#baking for other people is nerve wracking

[screamtrain]

so the complicated chocolate cake seems to have come together alright (not done the chocolate decorations yet, which will be fiddely but hopefully not too difficult) but I’m half convinced I’ve effed up the bottom of my lemon tart aughhhhh

(brought to you mid-blind bake, while I’m anxiously starting into the oven like the contestant on gbbo that gets eliminated in the first round)

[justmystyles]

Hi love! I have a request if you don’t mind! Maybe meeting Harry’s family for the first time and it’s at Christmas? He’s very nervous?

Fa La La La Freakout

read my other work here!

pairing: Harry Styles x plus size reader

*i say it's a plus size reader, but it is not something that i focus on explicitly in my fics, because your size should not define you. it will only come up if it comes into the story organically.*

word count: 1,107

summary: you will be meeting Harry's family for the first time over the holidays, and you are desperate for them to like you.

a/n: my amazing friend, thank you so much for sending me this ask, i was desperate to write a holiday fic, but had no inspiration! i hope you like what i did with your idea.

I know it's bee a while since i've really posted, so i'm a little rusty. this isn't my best work, but it's cute and fluffy, so i hope you like it anyway. i'm going to try to get back into writing in the new year, i have a lot of stories in my brain that i really want to share with you all!

happy holidays to all of you, 2023 was the year i found Harry, and this amazing collection of humans that i can talk about him with until i'm blue in the face (fingers, technically, i guess 🤷🏻‍♀️). i hope you're all having a wonderful holiday full of laugher, love, and all the good things. 💚❤️

tags: @abby8694 @allthelovehes @ameerakane20 @ash-craze @bethanysnow @blue-ballad @blueraspberryreader @brightlightsinlife @creativelyeva @cute-as-ducks420 @deannaard @fanficismydrug @gem1712 @golden-hoax @gothmingguk @groovychaosavenue @hillzrry @iceebabies @indierockgirrl @jerseygirlinca @jng4kook @jooniesbabie @kaverichauhan @laurxn-robinson @lexiecamposv @likeapplejuicenpeach @lilfreakjez @mrs-anna-styles211994 @n0vaj3an @potterheadandsherlocked @rach2699 @ravenclawdirectioner @stylesfeverr @superchrystaldrug @tenaciousperfectionunknown @tiaamberxx @thechaoticjoy @theekyliepage @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @youknowwhaaat

“What about this? Do you think your mom would like it?”

Harry chuckles and reaches for the scarf in your hands, placing it back on the shelf. “Y/N, you’ve already gotten everyone in my family a gift, and you’re bringing that bottle of wine you insisted on buying, and you’re baking cookies. You don’t need to do or bring anything else.” 

“I just want them to like me.” You smile sheepishly.

You were spending Christmas with Harry and his family this year. It was your first time spending Christmas with a boyfriend, which was already a little nerve wracking, but it was also your first time meeting Harry’s family. To say you were nervous would be an understatement, you know how important Harry’s family is to him, so you’re determined to make a good impression.

Harry smiles kindly, the smile that makes your insides instantly melt, and places his hands on your hips, pulling you closer to him. “Angel, they’re going to love you. Hell, I talk about you so much that they already do.” He kisses you softly on the nose. “You don’t need to bring them gifts to win them over, my family just wants me to be happy, and you already take care of that without even trying. You just need to relax and be your wonderful self. Understand?” 

You nod in response, and he kisses the tip of your nose. 

What Harry didn’t tell you was that he was also nervous about you meeting his family. He had no doubt in his mind that they would adore you, and that you’d fit in easily. His concern was for you. He knows you can be shy with new people, and how anxious you make yourself leading up to those meetings, especially when they are people that are important to him. He loves how much you want to be a part of his life, but he hates hoe in your head you can get about it. 

Later that night, you and Harry are in the kitchen, you’re baking a batch of cookies to bring with you to Harry’s family kitchen, as he sits on a stool at the kitchen island, keeping you company. The two of you have been talking, Harry walking you through everything that the two of you will be doing over the next few days, and telling you all about his family. You notice him trying to hide a yawn and chuckle. 

“You can go to bed, you know? I know you’re tired.” You say as you place the cookies in the oven. 

Harry pouts and gives you puppy dog eyes. “I don’t like going to bed without you.” he gets up from the stool and walks up to you, wrapping his arms around you and kissing you softly. 

“I know baby, but I’m almost done. I’ll join you in like fifteen minutes, twenty tops. Promise.” 

Harry reluctantly agrees and gives you another kiss before retiring to the bedroom, leaving you to finish your baking. 

A few hours later, Harry shifts in bed, reaching across to your side to pull you close. When he’s 

met with an empty and cold spot next to him, his eyes fly open and he sits up quickly, turning on the bedside lamp to see that your side is untouched. He gets out of bed and goes downstairs to find you in the kitchen, surrounded by various cookies, brownies, and other baked goods. 

“Love?” He says, his voice still thick with sleep. 

You snap your head around and look at him with wide, surprised eyes. “Harry? What are you doing up?”

“Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.” He grumbles as he approaches you, rubbing his eyes. “What is all of this?”

“I didn’t love how the cookies turned out, so I made another batch. Then I was like, ‘what if some people don’t like these? I should make something else.’ So I made chocolate peanut butter brownies, but then I figured some people might not like peanut butter, so I made regular brownies, and then…”

“Y/n, stop.” Harry interrupts you, gripping your shoulders firmly. “Baby, it means the world to me that you want to impress everyone, but you’re worrying too much. They’re going to love you because you are amazing, and sweet, and you make me happier than I’ve ever been.”

Your expression softens. “Are you sure? I just really want them to like me.” 

“I’m positive. Now come to bed, we’ve got a long drive ahead of us in the morning, and I’m not going to have my favorite copilot sleeping for the whole way there,” He taps the tip of your nose with his index finger.

“What about the dishes?” 

“You’re going to sleep in, and I’m going to take care of them first thing in the morning.” 

You open your mouth to fight him on it, but yawn instead, he chuckles and tucks a stray strand of hair behind your ear. 

“C’mon love, let’s get you into bed where you belong.” He turns off the stove and guides you to bed, where you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow. 

The next morning, just as he promised, Harry carefully slipped out of bed so that he didn’t wake you and snuck down to the kitchen to clean up, grabbing a treat or two as he did. When you finally woke up and made your way downstairs, you were greeted with a clean kitchen, a hot breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee. Harry kissed you and guided you to your seat. 

A couple of hours later, you had packed up the car and were on your way to Harry’s mother’s house. You were feeling a little less nervous about meeting his family, but you were still a little anxious. Harry could sense it and did everything he could to distract you from your feelings.

The second you arrived, and his mother pulled you into a tight embrace and told you how lovely it was to have you there, and how excited she was to finally meet you, all of your worries melted away. 

She was even sweeter than Harry told you she’d be, and treated you as if she’d known you for years, and the rest of his family was the same. By the time you left to head back to Harry’s, you felt like you were a part of the family. Little did you know, Harry was planning to make that more official in a little less than a week, when the two of you jetted off for your romantic New Year’s getaway. 

[justalittlesolarpunk]

hi,

I just wanted to ask how if you have any tips on improving relationships with your neighbours?

I know a sense of community is super important to the whole solarpunk movement but I’m not quite sure where to start😅

Thank you so much for answering everyone’s asks btw! It feels way more accessible than reading a massive manifesto

(Context: I just received a cake from my neighbour randomly and social anxiety is making it hard to know what to do lol)

Ooh what a great question! The good news is, it sounds like your neighbours already want a good relationship with you! I’d say accept the cake, eat it, thank them, and return the gesture by either baking or buying them a cake in turn, is a good place to start. Next you could try inviting them round for a meal or to go to an event, depending on your personalities, ages, location, and other contextual factors.

Going to community events like fairs, repair cafes, talks at a public library, etc, and striking up conversation is a great way to start building a relationship with your neighbours. You could offer some other neighbours cake or just knock on the door one day and introduce yourself if you feel confident to.

A lot of this stuff can feel very nerve-wracking for the socially anxious, I know. But it helps to remember that your neighbours are just people like you, with aspirations and insecurities and strange quirks and things and people that they love. And if you feel like you’ve botched an introduction, you can always just awkwardly move on and try to befriend a different set of neighbours! A lot of getting good at community is just practicing and being awkward and messing up and fixing it until you start to have more confidence in your own capacity for it.

Hope this helps!

[hopelesslyromanticgay]

An Americano, Please? Part 2

Word Count: 757 A/N: italicized text within quotation marks means that the person speaking is using Romanian instead of English

Y/N's POV:

I haven't seen Jenna for five days, so she was probably just a tourist. It's not uncommon for a tourist to pop by the shop asking for a coffee but not being able to speak Romanian, so I have no idea why I'm so sad that she's not coming back. 

I thought the idea of a "hallway crush," (someone you've interacted with once or twice for a short or professional amount of time, but are attracted to nonetheless), only lasted through high school. I guess I was wrong.

Friday morning, the shop is quiet because of how early it is. I shovel some coffee beans into the grinder. Despite the annoyingly loud noise it makes, I find it an oddly satisfying process.

I yawn, getting out of bed at four thirty for a five AM shift is nobody's idea of a good start to a day.

Once the coffee's all ground up, I put some in the drip coffee brewer and the rest next to the espresso machine.

In the back, I can smell my coworkers taking today's baked goods out of the oven.

"Hey, L/N, want a cinnamon bun? It's a little 'burnt', so we can't sell it," my coworker and friend Nessa asks. Every Friday is the same, Nessa and I are two of the only people around the shop this early, so we'll sneak a pastry and say it was burnt if anyone asks.

"Sure, Thanks!" I reply, taking the warm pastry from her. Taking a bite, a smile creeps across my face, "did you guys change the recipe? This is even better than last week's!"

"Yeah, boss asked if we could add a few more spices to the dough," she explains, "I'm a pretty big fan of the new recipe if I do say so myself."

It's not long before the cafe starts to smell like cinnamon and coffee, a perfectly inviting scent in the gloomy fall weather.

Five twenty and it's time to open up the shop. Of course, no one actually arrives until six, usually. Nevertheless the owner says being open early is best for business.

As I wait for the first customers to arrive, I zone out. There's not much to do except for sitting alone with my thoughts.

I'm so lost in thought that I'm thoroughly shocked when I hear the bell on the door ring, indicating that someone has entered the shop. I look up to see who it is. Then it dawns on me. She's a little paler than last time, but it's still her.

"Jenna?" I ask incredulously, I thought for sure she was gone.

"You remember me?" she raises an eyebrow.

"I remember most people who can't speak Romanian," I lie.

"Sure," she giggles.

"What can I get for ya today?" I ask.

"You know, I think I'll take your joke from the other day seriously," she replies with a faint smirk, "I'll have an Americano with oat milk please."

"Alright, an Americano for the American," I laugh, mixing the drink, "so, what brings you to Romania?"

"Could you please repeat that?" she asks, "sorry, I've been having trouble focusing lately."

"Well, you're clearly not a tourist, because most tourists don't stick around for more than three days. So I'm just wondering, what brings you to Romania?" I repeat.

"Oh, uh, I'm filming a TV show," she explains.

"You act?" I ask. I don't know why I'm surprised. She certainly has the looks and charisma for Hollywood.

"Yeah," she smiles, "this is definitely one of the bigger things I've done though."

"Congrats on that! What are you filming? Are you allowed to tell people?"

"It's a show about the Addams family," she tells me.

"Oh I love that franchise!" I exclaim, "Are you playing one of the family members?"

"Yeah, I'm Wednesday, which is both exciting and nerve wracking." 

Okay, so I'm literally talking to a celebrity. 

"Woah... That- that sounds like an awesome job," I smile, "good for you. So you'll be in the area for a while?"

"What's it to you?" she smirks flirtatiously, "you wanna take me out on a date or something?" I feel a blush start to creep it's way to my cheeks.

"That depends, you gonna be in town for a while?"

"At least six more months."

"In that case, how about I show you around town sometime?"

"I'd like that," she smiles. As much as I would love to keep up this banter, there's too many people in the store now.

I hand her the receipt, my number neatly scribbled down on the blank side, "reach out when you're available," I wink.

She heads out and I watch as she leaves.

On with the day. Only four hours left of this shift.

[hekateinhell]

4. A story idea you haven’t written yet?

22. Do you ever worry about public reaction to what you’re writing? How do you get past that?

25. Besides writing what are your other hobbies?

4. I really, really wanna write that idea I mentioned here months ago that's like Armand and Louis are a married couple and they're interested in a third: Lestat. But it's super dramatic because at first it's just for sex, basically Armand just wants to see his husband railed by a stud, but things escalate, etc etc.

22. I MEAN- YEAH. I have a good gauge of what is and isn't trendy in VC fic and it's always nerve wracking to put something out there that's "different." Like with the breeding kink in Our House and then the mussy fic, I was nervous about it! Even if it's just a kinky PWP, I think we all just want people to enjoy our stuff.

Or even when I fucked around and had Armand tattoo a vampire Lestat in Language of Flowers, I worried if I had done a good enough job of selling my meta to the readers--in the sense that "it's not a usual concept, but here's the mental math I did to try and make it makes sense in their world, does it work?"

I get through it just by talking to people! I talk a lot of this stuff out with my fanfic friends when I need the reassurance, and I always make at least one person read it over and tell me if it works, tell me if it's hot LMAO. I'm a baby, I need handholding! And I just keep posting, even when I'm nervous!

25. I'm boring, I just wanna cuddle my cats and hang out with my friend and her new baby. Sometimes I bake and take pictures of flowers.

[aylacavebear]

Stockroom Antics - Chapter 19

Maria had changed jobs numerous times over the last five years, more to keep herself safe than anything else. Her mother had told her she was a fairy but she thought it was just her mom being weird. Honestly, though, she had no other way of explaining what had happened to her that stormy day before she'd gone into a coma for two weeks.

Please don't take my work. I'll post warnings for each chapter. Will probably be 18+ I haven't decided yet!

Word Count: 2524

Pairing eventually Dean Winchester x OC

Warnings: Angst

A/N: This one's written a little differently than my last one. Let me know what you think. It's the first time I've tried this type of writing. Chapters will alternate viewpoints as well. I also looked into an actual area so this one could feel more realistic. This one is taking on a life of it's own in a turn I hadn't anticipated, so adding a new tag.

----------------------------------------- Stockroom Antics Chapter 19

When the dragon crawled into your lap, it helped you relax a little. Plus, it felt nice to see it come over to you instead of interacting with Dean.

You still weren’t sure why it bothered you as much as it did. This whole “getting to know each other” thing made you nervous. Yeah, you enjoyed being around people, making them smile and laugh, but somehow, this felt different. So, you were nervous. Pinpointing why you were nervous was still something you couldn’t quite figure out.

The idea of adding to their grocery list felt strange. You even debated helping to pay for some of the groceries, but for now, keep that to yourself. When Sam mentioned you just going with them to the store, the idea was appealing. Then you thought about the dragon and how that would work. Would it stay at the bunker? It wasn’t like you could take a dragon out in public, no matter how small it was. People would freak out.

It was fairly embarrassing to tell them personal things about you, like reading fanfics on Tumblr. The thought of the things you enjoyed reading on there made you blush slightly, and you just hoped neither of them noticed. Thankfully, though, at least Dean had focused on baking. Although you couldn’t list specific things, so you generalized. 

Why did he have to look so damned adorable when he smiled the way he did, you thought to yourself. And the way he chuckled made you want to smile. Then, every time he’d called you sweetheart, it made your heart flutter a little. You pushed it away, though, as best as you could. No point in getting attracted to him, even if you would be staying with them while they figured this whole thing out. You’d already convinced yourself that you were weird, especially after your accident and these two hunted monsters.

Finding out that Dean loved pie like he did gave you an idea. There weren’t many ways you could contribute or show your gratitude for what they were doing for you, so you decided to bake for them. It was simple enough, and it was something you loved doing. Now, with your powers increasing, it might even be easier.

Finally finding a little courage, you asked about the sigils. You understood Sam's reasoning; it made tons of sense. But what Dean said made you smile a little; you just couldn’t help it. Plus, he looked really, really good with how he leaned back in his chair. Again, you shook the image from your mind, trying to focus back on the conversation.

Watching the interactions between the brothers was adorable. The little things where they were different and how they would get playfully frustrated with each other made you giggle or laugh internally, though. Their laughter was pleasant. Laughter was something you’d been missing over the last few days. Sharing why you were nervous was more nerve-wracking than anything.

It wasn’t until Dean said you were their kind of weird that you finally began to truly relax and genuinely smile, even if it was small. The two full beers and now your third were also helping you relax more. The dragon stayed asleep in your lap the entire time; its presence alone helped you relax further.

A half-hour later, Sam was picking on his brother about books, “You’d rather watch something than read, and you miss all the little details. The books are far better,” Sam insisted.

Dean leaned forward in his chair, “I don’t need all those things. The show is fine, and I get the important stuff,” he argued.

“It depends on the book and the show. What one are you two arguing over?” you asked curiously. This was clearly something they’d argued over before.

“Game of Thrones. The books are far better,” Sam insisted.

“I’d still rather have the visuals,” Dean chuckled.

You did your best not to laugh at both of them, “I can understand both sides. Although, having read the books and watched the show, you do understand more than if you only do one or the other,” you told them, giggling a little before taking a sip of your beer.

“That’s a lot of books, Sweetheart. I’ll stick to the show,” Dean replied, and his playful smirk made you smile again.

“See, that’s what I mean. You just dismiss reading, so you’re missing out,” Sam argued, and you could tell it was playful.

“I’ll read all day, for a case, but if I can watch something, I’d rather do that,” Dean stated, attempting to end the conversation on the matter.

You couldn’t contain your laughter at that point. Both of them were adorable, and so was their brotherly bond. As the conversation continued, you shared a bit about yourself. Yeah, you were still a little nervous about it, but alcohol was called liquid courage for a reason, and it was helping greatly.

“So, how come you live in the house you do?” Dean finally asked you, sounding curious.

The question threw you off, and your smile faded, “It’s been my home for so long, I don’t know, I just didn’t know where else to go,” you answered a bit quietly. Part of you felt embarrassed about your home, especially after seeing how the brothers lived. 

“Why not use your powers? Change it up?” Dean asked her.

Sam looked between the two. He had only seen the outside, although you were pretty sure that Dean had told him how your home looked on the inside. “I didn’t want to bring attention to myself. Only having a part-time job, I wasn’t sure how I’d explain the changes to the few friends I had.” You tried not to sound embarrassed, but it came out anyway.

“Makes sense. What about your family, though? They know you have powers,” Dean asked.

You shrugged a little, “I like my job and the people I work with… but…” you began, then trailed off, looking down at your beer. “With the King of Hell after me, not sure there is a safe place anymore.” Your tone had gotten quiet as the realization hit you. Where could you go at this point? You didn’t want to endanger your family, so that was out.

“Hey, I didn’t mean to make you sad,” Dean told you softly, leaning a little further forward.

When you saw him slowly reaching his hand toward yours, you held onto your beer and leaned back in your seat, putting more distance between the two of you. You did notice how he sighed and leaned back, though.

“It’s just… I don’t want to put them or anyone in danger because of me,” you replied, sipping your beer.

“Well, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you’d like,” Dean told you, making a smile play across your lips.

Part of you did miss your home, your friends at work, and the solitude your home had given you. However, you also began to enjoy being at the bunker with the brothers. You weren’t used to living with people and were still in the adjustment phase. With getting to know them more, you were hoping that things might feel less tense. After another half hour, your sides hurt from laughing so much. You couldn’t figure out how the dragon was sleeping through it all. Five beers was your limit, and you were on your fifth. Things were going amazing up until Sam said what he did about someone called Rowena. Your mood instantly tanked, excusing yourself to bed the moment you finished your beer.

You scooped up the sleeping dragon and made it to your room, only slightly wobbly on your feet. Once your door was closed, you set the dragon on the side of your bed and changed into pajamas. Climbing under the covers, you just sat there momentarily, wrapping your arms around your legs.

Could Rowena get into the bunker? Am I even safe here anymore? Am I putting the brothers in danger just by being here? Would the witch do the spell without consent? What would I even do if she did that?

Too many questions raced through your mind, even allowing a couple of tears to slip from your eyes. You wiped them away and turned off your lamp, then got comfortable on your side facing the sleeping dragon.

“I don’t want them to be in danger because of me,” you whispered, setting your hand on the dragon’s back.

An image of bubbles played in your mind. All kinds of different bubbles: soap bubbles, the kind that kids make with those bottles of bubbles from the store, bubbles in bodies of water, bubbles in a boiling pot of water, bubbles you make when you blow in a straw in chocolate milk. You furrowed your brow and looked at the sleeping dragon.

“Bubbles,” you said quietly, then rolled your eyes, remembering earlier. Dean had called her that after he’d given her bacon. If you weren’t as emotional as you were at the moment, you might have gone down a different thought path than the one that took over your mind. Anger hit you first, along with jealousy, all aimed at Dean. With all that had happened over the last week, you really weren’t thinking clearly; right now, anger was easier. The alcohol wasn’t helping either.

Bubbles shifted a bit in her sleep, stretching some and getting comfortable again, closer to you. You wanted to talk to Astaria again but at the same time, you didn’t. Then, you wanted to cry but didn’t do that either. The anger was easier to hold onto, almost making you feel grounded. 

Morning came far too soon. You hadn’t dreamt that night, and it was only after five in the morning, according to the clock on the night table. 

“Why can’t I just sleep in,” you grumbled just as Bubbles jumped on your chest, looking down at you like a happy puppy.

You giggled and began petting it, “What? Are you hungry?” you asked her, smiling a little.

You were still angry, but not like you were the night before. When Bubbles tilted her head, and you had an image of a forest come to your mind, you realized what she needed.

“Ohh, you need to go outside,” you said quietly, wondering if you could even do that.

Bubbles vigorously nodded her head, making you giggle again. “Can you use the toilet? I’m not sure I can take you outside or if it’s safe.”

She tilted her head as if she had no clue what you were talking about. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

You used your powers, changing into jeans, a tank top, and a red flannel, leaving it unbuttoned, then headed down the hall to the bathroom, Bubbles flying and keeping up with you. The idea of showing a dragon how to use a toilet had only come to mind due to funny cat videos you’d seen of cats using the bathroom. 

Bubbles watched you, her head tilted, and she looked puzzled and curious. You could barely stifle your laughter at the entire situation. When you finished, you flushed the toilet, then looked over at her as she was perched on the countertop.

“Your turn. Think you can attempt it?” you asked her.

She looked from you to the toilet and then back at you, making you giggle quietly, “Want me to wait outside?” She nodded, so you waited out in the hall, trying not to laugh. 

The toilet flushed moments later, and then the door opened. You glanced over as Bubbles hopped down off the counter and joined you in the hallway, “Feel better?” you asked, stifling another giggle.

Bubbles nodded, so you headed to the kitchen, figuring the brothers were still sleeping, with her flying alongside you. While the coffee brewed, you began writing out a list of items that you’d need for baking. You still wanted to do that, even if you were still feeling annoyed at Dean knowing your familiar's name before you did. 

When you got up to get a cup of coffee, Bubbles hopped onto the floor, went to the fridge, and looked at you. The word “food” came to mind, but you weren’t hungry, so you sat back down at the table, returning to the list you had been working on.

Bubbles got annoyed at your stubbornness, but you missed the dragon roll its eyes. She walked over to you and tugged on your jeans, causing you to look down at her. “What?” you asked her, having no clue what she wanted.

She looked over at the fridge and then back up at you, “Are you hungry or something?” She nodded at your question and went back over to the refrigerator, then waited for you.

As you joined her at the fridge, opening it up, you peered inside, wondering what dragons even ate. What you didn’t notice was that Bubbles was already opening one of the bottom drawers and pulled out a green apple. She held it in her hands as she flew over to the bench seat next to where you’d been sitting earlier.

“So, what do you want?” you asked, looking down.

When you didn’t see her, you got a puzzled look and glanced around the kitchen, barely seeing her head above the edge of the table. Closing the fridge, you were still puzzled but shrugged it off and went back to the task of the list. Bubbles had been watching you as you wrote down items on your list. Then, it jumped up on the table and took the pen from you, setting its apple on the table.

“It’s a pen. You use it to write things,” you told her, chuckling a little.

Bubbles flipped over the piece of paper and attempted to write. It was clear that writing was something she had never done before, as it looked like the scribbles of a toddler. She glared at you, and you did your best not to laugh, no matter how cute she looked.

“It takes time to learn how to write,” you told her, then thought for a moment, “Come with me into the library.”

With that, you got up, grabbed your coffee, and headed into the library. There were still books strewn across the tables, so you used your powers, stacking them up neatly in a few piles. Then, you created some things to help Bubbles learn how to write. You weren’t quite sure how much she could understand, so you went with the basics: the alphabet and kindergarten stuff, along with a pad of paper and a pencil so she could erase. 

You sighed and sat in one of the chairs, wondering why she wasn’t communicating with you telepathically. Then, the anger flared back up because she’d communicated with Dean the day before, at least her name. You didn’t know about the other stuff. Using your powers, you retrieved the list you’d left on the kitchen table, along with the pen. Then, you continued your list while having coffee, and Bubbles taught herself how to write.

----------------------------------------- Chapter 20

Tag List: @djs8891 @deans-spinster-witch

Link to the series Master List

A/N: If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters, leave me a comment, and I'll make sure to tag you.

[hamsamwich23]

So we mostly know what Scout and Mortimer’s relationship is with Wooly and Amanda, but what about the other puppets? (Nick, Riley, and Daisy, maybe even Rosco!)

out of the two, Amanda's been the one to interact with the puppets the most, she's been out longer than Wooly has and Wooly is still extremely anxious around others (also some stuff got updated/changed) So here's a guide to everyone's relationship:

Amanda:

Mortimer- she's been looking for this guy since she got out, Mortimer aka Judgment, who was cursed and mutated to become the perfect justice system. If anyone could stop Hameln, surely it could be him. When she finally met him as the god, she was looking for she explained the situation, and Mortimer agreed to help once it became spring (due to his past injuries and the negative effects that winter causes to wood, being outside during winter is painful). He offered the two a guest room in the meantime so they wouldn't have to keep staying in a decaying house. She sees him as a sort of father figure, but she doesn't know if she should feel that way if there's a small chance that Sam is alive (he's not)

Riley- She doesn't trust Riley due to her being a scientist, it's a fear that sticks with her and Wooly. And the fact that she used to experiment on Scout just decreased the already low trust. She only talks to Riley if Wooly or Scout are around... Or if she finds it funny to psyche Riley out.

Nick- surprisingly Nick Nack is not too social, he's an introvert who greatly enjoys alone time. But He and Amanda get along pretty well. They first started talking upon finding out they had a similar ability (Amanda can travel through TVs that are on, and Nick can travel through paintings.)

Daisy- She and Daisy aren't super close, but Amanda enjoys the food she makes, so sometimes she and Wooly will come and help her out while she's baking and talk to her then.

Scout- She and Wooly both see Scout as an older sibling, Amanda looks up to them a lot. She met Scout once during one of her trips to collect food for herself and Wooly, and that lead to her meeting Judgment and the others.

Wooly:

Mortimer- Wooly isn't sure of what to think of him. On one hand Mortimer is a god, one of justice and divine judgment no less, and the idea of being in the presence of one is rather nerve wracking, but on the other hand, Mortimer himself is a calm and polite being, and his general presence is almost, calming to most people. including Wooly. he's a little conflicted on the matter.

Riley- He and Amanda both fear Riley due to her occupation and history of experimenting on Scout. But Wooly will always speak for himself and Amanda and be as diplomatic as possible. They don't think Riley is a bad person, but they're afraid of her.

Nick- He hasn't seen Nick much, but Nick is always friendly whenever he does leave his room, So he's neutral on him

Daisy- He enjoys talking to Daisy a lot, he and amanda both like helping her out in the kitchen. Daisy is aware of what they have been through and does her best to make the kitchen feel as safe and comfortable as possible

Scout- He and Amanda both see Scout as an older sibling, However Wooly is concerned that Scout is a bit reckless and self destructive when it comes to herself. Amanda and Scout focus more on outside adventures and activities while Wooly hangs out with her inside of the house.

[missperfectlyfinewrites]

oh look another giant thing from the braincell @wlwhq || ivy & rowan

The festive season was a fun time of year, there was no doubt about that. Ivy loved doing themed activities with her student - inclusive as possible of course, and she spent a lot of her free time buying presents, wrapping presents, volunteering with the needy, doing Christmas baking, everything you could imagine. Cute headbands, cute Christmas jumpers, countless hot chocolate. Ivy was a cosy girl who liked cosy festive times. But, there was something that bothered her about Christmas.

There were a few years in her life, where Christmas was not as fun. Her ex boyfriend was an awful man. Didn't really get along with her family, was toxic - in so many ways that it hurt to think about, and he had kind of crumpled up some of her love about Christmas. Sure, Ivy was doing all of the things and enjoying herself, but some things were very much difficult to cope with. For someone who enjoyed Christmas, she wasn't the kind of person to write her own Christmas list. If Rowan asked what she wanted, she deviated the conversation. if she saw Rowan putting some presents under the tree, Ivy kept clear for a little bit. Ivy would have talked till the cows came home about presents for other people, but every time the conversation became about her getting things, she seemed to stiffen. Every now and again she found herself looking at the tree, almost hopeful that maybe she'd actually get some of the presents this year. It wasn't Rowan's fault, it was never Rowan's fault. Rowan didn't seem to push or shove or demand to ask what was wrong. Rowan tended to sit back and observe, at least that's what Ivy thought. It was difficult. How could a time of year that brought so much joy, also bring so much angsty and trauma to the surface?

Ivy, well, hadn't thought Rowan had even noticed her slight angst and anxiety building about the Christmas period. Ivy had been trying to shove it down, trying not to think about it. Her ex boyfriend was the problem, not Rowan. But Ivy had been deluded into thinking that certain things were normal, certain things were going to happen. If she was bad, then she wouldn't get any of the presents. If she upset somebody, they'd be taken away or broken. There wasn't any point to asking for something she wanted, because she'd either be laughed at or be told she was getting something, and then have it be taken away. Ivy had even been hesitant to bring her presents from the students home. One year he'd broken mugs her students had gotten her, and Ivy had been shattered. Those kinds of things were special to her. Rowan had asked if the kids had gotten her anything, and she'd given a bit of a half answer, not saying much, showing a drawing or two, not really alluding to the fact that she had a giant pile of things on her desk she had taken home yet.

But, Ivy tried to ignore all of that. Tried to ignore her anxiety about it. It would be a good Christmas, right? Today she was introducing Rowan to her family, and then next week, on Christmas day, she'd actually get to go meet Row's family. That was so exciting, so fun. There was a decent pile of presents in the trunk, for her parents, along side their bags - and of course plenty of goodies for her family's dog Daisy too. It had taken about two hours to get to her parents place - Rowan offering to drive, as Ivy was a little anxious about driving in the not so amazing weather. Also, the idea of bringing Row home for the first time, that was a little nerve wracking.

But as soon as the door opened, it was fine, right? Her mom had pulled Rowan in for like the biggest hug ever, her dad had gone straight to give Ivy a hug, gushing about how good it was to see them and to have them stay for a couple of days. Ivy had visited for a weekend a little while ago, but this was the first time Row had gotten the time off work to fit around a visit, and Ivy was grateful.

Her parents had insisted on helping them bring everything in, her dad taking their bags up to her childhood room and her mom insisting on getting some food after their drive. They chatted to Rowan like they'd known them for ages, wanting to know about work - Caleb being particularly interested in the mechanics of the ambulances, enjoying some of her mom's delightful cooking. It was a relief to Ivy, that Rowan seemed to like them, and that they seemed to like Rowan.

A few hours had passed off them being at the Winters family home, mama insisting on showing them around the house and having a lot of introductory chats. It was good, all going fine. Dad kept asking Ivy about work, and Mom kept up asking about if she'd tried any new recipes, but Ivy just quietly deflected the conversation to things about Rowan and and her students, not really talking about herself. Ivy felt a little out of sorts, especially when she kept catching the glimpses of the Christmas tree out of the corner of her eye, noticing her name scrawled on so many presents in her Mama's handwriting. Her dad caught her eye a few times but Ivy was quick to move on the conversation, participating, not wanting him to be worried.

That was until they'd settled in the living room to chat more, over hot chocolate and cookies. Ivy was kind of zoning out, just a little. The chats were nice, nothing was wrong with that, but she could just feel her anxiety swirling, feel her mind drifting. It wasn't until she heard her dad call her name a couple of times and place a hand on her arm that Ivy jolted, realising she wasn't paying attention. "Sweetheart?" Caleb gave her a look and Ivy quickly brushed it off - or at least she hoped so, giving him a smile, her hands smoothing out her little plaid skirt. "Sorry Dad, I thought I heard Daisy, I think she wants to go out," Ivy lied smoothly.

"Oh, I can take her out, you stay here in the warm," he went to get up and Ivy quickly shook her head, standing up. "It's okay dad, you keep getting to know Row, I can take her outside quickly," Ivy didn't stop to see if he was going to agree or see if anyone was giving her a funny look. She simply went to find Daisy - who arguably had just been lazing about in the kitchen, and coaxed her outside into the backyard. It was a little cold, to be honest, but Ivy didn't overly care. She watched Daisy scamper around for a moment - Daisy clearly didn't care about the cold for the moment either.

Tears welled in Ivy's eyes, her bottom lip quivering as she did her best to take a shaky breath, facing out into the garden - so nobody could see the look on her face. Her fingers worried the sleeves of her red reindeer sweater, teeth sinking down into her red lipstick for a moment. Ivy rocked on her little heeled black boots, legs shivering ever so slightly in her black tights, her gaze watching Daisy run up and down, trying to catch some poor insect. She'd be okay. She just had to have a moment, go back inside, and she'd be fine. She didn't want to let anxiety win this moment. Row had only met her parents merely a few hours ago, and they seemed to all love each other, she didn't want to take away from that.

Caleb went to stand up to follow Ivy, as she'd clearly moved away a little hurriedly, and Kimberly's hand shot out, grabbing his arm for a moment and shaking her head. "Give her a moment, mi amor. Don't go crowding her, " Kimberly offered gently, before her gaze moved to Rowan, offering a sympathetic smile. Kimberly wasn't quite sure how much Rowan knew, or how much Ivy wanted Rowan to know, or if Rowan had dealt with much of Ivy's anxiety yet.

"She might just need a moment, perhaps it's a little overwhelming being home," Kimberly spoke to Rowan - but she wasn't quite sure if she was trying to reassure them, herself or her husband. She was a little worried about the blonde that had gone to help Daisy - as she was pretty sure it was just one of her excuses. Maybe Rowan would know if Ivy had been a little more off lately, after all, they would have seen each other a lot more often. Ivy called her parents all the time, but perhaps she wasn't giving them all the details.

"Has Ivy been alright lately?" Caleb spoke up. It might have seen like a bit of an intrusive question, but considering he'd felt like Ivy was a little out of it, and now she'd disappeared from the room completely, he was allowed to be worried about his little girl.

[coastalcowplant]

Savannah Conley 🪻

Savannah Mae Conley made the big move from Chestnut Ridge all the way to Brindleton Bay after graduating high school. Determined to make a living out of something she loved, she immediately got to work baking any pastries she could think of. The beginning wasn't easy, but she eventually began to find her footing. She brought pastries with her wherever she went--to her neighbors, block parties, she even teamed up with a local realtor to bring baked goods to house showings! Her first good friends in Brindleton Bay quickly became her neighbors, Brent and Brant Hecking, and their son, Barrett. Before long, Savannah had become a staple in their circle, meeting all manner of different people! One such individual included a dear friend of the Heckings, who almost never managed to make it out of his office--work never rested after all. Quiet, yet incredibly charming, Austin West caught Savannah's eye almost immediately. Although, it wouldn't be until weeks later when the two would meet officially. Savannah was bringing her Corgi, Cheesecake, to the vet for a wellness check when the veterinarian handling them was none other than Austin himself. The two were smitten with each other, and it was as if they'd known each other for years. Constantly their friends found them together, and anyone could see it was love at first sight. Austin excitedly helped Savannah boost her bakery, promoting both delicious treats for both sims and their pets at the vet's office. Shortly after celebrating three years together, Savannah had excellent news: they were going to be parents! The couple was overjoyed, and they couldn't wait to meet their bundle of joy. At least, that is until the doctors informed the pair they would be welcoming not just one bundle of joy (or even two) but three! Savannah was expecting triplets! She and Austin were admittedly terrified--one new baby was nerve-wracking enough, but three?? Still, as her pregnancy progressed, Savannah and Austin did their best to keep their heads up. In early April, Savannah went into labor, and not long after, Savannah and Austin welcomed Graham Kai, Madeleine Sage, and Charlotte Ginger into the world, their arms, and their hearts. Now the couple is trying their best to keep up with three fast-growing infants, all while Savannah is still trying to juggle her aspirations of becoming a master baker.

previous / next / joy of life navigation (all gens)

[inexplicablymine]

Soon to be YOUR WIP Wednesday

Instead of sharing my own work this week, I’m sharing the 10 prompts I just submitted to the @halloweenhuh Fanworks Fest.

YOU YES YOU can go claim one of these prompts and write to your hearts content, I highly encourage it ;)

Styled as actual summaries instead of outlines because I think it’s fun and a more creative way to make the story match… BEHOLD

1. The one with sugary treats

“I swear to god if you have just dyed everybody’s buttercream black with your stupid charcoal paste I will end you.”

“You can try sweetheart but we all know I’ll come out on top.”

Cupcakes, cakes, and all things sweet, welcome to the Halloween episode of “Can You Bake It” featuring our favorite contestants in their most challenging week yet.

2. The one where they are cowboys

All Alex can really think about is the way Henry’s ass looks in those jeans, how his cowboy boots fit, and the way the Stetson he is wearing sits just right on his head.

Cowboys for Halloween was a great idea.

3. The one where they grow up together

5 Times they went in a group costume for Halloween growing up and 1 time Henry and Alex went in a couples costume

4. The one with the masquerade

Maybe there is something in the Hallow’s Eve punch, maybe there is something in the way that dapper stranger moves across the ballroom, maybe it is the fact that everyone is masked, maybe it is the fact that there hasn’t been a ball this grand in decades, regardless someone has caught his attention and Alexander, well, he never said he had the patience of a saint.

5. The one where it’s not all fun and games… or maybe it is

Come in costume they said. It would be a fun party they said. Tell that to the fact that he is stranded with his arch nemesis, blindfolded, on the side of the road, shirtless, soaked in something he isn’t even sure what to name.

Alex would think that would be enough for one evening, but Henry kissed him only moments ago and he isn’t sure if he is more mad at Henry, or himself for liking it.

Halloween is about to be one wild night.

6. The one where I insert the ghostbusters theme here

Alex did NOT want to be living with a ghost, but he wasn’t all too upset about the hot ghostbuster that he kept getting to call over to the house.

7. The one with Arthur’s world famous Halloween party

Meeting the parents wasn’t supposed to be nerve wracking, but Arthur Fox was literally James Bond, and Alex might throw a New Years Bash in Texas for his mother’s Governor’s ball every year, but Arthur’s Halloween parties are legendary.

8. The one where it’s shipping season and the suitors get competitive

“Fall Ball, there is no earthly antiquated reason why this kingdom still does something so ghastly”

“You want to ask Alexander don’t you?” Pez asks with a raised eyebrow

“Just me and everyone else,” Henry sighs out.

In an event rivaling the Spring Fling, the Fall Ball was one of the most prime positions during suitors season to make a move. Everyone wants Alexander’s hand, so Henry must work extra hard to capture his heart.

9. The one where Alex is a ghost courier

Alex looks down at his note again and shakes his head. Trying out the Ouija board with Nora had been a mistake. Now he was on some convoluted journey to tell a bunch of people a ghosts last wishes. The laundry list of names is long, but near the bottom there is one that makes his heart flip over in his chest, why in the world would a disembodied voice want to talk with Henry?.

10. The one where they are making spooky outfits for the Met Gala

“I think you might have bitten off more than you can chew.”

“I’ll bite you.”

“I mean I wouldn’t be opposed.”

The Met Gala Costuming Institute has named this years theme as “The Haunting.” It might only be tipping into fall but the design houses are already in full swing. Too bad fashion’s best and brightest don’t get along… or do they?

You can claim one of my prompts (or one of the other amazing 61 prompts) here and go follow along @halloweenhuh for some fandom fun!

[recurring-polynya]

Writing/Art Update 2/28/2023

The sentences have been flowing less well this week.

I'm still doing it! I have made my sentence every day! I think it's always been more than one sentence, maybe about 100 words most days. Word count is 8158, or +1750, which I guess is 250 words/day on average, but I think there was high variance. Also, quite a few of those words are notes to myself like [FINISH THIS SCENE] or [FIND A HOME FOR THIS]. It still looks more like an amorphous blob of scenes than a story, but I feel like it's sort of coalescing into something story-shaped. It's one of those stories that you have to make by chipping away everything that's not story, I think. It starts out very rough and stays that way for a long time, until you get to the very end of working on it and it comes together all of a sudden. At least, I hope it will.

I absolutely hate being so slow. It sucks so, so bad. I know I got a lot else going on and it's not like I ever feel like writing, so I'm glad I'm putting in anything, but it's also pretty miserable. I wish I could feel like this is some temporary thing that I will get over eventually, but I have been getting progressively slower over the 4+ years I have been writing. The primary reason I write is because it's not like anyone else is making the very specific content I want and I got very mad at myself in the middle of the week because I wanted new scenes to read on one any of three other WIPs I have that I have not worked on.

I also drew (1) Menos this week. I did some drawing with my kids on actual paper, too, that was...um...I do not like drawing on paper. It's awful. It reminds me how much I like drawing on my tablet. I have so much respect for people who do traditional art, because it's is a wholly nerve-wracking and unpleasant experience for me. I am hoping to do some Mike Mignola art studies this week because I like the way he draws skeletons. Art is slow, too. I think the projects I've been doing are good for me and my current pace, but I also miss drawing my blorbos? I wish I were capable of drawing them in <600 hrs, but that is not the reality I live in.

I made some bad cookies this week. (My cookies always spread horrifically) Pro(?)tip: Butterfinger bits *sound* like a good idea, but they add a lot of oil, which contribute to the spreading problem. My daughter requested that I make her a few cookies without them, and they spread less (but still too much). This was actually a pretty interesting discovery, and I might try reducing the amount of butter in my recipes slightly. (and do not @ me about room temperature butter, I have read those articles, and in this case, it was browned butter that was melted and then put in the fridge and the cookies were in the fridge overnight there is no helping me I am like a wizard of not being able to bake cookies)

In other news, the best dog in the world is getting a tumor removed from her mouth today, so please think healing thoughts for her.

[rurpleplayssims]

15 Questions for 15 Mutuals!

Are you named after anyone? Not that I'm aware of. My mum just really liked the name and after the three days of hell labour, my dad had no say in my naming! 🤣 I am the eldest of my siblings.

When was the last time you cried? I cry a lot but thankfully it's been a while. Define crying too - as in bawling my eyes out? - that's been ages. If it's me tearing up with emotion, then it was a couple of days ago when I went to Liverpool. The city is decked out with blue and yellow EVERYWHERE because it's hosting Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine, and it's quite touching to see.

Do you have kids? No. I would never rule out having kids but currently, my younger brothers (15 years younger) fulfil my maternal instincts at the moment.

Do you use sarcasm a lot? I go off on mini-rants (at myself) and I probably slip into sarcasm.

What sports do you play/have played? l hated my PE classes at school despite being good at it. I never wanted to do extra sports, so I was not on any teams.

What’s the first thing you notice about other people? A sense of who they are, and if any 'odd' behaviour is down to nervous energy or not. It's a skill that's useful in my public-facing job. I always strive to be as friendly as possible as I remember vividly how nerve-wracking it can be in new places/situations. You need someone there to reassure you.

Eye colour? This is starting to sound like a security test! 🤣 I have hazel eyes.

Scary movies or happy endings? Hate scary stuff. My imagination is far too vivid and if I get creeped out by something, it's in my head for WEEKS afterwards, and I value a good night's sleep! I prefer happy endings.

Any special talents? Umm...I'm not sure. I'd say my best skill is writing but I'm not the best of the best either. Might be me being modest, you all can be the judge. I'd like to be better regardless, another trait of being my own editor as well.

Where were you born? London, UK.

What are your hobbies? Writing, gaming, walking, listening to audiobooks and baking cakes.

Do you have any pets? No. We had dogs when I was younger. I want to have my own dog someday, but I can't in my current home and it's also not the right time for such a commitment (emotionally and logistically).

How tall are you? Errr....5"5...I think? Average height for a woman my age.

Favourite subject in school? Religious Studies when I was at school. We learnt about Buddhism and then had various ethical questions to decide what the Buddhist perspective on the ethics would be. It was my best GCSE result as well. However, looking back , I'd say my favourite class was English, for obvious reasons.

Dream Job? Being a published author, who is moderately successful. I'd hate to be 'famous', but it'd be great if writing could be my main income.

Anybody who wants to do this can consider themselves tagged! Thank you @timberllania for the tag!

[declinlalune]

Solidarity || Andy & Zane

TIMING: following falling into spring / beginning of june. LOCATION: bread cemetery. PARTIES: @rn-zane & @declinlalune SUMMARY: zane goes to bread cemetery with the intention of leaving something for jonas, but finds andy instead. CONTENT WARNINGS: none!

So he definitely felt a little silly. A lot silly, if he was being honest. All of this was mostly uncharted territory and even though Zane knew that whatever he did would most likely be accepted as the most wonderful thing ever by Jonas, it was still nerve wracking. Once he’d finally given up on standing outside The Bread Cemetery, looking like an idiot with the potted plant in his hand, the vampire finally entered. It was unsurprisingly empty, seeing as the bakery closed in less than 15 minutes and the register was currently unmanned. The thought occurred that this is why people planned things and didn’t just show up out of the blue. Maybe Jonas had already left or had stuff to do around the bakery before closing but because he was nice, he’d never let it show that Zane was being a bother. 

Before he could decide whether or not he should bolt now and just text the other man like a normal person, someone appeared from the back. Zane was awful with names but he definitely recognized that face. Seeing that the young woman worked here made him feel even more convinced that helping her out the other day had been the right thing. Even if she was a bit cryptic, she worked here which had to mean there were some good qualities lurking under the surface. 

“Uh… hey.” The greeting was tentative and the accompanying smile even more so. “I promise I’m not stalking you, I was hoping to catch Jonas.” As if it provided an explanation, Zane awkwardly raised the potted plant, shifting on his feet as he dug around for her name. It definitely started with an A… probably. 

– 

The day had been uneventful with no real hiccups or issues. Considering the past few weeks, Andy found herself grateful for the lapse. Tray after tray of baked goods left the display cases, and throughout the day, Andy made sure to log everything that they would need to do for prep the next morning. It was easy enough, especially when Jonas was so on top of things. Really, she couldn’t ask for a better co-worker. 

After prepping the ingredients for the following day and distributing them into their own measurements, Andy followed up by finishing off the dishes, making sure everything was in pristine condition for Jonas’s morning arrival. She didn’t mind closing. It gave her time to relax before she went home. Before she had to be okay. Being alone in the bakery meant she could let the mask fall away. 

Except when somebody arrived. The door chimed and Andy listened for Jonas’s or Lil’s telltale footsteps, but these were different. Not like Zack’s, either. She rounded the corner, a sack of flour tucked to her chest with her arms wrapped around it. It took her a moment, and as she opened her mouth to jokingly accuse him of following her, he explained that he wasn’t. “Dude, no worries.” So he knew Jonas? Maybe that meant he wasn’t some terrible guy in disguise. Jonas usually had a pretty good tell for when people were creepy. 

“You’re…” She looked up at the clock, “about two hours late. Sorry.” She gave him an apologetic smile before she set the bag of flour down onto the counter. Andy clapped her hands together, wincing as a cloud of dust floated upward. “That’s a cute plant. That for the store, or for him?” She wiggled her brows, so much more at ease now that she was at a place of comfort. Maybe Zane was good at pretending. He had seemed a little suspicious of Andy that night when they ran into the hunter. No, don’t do that. She chided herself silently, expression remaining relaxed. “I can give it to him, or you can leave it here– I can give you something to write a note? I’m sure he’d appreciate it.” So Jonas was seeing… Zane? Or maybe they were just friends. 

—

It would have been a bold faced lie to say Zane wasn’t impressed with the ease in which… Amanda? No, still didn’t sound right - carried the heavy bags in without so much as scrunching her face with the effort. The instant panic that had bubbled up at seeing her here softened once he got a good look at her expression. There was none of the suspicion from before, nothing being held back or hidden. Here, she was just a worker and he was the weird guy bringing in a plant. Nothing more. 

Zane followed her gaze to the clock, his free hand awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck. “Figures. I thought about texting first, this is why surprises are stupid.” Smiling as the flour swirled around… Andy! - making everything look a little bit whimsical, it immediately faltered however at her teasing. “Oh, the, uhm… both, I guess,” he stuttered out, finally stepping closer to the counter instead of standing in the middle of the store like an idiot. “Working my way to be the favorite customer,” he joked, placing the plant on the store counter. A small note was sticking from the pot and he gave it a little poke at her offer. “You can just tell him I stopped by. Or I’ll tell him when I talk to him. Whichever comes first, I guess.” 

Clearing his throat, overwhelmingly thankful for his lack of ability to blush, Zane quickly moved to change the subject in the hopes of avoiding any follow up questions. If his awkwardness hadn’t already given away that the nature of his relationship with Jonas wasn’t exactly just friendly anymore. “So, you’ve been alright? No more encounters with that creep from the other day?” His tone was genuine - despite his previous suspicion of her, that man’s attitude towards her really was worrying and he didn’t want anyone to have to suffer through that. Hunter or not. 

—

“Surprises aren’t stupid.” Andy hadn’t ever been surprised the way Zane was trying to surprise Jonas. Though she didn’t know much about him, or about Jonas’s dating life, she found it cute. She pushed the mild jealousy that brewed down, smile still intact. “I’m sure he would really appreciate you dropping by if he knew you were here.” She knew for a fact he would. Jonas’s smile could light up a room. “And I’m sure he’ll be grateful when I tell him.” Or Zane could tell him. If they were this friendly, she was sure they had each other’s numbers. “Oh, really?” This was better than the last time she’d run into Zane. This was easy. There were no expectations of who the other was, or what they were capable of. It didn’t seem like he held the same suspicion, so she dropped her own, even if the paranoia rode her like a parasite. “You’ve got competition with about… four older ladies who buy out our stock of almond croissants.” It was a joke, but they did tip well. 

At Zane’s question, Andy shook her head. She would have liked to avoid the conversation altogether, but it wasn’t as intense as it had been that night. What Zane could have possibly seen in her thanks to that asshole, Andy knew couldn’t be further from the truth. She wasn’t a hunter, even if she had the genes for it. “No, I haven’t seen him. He probably realized he was being an idiot.” Or he left town. Or maybe he had gotten eaten by a werewolf. The latter made Andy feel queasy, because even if she didn’t believe in hunting shifters, she didn’t necessarily believe that people deserved to die due to their misguidance. “But don’t worry about that.” She smiled at him before pointing to the plant. “What kind is that?” 

—-

Andy was nice. Kind, even. It made him wish that their first time meeting could have been now, leaving all the worries and wondering behind but life rarely worked that way. At least Zane was getting the opportunity to (hopefully) make up for the weirdness on his part and now he could confirm that she seemed to be doing alright. A part of him had been waiting for either her or the strange man to show up in the ER after an altercation. “Fine, maybe not stupid. Just… stressful,” he admitted with a soft chuckle, an easy smile finding its way onto his face as Andy spoke about Jonas. “And don’t worry, Jonas has already warned me about the die hard customers. I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

Bringing up their previous encounter had been a calculated risk and unsurprisingly, Andy’s mood shifted almost instantly. Not in a way that made Zane worried she was going to ask him to leave or anything but the subject was obviously still sore. So he simply nodded, deciding to take her answer as the truth and drop it like she so clearly wanted. “Oh, uh…” Zane’s eyes moved down to the plant, the pink and thick leaves, peering to read from the sticker that was still on the pot. “Eche…veria?” he read out hesitantly, glancing back up at Andy as if expecting help. “I just picked it because it looked nice and apparently doesn’t need much watering. Never seen a plant this pink so I thought it looked… cool.” Laughing a bit at his own lack of knowledge, he shifted, wondering if he was overstaying his welcome. 

“So how long have you been working here?” Her answer would hopefully help him gauge whether or not he should be on his way. Zane kinda hoped he could stick around for just a little bit longer. It felt nice to be getting to know the people Jonas was working with. 

—-

Andy raised a brow. “How come it’s stressful?” Her curiosity got the better of her and she winced. “Sorry. None of my business.” She didn’t want to dig into Jonas’s relationship without him knowing. It was his job to tell her if he wanted to, and though she didn’t think there’d be a problem, sometimes new things could be hard to talk about. While she’d never been in a relationship, Andy had had her crushes. She still thought daily about a girl she worked with when she and Alex were living in Michigan, just before she got her jeep. But those days didn’t matter, not anymore. “You really do, but I’m sure you’ll be able to pull him to your side.” Zane was handsome, even Andy could see that. He was sweet, too. Protective, it seemed, as Andy thought about the night with the ranger. 

“I have no idea what that is, but I guess that’s why I’m a baker and not a florist, huh?” She eased back into the smile. “No, it does look really cool. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a pink plant either.” Andy didn’t know much about anything other than necessities. It was nice to think about possibly getting something she wanted just because. It hadn’t been a possibility before, but it was now. “I’m sure he’ll really appreciate it.” That, she was sure of. She didn’t need to guess. She was pretty sure that somebody could hand Jonas a toothbrush and he’d be grateful. 

“Mmmm…” Andy counted on her fingers, “about three months? Give or take, maybe four.” She shrugged. “Time goes by fast, but it hasn’t been very long.” Long enough for June and the twins’ siblings to go missing. To her knowledge, there still hadn’t been a breakthrough. “I was actually hired by June. I didn’t know Jonas or Lil till they showed up one day.” She smoothed out the crinkled paper of the flour bag. “It’s a lot better than cleaning people’s houses. I don’t miss that at all.” She’d taken on a lot of odd jobs to support herself and Alex before Wicked’s Rest, and even during their first few years. She was glad to have something a little more steady, and having Kaden around to assist with finances was a huge help. “Only been in town for four years, though.” 

—-

The question caught him off guard and Zane could see her expression go from curious to regretful in a flash. He quickly waved off the apology, smiling bashfully. “Don’t be sorry, it’s a valid question,” he reassured. Even so, he didn’t make any moves to offer any further explanation, grabbing the opportunity for a change in conversation instead. Well, somewhat of a change at least. “He did say I had a chance of that. Maybe it’s just a longcon to get me to buy more baked goods.” It was a joke, apparent by his tone but even if he had delivered the statement in a deadpan voice, anyone who knew Jonas would be able to tell just how stupid that sounded. The man probably wouldn’t con anyone, even with his life on the line. 

Smiling as Andy complimented the gesture, Zane nodded shyly. He really did hope it would be appreciated. “Yeah, flowers are not my specialty either. Obviously. Except for a few types that are apparently poisonous when ingested. The names of those tend to stick.” Zane paused, running that sentence back. “I don’t know from personal experience,” he added after a beat, which only made it sound more like he was trying to cover up a confession. “I’m a nurse. And people really like to stick things in their mouth without checking whether they should or not.”

The mention of June, a name Zane had heard maybe once or twice before since Jonas had been a bit too busy unraveling the vampire’s mess to talk much about his own, dampened his spirits slightly. It was tempting to ask Andy more about the Ballard siblings, whether she had any idea what might have happened, but that felt a little too much like going behind Jonas’s back. Not that the other man wouldn’t belay the information if asked but that made asking one of his staff feel even more off. 

“Yeah, I’ve been here about the same amount of time. Still getting surprised by this town, though.” Andy had been here for years so hopefully Zane wouldn’t have to elaborate on that. “But that’s good that you found a job you like better. Also not sure you could ask for better job stability, I don’t think Jonas would ever have it in him to fire someone.” Did you move here on your own?”

—-

“You’re right, it may just be.” Andy shook her head, a faux solemn expression pulling over her features as if she were condemning Jonas for the act they were playfully accusing him of. Even if she were excited by the prospect of Jonas having met somebody, she knew it wasn’t any of her business. If Jonas wanted her to know the details, he should be the one to supply them. After all, he was the one that Andy knew. 

Andy would be slightly more wary by Zane’s explanation that the only plants he knew well were the kinds that could be detrimental if she didn’t know that he worked at the emergency room. Instead, she nodded. “That makes sense, I mean, gotta be aware or whatever, right?” As Zane went into further detail just how he knew, Andy let out a laugh. “You don’t need to explain it to me, I remember you telling me you worked at the hospital.” Despite wanting to forget the night entirely, she had remembered the details of the man who had accosted her, as well as every detail Zane had supplied. It came with needing to know what lies she was spewing. “But good to know. I’ll make sure to come to you before I eat anything off the ground.” She hoped he knew that was a joke. 

“It does have its quirks, doesn’t it?” Andy’s expression remained neutral, deciding not to let Zane in on just how much she believed or didn’t believe. After the run in with the ranger, she didn’t need him getting any ideas. Though, if she worked with the Ballard siblings, that in itself was enough to prove that she was aware of some things. Neither Jonas nor Lil were exactly quiet about their medium-exorcist lifestyle. “Yeah, the bakery is awesome. I mean, we get the occasional shitty customer, but…” She shrugged before letting out a laugh, “yeah, I’m not sure he would either. Lil would have no issue though.” Hopefully she’d never be on the other end of her friend’s wrath. “Hm? No, I’ve got a sister.” It didn’t feel wrong to tell him that, Andy realized. It felt like a normal conversation with somebody who was possibly dating her friend and boss. “She came here for college, so I came with. I didn’t have much else going on.” Not necessarily a lie. 

—

The longer he spent here, the more Zane knew that he liked Andy. She had an air of kindness about her as well as jokes, carrying herself in a way that suggested a heavy past which she wouldn’t let affect her. Or maybe he was just reading into things. Either way, he was glad they had this chance for a second introduction with much less panic and suspicion. “Right, yeah.” He joined her laughing, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “I tend to throw that out there when I butt into things I have no business with. Not sure it justifies it but…” He shrugged, deciding to leave the conversation there lest they fall back into talking about their strange first meeting.

“But definitely feel free to use me for any questions. Especially concerning eating strange things,” he joked back, even though the offer itself was real. Zane knew some of his coworkers hated being bombarded by questions and queries when they were off duty but he took pride in being able to help in any way he could, no matter whether he was being paid for it or not. Not like he had a whole extended family asking him for advice daily so might as well extend the offer to strangers and almost-friends. 

Smiling at Andy’s description of Lil, he nodded along. He hadn’t exactly met Jonas’s sister but seeing her in passing and sharing a conversation with her online was definitely enough to get a feel for the other Ballard. It was good that Jonas had someone like that looking out for him and the bakery. “Yeah, I get the feeling she’s someone whose good side you wanna stay on.”

His face softened at the mention of Andy’s family, that familiar tingle of loss that never quite left him making its presence known. “That’s nice. Always wished I had a sibling.” Even though that only would have meant leaving more people behind when he was sent away. “So it’s only the two of you?” The words had no sooner left his mouth than Zane realized the answer might be something Andy wasn’t comfortable talking about. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that, obviously. But, uh, either way it’s good that you two have each other.”

—

“Hey, I’m sure it’ll come in handy one day.” If it hadn’t already. Wicked’s Rest was crawling with people who’d been injured, whether due to their own stupidity or because of something lurking just beneath the town’s surface. Andy nodded at Zane’s offer. “I think the strangest thing somebody says I might eat is canned ravioli, but hey, at least that’s… sold in grocery stores?” She’d eaten worse things before, but now that she had a job and money, she tried to keep her diet marginally consistent, even if the occasional canned food was thrown in. “But I’ll keep that in mind if I ever come across something that looks good, but probably shouldn’t be eaten.” 

At Zane’s comment about Lil, Andy nodded. “Oh, for sure. I’ve seen her without caffeine, too, so.” Andy felt like she could make the joke because Lil made it so much herself. If Zane relayed it to her and Lil got upset, Andy would deal with it then. 

“So you’re an only child then?” She’d only been one for six years before Alex had been born, and even then, it had felt like something was missing. Andy hummed at his question, thinking about Kaden. “No, it’s okay, yeah, it’s just us two.” She paused, wondering if leaving him out of the equation was for the better before deciding to mention him at all. “We’ve got some cousins, too, but only one of them lives here.” Andy would have to leave if Keira showed up, and then force the rest of the town to leave, too. “But yeah! Just the two of us, and that’s fine with me.” She smiled at Zane, not really knowing what else to say. 

—

Once they’d moved into the almost casual joking, Zane had lost track of time. A few minutes earlier, he’d been anxiously glancing at the clock, trying not to keep Andy from her job while she politely humored the conversation. Or maybe she was enjoying it, sometimes it was hard to tell whether his mind was playing tricks or not. For a moment though, he forgot to worry about all of it, laughing as Andy poked fun at her own eating habits. Zane didn’t counter with the weirdest thing he currently ate. 

“Yeah, just me. Grew up with some other kids around but it’s not the same, really. And now it’s, uh… just me. In town, I mean.” Not that he could ever be sure about the current status of his parents. Zane clocked out for a moment as he wondered, not for the first time, about trying to check in on them. Check in on everyone he’d once known. Andy spoke again, snapping him back into the drawn out silence that followed. 

Eyes flickered over to the clock. It was past closing time. “Ah, sorry! I should…” His thumb jerked over his shoulder in the general direction of the door, feet shuffling a little in their hurry to portray that he was indeed intending to leave. “You’ll let him know I stopped by? Or actually, I probably will or he’ll… get the plant. Whichever comes first.” With a hesitant smile, Zane moved for the door before good manners finally overpowered nerves. “Oh, and I’m… really glad I got to meet you. Again. Guess I’ll probably see you around if I’m gonna be trying for that whole ‘best customer’ thing, right?”

—

Zane was nice, Andy decided. Even if they’d gotten off on an … odd foot, he was nice. Kind enough to drop by for Jonas, gift in hand. Andy thought about what she would say to Jonas after this. She wouldn’t want to push the subject of him seeing somebody, but knew that it was important to feel supported. 

“Ah, I wouldn’t.. know.” She let out a laugh of her own, awkwardly drumming her fingers against the countertop. She thought about inviting him to stay longer, but wasn’t sure if that would be appropriate. Maybe another time, she thought to herself. Andy looked behind her towards the clock, then looked back to Zane as he shuffled towards the door. With a nod, she gave him a big smile– one that felt real, rather than something else. A plaster, maybe. A fix-it-all. “Oh, for sure. I’ll let him know, don’t worry.” She grabbed the sack of flour she had set on the counter and nodded as he explained that it was nice seeing her again. “Yeah! Well, good luck. The old ladies, they’ve got their hooks,” Andy joked with a laugh. What had originally been sour had turned kind of sweet, and she was grateful for it.

[bakinghistory]

TONIGHT FEELS LIKE AN IMPORTANT EVENING; even if it means complicating an already complicated scenario even more. he's nervous, having changed shirt five times already, as if the perfect one will have any kind of impact on anything. it's an anxious coping mechanism more than anything else. who wouldn't be, though? it's not exactly an everyday kind of thing — introducing his old flame to meet his current partner, and that previous girlfriend having a little boy they'd had together that he'd also be meeting, the very existence of whom sawyer only came to discover recently when isabelle moved here and ran into him by chance. it's not her fault, though; he wasn't in the STABLE kind of life he is now back when they were together, and she'd gone to alaska not long after their time together. that was almost four years ago now, and their son, tommy, is a little over three years old.

telling lill the news once he’d reunited with isabelle was even more nerve-wracking than this, or at the very least on a par with it. they had a little girl themselves now, and with lill having her own two daughters before him, the baker was afraid it would be too much, too entangled for her. but isabelle is a sweet woman, and he'd invited her over to dinner in the hopes it would give the two women a chance to get to know each other, as well as introduce tommy to some new people including his half-sister, and try to make up for the three years he'd missed so far. he'd made a pasta bake for dinner, and he feels his heart jump when the doorbell rings, signifying their arrival. hurrying down the stairs and trying to keep his composure, sawyer takes a deep breath and casts a CONCERNED look lill's way. “...are you really sure you're okay with this?”

(   🎔   𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚃𝚃𝙴𝙳.   /   @scriptorxfabularum.   )

[brandybradyrandyandyndy]

Tag Game -

Thanks for thinking of me @pflanzidiezimmerpflanze !!!!!! (I'm so sorry, I saw that you tagged me somewhere the other day but I didn't have time to check and then I forgot and only just now remembered!!! 😿❤️)

Rules: Tag people you want to get to know better

Relationship status: no

Favourite colour: PURPLE!!! :-) (also yellow, pink and sometimes orange and cyan)

Song stuck in my head: Yerushalayim by the Miami Boys Choir 🤌🤌🤌

Last song I listened to: Yerushalayim by the Miami Boys Choir 🤌🤌🤌

Three favorite foods: spaghetti, anything you can eat with Bratensoße and Blaukraut, and Zwetschgendatschi

Last thing(s) I googled: yerushalayim miami boys choir, cyan, nerve wracking nerve racking, nerve-wracking, nerv wrecking, apfel zimtschnecken 💀💀💀 (I was unsure of the correct spelling of "nerve-wracking/nerve-racking", things generally make me feel unsure, so I have to look them up all the time, and I like baking. In the end I didn't even make apple cinnamon rolls, I made apple hand pies 🥸)

Dream trip: I really wanna go to a zoo that has emperor tamarins!!! Unfortunately, there are no zoos in Bavaria that have emperor tamarins (I've literally looked up every zoo in Germany that has them, I made a whole list), but since it was possible to travel to Salzburg with the 9€ ticket last summer, it'll probably work the same with the 49€ ticket, so I'll go to the zoo in Salzburg with my sister and one or two friends when the 49€ ticket is here!!!! :-)

Anything I want: see emperor tamarins in real life, have fun, get by, eat good food, find a purpose, watch funny tv show, learn lots of different languages, do crafts, smell the air in a forest, have people around me who I can rely on, be more confident in myself and my abilities, good things to happen to my family and friends <3

Tagging @jofngve @tofufei @berg-gry @9puppiesdrowninginapool @midnightxxcrisis @thia-chattering and everyone else who wants to!!! (I'm serious!!!!!!) 💞💞💞

[fastrateauto23]

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First Rate Auto

5424 W State St, Milwaukee, WI 53208, United States

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