#IT LOOKS LIKE IT TASTES LIKE PINK BUBBLEGUM OR ROCK CANDY

[too-queer-for-school]

I kinda like him

Oh rlly I definitely didn't notice tell me more

[vecnawrites]

Halloween Confucktions for Pyrrha, a nice helping of BimBubble Gum!

Pyrrha had always had a secret weakness of one candy in particular: Bubble Gum. She always had some when she was a child, loving the flavor and the mere act of chewing it helped her focus on things when she was working, be it homework or when she was working out.

However, after she had started getting famous and people started copying her, she had backed down on her favorite treat, only having it when she was at home.

But now, she was at Beacon and things were different now. While she was still seemingly held on a pedestal, things were far more relaxed and she had found a wonderful new thing: if she ordered something through Beacon, there was perfect privacy, so with Halloween coming, she was going to take advantage and try several new bubblegum flavors.

Getting it from the mail room, she darted back to her dorm, where only Jaune was going to be with her tonight, since Nora had needled Ren to going to a party in Vale proper at the moment, which was something that she pitied Ren for, but she was overjoyed at spending time with her crush.

...she just wished that she would be able to say something.

But maybe tonight would be the night?

She scoffed, shaking her head. That’s what she said all the time when they were alone, and her spine always turned into a wet noodle and she lost her nerve.

~

She found herself enjoying the time with Jaune, trying out the different flavors of gum, some very good, others less so.

Pulling out a final piece, wrapped in an almost Neon pink wrapper, she looked it over to see which flavor it was going to be, only to frown slightly as she noticed that there was no indication of flavor. ‘Maybe a mystery flavor?’ she thought, before shrugging, unwrapping the treat and popping it in her mouth, beginning to chew it.

She nearly jumped as the sugary taste, intensely sweet yet not overwhelming, delicious, but she was unable to specifically tell what the taste was.

She chewed more and more, her face turning into a form of bliss, missing Jaune’s face turning somewhat confused as he watched her.

As she chewed, she felt herself relax, and decided to do something that she hadn’t done in years; blow a bubble.

Inhaling, she pursed her lips and blew, the gum catching the air she blew out, her worries and stresses going with it.

Something told her that if she blew the bubble bigger, she might be able to just focus on things other than her stresses…

~

Jaune was enjoying spending time alone with his partner. Don’t get him wrong, he loved Nora and Lian, but it was nice to just spend time with Pyrrha alone.

But he never knew how much she loved bubble gum. More than even one of his own younger sisters!

He watched as she started blowing a bubble with the newest one, watching her eyes light up as it grew larger and larger, the elasticity of the gum impressive, the bubble growing larger and larger, eventually increasing to the point it matched the size of her head, before…

POP! The bubble burst with an impressive sound, actually making him rock back.

~

As the bubble popped, Pyrrha felt...light. Like she had no worries, no fears. All those were gone. Instead, all she thought was…

...why had she not gone for the stud she wanted!?

Chewing on her gum a bit, she swallowed reflexively, before turning to her new boyfriend (after all, after what she was gonna do, there was no way he’d say no to dating her~!) and reaching up and letting her hair down, smiling at him, before scooting over towards him.

Seeing no resistance, she reached out and rested her hand on his lap and licked her lips as she heard his breath increase sharply, the bulge beneath her fingertips surging as it began to grow.

Without saying a word, she pulled his zipper down and fished out his cock, cooing happily as she saw just how big he was. How had she not jumped on this sooner?

Leaning down and taking the fat cock into her mouth, moaning at the taste, she knew that she wasn’t ending the night without at least two fat loads in all her holes!

[steele-soulmate]

Princess of Candy Coated Lies, Modern Royalty AU- King Peter Steele & Single Mother OFC, Soulmate AU

Chapter 17

SUMMARY: Single mother Molly Anne Harper does the best she can do, given her circumstances- since she broke up with her ex-boyfriend by sending him to jail, she’s been struggling to be the best mother to twin daughters while working barely minimum waged jobs. But when she meets her soulmate- King Peter Thomas Ratajczyk of Brooklyn- she quickly finds herself falling heads over heels in love with the guarded, battle damaged ruler. Likewise, Peter finds himself with a family of a women and two little girls who call him daddy. But what happens when their father gets out from behind bars and starts to cause mayhem?

A Soulmate AU where you never know what the first words your soulmate says to you until they say it

CHAPTER WARNINGS: none applicable

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHORESS: This fic is dedicated to SkullWoggle on AO3 and @rock-a-noodle on Tumblr.

WORD COUNT: 1251

“Oh wow, look at this dress, Molly Anne!” Princess Annette said as she pulled a dress off from the dress rack and held it up. “Isn’t it pretty?”

“Uh…” I eyeballed the giant, poofy dress which honestly reminded me more of a heavily frosted cupcake. “It’s a bit too much for my taste, for certain.”

It was the next day, and the five Ratajczyk princesses- Annette, Pamela, Barabra, Patricia and Cathy, had treated me to a day at Brooklyn’s top bridal salon. The eldest sister had told me that as a wedding gift, they were contributing two hundred dollars each for my dress.

I was staring blankly at a random dress when a bridal consultant came up to is. Dressed in a smart black skirt and a sweet smile, she automatically made me feel beautiful.

“Hello, your highnesses!” she greeted us in a cheerful tone of voice. “Who’s my bride?”

I raised my hand timidly, Annette gently pushing me forward.

“I’m Molly Anne,” I meeped, shaking her hand.

“Hello Molly Anne, I’m Britney,” she introduced herself. “Tell me about what your dream dress looks like.”

“I just want to feel pretty,” I explained. “I don’t want a white dress if you can help it, though. Something I can wear again, most definitely! My budget is a strict thousand dollars- I cannot afford to go over not want to go over even by a penny.”

“Where will you say your vows?” was Brittney’s next question.

“The king and I will be saying our I do’s in a garden,” I answered vaguely- the king had told me to be secretive about where we would be getting married as to keep myself and the twins safe.

“Okay, I think I have an idea of what you’ll want to try on!” Brittney took me off into a room to wait while she went and pulled some dresses for me to try on.

When she came back ten minutes later, she was hauling five or six different dresses over her shoulder, which she hung up before asking me which one I wanted to try on.

“Surprise me,” I told her, smiling when she pulled out a soft bubblegum pink tea length dress with a tulle skirt and fitted bodice.

“Do you have shoes picked out?” Brittney asked me as she laced me into the corset styled back.

“I’m possibly going to do embroidered flats, like maybe Converses,” I told her, blanching at the sight of me in the mirror. “Uh, no. this dress clashes horribly with my hair.”

Brittney just laughed as she helped me out of the dress and into a second, this one being a soft baby blue with glittery tinsel.

“This one is pretty, but…” I trailed off, unable to put my finger onto why I didn’t care for this bridal dress.

“It doesn’t match your wedding aesthetic?” she finished for me as she helped me into dress number three.

Dress number three was a pale green mermaid with white lacey sleeves. I told her that I liked the color, but not the fit. Finally, it came down to the final two dresses.

One was very clearly a wedding dress, a soft white color with colorful embroidery scattered across the full trumpet shaped skirt, the fitted bodice and the slightly poofy sleeves. The second dress was simpler, also a soft white in color, the skirt coming to my knees with elbow length sleeves and bright colorful flower embroidery on the skirt and bodice.

“The second one,” I told her with an excited squeak, stepping into the dress and then promptly bursting into tears of joy when she zipped it up. “It’s perfect!”

Brittney just beamed at me as she handed me a tissue to dry my eyes with before opening the door and letting me sweep out into the area that the five princesses occupied.

“Oh, you look so gorgeous, Molly Anne!” gasped Barbara, wiping at watering eyes.

“I do think that this is your dress!” smiled Cathy as she clapped her hands together.

“I thought you would pick something a bit more,” Pamela said before letting out a shrug. “But this is a good surprise!”

“I love this dress,” I sniffled happily, giving the princesses a twirl. “I think this is my dress- what says you royals?”

I was met with a chorus of agreements and I smiled as the sight of me in the mirror. I ran my hands down the sides and froze.

“And I found the best part about this dress!” I announced with a giggle before showing them my finding. “Pockets!”

Everyone laughed at my childish discovery, Brittney glancing at the price tag.

“This dress is seven hundred and seventy nine dollars,” she announced. “So that will leave you with two hundred twenty one dollars to spend!”

“Do you want to get anything else?” Cathy asked me in a kind voice.

“No, I don’t think so,” I was unable to wipe the please smile from my face. “I think the dress is honestly enough as is.”

“Are you sure? I can get the veil that has been used for the past nine generations, if you would like,” Princess Patricia offered me.

“You mean the lace cathedral veil that’s on display at the Brooklyn historical museum?” I asked, automatically blanching. The legendary Ratajczyk royal family cathedral veil was a beautiful thing of history, a delicate thing that I knew would cause ever more anxiety over me making sure it wouldn’t become dirty or torn. “Honestly, I’d rather not. The king and I are to be wed outside after all.”

“Ah, good point,” she smiled. “But do you at least want to wear any of the displayed family jewels as your something old?”

“I’ve always liked those simple blue sapphire ear studs,” I confessed.

“Yes, with that jeweled flower pendant?” she grinned. “Perfect! I’ll bring them with me when I meet you and Peter and the girls beforehand, alright?”

I smiled before turning and returning back into my assigned dressing room to change back into my jeans and turtleneck sweater.

TAGLISTS ARE OPEN/ ASK BOX IS OPEN/ REQUESTS ARE OPEN/ PLOT BUNNIES ARE WELCOMED

If you liked this, then please consider buying me a coffee HERE It only costs $3!!!

PETER STEELE TAGLIST

@rock-a-noodle

@elianafilthyrose

@ch3rry-c01a

@rockstarslutt

@angelxfuckk

[rae-writes]

ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɪɴ'ᴛ ��ᴇᴛᴛɪɴ' ʏᴏ ʙ*ᴛᴄʜ ʙᴀᴄᴋ

tr x fem!reader

word count : 1.k

warnings : nsfw

a/n : contrary to popular belief, I’m not dead

Sanzu

When you agreed to ‘join’ Bonten, you were expecting to have more time with your boyfriend; you were not expecting to be neglected even more than you already were as a regular civilian. Takeomi wasn’t a good boyfriend- you knew that. You also knew there were others dying to take his place. 

“So fucking pretty-“ Sanzu’s tongue trailed down your sternum, lips curling at the sides, “So pretty all f’me, hmm? I knew this color would look good on you, Baby.” 

You sat perched on the pinkett's lap, body adorned with the same bubblegum shade; lace that hugged your assets in two pieces paired with white thigh highs that had little pink bows at the tops. 

“I knew as soon as my brother brought you here that you weren’t for him. I always wondered how he could get someone so pretty, so kind— and younger than me.” Curled lips finally pulled into a sneer, “Bastard wasn’t even treating you right.” 

“You will though, right, Haru?” Doe eyes stared down at him through heavy lashes, a pout settled on your lips. Heat bubbled in your stomach when his gaze darkened at your words, “Haruchiyo~”

A growl escaped him as his hands gripped tightly at your upper thighs, “Fuck- fuck! Say my name again…god you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say it.” Movement catches Sanzu’s attention, sharp eyes snapping to the entrance to see his older brother frozen in place. 

Takeomi blinked once. Then twice. His brows furrowed and his lips parted, ‘That little fucker-!’ But before he could audibly relay his insults, Sanzu shot him a smug grin. 

His hands guided your hips to start rocking against his, eliciting soft, sugar sweet, moans from you. “Give me a lil’ show, Baby. You look prettier on my lap instead, yeah?” 

Unknowing of Takeomi standing right behind you, watching you move against his brother like you used to do with him (just 4 days ago to be exact), you lolled your head to the side and responded happily with “yes!” 

Angry

Souya was suspicious when his twin first brought you home- not of you, no, you were the sweetest thing to ever walk the earth in his opinion- but of his brother. Nahoya never showed interest in a relationship before; he didn’t want a girlfriend, he wanted a toy. 

But Souya wanted you. He wanted to worship you— and he did. “Goddamnit, you taste so fucking good.” He felt like he was losing his mind, hands gripping your ass to try and keep himself grounded. 

You yourself were gripping onto the counter for dear life, also trying to stay grounded. When the blue haired twin approached you in the kitchen, you thought nothing of it, but now…”D-don’t stop, Souya!” 

He pulled back just enough so you’d hear him clearly, “Oh fuck- say my name again. Please?” 

“Souya, Souya, Souya!” His name felt good on your tongue- you told him as much as you looked back at him, lips parting at his blown pupils. “So pretty Souya…make me feel s’good. ‘Hoya never made me feel like this.”

Oh. Oh fuck. Angry lost it, fully suffocating himself between your thighs, hellbent on making you cum around his tongue. “Mine, mine, mine, mine.”

Smiley’s shoes squeaked from the force of his stop, eyes opening wide at the sight in front of him. He watched you lift your head up and meet his eyes, “What the f-“

“-uck! Right there, Souya!” You watched Smiley’s mouth drop when you said his twin’s name before your eyes rolled back. 

Angry stood up, wiping his mouth, and made direct eye contact with Nahoya while he gripped your hips. “I’ll start on dinner in a second, I just wanted something sweet first.”

Mikey

You may have been Izana’s designated eye candy, clad in your personally modified Tenjiku uniform, but it was Mikey who had you pressed against the alley wall with his knee in between your thighs. 

His hands ripped at the fishnets covering your legs, hiking your red skirt up as he went higher. Your uniform jacket was…somewhere on the ground but your mind was too hazy to remember exactly where. “So pretty…” 

Your eyes scanned his face before meeting his static orbs, “You think I’m pretty?” You’ve been called hot before : sexy, alluring, anything of that sort; but never had you heard ‘pretty’ fall from anyone's lips— especially not Izana’s. 

“So so pretty, Angel. But…” he smiled at the slight wobble of your lips when he dragged out the word, “You’d look even prettier in a Toman uniform.” Chuckling, he admired the sparkles that appeared in your eyes. 

“Mikey…” he was pressing closer. 

“Ah, ah, ah. That’s not my name- not to you.” 

Your breath hitched before your eyes were distracted by something- or someone- else, “I-Izana!” You heard Mikey growl when that name left your mouth instead. 

Said male glowered at the sight before him, growling back when his sights landed on your Tenjiku jacket underneath Mikey’s feet. “What the hell do you think you’re doing with her?” Purple pools were simmering in anger; his fists clenched when the blonde placed kisses along your neck, seemingly unaffected by his presence. 

Mikey could feel your fingers fist his uniform jacket, hear your quiet whine as you leaned up to press a kiss at the corner of his mouth when he pulled away. He ignored it in favor of glancing back at the pair standing in the alleyway entrance. “You said you didn’t want her anymore, didn’t you?” 

Irritated with the loss of attention, you grinded against Mikey’s leg, mewling at the friction. You saw Mikey’s mouth part as his hands shot to your hips. “Manjiro…pay attention to me.” Faintly, you saw Kakucho holding Izana back, but your eyes were trained on how Mikey’s eyes dilated as they snapped back to yours. 

“Fuckin’ hell, Angel- don’t worry, you got my attention, fuck, you got it.” His leg lifted you a bit, hands pressing you down harder on his thigh. With you contently riding his thigh, he turned his attention back to Izana and snarled, “Get lost.”

Taiju

If there was someone Hakkai prioritized more than anyone else (besides his sister) it would be Mitsuya Takashi. You were actually good friends with him, but sometimes you genuinely felt like he was Kai’s lover and not you— you weren’t the only one to notice. 

“Poor, sweet little thing. You just need a real man to make you feel good, don’t you?” 

You were trapped under him, clad in nothing but your underwear as he rubbed himself against you, “y-yes…”

“Yes, who?” He gave you a sharp toothed grin.

“Yes, Taiju.” 

The blue haired male hummed, rutting against you harsher, “Good. I want you to be screaming that name by the time my little brother comes back home.” 

Your throat was starting to get sore from following his orders, moans getting hoarser and hoarser until your jaw was gripped harshly; Taiju turned your head to the side to show Hakkai standing in the doorway. 

“Don’t stop moaning loud for me baby, let him hear how he should’ve treated you. Go on- fuuuck, that’s it.”

Hakkai was mortified seeing your sprawled out on your back under his brother.  Your cheeks were flushed and glossy eyes were staring him down; it made him flush in shame and anger. 

That made you smile. Right at him. Right before you came, screaming Taiju’s name. 

The older male was satisfied. “Always leaving me to have to take care of whatever you brought home, hmm? I think I’ll be keeping this one, though.”

[azusawrites]

title. ferris wheel

rating. T

characters. Kalim Al Asim/Kore Hightower

taglist. @itsocxcanonweek

Neon lights swirling around. Soft music in the background. She can feel the pressure of his fingers against her waist and thanks herself for wearing something that leaves her skin bare so his heat washes over her in waves. He smells like tangerines and the soft, pink bubblegum candy floss they had after the train ride that left them squashed in between two other couples, holding tight onto the railing, and close enough she could almost breathe through his lungs. She liked the T-Shirt he wore on their date – light and colourful, then creased by all the running around they did. She could trace the lines with her fingertips, count every juncture and every overlay. There was a stain at the bottom, just where the corners folded against themselves, and it stood out because it was the same type of mustard that she used at home. She wondered if he knew. Though even if he didn’t, she still treasured that little thread that tied them to each other through these little moments, through these little fairytale dreams that she fears she’s still asleep for.

Holding another person, being held by another person – these are strange notions to Kore yet. It feels like the weight of the world is pressed against her frame when he puts his arms around her, and yet it doesn’t feel heavy at all. She doesn’t feel any strain, just the soft rocking of the ocean as it laps at her feet and how the desert kisses her skin, promising her that it will do anything it can to make the song on the tip of her tongue burst forth. He says he likes the way she tastes. That she closes her eyes just after they kiss. And those were things she never expected anybody to say about her but now only wanted to hear from him.

The cabin that they sit in is mostly drenched in shadows that drape themselves on top of them, almost covering their whole bodies. Huddled in the corner as they are, she thinks not even the moon can spot them through the darkness. There are no stars tonight – the firelights have sent them scrambling, falling over each other until later this month they will descend in a shower. He told her they have to go see it when it happens. She made her plans and noted it in her calendar, a little pink heart just above the number, that was erased later because it felt too silly to put something like that in, then redrew it because she realized it didn’t matter because it made her happy.

“This was fun,” he mutters against her hair. Her legs are thrown over his, her white sneakers not even touching the floor, and she’s halfway in his lap, his fingers against her skin. She thinks this is what heaven must feel like. All warm and loving and soft, kissing the top of your head and yawning occasionally with a satisfied smile on its kind face. Kalim looked cute no matter what but in this low light he was heartbreakingly handsome. “We should come here someday again!”

“We should,” she agrees. “But next time we shouldn’t eat hotdogs just before we get on the roller coaster, you know?”

He laughs and it sounds like bells. “That was still so much fun!”

“We threw up after!”

“That’s true,” he says and brings her closer. Her chest presses against him, and her legs get tangled up in his, but she doesn’t feel the need to move. This position too is comfortable, even if his belt digs in her stomach. “But wasn’t it fun when we went through that loop? I thought I would fall out of my seat! Then I got worried you would.”

“We had the belts so we would have been fine.”

“Hm, I guess that’s true too…” He shifts the giant toy cat he won for her (after 178 attempts) to the other side of the bench, where it sits pressed against the window of the cabin, overlooking the fair. Grim will be furious when he’ll see it later this night, plotting already to dispose of his rival, but for now, she’s enjoying the sight of it whole and cute and all for her. There must be people down there and light and colours. Couples and families all darting around trying to immerse themselves in the fun and the laughter just like they did before. While they were still having their fun too, probably. But then she only had eyes for Kalim so it might as well have been a deserted ground. He wraps his arms around her waist and brings her closer, trailing kisses all across her forehead while she buries her face in his neck. He has such soft skin – it’s intoxicating. “Can I kiss you now?”

“What?” Kore asks.

“Can I kiss you now? You said I couldn’t kiss you until some time passed after we rode the roller coaster and we brushed our teeth and that was… four hours ago!”

“Was it really that long?”

“It was,” he whines and kisses her head. “I kept looking at the watch because I wasn’t sure what you meant by later but every time we just kept on getting on new rides! And that was fun! But by the I remembered, I just didn’t have the chance anymore.” The Ferris Wheel comes to a halt atop its highest point, where the lights below become so dim she can barely spot them anymore. In the darkness, she can feel the beat of his heart and his warmth, the welcome embrace that he always keeps her in when they are together. “So, can we kiss now? Please?”

She thinks her heart might melt someday. That the heat might be too much and will just leave it in a pink puddle on the floor, glittering under the sunlight. Kalim has the oddest effect on her – she feels like she can’t breathe anymore, while at the same time, it’s like her lungs are expanding for the first time ever. She’s filled with the sight of him until every inch of her skin is glistening with the love and lightness that he overflows with. Kalim is warmth in every sense of the word – easy and pristine and welcoming. Staying in his arms makes him feel like her weary bones can finally rest after the long haul that has always been her life. In this softness, she can find the own beat of her heart echoing.

She smiles, but she’s certain he can’t see it in the dark. The moon makes for a poor light source, but she still lets herself gaze into his eyes.

“It’s so dark. Will you even be able to find me like this?”

She meant it as a joke, but when he holds her tighter she feels like she’s ready to burst beneath his fingertips. He smells of summer and the ocean, and when he speaks he carries with him that first rush of waves that break against the sun at dusk. Quiet and ephemeral and it makes her sink into him deeper until she cannot tell where she ends and he begins.

“Of course, I will!” His mouth is pressed against her own, lips tracing familiar patterns. She touches his neck, in that spot just beneath his chin to try to stop the rushing of blood in her ears. “You’re just right next to me. And there’s no way that I would ever be able to lose you.”

“How so?”

“It’s because I can hear the beating of your heart.” He lays his palm across it. “If I follow it, I can always come back to you.”

He tastes like candy floss and the sugary drinks they had all day. Like mint and coffee and all sorts of treats that she’s seen only in magazines, with pretty girls on the cover that held out trays packed to the brim with pastries. Kalim tasted like the ocean, crashing against the sandy beach while swallowing the sun in its hold. It was strangely new and nostalgic, like her mouth would always remember the shape of his, but was still surprised at the tenderness of it all. She would always sink into him, clamouring for his welcoming embrace, until nothing of her remained but the shape of her bones, the ribs and the heart in its beating form.

Atop the Ferris Wheel, time was standing still, just their hearts going on at the exhausting beat at which all love marches on, through the darkness, until it finds that patch of light which calls to it. And when it does it latches on, until the world has melted away and it's just them crashing against the sandy beach at dusk, taken in by the sight of the sun submerging under their bodies.

Kalim feels like home and somehow far away at the same time. And she realizes that’s why she loves him.

[rosepetalwings]

DESSERTRUNE

okay, looks like people are interested in my AU dessertrune so..... please enjoy the upcoming jumble of words i've strung together to explain this au!

(TRIGGER WARNING - This is a horror AU and will deal with dark and disturbing topics, including gore, murder, and even cannibalism, intended to disturb the viewer. The post will be tagged with the appropriate tags to warn for such things but please do not read if such things will affect you negatively. Please stay safe and enjoy something else that may bring you joy, for you are worth it. 🖤)

Story

There's giggly chattering amongst the more naive and imaginative students of Hometown's school of a world in the shadows made of saccharine enchantment and wonder... Taffy trees and frosted fields and sweet smiles from the saccharine people that inhabit this magical land. How terrible it is to know that their innocent dreams are but sugar coated nightmares.

But all is not lost.

For you see, Legend tells of 3 brave young heroes from the Light banishing the Angel’s Confections from the land which promise to bring ruin to them all. To rid the Dark of its extra Fountain and the curious candies that have sprung up in ostentatious billboards and flashy, loud ads all through the Dark World is the Heroes’ Quest; a quest that may consume them whole.

Locations

Light World

Everything in the Light World is mostly untouched, save for the bunker which sports an odd little sticker for some strange candy... Curious when you consider the sticker's brightness and newness against the bunker's weathered and dilapidated age. Probably just some kid with new stickers wandering where they shouldn't have been.

Dark World

????? - Dark and haunting, this muted pink area sports rock candy jewels that glint strangely in the shadows that bathe the area. Best to keep moving along, judging by the strange iridescent sludge that pool around everywhere here and open mouthed grinning puzzles that seem to giggle quietly at you specifically...

Castle Town - A break from the burnt bubblegum-pink, there is an empty town that surrounds a lonely castle. It is dark, and so very quiet, but completely untouched by the sludge from before. Abandoned? Or, perhaps it is so lonely a location, everyone overlooks it.

Field - A long field of pastel purple grass and luscious strawberry pink-red trees with tall buildings off in the horizon... There’s an overwhelming scent of fruit punch on the breeze and- oh! It seems a “Lancer” has left up signage everywhere, warning others in a childish scrawl to not eat from the candy stalls that advertise so loudly and brightly on every path... "The taste of happiness!" the wrapper proclaims. Upon meeting him, there’s a sense that he is perhaps not the most upstanding child with how much he loves to call himself a villain... But- perhaps he has a point, with how the candy seems to beckon the observer with its bright, happy colors... Would you believe this mischievous young lad?

The Scarlet Forest - The smell of sweet fruit punch fades out into spicy cinnamon as the crimson trees seem to grow brighter. A few fallen leaves float on by with the wind as their vehicle, and the stalls from before disappear... Smaller strip malls and buildings abound here... Though there is a large store that calls to each Darkner that approaches with bright neon signs. “Come and see the new line of Halberd Inc. treats!” the dark-circled greeter cries out with a smile so big it looks like it aches, "New improved formula! 150% more sweetness packed in!!" and the huge line of much too eager Darkners that queue up for a taste of the reformulated sweets cheer cacophonously...

Great Board - The smell of licorice envelopes the air in the Great Board, which in and of itself, is filled to the brim with billboards and bright lights and neon signs and weathered posters out the wazoo. It is a smog ridden area, lit only by the blinding neon lights that guide the way up to the castle. There's a small maze of a city here, before the Factory. It's gritty, and dingy, and it smells like a burning dumpster fire there but it is a small bit of respite before trekking elsewhere... Perhaps one could stop at the Boardway Theater, where there's a quaint little horror musical about a killer barber. Song about having "a little ponman", the Halberd Inc. papers last said.

The Factory - Halberd Inc.'s core production facility. Every facet of it is highly secured, contained, and protected. It employs almost every Darkner in the area, in some form or another. If they do not work in the production line, they work in transportation of the products. If they do not transport Halberd Inc. products, they sell the products. Or advertise. Halberd Inc. is inescapable. Halberd Inc. loves you. Halberd Inc. provides for you. Working for Halberd Inc. is happiness. Don't you want to be happy? Feel all sweet inside? The cagey silver-haired assistant hugging his clipboard a little too tightly too his chest doesn't seem all that happy. Maybe if one presses the stressed man, he'll give up the dark secret of this sordid manufacturer... And, quickly, do inform him of where his adopted(?) son has tarried off to.

Characters

Lightners

Kris - The hero of our tale. A quiet kid, normally. Though, normally not so quiet as when they enter the Dark World. They enter a world of sweets and yet their mouth is taken from them, replaced only with a thin, red smile against the purple of their mixed berry gummy flesh. They have no mouth and they must scream.

Susie - A rude girl that's about as tough as leather. ...Makes sense as to why her hide becomes fruit leather, in the Dark World. About as sweet too, deep down. Hard to convince her away from not just absolutely wolfing down all the free food around her though. But... she does listen to Lancer's warnings, thankfully.

Noelle, Asriel, Alphys, Undyne, Toriel, Asgore, Sans, Papyrus - Unchanged. Speculate on what you'd like with them. Though I have thoughts here and there for "sweets" versions of them.

Darkners

Ralsei - A fluffy boy that smells like toothpaste. He'll correct you that it's spearmint that you're picking up and then offer you some sugar free gum. Or an apple. Or some celery. As a healthy snack.

Lancer - The bad guy! ...Or so he says, as he continues to help you through this strange, saccharine world. Just kind of seems like a little kid that means well... A little, jawbreaker-looking kid, with how round he is and the paint splatters from all the signs he makes all over his clothes. ...Are those meant to be there or not?

Seam - The local shopkeep. This purple rock candy feline knows much about this old world and how very terribly the world has been corrupted since the rise of Halberd Inc. Stay a while to keep out from the not-so-fresh air and ask about all the nitty-gritty details, Seam certainly won't mind.

Rouxls - Rex Halberd's right hand man, a frigid blue raspberry slushie of a Kaard and a yes man if ever there was one. Though, only to keep the peace and his life. He only trusts the CEO of Halberd Inc. as far as he can throw him, now that he knows what the candy contains. (He almost throws up every time he thinks about it.) He wants to see the company crash and burn and run away with Lancer to build anew but he's powerless to do so. Rex owns just about everything Rouxls knows... And if Rex doesn't own it yet, he will. A little help or direction for this hopeless assistant would be appreciated.

Jevil - Must be quite the sucker to have searched this far down in the Factory. This swirling lollipop man with a harlequin smile only laughs uncontrollably as you near the bloodied vat of... candy(?) within the room. He was locked in here a while ago and forgotten for the crime of upsetting the CEO with silly games. He wishes to open your mind, see the real truth of this world... Or kill you in the process. Either or.

King - The Rex Halberd. CEO. Father. Friend. Leader. And the most awful person alive. He has more money than most would ever see in 100 lifetimes. He would dangle his own son off of the roof of his factory building. And he would more than happily consume his own products because, just like his workers and his family, the Darkners' bodies used to create his sweets are nothing more than something for him to use and discard when they have become worthless. Kick this dude's fucking ass.

[cupsofsuga]

Hello! This is the anon from before (the dolt who sent in a request not knowing they were closed), if it's okay, can I please ask the yanderes when or what moment did they know that YN was destined to be with them? Or rather, when did they fall obsessively in love with them?

send me an ask! - X

gif creds - X

thank you for sending me an ask, wildflower!

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐒𝐄𝐎𝐊𝐉𝐈𝐍

━━━ Just shy of 15! As the horrors of high school advanced in ridden leaves and hot apple cider, Jin found himself longing for a lost lover. His sublime-drowned blossom; his honey-infused summer. Y/N L/N, the beauty whose face adorned every love song to cease to exist. You had drifted apart from the beginning of middle school and had left Jin to long for infinity and your breathless romance. God, he just misses you so much. So much, he has truly forgotten what it means to feel anything. He can't pray violence on those who stole you away, he can't beg to the stars for his flowerchild to return home. He must sit and welter within this eternal, empty ache. And as the school bell sings its song, he feels it. There you were, blowing bubblegum with your California heart, just on the corner of the sidewalk. There you were, so feverish and real. Therein, Jin feels his heart bloom under the early September sky. With you, he can finally feel.

❝ Jesus, what are you doing to me? It’s like you’re in my veins and I can’t escape you! ❞

𝐌𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐈

━━━ At the café! Vulgar poison stains Yoongi's throat as hours pass by like Autumn winds. There are no words to explain this loneliness— dependent like bloodstains and velvet silence, but before the silence of eternal nights swallows him whole, you in your pink moonlight, effervescent glow catch the young boy off guard. Yoongi chokes on his cherry bubblegum, feeling his heart elate with the blood of June. He is flustered, fascinated, in every means enthralled with a single stranger. Yoongi couldn’t put his finger on what was just so… captivating about you. Eye-to-eye contact is ethereal enough, but he pleads for these neon feelings to be mutual. He wants to reciprocate all the delight, euphoria, and sunlight you have so generously gifted him. Whether that’s by slaughtering this planet till we are nothing but dust or littering his studio apartment with crumbled sheets of failed poetry, he’ll do it in a heartbeat. Yoongi would do anything and everything for you.

❝ Oh, my Y/N, I swear… If stars could speak, you’re name would be whispered throughout this entire galaxy… ❞

𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐎��𝐄𝐎𝐊

━━━ Walking home from school! As the boy jumps into rain puddles with his damp, yellow converse, an alleyway stripped on sunlight stands before him. Hoseok then ventures into the darkness, right before the finding you, a black sheep who laughs in amusement at his fear. Now, he had presumed you to steal his lunch money or force him to do your homework, just like the rest of the junkies, but he had been greatly mistaken. You offer him a seat, as well as a swig of the cheap whiskey you kept at your knee. With that smile— oh, that laughter. Hoseok had found warmth in the silver-stained, cold moon. You, the blossoming of delicate lilies, robbed him of his heart with that sultry smile and rough voice. He is stunned into adoring silence, for there is no way someone this beautiful is talking to him, let alone acknowledging his existence. Life is no longer saturated and instead filled to a brim with hallucinations and nymphs. Life is now bold.

❝ You’re so… pretty… Gosh, I really want to kiss those bruises all over your knuckles. ❞

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐉𝐎𝐎𝐍

━━━ In the library! Namjoon visited the estate frequently in hopes of catching sight of the purple swan who somehow possessed the strength to soothe the cracks and clots of sorrow that bathe within his heart. There was always that alluring essence you possessed, but god, finally talking to you? It’s like lullabies against whispered starlight; melodies of unspoken folklore in the light of Summer. Oh, it is everything to drown in you. This dull life Namjoon has endured has finally been given light. And this man is willing to bleed himself dry if it means keeping the loss of twilight within his possession. He longs to be the one that can see the roots of your smile, to taste the tears of your eyes in July, to find just how far the depths of your soul may reach. It is endless, this battering heart of his. As you speak words of petals and angel’s feathers, his heart faints for what seems like the millionth time since he had first laid eyes on you. You have gifted him berries in winter’s embrace, gifted him meaning in a sea of soul’s dust. At last, you have given Namjoon life.

❝ I am still stunned into silence by just how special you truly are… How do you do it? Be so incredibly beautiful in a world like this? ❞

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍

━━━ At his father’s meeting! You sparked up a conversation, complimenting Jimin on his judgment of books with daylight within your irises. Just with that small act of kindness, so much joy grows within him at once, he fears his bones may shatter under the weight of it all. He has found an enchanted garden as he gets drunk off the hazy pink skies and nymph’s songs. He tastes cotton candy within your expression, manifested cupid’s kiss within the depths of your soul. Jimin has found the pure heart of an angel within you, a single stranger whose fate has been declared by a single compliment. From staying up till 4AM crafting a scrapbook littered with polaroids, loving messages to his lover and souvenirs from previous dates moments (including a single strand of your hair he found on his shoulder once) to redoing a batch of brownies 13 times in a single day all because you said they were your favorite, this boy is desperate to feel his heart elate when you speak your honeyed validation. Jimin loves you and that shall be the end of it.

❝ My sugarplum, your voice itself could make flowers grow! It certainly makes my heart grow, heh! ❞

𝐊𝐈𝐌 𝐓𝐀𝐄𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐍𝐆

━━━ The night of the theatre play! Taehyung gazes into your eyes for the sum of the movie and perceives himself enchanted with the war zone of your mind. How you tilt your head like a puppy when you're pondering over a scene or how your lip gently curls when a specific line or shot grips your liking. Oh, you are heaven beneath the mystic moon! As the evening drenched in honey nectar comes to an end, Taehyung trails after you back to your estate. And this was merely a pinprick of the blooming that will occur after. Little did he know of just how sweet this grey life can blossom into. An infatuation, like the first sunrise in the meadow after a heavy winter, flutters through his ribcage. Taehyung is willing to mold and shape himself to become the perfect boyfriend for someone as captivating as you. This may sound generic as every cliche fairytale you’d find etched into golden pages, but every time he looks at you, it’s just - fuck - he can’t imagine living a single second without you. You are addictive and Taehyung cannot seem to let you go.

❝ If someday the moon calls you by your name, don’t be surprised, because every night I talk to her about you. ❞

𝐉𝐄𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐊𝐎𝐎𝐊

━━━ Town’s sweetheart meets the burnout! It was only supposed to be some stupid school-project, not a star-stained stroll through the ethereal trails of Versailles. You were only supposed to be a fleeting stranger, not a reminiscence of a summer morning’s moonflower in its complete bloom. But, you’re just so warm. Those would be a fool not to fall for such a seraphic soul like yours. The personification of sunshine, the manifestation of Venus. Oh, you are such a dream! This idea plagues Jungkook’s mind with paradisiacal intentions through the depths of midnight. He dreams of the melody of birds and the velvety sound of your voice as he rocks himself into an empty slumber, ignoring the burden of his father and the rodents at school. Although the revelation that he’d wake up alone in his cold sheets lingers within the back of his mind, the idea of awakening to your illuminating face melts any form of negativity. Such a fate engrossed with charm and an angel’s battering heartbeat to wake up with you every morning. Oh, one day. Maybe one day…

❝ I don’t care who calls me greedy, I am a selfish lover. I want you all to myself. Mine, mine, mine! Mine only… ❞

[astrocassette]

oc aesthetic - seren

tagged on this one by @undyingembers​, thank you!!

mostly under a readmore cause i was feeling poetic and found myself writing!

Bold for always Italics for sometimes

COLORS

red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. cobalt blue.

the green of the forest and the blue of the sky are the colors they chose to adorn themselves with, colors they could drink in for as long as they could want to. but they are not the only colors that follow them. the earthy browns of their horns and their fur, the shiny wheat yellow of their hair, the vivid green that’s wrapped around their body and shines in their eyes all trail after them as well. and the twinkling blues and purples that surround them as they watch the night sky, dipping to cascade over their shoulders in a cape made of starlight. all of these are the colors that follow this watcher.

-

ELEMENTS

fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. magic.

seren is a child, born of the earth, but knowing only the sea and the sky. they take joy in the rushing of waves underneath, the salty breeze through their hair, the feeling of sunlight on their skin, all of the colors that paint and dapple the sky when day turns to night. this is what they know, but when this adventure is over, they will find themself again in the sound of rustling leaves, the feeling of dirt under bare feet, the softness of lying in a clover patch. these are their elements, earth, sea, and sky.

-

BODY

claws. long fingers. fangs. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. freckles. bruises. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. spikes. feathers. webs. sweat. tears. feline. scales. fur. chubby. curvy. short. tall. average height. muscular. lean. piercings. tattoos. lithe.

they look so small, so unassuming at first glance, small horns, floppy ears, and freckle-flowers, wandering around the ship barefoot, smiling as easily as the sun shines. they are themself, of course, always, but even still it’s enough to give pause when they strip at the bathhouse, seeing the bruises and scrapes and scars of battle that decorate their skin, and the hints of lean muscle underneath. they are small, maybe, and sunny, but that does not negate how dangerous a foe they are.

-

WEAPONS

fists. sword. dagger. spear. arrow. hammer. shield. poison. venom. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. pyre. teeth/fangs. rifles. words.

seren has known many weapons in their lifetime, wielded and suffered, but not all remembered. wands and rifles fit easily into their hands, and somehow the weight of a mace did too. really, though, all of those came second. they could do so much with a thought, crush, splinter, pierce. use peoples’ phantasmal insides to break their tangible outsides. it was... rather unnerving when anyone else thought about it for too long.

-

MATERIALS

gold. silver. platinum. titanium. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics.

seren’s mind makes itself out of wool and paper, out of iron and cloth and clay. it comes out in the weaving of wool, the scratching of lyrics on paper, the rush of breath through an ocarina. they collect rocks with their hands and dirt with their feet, and their days are segmented by iron weapons and cookware alike. the watcher is made up of many things, but most of all, themself.

-

NATURE + WEATHER

grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. tulips. lavender. sunflowers. petals. thorns. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. ocean. river. meadow. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rainforest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. poppies. galaxies. stardust. sky. rain. storm. sunny.

a child of the earth, a child of nature, they appreciate everything they can get from it. plants, trees and flowers and crops are petted as seren passes by. barefoot, they dig their toes into grass and dirt and sand alike, reveling in the texture. they lie on beaches and meadows, watching what the sky has to offer at any time of day.

-

ANIMALS + MYTHICAL CREATURES

lions. wolves. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles + tortoises. bugs. spiders. doves. robins. ducks. vultures. whales. dolphins. fish. octopus. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. rabbits. hares. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. rats. livestock. tigers. panthers. deer. foxes. bats. bears. crocodiles + alligators. coyotes. seals + sea lions

seren knows of many animals, but only has experience with a few. they know stories of falcons and snakes and turtles and panthers, but does not remember learning them. caring for cats and rabbits and chickens is much the same, during the few occasions they help a local corral their livestock. the one that always makes them light up, though, their favorite, were bats. as dusk fell, they’d watch the diminutive shadows flitting from tree to tree, grinning and pointing them out to whoever was with them.

-

FOOD + DRINK

sugar. salt. bitter. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. beer. coffee. tea. soda. spices. herbs. apple. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. pizza. french fries.

fruits and meats and grains are their favorites, preferring savory and sweet. humming happily at the taste of honey glazed hen, sharing orange slices with whoever happened by on deck, flapping their hands at the spiciness of fire kelp but going back for more, crunching on candied nuts as they peruse the shops of queen’s berth. to them, food is very much a joy, and something to be shared.

-

HOBBIES

music. art. watercolors. gardening/growing plants. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. video games. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. comic books. magazines. cds. records. vinyls. cassettes. piano. violin. guitar. electric guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. bells. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. flight. climbing. running. swimming. healing/medicine.

they like everything surrounding music and the fiber arts, but there are other things, too. sparring with friends is something they enjoy, light fare to make days sailing more interesting. reading books, both fiction and non to pass the time in a gentler way, card games similarly when they want to spend that time with people. neither they nor their crew puts on theater, but in ports, seren loves stopping to watch, enjoying the story and the questionable acting skills in equal measure. being the herald of berath and the hound of eothas does not allow excessive room for hobbies, but they make time anyways.

-

STYLE

lingerie. armor. cape. dress. tunic. vest. shirt. sweater. boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. duster. trenchcoat. hood. gloves. socks. masks. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. eye contacts. makeup. ties. uniform.

a brigandine and cape, forest green, sky blue, and white, are their battle armor, heavy but maneuverable. it is what they choose to wear for the necessity of it, but outside of battle it is not something they’d choose. they favor light shirts and tunics, open necklines and half sleeves, pants cut at the knee, secured with a sash that flutters after them when they run. an item cherished is their cape, the cape of the fallen star, that surrounds them in the beauty of the night sky and makes them a sight to remember on the few occasions they wear it.

-

MISC.

balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. war. peace. money. power. clocks. photos. mirrors. pets. kisses. diary. fairy lights. mental health problems. sadness. bittersweet. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. family. friends. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. revenge.

seren is kind. kind, and light, and optimistic. their task is a heavy one, tense, and worrying, and precarious, so they do what they can to bring light, to show kindness against the uncertainty of the world.

[globnarchampion]

@pinetrce cont. from here

“IT’S GOOD! LOOK AT THIS!”

Mabel shoved a cupcake into Dipper’s mouth. “TRY IT! I’m trying something new. It turned out SO GOOD.” It was bright pink with a huge dollop of icing topped with crushed candy acting as sprinkles. The cake itself tasted like strawberry bubblegum and the center was full of pop rocks. “I call it a strawberry blast cupcake. What do ya think?”

[nctsukashii-archive-blog]

CANDY DUMP | HEADCANONS

This was supposed to be small, but I might have to put it under a read more because my pickiness has once again ruined my life.

- I myself love that it’s candy cigs cuz I had them as a kid myself, but also from time to time he’ll have salmiakki in his mouth instead. This stems not only from just the desire to look cool and more mature, but it’s just fun to mix up flavors from time to time- as well as connecting that he’s traveled internationally for tennis tournaments throughout middle school, so what’s to say that he didn’t get other candies from other countries? It’s fun to think of it as a weird hobby, just collecting candy from other countries. Japanese prisons are quite well known for treating their prisoners like garbage, and the food is no exception as it’s all salty and shitty. So it’s most often eaten when he’s feeling needing to be headstrong, or when he feels like he needs to remind himself of what’s waiting for him back when he goes to prison. No matter if he has a motive to get out or not, he still has to deal with the treatment there for a period of time, and it’ll need steeled determination to get him out with his sanity still in tact. Perfect for hardening his resolve to face the future. (1. Salmiakki is the Finnish word for it, but it’s just salty black liquorice.)

- Some of his candy cigarettes do have the option to ‘smoke’ them, and that just means there’s powdered sugar in it to simulate smoke. He chokes on it surprisingly often, because Hoshi has this bad habit of like, just swallowing it instead of blowing it out like you’re supposed to, so he tends not to use those ones very often. It’s candy okay his first instinct is to eat candy.

- Speaking of something from the first one, I do picture him as having a wide variety of candies from back in the day from a bunch of different countries. American candy cigarettes are known nowadays as Candy Sticks with popular name brand characters, and are quite chalky and a bit tart for instance... but there’s also bubblegum varieties which tend to look like actual cigarettes. Frigeo Ahoj Brause Stabchen are German sour hard candies that sometimes come packaged like chalk does in the US, but while they are more known as small tablet-esque shapes there are more stick versions, which also melt in your mouth- perfect for a rush to wake you up in the morning!  Tamarindo Candy Sticks are from Mexico and are much more spicier than most candies, but they’re quite hot and good for spicing up for big competitions. Musk Sticks are from Australia and taste like Musk, something apparently most often used in cologne instead of candy but hey- some people describe it as weird but with floral undertones.... perhaps a good thing to eat before getting pumped before a date!? Salmiakki as previously mentioned is Finnish salty liquorice- black and packing quite an intense taste, perhaps used often as something to steel your resolve...? Candy Pops are pink mint rock sticks from the UK, simple but effective- perhaps used to enjoy slower paced days. Mässmogge is a Switzerland sweet candy that’s filled with hazelnut praline, quite the thing to have when you’re feeling something earthy but sweet. (1. Praline is a sugar-nut filling in candies made by grinding nuts and melting it with sugar.) There’s a lot of other candies, such as Palitos de la Selva and Carambar Caramel, but this list is quite long as is. The point is, Hoshi has a wide variety of candies from around the globe that he’d buy as his form of souvenirs and just to snack on for different occasions. Perhaps someone could talk about his surprising love of foreign candies with him...?

- He has a habit of keeping things in his mouth in general, not limited to just candy. This can range from toothpicks, to pencils, to anything that would function much like a stick. Candy is just easier, as more often then not, he can eat it before he chokes on it- and he just likes the taste.

- Hoshi doesn’t like gum, actually. It’s cumbersome to eat and it requires effort, something he can’t really care to do. Not enough to dislike it heavily or anything, but if you’re gifting him candy, he’d like something more like chocolate or something fruity. 

[blackphoenixalchemylab]

It’s Time for 2017′s LILITH & FATHERHOOD Updates!

Every year, BPAL and Trading Post founders Elizabeth and Ted Barrial look back over the past year in their daughter Lilith's life, isolating moments and sense memories worthy of enshrining in scent. This year, the result amounts to thirty-five unique, limited edition blends. Behold: ++ FATHERHOOD 2017 ++ LILITH 2017 Happy ninth birthday, Lilith! These will be available at tonight's Lunacy event at the Lab, and for a limited time beyond.

++ LILITH 2017

Lilith, my angel, I love you with all my heart. I love the hiccup’ing snorts of your bellylaugh, I love the strange stormy grey of your eyes. I love your fart jokes and your songs, I love our late night talks. I love everything about you, from your taste in shoes to your moral fiber. I love your kindness and your strength of character, I love your sense of humor and your sense of justice.

I love you, I love being your mom.

Happy birthday, Lilith. ADMETE

On the last day of school, some of the families get together at the beach to celebrate the onset of summer break. It was cold, grey, and overcast, but that was hardly daunting for this little Oceanid. Lilith and her friends splashed and played in water I couldn’t put a toe into. She boogie boarded for the first time that day and fell in love. The beach bunny I have now is a far cry from the Tiny Virgo who wouldn’t go near the sand because she didn’t want her Doritos to get dirty.

Driftwood and sea salt submerged in a marine layer, a touch of sweet carnation, bright neroli, and a sandy strip of kelp.

APOCALYPTIC HORSEPRINCESS

Lilith has always enjoyed the company of monsters. She grew up at Dark Delicacies, and two of her favorite toys when she was a baby were a Freddy Krueger rubber mask and a matching Freddy doll (with razor hands that were blunted by Grandma Sue so Lil didn’t poke an eye out). She has fears just like any other kid, but her monster friends help protect her from “real life” dangers. When she gets scared late at night, we talk about her ghost friends that roam the house, the vampires that live in our basement, the werewolves that hang out in the yard, the zombies that keep spare brains in our garage freezer, and all the other monsters (imaginary monster friends?) that love her and keep her safe from “real world” dangers. When we vend at horror-centric conventions, the monsters are always so nice to Lilith. At Midsummer Scream, she gets tons of high-fives from shambling ghouls and radioactive plant horrors, and she gets hugs from demented clowns and slobbering werebeasts.

Ever since Lilith was in kindergarten, we’ve helped with her school’s Halloween party, so she’s grown up loving setting up and working in haunted houses and horror mazes.

This photo is from this year’s Midsummer Scream. Lilith was inspecting a headless horseman scene, getting ideas for this year’s Halloween maze.

Crushed mint and neon lime, sour candy powder, and wild plum.

BABY’S FIRST CON PANEL

On July 20th, Lilith went to her first SDCC panel. As a carny kid and the tiniest Lab Rat, she’s been to tons of cons and events, and we’ve been taking her to San Diego Comic Con since birth. While she’s always had a good time, this was the first year that she was independently invested in her enjoyment there. She tore up the vending area, played video game demos, went looking for Arthas’ ice cream shop, and sat through several panels of her choosing. It was an experience that was truly /hers/ for the first time, and that was a really amazing piece of magic that I was privileged to witness.

The scent of the soft pretzel we hid in our backpack, plus a bit of leftover chocolate chip cookie.

BRUNCH WITCHES

Dressed in her witchy best for brunch with the fam!

Pumpkin pancakes and berries in cream.

CEMETERY CREEP

This summer, Brian got married at the Mountain View Mausoleum. As a side benefit, the Barrials got to spend hours skulking around its beautiful, cavernous halls in the weeks leading up to the event. Lilith loves the vast quietness of the mausoleum almost as much as she enjoys playing tag in the cemetery, and wandered the halls doing impromptu math equations to figure out how old people were when they passed.

I love this little cemetery creep with all my cobwebby heart.

Marble-white musk, orris root, and vanilla blossom.

CLOSET RAID

Funny how much better Lilith looks in my clothes than I do! This is the scent of generations of children raiding their parents’ closets: my grandmother and mother’s Chanel No. 5, my father and grandfather’s Lilac Vegetal, my Snake Oil, and Lilith’s lavender blossoms.

DANCING AMONG THE TOMBS

Autumn at Lilith’s favorite cemetery, Lafayette No. 1.

Osmanthus and jasmine, Spanish moss and dandelion, Snake Oil and Dorian.

DAYBREAK

Just a photo of Lilith and Pickle that I took one morning. I love this little human so, so much.

Last night’s lavender drops and a whiff of Pickle’s vanilla coconut pupper shampoo.

DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN

Lilith has been involved with our humanitarian and philanthropic work for several years, helping with fundraising events like our food, toy, and feminine napkin drives; she has taken the initiative a few times now, setting up her own fundraisers for the UNHCR and Pasadena Humane Society. This year, we decided that she’s old enough to do the footwork, and she volunteered with us twice in serving those currently experiencing homelessness. This photo is from Christmas Day 2017: Lilith spent several hours helping us distribute food, toiletries, and sleeping bags in Hollywood.

Madagascar vanilla and sweet patchouli with Yule pine, white fig, and almond blossom.

DO YOU LIKE CLOWNS?

Lilith has been watching Drag Race with me since she was teething, and she has worked with us at every Drag Con. She loves filming promo videos with Tom for the Nobodies events. She loves watching drag makeup tutorials, UNHhhh, and Alaska’s videos, and one of her goals in life is to pull off a reveal like Violet Chachki’s tartan runway look on the first day of school. So when she heard that Bob the Drag Queen was looking for a little girl for a comedy video, she was all over it. She loves Bob, she loves drag, and she loooooooooves being a big funny ham on stage. I’m the worst stage mom in all of Los Angeles history, and she has no headshots and no reel—so I sent over a funny photo of Lilith jetlagged and one of her Nobodies vids, and somehow she got the gig. It was one of the best days of her life. Bob and the crew were incredibly nice and friendly, and Lilith had the time of her life. To say thank you, she drew this picture for Bob of the two of them together on a bus bench.

Raspberry ice cream and a smear of black cherry lip gloss.

EGO SUM LUX MUNDI

Doing her work at the grotto, the International Shrine of St Jude at Our Lady of Guadelupe Chapel in New Orleans.

Frankincense and myrrh with golden amber, green apple pulp, and white pear.

GAS MASKS AND SNAILS AND PUPPY DOG TAILS

My offspring loves crossbows, gas masks, and kittens. She loves unicorns and rainbows and rhinestones and glitter, insects and Spongebob and fart jokes and whoopee cushions. She has a Nerf arsenal that would make her great-great-great-great-great (so many greats) Grandpa Attila proud, and a sea of big-eyed, rainbow-poofy plushies you could (probably literally) drown in. She loves fashion dolls as much as she loves anatomical models, Legos as much as she loves jewelry, and Hamlet as much as she loves My Little Pony. I love the diversity of her interests, and that—over the years—she is finding peace with loving what she loves, regardless of what anyone else might think.

Cotton candy and jellybeans with sugar cookie crumbles and vanilla frosting.

THE GODDESS OF MISCHIEF

Lilith has a ton of empathy for the God of Mischief. I think many kids identify with Loki because they know what it’s like to be passed over, to be ignored in favor of a shinier relative or friend, and what it feels like to not be as strong or powerful as some of your peers. He may be evil(ish), but he has a sense of humor and a grasp of irony that kids relate to, and that’s worth its weight in Alfheimian gold nuggets.

Thor is great and all, but Loki has /gone through some shit/, and Lilith respects that.

But what are the main reasons why Lilith digs Loki? “He looks like me, and he’s really funny.”

Girl!Loki costume by Chrissy Lynn!

White lavender and sweet amber, green oudh, and inky musk.

HECK ON WHEELS

Sometimes I make a perfume just because I love this kid. Red velvet confetti cupcakes and bubblegum.

HUNTRESS

This was the day that we discovered that Lilith was likely a sharpshooter crossbowman in another life. She was startlingly accurate, even with the handicap of using a clumsy carnival weapon.

Funnel cakes, baked apples, and strawberry cream.

LITTLE PHOTOJOURNALIST

Lilith Barrial, budding photojournalist, at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, New Orleans, LA. She’s been snapping photos since she was a toddler; we have whole photo albums of blurry photos of shoes and pavers from those days. She loves taking her powder pink instax on trips, and loves to document playdates with her friends.

Cathedral incense and rock candy.

PAYING HER RESPECTS

Lilith’s annual visit to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Star jasmine and tobacco leaf.

PEW! PEW!

There is nothing that sparks joy for me quite like sharing something I love with Lilith. She’s been playing console games with me on and off since she was five, though she took a break from Diablo for a while after Brian bailed on her to chase after a treasure goblin.

Blue raspberry slushy, a bowl of strawberries, and microwavable popcorn.

POKE!

On December 30th, Lilith went with a gaggle of her Grownups, her plush alligator, Crocky (there’s a story there), and one of her besties, Camilla, to get their ears pierced by the wonderful people at Studio City Tattoo. When the needle went through, she didn’t scream and she didn’t cry… she growled “FFFFFFFFFffFFfffFfffFffffffffffaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh” in an attempt to repress the impulse to yell FUCK in the middle of the tattoo shop. Tom and I got new piercings in solidarity, but Crocky, Teddy, and Brian all declined.

Coconut and red currant, red musk, and a pop of surgical steel. POTAMIDES

Thanks to the much-needed winter rains this year, my little river nymph was finally able to see the creeks in Eaton Canyon as something other than dry, fawn-beige, tumbleweed-strewn strips of sandwash. In the past, she’s always been ambivalent about hiking, but something about the rushing streams and sparkling waters enchanted her, and she fell in love.

Honeysuckle and honey, water lilies and white sage.

THE SPECTRAL FLOWER GIRL

The ghosts swarm.

They speak as one

person. Each

loves you. Each

has left something

undone...

With love to Rae Armantrout for the poem. Black lilies, red roses, and baby’s breath.

Lilith has been taking kiddo Shakespeare classes for the past four years, and absolutely loves them. Last year, they did a mini-series focusing on Julius Caesar, King Lear, and the Tempest. The kids analyze the plays, and perform scenes from them; then, at the end of the cycle, they put together a play of their own based on the themes in the works of Shakespeare that they have studied. Their play this time around was entitled Evil Bunny.

STORYBOARD: JULIUS CAESAR

Lilith performed as Marc Antony, and showed off her orator skills. Hearing Lilith speak at Caesar’s funeral gave me the chills. She came to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

Macerated myrrh, rose petals, and iris with frankincense and a splash of blood.

STORYBOARD: THE TEMPEST

Lilith played Ariel and Miranda, and said she liked playing Miranda more. She said it’s easy to relate, because her mom is a lot like Prospero.

I’m still trying to figure out whether that’s a compliment or an insult.

Ivy and lime rind, marigold and moss.

NYC SNOWBALL FIGHT

Last winter, we took Lilith to New York for the first time. We were en route to the march in Washington, DC, with our friends, and made a few pit stops on the way. This photo was taken a split second before I got snowballed in the face at the East 72nd Street Playground. The handsome devil in the background is one of Lilith’s best friends in the world, Kyle.

Snowballs and vanilla ice cream.

VALUABLE, POWERFUL, DESERVING

In a hotel in Baltimore, Lilith helped me color in my sign for the Women’s March in DC. She had made her own two signs — brimming with Girl Power and featuring a unicorn, of course — but finished in time to help me get mine all dolled up.

There are many criticisms of the march that are valid, but I will tell you this: being able to show my daughter thousands upon thousands of people that were demanding a government built on justice, compassion, and acceptance was something incredibly powerful. The experience she had meeting other children who were there in the hopes of a kinder, brighter future was invaluable. It was a pivotal moment, this ability to demonstrate for her /how to show up/ and how to /work/ for a better country and a better future for marginalized and under-represented groups. It was incredible being there in Washington with her, and I will never forget it. I hope this experience helped to reveal her own inner strength to her, and the strength she can find in her allies.

Golden amber, vanilla oudh, and orange blossom.

VAMPIRE PRINCESS

Last Halloween, Lilith wanted to be Maleficent, so we hooked her up with a Maleficent costume. The horns were imbalanced, though, and she was frustrated, so she decided to wear the rest of the costume—sans horns—and be a vampire. She looked amazing (in my motherly opinion), but when the time came to trick or treat, her voluminous skirts and flowing cape made it difficult for her to keep up with the other kids. We tried knotting it, hiking it up, everything…and in the end, she vowed never to wear another costume that she can’t run and jump in.

Blood musk and lavender with bourbon vanilla, plum oudh, black patchouli, and Romanian wildflowers.

WINTER AT THE CAPITOL

It was a cold, cold day, and a thick fog obfuscated everything. It was tremendously symbolic in myriad ways.

It’s funny. Lilith was two months old when Obama was elected, and I remember how I felt that night as the election returns were coming in. When his presidency was announced, it was like a fist surrounding my heart unclenched, and I could breathe again. With Lilith in my arms, I inexplicably wept with relief, suddenly believing with all my heart that she was safe, and that her future—all of our futures—were on a trajectory of kindness and justice buoyed by hope. The country is flawed and imperfect, but we were on our way to making things right.

Then November of 2016 happened, and in January, a thick fog descended on the National Mall and the fist clamped around my heart again.

++ FATHERHOOD 2017

Expressing my love for Lilith in words will always be hard for me because my skill set does not include this word-and-spelling thing. At least I know that I am on the right track when I have to stop because I am crying. Here goes nothing… Happy ninth birthday, Lilith. You are the best part of me and Elizabeth, you are my partner in crime, you are my best little friend, you are my love and joy and I treasure every single second that we spend together. I do my best not to, but sometimes, I cry when I think about how much I love you. I would do anything to shield you from the sadness of the world and it hurts to see shed any tears.. Every so often, I have this huge fear of you outgrowing me and not needing me. It is usually during those times when you run off with your friends and I find myself standing there alone. I am afraid that you might have moved on from your dad but, thankfully you still return and ask me to join in and play with you. I will forever cherish these moments. I love the time we share while we are walking and you reach out to hold my hand. As I have always said, as long as you want, I will continue to hoist you up on my shoulders. You might be getting a little heavy to carry but I promise I will carry you down the aisle for your wedding if you ask me to. I know that you might not realize it now but I hope that when you are a woman, you will look back at your ninth year and remember it with happiness and joy because I sure will. All my love, Daddy THE PILLORY Captain Lilith is a harsh taskmaster and her first mate has been put him up for public humiliation. His crime must have been not making her buttered pasta fast enough. Can he escape? Will people come by and throw tomatoes at him? Caramelized rum ice cream with a splatter of berries. SPINNING ON GRAVES Late at night, as you walk through a dark and creepy cemetery, all is quiet except for the giggling of two kids: one is eight and one is fifty-eight. They are standing in the middle of the tombstones; the bigger kid is spinning the little kid around by her arms. They spin and spin and then fall down laughing. What could be more fun than falling down on people’s graves? Dorian and lavender mist, crushed grass, cypress leaf, and a drop of clove. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Lilith “All-Night Party Bean” Barrial begged us to allow her to stay up past midnight and ring in the New Year at the Los Angeles Zoo with her oldest friend Novi. How could we refuse? We all danced, we sang, we drank apple cider, and we partied all night long. They would have stayed until the dawn if the zoo had not kicked us out. You know what they say, you don’t have to go home but the monkeys want you to leave. Vanilla cake with sprinkles and red velvet cupcakes, with a touch of climbing wisteria and sparkling apple cider. A CUTE KID Near the end of last semester, we arrived to pick her up from school and she was hanging out in her classroom drawing pictures on the white board. Of course I joined in and wrote “funny looking kid” with an arrow pointing at her. She changed it and wrote “a cute kid”, and gave me her big giant smile as if to say I WIN! Pale lavender and Tahitian vanilla with a smudge of chalk dust and a pop of strawberry bubblegum. WEDNESDAY'S CHILD IS FULL OF WOE Our friend, Lee Moyer, asked if Lilith could be a model for an illustration of Wednesday Addams that he was working on, They wanted a photo of her in a lab and of course I jumped at the chance to take a photo of my baby. I grabbed my camera and we set up a little table. We had so much fun decorating the table. Lilith was running around grabbing things and saying, “Can we use this? Can we use that?” Luckily for her, there's no shortage of creepy things scattered around her house. A little kid’s interpretation of a gothy goth perfume: sugared clove and vanilla patchouli with cacao, dried Avignon rose petals, and a bit of black cherry. MY LITTLE THEMYSCIRAN PRINCESS As I was carrying Lilith around the San Diego comic con, people would stop us and ask to take a photo of her cosplaying Wonder Woman. As I set her down, a change would come over her: she would light up, engage the person, and charm the hell out of them while the photo was being taken. She would be so charismatic and charming, and then would then come back to me, this shining, happy little kid, and ask to be picked up all over again. I was so proud of her, and I love my lil Themysciran princess. Rich, sweet, valiant amber, coconut milk, honeyed saffron, LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Raisin' 'em right! The t-shirt that Lilith is wearing is Alaska Thunderf*ck's Lil' Poundcake. Lilith, I am your real dad and I always will be! Pomegranate cotton candy. ZIP LINE My Danger Baby loves to do crazy things and for some reason, I am always chosen to accompany her on these adventures. (Editor's note: it's because her mother possesses an actual survival instinct.) At the Renaissance Faire, we rode the zip line.... and let’s just say that it rode up a bit on my naughty bits. As we stepped off the ledge, I screamed MY BALLS, and Lilith thought it was soooooo funny. Brown leather and bourbon vanilla with honeyed oudh and cinnamon buns. MORNING IN THE CITY OF ANGELS Walking and holding hands with my Lilith as we joke and giggle is one the greatest joys of my life. She is growing up fast, and these moments will happen less and less, but I will forever treasure them. I hope that when she is an adult, she will look back on these memories and feel 1/100 of the happiness that she brings to her father. Sunflowers and California poppies, vanilla-tinged oak bark, and a spill of sugary breakfast cereal.

[mouseymatchmaker]

(1) Hiya!, If it’s not too much trouble I would love a batboy & Voltron matchup :). I’m 5 and a half feet tall ( that half is very, very important…never forget it :P ) and I have bubblegum pink hair ( but I can never seem to stick to a colour for more than a month ). I'm a pretty obsessive person, so when I’m into something it’s pretty much "go big or go home"-Including people…in the least creepy way possible, I just kind of "mum" my friends. I’d like to think I’m a pretty loyal friend…

( 2 )…I’d also like to think I’m rather funny but I’m sure a lot of people would beg to differ. I have a really specific sense of humour and if people don’t get it I kind of just seem like a bit of weirdo. Regardless I really enjoy sci-fi and fantasy, I would much prefer to wrap myself up in blankets and lose myself in a fictional universe than have to worry about this one ( super duper healthy 😎👌), I really enjoy reading, writing, drawing and dance none of which I’m particularly good at. I also have a thing for 80s and 90s rock music and I’m a bit out of the loop in terms of music if it doesn’t fit into those two categories like honestly I have “dad” music taste and it’s kind of embarrassing. The good news is Christmas is right around the corner which means I get to bother all the relatives by asking them which twisted sister song they prefer ( and experience my favourite holiday of the year ). Just to finish off I’m an INFJ/P and a Scorpio. Thank you so, so much !!

Not a problem sweetie pie! I hope you like them :3

Batboys:

I think your match would be Dick! He thinks your height is so freaking cute! But he doesn’t tease you about it, no he likes to carry you around. DON’T LET HIM! Especially as Nightwing, because he will jump of buildings with you wrapped in his arms. He calls you ‘cotton candy’ because of your hair. He gets heart broken every time you change because he needs to come up with a new nickname. He embraces your ‘go big or go home’ attitude. He’s kinda the same when it comes to his acrobatics. However, he does keep a watchful eye on you in case it’s something that could get you hurt. 

He needs mothering to be honest, to remind him to clean up and eat properly. But he won’t let you do it for him because you’re not a servant, your the person he loves! Even if he doesn’t get your sense of humor, he’s going to laugh anyway, more so out of the fact that you’re trying to get him to smile and laugh. He just appreciates it! Rainy days where he has nothing to do (which is rare), he loves to lounge on the couch with you. I can see him liking sci-fi but he ruins it because he knows some of the logic shut up and enjoy the movie Dick!. Out of all your hobbies, he’s going to be most interested in dance. This is because I can see him being really into contemporary, loving the leaps and the weird positions he can get into. Don’t give him a Halloween themed dance. He will use his flexibility to terrify everyone. Just don’t! He walked towards Jason in a back bend and got a boot in the face. But he will help you with your own flexibility! He doesn’t mind your taste in music, his is still a little old fashioned. Still listens to Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears. 

Overall, he’s really fond of you and like helping with your flexibility, take from that what you will ;3 there are no glaring issues with this match really!

Voltron:

Oh but of course, Matt Holt would be your sweetheart. He’s going be fascinated by your hair more than anything. It’s just so vibrant! He’s less concerned about your height really. Like Dick, he loves your ‘go big or go home’ attitude! He’s kinda the same when it comes to his own interests. Like Dick, he doesn’t mind being mothered, but he doesn’t want to be suffocated by it. He’s kinda used to looking out for himself and doesn’t like the idea that people think he’d need that protection. I have no doubt he actually shares your sense of humor! He and you probably have a mountain of inside jokes that make everyone else really uneasy because why are you both laughing so hard? 

He encourages your dreams of fictional universes because he’s seen how bad things in reality can get. He just wants you dreaming of better places. One where your married? Have kids? Matt get out this is not your fictional universe! Don’t watch sci-fi with a technological genius. He ruins it, watch fantasy. It drives him up the wall because it’s so unrealistic. It’s entertaining to watch. Like Dick, I think he’d be most interested in your dance, but only because he wants to be your partner in couples dances. He gets pouty if you dance with someone else. Has actually hissed at Shiro when he asked you to dance. I HC that is music is garbage so you might have to actually introduce him to decent music. If there’s a song you both really really like, it becomes your song. You annoy everyone else with it because can’t you play something else for once?!

Overall, as long as you don’t suffocate him with your mothering, you will both have a very doting and sweet relationship!

[exceptionallycharming-blog]

MUSE AESTHETIC

REMEMBER TO REPOST & NOT REBLOG

FEEL FREE TO ADD TO THE LIST

The softest palms that never want to touch you until after a bottle of wine. “Just braid your hair if you won’t brush it, at least, you useless girl.” Pulling on your skirt with one hand as you shuffle away. “You’ll get it done before the day is up.” Guilt that isn’t yours to have. It’s a crooked game, but it’s the only one in town. Chains. “How could you do this to me?” The sharp sting of guilt. You feel something even though you’re paid to do the opposite. The family you never had. Falling backwards through time. Quicksand. Drowning, but you don’t save yourself. “You’re getting better.” They smile like a snake. Your stars and sky. There’s a part of you that couldn’t stay away even if you were forced to. They are your wings, there’s no doubt there. “Let’s take off somewhere. Let’s fly.” You edge a bit too close to the sun. Another ghost to take your place after every stumble. Deep roots in the ground slashed open in the sun. Rock candy melting in water. Waves rise and leave the foam behind. The precipice you call home has a tip you’ll reach eventually. Happiness is the best front a man can take. “I’ve never seen someone as beautiful as you before.” You disagree; they’re more beautiful. Discomfort at the tiniest of touches. The sky opens up when you see them. Rain comes down. Poppy fields. Your sanity hanging by a thread. “Oh god, what have you done?” Roommates weren’t supposed to be the smartest ones of all. They’ve got a devil on their shoulder and an angel in their mind. You try to help but it only got worse. Now they’re dead, it’s all your fault. Adam & Eve in the garden. A temptress in crisp button-downs. “Fuck, you’ve gone off the deep end, haven’t you?” They lie so perfectly you almost forget yourself. The spark that lit the kindling on your funeral pyre. Sugar and spice and a taste for the dark side. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium on your pillow, a scented cloud drifting behind you like a cape. Crisp green apples piled up on the table. Your shoes are sharp, but your wit is even sharper. What a pretty one, they say. You laugh without humor. A soft, hollow spot sits in your chest. There’s a place you’ll never leave no matter who tries to stop you. The seat of power fits like a glove. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. You share a space, but not a mind. They think you weak. You are, maybe. “What are you going to do with all of these pills?” It shines up at you, mocking. Disappointment in three parts. An empty bird’s nest. Broken pencil tips. There’s an empty paper in front of you that you’ll never fill. “We want you to succeed. I hope you can grasp that.” They weren’t there when it happened. Corruption. There’s a red string tying you together. Bubblegum pink. The scent of whisky on the horizon. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.” Pink tipped fingers lock in secrecy. “Yeah? That’s pretty sad.” You laugh. It’s the happiest sound they’ve ever heard. What a funny duck, they say. Making faces when you pass by a mirror. 99 red balloons drifting through a hazy sky. You try to lift your head up but it’s so much effort. Always walking on sunshine. There’s a million reasons to come down from the clouds but you can’t be bothered. Loon is the word of the day. Hair twisted up with glitter butterfly clips like a haphazard mobile. You drift, but you know where you’re going. No one has any dirt on you because you’re infinitely spotless. The empty side of your bed they crawled into when they were nine. Court hearings. “I miss you.”  Punching, scrapping, fighting till your knuckles bleed. Siblings are a funny thing. They point out every family-shaped hole in every picture on the mantelpiece.  You can imagine what you’d look like in silk and lace, but you’re forced to wear the scraps from the curtains.

tagged by: no one, i just felt like doing it.

tagging:  @extasiie, @moscowsdragon , @happinessgifted, @bolkonskxya, @goodcousin  & whoever else wants to do it!

[bolkonskxya-blog]

MUSE AESTHETIC

REMEMBER TO REPOST & NOT REBLOG

FEEL FREE TO ADD TO THE LIST

The softest palms that never want to touch you until after a bottle of wine. “Just braid your hair if you won’t brush it, at least, you useless girl.” Pulling on your skirt with one hand as you shuffle away. “You’ll get it done before the day is up.” Guilt that isn’t yours to have. It’s a crooked game, but it’s the only one in town. Chains. “How could you do this to me?” The sharp sting of guilt. You feel something even though you’re paid to do the opposite. The family you never had. Falling backwards through time. Quicksand. Drowning, but you don’t save yourself. “You’re getting better.” They smile like a snake. Your stars and sky. There’s a part of you that couldn’t stay away even if you were forced to. They are your wings, there’s no doubt there. “Let’s take off somewhere. Let’s fly.” You edge a bit too close to the sun. Another ghost to take your place after every stumble. Deep roots in the ground slashed open in the sun. Rock candy melting in water. Waves rise and leave the foam behind. The precipice you call home has a tip you’ll reach eventually. Happiness is the best front a man can take. “I’ve never seen someone as beautiful as you before.” You disagree; they’re more beautiful. Discomfort at the tiniest of touches. The sky opens up when you see them. Rain comes down. Poppy fields. Your sanity hanging by a thread. “Oh god, what have you done?” Roommates weren’t supposed to be the smartest ones of all. They’ve got a devil on their shoulder and an angel in their mind. You try to help but it only got worse. Now they’re dead, it’s all your fault. Adam & Eve in the garden. A temptress in crisp button-downs. “Fuck, you’ve gone off the deep end, haven’t you?” They lie so perfectly you almost forget yourself. The spark that lit the kindling on your funeral pyre. Sugar and spice and a taste for the dark side. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium on your pillow, a scented cloud drifting behind you like a cape. Crisp green apples piled up on the table. Your shoes are sharp, but your wit is even sharper. What a pretty one, they say. You laugh without humor. A soft, hollow spot sits in your chest. There’s a place you’ll never leave no matter who tries to stop you. The seat of power fits like a glove. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. You share a space, but not a mind. They think you weak. You are, maybe. “What are you going to do with all of these pills?” It shines up at you, mocking. Disappointment in three parts. An empty bird’s nest. Broken pencil tips. There’s an empty paper in front of you that you’ll never fill. “We want you to succeed. I hope you can grasp that.” They weren’t there when it happened. Corruption. There’s a red string tying you together. Bubblegum pink. The scent of whisky on the horizon. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.” Pink tipped fingers lock in secrecy. “Yeah? That’s pretty sad.” You laugh. It’s the happiest sound they’ve ever heard. What a funny duck, they say. Making faces when you pass by a mirror. 99 red balloons drifting through a hazy sky. You try to lift your head up but it’s so much effort. Always walking on sunshine. There’s a million reasons to come down from the clouds but you can’t be bothered. Loon is the word of the day. Hair twisted up with glitter butterfly clips like a haphazard mobile. You drift, but you know where you’re going. No one has any dirt on you because you’re infinitely spotless. The empty side of your bed they crawled into when they were nine. Court hearings. “I miss you.”  Punching, scrapping, fighting till your knuckles bleed. Siblings are a funny thing. They point out every family-shaped hole in every picture on the mantelpiece.  You can imagine what you’d look like in silk and lace, but you’re forced to wear the scraps from the curtains.

TAGGED BY: @exceptionallycharming.

TAGGING:  @dearbewildered and anyone else who hasn’t done it!

[blues-sevenfold00]

Candy Land Region: Rocks

Strawberry Fields: shiny translucent red rocks, taste like strawberries

Blueberry Hill: shiny translucent azure rocks, taste like blueberries

Fruit Kingdom: shiny translucent colourful rocks, taste fruity

Wildberry Woodland: shiny translucent multicoloured rocks, taste like mixed berries

Chocolate Valley: candy-coated realistic-looking rocks filled with chocolate

Mint Metropolis: candy-coated realistic-looking rocks filled with mint; pastel coloured butter mint rocks

Mount Caramel: candy-coated realistic-looking rocks filled with toffee; shiny translucent butterscotch rocks

Gingerbread Kingdom: candy-coated realistic-looking rocks filled with mint chocolate; shiny opaque hard mint rocks; shiny translucent coloured fruity rocks

Marshmallow Kingdom: candy-coated pastel marshmallow rocks

Cotton Candy Commune: candy-coated pastel cotton candy rocks

Bubblegum Village: candy-coated pink bubblegum rocks (60%); candy-coated pastel bubblegum rocks (40%)

Limonville: shiny translucent green/yellow rocks, tastes like lemon and/or lime

Licorice Land: candy-coated white rocks filled with black licorice (50%): candy-coated red rocks filled with red licorice (25%); candy-coated colourful rocks filled with fruity licorice (25%)

Candy Corn Commune: candy-coated orange rocks filled with candy corn (60%), candy-coated violet rocks filled with candy corn (30%), candy coated red rocks filled with candy corn (5%), candy coated green rocks filled with candy corn (5%)

Rainbow Valley: contains all of the above

Emerald City: shiny colourful translucent rocks, non-edible but very pretty to look at

Mushroom Kingdom: shiny opaque vegetable-flavoured mushroom rocks

Peanutopolis: candy-coated colourful rocks with chocolate and filled with peanuts

Greyscale Hamlet: non-edible grey rocks of all types

Lake Lorelei: non-edible coloured rocks akin to what is commonly seen in an aquarium.

[wineanddinosaur]

The 25 Best Rosé Wines of 2020

Even a global pandemic can’t dampen interest in the pink wine juggernaut. According to VinePair’s internal data, rosé is off to an earlier than usual start to its strongest seasonal period, with a 19 percent increase in reader interest this March compared to 2019.

That interest comes off the back of four years of solid growth. According to Nielsen data, off-premise sales of pink wine increased almost 300 percent between January 2016 and January 2020, starting the decade with a value of over $576 million. It’s a remarkable success story, and one that looks set to continue based on the increasing diversity and elevated quality of wines VinePair recently tasted for our annual rosé ranking.

This year’s list encompasses bottles from mainstay regions like Provence and southern Italy, with fresh additions from throughout the Mediterranean, including Spain and Greece. There’s also a strong selection of domestic offerings, many of which can be purchased and shipped right from the wineries. Winery-direct sales are particularly resonant right now, as much of the country is sheltering in place; it’s a sales channel we expect to see grow in importance moving forward in the new normal.

The number of bottles tasted for this year’s list surpassed 100 labels. With a staff panel of tasters, we hotly debated our selections and rankings based on drinkability, mass appeal, quality, and value for money, with prices taken from wine-searcher.com or the winery itself, in the case of direct-to-consumer (DTC) offerings.

On the topic of price, the top 25 bottles of 2020 offer further proof of the value offered by the rosé category: More than half of the bottles on this year’s list deliver change from a crisp $20 bill. At least 10 come in at $15 or less.

Here are VinePair’s 25 best rosés of 2020.

25. Ehlers Estate Sylviane Rosé 2019

This Napa Valley wine uses the traditional Bordeaux red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and delivers a concentrated, full-bodied rosé. The nose and palate evoke strawberry jam and yogurt, while subtle tannins make it an ideal match for a range of dishes, from ingredient-packed salads to grilled fish to roasted white meat. Average price: $32.

24. Dominio de Eguren Protocolo Vino Rosado de la Tierra de Castilla 2019

A Spanish rosé made from the nation’s superstar red variety, Tempranillo, this wine blends red fruit notes with easy-drinking acidity and just a hint of complexity. For less than $10, it’s a winning combo and the type of bottle you can buy a couple of cases of to get you through summer. Average price: $8.

23. King Family Vineyards Crosé Rosé 2019

This 100 percent Merlot from Virginia is vibrant, fruity, and well balanced. With notes of sweet watermelon and tart grapefruit, it offers the perfect match to lobster rolls or a stacked chicken sandwich. Mainly available online from the winery, this is a great reason to start ordering DTC. Average price $22.

22. Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Rosé 2019

The lightly effervescent Txakoli wines of the Basque Country in Northern Spain are sprightly, refreshing, and always offer a fun drinking experience. This bottle is a wonderful, strawberry-rich example that’s ideal for aperitivo hour. Average price: $21.

21. Les Chemins de Bassac Isa Rosé

This southern French rosé wine is all about complex, savory character. Dried herbs lead the nose before a jolt of juicy strawberries and tart cherries arrive on the palate. This is a robust rosé that will comfortably pair with stinky aged cheese and cured meat platters. Average price: $15.

20. Cambria Estate Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir

A 100 percent Pinot Noir from California’s Santa Maria Valley, this is a lively, fruit-forward rosé. Generous acidity lifts its ripe watermelon and plum core, while hints of white pepper add a dash of nuance. Average price: $25.

19. WillaKenzie Estate Rosé

This Oregon rosé smells like a breakfast bowl, with aromas of strawberries, honeydew melon, and yogurt. The palate has a slightly creamy texture, but a fragrant mint note helps cut through the richness. No food needed here; this is a wine to savor on its own. Average price: $21.

18. Diora ‘La Belle Fete’ Rosé of Pinot Noir

A big, bold rosé from Monterey County, Calif., this wine showcases the weightier side of Pinot Noir. The palate serves rich doses of ripe red berries, but there’s more than enough acidity to keep things lively. Serve with fruit platters at brunch or a sizable cheese plate as the sun goes down. Average price: $13.

17. Saget La Petite Perriere Pinot Noir Rosé

An affordable Loire Valley rosé that’s full of character and sealed with a screw cap, this is perfect picnic wine. The aromas recall tart stone fruits and wild strawberries, while the palate is fruity and refreshing with a hint of minerality. At well under $20, this is a bargain. Average price: $13.

16. Château des Ferrages Côtes de Provence Roumery Rosé 2019

Made from Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, this is archetypal Provençal rosé. It’s light and acidic, with subtle red fruit defining the nose and palate. Mineral notes and a touch of savory character add depth and keep things interesting. Average price: $16.

15. Gran Moraine Rosé

This Oregon Pinot Noir pours a delightful cotton-candy hue. The nose is floral, while the palate offers concentrated fruit (mainly sour cherries) and light tannins. Avoid serving too cold or you’ll miss out on its interesting textural character. Average price: $32.

14. DAOU Family Estates Discovery Collection Rosé 2019

This Paso Robles blend bears all the hallmarks of classic French rosé. Strawberry and watermelon lead its fragrant nose followed by hints of cherry and yogurt. The palate is crisp and refreshing but not lacking in depth. As it opens up, savory tropical fruits enter the fray, leading to a world of pairing opportunities. Average price: $21.

13. Fontanafredda ‘Solerose’ Langhe Rosato 2019

Though better associated with age-worthy reds, this wine highlights Piedmont’s rosé-making potential. Made from Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nebbiolo, it’s incredibly aromatic, with tart cherries shining brightest on the nose. The palate introduces sweet strawberries and juicy watermelon, which stick around for an age on its mouthwatering finish. Average price: $19.

12. Capture Rosé of Sangiovese

An outlier in many respects, this Sonoma rosé is made from Italian variety Sangiovese, which most will know as the red grape used in Chianti. This bottle offers more than just novel appeal, though. It smells like bubblegum and whiter pepper, and the palate is lean with racy acidity. You’ll need to order directly from the winery, but this unicorn is worth the hunt. Average price: $25.

11. Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali Le Rosé Sicilia IGT

This Sicilian rosé is a succulent and adventurous departure from the pale-pink mold. Bold red fruits mix with wet rock and mineral aromas. The palate is equally powerful, with lashings of tart wild strawberries. It’s affordable and you can find it everywhere; this is perfect pizza wine. Average price $14.

10. Hecht & Bannier Languedoc Rosé

Like eating strawberries on the beach, this wine smells of wild berries seasoned with a spray of sea water. The palate is crisp and acidic, but a rich fruit core softens its hard edges. Let the salty aromas guide your food pairing: This wine has seafood platter written all over it. Average price: $14.

9. Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé

An affordable Provençal rosé that will take you on a journey, this wine starts with floral aromas followed by citrus fruit and honeydew melon. The palate enters with a refreshing burst of acidity and tart fruit, then transforms into a rounder, more full-bodied style. A splash of salinity gives a subtle yet lengthy finish. Average price: $12.

8. Gaia ’14-18 h’ Agiorgitiko Rosé

This rosé’s name references the time period that the pressed Agioritiko grapes spend in contact with the must prior to filtering and fermentation. The extended maceration lends a deep pink hue and extra punch to the palate. Fruity and complex, this is a wonderful rosé that meets the high standards we’ve come to expect from one of Greece’s finest producers. Average price: $11.

7. Long Meadow Ranch Rosé of Pinot Noir 2019

White flowers and honeysuckle lead the nose on this perfumed California rosé, followed by a sprinkle of lemon zest. The palate is rich and full of fruit, with notes of cherry, watermelon, and red berries. Bright, refreshing acidity will keep you coming back for sip after sip. Average price: $25.

6. Librandi Ciro Rosato 2019

Few will be familiar with Calabria’s native red variety Gaglioppo, but it’s time you became acquainted. The dark-skinned grape makes attractive, approachable rosés that over-deliver on a budget. This one is energetic, with notes of cherry hard candies, ripe peaches, and grapefruit zest. A fuller, more rounded style, this is great pizza wine. Average price: $15.

5. SeaGlass Rosé

When considering which rosé you should have on hand for every possible occasion, look no further than this bottle. Its red berry aromas are seasoned with a whiff of sea spray that whisks you off to the Monterey coast. The palate is simple and refreshing — straightforward in the best possible way. Average price: $11.

4. Copain Wines Les Voisins Rosé of Pinot Noir

This Mendocino County bottle is not just great rosé but a serious wine. Salted watermelon and toasted fennel seed aromas provide a concentrated, nuanced nose. The palate introduces a mix of sour cherries and underripe stone fruits. With well-incorporated tannins, this rosé has the structure to pair with thinly sliced grilled red meat. Average price: $32.

3. Planeta Rosé Sicilia DOC

Landing on the bolder end of the rosé spectrum, this Sicilian wine has intense aromas and dense, concentrated flavors. Strawberry and guava notes mix with crushed peach and a hint of savory green olives. This rosé will easily hold its own when paired with the bolder flavors of barbecued meats and spicy tacos. Average price: $16.

2. Adelaida Rosé 2019

Made from a handful of southern French varieties, this complex Paso Robles rosé drinks like a red wine. Fresh berries and stone fruit aromas are matched by dried, savory herbs on the nose. The palate is rich, vibrant, and well balanced. Decant this rosé and watch it evolve by the glass. Pair with flavorful roasted poultry, like duck breast or dark chicken meat. Average price: $28.

1. Château Peyrassol

A delightful reminder of what makes Provence rosé so popular, this wine ticks all the boxes. The nose is delicate but serves layers of white flowers, red fruit, and a sprinkle of savory spices. The palate is both bold and refreshing, with tangy fruit cut by a piercing jolt of acidity. Add a hint of wet rocks and a dusting of white pepper to the equation, and you’ve got yourself the best rosé of 2019. If you can’t find this exact bottle, the producer’s entire range is equally impressive and should be sought out. Average price: $35.

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