#I am a pumpkin butcherer

[foreststarflaime]

I am descending into pumpkin madness. I have been carving for hours straight and all my limbs are shaking. I have been up since like 3am for another thing and still I carved for hours and hours. I can feel the nerves in my wrist shifting. And I still intend to carve another one tomorrow. I will not be stopped, not for my beloved Halloween. I can see the light it is a giant jack-o-lantern and I’m going towards it

[moonstruckme]

hihi mae!! in honor of the season, could i request reader convincing bodygaurd!james to carve pumpkins together. and it’s basically just him on the brink of cardiac arrest bc reader is using the biggest butcher knife possible, like an absolute menace, and he’s 100% convinced she’s gonna saw her fingers off lol. thx for considering ♡

Thank you lovely!!

bodyguard!James x fem!reader ♡ 814 words

James has half a mind to find you a plastic knife and let you make do with that. It might take you a while longer, yeah, but at least he wouldn’t have to feel every muscle in his body tense each time you stab the knife you’ve picked through your pumpkin. 

“I thought you were doing a cat,” he says, watching you push another piece out from what will be your pumpkin’s mouth. 

“I am.” 

“Why does it have fangs?” 

“It just felt like it should.” You shrug. “Sort of spookier that way, right? Maybe it’s a vampire cat.” 

“And here I thought it was going to be cute.” 

You smile at him. “No, Jamie. That’s yours.” 

With all his attention on making sure you don’t slash yourself, James has made pitifully little progress on his own pumpkin. He’s only managed to cut out the nose, but when he’s done it’s going to be a classic, smiling jack-o-lantern, except with hearts for eyes. You’d beamed and called it fitting when James told you his plan. He’s been ruminating over what you could have meant by that ever since. 

For his own project he’s using a small paring knife, mostly because he’d hoped you’d follow his example (what wishful thinking that was) but also because James doesn’t tend to do well with precision and he didn’t see a big knife helping matters. You, however, have selected what may be the largest knife he’s ever seen. He can’t comprehend what a beast that size would even be necessary for in a kitchen, much less for carving a pumpkin. Your unskilled grip on the handle makes the hairs on his arms stand on end. 

“I think we ought to find you a different tool,” he tries again. 

“James, you worry too much.” You roll your eyes, hardly looking as you shove your knife through the flesh of your pumpkin. He flinches. “This one is working fine.” 

“Right, I just feel like—” You do it again. James worries he’s developing an eye twitch. “—like possibly I’m not doing my job by letting you handle a weapon like that.”

“It’s not a weapon, it’s a kitchen knife.” 

Again, not a clue what in the kitchen could require a knife that large. 

“I think its capacity for injury is the same regardless, angel. Let me have it, please? That way I can keep working here and you can keep all of your fingers.” 

“You need to chill out,” you say, unnervingly serene for someone who seems to James on the precipice of life-changing injury. “This knife is the perfect size for how big I want my eyes to be. If I have to saw using another one, they won’t look as clean.” 

“Is that really worth risking your hand for?” 

“Yes. I want the triangles to look nice when I stick them onto the top as its ears.” 

“How are you going to do that?” 

“With toothpicks.” 

Right. A more moderate risk of injury, for sure, but James is now too high-strung to imagine anything other than disastrous outcomes between you and sharp objects. He imagines you skewering one of your lovely fingertips on a toothpick, the surprised look on your face when it happens. His own heart bursting straight out of his chest from overexertion. 

“Maybe I could do that part for you,” James suggests weakly. 

“Shit.” You’re looking into your hollow pumpkin. “The eye won’t come out.” 

“Let me try.” 

“No, I’ve got it.” 

Before he can stop you, you’re sticking your knife inside your pumpkin. It comes spearing out the other side a moment later, the triangle of one eye impaled on its tip. James chokes on a gasp as you stop it within inches of your abdomen. 

“There,” you say satisfiedly. 

James makes a strangled sound. “No,” he says, seizing your wrist and carefully removing the knife from your hand. “No, I can’t do it. We’re swapping.” 

“What?” You look at him with wide, wounded eyes. It’s adorable, compelling even, but James won’t allow himself to budge. “But your knife is so lame.” 

James guffaws. He feels half delirious. This is it, he thinks. His love for you has finally driven him insane. 

“It’s not lame.” 

You pout. “It’s tiny.” 

“Sweetheart.” James sets the knife down to hold your face in both hands. You go still with surprise. “If you stab yourself with your giant knife, I won’t be around to get fired. I’ll die of heartbreak. Do you understand?” 

You roll your eyes at him, but you’re softening. “You really like my hands that much?” 

“I like all of you. In tact. You’re perfect as you are.” 

“Fine, whatever.” You pull your face from his grasp, picking up the smaller knife. “I know you secretly just wanted to be the one with the bigger knife, though.” 

“Yeah, you’ve caught me. Can’t get anything past you.”

[so-caffeinated]

It’s been a bit! I’ve deleted my Twitter but I am keeping my Tumblr, and I thought I’d give a brief look at what we’ve been doing.

Just over three years ago, we started on a never-ending journey toward self-sufficiency. I have learned SO much since then and there’s still so much to learn.

We raised our first pigs this past year and just sent them to butcher, though we will likely do the deed ourselves next time. We have about 25 dairy goats, which we breed, compete with, and milk. I make cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and ice cream. We also sell some of the milk. We have about two dozen chickens at the moment after butchering roughly half of them. Next year we intend to drastically up that number and add butchered farm-fresh, never-frozen chickens to our offerings, along with eggs.

We built a massive raised bed garden which produced a ton of… well, produce! On top of your usual tomatoes and peppers, we had a huge variety of herbs, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, strawberries, nasturtiums, chard, Brussels sprouts, peas, beans, lettuce, spinach, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, chickpeas, pinto and black beans, grapes, rhubarb, figs, artichoke, melons, squash, cucumber, buckwheat, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkins, bay laurel, lemongrass, and amaranth that all produced for us this year. Obviously some did a lot better than others but we are experimenting with unusual varieties that better withstand extreme temperature and drought.

We use 100% water capture for our plants and animals, though we did run out once this year and had to truck in some water. We also have a large solar array that covers most of our electrical use.

While I am planning to write again very soon, what I’m planning to write next is a cookbook of difference recipes using chèvre (aka goat cheese). I’ve experimented with it a lot, as I frequently have a lot of it, and I’ve got everything from drinks and soups to main courses and desserts that I make all the time.

We pressure and water bath can, dehydrate, and (soon will!) freeze dry goods. I’ve tried - and failed - at making a sourdough starter, but Dan has had great success making mead.

All of this is to say, if any of you have questions or want advice on how to be a little more self sufficient (even if that just means growing some herbs in your windowsill. Start where you’re at!!), I’m always here to ask questions of or tell you what lessons I learned the hard way.

My kids are great and I’m super proud of all three of them (youngest is a foster kiddo who has been with us over a year). I won’t be discussing them online anymore, with very very few exceptions, for their safety.

❤️

[thatswhywelovegermany]

Fußball

Der Fußballwahn ist eine Krank- heit, aber selten, Gott sei Dank! Ich kenne wen, der litt akut an Fußballwahn und Fußballwut. Sowie er einen Gegenstand in Kugelform und ähnlich fand, so trat er zu und stieß mit Kraft ihn in die bunte Nachbarschaft. Ob es ein Schwalbennest, ein Tiegel, ein Käse, Globus oder Igel, ein Krug, ein Schmuckwerk am Altar, ein Kegelball, ein Kissen war, und wem der Gegenstand gehörte, das war etwas, was ihn nicht störte. Bald trieb er eine Schweineblase, bald steife Hüte durch die Straße. Dann wieder mit geübtem Schwung stieß er den Fuß in Pferdedung. Mit Schwamm und Seife trieb er Sport. Die Lampenkuppel brach sofort. Das Nachtgeschirr flog zielbewusst der Tante Berta an die Brust. Kein Abwehrmittel wollte nützen, nicht Stacheldraht in Stiefelspitzen, noch Puffer, außen angebracht. Er siegte immer, 0 zu 8, und übte weiter frisch, fromm, frei mit Totenkopf und Straußenei. Erschreckt durch seine wilden Stöße, gab man ihm nie Kartoffelklöße. Selbst vor dem Podex und den Brüsten der Frau ergriff ihn ein Gelüsten, was er jedoch als Mann von Stand aus Höflichkeit meist überwand. Dagegen gab ein Schwartenmagen dem Fleischer Anlass zum Verklagen. Was beim Gemüsemarkt geschah, kommt einer Schlacht bei Leipzig nah. Da schwirrten Äpfel, Apfelsinen durch Publikum wie wilde Bienen. Da sah man Blutorangen, Zwetschen an blassen Wangen sich zerquetschen. Das Eigelb überzog die Leiber, ein Fischkorb platzte zwischen Weiber. Kartoffeln spritzten und Zitronen. Man duckte sich vor den Melonen. Dem Krautkopf folgten Kürbisschüsse. Dann donnerten die Kokosnüsse. Genug! Als alles dies getan, griff unser Held zum Größenwahn. Schon schäkernd mit der U-Boots-Mine, besann er sich auf die Lawine. Doch als pompöser Fußballstößer Fand er die Erde noch viel größer. Er rang mit mancherlei Problemen. Zunächst: Wie soll man Anlauf nehmen? Dann schiffte er von dem Balkon sich ein in einen Luftballon. Und blieb von da an in der Luft, verschollen. Hat sich selbst verpufft. - Ich warne euch, ihr Brüder Jahns, vor dem Gebrauch des Fußballwahns!

Joachim Ringelnatz

Football (Soccer)

Football (soccer) mania is a disease but a rare one, thank God! I know someone who suffered acutely from football mania and football rage. As soon as he found an object in the shape of a ball and similar, he kicked at it and hurled it with force into the colorful neighborhood. Whether it was a swallow's nest, a jar, a cheese, globe or hedgehog, a jug, a piece of jewelry on the altar, a bowling ball, a cushion, and who the object belonged to, that was something that didn't bother him. Soon he was driving a pig's bladder, soon stiff hats through the street. Then again with practiced momentum he pushed his foot into horse manure. He played sport with sponge and soap. The lamp dome broke immediately. The night harness flew purposefully to Aunt Berta's chest. No means of defense would help, not barbed wire in boot tops, nor buffers attached to the outside. He always won, 0 to 8, and continued to practice fresh, pious, free With skull and ostrich egg. Frightened by his wild thrusts, he was never given potato dumplings. Even for the woman's buttocks and breasts he started to develop a certain temptation, which, however, as a man of class he overcame in most cases out of politeness. On the other hand, a rind stomach sausage gave the butcher cause for complaint. What happened at the vegetable market comes close to a battle near Leipzig. Apples and oranges buzzed through the crowd like wild bees. Blood oranges and plums were seen crushing against pale cheeks. Egg yolk covered the bodies, a basket of fish burst between market women. Potatoes and lemons splashed. People dodged melons. Cabbage heads were followed by pumpkin shots. Then coconuts thundered across the scene. Enough! When all this was done, our hero resorted to delusions of grandeur. Already flirting with the submarine mine, he remembered the avalanche. But as a pompous soccer kicker He found the earth even bigger. He wrestled with a number of problems. First of all: how to get a running start? Then he embarked from the balcony into a balloon. And remained in the air from then on, lost. He deflated himself, just went phut. - I warn you, brothers of Jahn, against the use of football mania!

Joachim Ringelnatz

[lephamquynhnhu]

Panacea

Chapter 6: Latent cinders

Dan Feng x Fem!Reader

WARNINGS/ TAGS: The reader has a default name, OOC, mentioned blood, violence. (This is a work of fanfiction, events are not aligned or relevant to the original work)

Word count: 2k2

Summary: He met you on a drizzling day when hydrangea fully bloomed on its field. Amidst the sea of mild pastel petals, Dan Feng never thought the flowery domain that intertwined your fate was the precise thing withered with you. They said he was a dragon, a hero, a sinner, but never a person with love, hatred, sorrow, or joy like everyone else in this world. However, it was a demi-truth. He committed the cardinal sin because of you.

Note: Finally, I am back! My thesis defense went successfully, and I immediately returned to finish this story. Thank you to readers who still follow Panacea.

Do you like...depression?

As if the tragedy found you everywhere like hawks snipped corpses, it bore fangs into your throat til the end when another dire scene unfolded right before your very eyes. They bombarded the Devourers' base to destroy the minimum trace of their shameful project and covered the truth permanently. Although this was a predictable outcome you had already foreseen, it was unbearable to witness everything transformed into cinders. You numbly stood in the world of sorrow and ashes as your feet rooted into the ground, air frosted in your lungs.

When the last survivor of Devourers after Denizen of Abundance III thought of suicide, a weak sound crackled under the ruins, which attracted you rushing toward the source. Ignoring the tingling sensation that burnt your bare hands, you dug through opaque objects and black charcoal until Pumpkin's wet nose touched your scratched fingers. However, precarious happiness quickly dissolved into thin air like bubbles as you realized he was dying. A glass jar fell off his jaw when Pumpkin left some fragile whines to roll the inhibit serum to you. His golden fur got burnt because the flame touge fired half of the dog's body, and a ribcage bone pierced his liver. Beneath the wreckage were Pumpkin's footprints blurring on black soil, which translated that he could have run away but chose to return to retrieve the inhibited serum and got stuck.  

Your veins nearly popped out since you were compressing the sentiment. You did not want Pumpkin to see your tears, so you stayed strong til his last breath. Nevertheless, you could not hold back anymore as he licked your hand, and Pumpkin's soul left the world full of ashes. 

As if things were not even worse, Yaoqing soldiers appeared in the nick of time you were mourning over the last member's death. Your head felt empty, and all energy surged out when they handcuffed you to lead out the crumble base. Upon the shrinking display, crows started hovering around Pumpkin to knock their beaks, and some of the flock found a fine seat to feat. Members of Devourers of Abundance Abominations did not have a proper grave when they died, and neither should you. Perhaps the Yaoqing Authorities would order a butcher to execute you in private with a burial service called vultures or keep you alive to research another biological weapon of the next generation. (More talent and more preeminent.) 

A psychological voice vibrated scatter clauses snapped you out of the nullifying state: "I always dreamt of a field with bloom hydrangea." and "Please live happily from now on." 

Huang Yuan guaranteed not to divert the holy arrow toward Xianzhou, yet he did not assure of unsighted loyalty. With your now completed heart that attained human emotions, Yaoqing's action was the last straw of your tolerance, which led to the decision to become a deserter. 

The raven wings smote into the thick ambiance and soared through dark trees when they heard the wind seething. Their inky feathers took time to levitate over the monochromatic scenery and landed ground soundlessly. 

Before fleeing from your homeland, you implemented a proper burial for Pumpkin and others. Nothing existed besides ruins, crypts, and dried blood on the soil. There was no evidence of struggles. 

Yaoqing publicized your identification and declared your wanted posters across Xianzhou ships, even spreading them to their friendship planets with the crime of murdering six Cloud soldiers and desertating. Nonetheless, you cleverly stowed away on a merchant ship traverse to Talia and fabricated your papers. Thanks to the unstable regime, you could easily steal a certified ID card and then live under a camouflage named Yi Ting for years. When things settled down, and the Yaoqing assumed your death due to the short longevity of Devourers, they revoked wanted orders but deported your existence instead. 

It is hard to be in exile, yet you do not feel regrettable. Living in Zhuming for three years, learning gardening, and studying some botanical effects to suppress your symptoms, you moved to Loufu. 

Since the upheaval on that Spring night, you and Dan Feng have officially been together but in secret. Despite comprehending and being aware of your sins circumstantially, he decided to stay by his guilty lotus. As for you, it is a miracle as you can breathe even surpassing your due date long ago, yet the stone still burdens the High Elder's shoulder when your health goes downward. None of his treatments affect your state, as well as the imitated serum. In contrast, you are well informed about your limited time but accept the upcoming death and enjoy the rest days. 

Tomorrow is the tenth ceremony of winning Denizen of Abundance III, and you want to do the soul-soothing ritual for your comrades. Because you finally let old memories go and are ready to bid them a proper goodbye. At first, the Long Scion hesitates to follow your wish since the windy weather might impact your delicate status, yet opposing his beloved determination, Dan Feng gives in.

"If I sense any abnormal signs, we will return immediately." 

He places the test tube down to gently cup your face, and a familiar influx of ambergris with fresh herb flies from his sleeves; he smells like tranquility as always. A short implied hum drumming through your chest, vibrant the vocal fold as you close your eyes to lean on the comfortable heat that Dan Feng radiates off.

Maroon and scarlet added some citric flavor of lemony yellow that notifies another lustrous Autumn. Luofu's landscape endues its seasonal cloth with the mellow air of juicy grass as you and the Long Scion stroll to the town. Xianzhou natives are busy preparing their last things for the special ceremony, which even causes a more vibrant ambiance than usual days. 

You are excited to explore new aspects of Aurum Alley after days of lying in bed while Imbibitor Lunae trailing behind with a paper fan. A plain texture of ivory hue painted white lotus and writing a stanza poem by ancient letters. The embroidered crane wings seemingly move simultaneously with his actions. You find it bizarre to see him wear other accessories besides his single earring, but Dan Feng looks unexpectedly ronin. 

After the High Elder turns his heels to buy some sweets at a nearby delicacy pavilion, an outstanding story of Xiyan reaches your ears and catches your wandering mind. 

"Devourers of Abundance Abominations was an undead army that had contracted with Yaoshi in return for their pseudo immortality. The mercenary served under different lords in the cosmos and eventually betrayed them. However, their existence abruptly disappeared when those gist monsters fought for the enemy's side in Denizen of Abundance III. Some said the Reignbow Arrow wiped out..."

Enough of hearing a bunch of absurdity, so you cannot help but charge at Xiyan's collar and curse his story. Despite the excavating status, your eyes are bloodshot with murderous intention gleaming in irises, and your long-forgotten muscles progressively grow under the black gloves. Upon that quarrel, the crowd assembles due to human curiosity. 

"You mundane did not know anything about them and dared to mislead other people with your nonsense fairy tale? Devourers did not contract with the Plague Author to exchange for their blessings! They are human, and they are Xianzhou citizens! The Yao..." - This time is your voice trailing off at the forbidden name as a familiar hand stays firm on your shoulder to awaken your sanity. 

"I'm so sorry. My niece seems still under the effects of History Fictionologists and oblivious to the proper history." - The Long Scion quickly intercepts with a made-up reason to explain on behalf of you for causing the ruckus, and his protective arm wraps around you as a habit to prevent the counter gets any further. The ill-intent aura that you are giving off coils inside its cell as you mutter a decent apology quietly and then blend in. 

On the road to the Exalting Sanctum, you savor a sweet skewer Dan Feng handed over with a crestfallen face in muteness. All the joy seemingly disappeared after your encounter with Xiyan, so you two had better keep silent. 

Lining up your long-arm comrades' mementos to send off is another challenging task since touching them again meaning open the old wound. They did not leave any specific tools that belonged to them; if they had, their possessions returned to voidness. Thus, using things that remind you of them is most appropriate. Irene's Polaroid, Huang Yuan's photo, the comms device you last saw Jia Xi, and the promise you could not complete: Zi Wen's proposing ring. The nose bridge starts stingingly burning hot as you brush against the cheap metal. He must put all effort into creating his sacred vow to Irene, yet it is unsent forever.  

Your paper lantern airily ascends aloft and mixes with others, illuminating a solemn beige color that carries away people's sentiments. Watching them flow into a celestial river that flies across the cerulean sky, a glassy teardrop unknowingly rolls down your chin. Imbibitor Lunae pensively follows the glittering stream and holds your hand without diverting his gaze because he knows you do not want him to look at you. 

The sole solace you can seek from outsiders is Dan Feng's firm grip. 

Evening light is dense like a veil of maltose, pouring under the gravel path, and sometimes stones crunching under your shoes. People and inhabitants are getting loose with the new moon vaguely manifests, and the Big Dipper is over their heads. In this hour, the red velvet sun does not just glare upon realms below but also dyes maple trees into a crimson hue, shrouding you in the warm color of late Autumn. While you and Dan Feng stride back to the Faery Forest, an unexpected wind blowing through causes the scenery to quiver, and then maple leaves compete to fall. Unable to resist the poetic spectacle, your doe eyes morph from admiration to excitement as you dart forward to dance in the scarlet drizzle. When twirling around to find the High Elder, you bring along a glittering gold halo that gleams around, and he figures that his world has shrunk to your blissful smile in that momentary. However, strict wrinkles start forming as Dan Feng rushes toward you to aid your balance, indicating your free time is overdue. 

You two then take a break and watch the sunset together at a nearby wooden pavilion. The precedent breeze seems harsher than you thought because the Long Scion's disheveled hair now entangles with a red maple leaf, but he looks unbothered. You tenderly comb the long locks by hand and secretly commend its velvety between your fingers. 

"Feng, will you place a flower on my grave when I die?" - The enthralling activity may cast a spell on you as the sentence jumps out before you realize it. In contrast, a slight reprimand tone in Imbibtor Lunae's stern voice suggests that he is unwilling to engage in that topic, yet it is counter-productive since you want to press it further. An annoying feeling tingles on his visage when hearing that question twice, so Dan Feng leans forward to prevent you from the third chance to repeat. You immediately retreat behind like instinct and place both hands on his chest to stop him. 

"We are in public!" - Your hiss is no louder than a whisper as the astonishment trucked you with his boldness since the High Elder never wishes to attract crowd attention. Even if there is no one around, it is still a modicum possibility that people may catch. Nonetheless, your resistance is futile when Dan Feng's arm hugs behind to pull you closer, and his other hand opens the paper fan to make a flowery triptych, shielding your kiss from outsiders' eyes. The freshness and lightly spicy flavor of cinnamon with mellow sweetness like honey causes you to feel weak, and your heart quivers to the point of ache. 

"I won't let that happen." - You could hear the message loud and clear through his movement. Despite your lifespan getting its due day and there is no way the High Elder is capable of reversing death, you want to believe in his words. He silently puts a square box into your hand and encourages you to open it with a nervous emotion that carefully hides beneath his usual stoic face. 

A pair of earrings made from emeralds and share the same design as his. Their colors are as glassy as Autumn pond, as green as his eyes. Yesterday, Imbibitor Lunae gifted you three stocks of brocade and two meters of peach silk; today is the pledge of love. 

"You really do want to marry me?"

"Yes. Please promise you will watch maple leaves with me next year, the next ten years, and every year." 

The sound of Celest-Gold rings deafening around the restrained milieu, prevailing forthcoming footsteps. Under the dullness and stuffiness of Premilinary jail, Dan Feng finally found a clue to cure your lethal condition. That is the reason why he accepted to testify Primus Immortus. The prisoner is soon to be transferred to the Shakle jail due to the crime of Production of the Elixir of Immortality. 

[tangledbea]

What do you think Raps + co carve into their pumpkins for Jack O Lanterns? Of course Rapunzel’s are very intricate and beautiful, but I also think she would appreciate the classic pointy smile.

I agree with you about Rapunzel! She goes for everything from classic, simple jack-o-lanterns to ones that require three or four piled up to really get the full picture. She doesn't even always cut all the way into the pumpkin, sometimes doing the style where they peel away the skin and then carve the rind like a relief. She'll also just paint them. Rapunzel decorates at least 20 pumpkins a year!

Eugene doesn't consider himself an artist, but carving pumpkins takes him back to his childhood. He likes to make scary faces with pointy teeth and angry eyes. He always says they're portraits of various people he doesn't like (the Stabbingtons, the Baron, Stalyan)...

Lance likes the big, goofy faces. The kind with big, round eyes and wide smiles. Classic in a friendly way. As much as he likes Halloween, it's also the scariest night of the year, and he tries to subvert that a little.

Kiera and Catalina are really into the shock-factor of making their jack-o-lanterns violent or gross. Vomiting their own strings and seeds, stabbed with a huge butcher knife with blood pouring out, etc. (Kids, am I right?)

Varian has mixed feelings about pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. On the one hand... they're work. His dad runs a farm, and one of the things they grow is pumpkins. Even when he's in the middle of a major project, Quirin expects him to help out at the farm during harvesting season, so pumpkins represent a very busy time of year and aching muscles. On the other hand, he likes doing carving with special effects -- pouring dried ice, colored lights, chemical reactions that change the skins interesting colors, etc. A lot of his earliest experiments were done on pumpkins!

Cassandra likes classic and traditional. Her standard jack-o-lantern wouldn't be out of place as the Headless Horseman's replacement head.

Thanks for the ask!

[clatterbane]

One good thing that came out of today's early morning trip out for more bullshit bloodwork: I found some promising-looking vegetables, which are pretty exotic by local standards but remind me of home! One of the benefits of living in an immigrant-heavy neighborhood. (Doesn't really matter where from IME, just as long as it's got longer warmer growing seasons there.) Hasty lap shot of today's haul when I was about to head home.

Much better view after getting home! Some nice young examples of one common Middle Eastern variety of summer squash, along with some okra. Which was borderline overgrown by my standards, but it didn't feel like it was going all tough and dried out yet--and it's the nicest fresh okra my admittedly near-hermit ass has spotted in years.

On the way home this morning, I got Mr. C to drop me at the nearby shopping center, so I could pick up an Instabox package (shoes) and enjoy the weather and a little exercise while "strolling" the rest of the way.

It was still early enough that at least half the businesses weren't even open yet, but that also meant that things were enough less busy that I felt like I could get in more easily for a better look at a couple of stores I'd wanted to check out more. One of them a halal butcher shop with attached fruit and vegetable shop just across from there, obviously run by the same people. Both are usually mobbed enough that I haven't felt like shoving myself in--especially with the chair.

The butcher side was still not looking so accessible, even with only a couple of other customers in there, plus a few workers finishing getting things set up for the day. I also figured that I didn't really need to go on an early-morning meat buying spree in hot weather--much less when my backpack was already completely full of shoebox, and carrying capacity was already pretty limited. So, no meat for me.

The other side did, however, lure me over with some gorgeous plums. Which sadly turned out to still be so hard that I noped away from those. Yes, I am that produce prodder, and I can be particular. Was hoping they would have some nice leafy greens out front today, but no such luck.

But, then I did spot the okra and then the squash.

I didn't grab much today, since I am the only one in the house who really likes either thing. Plus the okra was running the equivalent of US$7.69/kg, or roughly $3.50/lb. 😓 Squash was $2.90/ or $1.30/lb by comparison. I got away at about $2.50 for both of them together, which really wasn't at all bad by local standards. I am also cheap as hell sometimes and also still mentally comparing with prices on locally grown squash and okra in a much more rural area 15-20 years ago when I was last buying anything back home.

I am also now lowkey pining for some Floyd County peaches, and J. Random Farmer's cantaloupes that he's selling off his truck by the road. Then there's the fresh just-picked regional variety corn. 🙄

If that okra is any good and I see more there in nearly as good a shape, I may have to pick up enough more to try pickling a few jars of it. That's one thing that I do miss sometimes, and I don't really want to try with the frozen stuff--which is usually better for cooking than what I see fresh anymore.

The produce side also carries a bunch of dried fruits and nuts, and some other loose bulk goods including some interesting-looking Afghan brown sugar in like fist-sized chunks which I'd never seen before, but made me think of panela or jaggery. May need to try me some of that.

Also looks like the place to go if you want a sack of pumpkin seeds or similar at reasonable prices! Today I did not, and also did not particularly want to carry that home in my lap because that would have been the only place for it.

Their produce is all out front, but I did go ahead and bull my way back through the rest of the store to get a good look at the dry goods. Needed to shove a couple of obstructions out of the way in the narrow aisles, but I was the only customer in there at that point and idgaf. It was well worth a look around. May need to go back another morning after a few things that looked good.

There is also a spice shop a couple of doors down, which always smells heavenly to go past but is usually so packed that even Mr. C hesitates to peruse it on foot. There were few enough people in there too that I had to roll through and case the joint. Did look and smell like some quality stuff at decent prices. Also some pretty good looking bulk bin dried fruits and nuts and other snack items, and some assorted Middle Eastern sweets. I didn't buy anything there either today, but will probably need to make a morning raid on that too before too long.

But yeah, the day was not all bad. I also got to see a delightful young Boxer out for a walk on the way home.

[klai-16xoxo]

In your opinion what would your friends arts taste like?

Sorry it took me awhile to answer this one but here what i think each of my friends’s art taste like!

{Joe}

Idk why but I feel Joey’s art would taste like one of those tasty home made chocolate cake ya mom or granny would make for ya and ya know when ya eat those you feel so happy and warm from the inside? Yeah that what I get when I see Joe draw a lot of time!

{Mango}

Mango art seem like it would taste like one of those candies I used to get a lot as a kid during Eid such as “Deemah”… fun fact my mom actually got me some of them today so yay :D!

But yeah that what I think of when thinking of mango’s art!

{Sleepy}

Sleepy arts feel like a soft marshmallow! That or ones that you slowly burn on a camp fire and come out golden and delicious!

{Calamity}

Calamity’s art is hard to describe but hmmm…. I think the closest example I can bring is a lovely afternoon tea with a lot of snacks! Is both familiar yet always new and beautiful to look at!

{Yuu}

Yuu’s art is so lovely! I like how they put a lot of details in the hair, that said it only fair to say that their art kinda reminds me of a nice bowl of ramen!! Can never have enough of it✨

{Pins}

Pins art is so COLOURFUL! I love her use of colours and designs and everything!! It kinda reminds me of lollipops somehow tho :3!

Idk why but it dose since with lollipop they can come in many flavours and colours and even shapes, much like pins’s art!

{Beth}

Bethy’ art is so adorable!!! Is like a good ol’ home made pumpkin bread!… okay now I never had pumpkin bread but am sure it taste so good!

{Kory}

Kory art would definitely test like a honey comb, idk why but when I was thinking about it i remember how I used to eat some honey comb with my dad and since it came back to me while thinking of Kory’s art I guess that fit!

{Mandi}

Mandi art feel like it may taste like avocado…idk why but it dose…. I never had avocado but seeing how ppl like it I think it taste as good as how Mandi arts looks like!

{Lupi}

MY WIFFFFFEEEE~ hmmm~…. I think Lupi’s art would taste like cotton candy, especially the blueberry ones! It has been ages since I had one but I remember how good they tased!

{Boris}

Boris art make me imagine it may taste like a nice chocolate bar! Multiple in facts~ each one of them with their own special taste and I will take my sweet time enjoying it!

{Fifi}

I feel Fifi art would taste like red meat and a really nice one on that! Actually- nah Fifi gonna have a whole butcher house of all kind of meats with how good her art is!

{Clown}

Clown art would probably taste like all kind of smoothies and drinks out there, each art clown make it gonna be a different drink with it own lil surprise so be ready!

Anyway that all for now! Sorry if I forgot anyone :3

[frenziedslashers]

Ayo! Ima be honest there, this fic with wounded Handsome Jack x Reader was the first one where I didn't skip a single word, like aaa u did it so great!

I had a thought about something oppsite - where it is the reader who gets hurt, and HJ is the one saving them and taking care... likeeee AAA.... it could be fluff, or something more dramatic and bloody, whatever you thing would be great :D I just can see it written great by your talented hands

This literally made me smile so much??? I am so scared to post Jack content because I always feel like I butcher his character (I have a couple drafts that I have been working on. They are pretty much ready to post, I'm just a little scared. I swear I am not ignoring the Jack asks 👹). I am honored that you liked it that much though! As someone who has read nearly all the xReader Borderlands content on ao3, I totally get that... Some nice I had to skip paragraphs because it was either too ooc or just... Odd... I forget how scary some borderlands fans are 😟 There are a lot of pics on there that I adore, but I feel like every fandom has those pics that you just physically cannot finish. So I am glad that my Jack was good enough 💪💪 ALSO thank you for the love homie. glad you sent in a request! I love me some angst that leads to fluff 😌

Flying Bullets:

"More incoming!" Jack screamed over your com, a grunt leaving your throat as you slammed your body against a crate in a poor attempt to avoid the bullets that flew overhead. You had no idea how you got yourself into this mess. Let alone with Handsome Jack. You knew he was bad news. Everyone despised him, but you still saw him as John, who simply worked with you for Hyperion and was incidentally your best friend as well.

You saw him as the guy who you would sit with alone for lunch break. The both of you talking and laughing over nothing. The friend that would take you out for drinks after a hard day of work and even hit on you here or there. Though, nothing serious ever happened between the two of you.

"Kiddo, answer me!" You snapped out of your thoughts when you heard Jack's voice screaming into your ears. It made you flinch, a cringe settling on your face. "I hear you, Jackie." You responded, shooting a couple times at the Raiders that ran out into your line of sight.

"Are you able to get to where I'm at?" You huffed a bit. As if you would know exactly where he was without him sharing his coordinates. "Where's your location?" "I'm up near the front gate. If you get here we can get to a ship out of this shit hole and back to Helios!" He spoke, and you groaned again. Your shield was low and broken. It wasn't recharging anymore. A problem that you were almost scared to tell Jack. The confrontation would go either one of two ways. He'd freak out, worry, and throw himself into the line of fire to make sure you were safe. Or he'd freak out, worry, and then yell at you for being so stupid and agreeing to go with him to Pandora with a shitty shield.

"Can you do that?" You pondered, "I can try."

It was a hard task to complete. You figured if you did die in this fight you may as well go out guns-a-blazin'. Shooting round after round into the Crimson Raiders that tried to take you down. You nearly made it to Jack, too. If it weren't for a Raider you missed shooting you once, breaking your shield. Then twice, a fatal shot to your back.

The scream that ripped from your chest had your head pounding, and Jack's heading whipping towards you.

"Kid," He stammered, "Kiddo? Pumpkin?" His voice wavered, and then something clicked in the guy. If your vision wasn't blurry from the pain as you lay on the ground. You would have seen the glint of rage behind the mans eyes. The way his face shifted from concern to pure rage. It made the few remaining Crimson Raiders freeze up. Knowing Jack was going to be putting up a hell of a fight.

Screams and gunfire were all you could hear in your ringing ears. You could hardly decipher the screams of the dying to Jack's war cries. If you weren't dying yourself, you might actually feel a bit scared, but right now you could hardly care. Gasping and wincing while lying helplessly on the ground. You could hardly move without your whole body sending shocks of pain through itself.

"Hey, hey," His hand on your back made you cry out again. You hadn't even noticed that Jack was at your side now. Attempting to tend to your wounds to get you back home. Back to Helios where you would be safe and someone could save you. "I know, I have to look at it!" He snapped, but quickly cleared his throat. "Dammit, sorry. I just need to see it. I'm not trying to hurt you, pumpkin." He told you, trying his best to be careful while he moved your clothing up so he could see the wound a bit better. Your cries making him wince himself. You'd think he would have been shot, too. Just from hearing the pathetic noises you were making.

"Oh shit, God this is bad. Why didn't you tell me your shield was low? I could have came to you!" There it was. Option one of how you expected him to react if you would have told him your shield was down. You wanted to smile, laugh a little at how well you knew your friend, but your thoughts were quickly pushed aside when Jack decided to apply pressure. A scream left your throat, and your vision went blurry. It was too hard to stay awake no matter how much Jack pleaded with you to keep your eyes open. You hadn't realized how much he really cared for you until you were nearly meeting your Maker. Vision finally blurring enough that all you could see was black. Your senses dulling, succumbing to the darkness once you passed out in his arms.

Jack had no idea that you had just passed out, though. He thought you died, but that didn't stop him from picking your body up from the ground to carry you back to the ship. He was just thankful that he had people on there to pilot it for him, and some health to at least give you a slight boost until the two of you made it back to Helios.

He refused to let you go until those doors opened. Continuing to apply pressure after he had wrapped his belt and one of his jackets awkwardly around your middle to help stall the bleeding. There was so much blood. His clothes were soaked. His skin was sticky with sweat and blood. The thing of it is, he didn't even know if it was all your blood. Some of it had to be from the Raiders he killed after you were shot. His anger getting the best of him like it regularly did.

"Sir, you need to let them go." He looked up at the nurse in front of him. "What?" His voice was shaky. "I need you to let them go and put them on the table now before they lose any more blood. I need to get them into the infirmary, now." They stated sternly, and Jack nodded with understanding. Laying you reluctantly on the bed. These were his own men and women working for him, but he was so scared to trust them with you. You were the only good thing he had left that was connected to his old life, rather than Angel. You were almost a better memory holder than she was, though. With her being the reason her mother died and all.

It wasn't until later that night, nearly five hours later that Jack was informed that you were in Critical, but stable condition. He knew you wouldn't be able to help him with his plans for the next coming weeks, and honestly, he was glad. Not that he didn't enjoy your help, he just always worried about your safety. This call was too close for comfort. It nearly made him postpone his plans of finding the Vault, too. If it weren't for the fact that he was literally the man's most wanted by the Vault Hunters themselves. That didn't stop him from trying to take care of you to the best of his abilities, though. Even going as far as sending people to check up on you when he was away from Helios.

"Jack," you would say his name, and he would be there. Holding your hand, offering food, water, entertainment, whatever it was you asked. He was giving it to you. You were his light after all. The brightest star in his galaxy. Even if he didn't show you how much he cared, often. He truly did.

It was almost weird for you. He was always so snarky and rude with you. Even if you knew that was just how he showed his affection. How he told you that he loved and appreciated you as a friend without telling you those exact words. You almost weren't sure if you liked how nice he was being with you.

"Why haven't you called me an idiot." He looked up from the book in his hands over to you with raised brows. "Excuse me?" "When I nearly got myself killed. I expected you to at least call me stupid for it. I didn't tell you my shield was broken and not recharging, and yet here you are. Being all sweet and nice to me. It's kind of scary, honestly... You aren't a doppelgänger, are you?" Jack smiled as he placed his book down in his lap. "Well, now that you say it. I did forget to tell you how utterly idiotic that stunt was and if you ever go pulling it again I will personally revive you just to shoot you again." Jack told you, and that caused a smile to form on your own features. There he was. "Oh, so I should have just ignored direct orders?" He rolled his eyes with a sigh. "No, you should have told me what was happening and I could have come to help. You really think I like putting you at risk?" Well, it seemed like it. With the number of close calls you have had, and then this.

He sighed at your lack of a response. "I don't. I really don't. I only take you along because I know you'd find a way fighting those assholes without me or with me. I may as well be there to revive you when you decide to do something stupid." You rolled your eyes this time. "Didn't realize you actually cared about me." He froze up when you said that. You were only joking, and you thought that he could tell, but obviously that seemed to strike a chord with the man before you.

"Oh, so you think I don't care about you either? What the hell has the past few weeks been? I've laid off finding the fricken Vault for you! I've been by your side, making sure you don't die on me and you think I don't care about you?" He shouted, tossing his book to the side while standing to his feet. "Why don't you fill me in on what it is I feel about you then. Why every time I see you I want to blow my brains out because of how much I care about you. Shit, it's annoying, honestly!" Jack started approaching you. Slight more weight to his steps than usual. Obviously pissed and growing more so by the second. "I could have left you to die." He told you, a slight grin on his face as he laughed out of disbelief for himself. "Hell! I would have left any one of my other employees or skilled assassins there to die! But I just couldn't fricken leave you there, now could I? Not when you're the one real thing that I have anymore."

Your eyes were wide. Staring up at the man who was looming over you as you lay on the bed. You looked a little scared, but you were more so taken aback by his words. Yeah, he was basically saying he would have left you for dead if the two of you didn't have a connection, but he was also admitting things that you never thought you'd hear from him.

"I don't mean to yell," Even though that seemed to be the only thing he knew how to do. "I just... I hate that you would even suggest that I don't care about you. I mean, c'mon! Look at everything we've been through!" He exclaimed as he sat on the bed beside you.

Yeah. Everything the two of you have been through. Working together. Getting fired together. Jack gaining power. You gaining power through Jack. Late nights together. Even an attempted date before his ex had come along. It was a lot, and you regretted making him think that you thought he didn't care.

"Jack, I'm sorry. I was just joking around." You admitted, reaching out to grab his hand. His eyes darted down and then back up to study your face. "Could you ever forgive me?" He pondered, a smile creeping on his lips. "Oh, I don't know. I guess I could forgive a cute thing like you." A sigh left your lips, tapping the top of his hand. "If I didn't know any better. I'd say you were flirting with me, Jackie." The way you purred out his name in such a teasing way made his blood boil. Out of annoyance at the nickname, and slight excitement from just the sound. "Well, I could be if you wanna interpret it that way, pumpkin." His hand reached up to brush your chin with his thumb. "I think it's your turn to be called out for your ignorance of my own emotions." His brows furrowed, sighing at his dumbfounded expression.

"So... Was that a yes?" "Jack," "Huh?" "You're as oblivious as the day I met you." He stared at you for a moment longer. "I'm saying yes, Jack. Jesus Christ and you're supposed to be the flirt of Helios?" He let out a groan of his own before carefully maneuvering himself over top of you so he could lay on the other side of you on the bed. "Oh shut it, you're the one overcomplicating shit." He huffed, carefully pulling you close to him to hint that the both of you needed a nap. Whether you wanted one or not. "Just shut up and sleep. We can talk about our stupid emotions later. You ruined the moment by calling me an idiot." "Oh, like you haven't been calling me one for the past 10 minutes. Plus I didn't even call you one!" "Well, that's different, and yes you basically did. I'm not arguing further." "Fine."

[wulfums]

What's the average day in the life for someone in Crittertopia? Is the lifestyle there more primitive, or just livin' off the land? How long does it take for the critters there to get adjusted to their new lifestyle? One without the wonders of Modern Technology. (I am not sure if there's running water there so if there isn't, I imagine them having little river baths!)

:3

You guys are really gripping me by force and making me develop this au huh /lh (I appreciate it hehe)

I think everyones more emotionally charged Obviously and theres a lot more conflict than there would be Usually(and there would already be a lot). Mob Mentality when Banishing someone (Which tends to look like when people are voted out in survivor lmao they let both parties give their case and they all vote.)

it Is more living off the land with some benefits of modern life. If given the choice none of them would do any of this (Though Whatwulf enjoys catching sea life for everyone to eat. Also sometimes Gnarly and Gristle leave for a few days and come back with a really big dead animal and no one is going to question this because they're kind of scared. But grateful. Gnarly is actually very good at processing and butchering, he used to work in a butcher shop as a teen. which. surprisingly. includes him being anal abt hygeine. but only with the meat. he still fucking smells.)

allan enjoys gardening and is able to get a pretty thriving one going since theres other critters who also love gardening. no big crops but they got some good berry, pepper, pumpkin, etc crops goin! and corn. by whatwulfs request. (he likes corn on the cob)

dairy is One of the things provided to them from the Outside

i do think it gets boring at times honestly. they All wanna leave (except smormu who likes being in charge and being important)

They do have running water but anyone Banished from Crittertopia uses rivers + waterfalls.

[1tsjusty0u]

hm. random things wreath likes perhaps

BWAH ALRIGHT!!

pre cal. not much!! he likes fiction books and sweet foods but other than that he cant think of anything. he probably does like more things though its just a deep-seated issue for him. for specifics: they always like pumpkin pie its his favorite, and. yeah. finnish desserts they also make due to hateno and he’d also like those a lot! piparkakku and pannukakku (gingerbread and pancakes) he likes as well. uhm. i should note i am not finnish so any finlanders out there if i butcher anything. im sorry…. anyways! fiction books arent just legends of past games for clarification he’d like ones that really dont have anything to do with tloz. if chicory a colorful tale was an ip/book in this universe they’d like it a bit!! also horse fact magazines and cookbooks. he loves those and never reads them after he gets them <3

post cal ..!! you know if this was like. my interpretation of normal botw i’d say the issue from the above paragraph would get better! but uh!! here it actually gets worse. they still love pumpkin pie and food and horse facts however. its getting harder and harder for him to remember what he does genuinely like, + things he Would like start to get stale or dont feel fun anymore like. for example horse facts again. he’ll always like food but other than that he’d have trouble naming most other things. it all just Exists to him. unfortunately going outside does Not fix him no matter how beautiful and wondrous it is

however i shant leave it at that….. while he might not be able to list it he still does like things sort of. he doesnt get excited about these but theyre just Nice to him and nothing more (also realistically he wouldnt care too much about these however pretend this is a parallel universe where this issue doesnt exist and he Would like these!! he still would in this one he just has problems anyways); seeing foxes!! he likes to greet them by spooking them. hes a fan of cooking ingredients and as much as totk sucks i Do like koyins quest (ignoring the romantic implications and the butchering of her character) i think he’d really Really like trading in nuts for milk and collecting them for the cow guy. he’d probably do it even with no milk incentive but thats just the cherry on top. also koyin and him could be slight friends a lot later into the story!! also he likes acorns and seeds and tries to break into them. also i made a whole list of sounds: clippity clops, footsteps on brick pavement, wood chopping board noises, WHEELS ON BRICK PAVEMENT, knife getting stuck in wood or swords etc, clinks of figurines (not hollow and probably like. made up of a gem rather than stone. Heavy clinks), pencil on thin paper on desk. more likes the feel rather than sound. and gear sounds/clicking like guardians. ALSO KEYBOARD NOISES. like the chunky ones i can get a video. zelda also likes these just more mechanical ones rather than soft thonks. also cooking pot noises we cannot forget about those. cutting paper super smoothly by just dragging scissors or a knife feels good and also knife tearing through fabric or specifically a bed mattress also feels good! the sound varies however. alsoalso this made me make a list for zelda because i think she’d more actively like sensory things

if they had a preference for weapons he’d love lynel weapons due to the sheer damage he just would never use them as to not break them. same with robbies ancient sword and other weapons that look cool or have ties to the champions. otherwise he just likes standard one handed sword weapons. pre cal him would honestly like lynel swords More and be really miffed about the master sword only doing 30 damage despite it being a holy sword and people regarding it as this great thing. like it has trouble defeating monsters ganon is going to kill him. i need to play sksw honestly i think he would like fi i just know next to nothing about her besides her being the sword. also he cant hear her Anyways!!

[vera-deville]

Vera's Hauntober 2023

Day 8 - Lantern (Katsuki Bakugou)

10/04/2023 - 10/06/2023

Pairing: Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Word Count: 574

Warnings: Cursing, courtesy of Bakugou

Gender: AFAB

Taglist: @animusicnerd, @leonistic, @pyroxeene, @savanaclaw1996, @thequeenoffishburrito, @ellssbellss, @reshi-galaxy, @hanafubukki, @hitoshislover, @purplecandything

Notes: Can be considered a sequel to this fic, but can also be read as a stand alone!

"C'mon Katsuki!" Y/N yelled, pulling said blonde's arm.

Deja vu.

That's what this felt like. But Bakugou knew where he had witnessed this scene before. It wasn't too long ago, actually. In fact, it was just a week prior that his lovely girlfriend had dragged him out to a pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins and also subsequently saw and dragged him to a corn maze at the farm, which he ended up burning down-

But that's a story for another day.

Right now, Bakugou had one main goal. No scratch that, three main goals. He had to make sure that they finished carving out the pumpkins as quickly as they could, make sure that Y/N didn't have any accidents with the sharp utensils they'd be using, and make sure that the two of them got to cuddle afterwards.

Simple enough goals.

"Okay, so I'm going to hand you a Sharpie, and you're going to sketch out the general faces and stuff onto the pumpkins, okay?" Y/N instructed Bakugou.

"I'm not a fucking child, I know what to do dumbass," Katsuki huffed.

"Just saying~"

And so the pair got to work on decorating their pumpkins. Y/N kept a watchful eye on Katsuki, making sure that he didn't butcher the faces, and was pleasantly surprised to see that his faces were actually decent. Meanwhile, Katsuki kept a watchful eye on Y/N, making sure that she didn't cut her hands or something, and was pleasantly surprised to see that she hadn't done anything of the sort.

Pretty quickly, Bakugou finished drawing the faces on the pumpkins and turned to Y/N, asking her to hand over the utensils he'd need to scoop out the flesh from the pumpkins and start carving them out.

Y/N had her "spooky" playlist playing on her phone which was sat in some obscure corner of the table. They sat in comfortable silence, doing their respective jobs, and occasionally, Y/N would talk about whatever crossed her mind, and Katsuki would listen.

"What do you think of this one?" Y/N asked, holding up the pumpkin she'd been working on. Looking at the thing, Bakugou couldn't help but feel the corners of his lips twitch.

The face was lopsided (purposefully so). It had a silly expression which if anyone else had carved the pumpkin, Bakugou would have straight up said looked stupid, but it was made by Y/N. It still looked stupid, but it was admittedly funnier.

"Now for the best part!" Y/N squealed.

Raising an eyebrow, Bakugou awaited further explanation.

"The candles~" Y/N pulled out a whole box of artificial candles. "We're going to use these fake candles for most of the pumpkins, but for some of the ones that we'll keep inside the house, we'll use real candles." Bakugou nodded along, already assembling the candles into their respective pumpkins.

It didn't take too long for the two of them to finish placing the candles, and much less time to actually prop up the jack o' lanterns wherever Y/N had decided to prop them up in.

Gently tugging Bakugou's arm, Y/N lead him to the sofa. Lying down on the sofa, Y/N said, "c'mere babe," and opened her arms wide for the blonde to nestle into her figure. He let her run her fingers through his scalp, the feeling warm and pleasant as he eventually dozed off to sleep.

Author's Note: I want me a Katsuki in real life but we all know that ain't happening anytime soon-

As I mentioned before, this is a sequel of sorts to the first day of this Hauntober event, and I really wanted to make it about jack o' lanterns. There were a few other ideas I had for the lantern concept, but of course the pumpkins won me over (and so did Katsuki), so here I am.

I've gotta say, I'm happy with how far I'm coming with Hauntober (even if the fics are a lot smaller than what I'm typically used to writing), and I can't wait to write the rest of the prompts!

See you in the next fic!

Masterlist Hauntober 2023 Masterlist

[thewickedkat]

i have been tagged

@vcaudley tagged me and i am just now getting round to this, apologies!

A scent you love: - sandalwood. i could be in the saltiest, shittiest, most tin-foil-chewing mood and upon smelling this, i would relax from grievous homicide to involuntary manslaughter. which is a very tortured metaphor but it's a weird day for me. suffice to say i love sandalwood.

What's something you're looking forward to this week? - i would dearly love to write this weekend. been wanting to actually get something actualised before the weather starts thinking of hoodies and pumpkin spice lattes. also i need to go to the library because i need new music; mine's getting rather stale.

What's a book you're currently reading? - i am so very sorry to say that i have not read an actual book in *mumblemumble* amount of time. a few years back i had sort of run dry on books that i was enjoying, and my tastes changed; i dove into fanfic and haven't really looked back since. it is still scratching that itch that i can't really describe. to be quite honest i think the last book-book i read was the latest Dresden Files instalment--and before anyone comes for me, yes, i am quite aware of Butcher's...uh. writing tells, let's call them. man's become a pastiche of himself, tell the truth.

What's a game you're currently playing? - The Outer Worlds, for, like, the fifth time. love Parvati; that woman can do no wrong in my eyes. tried doing a Board-bootlicker run a while back and then she looked at me all disappointed and my contrition knew no end. and i adore Felix wholeheartedly because that Labrador of a boy is the purest of heart and dumbest of ass and he makes me smile. ...also, i'm just killing time until next week when i can get my narsty little gremlin hands on Baldur's Gate 3.

What's the most recent movie you watched? - Nimona. if you haven't seen it, drop what you're doing and watch it immediately. now. go. why are you still sitting there? go watch it! okay, no, seriously--why aren't more films made like this? it doesn't talk down to kids or families (or anyone else for that matter), it is wholly unashamed of its emotions and finds joy in showing them (even the messier ones), the art is beautiful and vibrant and isn't half-arsed and crap CGI stitched with hand-drawn; it has a fantastic message, and when Ballister said 'I see you, Nimona,' i sat here and fucking bawled.

Are you watching anything on TV or listening to any shows? - i recently finished S3 of The Witcher on Netflix, and...well, i think i'd have to watch again to really start to pick at it and why it didn't particularly vibe for me (the nonsense with Radovid and Jaskier aside; i mean...Radovid? really? blech). i haven't read the books but i am familiar with the lore, but the writing seems to be so uncertain of itself this season, all over the place and muddled. and with production on pause (not just for TWN, obviously), i'm more than a little uncertain of Liam Hemsworth's stepping into the very big boots Cavill's leaving behind. the bar has been set pretty high; i'd say this of any actor, frankly. as for podcasts, i am sooooooo far behind on listening that i think i would have to start many over. i had been listening to Bahumia Two: Electric Boogaloo on NADDPod but that was months ago. my problem is that i have to be in the mindset to listen to pods (side effect of the ADHD), and right now the mindset is 'put on youtube vids or Japanese lo-fi and read fic in your downtime.' how long this will last is anyone's guess.

Favourite season? - autumn, by far. and i don't mean the soft Pinterest moodboard aesthetic type; i mean the frost upon the windowpane when you wake up in the morning but you don't turn the heat on yet because by noon it'll have warmed up enough kind. i mean the mixing of baking bread, strong coffee, herbal tea and the faintest whiff of cigarette smoke. the knowledge that the wind is just on the edge of turning biting and that its teeth will only grow sharper in a month; when you swap out your summer clothes for woolen blankets and soft pants; when you dig out the thicker yarns and the puzzles and rearrange your spooky house bric-a-brac to take pride of place. that kind of autumn.

What's something you've learned recently? - i have learnt factoids and things that would serve me well at pub trivia, but nothing that would serve to make an interesting infodump. not really. all the stuff i infodump about lately is fandom-adjacent and makes my husband's eyes glaze over.

Have you had any water lately? - yes! i drink water on the regular, interspersed with Baja Blast since summer is hanging on by a thread.

i'll support anyone who wants to do this but specifically tag @gadzooie @deacons-wig @totally-not-deacon @wildwildwasteland but no pressure if this isn't your bag!

[cyclicrow]

spent two hours taking apart the world's hardest pumpkin

tiny bastard was a pie pumpkin from a literal month ago that i thought was at risk of going bad but shit was like trying to disembowel a rock

butcher knife after throwing it in the oven for a year (lie) barely had anything on it how fucking long am i gonna have to boil this piece of shits innards to turn it into pie material

[plumcakedeathcake]

NEW WHEEL UPDATE

ADDED:

💜While you were away: Spent a entire day away from the farm (counts as simple being outside)

💜Good hair day: Change your hairstyle at the tailor

💜Yes, you can pet the pet: Pet a pet

💜Its a matter of favouritsm: Choose your least favourite child to succeed you when you die (you dont have to die just yet)

💜Bejeweld: Find 10 jewels in the mine

💜Sing a yo-ho: Find or buy 10 pirate coins

💜Part of your world: Find or buy 10 pearls

💜1700’s snackbar: Have 10 different food things in your inventory

💜Preparing for that afterlife: Give someone either worms, rot, or dirt.

💜The most signifiant thing you can do is die: Become a elder in the game

💜It needs to happen someday: sort out your chests and inventory

💜The bachelor: Give 10 villagers each a rose or another flower

💜A kind of magic: Make 5 potions

💜Can I move them to the farm now?: Pet a ‘’wild’’ animal

💜Just wash your hands: Hand out 5 soaps to 5 different people

💜The doomed doctor: Talk with 5 sick people

Changed the following things:

💜Become a vampire time is changed to one week only X

💜It's not you it's wait it is (name change to ''its not you..) now you are only allowed to divorce your spouse, not to kill them.

💜Tempered hearts: Made it so you now may befriend any cruel villager, not just temperance in case she dies xD

💜Town's Grandma was too vague and has been updated with a better goal/description: Give ten different villagers a nice gift.

💜Don't forget who raised you: This goal was removed due its insane diffculty and planning ahead and just needing so much luck.

💜You won't live long anyway!: Changed the rule that all elders can become your enemy now, not just the starters

💜A perfect child: Now you only need to do one good trait and not 2 xD

💜Homecooked horrors: You need to make 3 meals at home and eat them in a row.

💜Jack the ripper: Changed the name to ''Like Lovers do'' Murder all the spouses of the current carpenter until carpenter dies of old age

💜This cannot be healthy: made it much more clear ; eat 3 tavern foods in a row

💜I am keneough: Name change to ''Get your sparkle on''

💜Get sick and heal; name changed to ''It's a mircale!'' and added the healing part.

💜Is this friendship?: Get 3 friends (namechange)

Booktok in old ages: changed name to enemies to lovers

---

FULL LIST OF ALL OPTIONS NOW!

A perfect harvestfestival: Sacrafice the youngest adult

A good witch: Choose crop growth

A late witch: Miss the meeting (oops?)

A bad witch: Choose curse

A Natural witch: Choose fertility

A kind of magic: Make 5 potions

A dream child: Have a child with one positive trait

A nightmare child: Have a child with one negative trait

Attend a wedding

Attend a funeral

Attend a festival

Buy a dog

Buy a pig

Buy a cat

Become a vampire: You can’t leave your house before dark for a week

Booting up the game: Catch 20 boots!

But why is the rum gone?: Make a gold star wine

Butcher a animal

Blood is thicker: Kill your child/heir

Bejeweld: Find 10 jewels in the mine

Collect 100 potato

Collect 10 pumpkins

Collect 5 lobsters, LOL

Corny collection: Collect 100 corn

Complete a pillar

Cause a happy halloween

Congratulations, everyone hates you now: Insult everyone in town

Change it up: Turn one of the settings on and another off

Cinnamon, please: Make hot chocolate

Can I move them to the farm now?: Pet a ‘’wild’’ animal

Dance on someone’s grave

Destorying happiness: Kill a couple on their wedding

Diamonds are a villager's best friend: You may only propose with the most expensive ring

Die of a illness

Get a farm animal (excludes pets AND THE PIG)

Get married

Get drunk

Get your sparkle on: Wear pink

Give someone randomized a deathcake

Good hair day: Change your hairstyle at the tailor

Help out a ghost

Here, fishy, fishy: Catch 100 fish

Have a baby

Hay now, you're a builder: Get a coop/barn

Homecooked horrors: You need to make 3 meals at home and eat them in a row.

Is this friendship?: Have 3 friends

It’s not you…End your marriage by divorce

Insult a child

It's not much but it's honest work: propose with the worst ring

Its a matter of favouritsm: Choose your least favourite child to succeed you when you die (you dont have to die just yet)

It needs to happen someday: sort out your chests and inventory

It's a mircale! Get sick and get better

Just wash your hands: Hand out 5 soaps to 5 different people

Kick out your child

Kill your spouse

Leaves from the vine: Forage 50 foragables

Lose 1,000 money by buying useless things

Learn a new skill point

Lose a festival

Like Lovers do Murder all the spouses of the current carpenter until carpenter dies of old age

Max out a skill

Make a friend

Make a enemy

Moneymaker: send your kid to work or profit from your spouse

Mushrooms: Eat the first mushroom you find in fall

Now i can retire:) :Earn 10,000 coins

Orphan and adopt a child

Oh, dear: Eat the first fish you catch

Part of your world: Find or buy 10 pearls

Preparing for that afterlife: Give someone either worms, rot, or dirt.

Raise a horrible child with one bad trait

Revolution breaks out: Kill the mayor

Sing a yo-ho: Find or buy 10 pirate coins

snackbar in the 1700’s: Have 10 different food things in your inventory

War breaks out: 5 adults must die (cakes)

Well, Sucks to be you: Die! (deathcake)

Watch a bloodmoon

Tempered hearts: Become BFFS with temperence

Town's grandma: be nice to everyone and give gifts

This is a bad idea: Become enemies with Astra

That won't grow back: Get rid of all your trees

That darned whale!: at sundays,scream at the sea

The most signifiant thing you can do is die: Become a elder in the game

The doomed doctor: Talk with 5 sick people

The bachelor: Give 10 villagers each a rose or another flower

Tempered hearts: befriend any cruel villager

Time escapes me: Your current heir cant use the fast travel boards

Town's Grandma: Give ten different villagers a nice gift.

This cannot be healthy: Eat 3 tavern foods in a row

Upgrade your house

Win a festival

Whoops: Demolish a coop/barn

While you were away: Spent a entire day away from the farm (counts as simple being outside)

War breaks out: 5 adults must die (cakes)

You won’t live long anyway!: Become a enemy with a elder

You wouldn't understand: wear black clothing

You are warned: No save reloading.

Yes, you can pet the pet: Pet a pet

[aceblueorchid]

started using the journey mod and god i love it!! i love mapping shit but several crashes fucked up my in game maps. but aah i am so happy that i can save everything!!!!

infodump about my world below :3

i live in the bottom blue roofed structure near the docks! but my spawn chunks is a blue roofed house surrounded by water. i will have to replace it later; i dont spawn inside the house since its covered, so i will have to make like an open garden space (i like the house too much to delete it but i gotta D:)

Structures around my house: my nether portal, a disabled wool farm, a horse stable with many horseys and skele horseys, a small broken bamboo farm, a villager powered carrot/potato farm, and a semi-working iron farm. It's hard to point them out since they blend in with the trees. ALSO my very first base (now empty) is next to the blue roofed (warped stem/copper my beloved) bridge. again hard to point out my bad.

the big stone square is a failed drowned farm that i made for tridents ( i have plenty now so i will have to destroy it later too). The green and orange roofed structures (big white "W" and "P") are my melon and pumpkin farm. I stopped production bc i have PLENTY and my poopy laptop didnt like it running all the time.

Next to my spawn chunk house is a WHOLE (empty) village/town i made bc i was bored and liked building shit from build tutorials. I have shit labeled as bakeries, stores etc. In the town i have: a butcher shop that has a smoker furnace smelting machine; a blacksmith house that has a smelting setup for furnaces and blast furnaces; a flower shop that has a moss farm that i built recently; a log mill with a tree farm and a stone/cobble/deepslate mining space way underneath. i would LOVE to add more but im burnt out on making detailed buildings then shoving a farm or something inside.

As for my villager hall, I have built and redesigned it at least 3 times now. On the map its surrounded by mushrooms and dark oak trees near the center of the map. I love the final design, despite it looking like a summer camp. But it has like 30+ villagers and perfect defense from raids. Straight down the map from there is the villager breeder itself, with a bright yellow roof. Its set up like a mini lake house/campsite/caravan. Its VERY efficient and I def need to move the villagers. There is an underground rail system that transports them to the villager hall easily.

The white wool dotted area is a template for a mob museum but that plan has a better location. now im thinking of putting a bee/allay/frog garden sanctuary in there instead. Its a big empty space perfect for something but Im not sure yet.

And finally, to the left side of the map dotted in water and cobblestone patches is my mob head collection area. when there is a thunderstorm i drop everything and head over to that area to trident creepers. so thats why its barren and ugly. I dont wanna build anything there bc i use that space for blasting.

oh and obviously theres an abandoned village in the center of the map. the story is long ago a village tried to start out there but failed. then later a new town came along and prospered but left the old village untouched, believing it to be cursed. a couple set up shop closer than the others (right underneath the wheat fields and right of the old village is a book/potion tower shop) and they prospered but very few tried to visit which killed their business. but thats about it tbh lol.

future plans is a bee, frog, allay, and sniffer sanctuary. and several remolding/demolishing projects. I have resigned/moved outta my base like 3 times and my village hall like 3 times. If i dont like it anymore im changing it lol