#also we share the same sentiment about getting ready for work

[nube55]

*screeches* I'll be waiting for you, Captain 😶

Good day, Captain. Thank you for taking over the blog, and please send my congratulations to Lucy for her achievement!

I hear you aren't fond of sweet treats, but rumours say you have a weakness for bread rolls with little pieces of bacon and cheese in them. Is that so?

I happen to be cooking as of now, so my question is: if I invite you to come over and share some bread rolls, would you accept? We could drink the beverage of your choice.

I hope you have a pleasant couple of weeks here! ✨️

I'll pass down the message.

If you want your question to be answered by me, Levi, please check the rules on this link.

If you'd like to review previous event questions and answers, here is the link.

[cameronspecial]

Let Me Serve You, Angel

Pairing: Frat!Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings:  N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.6K

Summary: Rafe has a lot of rules when it comes to being his girlfriend. Here are some more.

Masterlist

Y/N is getting ready to go to the club with Daisy and a few friends. She walks over to Rafe lying on the bed to kiss him goodbye. “Daisy is going to be here in a minute. I’m going to wait downstairs. You can stay in bed though Rafe,” she orders, kissing him on the lips. He is too tired to argue about going down with her, “Okay, be safe. Rule Number Nine?” She pauses at the door and pulls out her phone to check. Her phone shows that she is sharing her location and she nods. “Yep, the other girls and you can see it. We aren’t planning on staying out too late, so I should be back by one at the latest,” she informs him. He sits up from the bed to watch her leave, “Sounds good, Angel. I love you.” She returns his sentiment and goes out the door. 

———

Rule Number Seven is one of Y/N’s least favourite rules because Rafe never lets her return the favour. Rule Number Seven: Let me serve you, Angel. It’s a sweet gesture, but Y/N also wants to help pay for dates or hold his bags when he buys things. By now, she’s realized that acts of service are one of Rafe’s main love languages and he always wants to show her his love, so she has gotten used to letting him do his thing. She also learnt that he likes to receive physical touch and that’s how she tries to make it up to him.

“Hey, I’m going to order some pasta from Ronaldo’s. Do you want anything?” she asks, walking into his room and placing her clutch on his desk. She goes to take off her jacket, but he is quick to get off his bed and help her take it off. Her attempts to get into something more comfortable stop because she knows what comes after. He kneels on the ground and unbuckles her heels. His mouth finds its place on her inner calf as he pulls off her left shoe. He repeats the same ritual on her right foot. He is so focused on helping her get undressed that he forgot she asked him a question.

 “Rafe, do you want something to eat?” she tries again. He looks up from putting her shoes away, “Yeah, can you get me the meat lovers pizza and some garlic bread, please? And we should get the guys some stuff too. Here, order it from my phone.” He hands her his phone as he stands up. She nods her head, taking it without a fight because she can see how tired he is. Extra cuddles for him tonight. She gives him the kiss she knows he has been waiting for since she got back and brings him over to the bed so they can tell each other about their day while they wait for the food. 

———

Even though it is twelve thirty in the morning. Most of the frat brothers are found around the dining room table, eating everything the couple ordered. Y/N finished her pasta a while ago and she had three garlic breads and five chicken wings already. But her stomach is still demanding more. Her eyes fall on Rafe’s pizza which he is still working through. She wants to ask for some, yet she feels self-conscious about asking for more when she’s already eaten so much. Rafe catches where her eyeline is and knows what is wrong. He leans closer to her, “Eight.” She looks at him in understanding and reaches over to take a slice of his pizza. The slice is gone almost as fast as it took her to grab it. “Are you satisfied?” he whispers to her again, pushing his last slice toward her. She shakes her head and gives him a kiss on the cheek, “I’m good, Rafe. Thank you.” Eat as much as she wants in front of him and don’t be embarrassed about it is Rule Number Eight. 

[dizzyduck44]

Zak Brown said something this weekend I’ve been arguing for years. Let’s have an F1 calendar that has rotating tracks. There are those set in stone and those we go to different years. But what would that look like as a 24 race calendar?

Personally I think sone tracks that stepped up in Covid should be given the right to host occasional Grand Prix. So here’s my suggestion.

First let’s talk track that have to remain.

Australia - be it Melbourne, Sydney, Bathurst or round Ayers Rock, it’s the only one in its continent. It stays.

Silverstone, UK - home of the first Championship race, great track loved by drivers and fans, always well attended. It stays.

Suzuka, Japan - long standing history of Japan and its motor industry in F1. Same as Silverstone, great track loved by drivers and fans, always well attended. It stays.

COTA, USA - seen as the peak of the modern designed tracks, loved by drivers and fans, always well attended. Put F1 on the map in the US through hard work, for that reason it stays.

Monaco - love it, hate it, it’s a huge challenge on the drivers and historically one of the triple crown races. It stays.

Red Bull Ring, Austria - despite its remote location and weather unpredictably it is a great race track that offers interesting races. It stays.

Interlargos, Brazil - another driver and fan favourite. The passion of the fans when we know how much tickets costs compared to wages in that country. Hard to deny it should be on the calendar. It stays.

Singapore - I’m all about the F1 world championship being a challenge for drivers in all conditions. Night racing in that heat. For the challenge it offers I think it has to stay.

Monza, Italy - if we test everything over the course of the season, speed should definitely be one of them. Historic track that has started to get huge crowds again. It stays.

Baku, Azerbaijan- this race nearly always delivers. Huge technical areas alongside high speed. Becoming a popular destination race. I say keep it.

Abu Dhabi - yes the track has its haters but again it’s a day night race (different challenge) on a technical track. If you are looking for a driver that can do it all. It has to stay.

Now what’s missing

Africa - every other continent is represented already. There needs to be a race here. Moving forward this should be a space that is always available as and when they are ready. F1 and the FIA need to get behind this and help in its development.

Tracks I want to argue for

Bahrain - it has been there for F1 and is always willing to open its doors. Not always a brilliant race but for its commitment I say keep it.

Canada - again historic race of the F1 calendar. Is it the best faculties and race? No. Is it super limited for weather when it can be run? Yes. Sentimentally I want to keep it though.

Spa, Belgium - oh man. Where to start. I love this track but I don’t love its safety record. Driver favourite but attend at your own peril for fans. However on the balance of the challenge it presents (as you might of guessed this is an important criteria) I say keep it.

Budapest, Hungary - this again is a long standing race on the calendar and has given us some classics. Cheap Grand Prix options for a lot of European fans so I would say a keep.

That’s 16. So how to fill the remaining 8 races.

China and Zandvoort have both expressed their difficulties in continuing to host Grand Prix and Mexico sales will be interesting to see once Checo retires. So here’s what I would do.

Offer Zandvoort a share with a German track, alternate years. I know Nubergring has issues but the mere mention of Hockenheim has older F1 fans drooling.

South Korea want back in so offer them a share with China. In reality China went awol for 3 years and no one missed it.

Barcelona, Spain alternate with Portamio, Portugal. Portamio came through during Covid and seems to have been forgotten. Also as close to Northern Africa as we’ve been for a while.

Miami alternate with Las Vegas. Very few people feel the US needs three races and I still say it’s not sustainable. The locals of both venues may be happier for the disruption to be biannual. Honestly though, not sure anyone would mourn the loss of Miami. Ultimately this may become the remaining race alternates with Mexico.

Qatar and Jeddah need to alternate. To have 4 races practically on top of each other in the Middle East is a joke. I’ve already saved 2, these need to alternate.

A European GP in either Imola, France (if they want to join in again) or one of the other European F1 tracks listed that doesn’t host that year can bid for it.

This leaves two spaces open if a race wants to enter or as we see in Zandvoort and Austria, one driver causes a ticket boom. Or do Istanbul. Turkey and the Sakhir Circuit layout in Bahrain (come on it was a goody) want to alternate. Still leaves a space. Also gives room for races to avoid holidays and religions festivals. 26 countries in 22 races. F1 reckon they could have 28 races. Well now you have space to accommodate more than 28 tracks.

[danwhobrowses]

Well Critters the year is almost up, at least for me here in England. Aside from the general pensiveness and reflection of the past year, it also means I'm about to (technically) complete my first full year of following the CR episodes as they came out; a year full of twists, turns, uprisings, downfalls, and just so much going on - only for the campaign to now be nearing its end.

We knew the end was coming sure, but since December's 4SD announced itself as the last of the campaign the number of episodes remaining has grown more finite, likely to be around 1-4 more episodes, and confronting the end is very different to acknowledging it ending. Admittedly in the confronting part I've become a liiiiittle bit of a mess, loaded with panic and worry beyond my own control; I sometimes tell myself that I'm being silly, they're fictional characters, the story's likely already recorded its end, and I never had any control or influence on the story to begin with, but as expected such attempts are both hollow and in vain. It's been a while since I was this invested in a story, or fandom for that matter, and the fact that most key and decisive moments will be determined by dice rolls continuously does nothing to soothe my nerves, or my uncertainties towards how it'll end - after all, the hardest battle has yet to be fought, the biggest decisions yet to be made, and Ludinus Da'leth is way WAY too calm about being trapped in a Force Cage for my liking.

I wonder if the fear and dread was the same for those watching the end of the previous two campaigns? If it was more or less than it is now by comparison? In hindsight, while the final stage so far feels more grounded compared to the more spectacular, massive miniature, larger-than-life endgame battles against Vecna and Lucien's Neo-Somnovem phases, it feels like the stakes are riskier for Bells Hells, on a low Level 15 with no cleric, dismal openings for additional support, and little wiggle room to get creative, especially since killing Ludinus - who continues to be touted as the 'strongest mage of our time' and could get even stronger depending on which way Matt goes with him - alone potentially won't end the overarching conflict, though he should still die nonetheless. At the very least I want the Hells (as we have for VM and the Nein) to all be free to live happily, be it settling down, embarking on new adventures, or just being the best they can be - and doing so with the people that mean the most to them - and at the very most I want them to make the best and kindest decision for the world as a whole, which I hope they get the chance and take the opportunity to do so.

It's still difficult to ready myself for it ending mind you, since I could have very easily spent another year with these idiots and still not be fully ready to say goodbye to them. On that however, I know not everyone shares my sentiment; some are truly ready for the campaign to be over and for C4 for explode (pun intended) onto the scene with brand new characters that in a few years time we'll also likely be unready to say goodbye to, and that's fine. But for all that can and will be said about Campaign 3 - positively and critically - it has very much delighted, disheveled, and deranged me for most of the year, usually at my desk of work, so trying to brace myself for the climax has, and continues to be, a lot of mental effort. Keeping myself positive and hopeful in these situations is tough especially when on the verge of a big battle; sometimes the negative thoughts creep in, Youtube videos full of pessimists and clickbait titles appearing unwantedly on my recommendations don't help, nor does the memory of what happened the last time the Hells were in a major boss battle at the tail end of their time on Ruidus, but when the campaign does end I want it to be looked upon fondly, and a lot of that does hinge on its conclusion. Obviously, I trust the group and Matt's storytelling, but that is only to an extent; defeating Ludinus is something I know Bells Hells are capable of doing - so long as the dice gods play ball and Matt doesn't inexplicably overbuff Ludinus to the nth degree like he did with Otohan - but the Predathos decision remains the root and focal point of the campaign's criticisms for good reason, often overshadowing and playing obstacle to character growth and direction. There is a satisfying and spectacular conclusion in there, but navigating it - even for a group that embraces 'when given two options, we pick option 3' more times than not - let alone achieving it is a very delicate path of fine margins, one that can indeed make or break the campaign - and a lot of my worries lie there, that and approaching/confronting an entity so voracious and eager to escape that it makes the gods terrified enough to deliberate breaking down the Divine Gate.

Without talking more to death about the god stuff and Predathos thing like we the fandom have already done aplenty, there's not much else I can say except that I'm worried but also trying to be hopeful. The campaign ending in tragedy or a pyrrhic victory is possible but it's not an outcome I personally desire or want to entertain. You could perhaps aptly translate that to my general feelings towards the new year too; having wants and wishes, hopes and hesitancies, fears and fandom, just currently a bit more compressed here than it is for the full year - and given our recent run of the years playing dystopia simulator, I'm more hopeful in one than the other right now - and perhaps it would do good to start the year with something to smile about. Right now, it's just that it's happening; it's happening, it's soon, and it's very apparent how close we are to finishing, which means I'm panicking and rambling, and panicking, and of course, rambling. I don't know what emotions will January send me through, but I do hope with all my being that they'll be positive ones.

So whether or not you reached the end of this, I wish you all a Happy New Year and, much like the end of Campaign 3, I hope it's a good one.

[lyss-sketchbox]

Ok coming off anon because I'm trying to conquer the constant social anxiety lmao (same person who sent you Longass Thoughts on Natlan AQ) - SO YEAH personally I like Ei's character but foaming a bit at the mouth because I feel like my favorite parts of her character (namely she was NOT ready to be the archon when makoto kicked the bucket, she's got that good ol' warrior-weapon mindset knocking around in there- having her actually confront the ugly truth of the consequences of her actions was such a missed opportunity. it would've been SO good to see her actually get confronted personally without any sugarcoating. i think her learning to be less of a shitty archon would've been so much better then)

also like. im sure there were a lot of ways to improve Inazuma's story but personally i thought it would've been cooler if kokomi was a bit more. morally grey lmao. like willing to do not-so-nice things to fight god because that's what they're doing. mortals attempting to defy the god that holds dominion over their land (bc the electro archon isn't really Watatsumi's god specifically!! bc uh lmao ei killed him lol)

but yea for real in natlan every "serious problem" was severely undercut by "actually it's all good now" like "kachina is totally fine after being chased by the abyss in the afterlife, she was protected by the wayob so it's all good and she's also mentally ok" and it's like what. what are you talking about.

AND THE ARchON thing i feel like im the only one who has a gripe. tbf the story is not done yet BUT MY QUESTION IS CELESTIA ALLOWED A HUMAN (MULTIPLE EVEN) TO ASCend to the divine throne???? Like what??? IT feels like it runs counter to everything-

and like uh feels like we got really really far away from like. when you talk about the archon war in liyue it was a literal bloodbath. sacrifices upon sacrifices were made, the modern day liyue was built upon the corpses of friend and foe alike because there was no other choice. you couldn't abstain, you would die.

but in natlan???? no gods??? what???? im just losing it more than a bit over here that natlan is trying simultaneously to be a grim land of constant war but also sunshine friendship and rainbows.

at this point im prepared to be disappointed and just crossing my fingers the good writing comes back for snezhnaya's AQ bc if they fuck up snezhnaya i will literally never forgive them

Its all good man, youre so welcome to debate and talk off anon, we may disagree but never hate.

Im putting all my ramblings under cut since its gonna be as equally long and spoilery hdjsnsn

About Ei

I completely forgot about how Ei was originally a kagemusha, a weapon for her sister, her sister did all the archon work while Ei simply stood by her side. Its makes perfect sense that after the death of her sister, she would make very bad not thought out decisions and because she is an archon now, those bad decisions has really really bad aftermaths.

I personally do not have any gripes about her being basically clueless about the outside world. Grief manifests in different ways and locking yourself away and justifying it as a twisted way to gain enlightment of eternity the way your sister did, it can make sense. It is a consequence!! She is clueless of how to be an archon and what is going on in her nation, her SQ could have been used to show her trying to understand and emphatize with her people to be a better archon. NOT A REASON TO MAKE HER AN uwu sad defenseless waifu cant cook and doesnt know anything. Brother she fucking killed people and almost destroyed her nation.

About Kokomi

I like the idea of morally grey kokomi actually. It makes alot of sense. Kokomi and the watatsumi people might have some vishap descendance but they are still humans, even less so with visions. Theyre also lacking the supplies and expertise needed to continue a war with an entire nation and its archon. It would make sense that she would accept the fatuis help since they share the sentiment of 'getting to inazuma and its archon'.

But it was shown she wasnt even aware who the anonymous donor is, hell she wasnt aware people where using delusions until people starts dying. And for a girl who wrote an entire guide book with 100 different alternate plans, HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THIS COMING...............

About Natlan's system

Yeah they really brushed off the dying part and potentially being stuck in genshin limbo if you dont get out in time too casually. The tiny child you retrieved from limbo also is... very chill and not mentally scarred or anything, she wasnt putting up a brave face, she was simply unaffected?????? One on kachina's voiceovers is gonna talk about her death but im not friendship 4 with her yet. I hope it explains SOMETHING.

Yeah the first time i heard that the archon was human and has been replaced multiple times had me gawking too, i can excuse that Celestia has been strangely inactive FOR NOW.

I wanted to bring up how the hydro archon throne being broken and Neuvi regaining his sovernity didnt even call Celestia to action but GUESS WHAT??? I DONT KNOW IF NATLAN HAPPENED BEFORE OR AFTER FONTAINE BECAUSE THEY DECIDE TO LOWER THE REQUIREMENTS TO DO NATLAN AQ!!!!!!! But well if it happened after (since Neuvis end dialogue told us to go to Natlan next), well... Celestia isnt called either so theyve just been inactive for 500 years of Natlans weird system ig.

About the """Nation of War"""

Yeah man. Sacrifices and war was dealt better in liyue. Same as Natlan, it is a nation built of war. There was war in the past, sacrifices were made to built the liyue we know now. But the sacrifices in liyue was not brushed off or belittled, those sacrifices had meaning and the people of liyue hold very high regards for the fallen. In Natlan? Its treated like some sort of sick hunger games event, they made war into entertainment.

Oh but they need the tournaments to keep the natlan fire alive. THEN RUN A SEPERATE FUCKING TOURNEY?????? MAKE EVERYONE WHO HAS AN ANCIENT NAME HAVE PROPER TRAINING AND GO TO WAR IN ARMIES PROPER???? THIS SHIT DOESNT NEED TO BE ENTERTAINMENT AND YET YOU DID. Maybe the flames are small BECAUSE YOU PICK ONLY 5 PEOPLE EVERYTIME WHEN THERES LITERALLY NO REASON VETERANS LIKE KINICH AND MUALANI TO SIT IT OUT JUST BECAUSE THEY LOST.

Oh but the ode of resurrection only works on limited people THEN SEND OUT THE BEST PEOPLE THEN???????? MUALANI, A 3 TIMES VETERAN, LOST TO KACHINA. CLEARLY THE TOURNEYS ARENT RELIABLE TO PICK WHO TO SEND.

While i can understand that while Liyue is past war and Natlan is still in war, this is... not how people in war act. The entertainment the happiness the hospitality. Its not efforts to keep morale high its literally just... happy people, sometimes they get attacked by abyss monsters yeah cool but otherwise theyre completely happy just living like that. Thats why the Nation of War thing isnt working at all, these people are not how people STILL IN WAR act. Theres no anxiety no uncertainty no worry at all, not even a smidget. These people live like happy prospering people.

You know what happened to people tryna be happy prospering people while still in war in liyue? Havria.

I hope they bring back the high AR requirement for snezhnaya so snezhnaya can be chronologically correct. I hope they take snezhnaya seriously. I hope Natlan atleast wont pull an inazuma and tripped at the very end

NONE OF THAT POWER OF FRIENDSHIP BS EITHER I didnt believe it when mualani fucking knocked it over our heads over and over and over again and its not gonna work now.

[madhatterbri]

Warning | Hangman A.P. Part 5

Summary: Hangman continues to spiral much to Y/N's dismay.

Author's Note: Lots of catching up to do so we are skipping a little. I'm looking forward to Jeff vs. Hangman. Although Hangman could be going to the DMV and I'd be lit. 💀

Hangman Masterlist

Part 1 2 3 4

Taglist: @magicalbuttertarts @smallestsnarkestgirl

Y/N's breath caught in her throat the moment Hangman laid his hands on Karen Jarrett. His descent into madness seemed to have no end. The crazed look in his eyes was one that she had seen plenty of times. Another victim of his hatred, she feared.

Evil Uno also happened to become a victim. The once friend of Hangman told him that he was involved in the Casino Gauntlet match at All In. Like so many before him, Evil Uno was attacked by an irate Hangman and a chair. The Cowboy wasn't done there. He even dragged his suitcase over his body.

When Swerve battled Bryan Danielson, Hangman made sure to intervene. The Young Bucks were one step ahead and ensured to have security on hand. Y/N hoped an ending would come soon in the feud.

During an episode of Dynamite, Swerve had enough. He challenged Hangman to a steel cage match at All Out. A contract signing was supposed to happen the following week. The contract signing never happened.

Hangman found Swerve's childhood home. Y/N watched in horror along with everyone else as he burned it to the ground. The fan favorite cowboy sat in front of the house, taking a swig of his favorite drink. With his hands tied, Tony changed the match at All Out to a lights-out match. The match was nothing like she had ever seen before.

They brutalized each other for minutes. Everything was used during the match from chairs to staple guns and even cinder blocks. Finally, a needle to Swerve's mouth and one final chair shot sealed the match. Hangman was the winner. His past year of misery finally seemed to be over. She had never been so wrong.

With his rival out of the way, he now felt empty. Long out of his mind, he vowed to go after everyone that ever supported or protected Swerve Strickland. He wasted little time.

He shoved a staff member to the ground after his interview with Renee. The realization of the friends he lost started to hit him. Top Flight shook their head in disgust at him. Dark Order shared the same sentiment. They claimed not to know him anymore.

Finally, he ran into Jeff Jarrett. The man had been a thorn in his side around the time Hangman came back from his suspension. The third generation wrestler tried to talk some sense into him. It didn't work.

Hangman sucker punched the old man. Fist after fist connected to the old man's back. When he noticed a stack of chairs, Adam threw him on them. Security finally helped by restraining Hangman. Top Flight and Dark Order rushed to assist, but the damage was done.

The next week, they booked an interview between Hangman and Tony Schiavone. Y/N could see the look on Hangman's face. He appeared irritated. A caged animal that was now forced to perform in front of a live animal.

"He's irritated. Do you have security ready?" Y/N asked her bosses.

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Don't be dramatic like him. He's just having another one of his creative depressive episodes. He'll tire himself out of the tantrum and go back to normal. Why don't you get us a coffee?"

She rolled her eyes yet did as the older Jackson brother requested. Y/N listened out during the interview. The anger in him was still so evident. She left catering quickly to watch the screens with the Jacksons. They complained about the coffee yet drank it anyway. The way he turned to Tony. An innocent man who was just doing his job.

"He's going to attack Tony. He's going to attack Schiavone," she gasped. Her hand was placed over her mouth in shock. The commentator was always nice to her. He always told her to keep her head up.

Hangman cornered Tony in the ring. A sigh of relief passed the Jacksons and Y/N when Jeff Jarrett's music played. When Jeff made it to the ring, Adam started to club him in the back. The attack happened for several seconds before security stepped in. The chaos ended with Jeff promising to kick the cowboy's ass.

Y/N stomped around looking for Hangman backstage. This time, he had gone too far. Tony didn't do anything wrong. He was just doing his job. She found him pacing in a hallway. Typical.

"Hangman! Hangman!" She yelled. He ignored her and paced. Y/N grabbed his arm and made him turn around. His crazed expression mildly softened. "Tony? Really? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"He supported him. The man that went after my family. He deserved it,"

"Deserved it? You won. Swerve is gone. It's over. You are just attacking innocent people," she insisted.

"You don't understand," he scoffed and walked away.

"No, I don't. I don't understand how the man I once loved is acting like a petulant child and throwing tantrums everywhere,"

Hangman stopped in his tracks. A wave of realization washed over him. She was on Swerve's side. All this time for the past year. Y/N never supported him. She was pretending to get his weaknesses.

"You were on his side the entire time," he accused loudly. Adam pointed a finger at her. Her mouth dropped in shock. She wasn't sure how he could ever say such a thing. He stormed towards her. Her heart raced in her chest. Memories of their past flashed in her mind. Memories of what happened between him and Karen at All In.

She backed up until running into someone. Y/N turned to see Dark Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds. Hangman stopped in his tracks. The three men stared at him as if challenging him to come closer. Hangman growled in frustration. He threw a chair to the wall and stormed off.

[startrekfangirl2233-writes]

Part I

We Don't Fit in Well ('Cause We Are Just Ourselves)

James T. Kirk (AOS) x Reader

Description: Riverside, Iowa. You've been here once before. Back then, everything was different. Now, you're not sure you're even in the same universe anymore. The man you might love? He's disappeared into thin air. The job you love? It might just disappear too. When everything hinges on one person, what lengths will you go to in order to save him? Can you save him while following the harsh demands you've been ordered to fulfill?

Warnings: Arguments, Mentions of Drunken Behavior, Injuries, Rough language

These will change from chapter-to-chapter. I will do my best to denote all happening as faithfully as I can. If any of these items bothers you, please do not read. One chapter of this fic includes non-graphic descriptions of Torture. All trigger warnings will be clearly demarcated in this fic.

Author’s Note: Hello my lovelies! This is my first Star Trek fic (ever), and I've been agonizing over how I could write it for so so long. This fic has been in the works since late-November 2023 and I think it's finally ready to share with you all!

I of course have to thank my faithful beta readers (and biggest cheerleaders) @desert-fern, @horseshoegirl and @sarahsmi13s for reading bits and pieces of this fic and making sure I was doing it justice. I also want to thank @a-reader-and-a-writer! Vee sent me this ask around then and nearly a year and a half later, we have this fic!

This is going to be a multi-part story. Please let me know if you’d like to be tagged!

AO3: Cross-posted here!

My Masterlist

Series Masterlist | Next Part

The last time it snowed, the world was a very different place. Vulcan was still one of the biggest influences in the Federation, still orbiting its sun and still home to billions of souls, which were now snuffed out. Starfleet was thriving, with thousands of cadets and personnel boldly going into the unknown on peacekeeping and exploratory missions. What you have now is a world spinning on a different, tilted, off-kilter axis. It's like there is a hush over the grounds of Starfleet Academy still, cadets flinching, fighting their laughter when before it used to ring through the central square, melding with hundreds of conversations. The ghosts of everyone who walked the halls and never got the chance to graduate, to live, encroach on the spirits of those who remain.

It's no wonder the Admiralty have pushed for accelerated courses, aching to balloon the skeleton complement staffing the vessels still operational after the Battle of Vulcan. But the appetite to join Starfleet isn't present anymore. You've been riding a recruitment desk since graduation; you know what you're talking about. It’s like Starfleet had been inexplicably linked with the disaster on Vulcan and been found culpable for it. 

Nobody wants to be affiliated with the paramilitary organization responsible for the violent death of an entire planet. The Admirals have given countless interviews on the resettlement of the surviving Vulcan people. Ambassador Sarek himself has spoken about the loss of his wife, a prominent Terran herself, and the path to healing for the Vulcan people as a whole. Time and again, he's stressed how, without Starfleet, nothing of Vulcan-that-was would have been saved. But it doesn't seem to have worked. Every day, public sentiment on Starfleet has waned, the mercury dipping lower and lower and sinking into the red until you're not sure anything will bring it back out.

Well, there is one thing that could possibly save Starfleet. But nobody’s sure if he'd agree to do it.

It's why you're in Riverside, Iowa, of all places. The last time you were here, it was in 2255, and the summer sun shone golden from a blue sky over the shafts of fragrant wheat swaying in the hot breeze. You can still recall how your uniform had stuck to the small of your back, how wisps of your hair had been snatched from your braid only to get plastered against your face and neck. Back then, only a little over three years and yet a lifetime ago, you'd been awed at the mechanisms of the Riverside Shipyard, awed at the skeleton of the Enterprise as she was built piece by piece and paid little attention to the town in the shipyard's shadow. One bar fight and a pair of new cadets on board your shuttle later, you'd forgotten all about the place. 

Until now.

Your communicator trills loudly in the cold air, the tinny sound hushed between buildings blanketed in snow drifts.

“You find him yet, kid?”

“I'm 28, Doctor McCoy! I'm far from a kid.”

“You’re all kids to me.” You can hear the irascible doctor in the background, grumbling and growling. “So, did you find him yet?”

“No, and before you ask, I'm trying to remember whether I ever knew how to walk in this much snow and if the Riverside transporter station had Eskimo dogs and sleds for rent,” you snark back.

“Touchy, touchy, kid.” You don’t have to see McCoy's face to know he's smirking at you. The man may be a southern gentleman - most of the time - but a friend still amuses him in a tough situation of their own making. “Anyone would think you didn't want to see him anymore.”

“Len …” You sigh noisily, pretending your fingers aren't trembling, like snow isn’t seeping into your boots. “This was a bad idea. There’s a reason I've been riding a booth in recruitment instead of working with Scotty on his ‘wee lass’.”

“Give him a chance to explain, kid. And if he breaks your heart, tell me, and I'll come right over and getcha. Even if I have to brave a transporter to do it.”

“You're one of the good ones, Dr. McCoy.”

His laugh makes the bile roiling in your stomach ease a little.

“I hope you know you're one of the good ones too, kid. Now bring him home.”

The comm goes dead with a sharp click, and suddenly, you're alone again, looking at the small farmhouse in front of you. It’s two-storied and quaint, with a wrap-around porch surrounding the ground floor and dark windows peering out onto the street. Snow-covered fields surround it on either side, and you think you can see bushes buried under the relentless snow.

You think it used to be white once upon a time, when it was new, with white siding, cheerful blue shutters and a dark red shingled roof - the mid-1950s American dream. The blues have faded and blended with dust, the roof browned with age. As you walk, forcing yourself to lift each foot, you catalog the way the grass has grown up through the wooden planks of the porch over long hot summers, how there is a carving which might just spell out the words “JTK was here” hidden to the side of the door.

Because, well, if you can see the jagged lines of a pen knife on aged wood, then you're definitely too close to your goals to go home. The only part of the house which doesn't look aged is the doorbell and you press it with fingers trembling with both the cold and your nerves. But you don’t hear a bell ringing. A camera unshutters, the movements well-oiled and precise. You stand still and let it scan you, holding your Starfleet identification up when prompted. But the door doesn't open.

It feels anticlimactic. All the stress, the well-meaning, gruff pep talk from the Doc, the trembling in your fingers. Who is to say he's even home? Who is to say he'd even open the door for anyone? Why did Len think he'd open the door for you? The thought of someone you adore, and yeah, you've gone way past denial to even delude yourself into thinking you like him any less than pure adoration, seeing you standing on his doorstep and refusing to open the door, hurts like a kick to the chest.

You can’t breathe as you knock gently on the wood, ignoring the splinters as they catch on your skin.

“J-Jim?” His name leaves your chapped lips like a prayer, echoing through the cold stillness around you. “Open the door, please. It's me.”

You knock until your knuckles ache, and when you pull away, there's a rusty smudge of blood on the wood. One of the splinters has done more than catch on your skin, ripping a jagged hole against the ridged bone of your hand, embedded there like the man you're trying to find is in your heart.

“I know I'm the last person you want to see out here. B-but Len suggested to Admiral Barnett that you wouldn't come back for anyone else. I tried to tell them otherwise, but nobody listened. We're worried about you, Jim. Please. Worried sick.”

You wait with bated breath for any sign of life. But none comes. You turn, fumbling for your communicator with aching fingers because at least you can tell the Admiralty you tried, right?

“If you were worried sick, why didn't you come sooner? Took ya six months to come out here … to see the famous Captain Kirk for yourself.”

Your knees go weak at the sound of his voice, but when you whirl around, your concern doesn't fade. Because you've never seen James Tiberius Kirk in such a bad state of disrepair. The just-been-fucked state of his hair is par for the course. Bloody bar fights might very well have been normal - after all, you've seen the results on his face far too many times. But drunk, so drunk you can smell the cheap alcohol seeping from his pores, hair greasy and blue eyes dull? You've never seen James T. Kirk fall so far from the pedestal he's set himself on.

“Jay…” He snorts crudely at the pet name on your tongue like he knows you don't deserve to call him that, wheeling around and back into the yawning doorway with little grace.

“Don't haveta like ya to keep you from freezin’.”

He's slurring, and your heart cracks at the rudely dismissive tone in his voice.

“Get in ‘ere, call Bones and get out.”

Jame T. Kirk is a lot of things, you know. He's smart - smarter than anyone has rights to be - and works endlessly for his crew like he'd never work for himself. But he's not a sloppy drunk. He likes alcohol as much as the next man, preferring a light buzz to quell the jitters of a perfectionist attitude without stifling his ridiculously brilliant brain. This is so far past buzzed you're not sure he even remembers what a buzz is.

Empty bottles clank and clatter against the toes of your boots as you walk in, closing the door gently. You're hit with a cloud of dust, the musty smell coating your mouth without it even being open, the fine particulate sinking into your clothing with each step. It smells like dust and rot and spilled alcohol in the enclosed space. The pungent bouquet makes your nose wrinkle, hand rising to cover your mouth and nose in a futile effort to stave the smells away. You follow Jim through the trail he's making, circumnavigating the towering piles of bottles, avoiding the puddles on the floor that may have once been bile.

The kitchen is mostly clean, even if it does smell just as bad. But at least here, there is room to move and sit. The glare you're given as you perch on the very edge of one of the cracked vinyl chairs pushed up against a small table is vitriolic enough that you can feel your resolve, cracked and patched together with string and duct tape, begin to burn.

“I told ya. Get in. Get warm. Call Bones. And get out. I don’t care what you're doing here. I just want you off my property.”

He stares at you for several moments, warm blue eyes now flinty and cold, before turning around and walking further into the house. You can hear the clattering as he knocks into things, the hushed expletives as he no doubt bashes his elbows and knees into the sides of furniture and door jambs. Once upon a time, you would have laughed, trailing after him to ask if he needed a kiss on a fresh bruise or two marring his skin. Now you’re left paralyzed between your need to make sure he is okay and your fear of overstepping.

You’re not sure how it went so wrong. One night, you’d been curled up against his side on his ratty old couch in San Francisco, warm and comfortable, soaking in the scent of his cologne. It had been a perfect night, with friends hanging out, eating good food, and drinking good alcohol. But it didn’t stay a hangout between friends. Jim was just as distracting as usual, with his pretty blue eyes and wide grin. You’d woken up the next morning, bare and aching in the best way, in his empty bed to a cold, deserted apartment. 

You weren’t sure what you’d done to make him leave. Was giving into the sexual tension with your commanding officer why he disappeared? It was a shot to your confidence and ego. He was just gone, with no note, all the clothes still in his closet, and everything untouched. You couldn’t even tell when in the middle of the night he left or where he went. It’s taken you six months to track him down. You’re not sure how long he’s been in Riverside or if he was alone the entire time, but you’ve finally found him.

It’s probably time to make some decisions. How do you convince him to come back to San Francisco? You’re not charismatic or particularly charming. Most of the time, you’re being charmed, not doing the charming. You’re yanked viciously out of your musing by the sharp thud of a body colliding with the floor. Jim’s lying at the foot of the stairs, blood seeping sluggishly from a slice on his forehead.

“Shit, Jimmy.” You soften your voice to a whisper as you lever him up. “What have you done to yourself?”

He’s sluggish and barely responsive as you sling his heavy arm over your shoulder and stagger upright. He’s completely unresponsive as you maneuver him to the living room and lay him down on the mostly clean sofa. The wound isn’t too bad, already scabbing over, but you’re more worried by how he’s been knocked out. He’s motionless, almost lifeless, were it not for the imperceptible rise and fall of his chest. You call Len three times that night - first to make sure you’re doing the right thing, second to treat the swelling, and third to get Mama McCoy’s recipe for chicken noodle soup and her award-winning pancakes.

He'll be fine, kiddo. If he's got a bump on his noggin and was as drunk as you say, he'll sleep through the night. You'll want to get some coffee in him in the morning. He'll have a bear of a hangover, but he'll be fine. Call me if you need anything, kid.

Len's advice, while comforting from a medical standpoint, only partially alleviates your worry. You spend the night in a sleepless, manic haze, focused on only two things: making sure Jim is alright and cleaning up his house, at least the kitchen and the stairs. You venture out into the cold multiple times, hauling bag after bag of trash to the big cans in the side yard, stamping the snow off your boots and shivering as you try futilely to warm up.

By the time the sun's risen, the kitchen is spotless, smelling softly of lemon cleaner, and you're no less scared than you were walking into Riverside the day before. You're terrified. Terrified at the thought of seeing censure in those blue, blue eyes. Terrified to hear James Tiberius Kirk tell you that you were only a passing flame, a quick, convenient fuck. Terrified that you’ll never be able to make him realize how much Starfleet needs him, how much you do.

The fear settles in your veins as you make an early morning trek to the grocery store. You pick up all the essentials: coffee and enough food for at least a few days more, and accept the offer of a ride back to the Kirk farmhouse. By the time the soup is bubbling away on the stove, following Mama McCoy’s exacting recipe, your nerves have soothed a little. 

Jim rockets awake at 9 o’clock on the dot, retching into the bucket you'd set by the side of the couch. Hearing him cough wretchedly into the bucket makes you feel worse than you did before. It’s a relief, knowing he’s okay, that he isn’t hurt. But he’s awake now, and you’re paralyzed. The gentle scents of coffee and buttery pancakes waft through the bright kitchen. You take comfort in it as you suck in greedy breaths to keep your rampaging heartbeat under control.

“The hell is this?” His voice is rough, deeper than usual, and just a little wondering as he takes in the magic you've wrought on his kitchen.

“Breakfast and coffee.”

He huffs, drawing his arms up across his chest, blue eyes squinting your way.

“I can see that.” 

He's stoic. Stiff-lipped and tense as he stands in the corner of the kitchen. You can feel the weight of his gaze as you flip the last few pancakes and pour the fresh coffee into a pair of mugs. You're not sure why you do it, but you step forward gingerly and press the mug into his hands. You back away slowly, like you're dealing with a spooked animal. 

His lips twitch as he looks down at the mug, his expression warring between exhaustion and anger. It's your turn to hide a grin when he takes a long sip, a grumble rather akin to a domesticated cat leaving his mouth as the rich, dark, slightly bitter liquid hits his tongue.

“What are you doing?”

You should have been expecting the question. You've had a day, a night, and months of searching to think of why. Ultimately, you stick with the simplest answer you can give him.

“I'm making breakfast. I got hungry.”

You shrug and hold out your hands, palms up to the feast laid out on the sparkling counters: buttery pancakes, golden-brown and fluffy, out-of-season blueberries piled high in a bowl, crispy strips of bacon glistening with fat in the sunlight, and the pot of coffee steaming on a trivet.

“Bullshit.” 

He yanks one of the bacon strips off the platter and crams it in his mouth. It disappears in two quick bites before his tongue darts out and laps at the grease on his fingers. You're a little weak-kneed at the motion because, unlike him, you can clearly remember what those fingers, what that tongue, can do.

“You're not here just to make me breakfast. You're here because they sent you. The Admirals. Starfleet. They want Captain Kirk as their poster boy, their golden goose. They want to parade me around, drum up more recruits and ‘boldly go’ again. They could care less about how the Federation was handicapped mere months ago - how an entire people was destroyed. Because they didn't see it coming.”

His voice is ragged, chest heaving as he sets the mug down with a sharp clack, the liquid sloshing over the sides.

“That's right.” Your voice is barely a whisper as you mop up the spill. “The Admiralty sent me. But they're not why I agreed to come to Riverside. I came to Riverside to make sure you were okay. Nobody's heard from you, Jim. We were all worried - Bones, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Admiral Pike - I, well, I was worried. We all wanted to make sure you were okay. The Admirals just allowed me to do so without taking leave.”

“So what are you going to do?”

You grab two plates from the cabinet and start serving up some food. You mull over your response as you set the table, giving him a wide berth as you circle him to retrieve the coffee in a second trip. You settle into one of the chairs with a sigh, your aching bones relaxing into the cushioned seat, and sip the coffee doctored how you like.

“Well, for the next few days at least, I'm going to make sure you're eating and sleeping and not drinking yourself to death. Then I'm going to ask if you would ever want to come back to Starfleet if you'd ever want to be my Captain again. Regardless of your answer, I'd head back to San Francisco.”

He sits gracelessly, long limbs splayed out until his foot collides with yours, icy against your ankle. You push his mug of coffee, the expensive, real coffee you’d spent way too many credits to purchase, his way. You’re gratified at the small smile on his face when he cuts a piece of pancake, dredges it through the frankly ridiculous pool of blueberry syrup on his plate (the only syrup Len said he wasn't allergic to) and shoves it into his mouth. It’s good to see him looking a little more relaxed, to see him eat, even if he is too thin for comfort.

“So if I tell you to leave and never look back, to forget I was ever your Captain, you'd do it?”

Your heart lurches at the thought of forgetting James T. Kirk and what he means to you. But you're sure this is a test, that he's expecting you to say you can't forget him, that you won't. You're just as sure he'll never forgive you if you say those words. Because he'll take them as a betrayal and you'll lose any ground you've gained over Eleanora McCoy's pancakes and blueberry syrup.

“I promise. But only if, after I leave, you promise you'll take care of yourself. No more drinking yourself to death.”

He quirks an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile tugging his lips up.

“Fine. Okay. I promise I'll take care of myself. Now, will you leave me to eat all this food by myself, or will you help me?” 

Your response is to oh-so-maturely launch a blueberry at his face, a blueberry he catches on his tongue.

The shaky truce you’ve brokered extends until mid-afternoon when the doorbell rings, and Jim comes back with more boxes of food than you thought you'd ordered.

“This has to be a mistake,” you groan as you set vegetables in the crisper and load the freezer with meat.

“It's not a mistake.” Your eyes are wide with something starting to feel a lot like hope as you look at him. He'd showered after breakfast, and clean-shaven and sober, he looks a lot like the Jim you remember. You’re hoping he ordered the extra supplies and wants you to stay longer. But your hopes are shattered when he gestures out the kitchen window.

“Take a look outside.” 

The sky is dark, the clouds heavy and gray as they blot out the sun. Fat snowflakes spiral heavily down, and you have a sudden lurch in your chest as it accumulates far more quickly than you'd expect on the ground.

“You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd suspect you'd planned this.” 

He's hovering just behind you, close enough that you can feel the heat of his skin. Your fingers clutch at the counter because that accusation means he might not trust you even so much to take your words at face value. 

“This is a blizzard in Iowa. It'll snow for days on end, and we'll be snowed in for longer than a few days. So buckle up, buttercup. Looks like you're stuck with me!”

You stick your tongue out at him in a state of childish pique because if one day was enough to have you in a cold sweat, weeks might just kill you. The Admirals will probably be glad when you tell them. After all, it gives you more time to convince Jim Kirk to return to Starfleet. If only you were so sure it's what he wants in the same way they are.

I DO NOT CONSENT TO HAVE MY WORK POSTED, TRANSLATED, OR PUBLISHED ON ANY SITES OTHER THAN HERE OR ON AO3 BY ME. IF YOU SEE MY WORKS ANYWHERE OTHER THAN HERE OR AO3, THEN THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION AND I WILL BE WORKING TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

[dgdraws]

Maybe saying this on my 18 follower art sideblog is silly, but I want to offer some gentle pushback on the sentiment that's been going around re: notes on art and lack of engagement.

TL;DR make it your practice to be the person who rbs art with nice tags and you can build a community of likeminded folks

There are myriad reasons why online comment culture has shifted, I'm not gonna waste time pinning that stuff down, bc it's actually immaterial to my perspective, which is:

You can find or create a community of people who will lift up your art. But it requires that you participate in the culture you want to see more of.

I had been a lurker on this site for a decade. I held back participating in discussions, creating or sharing art, engaging directly with anyone outside of following blogs and rbing posts without commentary. And during that time, I made no connections, no friends, built no community.

I was afraid of scrutiny. I have felt the humiliating lurch of earnest engagement turning to dread and exposure and a deep regret of allowing myself to be vulnerable. I pulled up the ladder behind me so I would never have to hear the slightest dismissal or repulsion or ridicule from others. In so doing I also cut myself off from praise, understanding or connection. If no one gets a chance to let me down, then it's as though they're holding me up, right? Wrong!!!

I paid good money for a therapist to help me work out the lie there. The realization that I felt isolated and misunderstood because I never gave people the opportunity to show up for me was so hard to grasp. How could my safety net be the cause of my profound loneliness? But it is true. The people in my life couldn't disappoint me, but they also couldn't help me or support me or really love me the way I needed.

Opening myself up to disappointment has been a long, tough road (and goodness knows I'm not ready to let my parents let me down (again) yet). But my relationships are strengthening. My sense of identity is more stable. I am not inconsolably lonely deep in my heart anymore. Because it turns out people do show up when you give them the opportunity.

Not every time. Not every person. But enough of the time that it builds resilience. Every time I reach out and someone reaches back, I get a little braver. I trust a little more.

To bring this back around to online culture and community: I started receiving interest (and notes) after I started showing interest in others. Once again it turns out that people want to turn up for you, but you must give them the opportunity. This means making yourself vulnerable. It means taking the first step.

If you want a community, a group of people who interact w a certain set of values, you have to demonstrate it. Live those values. This is how we create culture. We choose what behavior we want to encourage and we set an example. This is as true in a workplace or a family as it is for tumblr or ao3. If your boss puts up a sign that says "we see mistakes as a chance to learn" but they punish people when they mess up, that's just words on the wall. If they accept errors graciously, if they work to suss out the root of the problem to resolve it, if they are open about their own mistakes, that is the culture.

So if we want to see more reblogs, but not just that, real engagement and chances for connection, then it starts with you.

Here's what I do that has helped me make friends and spark genuine interest in my work;

Reblog LOW NOTE art as much as, if not more than, posts with thousands of notes. Feel proud to give someone the first note on their work!

Incorporate leaving nice tags into my gratitude practice (it is a form of mindfulness! noticing what specifically draws me to art I rb both engages me more deeply with the work and makes my own art better)

Queue up several art posts from the same artist (people notice when you are consistently in their notes!)

Participate in art events like artfight, various -tobers, other challenges (as with making friends anywhere, repeated exposure leads to familiarity and chances for connection!)

Follow people back or even initiate following blogs who interact with your posts (do not approach this with a f4f mentality, only follow people you actually want to hear more from)

Set up post notifications for portfolio style art blogs (ie sideblogs exclusively for original content) so you keep up w your network/mutuals even if you're offline when they post

Low key notice what the people engaging with you like most about your work and consider expanding on those ideas. This is not about "tailor your work to an audience" it's about thinking, "so-and-so left feral tags on my post about this oc so I'll do my practice sketches of them" or "people seem interested in this storyline so let me feed off that enthusiasm and develop it more"

Don't get hung up on it when individuals don't reciprocate. Assume good faith. You never know what is draining someone's energy. Remember that you are offering a gift, your time and energy yes, but also the chance for someone to show up for you too. If it starts to feel like an obligation, reassess where you're putting that energy, but don't be afraid to be generous.

This has worked wonderfully for me. I went from a person scrolling longingly past posts about beloved mutual culture, not quite believing it could really be like that, to a person who happily gets 3 notes on my former flop posts and posts reblog bait for my besties and reblogs the bait they post for me :)

Apparently I had a lot to say! I kinda hope this doesn't break containment but if it does, please be niceys. I understand if this mindset is not available to you bc of social trauma, depression/anxiety, disability, mental illness or whatever else but please avoid venting that on this post. I love you and I hope you can get here someday, because you're worth it. In the meantime, try to be gentle with yourself and others. xoxo

[cookiesandbiscuits]

Hello.If it's don't bothering you may i ask headcanons Kalego x Fem! Human! Assassin! Reader as Yor Forger from Spy x family.If you don't watch this one, then how you imagine yourselves relationship Kalego and Fem! Human! Assasin! Reader. I think it's kinda cute he is guardian dog and she is the soldier-protector of her country

Hi!!! Thank you for asking! It's not a bother at all, really ^^

I enjoy writing stuff for other people to enjoy, hence why I created this blog aside for my hyperfixation ramblings.

I did watch the show until the 9th episode and read the manga until the 58th chapter (I got busy with school so I can't finish it yet :'D). Honestly, I understand how Yor got her fame in the fandom (I love seeing a badass female character that's also pretty soft on the inside)

It's been a while since I wrote a headcanon tho... Anyways, hope you enjoy this!

Happy reading!

Soft but Deadly: A Dating Headcanon

Pairing: Kalego Naberius x Fem! Human Assassin! Reader

Genre: Fluff

Warning: might be a bit OOC and out of order (I blanked out in some parts, oops 😬 damn my sleep-deprived brain); Narnia Naberius is such a jerk here (I'm still salty about what he did to Iruma in that chapter) not proofread

MASTERLIST

Dating Kalego is a very interesting experience. Expect to have numerous discussions about your shared interests.

He is a very romantic person on the inside (lemme have my romantic Kalego okay?)

He'll be taking you out on a date whenever your schedules align. And he'll be gentlemanly about it. Dinner dates, a trip to an opera house, and the like are the typical setting for the dates that he planned. However, that doesn't mean that it's boring. He makes sure that you'll enjoy the dates to the fullest because you only deserve the best of the best.

In short, dates planned by him can get a bit fancy for your taste. That's why you make sure that he also get to experience new things in life.

Dates planned by you are simple yet enjoyable enough for the two of you. Picnics, travel dates, movie dates, and the like are the things on your list.

He enjoys the massages you offer to him when you know he's tired from work. You just know what points to focus on to make him loosen up (due to the nature of your job)

He does not bat an eye on your job as an assassin. But that doesn't stop him from worrying about your safety. He'll be the one who'll take care of the wounds you got from your latest mission. He'll be scolding you while dressing them though.

When you told him about the nature of your job, he first thought that you were pulling his leg. You were so gentle with others, how can you have such a profession as your job?

But after seeing the serious look on your face, he knew you weren't joking around. Well, it's okay. He can live with the fact that the love of his life lives a double life as an assassin.

Before the start of your relationship, Kalego used to be so cold, bordering on mean to you. But that didn't stop you from admiring the demon, even though it was evident that he did not return the same sentiments.

So you were surprised when he asked you out on a date one day. He had liked you for a while now, but he doesn't know how to tell you.

The only reason that he asked you out was that Balam was pressuring talked him out to confess to you.

And apparently, he got fed up with his friend's nagging that it gave him the courage to ask you out.

He can be subtly protective of you in public. But this becomes more prominent after you reveal to him that you were human.

He knows that you are capable of defending yourself from physical harm, but you can't use magic, so you won't be able to save yourself when your opponent used their magic on you.

He wonders how you got into the Netherworld in the first place, but he doesn't ask you about it. He knows that you'll tell him once you're ready.

But like all relationships, the two of you also experienced a lot of setbacks, mainly from his brother Narnia.

I saw it, you saw it. We all know how Narnia feels about humans from that chapter. So naturally, he's against his brother's relationship with you.

For some reason, Kalego's older brother discovered your secret and was very obvious about his prejudices. But your boyfriend defended you from him, claiming that it doesn't matter to him whatever your race is.

Kalego doesn't play around when he decided to enter into a relationship with you. He does not date around just for fun, no. He is serious about you and considers asking for your hand in marriage in the future.

Once he made it clear to his brother, Narnia decided to back off. He still does not like you but he also doesn't want his brother to resent him.

While Kalego was thankful when his brother got the message, you also knew his plans for the future now. Well, it doesn't matter. It's not like you'd refuse him when he finally asks the question, no?

[dojae-huh]

Hello! Just want to say again that I'm glad I found your blog, your down-to-earth commentary, especially about the business side of it all, is very much appreciated :)

Hi. Thank you for letting me know, I'm glad you find some more down to earth posts useful. In part, I run this blog to offer an alternative in fandom experience.

Thing is, we, as k-pop fans and as people who don't work in showbusiness or South Korea, don't have enough knowledge, experience or inside information to have a strong educated opinion on most of things when it comes to idol companies and their executives. We can have opinions as customers - I like this music, this promotional strategy works on me, these outfits are ugly, this concept rocks -, but not as business analytics. Especially considering how much media play, false information and difference in cultures we face.

However, nowadays everyone has the illusion that they know better, that their opinion and feelings are valid when it comes to any topic. And spread and defend their opinion like it is the ultimate truth.

I've recently come across a twit starting with "it appears that" and ending with "for sure". In a span of a few sentences the fan offered an imaginary scenario and finished with a "this is truth". Of course to "prove" that SM is evil, heh. Such baseless statements easily play on fans' love for their biases, evoke an emotional response, call to arms, they give an answer to "Who is to blame?!", provide a target for unleashing frustration and anger.

When one solo-stan blames our bias, we can call bullshit because we know how things really are. When a fan blames Chris Lee or SM, other fans are ready to accept the words as believeable. Either because they share the sentiment, or have no own opinion on the matter, so any will do. If everyone around says the same thing, it should be true, afterall? That's how our brains are wired: follow the majority, agree with the tribe, mirror everyone's current emotion.

We can't see the inner works and we don't know the inner rules, but we can see the results of labour and sometimes a reflection of things.

When I came to k-pop, I knew SM as the company that overworks its artists, has lawsuits with them, is super strict. Broken in two halves TVXQ and EXO with half of its members gone weren't a good representation. So when I started to get to know NCT better, I started to wonder if I was lied to or that something had changed in SM (the latter). Neos were taught how to songwrite, SM persisted with good quality music for NCT despite the group not taking off right away, artists not looking slavelike, there was SMstation and interesting projects.

Sure, I can observe bad work: poorly prepared concerts (Link), constant failures with album production (omitting Doyoung's name, boring designs for 127), tasteless stylists, etc. However, I also see good work: artists flying first/business class and living in 5 star hotels, being given opportunity to go to the beach, museums, to enjoy sightseeing in new countries; opportunity to explore one's creativity (soundcloud, NCTLabs, solo performances for Link); SM giving artists second professions (MC, variety host, model) that will aid professional longevity (Doyoung hasn't finished school and doesn't have a degree, but I'm not worried for him, even if SM collapses, he'll always find a job. Same for Taeyong, he came as a blank page, now he is a songwriter and a producer, he can even become a choreographer); neos progressively being given more choice and say, their opinion being consulted and their ideas being implemented once they gain enough experience (Golden Dust story, Taeyong making his own setlist for his concert, Doyoung saying Unity should not have solo-stages, Ten choosing the mood and genre for his solo, etc).

Most importantly, I can see many friendships between neos and producers/managers, and that Haechan and Doyoung, who experienced all of SM's downsides personally and not once, continue to like the company. Meaning, the good should outweight the bad. At least for now.

Fans learnt the name of Chris Lee and continue to blame him for everything to this day, although he doesn't own any shares in SM and has stopped being a CEO a year ago. He is a token scapegoat.

Should I blindly trust fans or should I go read Wikipedia, interviews and listen to the guy himself? In situations like these I always choose the latter.

Sure, I can't tell if he evades taxes or participates in shady business, and what neos think of him (aside from Doyoung calling him "hyung" in public and not being afraid of getting punished for it), but I can see he was the person who overlooked all the early NCT songs (we have "Limitless", "Cherry bomb" thanks to him); created SMStation and SMClassics (say thank you for "Try again", "Star blossom"); found Dem Jointz ("Kick it", "Punch", "Sticker") and multiple other songwriters who now work for SM; brought to Korea the idea of songwriting camps, in which Kun participates nowadays and where he befriends foreign creators; invested SM money into a publishing company (and not a winery or a hotel business), which means SM artists will be secured to have a lot of songs to choose from in the future, and Korean young producers will have access to the global market. He has been with SM close to 20 years, and he is evidently a music nerd, ergo he understands artists and their love for music. So why should I hate him? I have no proof of him taking money away from neos, but I have evidence he was very essential to formation of NCT and the quality of SM sound being maintained. On the contrary, I'm inclined to suspect the quality of albums (song setlist, production) is raising again because he is back to supervising A&R in SM.

[codiecoda]

What are your favorite Slex head cannons!

Slex Headcanons and Concepts: Part One

Alex does not drive/can't drive - this headcanon is one that I share with @acenanxious as I just don't see him as someone that would be capable of driving.

Unlabeled Slade - despite it being obvious that this man doesn't care what type of hole he sticks his dick into I don't believe he'd be the type to slap a label on himself rather he just simply likes what he likes.

Trans (Ftm) Alex - personally this is a headcanon I just really enjoy for his character and I'm actively working on a number of fics that cover this concept.

Alex is Slade's safe place - this is a concept I use often in my fics with Slade constantly crashing at Alex's apartment to the point where he just unofficially moves in because it's a place where he feels safe.

Slade suffers from ptsd - with everything he's been through it just kind of makes sense. I can see it being the worst at night with the nightmares.

Slade is actually a year younger than he claims - Slade ran away from his home and enlisted effectively lying about his age to get in.

Alex is blind without his glasses - he can't see shit and it's concerning for everyone involved when he can't find them.

Alex enjoyed cartoons - this is also a headcanon I share with @acenanxious but I believe it also has to do with a form of comfort from growing up in a very abusive home, his way of getting a little part of his childhood back. I can also see Slade secretly enjoying certain cartoons for the same reason even though he isn't willing to admit it.

Caffeine Addicted Alex - he practically runs off the stuff as he is also something of an insomniac. I especially like to pair this with Slade and his instant coffee favoritism as Alex finds the stuff absolutely disgusting.

Slade loves TV dinners - I can see him enjoying ready meals as he is used to rations and mres and he just never really got out of the habit.

Sam and Amanda became something of parental figures to Slade - this was actually one of my first headcanons I had when I got into the series and honestly it's still one I enjoy.

Ivo became something of a parental figure to Alex during his internship - this concept is one that I hold a sort of fondness for as I have a number of fics of parental Ivo in the works as of currently.

Alex steals clothes - I really like the idea of Alex stealing Slade's clothes especially when he's not around because they remind him of Slade and because he gets cold easily and wearing something oversized and warm is comfortable.

Alex gets cold very easily - we have not seen this man without a jacket of some kind once in this entire series.

Slade treats his swords like a comfort item - despite being able to hold his own even without his swords I feel like he feels safer when he has them on his person.

Alex is a lightweight when it comes to drinking - once again also a headcanon I share with @acenanxious as I really don't see him as the type to drink all that often and when he does it doesn't take much to affect him.

Alex doesn't like being preferred to by his legal name - he hates being called Alexander but I believe he always signs his documents with his legal name without much thought.

The messages they send are very different from one another - Alex is the type to send long detailed responses while Slade often sends one word or even one letter responds at times.

Slade is protective over Alex - he definitely denies it too claiming it's just part of his job but there's no doubt there's a sentimental level to it and it definitely shows through on the occasions where Alex gets hurt.

Alex saved Slade - this is definitely my favorite concept and would explain the missing piece between Alex running away, Slade getting himself thrown into that car and them happily starting a company together. I believe there's a possibility that Alex saved Slade after running away from the fight. I will be making multiple fics exploring this concept.

Note: When it comes to the way I do headcanons and concepts, not always do they apply to every fanfic I make. I am a person who enjoys variety and I would hate to limit myself by having an imaginary set of rules when not even in canon are the characters portrayed the same in every work. Some headcanons and concepts may apply to one fic while they may not apply to others.

[jiminrings]

Hiiii jiminrings aka one of my favorite authors everrr aka supreme ruler of angst and pathetic, sniveling men! I must say I've never read angst quite as cutting as yours, blood running cold, jaw hanging open, you know the type. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity and time with us!!! I really mean it.

I've read some of your previous works, but fail safe has managed to hit different, and that's very hard considering hbjimin!!!!!! and 478jk!!!! (Ik I'm echoing a popular sentiment on here, but you deserve your flowers)

I need to confess that when I first started reading fail safe I felt so taken aback by your oc's characterization, to the point I didn't even like her. But halfway through the first part, I had a big, fat epiphany and realized the only reason I felt unsympathetic towards here was because (SHOCKER!) that's my twin lowkey 😭😭 I was like oh....... so this is how it feels like to have a mirror held up to your face 😂🫵

Even though I've always grown up as a pretty responsible, independent kid who had big dreams and a sense of passion I'm currently at a point in my life where I feel very lost and confused and unsatisfied with my life. I have felt that spark of fashion almost totally dampened, and as a result I feel like (some of) the people around me kinda look down on me a little / are very worried about my near future / are very condescending about where I'm at emotionally and existentialist (basically oc and yoongi's dynamic). Making that connection.... hurt and made reading this fic so much more emotional.

This means I have a HUGE VENDETTA AGAINST FS YOONGI FOR TREATING OC LIKE SHIT AND BEING A CONDESCENDING, PEDANTIC ASSHOLE!!!!! He's borderline demonic, talking to her life that throughout her teen hood, no wonder she has such a negative self-image, in spite of working to build herself up. But the issue is that she's working from such a shaky foundation and she hasn't healed one bit 🥺 kinda feel she's self medicating through her work (like yoongi maybe but I don't care about his bum ass). She's in a very unfair position cause she doesn't have anyone in here corner in terms of like her immediate family circle (except for her mom but she can't talk about it with her cause it will break her heart knowing yoongi has always been like that to her 🥺- like seriously what is his issue???? did he flip on oc cause he has unresolved romantic feelings that he couldn't act on cause of 1. age gap and 2. Namjoon). Speaking on Namjoon, WHAT AN ASS!!!! He gave me ptsd to all the times my brothers chose to be insensitive towards me and not stick up for me.

Overall, there are so many mixed feelings. I understand her still having a complex with yoongi cause there's too many unresolved issues and hurt feelings that have been repressed for too long and that just keeps her on a cycle instead of allowing her to fully let go. So I don't judge her for it cause I've been there, done that.

I'm sooo excited for what's to come. I'm looking forward to the mysteries being revealed (my prediction for second lead is mr. kim taehyung himself), gut-wrenching lines courtesy of your lovely brain, and oc development! I'm ready to scream, cry, run around, jump off a cliff, swim in circles ❤️

I apologize in advance for the long ask. Also, star emoji anon, you're a legend lmao

ok first of all thank u second i love yew n third u don’t know how much this means to me!!!! fs yoongi is rlly up there with his predecessors (hbjm and 478jk) and for him to be the superlative of something (derogatory),,, that rlly says something!! i won’t ever get tired of thanking sweet sweet people like you and ur flowers <3 if i could digest them i already would’ve . STOPPPPP U R LITERALLY TWINS !!!! triplets if u count me n quadruplets if u account for all the other anons that had fs resonate w them!!! i feel you So So much bc we r almost exactly the same!!! being ambitious as a child (i’m the youngest if u couldn’t tell… womp womp) without no clear picture of what you want to be, then turning into someone who has no actual passion at all except for the desire to live a good n secure life… whew!!! thank god i only have irl yoongi on my side though and NOT fs yoongi bc that would’ve been really something 😑😑😑 thank u thank yewwww i actually love it whenever people tell me they have mixed feelings bc oh my god yer telling me that i made you think really hard???? THANK U SO SO MUCH AGAIN!!! never apologize for long asks bc i love them a lot and star emoji anon rlly is a legend n i can confirm that!! LOVE YEWWWWWWW

[rkhemlani]

June 20th - Osaka Day Trip (Last Day)

Wow, this is the last blog post and I am definitely in my feels writing this. This past month has been real and it’s definitely going to be hard to say bye to both Japan and the people on this trip. I really hope that we meet up in the fall and do something fun, maybe during sylly week or for Chelsea’s sign-night. This group is definitely a little weird, but I love it. However, I do miss home and all the things that come with that including hooping, going to the beach, playing poker, and spending time with friends and family. Whether it was going to see a kabuki play or sipping a much-needed drink on the top of a gorgeous rooftop bar with beautiful views of the city, this trip has been nothing short of amazing and I am definitely glad that I was able to visit this interesting country with such interesting people. I do hope that my peers feel the same way. I’m going to miss playing Uno and gaslighting people to buy me ice cream the most. Ok, now that the sentimental part is over, time for the actual blog post. Today, I woke up extra early and went to Starbucks (where I didn’t see girl Sam surprisingly) and got a strawberry donut and did some work. I came back and got ready for the day. Today’s lecture really just consisted of our favorite parts of the trip and what we thought the professor could’ve done to improve it. We commenced our Osaka day trip with an hour-long train ride, which we were able to pass the time through a shared music experience through Spotify. Imagine having Apple Music, I feel sorry for you. We got to Osaka, where we immediately split for lunch and our group got cut off from the small group of five that had the best curry on the trip unfortunately. Our katsu was ok. We met with the class again and headed to Osaka castle. We took pics here and it was hot so I kept kidding around by pretending that I was at a prom after-party by unbuttoning all my buttons on my white shirt. You had to be there. Vishnu likes taking strange pics of me when I randomly lick my lips and had my shirt unbuttoned. I also taught the group how to properly griddy here (that’s a dance move mom). I felt cool in the moment because I hit it well and then flipped my fan out at the same time. Afterwards, we hopped on the train again and went to a neighborhood that was supposed to mimic American culture, but other than the McDonald’s, there wasn’t anything distinctly American. Then we kept walking where we eventually split for the last time as a group in the heart of Osaka. I had a strawberry ice cream, thanks to Vishnu. We then did some thrift shopping, but at first I couldn’t find anything. Xander and I also took a break and we got smoothies; I got an acai flavored one that was extremely refreshing. Everyone was buying goods, and my wallet was itching to spend money, because I love shopping but wasn’t finding anything. Eventually, at the last store we went to, I found a lovely Dior sweater that I believe was reasonably priced for what it was. After that, I led the group of Xander, Sebastian, Nico, Aulora, Casey, Chelsea, and Eliza to team-labs Osaka. Vishnu met up with us because he had gone to the Osaka aquarium. It was cool and relaxing to walk through the garden that was decorated with changing lights and interesting designs. Some of us (Xander, Vishnu, Aulora, Chelsea, Casey, and I) headed to a local restaurant, where most of us got pork yakisoba. After that it took us a while to get back to the hotel because there were delays on the train due to a derailment. I showered and got ready to go to bed, but Nico and I went to Family Mart first to get some sweets and have a good chit-chat. We love chit-chatting and talking chisme (gossip). 

Academic Reflection

By the end of this course, it is evident that all of us students have learned so much, even if we haven’t always done the dense readings. We learned about the youth sub-culture of Japan with anime and manga, while also learning about the traditional aspects such as tea ceremonies, history of cities, and Buddhism. I found it incredibly interesting that on one street, one can find beautiful traditional temples with ornate gardens and then several blocks over, the entire street would be adorned with lights, colors, advertisements, and anime characters. 

The previous reading was concerned with the urban organization/planning of Osaka and Kobe (shoutout Vishnu). As Professor Smith explained, Osaka was previously a major merchant city that heavily relied on movement and trading of goods, which fostered a more casual environment and societal structure. In class, we discussed how buildings are constantly being destroyed and taller, more modern buildings are constructed, leading to a constantly new skyline. It also contributes to a decrease in traditional buildings. This method contrasts that of Europe, in which many cities will purposefully place regulations to keep the traditional scenery of the city. Cities in Japan definitely display a greater mix of modern buildings with traditional buildings compared to cities in Europe that typically have separate zones for traditional building areas and modern building areas. 

[unlessfunplans]

October 16, 2024: eggs, bird plates, and procrastination

I used to always dislike doing the dishes. For all of my childhood and early adulthood I would do anything to get out of doing the dishes when my dad asked; mostly because he wanted them done NOW and wanted them done to his standard. It was the obligation of the prospect, combined with the fact that I didn’t ever want to do it in the first place. I stood at the sink of my university residence kitchen this morning, dispensing soap into the sink (Dawn, blue liquid) and adjusting the water to the temperature I liked it at, and felt a profound sense of calm and peace. I was home alone, it was around noon so I had put the chore off a bit, mostly because I still don’t love the activity. But I was also thinking about how much of a relief it was to do them, and how nice it was to be able to be in this kitchen at all, given that I usually have to share with my roommates.

(My roommates are best friends who requested to room together before the semester started. The apartments have four rooms, and there’s three of them. I was a single applicant shoed in with them to fill the last room. we are cordial, but not friends unfortunately. I think they wished it was just them, they’re nice to me but have no interest in getting to know a stranger.)

The whole moment was just mine, being completed at my own pace. The water was nice and warm, emitting the fragrance I liked because it was the one I bought and smelled familiar, like my apartment last year. It made me feel oddly content to complete a task that involved taking care of my space, a sort of romanticized domestic sentiment. My plates were pre-scraped so the water wasn’t full of objects, done intentionally because I don’t like the sensory experience of touching food in the water. I realized I like doing the dishes now. Remove the obligation, connecting the peace of self-care to the familiar motions. It shifted the way I saw the task.

I thought about how I used to hate tuna, and now I love it and eat it in at least one meal a week. It struck me how things can change as we grow, as we inhabit the same body our childhood selves did despite feeling so detached from that person. Right now it was like 14 year-old me was standing at my shoulder, chatting away to me in her bubbly, socially awkward way.

I would hate to do that. It’s cool how it’s calming for you. I’m glad it is.

I’ve taken peace in a lot of small, ritual daily things lately: making my bed with bedding fresh and sweet-smelling out of the wash, banking on the reliability of eggs, shredded marble cheese, and cream cheese everything bagels being a good meal, completing my skincare routine.

I’m even using the same plate (brown , thrifted, with the image of a bird at its center) ritualistically rather than the others I own. Life is picking up pace for me after the post-pandemic lag that had me out of school and working for four years. Being back in the world of assignments, projects, and schedules has me feeling like I’m taking life at breakneck speed, with deadlines coming in too fast and an overwhelming urge to ignore everything. It is entirely possible that I was not as ready as I thought I was. I know this is an adjustment period, and with such an abrupt lifestyle shift has grown this need for familiarity, for things within my control. Routines, comfort objects, the latter of which I have many.

Wrapped in my quilt (made by my best friend with the help of her grandmother), my lamp with the bulb set to warm, my bed tucked into the corner of my desk and the wall as I watch YouTube, I retreat often into this quiet world and try to pretend that I’m not worried that I have enough time for what I need to do.

I’m not a fan of dictating my life by time. Often in the corner-bed moments my mind is soft at the edges with weed in some way, edibles preferred. Currently I’m set to fly to Colorado in three days and I’ll be missing class to do so. I have three assignments for this one class. I don’t have time to do them while I travel, which means I need to do them now. I’m not though, childishly wishing to spend this little time I have off (reading week) taking a break. I have no obligations to friends, work, or school this week. Schedule-free. I feel guilty for putting off the assignments I need to do.

But they’re not done yet, instead I’m sitting here high and thinking about how good I feel about the laundry being washed and the dishes being clean on the rack. I’m also so glad to be alone, fully alone, without even the tangle of worrying about my relationship. Even that seems to be in good standing right now.

Instead of working I’m thinking about the solace of rituals, and the importance of being alone.

[trustedpackersandmoversblog]

10 smart tips to prepare for moving day!

Worried about your next move? Does moving from Aurangabad to Hyderabad next month seem to give you peace of mind? Well, this could be a serious sign that you are not yet ready to move with packers and movers in Aurangabad! Is it so? But let's ask - what bothers you first? What exactly is stopping you from taking the right step? - Do you know that?

We think you need serious moving advice and reliable moving tips to help you move households consciously and memorably at the same time!

1. Recognize how you will get it: In most cases, as soon as our moving assignment or contract with the moving company is set, we immediately start packing our belongings. We don't think through the moving plan properly and we don't remember what the moving experts recommend and that's where things go wrong. Ideally, we should first analyze the situation we are in and then see what kind of move it would make and then proceed.

2. Take planning to the next level: Planning isn't always about getting a pen and paper and writing down what needs to be done first and what needs to be done last. This includes creating a layout that outlines your thinking behind the move and highlights all the steps involved in the process. Example Think of one big task you need to take care of and get it done first. This will give you an idea of the direction to the right.

3. Create a professional moving strategy: You can call it your moving plan or strategy because there is also an approach to achieve a smooth moving experience. Here you can write - the first things you would do before the moving team arrives home. Next, you can add payments/tasks that you need to delete immediately. Then the most important thing is how and when the moving budget is prepared.

4. Work on the important thing: Many things require attention and time, but the first time you should worry only about those things or only about those tasks that can distract you if you procrastinate on them. . This could be your banking, billing activities, talking to the landlord of your current house, etc. At the same time, do not forget to note the order of things in your new home. 

5. Sit down and discuss the basics: If you look deeply, you will know that there are not one, but many issues related to your move that require serious discussion - what packages and moving services to choose, which moving insurance, when to call the move. team for inspection and how much money for necessary relocation expenses set aside. In addition, it would be important to think about when to start packing.

6. Call the movers in one day: The moving company you booked would give you the day they will come to your place to pack. If you want to receive them on another day, you can let them know the desired date and share the address details during the call. Don't pack anything until they visit your place so you have a clear idea of the cost estimate and quote they will share with you later.

7. Ask someone to note: When the moving team is with you and shares all the relevant information about packing and moving and informs you about all the important information (transport duration, moving, packing schedule, packing needs), cost, insurance, contract papers, corporate conditions, etc.) someone notes important things quickly or does it himself. Ask questions or questions so that you don't have any doubts or misunderstandings about the transfer. 

8. Pack the goods carefully: for the move, it must be possible to handle the goods. And as soon as the movers have left after the necessary instructions, you must tackle manageable packing tasks that you can or would like to do for personal or safety reasons (including valuables, sentimental items, gifts, furniture, items, office supplies, clothing). , possessions, etc.). Decide the number of packages to complete in a day and try to close it accordingly.

9. Choose the right packing: As simple as packing may seem to us, we know that it is one of the most favorite tasks in the world. There's a reason people consider delegating the task to professional packers, and you can too if you're not confident doing it alone. First, collect smaller items from your home and pack them well. Use bubble wrap, plastic sheets, wrapping paper, etc. to do the job effectively. 10. Double-check the checklist: You didn't have to pack all your stuff because the experts already took care of it, but as an experienced customer, it's your responsibility to go over everything they did and in a timely manner. the time before the move, before the movers take them away. Make sure you have moving gear with you, breakables are packed properly, furniture and appliances are safely loaded onto the forklift, and nothing is left behind.

This blog post describes 10 important things you should consider if Movers and Packers in Aurangabad are already involved in your moving project. Have a happy move.

[commonplacesobriquet]

LIFE UPDATE

Hi!

It's 7th of November now. I am actually in the middle of work and I have so many things to do, but here I am... all of a sudden, I am writing here. You're probably wondering why here? Why not on my main blogsite (onwoolgathering.wordpress.com)? Well, I suddenly wanted to update this space. So yeah... I have so much to do. I have to check my students' outputs and exams, check the grammar of the submitted manuscripts (which are long overdue—since July!), make activity designs, and many more. Everything is piling up on my plate.

The main reason why I am suddenly writing here is because I have so much in my headspace. I hate the fact that I get lazier each day and I can't keep a journal anymore. There were numerous important events that have passed and were left unrecorded. I feel bad that I have nothing to look back on because I kept no records of them. Photos? Videos? My phone's camera isn't that good, so I can't even use it for documentation. Everything is fleeting now. I can't immortalize a moment.

I'll try to write some recent memories here.

Last October 31, Jet and I moved into a new place. It was a spur-of-a-moment decision, but our desire to move out of our previous place was already there. That's why when our College President said there was a vacancy in the boarding house he lived in before, we immediately grabbed the opportunity. It is a better place for us because we finally have our privacy. We also have our own kitchen and toilet, which was common in our previous place. For me, as a sentimental person, it was bittersweet, because I was letting go of my usual route for more than a year of residency here in Pantukan. I got attached to the place, especially because Ate Lovely and Kuya Ryan have been such good landlady/lord. They've been very accommodating and considerate. When I was still alone in my first few months here, they have been a constant guide to me. I am filled with gratitude to them and I hope they will be blessed more. I could say that I wasn't fully ready to move out, but it had to happen.

In our new place, it's like Jet and I are starting. In the words of my Mama, "Tinud-anay na ni inyo." We are in the process of embellishing the home that we're trying to build en route to our wedding next year. There are still many appliances and stuff that we have to buy. It's a good practice for the both of us.

We also recently celebrated our 1st anniversary on the same day of his 25th birthday. I remember last year when his first proposal happened. We were facing the sea under the moonlight. We had food and drinks that we purchased in Tagum to celebrate his birthday. At the simple picnic, he proposed to me, in vernacular, to be his girlfriend. I must say, that "yes" to him changed my life for good. I have nothing but gratitude.

Anyway, yeah we celebrated our 1st anniversary and his 25th birthday at Jienos Garden Beach Resort with his family, mine, and our dearest friends. We chose that place because that was where we had our dates when he was still courting me and before we got officially together. I remember how I sneaked out at 9PMs and he would wait for me outside. We would first stop at the 7/11 to buy our food for the night, then go to Jienos. We would pay 300 pesos for our entrance fee and cottage. Those dates happened once or twice a week. It was our memorable place and it feels good to share it with our loved ones.

It's a shame that we did not have many photos to keep for that event. It was very special and rare. Despite the lack of mementos, I will always remember how happy we are. Jet and I are both very blessed that we have the best families that we could ask for. That special event was a testament to their love and support for us. I thank God for making everything possible for us.

I guess this is it for now. I have to go back to work.

I will be writing about my Comprehensive Exam journey soon when the results are out. Right now, I am still anxiously waiting for Thursday.

Also, I will buy a new notebook na. Hopefully, I can start journaling again.