, carefully so as not to disrupt the placement of the cards. You walk over to your cooler. “Do you want some? I’ve got a couple of water canteens, some hydration packs, and a few bundles of Asagi berries I picked yesterday?” You offer him as you open it up, grabbing a canteen for yourself.

 Ezra's eyes immediately light up at the idea of a nice, sweet bundle of berries. "Oh yes please, some asagies would be absolutely fantastic right now," he says excitedly, his smile returning to his face. You smile and hand him the bundle with the most fruit, which he appreciates. He thanks you and takes a handful of the pink berries, the crunch of them clear in the easy stillness of the room. He groans softly at how sweet the fruit is, a drop of juice running down the corner of his mouth. You unconsciously swallow at the sight of that and clear your throat a little, averting your eyes. He notices, a grin on his face as he wipes the juice away with the back of his thumb. But he spares you by not saying anything, instead shifting gears.

 “So, how did you like my demonstration of the game?” He asks, curious. He takes another few berries into his mouth as you answer.

 “It was fun.” You say, your bashfulness easing. “My stepdad taught me how to play a few other card games, but it’s been a while.” You admit. His eyes twinkle with excitement.

 “Which ones?” He asks eagerly.

 “Hmm… 21, Crazy Eights, Gin Rummy.” His head tilts a bit to the side as he hears that last one.

 “Gin Rummy?” He asks, his eyes wide and burning with interest now. You smile and join him on the cot as you take another swig from your canteen. You set it aside for a moment before you grab all of the cards and begin to shuffle.

 “Ok so…”

That night, you two skip out on dinner in the dining hall once again. You join him at his tent and he allows you inside with a grin. You realize it's your first time seeing the inside of his tent and you do the same as he did earlier in the day, taking a look around at the space. 

 "So, what are your thoughts on my humble abode?" Ezra asks, with a warm smile. "I know it isn't much, but it's served me well enough." You notice that much like the rest of Ezra's life, it's a bit chaotic here. It’s the mirror image of your tent, with his cot on the far right, and the layout of everything on the opposite ends of your tent (refresher to the left, kitchenette on the right, table, and cubby to the left.) There are piles of paperwork and research scattered across the floor, along with various tools and gadgets. His cases are all stacked up on top of his cooler. But despite the clutter, there's still a sense of order about it all. Like Ezra knows exactly where everything is, even if it doesn't appear that way to the naked eye.

 “It’s nice,” you say, smiling. “Messy but not dirty.” You meet his eyes with a playful grin. “Suits you.”

 Ezra smiles back, a hint of pride in his eyes. His gaze turns and he moves a little closer, making you eye him with trepidation. "Well… I’ve been known to be a little dirty... from time to time ." He says, his voice quieter. You snort softly at his joke, even as that statement makes butterflies erupt in your gut. He breaks his flirtatiousness with a laugh as he sees your reaction. "But, for better or worse, this is me in my purest, most unapologetically authentic form." He moves back, letting you breathe, and gestures around the space with open arms.

 You smile and nod, still taking it all in. “Well, I like it.” You say. “So gonna show me what this big surprise is all about yet?” You ask, curious as to what meal he has up his sleeve

 Ezra smiles and leads you over to his portable kitchen area, pulling out a few ingredients to work with. "Yes, I suppose the time has come." He says, getting right to work. "I must warn you though, this won't be anythin’ like the standard fare back at the dinin’ hall. In fact, this particular dish is somethin’ I've spent a lot of time researchin’ and experimentin’ with. You're about to be the very first person to ever taste it." He says, with a grin. “Please, sit.” He says and walks over to the small table, clearing it quickly and pulling out the chair for you.

 “Oh, am I?” You ask, grinning and taking the seat as you glance at him over your shoulder. “Well, lucky for both of us, I like to experiment.”

 Ezra smiles and his chuckle is low and honeyed in your ear. “Oh, I sure hope so.” His knuckles brush your shoulder blades as he pushes your chair in a bit, sending a jolt down your spine. If he picks up on it, he doesn’t say it but you notice his flirty smile has turned a little more smug as he walks back to the kitchenette. "I hope you don't mind if I give you a bit of a crash course on the history of this particular dish." He says as he cooks. "It may be a bit borin’, but I'm afraid its origins are too interestin’ to keep to myself." He says as he begins searching for what to begin cooking with. “Now, listen and watch closely.” He instructs.

 “Dinner and a show, huh?” You ask with another smile. “Ok, sure, tell me.”

 "Well, let's see. I suppose the best place to start is with its ingredients. The main thing you need is an animal called an ixax, which is native to this planet, actually." Ezra says, as he works, setting a pot down on the nearest burner. "They're really quite remarkable creatures, as they're able to survive by eatin’ minerals and rocks. It sounds completely wild, I know." He says. He pauses for a moment to grab the ingredients from his cooler. He continues on as he preps,  

 "Now, the other ingredients are a bit more familiar, if I'm honest. You'll find their counterparts on just about every planet. For this dish in particular, I need onions, potatoes, and garlic. All perfectly standard. The real kick comes from the spices, however." Ezra says, adding the onions to the pot. "You see, the ixax itself is not exactly the... tastiest creature. But with a bit of experimentation, I learned that if you cook it just right, and add the right touches, it actually becomes quite excellent." He says, with a grin.

 “And how do you cook it?” You ask.

 "Oh, that's a bit of a trade secret." He says, with a wink. "There might be a little bit of salt involved, at least. And a healthy dose of herbs and spices, to be sure." He adds. “Regardless, I am confident you will love it.”

  With that, he continues cooking and you grin, impressed by how at ease he seems. He moves as confidently as he does out in the digs. The aroma of the food fills the tent soon and your stomach is aching for dinner the entire time but you don’t voice it, instead wanting to wait until he’s finished. 

 As he’s doing so, he smiles as he looks over at you, waiting so patiently even as he can see the way you eye the food with clear hunger. "This seems almost perfect, but I want your opinion. Now, come over here, and taste your first-ever ixax dish," He says, gesturing towards the pot.

 You smile and stand up from your seat, walking over and taking a peek at it over his shoulder. “Well… it looks good. It smells good…” you say, a little hesitation in your voice.

 Ezra laughs. "Come on, I've given you my word that it's good. And you know I'm a man who loves to keep his word." He says, giving you an encouraging smile. "Besides, I see how hungry you are." He says, with a wink. “And all of this is just for you.”

 You grin and sigh, not commenting on how flirty that last phrase was. “I suppose you’re right.” You say with a smile. You lean forward and take a small taste from the spoon he offered you, letting it coat your tongue before your eyes widen in pleasant surprise.

 Ezra beams, watching with eager eyes. "See what I mean? I knew you'd love it. Whaddya think?" He asks, with a big grin. "Pretty unlike anythin’ you've ever tasted, ain’t it?" He says. "But I'm not done yet. Let me just add a little…” He grabs another spoon and uses it to take a taste of it for himself. His expression is pensive as he savors it before he turns back to the spices. “Mm...just a dash of this, a sprinkle of that.” You don’t know what he’s sprinkling into the pot, but you trust his taste. He gives one more stir before offering you the spoon again. “There we go. This is when it really gets delicious. Give it another taste, I promise you, it's to die for." He says.

 You smile and take the next spoonful he offers you, eating it without pause this time. You grin at him and nod as the taste is somehow even better than it was before. It’s tangy and a little sweet, and the salting is perfect.

 “Wow,” you say, leaning away, covering your mouth with your hand so you can lick the remnants of it from your lips. “That’s really good, Ezra.”

 Ezra smiles, delighted by your reaction. "It pleases me beyond words to see you enjoyin’ this. You truly are the only person worthy of such a delicious and unique creation." He says, with a grin. "Now, shall we sit down and eat properly? I promise I can make plates. Though, I'm afraid it won't be much of a presentation. You know, since it is, after all, a campin’ expedition." He says, a twinkle in his eye.

 You smile and tell him not to worry about it before you help him serve the food for you both. He even brings out two cans of the very same cider from last night. 

 Again, the food, cider, and conversation keep you two busy. This time you both stick to just two cans instead of the many you shared last night and by the time you’ve both finished, you’re full and giddy.

Ezra sighs, content and sated. He takes a sip of his cider and looks over at you with a warm glow in his eyes. "Another glorious meal," he says with a smile. "And now, it's time for us to relax and let this food sink in. Do you have any ideas as to how we can pass the time?" He asks.

 You grin. "Another round of cards?" You ask. He smirks in response, that competitive glint in his eye now that matches your own.

 "Oh, you've got yourself a deal. Another game it is." He says, taking another sip of his cider. "Though, I think it's only fair to warn you… I'm not plannin’ on goin’ easy on you this time around." He says as he stands up to grab his deck from his cot.

 “Sure hope not.” You respond with a smirk of your own as he sits and the game once again begins.

****** Ezra is a devil in the kitchen, I will die on this hill.  Anyway, that’s it, thanks a million, hope you all enjoyed, and see you in the next one!

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Read Chapter 7: Style!

[kyriefae]

Wait, you're telling me that if I just rearrange some clutter while completing some dishes and laundry my mental health will improve?

Hah, next you'll tell me if I could afford basic life necessities on the earnings of a job that takes 40+ hours of my waking life per week my anxiety would improve as well.

*reads random internet comment related to pay vs cost of living* Oh, shoot. I guess the job I possess and report to isn't, in fact, real.

Karen said so and we know she's always right. No coupon has an expiration date and every back room has infinite restock.

All things aside I did come here to celebrate that I decluttered and reorganized some stuff and feel slightly better as a result. ☺️🎉

To my sassy queens, to my fellow working class heroes, and to everyone just generally feeling completely forking tired right now...I see you. Not literally, but in that meaningful metaphorical context where we empathize in shared frustration and intent on positive living in spite of it all.

Kisses 😘

[cjoatprehn]

Used Traditional Art Supplies for sale

No I’m not hacked.

I’m trying to earn shipping funds and moving money so I can eventually move out of my toxically abusive grandma’s home. I need to leave this state badly.

If you have things you need out of your house and need the money, you can sign up for Mercari and get $30 off when you use my code UURAEY to sign up.

If you know anyone in need of traditional art supplies will you share this post, please? Thanks!

KhrisDraws has a New Gallery Item up, and is in need of a lil love.

If y’all could become a member or become a one time donor to Khris to help with living expenses that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Have an awesome day!

[pigeonflavouredcake]

Life and adulthood has been catching up to me and I just want to declutter my thoughts in this post.

So a bit of personal info, I still live with my parents, my sibling aswell. We're both in our 20's and can't afford to move out so we're basically stuck here -I'm of the mind that it's indefinite, my sibling believes it's only temporary.

The average price of rent per month for a 1 bed flat in my burough is about £540 (or £750 if you want to live in the city centre) and houseshares are often the same price for the room. I earn about £600 a month that just isn't enough to live independently anymore.

I pay my parents a share of the rent (thankfully much lower than average) and we all share housework and run our own errands and take care of our own stuff just like you would in any house share situation. The term we're often given is 'adult children' (which I can't tell you how demeaning that sounds) and the only support I can seem to find is from the parents perspective. There isn't much support for us, there aren't any beigecore housekeeping blogs that teach us how to communicate with stubborn parents and manage our time with them. We're kind of on our own.

People see the term 'adult children' and assume we're still living with our parents because we're lazy and jobless basement dwellers on reddit when that's just unrealistic. Existence is so expensive right now we literally do not have any other option. Many of us have one, two sometimes three jobs and still can't afford to live independently and there's nothing we can do about it.

And I'm renting from my parents who are just renting from the council! Even they can't afford to own a home and they've both been working for over 30 years.

We're a generation of working class losers who can never climb the ladder of success because the rung snapped under our feet before we had a chance to start climbing.

[super-aa-scrap-metal]

In a world that increasingly values sustainability and responsible waste management, the concept of turning metal waste into cash has gained significant traction. Whether you're a homeowner looking to declutter your space or a business seeking an additional revenue stream, the cash-for-scrap industry provides a win-win solution for both your pocket and the environment. Selling scrap metal not only brings personal benefits but also contributes to environmental friendliness. Here are the key advantages:

Personal Benefits:

Extra Income:

Selling scrap metal such as copper, brass, batteries and engines provides an opportunity to earn extra income. By turning items you might consider as waste into valuable commodities, you can bolster your finances.

Decluttering Spaces:

It's an effective way to declutter your living or working spaces. Clearing out unwanted metal items not only helps you organize but also creates a tidier and more pleasant environment.

Promoting Recycling Habits:

Engaging in scrap metal selling encourages the habit of recycling. It fosters a sense of responsibility toward waste management and resource conservation.

Financial Incentives for Businesses:

For businesses, selling scrap metal can be a sustainable source of income. It not only aids in waste management but also contributes to overall cost savings.