#also the bedtime hour song. nostalgic

[moonlit-orchid]

So I'm getting in bed, and my Isabelle plushie gets moved around, so of course the lil bell on her... ponytail? rings with the movement. And I'm like "man I really like this sound, I wonder why it's so nice" and I shake her gently.

And then I realise.

It's because she sounds like fucking Iggle Piggle-

[loublu8]

can you just ramble? ramble for as long as you want. as a fellow late 00s brit who's into some of the same interests as you (specifically vida the vet, charlie and lola, me too, balamory, abadas, and literally just any other cbeebies show i grew up with) i'd love to hear it!

if it's a ramble you want, a ramble you shall get. In other words here's like, my complete history with CBeebies. As a 08' kid, I was born in a weird transitional period for the channel. This was one year after they introduced the now iconic blocks of Get Set Go, Discover and Do and Big Fun Time, and Chris and Pui were going to move on from pres in 09' to work on Show Me Show Me. Postman Pat was just fresh from it's big SDS overhaul, which people either loved or hated (I think I liked it as a kid but looking back on it, it's nothing to get worked up over IMO, I just don't get why Pat can do James Bond-esque stunts now and is perfectly content riding a motorcycle.). Oh, and there was this little show about a garden of the night that began the year prior, I doubt that you've heard of it. Yeah, In the Night Garden was probably the first major CBeebies show I remember getting obsessed with, and looking back at it? I honestly don't know why. It's not a bad show at all, don't get me wrong, but I don't know why I was so obsessed over it to the point of having this dancing Igglepiggle toy as a kid.

Also, I remember loving the Hahoos as a young'un, part because a CBeebies magazine I got ages ago had little Hahoo toys. I took them on holiday to Turkey with me, yeah can you tell I'm autistic? I don't think I have them anymore, and if I do they're probably all scuffed up and missing paint. But that's okay, I can easily buy them on eBay to fill a place in 2 year old me's hear- HOW MUCH FOR 5 SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC?

Yeah I didn't know these things were going for this much until my mum saw someone on Facebook ranting on how stupid expensive they are nowadays about a year ago. Anyways, on the topic of CBeebies' Bedtime Hour (and A Quarter nowadays), there's one elephant in the room I must discuss, the closedown screen.

This slightly green thing telling you to get some sleep absolutely terrified me as a kid though, it wasn't on the same level as the Eastenders theme's doofs and Christmas crackers if I remember correctly, but it still gave me PTSD for years on end. (Hey, at least I wasn't around for when the channel started, I really wanna meet whoever thought it was a great idea to make this screen bright blinding pink right after the goodnight song settled everyone down, just so I can tell them how dumb that idea was.)

Like all things I was spooked of as a kid, I got over it when I was getting nostalgic for the brand. Speaking of closedown screens, how is the closedown screen for the 2023 rebrand really good? Like, it would make a great screensaver without the text. You can say what you want about the new logo (which I think is fine, it fits in with the rest of the modern BBC branding so it succeeds in that aspect), but you gotta admit they did a really good job with revamping the idents for the channel.

Anyways, onto more of my favourite CBeebies shows. Charlie and Lola is easily up there as one of my favourites. It'sMy mum distinctly recalls taking me to the live stage show (which, live stage shows are a whole other can of worms I can talk about), and I couldn't remember much about it so I researched it, and it looks like they did a ridiculously good job of translating the show to a stage play while keeping the show's unique artstyle.

Balamory, obviously as a CBeebies viewer prior to 2016, I know what a Balamory is. I don't need to explain it. Though one weird memory I have is I remember going past the local barbers one day and seeing a Balamory rerun airing. I dunno why they showed CBeebies in the barbers of all places. On the other hand, Me Too!, which to me always felt like Balamory, but a wee bit worse (because that's exactly what it was!), and I don't remember my exact feelings towards it as a kid, but as a teenager, I became obsessed with it after found the Me Too! YouTube channel after I was pretty much done binge-watching Abadas. It quickly became my main comfort show, like if I'm not in the mood for anything else, just stick an episode of Me Too! on, there's like 150 episodes and I'm not sure if I've even seen over half of them. I've seen more MT! eps than Balamory though, probably cause it's more easily accessible. With Balamory, you gotta go on the internet archive for episodes of that. Abadas was one of the shows I distinctly remembered the intro for, though I misremembered it with Baby Jake of all shows (they came out around the same time). I went and revisited it one January day in 2023, around the time I was starting to put my Bubble Guppies hyperfix on the backseat as the show was about to end, and instantly fell in love with it. Really wish the production company behind the show didn't go bust as there was a lot of cool supplementary material with the show as well, they did a bunch of shorts on Vimeo which I happily recommend.

Eventually, I fell out of CBeebies around 2014 or so as, well, I was getting older and was ready to move on to more grown up shows (this is coming from the same kid who kept actively watching Nick Jr. well into his teenage years). But then I was channel surfing at my nan's around October 2019 or so and decided to stick CBeebies on for fun after deciding whatever was being shown on Challenge was too boring, I guess. Something Special was probably the show that launched me back into my CBeebies hyperfix, yea of all shows. Completely forgot the show used Makaton and as someone who was interested in sign language I went on a binge-spree to study all of Justin's signs. I became fairly competent at it. I got into Hey Duggee for a a bit as well, known as every parent's lifeline apparently. The game show episode is one of my favourites, mostly due to all the fun references they crammed into the episode. As a fan of the shows we people call game, it was a fun surprise. I also rediscovered some of my old childhood favourites that were still getting reruns. Swashbuckle was a bit too recent for me to have recalled watching it as a kid but my brother was certainly around for it and Tree Fu Tom, which was still rerunning at the time. Charlie and Lola still aired reruns, and back in 2019 I kinda just glanced at without much thought before realising a few years later that it was actually really good. Night Garden made me cry of nostalgia, and I also thought Baby Jake was the biggest feverdream ever conceived on television. I even was one of the weirdo's who listened to CBeebies Radio, though honestly there's no point in listening to it live as you can find all it's content on the Sounds app. Admittedly, I haven't gotten super into Bluey. Y'know, the most popular preschool show of this decade that didn't begin in this decade? Yeah I watched about 10-15 episodes of it, said "wow, this is one of the best preschool shows ever crafted", and then moved on to watching the same 40 Blue's Clues & You! episodes again. I'm sure if I force myself to binge watch it more I'll fall head over heels in love with it though. So if I haven't gone crazy for Bluey, what modern CBeebies shows have I gone crazy for? Funnily enough, two that released within the span of around 5 months. The Game Catchers was the first one I got into. I just kept binging episodes and instantly fell in love with it. Always thought the show's main concept was really, REALLY good. Teaching kids about outdoor games in the day and age of iPads is a really smart move. Don't really see many people in the fanbase yet unfortunately, it's certainly one my favourite CBeebies shows from the last 5 years. Also it has absolutely ruined me as any time I hear or say the phrase "so cute" I immediately have to connect it to Nina.

Vida on the other hand I pretty naturally got into. I checked it out, watched the first few episodes, and thought it was pretty good, but never intended it to become my next big hyperfixation. I was sooooooo wrong. I've always had a soft spot for shows with cute animals (Was a big LPS 2012 fan way back when) so naturally this was always destined to be a show I'd fall in love with. I also love all the characters in the show too. Pippen's my personal favourite, but Zigzag is a REALLY close second though. She's a cute bunny who canonically has ADHD. What's not to love.

Okay I think I've talked enough and I've been typing this out for like, 2 hours, I really need some sleep. I could talk about all sorts of other CBeebies shows I enjoy (LazyTown, Tish Tash, JoJo & Gran Gran, Carrie & David's Popshop's a more recent one I've binged from the days of old) but I've talked enough so yeah.

[zet-sway]

OC GAME THING

heY THANKS A BUNCH FOR TAGGING ME I had a lot of fun with this

I was tagged by like at least three people @spookyvalentine @rosenkow and @yennas THANK YOU ALL OF YOU THANK YOU

December Shepard

Look ya'll I suck at modding so her hair just isn't what I envision and that's okay lmao

General-

Name: December Shepard

Alias(es): Jack calls her Big D. Otherwise she goes by Shepard or Dess (and eventually Siha c:)

Gender: Cisgender woman with tomboy / androgynous gender expression

Age: 32 by the end of the war. Shepard and the alliance agreed to count the two years she was dead in her age, simply to avoid the confusion of having to explain "i was dead for two years" to every person who contested her age being two years short of her birth year.

Birthdate: April 11, 2154

Place of birth: United States Civilian Station Hadid USCS-HDD-3963

Hometown: Lived on the CS Hadid for a while but ultimately got jostled around with her military parents.

Spoken language(s): Galactic standard / English

Sexual preference: Demi-pansexual/bisexual

Occupation: Joined the Alliance at 18, became a fighter mechanic, then whoops she did something important and she's been selected for ITC and now she's a Spectre. (I'm still figuring out how this happened lmao)

Appearance-

Eye color: Greeeeen

Hair color: Red

Height: 5'-7"

Scars: Long scar on her left forearm from a door that had a sharp edge. Post-war she's all fucked up from the crucible including a line across her scalp that just won't grow back.

Favorite-

Color: Red and green

Hair Scale color: green

Song: I don't know what kind of music they're listening to in 2180whatever but here's a playlist I made for her. (Spoiler alert it's all 90's music because I think she'd listen to nostalgic shit)

Food: Coffee (Yes it's food and she will fight you)

Drink: Coffee coffee coffee coffee

Have They-

Passed university: Graduated N school so uhhh

Had sex: Prior to Thane had a handful of flings.

Had sex in public: In the alliance, privacy is hard to come by lol

Gotten pregnant: Nope.

Kissed a boy: Ya

Kissed a girl: First kiss was a girl

Gotten tattoos: No but would like to

Gotten piercings: yeah you should have seen her mom's face when she came home to find her daughter had a lip ring at 16. She doesn't wear it anymore since joining the alliance.

Been in love: Oohhoohoooo Sere Krios

Stayed up for more than 24 hours: *laughs in N7*

Are They-

A virgin: Virginity, as we know, is a construct designed to put women in arbitrary categories of "purity" or whatever. Also this question was asked already lol

A cuddler: Yes but also bored easily so doesn't like to cuddle for very long unless it's bedtime or unless there's some kind of movie or conversation happening.

A kisser: yeah and she's had more than a few makeout sessions with various people throughout her life. Kissing is fine - it's moving past the kiss that's hard for her.

Scared easily: No fear / one fear meme about losing Thane or suffocating in space again

Jealous easily: She experiences jealousy and then manages it like an adult.

Dominant: Maybe sorta kinda has a thing for people calling her "Commander" in bed - but she won't fucking admit it.

Submissive: In the bedroom: not with anyone but Thane - but that's more of an exploratory thing than something they do all the time. Submission is an act of trust for her. Outside the bedroom: she didn't get promoted for her ability to submit lol

In love: Yes ( ◜‿◝ )♡

Single: Nope

Random Questions (tw for self harm/suicide mention)-

Have they harmed themselves: Not intentionally.

Thought of suicide: Thought about it, after being resurrected by Cerberus.

Attempted suicide: No

Wanted to kill someone: She wanted to kill Dr. Gavin Archer lmao

Have / had a job: Former mechanic aboard the SSV Hawking.

Have any fears: The reapers winning. Becoming a reaper husk. Getting spaced again. Losing Thane. Mom finding out she's in bed with a lizard man.

Family-

Sibling(s): None to speak of

Parent(s): Hannah Shepard, with whom she has a rocky but not horrible relationship. Dad passed away before she joined the Military and it was a whole thing and she doesn't want to talk about it.

Children: No. And she won't call Kolyat her stepson, but she does treat him like family.

Significant other: Eventually marries Thane, some years after the war.

Pet(s): Cats. Post-retirement she has chickens.

I'm tagging @commander-krios @saecookie @shut-up-alexa @quietonewisp @battlemastershepard @golickadrell yahhh uhhhhh I'm so bad at tags IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS PLEASE FEEL FREE :D no pressure

[thekidultlife]

THE RETURN OF SUPERMAN | Kwon Soonyoung

Author’s Note: This is definitely one of my most favorite writings! Sorry I’m behind the posting schedule a little bit. Unstable internet connections are THE WORST!

Genre: I KNOW I’VE BEEN HURTING PEOPLE WITH MY TROS SPINOFFS, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS STORY IS A HAPPY PILL. IT’S FLUFF. LITERALLY.

Word Count: 5,840

6:47 P.M.

It is nighttime and cameras are panning around a very cozy nursery. The walls are wallpapered with a pastel kind of yellow filled with clouds, ponies, fairies and more animal pets, some of which double into night lights. A dresser is pushed up to one wall, where baby pictures of the cute little room owner are found, along with her parents in what appeared to be a photoshoot. A clock and little blocks that spelled out Y-U-N-A are also on the dresser. Airplanes, more clouds and stars hang on the ceilings, reflecting the soft glow of the lamplights. The windows are hidden by billowy cream-colored curtains.

One camera is panning down from the plush, carpeted floor, up to the center of the room, on which a massive, white crib could be found. A very cute, chubby-cheeked little baby girl with a jeweled crown on top her soft curls was on the crib, her chubby hands clapping with delight. Her squeals and vibrant peals of laughter filled the whole room. But it was another kind of noise that made cameramen chuckle.

Thud. “Ow!” Kwon Soonyoung rubbed his forehead in mock agony. He made a crying face and pretended to sob loudly, kneeling on the carpeted floor. But he peered behind his hands on his face, grinning, as the baby burst out laughing again, her hands clapping as she did so. Her cheeks had gone red with her giggles.

When the laughter stopped and the baby simply sat there, her whole face waiting and expectant for the next thing about to happen to her dad, Soonyoung decided to do it one last time. He drew close to the crib and pretended to bang his head on the wood. Thud. He rolled back on the floor. “Ow!”

The baby rolled back her head, tears rolling down her cheeks as her guttural baby giggles wracked her entire body. She slumped on the soft quilt of her crib, laughing and laughing.

“Wow, Kwon Yuna,” Kwon Soonyoung muttered, tired of having done the same trick for about thirty minutes now. “You never get tired, do you? Come here.” Soonyoung reached out to take the child. “Let me put you to sleep properly.” He looked at the clock on the dresser. “It’s almost past your bedtime!” Like the pro appa that he was, he cradled Yuna in his arms, which she was already starting to outgrow. How much time do I have left to carry you like this? He thought fondly, already nostalgic of the moment that his baby would grow too heavy for his arms. Then he softly padded to one side of the room, next to the windows, where a rocking chair was. Yuna liked to be rocked to sleep.

He sat there for a long time, rocking and rocking her in his arms. Yuna reached out to touch Soonyoung’s face with her tiny hands, wondering at his face.

Soonyoung smiled and kissed her forehead. “Sleep, little one! Sleep, Kwon Yuna!” He started humming a lullaby to lull her to sleep.

After a few more minutes, Kwon Yuna’s eyes began to droop. She cooed sleepily, and as her head dropped to Soonyoung’s chest, her little crown fell on the carpet. Soonyoung hoisted her carefully on his one arm to pick up the crown, all the while singing the lullaby softly. Soon, deep breaths told him that his baby girl had fallen asleep. Soonyoung carefully stood up, peered into Yuna’s peaceful, sleeping face again, and laid her down gently on the crib.

He stood there watching her for a few minutes before he smiled and whispered, “Good night, my baby girl.” Then he slowly walked out of the nursery and into the adjoining bedroom. He left the door open just in case Yuna might wake up in the early morning hours. Cameras rolled slowly as Soonyoung laid on his bed, exhausted.

He faintly smelled of milk, baby lotion and cereal, but he could not be bothered to get up from the bed. He closed his eyes and began to doze off. It was still early, just barely past 7 p.m., but he felt drained of all energy. He smiled as he thought of Yuna giggling and reached out his hand to grab you close to him, but then he remembered: right. He’s alone, and he’s going to be for the next forty-eight hours. He reached for his phone on the bedtable and pressed the speed-dial to call you.

“My love!” He whispered excitedly when you picked up.

From the other end of the line and a continent away, you grinned. “Hey, Superdad.”

“Hey yourself. Yuna’s sleeping now.” Soonyoung touched his shirt lightly. “And I think I should change my shirt because I got soaked with milk earlier but I’m too tired to stand up.”

“Are you sure she’s asleep? Already?”

“Of course!” Soonyoung smiled at the direction of the nursery. “Our baby sleeps nicely when I rock her to sleep. I think she really likes me more than she likes you.”

You scoffed mockingly. “Don’t kid yourself.”

“Jealous, are we?” Soonyoung giggled, almost very much like Yuna. “I thought we talked about not getting jealous when our Yuna likes one of us more.”

“In your dreams, Kwon Soonyoung.”

Soonyoung took a pillow and hugged it to himself. “I miss you.”

You lay back on your bed for the night, too, a queen-sized one that was very comfortable but seemed empty without Soonyoung beside you. “I miss you, too. But don’t be such a baby! The cameras are rolling and they might think you’re too crazy about me.”

Soonyoung laughed at that. “But aren’t I?” He snuggled onto the pillow on his head, still holding the phone to his other ear. “I really am crazy about you.”

You blushed. “I love you.”

Cries from the nursery made Soonyoung sit up on the bed. “Okay! I think I have to go now.”

You smiled and closed your eyes. “Bye.”

“Hey.” Soonyoung was sliding into his slippers and shuffling on to the direction of the nursery door. “I love you, too, by the way.”

You laughed. “Good night, Yuna-appa. And change your shirt. Really!”

INTERVIEW WITH KWON SOONYOUNG, 30:

SOONYOUNG: (Bows as best he could with a baby girl on his lap.) Hello, everyone! Most people know me onscreen as Hoshi from SEVENTEEN, but right now in this show I am simply Kwon Soonyoung. (Yuna squeals on his lap, and he grins.) That’s a hello from my eight-month-old baby here, Kwon Yuna! We are both very excited to be on this show. (Reaches down as Yuna fusses and brings a bottle to Yuna’s lips.) Among my SEVENTEEN bros, I’m the youngest dad as of the moment. We often chat each other up and they always give me advice about how to do things since I’m still a bit clueless. They say baby years are the best years because you bond a lot with the baby, and you get fascinated by how they just grow up before you know it. (Kisses Yuna as she is busy with her milk bottle.) I’m really happy that I get to experience being her dad. It’s both a terrifying and beautiful experience. I just hope to be the best dad I could be for her.

Q: Are you on an indefinite break from work just to be with your wife and baby daughter?

SOONYOUNG: (Nods and smiles brightly.) Yes! Actually, I did not want to do so immediately because I felt like I might leave them unprepared since we are also readying for a comeba—oops. (Lowers his head, laughing.) Omo. I can’t believe it. Even as a dad I say things I’m not supposed to say. Anyway. Um. The members all insisted that I take the time to go and take care of Yuna here. I do go with them every now and then, mostly on mornings, so I could catch up with practice. My body clock changed after months of being with Yuna. I wake up earlier and I sleep earlier but these days I also have to wake up in the middle of the night. Yuna is at the age where she sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night and cries for us. She knows we will come if she cries. (Ruffles Yuna’s hair playfully and Yuna smiles with her eyes at this, her toothless smile adorably seen as she stops drinking her milk to revel at her dad’s touch.) She’s pretty spoiled, I think. But who am I to complain? Looking this cute, I could not help but forgive her for waking her parents up at odd hours just so she could see us. (Grins at the camera.) Sorry. I know I’m being such a dad right now, spoiling my baby. But hey, that’s what dads do! (Laughs and takes the empty bottle from Yuna, and then bows again.) Please enjoy spending your day with us!

6:30 A.M.

NARRATOR: *Someone is having a very happy bath this morning! Let us see! The happy laughter is infectious! What lies ahead for a morning at the Kwon residence?*

“Ap-paaa!!! Wwaaaahhhbbbbiiiii!!!”

“I know! Your appa picked such a cute song! Good morning, too, Kwon Yuna!” Soonyoung happily translated as the Yuna played with the water on her bathtub. She giggled as bubbles erupted out of the water. Soonyoung scrubbed on her arms, her face.

Dad and baby are inside the bathroom next to the nursery. Both have been up for hours.

“Ggggurbbbbuuu app-paaa?” Yuna chatted with her appa, touching his cheek with a tiny hand filled with bubbles.

“Yes. The eyebags look awful, right? I had to stay up later for you!”

“Biiiii???” Yuna pressed, her eyes looking serious as Soonyoung rinsed her shampooed baby hair gently with warm water. “Bbbibbugabb???”

“Uh-huh. That late. But we’re still best friends! You slept very peacefully after I rocked you to sleep for the second time. Very good girl!” Kwon Yuna liked to wake up early and Soonyoung usually took that time to draw her a bath and get her things ready for the day. Once Yuna wakes up, the whole house wakes up, too! Who needs clocks? Yuna was one! My world literally revolves around this little person! Soonyoung thought to himself as he reached for a towel.

“Bbubbbubbbbbu,” Yuna babbled to her dad as he picked her up from the bubbly bathtub to dry her with a towel and dryer. “Gguggudduuuu!!! Ap-ppa, ap-ppa, appa!”

“Right! Your appa is so amazing, taking care of you all night and giving you a bath! He’s the best appa in the world! Isn’t he?” Soonyoung interpreted confidently as he playfully kissed his baby girl’s cheeks. “Wow. Eomma did a not-so-bad job at picking your bath soap. My love, if you’re watching this, I really dig this bath soap. Buy one for us, too!”

Yuna pinched Soonyoung’s cheeks playfully while he got placed her down the changing table. “Appa? Ggubbbuuu!!!”

“I know! You’re cute, too!” Soonyoung deftly got Yuna into her diapers and hauled her up into his arms. She squealed as they both got out of the bathroom and Soonyoung set her down on the newly vacuumed carpet, letting Yuna crawl around. Yuna gasped in delight at being let down. “Behave while appa gets out your clothes for you, okay?”

After dressing her up in a cute strawberry jumper that had green wings at the back, tying her hair rather clumsily with strawberry ponytails and securing her stray locks into another strawberry-themed hairband, Soonyoung grinned. “Cute, cute, cute!!!” He peppered Yuna with kisses. “Cute, cute, cute!!!”

Kwon Yuna did look like the cutest strawberry fairy, beaming at her dad, clapping her hands before ignoring him entirely and crawling around the nursery, gasping again as her quick little eyes found a picture book that was placed strategically by Soonyoung right where she could see it. She crawled faster with her hands and feet, straining just to get to the picture book. Upon reaching the picture book, she squealed out something like, “Gggaaaahhhhh!!!”

“Yas, girl! Like I told your eomma when we bought you stuff, that picture book is cool!” Soonyoung again translated, lying on his stomach next to his strawberry fairy, who looked like utterly amazed by the picture book, which contained different kinds of colors. Yuna stood up shakily, bouncing on her feet as she stood, before plunking down and sitting with her legs crossed, looking very much like a—yes, a strawberry. She babbled happily as she reached out to touch the book.

“Waaasss?”

“Okay. We’ve done this yesterday, remember?” Soonyoung sat up and imitated how Yuna sat. Then he pointed at the bright color on the book which Yuna was touching with her finger. “Red.” Soonyoung tapped the color again. “Red.”

“W-wed,” Yuna breathed out, her voice unabashedly wondering.

Soonyoung excitedly tapped it again and bent down to listen closer. “Red.”

“Wed!!!” Yuna giggled and clapped her hands, excited at mimicking Soonyoung’s words.

“Yaaayyy! Yuna deserves a kiss!!! Kiss!!!” Soonyoung picked her up and held her into the air, kissing her cheeks as she laughed in delight. “Good job, best friend!” Then he settled her onto his lap and took the picture book. He smiled at Yuna again before tapping another color. “Blue.”

Yuna puckered her lips and looked up at Soonyoung. “Byue?”

“Yaaayyy!!! Way to go, best friend! Yes!” Yuna giggled again as Soonyoung held her up into the air and gave her her reward: appa’s fluttery kisses. “Okay, let’s say it again!” Carefully, Soonyoung put her closer to the book balanced on his one knee so Yuna could touch it. He pointed at the color again. “Blue.”

“Byuuueeeee!!!” Yuna mouthed just like Soonyoung. “Byue!!!”

“Very good, Kwon Yuna!” Another flight up, another kiss. “What’s this color?” Soonyoung pointed back to the first color they learned about. “It starts like r—”

“—Wed,” Yuna said confidently. “Wed!”

“And this one?”

“B-byue!”

Soonyoung laughed and proceeded to educate Yuna about colors. Byue, wed, gweeen, pppink…you get the idea. The baby talk drove Soonyoung nuts but he was fascinated that Yuna was learning so quickly. She’s definitely persistent, Soonyoung noticed fondly. She would touch a color, hear him say it over ang over again, and then repeat. She loved getting kisses and she loved flying with her dad’s arms. Cameras zoomed in on the father and daughter as they forgot the picture book, doing something much more fun-filled for Yuna. She was hoisted up by her dad’s arms, flying around the room, her green wings fluttering, her ponytails whipping around as Soonyoung “flew” her around the room.

“AppaI Appa!” She giggled, loving her flight like the strawberry fairy that she is. Cameramen chuckled as her guttural giggles filled the whole room again. “Wheeeeeeeeee!!!”

Soonyoung stopped, cradling her back again into his arms and raining hugs and kisses on her. “Love you best friend!!!”

“Appa!” Yuna said in babyish delight. “Appa! Mmmnam?” Yuna gesticulated with her hands, suddenly fussing now. “Mmmm?”

“Now that,” Soonyoung murmured as he kissed Yuna again, “is Yuna talk for ‘food, appa?’ Such a bright little princess! Off to breakfast we go!”

INTERVIEW WITH KWON SOONYOUNG, 30:

Q: As asked to the other members, were you there when Kwon Yuna was born?

SOONYOUNG: (Nods happily.) Yes, I was! Unlike the other SVT dads, my wife’s labor pains came right on schedule. It was difficult for them because childbirth is very unpredictable at times. My wife used to have long phone sessions with other SVT mommies about how she might have an expected due date but that sometimes the labor comes sooner or later—we were both nervous. I asked for a break then, too, two weeks in advance, just so I could be there for her when the time comes. She got contractions as early as two weeks, so we were kinda expecting that she might give birth sooner. But Yuna came out exactly on the due date as stated by our OB/GYN. (Stares off into a distance, transported by the memory.) I remember phoning Cheol and asking him what to do. He was my closest neighbor since they live just a few blocks away from our house, and we had bonded quite a lot during the pregnancy because he was the one who gave me advice the most. (Breaks into a smile.) He offered to drive us to the hospital the moment my wife’s water broke that morning. Which was really great because I kept panicking and I was almost noisier than my wife during the whole drive to the hospital. Seungcheol-hyung was like, “Calm down, calm down, breathe” and I was like, “Does it hurt, my love? What do I do? You can punch me or slap me if you want if it helps” and I remember my wife laughing and crying at the same time because she said I was too hilarious to watch as I panicked. (Soonyoung sheepishly grins.) It was true, I was a bit too much. I remember pacing on the floor as she gave birth. She was in labor until evening. The members came to the hospital and waited with me, which became some sort of tradition whenever one of us gets to hold our kids for the first time. So all of them were there when I got to peek inside the hospital room. My wife was awake, and she was holding the baby. I remember taking the baby—(gesticulates how)—very carefully, and just staring dumbstruck at the tiny creature in my arms. I was like super amazed because there she was, my baby! I helped make this beautiful baby girl! I was also sort of terrified because I could already see my face in her. (Laughs loudly as he remembers his expression.) But all in all I was just, plain, simple happy…when her tiny fingers enclosed my thumb, I was like, in love all over again. The tears just started falling when she did that. (Shakes his head while smiling.) The members were telling me things like, “You should name her after you because you look so much like each other” but my wife objected thankfully. My wife and I named her “Yuna”.

Q: We’ve heard that there was a special reason why you named her, “Yuna.” Can we ask what it is?

SOONYOUNG: (Claps his hands together when he remembers why.) Yes, there was a reason! My wife was having these very strange cravings with food and movies and she just wanted to be with me most of the time. She even followed me around tours and fanmeets for a while. Wonu joked to me that that was probably why Yuna looked so much like me. Which is true, I think. (Laughs again.) Anyway, for about seven months, I would just lie with my wife on our bed, re-watching Kim Yuna’s figure-skating competitions. She was very much addicted to Kim Yuna. She’d never had a very keen liking for figure-skating or the Olympics before or any sport in particular, so I was really, really surprised. It was when she was already about four months pregnant, that we’d decided that if her Kim Yuna frenzy would not stop by then, we would name our baby after Kim Yuna if our baby would be a girl. (Soonyoung smiles at the camera and bows.) Kim Yuna-ssi, you were such an inspiration. Thank you very much!

7:15 A.M.

NARRATOR: *Let’s see what baby Yuna will have for breakfast! Looks like Kwon-appa is busy making something on the kitchen counter! What could it be?*

“Our Yuna, just wait patiently for your meal,” Soonyoung called out in a sing-song voice.

The strawberry fairy sat tapping her own spoon on her highchair table, making gurgling noises as she chatted with herself. She would squeal at times when she found a tapping rhythm that she liked, but every now and then, she would look up to the direction across her. “Appa?” she asked, her question understandable even by the other people watching from hidden places in the room. “Mmm, Appa?” How long are you going to make that breakfast, Appa?

Soonyoung was sterilizing the bowl that Yuna would use for eating, as well as her utensils. He put them into a saucepan and began putting in water. He waited until he had the water had already boiled for a few minutes before turning off the stove. Still humming (‘The Three Bears’ song was playing in the background) and eating his own apple—the half of the one he was going to use for Yuna’s breakfast—he poured the contents of another saucepan—chopped apples, oats, cinnamon and milk—into a blender. The sound of the whirring blender made Yuna drop the wooden spoon she was playing with.

“Ugh!” Her startled body shook, and her eyes widened.

NARRATOR: *Omo, she looked really surprised at the sound of the blender!*

“You’re still jumpy at the sound of the blender?” Soonyoung cooed as he munched his apple. “Don’t worry! Appa is here! It’s just a noise! Look!” Soonyoung pretended to bump his head on the cupboard. Thud. “Ow!”

Yuna forgot about the blender burst out laughing.

“Sometimes I wonder why we’re best friends, girl.” Soonyoung muttered. He pressed something on the blender, and it whirred again. Yuna once more looked startled. Soonyoung sighed and pretended to bump his head again. Thud. “Ow!”

Again, the little strawberry fairy doubled in laughter. She hiccuped as she did so—another sign that she was extremely happy.

The blender stopped whirring. Soonyoung finished his apple and checked to see if the mix had been pureed well. “Yes, yes, here it comes!”  A few moments later, Soonyoung gently laid before Yuna a plate of oat porridge and a sippy cup filled with unsweetened orange fruit drink.

INTERVIEW WITH KWON SOONYOUNG, 30:

SOONYOUNG: (Blushes at being complimented for being a good appa who knows how to prepare and cook baby breakfast.) I sort of cheated on that! I had to study very hard because even before we started taping for The Return of Superman series, my wife had to go on a very long trip for work. She’s a consultant for a technological company…which is kinda cliché by the way. I knew I fell in love with her when she showed me how to re-format my laptop. I just knew that moment! Anyway, she’s been away for almost a month now, but she’ll be back any day now. It’s just a matter of helping the company close that deal. (Shows a list on his phone.) See? She gave me this list of things to do with Yuna just in case I run out of ideas. But some of the ones at the top are a ‘must’. Like I really have to do it for Yuna whether I like it or not. Which involves cooking strange baby meals, crawling lessons—just kidding, of course, my love! (Blows a reconciliatory kiss at the camera.) You really researched these baby meals well! Good job!

“You are a very good girl this morning, so I took some time to find where Eomma put the recipe for your favorite porridge. She wanted you to eat something with spinach, but we’re going to have something more enjoyable!” The little girl clapped her hands, as if she really understood how her dad just disobeyed a direct order from Mommy Headquarters. “Let’s hope we don’t get in trouble, bestie! Who’s your best friend?” Soonyoung rubbed noses with Yuna, who giggled. “Who’s your best friend?”

“Appa!” Whether Yuna said that as a response or whether she just said it as some sort of reflex for her happiness. Nevertheless, these buoyant replies made Soonyoung smile even wider. His heart felt like it could burst inside him.

My baby just called me! Me! Or not. He tried not to look so happy, but the giddiness kept showing on his face. “That’s right!” Soonyoung eagerly said. “We’re best friends, girl. And we’re not gonna tell Eomma, right?”

Yuna’s eyes widened at that. Soonyoung nervously pulled the tray back a little bit. It was as if she understood! “Girl, you can’t tell on me, she’d be angry at the both of us!”

Yuna just kept looking at him.

Soonyoung stared back.

Uh-oh.

“Eomma, no-no?” Yuna looked thunderstruck that she would be asked to keep a secret from her . “Bbuggubbuubuu?”

Soonyoung stared deeply into his daughters eyes. “That’s right, bestie. This is just between you and me. Okay? Pinky-swear?” Soonyoung reached out to do a pinky-swear, but Yuna kept staring at him. Slowly, as if she was wiser than her eight-month-old self, she reached for her bowl.

“Ggaaahh.” She began spooning the cereal clumsily.

Soonyoung breathed a sigh of relief. This was probably nothing.

“Eat on, baby girl!” Soonyoung looked at his watch. We have to go for our walk soon!”

RECIPE FOR YUNA’S FAVORITE PORRIDGE (according to Kwon Soonyoung’s list on his phone):

Oats (instant) | 1.5 tblspn

Apple | ½ big apple

Cinnamon powder | ¼ tsp

Water | ½ cup or adjust depending on Yuna’s appetite

Sugar (optional, if the mix isn’t sweet enough but not too much!)

8:00 A.M.

“The walk” wasn’t actually anywhere far from the house. Using a stroller, Soonyoung would jog around the neighborhood, pointing out things that would make Yuna exclaim loudly as she curiously looked at the object of her attention. Sometimes it was a cat, sometimes it was a fellow baby being walked by a parent, sometimes it was a tree or a flowers or birds. They weren’t anywhere near a park, and Soonyoung usually had to make do with the neighborhood, which wasn’t so bad itself. It was very private and had walled, mostly traditional Korean houses. And it was a good way to get to know neighbors, too! They passed by Seungcheol’s house, which was one of the more modern-looking houses on the block and was empty. The family van was out, too, but Soonyoung saw cameras from windows. Probably at daycare, he thought to himself, before pushing Yuna’s stroller again.

After that walk with Yuna, who had gotten her much-needed Vitamin D from the sun, Soonyoung opened the back gate, where a playhouse that was connected to tunnels and assorted carpet squares, rugs and different type of surfaces were mapped out like a puzzle game on the manicured lawn. Soonyoung gently took Yuna out of the stroller and placed her on a pink carpet square.

“Let’s practice crawling, Kwon Yuna!” he said like a pro dad, already gathering different elastic balls. He then knelt, carefully watching as Yuna tried to place her hands on the carpet square. Her strawberry-green wings fluttered with the morning breeze. Soonyoung smiled broadly. “Yuna, look!” He placed a ball three squares away. “It’s a ball!”

“B-ball!!!” Yuna shrieked excitedly and began crawling on the towards as fast as her little limbs could carry her. Soonyoung excitedly bent down to help just in case she tumbles.

“Yes! A ball!”

Yuna reached for the ball with a hand and it bounced, sending her into more squeals. “Ball!” She clapped her hands as she sat up, her strawberry bottoms bouncing. “Ball!”

“Well…how about this one?” Soonyoung placed a stuffed star four squares away. “Star!”

“Tar! Tar!” Yuna excitedly clapped her hands again and began to crawl towards the star. Soonyoung was heady with excitement. Their lesson-slash-playtime session was going well for the first two tries! When Yuna reached the star, he began to put another object, this time, five squares away. It was Yuna’s favorite outdoor toy. If you know Soonyoung, then you guessed it: a stuffed tiger. “Tiger!”

“Hosh!!! Hosh!!!” Yuna screamed with delight, much happier than before, and was faster this time. The crawling took only about five seconds. She wasn’t hesitant about this particular object—she knew that toy!

Soonyoung thought of you then. “Blame yourself, my love,” you said loudly for the cameras, “our daughter is calling tigers by my stage name!”

Yuna grabbed the tiger’s nose clumsily with finger and thumb. Her face was red with excitement, and her cheeks looked very much like Soonyoung’s when he was younger. “Hoooshi! Hooooshi!” She hugged the tiger close to her, her wings fluttering with her bouncy movements again.

NARRATOR: *AWWW! Everyone’s hearts just fluttered at this show of affection! She must really love her tiger!!!*

Soonyoung smiled again, before taking the tiger from Yuna. Yuna pouted, having been deprived of Hoshi the Tiger.

“Hey, look! Hoshi wants to race!!!” Soonyoung scooted over the carpet squares and made the tiger “run” across the carpet squares and into the playhouse, with Yuna following happily as fast as she could, her giggles sending warmth into the cameramen who were filming the whole thing.

However, once father and daughter were resting on the playhouse, Soonyoung noticed a strange smell. Sniffing and looking at Yuna, who was looking up at him innocently with her mother’s eyes, Soonyoung groaned. “Okay! Playtime’s over!!! Let’s change your diaper.”

TIPS ON HOW TO CHANGE A BABY’S DIAPER (according to Kwon Soonyoung):

Make sure the diaper you are using is fit for your baby’s skin—no matter how good the brand, it still depends on your baby!

Always sanitize changing areas, whether at home or outside, and keep away stuffed tigers while changing—they might catch the smell. Not so good for stuffed tigers like Hoshi the Tiger!

Make sure you throw the used diaper in a proper waste disposal. And don’t forget to take out the trash at the end of the day!

NEVER run out of diapers. It happened once to me while we were at an ocean park—and it was a very bad experience. #NeverForget

Wash your hands before and after!!!

10:00 A.M.

The doorbell rang, and Soonyoung tiptoed out of the living room, where he was rocking Yuna to sleep. She had changed from her clothes and her diaper, and she looked extremely adorable in her new tiger jumpsuit.

INTERVIEW WITH KWON SOONYOUNG, 30:

SOONYOUNG: (Nods at the camera and smiles.) That’s right. I made my wife buy that jumpsuit. My daughter can be a tiger, too! (Does his signature roaring pose.) Horanghae!!!

“Bbbabbujji?” Yuna asked you, all traces of sleepiness vanishing from her face.

Soonyoung grinned at her. “You’re probably wondering a lot, huh? Well, let’s see…” Soonyoung walked towards the door and grinned. “Hellooooooo, playmates!!!”

Jeon Eunha stepped in and bowed. “Good morning, Hoshi-samchon!”

Jeon Wonwoo grinned at Soonyoung and pushed up his glasses. “Hello, Yuna! Hello yourself, Soonyoung.”

Soonyoung chuckled and made way for the visitors. “Come in! Come in!” He welcomed them into the spacious living room with a playpen on one side. Jeon Eunha immediately skipped away to the bookcase, studying the contents carefully.

“What’s she doing? And I’m so glad you made it, Wonwoo!”

“Let me see my goddaughter.” Jeon Wonwoo reached out like a fellow expert dad and drew Yuna to him. Yuna, who had begun to become aware of strangers just a month ago, didn’t seem to mind this handsome stranger who was now rocking her. “She’s getting even more and more beautiful!”

Soonyoung beamed like the proud dad he was. “That’s my girl right there!”

“Soonyoung-samchon,” Eunha gently tugged at Soonyoung, who bent down to ruffle her hair. The beautiful Jeon Eunha looked like an Athenian queen in the making, wisely holding a book again. “Can I read this to Yuna?”

“Of course!” Soonyoung smiled. “Yuna would love being read to!”

Eunha happily skipped again towards the playpen, where plushies were next to the bookcase. “Appa, take Yuna here! I’ll read to her!”

“Okay.” Wonwoo rubbed noses with the cute Yuna and said, “Let’s go to Eunha-unnie, Yuna!” And he went to where his daughter, who was opening the picture book she had. Yuna quickly warmed up to Eunha after a few minutes.

“Yuna loves her unnie,” Soonyoung commented, looking at the two affectionately. “Thanks for coming by, Wonu!”

Wonwoo grinned at him. “Hey, we planned this, remember? Our kids are going to play with each other. Eunha’s been asking and asking me when she saw Yuna on your Instagram while I was scrolling.”

“She’s a very wise girl.”

“She is!”

“I hope Yuna learns from her as she gets older!”

Wonwoo grinned and the two dads walked into the playpen as well, participating with Eunha’s reading session. She was reading “Peter Rabbit”, which had been translated into Korean. Yuna was paying close attention to the pictures as she sat on Eunha’s lap, touching the pictures of the rabbits and the fences and the letters.

Wonwoo and Soonyoung talked about dad stuff and SVT, zoning out of the little kids’ world as the cameras rolled.

INTERVIEW WITH KWON SOONYOUNG, 30:

Q: Does Jeon Wonwoo regularly visit your house with Eunha?

SOONYOUNG: (Beams.) Yes, and I’m very happy he keeps me company! We have always been close, but I think we got closer when we both became dads. He’s the second guy who gives advice to me about stuff. We usually talk on the phone, but as Eunha got older, she wanted to see other friends and go to places. She’s very sharp and bright for her age. (Soonyoung scratches his head.) It’s like Wonwoo carbon-copied himself on his daughter. I’m glad that Yuna has an unnie who takes care of her when they meet, someone she can learn from truly.

“Being a dad changes us, huh?” Wonwoo commented, staring at the two. Yuna has started to doze off on Eunha’s lap. “There’s a tenderness and strength to us that we never had when we were merely guys…husbands…this is different.”

Soonyoung nodded. “Yes. Really.” He sighed. “Yuna changed my life. Literally.”

Wonwoo smirked. “I bet.”

“Congratulations on the addition to the family, by the way!”

Wonwoo smiled wider. “Ah, could I get any happier?”

The two dads laughed.

Suddenly Yuna’s eyes opened and looked directly at Soonyoung. She looked like she was about to cry as her lips pursed menacingly.

Soonyoung knew exactly what to do. He leaned on the picket fence of the playpent and—you guessed it!—bumped his head on it. Thud. “Ow!”

Yuna burst out into a fit of giggles on Eunha’s lap. Eunha, too, did not look so much like the extraordinary three-and-a-half-year-old girl. She was putting her hands into her mouth, book forgotten, laughing as hard as Yuna.

Wonwoo was laughing, too. “You idiot. Stop doing that or she’ll keep asking for it! There are a lot of friendlier games.”

“What can I say?” Soonyoung stopped pretending to cry and grinned at Wonwoo. “Dads do stupid things sometimes, huh?”

Wonwoo nudged him with an elbow. “Not yet, please! I’m still not ready for the dad-jokes phase!”

“Now that I have been so ready for. But in the meantime,” Soonyoung bumped his head again. Thud. “Ow!”

Yuna, Eunha, and Wonwoo burst out laughing, along with the muffled laughter of everyone who was watching behind the cameras.

Judging from the thudding noises, it was going to be a great day for the Kwon residence.

EPISODES | Ep. 1| Ep. 2 | after-party | Ep. 3 | only us |  Ep. 4 | afterglow |  Ep. 5 | Ep. 6.1 

- Admin Leanne

[eldritchsurveys]

945.

When did you wake up today? >> I woke up at like 4a at first, and then finally fell back asleep sometime after 6a, and woke up for good at a little after 8a. IDK why this happens, but it’s really annoying when it does.

Are you a breakfast person? >> I don’t know what a “breakfast person” is. I do eat a meal in the morning...?

How often do you exercise? What type of exercises? >> I don’t exercise. It’s difficult for me to find something engaging and fun enough for me to stick with it. When the weather cools off a bit I will probably take up morning walks again, but right now I’ve reached my limit with summer conditions and can’t be motivated to willingly drench myself in sweat.

Any favorite TV shows? >> Plenty. Here are three: Person of Interest, The Dragon Prince, Hannibal.

Do you pay attention to the news? >> I read news articles sometimes, when the subject matter is of interest to me or I want to get the full story behind something. Also, I get daily emails from The Flip Side, so that’s a bit of news every morning.

Do you ever donate a dollar to fast food charities? >> Not usually. I also am rarely at fast-food restaurants, so.

What type of books do you like to read? >> I like a wide variety of books -- genre matters less to me than whether the content is written in an engaging manner and whether I care about either the characters or the subject matter presented.

Have you ever enjoyed a reading assignment for school? >> ---

Did you get to decorate your own bedroom? What's it like? >> As a child? No. Now? Yes, because I’m an adult and I pay rent here so I can do whatever I want with my own room. It’s not really decorated in a specific manner, though, like it doesn’t have a ‘theme’.

What size bed do you sleep on? >> Twin, because that’s what fits in my room. Fortunately, I am a relatively small person.

Do you wake up easily to alarms? >> I would if I used them.

Do you stay up unnaturally late at night or do you get to bed early? >> I don’t think I go to bed particularly early or late. Ten PM seems a pretty neutral bedtime.

What are you usually doing if you're up late at night? >> If I’m up late at night, it’s most likely because I couldn’t get to sleep no matter what. It’s definitely not on purpose.

Do you keep anything on like a fan or the TV while you sleep? >> I have the fan on in summer because otherwise the heat would kill me. But I don’t like the noise, I prefer silence when I’m in bed.

Do you procrastinate with deadlines? >> I don’t usually have deadlines.

Do you put a lot of effort into school? >> ---

What food could you absolutely live off of? >> I don’t think I could live off of any food (barring survival situations, of course). I require an array of nutrients just as much as anyone else.

What do you get when you go to the movies? >> An alcoholic beverage, sometimes. Otherwise I don’t usually buy concessions, they’re too expensive. I’ve definitely sneaked many a snack or beverage into a theater and I’ll do it again.

Where do you like to sit at the movie theater? >> Back center.

If you're just lounging around the house, what are you wearing? >> PJ pants or shorts and an undershirt or t-shirt.

Do you like wearing heels? >> An inch or two is fine. I’d prefer not to wear anything higher than that.

Would you prefer a night in or a night out? >> A night in usually suits me, but depending on the kind of night out, I wouldn’t say no to that either. Definitely been getting nostalgic for dinner-and-movie outings lately.

Do you enjoy being alone, or does it make you feel lonely? >> I do enjoy being alone. It’s nice to just veg out in the apartment doing whatever I want, and I don’t feel like I’m being scrutinised every time I move.

Obsessed with any songs at the moment? >> Not any that I can think of.

Do you enjoy showers, or do you take them cause you need to? What about baths? >> Showers are a bit triggering for me for a tangle of reasons, I don’t enjoy them at all. I never take baths, those are a hard limit for me.

Shower robe or towels? >> I just get dressed immediately after drying off and moisturising.

Do you have routines for waking up and going to bed? >> I clean my face and take my Pill before going to bed. I usually read for an hour after waking up, before getting up for bio stuff.

Do you remember your dreams often? >> Not often.

Do the dreams you remember make sense? >> I usually only remember ones that have some kind of connection to waking life. The more esoteric ones are difficult for my brain to hang onto, I think. They come through less frequently.

How is summer going so far? >> I’ve had my fill of summer and now I am looking forward to fall. That’s the thing about summer -- it’s short enough that by the time I’m tired of it, it’s almost over anyway. By the time I’m tired of winter, the worst months haven’t even hit yet.

Do you spend a lot of time tanning? >> I don’t spend any time tanning.

What would you say occupies your time most? >> The Internet, I guess.

Do you keep your room clean, or are you not phased by mess? >> I try to keep my room clean, although the size and how everything is set up makes it look a little more cluttered than it actually is, which drives me batty.

Do you get hassled to keep a clean room? >> Who would hassle me...? I’m grown, I’m responsible for my own damn room for better or worse.

Do you do your own laundry? >> Sparrow does the laundry.

Do you think graffiti is art or vandalism? >> It’s both. Art from the perspective of me, a passerby who likes pretty colours and funky lettering. Vandalism from the perspective of a building owner or law enforcement official.

How do you like your marshmallows roasted? >> Until they’re crispy? Is there any other way, lol...

How do you get rid of hiccups? >> I don’t do anything, mine go away pretty quickly.

How about brain freezes? >> I don’t do anything for that, either, it’s over in a few seconds.

Do you have any healthy addictions? >> That’s... that’s an oxymoron??? What do you think “addiction” means?

Are you old enough to vote yet? >> Yes.

Is voting important to you, or are you uninterested by politics? >> I am uninterested in politics and yet I still participate in the voting system. I didn’t used to, but I’ve come to understand the importance of participating and so I do my best.

Are you alright at world geography? >> I’m pretty abysmal at world geography. I know where some countries and geographical features are, and I can figure out the general area of where other countries or geographical features would be, sometimes... but mostly I just never put much mental energy into that sort of thing and I’m often wrong.

How about navigating your city? >> I can navigate this city pretty well. I’m good with cities.

What part of history interests you most? >> What part of history doesn’t interest me, at least marginally?

Do you keep your cell phone on you all the time? >> Not necessarily on me, but it’s usually somewhere nearby. ... *looks around* ...Well, right now, it’s all the way across the room, but hey.

Do you answer it when it rings or do you screen your own calls? >> I don’t answer my phone at all. Every call I get is spam or a misdial / someone thinking this number belongs to someone else entirely.

Are you big on the texting? >> I don’t text much because there’s no one to text except Sparrow, who I see every day in person anyway.

Do you like chewing gum or eating mints? >> I like the cognitive effects of gum-chewing. But Orbit changed the formula of my favourite gum so I had to give it up.

Do you use dental floss much? >> I don’t floss.

If you're biking do you wear a helmet? >> I hate the way helmets feel on my head but I understand their importance so I just avoid biking at all, basically.

What is your favorite outdoor activity? >> I’m not sure. Hiking, maybe? I do miss hiking.

Do/did you enjoy living with your parents? >> I did not enjoy it.

Do you have any favorite clothes? >> If I still have an article of clothing, one can assume it’s a favourite of mine. Otherwise I’d just... get rid of it. I don’t like keeping things I don’t enjoy.

How about a favorite pair of shoes? >> I only have two pairs of shoes and I like them both for different reasons / purposes.

How many different types of ID do you have? >> Well, I have a state ID, and a Social Security card somewhere (... I should really figure out where that is, I always seem to misplace those), and a birth certificate. I think those are the major forms in this country (I don’t have a passport, which would be another major form).

Do you always remember your license when you're driving? >> ---

Do you pay much attention to speed limits while driving? >> ---

What do you listen to when you're in the car? >> Sparrow’s iPod, usually. But she got a new dongle for the car and it’s Bluetooth, so now I can play my Spotify sometimes too. I have a playlist specifically for the car that’s my Liked Songs with all the metal and hard rock removed (which is, like, three-quarters of my likes, lmao).

What do you spend most of your money on? >> Rent.

Do you take advice when it's given to you? >> I don’t usually receive advice.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic under the shield of "realistic"? >> I feel like that’s not the whole picture. Some people are plainly pessimistic, some people are pessimistic and call themselves “realistic”, and some people are realistic. Whatever. I think my viewpoint depends on what kind of day I’m having, not some innate preference.

Do you avoid arguments or do you go out of your way to express your views? >> I avoid arguments but not to the point where I never express myself. Sometimes my trauma-inspired aversion to perceived conflict can get in my way, but I try not to let it win every time.

Are you looking forward to the future? >> I don’t usually think about the future. I’m busy enough with the present.

[buckybarnesstar]

Snow Angel

Note: I hope you guys aren’t getting annoyed with me posting about Cody Fern/Michael Langdon for a little bit! I thought this was really sweet and I imagined it, clearly i had to write it down! please leave feedback if you enjoy it! .c

P.S.: listen to this while reading after the 4th paragraph: https://youtu.be/_hW8VqaLdeU

You sat at the piano, your fingers lightly pressing the keys as you hummed a Christmas song to yourself. Keeping up with the time of year is difficult, considering you’re at an Outpost and seasons probably aren’t a thing anymore. Everyone celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving - they came and went, and now it’s December. November passed by quickly, yet it felt slow at the same time. 

Christmas is your favorite time of the year. Even though it wasn’t always jolly - your family having their ups and downs - Christmastime was when you all got together and realized how much it means to be one.

Gallant groaned as he walked into the room, scratching his head. He was ready for bed, you could tell. But they had a strict bedtime schedule here. Emily and Timothy followed after him, small smiles on their faces. You stopped playing , catching Gallant’s eyes.

“Hey, don’t stop on my account. That’s much better than the crappy song that keeps playing on repeat.” He rolled his eyes and sat on the couch, slouching down as he rest his head back. You smiled and looked between Emily and Timothy for their approval too.

“He’s right.” “You should keep playing.” They said simultaneously. With that, you began playing this time, the sound of the song carrying through the whole Outpost.

Silent Night was your favorite song, so that’s what you chose to play. As the others came in, they smiled at hearing such a familiar tune that didn't make them want to shove scissors in their ears from hearing. Even Venable couldn’t contain her small smirk, standing off to the side. Only one person wasn’t here, but you knew he wouldn’t show his face. He rarely hung out with the people here.

You’ve seen him around during after hours when you went to use the bathroom or get a glass of water. Small conversation is the most you’ve gotten out of him, but you felt something there, it's hard to miss. He started to leave his room more often and would only try to talk to you when he did, there was no specific reason other than seeing you. You didn't have the guts to say anything about to him, though. Not yet.

All ears and eyes were focused on you as you played. They weren't usually so calm and quiet, but this seemed to do the trick. Memories of their lives before the world ended put them in a trance, it made them feel nostalgic. It made them miss what once was. Mallory and Coco were actually sitting close to each other, their hands gripped together, as if they've been best friends for years.

Gallant was sat beside his Grandmother, handing her a handkerchief as she shed a few tears. No matter how much Gallant and his Grandmother would fight, they knew they love each other deep down. The same went for Andre and his mother. Emily and Timothy were hugging close, her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her arm soothingly. 

Your own eyes filled with tears as you continued to play, your heart heavy and your mind full of memories; experiences you'll never have again. Your family was gone. Only you were left to carry on the genes, if you were chosen by Langdon. You sniffled and tried to hold it together but the longer you played, the harder it became. You knew everyone needed this, too, so you held your head high. If you could make the others fell as if things were normal again, you would.

As the song ended, the room filled with applause and cheers. You turned in the seat to face them and smiled shyly, meeting the eyes of people you'd have to spend the rest of your life with if you all made it. They clapped and cried, asking for you to play more songs, giving you compliments, and more than happy to have sat and listened to you play.

"Please! You're so good! I mean, damn, you talented bitch!" Coco said, laughing as she wiped her tears on the back of Mallory's hand, gaining a grossed out reaction from the grey assistant.

"Your wish is my command." You said with a smile.

You played a few songs you knew, ranging from Christmas songs to oldies. Everyone started to dance and you noticed movement to your side. Venable stood still, keeping her eyes on you, Ms. Mead standing right beside her. It wasn't the death glare she usually gave everyone, but her own look of sorrow. You turned back to the piano and focused on playing. 

The night went on and they all ran out of energy. Emily had fallen asleep on Timothy and the rest were yawning or nearly falling asleep. The last song was a lullaby, one your Mom used to play for you when you had nightmares or trouble sleeping. So, you knew it was the perfect song to close with. You sighed as you closed the lid to the piano and turned around, smiling as everyone stood to leave.

Emily walked over to you, leaning down to hug you. "We all needed that, thank you." She whispered with a smile as you hugged her back. Timothy hugged you, as well, then led Emily out of the room. Venable was the last to leave, the sound of her cane echoing through the room. You sighed and rest your elbows on the piano top, your eyes watering once more as you closed them.

You knew you'd never have a Christmas like before, ever again. Ice skating with your family, decorating the tree, giving special gifts to them, and drinking hot chocolate as you all sat by the fireplace, cuddled together. And your favorite part, the snow. Building snowmen, having snowball fights, making snow angels.

Your silent cries soon turned into broken sobs, your body jolting with every weep as you held your head in your hands. You sat there for a few minutes, letting everything that you've been holding in, out. You didn't want to wake the others from crying, so you tried to stay quiet, but you couldn't help it. Your heart was breaking and you knew nothing would put it back together again, nothing would fill the hole you felt growing in your chest.

Suddenly, something cold landed on your arm, then soon after, it happened again. It felt wet and cold. The temperature in the room dropped drastically and you opened your eyes. Staring at the wall in front of you, you exhaled shakily. Your breath came out in a puff of fog around you.

A small snowflake fell right in front of you and you followed it with your eyes, the intricate design clear as day to you. You gasped and reach your hand out, your fingers trembling. The snowflake landed on the palm of your hand and immediately melted, but soon, more fell.

It was snowing. Snow was falling as you sat there, bewildered. You quickly stood up and looked around, seeing the entire room covered in snow. Snow fell from thin air and you covered your mouth. How is this possible? Are you dreaming?

Your eyes watered as you walked around the room, holding your hands out, letting the snow fall onto them, only to melt away seconds later. You smiled and noticed the snow was gathering into a thick blanket on the ground beneath you, covering your hair, and even landing on your eyelashes for a second.

Before you could lie down to make a snow angel, a gentle touch on your back caused you to turn around. Langdon was standing there, holding his jacket out for you, a small smile on his face.

You were cold but you hadn't paid any attention to it before, too distracted by the snow falling. "I didn't want you to freeze and get sick." He said in his low, raspy voice. He reached his hand out to your cheek, wiping a tear that fell.

You took the coat from him and put it on. His eyes drank you in and he looked proud. You looked damn good in his clothes. His hand remained on your face, his body close to yours. It made you nervous.

"Thank you. But what- what is this?" You asked, glancing around the room. His smile grew as he watched your eyes widen with awe. "Snow, of course." He shrugged as if it wasn't inside the Outpost. You scoffed and shook your head. “I know, but it's... How?" You questioned, looking back at him.

He didn't answer you. He reached out for your hand and guided you to the middle of the room. He sat down and laid on his back, looking up at you with that smile. "Well? Are we going to make snow angels or what?" He raised his eyebrows and you couldn't help but giggle.

You joined him on the snow covered floor and gazed up above you. It looked as if you were looking into the sky it was snowing so much.

“I miss this.” You whispered, feeling a lump rising in your throat. Langdon hummed, looking over at you. “Why do you like snow so much?” He asked, sounding genuinely curious, almost childlike.

You sighed. “When it snows, it’s like it’s covering up all the bad experiences and bad memories, things that took a turn for the worst, capturing them to the ground. Then when it melts, all of the bad melts with it, and you can start fresh...a happy beginning.” You felt rather silly with your explanation but it stood true.

Langdon thought about what you said for a moment and looked up at the snow falling. There’s no denying he wants you to come to the sanctuary. You were peculiar, special. You made him feel something he’s never felt before, but he knows it’s something good. Maybe you could be his fresh and happy beginning.

You started to move your arms and legs in a swift motion, creating a snow angel. Langdon looked back at you and started doing the same, his chest full of joy as he watched you.

You laughed and looked over at him, noticing he was also chuckling. Snow fell onto his blonde hair and you had to admit, he looked like a real life angel on his own. You sighed happily and laid there, letting the snow fall on you as you closed your eyes. Memories flashed behind your lids once more but you decided to focus on the now. Langdon's smile filled your mind.

You felt movement beside you and you opened your eyes, only to find him hovering above you to your side. "You look beautiful in the snow." He said with a smile, reaching his finger out to caress your cold cheek. 

You blinked, seeing small snowflakes melt as you did. You didn't know what to make of all of this. It was amazing, it was something you missed so much. It still felt like a dream. But when Langdon moved closer and pressed his lips to yours, you knew it was very much real.

[mvndrvke-archive]

Yo what about all the development questions for Nico bc I am a loser :P

ayyyyyyyyy love u

Does sleep come easy to them or no? What does their bedtime routine look like?

when nico is tired, he’s done. he can sleep literally anywhere, no matter what time of day it is. his bedtime routine is pretty much “don’t hit anything on your way down”. when he’s in hades’ cabin, he’s a lot more antsy, and it takes him a bit longer to go to sleep. if that’s the case, he tends to just tire himself out by using his powers for dumb little things-- what if i shadow travel to the bathroom? what if i shadow travel to the roof? i wonder if i can hop from this bed to the next one even though it’s like twenty feet apart and i know that’s not physically possible?-- but generally, if he’s tired, he can go right to sleep no problem. 

If they could only have one food for the rest of their life, what would it be?

if asked, he’ll say french fries, but torta pasqualina like his mom used to make it is the real answer. though he does really love french fries. 

What would the bring with them to pass the time on a long flight?

good luck dragging his tiny body into the sky but probably his mythomagic cards.

Do they play an instrument? If not, have the ever wanted to learn?

he used to play piano, but he doesn’t anymore.

What movies are the most nostalgic for them?

fantasia. it came out right after nico and his family came to america, and it was great for them because there wasn’t really much talking in it, so it didn’t matter that they were struggling with the transition from italy to america at the time, they just got to have some fun and pretend that things were normal for a little while. 

Do they know how to cook? If so, what’s their favorite thing to make?

nico can’t cook at all, but he would make a lot of old family recipes if he had them.

Sweet or savory?

savory.

How do they like to unwind after a long day? 

going through his belongings and organizing them or just moving around. sitting still is really hard for him with his adhd, so unless he’s focused on something ( or will is playing with his hair ), it’s really difficult to get him to not move or relax until he’s ready to sleep.

What is their relationship with their extended family like? Are they the kind of person who’s very close to aunts, uncles, and cousins? Or are they the kind of person who barely remembers they exist?

nico honestly has no idea if he’s got any extended family on his mom’s side of the family, and his dad’s? honestly not really sure how to answer that one.

If they had to pick to one song to listen to for ten hours straight, what would it be?

“who can say” by enya or “il mondo” by jimmy fontano. depends on his mood and if he feels like singing along. 

What is their morning routine like? Are they a morning person or no?

nico HATES getting up, but once he’s up, he’s fine. he went to military school for a lot of the time before the lotus hotel and then after it, so he’s pretty good at getting up when he has to, but he still despises it. he gets up, makes his bed, showers, eats, and makes himself go get some exercise so he doesn’t crawl back into bed immediately. 

What is their pain threshold like? Will a stubbed toe take them down, or does it take something much more drastic?

nico can withstand a lot of pain. when he was little, stubbing his toe would make him cry, but after growing up essentially on his own, learning to control his powers, and his time in tartarus, it takes a lot to scare or hurt him. 

Are they a binge watcher or do they prefer to stretch shows out? What kind of shows do they like? Are there any that they rewatch with any kind of frequency?

binge watcher. nico’s impulse control is kinda terrible. i don’t think there’s anything i could see him watching non-ironically, but if he was going to watch stuff, it’d probably be old war documentaries. 

Do they have read receipts on?

yes. assuming everyone in pjo texts, he’s got the receipts on so if he doesn’t answer, people still know he’s okay at least, and then also to be passive aggressive when he’s annoyed. he’ll leave the receipt on, type something and delete it, then turn his phone off so they just see the “...” that means he’s typing, then just completely ghosts. he’s kinda horrible. 

If they had to sell their soul to save one person, who would it be and why?

i mean..................... it’s changed a lot. it was maria after she died, then it was bianca, then it was percy. nico would sell his soul to protect all of his friends, though which one he’d do it for in a situation where more than one of them is at risk is where it gets complicated. he would also save people like annabeth and piper, etc., even though he’s not as close to them as some others, because they matter to the people he really cares about. jason, percy, will, reyna, hazel, bianca, and maria have all been on his unconditional, without thought or hesitation list for people he’d sacrifice himself for to save. 

muse development questions

[bevioletskies]

Starmora Movieverse Prompt: Songfic based on the song "Once Upon a December".

This fic takes place three months after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1, though it foreshadows some things from Vol. 2.

ao3 | word count: 3.1k

The first time Peter finally convinced Gamora to dance with him - and truly dance with him, not just sway side-to-side like awkward middle-schoolers, though there was still something magical about their moment on Knowhere he would always secretly cherish - was about three months after they became a team. The Guardians were staying in a rundown hotel in the middle of what felt like nowhere, the kind of hotel that had no business calling itself a hotel, but the Milano’s bathroom had a…situation that meant sleeping on-board was not an option. Peter and Gamora were in one room, and Drax, Rocket, and Groot (who was currently about the approximate size of Peter’s foot) were in the other.

Peter’s growing attraction to Gamora was no secret; he made no move to conceal his affections for her, but he knew he had to play it cool, take it slow. She was strong, capable, and could easily kill him with a single strand of hair if she pleased, but she also spooked easily when it came to romantic gestures, and he wasn’t looking to scare her away. Sometimes, there were moments where he felt a little despondent, even considered leaving her be. But other times, she seemed to reciprocate in tiny, but meaningful ways.

On the last night of their hotel stay with just one more day of post-mission cleanup to go, Gamora settled down on the floor of their room at the foot of her bed, twirling her switchblade between her fingers, her eyes fixated on the blank wall opposite her.

“You know we got a TV, right?” Peter emerged from the bathroom, rubbing at his damp hair with a towel.

“Astute observation, Peter,” Gamora replied dryly. She paused momentarily to let her eyes flicker up and down in silent approval at the way Peter’s T-shirts clung to his torso after he got out of the shower. “If you have any other shocking revelations you’d like to make while you’re still sober, do let me know.”

“Man, you’ve got some attitude tonight. I like it,” he declared, pulling out some suspiciously musty-looking beers from the mini-fridge and tossing one her way. She caught it without looking, cracking it open and taking a swig in one fluid motion. He sat beside her. “But seriously, you look kinda zoned out. Somethin’ on your mind?”

“Maybe it’s the atmosphere, the ambiguity, but…I almost feel nostalgic for something that doesn’t really exist.” She shook her head. “I don’t even know what it is, it…it just is.”

“Like a memory that isn’t yours?” he asked. “Or is it more of a dream?”

“Both…and neither.” She turned to look at him. His breath caught in his throat. “I haven’t dreamed in years. And I don’t have the happy memories that you do, the kind I could look back on with fondness. My life was normal until my - until him.”

“Not all happy.” He said it so quietly, she almost thought she’d misheard him. “Did I ever tell you about this dumb thing I did as a kid? This big, stupid lie I told everyone about my dad so they wouldn’t make fun of me?”

Gamora’s gaze briefly went to Peter’s beer can, surprised to find he had practically downed it all in one go, almost like he was attempting to get drunk as quickly as possible. His words were beginning to slur, but she couldn’t tell if it was merely from the exhaustion that had settled in his bones. She set her own beer down so she could give him her full attention, head tilting slightly in curiosity. “You’ve never mentioned your father before. Tell me.”

“You know that backpack I leave on the Milano in my bunk, the one with all my Earth stuff in it? It’s the one I took to school with me, every single day. And I used to carry this picture inside it. A picture of a man. But not just any man. David Hasselhoff.” He paused for dramatic effect, though it was lost on Gamora. “Famous guy, drives a talking car, fights crime, y’know. Anyways, I told anyone who would listen that he was my dad.”

“Why did you pick a famous man?” Gamora said dubiously. “That seems…unorthodox.”

“It sounded cool. And it was a good reason for not having a dad around to look after me,” Peter shrugged. “I told everyone he was out of town all the time, shooting his TV show or touring with his band. And kids, I mean, they’re gullible. They bought into it…I think.” He furrowed his brow. “Actually, I’m not sure if they did.”

“Why not just tell the truth?” Gamora pressed, moving in a little closer.

“Because I don’t actually know who my dad is. If he’s even alive, if he’s out there somewhere, if he knows that I exist. And I’d see all these other kids playing with their dads, and I just, I wanted that too. So bad.” He hung his head in shame. “It’s stupid, I know.”

“It’s not stupid,” Gamora reassured him, patting his forearm. “We’ve all done nonsensical things as children. And it doesn’t stop when we grow older. Wanting to believe in something that isn’t real…it might not be rational, but it isn’t stupid, either.”

Peter perked up slightly, a smile beginning to form. “I guess so. Thanks, Gamora.” He placed his hand over hers, squeezing in gratitude. “So tell me about this thing you’re nostalgic for. If you can, I dunno, describe it somehow.”

“Have you ever pictured something so vividly in your mind, something in which you can name every last detail, but you can’t tell if it’s truth or fiction?” Gamora asked. She rotated her wrist slightly so their fingers could interlock together in a loose hold. Peter wasn’t sure if she had meant to do it, but he wasn’t about to pull away.

“I’ve had dreams like that. Stuff about my childhood that I wasn’t sure if I just made up ‘cos it seemed cool, or if it actually happened,” Peter nodded in agreement.

“Right. And so I’ve been having these - I don’t even know if I could call them dreams; I’m not always asleep when they come to me. They’re of me and my parents. The life I lived as a child. I don’t know if it’s real, because they seem real enough, and yet - ”

“What makes you think they aren’t?”

“They felt too perfect.” Gamora’s shoulders fell just a little bit. “A dinner table piled high with food, a warm bed with a mountain of blankets and pillows. A house filled with space, and light, and laughter.” She swallowed. “I should know that it didn’t exist. My planet…we were desperate, cold, hungry. Not just for food, but for reprieve. But something about it felt possible, even though my rational mind tells me no.”

“Then maybe it’s not a memory. Maybe it’s your future,” Peter reasoned. “Or at least, some sorta blend between your past and your future. Like you imagined yourself living your best possible life with your parents, in a big house with all that food and light and…and happiness.”

“That’s an interesting perspective,” Gamora mused, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards in a way that made Peter melt. “I’ve lived under his rule for so long that I forgot what it was like to have dreams of my own. To have a future of my own. Maybe that’s why it confused me so much.”

Peter propped his elbow up against the foot of the bedframe to support himself, leaning in closer, their hands still resting in the increasingly smaller gap between their knees. He was so close, she could name all the colors that danced in his eyes. “Okay, so what if you had to think one up? Your future?”

“You mean right now?” Gamora said, startled.

“If you want,” he shrugged. “I’m too buzzed to sleep right now, I could use a good bedtime story. Or, I dunno, maybe I just wanna put off waking up in the morning and dealing with all this jurisdiction crap. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a Guardian, but this isn’t my favorite part of the job.”

“Then what is? The money, the notoriety?”

“Spending time with all of you,” Peter said simply.

Gamora’s cheeks warmed pleasantly, though she couldn’t bear to voice her reciprocation out loud. Not yet. “I don’t know if my desired future would be any different than what I have right now. Other than maybe reconciling with my sister. To be part of a family again.” She glanced down at her lap for the first time as if she was just realizing she was holding his hand, though she made no move to let go. “And you?”

“Sometimes…I think about going out there and finding my dad. If he’s still alive, that is,” Peter added. “But…I’m pretty happy with the family I ended up with instead.”

Gamora finally released him so she could look away, her face now burning with a sort of glow she was wholly unused to. “We should turn in for the night,” she said reluctantly. “We have an early call in the morning. We need to be alert.”

Peter remained on the floor, watching her get up and cross the room to get into her bed, somewhat disappointed. “Guess so. Night.”

Though he got into his own bed soon after, there was a restlessness in Peter’s entire being that carried on for the next few hours, taking him right into the late night-early morning stretch that felt somewhat surreal, like he was in some strange dimension that didn’t quite exist in the space-time continuum as he knew it. He slipped out of the room to pace up and down the hall for a bit, hoping to wear himself out, but even then, his brain didn’t feel ready to shut off and grant him peace.

“Gamora,” he finally whispered at around 3 AM, crouching by her bedside. She stirred, blinking at him groggily in disbelief.

“Is there an emergency?” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

“No, I just…I can’t sleep,” Peter admitted sheepishly. She let out an exasperated sigh. “Sorry, I shouldn’t’ve woken you up, I just don’t really know what to do about it. I guess I’m still thinkin’ about all that stuff we talked about.”

Gamora sighed again, this time far more contemplative. “Let’s go take a walk.”

They took a silent elevator ride down to the ground floor, the unpleasant buzz of artificial light searing through Peter’s head, rattling around in his ears. The lobby was comically small with nothing more than an unattended receptionist’s desk and two beat-up chairs, no extraneous decor, and a few doors. Two of the doors were marked - for storage and for staff, respectively - while the third had no discernible features to speak of. Peter gestured towards it. “Wanna check that out?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Gamora said dismissively. “I was thinking we could go outside and get some fresh air.”

“In this weather? It’s freezing,” Peter protested. “C’mon, Gamora, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“I think I’ve had enough ‘adventures’ for a lifetime,” she countered, though she followed him regardless.

The door opened up to a room that neither of them could have possibly anticipated - vast and grand in an old-fashioned sort of way, with a ceiling that stretched high above, opening up the space in stark contrast to the claustrophobic feeling of every other room in the building. Large ceiling-to-floor windows were hidden behind torn drapes, old parquet wooden flooring, and an elevated stage at the far end that looked like it had seen better days. Dust particles swirled about at the disturbance of the air, tickling their noses. Clearly, no one, not even the janitorial staff (Peter was starting to question if there was any), had stepped foot in here in a long time.

“Must be an old conference room or something,” Peter said, strolling in easily like he owned the place, his voice echoing off the walls. “I bet it looked pretty cool in its heyday.”

Gamora was more cautious, taking light-footed steps, her gaze traveling across the room. There wasn’t much to look at with no furniture or decorations, but at the same time, she could see what he meant. “Conferences, you said?”

“Yeah. Or events, like auctions…or dances!” He brightened. “Gamora - ”

“Peter,” she warned. Already, she could see him reaching for his Walkman, this time tucked in the pocket of his hoodie instead of his usual belt hook. “We shouldn’t be in here in the first place.”

“Just one song?” he pleaded. “I always said I was gonna get you to dance with me for real someday. And this seems like just the time and place to do it.”

With a defeated sigh, she allowed him to take her hands in his and lead her to the middle of the enormous room. “Only if it will get you to stop asking. Don’t expect this to be a regular occurrence.”

The song started off soft, sweet, like all the other songs Peter liked to play for her when they were alone. Over the past few months, while they got to know each other, they would often share quiet moments like this, usually unintentionally. They would run into each other in the kitchen during the early mornings while everyone else was still asleep, or work late into the night on finances and logistics with a whole pot of cold coffee and Sam Cooke crooning in the background to keep them going.

Though Gamora had a tendency to roll her eyes and scold Peter for trying to distract her with music and odd jokes, she found herself deeply enjoying his company. There was a fearlessness in him that she admired, a real comfort in his presence. And yes, she knew he was interested in her, and…maybe, just maybe, she was interested too. But sometimes she worried that Peter was the kind of person who enjoyed the thrilling nature of “almost” and found monotony in absolutes, the kind who would grow bored of being in a relationship with all the other possibilities that were out there. His intentions towards her seemed genuine, but her mind often wandered back to the Kyln, where he had rattled off the injuries he’d acquired from past flings like it was his grocery list. She wasn’t looking to be the latest in a long line of women scorned. Her heart had been broken far too many times before, she didn’t need to add romantic entanglement to her devastation.

“You’re thinkin’ pretty hard for the two-step,” Peter commented, bringing her out of her reverie. Gamora barely noticed they had started moving, with her hands on his shoulders, and his at the small of her back. His face was closer than ever before, sleepy and sweet and handsome all the same, not that she would ever say so out loud.

“I still don’t dance,” she said coolly.

He merely laughed. “So what do you think you’re doing right now? We could even try something like - ” Without warning, he spun her out slowly, guiding her with his fingers spanning her back, keeping her steady. He brought her back in with far less finesse, causing her to trip slightly over her own feet. She stumbled right into his chest, their noses mere inches away from each other. “Hi.”

“I’m not sure I liked that,” Gamora said breathlessly, her hands coming to rest on his front. Even though she had seen him without a shirt before - and that had certainly been an experience - she was always surprised at how firm he felt beneath her fingers. She turned her gaze elsewhere before she could do anything she might regret.

“Sorry,” he said, chuckling. His arms wound tighter around her waist, pulling her flush against him. “This is okay though, right?”

She looked back at him. “What is?”

“Y’know this…this thing we’re doing.” His expression grew impossibly soft. “And I don’t mean the Guardians, I don’t just mean the dancing, I mean like…you and me.”

Gamora’s heart stuttered. “I think the lack of sleep is getting to you, Peter. You’re making even less sense than usual.”

Peter tilted his head back slightly, taking in her expression. He smiled. “Alright, alright. Guess we can talk about it another time.” She nodded silently, gratefully.

The song came to its gentle end, and just like that, the haziness of early morning delirium wore away, the spell was broken. They wordlessly made their way back to the lobby and into the elevator. The ride back to their room was far tenser than their ride down, Peter keeping himself tucked in a corner, hands folded neatly in his lap. Gamora began to wonder if she should have said something after all, but it made everything feel far too real, and she wasn’t ready yet. Maybe someday.

Once they returned to the room, Gamora went to use the bathroom, expecting Peter to be in bed by the time she came out. Instead, she found him sitting on the floor again, instead by the patio door with the curtains thrown open, staring outside in awe. “Peter?”

“It’s snowing,” he whispered. She sank down beside him, watching the stark white snowflakes float through the dark violet sky. If it wasn’t for her distaste for this particular planet, she would almost think it was beautiful. “When I see stuff like this, I always think about takin’ a picture so my mom can see. Then I remember.”

“I have moments like that, too. Memories I want to share with my parents. Memories that I wish existed.” She reached over to squeeze his hand again, and this time, he knew she meant it. “Maybe my ‘dreams’ are about making new memories instead of dwelling on the ones that could have been. Reminding me that as much as I miss my family…I need to make the most of every moment I have with my new one.”

Peter squeezed back, hopeful. “I like the sound of that.”

It didn’t take long for them to fall asleep soon after. When morning came, the other Guardians barged into their room only to find them curled up on the floor together, looking both exhausted and utterly peaceful. They were tempted to take pictures to show them and laugh about it later, but something told them that Peter and Gamora didn’t need to know. Not yet, at least. They could talk about it another time.

[suckitsurveys]

What is the most you’ve ever eaten in one sitting? Probably 6 whole maki rolls. There’s an all you can eat sushi place by my house I’ve gone a little nuts at a few times. How often do you skip breakfast? I usually have a little something everyday. What’s the longest you’ve gone without leaving the house? Maybe 3 days when I was sick or something? Probably longer as a baby. :P Where are you going the next time you go out? Home from work. Then to the gym.

Did/do you miss a lot of school or do you have a good attendance record? I had perfect attendance in grade school. Then in high school it was pretty good too. In college I like never went oops.

What are some weird habits you have while eating/about food in general? I don’t think I do anything weird. I’m not a picky eater at all. What kinds of things are likely to make you cry? Animals getting hurt. Sappy shit. Being angry. Songs. Movies. TV shows. What are some things that make others cry that don’t make you cry at all? I don’t know. If you drink/smoke, how often do you do these things? I have maybe 1 or 2 drinks a week. Where was the last place you went out to eat and what did you order? Tacos last Thursday from this taco truck outside work. What do you think of fast food? I like it. I don’t eat it too often but I love certain places. Popeyes is probably my favorite. And then Chipotle. What website do you spend the most time on and why? Probably here, because surveys cure boredom. What’s the most amount of time you’ve spent online? Is this usual for you? Im technically always connected to the internet on my phone. What is something you daydream about often? Buying things, haha. What is one belief you used to have, but no longer do? I can’t think of anything aside from believing things as a kid. In what ways are you influenced by the opinions of others, if ever? I can’t think of anything specific. What was the last thing to make you feel good about yourself? Getting my hair done. It’s SO PRETTTTYYY. How would you describe your overall (or preferred) personal aesthetic? Summer attire. Cute tops and shorts. Dyed hair. Messy buns. Bandanas. Long sparkly nails. Cute sandals. Tattoos. Glasses. What kinds of small judgments are you likely to make about others? Sometimes I can tell I won’t like a person by the way they walk. Like cocky swagger or whatever. What was the last thing you did mostly because society expected you to? Got dressed to go to work :P. Do you believe in aliens, spirits, or angels of any sort? Spirits. Mostly that my mom is in the form of them. In what ways are you superstitious? I knock on wood sometimes. I also tend to avoid cracks as a habit even though my mother has passed. What is something you wish for right now? Lose like 50lbs. Where was the last place you went walking and how far? I walked to Starbucks, which is about half a mile from work. Would you rather exercise alone or with other people? Alone. What kinds of nail polish colors do you prefer to wear? How about makeup? Anything glittery. And I don’t wear too much makeup. When I do it’s just a little foundation, mascara, and lipstick. Sometimes I’ll do a cat eye. How would you describe your own relationship with makeup? I wear it every once in a while for special occasions. I don’t think I need it on a daily basis. I’d actually love to do it everyday but I just do not have the patience/time/skills. Who has been in your life the longest amount of time? What about the shortest? Longest: My father, obviously. Shortest: my niece Frances who was born almost 2 months ago. Who was the last person to leave your life? How about return to it? The last person to leave my life was Kayla. Byeeeeeeeeeee. When it comes to travel, what kinds of places intrigue you most? BEACHES. State/national parks. Waterparks. Other cities. Do you think humans colonizing Mars is a good idea? Would you go, if you could? Sure. What is the farthest you’ve walked in one day and what made you do it? I don’t know. Probably around an amusement park or something. Or hiking. Why do or don’t you prefer to make New Year resolutions? If you make them, what kinds are likely to stick? Eh. Do you have a chore/housecleaning routine or anything like that? I usually clean the cat box and put the clothes away after laundry. How organized would you say your living space is? It’s somewhat organized. For us, anyway. What is one thing your ideal living situation would include? A screened in porch. What is something important that’s often on your mind lately? My health. My relationship with my nieces being divided equally. What about something unimportant, but you can’t stop thinking about it? I don’t know. Buying swimsuits I don’t need but desperately want. Do you find it easier to forgive yourself or others? Myself. Have you ever had to call 911? For who/what reason? Yes. Mark’s old neighbors’ kid was out on the porch crying at like midnight and he was very upset so we thought something may have happened to him or his parents. What was the last book you purchased? Have you started reading it yet? Yes Please by Amy Poeher. I never finished it oops. Do you like oatmeal? If so, what kinds of things do you like in it? I do. When I was growing up, my mom would put butter, sugar, and milk in it. I couldn’t eat it like that now. I just put a little milk and honey in it. Sometimes cinnamon. I also like overnight oats, where you put the ingredients together the night before and eat it cold in the morning. It’s the perfect at-work breakfast. What was going on the last time you felt nostalgic? The trailer for Adventures in Babysitting came up on my Facebook the other day. That movie was my SHIT as a kid. How much attention do you pay to the movements of the stars and planets, and do you believe they influence anything? I don’t really pay attention to it, but I do believe they influence stuff. When was the last time you were afraid to tell someone something? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. This shit with my sister and my brother in law is still hanging over my head. It’s gotten better with Frances’ birth but its still there. When was the last time something didn’t go the way you expected it would? Friday night. I babysat both my nieces and my friend Liz helped me but it was so awkward for some reason? Like the two of us barely spoke. I think it’s kind of a power struggle with her. My sister “assigned” us to each of the girls, but really only for bedtime. So I was still paying attention to Thea and reprimand her when needed and Liz would glare at me every time I did. Like. We are both in charge here. And then she took 2 fucking hours to put Thea to bed. So then when she finally came back up we only got like 5 minutes to hang out before my sister and her husband came home. And when I suggested something I do to help put Althea to bed, she just shot me another look. I don’t know. She irks me. I thought it was going to be a chill night where we could talk and hang out. What is the most difficult or involved video game you’ve ever played? I don’t know. What was the last thing you just couldn’t understand? Why my friend likes my brother in law. Other than this survey, what was the last question you were asked that you didn’t want to answer? I hate being asked when Mark and I are going to have kids.

[janasnow]

The letter | Self para

It would be that time of the year again soon. The day of her mother’s passing. Jana had been a girl of thirteen when she became an orphan, and ever since, when the anniversary of mourning returned the young woman looked through the few things her mother had left her. They were all simple things, nothing of substantial value. Small items that held the memory of Myrna Ryder, all kept neatly inside a wooden box by her bastard of a daughter.

A book of old legends and songs of heroes and fair maidens from the past, which the blonde had not opened in ages. A pine wood sculpted figure of a wolf that Myrna herself had carved, a peculiar talent the woman had thanks to her carpenter father. That wolf of wood was one of the few toys little Jana grown up with. A crown of flowers, all whitered and dried now, which the girl once made for her mother when they played Myrna was a princess and Jana an enchantress. The twig the girl had used as her magical wand was also kept inside the box. There were a few ribbons, their colors worn out now, which once belonged in her mother’s braided hair. Myrna’s knitting needles were in there as well, which Jana had never learned to use no matter how much her mother tried to teach her.

Those were Jana’s little treasures. She would just sit on her bed with the box on her lap and look at them, remembering how they all played a part in her childhood and in her mother’s life. Sometimes she gazed upon those items for a few seconds only, some other times for over an hour, when her heart ached more and yearned to have her mother by her side. Touching those mementos sometimes felt like desecrating a tomb so she did not dare to even brush her fingers over them, and sometimes it felt like holding her mother’s hand again. It all depended on how grim her mood was.

A candle gave a soft orange glow to her room. Her box of treasures was opened with care and the young woman was immediately drawn to take her little wolf of wood. She cradled it against her chest with both hands for a moment, a nostalgic smile pulling at her lips. Jana placed it back in the box and then pulled out the book of old tales her mother used to read to her. Those legends of old had been her bedtime stories for many years but she had not heard a single one of them again since her mother’s passing.

Jana opened the book with care, wanting to read at least one of the tales again. The book had remained closed for over a decade and some of the pages made a faint crackling sound, having been stuck together for so long. The blonde raised the book, angling it towards the candlelight when something slipped from between the pages, falling to the ground nearly noiselessly.

A letter.

The young woman set the book and the wooden box aside, and went ahead to pick up the letter. There was no envelope, no seal, just the folded letter. Nothing was written outside of it. The parchment was tightly pressed, having remained inside the book for years and years. With as much care as she could muster, Jana unfolded it. Time had begun to deteriorate the paper, no longer cream colored but a faint shade of yellow. The lower left corner of the paper was missing, the blackness on its irregular rim giving away that an attempt to burn it had been made but her mother surely regretted it at the last moment and pulled the letter away from the fire.

Jana could not recognize the handwriting, which was small and lovely, penned by someone who had been taught to write in the most proper of manners. It was addressed to her mother and the opening line alone was enough to shake the young woman into surprise and puzzlement:

“Myrna, my dearest love”

She continued to scan over the next lines with care, paying special attention to each word and each meaning conveyed by them. It took but a moment for her eyes to water, beginning to understand the nature of the letter.

“If my passion were to be put under restraint my thoughts would yet run free and they would always run back to you. I promised myself for honor and the sake of my truthful marriage that I would forget about you, but that is an impossible feat I cannot conquer. Not a day has gone by without loving you”.

A hand moved to her mouth as she went on reading, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. Her mother had been the lover of a married man, a man of noble birth that had clearly been truly in love with her despite the dishonor he was doing to his wife, a wife that he left behind periodically under the guise of duties in the North so he could reunite with the one his heart truly desired. The familiarity and sheer emotional nakedness in which the man wrote made it clear this was just one letter of many that had been sent back and forth between the two lovers.

The tears that pooled in her eyes were not because of the forbidden love story that happened between this mysterious writer and her mother. The tears were because this had all been kept a secret from her. She cried because cruel lies had been told to her since she was an infant so Myrna Ryder could keep her honor mostly intact. It was best to say a man had raped her, that she had become pregnant by no true fault of hers, than openly admit she shared a bed with this man Gods know how many times until the two of them created their little bastard. 

“Shame presses me on all sides because of my infidelity to my lady wife. Yet my love for you is not at all lessened by my sins. My heart, my mind, my body, my very soul, shall always belong to you”.

The end of the letter was missing, forever lost by the attempt to burn it. Perhaps every other letter her mother received by this lover of hers had been consumed by fire. For some reason her mother chose to keep this one letter to remember this man. A letter that Jana was surely never meant to ever read. Alas, it was in her shaky hands now, bringing forth a truth that the young woman did not know how to process.

Her mother had been a liar. Her father had not been an abuser.

The vague image she always had of that anonymous and faceless brute with the golden hair she inherited changed altogether in mere seconds. That hazy image blurred until it turned into nothingness. And from that nothingness emerged a new picture of an unfaithful noble who poured his heart into his writing, a conflicted man who truly did love her mother, a stranger from the South who could be gone like her mother or who could maybe still be alive.

[ask-nightvales-voice]

Meet the Mun

1. WHAT’S YOUR NAME?

Brynn

2. HOW OLD ARE YOU?

20

3. WHAT ARE YOU TALENTED AT?

Writing, storytelling, and I would like to say watercolor urban scenery.

4. WHAT IS A BIG GOAL YOU ARE WORKING TOWARDS/HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED?

I’m working towards getting my Bachelor’s degree, and my biggest goal is to publish a novel.

5. WHAT’S YOUR AESTHETIC?

Oh gosh... I love so many... Nature mixed with a nostalgic industrial, I think. Like clean, light colors with red brick, copper and steel, big bay windows and beautiful green plants growing in, around or through the structure. I also love “traveling” aesthetic and anything to do with the desert.

6. DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?

I do! I collect weird baubles that pick up, like small pebbles and such, and I have a collection of foils like the kind you get off Easter chocolate that I’ve been adding to since I was eight. It’s a bit odd, and small, but I like it.

7. WHAT IS A TOPIC YOU ALWAYS BRING UP IN CONVERSATION?

Hmm... School, usually. The heat if it’s summertime, and that’s usually the mutual feeling of slowly melting into a puddle. If it’s my coworkers it’s writing, and with my friends it’s podcasts, characters and AUs.

8. WHAT’S A PET PEEVE OF YOURS?

Oh man uh.... I know I have them but my mind just went blank. I think maybe always trying to one-up someone in conversation? Like there’s the normal back and forth and the “oh yeah I had something similar happen” reliability and empathy, but then there’s the “oh well I had xyz happen” as if making your experience unimportant or burying it under the metaphorical pile of new conversation. 

9. GOOD ADVICE TO GIVE?

Always make sure to take time to care for yourself, not just physically, but mentally as well. It is very easy to get wrapped up in the “need-to-dos” and chores and assignments and forget that it is okay to stop for a time. That you can relax without guilt. This is especially hard for students, I think. At least it is for me. So remember, while it is important to make sure you get your work done in a timely manner, it is also important to recognize how much you have accomplished and allow yourself to take an evening to breathe. Get an early bedtime, make your favorite tea or snack, do something to make you smile, even for an hour or two. The recharge will help keep you from burning yourself out, which will cause even more undo stress. 

10. RECOMMEND THREE SONGS OR MORE

Uh.... okay.. my mind always goes blank at these things...

Celtic Woman - “Tír na nÓg”

Jonathon Young - “Here I Am” (this is a fella on YouTube that does awesome rock covers of songs)

Meghan Trainor - “Better When I’m Dancing”

TAGGED BY: @night-vale-weatherman

TAGGING: Lesse here... @gilded-billionaire @cleopatrathesecretary @asmilinggirl11 ... and anyone else who wants to do it!

[fifty-shades-of-succ]

all the luxry asks?

bubble bath: do you have any routines before bedtime? like skin care, etc. what are they? I always wash my face

champagne: what topic could you talk about for hours? ummm…gaming, life, love, our problems and issues we have with the world and people around us and in our lives.

crushed velvet: have you ever used your charm to get something you want? uh yeah sorta I guess…it was dire times.

diamonds: how do you feel about excessively spending money? Its not necessary but I mean people do what they want.

faux fur: describe your wardrobe. Uhhhh idk, dresses, then coats, then skirts, then light/heavy over jackets, then singlets and dressier shirts? Idk I have more colourful shit now

glitter: describe someone special to you. Uh….I’ll describe my two best friends. One has blond hair, blue eyes, tan, strong build. Typical australian lad, funny, a hilarious fucker sometimes, otherwise we can sometimes be awkward around each other. But caring and a legend. TALL. The other is tan (again), brown hair, brown eyes, slimmer build. Is funny and kind and is a fuckin wildcard in every situation (like he just goes “oh yeah btw I can do this” and its amazing.) Again FUCKIN TALL FUCKER. Both are hilarious and amazing people. And gamers. 10/10 would recommend as friends

gold: describe what you would call the most perfect meal. Anything that tastes fuckin delicious and that I can have at least 3 servings of.

jazz: name a song that resonates with you and your emotions. explain the reason why. Paris by the Chainsmokers, that nostalgic and careless feeling is me atmy highest moment really. Other than that, uh…..Hurt like Hell by the Heydaze. Because thats the other 95% of my life.

lace: what is something in your life completely different from last year? Uhhhh my knowledge and exposure to alcohol and love

lingerie: do you consider yourself a promiscuous person? Absolutely not

lipstick: do you enjoy talking to strangers? Ah sometimes. If they present themselves well and as someone who has a lot to say (good and interesting things) then yea

pearls: what’s something about your personality that surprises others? I’m not greedy or selfish and always put others before myself no matter fuckin what. Which like no one does now days.

penthouse: what would you consider your dream home? describe it. A beautiful but simple - only with things I need - house on a massive piece of land where I can play music and do whatever I want and no one can see me. And not far away is a beach, a beautiful town, and lots of shops.

perfume: if you could make your own signature fragrance, what would it smell like? Peaches and roses maybe, just a soft scent. I hate overpowering stuff.

robe: how do you prepare for an evening alone with a loved one/date? Uh..I have no idea…maybe….clean the house, have a simple dinner prepared, get out the movies and games, and uh…music I guess? For fuckin around and being silly pricks. Can’t be serious all the time.

roses: If it had to be winter, autumn, spring or summer for the rest of your life, which would you choose? Autumn. Or spring

satin: what is your most favorite article of clothing? Hmmm…….my black shorts OR my black singlet top.

sheet mask: what’s your favorite lazy activity? Scrolling through tumblr, or taking a bath

silk: do you have more inner or outer beauty? Inner. No outer whatsoever.

silver: do you have any obscure hobbies? what are they? I draw quite a lot

sparkling water: what are your top three songs for the summer? Pumped up kicks, Paris, and…..eitehr the give me a home among the gum trees remix or Fresh Eyes

wine: what kind of drunk are you (happy/affectionate, angry, sad, fun/wild)? if you don’t drink, what kind do you think you WOULD be? I dont know, but I think happy/affectionate but also fun. Not wild, but I’d just dance happily and be too kind to everyone.

Cheers for the ask! Anons are always welcome! :)

[skabunny]

It's not Always Easy : the Self Care Edition

     As I've talked about many times before, my brain isn't always my best friend. In fact, most days I'm pretty sure it down right hates me. Between the anxiety, depression and the massive lingering self-doubt, I'm occasionally pretty impressed by my ability to get out of bed on a daily basis. There are so many people that have it worse than I do and I can’t even begin to tell you how much respect I have for people with severe mental illness. It’s with that in mind that I want to talk about something that I think everyone fails at more often than not, Self-Care.

The principle of self-care is pretty simple, take care of you before things get overwhelming, in the way or just plain hard and everyone has an opinion on how to perfectly handle you. From Pinterest to BuzzFeed the lists of self-care ideas are endless. Those lists are not the worst things. I have found lots of ideas that I never considered.

Self-care is a complicated issue, but you need you time. You need self-care because you are important. Studies have shown that people who take time to spend on themselves are happier and more productive. If you are comfortable with you, you’ll be more comfortable in any situation and more willing to take on the hard topics. As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m terrible at self-care.

I know it is important, but I often forget to handle myself with the love and respect that I treat others with. I spend so much time caring for others that I have to remind myself that I need to take a few minutes every day to love me. In addition, I have to remind myself that the decision to take some me time is not selfish, but needed so I can continue to do all the things. Below are 9 things I have added into my routine to help me take better care of myself.

1.       Journaling – I write, not for a living mind you, and I love it. By taking time to reflect on my day, experiences, books I’ve read, whatever is on my mind I’m affirming that my actions are for me and that my experiences are valuable. I’m also giving myself proper time to reflect on an issue and to really tackle the things I may not want to talk about. Plus, they’re fun to read when you feel nostalgic.

2.       45 Minutes of uninterrupted reading time – This is done with a real book, my bed, some blankets and my cell phone on silent. It is a wonderful time to turn my brain off and to really charge my batteries. I have loved to read my whole life and by setting aside time to do that I can really relax and unplug before I fall asleep and have weird dreams.

3.       5 minutes of reflection and a moment of gratitude – This came from my life coach. I found the guy on Craigslist and he’s pretty fantastic. He suggested that I take 5 minutes when I wake up to think happy thoughts. I’ve moved this from morning to bedtime. Once I’ve read my book and am ready to sleep, I turn off my light and think about all the things that make me happy. This can range from flowers, a specific song or sound, an event, people, whatever. Then when I wake up in the morning, I thank the universe for something. An example of this was a few days ago I said thank you for a pleasant exchange between myself and a client. It was making me happy and I was grateful for the thought and the experience.

4.        Coloring – I love color. I love pictures. I love coloring. This is a fun activity that can be done at any time for any length of time. I try to do this once a week, sometimes for an hour, sometimes all night. I find the practice calming and it lets me settle into something until it’s complete and then I can move on.

5.       Cinnamon Rolls at Johnson’s Corner – It’s been a while since I’ve taken a drive and just run out of town, but one of my favorite things to do is put on music and just drive to Johnson’s Corner. It’s a truck stop about 2 hours (I think) outside of Denver. It’s huge, sitting on the side of the road for the last I don’t know how many years. The coffee is ok, the food is tolerable, but the thing that sets this trip apart is the giant cinnamon rolls. I don’t typically think of food for self-care, but these rolls are worth the trip. Huge, gooey, and delicious these are a once in a while treat that just make you feel warm and taken care of. I’ve been craving one for weeks now. I think it’s time to get out of town for the day.

6.       Snuggling with a loved one – This is a good one for lots of reasons. Mostly though it’s important to spend time with people you love, or your animals. For me it’s my electric blanket. I cuddle up with a book, some tea, a window and I just relax and enjoy the warm bubble of space. It’s more fun though when it’s a dog or a person. Just remember to ask for consent. Share the self-love and just relax with the important person/people/pets.

There are no wrong answers for self-care. As long as you are taking the time you need, you will feel better. Even just adding 5 minutes of music to your day can drastically improve your mood.

 Adventures, what do you do for self-care? How do you handle the stress? What do you wish you could learn to do to help you tackle self-love? What do you think you need?

 XoxO - Till next time Adventures, Take Care - HhG