#Why nap dress is trending

[krishnamali786-blog]

Why Is the Nap Dress So Popular? 21 Cute & Trendy Hill House Nap Dresses for Women

Hey, beautiful people! Jenny Mali here, your friendly fashion content writer from Vhindinews. Today, we’re diving into a fashion trend that has taken the world by storm—the Hill House nap dress. If you’ve been on social media lately or chatted with any fashion-savvy friends, you’ve probably heard the buzz. I remember the first time I wore a nap dress—it felt like wearing a dream. So, what’s the…

[solxamber]

So, reading that fashion disaster reader, I want to ask how would everyone else (seperately, if possible) would react to fashion disaster Yuu and to the Crewel's and Vil's reaction?

thank you for the request! I kept it a little short but if you want anyone's longer, just let me know <3 Characters: All NRC + Staff + Rollo Part 1 with Vil and Crewel here

Riddle Rosehearts:

Before: He’d be mortified, his eye twitching in disbelief. "Rule 203 clearly states: Students must dress with decorum! What…what is this?" He’d try to ban your entire outfit for being an affront to Heartslabyul’s order.

After: Relieved and pleased. "Finally! You’re within the bounds of fashion etiquette. You’re setting a much better example now."

Trey Clover:

Before: Trey would give you a gentle smile, but his eyebrow would twitch. "You look, uh… comfortable? Maybe Vil could give you some tips…"

After: "Wow, you clean up really well. Nice to see you let Vil and Crewel work their magic."

Cater Diamond:

Before: He’d be snapping selfies with you, hashtagging #BoldChoices #FashionDisaster #OMGWhatIsThis. But deep down, even he couldn’t handle it. "You’re killing me, but this is hilarious!"

After: "Now that’s a look that’ll get you trending for the * right reasons! Let’s get another selfie. #FashionGlowUp!"

Ace Trappola:

Before: "What in the seven are you wearing?! Are you trying to blind us all or is this some kind of prank?" He’d mock you endlessly.

After: "You actually look… good? Whoa, Vil really pulled off a miracle."

Deuce Spade:

Before: He wouldn’t know how to approach it politely. "Uh… You sure that’s…right?" He’d second-guess himself but try to support you anyway.

After: "Hey! You look awesome now. Nice job!"

Leona Kingscholar

Before: Leona would look at you, groan, and then roll over to take a nap. "You look ridiculous. Do whatever you want, herbivore. I don’t care."

After: "Huh, didn’t think it was possible, but you’re less of an eyesore now."

Ruggie Bucchi:

Before: He’d laugh until his sides hurt. "Heh, are you doing this on purpose? This is hilarious!"

After: "Vil and Crewel got to you, huh? Well, you definitely don’t look like a clown anymore. Nice upgrade."

Jack Howl:

Before: Jack would be confused. "Why are you dressed like that? Isn’t that… impractical?" He wouldn’t get why anyone would wear such an outfit.

After: He’d nod approvingly. "Now that’s better. More efficient, too."

Azul Ashengrotto:

Before: He’d adjust his glasses, hiding his discomfort behind a business smile. "Perhaps you might be interested in a makeover contract. For a modest fee, of course."

After: "Ah, much better. Consider this an investment in your future…image."

Jade Leech:

Before: Jade would smile his eerie smile, but his eyes would narrow in curiosity. "What a… unique choice. I trust there’s an explanation for this?"

After: "Ah, a significant improvement. You look quite presentable now."

Floyd Leech

Before: Floyd would crack up and nickname you something like "Clownfish." He’d tease you every chance he got. "Hahaha! What kinda sea creature are ya trying to be?"

After: "Boooo, now you’re no fun. You’re too normal now."

Kalim Al-Asim:

Before: Kalim would be completely unbothered. "Wow! That’s such a fun outfit! I love all the colors!" He’d probably compliment you

After: "You look so stylish! Did Vil help? He’s amazing!"

Jamil Viper:

Before: Jamil would pinch the bridge of his nose. "You’re attracting too much attention. Please… just tone it down."

After: He’d breathe a sigh of relief. "Finally. I can look at you without getting a headache."

Rook

Before: "Oh, mon cher! Such daring, such avant-garde!" Rook would dramatically praise your boldness, though it’s unclear whether he genuinely liked it or was just entertained.

After: "Magnifique! You now embody the very essence of beauty and grace!"

Epel Felmier:

Before: He’d be torn between finding it hilarious and hoping Vil didn’t see you like that. "Whoa, what’s that getup? You really don’t care what anyone thinks, do ya?"

After: "Hey, look at you! Now Vil won’t roast us both."

Idia Shroud:

Before: He’d wince and immediately pull up his hoodie, wanting to avoid eye contact. "Uh… Yeah, that’s… something. Did you lose a bet or…?"

After: "I guess Vil’s magic worked. You look like a normal NPC now, congrats."

Ortho Shroud:

Before: "Oh! That’s such a cool outfit! But maybe Vil might have some better ideas?" He’d try to be polite.

After: "Wow! You look so amazing now! Big brother was impressed!"

Malleus Draconia:

Before: Malleus would be unfazed, possibly curious. "You wear strange garments, but I suppose it suits your unique aura." He might think it's some sort of fashion ritual.

After: "You look more refined now, though I did find your previous attire… intriguing."

Lilia Vanrouge:

Before: Lilia would love your odd fashion sense, probably find it nostalgic. "Haha, you remind me of the old days when we wore whatever we could find!"

After: "Ah, you’ve grown into a more elegant butterfly! Though, I will miss your… eccentric flair."

Silver:

Before: Silver would be confused but wouldn’t judge too harshly. "Is this normal fashion? I… don’t really keep up with trends."

After: "You look good now. Vil and Crewel really did a great job."

Sebek Zigvolt:

Before: He’d be outraged. "HOW DARE YOU DRESS LIKE THIS IN THE PRESENCE OF MALLEUS-SAMA?! Have you no shame?!"

After: "Finally, you show some respect! You are no longer an eyesore."

Rollo Flamme:

Before: Rollo would be horrified. "How could you walk around dressed like this? This is an affront to decency and modesty!"

After: Reluctantly approving. "At least now you don’t look like you’ve descended into madness."

Crowley:

Before: Crowley would overreact, saying something like, "Ah! Such tragic attire! Fear not, for I shall personally oversee your rehabilitation, even if it wasn’t my fault to begin with!"

After: "Ah, what a stunning transformation! I knew you had it in you all along, of course."

Mozus Trein:

Before: He’d shake his head, muttering something about the younger generation. "I cannot understand these choices. Please, for the sake of my old eyes, change."

After: "Much better. At least you now resemble a student who takes their education seriously."

Ashton Vargas:

Before: Vargas would shrug it off. "As long as you can run laps, I don’t care what you wear."

After: "Lookin’ sharp! Just don’t let it slow you down on the field."

Sam:

Before: "Well, well, look at you! I have some accessories that might make that outfit pop even more!"

After: "Ah, I see Vil’s had a hand in this. You’ve got the look now!"

Grim:

Before: "Nyahaha! What kinda weird stuff are you wearing?! You look like you got dressed in the dark!"

After: "Wow, you actually look good now! Guess you’re not as hopeless as I thought."

Masterlist

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Misdemeanor of the Heart (Chapter 12) Human Alastor x Married Reader

Chapter Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence

AN: I'm sorry for the delay, I've been sick since Thursday and most of today. Please accept a 5k word chapter in exchange for being a day late.

(optional fucking off AN): I did try to quickly edit it quickly for posting today but alas, my illness quickly slipped out of control and I quickly slipped into a four hour nap and my condition quickly slipped worse. We must spare a moment of thanks to @redvexillum for quickly slipping in and quickly plunging her fingers into MisD's raw core. This is how I repay her.

Prev

Masterlist AO3 KoFi

The couch was uncomfortable under you. Was it the couch or the way you sat with your back straight and teetering  on the edge of the seat? Emotions curdled in your stomach, settling in a ball you struggled to identify as anything more than an overwhelming feeling of dread as you watched Laurence slip on his coat. 

For the majority of the week, your husband had hardly been home. At first, it was a welcome reprieve. You took solace in the peace and safety of having the home to yourself in the evenings. You made simple, small dinners that you enjoyed and didn’t require much clean up. The radio kept you company, the rich tenor of Alastor’s voice carrying through the house as you cooked and cleaned.

When Laurance wasn’t home, he wasn’t hitting you. When he was away, he wasn’t desecrating your body for his own carnal pleasures, leaving you sore and broken from serving your wifely duties. When he was away, you could eat to your heart’s content without his biting remarks about how much you ate and didn’t eat. You could indulge without having to hear his cruel excuses about why he refused to let you update your wardrobe to stay on top of the latest fashion trends.

How nice it was to have the house to yourself did nothing to change the simple fact that him spending so much time away from your marital home didn’t sit right with you. It was a wife’s protection to have her husband present in the evening. His absence left you vulnerable, even though his presence had its own danger, at least it was familiar and predictable. 

“Where are you going?” The question was out before you could stop it. You feared you already knew the answer, but what harm was there in letting him lie to you?

“Got a business meeting,” Laurence said despite not being dressed for a business meeting.  He looked too casual for that, open collar and sweater vest clinging to him, highlighting the frame that had once been nothing but muscle but now held a layer of softness.

It reminded you of how he looked when he would take you out to dinner during the courting days For a business meeting, he would wear a meticulously pressed suit, his hair perfectly styled, and every detail about him polished to a shine. 

“Is that so?”  It wasn’t your intention to question him but the murmured words were out before you could stop them. It wasn’t a wife’s place to question her husband’s whereabouts or his business. Stay home. Take care of the home. Raise babies when they come along. Don’t ask questions. 

Long strides took him across the room before you had a chance to soften your words or make yourself scarce. He loomed in front of you, reaching out quickly and for a moment, a panic you had never felt before flooded your body as his hand wrapped around your neck and squeezed. 

Laurence inflicted countless horrors on you throughout your marriage. He’d violated you against your will, used your body while you slept. He’d taken you against your will, he’d taken your body in your sleep. He’d struck you and thrown you, filling your days with screams and pain. But through all that, one thing he had never done was make you truly fear for your life - until now. 

“It’s not your place to question me,” Laurence reminded you, squeezing. Your hands reached out, wrapping around his arm as your eyes widened. Gasping breaths struggled to push through the constriction of his hand. Your heartbeat drummed against your ears, beating rapidly from the adrenaline that flooded your body as Laurence ensured your eyes had nowhere to look but at him. “Unless you want to piss me off again. Is that what you want, sweet thing?” 

“No, Laurence.” Your voice trembled as his grip slowly loosened around your neck while his lips curled into a sadistic smirk.

His thumb caressed your jaw as his smile suddenly softened. Leaning in, he closed the final gap between you. He pressed a sickly sweet, mocking kiss to your lips, a cruel imitation of the stolen kisses lovestruck girls would dream about.You had never understood the desire to have the lips of another on you. You were thankful when he pulled away and his hand completely dropped from your neck.

Laurence reached into his pocket, pulling his wallet free. It was a crisp leather billfold. It was newer, a recent gift from his father before he had passed. His final gift to your budding family was leaving Laurence, his only son, the family business. The clinking of coins was loud, almost louder than the heartbeat still thundering in your ears as he moved coins around, hunting for a few quarters.

“Here,” he grabbed your hand, turning it palm up after slipping his wallet back into his pocket. The weight of the coins settled into your palm and he curled your fingers around them, touch soft. It was nothing like the harsh way he had been grabbing you just minutes prior. 

“Don’t lose them,” he teased you softly. The smile on his face and the tone of the teasing had reminded you of the hopes and dreams you held in the past, when you were little more than a girl dreaming about what married life would be like. You could see the young man, hardly more than a boy himself sitting between his parents on the other side of the table from you and yours, looking at you with curiosity and hope. Was this what that young man had thought married life would have been like?  “Buy yourself something nice. Treat yourself.” 

“Okay,” you said as you watched him turn, making his way out of your marital home. A small voice in the back of your mind screamed that he was going to the bed of another even though you dedicated your life to being a good wife for him, taking beatings and affection without complaint. You took everything he gave you without complaint in the name of being a good wife. You silenced that voice, strange and out of place though it was. It was just a business meeting. Nothing more. Just a casual business meeting. 

It was like you were frozen in place as you waited for the sound of the car leaving the driveway. The memory of the kind man with sweet words you had met a lifetime ago warred with the still too fresh feeling of his hand around your neck.

As the engine faded in the distance, you finally stood and made your way over to the small table that held your purse. There was nearly nothing in it at the moment, it was a few more days until he would give you the money for the week’s shopping. The quarters clinked together as you dropped them into the small coin purse, rattling against a few pennies.

It would be nice to go out, you told yourself as you absently rubbed your hand against your neck, trying to rub away the memory of Laurence’s hand constricting around it. It wasn’t like he had squeezed that hard, you told yourself as you walked through the house, shoes echoing with each step. It startled you, that was all. You overreacted, you told yourself as you stepped out of the back door and onto the porch.

The absence of sun didn’t mean you were taking the day off washing. The air was cool but the clothes would dry just the same, as long as the rain held off, that was. First you would finish scrubbing the smear of pink off Laurence’s collar, ink he assured you, and then you would head to the pharmacy.  

The pink smudge on his collar screamed liar. It screamed that he was lying to you. It screamed that you were lying to yourself. 

It was just ink, he told you. Paint. Don’t be daft. . 

Don’t be a silly woman. 

Heavy clouds covered the sky for as far as you could see and the chill of early spring was biting in the air. If you were unlucky, they could mean rain for you but their light color told you it was doubtful, though not impossible. 

Excitement sparked in your chest, spreading through you as you saw a familiar mop of brown hair on an imposing figure. He looked tall and lean, even wrapped up in a long coat that would leave other men looking softer and wider.  

“Alastor!” You called out to him, waving your arm over your head to catch his attention. 

He turned toward you, his smile radiant and welcoming, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that made your breath catch. You hurried to his side, heart racing, though you had managed to maintain some semblance of composure despite the way you had called out to him on the street. It was something you’d normally never do, it drew attention. You had to remind yourself to walk, not run, no matter how much you longed to close the distance. 

What would people say?

“Darling! Lovely to see you.” Alastor greeted you, his warm smile making your pulse quicken, though you couldn’t understand why.  “What are you up to today?”

“Just finished at the pharmacy.” 

“And what’s next for your adventures of the day?” Alastor motioned for you to join him, walking down the sidewalk together. He kept himself between you and the street, ensuring you were shielded from traffic and the dangers that they could pose. There was nothing his presence could do to stop a car going off the road but he was far less likely to be overlooked than you. 

It was strange how the same action Laurance would do felt different coming from Alastor. Why was that? Was it the way he rested his hand on your back, ensuring you felt secure? When his hand would drop, he would take your hand and tuck it around his arm. Somehow, he was always connected to you, not just walking alongside you but walking with you. 

“Probably nothing,” you confessed before remembering, “Oh!”

“Oh?” Alastor mimicked the sound though it did not sound mocking coming from him as it would have if Laurance had done it. There was something about him that put you at ease. Perhaps it was his smile? 

You pulled your coin purse out and fished out two dimes. Again, propriety slipped your mind as you grabbed his hand, turning it palm up. His hand was warm in yours. The coins clinked against each other as you softly dropped them into his much larger palm.“I still owe you for how you took care of me.” 

“It’s unnecessary,” Alastor offered you the coins back, however you just pushed his hand back. “Helping pick the curtains was more than enough.” 

“Then to pay you back for the handkerchief,” Alastor could see that you were not going to let this go. The pace had slowed as you both gave each other near total attention.

“Please? I would feel better about it if you took it. I,” you hesitated, “I don’t want there to be any debt between us.” 

“If it’ll put your heart at ease,” Alastor smiled at you as he let the coins fall into his breast pocket. 

“It’ll put my mind at ease,” you corrected him, marveling at the fact that you felt safe enough with him to do so. If you had dared to do the same to Laurance you would have been swiftly reprimanded. It wasn’t a woman’s place to correct a man. If you were unlucky, it would be a painful lesson that would leave bruises healing over a few days. 

“That too,” Alastor’s smile twitched a bit higher. “I have a suggestion, rather than going straight home and wasting away as a lonely housewife, how about you and I pass some time? Or is he waiting for you?” There was a tone to the way he said ‘he’, refusing to say your husband’s name as if speaking of him more directly than necessary was poison or would ruin the day. 

“That wouldn’t be proper.” You pulled your lower lip between your teeth, feeling the twinge of pain as hard teeth grazed over a still healing split you hadn’t realized was still present. 

“So, he’s waiting for you?” Alastor looked at you, eyebrow raised. 

“No,” you admitted and his smile grew wider, beaming at you. 

“Wonderful, let’s get coffee.”

Your eyes grew wide as you looked around. It would be bad enough to be seen walking together so closely, you realized but to be overheard making plans? You couldn’t agree, this was already far too much risk. Temptation to agree wrapped around your heart. “Alastor, someone could see.” 

“Nonsense, the alley is just ahead. My car isn’t too far. You can wait for me, I’ll grab it, swing by for you and we’ll be off.” Alastor motioned toward an alleyway ahead.

“What?” 

“Just tuck yourself into the alleyway and you can jump in the car when I pull up.” He snapped his fingers, emphasizing his perfect plan, “I know a hole in the wall joint on the other side of the city. We can sit out of view, have a cup of coffee and pass some time. I can drop you off on my way to the station.” 

You hesitated as Alastor held the car door open for you. This wasn’t the best part of the city. Trash gathered, swept into the corners and against the curb by wind. People wearing tattered clothes milled about, some clearly intoxicated. Poverty colored everything, from the people to the buildings and yet the sound of children’s laughter carried down the street, reminding you that there was joy everywhere if you were just willing to see it. 

That didn’t make you hesitate any less when it came time to step out of the car. Eyes flitted around, trying to reassure yourself that you would be safe. Would someone run up and snatch your coin purse? Could you blame them when it looked like many of the people were rubbing pennies together?

“It’s alright,” Alastor’s fingers wiggled as he held his hand out for you. “There’s no one around here who would tattle to him about where you are or who you’re with. They’ve all got bigger things to worry about.”

“Is it safe?” After a moment more of hesitation, you offered him your hand, letting him enclose it in his. He steadied you as you braved stepping out of the car. 

“Of course, my dear! I’d never take you somewhere I wouldn’t be able to assure your safety.” Alastor tucked your hand around his arm as he led you from the car. Your heart pounded in your chest, only speeding up when his arm would brush your shoulder as you walked closely together as your simple heels clicked along the sidewalk along with his polished shoes. 

Part of it was fear. Part of it was something you couldn’t name. Maybe you could, if you let yourself think on it for longer but you were not sure if you wanted to. You were married. This was improper, yes, but it was still just a coffee shared between friends. 

The hinges of the door squeaked loudly, screaming in pain from years of lackluster maintenance as Alastor opened it. He held the heavy door open and ushering you inside with a hand on your back, just a bit too low to be proper. Was it intentional or accidental? Did it matter? Why did you care?

His hand remained on your back as he guided you to the counter. It was a small, informal cafe with lively talking filling the air. Most of the small tables were filled with people, talking, reading newspapers but almost all with a cup in front of them. It had a neighborhood feel that transcended social and financial class lines but lacked the suffocating weight of eyes found in your local cafes. 

“What would you like?” Alastor leaned into you as he spoke, shoulder brushing against yours, breath washing over your cheek and down your neck. Closing your eyes, you tried to ignore the feelings that were trying to spark to life within you. “Are you hungry? The beignets here are wonderful.”

“Oh no, I’ll just get coffee.” There was a tremble to your voice that you couldn’t understand. You didn’t want it there. You wanted to sound cool, calm and confident. There was no reason for Alastor to get to you as much as he did and even less reason to let him find out that he was. 

Alastor stepped up to the counter, keeping his hand on your back. You could swear that you felt it run a little lower down the small of your back as his attention was focused forward. Or was that your imagination? 

“Alastor!” As Alastor reached for the bell, the door to the kitchen burst open in a flurry, a woman with a curly crop of graying hair and rich dark skin carrying a tray of confections. “It’s been a minute since you’ve been around these parts.”

“I drive through these parts every day, Delores.” His voice was different talking with the woman, you realized. The showy transatlantic accent was softer, just a smidge and his words were lighter.

“And now you bring a pretty little thing on your arm? Oh, and she is a darling, isn’t she?” The woman may have been around for a few years but she was as sharp as ever, Alastor was pleased to see. It had been a while since he had stopped in, though as a young man he had frequented this cafe. 

“Oh, thank you, ma’am but-” 

Alastor’s voice cut you off, “Two coffees, Dee?” He held up two fingers as if his order was confusing before pointing at the steaming pastries on the tray. “Those fresh?” 

You could have protested being spoken over but instead simply let his words wash over your ears. It was strange to hear him now, his voice warmer and richer. Whatever this place was to Alastor, it was a place he felt secure enough to just be in, even a little. 

“Of course they’re fresh, boy.” Delores laughed, swatting Alastor’s shoulder with a towel. “Ya want some too?” 

“Of course,” Alastor laughed and it was lighter, “Two?” 

“One for you and one for your lady.” Dolores made quick work of setting the tray down and putting pastries in baskets. 

Alastor pulled the coins you had given him from his pocket and set them on the counter as Dolores worked. His hand dropped from your back as he pulled the wallet from his pocket. From his wallet he added a few more pennies and you realized with a flash of annoyance that he was paying for you both and using the coins you had given him to even your debt to do so. 

“Hey, wait a minute,” you rushed to grab your own coin purse. He didn’t wait for you in the slightest as he pushed the coins across the counter, ignoring your attempts to cover your half. 

“That was supposed to pay you back.” You protested as Delores took the coins, eyebrow raised and a slight smile on her face. She told you both to go sit down and wait rather than do anything to allow you a moment to cover your share of the bill. “Now I owe you again.” 

Alastor guided you, soft pressure on your lower back constantly keeping you connected to him as he led you away from the counter. You wanted to argue, to continue to protest but what good would it do? All it would do is cause a scene.

“Oh, no.” Alastor pulled out a chair for you, finally letting his hand drop from your back. He grinned at you, eyes dancing with mirth as you sat in the chair. “Whatever will we do. I guess that just means you’ll have to see me again.” 

“Alastor?” You wanted to ask him what game it was that he was playing. You wanted to ask him if he knew how he was acting. Did he know the way it looked? Any of the people here could look at the two of you and see you as a couple. He made it so easy for anyone to assume you belonged to him. Did he care at all about that? Did he care how the idea tried to worm its way into your heart? 

“What’s on your mind, dear?” Alastor’s warm brown eyes looked into you from across the table. In another lifetime, maybe this could have been your life. In another lifetime, maybe what everyone saw looking at the two of you could be true. 

“You know, Al-” Delores came up to the table, drawing attention before you had a chance to make a fool of yourself in the moment. She carried two mugs, hanging off her fingers with practiced expertise, a pot of coffee and two plates with beignets covered in powdered sugar in her other hand. “You two make a handsome couple. She’s a bit bright, you know, and well dressed but she must not be too bad if you got her on your arm.”

“Oh,” a flush climbed up your neck and face as you realized the misunderstanding. 

“You know, your dear Ma would be proud to know you finally married.” Dolores was all but beaming with pride at Alastor as she filled the coffee mugs. 

Oh. It was worse than you thought. 

You blanched, looking to Alastor with panic in your eyes. This had to be explained, corrected, somehow but you were at a loss how. Anyone could overhear such a bold statement and it could get around town. If you told the truth, right here and now to this kind woman, wouldn’t that look too much like an affair? 

“We’re only friends, Dee.” Alastor said with ease, as if he wasn’t digging your grave. 

“That so?” The older woman looked pointedly at the ring on your hand. Her eyes on it made the band feel more and more like a shackle as you covered it with your other hand. “Well, we’re not ones to talk around here, missy. What you two get up to and your so called friendship is between you and the Good Lord Above.” She flicked her hand up, waving away some unseen force for emphasis. “We got bigger things to worry about ‘round this neighborhood so don’t you get to fretting.” 

“We’re not-” You tried to protest.

Delores cut you off with a warm smile of her own, “It don’t matter to me. I just want to see that boy not alone for once, even if it’s just for a while.”

“It’s fine,” Alastor said simply as Delores walked off. “She’ll think what she thinks but she’s not one to talk.”

“You know her well?” You refocused your attention on him, only to dart your eyes down. It was too much to meet his gaze. It was easier to take in the scuffed and scratched table top and the swirl of the cream you poured into your mug. 

“Grew up around here.” Alastor had his transatlantic accent once again perfectly in place as he watched you. You could feel the heat of his eyes on you, burning into you. “I know how these people are, no one will talk. Plus, we’re just getting coffee and Mrs. Dee does make the best beignets.” 

“She thinks we’re…” you were scared to even voice what the kindly woman thought. “And that doesn’t bother her? Or you?”

Alastor shrugged and pushed the small plate closer to you. “You should try it, it’s lovely with coffee.” He was silent for a moment, taking a long drink from his still very black mug of coffee before speaking again. “Dee would look the other way if it’s what I wanted. Maybe not approve but she’d look the other way.” 

You ripped off a piece of pastry and shoved it into your mouth. It was the only thing you could think to do to keep words you shouldn’t, couldn’t say from tumbling from your lips. Sweetness exploded on your tastebuds, washed away by bitter coffee as you forced down the question that almost rushed past your lips: did he want that?

It was silly. Pointless. Don’t be a silly woman. You were just getting swept up in a fantasy. He was a friend and that was enough. A friend was more than you could ever dare to have hoped for. There was nothing wrong with having a male friend, you were sure, beyond appearances so why did you feel your heart beating faster? Why did your face flush so easily?  

“Is she close to your mother?” You asked instead, stealing a glance at the woman behind the counter. You had so many questions about her and her connection to your new friend. “You were right, by the way, this is lovely indeed.” 

Alastor’s lips twitched up, mouth opening slightly before closing again as he hesitated. You could see the gears turning in his head as he weighed if he wanted to answer. There were things he held back from people, you could have guessed that. A man like him, walking the line of too dark to be a welcomed member of polite society would have things kept to himself. 

“They were close for as long as I can remember,” he finally said, “Right up until she passed. Dee’s been like an aunt to me, regardless of if I wanted it.” He chuckled though it sounded dry, forced.

“She’s passed?” Reaching out, you rested your hand over his. Though you didn’t know the pain of losing a parent, it was etched on his face. His smile fell for a moment, lips twitching down and his eyebrows furrowed and then the smile he seemed to always wear was back in place. “I’m so sorry.” 

He looked down and a single eyebrow rose as he looked at your much smaller hand atop his. Instantly you realized the move was too much. Reaching out to hold his hand was too forward. That was something limited to female friends, family or your husband. 

You pulled your hand away quickly, as if the touch burned you as you looked away from him. He caught your hand as your fingers dragged down his, preventing you from making any real distance. It was his turn to be forward, weaving his fingers between yours.

“I miss her dearly,” he admitted, “She never stopped pushing me to make something of myself, to not let my blood limit me.” 

“She’d be proud of you,” you had no doubt at all of your words. Alastor’s smile, soft but bright, told you how much such a thought meant to him. 

“For some things.” 

“What do you mean?” You asked as Alastor popped a chunk of sugary beignet into his mouth. You couldn’t help but watch as his mouth worked, sugar dusted on his lips. 

“Not everything I’ve done is things that would have made her proud.” Alastor finally said, washing the sugary treat down with a sip from his mug.

“I can’t imagine the great radio host doing anything that would make his mother feel anything less than pride.” 

Alastor only laughed, a knowing glint in his eye before changing the subject to you and your childhood. As you sat, talking in that dingy cafe one cup of coffee became two, though eventually he did allow you to take your fingers back. 

While he hadn’t been willing to offer much of his life  story, what he would share fascinated you. You couldn’t imagine being raised without both parents with the bayou stretching out behind your home. He had come so far and found himself an informal family to make up for the lack of family connections. 

All the while, he didn’t make you feel ashamed for your much more comfortable upbringing. He listened attentively as you spoke of lessons and expectations that all resulted in your arranged match with the much more well off Laurence.

“If you don’t love him, why did you marry him?” Alastor asked and you were struck by the thought. Never had you questioned if you loved Laurence or not, you just expected that you did because you should and if you didn’t, you would. 

“I- I do love him?” A snort of disapproval came from across the table. “Why wouldn’t I love him? He’s my husband.” 

“If you say so.” Alastor smiled at you like you were the only one not in on the joke. 

“I do say so,” You protested as Alastor stood from the table, offering his hand to assist you out of the chair. It wasn’t needed but you indulged in the chance to touch him again. 

“I’m not sure,” Alastor admitted as his hand took up its guiding presence on your lower back while you walked to the door. “But I’m told love is something magical that can solve the world’s ills and if you have it, even for a moment, you’d risk anything for it. I don’t recall anyone singing the praises of the beatings one delivers on those they love though.”

“Maybe we’ve been told different things” you said, a hollow laugh escaping your lips, the sound shattering like glass in your own ears. “Your idea of love sounds like a child’s story I’ll never get to experience because it’s not real.” 

“Who says you won’t?” Alastor smiled down at you before looking up, focusing on bringing you safely to his car. As promised, he needed to deliver you home before it was too late and he would, though he was far from eager to be rid of your company. 

Oh well, he thought as he settled you into the passenger seat. There would be other times. He would ensure that he got to spend more time with you later. It would just be a matter of time. 

AN2: A note on word choice- I've spent way too much time on 1920's slang and phrases. Calling someone 'bright' in relation to another person was often how one would subtibly remark on differences of skin tone. While this is a Reader insert, by nature of social and class standing, it is needed that reader have some traits to be historically accurate. This is what Dee is remarking on, not Reader's brains.

Next

Join us at VoxTek for a Vox themed Hazbin Discord where we talk Vox, Hazbin, writing, reading, art and who knows what else. You may even catch some exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming fics from some of your favorite writers!

[harunayuuka2060]

Neige: Hi, Vil~!

Vil: Hello, Neige. Are you done now with your photoshoot?

Neige: Yes! *noticed MC* Who's with you, Vil?

Vil: Ah. Neige, meet MC. They'll be my partner in our new photoshoot.

Neige: *smiles* My... They do seem intimidating.

MC: *looks so bored* Aish... I'm already regretting this. Surrounded by bunch of 10s.

Vil: You promised to help me after Epel negotiated with you.

MC: I didn't say that I'm backing out.

Vil: Good. *smiles* Your outfits are at the dressing room. You'll be wearing them in order. *proceeds to ask a stylist to assist them*

The stylist: Oh my... I could make wonders out of you.

MC: Sure. I'll be in your capable hands.

Neige and Vil: *talking while they wait for MC*

Neige: Is MC the same age as you, Vil? Or are they a little bit older?

Vil: I'm certain they're at least in their mid-20's.

Neige: Oh. I see. No wonder they seem mature.

The stylist: Vil? MC is ready.

Vil: They're just in time—

MC: *is wearing an outfit that brings out their allure (up for anyone's imagination)*

Vil and Neige: ...

MC: What are you two gawking at?

Vil: *frowns a little* We're not gawking.

Neige: *giggles* Certainly, we're not. But you look amazing!

The stylist: I know, right?! They could absolutely be a full-time model!

MC: Yeah, no. Though I appreciate the compliment.

The photographer: Vil, would you mind smiling genuinely?

Vil: Yes.

MC: ...

MC: You're having a hard time.

Vil: I'm new to this concept, that's why.

MC: Huh. No surprises with that. You're always quite the elegant one.

Vil: How can someone have a carefree smile in an instant?

MC: It's pretty easy, actually. Excuse me.

Vil: Huh—

MC: *tickles Vil on his sides*

Vil: *starts laughing* Stop—

The photographer: *starts taking photos* Beautiful!

Vil: You—!

MC: *chuckles*

The photographer: That's so perfect! We can finally move on to the next phase!

Rook: *sniffles* Roi du Poison... In the presence of such beauty, my heart finds itself pained yet captivated, for what lies before me is undeniably a work of artistry.

Vil: Rook... *smiles in satisfaction* You're not wrong with that.

*"The Broken Mirror" has been trending in the social media and everyone is praising them for the story it unfolds.*

Grim: Hench-human? Are you not going to work in the Monstro Lounge today?

MC: *yawns* No. Azul gave me a day-off.

MC: ...

MC: Want to order some food? *hands him their phone*

Grim: Nyaha~! I'll order lots and lots!

MC: *yawns* I'm going to take some nap.

Grim: Nryah! Then how am I going to pay?!

MC: You have your own card.

Grim: Noooo! I'll use yours!

MC: If you can find it. Let's see... You have 30 minutes. Good luck.

Grim: Mryah!!! You're so mean!

[donotbelasagne]

IN9 episodes tournament, round 1 stats

I have created a spreadsheet based on the wonderful polls by @insideno9bracket and now I am here to give you some solid facts (it's about 1000 words long, I sincerely apologise).

First off, I looked at the general data.

The mean amount of votes per poll was a nice round 90 (to the nearest whole number), with a SD of 11.6 (quite a lot).

The mode was 83, and the median 89.5 (meaning there are a few outliers at the top).

The mean amount of notes per poll was 17 (to the nearest whole number), with 10 of were likes and 7 were reblogs (the number of comments proved to be almost negligible, with a mean of 0.25 comments per poll).

Firstly, I think this shows the general trend on Tumblr of moving away from reblogs and towards likes (a trend that other Tumblr users have made way more interesting posts about, so I won't go into detail about this here). Due to the nature of these polls, I really enjoy reading people's reblog-tags, so I urge you to reblog more next round so I have a good time lol.

Secondly, it shows that only 19% of the people who voted also interacted with the post in another way (not taking into consideration those who liked AND reblogged). Again, I feel like we can do better than this next round. I want to know why you choose the episode you choose! Give me those unhinged and insanely biased tags, reblog with propaganda of why people should vote for a specific episode! It’s what these polls are all about!

Next up, let's take a look at the most popular polls and episodes.

The top 3 most voted for polls were:

Nana's Party vs Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room (125 votes)

Zanzibar vs Paraskevidekatriaphobia (108 votes)

Sardines vs How Do You Plead (105 votes)

The top 3 most voted for episodes were:

Bernie Clifton's Dressing Room (115 votes)

Plodding On (82 votes)

The Stake Out & Cold Comfort (81 votes)

Now, the main take-away from this is how insanely popular BCDR is. It got more votes by itself, than all other polls did in total. Another take-away is the popularity of Sardines and How Do You Plead (we’ll seem them again in the “closest calls” part of this post). People really fought for both those episodes. My last take-away for now, is that we are all insanely predictable and I love that for us lol. Of course Plodding On and The Stake Out are in the top 3, of course they are. 

If we look at the most voted for polls/episodes, we of course also need to look at the least voted for (or as I’d like to call it; the bit of this post that would get Reece annoyed).

The top 3 least voted for polls were: 

Private View vs Boo To A Goose (55 votes)

And The Winner Is vs Thinking Out Loud (75 votes)

Hurry Up And Wait vs A Quiet Night In (80 votes)

The top 3 least voted for episodes were: 

Hurry Up and Wait & The Referee’s A W***er (8 votes)

A Random Act Of Kindness, Nana’s Party & Love Is A Stranger (10 votes)

Kid/Nap (14 votes)

A couple of points on this, Private View vs Boo To a Goose was the first poll to happen, which I believe is the main reason this poll received so few votes. Secondly, some of the episodes in this top 3 were just unlucky with which episode they were up against and aren’t bad episodes per se (to be fair, are there any actual bad episodes? I think not. Just popular and less popular ones). For example, The Referee’s a W***er was up against Cold Comfort (which got 91% of the votes), and Nana’s Party was up against BCDR (which got 92% of the votes). 

This brings me nicely to the point of win margins. 

Top 3 biggest win margins:

Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room (92%) vs Nana’s Party (8%) 

Cold Comfort (91%) vs The Referee’s A W***er (9%)

A Quiet Night In (90%) vs Hurry Up And Wait (10%)

Top 3 smallest win margins 

Thinking Out Loud (52%) vs And The Winner Is (48%)

The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge (58.4%) vs The Party’s Over (41.6%)

12 Days Of Christine (59%) vs To Have And To Hold (41%) As well as: Sardines (59%) vs How Do You Plead (41%) 

The biggest win margins are all quite straightforward; iconic episodes vs average episodes. Not much to say about that. The smallest win margins are either between two average episodes, or two iconic episodes (/documentaries).

I wonder if perhaps there could be a “golden ticket” poll at some point, to get one of these just-didn’t-win episodes back into the competition (@insideno9bracket)? 

Lastly, I looked at the most and least interacted with polls. 

Top 3 most interacted with polls:

Death Be Not Proud vs The Stake Out (28 notes)

Nana’s Party vs Bernie Clifton’s Dressing Room (25 notes)

Tempting Fate vs Wise Owl & The Last Weekend vs Mulberry Close (24 notes) 

Makes a lot of sense, people are very passionate about these episodes. 

Top 3 least interacted with polls:

And The Winner is vs Thinking Out Loud (9 notes)

Mother’s Ruin vs Seance Time (10 notes)

Hurry Up and Wait vs A Quiet Night In (11 notes)

It’s either because people weren’t too fussed about these 3 polls (seems unlikely, but alright), or everyone was busy when these polls came out lol. If anyone has a better explanation, I’d love to hear it. 

Some extra thoughts: 

A lot of this was more or less as I expected, though I thought The Trolley Problem would feature more heavily at the top (it ranks 10th in amount of votes). 

I cannot wait for round 2 and seeing if the current trends continue, or if new pairings will change it all up!

Please let me know if there are any other stats you’d like to see! I’ve just gone with everything I could think of, but I’m always open to doing more pointless stats. 

Thank you everyone for voting and thank you @Insideno9brackets for doing this. I’m having a great time.

[bunniesnuggie]

ethan landry as a caregiver

ethan landry x hyper fem little!reader

summary: just some headcanons of our favorite nerd as a first time caregiver 💕

*this is a non-ghostface au, he’s alive and not a stabby boy 👍🏻💗

*not proofed*

quick lil heads up - i’ve literally never seen scream 6… and have no idea who anyone is except ethan so, keep that in mind. but i still have been kinda obsessed with him lately :3

♡finds out by coming home early from class and finding you fully regressed in his dorm

he’s so cute; he didn’t even know anything was “wrong” at first. just enjoying the sight of his adorable girlfriend laying on his bed in his shirt cuddling the build a bears you made for each other, watching barbie movies. that is, until you yelped and leaped off the bed, and literally started crying. traumatized him ™️

♡ himbo DID NOT understand,

he will never EVER judge you. but did have to do research b4 fully getting it, like cutiepie was reading phyc books during his classes and reading different posts online 💕but didn’t say anything abt it to you tho. just kinda became a mama bear one day 😭 he does ask you lots of questions when your big tho

♡ once he does get it tho…. OH BOY

he had no idea he would love taking care of someone so much, this is both of your guys first relationships. everything is new, this is no different to him than learning your favorite things or how you like to be comforted. he knows this is simply coping for you, and he would do anything for you. so helping you heal you inner child is nothing out of the question

♡ soft casual dominance is kinda already his thing, so it comes naturally

so he’s used to tying you shoes for you, holding your hand out in public, he’ll order you food and talk to strangers for you. so when he does become your caregiver, the dynamic in public isn’t really that different 🫶🏻

♡ bathtime, playtime, naps!!!

he loves spending time with you while your regressed!! he colors with you and totally plays dolls or dress up. he’s very pretty and loves when you tell him so while putting clips in his hair☺️

♡ lego bf!

literally buys you sm lego sets, easier ones like duplo for when ur smaller and the more complex “adult” ones for date night :}

♡ he also gets vv invested in your shows and stuffies lives

“he did WHAT?!? why would he do that, can’t he tell that is not Ariel????? i mean her hair isn’t even RED!!!” 🤬🤬 becomes an angry boi. he totally spills the tea with ur stuffies during tea parties😗

♡ makes sure you guys go on “little” dates at least twice a month

you guys are basically attached at the hip, young love and all, so dates are frequent. but when he became ur caregiver, he wanted to make sure you knew he wanted to do this and be there for you 1000%. he also wanted to help you with regressing regularly to help you cope with stress. you once told him that you hadn’t regressed once in like 5 months and it was not fun when you finally did, he learned abt “improper” regression that night and never wanted to let it happen to you again 🥹

♡ embodies spider-man!bf energy

he LOVES the hellokitty!gf x spider-man!bf trends. he literally thinks it was made for you guys nerd. makes you bracelets that say bunny and daddy on it, his is red a blue and urs is pink and white, awe💕💕lowkey feel like he’d dress up as spider-man for halloween too

♡ speaking of nicknames, say good bye to ur real name

even before he found out you were a little, it was always sweetheart, bunny, angel, pretty girl, baby, princess etc that boy loves you so much and he shows it. after though he added in little one, babybug, tiny, dolly…anything that makes you feel especially small

♡ literally always carrying you

this man is 6’2, he makes chad look small he towers over you and absolutely loves it. so he takes advantage of it when he can, piggyback rides are a common occurrence. he loves just holding you in his lap, seeing ur tiny body take up such little space and fit perfectly on him, makes him 🫠

♡ is SO SOO protective

people take him for granted, thinking he’s just some sweet, docile nerd who loves econ. and while that is true, bby can kick butt and will for you. he doesn’t let anyone near you while regressed, heck or even see pictures of you regressed. that is your safe space. he will be damned if he lets anyone taint it. he also asked of you would be ok with him monitoring you socials while small, especially if you have agere accounts. he does not take anon hate lightly and will not tolerate any nsfw accounts trying to interact with you

♡ he just loves you so much and wants u to always be happy

like i said he will do absolutely anything for you, that boy loves you more than anything in the world. he shows it to you every day, whether that be in big space by showering you with kisses and complements, showing you off in public with an uncomfy amount of pda. or in the comfort of your room, surrounded by stuffies and coloring books while your dada reads you a story 💗

a/n: ahhhh i’m back!!!! sorry it’s literally been like….a year👀i haven’t regressed in a very very long time and just haven’t had motivation to post :( i’ve also been obsessed with new ppl so i’ve been writhing non-eddie stuff lately :3 anywho here’s a lil smth smth and hopefully i’ll be posting a bit again. i want to write abt barry from obx but idk if anyone would care or read it 😭😭might just draft that one for me lol. i’ve also got a lot of requests and wips to finish so it’s just up to me to write them 🫠😭

*i’ll be updating my character list to included the new ppl i want to write about!!!

tag list//

@bootlegmothman420 @angelbaby-fics @lil- -baby- -bat @stardancerluv @lulubooboo @albino-otaku @xxghostie-ghoulxx @stuckysgirl27 @sunshinee-bear

[the-roo-too]

home -> foreigners (lilyn)

clip one; the foreigners

“how about foreigners? it suits i think!” both you and lily glared at bae, who was the one to come up with that name.

“what is it, foreigners vs the locals?” you groaned and to no one’s surprise, the rest of nmixx (excluding lily) laughed at your misery.

“i think foreigners is a nice fit.” if stares could kill, haewon would’ve been destroyed by the oldest of the group at that moment. “stop staring at me, lily unnie! bae is right, you’re both our foreign members.”

clip two; lily’s lost the plot

no one will ever know how, but the youngest of nmixx, aka you, managed to bully lily into letting you be a part of one of her solo lives ‘lily���s lost the plot’.

when the live started, nswers could immediately notice the soft pout on the oldest lips and the wide grin on yours.

“‘why are you so pouty, unnie?’” lily read the comment out loud and playfully groaned, pointing at you. “this one right here desperately wanted to be here when we talk about ‘the greatest showman’.”

to support her words, you happily nodded your head along. “that’s right!”

‘omo, foreigners solo live!’

‘lily is so caring to y/n…’

‘how’d you get her to agree, y/n?’

you read that last comment and smiled, reaching out to give lily a quick hug. “lily unnie just loves me~!”

“she promised me she’ll get me eras tour tickets.”

‘lmao’

clip three; behind the cameras

kyujin and jiwoo were peacefully having a live in the dressing room. the problem with their location was that while technically they were the main stars of the live, the fans could clearly see a certain duo sleeping cuddled up behind them on one of the sofa’s.

“‘what’re y/nnie and lily unnie doing?’” jiwoo read the comment and turned around for a second to look at you and the other members. “they’re sleeping i guess.”

“yeah! i think y/nnie was tired in the van and unnie said she’ll take a nap with her?”

‘awh!’

‘they’re so cute :(((‘

‘little pookies hehe’

safe to say, foreigners was trending on twitter the next day.

prev - m.list - next

[ghostiiess]

[NSB HEADCANONS] - how the nsb boys would give you the princess treatment

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛༶•┈┈⛧┈♛༶•┈┈⛧┈♛༶•┈┈⛧┈♛༶•┈┈⛧┈♛

pov: the title says it all!

warnings: princess treatment i think? super fluff and cute! i think that's all? let me know if there's more!

type: fluff and wholesome!!

members: all of them!

each member have five of them!

reblogs and likes are greatly appreciated! :D

OLIVER

i feel like oliver would let you nap in his arms!

he's so cute :(

if see you being sleepy? this man put his arms around your shoulders and put your head on his shoulders while playing with your hair

he would also carry you with his arms when you're hurt

your shoulder hurt? he'll carry you

your feet are sore? he'll carry you

this man won't let you walk if you're in pain

and even if you weren't, he love carrying you around

he feel like a prince

next thing i think oliver moy would do, would be him buying thing you wanted or needed but never bought

you said you wanted to have the latest kpop album? he'll buy it for you if it can make you happy

need new pens? BYE HE'S ON HIS WAY TO YOUR FAVORITE PAPETERY STORE

he only want your happiness

you said you loved the dress in that clothes shop? he'll buy it for you

AND WILL MAKE A DATE JUST SO YOU CAN WEAR THE DRESS

isn't he the sweetest??

oli is just super caring and cute, you can't tell me otherwise

ofc, he would listen to you when you're angry, sad, upset..

we all know how oli is with the boys and the media team

he's super respectful and wouldn't mind if he had to sit for like 3 hours straight on your bed and listen to you venting

he would love that actually

communications is key and knowing you can be vulnerable and showing your true emotions and your true self in front of him, make him super happy and proud

finally, we all know how i can't stop saying that oliver is a respectful guy and a super caring boy

because it's true!

so i think he'll always make sure you're happy and comfortable

he know emotions can be up and down and all, but he loves seeing you happy and would always try his best to at least cheer you up and try to make you laugh or smile on a bad day

(rest of the members under the cut!)

SEBASTIAN

first, i think seb would call you with a sweet nickname

like a nickname he don't really use often

we know how seb don't really use nicknames or petnames in a relationship other than babe or baby, so i think he'll find one petname that's really original

seb would also compliment you as much as he can

and he would make you blush and smile with that because this man is so flirty 🙄 istg

we all know how flirty seb is (i already said it lol)

so please..

expect seb to flirt with you and compliment you a lot

like a lot

seb would take you out on dates randomly

it could be on your job, on your work, on your outfit, what you have done today.. everything!

he wouldn't say "join me at this place at this hour"

no

i think it's a very sebastian moy thing to do

he would just say "be ready, imma pick you up in 1h. wear smth chic like black so we can match"

and he would pick you up with his motorcycle 🏍

seb would also sing you to sleep

and ofc he would love the feeling of you holding super tight on him and your arms all wrapped around his belly

"you're so cute what the hell??" with his soft smile

can't sleep? he'll sing you a soft melody, so it can make you sleepy

no because his voice is relaxing 😭

finally, seb would post you on his social medias

like in their song "COLD WAR" (it's a masterpiece wow) he sing and bye, it's so "satisfaying" idk how to describe it, but yeah

it's your birthday? he'll show you off and wish you a happy birthday on his sc and ig story

he wouldn't mind having a page with tiktoks with you tbh 😭

want to do a tiktok with him? he'll do one and he'll be super happy

and he'll even learn new trends so you can try it together

he love showing you off and that's a fact 😂

JUSTIN

justin would fix your hair and outfit

he's like the fashionista of the group for me

why his outfit always so good-looking

i mean all the boys' outfit are really good-looking, but justin?? damn

he could wear a white tshirt and blue jeans and he would find a way to style it and make it cool

so ofc he would help you with that

he would also make you spotify playlist for every occasion

he would also fix/do your hair (straight them, curl them, brush them...)

and even dye them if that's something you would love to do!

feeling stressed? he have one for you

feeling angry because your parents shouted at you? he have one

for every occasion, justin have one

when he's bored and have time, he create music playlist so if one day you're feeling like that, he'll be able to send it to you!

people who do that >>> i love you omg-

he would put post-it all over your room with sweets messages on it

the messages would be like "hey, you looked cute today"

or like "don't forget to stay hydrathed today!"

or even "you did your best today and i'm so proud of you for that"

justin would also keep all the promises he make

just simple but yet so cute messages to make you smile during the day :)

if he told you that one day he'll bring you out on a stargazing date, he'll do it

like this man won't broke any of his promises

he truly believe in pinky promises (he love doing some with you!!)

so ofc if he had to break it, it would not only break his heart but also make him sad

because jp don't promise something that he know he won't be able to do in the future

the last thing justin would do for this hc would be picking you up when you're tired of walking

so thats why he doesn't really say "i promise you" randomly

unlike oli, he wouldn't pick you off and do piggyback rides or something like that

he'll pick up with his car and would literally be so happy to say "sorry boys, i need to pick up my girl! she's a bit drunk"

bye you weren't even drunk, he just wanted to say that 💀

but anyways, he love picking you up

even if you have your own car and all, he love giving you rides!

RYAN

as we know, ryan love going to the arcade

so i think he would win you plushies

or like anything you loves if you're not into that stuff haha

he love playing with you and saying "this one's for you, y/n"

ryan also love reminding you how he's happy to have you in his life

and he doesn't miss 🤧 wow

so i guess it'll be the same for you

we all know how ryan talk with his best friends

he's not the first guy in the group who'll go "hey man i missed you"

no

ryan doesn't say things like that without meaning them

he won't tell you a lot that he appreciates you

only times to times

but know he does appreciate you!!

i think ryan would hold your hand in public

anyways-

this man is so so not pda-

like pda only at home!!!

but if he see that is smth that can make you happy and that can make you less stressed and less anxious, he'll do it

because he want you to be happy

and comfortable

another thing nguyen would do to give you the princess treatment would be giving his hoodie to you

and not stressed

sure it's not super woah, but if we know how ryan is, we can clearly tell how precious and how important his clothes are to him

he rarely give others people his clothes (except for the members because they all live in the same house) so if ryan ever give you his hoodie, his cardigan, his vest or like anything related to clothes (except underwear ofc, because no ❤), then you are super lucky, bc except for the boys, he'll never ever ever give his clothes like that

finally, he'll open the door for you

he's a shy (and cute) gentleman, let's say it

simple but yet cute and nice!

KANE

kane would give you massages when you're in pain

HE'S THE MASSAGE BOY IN THE GROUP OKAY?

he love massaging the members

and like all the members love his massage since he's super good and know the perfects techniques

so ofc if your back is sore or like if you have pain on your back, tell kane

he'll also make you know that you're the only one for him

he'll do one for you and it'll make him super happy!

plus, he's super romantic

he'll do like such a cute ambiance

with like candles, soft light, oil, relaxing music..

HIS ROOM IS NOW HIS MASSAGE CABINET, OKAY?

he'll be like "y/n, i love you" or like "you're so pretty"

but istg when this man'll say "you're like the ideal type for me"

BYE CHCEHIIVEHJDS HE WANT US TO DIE OR WHAT??

nah but for real, i think he'll do that

idk how to explain it, help 😍 hope you guys can understand

like ty (aka the manager and his brother), he's searching for a strong and long-time relationship

he believes in soulmates

so if he tell you something like "you're kinda the one for me.." know that he cares a lot about you

and that he see you in his future

kane would leave goodnight texts/ morning texts so when you wake up, you'll think about him

when you say, "i'm going to sleep" he'll wait for like two hours so he know you're not on your phone or at least not checking your messages

like this man would wait just so you can have a surprise tomorrow 😭

his goodmorning and goodnight texts would be so cute

"hey i know you're sleeping rn, but i just wanted to say that you were so cute today and that i love you very much. may your night be blessed with sweets dreams and a nice healing comfort. sweet dreams my lover, we'll talk more tomorrow"

"good morning my pretty y/n. i hope you slept well and you didn't do nightmares, if so, you can tell me and i'll listen to you :) i wish you an amazing and fantastic day. i love you, and i can't wait to talk to you more today. much love baby <3"

kane would also bring you flowers

spoilers: sometimes he'll buy some just because he want to

had a bad day? flowers.

had a great day? flowers.

lastly, kane would support you in everything you do

it's a friday and it's 6:56pm? he will give you flowers

like this man love giving you flowers or like giving you things that'll make you think of him

he doesn't care if it's like 7:23am or 21:04pm

he'll still go buy you some just because he loves it

he'll support you in your projects, your experiences, your life.. literally everything he can support, he'll be here for you

he's already doing that with the boys so it wouldn't be a surprise for me if he did that to you <3

our sweet caring boy :(

DARREN

darren would give you snacks or make you drink if your hands are occupied

he'll also buy your skincare products if you're running out of them

working on a essay and you're hungry? this man will feed you

you're cooking and want to drink something but can't because of the dough? he'll make you drink water with a straw (or smth like that)

he's such a good boyfie :/

this man think about everything

he love doing skincare with you

anyways-

darren takes a lot of care of his body, his face, his skin.. he know which products are good or nah

and it also involves foods!

he'll buy you the stuff, even if it's not skincare!

like if you're running out of mascara, he'll buy you some

running out of your favorite food? he'll buy you some more just because he know you like it

darren would cook to you

that's it, that's all

he doesn't even want you close to the kitchen 🙄😭

he LOVES cooking and he loves it even more when it's for you <3

he would cook for you on special occasion

but also on not special occasion

he love seeing you eat what he made for you

his cooking skills >>

he would also kiss you in the rain

idk why but he gives me this vibe?

imagine: he put his arms around your waist and kiss you slowly while the rain is falling miserably on you two

lastly, darren would stand by you every single time

like omg it'll be so adorable

on a fight? this man's on your side

nah but for real

he doesn't really know what's going on, but..

he's on your side

let's be honest

he really cares about you

even if he doesn't show it a lot like some others members do, he would stay by you during the good and bad times

always here for you :(

REGIE

this man would tell you how much he loves you in public

he doesn't really say it often

he's more like a "secretive person" when it comes to the confession if i can say it like that

he wouldn't mind saying the l-world in public, but he usually prefer when it's only between you two

also, talking about public..

but he wouldn't mind saying it if it would make you happy!

and plus..

he kinda love saying it 😭 mostly when there's a lot of people in th same place

he'll say "baby!! check these out!" a little bit more louder just so people can know you two are together

he love showing you off, what can i say?

he wouldn't refuse to do pda in public

sure, he would rather keep these things like the ily's and all the pda between you two

but as again, he's happy to do that

he'll treat you like he's a gentleman

he want to show you off

idk why i said "like" bc regie IS a gentleman 😭

regie would also put his hand around your waist and talk to you in your ear

he would open the door, be super respectful.. takes care of his responsabilities.. everything that a gentleman do lol

idk if this one is princess treatment, but..

he'll do that

he'll speak in your ear so you can only hear him

if you're feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed.. he'll do that

finally, he would buy what you need when you're on your period

at least, hear him better than the others sounds around you

most of the time, it'll be random stuff lol

like sometimes he could say "come here.." or "i love you..!"

but otherwise, it'll be stuff like:

"this guy was so weird, wtf!"

or like "dang, you have a nice a$$"

he don't really mind if he have to do four shops to find what you need

periods, for him, are normal

it's like.. only blood?

so like, he would buy you whatever you need

everybody have blood

he wouldn't be anxious or stressed

just like okay, but where do i find these???

the only time where he'll be a bit anxious would be when he have to choose between ultra soft or super comfortable and he doesn't know which one are the best for you since not everyone have the same preferences when it comes to period's supplies!

taglist (open! send an ask if you want to be in it): @nsb-rkive @kentisbaby @firebenderwolf @hyuneee0

hope you guys liked it!!

[gudvina]

If you’re still taking requests, how about a one shot of Hayffie watching Katniss and Peeta’s kids for the day? I feel like we need more Hayffie fluff, and shenanigans can ensue of course :)

Soft life

Ship: Effie Trinket/Haymitch Abernathy

Fandom: Hunger Games

Genre: tooth-rotting fluff

Can be read on AO3!

It was still early afternoon when Haymitch woke up from his nap. He had fallen asleep on the couch of his living room, lulled by the gentle spring breeze that swirled in from the open window. He opened his eyes to meet a pair of grey orbs with a lemon-zest mane.

The girl was sitting on the floor with a colouring book and pastels in front of her, an amused smile on her face that strongly resembled her mother’s.

“Hi!” she quipped.

“Robin, what are you doing here?” he moved into a sitting position, groaning when he felt the twinge in his neck. It was a stupid question, anyway. He knew the answer already. The Mellark children had inherited from their parents the bad habit of invading his house, almost as if it was another part of their own. And it was mostly Effie’s fault; she never seemed to be able to say no.

“How silly you are! We came to keep you company, of course. Mommy and Daddy worry an awful looot about you and MaMaw being all alone.” the kid explained, agitating her hands in the air.

Robin was just shy of six and had taken almost completely after her father, preferring her colouring book to more adventurous activities. Everyone adored her, and many parents seemed to envy her sweet temperament.

Nothing could have prepared them for what was coming.

Just a few years prior, Robin started emulating Effie. With her thick District Twelve accent, she used words like “refined” and “preposterous”, developing a keen interest in fashion and intricate fabric designs. Surprisingly, Katniss and Peeta didn’t seem to mind having their own District Twelve diva, even going so far as indulging her wishes whenever it was possible.

“Can’t be too lonely, when it’s the two of us” he snorted, stretching just enough to shake away the tiredness.

The kid shrugged and resumed her activity, and from what he could see she was colouring an elaborate outfit. He deduced the book had been shipped from the Capitol; the trends were a lot more subdued now but still ridiculous to him.

He heard footsteps and looked up to see Effie, walking in with a little Arlow babbling in her arms. Two years old and rambunctious, the boy looked more like his mother than Katniss herself.

“Oh, Grandpapa woke up!” Effie cooed as she sat on the rocking chair, sitting Arlow on her lap. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was wearing a light flowery dress that seemed to be fitting to the current season. Haymitch’s eyes softened as he watched her talk to the boy, making funny baby sounds, and moving her hands to tickle him.

“Grandpapa wonders why we can’t have a nice evening to ourselves, too” he smirked.

“Haymitch, don’t say these things in front of our grandbabies!”

“Babies? That girl will soon manage a clothing line, sweetheart”. He winked at Robin who beamed at his words.

“That she will, that she will!” Effie acquiesced with a proud smile on her face.

“MaMaw, do you think a floral motive would go well with a tartan?”

“A floral and tartan dress? That’s revolutionary darling, I’d wear it!”

“You’d wear a potato sack if pretty enough” he teased, watching as Arlow slowly fell asleep with his head on Effie’s chest. Lucky boy indeed.

“Robin, don’t listen to him, he knows nothing of fashion”.

“Is that why it’s MaMaw who buys your clothes?”

“No, MaMaw buys my clothes because I’m lazy”.

“And because you have no fashion sense”.

“Thank God for that, you’d have a stroke if I was the one setting trends. What would be left for you?”

Her eyes were narrowed into two slits, and he felt an otherworldly urge to kiss her pout away. He would have, sans Arlow and Robin. She seemed to have read his mind and her lips stretched into a smile, one of those only reserved for him.

He would have never thought this could be his life, and he certainly knew she would say the same. Sometimes it still seemed too good to be true. But they had lived together for years, now, and shared a bed every night without fail. Even when their demons screamed. Especially then.

Twelve had been good to them, even to Effie, despite all expectations. At first, it hadn’t been easy. She’d had to adapt to Twelve’s sensibilities and feel comfortable without her wigs and makeup to shield her from the world. And she still never went out without a scarf covering her hair, he and the children were the only ones allowed to see her real hair, the only ones she could be her true self with.

Not everyone had welcomed her with open arms when she’d come, but slowly that worked itself out as well.

If he’d been told this would be his life, a life where he was free, where he and Effie could simply be without problems, he would have probably laughed. Maybe even mocked. It would have been the response of a man who had no hope, it would have been fitting.

Things changed, he mused. Their life now was walks in the meadow, trips to the Hob where they’d bicker about what to buy or not, swims at the lake during warm summer days, and dozing off under the shade of a tree. It was feeding the geese, helping Peeta at the bakery, or accompanying Katniss on her hunting trips.

They had the children, and now Robin and Arlow too. It was a soft life. It was good.

[vertenav]

WHATS MINE IS YOURS . . . BUT NOT REALLY!

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ atsujay﹒(at-su-jay) ⸝⸝ atsumu miya + mj

THINK! hiking, working out tgt, anything but sitting still (most of the time), foodies, high-school sweethearts, just-because flowers, Kendrick Lamar, frequent outings, "you paid last time, it’s my turn" (fair paying), black cat &. golden retriever, first time for everything, "where’s [the other]?", "you guys are alwaaaays together, don’t you get sick of each other?" "no", giggling late at night, snuggled up in the sheets, clingy &. clingy, smartie pants &. smartie-er pants, mutual comfort person, they’re married to each other in their heads, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? BEACHES ﹒ BEABADOOBEE

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ naj﹒(na-je) ⸝⸝ nagi seishiro + mj

THINK! nap dates, chronic sleepyheads, can’t find ‘em? at their consoles or in bed, low effort dates, he stole the Lego box.. just sat there and looked pretty, matching pjs, made him buy a pc so we could play even more games tgt, worships the ground she walks on, "she’s a little weird, but that’s my girl", "atta girl" when finally completing something, she takes care of him but he doesn’t take it for granted, three taps wherever to signal "I love you", little surprises of each others favorite things, late nights in, etc etc etc

WHATS THE TRACK ? SWEET BOY ﹒ MALCOL TODD

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ olijay﹒(oli-jay) ⸝⸝ oliver aiku + mj

THINK! riiiiiich as shit, power couple, always on vacation, sugar mama &. sugar baby (LMFAOOO TY KAI), his financial advisor fr, spoils the shit out of him, fancy nights out, usually dressed up, she dresses him, frequent nights out with drinking (responsibly ofc), think that one tiktok trend "a boy who’s jacked and kind" where the guy lifts the girl up no problem onto his shoulder, her personal trainer x his employer, womanizer turned into a loyal ass man, came for a good time lowk stayed for the money, but fell in love HARD and FAST, he doesn’t even KNOW what the bills look like and couldn’t even begin to imagine, lowk a romantic when he tries, HE gets the princess treatment, he’s the passenger princess, she’s whippin that mf car and holding his hand, wearing his jersey at his games, screaming louder than anyone else, when he wins he runs up and gives her the fattest kiss and nearly drags her out of the stands, all brawn no brains outside of soccer, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? OUTTA MY MIND ﹒ MONSUNE

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ min﹒(self explanatory id hope) ⸝⸝ rin itoshi + mj

THINK! plays soccer together for fun, sometimes he lets her win, you’ve never tied your shoe, grabbed your bag, opened the door, etc etc etc since you guys have started dating, always has spare shoes and clothes in his car for you, she’s clingy, he lets it happen, the second he said yes, kiss your personal space gooooodbye rin, he is absolutely whipped, isn’t used to all these feelings so he’s super blunt and confused, ms giggle shits over here, he’s never smiled as much as he has with her, big brothers best friend troupe, matching jewelry is a must, side walk rule unintentionally "why would I ever let you walk near the street r u dumb", dry texter &. hype ass texter with a bunch of emojis, also wearing his jersey, his number on her cheek, makes embarrassing posters for him at games, he dedicates goals to her by pointing afterward, he’s insecure but she soothes everything he’s ever been insecure about, and the other way around, he’ll kiss her insecurities and say how much he loves them, he doesn’t understand how much that short-circuits your brain, he’s UNIMAGINABLY TICKLISH and unfortunately she isn’t, you can see how that goes.. LMFAO, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? EVERYONE ADORES YOU (AT LEAST I DO) ﹒MATT MALTESE

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ saejay﹒(sae-jay) ⸝⸝ sae itoshi + mj

THINK! princess treatment, she doesn’t know how much money is in her bank account because of how much she doesn’t touch it, he insists, promise rings were his idea, unserious x serious, next door neighbor, at first she was the only one uninterested in him and his genius-ness, ominous ass texter like wtf, she can be herself around him, therefore usually loud x quiet, MATCHING OUTFITS ASF, he looks like he’s the one being dragged around when we go out, but he’s actually the one who suggested it, she got his jersey number on her nails (real story) that he pays for, puts his initials on it too, literally one of the biggest gentlemen you’ll ever meet but that’s only dedicated to her, mean to everyone else but her, whenever she cries it makes him want to cry, each others safe person, she fell in love sooooo much harder when she heard his laugh for the first time, cocky x cocky, matching luxury things she’s never even heard of, did a blind pick for cologne/perfume for each other (she picked his but he didn’t know what it was until she showed him, vice versa), literally fell in love with the scents and they were right on the head of the nail and wear it 24/7, she pranks him a lot and he goes along with it, she can’t tell when he’s joking or being serious sometimes, she’ll be the one to fake proposed over and over again, calls her pretty girl, he’s reeeeallllyyyyy good at accents and she loooooves to be sweet talked in them, after long days or a loss he’ll go straight to her for comfort and she’ll rub and/or scratch his back and hug him, anything he needs, she’ll cook and bake for him and he taste tests, big flirt x gets flustered (literally interchangeable), he FIIIIGHTS for his life on the team because of you and will also literally lay his career on the line if she can’t travel with them for games. LMFAOO etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? EVERLONG ﹒FOO FIGHTERS

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ misa﹒(mee-sa) ⸝⸝ isagi yoichi + mj

THINK! thighs and thighs for days (on both parties 🙂‍↕️), dumb x dumber, "love ive been hiding something from you" "what is it?" "im actually spider man." "no way?? me too…", silly ass mfs, always giggling, locked tf in, self care nights OFTEN, they’re always listening to music together, shared headphones, literally the most innocently intimate mfs everrrr, he’ll gesture kisses to her when she’s in the crowd screaming his name louder than anyoneee, each others biggest fans, will feed into each others delusions, "hey babe" "yes ml?" "you think my crush likes me?" "hmm hard to tell with your stubbornness" he’ll feign the most dramatic gasp ever, drama king x drama queen, he shows her off any chance he gets, you’d think he’d get tired of her but nooope neverrr he is madly in love and literally has her in his phone as mrs isagi, he will NAWT shut uppppp about her like his team probably knows everything about you, no one can truly understand him without knowing about her, pet names pet names pet names, so so so affectionate, so attentive, so caring, nothing goes unnoticed on both parties, very open and good with communication, he loves the way she sticks her tongue out when she’s concentrated, sometimes he’ll grab it LMFAOO, they’ve never had an actual serious argument, just playful ones, he looooves when she scratches his back or massages him, he falls asleep when she does either within an instant, first time flat owners together and it’s the most precious thing ever, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? 3005﹒CHILDISH GAMBINO

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ muska ﹒(muh-sk-uh) ⸝⸝ sakusa kiyoomi + mj

THINK! nerds af, academic rivals that kiss kiss fall in love, both lowk germaphobes, he learned how to do the kind of nails she liked so they can both bond over it and she’ll save money, quality time, he secretly taught himself how to take pictures so she had good pictures to post and got to see herself the way he did, she’s constantly fatigued, without asking, he’ll pick her up in any way without a problem, bridal style, on his back, just under your knee so you’re sitting on his arm almost, etc, hopeless romantic, he yearns for her, in fact he’d do absolutely anything for her, his days shine the brightest when she’s around, sun x moon, serious x serious, people wonder how they work together but oh boy do we WORK, fuck the idea of soulmates, we love each other on purpose, yapper x listener, snarky x snarky, she kisses his moles all the time no matter where they are on his body, he does the same but with her freckles, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? 505﹒ARCTIC MONKEYS

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ mukuna﹒(mu-ku-na) ⸝⸝ sukuna ryomen + mj

THINK! she calls him a nonchalant dread head all the time and he’ll just go "wtaf is that" or "do I look like a dread head", he looks like he’s being held at gun point when they’re hanging out, but again, he probably suggested it, he will laugh at how weak she seems then get his ass lowk whooped only to excuse it with "oh I let you win don’t even" type shit, he seems not interested at all at a glance, but he is sooo in love with her just look at his eyes, pupils are basically in the shape of hearts, pretty private relationship, hence the lack of faces, for both sides, matching necklaces with initials, he lets her do his makeup and hair (begrudgingly), she entered his life at one point and never really left, she asked him out first, cocky x humble and shy, loves to mess with him, she loves shopping with him just to dress him up, she likes to work up him and he gives plays into it, he’s like putty in her hands in an INSTANT, grumpy x sunshine, he wouldn’t want anyone else, and he wouldn’t want his life to change whatsoever, was never a marriage guy or a serious relationship person until she came around, will man handle her (innocently) because she started it, super protective of her, etc etc etc.

WHATS THE TRACK ? FUCKING YOUNG / PERFECT﹒ TYLER, THE CREATOR

𓂃˖ ࣪⊹ midou﹒(mee-dou) ⸝⸝ shidou ryusei + mj

THINK! she taught him how to drive a motorcycle and he LOOOOVES it, posed with her bike when she was in a shop and when she walked out he thinks he might’ve fell in love at first sight, loves his jokes and odd freakiness more than she lets on, adrenaline junkies together, absolute chaos, "I’ll do it if you do it" "fuck yea", he’s super rough with her sometimes and feels really bad until she’s just as rough if not more, bad financial decisions but they’re stupid rich so it’s okay, got matching motocycles and helmets, nice ass promise rings they surprised each other with, literally the epitome of matching each others energy, never a dull moment, also dumb x dumber, to tell the truth, the real reason he fell so hard in love with her was because how unrelentingly kind she was to him and how pretty her smile was despite how he came off when they first met, the night they met, she offered to take him on a ride, he was her backpack yup yup yup and to tell the truth, he still absolutely loves being her backpack because he gets to slither his arms around her waist that he loves oh so dearly, she is his number one supporter and that makes him even freakier when it comes to soccer, his teammates couldn’t believe it, was ready to drop down on one knee right then and there when she showed up to a game in his jersey with hair dyed exactly like his, he hasn’t functioned the same since, he lowk loves when she wears tighter clothes because he knows how confident it makes her and he absolutely becomes her number one hype man, etc etc etc

WHATS THE TRACK ? 240 ﹒MODERN BASEBALL

[krishnamali786-blog]

21 Trendy Outfit Ideas with Halara Shorts for Effortless Style: Women Halara Shorts

When it comes to effortless style and comfort, Halara shorts have quickly become my go-to. From casual days out to laid-back summer vibes, they offer versatility and an effortlessly chic look that can be styled in so many ways. I remember when I first discovered them — I was skeptical. Could a pair of shorts really be that comfortable and still look good? The answer is a big YES! Now, I wear them…

[diamondcrownacademy]

DCA Info Part 61: Fairy Brother Trivia

To learn about their roles in DCA, click here!

❤️ Florence

• The eldest fairy brother who loves to shop for anything red or pink. He is very much into jewelry trends and would have clippings from magazines into his journals to take note.

• His personality is more of a charming gentleman who is a social butterfly and is always up to date in trendy topics. He doesn't care if the clothes he's wearing are close to a dress, if he looks fabulous in it then he wears it, no questions. Much like Asher, he acts like an overprotective dad towards his students, even during events where RSA and DCA have held balls on either campus, he's always scanning the area to make sure the boys don't do anything rash to his precious students.

• Once met Divus during a fashion show and the two keep in touch from time to time. Though there were times Divus starts to contact him more often ever since Ella got enrolled into the school. And he's always kept tabs on her latest creations and he sends Divus pictures with her permission.

• Even though he and Asher may bicker from time to time, they do care about each other but it's a tough love kind of relationship between them. Their ideals and morals just always seem to clash and it leads to comical arguing.

• He absolutely loves flowers and sometimes the students place a lovely arrangement in the vase placed on his desk. He makes bookmarks and even would make flower crowns out of them.

• Florence has a small flowerbed full of roses and he named each one. Every time the flowers wilt and regrow into buds he addresses it with "(Flower name) II, III, IV..." and he will proceed to go up a number every spring. He keeps the flowerbed in his quarters.

• He can be seen snacking on strawberries during break. He likes chocolate-covered strawberries when buying his snacks.

💚 Faustus

• The second fairy brother that keeps to himself sometimes. He does say something now and then but he likes to spectate rather than interact. He is a rather small-talk kind of guy. Doesn't say too much and won't make the first move at all.

• For some reason, he can't spend a single second in the kitchen without something catching on fire when it involved the stove or oven. Which is why his brothers insisted that one of them but him gets to use the kitchen. The only thing he could make was PB&J.

• His skills in music were so phenomenal that even the animals gathered and danced around whenever he starts music class.

• Secretly a bit of a troll who wants to watch the glorious chaos unfold. When Florence and Asher start yelling, he's sitting on his folding chair and munching popcorn. He got the idea to set up the “Asher vs. Florence” club and everyone but the two professors knew about its existence.

• Usually he wears a polite smile, but the thing that his brothers know is NOT to make any noise when he's napping or sleeping. He's very terrifying and will become such a menace that it almost looks like he's going to commit murder on the perpetrator.

• This is the only time the two would try to get along and even reschedule an argument at a later date in fear of facing Faustus' wrath.

• He loves a good tea party and can even be seen lounging around Futterwacken's tea table during lunch break. He likes sample platters, he thinks it's like a mukbang but it's the miniscule version.

💙 Asher

• The youngest of the fairy brothers who is the toughest out of them all. He gets along with Actius and they sometimes work out together and they even have arm wrestling competitions. They even took turns on the mechanical bull to see who can last the longest. Sometimes they play matador with it, purposely trying to make it angry and try to dodge it's large metal body.

• He is rather blunt and won't sugarcoat unless necessary or the situation is dire that being straightforward won't help. He isn't as strict as Mozus, he's just stern because he thinks logically that people will take advantage of someone who is innocent so he wants to open their eyes on reality, his views clashes with Florence's who thinks that girls don't have to always be tough to be taken seriously.

• Asher likes to drink a variety of alcoholic beverages. His favorite is vodka. Though when he isn't craving anything alcoholic, he'll sometimes get a root beer float. He is great at making the most aesthetically pleasing sundaes and floats when he feels a little hungry for something sweet. He dislikes eating plain ice cream and will bring out a lot of toppings and snacks to add to it.

• When he gets mad, he rolls up his sleeve and goes in to talk with his fists, it's instinct by this point and he has to be held back.

• Divus makes him nervous every time he smacks that whip, he thinks it's the sound it makes and how he can imagine how painful it would be if that hit someone.

[magnificent-buckless-butt]

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: unlike last time, it is not Sambucky-centric. I'll try to do it but as you'll see, the plot, well, needs the other characters.

@sambuckyhalloweenbingo

Read it on Ao3 or down below the cut.

29th of October, 2023.

A car came to a stop in front of a circular, latest-architectural-trend building, marked with a gigantic A – because why shouldn't it. A woman, well dressed, exited the car. Her hair was pitch black and brushed back, her suit and suitcase were also black with not a pinch or a hint of dust and her sunglasses were obviously black, hiding to everyone whom and where she was looking at.

She entered the building and was immediately greeted by a robotic, feminine voice.

“Welcome, Director Hill.”

“Thanks, SUNDAY. Is anyone else here already?”

The talking program didn’t miss a byte before answering, in a perfectly well-spoken manner.

“No, I’m afraid you are the first one and will remain so for an hour at minimum. Mrs Van Dyne has reported to be expected at 12pm and the others had not provided such a courtesy. Do you want me to ask them again?”

“No need. Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

Maria took off her glasses, revealing deep tired eyes and face. She grabbed her suitcase which contained her PJs, a change her weapon—because why shouldn’t she have one- some other things she’d need and headed for the lift.

“I’m going to my room and take a nap. If anyone asks, I’m not here.”

“Very well. I will transmit this message.”

When the lift doors closed, the hall got left empty. Not an employee, not a superhero -or even a wannabee one. For once, the headquarters of the Avengers were completely peaceful and silent. If was supposed to remain so for two more days.

*

The next guest to arrive was The Wasp. And she arrived as The Wasp. She walked inside in a hurry, only letting the Pym Particles grow her back to her original size as she crossed the threshold. Her breath was short and she was sweating—like she had been running. Or fighting. She looked around.

“No one else’s here yet?” she asked at the walls and ceiling.

“No. Director Hill did arrive, however she have specified she is not to be here for the moment.”

Hope nodded. She felt like she probably wouldn’t be “here” too if the others were coming late. Her eyes were scanning her environment, taking in the entry hall: the counter before the corridor leading to the lift—there was no stairs, no need when the lift had been designed to be Hulk-size; the waiting area with a few couched, a lounge table, some potted plants and on the other side, the wide corridor leading to the council rooms and the even wider (and perfectly equipped) training room. They were gonna have some work to do...

She was taking off her bracers but as her eyes met the directionnal panel to the training room, she stopped. Took a breath. Well, if she was in her suit already, why not test the new equipment? Apparently, they were done by a young genius—the legacy of Tony Stark, they said.

Her hands still shaking due to adrenaline and stress, Hope headed for the training room.

*

The spy arrived at the moment she knew no one else would arrive. Of course, she knew she couldn’t be as early as Maria Hill, but just as she had guessed, Maria Hill had retired to her room. The Wasp posed an issue, especially since she had announced her time of arrival lately so the spy had little to no time to prepare (the fact she had supposedly announced it solely to the AI in charge of the HQ was not part of the equation). But she was thrilled to discover the hero had also left the main hall. As for the other ones... Well, let’s just quit it as men. Which meant she calculated she had a windows of roughly thirsty minutes before the Wasp would come back—lowest expectation.

Yelena Belova walked in, dressed in a leather, full-of-pockets black jacket, jeans, her blond hair braided, her sunglasses on, her hands deep inside her aforementioned pockets, fidgeting with a strange device that closely but not quite resembled a phone.

“Please, no word.”

The IA didn’t respond and Yelena took the lift to her assigned room—more like a royal suite as she would soon discover.

*

The next two were the narrator’s favorite idiots and perhaps yours too, dear reader—or they ought to be. They were flying not so high but quite rapidly nonetheless, above the Manhattan skyscrapers and one was decidedly not having the time of his life.

“Can’t you fucking go slower?” screamed Bucky so the (only actual) flying person could hear him over the sound of the wind.

“No, can’t do. It’s already 6pm and we promised we’d set up the decoration before tomorrow. And we would already be there if a certain someone had been ready on time!” screamed back Sam.

Bucky gulped as he peered beneath him. His feet and legs were freely dancing in the fucking void. With his left arm, he held on to Sam and with his right hand, he held on to his jacket to keep it closed and tight against his chest. He shook his head. Heights. Why did he fell for a guy crazy of heights? Because falling through the sky was what was gonna happen to him soon if Sam didn’t slow down!

"You said your meeting would only last to 2pm, not 4!"

"Well, I can't easily say no to the fricking President, Barnes!"

Bucky breathed out.

"Just drop that old man. He's old enough to have been my mate before the war."

Sam barely refrained from teaching him what being Captain America entailed. That would have been as unnecessary as when Bucky would tell him what Captain America entailed—for example when Sam would refuse to sign an autograph for a fan from the wrong soccer team. Better drop the subject (and not the president).

"Why weren't you ready at 2, like it was planned, anyway? And why were you out of the house?"

Bucky's voice struggled to find Sam’s ears.

"I was... looking for stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" Sam shouted in case Barnes had trouble hearing him—which, well, wasn't supposed to happen, with all the supersoldier stuff and all.

"Just... stuff."

Sam took the hint and stopped talking altogether. They kept flying for a while until they finally spotted the new Avengers headquarters—in the suburbs, far from any city, like the previous one. They landed in the path of grass in front of the entrance. No one else was around. Good thing. (Sam remained nervous, though.) He gently put his hand on Bucky's arm.

"Please, about... us."

Bucky looked at his hand then his eyes slowly raised up until they met Sam's and Bucky's smile was tender when it happened.

"I'm doing what you're doing. Nothing less, nothing more, Wilson."

Sam felt a huge wave of relief. He took a step away, ready to enter the compound when he noticed how his partner had been standing straight, his arms tightened around his chest the whole time.

"What's happening?" he asked, pointing at the crossed arms. "Are you getting... cold, Barnes?"

The glare the Winter Soldier gave him would have been enough to scare off the fiercest god in the Universe but Samuel Wilson was brave.

"Not your business, Sam."

Bucky started walking towards the entrance and Sam followed, his smile never vanishing the more Bucky sulked.

*

When Sam and Bucky walked in, Hope was coming back from the training room. They greeted each other but quickly, Hope broke off the conversation to go take a shower and get a change from her sweaty suit. The men didn't have to wait for her long, though and on her way back, she had woken up Maria. After more small talk, they looked around at the very neat, very clean state of the building.

"Do you have some decorations ideas, yet?" asked the director of SHIELD.

"Well, I've brought Pym Particles," Hope replied.

Maria scoffed at her. Bucky and Sam weren't better. (And Bucky wasn't leaving his coat, even though the three others had each offered to put the heater up.)

"I kinda thought we'd figure it on the go," Sam said finally.

Maria didn't have time to scold him as Yelena appeared. As it turned out, she didn't have stuff or ideas either. "Not my culture" was her excuse.

"Let's hope Clint will have something," Bucky said.

Yelena flinched at the name. As he had just waited for his name to be spoken, Hawkeye got announced and a few seconds later, entered through the glass doors, arms full of pumpkins of various sizes. He kept darting gaze behind his back, almost looking anxious, but his face lit up the moment he saw his friends. Well, the mood got halfway killed when he spotted Yelena too, but fortunately, she had decided to be neutral and shook his hands. Alas, Maria had barely starting interrogating him (but he had brought pumpkins from his own farm) when SUNDAY warned them the last guest was arriving. They looked confused.

"But I thought-" started Hope as the doors slid open once again.

Wearing only a tee-shirt, a worn-out jacket and a pair of even worse worn-out jeans, Scott waltzed in, with the biggest smile of all the party.

"Hi! Hi, friends! Hi!"

He shook hands with everyone—timidly with Maria and Yelena, longer with Sam and drew Hope into a hug. The woman accepted, still confused, and so moved a bit away to take a full look at Ant-man.

"Weren't you supposed to be on a mission for three days?"

Scott's eyes widened and he made the face of someone suddenly remembering something. His attempt at explaining what kind of secret mission he didn't have to do while not talking at all about the secret mission was pathetic too but gained a laugh out of Hope.

"Wait, were you guys waiting for me?" Scott asked, stopping himself.

"Nah, replied Bucky. We were just discussing how we're probably going to do the decorations tomorrow and drinking beers tonight. What?" he added when he felt Sam's glare on him.

But Scott had already passed his arm around his shoulders—his hand barely reached Bucky's shoulder on the other side.

"Sounds like a very good plan, man!"

So it happened. They surrendered to the fullness of the mini-bar and the softness of the couches. (Bucky first went to his suite and finally came back without his coat.) They drank, talked, played some card games. Even Maria relaxed. Truth was, they were not in a hurry. After all, the party would only be set on the 31rst, in the evening. They had two full days to decorate the compound.

*

A bit before midnight, Maria announced she was going to bed. Hope was gone already (Scott had accompanied her but he had came back to the beers—he was truly holding his own). Yelena looked around to find Scott very joyful and very touchy with Sam, Clint basically dead and drooling on the table, Bucky unphased (or maybe, phased, because he was just staring outside the windows) and Sam yawning approximately once per minute. As she suspected, Sam rose and declared he was going to follow too. As if it triggered something, Bucky jumped on his feet. The three of them got together in the lift. Their suit was at the same level for the lady and one level upper for the men. Sam and Bucky wished goodnight to Yelena on her floor and stayed in the lift. When the doors closed, Bucky subtly took Sam's hand.

Their door to their suite were facing each other. They stayed there, in the corridor, unable to leave the other first. They were still in the corridor when they heard Yelena screaming.

In a matter of seconds, they had joined the floor beneath, ran through the corridors and the door to Hope's suite, only to find themselves in the living-room and Hope herself, laying on the floor, motionless, blood coming out of a large wound on her side.

[cleverhottubmiracle]

One full year into the Covid-19 pandemic, Alyssa Hertzig has discovered a new way to practice self-care…and it’s about as old-fashioned as it gets. In this month’s “Life with the Girls,” she shares how she stumbled across a way to cope that keeps her hands busy and her mind at ease. (And no, it isn’t not baking banana bread.) Alyssa stitching her latest WIP. There was a time as recently as 2019 P.C. (that’s pre-Covid, of course) when I was cool. As a beauty editor, I spent my days attending fancy launches for new lipsticks, nail polishes, or anti-aging creams. I wore pants without drawstring waists and dresses that weren’t designed explicitly for naps. I had my hair blown out weekly in a salon, a practice that now somehow seems alien, dangerous and heavenly all at once. Then the pandemic hit and, as it did for countless others, changed my life overnight. Events were canceled, budgets tightened, assignments disappeared. My life suddenly revolved almost exclusively around two things: 1) worrying that I or someone I loved would get sick, and 2) acting as a de facto school principal tasked with policing my first grader during remote school. Now, instead of lip gloss launches and article writing, my days were spent with my voice at an 11, screaming at my son to “KEEP YOUR FACE IN THE SCREEN!” and “LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHER!” As it turns out, I’m a super mean principal. I felt stressed, angry, lost, and somehow both busy and bored. I desperately wanted a way to relax and temporarily escape, but with my usual go-tos like massages, pedicures or drinks with friends off the table, I was at a loss. (And showers are not self-care, don’t even go there.) In the early weeks of the pandemic, I tried to chill out by reading, but I’d read the same page three times and retain none of it. Though I normally read at a clip of eight or ten books a month, I found myself taking weeks to slog through one. I needed a new form of quieting my mind—something that would relax me, but that I could also engage in as I sat in on virtual school—and it ended up coming from a surprising place. One afternoon while scrolling through Instagram, I noticed one of my favorite fashion bloggers proclaiming her newfound love of needlepoint. I was shocked. Needlepoint was trending?? It wasn’t exactly new to me: I come from a family of avid needlepointers. My maternal grandmother was a prolific, longtime stitcher, as is my mother. I grew up in a home where their work was ever-present anywhere you looked, from Christmas stockings to Kleenex box covers. But the tradition had stopped with me. Who knows why–I wasn’t crafty? I wasn’t interested? It seemed hard?–but needlepoint just never became my thing. Until Covid hit. Suddenly, I found myself ordering a canvas and some threads online and watching a few YouTube tutorials. Before long, I was hooked. It was actually really simple to learn. Sure, it can get complicated when you delve into more intricate stitches, but it doesn’t have to be. At its most basic, needlepoint is easy—mindless, even. For me, that’s its joy. Needlepoint has become my personal form of meditation. Sure, Headspace is great and all, but have you ever chilled out to the rhythmic symmetry of repetitively pulling thread through canvas over and over again? Have you ever taken out your frustration at the world by stabbing something socially sanctioned over and over again? Stitching forces you to slow down, focusing solely on one thing as you move slowly and steadily in and out, in and out. It’s almost like breathing. [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and needlepoint has been one” [/perfectpullquote] And unlike actual meditation, with needlepoint, you have something tangible to show for it afterwards. This kind of meditation comes with a parting gift: a handmade ornament, pillow or framed piece of art you’ll have forever. The “grandmillennial” canvases out now are fun, beautiful and even cheeky. ‘Pointing is also the rare hobby that lets me multitask. Though sometimes I stitch in silence, more often I do it while listening to an audiobook or podcast. If you’re the type to feel guilty about taking a few moments for yourself, this helps. You’re getting so much done at one time! Needlepoint is unexpectedly social. I’ve joined Facebook groups and follow fellow needlepointers on Instagram–and they’re almost all younger than me! I’m even using community lingo, busting out insider-speak like “ndlpt,” “WIP” (work in progress) and “stash” (the collection of canvases-in-waiting that expands faster than you can stitch. For example: “If my husband ever figures out how much I’ve spent on my ndlpt stash, I’m screwed.”) If you think the first thing I did once I fell in love with needlepoint was to share this news with my mother, you would be wrong. When I started stitching early in the pandemic, I figured I’d surprise her when I saw her in person. Surely this whole thing would be over by June or so, right? (Of course it wasn’t.) So I stitched in secret for months. Finally in December, after two weeks of total isolation and Covid tests all around, we were able to see my parents. On Christmas Eve, I gave my mother a small gift bag containing my first project: an ornament shaped like a Starbucks cup, personalized with her name. She unwrapped it and responded with an oh-this-is-a-cute-Etsy-find sort of “Awww!” I realized that she hadn’t even considered that I might have stitched it. “Do you know who made it?” I asked. She was visibly perplexed until you could see it slowly dawning on her. “YOU??” she screamed. She was giddy—and shocked. So now I’m fully out as a needlepointer. My mom sends me links to cute canvases and is turning one of my projects into a pillow for me (nope, I never learned how to sew either), and my parents gave me a gift card to a needlepoint shop for my birthday. While I do love the meditative aspects of needlepoint, maybe the best part about it is that I feel like I’m continuing a legacy that my mom and grandma started. I love that my chosen form of self-care has become the thread that binds us together across generations. 2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and this has been one. Not only has the last year allowed me to spend so much more time with my family and teach me to appreciate the small things, it allowed me to fall in love with this pastime that noticeably lowers my blood pressure as I begin to thread the needle. But I’m hardly forgiving the past year, which took so much more from us all than it gave. That’s why my latest project is an ornament shaped like a dumpster on fire. I’ll be stitching the numbers “2-0-2-0” across the bottom. Source link

[norajworld]

One full year into the Covid-19 pandemic, Alyssa Hertzig has discovered a new way to practice self-care…and it’s about as old-fashioned as it gets. In this month’s “Life with the Girls,” she shares how she stumbled across a way to cope that keeps her hands busy and her mind at ease. (And no, it isn’t not baking banana bread.) Alyssa stitching her latest WIP. There was a time as recently as 2019 P.C. (that’s pre-Covid, of course) when I was cool. As a beauty editor, I spent my days attending fancy launches for new lipsticks, nail polishes, or anti-aging creams. I wore pants without drawstring waists and dresses that weren’t designed explicitly for naps. I had my hair blown out weekly in a salon, a practice that now somehow seems alien, dangerous and heavenly all at once. Then the pandemic hit and, as it did for countless others, changed my life overnight. Events were canceled, budgets tightened, assignments disappeared. My life suddenly revolved almost exclusively around two things: 1) worrying that I or someone I loved would get sick, and 2) acting as a de facto school principal tasked with policing my first grader during remote school. Now, instead of lip gloss launches and article writing, my days were spent with my voice at an 11, screaming at my son to “KEEP YOUR FACE IN THE SCREEN!” and “LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHER!” As it turns out, I’m a super mean principal. I felt stressed, angry, lost, and somehow both busy and bored. I desperately wanted a way to relax and temporarily escape, but with my usual go-tos like massages, pedicures or drinks with friends off the table, I was at a loss. (And showers are not self-care, don’t even go there.) In the early weeks of the pandemic, I tried to chill out by reading, but I’d read the same page three times and retain none of it. Though I normally read at a clip of eight or ten books a month, I found myself taking weeks to slog through one. I needed a new form of quieting my mind—something that would relax me, but that I could also engage in as I sat in on virtual school—and it ended up coming from a surprising place. One afternoon while scrolling through Instagram, I noticed one of my favorite fashion bloggers proclaiming her newfound love of needlepoint. I was shocked. Needlepoint was trending?? It wasn’t exactly new to me: I come from a family of avid needlepointers. My maternal grandmother was a prolific, longtime stitcher, as is my mother. I grew up in a home where their work was ever-present anywhere you looked, from Christmas stockings to Kleenex box covers. But the tradition had stopped with me. Who knows why–I wasn’t crafty? I wasn’t interested? It seemed hard?–but needlepoint just never became my thing. Until Covid hit. Suddenly, I found myself ordering a canvas and some threads online and watching a few YouTube tutorials. Before long, I was hooked. It was actually really simple to learn. Sure, it can get complicated when you delve into more intricate stitches, but it doesn’t have to be. At its most basic, needlepoint is easy—mindless, even. For me, that’s its joy. Needlepoint has become my personal form of meditation. Sure, Headspace is great and all, but have you ever chilled out to the rhythmic symmetry of repetitively pulling thread through canvas over and over again? Have you ever taken out your frustration at the world by stabbing something socially sanctioned over and over again? Stitching forces you to slow down, focusing solely on one thing as you move slowly and steadily in and out, in and out. It’s almost like breathing. [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and needlepoint has been one” [/perfectpullquote] And unlike actual meditation, with needlepoint, you have something tangible to show for it afterwards. This kind of meditation comes with a parting gift: a handmade ornament, pillow or framed piece of art you’ll have forever. The “grandmillennial” canvases out now are fun, beautiful and even cheeky. ‘Pointing is also the rare hobby that lets me multitask. Though sometimes I stitch in silence, more often I do it while listening to an audiobook or podcast. If you’re the type to feel guilty about taking a few moments for yourself, this helps. You’re getting so much done at one time! Needlepoint is unexpectedly social. I’ve joined Facebook groups and follow fellow needlepointers on Instagram–and they’re almost all younger than me! I’m even using community lingo, busting out insider-speak like “ndlpt,” “WIP” (work in progress) and “stash” (the collection of canvases-in-waiting that expands faster than you can stitch. For example: “If my husband ever figures out how much I’ve spent on my ndlpt stash, I’m screwed.”) If you think the first thing I did once I fell in love with needlepoint was to share this news with my mother, you would be wrong. When I started stitching early in the pandemic, I figured I’d surprise her when I saw her in person. Surely this whole thing would be over by June or so, right? (Of course it wasn’t.) So I stitched in secret for months. Finally in December, after two weeks of total isolation and Covid tests all around, we were able to see my parents. On Christmas Eve, I gave my mother a small gift bag containing my first project: an ornament shaped like a Starbucks cup, personalized with her name. She unwrapped it and responded with an oh-this-is-a-cute-Etsy-find sort of “Awww!” I realized that she hadn’t even considered that I might have stitched it. “Do you know who made it?” I asked. She was visibly perplexed until you could see it slowly dawning on her. “YOU??” she screamed. She was giddy—and shocked. So now I’m fully out as a needlepointer. My mom sends me links to cute canvases and is turning one of my projects into a pillow for me (nope, I never learned how to sew either), and my parents gave me a gift card to a needlepoint shop for my birthday. While I do love the meditative aspects of needlepoint, maybe the best part about it is that I feel like I’m continuing a legacy that my mom and grandma started. I love that my chosen form of self-care has become the thread that binds us together across generations. 2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and this has been one. Not only has the last year allowed me to spend so much more time with my family and teach me to appreciate the small things, it allowed me to fall in love with this pastime that noticeably lowers my blood pressure as I begin to thread the needle. But I’m hardly forgiving the past year, which took so much more from us all than it gave. That’s why my latest project is an ornament shaped like a dumpster on fire. I’ll be stitching the numbers “2-0-2-0” across the bottom. Source link

[ellajme0]

One full year into the Covid-19 pandemic, Alyssa Hertzig has discovered a new way to practice self-care…and it’s about as old-fashioned as it gets. In this month’s “Life with the Girls,” she shares how she stumbled across a way to cope that keeps her hands busy and her mind at ease. (And no, it isn’t not baking banana bread.) Alyssa stitching her latest WIP. There was a time as recently as 2019 P.C. (that’s pre-Covid, of course) when I was cool. As a beauty editor, I spent my days attending fancy launches for new lipsticks, nail polishes, or anti-aging creams. I wore pants without drawstring waists and dresses that weren’t designed explicitly for naps. I had my hair blown out weekly in a salon, a practice that now somehow seems alien, dangerous and heavenly all at once. Then the pandemic hit and, as it did for countless others, changed my life overnight. Events were canceled, budgets tightened, assignments disappeared. My life suddenly revolved almost exclusively around two things: 1) worrying that I or someone I loved would get sick, and 2) acting as a de facto school principal tasked with policing my first grader during remote school. Now, instead of lip gloss launches and article writing, my days were spent with my voice at an 11, screaming at my son to “KEEP YOUR FACE IN THE SCREEN!” and “LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHER!” As it turns out, I’m a super mean principal. I felt stressed, angry, lost, and somehow both busy and bored. I desperately wanted a way to relax and temporarily escape, but with my usual go-tos like massages, pedicures or drinks with friends off the table, I was at a loss. (And showers are not self-care, don’t even go there.) In the early weeks of the pandemic, I tried to chill out by reading, but I’d read the same page three times and retain none of it. Though I normally read at a clip of eight or ten books a month, I found myself taking weeks to slog through one. I needed a new form of quieting my mind—something that would relax me, but that I could also engage in as I sat in on virtual school—and it ended up coming from a surprising place. One afternoon while scrolling through Instagram, I noticed one of my favorite fashion bloggers proclaiming her newfound love of needlepoint. I was shocked. Needlepoint was trending?? It wasn’t exactly new to me: I come from a family of avid needlepointers. My maternal grandmother was a prolific, longtime stitcher, as is my mother. I grew up in a home where their work was ever-present anywhere you looked, from Christmas stockings to Kleenex box covers. But the tradition had stopped with me. Who knows why–I wasn’t crafty? I wasn’t interested? It seemed hard?–but needlepoint just never became my thing. Until Covid hit. Suddenly, I found myself ordering a canvas and some threads online and watching a few YouTube tutorials. Before long, I was hooked. It was actually really simple to learn. Sure, it can get complicated when you delve into more intricate stitches, but it doesn’t have to be. At its most basic, needlepoint is easy—mindless, even. For me, that’s its joy. Needlepoint has become my personal form of meditation. Sure, Headspace is great and all, but have you ever chilled out to the rhythmic symmetry of repetitively pulling thread through canvas over and over again? Have you ever taken out your frustration at the world by stabbing something socially sanctioned over and over again? Stitching forces you to slow down, focusing solely on one thing as you move slowly and steadily in and out, in and out. It’s almost like breathing. [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and needlepoint has been one” [/perfectpullquote] And unlike actual meditation, with needlepoint, you have something tangible to show for it afterwards. This kind of meditation comes with a parting gift: a handmade ornament, pillow or framed piece of art you’ll have forever. The “grandmillennial” canvases out now are fun, beautiful and even cheeky. ‘Pointing is also the rare hobby that lets me multitask. Though sometimes I stitch in silence, more often I do it while listening to an audiobook or podcast. If you’re the type to feel guilty about taking a few moments for yourself, this helps. You’re getting so much done at one time! Needlepoint is unexpectedly social. I’ve joined Facebook groups and follow fellow needlepointers on Instagram–and they’re almost all younger than me! I’m even using community lingo, busting out insider-speak like “ndlpt,” “WIP” (work in progress) and “stash” (the collection of canvases-in-waiting that expands faster than you can stitch. For example: “If my husband ever figures out how much I’ve spent on my ndlpt stash, I’m screwed.”) If you think the first thing I did once I fell in love with needlepoint was to share this news with my mother, you would be wrong. When I started stitching early in the pandemic, I figured I’d surprise her when I saw her in person. Surely this whole thing would be over by June or so, right? (Of course it wasn’t.) So I stitched in secret for months. Finally in December, after two weeks of total isolation and Covid tests all around, we were able to see my parents. On Christmas Eve, I gave my mother a small gift bag containing my first project: an ornament shaped like a Starbucks cup, personalized with her name. She unwrapped it and responded with an oh-this-is-a-cute-Etsy-find sort of “Awww!” I realized that she hadn’t even considered that I might have stitched it. “Do you know who made it?” I asked. She was visibly perplexed until you could see it slowly dawning on her. “YOU??” she screamed. She was giddy—and shocked. So now I’m fully out as a needlepointer. My mom sends me links to cute canvases and is turning one of my projects into a pillow for me (nope, I never learned how to sew either), and my parents gave me a gift card to a needlepoint shop for my birthday. While I do love the meditative aspects of needlepoint, maybe the best part about it is that I feel like I’m continuing a legacy that my mom and grandma started. I love that my chosen form of self-care has become the thread that binds us together across generations. 2020 was so awful in so many ways, but it did bring some gifts, and this has been one. Not only has the last year allowed me to spend so much more time with my family and teach me to appreciate the small things, it allowed me to fall in love with this pastime that noticeably lowers my blood pressure as I begin to thread the needle. But I’m hardly forgiving the past year, which took so much more from us all than it gave. That’s why my latest project is an ornament shaped like a dumpster on fire. I’ll be stitching the numbers “2-0-2-0” across the bottom. Source link