#can bloom indoors in the winter

[delurkr]

🎉🎉Happy birthday to @108garys!!🎉🎉 Here's some snow to celebrate ❄⛄

Let's see, where I live it was winter when I started this, and it's not anymore but now it's winter where 108garys lives so I have an excuse for taking so long on this and the best reason to complete it, it all works out perfectly 😄

[ericscroptop]

Smokey And Sweet

✧ pairing: neighbor! lee jeno x fem! reader

✦ genre: smut

✧ warnings: 18+ (minors DNI), mentions of food and eating, mentions of death (no actual people die/have died), smoking from jeno & reader (cigarette), cursing, teasing, car sex, semi-public sex (oops), missionary, big d!ck jeno, fingering, protected sex, slight corruption kink, dirty talk, praising, pet names, some drool & spit, kissing, shy reader when it comes to godly men like lee jeno, slightly bad-boy jeno but more so his aura, reader & jeno are in their early 20s

✦ word count: 11.6k words (i literally couldn’t stop)

✧ synopsis: new boy next door takes an interest in you and decides to take you as a warm welcome into town.

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

Winter had said its goodbye weeks ago, and now, it has fully transitioned into Spring.

With Spring having sprung, the environment has come back to life and everything is blooming once again.

You can now enjoy hearing the sweet songs from the birds chirping proudly every day. You can savor the sunshine and natural light for much longer now due to the time being pushed forward an hour. And, the weather isn’t bitterly cold anymore so you could actually go outside having your skin exposed without your body tingling, stinging, and shivering.

Though, there were still downsides to Spring that you loathed— such as torrential downpours, freshly awoken wasps and bumblebees, and random sneezing fits from pollen. But on days like today where the air felt so fresh outside and you frankly had nothing better else to do, the outdoors called to you.

You desired to spend your leisure time this evening outside. Maybe you’d even decide to buy a treat from the ice cream truck that drove past your neighborhood almost daily now that the weather was warmer. You relish in just the thought of enjoying your first ice cream this season from the cute truck. You’d definitely buy one.

With the weather just right, you chose to wear a simple oversized t-shirt and your pair of frilly-ruffled, black and white polka dot shorts, along with your go-to comfortable footwear. Perfect for lounging out in the breezy and warm weather.

Deciding to sit on the tailgate of your dad’s pickup truck while you wait, you scroll mindlessly through your phone with your wallet by your side.

Although your face was trained on your phone instead of enjoying the outdoors peacefully, at least you were outside instead of cooped up in indoors.

In the midst of the sounds of nature, from wind blowing the trees to birds singing, you hear the sound of your neighbors’s door swing open. Though, you refrain yourself from allowing your eyes to follow the sound, trying to ignore their presence even though curiosity fills you.

This past week, a new family had moved into the house next to yours. It had been vacant and up for sale for awhile, as the previous owners decided to relocate elsewhere.

You’ve seen the movers and had your fair share of brief glimpses towards the house, but you tried your best to ignore and avoid them.

Although your whole life your neighbors have been unproblematic and greet your parents every-so-often, you weren’t someone who enjoyed small talk and acted ‘neighborly.’ You lived in your own bubble, and were too shy in even sparing a greeting to your neighbors.

That may seem a bit bitchy, but you just felt awkward and never really knew what to say. It felt easier just minding your own business.

You probably should work on your social skills. Maybe then you’d actually have something to do instead of sitting alone outside like a loser waiting for some ice cream— at your grown age.

With your attention directed towards your phone, you don’t notice that it is a boy that comes out of the door.

Said boy walks out of his house and lets out a deep sigh with both hands on his hips as he stands on his porch.

Honestly, Jeno didn’t really know how to feel about the move. His parents had decided to move out of the big city he’s known and loved his entire life, and ditch it for this unknown-small town he has to call home now.

While he’s in his early twenties and fully capable of living on his own as an adult, he just graduated college and rent was fucking expensive these days. For the time being, it was easier to move and live with his parents until he found a job and could start saving for his own place.

There was nothing wrong with adults living with their parents, anyways. There were upsides and downsides to it— as there were with practically anything. But it’s what will work for now.

It just sucks that he had to leave everything he’s ever known behind and start over. But life’s all about growing and new adventures— at least, that’s what the older adults say. He just has to learn to adapt to his new environment and embrace change.

He’s been unpacking boxes and organizing his new room all day. It was now around 6pm, and he’d been in the house all day doing labor and cleaning. After being stuck indoors all day, he figured it was time for a break to go for a short drive or maybe get food someplace.

As he stepped out his front door and stood on the porch, he looked towards his left and noticed your figure.

A girl, he thought. He hadn’t really gotten a chance to even notice any of his neighbors or surroundings fully, as he was too immersed in helping his parents settle into their new home and couldn’t keep his attention on anything outside of moving in.

From his porch he could see your figure swaying your head faintly from side to side, legs swinging back and forth in the air over the cracked concrete of your driveway. You were in your own world, phone in hand and sat by your lonesome self.

How cute, he thinks. He probably looks like a freak just staring at your form, but he glances around the street fleetingly and it doesn’t seem like anyone else is out right now. You don’t seem to notice his presence watching you— or at least, maybe you’re pretending you don’t.

You peak his interest suddenly. He wonders what you’re like and from this distance, he can see that you’re definitely an adult like him. Maybe you’re around his age. He could use a friend or at least, know someone in this foreign town.

He gives himself an internal pep-talk of confidence to walk up to you. You’d start seeing each other almost daily now that you’re neighbors, and he doesn’t think he can stay unacquainted with you. So he strides his way towards your house to introduce himself like a gentleman.

While engrossed in whatever nonsense you’re watching on your phone, you begin to detect movement from your peripheral, as well as hear shoes scraping against the concrete.

Your eyes slightly widen at that, sensing a complete stranger coming towards your direction. It wasn’t everyday someone decided to approach you suddenly. Your body stilled and you found strength to raise your head, locking eyes with what seems to be a handsome man.

He brings a hand up and waves, continuing walking up to you until he’s like only 6 feet away.

“Hey— sorry to bother you, but I came to introduce myself. I’m Jeno. I just moved in next door.” he shoots you a smile.

“Oh— hey! Yeah, it’s nice to meet you.” you awkwardly get up to stand on your feet and extend an arm out.

“I’m Y/n. Welcome to the neighborhood!” you put on your best smile as he takes your hand to shake it firmly, practically blacking out mentally as you cannot believe this is a real scene playing out.

You’re left utterly dumbfounded once you took a good gander at this guy.

There was a contrast to him. His skin was pretty much bright and his beauty could light up darkness and draw irresistible attention to him, but he was also kind of shadowy in a way. Although he greeted you with a smile that reached his eyes, he seemed to have this intimidating presence to him.

Maybe you’re just saying that because anyone who’s attractive to you intimidates the fuck out of you. But he seems to ooze natural confidence and appeal. His features were sharp, and he just had this indescribable aura to him that made you weak. You couldn’t pin point what it was.

It didn’t help that he was cool enough to rock an undercut, seeing it peeking through slightly from his right side of face. Not to mention, you couldn’t help but shift your eyes down for a second to look at his almost-exposed chest, first few buttons of his dark flannel left undone.

His dark eyes, dark hair, and dark shirt contrast with his light blue baggy jeans and kind smile, making your skin heat up from his presence, even in the midst of a breeze passing through.

But anyways— your new neighbor is a hot man that decided to come over and greet you. If that’s not a moment in history, then you don’t know what is.

The smile on his face doesn’t falter one bit as you greet him back, feeling your smaller, slightly wobbly hand shaking his own, and sees the slight tint of pink coloring your cheeks. Was it from the weather or his abrupt approach? He’s not sure. And neither are you.

“Thanks. I— uh, actually noticed you were sitting out here alone. Figured I’d come introduce myself. Since I’m new to this town, I don’t know anyone.” he admits.

Your lips parted as you attentively listened to his every word, arms crossed. You let out a chuckle as he finishes, “To be honest with you, i’m not really familiar with anyone else in this neighborhood— and i’ve lived on this street my whole life.” you laugh at yourself, shaking your head as you look around at nothing in particular sheepishly.

Your words and quiet laugh only makes his smile bigger. “Yeah? Maybe I could be your first neighbor-friend.” Jeno smirks at you, his hands shifting around in the pockets of his jeans.

The dopamine releasing from your brain causes you to feel giddy and it feels like butterflies are fluttering inside your stomach from excitement and coyness. You’re gushing internally at the fact that God himself has sent you a cute neighbor— one who had the urge to come over and is showing interest in you.

You only know his name and your delusional-self is already mentally planning your future with him.

“I could definitely use a friend.” your smile is genuine as you tell him, showing courtesy to your new neighbor.

You see the smile reach to his eyes again, meeting your gaze before he looks down at his own feet while grinning, making you look away shyly.

God, you felt like a teenager again.

“Do you care if I sit out here with you? I don’t really have anything better to do.” Jeno speaks. He really wants to get to know you and waste no time. You seem very sweet, and like he said, he actually doesn’t have anything better to do. (He still had some unpacking left to do unfortunately, but he needed a damn break.)

You can feel your heart rate increase and a flash of heat hits you at his words, feeling flustered that your peaceful evening has unexpectedly taken a turn.

“Of course! I could use someone to keep me company.” you say, still feeling flushed.

You pushed your rear back onto the truck’s tailgate and Jeno follows suit. He takes a seat next to you, making you hold back a giggle at how the truck lowered for a moment due to the extra weight now added.

“So… you were just out here chilling alone?” he queries with both arms outstretched behind him, leaning back a bit and making himself comfortable.

“I actually came out ‘cause I wanted some ice cream. Now that it’s warmer out again, a truck usually passes by everyday.” you begin to swing your legs like you were earlier as you continued. “I’m grown as hell waiting for the ice cream man by myself. Can you believe that?” you laugh.

Jeno finds your demeanor endearing. How you’re just out here innocently waiting for some ice cream. And the way that you seem like a ball of sunshine. You’re unintentionally stirring his emotions with sudden fondness and attraction towards you.

“Hey, that’s cute. And, now you have company to wait alongside you.” he states, his eyes stuck on you as he spoke.

Your cheeks must’ve been permanently stained pink since he’s made himself known. His natural charm and solely being in the presence of an attractive male has your palms sweaty and senses tingling.

“So why’d you move here?” you attempt to make conversation, trying to push pass the fact that he basically called you cute and is sitting directly next to you.

He inhales some air and huffs it out deeply before speaking. “Parents wanted to settle in a smaller town now that they’re getting older. We lived in the city my whole life, but my parents wanted a change. Plus, my dad runs an auto repair shop, and he had the grand idea of extending his business here, so… yeah.”

“I just graduated college a while ago, too. You’d think that I would have my own place and not be packed up alongside my parents, but i’m trying to figure out what I wanna do. Rent’s too expensive in the city, anyways. I have friends I could’ve moved in with to split rent, but since we all graduated, we all are doing our own things and they have their partners and stuff.” he continued.

“S’ry for rambling. I’m just dumping all this shit on you.” Jeno shakes his head, scoffing at his own rant. The last thing he wants is for you to think he’s looking for pity and seem lame.

“Nooo— it’s okay. I asked you a question and you answered it. Sounds like there’s so much change in your life recently. It would only be natural to feel sour or uncertain about your current life. I know it’s probably not ideal, but I hope you adjust well here.” you offer him an empathetic smile, trying to assure him that his feelings are valid.

Jeno looks at you, intrigued and taken aback by your words. He wasn’t expecting you to respond with something that suddenly made his heart stir.

He isn’t one to get sappy or ever seeks for people to comfort him. He wasn’t even asking for sympathy. You were just kind enough to offer him some touching and uplifting words.

The ends of his lips curl at your tenderness. “Wow… do you always say such nice things to people you barely know?” he decides to tease you.

Your face grows hot, laughing nervously as you speak, “What? I’m just telling you what I think.” you pause for a couple seconds before continuing, “Moving can be mentally and physically taxing. Change is never easy. Especially as a young adult, we’re still trying to figure everything out. So I feel for you.”

“There you go again.” Jeno can’t help but smirk, eyes falling to his own lap, hands clasped together.

“You majored in psychology or something? Your words are naturally comforting.” he chuckles.

You scoff at that. “I’m actually in community college— and undecided.”

He hums at your response, finally learning something about you.

“Well, i’m sure you’d be good in any career field. You sound very mature.”

You pursed your lips to the side, feeling flustered at all these small compliments he’s throwing your way. He’s probably just being nice, but he’s probably thinking the same about yourself towards him. Though, you were a very compassionate person. Your words were earnest.

And his own words carried much weight to your brain, especially because it was coming from a man. A very attractive one, at that.

“I dunno, I was just being real.” you brushed his comment off.

“Nah, you’re definitely a smart girl. Come on now.” Jeno tilts his head at you, staring at you attentively.

He’s wondering what goes on in that pretty little head of yours. He has the urge to figure you out. Jeno isn’t stupid and realizes the effect he has on girls merely from his looks. Call him cocky or whatever, but it’s not a secret that girls easily gravitate towards him.

Though, you’re currently bringing him a different vibe. He’s already gathered that you’re sweeter than a Pop-Tart. And a bit bashful.

Girls are usually so quick to be flirty towards him. Not that he doesn’t like that— he actually loves when girls are bold and quick to get things swinging. But you’re offering him something new, even within the couple of minutes you’ve known each other. He’s definitely interested in you.

You can sense his pair of eyes on you, but you can’t bring yourself to look at him. Your vision lies straight ahead, trying to remain composed after hearing him compliment you as you stare at the house across from yours. How is this man still talking to your ass? You wondered.

You can’t even come up with a response before your ears pick up on that familiar tune of the ice cream truck, sounding closer and closer every second.

“It’s coming,” you lift yourself off the tailgate, wallet in hand as you approach the end of your driveway towards the road.

Jeno follows your lead and trails behind you, joining you as the truck comes to a halt in seeing you both.

He watches as you greet the driver and look over the menu momentarily, eventually deciding on a regular-sized Italian ice— flavor of your choice.

You then turn to look at Jeno, smile taking over your features charmingly.

“Do you want anything?” you ask him.

Jeno secretly does have a big sweet tooth, so he refuses to pass up on a treat of his own. “Yeah, i’ll have the same as her.” he announces and smiles at the worker.

You fiddle with your wallet, scrambling to fish out a couple dollars while your treats are being prepared. Though, it seems like you’re beat to covering for the both of you, eyes looking up to the sight of Jeno handing the worker some cash.

“I got it.” he says like nothing to you, happily paying the man in the truck.

You’re left confounded, not expecting him to even have his wallet on him.

Your mouth is slightly parted at his sudden act, ponderously putting your money back in your wallet. You can’t even protest as the transaction was already made.

Jeno hands you your treat with a spoon and grabs his own, both of you thanking the driver and walking back to your dad’s tailgate as the ice cream truck drives away, music now growing distant.

“I was gonna pay for us, y’know?” you say as you sit back down, Jeno doing the same.

“It was only a couple bucks. Plus, i’d never let a girl pay.”

You look down at your Italian ice in hand, poking at it with your spoon in other hand.

“Yeah, but we just met. You’re the new neighbor, shouldn’t I be the one treating you?”

“Your company is more than enough.” he simply replies before bringing his spoon to his mouth, head turned in your direction.

His words make your heart begin to thud erratically in your chest, heat rising all-throughout your body, and you’re left tongue-tied.

You’re still twiddling with your semi-frozen treat, mind and body fuzzy. You’re focused on his comment, the fact that he paid, and the innocent moment of you two enjoying ice cream next to each other here— outside your house.

You feel like you’re squirming on the inside, not knowing what to do with Jeno’s kind presence. He’s your neighbor now. How are you supposed to live now that you have an incredibly beautiful and charming man living next door to you?

“You like playing with your food before you eat?”

“Huh? Oh— my bad.” Jeno rips you away from your ruffled thoughts about him, now feeling embarrassed at how your head is already spinning and going dumb from someone you just met.

A nervous chuckle leaves your throat, finally digging for your first bite while Jeno was on his nth spoonful. You pop the spoon filled with ice cream into your mouth, tastebuds absorbing the deliciously creamy and smooth consistency.

“How is it?” he asks, eyeing you as you enjoy your first taste.

“It’s so sweet. Really good.”

“Definitely.” Jeno says, nodding his head in agreement. Though, he’s not sure if he’s referring to the ice cream or you.

You guys finished up your treats and talked about various topics, slowly getting to know each other better. You even started to loosen up a bit more, feeling just a tiny bit more comfortable the more you two conversed.

“You know, I’m a real huge car guy.”

“Really? I’m honestly not surprised.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause it seems like every guy these days is a ‘car guy.’” you sneered.

He scoffs after listening to you. “Well, since my dad’s a mechanic, he’s taught me almost everything I need to know about cars. It’s practically in my veins.”

“Trust me, I am practically infatuated with cars. I used to dream of becoming a F1 driver.” he clicks his tongue.

“Woah, what?! So with cars, do you like the mechanics of it all, or do you really just like showing off how fast you can go?” you cock your head at him, asking curiously with a hint of tease in saying the latter.

“Both. I like working hands-on with cars and having the knowledge to perform car maintenance. It also feels personal cause’ since my dad’s a mechanic, he passed down his love for cars to me.”

“I also love the control I can have while driving. It can be exhilarating when you’re going hella fast. Especially when your car’s all nicely polished and sleek— it’s the best.”

“Damn. You really are passionate, huh? That’s actually really dope.”

“I am.” he smirks, amused that you’re interested in hearing about his interests. Like, you actually are having a conversation with him and are seriously listening to him.

Meanwhile, it’s such a breath of fresh air for you to listen to him speak about his passions and have personality to him. He wasn’t dry or giving you half-assed anything— and he was respectful, making you swoon and happy to have met someone like him.

The sun was beginning to set as you two got loss in conversation, the sky painted in a warm hue.

“Let me go throw these away.” you gather your now-empty foam cups and plastic spoons, grabbing them and getting up to throw them in your trash bin.

“Thanks.” Jeno gets up shortly after you do, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“I should be the one thanking you— for the ice cream.” you now stand in front of him, arms crossed behind your back with a hand resting over your wrist.

“It was only a couple of bucks, no biggie like I said.” he assures you.

You smile, the apples of your cheeks more prominent as you can’t hold back in how wide it becomes due to his kindness. You stand meekly, figuring that this is the part where you bid one another goodbye and go inside your separate homes.

Although he literally lives next to you and you’d be seeing him frequently, you don’t want your time together to end just yet. He’s pulling you in like a magnet. You’ve felt lonely lately, and Jeno’s company was the best unexpected gift you could ever ask for.

And it seems like he’s thinking the same.

“Hey— I was thinking now would be a perfect time to drive around for a bit. I’ve been stuck at home all day and could go out for a bit. Would you like to come with?”

Your brows lift slightly, caught off guard by his invite. You didn’t expect to spend your evening with a man outside your house, and now, said man is asking you out for a drive.

“Only if you want to, of course. It’s totally fine if you don’t want to or—“

“No!— let’s do it.” you interrupt him, rather eagerly. You stare at him with a twinkle inside your eyes, mirroring Jeno’s own, eyes dreamy as he looks at your figure.

You might be some trouble for him, and you’re definitely feeling the same about him. The magnetism between you two is strong. Each of you look at one another in admiration and thoughts about anything else are practically nonexistent. It was purely curious attraction. Like a moth to a flame.

You’re honestly not sure if it’s the smartest idea to be getting in a vehicle with a guy you haven’t even known for 24 hours. You know your parents would literally be up your ass if they knew, and the anxious side of you is lowkey freaking out internally, already playing out multiple scenarios.

But you oddly trust Jeno. He seems to find solace in your presence. You each agreed that you were friends now. You hardly got out of the house anyways— you definitely needed this. And you’re an adult, so who cares?

“Alirghty then, are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, i’m good to go.”

With that, Jeno leads the way into his new property. His left hand digs into his left pocket and pulls out a pair of keys, walking to the driver’s side of what seems to be his car.

The sight of his car definitely confirms that he’s a serious car guy. You’re not too familiar yourself on the technical terms or remember model names, but his car is black, windows were tinted, and it’s glossy. It looked almost brand new, smooth and sexy— dare you say. It suits him well.

He unlocks his car and lets you know you’re able to get in, and so you open the passenger door and seat yourself inside.

A subtle musky fragrance fills your nostrils immediately as you settle in. The interior of his car smells clean and fresh, mellow undertones within the scent. Not strong, but pleasant and fitting.

Jeno also settles in his vehicle, starting up the engine as you each put on your seatbelts.

“Don’t worry. I know I said I like going fast, but I follow the law. It’ll be a nice drive.” Jeno suddenly says, looking over his shoulder as his right hand takes hold of the gear shift. He puts the car in reverse, using his left hand to steer the wheel.

You sit idly as he cranes his neck slightly to look behind, making sure the street is clear as he makes exit from his driveway. He smoothly reverses, and begins to drive down the street.

Your hands are folded in your lap, and you begin to play with them out of suspense from what is to come during this drive with Jeno.

You’re fortunate that your parents are out of town right now, so they don’t really have to question your whereabouts.

Though, you’re thinking about how you’re alone in the car with a guy you just met. It had been so long since you hung out with a male like this. You couldn’t help but already feel some type of way towards Jeno. Your senses heightened within his presence. Maybe it’s because you still don’t really know too much about him, but you also think it’s because his attractiveness daunts you.

Perhaps you’re already developing a crush.

“Got anywhere in particular you wanna go? I don’t really mind; I’ll let you take the reins.” he halts his car at a stop sign, then turns to smile at you.

“Honestly, there’s really not much to do in this town. People usually go goof around the grocery stores for entertainment. That’s how dry it is here.” you tittered.

“Though, there’s a school a few blocks away from our street that I walk to occasionally when I want to clear my mind, and I usually just roam leisurely around there. Since it’s practically right next to a nice neighborhood, lots of people go on walks or bike rides around, and kids play after school hours.” you internally facepalm yourself once you finish talking. He probably is gonna think you’re so lame and that you clearly don’t go out much. A school? Really?

“We can go there. Sounds chill to me, if that’s okay with you?”

“Yeah! I’m good with that.” you’re relieved to see that he seems on board with your idea. He seemed to be pretty laidback and easygoing, leaving you feeling safe.

You direct him to the location, and he notices that there’s no music currently playing.

“Wanna connect your phone to play some music?”

“Oh no, that’s okay. You can play whatever.” you kindly smile.

“I listen to the same songs practically everyday. It’s getting old. How about you put on something, I could use something new.”

You feel a bit shy in sharing your music taste, but you see that he won’t take no for an answer. You give in and he helps you in connecting to the Bluetooth. A R&B playlist is what you settle for, as most of the songs in your curated playlist were comforting, catchy, and relaxing.

As the music’s going, you feel flushed and can’t reject the smile that creeps on your face as a favorite song of yours comes on. You notice from your peripheral Jeno nodding his head to the beat of the track, making you fix your attention to simply staring out the window to avoid him seeing how blushed and smiley you are.

After just a few minutes, he pulls into the school grounds, parking in the lot and you two unbuckle your seatbelts. There seems to be hardly anyone here. There’s maybe one or two cars parked, but nobody’s inside. There also aren’t any children on the playground or playing basketball like there normally would be. It seems a bit ghostly out.

With you two now sitting in the car in the practically-empty lot, you begin to wonder maybe this really was a dumb idea of yours.

I mean, what are you guys actually going to do?

With you two in this setting, wouldn’t people expect you two to be doing something shady or sketchy? Especially as the sky’s only growing somber by the minute.

“Do you care if I smoke a cig?” Jeno’s question interrupts your overthinking, making you turn, facing him.

“Go ahead.” you give him the green light to do so. It was his car after all.

Internally, you grimaced at now knowing the fact that he’s a smoker. You weren’t a fan of tobacco or nicotine, but if someone wanted to smoke, who were you to stop them?

Jeno rolls the window down halfway and reaches his hand into his door pocket, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter. He puts the stick in between his mouth, allowing his lips to hold it as he brings the lighter to the end.

He flicks the lighter and the click hits your ears. Your eyes stay hooked on him once you hear it.

Jeno took a few quick breaths to ignite it, and it lit with ease. He sucked and held the smoke in his mouth for a moment, then removed the cigarette from his lips, letting the hot chemicals cool down before releasing a steady stream of smoke into the air towards his lowered window.

He immediately feels the buzz of pleasure from the nicotine rush to his brain. The warm air embraces his lungs like a comforting hug, allowing him to relax after a long day of unpacking.

Meanwhile, you weren’t in favor of cigarettes. You don’t understand the appeal in smoking something that in the end, is probably going to lead you closer to death by shortening your lifespan and bring trouble to your body. The aroma it left was harsh and acrid, and even eye-watering.

Though, even with how strongly you felt about smoking cigarettes, why was Jeno making it seem attractive?

Your attention is captivated on the erotic bittersweetness of the sight next to you. He made it seem so effortless, like it was second nature to him.

He seemed so carefree and rebellious in this moment. He obviously doesn’t give a shit about the consequences. The habit was hazardous, but the youthful, handsome man with strong features smoking in a dark car was glamorous in your perspective.

Jeno has to refrain from grinning as he notices your wonderment. He takes another drag before shooting you a question.

“Have you ever smoked before?”

“Not a cigarette, no.”

He suddenly moves his right hand with cigarette in hold in between you two, towards an empty tray you just now were made aware of. He taps the ash off the cigarette onto the ashtray, and to your surprise, gestures it towards you.

“Wanna try?” his voice husky.

Your mouth falls barely agape, caught off guard by his question.

You have to admit, even though you strayed away from cigarettes due to the long run danger they pose, you can’t help the burning curiosity fueling inside in trying it at least once.

Jeno made it look oddly satisfying, even in the midst of the now tarnished air and molten stench.

One puff wouldn’t kill you.

“Sure.” you reply, eyelids blinking at the stick in between his fingers.

Amusement is written all over Jeno’s face. He had a hunch before you even said anything that you’ve never smoked a cigarette before. You just seemed too sweet for that.

He found it mirthful that you want to try for yourself, and with him. There was something exciting in the fact that he’s about to watch you take your first ever drag. Knowing it was your first, there was a high chance you were going to be appalled by it. But it was going to be fun to watch, almost like he was corrupting your sweetness.

He brings the cigarette towards you and you carefully take it pinched between your thumb and forefinger.

The smoke envelops your nostrils, and you feel clammy all of a sudden with the cigarette in your hold and Jeno focused on you.

You were already overthinking the way you probably looked to him right now, so obviously amateur. And it was going to be humbling when you’re left coughing or can’t do it correctly.

Jeno can practically hear your worrisome thoughts turning, and is quick to kick them to the curb. “You don’t have to do it just because I am.”

“I actually want to try at least once in my life— for the plot, y’know?” you chuckled.

“Okay then. Just know I won’t tease you. Nobody’s first smoke is perfect.” he simply smiles, immediately bringing you support.

You don’t waste anymore time for the cigarette’s sake and wrap your lips around it, hollowing your cheeks as you take a shallow drag.

Your throat instantly feels irritated and on fire, feeling tight with the smoke you’ve just inhaled. All the toxic chemicals blaze your throat and lungs, leaving a bad taste to your mouth and it feels almost-suffocating.

A couple coughs rip from your throat, and you attempt to cover your mouth with your free hand and turn your form slightly towards the right, trying to shield yourself away Jeno from your embarrassing coughing fit.

You each let out a different curse word due to your actions, making the both of you laugh— of which, lowkey makes your throat feel even worse. Jeno quickly reaches over and removes the cigarette from your hold, dumping the ash on the tray and he keeps it between his fingers as he rummages around his car for a possible drink he may have lying around.

Luckily, he finds an unopened water bottle in his backseat. It unfortunately is room temperature and he doesn’t know how long it’s been in his car, but he doesn’t hesitate in opening it and offering it to you, which you gladly take.

“God! I fucking hated that.” you huff out after taking a few sips, now feeling calm. The ashy taste still was lingering in your mouth, making you slightly frown. The scent of the smog was definitely going to cling to your clothes— thankfully, your parents weren’t going to be home tonight to be greeted by it.

“Everyone’s first cigarette is terrible.” he chuckles before taking another drag, looking graceful and natural in doing so.

You can’t help the ping you feel in your heart from how you two now practically shared an indirect kiss, him choosing to continue smoking the cigarette instead of putting it out. You’re starting to feel hazy.

“I don’t think i’ll be smoking that ever again.” you scoff, taking another sip of water before reaching for and screwing the cap back on, placing it on one of his cup holders.

“That’s good, it doesn’t really suit you.” he says before enveloping his lips around the stick again.

Your eyes squint barely as you feel slightly offended from his comment. After blowing out the smoke, he notices your expression, and adds on to his words.

“You’re too sweet for that.”

“Can you elaborate?”

“You’re a pretty girl with frilly polka dot shorts who waits outside for ice cream and has a sweet nature. You just seem like you don’t do bad stuff like that.”

Warmth climbs from your neck up to your cheeks, not being able to maintain eye contact once ‘pretty girl’ rang in your ears. Pretty girl? Fuck, why would he say that.

“Duality exists. People can have multiple sides to them.” you voiced, trying to dismiss his comment from before off your mind.

Jeno nods his head in agreement, “Can’t argue with that.”

“Smoking isn’t good for you, though. You should stay away from it.” he utters, about to take another hit from his cigarette.

An incredulous expression takes over your face. “Well look who’s talking.” you teased, shaking your head slightly.

He pauses at your words, not being able to help the breathy laugh that escapes his throat.

“Indulging in cigarettes is like a hobby to me. It’s too late for me. I’m locked in for life.” he twirls the cigarette around his fingers, then brings it to his lips once again.

“So then should I stay away from you?” you mindlessly say, making you clutch the bottom frills of your shorts for comfort as you await for his response.

Jeno blows out smoke towards the window and turns to you, your fingers playing with the fabric of your shorts. He can’t help how cute you look in his passenger seat. You look so delicate, even in the dark interior of his car, even in the thick of the secondhand smoke air.

He’s torn between wanting to protect you and wanting to tamper with you. He could get a cavity just by looking at you. You were delightful and so new and sweet to him. You can be timid but you’ve been so open to embracing your new neighbor. You were a ball of sunshine, and he was the kind of guy parents hated just based off his looks alone.

Like you had said, there can be multiple sides to everyone. Just because someone seems to appear one way on the outside, or you base their personality off one side they’ve shown you, doesn’t define their entire persona.

Jeno really wants you two to get close together. Call him desperate, but he can already feel growing chemistry between you two. You barely met, but Jeno can’t help how he’s already so drawn to you.

And he intends to get to know every part of you.

Your fingers continue to fidget with your shorts, thighs pressed together, suddenly feeling small and hyper aware of your own existence within his presence.

“I kinda don’t want you too.”

“I already like you too much, think I could use someone like you in my life.”

Your nervous system is a whirlwind currently, the opposite of calm. Blood rushes to your head in hearing his response, ears becoming warm. A tight-lipped grin stretches across your face while averting your eyes from Jeno.

You can’t help the nervous giggle that comes out of you, unable to contain your emotions. There’s a change in the atmosphere, and it’s not just due to the smoke floating around.

Fuck. You don’t even know what to say to that.

He grins at your figure, his words clearly stirring something inside you. You avoid his gaze, pupils suddenly finding your lap more interesting and easier to look at than to meet his own eyes as you feel bashful.

Your fingers run along the goosebumps that now decorate the bit of exposed skin from your thighs, coy and still unable to think of a response. He makes you feel so silly and dumb, falling for his charisma.

Jeno’s eyes fall into your lap, following your small movements. You were visibly fidgety. He couldn’t help in wanting to reach over and place a hand protectively over your thigh. He then wonders what it would be like to hold your hand, or to tuck a stand of your hair behind your ear, or to kiss your lips.

He wants to act on instinct. The attraction and desire he has for you is too much for him to bear with you next to him in his car— in an empty parking lot.

He abruptly rolls up his window and reaches for the water bottle you drank out of from the cup holder, opening it and using a tiny bit of water to carefully add it to the ashtray, to stub his cigarette out properly.

You finally look up towards him because of his movements, watching and locking eyes once he’s finished.

“Y/n…” Jeno begins, head cocked slightly to the side, swallowing before continuing. “Is it too soon to ask if I can kiss you?” he practically whispers.

Your heartbeat feels like it pauses and sinks for a moment when you process his words.

Who would’ve guessed you’d be put in this position today?

Jeno’s eyes carry passion and intensity, awaiting for your permission or any answer. He’s craving for your attention, and he can’t deny the carnal desire within him to make each other feel good right now.

“I’d really love to kiss you.” he mumbles, eyes falling to your lips, head still tipped slightly, like a puppy concentrated on you.

The outside world and any miscellaneous thoughts are drowned out by the intention behind his eyes. The tense air and his admirable stare makes you feel a sense of vulnerability. Your own lips are trembling and heart flutters.

You’re lost from his eagerness and interest in you, caught off guard that he felt some attraction towards you while you’ve been trying to ignore how handsome this man was.

It’s been long since you’ve had any ounce of intimacy with another person. Loneliness has consumed you lately. With Jeno showing up in your life out of the blue, confessing that he wants to kiss you even from the little time you’ve known each other, it makes you feel validated and enchanted.

You peer down at the ashtray and center console, being a barrier between the two of you.

It would be slightly discomforting to kiss him over the compartment. But you really did want to kiss him.

Given the fact that you were parked in a parking lot during the late evening, you wondered in the back of your mind secretly of the possibility of him wanting to fuck you. Honestly, you wouldn’t be opposed to that idea in the slightest. A hot guy like Jeno wanting you was generating intense euphoria in your brain.

You were definitely nervous and timorous but fuck, you wanted him to feed your desires and take you heatedly.

“Would the backseat be more comfortable?” you finally manage to speak, viewing him with doe eyes. You knew what you were implying— a bold move for you but you now know that he wants it, too.

Patience never really was your thing.

Jeno’s lips curl upwards, sending you a knowing-look in response to your comment. He gestures with his head to the backseat, “You wanna?”

You merely swallow and nod your head, eventually letting out a faint ‘yes.’

Excitement charges him up in how fast things turned. He opens his own door first, with you following and opening yours a second after, making your way to the backseat on your respective sides.

Frisson is present within the pit of your stomach as you move to the back. Your body hairs are raised due to the tingling sensation rippling all throughout your skin.

You were excited but apprehensive. You were suddenly taking a leap into a new adventure, which was you about to get fucked by your new neighbor in the backseat— in a school parking lot. It was definitely indecent, but lust persisted.

Your pupils flickered around nervously as you each sat in the back, growing sweaty with every second that passes, wondering how this was going to play out.

Jeno takes note of your body language and immediately speaks up. “Are you okay with this? We don’t have to do anything if you aren’t comfortable.”

“I’m okay, just a bit awkward.” you sigh out with a slight laugh.

He smiles and looks down at the decent amount of empty space in between you two.

“C’mere.” he says, signaling towards his lap.

You take a breath as you slip out of your shoes and move closer to him. Jeno stretches his arms out, pulling your weight to seat you on his lap. Your legs wrap around his waist, and your body stills, in disbelief that you’ve found yourself in this foreign position.

Although patience wasn’t your thing, this situation was unfamiliar to you. About to get fucked by someone you barely met was crazy for you. You craved him, but you were also scared something was going to go wrong, whether it was from you or him.

Jeno’s left hand rests on the small of your back, drawing circles with his thumb over the fabric of your t-shirt. His other hand slowly reaches towards the apple of your cheek, rubbing it carefully with the pad of his thumb.

Your tummy flutters wildly from his small touches and the desire emanating from his eyes as he scans you.

“Relax for me, pretty.”

“Can you touch me, hm?”

You don’t verbally respond. You pupils go back and forth between his face and neck as you hook your arms around the thick skin. Your lips parted in being careful with your movements, still in disbelief of this current moment. He called you pretty again.

He smiles at the feeling of your arms around him, and lowers his thumb down your face until it reached your lips, playing with your bottom lip, eyes hooked to something so inviting.

Your own eyes seek his lips, watching the tip of his tongue slip out to give his own a lick, making you force to resist in shifting in his lap out of anticipation or letting out a whimper.

He’s the one to rip the tension by seizing a kiss from you. He gently pulls your face in, and as his lips meet yours, your only focus was on the heat that ignited within you.

The kiss was warm and smokey. It was intense with the way his lips moved jointly with yours.

While you didn’t care for nicotine, the taste of Jeno’s lips was a drug you could see yourself becoming addicted to.

As more seconds pass, the kissing becomes increasingly passionate. You’re practically melting, and it intensifies even more with his scintillating touches.

He protectively keeps a hand around your back, keeping you in place and subtly pushing you in closer towards him. HIs other hand holds your jaw, keeping your face slightly angled and steady.

You can’t help but rub down your clothed crotch against his own, surprising you when your movement draws a deep moan from Jeno, making you quietly gasp.

“Fuck.” he breathes out before he meshes his moist tongue into your hot mouth, making you produce a moan in feeling the wet muscle explore your sensitive erogenous zone.

Your eyes are clenched shut and fingers suddenly find themselves messily fiddling through Jeno’s locks, mind and body lost in the rush of how you’re locked by his lips.

There’s a growing hardness felt through the lightweight material of your shorts. It’s a signal that he wants more, each of your endorphins going nuts by merely making out.

He pulls away from your swollen lips, breathless, hushed gasps filling one another’s ears. Jeno then maneuvers a hand to cradle the back of your head, and brings his face towards your left ear, simultaneously beginning to play with the hem of your shirt.

“Let me take care of you.” his breath ghosts over the shell of your ear, sending a chill down your spine.

His hands redirect to either side of your waist, feeling you up as he brings his face back and scans your face, awaiting for a verbal response.

“Please.” you whisper, warmth spreading across your skin.

“Please what?” he teases.

“Please undress me. Touch me— my body and pussy. Want you to.” you slip out, swallowing your pride. It was a bit embarrassing to say such things aloud in front of your new neighbor, but fuck it. He wanted you equally as bad.

Fully blushed and flushed out, your eyes fall down to stare blankly at his chest. Jeno is filled with amusement though, and hums in satisfaction at your words.

He smoothly reaches for your jaw and tilts it up so that you’re looking at him properly, bringing a buzz to your pussy from his dominance.

“You’re gonna be so good to me, sweet girl.” he says, caressing your face like you’re made of glass.

He brings you in for a couple more deep kisses, savoring how perfect your lips felt and tasted against his own.

He then confirms again with a nod if you’re okay to proceed further, to which you nod back, allowing him to remove your shirt. He also helps you shimmy out of those cutesy shorts of yours, tossing the clothes somewhere up front.

Although you still have your undergarments on and you agreed to do this, you feel so exposed and vulnerable now. Jeno was still fully clothed while he began to fiddle with your bra strap, which made this feel unfair.

“Let me take off your shirt.” you whined and batted your lashes at Jeno, causing him to halt his attempt in wanting to remove your bra next.

He can’t help but smile as you grab onto his flannel shirt, waiting for him to give you the signal to remove it. You were so fucking cute.

“My bad, pretty. I’m all yours.” he kissed your cheek before allowing you to do so, which made you burn inside with all kinds of sensual emotions.

He watched you in awe as you shakily started to undo all his buttons, entertained in seeing the curiosity behind your eyes of unveiling what lies beneath the fabric.

With his shirt now open, he fully removed it himself by pulling off the sleeves and threw it in the growing pile up front, leaving his entire torso bare.

Now uncovered, you can’t help the admiration beholding your eyes as you view his exposed skin.

It shouldn’t have been such a shocker that a handsome face like his had the perfect body to match: hard chest, sculpted abs, and lean waist that contrasted from his broad shoulders.

You really lucked out.

“Like what you see?” Jeno can’t help but snicker, aware that he had this effect on people. You just boosted his ego even more.

You can’t help but giggle at the cliche line, eyes timidly flying away from his torso. Unfortunately he doesn’t get a verbal response from you, but he knows how you feel inside.

“For the record… I definitely like what I see.” he traces the edges of your body, appreciating your skin and details.

Your eyes redirect to his face, watching him eye you hungrily, his fingers beginning to delicately feather over the lace detailing of your bra. Your breathing slows, air tense with you seated over him and his vision glued heartily on you.

His eyes find yours with his fingers still over your bra. You pump your chest out a bit, gesturing to him that you want things to proceed and to remove the rest of your garments.

He immediately leads his hands to your back, unhooking your lacy bra. Your mounds spill out as he removes it and tosses it to the side, the sight making his cock so pumped, full of blood.

“Beautiful girl.” he mumbles, then latches his mouth onto the underside of your ear, making you angle your face to give him better access.

The open-mouth kisses he leaves activates the nerves around your neck. It tickles for a second, but he hits that sweet spot of yours, making you melt.

You’d give into any demand of his with the way his warm lips suck and nibble over your delicate skin. You grind down into him, arms hooked around his neck, clutching for security or else you’d probably melt away.

Your sex only covered by thin panties rutting against his cock straining through his jeans has him groaning into your neck. He zealously continues to suck on your neck, adding gentle bites and hot licks in between, making you arch your neck to the front and moan out of pure bliss. You secretly hope he’d leave a mark or two, so you’d have a visual reminder of this heated night for a few days.

His kisses meander to your throat and chest, tongue sliding out to trace all around one of your areolas, lips then enfolding over the nipple.

Squeals of delight reign free from your throat at Jeno’s foreplay, continuing while he engulfs and sucks both your firm nipples.

“You sound so pretty for me, girly.” he rasps out, dragging his lips over your fleshy, supple breasts.

The nickname sends lightning straight to your core, making you whimper in neediness.

Jeno ends the fun with enjoying your tits to start the pleasure awaiting for him from your cunt.

His left hand holds you while his right hand travels down your tummy, until it reaches the bit of skin below your navel.

There’s a dark appetite visible in his orbs. He looks at you for any sign of uneasiness while his hand goes down. Your breath only hitches, pussy tingling with a quiet gasp from your mouth once his fingers rubbed down to your panty-covered cunt.

It’s so damp and warm down here, he thinks to himself.

“So horny, aren’t we now?”

The way he talks to you alone makes you ignite within.

He decides to pull your underwear to the side, his fingers now coming in full, bare contact with the outside of your pussy.

You’re practically holding your breath at this point, waiting for him to play with you, anticipating the feeling.

“Me too.” he utters, answering his own rhetorical question before he starts running his fingers slowly around your clit.

His touch on your swelling bud causes another hushed gasp to come from you. He’s beyond pleased by listening to all the noises your voice produces due to his sultry touches.

His finger tips slid over your clit and then inched down, feeling the outside of your sex and letting you grow accustomed to his touch.

He ends up sliding one finger up your hole, leaving your mouth ajar and body to quiver from him inserting it in.

Jeno’s tongue licks around his teeth while he fingers you, your walls so tight around his finger.

“Relax for me, hm?” he leans in to kiss you, easing your body to the feeling.

His lips continuously colliding with your own makes you lost for a moment, body fuzzy and loosened up until he decides to squeeze in another finger.

The jolt of pressure wrenched a moan out of you, making Jeno draw back to bite his lip and laugh quietly. It was such a turn on for him to listen and see the beautiful noises and faces you make— and he hadn’t even fucked you yet.

He was prepping your pussy for his own length, already salivating in thinking of you taking him whole.

His long, thick fingers curl into a ‘hook’ motion, causing your legs to shake in lust and a shiver runs inside your core that tingled.

“Mhmmm…” you mewled, starting to subconsciously grind and meet the movements of his fingers toying with your moist and velvety sex.

Watching your responses to his movements feels so good to Jeno. He can feel you start to clamp around his digits, making his own mouth open and turn into a smirk. His cock is painfully hard, begging to be free and feel that clamping sensation that his own fingers do. He really hates to rip you from nearing your climax, but he’d rather you both cum together, your body underneath his.

With that, he halts his movements and removes his fingers. A broken whine rips from your throat at the feeling of him leaving your needy cunt. You could practically cry. Desperation clouded over you.

Jeno quickly quiets you down with now inserting those sticky fingers of his inside your mouth, causing you to hum around his digits, eyes wide and then closed shut.

The fullness and heaviness from his fingers and your own essence weighing over your tongue has your pussy clenching over nothing. You eagerly suck your wetness from his fingers, not bothered that he was just in you. This was all so racy.

“Such a good girl for me— fuck.” he groans, watching you suck his fingers in, your teeth faintly raking over them, cock twitching at how dirty this sweet girl was.

“Gonna make you cum from my cock, don’t worry.”

He removes his fingers from your mouth, pulling you off his lap, motioning you to lay back down.

Your heart rate picks up as you carefully lie over his backseat. He traces the delicate curves of your hips and finds his way to the band of your underwear, you each sharing a nod of consent for him to remove them.

He tugs them down and off, tossing them and he gets you to pull your knees up, allowing more room for Jeno within this limited space.

He mentally whistles at the sight of your princess parts and the position you’re in, waiting for him to take you in the back of his car.

He doesn’t waste anymore time and hastily gets rid of his confining jeans and briefs, his cock immediately standing proudly once his underwear is pulled off.

The sight of his big and thick, towering manhood has your breath stuck in your throat.

While he moves and reaches over to dig for a condom in his glove compartment, your palms become sweaty in the thought of him squeezing his length inside you.

He looked absolutely delicious, but you weren’t sure if you could handle someone as big as him.

Jeno finds a condom, ripping the plastic open with his teeth and flings the wrapper out of sight. He stretches the rubber over his length, precum already leaking from his tip.

As he inches towards you, you can’t help but voice your concern.

“Will it fit? you shakily breathed.

Jeno can’t help but tilt his head, staring at you intently. His lips can’t help but curl, offering you a reassuring smile.

His lips suddenly find themselves over your knees, pressing a gentle kiss over both of them, making your heart pump with fondness.

“We will make it fit.”

“Let me know if it hurts, okay? Don’t want you in pain, pretty.”

“Okay.” is all you say, still sweaty, but ready for him to enter you, core aching to be touched again.

He massages the inside of your thighs with care, trying to ease you up some more. He grabs his length and rubs it along your folds— especially dragging the tip past your clit, making you moan at the sensation.

He finally takes it upon him to prudently push his cock into your entrance, his mouth open while he starts to stretch you out.

Your legs immediately hook around him and rest on his lower back, meanwhile your arms decide to cling onto his beefy biceps for support. You cry out a moan from the pressure.

“It’s okay, girly, I got you.”

“You’re safe with me. Gonna take care of you.” Jeno’s breath fans over your face before he captures your lips with his. His hips slowly begin to roll as you kissed him back with enthusiasm, a burst of adrenaline racing through your bloodstream.

Your walls practically swallowed him, cock fitting so snug inside you. His left hand brushed into your hair, running his fingers loosely around your locks, making you relax from his touch.

“God! You— you’re so big.” you blatantly puffed out, starting to feel his thick cock brush past your walls.

“Yeah? You can take it, pretty— right?” the blood in Jeno’s body starts to boil due to the warmth encompassing his length, and from the sense of pride filling him from your reaction to his size.

He begins to start a steady pace with his hip movements, sliding his cock in and out— not all the way, but enough to stimulate your sensitive walls.

He falls into a natural pattern as your body accepts him well. Your vision darts upwards towards the roof of the car, beginning to lose yourself to his fat cock.

Though it quickly lowers again when his head dips into your right breast, tongue slipping out and starting to twist around your erect nipple.

A mewl jumps out of you, hands redirecting to his muscular back with your nails pressing tightly into his skin.

“C’mon, talk to me.” Jeno rasps, making brief eye contact with you for a second before he briskly attacks your entire right breast with his mouth. He ferociously makes out with your mound and marks you, painting you with reddish-purple splotches and leaving the flesh sheening in spit.

His hunger for attention and to get you both off is ardent. Every other thrust into you is rigid. He was pacing himself at first to start off, but now his rhythm increases to fuck you hard and his length travels into you deep. He has no intention in holding back his horniness.

Lack of words from you aside from the whimpers and moans has him moving a hand to touch and toy with your clit. His calloused fingers alternate between softly pinching and sliding his fingers in a back-and-forth motion along the puffy bud.

“Oh— God! Jeno!” the attentiveness he shows to your aching clit while ramming into you has you scream his name. It has you automatically canting your hips up to meet his thrusts into you.

Your reactions and hearing his name from your voice drives Jeno wild. Breathy grunts leave his mouth, hips continuing in chasing both of your highs.

The current setting and moment is electrifying. Fucking in the car in a school parking lot was obscene and limited compared to bed space, but it was still extremely mind-numbing and euphoric sex.

Your frame caged under Jeno’s ripped body is like a dream. You felt so helpless in this position, but couldn’t possibly wish for him to stop. It was so hot seeing and feeling his figure fuck you into oblivion.

Your body rocking over the leather car seats only amplifies your feeling of sensitivity and arousal. God, how amazing it felt for Jeno to be pleasing you in this way was. You can’t even imagine how good it would be to fuck in other ways— in other places, with him.

His relentless efforts has your mouth stuck open. The arousement increases the amount of saliva within your mouth. Surprise catches you when some of it seeps out the corner of your mouth.

Your tongue lolls out in attempt to catch the drool before it fully falls, failing miserably as it rapidly trickles down from the corner, to your chin. Quickly, you wipe it off messily and then place your hand back over his skin, but it’s obvious that Jeno sees what just happened, as he’s right over you— much to your embarrassment.

Though, his cock surges in amusement, and so does his other head. You were literally drooling over his cock. How fucking sexy was that? Wonder how’d you look on your knees giving him the messiest head. Oh how he hopes to have that thought come to life one day.

“Mhm. So hot— fucking my cute, pretty neighbor. You like that too, hm? You like the feeling of your big neighbor on top and inside of you?” he teases you, watching your pretty figure being ruined beautifully by him. His filthy words mix with his dirty, animalistic movements.

“Feels so full and good, Jeno!” you choke out. You’re blissed out, feeling like the band in your core may snap soon.

There you go saying his name again, making Jeno groan repeatedly in ecstasy, dragging his cock deep into you, his weighty sack occasionally slapping against your bottom.

“Yeah? So full of me, pretty.”

“Taking me so well, like a good girl.”

Heat swells in your cheeks from his comments and the hot temperature and pressure felt as he fucks you. As much as you savor it, it’s becoming too much. The finish line is coming close to being ripped apart.

The thrill in the pit of your stomach has it churning. His long, deep strokes, each of your various moans bouncing off the tinted windows, his gruffly voice, and his finger-work over your sensitive bud— it’s all captivating you to feel an abundance of dopamine rush.

A shiver in your core tingles consistently. You’re beginning to lose control. It’s like you’re stoned and can’t focus on anything aside from the intensity of that tingly pressure present within you.

“Gonna cum, Jeno.” your voice cracked while your muscles tightened.

“Fuck,” he hisses at the tight grip of your walls swallowing him from the tip to base.

Your eyes rolled back behind your trembling lashes, and he watches with a keen stare and relishes in your smutty sounds. It all only encourages him to keep persisting to reach the peak.

And then, you finally break.

Your fluid expels from your pussy, lubricating your walls and leaving you a whimpering, wet mess.

Jeno pushes through your spasming, feeling the warmth spreading in your heated cunt through his condom. His own muscles can’t resist in clenching hard. He pushed you over the edge and possessed your mind and body with euphoria.

It’s practically heaven. His balls tighten and eyebrows push together with hips starting to slow down as strings of cum begin to fill his condom. It’s so relieving that a few guttural moans come out from his throat.

His hot seed falling into the condom is so fulfilling, sack emptied. All this activity has left him sweaty all over and mouth dry. His chest continues to heave and he carefully pulls out of you.

You shake and shiver now that the tension is dying down, and your muscles try to relax after the satisfying orgasm.

Jeno is quick to remove his used condom and tie it, abandoning it in a random spot in the car. He’ll of course, clean his car later.

He reaches towards the front of the car to search for his shirt, and then edges back to you.

“Hey, you were amazing, sweet girl. Let me help you.” Jeno spoke softly to you while the back of his fingers stroke one of your shaky thighs.

He began to use his shirt as a rag for any wetness seeping out and around the outside of your cunt.

You couldn’t help but flush at the aftercare he shows you, even while in a car and not hesitating to sacrifice his shirt to wipe your spills. Seems like chivalry isn’t dead after all.

“Thank you.” you say to him when he’s finished.

He just smiles at you, eyes crinkling as he sticks out a hand for you to grab, and helps you sit up next to him.

Still both fully naked, you still feel flushed and exposed now that the sex was over. Your breasts hanging out and his cock lying limp over his thigh was too hard to ignore. Jeno notices, and quickly gathers your t-shirt for you and his briefs for him, making you thank him once again.

You don’t know what to say now and he doesn’t know what to do. It’s obvious now that you two have an attraction to one another. But, where do you two go from here? Will this be a one time thing? Or maybe a friends-with-benefits type of deal? Guess you didn’t need a label right away, you barely know him. But you know you needed more of him, in any way— sexual or not.

In the midst of each of your silence, Jeno decides to reach for your hand, clasping his fingers with your own under his. He gently squeezes your hand, causing your own legs to squeeze together, beginning to feel a sense of giddiness inside.

“What’s on your mind?” he asks, thumb beginning to soothe you as he drags it back and forth the side of your hand.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” the words leap out of you, making you cringe as soon as they come out.

Mortification washes over you. Why the fuck would you ask that? What are you even implying?

Your sudden question makes him chuckle and grin, especially now that you already fucked. You guys are just now having this conversation.

“No Y/n, I don’t. I’m one-hundred percent single.” he smirks at you, thumb still tracing your skin.

His answer is pleasing to your ears. You try not to show how obviously happy you are with that. A faint smile is all you allow yourself to show.

“You don’t have a boyfriend now, do you?” he tilts his head at you, eyes playful.

“I don’t.” you spoke softly.

Just like you, Jeno finds himself content with your answer.

“Good girl.”

ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+ ﾟ+..｡*ﾟ+

[robin-evry]

Hiiiiiii !!!! Could I please ask for half-flower (rose) yuu? ♡

Sure thing, ask and you shall receive

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐔𝐔 𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 / 𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐏𝐇 🌹🥀

A nymph (Ancient Greek: νύμφη, romanized: nýmphē; Attic Greek: [nýmpʰɛː]; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, landform, or tree, and are usually depicted as maidens.

I know this isn't what you ask for, but I decided to modify it a little to have a little background, I chose nymph due to them being a personification of nature, so this yuu will be a nymph that is the personification of the flower rose

( English is not my first language )

Yuu's appearance is deeply tied to the rose motif. They have half of their body adorned with intricate rose patterns, where thorny vines twist elegantly along with their skin, possibly wrapping around their arms and legs.

They are calm and nurturing like a flower in full bloom, but if someone harms those they care about, they reveal her "thorny" side, becoming sharp-tongued and quick to defend themselve and others.

They are the embodiment of the rose—elegant, serene, and welcoming to those who approach them with kindness. They value harmony, often seeking to create peace among those around them, much like how a rose beautifies its surroundings. However, like the thorned stem of the flower, they have a sharp edge. They are fiercely protective of their friends and can be quite intimidating when someone threatens them.

When they walk past the surroundings with plants, flowers or roses start to bloom out of nowhere since they have a connection to nature. Become NRC affocial gardener

Regardless they are actually very good at gardening, when Crowley was visiting ramshackle he saw that ramshackle is like a green house rich with beautiful plants, instead of a run down shack it looks like a rich and bountiful house that are filled with flowers around it making it beautiful. Soon they were hired to be a gardener including a paycheck for them.

And it did not disappoint, the school became a lot more popular, the school has become a much nicer place than RSA, the film research club usually films scenes that takes place in forest or an area field with flowers in exchange of not damaging the flowers, even some famous brands, photographer etc do their photo or filming in NRC, Crowley managed to double the amount the his getting but 80% of the money was given to yuu.

During some time epel ask half flower!yuu to help him with the trees in his village, since their grandparents have apple trees and it been getting hard to maintain. As well to use their natural ability to turn dead trees into flourishing apple trees.

Each winter, they're powers and energy slowly begin to dwindle as the weather turns colder. Much like how roses enter dormancy during the winter season, they also withdraw from their usual lively state. Their body and magic are tied to nature, so they require this period of rest to rejuvenate their powers. During hibernation, the rose vines that adorn their body recede slightly.

This hibernation period usually lasts from late fall until the first signs of spring. During this time, their personality becomes quieter, more introspective. They tend to avoid conflict, conserving their energy by staying indoors and using her magic sparingly. However, even in this dormant state, their thorns remain sharp, ready to defend themselves and others if necessary.

Since they're connected to plants and nature, they have the ability to manipulate any plant similar to poison ivy powers but the drawback they are unable to create plants, only be able to only existing resources.

Example : during the savanaclaw arc, they were unable to manipulate plants due to the lack of plants or nature in the area. So they carried a sack of seeds In case of this situation.

They're floral pheromones can calm, soothe, or subtly influence others. At NRC, they uses this ability carefully, often to de-escalate conflicts before they spiral out of control. In dangerous situations, they can amplify the effect to create an overwhelming sense of peace, putting their opponents into a dazed or passive state.

In ramshackle, there's a small garden filled with rare flowers, and some students found half flower!yuu tending the flowers during their free time and if any students pluck their flowers without permission or destroy it, they will dangle by the leg upside down for half an hour.

Their dorm room is a sanctuary of its own, filled with potted plants, vines, and roses that respond to their presence. It has a calming atmosphere, with the faint scent of roses always lingering in the air. Friends often visit their room for peace and quiet when the chaos of NRC becomes overwhelming, knowing that their plants will offer comfort and protection. They've become known for her green thumb, and their room is a hidden oasis amid the more chaotic, dark environment of the school.

They are also knowledgeable about biology on plants. During their free time if a student manages to come in contact with their dangerous plants, they will create an antitude for the situation. They are also excellent pharmacists.

Classes like potionolgy are extremely easy for them, one of Mr crewel star pupal. Some students seek for them for their guidance on the subject

Them and Vil share an appreciation for beauty and elegance. Vil respects their natural grace and sees her as a symbol of refined strength. They bond over skincare, fashion, and the art of presentation, though Vil sometimes wishes they would embrace a more high-maintenance beauty routine. meanwhile, they enjoy Vil's dedication to perfection but reminds him that even roses have imperfections that make them unique.

Also they usually have a sun bath, they will lay in the ramshackle ground wearing a sun glass and enjoy the sunlight.

They are also to be described as very confident and brash by people, described by people as their thorn side even tho that people said this side is ugly, half-flower!yuu would ignore them due to them loving both sides of themselves and always be true to themselves.

Even tho people see them as a kind and brash person, they are also very judgemental immediately judging people's fashion sense, during their first meeting with ace, in their head they are judging his uniform and hairstyle. They also had a very sharp tongue immediately roasting the first years during their first meeting.

[scintillasofbeomgyu]

ᯓ★ from me to you — chapter four: daydream

pairing: choi beomgyu x fem!reader. genres: slice of life, social media au, body swap, fluff, angst. wc: 2,5k. warnings: language, they’re in a hospital. i am not a doctor, so if there are any medical inaccuracies in this chapter do not @ me 😭 they will be discussing depression and anxiety, and beomgyu does have a teeny episode, mention of blood (but it’s kinda a funny situation 🤣). an: first three screenshots, then written part, then the last three!

It is Spring. The world is doused in the bright colours of budding flowers that have overcome the harsh cold of winter. The breeze is cool and gentle, and the sun is warm and cozy, leaving the air in a comfortable equilibrium. At this time, the serene trail at Apsan Park would be teeming with hikers eager to conquer it and admire its entrancing beauty, families would be excitedly preparing for picnics under fluffy-clouded blue skies, and who could dare to forget Spring’s shining star: Daegu’s cherry blossoms, that would be out in full bloom at the Flower Garden, in their best and prettiest shades of pinks and whites, swaying on branches and sailing through the air like magic.

The door opens and Beomgyu’s reverie is pulled from under him. He falls back down to earth where his attention is drawn to the doctor stalking into the room on his squelching black crocs with a grave look on his face. He appears engrossed in whatever is printed out on the clipboard in his hands.

The ID card hanging from the lanyard around his neck — Yeungnam University Medical Centre, Dr. Seungcheol Choi, Internal Medicine — rattles in its plastic casing as he moves quickly and swiftly to the desk. He doesn’t look up to acknowledge Beomgyu where he stands by the window just behind the desk, but gestures for him to sit in the hard leather seat on the other side of it. Beomgyu purses his lips in a forced smile and nods.

The office is small, cold and smells strongly of disinfectant. The lack of indoor lighting makes the room look grey and dreary, the only colour at all provided by the medical posters and charts stuck against the glossy white walls. He supposes they are meant to serve an informative purpose, but merely feel eerie to him.

There is a long wooden bookshelf under the wall and against the window where he had stood, where, amongst the array of white papers with indecipherable scribbles written on them, is a sole photo of Dr. Seungcheol Choi and a friend at what appears to be their graduation ceremony.

Among the many things which unsettled him about being in this office, the photo and their big smiling faces brings Beomgyu a sense of solace.

After a long few minutes, Seungcheol sets the clipboard on his desk and finally considers his younger brother. Beomgyu takes the opportunity to notice with greater effort what he had noticed when he arrived at the hospital that morning: his brother looks older.

His cheeks have hollowed and his features are more prominent. His dark hair is cut like their father’s. There is fine stubble creating a light shadow along his jaw and below it. The thick bags under his eyes drive concern into Beomgyu’s heart. He wonders what his brother’s eyes have seen to give them the fatigued yet mature glow they shone with now.

“The good news is,” Seungcehol says, and even his voice sounds deeper when he speaks, “the results from the blood sample we took and sent for testing does not reflect anything terribly wrong. Your iron is a bit low, though, so I do recommend a good diet change. If that doesn’t work, iron supplements are readily available over the counter. If it gets worse, which I doubt in your case, you can make another appointment and they will give you an intravenous iron supplementation here at the hospital.”

The tension in Beomgyu’s shoulders eases just an inch and he sinks into the chair a little more comfortably. An iron deficiency was manageable. An iron deficiency made sense. And iron deficiency was not alarming. “That’s good. Very good.”

Seungcheol nods in agreement, but the frown pressed into his forehead tells there is more to it. Beomgyu slightly tenses up again. “What is it, Hyung?”

His brother picks up the clipboard, presumably carrying the details and results of Beomgyu’s check up, and turns to a specific page before handing it to him. “The results of the mental wellness screening test we did is a bit of concern for me.”

Beomgyu takes it from him and scans the page. Then he frowns. “I don’t understand.”

“Beomgyu, this screening test works a little like how a multiple choice test would. The only way to get everything wrong is if you know what all the right answers are. And your answer to every one of these questions seems to suggest that you strongly believe nothing is wrong with you. Which leads me to believe something strongly is.”

Beomgyu’s throat dries and chest feels heavy. His fingers press into the paper carrying test he had taken earlier that very morning. The answers he had marked with his own hand now glare back at him like an inescapable house of mirrors. The seed of fear that had been dormant by his own efforts begins to take root.

“I am not in the position to make an accurate diagnosis based on the screening test; I am not qualified in that way. I can, however, refer you to one of the best psychiatrists in Seoul – Dr. Junmyeon Kim. He’s a good sunbae of mine,” Seungcheol says, fishing in a drawer for a notepad and pen from the desk, “and he has lots of experience dealing with idols, actors – entertainment industry cases – specifically. I trust his abilities wholeheartedly,” he scribbles something on the paper and hands it to Beomgyu. “He is actually here today meeting with the psychiatry department. You can take that with you and –”

“What do you think it is, though?” Beomgyu’s voice comes out thick and shaky. He swallows heavily and finally manages to tear his eyes away from the paper in his hands to search his brother’s face. “Because it sounds like you have a pretty good idea.”

“I can’t say for sure – ”

“Hyung.” Beomgyu breathes a sharp pain beginning at his temples, “Tell me.”

Seungcheol sighs. “Considering what the screening test reflects, and what your friends have shared with me, you may have some form of high-functioning depression and anxiety. You’re able to go about your day normally: carry out tasks and interact with people just fine, but you still feel the symptoms of these illnesses just as any other patient would. And it sounds as if you may have been trying to suppress them too. Which may be what is causing your nightmares.” His eyes drop to his folded hands on the table for a long moment before returning to his little brother. His eyebrows furrow with concern. “Why didn’t you tell us about Vietnam, Beomgyu?”

Beomgyu’s heart races and his chest tightens. The room feels as if it is closing in on him. His hands tremble and his vision begins to blur so he squeezes his eyes shut.

But I am happy. I have a loving family. I have good friends. I have a job doing what I love. I have adoring fans. I am grateful. So why?

Why do I still feel so empty?

“Beomgyu. Hey, are you okay?” Seungcheol asks, his voice laden with concern as he rushes to his side. The image of the dark bags under his eyes flashes across Beomgyu’s mind, and he forces himself to still.

He feels Seunghcheol’s hand on his shoulder. His eyes open and he smiles. “I’m okay, Hyung. I am sorry that you came all the way from Daegu for this.”

“Beomgyu,” Seungcheol says firmly, yet gently, “it is my job to take care of you. As your brother, but also as a doctor. You need to know that you can ask for help if and when you need it.”

Beomgyu nods absently as he climbs to his feet and returns the report to his brother. He takes the referral from the desk and bows before walking to the door. “Thank you, Hyung.” He grabs the door and pauses, his fingers tightening around the knob. “Don’t… tell mom and dad about this. They’ll worry too much. And thank Kibum-hyung for allowing us to use his office.”

Seungcheol is quiet for a moment. “Of course. It’s your decision to make. Don’t forget to call after you speak with Dr. Kim.”

Beomgyu nods once more and greets his brother before stepping out into the hallway and closing the door behind him.

Feet comes thundering down the hallway suddenly and Beomgyu jumps, frightened out of his consuming thoughts. He shoves the letter into his pocket.

His eyes dart around anxiously, but laughs when he finds Yeonjun and Kai racing to him, trying to push and fight in front of one another.

“What did he say?”

“Are you okay?”

“Are you going to die?”

“Of course not, you idiot!”

The commotion begins to draw the attention of other visitors in the hall and Beomgyu groans, adjusting his mask. “Can the two of you be quiet!” He yells at them in a restrained voice, pushing a finger to his lips and offering apologetic looks to everyone else.

They protest as Beomgyu grabs them by their coats and pulls them around a corner for more privacy, demanding answers. As soon as they’re alone however, they both go quiet and stare at him in anticipation. Beomgyu rolls his eyes, but chuckles.

“I am okay. The tests didn’t pick up any major problems.” Beomgyu says and they sigh in relief. He smiles, but the weight of the fumbled recommendation in his pocket makes his stomach twist. “But…”

They both freeze, their eyes flashing between concern and fear. “What?” Kai asks.

Guilt squeezes Beomgyu’s chest. He forces a laugh. “Why are you looking at me like that! He only said my iron is a bit low, so I need to eat better and exercise more.”

“I told you to eat better and exercise!” Yeonjun scolds, fixing his hands in his hips. “Did I not?” Then he turns to Kai, “See! But no, I am the boomer for telling you you need to not game that much!”

“Hyung,” Kai sighs, mirroring Yeonjun’s stance. “I told you. Gaming is relaxing for me!”

They start walking toward the lobby, bickering about Kai’s mistake during dance practice and Yeonjun taking forever in the shower and what they’re going to order for dinner. Beomgyu trails behind them and watches with a faint smile. They’ve all been through a lot. He can’t bring himself to make his matter bigger than anyone else’s.

He’ll work harder to be more thankful.

“Oh!” Yeonjun smacks his hands together, turning to Beomgyu. “I forgot to mention, a hoobae of mine is a student at this hospital. They shift departments, and he’s in the psychiatry ward this week. Let’s go say hi!”

Beomgyu’s stomach plummets. He grabs Yeonjun’s arm in panic. “Hyung. Um. We have work to do. The demo, we still need to work on it, remember?”

Yeonjun considers him for a moment. “We won’t be long, we’re just saying hi.”

“I, uh,” Beomgyu says, mind searching desperately for an excuse. He mentally curses when he cannot think of one. But then a lightbulb goes off. “I have to go to the pharmacy. For iron supplements.”

Yeonjun raises an eyebrow. Then he hums. “Okay. We’ll meet up with you in the lobby then.”

He turns and waves over his shoulder. Kai steels his expression and shakes a fist reassuringly before jogging after him.

Beomgyu waits until he can no longer see them, then his shoulders fall and he breathes. He pulls out the referral letter from his pocket where he had stuffed it and unfurls it.

He hadn’t seen his brother in two whole years, and this is how it had to go?

He sighs, stuffs it back in his pocket and looks up at the signage for the way to the lobby. When he reaches the escalator, a body zooming through the floor below makes him stop in his tracks. They maneuver their way through obstacles in their path and race up the escalator. Just before the landing, they trip and face plant into the floor next to him.

Beomgyu gasps and rushes to help. “Hey, are you okay?”

The girl groans as she takes his outstretched hand. He helps her up and she uses her free hand to hold onto her head. “Yeah, sorry.”

Beomgyu helps her to a seat and gets a good look at her to make sure she’s not badly hurt.

At first glance, she seems plain and simple, nothing about her really special at all. She is dressed in wide-legged washed out jeans and a green knitted sweater, one sleeve more stretched than the other and hanging over her hand. Her dark hair is brushed out of her face, yet it is wild from the running and the subsequent fall. And the cause of said fall was quite clearly the old-looking, scuffed up black sneakers hugging her feet.

But when she finally looks at Beomgyu, it is as if time stops. The big eyes of this unassuming girl regard him with nothing but sincere kindness. Her smile reaches from ear to ear, teeth-showing, as if she means it with her whole heart, and Beomgyu’s chest trembles.

“Thank you!” She grins, bowing her head before giving him two thumbs up. “I’m all good. Sorry for getting in your way!”

Beomgyu shakes his head, the edges of his lips picking up. “Ah, no! No that’s okay.”

“No, I shouldn’t have ran!” She sighs as if frustrated with herself, but before Beomgyu can speak, she rambles on. “It’s a hospital, I was being silly. It’s just my friend’s on his break soon and he hasn’t eaten since this morning and I kind of need his help tomorrow because I’m moving – not that I’m only doing this because I need his help! I’m not that kind of person! But he likes my kimchi stew and —”

Beomgyu watches her in amusement, but then his eyes widens and he gasps. “Y-Your!”

She tilts her head in confusion, blood dripping down her nose. Beomgyu points in panic and when she finally realizes, she laughs and wipes it with the back of her hand. “No, no! This is okay, I’m – ” she freezes, checks her watch and jumps to her feet. “I’m late!”

She readjusts her backpack and hurries off again into the hospital, leaving Beomgyu in a state between shock, concern and absolute dumbfoundedness as he stares after her.

“Hyung?” Kai says, just barely snapping Beomgyu out of it. He came from the elevator with Yeonjun and someone else in a white coat who he has never seen before. “What’s wrong?” He arches a brow, following Beomgyu’s line of eyesight.

Beomgyu opens his mouth to speak, but cannot even begin to make sense of what just happened himself. Instead, he bursts out laughing. His friends look at one another, then at him.

“Bro,” Yeonjun raises a brow. “Are you okay? Genuinely?”

The girl, her silliness and the bright aura she had left behind makes Beomgyu’s chest zing, and a score pops into his mind.

“I… think I may have an idea for a demo track.”

prev. | mlist | next

life is rough for (y/n). after dropping out of college and moving away from her family to live life on her own terms, she struggles to keep up with the fast-paced city life in Seoul. she becomes a fan of the kpop idol, choi beomgyu. while his content keeps her motivated to strive for her dreams, she can’t help but wish she had the same luck he has had. but not everything is as it seems.

taglist: @yoonzinoswife @ameliesaysshoo @bgomtori @woncheecks @seodami @thing89 @stormy1408 @boba-beom @binluvsu @lillynval @nothingwithoutgyu @gyuville @tinhq @soobnuuy @031323o (send an ask to be added!)

scintillasofbeomgyu © all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, alter, or repost in any way.

[urhoneycombwitch]

Hiya I remember awhile ago you did a blurb with autistic!reader and I was wondering if you’d be open to doing another one? I haven’t found many fics with an autistic reader and would love love love to see more ❤️

foreword: thanks for requesting, anon. autistic!reader is very close to my heart <3 this is based on personal experience with autistic shutdowns, I obviously do not speak for the entire autistic community as this looks differently for everyone, but hopefully some of you can find yourselves reflected here.

cw: descriptions of autistic shutdown, R goes nonverbal, gender neutral!R, pet names are used

___

You can feel it coming from a mile away- that slow, sticky, sinking feeling that starts in your stomach and ends trapped in your throat.

Words come fewer and far between, near the end of your shift- everything feels too loud and too bright and too much.

In the relative quiet of the driver’s seat, you idle in the parking lot, head thunked against the worn headrest, hands limp on the wheel. It’s like someone is walking through the halls of your brain, flicking off all the light switches as they go, leaving you empty and hollowed out.

Starting the drive towards home, you will yourself to feel something, anything, but know from experience that’s not how this works- you’re gonna have to ride the wave. Which normally would leave you feeling claustrophobic and panicky, but right now, you barely have the energy to keep your eyes on the road.

Hawkins is lush and blooming with spring, wildflowers growing alongside the roads, daisies poking out from the cool shade the row of trailers provides. It’s usually your favorite time of year, the sun easing any leftover aches from winter- but as you step out into the cool air, work bag slung over one shoulder, the sun can’t touch the dark shroud of your mind.

The trailer smells like heady herbs and spices, steam billowing from stovetop pots; Eddie’s monitoring them closely, wooden spoon dipping between the two to stir. When he hears the front door close, he half-turns to you, keeping his eye line on the stove- “Hey, sweetheart- pasta’s almost ready then I’ll kiss ya. Want parmesan on yours?”

“Mhm.” A soft noise, in the back of your throat, just barely louder than the buzz of the overhead fan. “I’m gonna… change.”

The words feel clunky, like you’re chewing on them before letting them out, leaving them thin and stretched; you don’t give Eddie time to engage in more conversation, moving at what you hope is a normal and not strangely-slow pace down the hall.

It’s quieter, in your room, the clanking of kitchen noises dimmed by the half-closed door. Your work bag drops with a thunk to the carpet. With movements syrupy-slow, you sit on the edge of the bed, toeing off your shoes, not bothering to strip off your jean jacket before curling onto your side, facing the wall.

Your hands cup the insides of your elbows, absently squeezing, your vision fuzzy with paint-chipped wall, the corner of a Dio poster. The overhead light is searingly bright, humming with energy, but you’re not ready to close your eyes and give in just yet, wanting to delay the strange and upsetting dreams that are sure to plague your sleep tonight.

Distantly, you hear the kitchen fan go quiet, then some more clanking, heavy footsteps down the hall- and then the click and subsequent gentle darkness of the bedroom light getting turned off.

With all the sources of indoor noise gone, you can track Eddie’s path through the room easily- first he cracks open the window, the far-off sound of birds twittering, a gust of sunset-tinged air breezing in; then he clicks on the bedside lamp, a glow much warmer and softer than the overhead light settling into the room.

”Oh, baby,” he murmurs, deep-timbered voice rich with compassion and worry. Under normal circumstances it’d bring you to tears.

You feel the mattress dip under Eddie’s weight before he asks, “Can I hold you?”

When you manage another hum, Eddie stretches out behind you on the mattress, your body molding easily into him. His arms wrap gentle but firm around your middle, legs slotting into the space made by your stacked knees, his chin resting securely over the crown of your head.

Your breaths come easier, with the pressure of his body; Eddie smells good, familiar- like spiced deodorant, cooking basil, lingering cigarette-smoke. You can feel his voice vibrating from where his throat is pressed into you as he speaks again.

”Thought something might be up when you got home- either that or you were trying a new method to break the time loop I was trapped in, ‘cuz that’s the only other reason I can think of as to why you wouldn’t kiss me immediately.”

He’s teasing, and while you can’t bring yourself to laugh, you slip your hand into one of his, fingers interlacing, giving him a little squeeze.

Eddie returns the gesture, rings cold but quickly warming against the back of your hand. “Your mean ol’ brain lock you out again?”

When you hum again in weary admission, Eddie clucks his tongue, pulling you into himself a bit tighter- “Gonna look around for that damn key, it’s gotta be around here somewhere. Y’know, if you wanted me on my hands and knees you could’ve just said so.”

Another squeeze from you, returned as Eddie lifts his head to press his lips to the side of yours. “I’m gonna help you out of this jacket, get you something comfy to wear, and then we’re gonna eat our pasta in bed because we are goddamn grown-ups with grown-up privileges. Sound like a plan?”

You nod, and Eddie reluctantly moves away from the warmth of your body, pressing another kiss to your exposed cheek before going over to rummage through the dresser drawers for some pajamas.

The tightness in your chest loosens, just slightly, but enough to draw in a full breath for the first time in hours.

The fog in your mind remains, but as Eddie starts telling you about his next campaign plans, filling the air with a steady and welcome stream of chatter, you feel light in the distance, a bit of hope leaking through the dark.

[coqxettee]

How to romanticise Spring:

Some ideas and things you can do to romanticise the Spring season 🫧˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚.🧚🏻‍♀️.

Spring Wardrobe - Spring is the perfect time to start integrating new pieces into your wardrobe. Long flowing dresses, maxi skirts, pretty blouses, milkmaid dresses/shirts, rompers, dungarees, mini skirts, cami’s and so much more. Make sure to add a pair of new Spring pumps (Mary janes are perfect) and some pretty floral hair bandanna’s and flower crowns in there too. Pastel pinks, yellows, blues, greens and white fit perfect for this time of year, along with patterns and materials like floral print and lace 🩰

Change your eating habits. Put away the comfort food from winter and indulge in the delicious delicacy’s of Spring. Fresh fruit and vegetables can make endless recipes for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, sweet things like Oatmeal, Honey, gelato and any particularly sweet fruits are perfect for this time of year 🍒🥗🍵

Consume Spring media 💐 The media you consume affects your mood, consuming uplifting Spring content will not only make you feel happier in yourself, but will also make you look forward to and romanticise the season more. I have a list of Movies, TV shows & books you can consume in Spring that I will be uploading shortly ☀️

Read Spring books. There are SO many out there, classics are perfect for this time of year but any whimsical, forest-core, fantasy story’s like “The Hobbit” or “The legend of King Arthur” are perfect too 📖

Listen to classical music, movie soundtracks and pretty instrumentals whenever you are doing any of the following activities (I find it helps romanticising a lot! 🎶🌷)

Have a picnic outside - Bring a wicker picnic basket, beautiful picnic blanket, fancy plates and cutlery and have a picnic fit for a countryside princess outside, either at the park or in a field. Wear a big sun hat to keep shaded from the sun and be sure to bring the essentials (Princess picnic food can include miniature sandwiches, scones, cookies, cakes & cupcakes, fruits like strawberries, cherries and apples, any snacks you can think of, lemonade and sweet iced tea) 🌷

Host a Tea Party (either indoors or outside) Set a table with all your finest dinnerware pieces, wear a floaty dress and white gloves, and use your most precious Teapot to pour fruity and sweet flavoured teas into any delicate teacups you can find. You can even make this Bridgerton inspired and have a high-tea esque party. With cookies and strawberry shortcake, cupcakes and miniature sandwiches. Make sure to set the table with a pretty tablecloth, fresh flowers and napkins/fine cutlery for yourself or your guests. Play some classical music and enjoy 🫖

Go berry/fruit picking. This time of year is perfect for Strawberry, Cherry’s & fruit picking in general. Wear a big straw hat, a long dress and don’t forget to bring your basket with you to collect the fruit in 🍓

Visit a flower field 🌸 💐 this time of year, flowers are in full bloom. Wear the most beautiful dress and a flower crown, so you are ready to twirl in the flower fields to your hearts content 🌷

Bake new Spring recipes. There are SO many Spring/Easter baking ideas on Pinterest. Have a look at any and compile a list of Bakes you want to try this Spring season 🍰

Cook new Spring recipes, you can even incorporate any new foods you have tried into the recipes and be sure to write them down in your recipe book 🥧

Make flower crowns! You can use fresh flowers or fake flowers, some wire or plain headbands. Get creative with them, use flowers, gems, lace, ribbon (this is a lovely activity to do with friends outside) 🌸

Press flowers (Such a Spring fairy activity!) any wild flowers you find (preferably dying or damaged) take them home and press them in a heavy book

Go on Forest Fairy walks. Explore your local forests, parks, meadows in the most vibrant green and pink dresses, wear flower crowns and just be one with nature, listen to fairytale music and take in the wildlife and nature around you 🧚‍♀️

Decorate your bedroom/space for Spring. This can be as simple as changing the bedding or by going all out and re-decorating your room completely. Fresh flowers, fake plants, cottage-core illustrations of animals look lovely too 🌷

Celebrate Easter like a Spring princess (really get into it this year) enjoy a beautiful Spring breakfast, paint eggs, eat chocolate, do some Easter bakes in the kitchen, make Easter Sunday a special day for you 🐣

Journal/Sketch/Paint - Painting outside is one of my favourite things to do, and you could even set up your easel/painting supplies in a garden or local field and paint the scenery 💐 Journalling all about your pretty Spring days can be uplifting and I find that sketching illustrations of Flowers, woodland animals and just Nature in general makes me feel so at ease any time I do so 🦢

Visit historical places like castles, botanical gardens and garden centres. These places are always abloom in Spring. Most of these places offer café’s and afternoon tea’s too! 🌸

Visit a cute Café for afternoon tea 🫖 (Make sure to wear a pretty outfit!)

Go frolicking in meadows. Roll down hills and twirl in flower fields 🌼

Feed birds and take time out to Spend time with nature and wildlife 🐰

I hope this helped and gave you some ideas, made you feel happy or comforted whilst reading and most importantly, inspired you to live life to the fullest and most beautiful it can be this Springtime 💐📖🎀 All my love ~ Kellen

[softchouli]

When Katniss' third trimester collided with winter, she stopped going to the woods altogether. It was a reasonable decision advised by her mother who was now on close watch, but it didn't do any good to the intense uneasiness Katniss felt most of the time.

As much as she was trying to keep busy indoors, what seemed to placate her the best even if short-lived on some days, was Peeta's contribution to their child's bedroom.

She immediately took interest when he started to block out a variety of big green sections. Then her husband picked the comfiest armchair in the house and paired it with pillows, so she could watch for as long as she wanted, her favorite person doing their favorite thing.

On breaks Peeta would sit beside her, while she took one of his sturdy and contagiously warm hands in both of hers. Tracing and caressing the colorful smudges, hoping their child could take after him and inherit those very same hands.

As days flew by, flowers began to bloom on the gradient green that became intricate foliage, but with no onions in sight. Peeta diligently embellished all the flowers Katniss had taught him about. A wildflower garden shielded from wilting, curated with all the ones that bring hummingbirds and bees around.

Even Buttercup acquired a spot on the wall, peacefully curled up, fur in a generous rendition, surrounded by the blossoms that gave him a name. An old resilient little thing, he barely hears anymore and Katniss suspects he soon won't see too. He lays on Katniss' lap while Peeta paints, the cat's new habit consists of sleeping next to Katniss whenever he sees her close enough to do it, as if on duty to protect her belly.

Later on a ladder, Peeta moves to work on the ceiling. A lilac base starts to take form with pale pinkish clouds that meet his orange right on the corner of the wall that has a window. It looks just like the sunset's 12 displays in better weather. Like Peeta is ensuring their child's little world would still have a clear sky even in grayish times. It's so limpid that sometimes Katniss swore if she was sleepy enough the fluffy clouds would start moving lethargically.

"I can repaint when our child gets a little older and asks me for something else," Peeta told her, the day when there were no more blank parts to give life.

He knows it will take time for the baby to sleep in the room, even when the little one can finally be by their side. Katniss had long before accommodated a crib by the couple's bed, just to be sure it would fit perfectly there, and it has been the furniture's designed place ever since. However, putting the nursery together gives them a sense of a new reality. It makes them both aware of a future where everything good in their family could take a life of its own.

One night when he enters their shared bedroom, the sight of his wife on the bed greets him. She's frowning, seemingly lost in thoughts while working on soft wool, baby shoes judging by the size of the yellow piece she's holding. For months she's been doing all types of small-sized garments to occupy her mind and free time, and by now they could dress a whole town.

The moment she notices him and looks up, Peeta turns the lights off.

"What are you doing?" Tone telling him her frown it's even deeper now.

His answer comes in the form of him gently scooping her from the bed, "taking you two to see a surprise."

"Peeta I'm not looking forward to seeing the floor, turn on the lights, you're going to drop us all." She's clinging to him now, knowing well her full weight, precious baby bump included, are in utter safety in his arms. The years she was steadily taken care of in their hold could prove It.

That makes him chuckle, the rumble on his chest a feeling too familiar. She wants to stay annoyed but her body, the betrayer that it is, instantly relaxes towards his stable warmth.

"Alright, close your eyes."

"I don't know if you noticed yet…" she gestures in the air, "it's already pitch-black." She tries to state the matter-of-fact information with a brisk voice, but by the last word, her hand is back on his shoulder.

So Peeta, as best as he can, presses his forehead on hers. "My love, close your eyes please." He can feel the sigh she lets out against his face, and he's sure she can feel how that only served to amplify his grin.

"They're closed now, but I could be lying, and you wouldn't even know," she mumbled defeatedly.

The sound of his steps, so distracting for hunting, grew to be the kind of noise Katniss is most fond of in their home. The comforting signal that her husband was nearby. And said noise takes her to the faintest smell of paint. Their child's room.

"You can open them now."

There's no complete darkness when Katniss does as she was told to. Diminutive spots are carefully placed everywhere and they timidly shine, like fractionated versions of the sun that mirrors on the lake's surface.

As her eyes take in and get gradually used to it, Peeta slowly walks closer for further inspection so she can make more sense of the dots. The little bright circles have shapes, it's too delicate and detailed, he must've used one of those thin brushes to make this frizzy at the edges. And it's when it hits Katniss.

Dandelion seeds.

Dispersing as if they were being blown away by the wind, twirling in pretty, fluid patterns, going up to their child sky to take the place of stars. Forming constellations that seemed to be dancing just like the fireflies that accompany cicadas and dragonflies in the summertime.

"It's luminescent paint, it absorbs light so it can look like this when there's none," he says smiling, cheek pressed against her loose hair. "But I think it looks the brightest after getting exposed to natural light."

"Their last glimpse before falling asleep." She softly blurts out in awe, and as tears are threatening to spill over the edge; she manages to release a "thank you," right by the side of his neck, her best-loved hiding place.

"Katniss just a few more days until we can see them, my love" Peeta whispers against the crown of her head, squeezing her a little tighter, his endless effort to make her lighter.

The last thing Peeta remembers from that night is blurry, a mixture of them going back to bed, the slight dampness from the tears on the nightshirt his wife was grasping. The soft sounds of Katniss humming herself to calmness.

The first thing Peeta remembers from the next morning is clear as that first day of spring. It sent him running to bring Mrs. Everdeen. To help them finally welcome the permanent visit they couldn't wait any longer to receive.

[thesilversun]

A bit more from the still as yet untitled Difang to Difanghua fic.

previous bit for wip wednesday here

Li Lianhua is still missing, Fang Duobing is taking it hard, and Di Feisheng isn't managing much better.

Inside the Lotus Tower everything is as it had been left, only now with the beginnings of a fine layer of dust forming. 

He doesn’t look at the bed. (No longer slept in) At the neatly folded covers. (No longer left in disarray where he's got distracted) Or at the cooking pots. (No questionable food bubbling in them) Or the mismatch jars of unlabelled herbs and spices. (No more strange combinations) 

The first thing he really looks at just plant in a pot, left on the table, a water dipper beside it. Dry leaves have dropped from it. Dark, crisp little things devoid of life. 

It’s just a plant, but lump it brings to Fang Duobing’s throat is out of proportion.  

Hulijing has travelled with him, the horses are safe and cared for, and the Lotus Tower secured and parked up safely.  

He’d not thought about the plants. Li Lianhua’s plants. 

The ones on the tubs on the outside of the Tower are mostly fine. They’ve been watered when the rain falls. The indoor plants, the ones grown in pots, either for planting out later or because they didn’t need to have grown large before they could be used, haven’t fared so well. Brown and withered they straggle forlornly from their pots balanced shelves and the tops of cupboards. 

His eyes sting, the room going blurry. Li Lianhua is going to be so disappointed in him when he finds out he’s failed to even keep a plant alive. He’d spent so long growing some of them. 

Maybe they aren’t dead yet.  

They might be hibernating or whatever it is plants do in the winter. Plants could do that, couldn’t they? Or was it just trees?  Either way, surely he can still save them. Maybe they aren’t so far gone. Wasn’t bringing wilted flowers back to full bloom one of the first ways Li Lianhua had shown him how Yangzhouman could be used? 

He can do this.  

Surely, he can do this, he tells himself. He can put this right at least. 

If a thing is difficult, even if he’s been told it’s impossible, it's never been a deterrent to him. Not overcoming his childhood illness, not joining Baichuan Court, not finding Li Lianhua for the first time. No, challenges were meant to be met head on and continued with stubbornly until he succeeds.  

Determined now, Fang Duobing gathers the wilting and dead pot plants onto the table, pours water onto the dry soil. It runs through the cracked earth and out the bottom of the pots.  

Sitting on the floor watching him, Hulijng cocks her head to one side as the water drips slowly off the edge of the table.  

Leaving the plants for a moment, Fang Duobing fills her water bowl and puts out some food for her. He should probably eat too, but nothing appeals to him. If he can save Li Lianhua’s plants maybe that is a sign he’ll save him too. Maybe if he can make them live he won’t feel too heart sick and full of grief to eat to tonight.    

Placing the pots into bowls of water this time, he lets the soil go from grey back to a rich black-brown. That on its own won’t be enough, not to see a difference right away, to get that immediate rush of hope. 

Yangzhouman will help with that. Elegant and deadly when use in a fight this other use, to heal and to protect is what Fang Duobing find so special about it. 

It’s strength and softness. Fighting for what you believe in, to make things right, and to provide help and comfort afterwards. 

For some of the plants it doesn’t take much, the lightest of touches, and they act like it’s the first days of spring. Leaves green again, withered buds start to swell and bloom.  With these he carries on, lets them burst into colour and scent, bringing life and brightness back to the room.  

Individually the energy it needs to make them live isn’t much, but it builds up, a slow but sure exhaustion creeping in. He won’t stop thought. Can’t. He can’t let Li Lianhua down in this too.  

Finally, just one dried-up plant remains. The first that he had noticed on the table.  

It’s too far gone. Not water or even him trying to revive it with Yangzhouman works.  It’s dead and there is no bringing it back. It feels far too symbolic. That no matter who else he helps, that in the end, when comes to saving Li Lianhua, he is going to fail.  

Kneeling on the floor, the shrivelled plant held to his chest, Fang Duobing bursts into tears. They’ve been threating all day, and the few that had been shed upon arrive back the Lotus Tower hasn’t eased that.  

Padding over to him, Hulijing licks at his hands. When that doesn't work she rests her head on his knee. Company until it passes, as she’d done with Li Lianhua, when he’d been sick or unable to hide his distress.  

A cold gust of wind makes Fang Duobing look up. Standing in the open doorway, Di Feisheng stares at him.  

“No. No.” It’s said mostly to himself, disbelieving, almost afraid. Then, he crosses the room in just a few steps. “Fang Duobing, is he…” 

“Not that.” Fang Duobing can see the fear in his eyes. Feels it in the pit of his stomach, because it’s all too close to his own. He hates that he’s worried him, he can’t stop the tears either.  He hold up the plant, as if it’s presence will explain. “I forgot to water it. It’s dead. It’s my fault. I know it silly, it’s only a plant, it not-” 

The pot is quickly lifted from his hands and replaced with a jar of wine; the seal already broken.  

“Drink.” 

[prince-liest]

I had my first proper day off today (and have another tomorrow! yay!!!) and spent the whole first half of it running errands. As a little reward for myself and a realization of the fact that I have a full-sun patio, I nabbed a hibiscus plant from Lowe's! The flowers are just incredibly striking and the internet at large seems to consensus on hibiscus being practically a weed in terms of survivability, so I'm really hoping I can keep this girl alive and well.

Apparently the flowers only last one day! But they're such prolific bloomers that they're constantly flowering, and the various pollinators and hummingbirds love them.

I also got a kalanchoe! They're pretty popular grocery store plants but notoriously hard to get to rebloom because they need shorter winter days and a temperature drop to trigger blooms, but I have hope that I'll be able to keep it outside for long enough to provide that, as even ambient indoor light seems to be enough to stop them from reblooming for most folks. If it works out, I might get a couple more! I've always adored their flowers.

[edensflorist]

The Early Bloom and Symbolism of Crocus

Crocus flowers, among the first to bloom in late winter and early spring, are a delightful sign that warmer days are on the horizon. These small, vibrant flowers are celebrated for their resilience and the hopeful message they carry.

Historical Significance

Crocus have been cherished since ancient times, with origins tracing back to the Mediterranean and Asia. Thye are perhaps best known for their role in the production of saffron, derived from the saffron crocus (Crocus Sativus), which has been used for centuries as a spice, dye, and medicine. Beyond their practical uses, crocuses have been admired for their beauty and their ability to bloom even in the harshest conditions.

Symbolism

Hope and Renewal: As one of the first flowers to appear after winter, crocuses symbolize hope, renewal, and the arrival of spring. Their emergence from the cold ground signals the end of winter and the beginning of new life.

Youthful Joy and Cheerfulness: With their bright colors and delicate petals, crocuses represent youthful joy and cheerfulness, bringing a burst of color to the otherwise bleak landscape of early spring.

Resilience and Courage: The crocus's ability to bloom in cold, often snowy conditions makes it a symbol of resilience and courage, reminding us that beauty can thrive even in adversity. Modern Interpretations

In modern gardens, crocuses are often planted in clusters to create a striking early spring display. They are also popular as potted plants, bringing a touch of spring indoors. Their vibrant colors, ranging from deep purples to sunny yellows, make them a beloved choice for gardeners looking to add a splash of color after winter.

[magickkate]

Hey witches! As nature awakens from its winter slumber and the days begin to lengthen, we come to Ostara, the spring equinox, a time of balance, renewal, and fertility.

Ostara, also known as the Spring Equinox or Eostre, is a pagan holiday celebrated around March 20th in the Northern Hemisphere (September 20th in the Southern Hemisphere). It marks the arrival of spring and the balance between light and darkness as day and night are of equal length.

The holiday is named after the Germanic goddess Ostara, who represents fertility, renewal, and the dawn. Many customs and symbols associated with Ostara are rooted in ancient pagan traditions and folklore. Some key aspects of Ostara celebrations include:

Celebrating the Equinox: Ostara marks the arrival of spring and the rebirth of life in the natural world. It's a time to celebrate the earth's renewal, the return of longer days, and the promise of new beginnings. Here are some ways to honor Ostara and celebrate the beauty and bounty of the season:

🌱 Planting Seeds:

Get your hands dirty and plant seeds in your garden or indoor pots to symbolize growth, abundance, and new life.

🥚 Decorating Eggs:

Embrace the ancient tradition of decorating eggs, a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Paint, dye, or decorate eggs with symbols and colors that represent the themes of spring and renewal.

🌸 Nature Walks:

Take a walk in nature and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of spring. Notice the blooming flowers, budding trees, and chirping birds as you connect with the energy of the season.

🕯️ Rituals and Ceremonies:

Hold a ritual or ceremony to honor the equinox and invoke blessings for balance, harmony, and renewal in your life. Light candles, burn incense, and offer prayers or invocations to the goddess Ostara and the spirits of spring.

🍃 Feasting and Sharing:

Gather with loved ones for a festive meal or potluck to celebrate the abundance of the season. Cook and share dishes made with seasonal ingredients such as fresh greens, herbs, and spring vegetables.

Here are some ideas for recipes for Ostara:

Hot Cross Buns (Cross Quarter Buns): These tasty pastries are often enjoyed during the pre-Easter season of Lent. The decorative cross on top represents a Christian symbol, but you can infuse your own Pagan beliefs into it. Consider associating the four quarters of the cross with elements, directions, moon phases, seasons, Tarot suits, or fire festivals. To make your own, start with your favorite muffin or roll recipe and create an X on top using raisins, currants, or scored dough. Mint Chutney: Mint chutney is a versatile condiment that pairs well with various dishes. Keep in mind that the term “chutney” covers a wide range of culinary options. Roasted Lamb: For many ancestors, lamb was a symbol of spring and rebirth. Roasted lamb can be a delicious centerpiece for your Ostara feast. Dairy Products: Dairy is associated with fertility and new life. Include cheese, milk, cream, butter, and other dairy items in your Ostara meals. Eggs: Eggs symbolize new beginnings and potential. Hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs, or egg salad are great choices. Spring Greens and Fresh Herbs: Celebrate the awakening of nature by incorporating fresh greens like spinach, kale, and spring onions. Use herbs like parsley, chives, and dill to add flavor and vibrancy to your dishes. Seasonal Crops: Asparagus and fiddlehead ferns are early spring crops that align perfectly with Ostara. Check in your area what is available! Marshmallow Peeps: While not traditional in ancient practices, these colorful marshmallow treats have become an iconic part of modern Ostara celebrations

Embrace the Magic of Ostara: Whether you're planting seeds, decorating eggs, or simply basking in the beauty of nature, Ostara offers a magical opportunity to connect with the energy of spring and celebrate the renewal and rebirth of life. So gather your friends, set your intentions, and let the magic of Ostara guide you on your journey into the light! 🌼🌿

Spring is a time of rebirth and growth. Consider working magic related to these themes.

Explore magical aspects of:

Serpents: Symbolism and folklore. Eggs: Associated with new life. Spring Flowers: Use blooming flowers in your magical workings. Daffodils: Early bloomers with magical purposes. Rabbits: Beyond the Easter Bunny. Magical Gardening: Growing plants as a magical act.

Remember, Ostara is a time to celebrate the return of light, growth, and the promise of warmer days ahead. 🌸🌼🌞

Learn more: learnreligions.com Sabbats: A Witch's Approach to Living the Old Ways by Edain McCoy(amazon.com) Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials BOX SET (amazon.com) witchcraftedlife.com magickalspot.com teaandrosemary.com

[broodwolf221]

prompts based on unusual or rare words

send the word and a character/relationship (romantic, familial, platonic, adversarial, etc.) and i'll write something based around it! (feel free to use/rb/etc)

accismus - feigning disinterest in something while actually desiring it

aestivate - to spend the summer in a state of torpor or dormancy

agathism - the belief in the ultimate triumph of good over evil

agelast - a person who never laughs

anemoia - nostalgia for a time you’ve never known

apatheia - freedom or release from emotion or excitement

apotheosis - the highest point or peak, often used to describe the pinnacle of achievement or greatness

apricity - the warmth of the sun in winter

apricate - to bask in the sun

aureate - something that is golden, shining, or brilliant

bêtise - an act of foolishness or stupidity

cacography - bad handwriting

chrysalism - the peaceful feeling that comes from being indoors during a thunderstorm

clinomania - an excessive desire to stay in bed or a reluctance to get out of bed

efflorescence - a blooming or flowering, often used to describe a period of creativity or prosperity.

eleutheromania - an intense desire for freedom or liberation

ephemeral - something that is fleeting or short-lived, often used to describe a moment or feeling

eunoia - beautiful thinking or a well-disposed mind

galvanize - to arouse to awareness or action

hypnagogic - relating to the state of drowsiness or transition to sleep, often used to describe the strange, dreamlike experiences that can happen during this time

insouciant - casually or smugly indifferent; nonchalant

irenic - promoting peace or reconciliation, often used to describe a peaceful personality or a peaceful solution to conflict

limerence - the state of being infatuated or obsessed with someone or something

makebate - one that excites contention and quarrels

matrisate - to imitate one's mother

metanoia - a fundamental change in one's beliefs

nihilarian - a person who deals with things lacking in substance or meaning, often in a philosophical sense

noctivagant - going about in the night; night-wandering

nubivagant - wandering in the clouds, often used to describe a dreamer or someone lost in thought

numinous - something that is spiritual, mysterious, or awe-inspiring

obfuscate - to muddle; confuse; bewilder

patrizate - to imitate one's father or forebears

pernicious - causing great harm; destructive

perspicacious - having keen judgement or understanding; acutely perceptive

pessimum - the least favorable environmental condition under which an organism can survive

philostorgie - the love of parent's towards their children

pot-valor - boldness or courage resulting from alcoholic drink

prevaricate - to behave in an evasive or indecisive manner, usually in delay

recogitate - to think over again

redame - to love in return

saudade - an emotional state of melancholic or profoundly nostalgic longing for a beloved yet absent something or someone

scintilla - a spark or tiny amount of something, often used to describe a small flash of inspiration

scripturient- having a strong urge to write

sehnsucht - yearning; wistful longing

selcouth - describes something that is unfamiliar, strange, and yet marvelous at the same time

sempiternal - something that is eternal or everlasting

solivagrant - rambling alone; marked by solitary wandering

supernal - something that is heavenly or divine

timorous - full of or subject to fear; timid

velleity - a mere wish or inclination that lacks the motivation or intention to act on it

verisimilitude - the appearance of being true or real

[bitchfitch]

When folk talk about autumn they talk about things like the leaves on trees turning yellow and falling away and jackets and warm beverages and life moving indoors as the cold approaches.

and that's the fall they know, one of nature taking a bow as it prepares for winter.

Down here in the desert though things are so different. Fall is when the rain comes back after summer made the air too hot for it to rain. It's when the sun baked leaves turn from brown and yellow to green again. It's when the crickets chirp and when there's beetles and moths and snails out an about again. It's lizards by your door after they've been gone for months hiding from the heat. It's vast swaths of fire scarred land turning purple as the sage blooms. It's going outside again because the summer heat and sun were too extreme to be safe.

Our fall is one of everything springing back to life to celebrate surviving the burns and droughts that culled much of what came before, before settling in for a dry but gentle winter until spring can bring the rains again.

[cryptidsofwakemoor]

Chapter 9 - Matchsticks

Tikki has a strange new guest in her house. He acts like he's never been in a house before, doesn't know what baths are, and isn't much for conversation, but... He seems polite at least?

(content warnings: old wound description, inhuman scabs (made of rock))

~*~

Mystic

The interior of the home was dark the moment Matchstick walked in, but when the fish person reached over to flick a switch on the wall, warm golden light bloomed from several glass bulbs in fixtures about the space.

It was a cozy room, with a brown leather couch across from some kind of hollow made of brick. The bottom of the hollow had a small metal rack with a few wooden logs, chopped and sitting inert. A larger pile of neatly stacked logs sat next to the hollow. A few photographs in frames lined a small cabinet under a large boxy screen that was currently black. The shelf above the brick had small knickknacks made of glass, plastic, and other things he couldn’t possibly identify.

The rest of the room was no exception- strange objects he didn’t recognize sat on tables and shelves throughout the area. A couple plants sat in pots indoors, as well. They didn’t appear to serve any purpose besides decoration. Even though it was the middle of winter, the inside of this house had an overall beach vibe- not that he understood entirely what that felt like.

The fish person sheds the blanket once the door is shut behind them, sighing in relief to be indoors. Bundling the blanket up in her arms, she drops the torn remains of her clothes in a trash bin by the door- atop many fragments like it of various colors, and goes to grab a not-so-destroyed change of clothes to put on in their stead.

“Feel free to sit on the couch- I’ll light the fireplace so you won’t freeze while the heater warms up.” She gestures towards the brown cushy furniture, eyeing his… magma crusted back. “…do you want to go wash up, while I clean the blanket and start making food? You look like you could use a hot bath.”

Spooky

Feeling a bit lost and out of place, he'd started moving towards the couch as directed, but stopped when she spoke, looking back at her like she had suddenly switched to a different language. "Bath...?" He rasped.

Suddenly it made sense why he only ever really seemed remotely cleaner when it rained. Or why his back was still... Like that. At first glance it probably appeared like it was part of him, like some kind of shell or something, but on closer inspection, in better lighting, it was far too uneven and scab-like, having cracked in places and re-scabbed, and other parts looking like the rock had chipped and broken off, revealing skin underneath... and what was even more telling that it shouldn't have been there were the appearance that some kind of other more artificial, plastic-y material had melted and mixed into the rock in places, as well as the glint of a few... metal pieces? Trapped in the rock on his upper back, like the magma had oozed over them and hardened. There were a few other, much smaller instances of the rocky scabs on his body, but his back was absolutely the worst of them all.

And yet, he seemed unbothered by it. Probably because, worryingly, it had been stuck to him for months now.

Mystic

…She bit her lip, seeing the visible confusion on his face.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to offend,” she says. “I know you probably didn’t have much choice out in the street. I don’t know your story- maybe you have a severe phobia of water. But if you’re going to be in my house, you’re going to have to clean up. Plus, you’ll feel a lot better afterwards, I guarantee it! If you don’t want a bath, we can use wet towels, it really doesn’t matter to me as long as you’re comfortable with your choice.”

She turns again, and starts walking down a hallway to another part of the townhouse, with a quick pause at the corridor. She peeks back to make sure he’s following.

“My name is Tikki, by the way- welcome to my house.”

Spooky

He looked from the couch to her, not realizing he should follow until she looked back at him, and he hurried to catch up. He was still holding the pillow close like it was a security blanket, feeling awkward and like he wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing.

Didn't help his nerves at all to try and piece together what a bath was, from her words. Had something to do with water, and getting clean...

He tilts his head though, when she tells him her name. Tikki... Never heard a name like that before, but from what he could tell, there were a lot of names. All the scientists in the lab, at least the ones he heard about, all had different ones. He remembered having one too, though they gave him a new one to replace it. And if he kept trying to use the old one, then... then he would have to go back to the room w-where...

...It was just better to act like he forgot it.

He nodded to her, but didn't say anything else.

Mystic

…

“You don’t talk much, do you?” Tikki asks, frowning a little as she walks beside him in the hallway. She flicks another switch to turn on more lights in the building. “You don’t have to- sounds like you tried to eat a packet of charcoal sticks at some point. It would be nice to have a name to call you by- I’d rather not call you ‘kid’ forever. But you don’t have to give me one on my account if you’re not fond of it. Hell, you can make one up if you felt like it. I’ve known a few people who tossed their deadnames and didn’t look back.”

They reach a small door in the hall, and she pushes it open to reveal a small bathroom with a bathtub, shower head, sink, and a toilet. It’s very clean, like some of the rooms in the facility, but warmer and more welcoming than those sterilized white tiled chambers with chemical hoses. There’s even another plant on the counter.

“Here’s the bathroom,” Tikki gestures with one hand, standing aside. “It has a shower and bath, and hot and cold water- red for hot, blue for cold. If you don’t want to soak, there’s towels in that wicker cabinet you can dip in the water instead. And because it’s occurring to me just now- nothing in here is edible, it’s all soaps. They’re for cleaning, not eating.”

Tikki holds out her hands.

“I can clean the pillow while you’re in there, ok?”

Spooky

Dead name? They could die?

Guess that made sense, with those white coated assholes trying so hard to kill it...

His eyes followed wherever she pointed and he tried to mentally note down the instructions as best he could. Easier said than done, there was so much new stuff in this place to take in at once that it felt like his brain was working in slow motion. He almost jumped when she held out her hands, before realizing what she was asking.

Hesitantly, he relinquished the pillow. Like a well-loved plush animal, it looked like it had been trampled by a stampede and had lost a lot of its initial fluffiness.

He then went over to the cabinet she'd pointed out and got a towel. Immediately he was engrossed in feeling how soft it was, petting it curiously with his hand, before wrapping it around himself like he did with the blanket. It didn't cover nearly as much of him, though... It seemed like he kind of lost the plot of what he was supposed to be doing in here, at least until he went over to the tub and, looking between the two taps, tried the red one. It took a few tries to figure out he was supposed to twist it, but when he did and water suddenly rushed out of the faucet, he startled away from it like a snake had tried to strike him.

Mystic

When he jumped back like a spooked gazelle, Tikki raises an eyebrow. Was water actually scary to him? She’d been poking at the possibility, before, but…

Setting the pillow aside, she ducks into the bathroom next to the startled teenager.

“It’s ok,” Tikki says, keeping her tone gentle. “It’s just bath water. See?”

She places her hand under the stream, letting him see the water pour over her arm and into the tub. Any residual dirt on her from laying in the den washed away, spiraling down the drain. Steam began to rise from her scales as the temperature of the water started to climb, so she retracted her arm before it could burn her. One webbed hand adjusted the knobs so it wasn’t scalding, but nice and hot.

“And you can pull this to make it fill the tub, or start the shower.”

Pulling a small metal tab on top of the faucet, there’s a brief halt in the water, before it starts pouring out in heavy sprinkles from the taller faucet. Pushing the tab back down makes it stop, and start gushing from the lower again.

Spooky

He watched the dirt spiral down the drain along with the water, and it didn't seem to be accumulating much. His tension slowly eased, though the sudden hiss of the shower brought it right back up again, making him duck his head and wince even though he wasn't underneath it. In comparison, the water going back to gushing from the faucet seemed less frightening.

Taking a moment to calm his breathing, he looked at Tikki with uncertainty before sticking his arm in like she had. The water splashed over his hand, and while it didn't hurt, his fingers still curled a little in anticipation of discomfort. It... wasn't as bad as it usually was, though, he had to admit. It wasn't uncomfortably cold like the rain or the pond, nor was it painfully cold like the lab's. After realizing this, he relaxed a little bit and watched the dirt wash off of his hand and wrist, down the drain.

Mystic

Tikki smiles.

"Just like that," she says in encouragement. "Here."

She pulls a different tab, which causes a metal cylinder in the drain to compress. The water, no longer able to drain out, starts to fill up the tub.

"It'll take a while for this to fill- turn it off when it gets about here, okay?" Tikki gestures with her hand to about a third below the rim of the bathtub. "Otherwise it'll flood the bathroom. You can use the soap on the shelf over here to get rid of any tough dirt."

Tikki picks up the pillow she'd momentarily placed to the floor, and stands up. She turns to leave, hesitating at the door again.

"You going to be ok? If you slip and can't get up, uh- throw something against the wall. I'll hear it."

Spooky

He looked at her and nodded to show he understood.

While he felt a small sense of unease form in the pit of his stomach watching the water slowly inch its way up in the tub, it did help a little knowing that he wasn't trapped in there, and he had control over when the water stopped. He didn't have to worry about it filling up the whole room, and... blocking out all the air...

He felt a cold shiver go through him, and turned off the faucet probably a little earlier than needed.

...What now? He had the water. Was he... supposed to go into it? Hmm... He wasn't sure he wanted to do that. Instead, he remembered what Tikki had said about the towel, so he unwrapped it from himself and dipped it into the water. Leaning a bit over the side, he started wiping down his other arm with it. While water often felt weird on his skin, the towel did kind of help to mitigate that, and the warm temperature took away the other uncomfortable part.

After scrubbing at his arms for a little bit, he finally gathered up some courage to climb in, since it seemed like it'd be faster and it was warmer than sitting outside of the thing. The water quickly turned dark from months worth of accumulated grime washing off. Soon enough he had managed to clean up pretty well, although he left his upper back for the most part untouched.

Mystic

In the other half of the house, Tikki had started going about what she promised- washing the blanket and pillow. The fabric had to be taken outside and shaken thoroughly to remove all the dirt crumbs and bits of rock. No way was she going to ruin her washer and dryer by turning it into a tumbler. She tossed the now slightly less filthy cloth into the washer, pouring some soap and a bit of diluted vinegar into the vats for detergent and softener. With a soft beep, she shut the door and set it to a heavy cycle. Wonderful! Now the two articles should be nice and clean within the half hour, then dried by the time an hour had passed. Plenty of time for her unexpected guest to wash up.

The heater had kicked in, so now warm air was beginning to waft through the house from the vents in the floor and ceiling. Good. It would take some time to warm the building, but it was something. If she could just get the fireplace going, then they’d have a dedicated warm spot right then and there.

She struggles with the matchsticks as she crouched by the fireplace, frowning. Dammit, these things were such a pain.

Spooky

The water was starting to cool down, making the bath feel a little less hospitable... but he figured he was clean enough now. He climbed out, dripping wet, and proceeded to shake himself off. Some of the rock on his back had loosened and crumbled off of its own accord, which was an improvement, but the worst of it on his upper back remained stubbornly in place. It was kind of nice to have less of it pulling on his skin when he moved, but the rest of it itched a little. He started to reach back, but touching it stung pretty bad, so he stopped.

Instead, he looked back at the towel he'd brought into the bath with him floating in the muck-filled water, and he made a face. There was a way to drain it- how did she say to do it again? It was this little thing here, right...? He tried pulling it up further, but it wouldn't budge, so maybe... he pressed it down instead, and the drain gurgled as the water started to go down. He smiled a little to himself, feeling kinda good about figuring it out!

And then, neglecting to grab another towel to dry off, he left the bathroom, trailing water down the hall.

Mystic

Exiting the bathroom, he's greeted by a slightly warmer atmosphere than when he first walked inside the townhouse. It wasn't quite cold anymore, though a bit less cozy than the steamed-up bathroom. Still, a marked improvement. He could feel the warm air blowing into the space from a vent in the floor, which he walked over on the way back to the living room at the front. A rumbling sound of some kind of machine could be heard thrumming dully through the floor from some closet in the hall.

Tikki was on the floor by the brick hollow, trying to run some sort of stick across the side of a box. She clicked her tongue every time it didn't do whatever she was trying to get it to do. She was clicking her tongue a lot.

Finally, there's a snap of some sort of friction, and he can see she holds up a very tiny flame on the end of the stick. She leans forward, trying to press it to the side of the logs held in the hollow, and-

-it goes out.

"God dammit," she curses under her breath, sighing.

Wet footsteps cause her ear-fin things to perk up, drawing her attention in his direction. She stares at him for a second.

"...right. I didn't tell you how to dry off," she mumbles, sighing once. "You're lucky I'm a mermaid, otherwise I'd probably take a lot more issue with you dragging water throughout my house."

Tikki lifts a hand and flicks it.

In time with the motion, all the water he had trailed lifted off the ground in series of floating bubbles. They follow her hand motion towards various potted plants, where the water is dropped over the contained soil.

"Sorry, fireplace isn't ready yet. You're still welcome to sit, though. Here, dry off first-"

She grabs another blanket from inside a cabinet, resolving to washing that later, too, and chucks it at him.

Spooky

With wide eyes, he watched the water lift up from the floor, moving as if it were alive, only to drop itself into the plants. Whoa!

Distracted as he was, he almost didn't notice the blanket being tossed his way. He fumbled a little, but caught the heavy cloth, ruffling his face and head dry with it before wrapping it around his body for warmth. Moving over to where she was, he plunked down on the rug and snuggled into the blanket, breathing out a contented sigh.

Watching what she was trying to do once more, he saw her swiping a stick against a box again until she managed another small flame, but it failed to catch on the pieces of wood. Realizing what she was trying to do, he dried off his hands really good and, with a snap, created a small flame at the tip of his pointer finger and stuck it into the fireplace, holding it there until the logs finally caught.

Mystic

Tikki stops short as he- quite easily- produces a fire with nothing more than his fingertips. She watches in quiet awe as the fireplace is lit, and quickly, too. Within moments, the first log is throwing gentle pops and sparks as the bark begins crackling with heat and light.

"Ok, I've decided," Tikki says. She chucks the box of matches over her shoulder. "Until further notice, your new nickname is Matchstick. We can retire it if you're ever in the mood to share your real name, or make one up yourself."

Dusting her hands, she gets up from the floor, and plaps her way into the other half of the space, which is separated off by a counter and several appliances.

"I'm going to start cooking- something. I don't know what yet. I'll figure it out. You get comfortable, look around at stuff, read a book if you like. I can even turn on the TV for you, though it's mostly going to be Christmas specials this time of year."

Spooky

He tensed a little as paranoia crept around the edges of his mind, wondering how she knew the name the scientists had given him. Although, it didn't... seem like she knew about any of that, especially if she was surprised to see him light something... Maybe it was just a guess…?

She got up, and his eyes caught the label on the box she had. M... a...

...'Matchsticks'. Huh...

...Wait- Had he seriously been named after these things??

Man, now he didn't know what to think... At least the 'new' nickname appeared to be a coincidence after all.

He huffed out a breath and settled down near the fireplace, content to watch the wood burn for now. He didn't really know what TV was, or... Christmas? Or what was so special. Looking around the room, he could see what he recognized as a monitor, but it was off. Guess it wasn't hooked up to any vitals... He could see books on a shelf. He knew what those were, he vaguely remembered... He was pretty sure he'd read at least one, once, though he couldn't for the life of him remember what it was about. It might've had pictures in it...

He went over to investigate, picking one up at random and turning it over in his hands, looking at the cover on it.

Mystic

The cover on this one was kinda hard to understand. ‘The Great Gatsby’. What was a ‘gatsby’, and why was this one so great? He could read- the lab scientists had insisted he learned some basic English. He wouldn’t be able to follow complex instructions otherwise.

…

Wow, this book was hard to understand, though. Not only did he have to read slowly in order to piece together the sentences, but he just straight up didn’t know some words, so the meaning was lost on him. On top of that, a lot of what he was able to understand sounded just- stupid. People were throwing giant parties, being obscenely rich, and apparently the ‘gatsby’ was a dude they just arbitrarily decided was great because he threw massive rich people parties. And everyone in attendance was rude.

The logs in the fireplace settled with a puff of embers up the chimney, and warmth billowed out from the fireplace now that the fire was large and sustained.

A faint beep is heard in the distance, followed by the telltale plap plap of Tikki’s fish feet walking over the wooden floors towards it. There’s a kachunk noise of a door being opened, and the steady approach of more plap plaps.

A hot, soft cloth is placed over his head. Oh shit it’s the blanket she gave him!

“Fresh out the dryer,” she announces, holding the pillow- freshly cleaned and fluffed- at the edge of his vision past the blanket.

Spooky

He put the book back on top of the other books, not really caring where it went because his blanket and pillow were back! Not only that, they were warm and smelled nice!

He grabbed the pillow and hugged it excitedly, feeling immediate comfort from having it back and fluffier than ever! He didn't know what the dryer was, but he didn't care- whatever it was, it did miracles.

Mystic

“So, Sticks,” Tikki says as she walks back to the kitchen, a pleasant smile on her face. “You’re some kind of pyromancer, looks like. I don’t know how old you are, but you look pretty young to be running around by yourself, eating peanuts out of bird feeders. Why are you on the run? Did you steal food and piss off the authorities?”

Tikki pulls down some kind of flat black metal sheet with a handle, and placed it on the appliance with plastic and metal discs on top. She turns a dial, and there’s a quiet popping before small flames catch around the disc. The metal pan goes on top, and she opens a big white box behind her to pull out some cardboard container with a strange lumpy shape. The lid is popped open to reveal many white, ovoid objects.

“Ah shit- are you allergic to anything, actually? Anything you ever ate that made you feel sick, like really sick?”

Spooky

He had a somewhat guilty expression when asked if he stole food... That was part of it, but not the main reason. He wasn't sure what to say though, or how to even start. Or if he could use his voice enough at all to even try... He opened his mouth- "Aa..." -and closed it, looking frustrated.

Well that was a no-go. Instead he moved a little closer, curious to see what she was doing. When asked if anything he ate made him really sick, he thought about it, but shook his head no. He'd eaten a lot of things, even literal garbage, but the only time he felt sick was when he hadn't eaten enough.

Mystic

“Okay that’s good.” Tikki accepts that response, deciding not to pry on the first topic. “Because you’re getting an omelet.”

Scooping a bowl from another cabinet, and removing a plastic carton of some white liquid, she pours a little into the bowl before grabbing one of the white oval things. A quick smack on the side of the bowl, and the oval cracks open, dropping a clear goop with a golden center into the liquid. Repeating the process twice more, she grabs a whisk and mixes the two ingredients together with ferocity, until it forms a light yellow liquid somewhere in the middle of the two consistencies. The solution gets poured into the pan, producing a loud sizzling pop as it starts to bubble.

In the meantime, she turns to the white box again, and starts pulling out little plastic containers.

“Fillings, fillings,” she mumbles to herself. “I’ve got- bacon, mushrooms, cheese… hm.”

Tikki chews her lip as she ponders another container.

“I’ve got peppers too, but I don’t know if you’ll like hot stuff. I’ll put it out anyway.”

Arranging the fillings on the counter, she grabs a spatula and flips the mixture in the pan. It’s a floppy golden disc now, and the popping sound starts anew.

“What do you want as filling?” She asks, gesturing to the opened containers.

Spooky

He inspected each thing he was presented with curiously, and he seemed to like all of them as he tried a little bit of each one. The bacon seemed to be his favorite, due to how enthusiastically he pointed at it, until he got to the peppers.

Before he could be stopped he stuck a whole chili pepper in his mouth, his eyes going wide as he bit into it and a more intense flavor than he'd ever experienced before bloomed across his tongue. There was a moment where it seemed like maybe it might've been too much for him, but he quickly turned to Tikki, practically with stars in his eyes, and pointed excitedly at them.

"Mm!"

Mystic

Tikki raised both eyebrows, not having enough time to react between him grabbing the pepper and pointing excitedly to do anything about it.

“Ok, I was wrong- you have tastebuds of titanium I guess. Shoulda seen that coming, you’re a teenager,” she says with a smirk, taking a handful of the peppers and placing them on a rubber mat. She reaches behind her to a wooden block, and unsheathes a knife. Rather than pointing it at him, though, like the instant of fear spiked into him, she took it to the peppers, and deftly diced them into slices. Using the flat side of the knife as a scraper, she picks up the peppers and wipes them off onto the half-cooked omelet. Then she sets the knife down on the mat, and grabs handfuls of cheese and the bacon, filling in the rest of the space on the omelet patty. The spatula comes out again, and she picks up one end of the omelet to fold it over like a taco, before removing it from the pan entirely onto a plate.

Tikki holds out the plate to him.

“Here you go, Sticks- one hot pepper omelet! I gotta make mine now, so you can go ahead and sit to eat already. Mine will take a minute.”

Spooky

Grinning from- well, what would have been ear to ear if he had any, he took the disc with the food on it and brought it back over to the fireplace instead of the table. It didn't really occur to him to sit there, and he was perfectly content near the heat of the crackling logs instead.

It took a physical effort to NOT just toss his head back and gulp the whole thing down like a seagull. Human food was a treat, and he wanted to make sure he tasted it! He ate it in bites, however given the size of his mouth... it was only about three bites before the whole omelet was gone.

Mystic

“Damn,” Tikki comments, impressed. “Should have made you two omelets.”

~*~

Previous | Chapter Index | Next

New reader? You can start here!

[outofangband]

Winter in Doriath HCs

Note: I referenced a few of my earlier HCs in this but they’re definitely not necessary to read for this! There is more in the Doriath tag for anyone interested!

Elves and winter general HCs

As always please feel free to ask more or give a specific area to talk about, these are fairly random!

The girdle of Melian provides protection against the harshest weather however, Melian intentionally does not exert significant control over the climate. Snow falls lightly throughout the colder months, many trees lose their leaves and most flowers do not bloom until the stirring. Average temperatures for the coldest months are around 4-7 degrees C or 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Menengroth maintains comfortable temperatures throughout the year. Both the protection of the caves and the magic of Melian defend against extreme cold or heat. A small population of Doriath live in Menengroth in the winter only.

There is a section around Menengroth, part of Melian’s gardens, that is warm throughout the year. This has both outdoor and indoor sections and there are fruit trees in the outdoor section that are more or less free to take from (though some of the species are…unique or possibly dangerous and plenty choose not to take this risk)

Food in the winter comes from this, from foraging and the cultivation that is done throughout the forest, from the rivers, from private collections and storage, and, depending on the time, through trade.

Many of the Iathrim eat little in the winter and some even enter periods of contemplation and reduced movement almost akin to a sort of hibernation. This is also similar to the trances I described as part of Doriath’s summer solstice celebration however longer and less intense. Consciousness is not necessarily reduced or altered during these.

(I will make an entire post just about this to go with my posts about the Ainur and food but in essence, I do not believe elves can go indefinitely without food and water however energy, nutrients and strength are conserved and processed differently than in humans and they can go significantly longer without adverse consequences however they will eventually begin to suffer from them. Like humans, water is more important than food. Many elves eat primarily for pleasure. Maedhros, his life was extended without food or water through Morgoth’s power, similar to how Húrin’s was)

On that note there is also a winter solstice tradition. Like the summer one, many travel for it to obtain privacy, often sitting in trees or upon hilltops by the northern border for days. Most of the week long winter solstice event is significantly more somber than the summer one and there is a day dedicated to mourning. At the end however there is a joyous feast in Menengroth.

Doriath marks the new year in the beginning of the elven season between autumn and winter, Fading. I mentioned their record keepers preserve petals from the first flowers of each year and this tradition is related to other Sindar, Silvan and Avari traditions but their actual new year is in Fading. It is a also a reflective celebration where the sun and moon are honored (after they exist of course) and the past mourned.

Despite the more somber winter celebrations, mentions of snow and winter in song and poetry are commonly playful and whimsical rather than melancholy. Less direct Winter symbology in Doriath include constellations, certain species of ferns (which resemble frost patterns), wood white (butterflies), and maple trees.

Like the Sindar outside of Doriath, the patterns of migrating birds are often remembered and used for indications of weather changes.

[tiny-cloud-dragon]

Does Tiny Cloud Dragon get the zoomies in spring? Does Zack (or anyone else) join him? I bet he's SO FAST!

He absolutely does!

Indoor zoomies are complete chaos. Zack or one of the other Firsts can be just trying to sleep, or read, cook, or play games, and Tiny Cloud dragon is zooming around, over, or on them.

Oh, you were sleeping? Not anymore! I'm running races over your prone form!

You trying to read? I'm. Not. Blocking. Your. View. As. I. Dart. Back. And. Forth. Across. Your. Book. Am. I?

Ooh, a dangling cord! Let me just bat at it for a while...oh, I have become tangled in it! Let me panic and run, yanking the video game controller out of your hands!

*various kitchen utensils and items being knocked of the counter*, *skittering noises*, *Angeal's sounds of distress*

Zack has to go capture the little menace before Angeal has a stroke. He takes him outside, to burn off some of the zoomies.

The air is crisp, the grass is lush and green, there's a blissfully breeze, and the sunshine is warm! And oh, there's flowers blooming and birds chirping!

Tiny Cloud dragon feels the energy of the earth waking up from its long winter nap, and the grass looks so inviting.... He's got to run, to scamper, to cavort, to gambol!

Zack just sees a little yellow tufted blur as Tiny Cloud dragon zooms through the grass. He's small, but Zack can easily keep track of him from the trails he leaves in the grass.

The tiny dragon zig zags, darts up trees, and zips through the air, his little wings buzzing. Angela always forgets Cloud can fly and almost has a heart attack every time he climbs up a tree and jumps off. Tiny Cloud dragon dons is Big Boi form and Zack joins him in zooming around the training fields.

He later has to go out with some recruits to fix everything they broke.