#cherrys having a spring overload

[ice-cweam-sod4]

flowers, FLOWERS, FLOWERSSSSSSS 🌷🌸🌹🌺🥀🌼💐🌻💮

[ddoxhan]

that feeling when

baby's breath and lemon candies

word count : 2.1k words

genre : fluff in the season of spring; you were always bitter when spring came, but things changed when she came along; florist!hanni x fem!reader (a year older than hanni); hanni's a confident baby and reader fell for her at first sight but doesn't realize

t/w : none :) just cuteness overload

a/n : hanni just has the sweetest smile that can melt hearts (including mine of course) I wanted to portray that spring vibe and soft colors that are associated with it, hope I succeeded haha enjoy !

spring morning, pastel sky, chilly breeze. it was just like every other morning in this season of cherry blossoms, and that was the exact reason why you despised this time of the year. from the very first thing that greets you as you leave your doorstep, was the couple next door.

it was fine, no one was forbidding them from dating. but it was that they decided to dress tone-on-tone, to add that it was a couple look. (you were just bitter since you were the only one still single among your friend circle)

just as you make it out of your apartment building, you are met with another. at this point, you were sure that god was just making fun of you. (no, you were just bitter and single, so everything seemed to be against you, when in reality, yes you are just hella bitter)

'what a way to start my day,' as you thought to yourself. a cup of americano was exactly what you needed to refresh your day, as if whatever happened before that cup was just a dream. but soon, you do hope that it wasn't just a dream.

getting onto your bicycle, you pedaled away from your usual route, which was headed towards campus. you were on your semester break after almost losing your sanity from the dreadful event named 'finals'. (human physiology took away at least 10 years from your lifespan)

so where were you headed to so early in the morning if you were finally on that break you very much needed? to your beloved senior, chaewon's cafe. she and her girlfriend, minju, finally opened their dream coffee shop after they had graduated. (degree who? and you were so done with chaewon bringing this up whenever she was on the verge of rage quitting during her final year)

it wasn't too long ago so the shop was still relatively new to the area. that meant they neither had customers nor employees. you figured that you could lend a helping hand for the time being as they advertise their new cafe. your neighbourhood wasn't big so everyone knew everyone, therefore things weren't going to be too hard for them. yet, you wonder how you know everyone here, and still failed to notice her around.

as you were on the way there, the owner of blue rain called, pausing the music in your ears from your headphones.

"yes, ms. owner. relax, I'm on my way, no worries that I overslept."

"that's exactly why I called. I have all the right in the world to be worried cause you quite almost drooled all over your pillow while everyone in the hall was racking their brains over the final paper."

you rolled your eyes at her constant reminder of that particular 'incident' in your first year. it was a one time thing but she still brings it up whenever she gets the chance to. and like the mom she is, you're creeped out by how she knew.

"I can see you rolling your eyes at me, child. we all know you were to repeat your subject if I didn't barge into your place."

"alright alright, I made mistakes and learned from them. I'm on my bike right now, okay? continue your nagging when I'm there, bye."

"hey-"

you ended the call before she could even say another word. knowing she was going to give you an earful, all you could do is smile to yourself. the nagging can be annoying at times, but you know chaewon only meant good for you as someone older. it feels great to know that someone cares for you no matter where they are. (you're always a brat towards her, so she would cry happy tears if she knew this is what you thought of her)

making a left turn, you arrived at a road you weren't familiar with, mainly due to the fact that it wasn't the main road you usually ride past. just how did these two find a place over here? it wasn't somewhere people would drive past, not to mention that it was sort of secluded away from foot traffic.

although with that said, there were a handful of shops and a convenience store on the corner lot. this view feels familiar yet foreign, despite it still being part of the neighbourhood you knew. while the scent of flowers invaded your senses, you slowed your speed to a halt and got down, pushing your bicycle with you while admiring the scenery this street offered.

a noodle restaurant came into sight, and a laundromat sat right across it. further in, a tailor shop greeted you with a record shop beside, making you wonder if you really did travel back in time a little from all the shops. everything was so vintage until you reached the part where the cafe was supposedly located. but before that, the florist shop, blooming potion as it read, that was two lots apart caught your eye, which you still didn't know why. (flowers were always associated with spring, hence the same hatred for it)

as you approached, the sign on the glass door read 'open' but no one seemed to be in sight. maybe the owner was in the storage room, hence the unattended empty counter. the door wasn't locked either, perhaps nothing would happen if you invited yourself in, right? (you were just dumb, it's a shop, of course you can enter if it says it's open)

you looked around, finding yourself enjoying the scent of flowers, different from how it was earlier. something felt off but you couldn't put your finger on it, it just did. as your eyes laid upon a bouquet of baby's breath, a door swung open, however it wasn't the door that led to the back room, rather the one you entered from. strange, isn't it.

"I'm so sorry, miss! I didn't expect a customer so I left for some coffee real quick."

you should've known from the way you stepped into this florist shop, from the sudden fondness towards flowers. nothing could've prepared you for this sudden encounter with her. but at that moment, you didn't know.

a young girl, a little too young to be the owner, places her cup of coffee on the counter before rushing to put on her apron. she was slightly taller than you were, and probably the most beautiful girl you've ever met.

"oh, no worries. I was just taking a look around."

"is it your first time here? I've never seen you before."

she settled down a little, before flashing you that endearing smile of hers. you knew you were a goner when you noticed how your heart swelled at the way her eyes curled up into crescents. but still, you didn't know then, you couldn't have when it didn't come to mind that it was love.

"yeah, I was headed to the cafe down the road but something made me stop by."

the way her eyes sparkle every time you spoke, the glint of curiousness and attention within those orbs. it suddenly felt a little hot for you as the tip of your ears burned up a little (and it didn't go unnoticed by the girl).

"really? then it must have been fate for you to come in! feel free to choose any flower from the store, think of it as a first time gift."

you were an introvert, hence the awkwardness around people you first met. but she made you feel comfortable within this new space. so comfortable, you don't realize you were warming up to this stranger more quickly than you do with other people. (you took a total of 3 months before actually warming up to chaewon)

"oh no no, I can't possibly just get it for free."

"I insist, I left you unattended when it was my job not to, so let me make it up to you. besides, it's just a few flowers."

the attention of hers on you made your palms sweat, not that you didn't like it. you loved it, and again you just don't realize. as well as the fact that the girl don't just look at someone with such endearment.

"well, I guess I can't deny your offer if you insist, thank you."

it was already unusual that this girl seemed too young to be the owner, let alone offering a bouquet of flowers for free. you didn't question further and just accepted her kind act. not gonna lie, your heart might have skipped a beat from the thought that this was the first flower gift you received, regardless of it from a stranger. (later on, you found out that the girl didn't offer flowers to just anyone)

before the girl came bursting through the front door, you were admiring a particular bouquet of baby's breath. you remembered and decided to go with it, figuring it would be a perfect gift for the opening of the cafe. or it could be staged as chaewon's lovely thought for her girlfriend, you just knew she would do that.

"baby's breath? you must have a special someone you love a lot."

you choked a little when you heard that. usually if it came from someone like chaewon, you'd just glare at her and punch her (not literally, your punches are of a baby kitten). but when it came from her, you didn't want her to think you have a lover.

"me? not really. I've been single my entire life, it was flattering to hear that you were offering a free bouquet."

sometimes, you wanted to smack yourself when you try to impress someone with your humor but clearly, not everyone found your jokes funny. but to the girl, you were the funniest person she has ever met. (you didn't notice at that time, the girl had a small smile of victory when she heard that you were single)

"oh, that's unexpected."

"why's that?"

"I mean, you're pretty and funny, I thought you were taken."

chaewon knew you were annoying and dumb, but she didn't know that you were this dumb to not realize that the florist girl was very clearly hitting on you. the older is so glad that this little angel found you cute for being so clueless. (fun fact, minju was this clueless of chaewon's feelings that the older had to kiss her for her to realize. perhaps that was why you clicked so well with minju)

"you know, that's what I should be saying to you."

for the first time, it was the girl's turn to feel slightly flustered, but she maintained her composure. because you looked younger than you were, she thought you were her age or a year younger. which was why, she was slightly bolder than she usually is when someone interests her. (she enjoyed watching you get flustered a little, thinking you were a cute baby then)

"thank you for the flowers, really. I hope to see you around."

you didn't know where that ounce of confidence came from but you did say that, and that had the girl stifle a giggle at your attempt. you thought you were smooth, but when you heard about this interaction on another day, it happened while you were avoiding eye contact and stumbling a little over your words. as you finally got to know, you couldn't help but just cover your face with your palms as you drown in embarrassment.

"lemon candies? you really don't have to."

"I just happened to have some with me, think of it as me trying to make your day better with some gifts too."

feeling a bit overwhelmed by the flowers, you rummaged through your pockets, pulling out a few lemon candies for the girl. well, that was part of your reasoning, the part that you were mostly interested in her played a very big role. it wasn't something extravagant but they were your favourite candies, offering them to someone means they are someone important to you.

the girl brought her palm over the candies before picking it up, placing them in her apron. you swore, that smile of hers that she gives you is so contagious, you find yourself smiling along like an idiot.

"it was a pleasure meeting you too."

"if it's okay, can I get your name?"

"hanni, and I too, look forward to seeing you around."

placing the bouquet carefully into the front basket of your bicycle, you bid farewell to the girl. while you pedaled to the cafe, you couldn't figure if your heart was thumping from it, or the thought of hanni's smile.

hanni, even her name sounds lovely. if lovely and adorable was personified, it would be her. maybe this spring season was finally getting on your good side, because it was making you feel something. what was that feeling again?

that feeling when someone is in love? yeah, that feeling.

previous | masterlist | next

[absolutebl]

My Top 10 BLs of 2022

I also chose 22 runners up for 22, but the top 10 includes reviews etc.. These are IN ORDER, which means I made it really hard on myself. Ready? 

1. Semantic Error (Korea Viki) 

The only 2022 BL that earned a 10/10. Korean hits peak KBL and lucked into killer chemistry. It’s a deadly combination. Sexy older boy discovers pouty younger boy has outed him as a slacker, starts out bullying him, accidentally falls madly in love instead. Korea hits it entirely out of the Parks by doing a university BL with everything we expect from BL just done exactly right. Korea's signature quality executed perfectly with added bonus good story, great pacing, stunning visuals, and fantastic chemistry. You cannot ask for more from a BL, let alone a KBL. Full squee here. 

All three of these next three actually hold the #2 spot in my heart depending on how I feel that day. 

2. Old Fashion Cupcake (Japan Viki)

This show had me from the moment they broke the egg yolk with the chopsticks in the opening credits. It’s about a younger man with a long cherished crush on his boss (ten years older and going through a mid life crisis) who decides to save and seduce said boss with pancakes. It’s wholesome, comforting, sexy, and a very necessary narrative about still having hope, interests, and openness to affection at any age. It’s a stunningly filmed late-in-life coming of age/queerness story packaged in a subtle critique of expectations around masculinity, love, and loneliness... and it’s beautiful. Full review. 

3. Minato's Laundromat (Japan Gaga) 

AKA Minato Coin Laundry AKA Wash My Heart! AKA Minato Shouji Koin Randorii AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry

A classic age gap romance where a high school student pursues the man of his dreams (who runs a laundromat). This BL is so steeped in yaoi tropes and archetypes, not to mention a typical romance arc, that it will overload some, but those of who love this genre for its DNA will adore it. It made me very happy because it did everything I want a BL to do - there’s not much more I could ask of a BL than this. It’s the closest Japan has come to perfect live action yaoi since Seven Days (and I never make that comparison lightly). Squee watch-along here. 

4. Takara & Amagi (Japan Gaga & Viki) 

AKA Takara-kun and Amagi-kun AKA Takara-kun to Amagi-kun

I gnawed on my knuckles and squealed a lot with this show. Reserved cool kid who must learn to communicate to keep the tiny disaster nugget he’s madly in love with. It is beyond charming: soft and gentle, packed with cuteness and high school angst, thirst, & yearning. Did anything actually happen? No. Was it emotionally tense and paced well enough for me not to notice? Absolutely. Was there plot? Not really. Did I enjoy the hell out of it, anyway? Oh yes. Full review.

5. Cherry Blossoms After Winter (Korea Viki)

Korea took on early Japanese sweet yaoi but gave it their signature softness and precise production with a STUNNING color palette (beautiful pastels, sun-saturated over-exposure), manga framing style, some traditional BL character archetypes, that tiny edge of bullying roughness and out-of-control seme, plus FINALLY a palatable take on the stepbrothers trope and it was, in a word, classic. Sophisticated and understated CBAW is not slow, it’s just subtle. It's dream-like and atmospheric, as if the whole thing took place under cold water on a warm spring day. Is there plot or peril? Not really. Do we care? Also, not really. Look, I can’t help it, I’m old school and so is this show. I grew up reading sweet yaoi, and this was THAT YAOI just on my screen. There’s no objectivity with me and this show. It’s a beautiful pastiche and I loved it for how it made me feel and what it reminded me of. It’s not flawless, but it is a wonderful experience. Full review. 

6. Bad Buddy (Thailand YouTube)

This was GMMTV’s flagship BL and it started 2022 on a BANG (okay no actual banging but you know what I mean), starring heavy hitters Ohm & Nanon in a pitch perfect university Romeo & Romeo masterpiece that will give you domesticity meets pain whiplash throughout and jet lag at the end. Some of the friendship and family dynamics are overworked, but it has great production values, killer acting, and some conscious effort to correct for half a decade of Thai BL’s anti-queer mistakes. Full review. 

7. Blueming (Korea iQIYI)

It’s a tiny bit dark and a tiny bit bittersweet, almost too honest to a university experience and first love for BL, but if you want your mind ever-so-slightly messed with and your intimacy hellishly sweet, this BL will do it for you in a coldly distant manner, while bitch slapping you with self worth issues. I wasn’t into it at first, but the leads are solid and by ep 5 it got really good, becoming a narrative about self discovery meets understanding and accepting others people’s flaws without hurting them. Ultimately we witnessed two characters maturing because of each other and their mutual affection, without that affection becoming the conflict point. Instead, tension was built around other aspects of identity, popularity, and self-worth. While production values were a touch lower than usual for Korea, Blueming included decent kisses and other forms of intimacy and a satisfying ending plus there’s judicious and very elegant use of tropes, this is a great BL. Full review. 

8. My Ride (Thailand Gaga)

Thai BL grew up with this pulp (the first ever to make my end of year top 10). It’s a truly lovely and special little show featuring the extremely rare pairing of sunshine/sunshine (AKA a cinnamon roll couple) plus mature explorations of relationships using one of the softest, sweetest and most innocent friends to lovers vehicles. Kindly, overworked doctor meets broken-hearted motorcycle taxi driver in an “other side of the tracks” slow burn romance. The support cast is excellent, making for great friendship groups and family dynamics. With honest queer rep that adds to, but doesn’t impede, the story, and genuine conversation about the nature of class, wealth, and classism, not to mention communication, honesty, and respect for boundaries, you can’t go wrong with this show. In other news, I am a sucker for a single dimple. Full review. 

9. Not Me (Thailand YouTube)

GMMTV gave us a dark disestablishment narrative (in a time of civil unrest) with established queer award-winning director Anucha and starring the biggest guns of BL, OffGun and THIS WAS AN AMAZING THING to get to experience at the time - nerve racking but remarkable. But was it ACTUALLY BL? It certainly has a lot of BL elements, but in the end romance was not what this show was about, or even what it was genuinely trying to be as a performance piece. Still a remarkable moment in Thai cinema, certainly worth your time. Don’t worry, it all ends happily. Full review. 

10. My Tooth Your Love (Taiwan Gaga)

From the producers of We Best Love, earnest dentist hottie with sad eyes who worries too much is smitten by an adorable sunshine neurotic bar owner with serious anxiety issues. They fall madly in love while courting each other with food, plushies, and naps. Then, shocker, talk about their feelings and try to actually sort out their problems so they can have an adult relationship. Bonus crumbs = 18 year old poor little rich kid in mad crush with a much older man. I really enjoyed this show, it had a fun premise, killer dialogue, there was a solid lead pair with charming chemistry, soft flirtation, and delightful smiling kisses and stinkingly cute domesticity. All that said, I wasn’t wild about some of the darker themes it explored, even though it did a good job with them. And while the crumbs and sides were v adorable they were underused. In the land of May/December, baby boy kabedon is my kryptonite! Why so little of them? Kabedon is My Krytonite = also the name of my indie band’s first single.) 

Absolute BL 2, like ABL1 is technically unrated since I consider them mockudramas not true BL. But both are greatly beloved by me and deserve a mention.

22 Runners Up for 2022

DNA Says Love You (Taiwan) 

Cutie Pie (Thailand) 

About Youth (Taiwan) 

Choco Milk Shake (Korea)

The Eclipse (Thai) 

Tinted With You (Korea)

Roommates of Poongduck 304 (Korea) 

Plus and Minus (Taiwan) 

Oh! Boarding House (Korea)

What Zabb Man! (Thai) 

Vice Versa (Thai) 

Love Stage!! (Thai)  

Love Class (Korea) 

Ocean Likes Me (Korea) 

Cherry Magic the movie (Japan) 

Behind Cut (Korea) 

Star in My Mind (Thai)  

Mr Cinderella (Vietnam)

Mr. Unlucky Can Only Kiss (Japan) 

Happy Ending Romance (Korea) 

My Only 12% (Thai)

Dear Doctor, I'm Coming for Your Soul (Thai) 

Just a note my average rating for all BLs each year (6/10) - over the years I have been watching the mean has not changed. So for me, at least, Asia continues to produce about the same amounts of beloved, average, and crap. In other words: more BL this year (by a lot) has meant that there is more BL I love (and give high ratings too), but it also means there is more BL I dislike (and give low scores to). 

Streaming Platforms

The platform that hosted the most of my top rated 32 shows was, actually, YouTube with 10. Viki was a close second with 9, equal if you add in ABL2. It was Choco Milk Shake that made the difference (a KBL on YT? cray cray). 

Gaga scooped (or shared with Viki) many of my top 10 favorite BLs though, so whoever selects and curates over there shares my taste. 

Still, official recommendation as of 2022 is that if you only choose one streaming service to pay for? Viki is the best subscription platform for new BL. However, if you can get it there with ads, and really are strapped for cash? Go for Gaga. 

(source) 

[gloomwalking]

tagged by the lovely celia @kneadingwater for my 2023 faves!

these are not in order bc i would um and ah about it too much and never post !!

albums

billie marten’s drop cherries (2023)

matt maltese’s driving just to drive (2023)

the smiths’ self titled (1984)

yard act’s the overload (2022)

stornoway’s tales from terra firma (2013)

books

the shipping news (1993) - proulx (!!)

haunting of hill house (1959) - jackson

fingers crossed (2022) - berenyi

why be happy when you could be normal (2011) - winterson

the kites (1980) - gary tr. richmond mouillot

movies

[i do not watch many films or record them anywhere so i ran out very quickly, i’m sure there’s more i loved this year and just forgot about D•: ]

anatomy of a fall (2023)

this spring i watched before sunrise (1995) & before sunset (2004) which were both lovely lovely lovely - my mum had said she loved them and she is always right… [did not finish before midnight bc the site i was pirating it on crashed and i couldn’t get it back up and just gave up - wasn’t so keen on that one anyway]

ratatouille (2007) [i watched this as a kid but not again until this year and it was really good fun ok]

… we got free tickets to opening night of anna karenina performed at the theatre which was good (and the theatre experience made it tbh, plus best ice cream i have had in soooo long) [counting this because i can’t think of any more films !!!!]

[hawkinself]

Better With You

just a little blurb cause it’s missing eddie munson hours.

Eddie Munson x fem!reader

Eddie can’t sleep, cuteness overload, fluff.

‘‘Eddie, you okay?’’

Your voice came all groggy, rough with sleep. Dark trailer’s room was barely lit, a stripe of yellowish light snuck under the curtains running across the bed. The soft rustle of the sheets and Eddie’s heavy breathing were the only noise filling the space around you both.

“Baby?”

Eddie was all flushed skin, cheeks clammy when he turned to face you. He grimaced, glassy eyes trying to focus on you in the dark. Your hand soothed over his warm forehead, fingers gently brushing stray hairs away.

“M’fine,” Eddie grumbled, shuffling closer to you, leaning into your touch, “Just a nightmare.”

You smiled, noticing him relaxing under your fingers, thumb gently rubbing circles at his shoulder. The boy was stubborn, never wanting to show his own weakness cause Eddie swore that he couldn’t stand you being upset because of him.

You hummed quietly, all-knowing that he desperately needed you to touch him now. Eddie didn’t have to say it. You leaned closer, noses brushing. Eddie was all cigarette smoke, spice and autumn leaves. Burnt caramel and wood underneath. Your lips found the corner of his mouth, the high of his cheeks, the plush of his lashes.

Eddie sighed softly, lips chasing yours in a slow, languid kiss, the kind he was willing to give you when his chest hurt. Your hand found his under the covers, gently squeezing once, twice, a silent “I’m here, baby, you’re alright” as he licked into you.

“Fuck, I love you.” Eddie’s voice was hoarse, mouth pressed into the column of your neck, palm running down your side, warm and rough on your skin under the Dio t-shirt you slept in that smelled like the boy.

“Yeah?” you asked quietly despite knowing the answer.

“Yeah.”

You could feel him smile against your skin, nose nudging against the line of your jaw. Eyes fluttered shut as he gently nipped at your skin, warm breath sending goosebumps all over your body and you didn’t have it in you to scold him for being so Eddie.

He was slow and sluggish, broken sleep tugging at the boy as he tucked himself into you, soft curls tickling at your skin. Face hidden in the crook of your neck, Eddie hummed in contentment, breathing you in. You smelled like cut grass and cherry blossom, buttery popcorn and ginger beer. You reminded him of his favorite time of the year - spring. Even though it was a rainy November night outside, you felt like the sun to him.

“Let’s get back to sleep, huh?” you murmured, fingers gently tugging at the soft curls at the nape of his neck. Eddie pushed his palm up the inside of your t-shirt, thumb brushing over the swell of your breast as he nodded in agreement.

“Feeling better?” your own voice became sluggish with sleep, eyes shutting down, unable to fight off the tiredness that settled in your body.

Eddie pulled back just enough to look up at you, your lashes flattered closed against the apples of your cheeks, cherry-stained lips slightly parted.

“Always better with you.”

Eddie pressed a kiss to your temple, thinking how the hell he got so lucky.

[neptune-cinths]

Treasured 4

entry : hello! heres chapter 4 of treasured, this is quite rushed because i’m feeling a bit tired but i still wanna write some more!

warnings : violence coming from Satan (please proceed with caution)

reblogs, hearts and comments are very much appreciated !!

taglist : @obeythebutler , @moni-sama , @gallantys , @sunasbitch , @crystal-freak24, @mar-s-bar-s, @beautifulzonk , @anxious-and-confused-af, @definitely-yours , @rainbowcaterpillarlucy , @satans-favorit3 , @aelxr , @tenyaiidafan @lynxrae726 , @veyu002 @venti-cult , @transparentyouthwombat , @roguesknights , @supersludgethingzine , @yunbedo , @another-one-again, @kittykitkatstrawberry, @dabiscrustyfeet , @sparkbeast20 @bitchotine @elizabeth-brown @flyingpansaurus @ice-icebaby @lemonboy011 @undertaker-02 @tenkobitch @yukihaie @sucker-for-angst-and-fluff @sutsuxan @seokjin-bby @randomlyappearingartist

The silence between the two noble demons was loud, none of them uttered a word just yet. They were just staring at each other, wondering who was going to address the elephant in the room. Diavolo sighed and his already hardened gaze at Lucifer seemed to drop in temperature as he asked

“What happened to you, Lucifer?”

The said demon furrowed his eyebrows and almost stopped his breathing for seconds. What did Diavolo mean when he asked that? In his mind, there was nothing wrong with himself at all. He was regular Lucifer, the same Lucifer who usually strung up his younger brothers for misbehaving.

The same Lucifer who dominated any space he stepped foot in, the same Lucifer who hated your guts, the same Lucifer who’s chest bloomed like a hibiscus flower in spring with happiness by seeing your head low and water dripping from your eyes.

‘Huh?’

The prided demon’s eyebrows furrowed at the last statements, he didn’t remember hating you, right? Didn’t he like you? Didn’t he borderline adore and love you? If he did love you, then where did the hate and resentment come from?

You must’ve done something horrible to him and his brothers that deserved this type of attention, yes that must be it. That’s the only reasonable explanation he can provide for himself.

‘Yes, it must be their fault. I’ve done nothing but treat them with respect, and this is how they repay me? How disgraceful. They should have never been in this program.’

He snapped out of his thoughts and came back to reality when he heard the sounds of Diavolo’s expensive leather shoes clicking on the marble floor, he looked at the cherry haired demon with slightly widened eyes.

Diavolo looked at his friend and asked once again “Don’t you remember, Lucifer? How you loved them?” Lucifer then shook his head from side to side and heard the Young Master scoff under his breath while rolling his eyes lightly. He looked into Lucifer’s ruby eyes and fumed at him “I know the full story of what happened. But, what I don’t appreciate is you threatening to punish them.”

Before Lucifer can clarify anything to Diavolo, he added “You and I both know what you do whenever you punish anyone, and it seemed that you would go above and beyond with this case due to the grip you had on their wrist.”

“They asked for it with that behavior of theirs, Diavolo. You have to understand that.” The Avatar of Pride asserted to him. Diavolo widened his eyes and gripped on Lucifer’s shoulder, adding pressure with every word as he spoke back

“That’s Lord Diavolo to you. I’m fully aware of what happened, just like what I said. Do you need your ears checked?” Lucifer flinched slightly at the growing pain on his left shoulder and shook his head from left to right.

His gaze was darting all over the place and he clenched his fists together. The aura around Diavolo was like a thick miasma, making it’s home in his mind and overloading his senses slowly. He had almost never seen this side from the happy-go-lucky prince.

It had been centuries since Diavolo felt his anger had skyrocketed, and he was willing to take it out on one of the people who is responsible for this type of behavior being encouraged.

“It seems that you have forgotten your place here, Lucifer. You might be my right hand man, but I make the decisions and I am the one who gets to decide who gets punished fairly according to my own beliefs and the Devildom Law. Try not to forget that.” Diavolo whispered into Lucifer’s ear as he was finally retracting his hand from the black haired demon’s now injured shoulder.

“I will be monitoring every little thing that you do inside of this Academy to MC, Lucifer. Don’t you forget that from now on.”

Diavolo walked off into his office with large strides, his aura still leaving its residue in Lucifer’s mind and body. Lucifer touched his shoulder with the pads of his fingers and winced, this would undeniably turn into a nasty bruise. He took a closer look at his hand and saw that it was shaking slightly, his eyes widened at this and he tried to steady his erratic breathing.

Never in Lucifer’s life did he see first hand that kind of anger, not even on Satan. He hoped that it would be the last.

While the three avatars of sin tried to subdue their infuriated brother, The Avatar of Wrath, it was an incredibly futile attempt. No one had the ability to swallow down their anger and their wrath, try as you might but it will all eventually come crashing down. Anger is incredibly necessary, especially in these special situations.

Satan had twisted and turned his body from right to left, thrashing in Beel’s arms until he knocked the gluttony demon’s head with enough force for him to be freed. He then punched him right on his jaw, a red swelling already appearing on Beel’s face. Just as he was about to swing his sharp claws for another hit, Belphegor saw the pain on his twin’s face and let the anger brewing in his mind consume him. With that he turned into his very own demon form.

He charged at Satan, his tail pulling the blonde’s hair back and placing him in a chokehold. Satan scratched Belphegor’s face and arms with his green, needle sharp claws and Belphegor added even more pressure to the grip he had on his brother’s neck, disregarding his own pain.

He slapped his face and Belphegor tumbled to the ground, the left side of his face felt hot and red strings of blood had stained his porcelain white arms. The polished floor he landed on scratched his body and intensified the wounds. He looked up and saw Satan above him, looking down on him with his vertically slit eyes and the top half of his forearms covered in a mix of purple and red blood.

Before Satan could hurt the twins further, Leviathan stepped in and yanked the wrath demon’s tail, making him fall down with a large thud sound echoing.

Levi formed the brown, spilled tea and water to make chains, still connected to him through wisps of both elements and clasped them onto Satan’s wrists. Satan saw this and started to swing his wrists all over the place, projecting Levi up onto the air in every direction possible and hitting everything on the walls, effectively making dents and ruining multiple paintings, ornaments, chandeliers and everything under the sun that was kept in the House of Lamentation.

“This is what you deserve, this is just the consequences of your actions my dear brothers. How dare you treat someone who has died for us like thrown out garbage. If they ever decide to forgive you after all that you or even I have put them through, just remember that you don’t even deserve a sliver of it.”

A large, mocking grin had adorned itself onto Satan’s face and not a few beats later, he started to cackle while still throwing Levi all over the place. Even when the door slammed open, his loud laughter still echoed in the halls of the House of Lamentation. It came to a screeching halt when he found himself thrown backwards and tied in what he deduced was golden rope that was soaked in holy water. It digged itself into his skin and burned him, leaving its marks onto his already bloodied skin.

He looked up and saw Simeon with Mammon by his side, who was helping Beel and Belphie stand up. He unfurled his black, leather wings and started to fly back to his room with his whole body shaking and the twins on his back. He faltered for quite a bit till he eventually got the hang of it and flew back.

“How?” Satan roared at Simeon. The angel looked at him and replied back with a stern look on his face “Mammon took Amelia to Purgatory Hall, and explained what was happening.” Satan right eye twitched at this and before he could begin to scream, he saw Simeon flicker his hands and the next thing he knew, his voice was gone.

“Just for the time being, I don’t want you to lose your voice by screaming profanities.” Simeon advised. He looked all around the room and saw broken furniture, the sharp and broken pieces of glass spreading all around the floor, dots of orange blood making an appearance here and there, the dining table flipped over. The grisly scene burned itself in Simeon’s mind and he was sure he would never forget this scene. A sign of the power the Avatar of Wrath can use whenever he wants to do so.

‘I’m sure he didn’t even use all of his power.’

Simeon shivered slightly and looked to the demon who’s breathing was now going back to its normal pace as he informed him “MC’s going to be staying at Purgatory Hall, permanently.” Satan’s eyes widened and Simeon can slowly feel the anger build up once again when he saw Satan’s eyes glow a dull green once again.

“But,” He continued “You are free to visit at any time you want, these are the orders Lord Diavolo told me.” Satan paused for a few seconds and nodded his head. He smiled at this and made two symbols with his large, gloved hands. Satan felt his voice return and said his name as a test. He coughed and he leaned onto the wall, resting his head on it while ignoring the growing pain from the restraints.

He sighed and closed his eyes, asking to the angel “Can I be let out of this rope? I bet I’ve got burn marks and rope burn at this point.” Simeon nodded once again and knelt down to untie him from his restraints. Satan sighed of relief as the burning finally eased up by a small margin, but it eased up either way.

Once all the holy rope had been stripped off of Satan’s body, he stood up and wobbled at first. He gripped on Simeon’s arm for support and eventually straightened himself out to the point that he was able to get up and walk back his room. When asked about the mess his wrath created, he simply shrugged and replied back with a small smirk on his handsome face “I’m just giving Lucifer a little surprise when he comes back home.”

“MC! There you are!” Luke exclaimed as he ran up to you and embraced your legs. You felt a smile creep up onto your face and you hugged the young angel with equally as much force, twirling him slightly at the end. You looked up and saw Solomon walking up to you and Barbatos.

You two exchanged smiles at each other and Solomon sat next to Barbatos as he asked out “How’s my new roommate doing?” You looked at him with your head slightly tilted to the right and scratched your head as you replied back “New roommate?”

Both Solomon and Barbatos looked at you with curious glint in their beautiful eyes but Barbatos already beat Solomon to the punch “Did the Young Master not tell you?” You shook your head as a ‘no’ and you hear Luke explain to you

“You’re gonna be transferred to Purgatory Hall! And that means we’re always gonna be baking together and you’re finally gonna be away from those horrible demons!” You feel yourself smile at this and small tears already forming in your eyes.

You quickly wipe them away using a small, green handkerchief Barbatos embroidered for you. Luke’s statement had felt like a breath of fresh air coming in your polluted lungs. No more gossiping around the walls, no more mockery, no more embarrassment coming from the demons who you thought loved you, no more. This was finally the light at the end of a dark and endless tunnel people were talking about.

The others with you saw this and immediately asked you why you were crying and asked if you wanted to remain in the House of Lamentation. You frantically shook your head from side to side and stated with a big smile that looked like it reached the edges of your ears “I’m just so happy, please don’t worry.”

Everyone visibly relaxed and Luke hugged you once again while Barbatos lightly dabbed the handkerchief on the corners of your eye that still had a remaining amount of water on them.

“I’m sure we still have some time before you three go home, so why don’t we bake something for the Young Master? He’s been feeling rather tense due to certain.. demons getting on his nerves.” Barbatos mentions to all of you while putting on his pristine, white apron. You all made agreeing noises and started to place different colored aprons on top of the clothes you’re wearing.

“Also, Solomon, you’re automatically on mixing duty only.“ Barbatos eyed Solomon from the corner of his eye while measuring how much brown sugar they needed.

“Please don’t secretly add cardamom or mini devil cherries again!” Luke pleaded to Solomon from the floor as he was trying to find the measuring spoons. Solomon laughed “Can’t make any promises there.” The sound of groans after he said that dominated the room along with the rolling of different eyes and quiet laughter.

After about an hour of both baking and waiting for the baked goods to cool down, Solomon touched the smooth surface of one matcha macaron and smiled at the temperature. He called the others over and you all started to plate everything, occasionally taking bites of a cut peach or two but with Barbatos’s disapproving but amused gaze staring.

Barbatos and Luke brought both the tea set and a tray of tarts and fruit to Diavolo’s office, while you and Solomon were carrying a crimson, three tiered cake stand filled with macarons and even more fruit with both hands. Once set down, you five had tea together and the occasion was filled with sweet laughter and fake pettiness which was all in good fun.

“Waah, I’m so full! Barbatos always makes the tastiest treats!” Luke chimed while he was stretching his body upwards, hearing the satisfying cracks of air coming from his body. You and Solomon giggled to each other as you two watched Luke who was in front of both of you, acting as a protector of sorts. ‘I’ll protect you from all those disgusting and revolting demons MC!’ Your mind provided you with him saying those exact words.

Your heart squeezed when you remembered at certain greed demon’s words sounding just like Luke’s promise. ‘Yer with me, MC! Nothing’s ever gonna harm ya when you have me, the Great Mammon and your first man protectin’ ya!’

You quietly shook your head at his lies and started to stare off into space as you thought

‘Diavolo intimidating Lucifer isn’t enough.. I need something that will get all of them, minus Satan, in serious trouble with him.’

You pondered over this thought as you walked with Solomon and Luke back to Purgatory Hall. Your eyes widened as you realized

‘If I’m going to accuse them of something, then I’ll need proof. And loads of it.. look’s like I’ll be needing Satan’s help once again.’

—————————————

afterthoughts : i apologize if there are any spelling or grammar errors :<< , but on the good news i recently got a hair cut and i’m really liking it !! :DD

[ganondoodle]

Having lived my whole life in the same place, its strangely sad to see the change around it, helplessly watching.

I remember the old bridge over the little creek going by just beside our house, small and crafted from natural stone, ivy growing all over the thick stone railing. I remember climbing on it to reach the fruits of our old plum tree, giving some of them to strangers walking by or to just sit there and watch the water. Now there is a big bridge, made of blank concrete and maschine cut granite, with railings of metal bars. I know the old bridge had to go, after all, i was the one who noticed the weird noises coming from it during a rain heavy storm, as the stones that once withstood tanks rolling over them, were loosening and falling into the water below. I saw how the thick stone railing slowly started to move, and watched as it fell, hastily running outside in the rain to stop cars from driving there as we feared it could break more ... . Our plum tree had to be cut down for the new bridge to be build, as had the wild bushes and trees growing at the sides of the stream including the giant healthy chestnut tree on the other side of the bridge, it was so big my arms couldnt have reached around even half of its trunk; i liked walking under it just to stare up into the huge tree crown. I cried when it was cut down. Our biggest cherry tree was displaced to make way for a metal walkway for pedestrians, its roots cut too shortly it soon started to die; and yet, here it still stands, the trunk falling apart, barren and dead while one single branch still grows leaves, clinging onto life.

I remember the big willow, its crooked and twisted branch creating little plays of shadows in my room at night, illuminated by the moon. I remember it breaking off and falling onto our swing in the garden during a storm, utterly crushing it. I cried when the tree was cut down piece by piece. My father placed pieces of its trunk and thick branches around the garden, they started to sprout again, but all soon died anyway ... exept for the biggest part of the trees wood, still lying in the grass, it sprouted again and took root, even after the droughts of recent years stunting its growth, its still alive. The trunk it grows from is falling apart, slowly becoming one with the ground. I hope it wont damage the tree when its splintering apart further. I water it in the summer.

I remember the sandpit in our garden we used to play in. How deep we could dig until the earth came through. How when needed, we would drive somewhere not far, to get new sand for it. I remember climbing around on the big mountain of sand, searching for the best parts to take from, how we always overloaded our car by a little bit and yet the people we bought the sand from, still let us through. The sandpit is now overgrown, almost swallowed by grass and moss. The piece of the trunk of the willow is right by its side.

I remember the big spruce tree in our garden. We called it "Wetterfichte" (weatherspruce), it was the tallest of all the trees, its top had multiple crooks and the end was split in two, both kept growing for years. It didnt make it through the drought last summer. My father had to cut it down a few weeks ago. He screwed a big hinge at half of its height and build a little circle of protective wooden beams around its roots so it wouldnt damaged the little garden of saplings we planted there, when it falls. It worked thankfully, the various kinds of saplings didnt suffer much, if any, damage, including the stump of a piece of the willow i put over there because little maple seedlings took root in a hole within it. They are still growing. Sometimes in the spring, i go around the garden carefully plucking out the little maple seedlings to plant them somewhere save from the lawnmower. Even if most dont make it in the end.

I remember the sudden freezing temperatures last year, just when my walnut trees started to open their buds. We tried to cover up the twins we planted in the spot of land that nobody really owns, we call it "Niemandsland" (No-ones-land), like the area sophie, from "howls moving castle" traveled to after being cursed. The frost killed the little trees buds and leaves anyway, but they sprouted from the sides afterwards, even if weakly. This year they are as lively as if nothing happened. Only the dead endings of where their original crown used to be is a reminder. And i watch anxiously, when workers come to mow down the grass on the other side of the creek, fearing they might step over it and mow down the saplings i care for so deeply too, as if they were no different from the grass.

I remember the big hedge that used to be on the other side of the road. Birds would eat the berries of it and build their nests within its branches. As kids, we used to pluck some berries off and jump on them, they sounded funny when squashed under our shoes, like bubble wrap. When people moved into the house that the hedge belonged to, they ripped out the bushes during the birds nesting season and replaced it with a thin metal fence. They mow their lawn every few weeks with one of those rideable lawnmowers. The grass thats left stands in patches of green and brown. Its perfectly short.

I remember the second big chestnut tree, always in the view of my window. Its been a sickly one for as long as i can remember clearly, though almost as big as the one was by the bridge. It has deep scars in its bark from nails and pins that people used to hang up announcements for the restaurant build behind it. The restaurant is long closed and the rooms rented for little theater perfomances every now and then. Not long ago they cut off all its branches, i dont know why and all i could do was watch helplessly. It grew leaves from its stumpy ends again. They are half brown and shriveled up and half green and lush, just like it always has been.

I remember the tall maple tree my parents cut down when i wasnt home, knowing i would protest it if i was there and somehow hoping that doing it behind my back would make it any better. It was one of my favorite trees. I didnt talk for days.

I gaze into the distance. Theres the big oak tree on the horizon, now fully green and lush. It was leafless for so long, i feared it didnt survive the drought.

My view wanders to the two big healthy fir trees not far away, knowing, one of them will soon be cut down to make way for a garage.

And all i can do is watch.

Helplessly.

[maadorii]

home— k. nobara x gn! reader 

max.notes: i’m wayyyy overdue in writing nobara content i don’t know why but i felt this concept was fitting for her in a way. might’ve gone overboard with the imagery but you know me, when do i not? i might’ve also cried a little hehe

synopsis: change is, nor will it ever will be, an easy thing. luckly, she was the only constant in your life that never changed.

warnings/tags: hurt/comfort whoops, fluff

w.count— 831

your heart filled with gloom.

you could feel the uneasiness fester in the pit of your stomach, the slow spread to the tips of your fingers and toes as you stared out into the expansive greenery of the school campus before you. the glittering emerald green lake that illuminated the rich greenery surrounding it. bushes pretty pink camellias bloom in the radiant glow of sunlight. the flutter of cherry blossoms floating in the air like wisp. all while you sat underneath the evergreen of a ginkgo tree much too old. the buzzing of dragonflies zipping nearby. the cheeky chirping of robins in the distance. 

it was the start of spring. it was the beginning of change. 

you hated change, very much so. it was sometimes just so... unpredictable at times. it always just felt out of your control; as if there was nothing you could do about it to hopefully come out with a different outcome. but that was the baggage that came with being a jujutsu sorcerer. 

something new, sometimes random, came up everyday, whether it was a new curse that needed to be exorcised, new assignments, new missions. new everything. and sometimes think you might go into sensory overload from the amount of work that was so graciously bestowed on you. 

there were times where you wish you could end it all. just to get up and leave. find a new life away from being a sorcerer, to a place where no one knows your name. to start fresh... away from curses, away from tokyo.

there was nothing left to lose.

there was nothing left to prove.

all this life ever did, was bring you hardship, and pain, and death.

well... except maybe—

“hey! what’re doing there all alone?”

you looked over in the direction where the voice was coming from, only to be met with kugisaki nobara. she looked so bright, so pretty, today. the smile etched on her face was unwavering as she approached you. there was a bandage on her forehead she acquired from a recent mission. she was dressed in casual clothes rather than the school uniform.

you didn’t say anything when she sat next to you, under the shade of the ginkgo tree. it’s serpentine leaves hanging mere inches above you. it was quiet, too quiet for nobara’s liking. she can feel the tingles of your anxiety make it up her spine. from your closed off body language– how your legs were hugged tight against your chest, curling yourself into a little ball. the mellow glum in your eyes. the unnatural quietness that settled over your body like a weighted blanket that gradually increased in weight at the feeling of nobara’s eyes one you.

something was wrong. 

this wasn’t the first time nobara has seen you like this. and she was almost certain that this wasn't gonna be the last. some days were easier than others, but seemingly, today unfortunately wasn’t one of those days. 

the slight tremble in your shoulders. the sheen in your eyes that slowly built into crystal droplets of tears that cascaded seemingly beautifully, down the roundness of your cheeks. nobara could’ve sworn you cried stars from how they twinkle in the limelight of the sun that peaked through the leaves of the tree.

it was a dead give away. 

she wasn't the greatest at dealing with emotions, especially others. but she made it a point to help whenever it came to you. you were a different kind of different. someone she made a promise to always protect, unbeknownst to you. 

she wouldn’t allow you to wallow in your woe. not if nobara could do anything about it.

that was when she, a little bit forcefully, brought your head down to lay on her shoulder. your sniffling was brought to a stop from her actions. peering up, nobara stared straight ahead, not bothering to spare you a glance. you blinked once, twice, stunned to silence. and you weren’t sure if it was because of her actions or the fact you could see the slightest tinge rose on her cheeks. 

“kugisaki–” 

“it’s okay. you don’t have to tell me anything. just know... i’m here for you.” and that's when she looked down to your head still resting on her shoulder. her eyes... the golden ember of them illuminated with warmth. shining in their earnest kindness. they’ve always been so kind, especially when they look at you.

they were practically glowing. 

and you were hit with a wave of fresh, hot tears welding in the corner of your eyes, biting harshly on your bottom of your lip in an attempt to hold in your sob. 

she smelt like home. comforting and open. grounded and sweet.

nobara squeezed you a little tighter in her hold, resting her head on yours, underneath the aged ginkgo tree. watching as the world changed around the both of you, sometimes a bit too quick for your liking, you knew deep down, nobara will always stay the same.

copyright © 2021 maadorii. all rights reserved.

[aloysiavirgata]

Hot prompt: Mulder washes Scully's back.

And also for @fashionbooksboozefeminism who asked about 40th birthdays on the run. NSFW

***

Night, cash, Sonia and James. Mulder leads her down the faded carpet and wood-paneled halls of the old Poconos resort, nearly empty nine days past Valentine’s. Everything they own that isn’t in their bag is in the car outside. They stop in front of room 314.

Scully, a bobbed brunette in yoga pants and a hoodie, slouches against the wall. “If this turns out to be a reboot of The Shining, Mulder, I’m going to be really pissed.”

He works the key into the scuffed lock. “The Haunted Murder package wasn’t in my budget, don’t worry.”

They head inside, Mulder shutting the door behind them. The room is a perfectly preserved 70’s time capsule, amber-hued with shag carpet and velour club chairs. There’s a zigzag bedspread and a macramé plant hanger with a dusty silk fern on it.

“Groovy.” Mulder sets their duffel on the floor.

“Wow,” Scully says, peering around. Her mother would have killed for this room back when she hosted fondue parties and wore hostess pajamas. “Mulder, I feel like I’m in high school again. I’m going to need some blue eyeshadow, then we can play a few rounds of Mystery Date.”

Mulder examines a small porcelain shepherdess on the lamp stand. “Forty is the new sixteen. Go look around the corner.”

Scully picks her way past the walnut dresser and a floral folding screen. A yelp of laughter escapes her. “Mulder!”

The tub is glossy and red, heart shaped, with veined mirrored walls behind. It’s piled with bubbles, steam rising from the surface. A bottle of something called Sham-Pagne sits on the tiled rim. Her chest squeezes at the thought of him putting this together. She’s been remote since the New Year, prickly and self-contained as a spore.

He appears behind her, grinning. “James. Only the classiest for you, Sonia.”

She sits on the ledge, pats the bubbles with curious fingers. “Champagne glasses would have been classy, James.”

Mulder studies the bottle. “It’s got a screw top, so I think this is more a red Solo cup affair. Or straight from the bottle.“

Their joys are very small these days and she clings to them. “It’s absolutely awful, I love it.”

Mulder, beaming, squeezes her shoulder. “Go ahead and get in, I wanted it all ready for you so you could relax right off the bat.”

Scully stands, her back to the large mirrors. She undresses quickly, trying not to catch her reflection in the small mirror over the sink. She doesn’t want to see her choppy dark hair, the purple smudges under her eyes, her sallow skin and WalMart lingerie. A year and nine months and each glance at her reflection feels like watching a Dana who dropped out of med school to follow a band or wait tables at a truck stop. But she can’t tell her not to do it, she can’t wish it all away, it’s just... she is not suited for life in the bardo.

She climbs over the wide ledge, into one of the curves of the heart, and lowers herself into the bath. The steaming water is decadent after so many cramped showers, and this immersion feels baptismal. Perhaps she can come out fully cleansed, grocery store dye gone, Aphrodite on a bed of foam. The bubbles come up past her chin, making her sneeze. 

Mulder sits next to her, opening the wine. “Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady,” he sings, holding the bottle like a microphone.

Scully scowls at him from the tub. “No need for that, thank you.”

“Tom Jones, Scully!”

She puffs bubbles at him, and they stick to his shirt. “Do you have any cups?”

“I was serious about the bottle, I think.” He passes it to her.

She takes a long swig. It’s sickly sweet and too fizzy. She could easily finish it herself. “Get in.”

He looks surprised. “Really?”

“It’s my birthday, you have to do what I say.” Another swallow.

He’s already undressing. “No, no, I don’t mind. I just figured you’d want to marinate alone.”

Mulder, never self conscious, has no concerns about the mirrors. He gets in the other bend of the heart and water overflows onto the carpet. “Oops.”

Scully, already buzzy, passes him the wine.

He takes a long drink, winces. “Good lord.”

“Mm,” she agrees, settling low in the water. It seeps up her chin length hair, making a sleek dark cap around her face.

Mulder puts the bottle down and fishes around in a wicker basket. He retrieves a pink pouf and a tiny bottle of cherry blossom body wash. “Scoot over here.”

She hunches into the corner. “No I’m comfable. ComFORTable.”

Mulder laughs. “How hard did you hit that bottle?” He reaches around to take her by the shoulders and pull her through the water until she’s settled between his knees like a cranky mermaid. He squeezes a pearly dollop of soap on the pouf and begins to wash her back.

“This is soapy water already,” she observes.

“Well, it so happens I just like touching you, so don’t be pedantic.”

She lets her head fall forward as he makes circles on her back, tries not to feel embarrassed about her bony spine and the furrowed landscape of her ribs. She hasn’t been this thin since the cancer hollowed her out, and she never let him see her this way back then.

Back then.

“Got you a little cake, it’s in the fridge,” Mulder says, like he can read her thoughts again.

“Maybe I’ll save you a piece,” she replies. She wants to be cheery for him, a brave little sailor. The body wash makes her think of spring in DC and she sniffs at it.

He drops the pouf to massage her slick skin with his hands. They’re a little calloused now from the kind of rough work he was never bred for. He works his thumbs beneath her scapulae and she wonders if he can unfurl them like wings, let her fly away.

She takes another gulp of wine. “Mulder.”

“Hmm?” His fingers knead her neck, each tight trapezius.

Scully turns in the water to face him, catches a flash of her reflection as she does. Her hair is kelpy, the heavy black eyeliner she wears now smudged about her eyes like Theda Bara.

She kneels between his bent knees. “Nothing.”

Mulder sighs. “I didn’t want it like this either.” He holds his arms out and she rests against his chest. The water sloshes gently around them as he enfolds her, his heart thrumming at her cheek. She imagines this is what the last moments in the womb are like.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbles into the wet dark of his body. “This is a really good present.”

His hands are skating over her back again with a washcloth this time. The texture feels good, centering her back into her bones. Sometimes she feels adrift from herself, dissociated, following her own body like a kite.

Mulder strokes her hair and she burrows her face up into his neck, her forearms pressed against his chest. She hopes he won’t sing Happy Birthday like he used to because it will undo her.

He doesn’t, just nuzzles in, whispering sweet nonsense into her ear. “I love you,” he says, in a voice like hot tea on a cold morning. He nibbles her unadorned earlobe.

Scully, who hasn’t wanted sex in over a month (or has it been two?), who has barely wanted to be touched, feels her body stirring. She turns her head, her earlobe chilled, and catches his lips with her own. She tugs at his longish hair, wanting to absorb him and his infinite love and his careworn soul. She nips his tongue.

His response against her thigh is instant and, bless him, he apologizes like a teenager on prom night. All this time and he’s still such a gentleman it might break her heart.

She pulls back, takes his face in her hands. How she loves his face, his autumn woods eyes and his mouth like a Botticelli angel. “Look at me,” she says.

He does, worry in his gaze. “Scully, it’s fine, I know y-“

“Shut up,” she says, with aching fondness. “Please shut up.” She thumbs his bottom lip.

He furrows his brow, uncertain.

Scully lets her legs float up off the bottom of the tub, twists so that she’s straddling his lap, her arms about his neck. “It’s my birthday. You have to do what I say.”

He swallows, still watching her. “As you wish.”

Scully tips her hips forward and he’s inside her, hot and hard and familiar.

Mulder’s eyes close and he murmurs some wordless hindbrain prayer.

There’s almost no leverage, but he’s holding her hips as she rotates them, groaning when she tightens her pelvic floor. She’s wrapped in warmth from the inside out, liquid heat, her breasts crushed to his chest. Water splashes to the floor.

Mulder slides his hands up so that his thumbs are at her waist, his fingers spanning her back. She sighs and leans into the brace of him, her chin tipped up.

He takes her left nipple into his mouth and her shoulders roll back, hands trailing in the water. She exhales hard through her nose. A memory comes to her, Mulder in the tub in Rhode Island, and she recalls even then the fierceness of the unnameable thing she felt for him. Love is such an inadequate word for this.

He’s slowly taken over their rhythm now, pulling her down harder, and she falls away into the dopamine surge. Panting now, belly dipping and rising. Tingling at her sacral spine.

Scully groans in disappointment when he turns his head from her breast. Her areola contracts in the cold, and Mulder runs a hand from her throat to the hot junction of their bodies. She is not long disappointed.

She sees then that he’s looking at the mirror wall, watching, and she’s afraid to do the same but cannot help her curiosity.

Her arched body is a full sail, held up by the mast of Mulder’s arm, rising and falling on an unquiet sea. Even with the glass veined and fogged she sees the slackness of desire in her mouth, her dilated eyes.

In the mirror, Mulder’s eyes are on hers, the face of a mystic in ecstasy. In the mirror she watches his jaw clench and his head roll back. Watches him grind his hips up into hers. He calls out to her god.

She’s dazed, visually overloaded. Scully leans forward to his neck again, biting at it as his fingers continue their steady work between her thighs. The hand that was on her back is on her ass now, and gripping hard.

“You liked watching,” he says at her temple and it isn’t a question, just an observation, but somehow the intimacy of him knowing it trips her over the edge. She’s lightning-struck after so long, her nerves overfiring, and she shudders back into his arms, gulping air.

He traces endless figure eights on her back, or maybe they’re infinity signs. He tells her about a raccoon he saw in the bakery parking lot, eating an entire raisin bread by itself. “It hissed at me when I got out of the car, Scully, and I don’t even like raisins.”

“You’re so brave,” she says. “Just to get my cake.”

“I’d fight a raccoon for you any day.”

When the water gets cold they emerge, ectoplasmic wafts of bubbles trailing behind them to the bed. They can shower later.

Scully, chilly now, wraps herself in the bedspread. She sits cross-legged on the bed like a wise old oracle. “Where’s my cake, please?”

Mulder opens the mini fridge and removes a perfect miniature birthday cake, sprinkles and fudge frosting and a vivid maraschino cherry. She might not save him a piece after all.

He brings her the cake and two plastic forks. A small white box.

“Mulder!” she exclaims. “I thought this was my present, I hope you didn’t really get me anything else.”

He sits next to her on the bed and rubs her back through the heavy comforter. Clears his throat. “It’s, um, it’s not from me, actually. I didn’t just run into a raccoon at the bakery.”

She looks at him in utter bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”

“Open it.”

A strange fear creeps over her as she fumbles with the tape holding the lid on the box. Her fingers are clumsy, numb, but she gets it off at last. Inside is a cheap cell phone, a burner. There’s a Post-It stuck to the front.

“Many happy returns of the day, Scully.

- Walter Skinner”

[heavensturtle]

Day 21: Summer

A short fic for day twenty-one of the YOI 20+ Club’s Daily Art Challenge!

This one is a continuation of Day 20, so read that one first.

- - -

Note: I’m so sorry! This is more than 600 words over my limit of 1000, these two just got away from me and I didn’t want to torture myself any more dragging this storyline out another day!

Also note: Prepare for sappiness overload. Healthy communication and supportive partners are the themes of today’s fic.

- - -

Victor woke to the sound of his phone ringing, lying flat on his back with a marginally-awake Yuuri draped over top of him. He tried to grab for the phone, but his arm was somehow hooked through Yuuri’s, reducing his reach to just a few inches.

“Yuuri,” he begged.

“Noooo,” Yuuri moaned, twisting so he was now on his back, his head falling to the bed just under Victor’s armpit.

That couldn’t be comfortable. But it did free up Victor’s arm, so he grabbed the phone.

“Oh. It’s Phichit.”

Yuuri took the phone. His only contribution to the conversation was a few wordless ‘mms’ before he hung up. Then he tossed the phone somewhere on the bed and proceeded to crawl over Victor like he was trying to climb inside of him. When Victor couldn’t take it anymore he grabbed Yuuri’s shoulders and pulled him against his chest, forcing him to lie still. Yuuri put up no resistance.

“Why are we like this?” Victor complained, “Yuuri? I used to be a morning person.”

“I don’t knoowww. Oh, Victor, I smell awful, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I think that’s me.”

“No, it’s definitely me, you smell amazing.”

Victor, still not used to sleepy Yuuri’s unfiltered commentary, blushed.

Yuuri leapt up, suddenly awake. “Um, Okay! Well, anyway, I’m going to take a quick shower and go see Phichit. You just - stay there.”

Victor frowned. “You don’t want me there?”

“I don’t want to subject you to an excited Phichit this early in the morning. I don’t want to scare you off.”

“So you’re planning on keeping me around, then?”

The comment was meant to be offhand, but it caused Yuuri to squint at Victor like he was trying to decipher him.

“I’m going to go see Phichit, and then I’ll be right back,” he promised. “Do you want me to bring you anything?”

Victor shook his head.

When Yuuri had showered, changed, and left, Victor changed into a clean shirt and boxers and tucked himself into his own bed. Yuuri’s seemed somehow cold without Yuuri there.

He didn’t think he would fall asleep again but the next thing he knew Yuuri was crawling under the covers next to him.

Victor roused. “Yuuri,” he began.

Yuuri pulled Victor’s arm over himself. “Can we just lay here? For an hour?”

Victor scooted closer so he could bury his face in Yuuri’s hair. “Sure. Why?”

“I want to talk to you, but I’m tired and I don’t know how to say it. I don’t want to say the wrong thing. Like I did the other day.”

“Oh,” Victor muttered, “Okay.”

The third time Victor woke up he was still wrapped around Yuuri, who was turning off his phone alarm. Victor lay quietly, trusting Yuuri to start talking when he was ready.

“Victor?” Yuuri broke the silence.

“Hm?”

“Why do you keep talking about me keeping you?”

Victor tensed. “Yuuri, it was a joke.”

“But it sort of wasn’t, right? You mentioned it our second night here, too.”

“That was because you had just said you didn’t need me any more,” Victor retorted, a trace of the hurt from that night resurfacing.

He could feel Yuuri take in a deep breath and then let it out slowly.

“Phichit was right, I didn’t clear anything up, did I?”

“What do you mean?”

“Victor, if I retire tomorrow, will you want to stop taking care of me?”

“Of course not,” he answered automatically. Taking care of Yuuri, and letting Yuuri take care of him, was the only thing in his life aside from skating that made sense.

“Do you think I would want you to stop taking care of me?”

Victor felt his throat constrict. He was glad Yuuri couldn’t see his face. “No?” he guessed.

Yuuri was trembling slightly as he placed his hand over Victor’s and threaded their fingers together. “That’s right. I won’t stop needing you just because I’m not skating. Please don’t stop taking care of me, Victor. Not when I retire. Not ever.”

“I won’t,” Victor assured him, curling even tighter against Yuuri’s back. The smell of the onsen’s shampoo in his hair felt safe, like home.

“Okay,” Yuuri breathed. Then, “But I really do want to keep going. I want to win with you, Victor.”

“You will,” Victor promised, kissing the back of Yuuri’s head.

“I want to keep skating, but I’m willing to quit so that you can compete without being weighed down by me. I would give it up to make you happy.”

“Yuuri,” Victor warned, “I already told you, making a sacrifice like that wouldn’t make me happy.”

“I know. And I feel the same about you. But that’s where I’m confused.” Yuuri paused, like he was gathering his thoughts. “For you, Victor, I don’t know what the sacrifice is. Is it retiring? Or is it to go back to competing when you don’t want to? I thought I knew, but maybe I guessed wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Victor said in a rush, “I’ll do whatever’s the best choice, Yuuri. I- ”

“Is that what you were thinking when you said you were coming back? That it was the best choice?”

“It was the best choice,” Victor pointed out.

“For who?”

Victor paused, unsure of how to answer. It had seemed obvious, before now.

“Victor, you’re…” Yuuri began.

Victor held his breath, dreading whatever came next. Whatever it was that Yuuri had wanted to tell him last night.

What Yuuri said stunned him: “You don’t have to do things just to make other people happy. Victor. You’re allowed to ask for what you want. You’re even allowed to demand it. I won’t always be able to give it to you, but I promise to try.”

“Yuuri,” he started to argue, but then Yuuri began stroking his forearm and Victor fell silent.  

”Can we just try something? Just be Victor. No one knows your name, no one expects anything from you. What do you want?”

Victor, who had been floored more than once during the course of this conversation, felt suddenly cut loose. He started to breathe erratically, like he couldn’t get in enough air, but then Yuuri took one of Victor’s hands and pressed it flat against his chest, and Victor could feel his ribs expanding and contracting, and he tried to match the rhythm.

“I don’t know,” he said when his breathing had finally steadied.

“Try?” Yuuri urged.

“I don’t know if I should say,” he whispered.

“Is it too much?” Yuuri guessed.

Victor nodded, pressed his lips to Yuuri’s hair.

“Victor. Has anything you’ve done so far been too much?” Yuuri asked.

Victor wanted to argue that yes, it had been, every moment beginning with him showing up to coach Yuuri unannounced. But then the evidence to the contrary shifted in his arms, moving somehow even closer, and he reconsidered.

Too much was just fine with Yuuri. Maybe this would be okay.

He started with the most obvious one: “I want to go home with you.”

“You will. In four hours.”

“Every day,” Victor clarified.

“Good. I want you to.”

“I want to get another dog. A rescue. With you.”

“Me too,” Yuuri agreed easily.

He thought about that little triangle pin affixed to his rain jacket back home. “I want to stay in Hasetsu.”

“Okay.”

He squeezed Yuuri’s hand, “I want to buy a house with you.”

“Okay,” Yuuri’s voice was trembling. He curled around Victor’s arms, and Victor curled up with him.

“I want to get married in the summer. I know it will be too hot and not as pretty as the spring, when the cherry blossoms are blooming, but I don’t know - I just feel like… the summer is important for us.”

“Yes,” Yuuri whispered, “Yes, Victor, yes.”

They lay quietly for a moment, Victor’s heart pounding so hard he was sure Yuuri could feel it. He felt electrified, like he needed to run yelling through the halls, or leap between tall buildings, or kiss Yuuri until they missed their flight and had to stay in Barcelona another night.

Or do a quad flip.

The thought had barely entered his mind before Yuuri asked, “Do you want to skate?”

He considered it. He obviously wanted to skate with Yuuri. He wanted to skate with him forever. But as for the rest of it?

“I don’t know,” he said truthfully.

Yuuri turned, then, to face him. He looked carefully at Victor, as though scrutinizing a rare treasure. Then, he leaned forward until their noses brushed. Victor took the invitation and kissed him.

It was soft, but Victor’s heart started racing again anyway.

When Yuuri pulled away, he reached up and ran his fingers across Victor’s cheek and into his hair.

“It’s okay to not know,” Yuuri said.

Was it?

Victor’s thoughts must have read clearly on his face, because Yuuri repeated: “It is okay to not know.”

“Yuuri,” Victor murmured, reaching for him, and then they were kissing again.  

When they broke apart this time, Yuuri said, “Will you do me a favor, though?”

“Anything.”

“Will you schedule some coaching sessions with Yakov?”

Victor frowned.

Yuuri went on, “You’ll need them if you’re going to prepare two programs for Worlds.”

Victor was startled. “I don’t see- ” he began.

“They don’t need to be new programs, I know you have a bunch you’ve never performed. But you know the ISU will invite you even if you don’t compete at Nationals. And when that happens - yes, it will happen,” Yuuri emphasized at the look on Victor’s face, “When that happens, I want you to be able to turn them down because you want to, not because you have to. I want you to have a real choice.”

“Yuuri,” Victor breathed. His chest ached.

“If I am going to take you from the world,” Yuuri said with a tiny, satisfied smile, “I want to do it properly.”

[merrybrides]

How To Plan A Summer Wedding

The Skinny on Summer Weather

Slap on that sunblock, because in nearly all parts of the country you can usually count on temps in the 70s (or higher!)—especially in the dog days of summer, like late July and August.

While sweet summertime means blue skies and balmy breezes most of the time, there are still some weather concerns to be aware of. For example, many east coast areas can experience torrential rain in the form of thunderstorms—soooo not ideal for an outdoor wedding! Then there's the south and southwest, where the thermometer can get up to 100 degrees fahrenheit or higher. An outdoor ceremony in this heat gives new meaning to the phrase, sweating for the wedding.

And, while less likely, there's the potential for natural disasters that can occur in the summer months. On the west coast, drought conditions frequently cause large-scale wildfires that bring hazy skies, poor air quality, and even evacuations. The opposite side of the country comes with the nasty Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1 and peaks in late August.

So…to play it safe, know what weather is forecasted for your wedding day, make sure to give your out-of-town guests whatever wardrobe tips they need to be prepared, and always—we repeat, ALWAYS—have a bad-weather backup plan. Just. in. case.

Summer Holidays

Besides fabulous weather, summer seems to be the least limiting in terms of holidays and other potential hiccups. While you won't have to compete with many major holidays, the months of June through July are some of the most popular times to get married AND go on vacation. You'll want to keep your guests' wallets in mind by giving them plenty of time to book flights and plan travel. Trust us, they'll thank you.

Here are a few dates to keep in mind:

Memorial Day – Always a Monday in May (Technically this is a spring holiday, but widely considered the unofficial start of summer)

Father's Day – Always a Sunday in June

Independence Day – Always July 4th, but days off can vary

Labor Day – Always a Monday in September

Hint: Save-the-dates for destination weddings typically get sent out 8–12 months in advance, while save-the-dates for local weddings can be sent out closer to 4 months in advance.

Summer Wedding Pros & Cons

There are so many advantages to getting married in the summer:

Typically gorgeous weather. Break out those sunnies!

There are fewer holidays to work around. Plus, it's widely considered PC to have an Independence Day or Labor Day weekend wedding.

The "Yes" RSVPs are more likely to roll in. Guests are often more willing and excited to take time off work and travel to a summer wedding!

Your outdoor venue and location choices are wide-open. Think barns, mountaintops and, of course, toes-in-the-sand beach weddings. The choices are endless!

However, there are a fair number of disadvantages to be aware of:

Summer is the most popular season to tie the knot. Venues and vendors often up their prices during this time, especially on weekends. Keep an eye out for peak-season rates when planning your wedding budget.

Destination wedding and honeymoon prices are also hitting their peak as most Americans book their vacation during the summer months.

Your favorite venues and vendors could be booked up months to years in advance for popular summer wedding dates.

Summer Color Palette

Unlike other times of the year and their seasonal hues, the sunshine-filled days of summer complement nearly any wedding color palette. While you'll typically see bright colors at summer weddings, there's no need to shy away from deep blues, rich grays, or even black. Don't be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to putting together your own colors!

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

When it comes to dressing your bridal party, comfort needs to be at the top of the list. If you're tying the knot in the Deep South in late July, chances are your 'maids and groomsmen won't appreciate being buried under layers of fabric and accessories. Consider shorter dresses or lighter fabrics, like organza or charmeuse.

For groomsmen, you'll want to be extra certain you won't be causing sweat overload before the ceremony has even started! Stick with lighter suit jackets and vests—or ditch the jackets altogether. Look into a variety of different hot-weather-friendly looks like khaki, rolled sleeves, suspenders, or even shorts and flip-flops!

Working With What's In Season

When you buy what's in season, you get food and flowers at the peak of their supply when costs are normally lower. Plus, when they're locally grown they don't need to be shipped halfway around the globe. So not only do you save money, but you also reduce your carbon footprint. Win-win.

—Summer Wedding Food—

Much like spring, summer is peak harvesting season for fruits and vegetables. Summer's sunshine means there's no excuse to serve food that doesn't include a little color! As for veggies, the sky's the limit as to what's in season: green beans, cucumbers, eggplant, peas, and corn—just to name a few.

While fruit harvests are bountiful during this time of year, the weather can affect when they're ripest. Be on the lookout for melons, peaches, plums, raspberries, and blackberries because all of these are at their juiciest in the summer months. Fortunately, the abundance of produce in the summer can lead to lower prices, which is especially great if you're planning a farm-to-table wedding!

—Summer Wedding Flowers—

No matter where you are in the country, it seems that beautiful blooms are popping up all over the place. There are literally hundreds of options, but here are a few of our favorite summertime flowers:

Sunflowers. This classic is the poster child of summer, but we love how they add a pop of bright yellow to any bouquet.

Hydrangeas. These fluffy blossoms are summer staples that come in a wide variety of pretty colors.

Calla Lilies make a statement when bundled in a bouquet, and add a classy accent to any summer arrangement.

Amaranthus. From deep reds to fresh greens, this rope-like accent flower is perfect for boho or beach weddings, or even a more elegant affair!

Cacti. Use succulents like aloe and you can't go wrong.

Eucalyptus is a floral trend we're seeing year-round, and we're not complaining!

Pro Tip: Since some flowers are more prone to wilting in the summer heat than others, be sure to double-check with your florist before committing to any one flower or greenery.

Summer Catering Trends

With a cornucopia of fresh fruits and veggies to choose from, you may have already started your search for the perfect hand-lettered sign to direct your guests to the salad bar. Not so fast! There are oh-so-many ways to pay homage to the tastes of the season, not all of which involve plants. If your personal faves include poultry, beef, and seafood, they can easily be incorporated into lighter versions of classics. Or, consider fun, non-traditional alternatives like tapas (Spanish small plates), a festive taco bar, or even good old-fashioned barbecue!

Your reception wouldn't be complete without a summer-inspired dessert! How about wine-flavored sorbet, yummy ice cream, or other frozen treats like snow cones, granita, or gelato to cool your guests down on those warm summer days! Or, what about a classic summer staple like cobbler or pie? There are so many options to choose from, so go wild!

Summer Wedding Cake Trends

Play with light and refreshing flavors like lemon, raspberry, and coconut instead of rich, fudgy chocolate—unless that's your thing, of course! If you're not into the "naked" cake trend, ice your cake with summery frostings that showcase coconut, cherry, or Tahitian vanilla. Dress it up with sprigs of lavender or rosemary, some gold leaf, or a pretty ombré pattern. The latest trend we're partial to? Colorful brush strokes paired with bright blooms. You could even ask if your baker is willing to collab with your florist to match your cake to your bouquet! Your wedding cake—assuming you even have one—should be as unique as you are!

Summer-Inspired Wedding Favors

Your guests will no doubt appreciate customized hand fans to keep cool or neon-colored sunnies to block summer's harsh rays. Or, hit up Old Navy's $1 Flip-Flop Sale to stock up on cheap sandals for tired feet to change into. You can also pick up miniature bottles of rosé, tiny potted succulents, homemade jam, and even travel-sized bottles of sunscreen with a custom sticker slapped on. And if you're really on a budget, how about some fresh seasonal fruit for your guests to enjoy?

Summer Signature Cocktails

If you're serving cocktails on your big day, there's no better time to get creative than during the summer! Sparkling wines, champagne spritzers, and fruity cocktails are just the tip of the iceberg. Hit up your bartender (or just the drink-maker at your fave hangout spot!) for custom cocktails inspired by you and your fiancé. Refreshing berry mojitos, vodka-infused Arnold Palmers, boozy sangria, and mango bellinis—oh, yes! Just be sure to have water available for your guests at all times to keep them hydrated. Drink up!

[nlrpg]

hello, loves!! firstly, we are SO excited to have all of you bringing our rp to life, and seeing all of your wonderful characters interact on the dash. you don't know what it means to us admins to see you all give our world some love!

with that, we are also very happy to tease our first-ever event of the rp. as spring starts to bloom, NL will be hosting a cherry blossom festival in honor of the goddess persephone!! more details will come with the official announcement of the event this weekend, but please click the read more to see what to expect AND to help us out with member volunteers!

without giving away all the surprises, we'll let you know that NL's patio and garden will be decked out to the nines with cherry blossom overload. the day is themed around the flower but will also be with the added fun of festival activities spread out around the area! here's where you come in...

in addition to stores from the rec contributing booths and activities, we’d also love to get you guys involved by asking for member volunteers for the various stations and stalls! below, you’ll see a list of activities that could use volunteers from your characters:

arrow shooting— set up members with a bow and arrow to hit balloons

strength test— hand them a hammer to slam onto a target to prove their strength!

fishing— flower petals charmed to look like fish swimming in a pond uwu

three-legged race— you probably get to watch a lot of people fall on their butts

ring-toss— self-explanatory, i think!

water guns— spraying the target til their beam reaches the top

team obstacle course— you get to throw things at your fellow members, fun!

water dunk tank— oh no, will your character look super hot when dunked in the tank?

make-your-own-bouquet or flower crowns— help with assembling pretty flowers!

petting zoo— make sure no one is stealing cute animals, please

arts and crafts table— set up various arts supplies!

there will also be prizes to be won from these activities, so if your character would like to contribute blossom-themed, hand-made prizes, NL will happily pay for their wares!

!! so, please let us know by saturday, march 13th at 11:00pm cst, which of your characters would like to volunteer for which activities or if they’d like to sell some items for prizes! additionally, if you can think of any other fun booths you might want have to have your characters work, let us know too! and don’t worry about characters doubling up on stations, it’s not a problem at all. we’re super excited to include y’all in the process, and send any questions you have our way!

[mjpeters]

lazy morning kiss

kissing prompt requested by @theballetslippertheblackhoodie

6. lazy morning kisses before they’ve even opened their eyes, still mumbling half-incoherently, not wanting to wake up 

words: 1125 words 

read on ao3

“Tandy? Tandy, wake up,” someone echoes in her sleep, “I know you can hear me.”

A fond voice eases her away from her dreams, and she gradually becomes aware of the early morning sunlight caressing her face; the warm feeling of the sun tickling her cheeks. A hand gently shakes her shoulder.

The girl hums at the touch. Her mess of golden hair is brushed aside by the soft pads of fingers she knows to be Tyrone’s even with her eyes still shut. With this knowledge, a small smile creeps its way onto her face.

At the sight of her upturned lips, he makes a noise of disapproval, which only further fuels the rise of her smile.

“Tandy,” Tyrone whines and tries again, “Come on.”

Her name on his lips this early in the morning sounds like music to her ears and tugs like a dream at her heart, so Tandy snuggles further into the duvet, never wanting to wake up.

“Mhmmm smeepin,” she provides an incoherent reply through the thick blanket of sunlight and cotton. She provokes a chuckle from him, and an image of Tyrone smiling flashes in her mind. It comforts and soothes her; lays her down and kisses her all over. The temptation dangles in front of her, and Tandy is almost convinced to open her eyes so that she can get a good look at the real deal.

“What was that?” he laughs at her mumbling, “Was that even English? You’re smeeping?”

She slaps her palm onto her face. “You’re annoying,” Tandy drawls, finally mustering enough energy to fully sound out her vowels.

The cloud of grogginess looming over her slowly dissipates the more he laughs at her sleepiness, and the smile ghosting her lips feels at home. All is right with the world when Tyrone laughs.

“Tandy,” he whispers lowly. Goosebumps prickle her skin, and boy, does she melt, “I gotta go. Wake up and say goodbye to me.”

Who is she to deny him?

Then, she remembers who she is and buries her face into the pillow.

She’s Tandy Bowen. That’s who.

“Five more minutes,” she mumbles just loud enough for Tyrone to understand. He groans at her stubbornness.

“I’m gonna be late for my interview,” he massages her head, which isn’t exactly helping his case if Tyrone really wants her to wake up, “I’m gonna be late for this interview, and it will be all your fault.”

The smile slips from her face momentarily, and this is how she is reminded of who he is. Her best friend, her port in a storm, her hero, is Tyrone Johnson. And he’s got an interview lined up for an internship within half an hour which means the erratic nerves are bubbling inside of him, ready to explode. His desire to be perfect is constantly nagging at him. The least she can do is kiss him good luck.

Tandy blindly reaches a hand out and giggles when her fingers come in contact with his ear. It is then when his hand finds her face before he uses his thumb to draw slow circles on her cheekbone. She can feel him, loves him without seeing him, and leans into his touch. He is warmer than a duvet, he is diviner than a dream. His desire to be perfect is unnecessary.

“Good luck, handsome,” she wishes him languidly, tracing his skin until she reaches soft lips at her fingertips.

“You’re calling me handsome yet you’re not even looking at me,” Tyrone points out.

If her eyes had been open, Tandy would have rolled them.

“I don’t have to look at you to know.”

She’s right, and she should say it. However, Tandy feels the shake of his head at her answer, telling her that it’s not good enough.

“Open your eyes, Tandy,” he lures her with his sweet voice. Tandy lazily plays with his lips underneath her touch.

With a sigh, Tandy juts her chin and dares him, “Make me.”

She had expected it — the kiss that would wake her body up and light her insides on fire. Kissing Tyrone is always like this, an ignition of every emotion coming to life, like all of her hopes turning into reality. But what she had failed to take into consideration are the waves of bliss and tranquility that follows when she feels his smile against her lips. It washes over her like spring water, blooming like cherry blossoms in April, and Tandy sighs at the sensory overload, the only thought running through her mind is Ty, Ty, Ty.

“Good morning,” he mutters between kisses, “You look so peaceful when you sleep,” Tandy crashes her lips with his as he continues under his breath, “Almost didn’t want to wake you up,” shifting his head to press kisses into the curve of her neck, “Was afraid you’d pull a dagger on me for interrupting your sleep.”

Tandy pulls away and instantly misses his touch. She flutters her eyes open, finally pulling free from her slumber.

“Then, why did you?”

She drags her eyes over his figure. His broad shoulders wear a suit, and a tie rests on his chest in striking professionalism and vigor. The sight of him proves Tandy right. Tyrone is achingly handsome. Anyone who doubts that is a fool.

“I’m nervous,” he confesses before resting his forehead against hers, “But you always know how to make me feel better.”

Sleep still fights at her body and weighs her eyelids down, but Tandy forces them to stay open for his sake.

“You are Tyrone freakin’ Johnson,” she states with such deliberation that the idea of her mumbling incoherently just minutes before is almost ridiculous, “Baller ladykiller, master of space, if not time.”

He smiles at the words she has spoken to him many times before, but every time she says them, she means them. She always does.

“And you don’t need me to tell you all of that,” Tandy whispers slowly and breathlessly, teasing the tiredness in her eyes that continue to threaten her to sleep, “But I’ll gladly tell you whenever you want it.”

Tyrone purses his lips and kisses her nose, and her eyes fly shut at the soft gesture.

“You think they’ll like me?” his voice eases Tandy back into her dreams.

“If I can like you, then anybody can,” she teases him as she begins to drift off.

And this is how he leaves her. With a few more incoherences of mumbled sweet nothings in between lethargic kisses. The line separating a dream from reality starts to blur; his lips visiting her in both. He leaves her wrapped in the duvet with a smile ghosting her lips. There is only his lingering lazy morning kiss running through her mind.

[towerofgod-blogposts]

#327. S2 Ch.247: 43F - Hell Train: The Floor of Death (16)

Chapter | Wiki | Blog | 2017.04.23 | Translator: AdiosCorea | Report webtoon translation error

Assistants: Dimensional BambooShoot, Jeon Soojin

Naver Endnote: The main character who came to a place where scary people play.

This week, my wrist's condition worsened due to overload, so I decided not to draw anything other than the work I really need. I feel little nerve shocks/stinging and some inflammation, so it bothers me a fair bit. 

I'll finish the cherry blossom festival requests some other time. Sorry to keep you guys waiting ㅠㅠ. 

Next week, instead of the request, I'll be drawing some sketches or background for the cover of tankobon Volume 1. A lot of you want tankobon, so I'll press on with it even if it's hard ^^ I've been getting some pressure from others because it's been pretty delayed... Ah, I've become slave to my own art... 

It will come out before the second half of the year... ideally. I don't know what to add in the extras. Some 4-cut gag manhwas... additional lore... I have lots of ideas, but you guys should tell me what you guys want in the comments ^^. (Of course, nothing too complex, masters) 

On this chapter... In words, "Bam's in the house!" is the idea, hehe. Bam can kill "immortal" beings we established. 

On Yuri's side, we already have Garam, and Urek seems to be headed that way too, Since all these stories around are gathering into one in this arc, I hope you guys enjoy the convergence. 

This arc is actually out of the balance. Compared to both previous arcs and coming up episodes there's a lot of strong characters and the scale is much bigger. The structure of the power scale of here isn't exactly Dragonball, so I don't worry about power inflation, but if the scale gets too big, the smaller, more intricate parts of the story become harder to depict. That's something Khun and Bam will be handling, so be on the lookout for their side. 

Hell Joe has his reasons the way he behaves, so I'm trying to be detailed in his depiction. So the end of the arc will be more centered around the story. Well, for the time being, it will be fighting and smashing ^^ Hell Joe's true identity... you'll see hehe. 

These days when I'm alone I feel depressed, so I take time for walks in a park or working outside. The weather's nice and it's a good change of pace, but Seoul's pollution problem... it's pretty intense;;; [TN: Don't visit Korea in the spring, winds from China bring over micro-dust that just clogs your systems. Not too bad in the rural area, but Seoul is hit the worst by it.] I am thinking about going back out to the countryside for my health haha. Prices in Seoul are too expensive too... [TN: We have SEVERAL posts on SIU's income, please use the search function, google it, etc.] 

Well I hope you enjoyed this week's chapter, have a good week, stay healthy, and I hope to see you next week! 

Thank you ^^

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[bklynmusicnerd]

Quarantine Tag!

I was tagged by @keybladeofsteel

1. Are you staying home from school/work? 

This shit popped off right around the time I was trying to get my shit together so I am staying home and unemployed.

2. If you’re staying home, who is with you?

My mom.

3. Are you a homebody? 

Generally yes but it honestly depends on the season. I try to go out more during the spring and summer. I am pretty vulnerable due to medication I was taking pretty recently and I like in Brooklyn so I haven’t even really gone for a walk or anything like that. Definitely miss fresh air at least once a day.

4. An event you were looking forward to that got cancelled? 

So far the main one was the Cherry Blossom Festival but I’m pretty sure the NYCC cancellation announcement is coming any day now too lol. Other than that, I was looking forward to watching a decent amount of movie premieres that I don’t think are going to be happening in the foreseeable future.

5. What movies have you watched recently? 

I have been trying to make my way through my various overloaded queues so the most recent ones were Bridget Jones’ Diary (still holds up cause Colin Firth), Private Life, The Unknown Known, Sleeping With Other People and The Burial of Kojo

6. What music are you listening to? 

Listening to Prince as I’m writing this. Before, lots of Elton John, egregious amounts of ABBA and some sprinkles of Hozier, Florence, Mitski and Leikeli47 in between.

7. What are you reading?

Still making my way through A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

8. What are you doing for self-care?

Not nearly enough tbh lol. Besides basic hygiene upkeep, mostly just listening to music. I’ve been pretty focused on survival mode and gathering up basic essentials and shit so now that we’re pretty good on that, I’m trying to transition into actual self-care.

Tagging: @ruraljuror94 @foryourconvenience @itsreynaingmen and anyone else who wants to do this

[violetganache42]

VioletGanache42's Orlando Vacation - Part 1: Monday, January 13th

Kicking off this mini vacation documentary is the first official day in Florida. As you may recall, I went on a hiatus at around 7 PM because my mom, my younger brother, and I all had a 9:30 PM flight to catch. Upon arriving in Orlando, it was after midnight, so the very first thing we did after getting our luggage was heading to our hotel at Walt Disney World.

When it comes to traveling, we always stay at hotels, but this time was different. The place we stayed at during the first half of our vacation was Disney's All-Star Resort; we never went to a resort before, so this was a nice change of pace. From what we saw, there are three All-Stars Resorts: sports, movies, and music. Out of the three, this is one of the two hotels Mom booked.

Pretty cool, huh?

Unlike most hotels, each All-Star Resort has a building with a hotel desk for checking in/out and a gift shop along with multiple buildings filled with hotel rooms. For example, in All-Star Music, the hotel buildings are divided up based on different genres of music; the resort also had other amenities like the guitar-shaped pool and the Intermission Food Court, but we never got the chance to check them out because of the plans we had. I still wish we went to the pool earlier in the week because Mom and I were surprised that it had a fountain of the Three Caballeros. Oh, well. At least we had fun at the pool in the other hotel, which I'll elaborate in a future post.

After some much needed sleep, all of Monday was mostly spent exploring the shopping areas outside of the parks, including the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets and the Mall at Millennia. It was mostly just browsing through what stores piqued our interests with the occasional spending. Nothing too major. Near the outlets was a separate Cheesecake Factory, which threw me for a loop a little because all the Cheesecake Factories I've seen were always integrated into malls; nevertheless, we still had a great lunch. (Let me tell you, they really know how to make scrambled eggs because they were delicious.) There was also a Krispy Kreme not too far from the mall and Mom just had to buy some donuts for us to snack on. lol

As fun as it was spending time in those shopping areas, the highlight of the day had to go to Disney Springs at Lake Buena Vista. And let me say this: there is so much to do there. When you're surrounded by dozens of stores, restaurants, and even entertainment, there is never a dull moment. I was left feeling so energized by everything taking place!

The first thing Mom, my younger brother, and I did upon entering the complex? Checking out World of Disney, the largest Disney store ever. All the other Disney stores we've been to literally pale in comparison to what they have in there.

When you go inside, you can see right away that there are so many sections based on specific Disney properties. Selected Pixar movies, Marvel, Star Wars (including The Mandalorian), you name it. A few walls we've seen were also adorned with a handful of animation cels from past Disney movies. Speaking of which, the counters where the registers are located have sketched drawings of various characters from those movies and there were a specific few that I had to get a photo of.

(I apologize in regards to my shadow and the lighting from the store blocking part of the drawing, but come on! It's the Three Caballeros!)

Next stop in Disney Springs was heading to dinner and where did we go? The Boathouse Boatique since we had reservations made and HOLY SHIT! It quickly became my all-time favorite seafood restaurant, with Legal Sea Food coming in at a close second! I don't know where to begin! The way they cooked the rolls were so scrumptious, ranging from the fluffy texture to the melted butter drizzled at the top. Easily some of the best restaurant rolls I ever had. And how could I forget to mention the way they cooked our meals? I ordered the fried clams and it immediately made me discover a new place to get fried clams, the other place being the Big Y near our home. The cherry on top to our dinner had to go to the fireworks going off at Magic Kingdom, which signaled the park closing for the day; because we were sitting outside of the restaurant for our meals, we got a nice view of the fireworks display. Because of how amazing our dinner was, there are times throughout the vacation where we commented about going back there again. And that is no joke; I definitely wouldn't mind having lunch or dinner again at the Boathouse Boatique some time.

The rest of the night was spent walking around Disney Springs to see what it had to offer… and I wasn't kidding about what I said on how there's always something to do. At night, some people would dance to live music that are playing. On top of that, some of the shops we poked in include a LEGO store, a Coca-Cola store, a recently opened Ron Jon's Surf Shop, Disney's Days of Christmas, an UGG store, Uniqlo, Vera Bradley, and Star Wars Galactic Outpost. There was also a fashion store called DisneyStyle and we all went in there because of what we saw in the window: this adorable Scrooge McDuck bag!

Now, I will say this: throughout our time in Walt Disney World, every store we went to did not have any DuckTales (2017) merch, but some of them did have merch from the original 1987 cartoon and that honestly was still enough to make me super happy. No joke; seeing them made me feel like I was going to have a joy overload. I definitely thank the reboot for giving me an interest in the Duckverse as a whole.

On that note, in front of the same window where we saw the bag was definitely a collection of DT87 merch; some of the merch I spotted were an assortment of T-shirts (the ones I definitely remember included one with Launchpad, another with Scrooge, and another with Huey, Dewey, and Louie), a tanktop having the same pattern as Scrooge's swimsuit, and a wallet or wristlet with the triplets on it. Out of all the merch I saw, I decided to buy this T-shirt below.

Can you imagine how overjoyed I was at the fact that I bought my first piece of DuckTales merch? Well, it certainly wouldn't be the last, which is something I'll tell you more about later on. In the meantime, I will mention that I was thinking about wearing this shirt during our time in Magic Kingdom, something Mom agreed with me on. (Seeing the T-shirt on the hanger also had us singing part of the theme song, so that was loads of fun. 😁)

Speaking of Magic Kingdom, I think this is where I'll end the first part on. I mean, I pretty much covered last Monday's events thoroughly and I was eager to share some of the best memories made on that day. Of course, like I just mentioned, this is only a chunk of those memories and there will plenty more where that came from. Stay tuned for the next part! (I'm planning to post each part daily, but who honestly knows?)