#also this one box that is incredibly Sturdy

[commodoreshock]

Objectively speaking Boxing Day is probably the stupidest day to send off joycon controllers to Nintendo to get fixed, but that’s the day I had motivation and time for it, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[mostmouse]

Desperate Times

Hotaru's actions were calling for desperate measures. The man wasn't taking care of his wounds like he should be. You, being such a loving wife, have created a master plan of subduing and restraining him. All he has to do is give in.

(Hotaru x f!reader, explicit, 6,000 words, AO3)

In the days after Tanjiro had left the swordsmith village, things had calmed down but remained incredibly busy. Chief Tecchin was healing up, other swordsmiths helping him up to the hot springs for a daily soak, along with themselves. Many were injured and needed daily bandage changes, and burying those who you had lost in the demon attack weighed heavily on your soul.

You did what you could in the rebuilding, working from dawn to dusk, only returning home to sleep alone in your bed. Hotaru was still working on the special sword for Tanjiro, no matter how hard you worked to get him to rest. He had at least gone to the hot springs a few times with you to soak and heal - but in your opinion it wasn’t nearly enough.

The man was as stubborn as ever, but you wouldn’t thrive as his wife if you weren’t also incredibly headstrong. You’d been crafting into the late night on a way to subdue him and force him to let you care for his wounds. No doubt they were constantly reopening as he worked in his shack in the woods. Secluded away from everyone else, away from you, and keeping busy honing that damned sword.

After a couple weeks had passed, you had seen Hotaru twice and both times you were forcing him into the hot springs with the threat of breaking the sword while he slept. Not that you’d do something like that to a legitimately ancient sword, not that he needed to know that. But with how things were going, if it had been one he crafted and not a sword that carried the dreams of countless slayers and swordsmiths… You’d certainly consider it.

Stretching high, you stood from the table in your shared home, not that you’d shared it very much in the last few months. Grabbing the leather goods you had painstakingly crafted over the course of just barely an hour a day during the last few weeks of rebuilding, you also grabbed a tea set and placed it in a sturdy box before closing it all up tight and headed out to Hotaru’s workspace.

The village was coming along nicely, and everyone was gradually healing, some were even back to their full health. You were still sore, deep wounds healing nicely as you did what you could to support your fellow villagers. Rolling your shoulders, you tried to stretch out your stiff muscles. You hadn’t had much variety in work, and the repetitive actions were making you sore in other ways rather than your healing body.

However, conditioning could wait until after you looked after your husband. You knew he wasn’t caring for himself like he should. Did he even disinfect his wounds when you weren’t there? Heaven knows his eye needed special treatment that he most certainly wasn’t keeping up with. Your box had all sorts of healing items you planned to wrathfully unleash upon your dear love.

Approaching his shack, you hummed, heart fluttering at getting to see Hotaru. Even with as much of a handful as he was, he still unleashed a bundle of butterflies in your tummy every time. Smiling behind your mask, you made your way through the foliage, tilting your head as Kanamori opened and closed the door behind him, leaving the building with a shake of his head.

You lifted your hand in greeting, calling out to him. “Kanamori! Hey! What are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in the village much.” His head swiveled in your direction as you called out to him, trotting over to you and waving as well.

“Ah, I’ve been helping Haganezuka. Well, sort of. I’ve been trying to at least. I know you’ve been checking in on him as well, but I always see you so busy in the village that I thought I would help as well.” He shook his head, sighing with his hands on his hips, “That man is too old to act this way. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll get amnesia and forget all about swords. Then you could both retire and live happily.”

The two of you laughed, shaking your heads. “I don’t think there’s a force in this world that could ever make Hotaru forget even a scrap of his sword making knowledge. The second he woke up, he’d see the glint of steel and it would all come rushing back.” Kanamori sighed at your reasoning, agreeing immediately.

“You’re right. Oh well, who’s to say we can’t wishfully think?” Laughing once more, he pointed to your box as you calmed down, “What do you have there?”

Grinning behind your mask, you swayed side to side, “It’s a secret~” Leaning forward, the two of you snickered darkly, “I’m going to force him to obey me. That man is taking a break and letting me completely redress and sanitize his wounds. And then he’s going to kiss me and thank me for being so kind and loving to him.”

Kanamori covered his mask’s mouth, giggling. “I wish you the best of luck. I won’t come by for a bit to give you two privacy. Please, don’t hold back, he deserves no mercy.”

You nodded, clenching your fist, “I’m going to be completely ruthless. He’ll wish he had never married a harpy like me.” The two of you laughed happily, saying goodbye and parting ways.

Approaching the door Kanamori had just let himself out of, you slid it open and peered inside. As usual, it was dark and quiet, save for the sound of a whetstone. You smiled softly, letting yourself inside and closing the door behind you. Walking over to the desk, you lit the few oil lamps and sighed at the light. Finally, you looked down at your husband, working dutifully and unaware of the world around him.

It was charming, honestly. No matter how much he annoyed you and made you feel crazy, you admired his work ethic and determination. You dedicated yourself to your craft as well, but you knew you could never be at Hotaru’s level. Not that you wanted to, per se. Your marriage only had room for one clueless workaholic.

Making yourself comfortable, you pulled out the blanket and tea set from the box you carried. Laying it down flat, you smoothed out the wrinkles before lighting the small fire next to where Hotaru was working. Fishing out the small steel platform you had stowed here ages ago, you filled the pot with water, set it atop the stand, and let it boil.

You couldn’t help but sneak a glance at your husband, his mask obscuring his face as he silently worked. Sighing and shaking your head, you went back and prepared the tea leaves. Gathering a small glass jar, you tugged out some herbs and crushed them, adding them to Hotaru’s tea bundle in his cup.

You were sure this would be able to take down your burly monster of a man. They were powerful sedatives you had been using with other villagers to help prepare the wounded for surgeries that were needed urgently. Humming quietly, you contently prepared everything, going over and fluffing up the bedding that you’d soon have Hotaru in.

Finally, as the teapot began to whistle, you sat next to your husband and bumped him with your body. When he didn’t react, you reached up and tugged off his mask and bandana. “Hotaru~ I’m here with some treats for you.”

Once his handsome face was exposed, you leaned over and scattered kisses across every expanse of skin you could reach, petting his thick mane of hair. With one final kiss to his shoulder, you grabbed the teapot and prepared the tea, carefully noting which one was drugged. Finally, you brought out your secret weapon: dango you had spent the morning making.

It didn’t take long before Hotaru began sniffing the air. The homely aroma of the tea and sweet scent of the dango catching his attention. Whipping around, his good eye settled on you before immediately zeroing in on the treat in your hand. “Hotaru~ won’t you come eat with me, my love?”

With a grunt, he placed the blade down carefully, making his way over to the soft blanket and sitting down gruffly. Taking the dango from your hand he looked at it intently before his shoulders relaxed and a light blush covered his cheeks. Biting into it, he sighed, smiling slightly as the taste flourished on his tongue.

Humming, he looked down at the tea cup. Swallowing his mouthful of dango, he brought the tea to his mouth, blowing slightly before drinking it. You watched him with a fond, lovestruck gaze. “I’m so glad to see you, I miss getting to look at you, you know. I’m not sure if you remember, but I’m your wife.”

You laughed softly at his pout, interrupting as he opened his mouth, “I love you, you silly man. You know I admire your craftsmanship, but I wish you’d take even a second for yourself.” You frowned slightly, tilting your head, “The bandage over your eye is filthy. Let’s go to the hot spring and soak for a bit, okay? I’ll let you have your way with me~”

Winking, you pressed a palm to your cheek, trying to lure him in. However, he merely finished off his dango and grabbed another stick from the dish between you. You may or may not have also drugged the treats on the plate. “No. I have work to do.” You growled at the complete dismissal. “Kamado will soon begin his conditioning training at the butterfly estate. I need to make sure his sword is ready before then.”

You pouted, crossing your arms and huffing. “You can’t finish the sword if your eyes fall out, Hotaru.”

“My eyes won’t fall out, only one is damaged. Besides, that wouldn’t stop me.”

“The infection will spread inside of you and you’ll keel over.”

“I’m much too strong for something so small to kill me.”

You groaned at his petulant answers. “I’m gonna tell Chief Tecchin you’re out here working on that blade while your body enters necrosis.” He huffed, turning his head away and finishing off his tea. “And…” You clenched your fists, “I’ll tell him you made me cry with your horrible words and actions.”

At such a claim, Hotaru balked, whipping his head to you, “I’ve done no such thing!”

You stuck your tongue out, internally bewildered how he was still standing, even as he finished his second dango. “All’s fair in love and war, dear. I’m not above lying and scheming to get my way.”

The swordsmith huffed, standing quickly and turning back to his work station, “You can stay and do what you want, but I’m-” He stumbled slightly, and you grinned maliciously, rubbing your hands together. “I-I’m getting… back to… work… on this…” His words trailed off, and you immediately dashed to be in front of him, catching his massive body with yours and a sharp cry as you strained to hold him.

However, to your shock, he was still just conscious enough to speak to you, “Woman… what did you do to me?”

You groaned loudly, helping him onto his knees and nudging him backwards, “I’m making you rest, Hotaru. I need to clean your bandages. You’ll be up and going soon enough, just- give in already!”

Straining against his muscled body, you tried to shove him onto the bedding. However, even being massively drugged, he still fought back - although thankfully not anywhere near full strength. “No! I- don’t- need- rest!” With great effort he lifted you above him on his shoulder, wavering as you kicked your legs and slapped his back.

“Yes, you do! You big dumb meanie! Just lie down!” You anchored your feet on his waist before throwing all your weight to the side, rejoicing as he fell over with you. “Good boy! Now, get on the bed!”

His eye was fluttering as he tried to fight you off, movement becoming lethargic. Finally, he gave in and let you push him onto the bedding. He glared up at you from where he lay, “Just remember… I can take… what you dish out. But you,” He closed his eye, breathing evening out as his body relaxed, “Can’t ever handle… what I give back.”

Soon, his soft breathing was all you could hear, and you sighed in relief. That was always going to be the most difficult part of the endeavor. You ignored his last words, confident in the plan you had concocted over countless sleepless nights.

Grabbing one of the scrap steel rods around the shack, you dug a small hole and sat it there before grabbing a mallet and hammering it in. About halfway, you sat for a moment of rest. Taking a sip of your long cold tea, you gave yourself a few more moments before continuing your task. Once the rod was in the ground and you couldn’t move it even with all your strength, you went back to your bag of supplies.

Cheering as you grabbed thick leather straps, you held them up in the light. They were your pride and joy, having tanned the skin and crafted them specifically as restraints for your insanely strong husband. Looping them around the stake in an intricate knot, you secured them around his wrists, padding them with flexible medical tape beneath them beforehand.

Tapping his chest happily, you stripped his kimono off and finally started to unwind the bandages scattered around him. Gently dabbing them with disinfectant, you lovingly stroked salve on them and started to rebind them. Scooting around him, you sat his head on your soft warm thighs, pulling up your kimono so he had skin to skin contact. You blissfully ignored his thick arms as you pushed them aside, tied to the stake you had drilled into the ground.

You took great care with his damaged eye the most. You took your time in cleaning his face of dirt and oils before disinfecting the area. Humming softly, you leaned down and scattered kisses all across him before tugging his hair up and binding his eye once more.

Smoothing your hands across the soft white bandages, you whispered sweet nothings to him softly. “You’re such a silly man.” Petting his hair, you gently eased the tangles and knots out. “I wish you’d let me take better care of you, you always take care of me when I’m hurt.” Sighing, you leaned further forward, pressing the bandages on his torso, checking for any fresh blood. “I love you more than you know, you’re my whole world, Hotaru.”

Settling back down on your legs, you braided his hair before moving away. Packaging away the medical supplies, you placed the box on a workbench. You could probably keep them here since he wouldn’t leave the shack for at least another week or two. Finishing up everything you wanted to do, you looked back at your wonderful husband.

Trailing your eyes up his handsomely fit body, you shrieked as you met his open eye, staring you down. You couldn’t tell how he was feeling, his face stoic and gaze unwavering. “Ah! H-Hotaru, you’re already awake! That didn’t take long…”

Your voice was nervous, you were expecting him to start shouting, to wake up animated and upset as he usually did when you pulled stunts like these. You laughed to ease the silence in the shack as he continued to stare unblinkingly at you. Taking a hesitant step forward, you waved your hand timidly, “Ah, Hotaru? Can you hear me? Maybe you’re still asleep-”

Face twisting into one of effort, you screamed as he flexed his bulky arms, muscles straining as his cheeks turned pink with effort. “Stop that! You’re gonna reopen your-” However, with a loud roar, he pulled the steel stake clear out of the ground, leather bindings keeping him tied to it.

Speechless, you stood still as the rod clattered against the ground, Hotaru’s arms relaxing, letting out a long sigh. Pouting, you shouted in frustration, running out of the shack. Your husband’s eye widened, “Hey! You can’t run from this!”

Using his teeth and hand, he managed to untie one wrist and then the other, the rod landing on the ground heavily. Growling, he marched out of the shack, sword forgotten and the only thing on his one track mind being you.

“Where did you go?! I know you aren’t far, my wife wouldn’t abandon her target so easily.” Listening closely, he tried to make out any man made sounds, ignoring the rustling of the leaves and branches swaying in the wind. Finally, he saw a bush move as if it were trembling. “I see you. Come out.”

You held your breath, fists clenched in your lap as you sat there petulantly. You couldn’t see him through the thick foliage, but you could sense him near you. And of course, him being your hot headed lover, he wouldn’t leave without his prize in his possession.

“Don’t make me come get you, I’ll be much less gentle if I have to.” His voice wasn’t nearly as mad as you thought he would be, considering you drugged and restrained him.

Huffing to yourself, you peered over the top of the bush, glaring at him, your eyes shining in the setting sunlight. “No.”

Hotaru growled, face flushing, “And why not? I’m the only one here who’s allowed to be upset in this situation, what are you pouting about?” You balked at his accusation, pouting further.

“I am not pouting! And I can be mad, too! First of all, do you know how hard it was to get that stupid pole in the ground? And- and- you just rip it up! No problem! Ignoring how I wrapped you all back up again!”

Stomping towards you, the swordsmith stopped just before the bush, “Is that it? That I’m stronger than you? We both know-”

“That’s not it!” Your cheeks grew warm, frustrated tears gathering on your lashes, “Hotaru! You’re so- so-!” You stood finally, angrily stepping over the shrubbery and poking him in his chest, no force behind your hand. “I’m worried about you! You shouldn’t be straining yourself so hard!”

He leaned down over you, intense amber eye watching you, “If you hadn’t tied me to it-”

“I shouldn’t have to tie you up! Let me help you! You’re still wounded!” You threw your hands in the air, shouting in frustration, “Or don’t! Die for all I care! You’ll get some weird infection that’ll necrosify your muscles and you’ll wither away!”

Turning on your heel, you huffed as you walked away. However, to your irritation, your husband grabbed your wrist, obviously not content to leave the conversation like it was. “That’s not true and you know it.”

You refused to look at him, trying to tug your arm away, although there was no real effort behind it, either. “See, you’re not even trying. You barely touched me when you pointed at me earlier, as well.” You let yourself be dragged back towards him, melancholy slowly blooming in your chest as his massive arms wrapped around you from behind. “I was awake before you noticed me. I heard what you said.”

Feeling him take a few deep breaths, he groaned behind you, words tight, “I’m sorry I haven’t let you take care of my wounds. And I’m sorry I haven’t come home to you.”

You went limp in his arms, letting him hold you closer as your hands came up and rested on his forearms that held you. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tied you down like that.”

Hotaru quirked his brow, “Aren’t you going to apologize for drugging me?”

You huffed, turning your head, “No. I’m not sorry for that. That was necessary and I’d do it again the second you turned your back.”

Surprisingly, Hotaru began laughing softly behind you, his chest shaking you as he did so. You blinked, confused, before you began laughing with him. Wiggling your shoulders in a way to tell him you wanted him to turn you, you finally met his warm golden gaze. “I love you, ‘Taru. More than anything ever.”

Quieting down, he stared at you lovingly. Leaning down he kissed you softly, letting your hands stroke the loose braid of his hair. Pulling away, he lifted you into his arms, kissing you as you began to protest, “Carrying my wife won’t hurt me.”

You sighed, resting your head on his chest as you stared adoringly up at him. “We’re two crazy people, huh?” That had your husband huffing in short laughter, shaking his head.

“We’re lucky to have found each other.” You smiled softly, kissing every expanse of skin as you could reach. Hotaru leaned down as he entered his workspace once more, setting you down on the bed as he went back and closed the door. You started to get up until he shot you a glare. Stilling, you looked up at him in question. “I think you should make it up to me. Seeing how you interrupted my work, drugged me, harassed me…”

Laughing incredulously, you gave him a look. “Make it up to you? And how exactly should I do that, Mr. Haganezuka?”

The massive man in front of you merely smirked, licking his lips. Letting his hand caress your cheek, he soon found his way and tangled up in your hair. Giving it a tug, he made you look up at him from your knees. “Surely you can think of something, Mrs. Haganezuka.”

You whimpered softly, shining eyes looking up at him. “As long as you don’t overexert yourself.” He smiled softly, assuring you he wouldn’t before you scooted forward on your knees. “Good. Well then, let me make it up to you, my love.” His cheeks flushed slightly as you tugged at his baggy work pants, long since stained and patched over a dozen times.

Kissing his belly, you pulled down the fabric bit by bit, until finally his semi hard cock was freed and they pooled around his ankles. Slipping them off, along with his shoes, you then gently removed his socks as well, kissing his knees once you finished. Hotaru covered his face with one hand, the loving and intimate gesture flustering him.

You hummed, kissing his thighs as you peered up at him, “So cute~ My husband is the most wonderful man in the country. I’m the luckiest person to have had the honor of marrying him.” With a smile still on your lips, you brought one hand to hold his shaft gently, listening as he hissed.

Licking his underside up to his tip, you kissed him there cutely, making a loud smooching sound. You loved being able to do this, to help him feel good. You knew he didn’t bother getting himself off when he wasn’t with you, always too focused on his work. Occasionally he would take you during his work, but almost always it was when you were at home together.

Slipping the tip of his cock into your mouth, you swirled your tongue around him, petting the underside where you knew he was sensitive. He sighed above you, hand tangling in your hair as he rocked his hips forward a bit. Along with his muscle and weight gain over the months, his cock had swelled as well, filling out your mouth and throat deliciously.

You moaned as you took him deeper, eyes closing as you tasted him. Soon, he was panting above you, your hot wet mouth slipping him in and out. It wasn’t as good as your cunt, but he adored seeing you on your knees for him, especially knowing what a prideful person you were, how you could be compared to him in hotheadedness - yet here you were. Happily sucking him off on your knees, and soon you’d be spreading your legs and begging him to be inside you.

Moaning loudly, he held the back of your head and sunk deeper into your mouth, tip reaching the back of your throat. You smiled, eyes opening and peering up at him. One hand squeezed and rubbed the base of his shaft as the other held his package in your hand. He was heavy and full, further proof he hadn’t touched himself in some time.

Wiggling in your spot, you pulled back, popping him from your mouth as you licked along his shaft. He leaned forward, bracing one palm against the wall of the shack as the other held your hair. He watched as you licked all around his cock, hand tracing his veins as you made your way to the base of him. Nuzzling his dark bush, you met his eyes once more, dipping lower to kiss and lick his package.

Hotaru moaned, letting his head fall back and his eye close, basking in the feeling of you lavishing him with your mouth. You hummed, laughing softly before licking and sucking on his tight bundle. Kissing him all over, you slipped to the other side before repeating yourself.

Your hands didn’t stop, massaging where your mouth wasn’t and gently jerking him off. You whispered his name softly, listening as he moaned in response. Lips curling into a broad grin, you left his package and went back to swallowing his cock. He moaned louder, hand twisting in his hair as you slipped him nearly all the way into your throat.

He gave you time to adjust to him, knowing it had been some time since you’d last had him in your mouth. Panting as you worked him deeper, he moaned as you whined around him, gagging softly. Your wide eyes watched him as you continued to suck him off, head bobbing as you relaxed your throat and took him all. Hotaru moaned loudly as he bottomed out in your mouth. Soft package against your jaw.

He watched you as he tugged your hair, pulling free from your mouth before holding you still and pressing back inside. You moaned loudly, eyes rolling slightly before he repeated himself. Seeing as you moaned and grabbed his thighs, not fighting back against him, he took control, hands holding the back of your head as he began to fuck your face.

Panting, he quickly became a moaning mess, cock slipping down your throat with each thrust. You gagged and drooled around him, muffled sounds echoing around his shaft as he fucked you fast. Your nails bit into his skin as you cried out around him, hips wiggling as you sat on your legs on the bedding.

Hotaru grit his teeth, hissing as he felt his climax coming. Gasping for air, he cried out as he bent forward a bit, hands pressing against the base of your head, tilting you up slightly. You moaned loudly, the wet sounds of him fucking your mouth mixing in with your own pleasured noises. “Fuck!” His voice was rough, pulling your hair as he tossed his head back.

You whimpered, nails scratching him as he pounded your throat. With another loud shout, he finished inside, filling your mouth and throat with hot cum. You moaned longingly, tears slipping past your lashes and gasping for air through your nose.

Hotaru panted above you, his hips moving much slower as your tongue pushed against his shaft and licked up all the cum around him. Hissing as you slowly began to overstimulate him, he held your hair and pulled himself from your mouth, gasping as he was freed and letting his head fall back once more.

You coughed softly, rasping breaths leaving your shining lips before you wiped your mouth. Looking up at him, you hummed softly until he met your gaze. “Is that all my sweet husband wants?” You licked your lips, giggling as he glared at you.

“You don’t know when to quit, do you?” You squealed as he kneeled down, twisting your hair in his fist before he leaned down and bit your neck. You cried out as he moved his mouth over you, biting, kissing, and sucking your skin. “If you think that’s enough to make it up to me, you’re more deluded than I thought.”

You gasped, slapping his back before moaning as he slipped his hand between your legs. “H-Hotaru~”

Letting him readjust you, you sighed as you soon found yourself on your back. Easily, your husband stripped you down, repeating your earlier actions with just as much love and kindness. You writhed subtly, excited to see how he would take you. “Remember to be careful of your wounds, okay?”

He huffed as he slid between your soft thighs, immediately grabbing your legs and spreading them wide apart. You squealed, covering your face as he exposed you. Smirking at your sudden bashfulness, he brought you closer to him. Hotaru couldn’t help but sigh at the intense heat radiating off your wonderfully soaked cunt.

Whining, you wiggled your hips, peeking at him through your fingers. When he didn’t move, you pouted, folding your arms under your chest and making your breasts bounce. “‘Taru!” He raised a brow, looking down at you as his cock rested against your slit.

You whined louder, trying to wrap your legs around his waist but his hands wouldn’t budge from their tight grip on your ankles. “Beg for it.”

His low gravelly tone had you moaning. “Please, Hotaru, please! I want you inside me, want you to fill me up and make love to me! Please, please, ‘Taru!”

He blushed suddenly, your sweet desperate voice echoing in his head. Sighing before smiling softly, he moved his hands to hold your thighs and slip them around his waist. Guiding his cock to your soaked cunt, he whispered gently to you, “I’ll make love to you as much as you want, my perfect wife.”

You sighed as he slipped inside you, arching your back and hands grabbing the soft bedding on either side of your head. “Hotaru~ You feel so amazing! I’ve missed you so much, you belong inside me.” Your flushed cheeks were hot as he rocked his hips gently into yours. Bracing his hands on either side of your head, holding your gaze as his hair tumbled down on either side of you, he began a gentle pace.

His cock barely left you before sinking inside you once again, listening as you sighed and moaned. Watching your chest instead, he picked up speed, watching as you bounced and cried out for him. He panted above you, stamina still not quite rebuilt but loving how it felt to press his hips against yours.

As he continued to fuck you, his mind wandered to all the nights he had spent along here in his workshop while you were all alone in your shared bed at home. Growling to himself, his eye flicked up to your expression. He moaned as you were smiling, biting your lip and crying out as he quickly fucked you. “Hotaru! Y-You feel so good, please don’t stop! Don’t ever stop- ahh!”

He groaned lowly, hand gripping one of your thighs and moving so it was pressed to his chest. Choking out a moan, he felt himself slip deeper inside you. You must not have been touching yourself on your own considering how tight your cunt was wrapped around him. Sweat gathered on his brow as he bucked his hips against you. “Fuck!”

Your heat was overwhelming, possessing every thought in his head as he forced himself deeper and deeper inside. with a harsh grunt, he grabbed your other thigh, pressing both to his chest as he leaned down close over you, folding you closer to yourself as he pressed deep inside you. “‘Taru! Fuck- ahh~ please!”

Dragging your nails down his back, he moaned lasciviously. He loved when you left marks on him, it made him want to expose his upper half more often, to show off the love marks his beautiful wife left on him for other smiths to see when they visited him as he was working. He loved how they became flustered or jealous, and it fueled his obsession with you. He loved knowing you marked him up and everyone else knowing that as well.

He cried out as you squeezed around him, “Fuck! I-I’m close-” His voice was strained, and he watched as you looked up at him adoringly, cheeks and body hot as you panted under him. You bounced with each powerful thrust, small moans leaving you every time. Squeezing his eye shut, his fingers twisted in the sheets, “C-Can’t-” He gasped for air, trying to hold back so you could finish before him.

Feeling your hands tangled up in his hair, he moaned as you pulled it, amber gaze meeting your own lustful eyes. “Want you to- ahh! Want your cum, fuck! Finish in-inside me, please ‘Taru! Fill me up, want it all, ahh~” Your wanton moans stoked the fire deep inside his belly, shoulders straining as he felt his climax approach.

With a loud moan, he burst inside you, hot cum filling you up. He continued his pace, thick cock stretching you out. He loved how he could feel how much hotter it made your messy cunt, your hips folded upwards so not a bit could escape. Slowing down to just rocking his hips against you, he moaned as you whimpered beneath him.

Your face was pinched, gasping and whimpering. “T-Touch me, please, ahh!” He quickly let one hand slip down between you, harsh rough callused fingers rubbing your warm silky clit.

Back arching, you pressed your hips tighter against his as he shuddered. Rubbing you harsh and fast, he whimpered and moaned as you clenched down around him, “Gonna cum! ‘Taru, fuck! Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t st- ahhh~” Your voice surrounded him, his hand faltering for only a moment before continued to rub you.

Changing between tight circles and pinching your clit, you bucked against him, whipping your head into the sheets, crying out his name loudly. He was sure if there was anyone remotely nearby, they’d be able to hear you. “Hotaru! Hotaru! Fuck!” Ripping the sheets in your hands, you finished on his semi hard cock.

Your husband cried out, shoving his fingers against your clit roughly, feeling himself be milked of the last bit of cum he still had. Bucking his hips, he whimpered as you squeezed him in a vice, hot wet cunt tighter around him than you had ever been. He gasped as he felt himself being easily overstimulated, especially considering you had sucked his soul from his cock earlier.

You panted as you came back down from your high, unfocused and bleary eyes staring up at the ceiling of the building as Hotaru slowly unwound your legs from his body. He swallowed thickly, throat dry as he finally laid you flat. Shuffling to the water jug he had in the shack, he poured some into the empty teapot, praying you had only drugged his cup and not the pot itself.

Crawling back towards you, he laid heavily at your side, propping you up slightly to pour water into your mouth. He watched as you drank slowly, pulling it away as you waved a hand to show you were done. Drinking some as well, he set it down carefully before dropping down next to you.

He dragged your body close to his, tangling the two of you up. His thoughts were blissfully empty as he hugged you tight. The only thing that mattered in that moment was that you were in his arms and happy. Kissing your crown, his gruff voice echoed in your empty head, “I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”

Watching as you passed out, he let his eyes close as well, the warm night air surrounding your heated bodies. Feeling the previous weeks of nonstop work and fatigue catch up to him, he let himself fall asleep as well. Perhaps when you both woke back up, and praying he wasn’t tied up once more, the both of you could soak in the hot springs.

[mysaintkitten]

Blush | Kitten Braden x fem!reader

prompt: kitten needs a bit of spice in the bedroom (NSFW!! NO MINORS!!)

WARNINGS: bottom!kitten, strap-ons, feminization, fingering, rimming, praise, slight degradation (light use of the word slut/whore)

word count: 2.4k (not proofread lol)

“kitten, i’m gonna trip!” you squeal as kitten holds her hands over your eyes while trailing closely behind you, you stick your arms out in front of you in attempt to blindly navigate throughout your shared flat. you hear her giggling from behind you, “just trust me, darling!”

you feel around the walls, shuffling your feet to try and not stumble over whatever miscellaneous things may be skewed throughout the hallway.

“can you at least give me a hint?”

“no hints, we’re nearly there.” she hums, continuing to guide you. the anticipation is killing you, kittens been dangling this surprise in your face the entire day. and now you’re mere moments away from finding out what it is.

she then stops you, “hold on, keep your eyes shut” she whispers while removing one of her hands from your eyes. despite your eagerness, you obey her wishes and screw your eyes shut. you hear kitten twist a knob and nudge a door open before she resumes leading you towards the surprise.

once in the room, she lets go of you and shuts the door behind her. then, you feel her creep up behind you. the front of her body is flush against the back of yours, she drags her fingertips along your arms.

“open your eyes.” she purrs into your ear, her warm breath sending chills throughout your body. you slowly peer your eyes open. you realize you’re in your shared room, the beds neatly made and there’s a box placed atop the duvet. what could she be hiding in this box? you giggle, “what is it?”

“open it and find out.” she responds, distancing herself from you and creeping over to the mattress. she crawls onto the bed and grins widely at you, clearly excited.

you sit on the edge of the bed and begin to unbox the surprise. as you pry the box open, you’re met with a strap. there’s a medium sized dildo, nothing huge but certainly not small, and a harness. you feel your cheeks burning slightly as you glance up at kitten. you had definitely teetered with the concept of topping kitten, occasionally slipping some fingers inside her while you suck her off, watching how much she enjoys the feeling of being full. she primarily preferred to top you, but sex and pleasure are extremely fluid. and since the two of you have formed a sturdy foundation both romantically and intimately, she thinks now may be the time to start exploring a bit more.

you pull the dildo out of the box, analyzing its curves and veins. “how long have you been wanting this, sweetheart?” you question, pulling the harness out as well.

she sighs “a little while now ..” she scoots closer towards you, “your fingers feel nice ‘n all .. really nice .. but i wanted something more.” looking into kittens eyes, you can tell something has shifted within her, seeing the toy again has ignited a sense of excitement within her. you strip your pants off and kitten aids in attaching the strap to your hips.

you smirk, looking down at her plush pink lips before looking back at her eyes. her eyes are just as shifty, the tension in the room becoming more palpable by the second.

you chuckle softly, “you’ve been craving something bigger for that little pussy, baby?”

a light pink blush spreads across her cheeks at the dirty words, her breath also becoming slightly more laboured. you love to just examine her. all this time spent together has made her incredibly easy for you to read. her bubbling arousal is clear as day in her expression alone.

she nods, gently batting her lashes, “i’ve been so desperate, darling,” she whines, tracing small patterns onto your hand with her finger. “it’s even worse when you’re away, my fingers don’t feel nearly as good as yours.”

you click your tongue and pout slightly, “oh, my poor girl ..” you lean in to kiss her lips, bringing one of your hands to her hips. while rubbing the smooth skin, you occasionally sneak your hand towards her ass and grip the soft flesh, making her whine into your mouth. she slips her tongue into your mouth and her kisses become needier, “you wanna get filled, hm?” you moan against her lips. kitten nods and places her hands onto you, feeling up around your thighs and waist. you pull away from her, “get on your hands and knees, love.”

she tucks her bottom lip between her teeth and shifts onto her hands and knees. swaying her hips in front of you, almost tantalizingly. her mini dress barely covering her ass.

you crawl forward, running your hands along her exposed thighs and nearly exposed ass. you flip the end of her dress up, pressing lightly against her barely clothed hole. she whines and arches against your touch. you slip her panties to the side and place a flat stripe against her opening.

“o-oh!” she gasps out of shock, her thighs shaking gently beneath her. her hips shift forward at the overwhelming stimulation. “stay still, let me taste you, baby ..” you groan against her, gripping her thighs harshly. you lap kitten up, her mewls and gasps enabling you to keep going. as you eat her out, you bring one of your hands between her legs and palm her growing bulge. making her hips jolt suddenly.

she moans into the pillows, grinding against your hand and face.

you hum against her and pull your mouth away, bringing your other hand to her hole. you slowly slide a single digit into her, fucking her slowly with your finger.

“mmh, baby ..” she whines, her voice high and airy. you place small kisses along her ass cheek and hips, sneaking a second finger inside of her. she moans louder and arches her back harder, you feel a small damp spot form at the front of her panties.

“oh, darling .. are you getting wet for me?” you purr, her arousal is nearly intoxicating to you.

“mhm ..” she whimpers, rutting her hips back to meet the thrusts of your fingers. you add in a third and her movements halt, her moans becoming shaky “use your words, hun.” you breathed as your own arousal begins to stir between your legs. hearing her moans, feeling her desperation, you could probably come from her sounds alone.

“y-yes .. ‘m wet for you-“ she groans, placing her hand on top of yours as you palm her. she moves your hand against her bulge, small breathy whimpers pouring from her lips. “you ready for my cock, baby?” you coo as you lean toward the nightstand, pulling a bottle of lube out from the drawer. “yes-s! please!” she huffs from anticipation. you squirt a generous amount of lube into your hand and coat the strap, then using the excess lube on kittens hole for good measure.

you line yourself up, teasing her ring of nerves with your cock head. “hm .. please .. no teasing, baby ..” she moans, pushing her hips back to try and get the tip in. part of you wants to prolong this and tease her more, but the other half of you needs to fuck her as soon as possible. you give into the latter, you can tease her another day.

you comply and slide the cock in while gripping her hips, a loud whorish moan comes from kittens mouth as she looks back at you with glossy eyes. her brows furrowed and her cheeks flushed while biting her lip harshly, you’re almost afraid she might draw blood. as you slowly slide back out she places her hand behind her and grips your shirt and drags her fingertips along your torso.

you bottom out again and begin to pick up your pace. you watch as her expression changes as you fuck into her faster, her eyes roll back and her mouth hangs open slightly. small gasps being punched out of her as each thrusts meets her hips.

“such a sweet, tight pussy, baby. taking me so so well.” you praise, bringing one of your hands down to her ass to grip her roughly as you fuck her.

kitten just moans in response and drops her head down and clenched her fists in the sheets, the cock filling her up exactly how she needed. you watch yourself pound into her, seeing her hole grip your cock was a sight you didn’t know would affect you so much. one of the harness straps has been applying consistent friction and pressure to your clothed wet cunt, it almost aided in the fantasy. you imagined how she felt stretched around your fingers, and how it would feel if she was stretched out on a real cock. the thoughts mixed with the sight in front of you was deliciously hypnotic.

you pick up your pace and slap her ass and you hear her yelp beneath you.

“who owns this pussy?” you purr, desperate to hear kittens fucked-out tone. “y-you do ..” she whines, barely audible as she hides her face within the pillows.

you bring your hand forward and lock your fingers into her hair, tugging her head up roughly. she moans loudly at the gesture, “i couldn’t hear you, baby, who owns this pussy?”

“you d-do, fu-ck!” she cries out, the tip of your cock rubbing perfectly against her sensitive spot. you release her hair and slap her ass again, “that’s it, good girl.”

she whimpers against the pillows, little ‘fuck’s and ‘so full’s pour out from her mindlessly. her senses being completely overwhelmed by pleasure.

“fuck me h-harder-“ she whines, meeting your thrusts with her hips. “desperate little thing ..” you mutter before fucking into her harder, kittens sounds becoming even more intoxicating- which you didn’t even know was possible.

you continue to fuck her at this harsher pace, “ha-arder!” she whimpers. you’ve never seen kitten act this way, she’s so blatantly cock drunk beneath you, and you’re eager to give her whatever she may want.

“jesus, you want me to fuck you like a whore?” you growl, pounding into her even harder. you’re afraid you might hurt her, but judging by her moans and her body language, she’s on cloud 9.

“yes, yes!” she rambles, turning her head to the side to speak more clearly, “‘m jus’ a whore, your whore, b-aby!”

“didn’t know my girl was such a cockslut .. i could fuck you like this for ages ..” you groan, glancing down at her reddening ass. the harsh pounding along with the smacks have left her cheeks clearly irritated, but it only added to the erotic nature of the scene.

“ngh, fuck!” she cries as she snakes a hand between her legs to hastily rub her neglected bulge.

you realize what she’s doing and you stop your thrusts, then proceeding to pull out. you watch at her used hole clench around nothing, gaping ever so slightly from your cock. kitten whines and attempts to catch her breath while peering behind her, “why’d you stop?”

“get on your back, i wanna see your face when you come from my cock.” you coo, hooking your fingers into her panties waist band and sliding them off. once removed, she turns onto her back, you can’t help but moan at how she looks. she’s so clearly fucked out, her lipstick and mascara smudged slightly with a faint blush spread across her cheeks, the strap of her mini dress sliding down barely exposing her tits, her flushed wet cock between her legs. she’s perfect. you then get a good look at her panties, which are significantly damp with her arousal.

“god, kitten, you’re drenched,” you chuckle lowly, “does the cock feel that nice?”

she struggles to look at you as she becomes embarrassed, but she nods.

“jesus ..” you mumble, tucking the panties behind you, “so hot how wet you get .. all f’me ..” you add as you bring your hips forward and tease her hole with the tip again. she brings her gaze back to you, this time wanting to watch as you enter her while mumbling small phrases about how she only gets wet for you.

you run your hands along her thighs soothingly while slowly sliding the cock in, “now, i want you to touch your clit for me while i fuck you, got it? show me how good it feels, sweetheart.”

her chest rises and her eyes flutter shut, she tried her best to watch you, but the euphoric fullness was too much for her to handle.

as you fuck into her at that same harsh pace, she brings her hand between her legs and begins to pump herself. her tip glistening with pre come as she twitches beneath you, her sensitivity at an all time high. seeing her face as you fuck her gets you unimaginably wetter, you think you might actually be able to come from the friction of the strap and kittens erotic aura.

“sh-it, darling, so good! ‘s so so good!” she whimpers loudly as her cock spills even more slick onto her dress.

“god, such a fucking whore. you’re gonna come all over your pretty little dress and ruin it, baby. all from my cock, huh?” you purr, dragging your nails along her sensitive thighs.

“yes, mh! so clo-ose!” kitten moans loudly, she fully doesn’t care if someone hears her at this point, all that she’s processing right now is overwhelming pleasure.

“come on my cock, pretty girl, that’s it.” you praise. your own orgasm is inching closer and closer and it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to maintain your composure.

she grips the duvet with one hand and pumps herself feverishly with the other, “i’m coming-g!” she shouts, her thighs shaking around you violently as she shoots ropes onto her dress. watching her come undone on the strap sends you over the edge and your thrusts become shaky, causing you to cum in your underwear.

you give her a few more slow thrusts before she whines and signals for you to pull out, you oblige and slowly slide yourself out of her. you look at her entire body, her post-orgasm glow evident in her face, her slightly sweaty chest, her cum stained dress, her abused hole.

“who knew someone could look so gorgeous after getting the daylights fucked out of them ..” you coo, leaning your body above hers to kiss her sweetly on the lips, “‘m really glad i bought that ..” she hums while being barely coherent, “i am too, darling.”

——

don’t mind me just pleasing my wife thank you

[arabellavernierwrites]

take this to the bath. s.r.

summary : after a long day at work , spencer asks you to take a bath with him.

word count : 711

warnings : mentions of nudity , slight allusion to sexual acts

a/n : hello everyone ! i want to start this by saying thank you so much for being so incredible to me with the things i post. it genuinely means so much to me , and it makes me smile seeing everyone engage with my stories in such sweet ways. i wanted to make something a little more intimate for you all , so this is what came of that. i’m thinking of possibly delving into smut , and have even been tossing around the idea of making a version of this story that involves smut ? if that interests you , please let me know ! i would also love to hear some requests from you guys , my ask box and messaging is open if any of you would like to send anything in ! thank you all so much again. each and every one of you is so greatly appreciated and i really adore how kind you all are. have an amazing and wonderful day ! love you all !

spencer’s finger gently traced the skin of your thigh.

you both had had a somewhat exhausting day, and found yourselves seeking refuge on the couch. bodies entangled, hands glued to each other, one mouth searching for the other every once in a while. the living room was dark, the whole house was. the sun had set hours ago, but neither of you wanted to escape the comfort of your lover to turn a light on. so you stayed sewn together.

“would you like to take this to the bath?” spencer asked quietly, his voice innocent and thoughtful.

you smiled, turning to place a soft kiss on his lips, “i’d love to”.

his hand came up, lovingly placed against your cheek. the pad of his thumb rolled across your skin, back and forth again. his eyes were sweet, swirling around as if he were searching yours. a small, slightly timid smile came across his face, brought on by its own volition.

spencer carefully slid from your grasp, placing two sturdy feet on the ground. he reached out, grasping your wrists, pulling you up from the depths of the couch cushions.

in the bathroom, spencer kneeled down at the side of the tub, letting the hot water run. his fingers splashed beneath the stream, waiting for the temperature to be right. you stood back, unable to help yourself from watching in adoration. the way his brows came together in focus, his toes tucked beneath his feet to hold him up, his hand wrapped around the edge of the tub, it made your heart swell in an indescribable way.

your reflection slowly disappeared as a cloud of steam overtook the mirror. the small, tiled room was foggy, the air thick and sticky.

“it’s perfect,” spencer stated, standing and turning around, “what?”

“what?” you grinned.

“what are you smiling about?” he inquired, his hands gathering the fabric of your shirt at your sides.

“you’re cute,” you chuckled, placing a hand over his.

“may i?” he asked, pulling at your shirt.

you nodded.

spencer gently lifted the fabric over your head, placing it on the counter behind you. he stopped, reaching down to place a well-meaning kiss on your lips.

“may i?” you asked in return, unbuttoning the top of his work shirt.

“of course,” he stopped himself from stuttering, his face threatening to turn red.

you and spencer fully undressed each other, nothing more than the blanket of steam from the bath wrapped around your bodies.

undressing in front of spencer differed from what you had experienced in the past. no part of you ever felt vulnerable when you weren’t clothed in front of him. you knew you were safe from judgment, any sense of harshness or unkindness was absent from his mind. his gaze never felt disapproving or animalistic. around spencer, you always felt safe and equal.

he lowered himself into the bath, his bare back pressed against the cold tiles. a caring hand reached up for yours, assisting you as you carefully stepped into the tub. spencer spread his legs as you slowly sat yourself down between them. he adjusted slightly as you moved in his lap.

you allowed yourself to lean back, your shoulder blades flush against spencer’s chest. his body radiated heat. his long arms coming to rest against yours, thoughtfully rubbing circles on your elbows. you turned your head to the side, laying it against spencer’s collarbone. he nodded down, kissing the top of your head, his lips lingering.

“are you comfortable?” he asked, moving to meet your eyes.

“very,” you smiled quietly.

you and spencer met in the bathroom often. it wasn’t rare for the two of you to finish the day with a bath or shower together. sometimes it resulted in something more, but for the most part, you found comfort in such a simple activity. spencer’s sweet hands always had a place to call home on you. his touch was special, always gentle, and residing in the right places. and when you two were together like this, he always knew how to touch you.

“i love you, spencer,” you stated, lips pressing to his shoulder.

his fingers ran along the tops of your thighs as the warm water gently sloshed against your stomach.

“i love you, too”.

[melodiousmonsters]

"Wubbox (Divina Mechana) average around 22ft/6.7m tall. The Wubbox are mysterious monsters that were discovered in an underground vault between all the natural island’s locations. There was one already activated named Wub. It seemed to know a lot about its species and was fairly happy to give out certain information, but would clam up at other requests like asking who made them or what their purpose is.

They are activated by placing living single elemental eggs into specially made cavities in the interior of their boxed form. Once that is done they activate. They start off able to talk and do basic things but they have virtually no personality like a hatchling. After a few days it starts to rapidly mature and starts acting more like an adult monster. They’ll start messing around with their environment and running experiments on things they are curious about.

Wubbox are made of an alloy of brass and bubblerite called steptanium. It’s a strong substance with a plastic-y finish that’s outstandingly conductive, the extent of said conductivity would not be elaborated on. Steptanium can also shrink and grow and “dissolve into pure energy” which allows for the Wubbox to box up. A thin enough plating of another metal or other substance can be put over steptanium without interfering with its properties. That information was asked for by another Wubbox named Machin who wanted to paint itself pink. Wubbox like to customize themselves, except for Wub, it says that it’s for “sentimental purposes”.

Wubbox are made up of four main parts, the head, body, arms, and legs. The head has a mouth, eyes, and a base. The base holds the eyes in cups and the mouth is attached at the front. On the back of the base is a button that allegedly (thanks Wub for the information) causes the Wubbox to box involuntarily, I say allegedly because none of them will let me test it on them.

The body is a cage that surrounds their core. Their core is the power source of the Wubbox and holds their consciousness. It has a rubbery texture and is incredibly sturdy. It can squish a lot without breaking.

The limbs are very basic other than the fact they have perfectly safe exposed electrical currents running through them. The electricity has been manipulated to only flow through special disks that their limbs are made of. Even if you touch the disks right where the electricity hits them it still won’t shock you as you are not the disk so the electricity can’t flow into you. The forearms and feet also have the same properties of the disks except that they can be replaced with anything, it’s a mystery how that works, but it does."

To expand on the customization, a Wubbox can do a lot to themselves as long as they keep their basic body plan and primarily steptanium composition. I have only one example as i have been very busy as of recent (I'm on vacation and will be for every summer), it's the water island Wubbox (there's one wubbox per natural island not including Wub, making 6 Wubbox total) an it doesn't have a name yet as usual for the more individual monsters.

As for variants, well at least at the time this was made in universe Wubboxes didn't have variants, customizing themselves doesn't fundamentally change them as monsters so those aren't counted as variants. The epic Wubbox do exist but are too integral to how important things work in the monster world so I can't talk about them yet.

I'm going to probably switch to doing one of these every two weeks instead so I can put more time into them as I haven't been too happy with the quality of the recent ones. Also there isn't a lot here because it's Wubbox, they're lore important. I also changed out the egg waking up mechanic from the monster boxing because 1. the wublins don't use the egg mechanic anymore they just get shocked, and 2. there are only very small populations of monsters in the contemporary monster world in this au so boxing monsters would decimate the population.

[balkanradfem]

So I decided to learn to knit! I've never before found a way to ethically and cheaply get yarn. I found a little ball of yarn outside at some point, as one does, and saved it, but beyond that I didn't have any other tools. Then I saw a video showing how you can take a thrifted machine-knit sweater, and undo it back into yarn, and then just knit with that. Incredible, since I have a full box of old sweaters, I just need to figure out which ones are easily undone.

So I grabbed my little ball of found yarn, and then I needed some needles. I looked up what I could use instead, and found there's plenty of alternatives; pencils, chopsticks, wooden sticks for barbecue. Looking around my room I realized I had some very long paintbrushes; I tried to use them, and immediately realized they need to have a pointy end. I grabbed a pencil sharpener and sharpened them; only this made them very rough and splintered. I needed to sand them down, but I had no sandpaper, and then I remembered that recently someone gave me a flat tool that removes dry skin from feet. I sanded them down with that, and it actually worked, they worked perfectly like knitting needles. They're even the same size.

The knitters probably already know this, but if you start knitting for the first time, especially if it's winter and you're under a blanket, some ancient human instinct will activate and you will feel that you are doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing and everything is well and right with the world. Creating fabric is a powerful thing to do, in a society where everyone needs fabric to stay alive, and go outside, and I like having this power to myself.

I found out there are two basic types of stitches; knit stitch, and purl stitch. I liked the knit stitch better, on the basis that purl stitch had 'bad vibes'.

It knew before that most fabric will be woven, or knitted, or in some cases, crochet, so I got little curious, and studied each layer of clothing on me, and every single item of clothing was knit, and it was all a purl stitch. I got fascinated by this, wondering if this is true for most clothing, or if I just somehow prefer knit things on me because they're nice and stretchy. Looking into other fabrics, I could easily tell that all of the sheets, pillowcases and kitchen cloths were woven, and that they were much sturdier and less stretchy for it.

I looked at stuff in my closet, and found that I had a scarf, hat, and pants that were woven, but in very soft and warm fabric, and they were very sturdy and non-stretchy as well. I then wondered what was the logic behind it, and is there a traditional type of things that will be woven, that isn't just bedsheets and cloths?

I tried to find a video on youtube detailing that stuff, but no female-made video was found, so I'm now downloading several women-written audibooks on the topic of history of textiles. I think we should just take the power to make textiles back to us, because back when women were the maker of the cloth, it was just something we 'did out of the goodness of our hearts for our families' but it was also environmentally friendly, practical, sustainable and a beautiful, powerful craft. Now that m*n decided it's something to make money off, they created fast fashion, tons of waste and environmental damage, new types of slavery for workers, and the clothing isn't even practical anymore, it's made to fall apart.

So, back to my knitting, I have to say it's not happening very fast, I thought by the end of the day I would be done with that little ball of yarn and be able to tell how much fabric it can make, nope, did not happen, in fact I've been working on it two days and by this time I've barely made any progress. Apparently the 'purl stitch' is faster, well, I'm still refusing to do it. Boo purl stitch. The yarn I found outside is some of the worst quality yarn I've ever seen, not only it's different in thickness everywhere, but in some places there are 3-4 different threads distangled from each other, and it confused me so much while knitting that I kept adding stitches on the brush unnecessarily, until the entire thing could barely fit on one.

One thing that surprised me was how incredibly soft, stretchy and comfortable the fabric feels when made. I genuinely expected the fabric to be as horrifying as the yarn quality, nope, it's nice and comfy I absolutely love it.

There is a movement in online spaces for being mindful of environment when purchasing clothing, and making our own wardrobes, which is absolutely delightful; seeing people gain new respect and fascination for clothing, sewing and textile making, and then doing it themselves and becoming non-dependent on capitalism, it's the change the world needs. I didn't think I would try to join in, because I get so much discarded and unwanted clothing from others, I wouldn't need to buy any ever, but I did get fascinated by looms, natural fibers, and women doing all that work, that I can't resist trying it out.

[meluiloth]

I saw your post regarding Silvan Elves and Mirkwood. Curious as to your thoughts on where most reside, rest their heads...Do they have a place within the Elvenking's Halls or do they mostly conduct themselves outside of the Halls? I have opinions but am curious to see what others think. TY!!

This is a really great question!

During the Third Age, when the Necromancer became a prime threat and the Silvan Elves were forced to move northward, the Elvenking Thranduil built his Kingdom in the Mountains of Mirkwood. This provided a lot more stability and relief for the Elves, since this was the last pocket of Mirkwood that no evil could—or would—breach. Since they had the protection of the mountain, and the acceptance that they wouldn't be able to rebuild their old homes in the South, the Elves poured their entire concentration into making the mountain as beautiful a home as they could. Despite being underground, the halls are luxurious and filled with trees to remind those who dwell within of the forest outside, and there are plenty of places for feasting and celebration. Interiors are beautifully furnished.

That being said, I don't believe that all of the Silvan Elves live in the subterranean halls—their hearts still love the forest above all, and many of them still remember the beauty of their former homes. These Elves choose to build a community outside of the mountain, still within a concentrated safe area within the borders of the Elvenking's Halls, but in areas that are still wholly woods. These dwellings are constructed high in the trees, to protect from Spider ambushes, Orc attacks, and whatever other evil creatures that would seek to harm the Elves. They are sturdy, but elegant, and also incredibly well-hidden. These houses act both as homes and watchtowers.

These two districts—the Halls of the Elvenking and the last Woodland City—are not quite two separate entities, but rather a tightly-woven community. The bridge between the mountain city and the forest one is well-trodden, since the Elves love to connect with both regions for both the scenery, people, vendors, and resources. As Thranduil and his house dwells in the mountain halls, most of the official business is conducted there, but in peaceful days, many of the celebrations are held in the forest, where the Elves can be more connected to the beating heart of Mirkwood.

In times of peace, this allows for the exchange of trade, knowledge, and communal festivities. But during times of conflict, these two communities serve a more strategic purpose: the sentinels of the Woodland City would be able to see danger before it attacks, and if it is too great, all the Elves would retreat to the Halls of the Elvenking for protection.

So, to answer your question, the population of Silvan Elves is pretty much evenly split between the Halls of the Elvenking and the city on the borders of the forest, but they are still one tightly-woven community!

If you're interested in my imagining of the Silvan Elves in Mirkwood, check out my mirkwood headcanons tag! If there's a headcanon you want me to explore that I haven't already, my ask box is open!

[fourseasonsfigs]

Taolin Forest Wen Kexing (Handcrafted)

This beautiful figure showed up on the artist's Xianyu page as an immediately available in-stock piece, and I pounced on it. You can tell by my profile pic how much I like this costume, after all!

The artist works in ultralight clay, which has been a new medium to me, and so far I've been impressed. It is very light (as the name suggests!) and appears to be extremely flexible. I was initially very worried about her figures breaking in transport, as they all have very delicate thin little details, but everything seems surprisingly sturdy. It bends, but doesn't deform, and doesn't seem to break with careful treatment. I do baby my figs, but shipping / customs is always a wild card.

For something like this, I would normally absolutely air column wrap it to protect it from crushing damage. I don't worry about the fig breaking parts off - I worry about it getting squished! If this fig got crushed it would certainly destroy it, given all the thin, flat loops of clay making up most of this figure.

But, I didn't have to, because the artist packed it in a rigid styrofoam cooler box. This is of course deadly on the shipping fees, especially since my warehouse flags the wooden base as air freight only. But, the only thing worse than paying volumetric air freight charges is getting a crushed figure, so what can you do?

I too am deeply disappointed by my lack of quality unboxing photos. Why did I not remove this top layer of bubble wrap? NOBODY KNOWS.

This is an extremely tall figure, by far my largest figure by a wide margin. The full size, including base, is 27 cm, of which 2cm is the base. This makes the figure itself about 10 inches high for us Americans.

The fan is not clay but paper, which was a nice surprise. I would have been fine either way, but I like the paper. I'm also very appreciative that the artist included it in this rigid plastic box so keep it from getting squished inside the protective cooler. Box. Protective box.

Here he is without the fan. He's gorgeous! You can really see the detail on his belt and his long, elegant fingers.

In fact, here's a closeup of those hands and the beautiful detail on the belt. His fingers may look even a bit longer than you might expect, but that's because they need to hold the fan. You can even see the slight indent for the fingernails. This artist is just amazing. She says she puts her whole heart into crafting these figures, and you can tell.

Holding the fan as so. If you don't think I wasn't a little stressed out carefully wedging the fan in between those beautiful fingers, you have somehow (incredibly) missed all the other cases of my fig related anxiety on this blog. I'm not even a high stress person! Normally.

Alright, let's spin this beauty around, shall we?

My camera decided to focus on many things, but Wen Kexing's perfect face was not always one of them. So we'll get some closeups. But first, let's do our bottoms-up and top-down pics:

Please do note the beauty mark on the middle finger of his right hand!

For size comparison, here's Wen Kexing with his OG official fig counterpart:

You can definitely see what I mean by how big this fig is! Maybe I should call it a statue instead of a fig.

Alright, time for our close ups.

Just beautiful. I'll need to commission a matching A-Xu in the Taolin forest costume so I can have them heading off to Siji Manor.

This figure was an incredible price - less than $50 USD. An absolute bargain. I can't even imagine the time that went into this. This was less expensive than other individual figures or pairs of this size, so perhaps I just got lucky with the artist clearing space.

I had really wanted semi-realistic figures like this when Word of Honor was released and I watched it for the first time, so getting this now makes me really happy. The artist also had a snowy mountain set that I picked up around the same time, which should be arriving here relatively shortly. Please look forward to it! I can't wait myself.

Material: Ultra-light clay

Fig Count: 386

Scene Count: 26

Rating: Pure artistry

[link back to Master Fig Index for more posts]

[eternitas]

Reborn! Now! - TYL Rena

Rena Lucchese, mostly known and refered to as the "Crystal Princess" and her maiden name Ekaterina Anatoliyevna Bugakova, is a very different person in the Ten Years Later/Future Arc of the Reborn! Now! AU. Below a few close ups bc this pic is hard to read and all over the place

CW: Death, Assasination, Gokudera x OC

Rena is known as the "Crystal Princess" due to her status as the Princess/Heir of the Igorevich family and her very specific choice of weapon (more on that later). She sides with the Vongola and had many many losses because of that. She appears first when Haru, Lambo and I-Pin are attacked and only switches places with her younger self during the Melone Base infiltration.

Rena wears two anklets, one on each leg imbued with flame transmitting gems. These used to be a prototype but where then modified and finished. With these she can use her skyflame to trigger the crystals like a box weapon to materialize into boots that reach over her knees, with knee guards. These boots are incredibly powerful, give her the ability to walk in the air and slide on it as if she was ice skating. Her speed is unmatched and makes up for her lack in physical strength. There is however one more special ability about this weapon in particular: With the power of her flame and the sturdieness of the boots she is able to break Flame Rings and Flame boxes. While the original Lorenzini designs are harder to break, it is still possible with a few exceptions.

In fact, it was Tsunas idea to ask her for assistance in destroying the Vongola rings. Due to the rings still being "in slumber" it was hard but still possible to break them. However this led to a cascade of events that took everything from her.

When Byakuran heard the news of the Vongola rings being destroyed by the heir of the Igorevich family he was enraged. She was a liability to his pursuit of the tri ni sette and so he ordered and orchastrated uproars in russia to completely annihilate the family and its associates. Renas father Anatoli was not on board with his daughter taking on the role as the one that broke the rings and it caused a big fight between them. She decided to still help Tsuna and break the rings, but it eventually led to her whole family being destroyed. When she made her way to russia upon hearing the news of the political unrest, she found the still burning remains of her families palace and no survivors. For 2 years the hunt continued, eradicating every last one of the family. Rena tried to quickly hurry back to japan, any way to warn Tsuna about the danger, when she and her bodyguard Dima encountered Byakuran himself. To make sure Rena could flee Dima decided to stay behind and put up a fight to Byakuran and was never heard from again. He is assumed dead, even by Rena.

Luckily for Rena she managed to make it away save and to hide from Byakuran and his forces, having now to rely on herself for survival. While Dima had trained her, she was still a novice fighter.

before Rena left to russia, Gokudera gifted her a necklace with a star charm as a symbol to protect her. However even as they landed in russia, Dimitri had ordered her quite sternly to take the necklace off and hide it. Turned out Byakurans forces were aware of the necklace due to the jewelery store owner ratting the intel out for a cash reward. Since then she keeps the necklace charm close to her but doesn't wear it openly. She only starts wearing it openly once she rejoins the vongola and decides to go with them to the Melone Base.

Together with her boots, Rena also was gifted the official Ring of the igorevich families female leaders and was gifted the very first Igorevich Box Weapon also based on a Lorenzini design, housing a Snow Leopard she calls lovingly Misha.

Ever since the "Igorevich Hunt" began, Rena has lost the light she had in her eyes. Especially Dimas loss hit her hard and it took a lot for her to grapple with it, trying to hold onto the belief that he still might be alive and in hiding only for more and more time to pass and him not returning to her side. She is completely different from the usual warm and quirky individual, barely seen smiling and not having laughed in several years. It's this sort of drastic change that spurs the younger Gokudera to truly think about his feelings for her, as he notices that he misses her laugh.

[eternalparadiseinwonderland]

How Can Choosing the Perfect Cat Bed

Creating a cozy and comfortable environment for your feline friend is essential for their well-being. Cat beds play a crucial role in providing a dedicated space for your pet to rest and relax. This comprehensive guide click here to learn more delves into the importance of cat beds, the various types available, and how to select the best one to ensure your cat's comfort and happiness.

Understanding the Importance of Cat Beds

Cats are creatures of comfort and require a safe and warm place to retreat. A cat bed is not just a luxury; it's a necessity for your pet's health and contentment. A proper bed offers a sense of security, supports better sleep, and can even help with behavioral issues by giving your cat a personal space.

The Need for Shelter and Warmth

Despite their fur, cats are susceptible to cold weather and can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. A study by the National Research Council emphasizes the importance of shelter for cats, especially in severe climates. Providing a warm and insulated bed is crucial for their survival and well-being.

Exploring Different Types of Cat Beds

When it comes to cat beds, there are several options to consider, each with its own benefits. Here are some popular types:

Styrofoam Cooler Shelter

A simple and cost-effective option, Styrofoam coolers can be repurposed into shelters. They are readily available at grocery stores and can be a quick solution for outdoor cats needing temporary refuge.

Plastic Bin Shelter

For a more durable option, a plastic bin shelter can be created using two Rubbermaid bins, one larger than the other, along with straw for bedding and Styrofoam insulation. This type of shelter offers better protection against harsh weather.

Temporary Shelter

In a pinch, a sturdy plastic container or a heavy-duty shipping crate can serve as a makeshift shelter for stray or feral cats. These materials are often weather-resistant and can provide immediate relief.

Insulation and Bedding: Key Considerations

Proper insulation and bedding are vital for keeping your cat warm. Straw is an excellent insulating material, as it doesn't retain moisture like towels, blankets, or newspapers, which can draw heat away from your cat's body. For added warmth, Mylar blankets can be used to line the shelter, reflecting the cat's body heat. Pet stores also sell specialized products like the Flexi-Mat Purr Pad, designed to keep cats cozy.

Purchasing Pre-Made Cat Shelters

For those who prefer a ready-made solution, pet stores now offer high-quality wooden insulated cat shelters. These can be a convenient option for busy cat owners. Prices and styles can be checked online or at local pet stores.

Cats' Remarkable Adaptability

Cats are incredibly adaptable and can make themselves at home in various environments, from apartments to houseboats. However, they still require basic amenities like a litter box and a warm place to sleep. By providing these essentials indoors, cat owners can ensure their pets' comfort and safety.

[frostfall-matches]

[ loading... ]

@sulluspark : [ profile and match ready ]

✧ Profile

— Story

You were born to parents with somewhat distant ties to an Italian mafia family (branched off from but still allied with the Vongola, given their power and prevalence), but you weren’t raised in Italy given that your parents were stationed at a satellite base outside of the country. Both your parents were active members of the mafia when you were growing up and you were - more or less - expected to join the mafia as well. Not that your parents would have been against you pursuing a more normal life, but they raised you with the assumption that you would also be a part of their world. You were brought along to many family-friendly events that the mafia put on, and most of the adults in your life were mafioso - the mafia world was just normal for you, and you frankly didn’t feel like you fit in with regular civilians very well.

So, once you got a bit older, you decided to follow in their footsteps.

Wanting to connect with your family’s roots a bit more and get a more robust mafia experience, you (happily and excitedly) relocated to Italy. You fulfilled a few different roles within your branch of the family, but felt a little… stifled and bored. You were always ambitious, and you wanted to really test and expand your skills. What better way to do that than to aim for joining the Varia? The idea of doing the Vongola’s dirty work on a regular basis didn’t exactly delight you, but hey - the mafia is the mafia. No matter what you do, you’re going to have to get your hands dirty.

Years down the line, when Tsuna is trying to manage the whole Byakuran issue, there are discussions of what should be done to manage the growing threat of the Millefiore. It’s not a bad idea to have eyes and hands within the Millefiore, but it’s dangerous. Many things could go wrong if that person’s cover is blown. It’s not a plan that Tsuna necessarily advocates for, but when the Varia insist on having one of their own (i.e. you) start working on a plan within enemy territory, it’s hard to stop them.

— Affiliation

The Varia. Independent, though technically still under the Vongola (and thus not enemies to your branch family). There’s a certain freedom in their independence that appeals to you, though there are always people higher up to report to at some point or another. Their reputation for being elite and skilled is what drew you to them, and you’re able to really expand and fine-tune your skills by working with them.

The Millefiore. Temporarily, and only for your mission.

— Abilities

Flame -> Lightning.

Someone as ambitious and disciplined as you could make good use of the Lightning flame. You can be a bit stubborn and impatient as well, which seems to be a trend among others who have this flame type. The hardening factor of the Lightning flame can be incredibly versatile when used right, which works very well for you given your broad interests and hobbies. You can solidify and increase the firmness of objects, use the flames themselves as a shield or weapon, and electrocute opponents.

Box weapon -> Playing cards / carte fulmine

A reference to your fondness for poker and other card games. They’re subtle and something you could have lying around without anyone noticing something is amiss. This very much works in your favor any time you need to go undercover for a mission, and all the better if you can fool someone into playing a game of cards with you only for you to activate your lightning flame when the time is right. These cards are good throwing weapons, especially considering you can line the edges with lightning flames and make them much sharper and more durable than the average playing card.

Box animal -> Lightning horse / cavallo fulmineo

Physically, it appears quite similar to the Norwegian Fjord breed - light in color and on the smaller side, but still very sturdy and strong despite its size. It is intelligent and quite mild in temperament, meaning it is unlikely to give you much difficulty both in and out of battle (though you’ve found out that it’s a bit cheeky and is very good about sneaking food and treats when your back is turned…). When you first got it, you had to spend a fair bit of time bonding with it since it was a rather proud creature. But your time and efforts paid off, and now you two are incredibly in sync. Your horse is a bit protective of you, though, and does try to take some hits for you. It isn’t a huge issue since it tends to reinforce itself with the lightning attribute, but it still worries you! Your horse is also able to make use of the lightning attribute on its hooves, which helps to add a bit of edge to its kicks.

Your romantic match is…

✧ Spanner

-> [ You two meet during your undercover stint in the Millefiore. ] You were instructed to check in with the tech department to see what their progress was on the latest batch of Moska, which inevitably led you to speaking with their current main developer: Spanner. You do have a vague, personal interest in seeing how they’ve changed over the years (you can’t help but think of the Gola Moska that was once part of the Varia, RIP), but there’s one more thing: you think they could be so much more aesthetically appealing. They’re not exactly cute or cool looking, and sure they’re weapons and their purpose isn’t to be cute, but… There is surely room for improvement in that regard, isn’t there?

Spanner thinks your suggestions are hilarious, and says that maybe he’ll try to create a more aesthetically pleasing Moska in the future, when he isn’t so bogged down with the current workload the Millefiore is imposing.

(And, of course, when he ends up helping the Vongola in their fight against Byakuran, you’re able to drop the pretenses. Safe to say, Spanner is a bit surprised to learn that you were never really part of the Millefiore nor loyal to them, but he easily takes it in stride. Irie was working against Byakuran all this time, too, anyways - and Spanner doesn’t have much room to talk, switching sides to the Vongola rather quickly.)

-> [ Spanner largely matches what you look for in partners. ] Some might say that he isn’t the most dependable, citing him as too distracted with his projects and robots, but if you’re someone important to him then you’re definitely going to be one of his main priorities at all times. He is very easygoing, calm, and has a solid sense of humor. You easily find yourself having fun with him, with light banter and teasing happening often but not tirelessly so. And when you get a little too in your head? He’s there to help you keep yourself grounded and is very good about bringing you back to the present and focused on things that are actually within your control.

-> [ Funnily, your fascination with Italy mirrors his fascination with Japan. ] Spanner gets it. Leaving your home country up to your interpretation, if it’s not Japan, he would probably become very interested in the land you grew up in - just because it’s where you’re from, and he wants to understand every little part of you and your history. He’s happy to talk about his experiences growing up in Italy, and would love to make sure you get all the authentically Italian experiences you could want. Just make sure to return the favor when it comes to your own culture, or he’ll get a little sullen. The two of you end up doing a lot of traveling together once things settle down!

-> [ Spanner is the one to confess to you. ] He’s pretty absorbed in his projects most of the time, but he’s also very in-tune with himself. It takes him a while to actually develop feelings for you, but he’s quick to realize when he starts to see you more romantically than platonically. You, on the other hand, are much more focused on whatever missions you have on your plate, whatever goals you’re cooking up; you’re not really thinking about getting into a relationship with anyone. His confession is really casual and subtle, but sweet; one of those confessions that’s inserted into a comfortable silence like by the way, I adore you and I want to keep you in my life forever. It’s one of those confessions that makes you go “aw, that’s nice - wait, what?” He’s happy to clarify if you need it.

-> [ Dates fluctuate between exciting and calm. ] Both of you like to have a bit of variety in your lives, and this definitely reflects in your love life. Spanner is not the type to shy away from active and thrilling dates like ziplining, bungee jumping, and the like. He might not have a huge reaction, but it’s clear that he’s enjoying himself from the big grin he gets on his face as you two are zooming through the air. Escape rooms are fun, too; he’s smart and analytical, so you two like going for the higher difficulty ones. Spanner is also a fan of a lowkey, at-home date. Not terribly exciting and they don’t feel like a date half the time, but getting your living room set up like a mini movie theater and going all-out on snacks is still an enjoyable way to relax and indulge in each other’s company.

— Ship tropes

-> Yapper x Listener (interchangeable)

-> Relaxed (him) x Disciplined (you)

-> Big goals/passions (both)

— Other considerations: Mukuro, Kikyo

Your platonic match is…

✧ Sasagawa Ryohei

-> [ Brings the extraversion and decisiveness you tend to lack. ] Though the two of you may clash a bit right away (he’s just a lot for you when you two are still just barely acquaintances), your personalities balance each other quite well. Ryohei is a social type and often initiates interactions with you, especially at first, which is very helpful when it comes to you eventually getting used to his energy. He also generally doesn’t overthink things, while you sometimes struggle with indecisiveness - he is surprisingly helpful when you two are trying to decide what activity you want to do for the day, or which pastry you want to buy from the bakery.

-> [ Overbearing and loud, yes, but very motivating to be around. ] You both have very similar mindsets, even if your goals are very different. If you want something done, you should make it happen regardless if there’s an opportunity or not. You two are a very energetic, active duo (though, admittedly, you aren’t quite as fired up as he is - even you get tired sometimes just watching him).

-> [ He is someone else who will go on all those thrill-seeking adventures with you. ] Your partner aside, Ryohei is happy to accompany you to any extreme activities. He’ll end up dragging you into quite a few hectic adventures without prompting, too, since he so often just thinks of dangerous and exciting as synonyms. His reactions during these thrill-seeking hangouts are very loud and proud, and you can’t help but snort at the way his screams echo through the trees as he goes ziplining through them.

-> [ Competition is common between you two, even if you roll your eyes at it sometimes. ] You have your moments where you’re competitive, but it’s not a constant thing for you like it seems to be with Ryohei. He tends to bring out your competitive side more often than not, though. Thankfully, he’s not a sore loser and he obviously has a great time regardless of who wins or loses. All that said, you are able to make him mellow out just a bit at times. Not everything has to be a competition.

-> [ You’re always up to learn new skills - he’s happy to teach you boxing. ] As soon as you mention an interest in it, Ryohei is ready to show you all the ins and outs of the sport. Honestly, it’s pretty fun - it’s a good way to work your body out and stay active, and it’s something you two end up doing quite frequently. He does feel really bad if he ever hurts you, though. He knows you can handle yourself and you’ve probably gotten injured a lot worse over the years, but he still doesn’t want to be the reason for one of your injuries.

✧ Relationship with…

— Belphegor -> Initially, the two of you didn’t get along terribly well. Bel is abrasive with pretty much everyone he encounters and is very particular about who he bothers being even remotely friendly with. That antagonism of his was very much unappealing to you, but you didn’t lash out aside from the occasional snappy comment when he wouldn’t leave you alone. It took some time (and a lot of tested patience), but now you two are… quite friendly. You’re not quite sure what happened, but he started being (slightly) less outwardly hostile towards you and would seek you out around HQ more often. Bel thinks you’re funny because you’re so pleasant compared to most of the others in teh Varia, and you don’t creep him out like Lussuria. He’s the one you go to if you want to vent about another Varia member, and he usually has some weird, juicy secret on them that he’s willing to share.

— Mammon -> Honestly, it takes a while for them to even really acknowledge you. You’re a newbie, they don’t answer to you, nor do you really answer to them. You’re very curious about them, though - you’ve heard of the Arcobaleno, but you’ve never really encountered one prior to Mammon. Every once in a while if you happen to catch them around HQ, you try to make small talk and ask questions… but after a while, they start threatening to charge you for each question you ask or each minute you try to chat with them. (You don’t believe them and a day later you’re sent an itemized bill). Over the years, though, a sort of friendship starts to settle between you two. Given that Bel decided you two are on good terms, and he is quite fond of Mammon, the three of you will hang out in your downtime.

— Byakuran -> He knows what you are. He doesn’t really do anything about it, just like how he let Mukuro parade around as Leonardo for quite some time. However, despite your role as spy within the Millefiore, you’re not one to interact with him directly very often, only on rare occasions. That keeps you safe, more or less. The way he looks at you, like he knows more than he lets on, really sets you on edge. He thinks you’re funny, though, in the way that you often have a hard time sitting still. And you’re so driven and perfectionistic! If you were actually working for him, he knows you’d do a great job.

— Reborn -> Reborn tends to keep an eye and ear out for any happenings within the Vongola and its allies, and is generally well-informed. He knows about you long before you ever formally met him - and you just kind of happen to meet him by chance during a Vongola-wide event. He takes it upon himself to introduce himself to you, figuring you’d be a good one to associate with. You’re skilled, ambitious, and a quick learner; that’s always a boon in the mafia. He’s definitely the type that could be a great mentor for you, if you ever wanted to seek one out. And if that were the case, he’d even go as far as to say that you’re among his favorite students.

— Leviathan -> He thinks of you as his greatest enemy and rival. You… are often very exasperated and annoyed by his behavior, but you don’t exactly hate him. You’d love it if he would get off your case and leave you alone, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon. Unfortunately. He tries to act like he’s better than you, while also trying to prove himself because he feels like his position is threatened. You think it’s because you both have Lightning flames and you hold more power and sway than the average Varia subordinate.

[pbandjesse]

I am just leaving the event at the museum. And I had a wonderful time. And I'm so glad that Merrill asked me to work tonight because I needed something to look forward to And honestly I felt a lot better today so things feel more positive even if my stomach still hurts on the bottom.

I think some of the positivity comes from sleeping better. I did not have a nosebleed but I did wake up a few times. And then sweetp pulled a whole bunch of stuff off of my vanity and scared the hell out of us at like 3:00 a.m. But I slept all right and when I woke up I did not feel so terrible.

I laid in bed for a while but I knew that James had made me pancakes and I was looking forward to those. So even though it was too cold I got up and got cleaned up and dressed. I made the bed. And I went downstairs to warm up my breakfast.

Sweetp followed me all over the house today. Mostly being kind. And I was excited to see that crab cake was in his window enclosure and was all warm. And he would travel from one level to the other. Though I still haven't seen him go all the way down to the bottom level.

I didn't do a ton today. I promised James that I would rest as much as possible and I would dust upstairs. And I put away a bunch of stuff in the baby room. But mostly I just hung out and tried to be chill. Try not to move a whole bunch of stuff and hurt my tummy more. And it was a pretty good time.

When I was in the baby room I was mostly taking things out of boxes and moving small books around and making sure that things have homes. And I would sit on the floor for a while just kind of looking through things. I also went through our guest book and I glued down the couple pictures that had fallen out. So everything is nice and sturdy.

I would lay in bed for a long time just watching videos and scrolling around the internet. Around 2:00 I went and made soup and started getting changed for work.

I didn't have to leave the house until after 5:00. So I would get to still see James. I thought about possibly closing my eyes but I didn't really need it so I stayed awake. I wasn't feeling incredible but I was feeling fine enough.

When James got home I was very happy to see them. Sweetp had been being nice to me but then all of a sudden attacked my arms and the hurt me and I was very upset about it. So I put him in the playpen because he hadn't been able to figure out how to get out before but he finally figured it out and I'm very proud of him even though he hurt my arm.

And James and me just sat together and talked and we went upstairs so I could show them the two things I would like them to install. Specifically the baby monitor and the baby aquarium night night thing.

And soon it was time for me to go. I thought about stopping at McDonald's but I decided against it. Instead I got to the museum at 5:30 and found Merrill so that she could tell me what the party wanted for their print. And I also found other Jesse and he asked me to put two events on my schedule for next month so that's exciting. And the people who were having the party were very excited about the print.

So we all went to the print shop to collaborate on what it should look like. They wanted a very large font like a headline and they just moved to a new building so they wanted it to be like fresh start New Year. I said perfect totally love it but we weren't sure what the image was going to be. So I said I would pull some stuff and we can make a decision together.

What I ended up finding was a handshake, a chain, and a hand holding a bag of money. And that was my favorite one but I was worried it was a little on the nose because they're in accounting firm.

And it made everyone laugh really hard. Like it was absolutely the best choice but we decided just in case someone was offended by that we would have the other two as options as well. And so I made a whole bunch and waited for the event to start.

Ended up having a couple really lovely conversations with the caterers. Because they had been taken off of our list last year and they are trying to get back on our list so this was a trial run. And I really like the skater so I was glad they were back. Their food is always really good. And they love hearing all about the history and that was really nice.

And honestly I had a lot of people come through My gallery for the evening and they loved my prints and I loved having conversations with them. And I was a little frazzled at times. I'm not really sure why. But not most of my information out it just wasn't my best show. I was mostly just enjoying a conversations with people and getting to show them the different things in the room.

It started to slow down around 8:00 so I went to find a Merrill to find out when we were closing the galleries. She told me 30 so I went back and I ended up finding the photographer and she took some pictures of me with my prints and her friend posing in different spots in the gallery and she asked if I had any props they could use and I was like oh my God the movie theater has some really good ones So I brought her over there to show her the 3D glasses of popcorn boxes we have and she was so excited so that was fun and I collected all my prints and cleaned up and closed the gallery for the evening.

Merrill had said that once we close the gallery we could go get food. And I ate all yellow food. Corn pudding, mac and cheese, and flatbread pizza. And it was great and I had an excellent time sitting at the front desk talking to my coworkers. And it was really just a really lovely evening even if the bottom of my stomach continued to hurt. I really think I need to start wearing a belly band or taping my stomach because I just wanted to hold up all night and it was not very comfortable. I checked earlier and apparently my baby is the size of a small pineapple? That seems too big. But I will still having a really good time and wasn't too tired and was just having fun.

Now though I'm on my way home. I decided not to stay for dessert instead I wanted to come back home and get ready for bed. James has the day off tomorrow. I'm not sure if we have anything planned. But it will be a good day together. I hope that you off sleep well tonight. Take care of each other. Good night.

[haybalesblog]

Okay, I'm doing my big one today, introducing to you PopSewing brand. This brand caught my attention through TikTok, where I came across numerous videos of creators sewing their own bags, a trend that followed the viral #wirkin movement. I love that PopSewing offers so many bag options, including a dedicated section for inspired designs—my favorite being their Hermès collection. They offer a range of colors, including Etoupe, Dark Green, Peacock Blue, Khaki, Cream White, and Brown.

What I find particularly interesting about PopSewing is the DIY aspect. Creating your own bag cleverly navigates copyright laws while encouraging user creativity. However, if sewing isn't your thing, you can also purchase pre-sewn bags, though these are understandably priced slightly higher.

Another interesting aspect of this brand is its dual presence: they have a comprehensive website as well as an Amazon storefront. So if you feel more comfortable shopping through a large retailed like amazon, you have that option with this brand.

I haven't personally used PopSewing products yet, but I'm planning to sew a bag for my best friend, who's a huge handbag enthusiast, for her upcoming birthday. The prices are very appealing, ranging from $112 USD for a top-grain leather Birkin-inspired design to $92 USD for a mini Kelly. I've also noticed they offer a wider range of colors than I originally mentioned, depending on the specific listing. I'm particularly drawn to the black mini Kelly, which appears to be made from box leather. If I could change one thing, it would be to offer more hardware customization; I'm a big fan of gold hardware.

For secure online shopping, I always recommend using trusted third-party payment systems like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal. It's best to avoid entering your card information directly on websites, as even trusted sites can be vulnerable to security breaches.

Now onto the reviews:

^^^A lovely review I found from 2 years ago, showing that this brand has been inspiring people for a while now.

^^^ This review caught my eye, showing the outcome of purchasing a pre-sewn bag from the brand PopSewing. As stated in the video, it is hand-sewn and sturdy.

Last but not least^^^, a review from a woman who chose to sew a Mini Kelly inspired bag from PopSewing. This review not only gives us a first-hand look into the process of making a bag with them, but it also shows us the quality of the Mini Kelly.

I've included links above to their pre-sewn inspired bags, which I know many of you will appreciate, as well as a link to their DIY bag kits. I'm incredibly excited to try PopSewing, and I hope you'll join me! If you've already tried this brand, please share your experience in the comments. And if you decide to purchase a kit, I'd love to hear about your DIY bag journey! As always, feel free to ask any questions—I'm happy to help.

Love ya,

Haybales

[epithet-beloved]

Hello, me again!!

I was just busy doing homework when I started thinking about epithet characters (who am I kidding, I think about them all the time LMAO). And then Sheriff Gorou just popped up in my head and then WOAH BIG BRAIN MOMENT!! What if he was friends with a prisoner reader? They can eat donuts and drink pinecones together :)

Hope you all have a great day/evening!!

-Ryan

HANGING OUT

synopsis… hanging out with sheriff gorou

ft. sheriff gorou

tags… platonic, fluff, nothing much happens you just hang out

word count… 662

a/n… I LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR A LITTLE BIT. BEEN INCREDIBLY BUSY WITH ASSIGNMENTS BUT IPAD IS OUT OF BATTERY RIGHT NOW SO I'M WRITING THIS WHILE IT RECHARGES. ENJOY THE GOOFY ✧ 🦇

“So, how do you drink these?”

“I don’t know! But it’s the only drink we have here in Redwood Run!”

“... And the well?”

“Oh! It’s completely dry!”

Sheriff Gorou’s hearty laugh echoed in the small cabin he had made his headquarters in the city in the middle of the woods. You stood behind some not-very-sturdy metal bars with a pinecone in your hands, a straw had been jammed in the thing. Gorou had brought it for you from the tavern when you had asked him to bring you a drink to share. He had a pinecone of his own, and he was unsuccessfully trying to try from the straw stuck in it.

You watched him with an amused smile from your spot in the cabin, jumping slightly when he handed you a donut from the box that rested on his desk.

“Here!” He stated with an enthusiastic tone, “Can’t have a drink without a snack!” He smiled at you, and you couldn’t help but let out a small, amused giggle as you took the sweet treat from his hands, “Why thank you.”

Somehow, Gorou managed to have a box of fresh donuts on his desk every morning. You weren’t quite sure where they came from, as the old man from the tavern didn’t seem like someone who’d take interest in baking, and Redwood Run didn’t quite have a bakery. You wondered if he had lied to you about his epithet (that, of course, he had told you about straight away), and it was actually “Donut” instead of “Bluster”, and it let him have a fresh box of the things every morning. They were incredibly tasty and somehow still a bit warm- but this wasn’t surprising, despite being in the middle of the woods, the clearing Redwood Run found itself in was often subject to the light of the high sun, making everything in the small city and its houses warm. It was like the city was stuck at the high noon of a western movie.

And if that was the aesthetic it was going for, Sheriff Gorou stuck out like a sore thumb, with his bright ginger hair and beard, the latter adorned with all sorts of sprinkles, and his happy go lucky attitude; everyone in the city was a criminal, after all! Even you! Why do you think you were hanging out in the sheriff’s cabin, behind the bars of the only cell in the entire town? He didn’t even catch you himself- you turned yourself in! You just felt a little bad that he never seemed to be able to do his job right.

But life in that single cell ended up not being so bad.

Gorou was a nice guy to be around, and you never got bored hearing his repeated stories or watching him gift guns to whoever stepped inside the cabin, even if they did so by accident.

“That guy over there seems new,” You commented after taking a bite of your donut and gesturing to someone outside with a nod. Gorou turned in the direction you pointed to, and he noticed a Banzai Blaster that seemed to be quite lost.

“He does!” He commented,

“Do you think I should go give him a gun? As a welcome gift?”

“Nah, I wanna see how long he goes without one. Also, he didn’t come in here.”

“Hmm… You’re right!”

Gorou shrugged and smiled as he leaned back in his chair, trying to prop his feet up on the desk, but failing and almost falling backwards. You couldn’t help but snicker as he regained his balance and composure, his cheeks red from embarrassment for almost falling like that in front of you.

“Aw, come on,” You cooed with a smile “You’ll be able to do it someday. I believe in ya, sheriff.”

Gorou gained his big smile again, his round cheeks peeking from under his beard.

“Why thank ya! You’re the nicest inmate I’ve ever had! And the only one!”

[snkts]

A long wooden case with no return address is left for Logan to find. The hinges are brass, the edges worn with age. Inside lay several polished blades, nestled in carefully so as not to rattle around. The assortment is made up of a shortsword and matching daggers, and then the reason for the case being the length it is: a spear, tipped in bronze. 

Bronze in color, at least. Closer inspection will reveal its nature as adamantine.

As adamantine comes from only one source, the gift giver is painfully obvious. The note tucked under the shortsword indicates that Hercules — the obvious sender — had intended it to be a show of good faith and an apology for years of bad behavior and embarrassment. Extra blades to use as protection in dire straits, a show of friendship.

The timing being on Logan's birthday might have been intentional, though there's no indication of a happy birthday anywhere — only a wish for good health and good luck on the back of the note. 

It’s been moved to his door when he gets home. It’s just sitting there. He stops mid-stride and tilts his head. What is that…? He scents the air once, twice. Then he freezes. There’s no way. 

There’s no fucking way. 

Logan knows that scent. It’s from a series of memories he only just got back - thanks to Charles and, regrettably, Wanda. It was strange and familiar at the same time. Yeah, he remembered that scent - he just never thought he’d smell it again. He shouldn’t be smelling it again. It had been so long… He lifts the box in his arms. It’s heavy, and he can hear metal - solid metal - shifting softly inside; anyone else would’ve missed it. Whoever left this here took great pains to make sure it was well-packed. The box itself is probably worth a good chunk of change - it’s old and sturdy and well-made. He kicks his door closed behind him and sets the box in front of his bed. He stares at it for a moment longer. It’s definitely from Herc. Aside from the smell, it’s exactly the sort of thing he would drop off - and not many people would be able to lift this damn thing to drop it anywhere. Logan pops the latch and swings the lid open. He can’t help but smile. 

“That old bastard.” He chuckles to himself. Yeah, only him. Logan pulls the shortsword out first, and gives it a few experimental swings. It’s well-balanced, sharp enough that the air whistles around the blade, and gleams even in the low sunlight coming through the balcony doors. Logan runs the edge along his palm and even with no pressure, the skin splits, bleeds, heals. Logan lets out a low whistle. This was a real beauty. Couldn’t find anything like that at your run-of-the-mill black market. (And he should know - he’d looked.) 

Setting that down on the bed, Logan turns to the daggers. Another show of master craftsmanship. He twirled them in his hands, admiring the way the cool metal glided against the callouses of his palms. He catches them in a reverse grip and runs through a quick drill, slashing and blocking and manoeuvring around an invisible opponent. These are also incredible - but not quite so eye-catching as the last item in the box. He sets the daggers aside and finally pulls out that beautiful goddamn spear. This, he grins at, wide and toothy, like a kid on Christmas. 

“Hello, gorgeous.” He coos. He twirls it slowly in his hands, pondering… Then he opens his balcony doors, cocked his arm back, and threw the spear with a grunt. It cracked into the trunk of a tree loud enough that it mimicked thunder and earned a series of shrieks from some nearby students. He swung over his balcony and dropped onto the grass.

“Logan!” The kids protest. He rolls his eyes as he walks towards the ruined tree.

“Relax. I wasn’t gonna hit ya’.” He says. He grips the spear with one hand, braces his foot on the trunk, and pulls, retrieving his prize before he turns to scale the wall and go back to his room. It’s only when he goes to put the spear back that he spots the note - it must’ve fallen out when he was playing around with the weapons. Huh. Logan stoops to pick the note up, holding it between two fingers as he reads. He hums, then glances over to the weapons and huffs a laugh. 

“Dunno what’cha think you did,” he says to the empty room, propping the spear over his shoulder, “but you’re alright in my books.”

[dcggersedge]

It hadn't been too hard to find the other woman—considering she was an instructor and all. Teaching... honestly, it wasn't the sort of job Etie ever expected Yunaka to take up, but she had to admit stability and groundedness did look good on her.

Especially with the hardships her past seemed to have held.

"Etie, busting in! And I have a special delivery." Etie calls out as she enters the Lions' classroom, a pink cake box held in her arms, wrapped with a white ribbon, and topped with a bouquet of flowers. "From my hometown, to you."

First, she offers the bouquet. "Marigolds, cultivated in my hometown. They just reminded me of you, you know? Joyful, strong... you're one of my biggest inspirations in that regard, and I wanted to represent it through this. Next is... um, hold on—"

With the bouquet out of her arms, Etie offers the pink box next. "Ta-da! You can open it whenever you feel like, but I hope you like peach! ...And cake. Peach cake. Hope you like it."

The archer chuckles, somewhat sheepishly. "I had some peaches sent in from my village too, and used them to bake this for you. It's always been one of my favorite pieces of home. I feel calm whenever I have some, and I wanted to share it with you."

She smiles, "Happy birthday, Yunaka."

"All the way from home?" Yunaka repeats. Etie's not very subtle outside of combat. Yunaka heard her approaching long before she arrived, and simply raised her head to smile at her when she came parading into the classroom. "Like, across the ocean and everything? And it's still fresh? Wow..." The flowers were just as sturdy as the people she met from Firene...

Her casual tone goes directly against the excitement already bubbling in her. Gifts! For her! Twice in one day! Her fingers drum rapidly against the top of her desk until she holds her hands out to take things from Etie.

The bouquet is expected, especially after Alfred also brought her one. It's also incredibly welcomed, as sniffing the flowers makes a perfectly good excuse to hide her face as Etie starts explaining why she picked them. "Aw, I'm sure you could find plenty of people who are stronger than me..." And better people, more suited to being an inspiration than her... She hopes her face is a little less red when she pulls it out of the flowers again. "Thanks though...seriously, that's so sweet of you."

And homemade peach cake. She'd have matching stars in her eyes if she could. "Uh, I only like it a whole freaking lot. And you made it? That's amazing, Etie!" She didn't even need to see it to know that she'd done a good job.

Yunaka tucks the bouquet into the crook of her elbow as she stands. Rather than taking the box, she places her hands over Etie's to keep her from leaving. "I hope by share it with me, you meant share it with me right now. As completely and totally delish as it sounds, I think I'd like it a lot better with good company. We can even get some of those fancy Fódlan teas and see how they compare to the stuff you guys make, yeah?"

Happy birthday Yunaka. She laughs quietly to herself. "Oh, you're smart. Alfred got me some flowers too, but he didn't tell me what they meant. Could you tell me? Hang on, I wrote them down somewhere..."