#blooms and brews
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
tessari-the-dreamer · 6 months ago
Text
Who doesn't love goofy audios? :D
My friends, I present to you an audio that I had a lot of fun making. It is based on the beginning of chapter 13 of the story titled Blooms and Brews (previously known as The Herbologist and the Potion-maker) by @amberlide. She is one of my dearest friends that feeds me with Garreth content ❤️ I highly encourage you to read her story with Garreth and her OC Penny! Hear me out! Give it a shot! You won't regret it ;) Here is the link to the story.
AO3:
Wattpad:
Below the cut, I paste a fragment from the chapter so that you can better understand the audio context!
Audio is made in two versions. Classic one and slightly surround sound one. Let me know if I should fiddle with that idea more in future projects! Enough of talking! Enjoy! :)
"I finally got it!" The door swung open, bumping into the wall with a loud thud as an overly excited Leander made his entrance, his grin so wide it covered half of his face.
However, his enthusiasm lasted only as long as it took to assess the scene in front of him, when he strode into the bathroom on the third floor. The room was a complete and utter mess, with ingredients and items scattered everywhere.
Bouncing bulbs quivered in the corners, some of them sliced on the chopping board or in the sink, while others were reduced to powder in mortars. The walls were plastered with what looked like Flitterby moth juice, the orange from their wings glowing, adding an ethereal touch to the chaos.
Leander noticed some of the moths still alive, fluttering their wings near the windows, emitting a low hum, seemingly eager to escape the crime scene.
How could he blame them?
Plus, a weird pungent smell was lingering in the room, and it was not coming from the cauldron or the empty stalls, most likely from the chopping board, could it be some sort of plant, foxglove?
What were they doing with a poisonous plant?
It was absolutely the first time that Leander had seen Garreth's laboratory so messed up.
His friend was usually very careful when preparing his brews, except for his own Better than Butterbeer creation, which always seemed to bring chaos wherever he attempted to prepare it.
To avoid touching anything in the cluttered room, Leander abruptly stopped in the middle of the scene, the glass shard from a broken pipette crunched under his shoes. At the same time, a blindfolded Garreth bumped against the separator between two stalls, scattering leaves and chopped ingredients everywhere on the floor, muttering curses under his breath.
Penton, on the other hand, sat on a small table with his legs crossed, completely oblivious to the others. He appeared to be lost in his own homework but looked more disheveled than usual, with his hair sticking out in all directions and his tie more loosely hanging from under his uniform jumper.
When Lee barged in, he almost didn't raise his head from his books, not even when a half-cut Bouncing bulb started to roll around in the sink, splashing water everywhere.
Sensing the intrusion, Garreth made to raise the bandage from his eyes, but Penelope was faster. "Don't you dare!" she hissed, swinging her wand menacingly, as if the other could see her.
Slowly, Garreth placed the blindfold back, with a resigned sigh.
Leander took a step back, almost slipping in a puddle of water, sensing some tension between the two.
"What's happening here?" he asked, gripping the sink, his voice raising in concern as he cast suspicious looks from one boy to the other.
"Nothing important, just a little ruse," jested Garreth, almost bumping his head against the toilet seat in his attempt to kneel down and collect the ingredients on the floor.
He heard Penelope huff in annoyance, "I can tell you, Lee," she murmured, swinging her legs on the edge of the table, her oversized trousers reaching the soles of her shoes.
"Mr. Brewsley here started to complain that after all this time, I cannot tell the difference between chopping and mincing. And he's blaming my skills, when I do have a poor eyesight," she rolled her eyes behind her glasses, which were half-covered in some sort of reddish slick.
"Hey!" interrupted Garreth, "I also have a sight problem," he tried to raise his blindfold, but Penelope cut him off.
"So, since he's so skilled, he said he can prepare a Pompion Potion with his eyes closed. So here we are, testing his theory," she exclaimed, her tone still sour.
"And if I manage it, you're going to drink it!" added Garreth with a playful tone.
"Sure, you should thank me that I didn't ask you to bind your arm behind your back as you suggested; you're taking ages to finish," Penelope leaned against the tile wall behind her, eyeing Garreth.
"You know that foxglove is toxic, right? If I don't put the right amount, you're going to die," retorted Garreth.
"Then you have to show off your ability and make it right. Besides, nothing can be more lethal than your toilet water."
"Wow, you're a bit cranky today, Pen. What happened?" Leander raised his eyebrow, trying to look concerned. However, the sight of his friend on all fours, desperately trying to rake up foxglove from the floor, was too amusing, and he couldn't stifle a chuckle.
That little Hufflepuff surely brought some fresh air in that stale bathroom.
Penelope shrugged but didn't answer.
In truth, something had indeed happened. After all her efforts to grow the Moody Hyacinths, she had lost more than half of them just because some troll head had decided to move her pots around the compartment, placing them next to the Screechsnap, which totally ruined their blooms with their incessant squeaking and irritable temper.
She didn't want to admit that she had also ruined some of her own with her swinging mood of the last few days, as she had overheard some worrying whispering between Natty and Garreth involving Poppy Sweeting and what seemed like a date.
"What did you come here for, Lee? You seemed quite enthusiastic," Garreth rose and turned around to check where the next stall was, his hands swinging in the air as he tried to locate the silhouette of the cauldron without burning himself.
"I managed to find out what those pesky Slytherins are planning…" Leander started, finally getting to the reason why he was actually there in the first place. After more than a month, he had managed to find out, thanks to his sneaky abilities, which were top-notch as usual.
He advanced confidently into the room, squared his shoulders, leaned against the lavatory, crossed his arms, and prepared himself with a wide smile to savor the expression on Garreth's face, since he was the only one who didn't believe him.
"You mean the Halloween party?"
Leander widened his gaze and slumped his shoulders, turning to face Penton.
"How in Merlin's name…"
Penelope shrugged closing her book with nonchalance.
"It's been a week since I started selling flowers to the Slytherins. The boys are paying good prices to impress their partners. Apparently, vampires are used to put a white flower in their pocket,” she murmured, remembering how she had managed to steal and sell some of the white Fanged geraniums from Prof. Garlick.
She had also sold all the Trumpet Daffodils, which were surely brightening up someone's day in the Slytherin dorm with all their fuss. But at least they were out of her greenhouse; the flowers had become increasingly noisy and excited lately with all the coming and going of students, causing her more than one headache.
"Are you selling flowers?" Garreth pushed his blindfold up, casting a surprised look at her.
"Of course! Five knuts each, minimum. What do you think?" she asked, hoping for a word of encouragement.
"That you are a thief!" answered the other. "Five knuts for a flower? Are you kidding me? Not even  my toilet water costs that much!"
"You really don't want to know the maximum price…"
"We are talking Slytherins…" interrupted Lee, "Not the brightest," he raised his hand, "great work Pen!" he exclaimed, clapping her in a high five.
8 notes · View notes
tessari-the-dreamer · 5 months ago
Text
Yeeey! My beloved story now with perfect cover! 😌❤️
Good job, Hun! 👏🏻
Tumblr media
Another piece I was commissioned to do by @amberlide for her Garreth fiction. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I barely wait for the next chapter.
You should also give it a go.❤️
30 notes · View notes
aimseytv · 2 years ago
Text
cannot stop thinking about c!aimsey grabbing c!guqqies lifeless body and holding it as tight as humanely possible, her knuckles turning a dark shade of blue from the pressure because every inch of aimseys body is screaming that there is a hope if she holds her dead lovers body tight enough, she will come back. despite bloom knowing this won’t happen, she does it anyway. she clutches onto guqqie, trying to clasp onto pieces of her clothing to hold her closer. she is whispering apologies, but the whispers quickly begin to get louder as the words aimsey sputters start to match the intensity of her own heart beat, to the point where aimsey is screaming and begging for guqqie to come back as it echos through the ghost town. tears begin to fall onto guqqies pale face, aimsey cupping it gently while still muttering incoherently about how this is all her fault, how this has changed everything
suddenly, it all goes quiet, no more talking, and the rain stops. all there is to be heard are sobs. aimsey realises that she isn’t coming back.
489 notes · View notes
blueraspberryroadkill · 9 months ago
Text
work in progress
26 notes · View notes
shutter-pan · 2 years ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Artificial intelligence #9
109 notes · View notes
cheesedtoteawithyou · 8 months ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Today's tea session: blooming white tea He Jia Huan Le. Was very yummy and had a gorgeous caramel like scent. Lasted many infusions and also as you can see, I got some new teaware/ceramics so YAY!!!
9 notes · View notes
orchideae · 10 months ago
Text
Source (guys, GUYS, it's her CN VA!!!). Oh my god, I'm feelings things. Literally yesterday, I was complaining in the tags on one of Kafka's posts how characters like Yelan are so incredibly subjected to being reduced to just a specific trait or two if most. And then I wake up to her Chinese VA having gotten people together to make this entire ode for Yelan's birthday, and it's gorgeous. The sheer passion she must have to have for the character as to have gotten this made, makes up for everything. It's passion, guys, passion will get me every single time. God, I'm going to have so much to analyze in this thing alone. AaaaAAAAAa. God, some have already translated a few lines, but I'm waiting on people getting the whole thing. But I just, happy birthday, my beloved Yelan who I'll never let go of.
Also, I'm sure this translation isn't perfect, but I managed to scrape together a little translation of part of the VA's description for the video on her Bilibili and it warms my heart:
"When I came up with the idea of "making a song for Night Orchid", I struggled with several options, and finally decided to make a piece with a national style tone, with Night Orchid's unique style, and hoping to incorporate elements of opera (a little personal preference). The character of Night Orchid especially poked me, and I wanted to express her backstory through the song, so I chose a more narrative theme, dividing the "past" and "present" of Night Orchid with the acquisition of the God's Eye (Vision)."
18 notes · View notes
thesconesyard · 6 months ago
Text
Where the West Begins
23. Mirage
Scotty sighed as he worked in the garden. Leonard had been acting strange the past week and no matter how Scotty watched he couldn’t tell what was wrong. Not quite a month ago Leonard had gotten another strange letter from Gaila and had disappeared for an afternoon.
It made Scotty’s stomach twist with worry even as he reminded himself that Leonard was allowed to have his secrets. Everyone on the ranch had their pasts, but it was their futures they all worked towards together. Scotty knew about Leonard’s previous life and Scotty had told him about his own.
He just hoped nothing was wrong.
Around him Keenser’s birds chirped and chased each other and Scotty tried to just enjoy the warm sun above him and the cool earth below.
In the evening he walked with Leonard to their favorite spot by the creek. The doctor’s mind seemed elsewhere as Scotty bumped his hand against his. With a sigh he brought his fingers back to his own side.
“Have I done something wrong, Len?”
For a moment he wondered if Leonard had heard him, but then the other man slowly looked at him in surprise.
“Of course not!” he said with feeling. “You could never do anything wrong!”
“Oh.”
Leonard sat down beside the tree and pulled Scotty down with him.
“I’m sorry Monty,” Leonard said, looking down at his lap. “I’ve been thinking about something and I just…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry.” He looked up then and caught Scotty’s eye. “I’ll do better, I promise.”
“Oh Len,” Scotty said quickly. “I just worried, that’s all.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” Leonard said, still looking at Scotty. He smiled slowly and moved in close. Scotty let out a brief chuckle and met him halfway.
Leonard had left early. Scotty sighed as he worked in the garden again. The greenery was soothing, but he still was worried. The doctor had promised the night before to do better, but then he’d left again without saying why. He and Honey had been gone as soon as breakfast was finished. Scotty had helped the ladies with the washing up and when he had gotten outside, Leonard was just passing the gate.
“Am I missing something?” he had asked Christine as she came out on the porch.
She shook her head, and touched his arm. “I’m sure it's fine. He takes spells from time to time. Just be there for him.”
Another sigh. If Leonard was having a hard time, then Scotty would do his damndest to support him. After all they’d all had their hardships. Scotty knew he had his own moments of grief for the life and brother he had left behind. He kept those moments mostly tucked away and carried on as normally as he could when they hit.
Leonard needed his space. He took care of his memories differently. Scotty couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to not have been able to save his father.
Eventually Scotty’s thoughts moved on. The sun was warm and the plants were growing. And wasn’t that what he should focus on; life moving on and growing?
Keenser had come to join him and Jaylah after that. Scotty smiled and laughed with his friends. Keenser whistled them a song that sounded like his birds. When he finished Scotty began to sing an old song he knew from when he was a boy. The old Gaelic words fell from his lips. Keenser closed his eyes and nodded along.
To Scotty’s surprise a voice joined him in singing the song. No one spoke Gaelic on the ranch. He turned around so fast his hat nearly fell off.
Leonard was standing at the garden gate. Scotty’s voice faltered as he saw the man standing with him, who was finishing Scotty’s song.
“No…” Scotty whispered, his legs nearly giving out underneath him. “It cannae be!”
“Halo a bhràthair.”
“Robbie?” Scotty whispered. He looked at Leonard who was smiling with his whole being. “Robbie!” Scotty yelled. Somehow he made it across the garden and threw himself at his brother.
“Monty!” said an old familiar voice as arms Scotty never thought he’d feel again surrounded him.
“How!?” Scotty pulled back to look at his brother, then closed the gap and hugged him again. “How?”
Robbie laughed, but Scotty could hear the tears as well. His own face was wet.
“I cannae believe it!” Scotty said again, moving back to look his brother up and down and take him in. “This is real?”
“It’s real darlin’,” said Leonard, still beaming.
“I’ve missed ye so much Monty,” said Robbie, wiping a hand across his face.
Scotty wiped his own eyes. “I never thought…”
“Ye’d see me again?” Robbie laughed. “I thought the same until about a year ago when I received a letter from a Dr. McCoy.”
“But the MacLeods—”
“Dead,” said Robbie. “About a year after ye left. A deal with the Gordon’s gone wrong.”
“All this time—”
“Ye could have come back and ye didn’t know,” Robbie said with a sad smile.
Scotty didn’t know what to say. He stared at his long lost brother and couldn’t help but hug him tight again just to make sure it was really real.
5 notes · View notes
whatthefishh · 2 years ago
Note
happy 1k celebration, meowna-na !!!
🎨, they’re still a secret right now but I really wanna request a shaeven couple moldboard,, I’m really curious to see how you view those two cuties ☺️💕
Hello my darling 🩷 a moldboard just for you, trying to channel some Shae and Steven vibes (I miss them)
Tumblr media
Photo creds to Pinterest 💚
I hope you like it bb!
Xoxo
12 notes · View notes
Text
youtube
Sabrina is losing her heart, and Hilda and Zelda must stop Josh from liking her in Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996) Episode 15 (90 overall) "Love in Bloom" (February 11, 2000)!
2 notes · View notes
juniepops · 2 years ago
Text
You should try thirdpersoning yourself sometime. Especially if you use slightly unusual or neo pronouns
4 notes · View notes
redwoodfogcatcher · 3 months ago
Text
First time ordering from Atlas Coffee Club. Was NOT disappointed. Oh and for all you moots, yes I'm a huge coffee nerd.
0 notes
blueraspberryroadkill · 9 months ago
Text
youtube
PINKIES BREW ANIMATIC
8 notes · View notes
shutter-pan · 2 years ago
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Artificial intelligence #8
58 notes · View notes
radicalhighway-moved · 10 months ago
Text
i think it might be snanines time tonight
1 note · View note
twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat · 10 months ago
Text
I CRUMBLE COMPLETELY WHEN YOU CRY ; SUGURU GETO
synopsis; after a tense fight with your boyfriend, you flee out into a brewing rainstorm. luckily, suguru is always willing to warm you up again.
word count; 6.2k
contents; suguru geto/reader, gn!reader, copious amounts of hurt/comfort, no really that’s literally all this fic is, sugu snaps at you for worrying about him, (and then promptly spirals), he makes it up to you though :), healthy communication ensues, [name] is used exactly once, switching povs, soft & fluffy ending <33
a/n; going back to my roots (mindless hurt/comfort) 🙏🙏 i just think that if suguru picked me up like a small kitten and put me in his lap it would fix me
Tumblr media
you’re cold.
little shivers run through your body, trail down your spine, and all you can do is clench your chattering teeth and dig your nails into the skin of your palms. heavy rain falls down without mercy, going pitter patter as it hits the asphalt — a sudden lightning strike lights up the town, flashing in the reflection of puddles, and all you manage is a weak jolt.
dark clouds blanket the whole sky, not allowing even a sliver of blue to shine through the darkness of the rainy evening. enveloping you, surrounding you, soft earthy scents — wet asphalt, roses blooming to your left and right, bushes with sweet-smelling flora guiding your path. little petals, glistening with droplets and bouncing with the force of the rain.
it’d be comforting, were it not for one simple fact; 
you don’t have an umbrella.
at this point, thirty minutes into your solemn, sniffly walk, you’re absolutely soaked. with only a measly hoodie to cover your body and head, and a tank top sticking to the skin beneath it — you were stupid to think you’d get out of it unscathed. your shoes are ruined, wet soles sticking to the asphalt, two heavy weights carrying you down the familiar street ahead.
you let out a shuddering breath. 
gosh, this was stupid. you knew it was going to rain, but still walked out without a care in the world; despite the weather forecast, despite suguru’s warnings over breakfast, despite all those dark clouds covering the milk-blue sky. you just didn’t think it’d be this bad. you just felt so helpless.
you just couldn’t stay there.
some fresh air, and a bit of space. that was all you needed. just that one sliver of comfort.
so, yeah, maybe you weren’t thinking very clearly when you stormed out. maybe you weren’t thinking nearly enough, not enough to even grab one of the umbrellas hanging off the coatrack. hanging there just for you, the cutest little frog umbrella, one suguru bought for you himself. big, googly eyes, and a big smile. the most perfect shade of green. 
(he put it there just for you.)
maybe you weren’t thinking much at all. maybe you just needed to get away, away from him, away from the frustration on his features. arguments with suguru are few and far between; that fact only adds to the sting of his cold voice, still ringing in your ears. you bite down on your bottom lip again, just to stop it from wobbling so pitifully. blinking rapidly, tears and raindrops clinging to your lashline.
you were just worried. is that so awful? 
(why did he have to be so fucking mean about it?)
a sigh flows from your lips, heavy and defeated, undeniably tired. you hate feeling like this, feeling this bitter, hate feeling like you’ve done something wrong. more than anything, you hate arguing with him — hate the idea of him being angry with you. hate the way his voice turns colder, just a little sharper, an octave lower. he never raises it, never ever, but somehow he still sounds so scary. 
it bothers you. bothers you how sensitive you are, when it comes to him. just that shivering tilt of his voice, coupled with the annoyance in his eyes, and your eyes were already turning glassy. one little sentence, and you were close to breaking out into a sob. because suguru was angry with you, and that alone is enough to make you feel like you’ve done nothing right all your life.
so you left. because that was all you could do. 
sure, the sharp pelting of the rain hurts a little, and the thunder is scary, and you’re awfully cold — but anything is better than having suguru see you burst into tears over such a small argument. you know he’d try to soothe you, know he’d feel guilty. but that just makes it all the more embarrassing. 
(all the more pathetic.)
so you left, rushed out of your own apartment, and before you knew it the storm was rolling in above you. rain and thunder, something to rival the ache in your chest. it still hasn’t been that long, a little over half an hour, and you still haven’t fully calmed down. you still don’t know how to face him. but —
but fuck, it’s cold. and an undeniable part of you yearns to run back into his arms, to make up with him, to hear his voice turn warm and see his eyes go soft. you want him to soothe you so, so badly. like he always does. 
another sigh — more resigned this time — slips from out your lips. your bones feel sore, you’re almost certain you’re going to catch a cold, and it’s getting late. you’re all alone, and it’s raining, and you look vulnerable and helpless. 
you want to go home.
it’ll be awkward, but maybe you can sneak in somehow — without him noticing. then you can go straight to sleep, on the couch, and maybe you’ll feel a little better tomorrow. the two of you can talk it out over breakfast, over warm coffee, and you can tell him what you meant to say without stumbling over what words to use or dancing around the subject like a scared little child.
you’re just too tired to argue anymore.
he just made you feel so stupid. so very, very small. suguru’s been working so hard lately, coming home late, exhausting himself. all you wanted was to make sure he was okay. that, and to coax him into relaxing a bit; maybe take a day off to recharge. that was all.
but he just brushed you off.
and, well, maybe you should’ve backed off after that. maybe you should’ve taken that as a sign that suguru didn’t feel up to answering your questions. but you were just so worried, so pitifully anxious, and you just wanted to help him so, so badly.
suguru is always so dependable. always there to help you, to ground you, to console you. even when you push him away or insist you don’t need it. he can be pushy, when he feels like he needs to, when your health is at risk — and it’s frustrating, but you’ve always appreciated it. you just wanted to return the favour. push him, just a little, to show him how much you care. show him that he can depend on you the way he insists you do with him.
but then he grew frustrated.
”suguru… you’ve been working so much, i’m —” you bite down on your bottom lip. ”i’m just worried that you’re overdoing it.” ”… god. how many times do i have to say it? i know my limits, [name].” ”but — you just look so tired —” ”well, i’m sorry for that.” a cold smile. ”am i not living up to your expectations?”
(that’s not what you meant. he knows that’s not what you meant.)
and it makes you feel frustrated, too. pardon you for being worried. for wanting to be there for him, for once, for wanting to be a supportive partner and not just a burden. 
pardon you for feeling a little lonely, with him coming home so late, leaving so early. with him not giving you the affection you’re so used to, and never confiding in you about his stress.
pardon you for wanting him to trust you, a little, even just a sliver more than not at all.
god, you’re exhausted. you just want to sleep — can’t you have that, at least? just that one thing? you don’t mind sleeping on the couch, don’t mind feeling like a stranger in your own home, as long as you get to rest your eyes. just for a little while. 
your brain spins in circles, bitterness and longing heavy on your tongue, as you grumble over what to do or how to feel — 
while your feet have already begun taking you home. moving almost on their own, on instinct, walking past rose bushes and backyards, the smell of glucose and rotting apples. 
and you’re there before you know it: in front of the familiar door to your shared apartment, soaked from head to toe. still feeling a little lost.
for a second, you hesitate.
maybe he’s still angry. maybe he was happy to get some time away from you. maybe you’re just making things worse by doing this, maybe you should just —
but your fingers have already fished out the key from within your pocket, unlocking the door in one swift motion. moving up to curl around the doorknob, a desperation in your veins guiding you closer to his steady warmth.
and before you have the chance to waver again, you pull the door open and step inside.
you move slowly, gentle and careful, almost cautious. softly closing the door behind you and taking a couple quiet steps forward, only to shrug off your hoodie — heavy, soaking wet and discomforting as you pull it over your head. clumsily, you try to get it off you, squirming when the warm indoors air meets your sweaty tank top. it feels soothing on your bare skin, though, ghosting over your shoulders and collarbone, hoodie now clinging to your elbows.
in the middle of the taxing endeavor, you almost fail to notice the presence of a certain someone, standing just a little farther away. 
almost, because it’d be impossible for you to miss him, that heavy gaze of his.
and before you can think the thought to do anything else, you’ve locked eyes with him — arms still tangled up in the wet sleeves of your hoodie, raindrops and sweat sticking to your skin.
(suguru takes a moment to look at you.)
not daring to say anything, afraid to part your lips, you simply stand there. in silence, like a deer in headlights. for some reason, you can’t really read his expression — you’re a little too tired, a little too caught off guard.
you can only blink, worry surely evident in your furrowed brows, as the seconds tick on and on. tense, tense, tense.
and then he’s walking away again. 
crestfallen. that’s probably the best way to describe how you feel right now, watching him disappear around the corner. dejected, as your eyes fall to the floor, and your posture wilts like a dying rose. you finally shake off your hoodie and watch it fall to the floor with a gross, wet plap.
it hurts. you want to cry. you can’t help it. even though a part of you is still upset, even though a part of you fully expected this to happen… 
another part was still hoping he’d be happy to see you. as if just seeing his smile again might’ve fixed everything.
but he didn’t even give you that.
that’s that, then. there’s nothing you can do except proceed with your original plan. you’ll change into some warm, dry clothes, and go to sleep on the couch like the miserable dog you are. you’ll leave everything troublesome and disheartening for tomorrow’s you to handle. 
for now, you just have to worry about getting some sleep. you don’t have to think about suguru, or his cold voice, or the way he just walked away without saying anything. 
you don’t have to think about him at all. 
(don’t think. don’t think. don’t —)
— the soft patter of footsteps breaks you out of your anxious spiral. they come closer and closer, until a certain silhouette enters your vision out of the corner of your eye.
a certain suguru geto, hair down and cascading past his shoulders, wearing a comfortable sweater and loose sweatpants with a fluffy towel in tow.
once again, you can only blink. a vaguely confused deer in headlights. suguru comes closer and closer, until you can clearly see his eyes, amber gold, full of an emotion you finally manage to identify —
worry.
(ah.)
before you can say anything, he’s draped the towel around you. it feels nice, a soft texture on your skin, big enough to engulf you completely, cocooning you. cozy and snug. you can’t help but melt a little when suguru places his big hand over the towel and smooths it over your cheek, drying off your skin so gently that you feel like crying again.
”are you cold?” he asks, concern evident in his voice. to your immense relief, it sounds nowhere near as scary as before. ”you’re soaked…”
suguru almost seems to be pouting, bottom lip jutting out the slightest bit, eyebrows furrowed softly. still rubbing the raindrops off your skin. he looks awfully troubled, undeniably anxious, and the way he’s caressing your skin feels so earnestly caring. the towel feels warm, like he went the extra mile to heat it up for you.
and, more than anything, the feeling of suguru’s big hands cupping your face is almost heavenly. even though the touch is indirect, you can’t help but bask in his warmth, almost desperate to cling to it after escaping from the harsh cold of the rain. like he could slip away and leave you again if you don’t stay perfectly still, just like this.
it’s soothing. so, so soothing. but it also makes you feel kind of meek.
you sound sheepish when you answer, voice a little hoarse after your grueling walk. throat dry from all the crying. ”nah, ’m fine…”
the words are tiny, fragile like pieces of glass, and they only make suguru’s brows furrow further, pout turning into a soft frown as he gazes down at you.
(he hates how small you look. like you’re curling in on yourself.)
as soon as you left the apartment, a wave of regret washed over him. it was expected, obviously, because that’s what always happens after the two of you argue — which is almost never, which only makes the cut in his heart run deeper. 
he felt frustrated. and tired, so tired. but when he saw your troubled expression, the way your eyes watered slightly before you rushed out…
he could only feel guilty.
and that sensation only deepened as he sat on the couch and spiraled, over the course of forty long minutes, playing the interaction back inside his head. over and over, thinking about your words, his words, some of which he desperately wishes he could take back. 
and when it started raining? suguru could only feel regret, hot and ugly, dragging him into his own thoughts. could only drown in his worries, look out the window anxiously. thinking of you, his sweet baby, stuck under the onslaught of dark clouds and lightning strikes and heavy rain.
(you didn’t bring an umbrella.)
suguru waited. that was all he could do. 
he didn’t think it was possible for him to feel so useless. fighting with himself, the part of him that wanted to give you the space you needed clashing with the part that yearned to run after you — scoop you up and apologize, hold you tight and protect you from the rainfall. you weren’t answering his calls, and he didn’t want to overwhelm you, didn’t want to make you feel even worse. afraid to scare you off for good.
so he could only sit there and worry, sit there and wait, wallow in his own shame until he heard the faintest sound of the front door unlocking. followed by the sound of it creaking open, slowly — and that was all he needed. 
and there you were. standing by the entrance, entirely soaked, tank top sticking to your skin and that flimsy hoodie hanging off your arms, cheeks a little red from the cold and strands of hair sticking to your skin.
like a tiny kitten left out in the rain.
it made him feel so painfully anxious. his heart aching so deeply, so viscerally, while all he could think about was smothering you in affection. taking care of you, like he always wants to do, needs to do to stay sane. so suguru left, to go grab something to dry you off with —
and now he’s here. in front of you, smothering you with the towel rather than his love, fretting over you like an overprotective mother. 
suguru yearns to soothe you. to take care of you. always, always, always, his hands on your skin and lidded amber eyes staring deeply into yours. offering himself like a shelter to a stray dog, hoping so tenderly that you’ll take the bait.
(he just wants you to feel safe with him again.)
so he stumbles for something, anything to say, afraid of overstepping or making you uncomfortable. you did just argue, and suguru was anything but patient with you. usually he would be; he’d make sure to be. but with work piling up, and exhaustion clinging to every pore of his skin…
he failed at maintaining his composure.
he needs to make it up to you. despite everything — even though he feels a little awkward, a little restless, still drowning a little in shame — he just wants to tend to you. that, and nothing more.
”hang on,” he exhales, stepping back and letting go of the towel. ”i’ll go draw you a bath…”
”ah — no need,” you smile, a little forced, swiftly reassuring him. he can tell you don’t really know how to act after everything that happened; still walking on eggshells. ”i’ll just take a quick shower.”
suguru wants to protest, wants to coax you into taking a proper bath, into letting your cold skin and aching bones relax completely —
but he can only hum, a little unsure. a little sad. 
”… okay. got it.”
perplexed, he tries his hand at another tactic. still so desperate to take care of you in whatever way you’ll allow, like always, but he thinks it’s worse now. even more desperate, after the fight you had, after seeing your frail, shivering self. resisting the urge to scoop you up and coddle you is a struggle.
”i can make you tea?” he tries, inwardly wincing at the way the words spill from his lips; uncertain, awkward. what a mess.
but you smile, slightly more genuinely this time, a soft little thing. it soothes some of the anxiety rotting through his ribs.
”tea would be great, thank you.”
you brush past him, warm towel still hanging off your shoulders. ”i’ll just take a shower in the meantime,” you murmur, and suguru can do nothing but nod, watching you go. 
he swallows thickly.
(that’s that, then.)
tea. right. what kind of tea? something warm, and soothing, and good for your throat. chamomile? peppermint? he’ll add a spoon of honey, just the way you like.
suguru’s mind spins in circles while his feet take him to the kitchen, hands swiftly rummaging through cabinets and getting the electric kettle ready. placing teacups and a teapot on the table, cute little floral designs he couldn’t help but fill your kitchen with. pouring hot peppermint tea into the pot, a strong scent drifting through the kitchen, drowning his senses in bliss.
caught up in his own head, losing track of time, suguru fails to notice you walking from the bathroom — stopping by the threshold of the kitchen, hesitant to make your presence known. a few silent moments pass. with a tiny inhale, mint invading your senses, you take a step forward. calm and sleepy, skin still pleasantly hot from the warm shower, hair still a little damp.
only then does suguru notice you, his gaze drifting to your figure as if instinctively drawn to it.
you’re clad in some comfortable sweatpants, and an oversized hoodie — his hoodie, the one with the unreasonably soft texture, the one you tend to gravitate towards — the one he likes to see you in the most, because you always look so thoroughly comfy in it. almost drowning in the fabric. 
seeing you all warm and cozy, in his clothing no less, sends a tremor of pure warmth running through suguru’s chest. sprouting in his heart and spreading throughout his entire body. he can’t bring himself to resist the soft curl of his lips, gazing at you so fondly he’s almost sure you notice it.
”i made peppermint,” he says, a little breathless, already pouring boiling tea into two cups on the table. ”that okay?”
”yeah,” you answer, instantaneous. stifling a yawn. you’d have been fine with anything, really.
the shower worked wonders for your muddled mind; chasing away the shivers down your spine, that unpleasant chill to your skin. most importantly, it gave you a moment to simply relax, to bask in the peace and quiet. feel the hot water surround you, melt your bones like softened clay. you feel a little better, now. still anxious, more than a little sleepy, but better. and right now, that’s all you need. 
with a groggy kind of pep in your step, you stumble over to the kitchen table, plopping down on the chair across from where suguru is sitting. trying to get comfortable, knees pressed against your chest, muttering a soft thank you while gingerly touching the rim of the cup.
(suguru frowns, just barely, at the sight. usually you’d sit right next to him. but now you’re in front of him, so very far — as if you’re strangers.
it breaks his heart, a little bit.)
a soft hum leaves your lips when you take a sip of the tea — all warm and comforting and minty on your tongue, a vague taste of something sweet. it’s relaxing, more than anything, and it makes you feel a little more okay with everything.
suguru only watches you, drinking absentmindedly from his own cup. not really tasting anything.
finally, he opts to clear his throat — and your attention falls on him instantly.
”hey,” he starts, ready to address the elephant in the room. his voice is gentle, but decisive, firm somehow. ”about before…”
your body tenses, ever so slightly, fingers uncurling around the handle of the teacup. there’s a kind of shift in the air around you, in suguru’s tone of voice — and you were expecting it, waiting for it anxiously, but that doesn’t make it any less harrowing.
here it comes, your mind seems to sing. here comes the moment everything shatters again.
with as much strength as you can muster, you smile. a little sheepish, just a tad forced, refusing to meet his eyes from across the table. staring into the murky green of your cup and hoping in vain that you can somehow escape this discomfort. 
(you just want to rest. you just want to not have to think about anything.)
”it’s fine, suguru,” you cut him off. softly, but there’s a certain tilt to your voice that strikes him as rather cold. ”we can just drop it.”
the decision in his eyes doesn’t waver. you look meek, awfully troubled, and he hates to force you into another discussion when you’re undoubtedly tired — but suguru’s mind is set. he’s been evasive enough, today.
”no. i want to talk about it properly.”
at that, you seem to deflate a little. suguru is nothing if not stubborn, a quality that always manages to coexist with his gentleness, his desire to be a good partner for you. you can tell he won’t allow you to wriggle away, now that you’re both finally calm. he’s not doing it to exhaust you, not doing it to gain some sort of satisfaction out of ”winning” the argument — he’s doing it because he knows it’s the right thing to do. even if it makes you both a little uncomfortable.
communication is important, immensely so. suguru knows it very well.
and you do, too.
so all you do is curl into yourself, shifting in your seat, allowing him to speak his mind and sipping quietly on your tea. biting back a disgruntled huff, gaze lingering on the tablecloth, little calico cats etched into the fabric. he wanted one with yellow stripes, but still bought this one just for you. just like the ugly matching couple mugs you forced him into buying, the green colour of your kitchen wallpaper. he always places you before himself.
(all you wanted was to change that. just for a night, if nothing else. and he got mad at you for it.)
suguru sighs. it sounds fatigued, not frustrated or disappointed. he runs a hand through his hair, and you can’t help but follow the movement, the soft silky strands and the way he smooths them over. practiced, familiar, absentminded. you could watch him do it forever.
”i had a lot of time to think while you were gone,” he begins, recalling the mental gymnastics he went through while you were away. just sitting on the couch and running himself ragged, trying to be impartial, trying to see your point of view without letting his own bias get in the way.
you sink a little further into the chair, eyes downcast. inhaling the scent of peppermint, trying to prepare yourself for what he might say, the ways this could all go wrong.
”and i realized that you were right.”
you blink. once, then twice.
hesitantly, you raise your head, searching for suguru’s gaze. he isn’t looking at you, staring out at the rainfall through the window as if in deep thought. his gaze shifts to meet yours, and something soft flickers through his golden eyes.
he looks troubled, though. trying to find the right words, mind clouded by guilt. chewing at his bottom lip anxiously.
it takes him a moment to gather his thoughts, to weigh the words in his mind, just to make sure he gets them across as smoothly as possible. he’s had more than enough time to verbalize his feelings, to think about what he wants to say to you. it was all he could do while he waited. 
so his voice is earnest, when he continues, sincerely apologetic and thought out.
”i’m always telling you not to overwork yourself. and here i am, doing the same thing…” another sigh. ”you were just worried. i shouldn’t have lashed out — you didn’t deserve that.”
suguru searches for your gaze, and manages to find it. you falter a little under the weight of his eyes, but they’re warm, remorseful. a setting sun.
”i’m sorry.”
a moment of silence passes. then two. three, five. you look down at your cup, the purple hyacinths etched into the porcelain. crumbling under his gaze, at the sound of his genuine apology. 
and suddenly, you feel silly — silly for being so scared, for thinking suguru might still be angry with you. for thinking he wouldn’t spend as much time as needed to properly think about your words, your feelings, even if he might not have been ready to do so when he first heard them.
suguru can be stubborn, if he’s convinced that he’s in the right. but he always, always seeks you out eventually, always makes sure to genuinely look at things from your perspective. 
and, really, it means everything. it means enough to wash away all your leftover irritation, from having him brush you off when you know you didn’t do anything wrong. all the leftover sadness from being pushed away, from not being allowed to take care of him the way he always does for you.
suguru isn’t perfect, but he tries harder than anyone you know. tries his very best to be as close to perfect as he can possibly get — for you, for the both of you. he’s considerate enough, mature enough to take the time he needs to properly communicate. that’s how much he loves you. 
and yes, doing so makes you a little uncomfortable. but when faced with something like that, someone so kind, who loves you like the rain loves the ground — how could you ever bear not to do the same?
”… it’s fine,” you start, softly. ”maybe i overreacted a bit. ’s just —” a gulp. you’re trying your best to verbalize your feelings, the way suguru just did, the way he always does.
and he waits, patiently. for as long as you need. looking at you from across the table softly, already immensely relieved at the lack of tension in the air.
”i don’t like seeing you so tired. i know that your work is important, and i support you, but…” your voice goes quiet, as you trail off, hoping he’ll understand what you mean. ”you know.”
and suguru does. he does understand, he always will. so he hums.
”i know,” he murmurs, softly. ”it wasn’t an overreaction. i just didn’t realize it myself. got too caught up in everything,” a sharp exhale leaves his lips. ”it’s been… a long week. i’m not using that as an excuse, though.”
you listen attentively, eyes softening at his words. you can tell that he means it, that you finally got your message across. all you wanted was for him to take a break, to take care of himself.
to let you take care of him.
suguru continues. he makes it a point to look into your eyes as he speaks — a little intimidating, especially in a situation like this — but you know it reassures him, that it lets him know you really understand what he’s trying to say. 
so you hold his gaze, as steady as you can, glancing down at his collarbone when it becomes just a little too much.
”i’m grateful that i have you,” he says, voice dripping with softness, gazing at you with a fondness that has you crumbling all over again. ”and that you care enough to set me straight when i need it.”
and suguru means it. he means it more than anything else. not once has he ever stopped appreciating you, all the things you do for him; always so sweet and caring, even when it’s subtle. this was no exception. you’re always worried, always looking out for him. he feels awful for getting so defensive. for pushing you away, when you were trying so earnestly to reach him.
but he’ll make up for all of that, starting now.
”i mean it. i appreciate you so much, you have no idea — i’m so sorry if i made you think otherwise.” for a moment, his eyes look a little glassy, swimming in remorse. ”i really, really am.”
(and when he looks at you like that, when he speaks so very gently —
how could you ever bear not to forgive him?)
you shift in your seat again. gazing down, chewing at your bottom lip. his honesty makes you falter, makes it hard for you not to do the same; even if your voice ends up sounding awfully tiny and awfully close to breaking apart. 
”… i was just worried,” you mumble, meekly, shooing away any tears you have left with rapid blinks. 
”i know,” suguru soothes. the smile on his face is genuine, comforting, honey and peppermint and warmth. ”i was being immature. you were right — i’ve been burning myself out.”
you don’t say anything. only letting his words console you, feeling yourself relax at the sound of him opening up a little. just enough to make everything all better again.
”i was thinking of taking tomorrow off,” he continues, searching for your timid gaze and smiling gently once he finds it. ”what do you say?”
you brighten a little, so obvious in the way you sit up straighter, the way something soft and hopeful blossoms in the scope of your iris. the sight coaxes suguru’s patient smile into widening a smidge, his eyes crinkling at your barely contained excitement.
”that’d be nice…” you murmur, averting your gaze once more. but suguru can tell you like the sound of that, that it’s exactly what would finally put your anxious mind at ease.
a smile, bright and fond. suguru opens his arms. 
”then i will.”
for a moment, you simply stare. at him, his outstretched limbs — that soft smile, as he waits for you to get the hint. and you blink. 
oh. 
you look down at your lap. a little sheepish, almost shy. it takes you another moment to raise your head, again, only to see another gentle flicker in suguru’s eyes — and then you finally get up from your seat.
it feels a little strange. a little awkward, as if some of your bones still can’t help but tread on eggshells, afraid of making him upset again. but it’s suguru, and he loves you, and his arms are waiting patiently to hold you.
and you want that more than anything. 
so you fall into his arms, softly, curling up in his lap and wrapping your arms around his waist. suguru has one hand on the back of your head and the other on the small of your back, rubbing comforting circles into your spine to make you relax.
it works wonders. despite your initial hesitance, you melt into the embrace without putting up a fuss — happy to be in his arms again, to feel the anxiety dissipate when you realize that everything’s finally alright.
and suguru is just as happy, just as content. breathing out a sigh of relief he didn’t know he was holding. he strokes your hair lovingly, and you nuzzle into him a little more; making his lips quirk up, eyes filling with adoration. finally, he can relax. having you in his arms feels so soothing. and you’re so sweet, curling into him, seeking comfort and warmth that he’s more than happy to provide.
how long has it been since he had a chance to hold you like this? he made sure to be affectionate whenever he could, before leaving for work and after coming back — but in the midst of all the paperwork and stress…
suguru sighs, a little sadder this time, watching you bask in the attention he had been robbing you of this whole time. without even realizing it.
”and i’m sorry for neglecting you, too,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper. muffled by your hair as he presses a kiss against the crown of your head.
that certainly gets your attention.
”neglecting me?” you sputter, eyes suddenly wide open and lips parted in disbelief. flustered, heat rushing to your neck and ears. ”wha — what am i, some high-maintenance puppy? you didn’t neglect me.”
suguru only chuckles, biting back a soft coo that he knows would only fluster you more. instead, he pulls away a little, just to look at you, and pecks your forehead softly.
”well, i’m sorry for not being around much, then. i’ll make it up to you. okay?”
hiding away in his collarbone, again, you mutter a soft okay that has suguru’s heart squeezing in his chest. he cradles you close, engulfs you in his embrace, and hopes you can feel his love through the action. hopes you can feel it in the way his arms fit around you like they were always meant to be right there.
and you do feel his love. feel it smooth away the leftover turmoil in your brain, caress your skin softly. it’s soothing, and comforting, and you feel so incredibly safe. here, in suguru’s embrace, with the sound of rain hitting the window and the scent of peppermint wafting through the kitchen — it’d be impossible not to relax.
before you know it, your eyelids have fluttered shut, breathing softening out and heartbeat slowing down. a peaceful rhythm, carrying you away. suguru notices it before you do.
”you sleeping, baby?”
you jolt a little in his arms — murmuring something unintelligible into his neck, and he only chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest like a soothing thunderstorm.
”c’mon. let’s get you to bed, hm?” 
suguru smooths a hand down your back, arms tightening around you before he scoops you up and gets up from his seat. ”there we go,” he hums, helping you hike your legs around his waist. ”you can sleep, angel. i’ve got you.”
your arms tighten around him, and you inhale his scent; grounding and comforting, raindrops and roses. tomorrow you can bask in it properly, can take care of him properly. you’ll coddle him all day.
but for now, you need to get some rest.
allowing your senses to dull away, clinging to suguru like a makeshift pillow, you absently listen to the storm still raging on outside. faraway, cold and harsh, but comforting when you’re in his steady grasp.
a yawn escapes your honey-soothed throat.
you don’t miss the i love you murmured into your ear, accompanying you into dreamland as your eyes flutter shut.
6K notes · View notes