#I went to the library and a thrift/antique store for the ones I have now

[kryptid-kay]

I have acquired multiple albums. So many. All for under the price of two new records. Life is good

Illness cancelled I have a record player now who wants to hit up a record store with me and go crazy over music

[ohifonlyx33]

I've had 2 free weeks without work and I have been using these last few free days before school starts up to drive 20 minutes away and secretly explore nicer parts of town and places I'm familiar with, but in areas I've never quite been before... its like a special little vacation.

The other day I stopped outside a shop and listened to a busker playing a song I'd never heard. Just because I could.

I browsed thrift shops and antique stores for fun.

I was going to go to a movie too, but I ran out of time and there only one movie I kinda want to see and I missed my only plausible showing.

So instead I just went to a ~*different* library branch.

I sat in the park and read while I ate with chopsticks.

In the past two weeks I've tried a Boba slushie, bingsu (shaved milk ice), a fried Korean cheese and potato hotdog, korean bulgogi and fried chicken, and a hazelnut filed taiyaki fish cake. I visited a fancy French Cafe (ooh la la) and ordered the soup de jour like I knew what I was doing, and even tried my first official, authentic Indian food (butter chicken and tikka masala).

But can someone tell me why at 30 years old I am actually weirdly excited, like bouncing-in-my-seat giddy and grinning, about it??

Like I am almost proud of myself for driving new places alone, sitting down by myself, navigating a fancy menu, or ordering food I've never had before.

You know... stuff that's normal for most people.

Pics because sure why not.

Like this was soooo much fun. And all I did was live life as a single girl with time and money (which I now no longer have)

...back to real life now and school starting soon.

[ghoulishbuck]

This post is for those who want to know places to get books or where I personally get mine. If you would like to add places please leave them in the comments.

Ways I acquire books:

•Libby- this is an app that connects with your library card(s). 90% of what I read I loan from my library using this as audiobooks and ebooks at times are easier for me to use.

•Kindle Unlimited- I own an old fire tablet that I just got two months of kindle unlimited for free on but personally I won’t continue it after it ends because I have a hard time with ebooks.

•Amazon- I rarely buy things on here now but they do often have a lot of books on sale. I do also browse for deals on ebooks and have gotten a plethora of ones I’m interested in for free.

•Secondhand stores- most of my collection comes from secondhand/ thrift stores. I very rarely buy a book from chain stores or for full price. This also includes antique stores.

•PangoBooks- 98% of the time if I want to buy a specific book I’ll look for it here before I look elsewhere. They also at times do give out coupons like spend $20 get $5 off.

•NetGalley- every now and then I’ll request digital arcs (ebooks and audiobooks that aren’t released yet). As long as you read the books you request and review them (or state you DNF’ed and why) on the site and keep your ratio at least at 80% of all accepted request reviewed you’re golden. But, having another place where you talk and review books does increase your chances. Personally, I have my Goodreads and Instagram account linked to help even though I haven’t touched my Instagram account in awhile.

•Library- I’ve barely checked out any books in person since I got my library card but that’s purely because I’m really trying to read my physical tbr and stay away from adding more to it.

•Gifts- if people ask me what I want for something for example my 21st birthday which is a few months away I’ll either say a certain book, an author, or a gift card to someplace that sells books. Sometimes I’ll say other things depending on the person. Now that doesn’t mean I’m expecting a bunch of books especially new ones in fact when I gave someone a list of books and author names I only gave them things that I thought they could easily find in a thrift store and always remind them that it’s not a list of things that needs to be completely bought but more of a scavenger hunt that they can end at anytime.

•Audible- for awhile I had a subscription mostly due to multiple free trials and it not cancelling even after I cancelled… Anyways, I prefer using Libby.

•Half Price Books- this is both a secondhand store and not. A good chunk of my books have come from here although these days this is mostly only my go to when I’m near one, when I don’t have time for a thrift store (I will look at nearly the entire place), or when I’m hoping to find certain more popular books.

•Barnes & Nobles- I very rarely went to Barnes even when I lived near one but every now and then I would buy some books from there. I do wish I could be near one when they do their 50% off hardcover sale they usually do on the 26th of December.

•Giveaways- I’ve won quite a few e-book giveaways on Goodreads. Personally, I’ve only won one physical giveaway and never received it. Which is pretty 50/50 when it’s the publisher doing the giveaway from what I understand.

•Dollar Tree- this is pretty hit or miss but whenever I go I make sure to check out their book section because they do sometimes have books I am interested in.

•Target- their price on books especially viz manga always gets me. Along with the deals they do every now and then like buy one get one 50% off or buy two get one free.

•Walmart- they also have about the same pricing for books as Target does but the only extra deal they do is for books they put on clearance which they put in cardboard bins.

•Book Outlet- discounted books that are pretty cheap although condition can vary. Not like extremely bad but like I have gotten a book with a small rip in the cover, the cover smushed on the top and bottom of the spine and a broken spine on a hardcover. I just think it’s better to know what the condition could be be before going into it. As long as your fine with the chance of getting that I highly recommend it. They are currently doing a fiction books sale right now where their only $5.99 and everything else is 20% off. Just dropping my referral link below if you use it you get $5 off of a $25 or higher order.

•Rightstuf (rip now is under Crunchyroll)- they had some great deals on manga, graphic novels, anime figures, and anime. I sadly didn’t take part in the birthday sale even though I really wanted to but I did make one or two purchases from them and had a good experience.

•Book of the Month- I’ve been getting books from them for just about to be a year and one month. I personally have really enjoyed it but I also will read anything that interest me and usually even if I don’t care for the months picks after watching people react to them and talk about them I want to pick up at least one of them. Book of the Month referral below.

•Aardvark- I got this one month with the discount code they always have where you get your first book for $4. There’s been a few books I wanted that they have but it’s been too rare for me.

Other ways that I haven’t yet done:

•Library sales- every now and then libraries will sell the books they no longer plan to keep in circulation and the profits go directly to the library.

•Little Free Libraries- these are strictly take a book leave a book deals. Most of these are run by a book lover who just wants to make books more accessible to people but they have to take the money out of their own pocket to keep it filled.

•Asking Publishers for physical arcs- this is the one I’m most anxious about and know the least about. From what I heard you have better chances of getting accepted for physical arcs if you have a big following. And it’s better to wait until you have had a book blog be somewhat regularly active (every week or two minimum) for six months. After that point you have to send an email to the publisher specifically asking for a certain physical arc(s), link your blog, make it professional sounding and just cross your fingers.

•Independent bookstore- I live in the middle of nowhere so the closest one to me is over two hours away (this is actually the closest bookstore period) and it’s also pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I just have a hard time paying full price so even though I love browsing through a bookstore the drive just for the bookstore that’s full price isn’t worth it.

•ThriftBooks- I like to know the condition I’m buying books in so I’ve never bought something from here as new could actually mean good condition depending on the person.

•SciFier- this is what a lot of people especially in the UK use especially for manga. It’s like a Rightstuff but from what I’ve seen better.

•eBay- I feel more comfortable with Pango’s system of just incase the seller screw’s you over than with eBay’s so I’ve never bought anything from here.

•Facebook Marketplace- I don’t have Facebook so I’ve never used this but I have seen some good deals.

•Garage/Yard/Estate Sales- I haven’t been to any of these in quite some time but when I did go things were quite cheap because they just wanted to get rid of things.

•Illumicrate- special edition book subscription service

•Fairyloot- special edition book subscription service

•Owlcrate- special edition book subscription service

•Broken binding- special edition book subscription service

•Forbidden planet- Manga, books, comics and figures store

•Indigo- Canada’s verison of Barnes & Nobles

[sultryvodka]

𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚! 𝙖𝙤𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨 | 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 1

𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 - 𝙢𝙖𝙮 4𝙩𝙝

warnings: mild swearing, mildly suggestive (if you squint lol)

| armin - colt - eren - jean - porco |

armin arlert

• i think most, if not all of us, agree that armin looks like the type to get all flustered with PDA & shy away from his emotions --- HOWEVER.

• rather than being all over you, he finds himself most comfortable with holding your hand or having an arm wrapped around your shoulders.

• he wouldn't mind you being clingy though 👀

• would occasionally place a gentle peck on your forehead, cheeks & his personal favorite; the palm of your hands.

• you guys' dates would mostly end up being in a library, café & restaurants with a nice warm atmosphere.

• i bet he would be the kind of guy to take you to the beach whenever you're stressed out in hopes of calming you down.

• gets very defensive when his friends tease you, if a man could bark his friends away, it's armin arlert.

• this lad over here would establish a routine with you (with your consent & opinions ofc)

• mondays to friday mornings are centered on school, you guys do your own thing at school & walk you home while making sure to stop by a convenience store for snacks, assuming that you guys don't live together yet.

• both of you make it a point to check on one another to make sure you guys aren't wearing yourselves out.

• which leads me to the conclusion that your parents grew very fond of him & treats him more like their child

• when you guys are having a sleepover, this whole lowkey facade of his takes a 180 and the second you reach the bedroom he'll shower you with cuddles and kisses.

• you would watch movies (mostly rom-com just bc armin makes it work okay) tucked in a warm futon with popcorn and candies between you two.

• armin strikes me as a very studious guy and he does this to ensure you guys' future together ^-^

• all in all armin cares about you so much and he doesn't mind being vulnerable to you. he is your safe haven, and so are you to him.

colt grice

• okay can we talk about how this perfect man deserves some more attention

• colt, my man, gives me disney's prince florian vibes. the soft-spoken, kind-hearted, & just an absolute dream.

• he's the kind of guy to take you to the park, a greenhouse, & WORKSHOPS!!!

• given the idea that he is in fact a shy little baby, he is actually pretty active with you. every date you guys have is different. mans has a quest planned out for y'all.

• at school i think that you might be the one to initiate skinship. doesn't have to be kisses on the lips, it's more of gently trailing your index on the back of his hand or rubbing a hand on his forearm when he gets a little anxious.

• the type to peek through your classroom's door because bubba's too shy to ask someone to call for you 🤧

• colt, in my opinion, is very domestic in private, now don't get me wrong he may be a little too shy in public because he isn't used to it but i promise you he takes on the nurturing role of the relationship more than you are.

• he helps you with cleaning, folding your clothes, and god if you guys get periods, he's got a whole pouch in his locker just for you.

• he doesn't do it intentionally, he happens to know you so well that he notices the slight change in your moods & cravings.

• colt often reads a book while you guys cuddle during the afternoons once all the work is done, he'd make you tea or whatever you want. he hums a tune, probably from old disney movies that his brother falco used to enjoy as a kid.

• your parents are more invested in your marriage than you and colt combined.

• okay, now if you happen to have a baby or a toddler somewhere around the house, someone keep this man from turning into a putty.

• as much as colt acts prim and proper most of the time, he has his moments where he just wants to be an entire mess. perhaps sleeping past his usual waking time, indulging in more snacks than usual. you know, loosen up? yeah, that is a side of his that only YOU will ever be allowed to see.

• so yes you and colt would be labeled as the: put-together couple who needs a little bit of adventure every now and then.

eren jaeger

• i hope i don't ramble too long because i love him sm

• mr. loverboy over here is a simp for you, more than you are a simp for him! he is not afraid to show you off and shower you with flattery. now he does this because he feels so lucky to have you.

• he can be a little cliché (well maybe not as much as jean --- more on that later), like he'll randomly interrupt your vacant class with a gift box he put together, & a bouquet. yes. (carla helped him pick out flowers from her shop)

• he's the type to crash his lips with yours in the middle of campus when you achieve something or when he does, vice-versa. if he plays in one of your school's teams, there just HAS to be a bet that if he wins he gets a kiss... or more... or something else.

• dates with eren are usually random than planned. like it pops in his head and he'll inform you right away. he respects your vacancy too of course but if you aren't he might pout just a little bit.

• his ideal dates are prop shop dates, going to hotspots, amusement parks, antique shops! & maybe late night drinks at a quiet bar where you can both enjoy the solace of the atmosphere.

• on special occasions, he does plan ahead. usually it's something on the simpler side. candlelit dinners at home or somewhere you guys both enjoy dining.

• if eren's had a bad day, best believe that he will run to you for comfort. only you can help keep his aggressive response to anger at bay.

• if given the chance he would take you around the world, he's that passionate in making sure you live a little

• hear me out... you and eren would probably have the most philosophical conversations, just laying on your backs beneath his room's skylight? heavenly.

• eren can get a little poetic expressing himself & i believe that it's just wonderful. no one can describe their feelings as good as eren.

• his favorite look of yours is when your eyes beam with excitement, it usually happens when you spot something that you used to enjoy as a kid or when you're concentrating on one of your hobbies.

• he's a very touchy person too, his hands are usually on your stomach/waist, his kisses are random & they linger for awhile.

• when you're asleep next to him, it's his habit to solemnly watch you while his own drowsiness starts to take over.

• eren is passionate & sometimes people might take it the wrong way. one of the reasons eren loves you is because of the way you understand how he is. mutual growth for y'all ♡.

jean kirschtein

• jean is not afraid to pull a live performance for you, you see this man is at the top of the world when he's with you. from 80s hits to recent releases this man will blast his playlists catered for you.

• dates with jean are certainly spent on concerts, (him & eren bond over chase atlantic don't argue with me) music festivals, thrifting & late night drives!!!

• personally, i don't see jean as very gimmicky unless you guys are with his friends, he takes you very seriously and you are his top priority.

• at school i think he's definitely one of those flirtatious boyfriends. the kind who would not miss an opportunity to blow you a kiss or throw you a wink. he can be a bit of a dork, who wouldn't be? if he can get one of your rare smiles 🥺

• jean's the type to ask his pals for help when it comes to styling. not because he dresses badly but he's too focused on getting a flush on your cheeks. he's a hopeless romantic.

• if you guys happen to stay at home, he'll definitely serenade you with the amount of songs he had written recently just for you.

• since he bonds with sasha and connie, his jokes are either dad jokes or something that went viral on tiktok. he's the perfect balance of goofy and mature.

• if you aren't much of an active person he wouldn't mind being lazy with you and insist on a diy spa day at home.

• it's just netflix with a tub of ice cream and face masks on.

• since jean is quite the romantic, he would be into couple outfits or items that aren't cringey obv and probably doesn't mind using your perfume or vice-versa.

• jean probably asked you out during one of his gigs, offering you a single rose afterwards.

• he's the type to leave you random post-it notes if he visits your house. just random phrases or doodles. and boy does he pick you up every single day on his smexy motorcycle.

• he'll bring you coffee and breakfast to-go. this man's spoiling you baby.

• aside from that, i feel like jean would make you hand-made gifts with the help of his momma. he thinks it's sentimental when you make your presents because it's one of a kind.

• jean does all these things because he's 100% about you being a constant person in his life. he loves how he can be whoever he wants when he's around you, i'm certain you guys wouldn't have it any other way either.

porco galliard

• porco can be a dick if he wants to not to you though, this tough guy turns into putty just for you. he definitely loves being treated like a baby.

• at first he might come off as cold because he isn't used to the whole romance thing and he gets flustered with the slightest pecks so you might have to initiate at first.

• but once you guys get through the awkward phase this boy would straight up greet you with a passionate kiss and does not give a damn about everybody who witnessed it. he might even have a stupid smirk on his face.

• like eren, i feel like porco would be very passionate and intense. he doesn't say much but he definitely shows you just how much he adores you.

• speaking of friends (: reiner would tease him every second of the day. i bet he would team up with bertholdt to annoy this poor boy. annie and pieck's not much help either.

•whenever you're stressed, porco would run you a bath and give you massages very often. he'll sit on the edge of the tub while he runs his hand through your hair.

•his type of dates would be watching at a cinema or a drive-in, going to the mall just to look around,he's a simple guy.

•if you guys happen to have an argument, porco would distance himself for a few minutes to a few hours just to process the situation and avoid anything his aggression might cause.

•he knew that if he wanted you guys to work he needed to be better.

•he would come back though and hold you in his arms while you guys talk it out.

•i bet he's one of the aot characters who would be an athlete, so most days you'll end up watching him practice.

•overtime, porco would be more open to being intimate in public and post stories of you two just doing things most couples do.

•he's proud that you're his and he's all yours.

•porco is a great guy and he would do anything just to make you smile.

i hope you guys liked these~! let me know who you guys want to be in the second part. requests are open and as always, stay safe! - 🌸☁️

[bussypadussy]

Please tell us about your horrible dream

So glad you asked.

I am 5-6 year old (im rarely ever myself in my dreams, damn near never btw) and im with my grandma, dad and brother at this..... office? Like a hospital waiting room but theres a couple short lines of the old, huge computer monitors running windows xp. Its my appointment, so i get to log myself in on the computer. There’s a really heavy feeling im being watched by everyone bc theyre monitoring my every move and it was really unsettling but i didnt pay any mind to it in the dream.

Its so weirdly familiar like ive really been there. Everything is in fun, childish colors. We entered into this buildings waiting/reception area. I couldnt call it a waiting “room” bc everythjng behind the desk youre waiting for is just through a entryway. There arent doors to separate places, just have to go around a corner or straight ahead past an arch opening.The only thing purposefully dividing things is a 4 foot kiddie gate.

Its my turn though. I get to go through whatever is around the walls behind the desk. My grandma will be coming with me to make sure i dont get lost or trip or whatever stupid little kids do. We go to a little kid library section first. Again, theres no one else there and the only sound is from small tvs are there playing what i could guess was dragon tales. I am not allowed to sit and watch dragon tales.

We pasted through other spots but what really matters out of everything there was the *hologram room*. This room does seem closed of and inaccessible where all the other spots were just a hallway away. So much so that i actually dont seen an exit, not even the way that i came in when i turned around. My grandma was gone suddenly and all that was in front of me was seemingly endless hills of soft grass. A really beautiful prairie with soft wind and the sky was clear. I forgot about how i got here or where i was but i didnt even think care.

Then theres a BIG dog, I mean a HUGE dog running to me coming over the horizon. Two stories tall and such a handsome golden lab. My heart melted and I realized it was Biscuit (a toy from my childhood in real life. Its strange to think how much well the love i felt for the dog in real life was recreated into my dream). Anyways, but nows he’s enormous, and hes moving all on his own! Hes so excited to see me and so am i. Im crying and heaving painfully hard from how happy i am to see him again. I dont know what happened to him irl or where he went.

We run to each other and all i can remember now is just crying crying cryin harder and harder. Im telling the dog how much ive missed him and how lonely it is without him, how bad i need him to stay with me. Hes giving such a look of understanding its on pare with human reaction. Biscuit can hear me and he is understanding what im saying just like everybody else he just cant talk.

Hours must have gone by and now i sit under a tree in these hills on a tartan blanket with Biscuit and well kept antique dolls ive always admired like at thrift stores. All i could feel was total ease and shear bliss in happiness. But a hole opened up and i had to leave. I HAD to go through it and i wasnt even told where it was gonna go, but i had to. I didnt even want to. Biscuit and all the dolls are cry and sobbing how theyll never see me again if i go and i get such a pain like im being stabbed. Once i do step through all i have is this feeling of falling. Not like how in dreams when it feels like you tripped off a curb, this was lasting for a few minutes.

I landed in a dark room. Must have been painted black walls bc its infinitely dark except some bright stage lights coming from all different directions. The walls are too dark to consider how far things go on in front of me and the lights are too strong i cant get a sense of whats close to me. But there's something in there with me. I think it was whatever was watching me before in the room with the computers. The "doctors" I think now that Im remembering.

Then Im 16. Im back at home. Its like i was just having nostalgia but the memory is just too fuzzy to where im not sure if it was real. But i know i was grounded now and i was safe and everything was back. It was just a weird thiught in the back of my head. Im going to the table to eat. Still thinking about what a weird experience.

Somehow the name of the "hospital" comes up in conversation and i learn it was all real. It all really happened to me and the place was real, all of it. I did experience ungodly realistic holograms and i did have that chance of staying with Biscuit and the dolls in total nirvana. IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I MADE UP.

Thats when I woke up for real.

[janihernan]

Why Ron Ended Up Giving Harry a Thrifted Sneakoscope

——

I wanted to contribute to my HP fandom for the very first time so I tried making this Romione fanfic to celebrate Hermione’s 41st Birthday. This is my own version of Hermione’s Birthday in my second favorite book in the HP series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Please bare with me since this is also my first time to write a fanfiction and sadly my invite in my preferred Fan fiction site is still on its way.

——

The Grangers arrived to meet the Weasleys in Leaky Cauldron where they could leave all Hermione’s things since they gave her permission to stay for the night. After they had tea and some food, they bade their goodbyes to Hermione. Without any delays, Ron and Hermione immediately agreed to find Harry. They went to every store in Diagon Alley to see if Harry was there but there were no signs of him.

“Bloody hell, where is Harry? He said that he’ll be just in Diagon Alley.” Ron started to swear, and they were both tired as they went back and forth to the shops.

“Why don’t we eat Ice Cream first in Florean de Fortescue?” Hermione suggested. “We’re both sweating already.” She added.

It was not peak hours when they got there, there were tables available. “You can order Hermione, I’ll wait on that table.” Ron pointed on a table in front of the ice cream parlor.

“There is not much people, we’ll surely have a table. We can order together.” Hermione replied.

“I kind of spent all my savings in Egypt.” Ron told her. “ Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m still full.” Ron added quickly and he gestured for Hermione to get inside and sat in one of the tables outside. He looked around for the signs of Harry until Hermione arrived. She had two ice cream cups in her hands. “Still no signs of Harry?” She asked and he shook his head.

“I reckoned we need sugars to find him.” She placed an ice cream cup in front of Ron. “Blimey, Hermione, you don’t have to.” Ron said. “Start digging in or it will melt.” She told him with her usual authoritative tone and they started eating while talking about what happened to them in the summer. In a short while, Harry found them.

In no time, it was already the 19th of September in 1993. Ron still keeps on insisting to Hermione that she is not telling them something as they were making their way to breakfast. This started when Ron was noticing that Hermione can attend all of her classes.

“How many times do I need to tell you Ron, that I fixed it with Professor McGonagall?” Ron has gotten the same answer multiple times since he raised that concern, and he never wanted to stop until he hears the answer that he wanted.

“Still, I cannot understand how you can attend all your classes. Blimey Hermione, taking all classes would make you mental.” Ron retorted, but Hermione shrugged it off as she continued to stride to the great hall ahead of Ron and Harry.

“See, Harry? She always shrugs it off whenever I speak to her about it.” Ron spoke to Harry, but Harry changed the topic into the coming of the Quidditch season which made Ron forget what he was talking about.

They sat down in front of Hermione in the Gryffindor table. They started to eat their breakfast beneath the enchanted ceiling of a clear sky when owls started fly in the great hall dropping parcels and letters to their respective owners. Hermione got letters and packages in their table compared to them, who did not get anything.

Hermione was looking delighted as she rummaged through her packages. “Oh Mom and Dad, you don’t have to.” She exclaimed as she saw a bunch of cat treats from muggle groceries, and a set of mittens and scarves. She also opened a package from Flourish and Blotts and saw different coloured quill inks when Harry spoke, “I was waiting for that to arrive before I could greet you Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you Harry!” Hermione smiled at Harry. “Well thanks for the broom supplies too!” Harry said casually as he continued eating. Ginny also passed by to greet Hermione and gave her a greeting card.

“Happy Birthday Hermione.” Ron remarked, and Hermione smiled at Ron for a while until her face changed from the brink of excitement to anxiousness. “My Arithmancy assignment is still undone and we also have an oral recitation tomorrow, I have so many things to do today.” She ate faster than they could imagine, Harry and Ron followed her pace.

Hermione worked in the library the whole day. Ron and Harry went with her in the afternoon after lunch but they roamed around the halls after they finished the requirements they need to pass for the next day.

“I don’t in Merlin’s Beard understand how Hermione can enjoy her birthday by just spending her day in the Library. How come she never gets tired of books being her everyday view?” Ron muttered out of the blue as they went through the doors of the library to pick up Hermione for dinner.

“Well, we also never get tired of Quidditch.” Harry shrugged.

“You got a point.” Ron replied and they saw Hermione still engrossed in her books. Hermione did not notice them until Ron spoke.

“It’s your birthday, Hermione, why don’t you give yourself a break?”

“A break is not worth my time instead of investing it into my studies.” Hermione said as she looked up to the two of them.

“Did you come here so you could get your essays checked for Divination?” Hermione added quickly.

“We came here to pick you up so we could head to the great hall together.” Ron instantly told Hermione, and when nobody spoke, he jerked at Harry for moral support, but he saw Hermione shoved all her books in her bag.

“Mind to help me?” Before Harry could get the bag of books, Ron already grabbed it from Hermione and placed the remaining books in her sack. After dining in the great hall, they spent some time in the common room. Ron bickered with Hermione again about Crookshanks and then Ron went again on Hermione’s time table.

“You’re not telling us something Hermione and you’re really becoming unfair.” Ron said with incredulity.

“For once Ron, can it be just your birthday gift to stop asking me that question?” Hermione uttered in annoyance and looked back into her work.

“Fine.” Ron answered and made his way up to the Boys’ Dormitory. Harry followed after a while. As usual he did not talk to Ron about Hermione but about their lessons about Defense Against The Dark Arts. “If it was not because of that git Malfoy, Hagrid’s class would never be so boring.” Ron talked. It came into a time that Harry and Ron went into their beds. It was getting late at night and Ron was fighting his urge to sleep, he sighed as he look at Scabbers peacefully sleeping beside him.

When the time was right, he peeked through his curtains to look if Harry is still awake, and quietly he stepped out of his bed and opened his trunk with hardly any sound. He dug his hand under it until he got a heavy piece wrapped into some Egyptian cloth. It was already almost midnight and he was sure that Hermione is still down in the common room doing some work. He was not wrong, Hermione was always left alone late at night.

Hermione noticed Ron immediately as he set foot in the common room. “Why are you up so late at night?” Ron was a bit relieved that Hermione was talking to him even after doing their constant dagger stares when they bicker.

“Uhmm, I might need to go to the loo.” Ron was finding words, and she was right he might need to go to the loo. “With that bulky object?” Ron stopped in his tracks and turned back to Hermione and went near the couch where she is sitting and dropped the package in the table in front of her. ‘It’s nothing, it seemed brilliant when I first saw it, it looks quite antique. I suppose you could have it.’, said Ron.

Hermione glanced at Ron and then to the package like she could not believe her eyes and spoke, “You did not have to.”

“Perhaps, I’m like your Mom and Dad now as you muttered earlier in the morning ‘Oh Mom and Dad, you did not have to’” Ron mocked Hermione and she chuckled as she opened the package.

“It’s an Egyptian book of magic, about their culture and their spells. Ron, this is rare and ancient.” Hermione turned the bulky book around in scrutiny.

“You said in your letters that you wished to see Egypt and I reckoned that books can give you some sort of experience, maybe it is also why you never get tired to read.” Ron reasoned out lightly but Hermione was not listening, she started skimming through the pages.

“I really wanted to see Egypt, if I would have a chance, would you come to see it again with me?” Hermione uttered out of the blue and her eyes were gleaming which leaves Ron with no choice to answer.

“Sure. Why not?” Ron remarked with uncertainty.

There was a sound in the portrait hole, and both Ron and Hermione jumped in their seats. Fred, George, and Lee Jordan was laughing as they entered. It was like they have done a mischief. “Filch and Peeves are on it again.” They laughed harder and they saw Ron and Hermione.

“I thought you left that book that costed all of your savings at home.” Fred teased Ron.

“Well, he said that it was brilliant, maybe as brilliant as the Chudley Cannons.” George added.

Ron stood up, and declared, “Well the book was bloody brilliant and nothing compared to Lockhart’s. I think I’m off to bed with you.” Ron even marched ahead of them, and he said without looking at Hermione. “Good night Hermione.”

[maggotmouth]

         hello, its nora again ( she/her, gmt ) n this is the ethereal but spoiled alma olive putnam (she goes by all 3 names cos she’s pretentious as fuck).  ive never used anya taylor joy as her fc before but anya has a smile that looks like she knows something u dont and thats completely alma’s vibe so we’re gonna try it out. she was raised in a farmhouse in vermont, big horse girl energy. very hungry for everything life has to offer. wakes up and smells the success in her blood. luvs the smell of libraries and listening to french music from a tinny record player in knee socks. here is pinterest. bio is below the cut, like this post to be bombarded with plotting messages but i might forget or get shy tho so pls message me x

application template.

ANYA TAYLOR - JOY   ,   CIS-FEMALE   ,   SHE/HER         →         according   to   the   school   records   ,   ALMA OLIVE PUTNAM   has   been   attending   sacred   heart   for   the   past   three   years   .   i   last   saw   them   hanging   around  the  sacred   heart   cathedral   ;   i   think   they   were   studying   the   stations   of   the   cross   with   a   smile   like   a   well - kept   secret.   at   twenty   -   one   years   old   ,   alma   has   been   studying   classics   and   get   this   ,   i   heard   that   she   has   made   a   fortune   on   the   black   market   by   forging   renaissance   art   to   sell   to   collectors   —   figure   it’s   true   ?   everyone   around   here   always   associates   them   with    neck   scarves   tied   around   your   throat   the   way   they   do   in   french   new   wave   films , running   barefoot   through   the   woods   drunk   on  red  wine   and  untapped   power , a  smile  like  a   locked   door   that   speaks   only  in   riddles  .   in   the   time   since   these   strange   happenings   ,   they   have   have   encountered   any   unexplained   occurrences   .         (   written   by   nora   ,   24   ,   she/her   ,   gmt   )

aesthetics.

a red beret nestled on top of bright platimum locks, neck scarves tied around your throat the way they do it in french new wave films, running barefoot through the woods in feckless hedonism, china dolls with porcelain faces lined against the walls of your room, the mona lisa smile, knee-socks tugged over the hockey grazes on your knees, a forged botticelli drying on your easel, ophelia floating in the middle of a lake.

proceed w caution, tw for death, drugs, alcohol, violence

the short form. (still long af tbh)

— studying classics cos she thinks it makes her sound smart, but actually hates fuckin latin and just loves learning about feckless hedonism and the festivals of bacchus and writing about how all women in myth are literally forgotten. was expelled from princeton in her first year so her parents basically paid her way into sacred heart and the board really liked her in her interview. i think the governors kind of expect to see her in the supreme court one day or st

—  born in vermont in a big old farmhouse. her great-great-grandfather moved to america as an immigrant and worked on a plantation, made his way up cos he could speak a lot of languages and therefore win more people over. for the last two generations, putnam men have owned the farm and do little of the dirty work. big in the meat industry.

— both her parents had large personalities, so alma’s never really been shy around adults, even as a kid she’d speak to them in a forthright, confident manner, and because she was always surrounded by adults, she’s always seemed a bit wise beyond her years.

— very much a consolidation of every character in the secret history. has a morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs. obsessed with w.h. auden and the beat poets. — ”aestheticism is the only thing worth pursuing and even that is pointless” — is majoring in classical civilisation. can read ancient greek and latin. also speaks french.

— studies hard and plays hard. she gets top marks but it’s because academia is literally her life, she loves the smell of libraries, the ancient smoke of learning, of feeling like old wine in a new bottle reincarnated from the bones of some old, dead witchy woman who invented a cure for cowpox or somethin.

— isn’t a foward-planner, however. alma prefers to leave her options open, play the field, live in a spontaneous manner so her study style is mostly cramming a few days before a test, or staying up all night writing an essay on a massive adrenaline boost powered by red bull or probably adderall, scribbling (or typing) furiously into the night.

— pretentious motherfucker. loves poetry, especially the romantics, loves morbid ones too, edgar allen poe, sylvia plath, allen ginsberg, she just loves them all. can’t get enough. her favourite films are like…. wanky artfilm independent european cinema. especially french new wave. “what do you think of goddard’s work??” while snorting a line off someone’s sink at 5am on a school night, but you can bet she’ll make it to that 9am class. — very intelligent and beautiful and knows both of those facts. plays devil’s advocate. humanitarian, vegan. — judgemental but takes great care not to appear so. petty and vindictive

— obsessively devours mystery and thriller novels. she herself is a gillian flynn book waiting to happen. — tries to be an enigma. wants to be mysterious and unreadable because that’s what books have taught her makes women desirable and interesting and cool. very amy dunne in the way she expertly reinvents herself to suit her audience, when she wants to impress

—  an incredibly talented dancer. she was accepted to juliard to study ballet, but after an injury to her foot she had to refuse her place, something that she’s incredibly bitter about. she went to princeton instead to study classics for a semester, before being expelled. 

— alma comes from a family of high-end art dealers. while her parents paid her way into the school, that was mostly due to previous expulsions, not low intelligence. she’s incredibly intelligent but will only put in effort when she deems the cause worthy. she’s frustrating to teach, because she requires evidence, truth, in order to accept something as worthwhile. she plays devil’s advocate, but academically she’s brilliant. 

—  she can recognise any renaissance artist just by their brush strokes. her aunt and uncle deal antiques and art, and from an internship with them after her expulsion from princeton, she learned how to market and sell art, how to recognise originals in contrast to fakes. from this, alma began to produce counterfeit art and sell it off as the original work to the contacts she had made in her internship. it’s disloyal, but it’s powerful.

— act like the flower but be the serpent under it. is a user. manipulative. leads people on. will throw another student under the bus to demonstrate her own intelligence and integrity — heavily involved in the theatre society. loves attention. — has an addictive personality. seems unable to do anything in a small dose, she has to let it utterly consume her. with sports, she’s fiercely competitive, runs track, played lacrosse at school, now is a cheerleader probably. with alcohol, it’s never a shot, it’s a whole bottle – wine or whiskey – she’ll be table dancing before the night’s up and making out with someone she’ll regret in the morning.

— her clothing style is like…. vintage thrift store but make it preppy. berets and cute hats, neck scarves, large fluffy cardigans or like those leathery jackets with big suede fringes on them, mini skirts (very 70s), and knee-high socks or boots. quite often she’ll be in sports kit, maybe a cute tennis skirt, n when she’s feeling casual she’ll wear like, a talking heads tshirt with a pair of mom jeans and converse, but otherwise, the library is her catwalk. — relates to ophelia from hamlet and sibyl vane in dorian gray. weirdly obsessed with women who commit suicide. loves jackson pollock paintings and abstract art. – likes old things. old books, old music, old houses, it reminds her of happier times like when she wasn’t alive. buys all her music on vinyl and has a gramophone because “the sound quality is better” kfdsjj.

plots.

here are some generic wanted plots but by all means message me so we can flesh them out more if any strike ur interest:

study buddies !! someone who is equally unprepared and so spends all night in the library with alma before a big deadline, maybe they even met in the library

if they’re from new england or vermont, then cousins . second cousins / extended family / family friends –  probably spat volavons on your character once as children, omg childhood friends !

honestly someone who is fully in love with her or crushing on her that she can just break would be sweet :/ or on the other hand someone she unexpectedly gets feelings for and actually wants to guage her own  eyeballs out bc of it

frinds !! unlikely friends !! toxic friends !! former best friends separated by sporting or academic rivalries !

hockey / cheer friends who are on other teams but who she absolutely loves playin against!!!

fellow academics who like meeting up to discuss latin and greek ! gimme a secret society bonding by their love of ancient learning

i reckon she’s in a lot of societies, definitely the film club, maybe works as a projectionist at the uni cinema if they have one so give me ppl affiliated with that, give me fellow wanky pretentious art-lovers and poets and historians who will go to museums and galleries with her and listen to the velvet underground on vinyl

people she gets mortally fucked off her tits with at parties

people who think she is throwing her academic potential away by caving to hedonistic impulse

a secret society !!! honestly i would die for a slug club esque thing in which the children of notable families are invited to dinners or alma’s also an art forger, so maybe like a club of students set up to basically forge paintings and documents from the university special collections

people she has drunkenly made out with, hooked up with, or regularly sleeps with casually, maybe even a friend w benefits she is repressing feelings for, i love angst,

people she used to date or unrequitedly likes, but to them it’s just a physical thing, give me all the thirsty angst plots, and maybe some softness too, i need some religion in this girls life, she is a roman catholic after all

full biography.

alma olive putnam.

intro.

        the girl is a knife. razor-sharp, double-edged, the bright shine of a two-faced, lovely thing. silver like the secrets you magpie thief from other heads. you’re a scavenger of knowledge, of tidbits, of gossip to lock away for later use and late-night re-inspection. a mind is like a clock if you get to learn the pieces. bit by bit, you dismantle the inner workings of the brains that tick around you – how easy it is to change it’s path, how words and their meanings can make a person laugh or cry in an instant. to have the power to control that is to be a god. it’s the power trip you crave wielding pom-poms in your hands; a possessive need for control that a younger you, small and weak, never had as a child. small lips, smaller smile, a doll clutched in your too-hungry fingers, hard enough to shatter the bones of a real infant. you cut your hair with your mother’s kitchen scissors before the autumn falls, rendering you out of season, unfit for the cold weather that beats against the nape of your neck, where a stick-and-poke marks the star you were born under ; the bull. “mama, when will i be a queen?” as soon as they find a crown small enough not to slip from your head.

biography.

        if you get hungry enough, they say, you start eating your own heart. hands red, stained by pomegranate seeds, the empty pulp of its shell splattered on your thighs you find yourself wondering – what would it be like to want? in the beginning, you never knew hunger. twins, born under the same star, you first, him second – a nuclear family. never a sister to compete with, you were always the cherry pie of your parents’ hearts. white-haired, blue-eyed, beautiful baby of mine. the townhouse in vermont and the summer house in lyon, you wanted for nought, showered with attention, saddled with gifts - hardly a wonder you came to rely on such affection as a confirmation of your own worth.

        at eight years old you first met death, blood on a gingham-print dress, a smear of it over your cheekbone and the pulp of a mangled animal at your feet murdered by the hands of a stable boy. “alma, my precious baby, you get away from that filth,” your mama would cry from the upstairs balcony – cigar in one hand and a bloody mary in the other – though whether the filth she referred to was the dead pig or the boy with a kernel of corn in his mouth, you never did find out.

        your family earned their keeps in farming, great-grandfather wolfgang hildegarde a german immigrant, great-grandmother maura lisbon a prairie girl. they fell hopelessly in love between troughs and pig-shit, working for three dollars a day at a farm their descendants would later own, trade deals with the indians, vacations to calcutta, your father todd putnam in the kind of sheepskin coat his father’s father could only dream of owning. he worked hard so that you’d never have to. your mama once asked – you heard it through the window, rounding cartwheels across the picket-fenced lawn – could he not find a respectable career rather than selling shrink-wrapped pork for a dime a dozen? that blood money had no business raising a child. you look far back enough, edie, your father had said in his low, strong voice that could bring a civil war to silence, and i think you’ll find that all money is blood money.

        language was never fickle on your tongue, french dinner time talk by the time you were out of your hush puppy shoes, your mama fixing the au pair a smile as she fixed herself another martini. you learned the clarinet at four and how to dance with the grace of a swansong at six, ethereal under a spotlight, an audience captive in the palm of your hand. by eight you knew that you’d always been destined to be loved. loved so hard they would want to taste you, bite into the soft plump of your cheek and eat you alive. that was how magnetic you wanted to feel. but mother hamsters eat their own young when penned in together too long, and soon you became too wild, too restless, another package on your father’s delivery invoice, box-shipped out to english boarding school.

        fitting in had never been something you had to concern yourself with. you were always the shiny new toy the other girls wanted to play with, bright like a dropped coin from a magpie’s beak. wherever you went, you seemed to leave a trail of awe, pig-tailed harriet’s adoring you, imitating you, teachers forgiving your class-time chatter for the sake of your wild heart and the restless spirit you possessed. tell us what it’s like in the states, alma. they’d coo, enamoured by your hollywood drawl. does your father own a gun? you hardly knew. barely even knew the colour of his hair, for the scarce amount of times he’d stoop to kiss your cheek, though you’d tell silver-tongued tales if it’d guaranteed you an audience. when you learned how to smile at the right times, and that flattery would get you everywhere, it soon became apparent that charm would pave the yellow brick road to success even when your lack of drive couldn’t.

        the road you followed – gum-snapping, roller-blading, friendship bands all up your arm – eventually led you to sacred heart. bright-eyed and gingham skirted, you’d always known you were more. there was a hunger in you to be something extraordinary, a want so adamant to be imagined and desired that it was almost savage. in leather-bound volumes and a circle of stones, you were helen of troy, the girl for whom they’d launch a thousand ships. but there’s so much rage within you, collecting like sawdust in cavernous parts. hockey helped. there was something grounding about the feeling of a stick clasped in your hands. sweat. stiff knuckles. feet pounding the earth. the smash of wood against flesh in the scram of a game, passed off as mere enthusiasm. “slipped, sorry.” hockey is the one thing you had that was yours alone – a feral instinct that motivates you to play; something primitive within you that sparks an energy like no other. on the pitch, you feel alive. you feel like a god.

[alarawriting]

2019 Inktober 29: Injured

Nightmare Before Christmas extension!

It began when you were 10. You were over Lisa’s house for her birthday, and she received a doll as a gift from her grandparents. Lisa was not known for her graciousness. “Euw! This doll is so creepy!” she complained, pushing it away from herself.

“Let me see,” you said, and Lisa gave you the creepy doll, which in your opinion wasn’t creepy at all. It was a blonde little girl with very large eyes, mouth partially open and visible teeth, rosy cheeks and pale skin.

“That doll is vintage,” Lisa’s grandmother complained. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong is that this doll is ugly and creepy and weird and I don’t want it!”

“I do,” you said. “I think she’s pretty.”

“Well, then,” Lisa’s grandmother said, “Courtney can have the doll.” She smiles benevolently on you. “Go on, dear. You can keep the doll.”

You smiled graciously. “Thank you!” you said, knowing Lisa had just angered her parents and grandparents by being so ungrateful. You wanted to make them feel better. “I know Lisa just gets weirded out by dolls sometimes. She didn’t mean to be rude.”

From Lisa’s glowering expression, it was obvious that she had meant to be rude, but you’d given her an out and now that her initial reaction was past and she knew she didn’t have to keep the doll, it seemed like she’d realized the tactical error she’d made. “I’m sorry, Grandma.  Courtney’s right, I kinda get scared of dolls sometimes.”

“Well, what a stupid thing to be afraid of,” Lisa’s grandmother said, but she was plainly somewhat mollified. “Here. Since you apologized, I’ll give you some money for your birthday.” She fished a five dollar bill out of her wallet. “That doll was worth a lot more than this, but I suppose this is what you’d rather have.”

“Thank you, Grandma!” Lisa said, and the birthday party went on as scheduled.

The doll was quite old, so she needed an old-fashioned name, but one that sounded nice. “Her name is Betty,” you told Lisa’s grandmother later. “She’s really pretty. I’m sorry Lisa was so mean about it.”

“I am too. That child can be so ungrateful sometimes.”

“I’ve been telling Betty that Lisa didn’t mean to be so mean, she just had a bad reaction because she’s scared of dolls. Betty understands, but she’s glad she’s going home with me instead. Dolls don’t like to live with girls who don’t like them.”

“You understand,” Lisa’s grandmother said, nodding. “Dolls have feelings too. They deserve to be with girls who’ll love them.”

“Did you have a doll who looked like this when you were young?"

Her eyes welled with unshed tears. “I did. I lost her when we moved. I’ve been checking antique stores and thrift stores for years, hoping to find her.”

“What was yours named?”

“Eleanor. I named her for a queen, Eleanor of Acquitaine. Have you heard of her?”

You said no, so Lisa’s grandmother – whose actual name was Mrs. Shapiro – talked your head off about kings and queens of England for half an hour before you got a chance to go play.

***

Once you were home, headed up the stairs to your room, Betty complained. “Lisa’s ugly. And mean.”

“She didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. She’s actually a very nice person. She just�� is scared of dolls.” You shifted Betty in your arms so instead of lying in them like a baby, she was facing outward, her back against your chest and your arm around her middle, so she could see the others. When you opened the door, you gestured at your other dolls, the ones on your bookshelves and on your dresser. “Hello, everyone! This is Betty!”

“Hi, Betty!” the dolls chorused.

“She’s the newest addition to our family, so I was thinking we could have a tea party to welcome her.”

“Great idea!” Mandy cheered.

So you got out the tea set, and arranged all the dolls on the floor, and the dolls who didn’t get tea cups because your tea set wasn’t that big, you gave mugs or glasses from your play kitchen, and you put plastic desserts from the toy kitchen on everyone’s plates.

“This is delicious,” Kyla said. “Did you make it yourself?”

You laughed. “Oh, no, no, it’s store bought! I’m a terrible cook.”

“You got that right,” Veronica, who was sometimes kind of a jerk, said.

“Oh, oh, wow! Veronica, you’ve got to be best friends with the new girl!” Eric said. He had been a girl when you got him, but you thought it was unfair to have nothing but girl dolls, so you hacked off all his hair and put clothes on him from a GI Joe you found in the mud near the playground, although they didn’t really fit. “Betty and Veronica! Like the Archie comics!”

“Archie is stupid,” Veronica said, but mellowed a bit. “But it’s very nice to meet you, Betty.”

“We’re going to be great friends, I just know it!” Mandy said.

Betty started to almost-cry the way Mrs. Shapiro had. “You guys,” she said. “This has been the best day of my life.”

***

One day Mrs. Shapiro brought you six more dolls while you’re over Lisa’s house. They were all vintage, and they were all damaged, from the one whose hair was falling off to the one with one eye that wouldn’t open to the one with a cloudy white film on her eyes. “Courtney, would you be interested in these?”

“Were they yours?”

She nodded. “I think they deserve to go with a girl who will play with them. I was going to give them to Lisa, but…”

“Yeah, Lisa won’t want them. But I love them! What are their names?”

Mrs. Shapiro said some of the names and visibly struggled to remember the others. You asked her, “Why don’t you play with them anymore?”

“Well, I’m a grown woman. Grown-up women don’t play with dolls.”

“But you could if you wanted to.”

“I suppose I could, but it would be a little embarrassing.” She chuckled.

“I could bring over my tea set and some dolls and you could play dolls with me. I want to know your dolls’ personalities. It’d be rude to tell them to be completely different people just because someone new owns them.”

“I never thought of it that way.”

In the end, you went over Mrs. Shapiro’s house yourself for the tea party, which Lisa thought was weird but Lisa could think whatever she wanted. Mrs. Shapiro put out a real-life tea set and filled the cups with Kool-aid, which was more verisimilitude than you’d ever managed. During the tea party she did voices for all the dolls, Hortensia who couldn’t keep her eye open and Emily who was losing her hair and Birdie who was going blind and Renee who had no clothes, just a washcloth around her body with safety pins holding it in place and Michelle who had one shoe and Lauren who kept falling over when she was put in a sitting position. You were very grateful; it really helped to know how the dolls sounded, their voices and personalities as well as their names.

And when you saw that now you had six dolls who were injured or lacking in some way, you realized what you wanted to do.

You went to Girl Scouts to learn to sew, because Mrs. Shapiro claimed to be terrible at it and wouldn’t teach you, and your own grandma worked and didn’t have time. You told the librarian about your quest, and she ordered you a book from another library about repairing dolls. It was intended for adults, and you were nine, but you used a dictionary and struggled through it because you needed to know. Your dad suggested that rubbing alcohol on a q-tip might help Birdie’s eyes. Birdie was so very grateful to you for restoring her sight.

After that, your parents would give you thrift store dolls, broken-down dolls who needed love and care as much as the pretty new dolls at the toy stores, for every birthday and Christmas, because you told them emphatically that that was what you wanted. “No one loves the ugly dolls or the broken dolls or the creepy dolls. They need someone to take care of them. They need love.”

And you had so much love to give.

***

Twenty years later you learned the hard way that a shop that fixes dolls doesn’t make any money. You branched into selling high-end, high-quality toys, as well as continuing to collect and fix up vintage dolls. You sewed beautiful new clothes for them and re-glued their hair and re-attached their arms and legs. You carefully removed their eyes and polished them, attached new weights to the eyelids to enable them to open and close, and sometimes heated and re-shaped the eyes in hot water so they would fit properly in their sockets again.

You sold the dolls to any child, or any adult buying for a child, who wanted one and was willing to pay your prices, which weren’t cheap after you’d done so much restoration work. But when the day was over and you’d done the receipts and closed the books and swept the shop and locked up, you took the dolls upstairs to your living space with you, and you played with them, because dolls deserved to be played with.

Men who found out about this hobby of yours found it weird and unpleasant, so none of your relationships lasted more than a few dates. You weren’t close enough to any of your friends for them to find out. You had pen pals, fellow doll aficionados, all over the world, but you wouldn’t admit even to them that you played with your dolls. By this time you had so many that you couldn’t possibly play with them all every night, which was part of the reason you’d been willing to part with some of them back when you’d opened the store. But you did your best to make sure they were going to good homes.

***

Forty years later the internet had nearly destroyed you, and then saved you.

It became so easy to buy vintage dolls, you overbought. You took on employees to help you repair them, but they didn’t love the dolls like you did, so they didn’t stay your employees. Then people stopped buying from the store because it was so easy to get even vintage toys online, at much better prices than you could afford to sell at. You sold through online channels yourself, but it wasn’t enough.

You expanded your offerings to hand-crafted children’s furniture and toys, working with artisans you met at a Renaissance faire or online, reselling their work. And you moved the doll repair business online. It turned out that the number of people willing to send their beloved childhood friend to a total stranger through the mail and pay a lot of money to have her restored was much higher than you’d guessed. You picked up more employees, this time to run the store so that you could work full-time on doll repair.

Fifteen years ago you’d gotten a cat, but she died of old age, and you didn’t replace her. Your doll friends weren’t immortal – you’d had porcelain-headed dolls shatter, you’d had to reluctantly tell heartbroken women that their childhood toy had been mauled too heavily by a dog to be saved – but when age damaged them, it could be fixed. They weren’t doomed to die like living creatures were.

You made sure to make time to play with the dolls every night, no matter how busy you got. Sometimes you hardly had time to do anything but choose a lucky few, dress them in nightgowns and caps for their hair, and take them to bed with you, but you always did at least that.

***

And then there was the day you heard a violent crash downstairs.

You were a woman living alone. You tried not to live in fear, but you knew you were vulnerable. The sound terrified you, so you called the police, and stayed upstairs behind your bolted bedroom door with two or three of your favorite dolls reassuring you, until the cops arrived.

They called you downstairs to see what you knew.

The man had had duct tape on him, and rope, and a knife. You were somewhat shocked that anyone would target you for such a thing, at your age, but the cops tell you that it was probably your age that drew the guy’s attention. He must have assumed you couldn’t defend yourself.

You could not explain why he was lying dead in a giant pile of dolls, his eyes punctured, his throat bruised, his neck broken. You hadn’t left your room. It was more than obvious that a small middle-aged woman couldn’t have done the kind of damage to the dead man that had killed him; the best anyone could guess was that he’d tripped over a rack of dolls and fallen on them so hard that hard plastic hands had jabbed his eyes out and then he’d broken his neck in the fall. But you knew better. The cops couldn’t possibly understand, but you did.

“Thank you,” you said to all the dolls, the creepy dolls you hadn’t yet repaired and the ones that you had and yet children still called them creepy, the pretty vintage dolls and the modern dolls that had needed repair. “Thank you,” you said, weeping over the body of a porcelain doll that had broken, but she was the only casualty. Others had damaged hands and some had crushed plastic bodies and quite a lot of them had their clothes ruined by blood, but those were all things you could repair. “Thank you all so much. You saved me.”

“You’re our mother,” one of the dolls said.

“You saved me,” another doll, a repaired doll, said.

“We love you. We’ll never let anyone hurt you.”

You gathered your precious, precious dolls to you and hugged them, and cried. Oh, your dollies, all your beautiful dollies. You’d saved their lives, and now they had returned the favor.

[blogsteveclark12]

12 Things to Buy Used If You Want to Save Money

1) Clothes

Buying used clothes in one of the easiest ways to save money. I’ve found thrift and second-hand stores to be great for finding casual weekend wear and business casual clothes.  

I can’t tell you how many Banana Republic and J. Crew items I see every time I browse the racks. Some people might think that only old, worn, unfashionable clothes are found second-hand but that’s not true.

Related items worth buying second-hand:

Designer clothes and purses – Designer clothes are expensive. Let someone else pay the bulk of the cost by buying them retail first. Then you can save by buying second-hand. Just be sure to read up on the difference between counterfeit and authentic products to ensure you get the real thing.

School uniforms – Some schools that require uniforms (e.g., Catholic schools with plaid skirts), have programs for parents to sell their children’s old uniforms. Many children will outgrow their clothes while they’re still in good condition.

2)  Wedding dresses

Most women wear their wedding dress for one day and maybe only a few hours at that, so it might not make sense to spend a few thousand on a dress.

You can get one for much less than retail if you’re open to wearing a used one. Most sellers are willing to negotiate too because they really want to sell, so negotiations favor the buyer.

Take a good look at the website’s and seller’s return policies before purchasing. Many times there are no refunds.

Ask lots of questions and ask for more pictures if needed. If you can, try on the style in a store first to be sure it’s the one and then buy it second-hand.  

3)  Jewelry

Fine jewelry is another area where resale prices are often much lower than retail. You can even buy an affordable engagement ring second-hand.

If you’re a fan of vintage or antique pieces, you can find beautiful pieces in styles that aren’t even made anymore. Shop at local jewelers, estate sales, and online for the best finds.

4)  Baby items

Babies grow quickly and often outgrow their clothes and toys before they’ve gotten much or any use. I’ve seen lots of children and baby clothes still with tags on them at the thrift stores.

And it’s not just clothes too. Toys like play mats are quickly outgrown too. Check out online parent groups for listings.

5)  Toys & Games

Having stepped into the houses of friends and family with young children recently, I’ve been blown away by the number of toys they have. Livings rooms and bedrooms full of toys, more than the children can reasonably play with. Those toys and games end up as donations to the thrift store or offered at garage sales.

My favorite thing to buy is puzzles, but I’ve seen plenty of games like Operation and Chutes and Ladders on shelves too.

I avoid plush animals because goodness knows what’s on them. Anything that looks in good condition and can be wiped down with sanitizer wipes is fair game

6)  Books & Textbooks

Anyone who has been in school and had to buy their own books knows that textbooks are expensive. I remember having to budget several hundred dollars each semester in college just to be sure I bought all the books I needed.

I bought second-hand where I could, rented, and even borrowed a few. I didn’t matter if a book was a slightly older version as long as I could get the same information and do the homework.

If you need the book in your profession, it might be worth buying a new copy to keep. Otherwise, go second-hand and sell it when you’re done using it.

For other books, try the public library. You can borrow books for free or buy used books there for cheap. I borrow everything and only buy a book when I know I’m going to read it over and over again.

7)  Furniture

If you’ve tried to furnish a home with furniture bought at retail, you know how expensive it can be. Thankfully, some people barely use the furniture they buy.

Maybe they decide to redecorate or they are moving and have to sell. I once came across computer chairs from an office that was closing.

Another easy way to get second-hand furniture is to ask friends and family for whatever extra they have. I’ve always tried to get furniture with fabric like sofas from people I know.

If you’re getting furniture from strangers, take a look at the item and make sure the person’s place is clean. You can’t be too careful about bedbugs and pet dander.

8)  Bicycles

Like with many of the other items on this list, bikes are expensive new and depreciate in value once out the door. Many people buy bikes with the intention to ride them for exercise or fun and don’t use them much at all.

My partner got his used bike on Craigslist and loves it. I got mine as a hand-me-down from family. Unless you’re a serious bike enthusiast, a used one may work just fine for you.

As sad as this sounds, bikes are a major target for thieves in San Francisco. Save yourself the headache of being a more obvious target and having a new bike stolen by getting one that’s second-hand. If you want to save even more money, try biking instead of driving to work or for running errands.

9)  Cars

We’ve all heard that cars depreciate significantly once off the lot and most of all in their first year. Buying a used car makes sense then, especially one that’s been well-maintained. Just make sure to do your research by checking a car’s value and having it inspected before purchasing.

10)  Kitchen items

There are a lot of kitchen gadgets out there that people don’t use. The mixer that was a wedding gift but now sits at the back of the cabinet. Or the blender or crock pot that goes unused. My nearby Goodwill is full of plates and cups. Sometimes are pretty and come in full sets too.

11) Seasonal decorations

Seasonal decorations are just that, seasonal. How much do you want to spend on things that are on display for about 4 months of the year (or packed away for the other 8)? And while decorations are pretty, they don’t do much but sit around the house and look pretty.

So when I want to decorate my place, I shop thrift stores or ask family for items they’ve collected but don’t use anymore. It’s easy to replace decorations yearly too when they cost only a few dollars.

12)  Athletic gear & workout equipment

Many of those items were still in good condition by the time we stopped playing a sport or outgrew the equipment. We’ve also known people with treadmills and stationary bikes that went unused.

Some final tips:

Do your research before purchasing. Sometimes second-hand isn’t cheaper than new.

Negotiate on price. Buying second-hand usually favors the buyer unless it’s a hot item. A potential buyer can always walk away if the price is not right, but a lot of sellers will agree to a lower price because they want to get rid of an item.

If you’re meeting someone in person off Craigslist or a similar site, meet in the daytime in a public place.

The more specific you are about something that you want, the longer you’ll have to wait for it. There may be a lot of black dresses out there, but you’ll have to wait or search more to find a fit-and-flare black dress with a waist tie and lace detail in your exact size.

If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Nowadays, when I come across something I want, my first thought is whether or not it’s available and worth it to buy second-hand. I’m always happy when I do buy something used and it perfectly fits my needs.

I’ve saved hundreds if not thousands of dollars over the years by buying second-hand items. I can’t wait to save more in the future by doing the same and hope you do too! Check out the thrift store in panama City Beach, FL if you want to purchase gently used items.

[persorene]

I love modern Dwyer and I love the idea of him lying about his family because he doesn't want people to know he's a rich kid and also because they're all insane. Can I get modern Dwyer "Well, this is where I live."

This ended up way longer than I intended but I always go overboard for my sleepy son.

Dwyer grumbled under his breath as he drove wordlessly. He hadn’t ever planned on bringing anyone back to his home and yet, his car was full- Velouria sat beside him, Asugi sat in the back, keeping Kana entertained with a story he’d made up off the top of his head about a statue they’d passed during their drive.

 Dwyer hadn’t said a word since their teacher had assigned the group project and his friends both declined doing it at their own homes. Velouria’s house was being fumigated after her father had brought home yet another bed bug infested old piece of furniture that he’d just had to have- Asugi’s parents were out of town for an over the top, ninja themed fitness event that they went to every year. Last year they’d grounded Asugi for months after he’d thrown a party while they were away and was no longer permitted to bring anyone over unless they were also home. That left Dwyer, the sullen boy had never brought anyone over before. He had been painfully careful about hiding his identity and his life at home from his friends. His stomach was in knots as he drove.“Any particular reason you’re going ten under the speed limit, grandma?” Asugi asked, leaning forward and placing his hands on either side of Dwyer’s seat “Or why you’re driving out of town limits and into the woods?”Dwyer shrugged.“Dude what is wrong with you?” Asugi grumbled, he turned to Kana “I think your brother is going to murder us. Probably why he never brought us over before.”“No he never brought you over before because he’s embarrassed.” Kana chirped as he thumbed through a comic book he’d borrowed from the school library.“You’re embarrassed?” Velouria asked incredulously “We can’t go to my house because it’s being fumigated. Because my dad brought home another bug infested trinket. From a pile of furniture he found next to a dumpster. Behind a thrift store. Again.”“Key word: again.” Asugi joked, Velouria spun in her seat, glaring at him.“Oh shut up, we all had to watch your mom and dad run through their home made obstacle course because they HAD to know who was better.”He grinned “It was me, I was better than both of them.”“You’re so annoying.” She rolled her eyes “Anyway, Dwy, you don’t need to be embarrassed. We love you no matter what. I’m sure your house is fine.”He shrugged again “Doesn’t matter now, we’re nearly there.”Outside the car, the landscape had begun to change. The thick, dense forests they’d been driving through gave way to sculpted shrubberies and immaculately maintained landscapes. The road thinned as they went around one final turn, the land was now encompassed by a seemingly endless black, iron fence. A massive gate stood before them, the road continuing on behind it before disappearing at the top of a hill.Dwyer slowed the car to a roll as he reached the gate. He pressed a button on a small remote he always kept on his keys and the gate began to swing open. He picked up speed again,ignoring Velouria’s stares as he went quickly over the first hill and then the second.The home was now in view, huge and obscenely opulent, the home had been built to resemble an English manor house. It stood tall and elegant amongst a garden of pale flowers, a creek flowing just before the home with a small stone bridge above it. A matching, equally overwhelming garage sat off to the side, not impeding the view of the palatial grounds. Dwyer pulled into the drive, stopping in front of one of the many garage doors as he put the old car into park. As soon as the car was in park, Kana had leapt out and taken off running toward the home, his high pitched voice excitedly calling to his mother to announce that Dwyer had finally brought friends home.Dwyer sat still, hands still gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles had paled “Well. This is where I live.”His friends said nothing, seemingly shocked into a stupor. He sighed and got out of the car, waiting as they slowly clambered out.“Holy shit.” Asugi whispered as he spun in place, taking in the grounds. “Dude, why did you hide this?”“Can we not talk about it?” Dwyer grumbled “Let’s… just go inside.” He walked slowly toward the house, his shoulder length hair fluttered around his face as he paced through the flower beds and up to the door. He pushed the heavy oaken door in and stepped through into a foyer that nearly surpassed the grandiose of the outside of the home. The room was long, each side had multiple open doors leading to more exquisitely decorate spaces. The walls were lined with countless photos and paintings, a table stood in the center of the room, set in an overly perfect, made for TV way. A chandelier hung above an ornate rug that led from the front door to the massive sweeping staircase that led up to a landing lined with intricate metal work. From the landing, two more sets of stairs led up in opposing directions.A tall, thin man stood atop the catwalk, watching intently as the trio drifted forward. His long hair was so blonde it nearly looked white and tied back in a ponytail. “Darling.” He called, his English accent immediately catching his son’s friends attention “Dwyer really did bring some friends over. Come quickly before he hides them from us!” He walked down the stairs, followed shortly after by a small woman, her hair was long and hung in waves nearly down to the small of her back. She looked welcoming and elegant all at once, her thin frame clothed in rose coloured jeans and a gauzy black blouse, her feet were bare, making her look far less imposing than she could have been. She stopped beside her husband who looked far more formal than she did, he was dressed in a well starched shirt, buttoned to the neck, the sleeves rolled up his elbows, a freshly pressed pair of slacks and a pair of black leather loafers.“Hello! I’m Corrin, Dwyer’s mom.” The woman chimed.“I’m Jakob, I’m Dwyer’s father but you’d probably already pieced that together.” Jakob said quickly, smirking as the teens gaped at him. His height, appearance and accent had always managed to draw attention “Who might you two be?”“I’m Asugi.”“And I’m Velouria.” The girl muttered, pulling her hands from her hoodie pocket to shake Dwyer’s parents’ hands.“Asugi and Velouria, what lovely names. I’ve heard Dwyer speak of you before but he’s never brought any friends home with him. We’re quite surprised, but pleased of course!” Corrin said, her smile radiant.“We had a school project and came here to do it.” Dwyer said.“What are you working on?” Corrin asked.“Not a lot, history and that sort of thing… mind if I use your study?”“Of course not, honey.” She paused “Do you all like tea and cookies? I can bring some up for you to eat while you’re working!”“I can do that for them, love.” Jakob interjected, “I’ll bring it up in a half hour or so.”“You really don’t have to, dad.”“Hey, speak for yourself, I’ll gladly take any sweet food they have.” Asugi said with a laugh “Thanks for offering.”Corrin laughed slightly “Well, have fun on your project kids. I’ll be helping Kana with his homework if you need me!”“K.” Dwyer said, already sprinting up the stairs, his friends following close behind. He led them down a long, well-lit and strikingly beautiful hall, the walls adorned in a stunning cream coloured damasque wall paper and more stunning art work. Another long, elegant rug led them deeper into the home. Dwyer stopped in front of one of several identical white doors, he opened it and led his friends in, closing the door back in place behind them. This room, like everything else they’d seen of the home, was breath taking. The walls were clothed in the same wallpaper as the halls but were lined with dark wooden bookshelves, housing countless volumes of books, some old and bound in leather of various colours, others still glistening from being freshly printed. The wooden floor was dark wood, pieced together in intricate shapes, the furniture looked old but inviting, hulking red velvet sofas and chairs filled the space, the tables looked heavy and just as antiquated. A chandelier hung from the beveled ceiling and massive windows peered out onto the gardens. A laptop lay on the old table, one of the few modern items in the room.Dwyer plopped down onto the sofa, looking remarkably out of place in faded black jeans, wrinkled flannel shirt and his shaggy hair hanging in a mess. Asugi stared alternately between his friend and the details of the room “You tellin’ me we coulda been studying and doing our work here this whole time?”“Shut up, Asugi.” Velouria snapped “I’d rather know why he lied about his entire life.”Dwyer sighed, shoulders drooping and his head falling backward lazily “I didn’t lie about my entire life.”“Uh, yeah, you did. You never invited us over, you never told us about your family or your house- this house is insane. You wear old clothes and drive a fifteen year old Honda Civic. You tried as hard as you could to keep this from us. Why?”“Because I didn’t want anyone to base their opinion on me on being a rich kid. No one really likes me, I didn’t want people to find out and suddenly pretend they do just to try to get money or fame or something stupid like that. I wanted people to know me for me. And you guys did and I didn’t want to change that.”“Do you honestly think we would have changed our minds about you because you’re loaded?” She growled.“No, but it seemed too late to just spring it on you guys and I was afraid people back at school would find out and then-““And then you wouldn’t be slacker Dwyer the weirdo, you’d be Cool Dwyer the kid everyone wants to pretend they love.” Asugi interrupted “I get it man, but we wouldn’t have told anyone.”“We still won’t, you’re our friend.” Velouria fell onto the sofa beside him “But this was a dumb thing to be embarrassed about. Your house incredible and your parents seem great.”“They seem great but they’re weird as hell.” Dwyer laughed.“You’re going to tell me about weird parents? Do I have to remind you AGAIN why we aren’t studying at my house.” The girl said sarcastically.“Yeah, yeah but your dad is like, WEIRD weird. My parents are just- well they’re them.”Asugi was fiddling with some trinket on a desk in the corner “Yeah, your dad’s weird. British. And what’s with that hair?”Dwyer laughed again “He likes it long, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it shorter than that.”“Okay but how did your parents meet? Like, where did your mom find a British dude?”“I thought we were working on a history project.” Dwyer said.“Yeah, we are. The History of our Friend Dwyer Who Is A Different Person Than We Thought He Was and Now We Need to Know More.” Asugi said as he took a seat in the sofa across from theirs “Another question: how did they get rich as hell?”Dwyer sighed and closed his computer “Okay well, mom’s always been rich. She’s part of the Nohr family, they adopted her when she was little.”“Like Nohr Industries Nohr? The famous ones?”“Yeah.” He sighed “Dad was her body guard when she was younger and they ended up falling in love. He basically worships her. It’s cool I guess, nice that they still love each other. They bought The Valla Corporation together and brought it up to this massive company out of basically nothing.”“Dude. No way.” Asugi shouted “I have one of their phones man, and you never bothered to tell me! That’s insane. Super cool but insane.”“So anyway, that’s why I never tell anyone about anything.” Dwyer sighed “It’s easier being the weird quiet kid than the rich kid with famous parents. I have my dad’s last name not my mom’s so it’s easier to hide who I am and no one ever got to know me enough to ask me more about my life so…”“Well hey, secret’s safe with us.” Velouria smiled “Pinky swear!” She looped her small finger around his and shook it firmly the way they always had since they’d first met three years before.Dwyer smirked his lazy half smile as he playfully wrestled her pinky under his own “Good. Now seriously, we need to work on our project. We can’t ask for another extension.”

[cutegirlmayra]

Sonic Prompt: Arabian Knights Prologue

World: Sonic and the Secret of the Rings (Game)

Couple/Premise?: greenyvertkins: I’m just curious as to how my idea would be approached if someone else used it as inspiration to write their own interpretation. Basically, its a prologue to Secret Rings, how Sonic comes into possession of the Arabian Nights storybook - Amy bumps into Tails in Station Square and not seeing Sonic with him, inquires about where he is only to learn that hes sick and back at the workshop in the mystic ruins resting. So Amy visits the antique shop near city hall and knowing that Sonic likes to read, buys the Arabian Nights book which she finds inside the shop. Theres a prompt for you :)

Dedicated to:  @greenyvertekins​

(x)

Prompt:

Amy is looking around in different shops and thrift stores, poking her head around decorations to see if anything catches her eye.

A spooky looking old library is looming like an antique near the center of some of her favorite small stores, but it looks more like a worn out, roman pillared building than a library...

She gave it a funny look, trying to look inside, but the hallow wind that passed gave it an old, ghostly sound as if time itself had stopped there.

She shivered in fright and realized the lights were off. Probably not open.

She continued on.

As she did so, she saw Tails walking about, something that was unusual most of the time, and happily dashed over to him.

“Tails!” she swung her arms out to greet him, passing small street over to him, as he turned to look to her.

‘If there’s Tails, then there’s a Sonic!’ she excited leaped into his arms, and looked around over his shoulder, before pulling him away and patting his shoulder.

“How are you!? It’s been too long!”

“H-h-hiya, Amy.” Tails was being pushed back with each hit, but kept his feet at their post, before shaking his head out of the dizziness from being pushed back and forth.

He then smiled weakly, his head down slightly, being submissive to her usually very direct and overbearing personality. “I’ve been alright. How about you?”

“Great!” she opened her mouth to show a huge grin, before then turning serious and looking behind him, squinting her eyes to narrow her focus and looked around the range behind Tails, then turned to glance behind her. “...Is Sonic with you, today?”

He rolled his eyes, typical Amy.

“Not today. He’s kinda sick, actually.” he scratched the back of his head.

She gasped, turning to him and blinking in surprise. “Sick!? Oh no! My poor Sonikku!” she put her hands in fists up to her face, her eyes sparkling and growing big with concern and love.

“Yeah. He’s okay though. Recovering well.” he fanned lightly his hands out in front of him, before gesturing as he spoke on to comfort and then explain. “He just showed up out of the blue one stormy night. And you know how I am with storms... HeeEEhhhh..” he squirmed, having a dislike for lightning and thunder.

“I opened the door after a few knocks that weren’t from any hammer of mine... and then I saw Sonic, shivering a smile, raising a shaky and cold thumbs up, and then sneezing. Drenched. He looked awful but he tried to play it cool. Slept for hours. He’s doing better though, no need to worry.” Tails sweat dropped, seeing Amy’s concern grow as she leaned forward, picturing the horrible scene.

“So... He’s all better now?”

“Yep! He’s just taking his time looking over my library.”

“Pfft.”

“Hey! A few stacked bookshelves is TOO a library!”

“N-no, not that. Though we could argue on that definition but... anyway! Sonic reads books?” she shook her head, not going to contemplate on ‘unimportant opinions’ when it came to some new information on Sonic!

“H-huh? Well, yeah! You didn’t know?” He placed a foot forward, his hands on his hips, and leaned toward her. He innocently looked up to her, smiling.

“I know something you don’t about Sonic? That’s refreshing to hear! I-I-I mean! N-not that I supposed you thought you knew everything or whatnot..”

His save was badly timed, as she gave him a slightly irritated look, but it was more comical than intimidating.

Which was nice, can she can be intimidating when she’s mad...

“Heh...Heh..” he shyly straightened up and stepped back, giving her space. “Anyway,” he gestured his hands out again. “He’s been flying through most of my adventure series. It’s pretty amazing! Not only is his mind sharp, and his feet fast... but his eyes are like scanners from another world!” he laughed, pointing to his eyes. “He flips through pages like his finger’s a race car! I once tried to see if he even comprehended what he read. He’s actually pretty insightful too...”

Amy was trailing off in thought.

This new information could be key to her!

So, boohoo, she missed her chance to nurse Sonic back to health.

But now~ She could enter Sonic’s life more with a love for reading! She could read to him, or him to her, and maybe they could even start a 2-person only book club! Ah!

“I love it!” Amy exclaimed, jumping to one foot.

“...You what?” Tails looked confused.

She twirled and blew a kiss up to the sky, “Thank you, Cupid!~ I have my answer!” she then waved cutely to Tails, “Gotta go! I have to find Sonic the perfect story! One where it’ll entrap him in love for me by his love of the story~ Then we can talk about it for hours!” she ran across the street, as cars honked and slammed to break for her.

“A-Amy!” Tails outstretched a hand to her, but then quietly withdrew it and shook his head, scratching his head. “Sonic’s right. It’s hard to keep on track with her thinking, sometimes...” he continued to shake his head, sighing slightly to himself, and walked on.

He pouted a moment as he did so, “She didn’t even ask what I was doing out here... hmph.”

“Tails!”

Tails turned to look across the street.

Amy waved again, holding her arm up high, “Good luck buying new gadgets and doohickeys for the x-tornado!” she then took off down to the creepy, old library.

Tails paused a moment, but smiled. A pleasant surprise.

“Eh, maybe she knows more than just Sonic.” Tails nodded forward, then looked up to the sky. “But hush up, Cupid! We don’t need her getting any more ideas...” he joked, and continued on down the lane... before...

“Ahh!” he gripped his head. “I’m the one that gave her an idea!”

Amy slowed her pace by the library, getting an odd feeling of eeriness from it. She frowned, before looking inside.

She was surprised to see lights sudden... were those... lanterns?

“Book people sure can be weird with their tastes.” she commented and shrugged, going in and hearing the bell echo through the large, marble building.

She looked around, before a figure in a cloak, their face hidden, saw her and put the book they were taking back down, and walked over to her.

“...Tarot master... you dabble?” The woman gestured a long sleeve out to reveal her hand, pointing to Amy.

“Y..Yes? Well, kinda. Used to. Wait, how does that-?”

“This is a special library. One that reveals identities and secrets.”

“Ohh... this is one of those ‘specially themed’ places.” Amy used the bunny ears, and then looked around, trying to be polite about people’s interests and nodded. She put her hands up in front of her and ignored the previous weirdness.

“You come searching for an adventure?”

“Yeah! For my hero~” she swooned, cupping her hands together and holding them up by the side of her face.

The woman looked down.

“...What color is this... hero?”

“Blue? What of it?” Amy furrowed her brow to the woman, before putting her hands on her hips. “Look, Lady. I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but you sure get nosy with your fortune tellings.” she pouted. In her studies, she had learned to be more show-oriented than this woman was letting slide.

The woman looked away to the side, “Forgive me. I’m out of practice with...” she looked up to Amy. “...Customers.” she then turned around and grabbed a lamp, walking onward.

Amy leaned up, and just shrugged, walking on after her.

The woman seemed to hunch, before Amy saw a book, and stopped to pull it out. “King Arthur? Hmm... okay!” she pulled it out.

“Come this way.” the woman called, looking back for her.

“Yes, Ma’am!” Amy quickly followed her, as the woman slowly hovered up to a taller shelf, and pulled a book from it.

Amy’s mouth turned into an amazed ‘o’ and she looked excited. “Now that’s a show!” she gave an open-grin to the woman, as she hovered down, and handed Amy the book.

“This... is the story of which your hero was destined to-”

“Let’s see!”

“..!”

Amy snatched the book right out of the woman’s hands, not hesitating for theatrics and turning the pages open, flipping through and then reading the title.

“Ah..!” the woman reached forward, as if afraid of Amy opening the book.

“...Arabian...Nights? This is some kind of foreign tale?” Amy looked to the back of the book. “OOoooh! Is it an adventure/romance!?!?” she got all pumped up, looking pretty sold on it if it was.

“U-umm...” the woman was hesitant, not used to Amy’s blunt speech.

“Ah, doesn’t matter. I’m sure if he’s ‘destined’ it’s all pointing to me being the perfect girl for him, right? Haha! Tarot cards! You can really trust those things. Better than a silly horoscope. Although, those don’t get half the recognition they deserve.” she hurriedly put the book with the other one, then pointed a finger up to the woman as if stating her facts and started walking away, humming a bit as she went to the counter.

The robed woman looked a bit unused to Amy’s antics, especially her quick nature, and sighed.

She unhooded herself.

“Destiny has a way of preparing us all for the future... May the Blue hero be swift in saving our stories... Be back soon. Messenger Rose.” she bowed, showing a beautiful ordainment on her head, some jewels of Arabian decent, and some medieval symbols along the designs of her head-wear.

Rushing back to Tails’s place, Amy burst open the door, “Heelllo~” ‘For the money I spent on these relics, he better not just leave them on Tails’s shelf to dust over again!’ Amy hid her anger at the ridiculous pricing of the books, but strode in as Tails sweat dropped, seeing her suddenly make an entrance.

“Hello, Amy.” he spoke out, but it seemed he was a little nervous to have her. He smiled to Sonic, who just smiled back to him, and looked over to Amy.

“I heard from Tails you have something for me?”

Sonic was lounging on the couch, as Amy rushed over, happy to see he looked fine.

“You look great!”

“Thanks! Tails really fixed me up. Seems he’s more than just good with tiding up planes.” he looked to Tails, who smiled at the praise, and bowed dramatically.

“I’m only as good as my tools. And in this case, my medicine cabinet.” he joked, and walked back into his open kitchen.

Amy nodded and turned to Sonic, holding out the bag she had.

His eyes widened and he blinked them a moment, before seeming kinda curious and taking them from her.

“What’s this?”

“You know! If Tails told you I was coming, he must of also mentioned telling me about your love of books!” she put her hands behind her back, leaning a few times on one outstretched leg as she looked away, blushing lightly while he rummaged through the bag.

“Huh? Some more adventures?” he took out the two books, and looked at their covers.

“Em-hmm!” Amy nodded, growing excited to see him looking more and more giddy towards them.

“Thanks, Amy!” he looked up, winking to her. “I appreciate it!”

She squee’d slightly, before rushing to the couch to sit next to him.

“Now, remember! You can’t stand me up just to finish reading them, okay?!” She puffed up a cheek, making sure he knew how upset she would be if he did so.

He laughed, and scratched a hand behind his head, “Don’t worry, Amy. I understand the cost.” the nodded to her then, reassuringly, before setting the books aside.

“So... you’re really feeling better, right?” Amy looked much more concerned now.

He smiled back to her, kicking a leg over his other one and leaning back, getting more relaxed and just chilling.

He raised a hand up as he spoke, “You bet! I may need to crash a little while longer though. Just until the mildew dries up.”

“Mildew?”

“Hahahaha!” Tails suddenly started laughing, hitting the counter.

Sonic looked away, embarrassed a bit as he sweat dropped and tried to avoid Amy’s question and Tails’s mocking.

“Wh...What’s so funny?” Amy blinked her eyes.

“Sonic thinks he might be allergic to mildew!”

“I am not!”

“You very well could be!”

“I was cold! I was wet! It was clearly nothing but bad timing!”

“Hahaha! You were sneezing and having a fit like a drama king! If this happens everytime it rains, you should be more careful about it.”

“Emm...” he folded his arms, looking away and seeming annoyed. “Never bothered me before...”

Amy smiled with a slight giggle.

It was good to be with her old friends again.

They always made life so much more interesting! and fun, too!

Sonic found there was one more thing in the back, poking him from the side, and so he reached in, before pulling out a strange looking ring.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“Oh! That.” Amy looked a little apologetic at him seeing it.

“They called it a ‘bonus’ for purchasing two books. I hope you don’t mind. It’s a little tacky...” she sweat dropped, looking to him with closed eyes.

He looked fascinated by it, and looked it over.

“Sonic and rings? I think he’ll be just fine with it.” Tails joked, as Sonic smiled to him and then looked to Amy.

“Is that all?”

She nodded, “I promise, no other rings.”

“Okay.”

He looked back at the ring and then suddenly started to laugh.

“What’s the matter? Is it really that odd looking?”

“Oh no! I’m just glad this wasn’t what I thought it was, haha!” Sonic joked too, as Amy caught on and rose up, looking upset.

“I WOULDN’T BUY A TACKY LOOKING RING FOR A WEDDING BAND!”

“Well, that’s good.” Tails covered his mouth, snickering too. “Did you.. Pfft... Did you purposefully avoid taking it out of the bag, Sonic?”

Sonic smacked his knee, and nodded to his friend, as if not able to speak from his laughter right now.

Embarrassed by their sudden burst of laughter, she flushed red in anger and stormed out. “You two are both unbelievable! Hmph! I’m leaving!”

She slammed the door behind her, as Tails and Sonic watched before looking back at each other.

“You’ll have to thank her and make up for that.” He commented.

“Yeah... I wonder if she’d be okay with chilidogs?” Sonic leaned back, and exaimed the ring more closely... carefully... before starting to get sleepy.

“Maybe one of these book before I nap again.”

He lazily reached for one.

Tails nodded and walked off. “I’ll be in the other room if you need anything.”

“Right.” Sonic opened Arabian Nights and set the ring down next to the clock. “Let’s see.. a story that doesn’t start with ‘once upon a time’? Amy really did step it up for me. Heh.” he grinned, a signature smile now.

Eh. He’ll thank her later~

He fanned his hand as he thought about how to make it up to her, before leaning back and across the couch, starting the new storybook adventure!

(I enjoyed this very much XD thanks for the prompt! and thanks for helping me out Green! :Db I combined the adventures a little, did you notice that? xD lead it right into the game for ya :) )

[thecorteztwins]

Sorry meant to do this on a Munday but you say OOC you like fashion and style do you have any advice?

Hey bae! Thanks for asking, that’s so flattering! I’m far from a style guru, but this has been my own journey/what works for me:- Fashion sense is something you can learn. I don’t have an innate fashion sense and I never did. I chose to deliberately try to learn, and I am still learning. There is a section of books on fashion guidelines and advice at my local public library, there probably is at yours too. That’s a good place to get started. I’d recommend starting with these rather than magazines, because magazines focus on trends and what’s the latest, whereas this how-to guidebooks tend to focus more on the foundations of fashion, which is a much better starting point and remain pretty stable from season to season, year to year. I also recommend the library since, obviously, you won’t have to huck out money for it. Websites are another free option.- These books will usually teach you about colors, shapes, and proportion in regards to clothing and how it looks on a body. These are really integral things to understand for how an outfit looks. Eventually, you’ll develop an eye for these things on your own, but understanding WHY something looks good or not is a good place to start.

- Color was a big obstacle for me. I have perfect color vision, but no real natural sense of what colors look good together at all. This really got in my way while drawing (a big reason I originally got into fashion was for reference with what my characters would wear >- Black/white is always a good combo in my opinion. Supposedly some seasons shouldn’t wear pure black or pure white (remember what I said about it just being guidelines, not rules?) but I think it looks good on everyone. A whole lot of my stuff and my outfits are black/white (which also spares me some color anxiety)- Owning things that look like they go to together is a good idea. It makes for a consistent style, and easy to mix and match pieces, instead of having a skirt that only goes with one of your tops, or a color that doesn’t work with anything else you own. To this, try to look at the pieces you like, and find what specifically it is that attracts you. Do you like things with lace? Decorative pockets? Minimalist, streamlined things?  Figure out the pattern(s) and start buying based on that, so a lot of your stuff looks like it all goes together. Also think of what you already have when you’re shopping, so you don’t buy anything that won’t look good with your stuff AND so you don’t buy something you already have (I tend to try to always buy the same pretty white blouse >- Just me personally, I don’t buy anything that I don’t try on first. I need see how it looks on me and how it feels. Not only can clothing look very different on you than it does on the hanger, the feel and fit is very important. Figuring out what you DON’T like and want to avoid is as important as what you like, so you don’t buy something you hate. I see a lots of tops I love, but if they have cap sleeves, it’s a NO, I fucking HATE those things. - Speaking of things you hate, don’t put up with wearing something uncomfortable. even a special occasion have something that looks nice that you can stand to be in at length. I don’t subscribe to the “beauty is pain” mentality, I think fashion should be enjoyable. I know I’ve really grown to love it and it makes me feel good. I think it should make you feel good. It should work for YOU, you should not be making sacrifices for IT. This also means don’t bother with trends you don’t like, or wear something you don’t like just because it looks good on you.- Another good reason not to buy before you try it on is that women’s sizes make no sense. They vary WILDLY from brand to brand and store to store. The numbers seriously mean nothing. Speaking of size, I hear some women saying they’ll start buying nice things and dressing nice when they lose weight. As someone who is not overweight, I know this is easy for me to say, especially with how cruel the world can be, but I think that you should dress for you NOW, not make nice clothes something you only “deserve” once you’re a certain size. - Learn the “rules” but use your judgement. For instance, supposedly kelly green goes with navy and with pink. I don’t think kelly green looks good with navy at all, and while it may not be terrible with pink but I’d rather put pink with a seafoam or mint or spring green. Maybe that’s just because I don’t have a natural sense of color (though I think I’ve learned a pretty good sense now?), but I just don’t like how it looks. So I don’t wear kelly green with my navy or pink stuff (or at all, actually—I don’t wear green, orange, red, yellow, or brown. Just doesn’t look good on me!!)- Accessories totally change an outfit’s vibe. A different jacket and jewelry can take you from dressy to casual, girly to tomboy to rocker. For instance, let’s say I’ve got a basic black tank, some tight charcoal pants, and tall boots. If I put on a flannel, a studded wristband, and my unisex black/silver necklace, I look a lot edgier/punkier. If I put on my flowy black cardigan, pearl cocktail ring, and layer some pearl necklaces, it’s a totally different vibe. But it’s the same basic pieces. This is why, if you like to do different looks like I do, having a wide range of accessories can let you do that without needing to buy lots of different styles of clothing. You can also get a lot of good-looking jewelry very cheap without it looking cheap; I got a couple of necklaces today from an antique mart that were five bucks each, but they don’t look like plastic junk or anything.- Purses are part of your outfit, so I recommend a plain one in black (or whatever neutral works best for the majority colors in your wardrobe) that you can just grab every day without having to think about it if you’re in a hurry, and then other ones in other styles and colors you can pair with your outfits based on style, color, and occasion. I’ve got a plain black one, but I’ve also got another black one that’s sleeker and has some edgy hardware on it (metal buckles, grommets, etc.) so it has a more punk look, a quilted pink one when I wear pink and purple and white stuff, a white wicker one, and a tan one to go with my navy dress and navy top. - Don’t go out and buy a bunch of new stuff at once. I accumulated my jewelry and purses and so on over literal YEARS as I developed my look and my eye for things. I think if you tried to build an entire new look all at once, you’d make a lot of mistakes and spend a lot of money for it, which would suck. I started with making small purchases from thrift stores, like buying one or two tops at a time from Goodwill for under $10, so the change was gradual and organic and I could get more confident about wearing pretty things before I spent oodles of money on them (because if you get something cute but still don’t have the guts to wear it, what’s the point?) You can experiment without breaking the bank, and learn what you like. I still try to avoid spending much money at a time on anything, really. If you’re going to invest in something though, I think it should be something you’re going to wear very often (like boots) instead of something you’re only going to wear like once, but unfortunately special occasions clothing does tend to be pricier, so I would get a couple Special Occasions dresses you can wear for Special Occasions repeatedly instead of getting a new one every time. For instance, my personal go-to for family gatherings is an Audrey Hepburn/Coco Chanel black dress with a white collar paired with a simple strand of pearls. It looks great, the aunts love it, and since they’re only seeing it once or twice a year, it doesn’t end up being a “oh she’s just wearing the same old thing again” situation.I hope this helped! I admit I kinda went with the assumption you’re a girl because…I don’t really know shit about men’s fashion or much care, because I find it really boring and limited >> And also have no experience dressing in men’s styles either. But I feel like a lot of this could apply for guys and/or people wearing masculine-coded things too!