#also helped boost my self esteem <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[tony-andonuts]

Hiiiiiiiiii I yelled at an anti choice group today :3

[nymphbnny]

room 609

────── nanami kento

⤷ general.manager!nanami who can’t help but be seduced by your little receptionist fit and wit.

tw: age gap (20s ; 40s), kind of a slow burn to porn, masturbation (male), seductive touching,mating press, dirty talk, praise, doggy, slight riding, minor daddy kink, oral (fem) , fingering, creampie, unprotected sex, not read proof MDNI

pssst!! i missed you guys so much <3 i hope you enjoy this piece i’ve prepared for you. i’ll get to my inbox asks as soon as i can. love and kisses xoxo

“sir you booked your room b&b, which means your breakfast is included in the pricing of your room regardless if you have it or not. i can’t reimburse you.” you explained for the tenth time to the stubborn guest on the other side of the desk. you’ve already had a long day and were close to ending your shift until he came and disrupted your plans.

“is there a problem here?” he uttered, making both of your heads turn at him. nanami was standing by the reception, probably aware of the silly conflict thanks to the cameras he installed. it was a good thing that not only they showed him what was happening but he could also hear the entire discussion.

you looked down at your french nails, not saying a word as the client went out on his rant. haven’t you done that, you would’ve noticed how your superiors would casually gaze at you, unfazed by the ongoing monologue.

“how about that sir,” nanami spoke up, his eyes now fully fixated on the man. “let’s say i rented a room at your place, bed, and breakfast included, and you end up preparing one of the most exquisite breakfast only for me to reject your hospitality and ask you to pay me back that breakfast, disregarding all the care and effort you put to make me feel at home. how would that make you feel?”

silence. utter and complete awkward silence.

you were so stunned and yet nothing could match the man’s face. this was the first time you heard nanami use that tone, or even speak that much for that matter. you thought he was done until he proceeded: “you booked your room fully aware that you were paying for both the room and the breakfast. i hope there won’t be any further issues.” he adjusted the glasses on his face before stoically watching him pay his stay then check out. “hm if you can’t handle silly conflicts call me. i don’t need to be babysitting you 24/7.”

you couldn’t even reply or apologize as he turned around and left. it took you a minute to realize he undermined your skills and humiliated you. you clenched your teeth and furiously grabbed your bag. you were stomping so hard on the marble floor you were sure that the guests could hear you. “babysitting my ass,” you grunted.

you’ve been working as a receptionist for almost a year. you knew what you were doing but he always had to butt in and comment on everything you did. just to tick you. he clearly didn’t seem to care when your colleague answered a call in front of a guest and began cussing at her sister loudly. but you, whatever you'd do, there was always an aftermath about it with nanami. it wasn't like you were particularly fond of your job, it was only temporary.

you couldn’t say anything to him or complain to anyone about him since he was the general manager of the hotel but your patience was wearing thin and you were seriously considering quitting. nanami was an arrogant man. an attractive one, unfortunately. he could capture the attention of a room in seconds. always composed and well-groomed. god he smelled heavenly too. you could try to deny your tiny crush all you wanted but it was there. his praise meant a lot to you. when you first began working here, his compliments happened often, almost daily. whether it's how much of a 'fast learner you are', or how you're doing 'a good job'. you'd get high on them. having a general manager like nanami praise you was everything you needed to boost your self-esteem. however, the moment you got comfortable around him, throwing a few hand waves whenever you saw him passing by the lobby or even knocking on his door without calling his office first to check if he had time to see you, it was all gone and soon replaced with constant scolding.

you knew that nanami was a serious man. a workaholic. albeit he’d always find ways to slightly touch you, brush up against you, squeeze you into your desk to pass behind you with his hands on your hips to ‘grab some papers’ although he had copies. sometimes he’d even go as far as to reprimand you for unbuttoning the very first two buttons of your dress shirt, scolding you for showing a bad image of his hotel.

“so unprofessional,” he tutted. “this isn’t a brothel. you’re not supposed to seduce the guests.” he murmured as he fixed them for you. you were looking at him with doe eyes, your crush undeniable at that moment, your chest heavily moving as he was unbelievably close to you, his fingers lightly brushing your exposed skin. “i didn’t know that a few buttons could seduce someone.” you lowly replied, your tone lining with slyness and quip. nanami looked down at your chest one last time before humming, his phone ringing in his pocket.

nanami treatment for you was paradoxical. he got off teasing you. especially when you first came into his office to present yourself after your interview. you were wearing your black pencil skirt and loose tucked-in white shirt. as respectful as he was, he was still a man. he couldn't help his eyes that lingered on your exposed legs, up to your tight skirt and beautiful curves. he'd be lying if he didn't think about you spread on his desk, his cock buried inside you with his tie wrapped around your wrists, holding your tits together.

she is so receptive, he’d think. watching you work and obey. you were so obedient to his commands and wishes. made him wonder if you were receptive in bed too.

he saw you the next day going into the hr's office, nobara's, to receive your paycheck. his office wasn’t far and he always passed by each department to check if everything was intact. “thank you so much, oh also could i have tomorrow off?” you inquired as you got up, not sensing the presence of the tall blond man behind you.

“sure but i’d have to double check with mr- oh! there you are!” she shrieked as she saw nanami. you turned your head to catch him looking down at you. he was wearing a black shirt with black chinos. fuck me, you thought. if he didn’t call you out of your daze you’d probably have trailed too far down his body and gawked at his print.

“what do you need your off for? it’s the first of the month.” he deadpanned. truth be told it didn’t matter when you wanted to have your day off as long as your colleagues could cover your shift. moreover, he had no right to ask you why you needed your day off. it was personal and he was breaching your privacy.

“well, mr nanami,” a glimpse sparkled in his eyes at the pronunciation of his name. “i need to have a breath of fresh air. a change of environment.“ you said tilting your head a little to the side. you were holding the envelope between your fingers, waiting for his reply. “i guess if nabora granted you a day off then you should be good to go. have a nice day.”

nanami left to his office, nobara snickering behind you. you got pretty close with her throughout the year. you shared the same interests and often hung out together and tomorrow was going to be one of those days.

you’d go out to blow off some steam — get black-out drunk — and dance around like idiots. your team was amazing and you were so grateful nobara was so fun to be around. everyone was generally nice, well, almost everyone.

you’d go out every once a week. it was your thing. sometimes you’d go to each other's places and have a small gossip about some of your colleagues, sometimes you’d do both.

“god that was so nice,” nobara slurred out as you got to her apartment. your day off paid well. fresh salary got you pretty nails and a pretty meal before you went to the club and had a few shots. it was packed to the brim but you didn’t mind. it was a different atmosphere and you've been dying for some nightlife. you took off your short dress, and a few flashbacks of how you were grinding against the handsome man went through your mind.

if it weren’t for nobara pulling you away to do more shots, you’d probably have gone home with him. both of you were slurring your words, drunkenly spilling the hot gossip about every employee in the hotel.

“— and i told him that! he is just sooooo,” she trailed before proceeding, her hand on your thigh. “dumb!” she laughed, throwing her entire body back and collapsing on her bed. man, you loved work gossip. you were fully entertaining nobara, both of you in your silk pajamas.

you were slowly drifting away, your eyelids getting heavier until she dropped his name in the conversation, your body uncontrollably shooting up. “my my, don’t be so alarmed.” she snickered. “i thought you saw him at the club. i was calling you to come say hi but you were so busy grinding against that hot mess.” she nudged you with her elbow before falling back on her back.

pause. press pause now.

“nanami was there?” you could only mutter out. while you failed to spot him, he, on the other hand, most definitely saw you. your blood ran cold and you began overthinking. you knew he wasn’t your boss outside of your work environment, he couldn’t scold you. yet you kept on worrying.

“hey you good?” she asked worriedly, your face scrunching up. “god you act so weird every time i bring him up. almost as if you like him.” nobara giggled. your eyes widened. “i do not!” you almost yelled defensively.

she was quiet for a second, remembering your interactions with him. how he treated you differently than others. harsher and almost too controlling. as fun as nobara was, she was still one of the smartest people you ever worked with. she could smell it a mile away. you liked him.

“you’re drunk and making things up.” your voice softened up. “he’s so mean. i don’t get why he’s so harsh with me. and all the touching…” you trailed, the alcohol not helping you think clearly. you looked beside you to find nobara asleep, her snores gradually becoming stronger. you scoffed at your friend before grabbing your phone from your purse and rewatching the stories you posted.

you noticed a new name amongst your usual views, your brows furrowing in confusion.

nanamikento

nanami was on social media? and how did he find your account? you used a fake name. knowing you won't be hearing the end of it, you decided to sleep it off and gather all the energy you could need for tomorrow.

you didn't even have time to salute the night audit as the phone rang the second you stepped into the reception area. nanami. you internally sighed and mentally prepared yourself for what you might tell him as you made your way to his office. you knocked on his door and he lowly asked you to come in and have a seat on his leather couches. you take a seat in front of him and before he even has the chance to glance at you, your tongue lets loose. "mr. nanami i know you saw my Instagram stories last night however this is none of your concern and i don’t feel like i should be called in here to be scolded for doing something that isn’t hurtful to my work environment. i'm a highly professional and punctual employee and i strongly believe that i don't need to be hearing any more scolding coming from you."

while you felt empowered by your monologue, nanami didn't seem fazed at all. he glanced up at you when you started talking, not blinking once before deadpanning: "i frankly couldn't bother to care about what you do outside this hotel therefore your personal life is no bother to me. however what does bother me indeed," he said standing up before walking around his desk and towering over you, "is the way you just spoke to me."

god, he was so close you could feel his breath lingering on your lips. it was only natural for you to feel more embarrassed and humiliated about what happened. you gulped before looking up at him, your lips hesitant to move. "mr. nanami i apologize for my rude behavior. i sincerely do. i- i just, you always seem to want to scold me whatever i do and i thought that this time-"

"are you saying i have a poor sense of judgment and scold you because i want to?" his hands were now on each side of the couch, caging you in as he leaned further down. you leaned back, breath labored. he didn't look like it but he was enjoying every second.

she's so beautiful when she's all flustered and red. squeezing her thighs together and fiddling with her pretty nails from embarrassment and i haven't touched her yet. he didn't expect you to answer his question. he was just trying to get you all worked up.

he couldn't help but be mean to you. at first, you were just another e, employee to him. needy of his praise to rise through the ranks and become better and more efficient at their job. needing and thriving for motivational words to get the job done. but the more he spoke to you and watched you get warm around him, the less control he had over himself.

"mr. nanami i printed out all the vouchers you asked for and contacted the travel agency to confirm all the guests for tomorrow's wedding. oh, and i thought i'd ask room service to bring you your lunch here. i couldn't help but notice you didn't have time to sit with us at lunch today." you smiled at him, your hands interlocked as you stood in front of his desk. he grinned at you, grabbing the papers you gently put on his desk with your soft hands. "that's very kind of you y/n. i would've asked you to join me but as you can see i'm busy."

"oh yes, definitely mr. nanami i wouldn't want to bother you anyway. if you'll excuse me i need to go back to the lobby. goodbye." you turned on your heels and exited his office leaving him and his print that was clear as day.

"fhuck," he groaned as he stroked his throbbing cock, his hand leaning against his bathroom in a fist with his head down, eyes shut as he imagined you were sucking him instead. he'd always get worked up because of you. how small and innocent you looked. so kind, so mesmerizing. so fragile compared to him. "fucking hell y/n, mhm," his hand going faster, squeezing his swollen tip. "just like that pretty," he whimpered thinking about your lips wrapped around his tip kissing and teasing his slit before he came all over his hand. nanami breathed out, ashamed that a small interaction turned him into a raging teenage boy fucking his fist secretly in the bathroom. he knew he needed more, touch you, scold you, anything to get a reaction out of you.

"mr. nanami please don't fire me. you're right i poorly acted." your voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he was glad it did or else you'd start by noticing the growing bulge in his dress pants.

he leaned back up and went back to his chair, discreetly fixing himself. "there's a group of guests coming at two in the afternoon, approximately sixty to seventy people. i need you to start working on the rooming list before they arrive to have a smooth check-in and make sure all the rooms are well cleaned." he fixed his glasses and looked at his laptop.

"but, wasn't the rooming list supposed to be done two weeks ago i don't understand." doing this on your own is suicide. it wasn't a small group. he's talking about sixty to seventy people. it's impossible.

"i called you hear for this reason. i need you to do it because unfortunately we just were recently notified due to lack of expertise and this group is going to stay over a few months, losing them would be idiotic." he muttered the last bit and kept on typing on his laptop. "you are dismissed. i trust you can get the work done."

your eyebrows arched up as your mind wondered if your ears were playing tricks on you or if he just said something nice. you decided to ignore it and go back to work. you had no time to waste and to your bad luck, today you were alone at the front desk.

"i’m actually so tired i cannot feel my fingers. i’ve been typing all day nonstop only to be rewarded with a small good job from nanami. like i literally cannot take his shit anymore, i told you what happened earlier in his office." you huffed. "i don’t understand why he acts this way with me! he’s so indifferent and i genuinely can't stand him." you dropped onto her bed lying back and looked up at the ceiling. she snickered and laughed next to you. she knows you're annoyed because of your silly crush. parts of you wanted him to be jealous of that guy you were rubbing yourself on. god knows he was.

"well," she paused as she sat next to you. "you’re gonna have to tolerate him tonight babes because we are seeing him outside of work. now before you start talking again," she exclaimed silencing you with a finger against your lips and making you pout. "we all had a tiring day today and we know we’re going to be quite busy and overwhelmed for the next few months to come so the owner decided to give some of us, well the hard workers, access to one of his private members' club to blow off some steam and award us for the general good job we’ve been doing. anyway, nanami is gonna be there so i want you to get over the crush you have on him and no don't deny it because the sooner we can get ready the better."

you glare at her. nobara was right but you were a stubborn person. "absolutely not". you interject as you stand up and throw your phone on the bed. "i am not going out to party with a man who constantly insults me. i refuse to go out with a man who looks down on me for no reason and have to pretend to enjoy my time tonight around him just so he doesn’t have any smart retort to say to me. i want to dress up however i want, i want to dance, i want to drink and I want to get black-out drunk and not have anyone reprimand me or scold me for my behavior and i’m not going to be able to do that if he’s going to be there." you put your hands on your waist and sighed when you caught nobara holding her laughter with pursed lips.

"nobara i can see that you’re going to burst." she starts laughing and falls back on her back. "oh man, i didn't know you cared about nanami kento that much. lord," she kept on laughing, her mouth wide open and arms holding her stomach. "girl fuck you." you blushed. "i'm not going and that's final." you rolled your eyes, and sat on her couch.

this was starting to become very frustrating.

"this place is amazing!" nobara yelled in your ear as you walked into the club. you ended up caving in. although you had your stand on the situation, you still wanted to see him. you wanted to look at him. you were curious to know if he dressed differently outside of work or if he acted differently. you were feeling pretty confident. you looked stunning. a black dress that wrapped beautifully around your body and matching black, red bottom heels.

his eyes landed on you the second you stepped through the door. he was sitting on one of the couches where the other invitees were, swirling his bourbon in his hand. once he noticed nobara spotting him, he stood up, downing his drink in one swing, and adjusted his clothes.

you locked eyes with him, your heart dropping instantly. he was wearing a black shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and casual pants that fit him just perfectly and tonight he wasn't wearing his glasses. he is so handsome, you thought to yourself. nobara walked up to him first, hugging him casually as if he wasn't her superior.

you, on the other hand, were too shy to do so as well. instead, you extended your hand, only for him to catch it and pull you to his chest, arm wrapping around your waist tightly while his other arm was wrapped around your shoulders to rest his hand on your head, keeping you in place. your heart was beating so fast you could hear it beat louder than the music around you.

you closed your eyes, taking into his smell as your arms unconsciously found their way around his back, the pads of your fingers lingering on the muscles. "you smell good," he whispered in your ear, your skin burning at his compliment. "you look stunning as well," he added before letting you go of his embrace, your heart sinking at the loss of his touch. "thank you, you look good yourself." you said, the tips of your ears red. you were going to explode.

and just when you thought it couldn't get any better, you saw him smile at you. a genuine ass smile. did he have too much to drink? you couldn't6 think about anything else to say as your hand was abruptly taken by nobara to drag you to the bar to do shots.

you glanced at him one last time before your view was hidden by the people in the crowd.

"i'm so fucking hammered!" nobara exclaimed while the others cheered with her, doing more shots. everyone looked so drunk. you didn't let yourself drink too much. you couldn't afford to be drunk and forget about what happened with nanami or worse, act like a drunk in front of him. that couldn't happen. you had to stay composed.

"let's dance! come on y/n show them!" nobara cheered while you shook your head, everyone else encouraging you. "come on we're all gonna dance." another coworker said.

you were dragged to the dancefloor and decided to just enjoy it. at the end of the day, you were here to blow off some steam and this is what you were about to do. you danced and swayed your hips to the music, laughing at nobara's weird dance moves. it's the first time you realize how ridiculous she looks drunk dancing.

hands on your waist made you jump, your hands over them, eager to get them off you. "it's me," nanami reassured you in your ear. you looked around only to find out that it was really him, hands on your waist, moving with you to the music, your back pressed firmly against him. your ass rubbed against him while you moved, only making him hold you tighter. "mr nanami, i don't think this is appropriate." you try to say, not wanting anyone to get the wrong idea.

"they're all drunk," he turned you around, his hands dropping to your hips. "you don't mind dancing with a stranger but you do so with me?" he cocked his eyebrow, his face turning as he looked down at you.

part of you was giddy about it. so it did bother him.

"i thought you didn't care mr nanami-"

"kento." he deadpanned. "call me kento."

"kento..." you muttered, your eyes softening at him as you wrapped your arms around his neck only to drop them at his shoulders. you wanted to touch him all over.

"i lied. it enraged me. i felt jealous, i wanted to be the one to touch you like he did, better than he did." you felt dizzy. you were a smart girl though. it slowly started making sense to you. the bullying, the accidental touching. all of it.

"you want to touch me kento?" you reached to his ear to whisper, kissing his ear before tugging at his lobe. you dragged his hand down your ass, urging him to touch you. you could hear him hiss, his hand now gripping your ass. "hm." he hummed feeling the plump of your ass.

the music was so loud and everyone was acting promiscuously drunk around you. no one seemed to notice how gentle nanami’s touch was on you despite the atmosphere that would invite to a harsher and more sexual kind of touching. he was allowing his hand to go over your curves, giving himself permission to drag his fingers underneath the curve of your ass, up your hips and waist to finally caress your cleavage.

as much as he’s been dreaming about ripping off your clothes and taking you on his desk, he couldn’t bring himself to be rough with you.

you looked so beautiful so gentle. “kento?” your voice drove his eyes back to yours. “so gorgeous,” he put his hand on your cheek. “so soft,” your skin was on fire. you felt your goosebumps rise as his thumb worked his way to separate your lips.

“take me to your place.” your boldness taking him by surprise. you wrapped your hand around his bicep, pressing yourself further into him.

“i can’t, it’s not appropriate.” nanami coughed, still holding you against him, not truly convinced by his own statement.

you looked at the blond male with doe eyes, tilting your head. pushing yourself up on the tip of your toes you gave his neck a small kiss, feeling his body tense up as you did so. “please,” you begged against his skin. “please kento,” you kept on giving his skin kitten kisses, his fingers almost digging into your skin.

he looked down at your pleading eyes, then down to your cleavage that was pressing against him. “the things you do to me,”

“what things?” you whisper, your lips almost touching his. you were feeling a bit more courageous now that you’ve discovered that your crush was clearly reciprocated. “don’t you wanna show me?” you finger trailed down his chest to his pants before poking his print. he choked in some air, quickly having a sense of alert as he skimmed his surroundings, not wanting anybody to start any gossip.

“they’re all drunk nanami, it’s just you and me,” you reached out to his face, turning him so he could face you again.

without any second thought, he wrapped his big hand around yours and dragged you out of the crowded dance floor towards the exit. you couldn’t help but bite down on your smile, watching how his back muscles flexed as he made his way through the dancing bodies, carefully ever checking that you were still following him although he had your hand secured in his.

once you were outside, he asked the valet to bring up his car. his hand on your thigh the whole ride, giving you small caresses of reassurance. you couldn’t help but take notice of his tenderness, how handsome his looked while driving. you wondered if he looked that good being on top of you as well.

and he was.

“kento~” you whimpered, your legs resting on his shoulders as he bullied his fat cock inside you. you’d try to move around, get more, feel more.

“be my good girl and let daddy take care of you.” he rolled his hips into you, your warmth and wetness coating him. the nickname he had given himself already making you all wobbly.

you nodded, your eyebrows furrowed as he thrusted at an unbelievably slow aching pace, giving you long and deep stroke against your walls. “if only you knew,” he grunted, pulling back before pushing back in all that once, earning a small yelp from your beautifully parted lips. “how much i’ve been wanting to fold you like this.” nanami rested his forehead against yours, his lips capturing yours.

you moaned against his lips, your fingernails tracing shapes on his muscled back as he picked his pace up. nanami’s kisses were hungry, a real evidence of his earlier statement. he’s been wanting this for so long. “kento, you feel so good inside me,” you murmured through his lips, grabbing the back of his neck to pull him closer.

your words made him tremble, his hips slamming faster against your thighs. “i never want to get out, god i want to fill you up so badly,” he stated almost in a weak whimper. you rocked your hips with him, trying to meet him at each move. but he was unpredictable.

flipping you around and arching your back, getting a full view of your ass and swollen cunt. “so messy,” he dragged his finger across your folds making you shiver, before pushing his finger in. you moaned out, your hand reaching to hold onto the headboard.

he was having fun with you now, pushing his finger at first then adding another, before removing them both to rub on your abused clit only to stop before your climax to finger you again.

“kento please,” you whimpered trying to move yourself back and get some friction from his dick but he tutted, removing your hand away. “you’re my good girl remember? my good girl always does what she’s told isn’t that right?” he inquired, rubbing his swollen tip against your entrance.

you nodded against his scented pillow, submissively putting both hands behing your back, showing your surrender to him. “that’s it, such a good fucking girl,” he muttered, his length pushing against your folds again, this time a tad harsher accompanied with a spank on your cheeks. “so good darling, so good,”

his nicknames got you high. his praise got you high. your hips were thrown back, almost as if you were managing his thrusts. he let you, watching how you would roll your hips and guide yourself through your orgasm.

“kento…” you whimpered, tears filling your eyes as you creamed over his girth. “come for daddy sweetheart that’s it,” he encouraged you, wrapping his hand around you to toy with your clit, sending you over the edge.

“so messy,” he chuckled watching you lose control over him. nanami pulled out and before you could complain he was down on his knees and eating your cum that was leaking from your abused hole. “oh my god, fhuck yes daddy,” you rode his face, enjoying the feeling of his tongue scooping your cum, his hands firmly gripping your ass to pull your cheeks apart.

you felt yourself overstimulated, ready for another orgasm. he could feel it too by the way your thighs were jiggling.

using his middle and ring finger, nanami spread you again, curling them inside your walls to rub your spot. you were such a mess. creaming on his fingers and blabbering on his pillow.

“you’re so sensitive, i love it,” he smirked, giving your ass a small bite before licking off your cum from his fingers.

you felt his weight lie next to you, rolling your body over. “are you okay?” he carefully pushed the hair away from your face. you nodded with a smile. once you realized he was done it quickly faded.

“you haven’t came yet.” you held his arm. he chuckled. “but you did. plus you seem tired i don’t want to push myself.” he sheepishly said.

you shook your head refusing. “no,” you got up and straddled him, lining his dick to your entrance before fully sitting on him.

“holy fuck what are you doing?” nanami asked you, watching you wrap your arms around him. “gonna make you come inside me,” you sultry answered, to which he held your hips with his hands, guiding your bouncing body. his lips parted to the way your eyes rolled back. you looked so fucked out it was mesmerizing.

you tits bouncing up and down with the motions of your body followed by yelps of his name.

“come inside me daddy,” you mewled in his ear, holding onto his shoulders. you could feel him groan as he began to fuck himself up into you, soon unloading his balls inside you.

you felt dizzy to the feeling of his warm seed, grinding yourself on him to make sure to receive it all.

you rested your face in the crook of his neck before letting out a small laughter. “never thought you’d be such a dirty man mr. nanami,”

he only laughed in return. “and you haven’t even seen the beginning of it.”

[ivymaria]

Journal Prompts for Your Self-Esteem

The other day I was in the shower and I was thinking about things I could write about when I want to motivate myself or give myself a confidence boost. These are some of the ideas I came up with and I think they could be really beneficial and encouraging.

While thinking about these things, you may begin to doubt yourself or compare yourself to other people, but I’m telling you right now: DON’T DO THAT. It does not matter how big or small you think these things are. These prompts are meant to generate big and small reminders of how dope you are :)

1. What are 10 (or more) things you like about yourself?

2. What things do you want to do or try that can help you feel good about yourself? For example, I’ve been considering trying out individual lashes and recently started looking into LHR. Also, going to the gym even if it's just for a walk on the treadmill. Literally, if you go once a week for fun just do something.

3. Think about some of your accomplishments in recent years. Describe them to your younger self and imagine how they would feel.

4. What are 10 (or more) things that you like about your life?

5. What are your energy givers? The big and small things that you do that make you feel joy? I loveee my yoga mat. I can lay on it, do nothing, and be happy. It’s that simple. Also washing my face in the morning :)

I want to EMPHASIZE that these things can be simple, everyday things. Do it for yourself without comparing yourself to other people. This is for you and you onlyyy.

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

Okay Alder so I thought of this while studying and I must share (and concentrate, dammit). Anyway I started randomly thinking about TOA but with one of the female goddesses, because I feel like it could be a really interesting exploration of feminism and the lack of autonomy for women and stuff, and I was like "Well which goddess would it be?" and then I was like HERA.

Hear me out. So like idk why exactly it happens, maybe Zeus just got fed up with the fights or something, but anyway Hera is forcibly removed from Olympus and stripped of her powers, turned mortal, etc. She meets Meg, who I feel like she would honestly like a lot, despite being a demigod. I can see her trying to teach Meg manners and how to be a lady and Meg just being like "Nope. I must pursue my destiny of being a chaos gremlin." I would still have her at least try Percy's apartment, because while of course he would tell her to fuck off, I think Sally would have some sympathy and I think they could have a really interesting conversation woman-to-woman, especially as survivors of abusive marriages.

I'm going back and forth between Hera being a middle-aged mortal (because I doesn't really matter to her what she looks like), but I think it would also be really interesting if she was a teenager, because teenage girls have far less power than grown women, and it would be really interesting to have her be the same age as many of Zeus' victims.

Anyway thought?

OKAY. SO. THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH CHRONIC ON DISCORD. A WHILE AGO.

the main difference is that we were discussing how ToA would go if Apollo was joined by Hera in punishment, and by god it was a god-tier idea. spoiler: the moment they figure out what is going on, they immediately turn on the other and blame them XD

CUE THE FORCED STEPMOTHER-STEPSON "THIS IS OUR GET-ALONG ROADTRIP" ACTION!!!!!!

and even in this version, I do agree that this would be a excellent opportunity to really dig into woman's struggles in today's day and age, and even compare/contrast them with the ancient world's! because let's face it, there were pros and cons in both times. tho i'd say we have more pros nowadays, but that ALSO depends on where you live and all that. very complex but also not if you really try :3

BUT. your mention of Hera & Meg bonding REALLY made me excited because Chronic and I have talked about this too! This would be SUUUUCH an interesting dynamic!! Hera could help boost Meg's self-esteem, not only just helping her feel comfortable in her body when she's wearing more "fancy" clothes (because those are the clothes usually forced onto her by Nero, so Hera helping her essentially "reclaim" them for herself can be Female Empowerment whoop whoop!), but also just by gaining more confidence in herself.

On the flip side, I feel like Meg would be a GREAT person to get Hera to "loosen up" per say. You can't convince me Hera was Stone-Cold her whole life. nuh-uh. and you bet I think Meg could draw that old Hera out from that mask.

not to mention that Hera knows Demeter quite well. that would be an very interesting conversation between her and Meg, especially since Hera may be a bit unsure what to say since Meg was left to suffer under the thumb of an abusive emperor for years without her mother ever knowing. I think Hera might struggle with balancing making Demeter look good (perchance this be an opportunity to dig into Hera's toxic idea of "perfect families"? making them look good even when you really shouldn't?) and being honest with Meg. Even though Hera is a crafty goddess, I don't think she'd be very comfortable with straight-up lying about her family- she values that bond far too much.

Chronic and I discussed this AU as if Hera was in a middle-aged mortal body, mostly so we had that aunt-niece bond with Meg, and stepmom-stepson one with Apollo, but also because of our thoughts on "what would Hera consider to be undesirable in a mortal form?", much like how Apollo was horrified to be in a normal teenage boy body. So we thought "wrinkles, probably. don't even need that many, just a few would probably make her freak out." because she is a god, and is def NOT used to normal things like wrinkles lol there were other ideas too i just can't think of them at the moment lol

I can see teenage Hera working for an AU where it's just her and Meg, or even with Apollo still! It would be extremely funny if at some point, Apollo just turns around on Hera and says, deadpan, "Okay, Mom." to a literal sixteen year old.

not. not to mention. how The Burning Maze could go. explore that Juno-Jason relationship/dynamic. Chronic once suggested that Hera could get seriously injured saving Jason, so there's food for thought >:3

also. can you imagine the Triumvirate's panic when they realize they don't just got one ex-god to deal with. they got two now, and it's the fucking Queen of Olympus herself.

boys i'd start running if i were you mwhahahaahah!!

[coco-oats]

The secret to confidence…

Positivityˋˏ❁༺ ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡

• Distance yourself from outside negativity. Negative people, influencers, music, media, etc… CUT THEM OUT. My life seriously changed for the better once I started cutting out toxic, negative “friends” and people.

Be mindful of what and who you let in your life. Surround yourself with positive people, experiences, and messages.

• “I’m the best” sarcasm > “I’m the worst” jokes. Confidence can be hard. If you’re coming from a place of super low self esteem and self deprecation “faking it till you make it” can help ease your transition.

“Oh haha I’m so stupid/ugly/etc.” Girl…. 😒Stop. Being confident and cocky is literally way more fun.

• Positive self talk! Girlies, I am not kidding when I say this : POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS. I’m constantly praising my achievements, appearance, personality, etc.

Everyday, I give myself at least one compliment. This habit has become like second nature to me. It has boosted my confidence + happiness like crazy! 💕

• Learn to love and listen to yourself. Listen to your wants and needs, and don’t go searching for them from others. If you want to be confident and love yourself, than act like it! Don’t deprive your mind, body, or soul of what they need.

Validate, reassure, and love yourself. <3

(Also don’t be afraid to be kinda cocky 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️)

[hyacinthleaves]

can you do Eva and Mark (seperate) dating hcs please? also it’s totally fine if u only do one! I didn’t see it but might’ve overlooked if there was a limit to how many characters we’re allowed 😭

BRUH I GOT AN ASK WITH LIKE 10 CHARACTERS THAT REALLY PMO. My limit is 3 though I'll prolly highlight that later so you're cool

Mark Berskii:

Another one that normalcy hates to see coming

I feel like you can get a BIT more PDA out of him than Damon tbh

And I'm only saying that because we're yet to see him actually like anyone even as a friend so how would we know tbh

He'll get so embarrassed but like please hold his hand or at least lock pinkies

A relationship that thrives off of hate. A couple that hates together stays together

And when I mean hate I mean not literal anger obviously just strong judgement

You'll probably have to be his voice at the beginning

He'll make up for it in other ways but at the start it's just gonna be like that

There will definitely be a lot of moments where he sticks up for you though and that would honestly surprise everyone

He'll then go back to normal and act like nothing happened

Another quality time warrior. Perhaps you hang out with him while he's making music

He may or may not ask for your opinion (prolly not. just because he's a bit embarrassed) but either way your presence is appreciated

I think you'd generally have to be very understanding to be with him. He's a man of few words so you'll have to work with that

Please compliment him a lot. He'll act like he doesn't like it, and it makes him uncomfortable, but he'll warm up to it in the end so it's worth it

Speaking of warming up, I feel like he runs a little bit cold. Please hug him or cuddle him. SOMETHING to raise his body temperature

I'm thinking of random gifts he would get you, and I was thinking about a crocodile beanie to match his alligator one THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE

He's another protective one. It takes a bit to reach that point because he does believe you can handle a lot of the situations you're in but he might even lean towards possessive a little bit

A solid 7/10 bf. That self-esteem needs a BIG boost

Eva Tsunaka:

MY SHAYLA 😭😭😭

Hot take but I think she loves PDA

I always start like this because I think it's funny but I think it would actually help her self esteem by a lot because other people can see how much her partner loves her

This girl needs a hug just in general please give her one

I would say she's another quality time warrior, which she is, but I feel like her main love language is actually words of affirmation

She's surprisingly great with her words and can be really good at expressing herself (in low stress situations...)

This is random but I remembered one of the gifts that she likes is the faux piercings. Someone PLEASE write a fic about you helping her pick some and putting them on her

She's possessive and protective. She will NOT let anyone hurt you by any means

Sometimes when you're wrong she'll just act like you're right because she loves you. She will literally bend her logic to make your argument make sense

Whenever she can't do that she'll at least act like you're partially correct because she loves you so much

She gets a little embarrassed every time you mention that you caught her smiling

Surprisingly enough everyone I've covered so far has been an indoors dates person

Would streaming/playing a game with you count as a date? To her it does

If not then movies always work

Please just cling to her and make her feel appreciated

I feel like she's not too big on giving kisses but if she does it's probably in the morning and it's just a kiss to your forehead or your cheek

She's a 7/10 gf. She has her rough spots but they're not entirely awful... yeah

[pinkpigtailsprincess]

💿: Hey, U-Go-Girl⋆.ೃ࿔* 🎀⭐️

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₊˚💿✩; Hey Dolls 2Day we’re gonna be talking about building self confidence/ self esteem and embracing your natural self!! this post is heavily inspired by U-Go-Girl By Lee Hyori Bc honestly that song literally screams CONFIDENCE!! {Long Post Ahead}

DISCLAIMER !! some of this stuff might mo resonate with some folk because of certain circumstances like social anxiety i know bc i literally have social anxiety + agoraphobia and these are also some things ive done to cope with anxiety and stuff like that so don’t even!

⋆🎀˚⊹ PILE 1 ;

Internal > Looking the Part > Baby Steps > Take Up Space > affirmations > body language > Embarrassment

⋆👖˚⊹ PILE 2 ;

External > Cutting People off > Opinions > being desperate > boundaries > compete with your self

₊˚🌺✩ ₊˚⭐️⊹♡ ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚

₊˚🪼✩ 1; Looking The Part !! ୭₊˚

When you Look good you feel good!! it doesn’t matter what you look like when you’re put together + confident you’re automatically attractive!! 🎀 4 instants everyday even on lazy days always make sure you’re

Showered

Hair Put together

a cute outfit that YOU like

clean nails

fresh breathe

clean skin

moisturized + smelling AMAZING!!

Hot Tips ! ;

when it comes to Hair + Skincare + Oral Hygiene & Outfit personally i recommend Hair > Oral Hygiene > Outfit because when it comes to hair care certain products in your hair product can also have an affect on your skin and when brushing your teeth + mouth wash and scrubbing toothpaste get all over your mouth and water its messy!

₊˚📟✩ 2 ; Baby Steps !! ୭₊˚

For all my folks out there who are shy/have social anxiety/introverted or just need to get out more baby steps is the way to do it i learned this from the therapist so basically i rank things from least to most anxiety inducing (?) like sitting outside or something and i do the smallest task for about how ever long i possibly can and i keep doing it till i progress and start doing harder things !!

₊˚ 🍭✩3 ; Take up Too much Space !! ୭₊˚ (The wizard Liz Inspired)

Never dim your light to make others comfortable when it comes to confidence and being yourself you gotta be unapologetic about it!! you focus should never be on other people and how they perceive you , that literally none of your business and that’s literally a waste of time and draining your own happiness So where that dress,style your hair this way,showcase your true self and fuck how other people feel that a THEM Problem not Yours!!

₊˚ 💬✩4 ; Affirmations !! ୭₊˚

Affirmations Baby!!! Having daily affirmations is a MUST!! not only boost your self esteem and confidence but they will also bring you out of the mindset that your “below the bar” & help you validate yourself without needing outside opinions!!

What i like 2 do it is keep set of daily affirmations i repeat when i wake up & throughout the day and i like to put them all around my space like put sticky notes of mirrors,keep pinterest boards of affirmations,repeat then while getting ready,making a self concept playlist full of songs that make me feel my best etc.!! (P.S Affirmations tapes are TOP TIER)

. . . DYK?

The kinds of media you consumer can sometimes affect your over all mood,self image & mentality so be mindful of the media you consume when it comes to any form of media !!

₊˚ 🍋‍🟩✩5 ; Body Language!! ୭₊˚

SUPER IMPORTANT!! wether you’re in an active conversation or just walking down the street body language will play a huge role in not only how you feel but will also help you be confident & have people be more attracted to your energy

so what were gonna do is swap all of the awkward body language and swap them out!

Tense Shoulders > Drop & relax your shoulders and put them back

Looking down when walking > Hold your head up head

Slouching > Stop slouching and Keep your make straight

When you wave don’t shake your palm > use your 3 fingers in the middle to wave in an half way down and up motion

Sit in the Duchess Pose basically it putting both of your legs together and slant them 2 the right diagonally !!

STRUT YOUR STUFF!! I can’t stress this enough a good runway strut is always on your side i promise you this!! you gotta act like your a famous super model like naomi,shalom,yasmeen,linda etc. you gotta act like your opening for a runway or something and just be FABULOUS!!

₊˚ 🏩 ✩6 ; Embarrassment !! ୭₊˚

I Fully believe embarrassment is a SOCIAL CONSTRUCT like people who are consider “embarrassing” are literally just being themselves and when people see a person being themself they can’t handle and feel this dire urge to “humble” them and

An example of this comes from one of my favorite movies Legally Blonde!! when elle first stepped foot on Harvard campus people were automatically on her tail for just being herself and what did she do?? NOTHING. and thats exactly what you gotta do view their opinion as INVALID and keep doing you!

“Out of Sight Out of Mind”

Hey! You made it to pile 2 Lucky You!

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⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 Cutting People Off .𖥔˚ 🐬

SPOILER ALERT!! The people you surround yourself with can definitely play a role in how you perceive yourself,your individual opinions,how you think & behavioral action due to peer pressure, sometimes toxic people can seep into your social circle and you might no even notice it

Signs You need to cut someone off!

- never supporting you

- repeating the same toxic behavior

- never being happy for you

- copying everything you do

- never fully apologizing

- trying to bring you down for literally anything

- talking behind your back

- trying to leave you out

- is hypocritical towards you

- is in competition with you

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 Opinions! .𖥔˚ 👙

Again like i said people opinions on you is not a you problem its a them problem especially if it’s a negative opinion it doesn’t matter you don’t need to explain yourself to anyone especially not someone who won’t even take the time to know you before making up stupid assumptions! and you sure al hell don’t need to change to fit in with anyone , you were meant to stand put and thats okay

“No Problem i don’t care You’re you I’m me” - Jang Wonyoung

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 Being Desperate.𖥔˚ 🪸

OH GIRL!! Being desperate is embarrassing for you especially if it’s over someone you have romantic interest in unt unt that simply won’t fly with me! if they’re ghosting you,being inconsistent,telling you one thing but acting another way etc. don’t be desperate for someone like that you deserve someone better! people like this probably don’t care and its silly of you to be desperate for their attention & you’re far too special for that

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 Boundaries .𖥔˚ 🛍️

Always have boundaries and never let anyone over step them, if you set a boundaries in a friendship and they keep crossing that boundaries they don’t care about your boundaries don’t let someone continue to disrespect you & your boundaries

HOT TIP . . .

Don’t laugh at jokes that are at your expense

If someone is trying to embarrass you be upfront with them and tell them how you feel

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 Compete with yourself .𖥔˚ 🌤️

See yourself as your only competition always try to out do yourself not matter what in any category even if its doing something productive one day to have a better day than you did yesterday i adapt this mindset with my blog and my self improvement i need to out do myself all the time im the only person i need to compete with!!

[starsworldd]

venus in houses pt 2. !

a reminder to go listen to my song domino 1 (iamsagsssssss) out on all platforms!!

venus in 7th:

✵ people pleasers to say the least. these people usually have a good reputation amongst others and love to make friends and connections wherever they go. because venus is also in its domicile here, these people may have a natural knack for fashion, decorating, and anything artistic <3. these people are very friendly and make people feel special and loved. you may make friends/romantic relationships with taurus/libra placements.

venus in 8th:

✵ these people usually get money/possessions from their partners. these people are very alluring and may like to wear black a lot of the time. relationships (of all kinds) may be a source of self-transformation for the individual and may have a close circle of people that they intimately bond with (unless otherwise aspected). these people may find an easier time with rebirth/upheaval. this placement definitely radiates siren energy!

venus in 9th:

✵ natives with this placement may make a lot of friends or in college. they could date partners or be friends with people of different backgrounds ethnic or just overall a very different person to the individual. friends and/or partners could help the native expand themselves in some way, help them to find purpose, or give them access to opportunities. this placement could love traveling and philosophy. could be passionate about religion as well.

venus in 10th:

✵ this placement could mean that the native is well-liked in public. may receive positive attention online, and could be associated with having a certain aesthetic. partners and friends of this placement could help them boost their status, or motivate them to achieve their goals. this person’s calling in life could involve the arts/fashion in some way or making connections with others. this person’s career can be a source of comfort and pleasure for the person.

venus in 11th:

✵ this indicates someone who may be popular. people with this placement love meeting other communities and may know many different types of people and communities. this is someone who may be passionate about social justice and activism as well. they may find that their friends could become their romantic partners as well. this could also indicate someone who is good at manifesting their desires!! definitely someone who may be popular on social media on a bigger scale too.

venus in 12th:

✵ very artistic placement, artistic imagination. these people may have found throughout their life that they’ve struggled with self-esteem and/or friends/romance. these people may find their friends/romantic partners from faraway lands. people with this placement struggle to just how loved they are. this person’s love has no bounds. you may find that you’re involved in hidden love affairs, and/or there’s some sort of sacrifice needed on your part for friends/romantic partners.

thanks for reading hope you enjoyed :>

[tujhse-raabta]

hope you're doing well <3

saw your post abt atlantis!percy and I got excited abt it

not anon but I wanna know more abt how amphitrite interacts w/ little percy in this au

doing VERY well, wby???? and OH ILY FOR THIS OK OK OK SO

when Poseidon brings Sally and Percy to Atlantis, she is. furious. fucking furious. you DARE to cheat on me in our open relationship, where you COULD have communicated but didn't, and then 'you bring your bastard whelp and your whore to my home?' this is a quote, forgive me 😭😭

and Sally steps up. yada yada hate me if you want, I deserve it, but Percy didn't ask to be born, and if you call my child one more name I will cut off your tongue before I'm executed for my actions.

(their situation is complex. i will not have anyone bash ANY of them. yes, there's gonna be conflict. yes, it's a horrible situation with nuanced people and faults. but they're gonna work through it.)

amphitrite just sneers and walks away, though she does call off triton - who looks FURIOUS - from hurting them.

she's actually the last person to get used to percy and Sally being around from the royal family, which is VALID.

it comes to a head when there's an 'attack' and Percy MIGHT have been hurt, and there is NO ONE WHO RUNS FASTER THAN HER TO HIS ROOM. TO PROTECT THIS CHILD. FROM HER OWN CHILD. when she realises this, that she's grown fond of the kid in the threeish months (and more than fond of his mother) she consciously gives them both a chance. and then PERCY GETS A NEW MAMA!!!!!!!

yeah he calls her mama, Sally mom, Poseidon dad and triton twi. Triton is included bcs TRITON. THAT GOD IS LESS A BROTHER AND MORE ANOTHER DAD. he never stops calling him twi btw, even once the lisp goes

SORRY BACK TO TOPIC AMPHI AND PERCY

SHE'S the one who works hardest to integrate percy into the political scenario of atlantis. she's the one who plays the court, and the citizens, to come to accept percy and, gods, she makes him BELOVED. she knows how much danger her kid is in, so she ENSURES that the entirety of the sea would go to war for him.

percy never, ever thinks of her as anything less than a mother. ever. he is hers as he is Sally's, as he is Poseidon's.

she's also the rational one in his family. Poseidon, Sally, triton, they're all irrational in their care for him - understandably - that they never see him as more than a defenseless baby who needs protection. she helps percy discover who he is outside of atlantis' gates and guards, and she trusts him and his capability. she's the first to do that, and that means so much to twelve year old percy. that there's someone out there who isn't just freaking out over him (she's doing that too lmao) but TRUSTS that he has the ability to do his quest well. self esteem boost!

[ancientgoddessofegypt]

What About Us? A friendship psychic reading.

LEFT (1-3)

RIGHT (2-4)

The friendships we create are the ones most needed in our time of growing up and finding who we are in this world. For some of you, your new friendship group is coming. For a lot of you, current friendships need relearning, reshaping, and refocusing. There may be something going on under the surface, and will prepare to bloom soon come. Since this is the summer months, I would like to do something for friendships as love is always on our minds, but a platonic love that touches the stars is always certainly going to be harder to find <3

Anywho, without further a due. We can get started. So I hope you picked which one you feel the most called too. Lets begin ;)

Group 1 : This is for us. The beginning to the End.

If you have picked the one, its time to start a new friendship with someone new. You could be getting ready to go back to school in august, you could also be in groups (text chats, social media groups, volunteer groups, etc.) and this will be how you meet this new friend. You guys could go to the same school, university, job, career, or you could have found them when you were going to a concert, a park, event. you get my drift.This new friendship is going to cost you the old one, because they need time to figure out for themselves what they are lookin for in love, romance, friendship etc. and you could also be in a romantic partnership but also needing more platonic love to hit your corner.

All in all, this new found friend could be a soulmate of some sort. you guys just get it. Y'all know what y'all like and you guys pat each other on the back from time to time. It seems like you guys have known each other for ages, but its only been a few weeks/months.Plan a date with this person and see where things lead! Go shopping, go out to eat, go to a flower shop. Being spontaneous is how you'll meet.

Keywords: 111, Santa's Hat, 333, Bunnies, Awareness groups, Veterinarians, Poem, Talent shows, Concerts, Zodiac signs, Remember, Museums, Poetry nights, Sculpting, Movies, Fun nights, 666- Venusian pleasures, More life, Jumping for joy, Leo, Moon, Flowers, Pottery & Puppets.

Number sequences, 111, 333, 666, 717, 999, 1010

Group 2 : Crossroads, More to come in the Future.

So with this group, there is going to be a need to explore out of your home state, or maybe you may go to their home state. If you guys have been feeling bored this summer, then maybe its time to plan a trip somewhere like going camping, going to the river, or simply finding joy in new spaces. I feel a rekindle coming up for this group as well. Some of you may have to forgive somebody and vice versa. There could be a familiarity with this group, and the type of friends you want for yourself can come in the near future if you act more confident and free.

The more bold you are, the more the right people notice you, and then a friend group can commence.

Keywords: Crossroads (movie), Tumblr girl, Pizza dates, Online buddy, Road trip!!, Computers, Classroom, Video games, Anime, Donkeys, Cheetahs, Dragons, Beyonce.

Number sequences: 333, 888, 917, 326, 414, 909, 323, 7777, 8888, 2020, 2222, 2121, 3232, 101

Group 3: Where the wind goes, I'll become of you.

This is a beautiful connection! It's like a hippie type of love between the two of you. Just vibing with the waves, and not carrying where it takes you next.

You guys have a capacity to know what each other is thinking, a type of telepathic connection. A long lasting platonic energy between you and them. Gifts, talents, and abilities skyrocket when your with them because they boost your self esteem and help you along the way. This friendship group needs no reshaping, just simply being able to enjoy each others presence every time they meet.

Keywords: 1111, dream reality, riding around town, enjoying each others company, mountains, hike trails, forgiveness, compassion, 'im having the time of my life', 19 years old, cannabis, margaritas, dancing the night away.

Number sequences: 111, 222, 1111.

Group 4 : Let's have a girls night !

This group really needs to let go and let there hair down. Its time for a nice night with the ladies. You may need to get something off your chest, and thats what friends are for! You gotta get up out your comfort zone, and try hanging with your friends a lil while longer, you never know what can happen when you guys are together!

Keywords: Luxury dates, Club hopping, Sleep overs, Wine, Boy problems, Pajamas, Girls trip (movie), Cabin trip, Banquet, Movie nights.

[neospokenworld]

I'm in the middle of reading Volume 3 of Houseki no Kuni, but I wanted to say that this page in particular was very interesting to me because, altho it can be directed to how Phos is able to understand non sea life like the Admirabilis and the Ice Floats, it can also be seen as the intrusive thoughts she has been having in these last 2 pages due to the extremely low self esteem and the lack of confidence Phos has on herself.

Like we know she wants to fight alongside the other gems, she wants to help and be useful but so far there hasn't been anything where they particularly excel in the battlefield, probably making them feel like a burden in battle and from what it's seen it's pretty much the consensus with everyone else, from the more harsh tones to the more condescending ones they probably feel that everyone thinks ''if your in a team with Phos, you better work extra hard 'cause that gem won't be able to help in any capacity'' (this is even including Sensei, which I'm pretty sure loves Phos very much but for the gem their words just feel like a ''you're not enough'') and with their kind of snappy attitude towards the others it doesn't make Phos a very popular gem per se outside of everytime they fall apart (to the point where no one was particularly worried or upset when Dia thought Phos turned into the slug)

I mean I'm only 16 chapters in and, from what I've seen, they have pretty much accepted her death 3 separate times. That gem is not in a good place mentally even if they hide it with a somewhat aggressive attitude, sure the legs helped to boost her confidence a small bit but that boost was pretty much erased after the whole incident with the Amethyst Twins where they couldn't move. They want to be able to sand on their own and help whenever it's needed, and more importantly they really want to help Cinnabar to be included once again because that other gem has probably felt really lonely patrolling the night by themselves, forever caged within the night as they feel like a danger towards every other gem in the vicinity.

I'm probably assuming way too much and overanalyzing things way too hard for only 16 chapters but eh, just felt like sharing a bit about my thoughts of Phos as a characters lol

[shunin-gumis]

Designs of Happiness - Track B03

L4mps Main Story Translation

Title: Happiness Activities: Practical Edition

Characters: Nagi, Netaro, Raito, Ryui, Yodaka

Summary: Nagi works hard on his “Happiness Activities” since early morning. However, he’s met with misfortune at every corner… 

Thank you aca @/463ce6 and myun @/myuntachisi for helping me with proofing!

*Alarm beep*

Nagi: 6 am. Today, I’ll start doing happiness activities, or “happikatsu”. *

Location: HAMA House

Nagi: Happikatsu No.1: Go out for a walk and soak in the early morning sun for about 20 minutes within half an hour of waking up. 

Sonia: It says it’s best if you empty your mind while walking~ Nagi-shan, you’ve got this~

Nagi: Yeah. Let’s go. 

Location: HAMA Town

Nagi: Just being up and about early in the morning is giving me a boost in self-esteem. Maybe I can finally join the ranks of those who are mindful—

*wheels screeching*

Runaway Truck Driver: You have a death wish!? Get out of the way, shithead!

Location: Flower Laundry

Nagi: 9 am.

Sonia: The weather ish really nice today. The flowers are also happily soaking up the sunlight~ 

Nagi: Yep. Both the leaves and I are all shiny today. 

Nagi: Happikatsu No.2: Every month, ensure you spend more than 5 hours out in nature.

Sonia: It says your stress will go down a lot by doing this!

Nagi: Since I’ve always been surrounded by nature, maybe I’ve already built up a resistance against stress… 

*thump*

Woman clinging to the door before opening hours: …… 

*Nagi and Sonia jump*

Nagi: Woah, that freaked me out. 

Woman clinging to the door before opening hours: Hey! The bouquet I got at the department store withered up already! 

Nagi: I’m sorry about that, may I have your receipt? …Department store? 

Woman clinging to the door before opening hours: Yeah! The bouquet. I got. From the DEPARTMENT STORE! 

Location: Empty Lot

Nagi: 11 am.

Nagi: Weeding. 

Location: HAMA House - Kitchen

Nagi: 1 pm

Nagi: Happikatsu No.3: Eat fermented food that’s good for the gut. 

Nagi: Something something the gut and the brain are connected, so a healthy gut directly correlates to improved mood. 

Nagi: I made some miso soup and splurged on some pickles. I also got 3 packs of natto for 90 yen, and rice from the fridge. Time to dig in. 

Yodaka: Oh? Having lunch, Nagi? 

Nagi: Yep. It’s happikatsu for the gut… 

Yodaka: Looking after your gut health, hm? I’ve heard that adding grated onion and apple cider vinegar to miso soup is quite beneficial.

Nagi: I better note that down in my happikatsu memos… Do you get that kinda knowledge from your mom or grandma?

Yodaka: Hm? Oh… I suppose you’d be… right. —I think it was my father who told me this. 

*ringing noise*

Yodaka: …Ugh. 

Nagi: ? Is your head hurting? 

Yodaka: No, it’s alright. 

Ryui: Oi, Hachinoya. It’s time, get a move on. 

Location: Company Car interior

Nagi: 2 pm

Nagi: Need any help with the property search besides transportation?

Nagi: (Happikatsu No.4: Contributing to your community.)

Ryui: Nah, it’s fine. Besides, the owners of all the good spots in Ward 15 are all wrapped up in that shitty old man’s bullshit. 

Nagi: Shitty old man… You mean your grandfather?

Ryui: They won’t bend even if you prostrate. 

Nagi: I’m pretty good at that. 

Ryui: I just said we don’t need it.

Nagi: Like they say, two heads are better than one. We may not have known each other for long, but I’m sure there’s something I could help with besides driving you around. I mean, I do own a shop, so I could pitch in about the property—

Ryui: Lay off! Just focus on driving! 

Location: Empty lot

Nagi: 3 pm.

Nagi: Weeding.

Location: Flower Laundry.

Nagi: 4 pm. 

Sonia: Sho, we’re counting on you today as well for the Raito Way Crash course! 

Nagi: (Happikatsu No.5: Proactively learning new skills for self-development.)

Raito: Nagi, do you know the art of assertiveness? It’s a very important communication skill that allows you to express your thoughts and opinions in a way that doesn’t offend the other party. 

Nagi: No… I’ve never heard of it. Is something like that really possible…? 

Raito: Don’t worry, it’s something you can easily get a hang of once you give it a shot… The key is to come up with the subject yourself, but… I’ll give you something to work with first.

Raito: You’ve received a complaint that the flowers you sold to a customer withered too quickly. However, it’s also clear that the customer did not handle it with proper care. How will you respond? 

Nagi: Issue a sincere apology, refund and exchange the flowers, and also offer them a free coupon. Depending on their reaction, I might have to guide them to the Consumer Information Center.

Raito: Haha… I see you’re the type to give in before the other person has even made their case. 

*bell chimes as door opens*

Woman from earlier: HEY!! I tried to use the coupon you gave me at the department store’s flower shop, but they turned me away! They didn’t even offer to exchange the flowers! Just WHAT is the meaning of this!?

Sonia: Ah, it’s the person who came in earlier this morning… 

*Nagi trembling*

Nagi: Ah, um, that coupon only works here so… 

Raito: …Pardon me. Since you mentioned the department store, does that mean the flowers weren’t purchased from here?

Woman from earlier: That’s right! 

Raito: I understand how you feel… Seeing your beloved flowers wither away far too soon must have saddened you greatly. I can tell you have a very kind heart. 

Raito: We sincerely regret the fact that we are unable to help you, as the flowers are from another store. However— 

Raito: We don’t want to turn you away while you’re still upset, so we’d like to offer our services and request that you purchase your flowers from this shop next time… Would that please you? 

Raito: We would be truly honored to have our flowers purchased by someone as lovely as you. 

Woman from earlier: Oh my…! What a splendid shop! Of course, I will be coming here from now on!

Sonia: A-Amazing… He’s on a whole other level… 

Nagi: Learning this skill after only one try… As expected of Raito-san, he’s completely different from me… Even though we’re both leaders… 

Location: Fortune Teller’s Parlor - Angel Eye

Nagi: 8 pm. 

Toi: Thank you for delivering the flowers today too! Bye bye, see you later~!

Location: HAMA Town

Nagi: I’ll need to prepare flowers to give away on the way back home. 

Nagi: (Happikatsu No.6: Make sure to balance the Yajirobe of Fortune and Misfortune.)

Nagi: About 500 roses should do the trick. I just hope no one gets “grosed” out, get it? Haha… *

Nagi: (And then if there’s any left over… I can give them to the Chief. I’m truly grateful to know that it’s okay even if I don’t manage to give them all away.)

Location: Yokohama Station

Nagi: Excuse me, I’m giving away flowers for free, would you—

Delinquent A with a shockingly short gakuran: Aa? Flowers? ‘Course we don’t want any.

Delinquent B with baggy pants holding on for dear life: Wait a sec, ain’t he the one who picked a fight with us before? 

Delinquent A with a shockingly short gakuran: DAMN, that HURT!! I cut myself on the rose you just forced on me! I need to go to the hospital, so cough up yer cash right now. 

Delinquent B with baggy pants holding on for dear life: If ya don’t want any trouble, hurry up hand over the money!

Location: Empty Lot

Nagi: Night… It’s already 10 pm, huh… 

Nagi: I’ve done a lot of weeding, but it doesn’t look like it’s gonna be over anytime soon… 

Nagi: (I’m thirsty, but I forgot my water bottle… I think there was a vending machine somewhere nearby…)

*rustling sound*

Nagi: Found it.

Nagi: (I’ll get one of the bottles… Maybe that “AlrighTea!” would be good.)

Nagi: …Ah. I don’t have any cash on me. They shook me down to my last yen… 

???: “AlrighTea!” was it? I shall buy it for you. 

Nagi: Huh… 

Netaro: Good work today, yes? 

Nagi: …Thank you. But how did you know—

Netaro: I’ve made it so that I know whenever you are weakened, Gii. I also know how to find you, wherever you might be. 

Netaro: Just as how this bottle is important to you, so too are you important to me, as my donor. 

Nagi: …This is the first time I’ve had anyone watching over me.

Nagi: Anyways, you really helped me out here. Looks like I can keep going. 

Netaro: Eh~ Aren’t you going home? 

Nagi: Yeah. I can work for a little longer so… 

Netaro: …Work on what?

Nagi: Weeding. 

Nagi: While I was walking around my Ward, I spotted this overgrown lot, so… I got permission from the landowner and started working on it. 

Netaro: All this, by hand, on your lonesome?

Netaro: Ahaha! What a frighteningly inefficient way to work! You’ve been strangely proactive lately. 

Nagi: Yep. I wanted to do something, but I didn’t know where to start so… I decided to just try a lot of different stuff. 

Nagi: Happikatsu No.7: Doing something for the sake of another person.

Nagi: I heard it on the radio once, during a talk on the psychology of happiness. They said volunteer work is good for increasing happiness. 

Netaro: Hoh~ If you volunteer for the sake of your own happiness, does it still count as volunteering? 

Nagi: …Huh? Is that wrong? 

Netaro: Aha, you are soo funny, Gii~ So you helped me for your own sake as well? 

Nagi: I don’t know, it’s not something I really get either… 

Nagi: You’re probably the only person who’s ever shared a secret with me, and, well, I guess I want you to be happy too.

Netaro: Pfft! What’s this, I feel strangely excited! 

Netaro: I shall provide the 8th tip for your happikatsu: Every night, before you go to sleep, write three good things that happened today. 

Netaro: The human brain tends to strongly imprint the last emotions it feels into memory. This method takes advantage of that tendency. 

Nagi: Huh… 

Nagi: Barely dodging that truck was… a good thing, right? 

Netaro: Good thing number one~!

Nagi: …My shop has a new regular.

Netaro: Two~!

Nagi: Ryui helped me… get in touch with my emotions…?

Netaro: Three~!

Nagi: Raito-san taught me that I still have room for growth…!

Netaro: You mean there’s more!?

Nagi: Because I got mugged, you got me a drink.

Netaro: Yes yes.

Nagi: I have a person who’ll worry over me.

Netaro: Not a person.

Nagi: (A lot of stuff happened, but if I think about it…)

Nagi: Today was a really good day.

Notes:

I decided to use the term happikatsu, meaning "activities to achieve happiness" similar to how people use oshikatsu (activites to support your fave)

Nagi makes a pun where he says 500 roses should be enough to scatter around where バラ (bara meaning rose) ばら撒けば (bara makeba meaning scatter/spread) sound similar. I changed it to "Hope no one gets "grosed" out" because both he and the strangers he approaches tend to feel uncomfortable and it also matches his somewhat self-deprecating nature. Hope it made sense because I am not a pun master...

Masterlist

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[frvnkcastles]

HARD PILL TO SWALLOW ➵ F. CASTLE

Summary: Frank asks you out on a date and it doesn’t go exactly as he planned.

Warnings: Feminine nicknames, implied PTSD, self-loathing (from both reader and Frank), hurt/comfort, some language

Word count: 1.4k

Author’s note: My self-esteem is nonexistent and PTSD definitely doesn’t make it easier but I feel like Frank would accept me as I am and that thought keeps me going a lot. Also, I’m trying to work on some requests that I’ve received, please be patient!! <3

Frank Castle was not a desperate man. He definitely wasn’t a man who didn’t know how to take no for an answer. Maybe, he’d admit, he could be a bit stubborn when he was in the mood, but he absolutely refused to be the guy who got rejected and couldn’t get over it. He hated those kinds of assholes — so why was it so hard for him to accept you had rejected him now?

He could have sworn you were into him. Shit, he was hardly made of confidence and self-assurance, but for a moment there, he had thought he had had it. Maybe that was on him for taking you for granted, thinking it was going to be an obvious yes.

Still, he had been nervous when he had approached you with the idea. He usually didn’t hesitate to dive head-first into risky situations, but when it came to you, he found himself with trembling hands and a lump in his throat. Although you were shy, you had had a flirty little something going on for a while now, and that had certainly boosted his ego — if you, the usually anxious type, leaned into his cheeky lines, then he had cracked some kind of code.

He couldn’t stop thinking it over. He had shown up outside the school you worked at, surely scaring all of the kids there with his menacing truck and tall and dark appearance. Suddenly, even the wildest children under your care behaved like little angels, and you couldn’t help but chuckle as you headed outside and realized what had the kids rushing off of the school premises. There he was, wrapped in all black, a plethora of bruises painted across his features like artwork, and a crooked grin appearing on his face when he spotted you coming his way.

”Frank”, you greeted him with a nod, adjusting the strap of your bag while shuffling your feet in their place. You never really knew how to act around him, something about him made your head spin without fail. ”What are you doing here?” you continued sheepishly, looking around only to find curious moms eyeing you and your guest up and down. The idea of you together only deepened the red coloring your cheeks, wondering what kind of a duo you were to outside lookers.

”I, uh, thought I could maybe pick ya up”, he shrugged — Jesus, Castle, that was the worst way anyone had ever been asked out on a date.

It was obvious on your face, too. ”Pick—pick me up?” you stammered, a nervous laugh escaping your mouth as you readjusted your backpack.

”Lemme rephrase that”, he cleared his throat, ”I wanted to, uh, ask you out. On a date, that is. Was thinkin’ we could get some lunch, y’know? You gotta be hungry after a whole day of takin’ care of these maniacs.”

It was right there and then that he saw your smile falter and the light go out in your eyes. Fuck, it made his stomach drop.

”They do let me eat here, you know”, you chuckled before reaching up to swipe your hair away from your face. ”I’m… I’m flattered, Frank, I am. But I just don’t, um, I don’t think that’s such a good idea”, the hesitation was obvious in your voice, and a little piece of you broke when you saw Frank suck in a breath and duck his head in a shy nod.

”Aight, that’s… Yeah, yeah, no worries, sweetheart”, he reassured while scratching the back of his neck, but there was no denying that the air between you grew tense and awkward, even more so when he continued. ”Lemme give you a ride home, huh?” he suggested, and only landing another blow to his confidence, you pursed your lips in an apologetic smile and took a step away.

”I’ll walk, it’s okay. I’m—I’m sorry”, you struggled, and afraid to find out what his reaction would be, you looked away and headed in the other direction. You didn’t doubt he would have still managed to be sweet, and angry at yourself now, you fought back tears while hastily making your way home.

All Frank could do was stare after you and chew on his lip in thought. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised — it wasn’t like he was a catch, anyway. He had more baggage than most people combined, and the cons to going out with him probably outweighed the pros, there was no denying. He wanted to be proud that he had taken a chance, but as he dragged himself back behind the wheel, all he could think was that he had fucked up a good thing for good.

And so, while he may not have been desperate, he was determined to try and fix things. That was what led him to your doorstep, a bouquet of your favorite flowers in his hand and his best puppy eyes on display — not that he was trying to get your pity, but he genuinely wanted to mend the gap he had driven between you two.

You answered the door quickly after his knock, and he didn’t miss the surprised and maybe even scared look that crossed your face before you managed a smile at him.

”Hey, sweetheart. I wanted to apologize… for being a presumptous asshole, I’spose. I shouldn’t have sprung that shit on you like that”, Frank tried to explain while handing over the flowers, but you scoffed and shook your head at him in complete disagreement.

”Frank, you don’t have to be—”, you began, but he cut you off.

”Nah, hey, I get it. Fuck, I get it, girl. It’s probably dangerous and a lotta work to try and make it work with me, y’know, I just figured… you were worth it”, he chuckled, and you couldn’t help but throw your hands onto your face out of sheer frustration — none of it directed at him, but rather, purely at yourself.

”I didn’t say no because of you, Frank”, you interjected, your hands in the air as you boldly locked eyes with him. ”I accept all of you. Just the way you are. I wouldn’t change a thing about you, I—I really… really care about you, okay?” you insisted, and stunned into silence, Frank gazed at you with soft eyes.

”Then what’s the issue here, sweetheart?” he asked quietly, and with your bottom lip wobbling, you hesitated.

”It’s me”, you whispered, your voice so weak under the weight of your words, you could barely get the words out.

Frank’s eyebrows glued together. ”Whaddya mean? Is it… is it work? Or..?” he asked, sincerely confused, and it only made it harder for you to explain without crying.

”No… No, Frank, it’s—it’s who I am. It’s who this… this stupid fucking disorder makes me. I’m not easy to love. I think—I think it takes a lot of effort to be around me, actually. You haven’t seen me at my worst and I don’t think you’d stick around if you did”, you tried to explain, tears streaming down your face despite your frantic efforts to wipe them away.

Silence enveloped the room in its grasp and your soft sniffles were the only sound to shatter it. You couldn’t help but feel like this already would be enough to scare Frank away; make him realize you were more trouble than you were worth, and you had never been more terrified.

But Frank… he stepped over to you and gently took a hold of your jaw, lifting your head up so he could look into your eyes. ”Sweet girl…”, he murmured, leaning his forehead down to yours. ”Even at your worst, I’d find you the fuckin’ best. Goddamn incredible, ya hear me? Ain’t nothin’ that would push me away, I promise”, he swore, ”you’ve dealt with so much of my bullshit… and you still don’t think you deserve to be cared for, too?”

A sob broke free from your chest, and Frank shushed you gently. ”To be honest with you, I ain’t lookin to just eat lunch together. You have my fuckin’ heart, baby. I want all o’you”, he went on, and a sincere smile stretched your mouth as you shut your eyes and nodded.

”I feel the same way, Frank”, you whispered, and breaking into a smile of his own, he licked his lips.

”Then… it okay with ya if I kiss you now, sweetheart?” he muttered, and with a quiet laugh bubbling out of you, you nodded rapidly.

And somehow, as his lips connected with yours for the first time, it felt like maybe it would work out for the best.

[seneitut]

could i request some relationship headcannons w/ Fade? I feel like she’d be so nervous but also know exactly what’s going on if that makes sense yk? no worries if not tho ! love ur writing <3

Fade HC's relationship! SFW

Words: 1.2K

[I love Fade, my woman, my queen<3 Hope you like this!!!]

--------

Fade is closed off, someone who loves to keep to themselves and makes her boundaries be respected no matter the person in question.

Dire to deal with, carrying the secrecy of life and nightmares in her pocket. 

Is hard to say when things started to shift to your convenience and favor while residing together, because no one expected you to be fond of the resident blackmailer, out of all people. 

The subtle glances, the shuffle of feet whenever she is in approach, leaning on her side to hear her more comfortably or simply enjoying her presence.

Imagine the surprise when most realized this was not a one-way puppy love, but reciprocated with Fade falling deeply in love when all she has done is harm to the protocol. And in some way, to you too.

But you don't mind the slightless.

•It starts with a friendship.

Fade is unable to love someone without proper time to get to know each other. Nevermind not sharing interests nor something simple as music taste. Fade cares about the person more than whatever you might like.

It might take her a while to warm up to your presence, and even then, she will be skeptical towards your intentions with her. 

Be patient and understanding, Fade will appreciate your efforts with time and will be fond of you in no time.

•She thinks you're pretty. 

Anyone can have these thoughts about people they meet and consider them some sort of type of beauty. But god help you, she is not going to tell you what she really thinks of you until the relationship starts, so a lot of overthinking on your part will play here when you realize your feelings for her.

Fade is pretty reserved with her opinion, but when she confesses to you how often you were on her mind, how nervous you would make her feel whenever you closed the distance when you conversed, is like a little ego boost to your self-esteem.

•Despite what everyone claims, Fade is the softest person you could ever meet.

She carries herself with pride— and tiredness, mostly tiredness—and at the beginning of her stay in the protocol, no one wanted to approach the one who dared prod into their consciousness and have against their will their biggest fear weaponized.

And it was understandable, since no one knew the whys of her actions and ostracized her on apprehension.

No one wanted to give her the time of the day and, despite her appearing as if she never minded it, you did.

One can say it was thanks to that, that you decided to approach and talk to her under the scrutinized eyes of your friends and comrades. 

And it was lovely.

Fade is lovely, kind, if not a little shy when it comes to social interactions unless the topic is something she can have control over.

It was like love at first talk when she softened to you and spoke so fondly about her old cat who passed away a few years ago. When she mentioned it was such a pain in the ass to have to ignore everyone’s stare whenever she is in the vicinity, but holding so much emotion behind her eyes that it betrays her words. 

To feel somewhat appreciated whenever she offered to buy you drinks when a mission went successful.

She is caring, and you are more than happy to be the recipient of such lovely treatment and attention—Fade notices, too, how you perk up with excitement whenever she talks to you or gives you attention, is adorable.

•Fade is touch-starved. 

Is surprising how touchy she gets once the relationship begins. 

She seeks the warmth of your hands holding her, of your lips caressing the cold of her skin, of your arms wrapped around her in the privacy of your room.

She gets clingy in private, holding your body tightly against her and simply enjoying the comfort of having her lover alongside her.

Like a cat, you are able to pinpoint when she seeks your attention and love and when she needs her space—it's a duality you never thought you would have in a partner, but you get used to her patterns without a problem.

In public, she will maintain a healthy distance to not make anyone uncomfortable with her displays of affection, despite wanting to kiss you every time you talk to her.

Fade falls in love with all her might, and while anxious of being this vulnerable with someone, she trusts you her heart and soul, and hopes you do the same.

•Fade is, surprisingly, jealous.

On the outside, anyone would think Fade is calm and collected. 

Is the persona she sold from the very beginning and fooled the agents into having some sort of respect towards her.

But in reality, and like any other human being, Fade gets insecure pretty easily.

She doesn't doubt your love nor faithfulness, you've made very clear she is the one you're in love with, which makes her very happy, but doubts the rest of the world into respecting your relationship.

Whether a guy or girl, if their approach is soft and timid, she'd start feeling self-conscious. 

Was Fade really that weak and wavering that the shy people would come after you, knowing very well you are committed to a relationship?

Don't let her get started on the people who are straightforward with you and ignore her presence completely. Is annoying having to be left in the background and simply watch the flirting unfold—sad, anxious and furious that she cannot do anything about it.

You will have to reassure her a lot. Talk to her, and simply be there for when she needs to let out her boiling feelings.

•Knowing Fade.

She opens up to you when she can fully trust you.

From her darkest secrets to simple thoughts, she gives you everything: her happiness, sadness, grief, fears—she's come to the point she confesses that your love is what kept her going at the protocol, what gives her hopes into finding the person she's lost many years ago and, with nervousness, tells you she wishes to spend the rest of her life with you. 

•Miscellaneous.

She’s got a collection of small cat toys that she brings whenever she feels the need to get out of the protocol and find little furry friends wandering the streets. Albeit nervous, Fade invites you to her outings when your friendship begins as a way to get to know you better. 

She already thinks you’re pretty and interesting on their own, gathering the courage to ask to hangout is a lot coming from her, she hopes you get the message and simply accept it. If you don't, that's alright, but know that that might put a strain on the friendship since Fade gave it her all and being rejected hurts her. 

With time though, things go back to normal.

When you confess to Fade, it takes her by surprise; she doesn’t know how to react to it but acts upon her wants. 

The first kiss you share is intense, full of passion and overwhelming feelings, things get to heat up intensely and Fade has half the mind to actually want to stop.

She’s a very passionate lover, you find out, waking up the next morning cuddled up to her body and lips sore. 

Not that you complain.

[hillbillyoracle]

What Made My Life Better in 2023

One of the things I'm thinking about a lot as I get ready for 2024 is what actually made an impact for me in the last year. It was interesting to think through because it was neither what I expected nor what I had always heard would help me. Instead it was often small changes that stacked into something much more helpful and interesting when put together.

I wanted to share them in case it's helpful for anyone else.

#1 - Adaptive Cleaning

While I still use elements of other cleaning systems, the base of what I do is firmly rooted in Sarah McGlory's Adaptive Cleaning ideas. I started implementing it about halfway through the year in earnest, though I stumbled upon it a year or two ago, and it's made a huge difference. This is the cleanest my space has ever been and the fewest flares I've ever had and I genuinely do credit her ideas for being a big reason for that.

#2 - My Care Kit

About halfway through the year I also threw together this care kit that I keep by my bed. It has everything I need to do my skincare, brush my teeth, and do my makeup - all without leaving my bed. While I've felt embarrassed at just how much it's done for me, I think it's a great example of "do what works." I just don't like get up once I've sat down for the evening. And it's easier to get up if I already have all that stuff done. Not only have I kept up with skincare and other habits probably the best out of any point in my life, but the mood and self esteem boost it gives me has allowed me to do more of what I want in other areas too.

#3 - 750 Words

I start using 750 Words on a whim. I had liked doing morning pages but could never really keep up with them, especially on days when I was really struggling with my hands. I wound up really taking to it and have only missed a few days since I started in November. I wound up paying for a year of it because I'm that certain of it's benefit. I've written way more for my zines, my mental health is a little better, and it serves as an anchor habit for several others. I love the simplicity of it. I can usually crank out my freewrite for the day in about 10 minutes - I like 10 minutes being my new minimum versus the zero it was.

#4 - Laundry Day

This might seem obvious or silly to you but as someone who has tried a lot of cleaning routines, I was so used to the a load a day rule that I never questioned it. That is until I read Dana K. White's book How To Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind. She talks about her laundry system and it just completely changed my perspective. Laundry day has given me so much of my time back and I more regularly do more of our laundry. I'm sure other people were aware this was an option but I guess I needed someone to tell me.

#5 - Connecting with a Sangha

I'd been putting off connecting with a Sangha for a while. I knew I wasn't going to be in a place to go in person (I'm about an hour and a half any moderate sized city) and only meeting online felt like a pale imitation. But I was wrong. I got connected with the Furnace Mountain Zen Center based here in Kentucky and started attending more of their weekday meditation sessions and at home day retreats as I was able. It really deepened my practice and has remained a touchstone to return back to when I got through times life pulls me away. I wish I would have done it sooner. If you're Buddhist leaning in any way, I really recommend finding a Sangha - even if it's online.

I hope this sparks some ideas for other people. None of the "productivity" stuff I tried this year "worked" in the sense of sticking or allowing me to do more. The closest was probably pomodoros on a visual timer, which are genuinely helpful. But mostly it was acts of nurturance, curiosity, and care that really elevated my life this year.

May 2024 be even better!

[hisui-dreamer]

could you possibly do some headcanons of some twst boys of your choice with a skinny reader?? if not its fine lol

his unconditional acceptance

Characters: Deuce, Azul, Epel, Silver

Synopsis: How does your lover treat you if you're insecure about being skinny?

Tags: reader is skinny, fluff, comfort, bot proofread

Word count: 936

Notes: Thanks for asking! I took this as a 'insecure about being skinny' sort of reader bc some of my friends are like that and I have more references hehe. Also gentle reminder that all body types are equally lovable and there's no need to change anything as long as you're comfortable! Variety in people exist and that's what makes people special &lt;3

Part 2 ✧ Masterlist

Deuce finds it a bit confusing that you would be insecure

he thinks you’re absolutely perfect and he’s still surprised you like him!

but without a doubt, he’s very supportive of you

he values hard work and self-improvement, so he understands the struggles of insecurity and would want to help you overcome them in any way he can

he can be a bit blunt at times but it’s always laced with genuine care and concern for your well-being

provides reassurance and encouragement, and incredibly patient in helping you build self-confidence

constantly reminds you that you are valued and loved just the way you are

his lack of tact and slip-ups may sometimes unintentionally hurt your feelings

but he’s super quick to apologize and make amends, please don’t be upset!

invites to go jogging with him so you can exercise some, and automatically matches his pace with yours

 gets you water and towels the instant you need it

he tries super hard to support you in whatever way he can

is also super willing to beat anyone up who dares comment on something they shouldn’t have

Deuce’s cheeks are flushed as he tries to meet your gaze. "Remember that you are so much stronger than you think. You have overcome challenges before, and you have the resilience to overcome these insecurities too. I'll be here to cheer you on every step of the way." He smiles genuinely, fiddling with his hair.

Azul loves you for who you are beyond your physical appearance

as someone who has struggled with his own self-esteem and acceptance of his body, he’s more sensitive about body image and is surprisingly empathetic (for a scammy businessman) towards others who also face body-related challenges

he feels a bit self-conscious about his own appearance in comparison to you at first

but he strives to be supportive, understanding, and accepting of your body size

he knows firsthand how hurtful it can be to be judged or bullied for you appearance

he puts his silver tongue to use and showers you with compliments and gifts so often you won’t have time to doubt yourself

hugs you and whispers words of affection in your ears

he won’t stop until you accept them

this man is willing to go to great lengths to please you and make you happy

loves getting you snacks whenever you feel hungry

and indulges you on any food cravings

also sometimes sends the leech twins to check up on you to see if you’ve eaten

"Oh Angelfish," Azul says as he pulls you into a comforting hug."You are deserving of love and acceptance, regardless of your size or appearance. You are so much more than your physical body, and I admire you for who you are on the inside."

Epel empathises with you a lot

he is more understanding and supportive towards your insecurities

he knows firsthand how it feels to be dissatisfied with your own body

makes you so many apple treats so you can munch on them whenever you’re hungry

he tries to boost your confidence by offering words of encouragement and reassurance

he doesn’t like showing you his weak side, but sometimes he shares his own struggles and how he has learned to cope with them

he will rant to you a lot about vil

it’s a team effort of growing to be comfortable in your own skin

you learn together to focus on their strengths and accomplishments

the two of you set realistic goals for self-improvement on daily habits together

it’s a cute relationship where you both learn and grow

listens patiently and offers gentle words of affirmation

loves giving hugs, holding hands, or just gentle physical reassurance

he’s so happy that you can find comfort in him

also tries to eat most of his meals with you so he can make sure you’re eating properly

Epel clutches both of your hands, his eyes firmly on yours. "I know it's hard when ya wanna change things 'bout yourself, but remember, you're my sweetheart, and I love ya just the way ya are. I wouldn't change a thing about ya. You're special and unique, and that's what makes ya truly beautiful in my eyes!" he exclaims.

Silver's super supportive of anything you do

make efforts to reassure you and boost your self-esteem, showing kindness and empathy towards your concerns

always listens to you talk about your worries attentively no matter how trivial it is

offers words of encouragement and tries taking actions to help you

this man tries super hard to fight off his sleep for you

when he does eventually fall asleep, his first thoughts are you and how you’re faring

takes on a role of being a protector and supporter for you, always trying to make you feel safe and secure in their relationship

he is patient and understanding towards your insecurities given his serious and reserved demeanour

patient and understanding, never rushing or pressuring you to change or be someone you’re not

accepts your insecurities and helps working towards building your confidence at your own pace

he’s your knight after all, he would definitely go above and beyond to ensure your well-being, both physically and emotionally

becomes more assertive in addressing any negative influences or situations that could affect your self-esteem

Silver knelt to the ground, placing his lips on your hand. "I am here to support you, my love, through thick and thin. Your size or shape does not matter to me, for it is your heart and soul that have captured mine," he promises as he looks up at you, his eyes full of love.

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Part 2 ✧ Masterlist