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bookie-bookdust · 2 months ago

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Secret For One ✒️

One should always carefully examine the labels of the items they are, ahem, borrowing. -or- In which using some anti-cheating ink accidentally reveals to the entire seventh year class what you and Seb were up to before your Herbology exam (kissing – the answer is kissing).

(This was my first ever HL one shot when I forced my introverted ass to actually post something. I can't believe how much time has passed - this was 11/2023. I didn't know a single person in the fandom and had been lurking since the game released. And now I'm here, more insane than ever😊) Pairings: Sebastian Sallow x You/Reader Word Count: ~4400 Rating: Teen Read it below the cut, or at ao3/wp: (MASTERLIST)

It wasn’t uncommon to use the Undercroft for studying especially after curfew.

You had a nasty Herbology exam bright and early tomorrow. It was meant to be a mere pathetic taste of the N.E.W.T at the end of the school year, and your notes were beginning to look like runes.

You rubbed your eyes until little lights danced in your vision. “Ominis had the right idea going to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“Don’t let him hear that,” Seb murmured, peering up at you from his textbook.

“What? You think all the other times we’ve forced him into premature graying wasn’t proof enough he’s usually right?”

“No. I don’t think so.” He grinned.

Ominis had excused himself hours ago, in a sour mood after receiving a letter from everyone’s favorite dark aristocratic family, the Gaunts. It’d left you and Seb to the candles as they slowly dripped down to nubs. They at least helped with the coldness of the space, and you always managed to sneak in one spiced candle so the Undercroft smelled of cinnamon. Ominis had given one hard warning not to set the place in flames before storming out.

“These Mandrake illustrations are beginning to look like caricatures of Prewett.” You sighed, slamming your textbook shut. “What time is it?”

“Late enough to hallucinate Leander Prewett.” Seb tipped back in his chair, smirking at you with tired eyes.

In the candlelight, the hazel glowed almost black. His brown curls were ruffled, his collar askew, and tie undone. The smallest sliver of chest showed as he absentmindedly fiddled with his top button. You swear you spotted the same freckles there that splattered his cheeks.

Merlin, how did he always look so good? You’d been asking that question for the last two years, and you still hadn’t found an answer.

You poked at the fraying edge of your textbook, biting your lip. “We should probably head to bed. Last time we pulled an all-nighter we almost went to the wrong classroom.”

“Sharp loved that,” he scoffed. “Do you know after class he casted a sobriety spell on me?”

“No,” you gasped, sitting up. “You never told me that.”

“He really thought I’d be drinking fire whiskey at 8 in the morning. It still baffles me. I would love to know if he had the instinct to check me because of a prior experience.”

“Do you think Sharp used to be a bad boy?” You cackled at the thought.

“Trying to sneak a look at feminine ankles dangling from their stools in potions? Of course.”

“Ankles.” You snorted, remembering Weasley’s lecture she’d prepared earlier in the year on the proper rules for society witches now that they were seventh years. The ordeal had left you fending off fantasies of a certain freckled Slytherin with a penchant for dark magic. You’d avoided him for two whole days before you could calm your blushing cheeks.

“How many times have you seen my ankles?” you asked.

Sebastian flashed you a hilarious face, half amusement, half absurdity. “Why, I believe they’re burned into my retinas. Though so is you blasting some witch who only knew the levitation charm off a cliff.”

“I wonder what would make Weasley faint first.”

“Ankles,” he said matter of factly, nudging yours gently from under the table.

You kicked him back, and he caught your leg, squeezing your skin with his burning hand before letting it drop.

Damn, damn, damn. Your ankle tingled all the way up. Why did he have to go around doing things like that and expect you not to fall right out of your seat?

“Alright. Enough about ankles. Let’s get going.” You forced yourself to focus on stacking your notes and books and not on that little sliver of his shirt that seemed to open more each second.

You grabbed your quill, hesitating on the ink you’d “borrowed” from one of the supply closets in the DADA tower. You should probably return it. Tomorrow after the exam. Then you’d take another trip to Hogsmeade to update your ink stores.

Maybe you could make a trip out of it. Invite Poppy along with Seb and Ominis. It’d been your own personal project trying to get Ominis and Poppy to speak more after you’d caught them blushing in Muggle Studies about Muggle matrimony traditions. Maybe Seb would help. He enjoyed torturing Ominis.

“Have you noticed how—”

Seb yelped, a crash making you spill your notes on the floor. You nearly dropped the ink pot, saving it in seconds.

He’d tipped too far back in his chair and now lay flat on his back. Eyes wide in surprise, he started laughing.

“Are you okay?” You rushed over to him.

“Maybe you’re right. We need to get to bed.”

You offered a hand, and he awkwardly unfolded his legs from beneath the chair. “Thank—”

You stepped forward—right on your notes. The floor disappeared beneath you. You toppled over him, the ink spilling across both of you.

“Dammit, I am so sorry,” you cursed.

Merlin, Seb radiated heat like a furnace, and your arm was somehow caught behind his back and…Get off him! You forced yourself up on your knees.

“It’s alright. No major injuries.” He insisted. “Just some ink.”

“Let me…” You scrubbed at his shirt, smearing it worse. “There’s surely some stain removal spell. Do you have another school shirt in the meantime?”

He grabbed your wrists, stilling your panicking hands you just now realized you’d been rubbing all over his chest and stomach. “I own more than one shirt.” He laughed. “It’s alright.”

You straightened. “Right. Of course you do.” Your attention fixed on your hands, stained black. “Well, let’s get this cleaned up before Ominis has a conniption.”

You moved to stand when his fingers tightened on your wrists.

“What—” Your mouth snapped shut.

You two were close. Very close. Mere inches apart, one of his legs at your side caging you in, his other tucked under him. You leaned forward on your knees so you naturally tipped forward.

Seb stared at you, and you stared back. The freckles dotting his cheeks and nose seemed darker, the candlelight flickering in his eyes. You fixated on the small scar at his upper full lip from fifth year. He’d earned that one from one of the Ashwinder camps.

The last time you’d been this close, he’d fallen asleep, head plopping in your lap when you’d been rained out in a cave last year. You’d been forced to sit on your hands to stop from stroking his stupid hair.

But this time he was awake, and his eyes studied you in that way he studied everything. As if you were a dark book he still hadn’t cracked. A forbidden spell he needed to cast. A secret he wanted all the power himself to wield. Had he always looked at you like that? Surely not. You couldn’t remember. You couldn’t think at all right now as the heat of his body rolled over you.

He tugged you closer, and your chest thudded against his, your heart screaming in your chest.

“I, uh,” you stuttered, licking your lips, and it made his eyes flick down to your mouth.

“You have ink on your chin,” he murmured.

You blinked, barely processing his words before his lips met yours. You sat motionless at first, two different sections of your brain warring; one in denial that this wasn’t another one of your embarrassing dreams, the other, screaming to kiss him back.

He released your wrists, moving to your hair. The sensation spread goosebumps down your arms, and your eyes drifted shut.

You responded instantly, mouth opening to him, hands prying at that stupid little crevice of skin between his buttons.

He jumped. “Your hands are cold,” he murmured against your lips.

“Sorry.” You pulled away.

“Come back,” he frowned. He grabbed your hands, pulling them deeper into his shirt as he fumbled with the buttons.

You gasped at his smooth warm skin, leaning forward before you could stop yourself, planting a kiss at the base of his neck. You’d never been so obsessed with freckles. The constellations of them running along his chest. You’d trace them if you hadn’t dumped the rest of the ink already.

“Fuck,” he groaned, digging into your hair again to pull your face back up to his. His fingers teased the hem of your shirt, and you pressed closer, your legs going to either side as you straddled him.

He slipped under your shirt, his hands burning as they traced up your back. You moaned into his mouth, shivering even if the Undercroft was suddenly scalding.

More. In the dreams this kept going, and you found your hands working automatically to yank his shirt over his head.

Merlin, forgive me. He kissed down your neck, teeth meeting the corner of your jaw and—

A slam of metal made you jump apart. The high squeals of Peeves laughing from somewhere above you in the DADA tower echoed through the Undercroft.

Your breaths calmed, and the two of you locked eyes for a long, silent moment.

“You have ink on your chin now.” You cleared your throat, smoothing your hair down. It’d been pulled straight from its pins, and you could not care less for the first time in your life. You were sitting in Sebastian Sallow’s lap, a mess, in the middle of the night. His mouth was looking well-loved, his skin unbearably soft, and you did everything not to tackle him to the ground.

You kissed. Kissed. More than kissed, really. After pining for years, you’d somehow ended up snogging half asleep in the Undercroft. What did this mean for the two of you now?

Seb wiped his chin with the back of his hand. “All that ankle talk really got to me.”

You shoved his face away, laughing. He grabbed you by the waist, yanking you down with him so you pressed against him. You brushed his curls from his eyes, and Merlin they truly were as soft as they looked. What conditioner was he using?

“I have nothing clever to say for once,” he murmured, studying your face. His eyes were calm, reverent in the candle glow. How a devil looked angelic was beyond you. For once you could openly gawk at him, and it wasn’t considered ill-mannered.

“Nothing at all?” you gasped. “I’m shocked.”

“Alert the Prophet, I know.” He rolled his eyes. “I always thought this would happen in the Undercroft, but for a while there I was banking on a damp old cave in the highlands.”

You sat up. “Wait. You’ve wanted this?”

He leaned on his elbows, eyebrow raised. “Is that so hard to believe? I didn’t do that for scientific discovery just now.”

You swallowed hard, unable to look at him suddenly as you thought of Weasley’s lecture. A witch should seek a courtship. Any premarital acts are frowned upon even in wizarding society. While they’re not as strict as Muggle tradition, there are certain rules that should be followed.

Woops. That was out the window.

But what would your classmates think if you strolled into class holding hands? Could you deal with the teasing? The watchful eyes?

“Let’s not tell anyone about this,” you blurted out.

He blinked, contemplating for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Sure. That would be for the best. Wouldn’t be able to sneak around the castle anymore with people paying closer attention.”

He had a point.

“Let’s clean up the mess. Ominis will faint if we leave inky fingerprints all over the place.”

A quick cleaning charm did the trick as if this had never happened. Seb’s steady kiss was the only proof convincing you this wasn’t another one of your horny dreams.

Would you have to tell him about those? Absolutely not.

You sat, tucked against each other, talking well into the night.

***

You shifted, and your neck protested with a sharp ache.

“Ugh,” you grumbled, rubbing your eyes.

Where were you, and why did it feel like you’d been sleeping in the corridor?

You surveyed your surroundings, taking in rows of melted candles, pillars, and the triptych.

The Undercroft.

Something shifted beside you, tickling your cheek. Sebastian Sallow nuzzled into your shoulder, his shirt still askew.

You squinted at the clock.

The herbology exam.

“Wake up!” you shouted, stumbling to your feet as Seb jolted awake with a yelp.

“The exam! We fell asleep.” You fought on your boots, your tie, tossing Seb his uniform robe. “Hurry!”

He blinked, dazedly, following your instructions without question before the last of his sleepy fog left his brain.

“Oh shit.” He flung a stream of curses, fixing your tie and smoothing your hair as you tripped out of the Undercroft and into the DADA tower.

The two of you rushed to class, nearly taking out a Hufflepuff Prefect who threatened detention behind you. You would have laughed if it were different circumstances.

“Go!” You shoved Seb. He grabbed your hand, dragging you behind him as you stumbled down the steps to the atrium and through the greenhouse.

You caught yourself as you entered the classroom, straightening your robes and sweater, and taking a moment to calm your heavy breathing. Your classmates glanced at you with brief interest before returning to quizzing each other.

Gone were your typical pots and supplies, and each stool held a roll of parchment and a feathered quill and ink pot.

“Good luck,” Sebastian murmured. His hand grazed yours for mere seconds, but you might as well had misfired an incendio spell how it licked your body in heat. You itched at your cheek, hoping no one noticed you blushing.

“Good morning, my lovely pupils.” Professor Garlick swooped in from behind you, pinching your cheek before ruffling Garreth’s hair. She floated across the greenhouse to her podium.

It was too much energy for this time of morning, and it made you think once again of the constant whisperings of what plants Professor Garlick sampled to make her so pleasant all the time. Whoever cracked that secret would make a fortune.

“You will find twenty questions before you, and you will have the remainder of the class to complete the exam. Please answer in complete sentences; at least two paragraphs for each section. Once you are finished, you may exit the greenhouse. Do not wait for your friends in the atrium. The plants will tell me. You may begin.”

She snapped her fingers, and the scrolls unfurled.

It was a grueling hour. You swore half of the content hadn’t even been addressed in your readings, and you felt your heart sink with each question you left a strike beside to go back and review. This would not end well.

You were in the fictional portion of your exam—which meant completely pulling nonsense out of thin air and acting as if it made sense. Some students had finished—Ominis of course with a haughty smirk—but not many even with little time left in class.

“Excuse me,” Garlick’s voice rang through the quiet. “Why do you keep looking at your sleeve, Mr. Prewett?”

The scratching of quills stilled.

“I’m sorry, Professor.” Prewett tugged his sleeves down over his wrists. “There was a…beetle. It was distracting me moving about on the table.”

“Hmm.” Garlick tapped her chin. “I’d love to give the benefit of the doubt, but revelio.” She swished her wand, and you felt a zap along your hands. It wasn’t like ancient magic, no. Not at all. This was worse. Much worse.

“I’m sorry, Leander. The ink doesn’t lie. You have notes written on your arm.”

But Leander’s pleading was drowned out by a fit of gasps and giggles.

You gaped at the ink staining your fingers and palms, your clothes. Obvious handprints molded at your waist and chest, and you tugged your robes closed. They were the same marks from last night you’d spelled away. Your gaze snapped to Sebastian. He wore the matching stains on his own hands, up his neck, his chin, even at the corner of his mouth.

Oh Merlin. Oh no oh no oh no.

You stood abruptly, your chair crashing behind you as you desperately scrubbed at the ink. You grabbed the ink pot, the same you’d taken from the supply closet, reading the label as an anti-cheating variety.

How could you be so stupid?

There was no mistaking the stains. Anyone daft could guess you’d…

“Partaking in some extracurriculars, you two?” Garreth giggled, and you would have hexed him if you weren’t busy shielding yourself.

You’d been through harrowing, life threatening events. Ranrok, dark wizards, a goblin war, inferi, abduction, even death, but none had ever made you feel like this. As if you’d forgotten to put pants on this morning and stood at the head of the Great Hall singing off key.

Seb let his head dip toward the ceiling as he sighed, scrubbing his face. It gave a better view of all the marks on his neck. “By Salazar…”

“Class dismissed. We will deal with your essays later.” Professor Garlick raised her voice over the chatter, casting another spell as the parchments snapped closed, the chairs dumping the students from their seats.

“Mr. Prewett, I will detail your punishment in my office in one hour. You two, with me.”

Seb met your eyes, fighting his sheepish grin that you refused to return (and failed) as the corners of your mouth twisted upward.

And you’d been giggling over ankles. This? This would be the scandal of the year.

Garlick magicked two chairs beside each other and directed the two of you to have a seat. Seb sat closer than expected, his knee brushing your leg. He nudged your ankle with his boot, and you resisted the urge to kick him.

“Well, you weren’t cheating. I suppose that’s a positive.” Professor Garlick glanced over the ink splotches before casting a different spell to clean them. You’d have to remember that one. “Anti-cheating ink. Very helpful for tests. Especially big ones like the N.E.W.T.s. Professor Sharp warned me about your sticky fingers.” She cast you a sharply raised eyebrow with a smile. “But I thought Aesop was just being Aesop.”

Seb shot you a knowing look, and this time you did kick him. You’d had this conversation many times before. You’d developed the—hobby, as you liked to call it—of taking loose items. Even if they were loose behind locked doors and chests. If no one was going to claim them, why let it all go to waste? You’d only been caught a handful of times, but it saved you supplies, galleons, wardrobe items…it wasn’t hurting anyone. Except your own reputation now, it seemed.

“You’re lucky it was me and not Professor Weasley. She would have dragged you both to the Ministry for a marriage certificate.”

Seb choked, and you sank in your chair.

Why? Whyyy? You wished you could kick her too. Instead, you blushed, mortified, unable to even stomach sneaking a peak at Seb’s face.

“Oh, look at you two!” She clapped her hands together. “You both light up as red as tomatoes when you blush. Can you imagine the squishy bright cheeks your children would have?”

“Professor!” you hissed, sinking further in your seat. At this point you’d be under the table soon.

“Yes, yes, I suppose that’s enough, isn’t it? You’ll be dealing with the teasing enough from your peers. I will have to deduct ten points from your houses for theft and disruption of class. Now off you go. A whole exam scrapped.”

You stormed ahead, but Seb kept up with you easily. He looked rather cheerful for being caught, and you groaned.

“I am so sorry.”

He laughed. “Was all of this a ruse to take me off the market?” He smirked, eyes glittering as he tugged at your tie. You tugged his back harder, and he banged into you, having to catch you both from smacking into a Venomous Tentacula.

“No! I lost my last pot of ink, and I’d spotted some in a supply closet and thought I’d borrow it until I could get to Hogsmeade.” You sighed. “I didn’t think to read the label.”

“A kleptomaniac, if I’ve ever seen one.” He winked. Why was he being so calm about this? Were all boys the same? One good snog, and you could hex them and they’d still be grinning like fools.

You exited the greenhouse, and a crowd waited in the atrium. You nearly turned on your heel back into the classroom when the onslaught of howls and whistles greeted you.

“About time! When’s the Save the Date being sent out?” Garreth called, and Natty shooshed him.

“I better be invited.” Natty nudged you as you passed, and you shot her a withering stare. She shrugged with a grin.

“We will never hear the end of this.” You squeezed through the crowd.

“Not unless Hobhouse does something stupid again,” Seb murmured too close to your ear, and you jumped when his hand found yours. Did he like this attention? You’d thought it was a mutual agreement to keep this quiet, yet he basked in the teasing, playing along as you stared red faced and dumbfounded with no witty comebacks. So much for being clever.

Ominis appeared at the back of the crowd, the tip of his wand a red beacon, the guiding grace out of the masses.

“Thank goodness, Ominis.”

“Undercroft. Now,” he whispered, and you and Seb followed helplessly behind him.

***

“I’m speechless.” Ominis paced, and Seb caught your eye with a smirk. You heard those same words almost weekly, yet Ominis always found something to say regardless.

“Ominis—” Seb began.

“Shush!” Ominis pointed his wand at the two of you. His face was twisted in a scowl, striking against his carved features. “Traceable ink! Snogging when gossip of courting is at an all-time high. And in the Undercroft of all places!” He sniffed. “Desecrating a place like this. The audacity. This is a safe place. Are you two mad? Do you know what you’ve done to her reputation, Sebastian?”

“The Hero of Hogwarts? Troll hunter? War ender? That reputation?” He pinched your side.

You shoved him aside. “We were going to keep it a secret.”

“Oh please. The two of you would have been caught snogging in a broom closet by the end of the week. You’re about as subtle as Peeves.”

You chucked a pillow at him, which wasn’t fair as it hit him square in the face. Ominis cast a hex in the wrong direction. It bounced off a vase, and you dodged the rebound.

“He’s not wrong,” Seb murmured.

“Honestly, the two of you,” you huffed, exasperated. “I am an adult. I can make my own decisions, thank you very much.”

“What are you two going to decide now then, hm? The entire castle will know by noon that the two of you had your actual fingerprints all over each other.��

“Keep up appearances, I suppose.” Seb slung his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close and planting a kiss on your cheek. Your heart nearly leapt through your throat.

“You’re being very calm about all of this, Sebastian. Are you sure you didn’t plan this?” Ominis asked.

“How could I?” He shot you a charming smile. “You think I’d really dump her remaining ink, knowing her klepto tendencies that she’d carelessly steal an anti-cheating ink pot without reading the label? Distracting her so she’d spill it over the two of us and then make my move so we’d be revealed to the class?”

You blinked back at him, dumbfounded. “When you word it like that…”

“I’ve had enough of you two.” Ominis grimaced. “I’m leaving. Do not expect any damage control from me on this one. You two can solve it for yourselves. Professor Weasley will be on you faster than a starving hound. Hope you’re prepared with an excuse.”

“Love you too, Omi,” Seb called after him.

Ominis waved his hand dismissively, muttering under his breath.

You said nothing else until you heard the gate closed.

“So how long would you like to wait before we make appearances again?” Seb asked. “Skip classes for the day? We can go to Hogsmeade. Or the Forbidden Forest. Your choice.”

You ripped from his hold, searching the Undercroft.

“What are you doing?”

“Looking for my last ink pot.” You shoved some books out of the way, checking beneath cushions, behind the triptych, but there was no sign of it. “That speech of yours was a little too detailed.”

“You really think I spent all that time setting this up?” he laughed, drifting to your side.

When you ignored him, he stopped you in your tracks, turning you to face him. “Not even a revealing charm? I’m insulted.”

“Good idea.” You cast revelio, but no ink pots appeared.

“You’re delightful when you’re delusional.” He took your face in his hands, thumbs tracing your cheeks. “Is it really so bad the whole school knows I like you?”

You paused, a silly smile spreading across your face. “You like me?”

He tilted his head, grinning. “I thought that was obvious at this point, Love.”

You searched his face for some sort of joke or trick, but at his earnest eyes you relented. “Damn you, Sallow.” He laughed at that, pressing his lips to yours. “I guess it isn’t the worst thing that everyone knows. I just wish it wasn’t in such an embarrassing way. At least all these witches know now if I catch them ogling you again, I’ll hex them into an early graduation.”

“Ogling me? Who?” He raised an eyebrow with a wicked glint in his eye.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“No, now I have to know.”

“Absolutely not!”

You broke away from him, and he chased after you between the pillars until you tripped over the victimized pillow you’d hurled at Ominis. Seb met you halfway, and you found yourself pressed against him, kissing him as if you’d been doing this for the last two years.

What you didn’t know was behind the tallest stacked crates near the Undercroft entrance, some splattered ink stained the inside of a dusty old vase.

#I feel like I've been posting all screenshots lately so have an old dusty oneshot instead lol #I do have new oneshots in the work I just write slow lol #low key want to rewrite this because I write much better than this but TOO LATE I MUST LIVE IN THE BED I MADE OR WHATEVER #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #hogwarts legacy oneshot #sebastian sallow fanfic

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the-gone-ton · 2 months ago

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Don't worry, I have more pretzel lore today. Pretzels Plus is a defunct chain of pretzel bakeries that originated in Hanover PA in 1991. Brad Eline, a real estate agent, decided to open his own business after eating from a pretzel stand in Lancaster. He claimed to try out some 500 recipes before settling on the right pretzel mix for his business. The recipe was kept under lock & key, with ingredients trucked in from different suppliers, known only to Eline and the guy who mixed the ingredients together for him. The original location was 13 Carlisle St. in Hanover, which sold 497 pretzels in its first day.

In 2004, Pretzels Plus had 25 franchises in 7 states - Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Most of the locations were in malls and Walmart Supercenters. They served a pizza with pretzel crust called the Pretzelizza, pretzel dogs, an M&M pretzel, crispy caramel crunch and chewy chocolate nut pretzels, sour cream & onion pretzels, garlic pretzels, cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks, cinnamon raisin pretzels, sandwiches on pretzel rolls. In 2005, they opened their first international location in Romania - the first pretzel store ever in the country. But at the same time, Eline acknowledged a problem: the US was saturated in pretzel stores. Every mall had at least one. Perhaps this, along with the decline of many of these malls, is why Pretzels Plus started closing.

In 2019, Eline made a new concept called Pretzel Pizza Cafe & Creamery in Hanover, specializing in pretzel sandwiches, pretzel pizzas & calzones, pretzel Stromboli, pretzel wraps, pretzel bowl soup, chili cheese pretzel dogs, 36 flavors of ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, and floats. The Cafe closed in 2023.

Pictured at the top is Pretzels Plus at Palmer Park Mall, the last of the whole chain, and a pretzel and slushy I ate from there once. I've eaten there a hundred times, and I'm glad it managed to survive. It was probably lucky to be located at a mall that isn't dying but also isn't big enough for a second pretzel place to want to move in.

Pic above this is a shuttered one at Chambersburg Mall - you can still kind of read the labelscar.

This pic is a long-closed booth at the Wayne Heights Mall.

These pictures are the former flagship Pretzels Plus at the North Hanover Mall - closed in 2018.

#pretzels plus #photography #retail #dead mall series #pretzels #nostalgia #forgotten places #exploration #explore #pennsylvania #retail apocalypse

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mcufan72 · 1 year ago

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Hello everyone!

After writer's block and some changes in my life (mostly good ones), I'm finally able to write again. I can't believe that the last lines I wrote for my Loki fics were in July/August 2023. Unbelievable.

Here is my new multi-part fic!

It's a modern AU, I will use MCU characters and facts incorrectly and Loki will be as I want him to be. The Multiverse is open and I do what I want. Those who have read my other stuff know what I mean. So if you don't like it, don't read it. This story will contain morally grey stuff (or not, I don't know. What exactly is morally grey? But nothing too bad happens here or without consent. It's still a love story), fluff, angst and eventually smut…so 18+ only, please!

I also use random names/characters, they have nothing to do with the MCU, they're a product of my fantasy. They are inspired by real-life people and also the plot might be inspired by real-life experiences (not every part of the plot, please keep that in mind). So please don't steal my stuff, use your own experiences and let them inspire you. I also did some research but without a guarantee of completeness and accuracy.

Here is the first chapter of my new fic. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. 💚

Sugar and Cinnamon

Loki x female reader / 18+

Chapter 1

Preview here

Warnings: none so far, contains fluff, angst, and smut (eventually), it's a slow-burn love story.

“I leave."

"Yeah, good. Go home and get some rest. I don't know when I'll be back. Might be late. “

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then explain.”

“I leave the company…and you!”

“It's just a phase, darling. Take a few days off and then everything will be fine again.”

“You really don't get it, do you? It's not a phase.”

“No one screws things up with me! Not even you! ...you have six months.”

3 months later

Damn! Just damn! You were late, like always. You were permanently struggling with keeping places in time and today it wasn't any different. It was pouring rain since you had left your apartment and you were nearly completely drenched from head to toe and of course, you had forgotten your umbrella. The only protection from the rain was the high collar and the hood of your coat. You hurried through the streets of Manhattan, melding into the people who crowded the sidewalks. The city's smells and noises were engulfing you, uncountable different languages and accents were hitting your ears. On every street corner was music, played by street entertainers who tried to grab some money from the people passing by. Car horns were honking, and brakes were squeaking, the sirens of ambulances or police cars drowning out any other sounds. The whole city was buzzing and glowing, a permanent noise filling ears and streets, echoing between amazing skyscrapers. But you loved it, this was your hometown and you have been living here for five years now. You wouldn't stay here forever, surely not, but for now you would stay.

On your way to your appointment this afternoon you accidentally bumped into someone because you held your head down to keep the rain away from your face. “Hey, watch it, girl!” a manly voice scolded you. You apologized with a hasty: “Sorry”, and continued your way unimpressed. Somehow you managed to cruise fluently through the masses of people and cars and reached the building you wanted to go to right in time. You passed the doorman, who gave you a friendly smile, and the security men in their black suits in the reception area, who greeted you with a short nod. They looked much too good for your liking but you couldn't deny your attraction to tall men with broad shoulders in black suits. You had a soft spot for this kind of man. The rainwater that was dripping from your coat was wetting the floor of the entrance hall and with an apologetic shoulder shrug and a heartwarming smile on your face towards the security men, you headed for the lift.

*****************

How much Loki hated the weather today. Fortunately, he had his umbrella with him so he was protected from heaven's water. The pouring rain, the crowded sidewalks and streets, the deafening noise. He was living here in New York for over twelve years now but it seemed to some things he would never get used to. He surely wouldn't stay here forever but for now, he still had to. Normally he wouldn't go out on the streets when it was raining like this. No one would go out voluntarily in such weather. But he got a call from a negotiating partner, who asked him to meet him at a café in the early afternoon to inform him about a few details. And some conversations were better made personally than by phone. The meeting wasn't a long one and his conversation partner Mr.Miller had already left but Loki was still sitting in the café, sipping on his espresso. “Damn it!”, he murmured under his breath, annoyed about what Mr. Miller had asked of him.

Mr. Miller was an extremely old-fashioned, elderly man and he told Loki for his next event, a business dinner, he would like to see him with a female companion. Every other guest would bring their significant others too, there wouldn't be just the dinner, there would also be some dancing afterwards and how sad it would be if he were there alone.

“Please, bring your significant other, too. I don't accept a no!” Mr. Miller insisted.

Loki knew exactly when it was better to not discuss a negotiation partner's wishes and so he agreed. Sometimes you have to make concessions if you want something to be successful. Now a solution had to be found. Loki didn't have any female friend he could take with him on such a date. It must be someone trustworthy, someone who could be silent as a grave, someone who could keep secrets. In the best case, someone who did it professionally. He would never ask any of his former affairs, not to talk about that his last affair was some time ago. He pulled out his mobile phone and did some research. Over the years he'd learned to appreciate his phone as a daily companion. Using apps on your mobile phone made your life easier and finding a solution for nearly every problem was easier with it as well.

Shortly after starting scrolling through several websites, he found it. The solution to his problem ‘how to attend a date with a female companion’: an escort agency. Professionally escorted by a well-educated woman, intelligent, sophisticated and with perfect manners, professionally obliged to keep silent. That was it, the ultimate solution to his problem. Of course, he had to meet the woman he wanted to book for that upcoming event, first. He had to ensure that she was the right one and if she was suitable for such an event. He had no other choice so he gave it a try. He called the agency he had chosen and described what he wanted and what was required in every detail to the polite and friendly lady he was talking to. It sounded like she was smiling on the other end of the phone and it gave him the good feeling of having made the right decision.

“Okay, Sir. I'm pretty sure I already have the right lady for you. Have you heard of the ‘Vivian's Velvet’ nightclub?”

“Yes, I did."

“Fine. Then you'll meet her there at the bar at 8 pm sharp. She'll be waiting there for you.”

“How will I recognise her? I mean…”

“She'll know who you are. Please send me a photo of you and then I can forward the image to her. Please don't get me wrong, Sir but we handle it this way because we want to guarantee our ladies a way out in case they want to refuse a meeting for whatever reason and at any time. Even if they are already at the nightclub. It's for the safety of our ladies. I hope you understand.”

“I do. It's what your ladies deserve and I respect that.”

“I'm glad to hear that, Sir. Thank you for understanding. Would you please give me your name so our lady can address you correctly?”

Loki hesitated for a second. In his business sometimes it was advantageous to use an alias and he would hold on to this tradition here.

“My name is Luke Larsson.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Larsson. If you have any questions or if the lady I've chosen for you is not for your liking, please don't hesitate and let me know. I'll look for a new lady for you then. We aim to satisfy you completely at any time. And please don't forget to send me your photo, Mr. Larsson.”

“I'll send it immediately.”

“Of course, Mr. Larsson and I wish you an enjoyable evening. Thank you for choosing and calling us. Goodbye, Sir.”

“Goodbye, Ma'am and thank you for your excellent service.”

“You're welcome” and with that, the call ended.

He did what was required of him and he sent the agency a photo of himself. To book a lady at an escort agency was an expensive matter but money was no object. He had called the best escort agency in the city and only the best was what he needed.

He paid his bill and left the café. The streets were still crowded, rain was still flooding the streets and slightly ruining his leather shoes and his slacks. On his way back home a hood-wearing person with a lowered head, drenching wet from the rain, bumped into him. Why couldn't people watch their way, he thought angrily.

“Hey, watch it, girl!“ he scolded. He wasn't sure if it was a woman, he just assumed it. He barely heard the apology of the person and he immediately regretted his harsh words. He turned around to apologize as well. But the person who ran into him had almost completely disappeared in the crowd. He could just catch a short glimpse of the shoes the person was wearing. ‘Nice colour’, he thought and disappeared into the crowd himself. In a few hours, he would meet the escort lady who probably would accompany him to his next business dinner.

***************

With a ping, the lift's door opened on the 25th floor where the agency had its office. The word REA was written in large, finely curved golden letters on the big white, opaque glass door, right above the golden door knob. REA was the acronym for Rhea's Escort Agency and you had to ring a doorbell to get in. The interior was simple but very elegant, bright and inviting at the same time. Smooth jazz music played in the background and created a comfortable atmosphere. A large white leather couch was invitingly positioned close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, framed by exotic green plants and a coffee table. Behind the front desk sat Rhea, the owner of the agency, on the phone, talking to one of the other escorts. She beckoned you with her hand getting over to her. After you approached her desk, she opened her mouth with a soundless dismay when she saw you in your dripping wet state. You could just smile at her with a shoulder shrug. You took off your drenched coat and hung it on the coat rack. Shortly after, she ended the call and rounded her desk to hug you.

“Jeez, girl…look at you. What happened , dear? Did you take a swim and forgot your towel?”

“Kind of.” you answered and laughed.

“Sit down, lovely. You must be freezing. I'll get you a towel and a hot drink. Some Tea?”

“Yes, I'd fancy a cuppa“, you said with a sigh of relief and you were glad to drink something warm now and to dry the front part of your hair with a towel.

“Here, darling “, Rhea said when she came back from the restroom and kitchenette which were both located at the back of the office, invisible to clients.

“That's much needed now, thanks, Rhea. You're my saviour.“ you answered with a thankful smile and took a sip of your tea before you began to dry your hair. You immediately felt much better. Rhea sat down again in her chair opposite you and opened the appointment calendar on her laptop.

“I'm glad that you made it to the office, y/n. The weather is really horrible today but I needed to see you personally.”

“Did something happen? Did a client complain? “ you asked concernedly. You hoped not, you needed this job and you always gave your best.

“No no, don't worry, darling. Everything is fine and that's what I wanted to tell you. Every client you have escorted so far has been happy and satisfied. You're booked up for this week except for the weekend, as you wished. So based on your successful dating and our clients’ satisfaction, I can offer you a higher hourly rate.”

“Oh, really? Oh thank you so much, Rhea, that really means a lot to me. I need every dollar I can earn.” You meant it, it was the undeniable truth.

“I know, dear and you know you could increase your income further by being booked for the weekends as well.” Rhea reminded you.

“Yeah, I know but I need the weekends for personal matters. Those are important too, I'm sorry.”

“Don't be sorry. Your personal matters are surely important and I know it's none of my business. But please let me know whenever I can do something for you, okay?” she said softly.

“No one can help me, I'm afraid. But thank you for your kind offer, I appreciate it,” you replied, well aware regardless of how much you'd work, even if you worked 24/7 you still wouldn't earn enough money to solve your problems. But you had to try and that was what kept you going.

“Okay…so…are you spontaneous, dear?” Rhea asked you while looking for her work mobile phone on her desk.

“Ahmm…yes”, you answered hesitantly.

“Good, because I got a request 30 minutes ago and already made an appointment …and based on the requirements of our potential new client I think you perfectly fit him.”

“Okay, where will I meet him and when?”

“At 8 pm sharp at ‘Vivian's Velvet’. Walker will drive you like always. It is more a casual meeting with our client to get to know each other so please dress appropriately but not too chic. Classy will do…a black cocktail dress would be fine.”

“Yeah, no problem. How does he look like and what's his name?”

“Waaaiiit…ah now…sent you a photo “, Rhea explained and a second later your phone vibrated with an incoming message.

“He's eye candy, a jackpot, a real cherry on top, the icing on the cake…and his voice…he could read the phone book to me. But the most important thing, he sounded nice. Maybe a bit arrogant but nice.” Rhea gushed.

“A jackpot you say? Let me see…” and with these words on your lips, you opened the file. You nearly dropped your phone. Black mid-length curly hair, a beautiful blade of a nose, a chiselled jaw, prominent cheekbones and a mouth you just wanted to kiss. But the most impressive were his piercing blue eyes which seemed to look deep into your soul.

“Wow” was the only thing you were able to say.

“I told you” Rhea laughed, fully getting your reaction towards the beauty of this man. “His name is Luke Larsson. I'm sure you won't miss him.”

“Absolutely not. How could someone miss this handsome man? Luke Larsson…is he Norwegian? “

“I don't know…his accent sounded more British. So you're willing to meet him? “

“Oh yes, I'm looking forward to it. I'll be at ‘Vivian's' at 7.30 pm so I can wait for him there.” you confirmed.

“Fine, dear. He booked you for two hours. When I get the drinks bill from the bar, your hourly rate and your share of the drinks will be transferred to your bank account…as usual. Enjoy the evening, dear. And tell me how it went, okay?” Rhea asked you.

“Of course, I'll let you know.”

After this enjoyable talk, you headed back home quickly. You had less than two hours left to get prepared for the meeting with Mr. Luke Larsson.

In less than 20 minutes Walker would arrive at your apartment to drive you to ‘Vivian's Velvet ‘. Walker was your chauffeur and was responsible for driving you safely to a dating location and back home again afterwards. In case you would spend intimate hours with a client, he would wait in front of the hotel. For your safety and to drive you home after the intimate encounter. Walker was 56 years old, a rock of a man with a buzz cut and a beard. He was an imposing figure, always dressed in a formal suit. But he had a heart of gold and you always felt safe when he was around. Knowing he was always close by when you had an appointment with a man, made you feel even safer. You knew he had a soft spot for you and he would always be there for you, no matter what. Somehow you were like a daughter to him but if you were his daughter he would never allow you to work as an escort.

You were almost ready. You were wearing a simple but elegant black, midi cocktail dress with sleeves in black lace and black high heels. With your hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a sleek tight bun, which sat deep in your neck, you created an illusion of long straight hair. You grabbed your purse from the wardrobe and after a final inspection of your appearance in your large mirror, you left your apartment.

“Good evening, y/n. You look wonderful tonight “. Walker was waiting for you in front of your house and opened the door of the black limousine with tinted windows for you and you let yourself slide into the backseat of the car.

“Thank you, Walker and good evening.“ you replied with a smile on your lips.

Walker closed the door, entered the driver's seat and drove you to ‘Vivian's Velvet’. It was one of the most exclusive and most expensive nightclubs in Manhattan with a luxurious interior in black and purple.

It was close to 8 pm and you were waiting for your date. You were excited about how he would be if he really looked that good and if you would fit his expectations. You ordered a glass of champagne to calm down your nerves a little bit but it would be your only drink tonight. As always, because you must remain in control of your senses. It was a golden rule. The men you dated were supposed to drink alcohol, lots of it, not you. It brought additional money to the hourly rate of an escort. The more they drank the more you got. The only thing that brought the most additional money was having sex with them. But it wasn't a must and you weren't interested, not in the slightest. But the day might come when you had no other choice and maybe one day you would feel a carnal desire again that needed to be satisfied. But you wouldn't do it with everyone. It had to be a special man with a special aura and he must give you kind of a feeling that you were safe with him.

A few minutes later, at 8 pm sharp, you felt someone standing behind and then next to you. A hint of a delicious scent hit your nostrils and a sizzling energy filled the air, making your skin tingle.

***********

When Loki entered the nightclub, there were already four women sitting at the bar, their backs turned towards him. Two of them were in the company of a man, two were sitting there alone so one of them was supposed to be his date, he assumed. Because he didn't know what the woman he had booked looked like, he went over to the bar and ordered a drink, the most expensive Scottish whisky the club had to offer. Next to him to his right side sat a woman on a stool, dressed in an elegant black cocktail dress and black high heels, her hair in a tight hair bun. For now, she ignored him and he wasn't sure if she was his date or not. She looked stunning as far as he could see it. He didn't want to stare at her. But he hoped she was the woman he had an appointment with. She was very lovely to look at. In the corner of his eyes, he saw her sipping at her glass of champagne.

“Good evening, Mr.Larsson. Nice to meet you,” you addressed him with a calm, velvety voice and smiled at him.

“Good evening, Miss… I'm sorry but I don't know your name yet,” he answered softly but dryly.

“How would you like to call me, Mr. Larsson?” You asked him mischievously, a smile curving your lips.

“I don't think I am in the position to give you a name.”

“You're very polite and well-mannered, aren't you?”

You had difficulties maintaining your facade. He looked extremely good in that photo but in reality, this man was beyond beautiful. Inky black hair you wanted to rake your fingers through, broad shoulders, lean muscles, slender waist and endless long legs. All of this gorgeousness was wrapped in an exquisite black suit and a crisp white shirt, the top three buttons undone. You could see a hint of his chest hair which peaked out of the V of his shirt. You felt your mouth watering. He was devastatingly sexy. Now that he was reassured that you were his date he moved a little closer to you. His smell was enchanting. An indescribable mixture of fresh cotton, sandalwood, orange blossom and something spicy you weren't able to specify.

The way he leaned against the bar, his big veiny hand with long, perfectly manicured fingers holding the whisky tumbler, his other hand in his trouser pocket, had something indecent about it. You wanted to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter down to the floor. You should better stop salivating over him and begin entertaining him. That was your job and he was the client you had to convince of you because you wanted him to book your service. You had to focus on your job.

“What kind of escort service do you need from me? How can I be of help?”, you asked him kindly.

He took a sip of his whisky and you of your champagne before he gave you an answer, making eye contact with you and holding your gaze. It made you inwardly shiver.

“I need a companion who escorts me regularly to functions. I'm not interested in flirting with you. I need someone I can have an actual conversation with. Nothing annoys me more than some people and their boring talk. It also should be someone who is discreet and can keep secrets. Someone who doesn't want more afterwards,” he explained, his voice dark and raspy.

“Even if you would want more afterwards I won't give it to you. I'm an escort, not a luxury call girl. I just offer you simple accompaniment, nothing more and nothing less,” you stated kindly but firmly. Good-looking or not, you would never give him the chance to get between your legs.

“I'm well aware of that, Miss”, he replied dryly. “You're an escort lady and this is what I want and what I need. And don't worry, I don't believe in love or anything related to it!”

Loki took a sip of his whisky, his gaze still fixed on you. How pretty you were. Your big bright eyes, your cute nose and your rosy lips were just perfect. Your body was perfectly hugged by your black cocktail dress and your legs with those beautiful high heels at your feet were tempting and he suddenly thought about how good it must feel if they were wrapped around his waist. Loki quickly pushed that thought aside. He wasn't here to live out his lust with you. Also, his past was dark and blood-drenched. And you definitely deserved a better man than him. Regardless of his indecent thoughts, he liked your attitude and your behaviour. A little bit of sassiness, a lot of passion and somewhere hidden deep inside of you, vulnerability and a kind of sadness. Now that he has gotten to know you he wondered how and why you had ended up in the escort agency. You didn't seem to belong there.

“Me neither, Mr. Larsson! I'm glad we see it the same way. I've sworn off men entirely. I'm not interested in a love affair with you.”

“Well, I guess we got a deal, then.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Larsson, we got a deal”.

You smiled at him and you took another sip of your champagne. He gave you clearly and precisely all the information you needed to know so you could get an idea of the business dinner he wanted you to escort him to and you agreed with the conditions. Time flew by so quickly and before you even knew it your appointment with him was over.

“So we'll meet next week? “ Loki asked you.

“Of course, Mr Larsson. Call the agency and make the appointment. It was a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad that I could satisfy you and I'm pleased that I meet your expectations “. You smiled brightly at him. You were still captivated by his incredible aura.

“The pleasure is all mine. But there's one last thing…” You looked quizzically at him.

“I still don't know your name. What should I call you? “

“Sugar. You can call me Sugar.”

🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃🌹🥂🌃

Taglist: (please let me know if you want to be added or removed)

@lokisprettygirl @fictive-sl0th @stupidthoughtsinwriting @fandxmslxt69 @chantsdemarins @justjoanne242 @lovingchoices14 @huntress-artemiss @smolvenger @lokixryss @anukulee @wheredafandomat

#loki x female reader #loki x reader fluff #loki x reader fic #loki x reader angst #loki x reader smut #loki x you #loki laufeyson #loki x reader #loki #loki x female reader fluff #loki x female reader angst #loki x female reader smut #loki x fem!reader #loki au fics

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heedra · 1 month ago

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re: cozy fiction (not to make your blog a message board lol), i agree with you (peak of cozy being small business ownership lol) and also dont think its just a matter of personal taste i think its worth critiquing. & asking questions like, when people imagine a world without conflict, what does that look like? if it looks like current day life in the imperial core, is it truly conflict-free or does the author just live a life where they can ignore the presence of the suffering that is foundational to that "conflict-free" existence? etc.

i remember seeing this review of legends&lattes floating around that i think is really good & related: https://www.superdoomedplanet.com/blog/2023/02/26/on-travis-baldrees-legends-and-lattes/

I have read this review actually, and its one of the things that always haunts the back of my mind when i see cozy fiction get talked about. This book (with full disclosure that I haven't read it and will likely never read it, and the blindspot that does give me) sounds fucking wild to me. The part about offering the crime lord cinnamon rolls instead of protection money but then letting her continue to shake up other people for money boggles the mind especially lmao, because I don't even see what's supposed to be comforting or pleasant about that situation. It kind of feels like it wraps around to be a fantasy that's only escapist in that the protags are out from under the boot themselves. But the boot's still there. Weird stuff.

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destroy-some-evil · 1 year ago

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So... I'm watching Until We Meet Again while waiting for more episodes of The Sign (because I need more reincarnated soulmates please and thank you).

And I can tell the narrative says this:

But my theory presupposes that maybe:

Look I get it - the narrative really wants us to buy that Korn is the "strong silent" type and Dean, as his reincarnation, is similar in attitude but a way better Dom because he learned from his past life and became better at caring for his loved ones. Meanwhile, Intouch was the "adorable cinnamon bun" in the past who couldn't cook and occasionally pushed Korn's boundaries, and now as Pharm, who can cook (character development!), is basically the perfect sub to Dean's Dom (yes, I read @lutawolf's post about the soft D/s moments in the series and clicked subscribe -what off it). I get that's the story they are showing. Also, I like the story it's been fun to watch and I'm looking forward to the last two episodes.

But - but what if

Korn who basically was forced to be the strong silent type because he was the eldest and not allowed to be soft with how his dad raised him. He just wanted read literature volume 4 or what ever but circumstances and society expected different of him. I don't know there is something sweet to think that in his next life he gets to be that soft boy who likes cooking. Who still takes care of those around but he doesn't have to force himself to be the visibly strong one all the time. Both Korn and Pharm were both the ones who were initially afraid of what it meant to love this person in front of them.

Meanwhile, Intouch, who just wanted to care for Korn, makes that the core of who he is in his next life. He's not as carefree as he once was, but he still loves to be in the water. (All In's suggestions for vacations related to water. The beach vacation they took and the raft one they never got to do.) He still loves teasing his boyfriend and he still makes it his life goal to make him happy. Also, he can now at least follow directions for cooking but it's not something expected of him. And on a more serious note, he's more able to protect Pharm than Intouch was able to protect Korn. Korn probably would have never allowed Intouch to protect him because he had to be the one in charge; even if, maybe, he didn't want to be. Also, both Intouch and Dean are the ones who see their other half and go, "yes, that's him. He's the one I'm going be with for the rest of my life." No hesitation, just plans for how he's going put a ring on it. (I also have a headcannon that Dean was the one to suggest the red thread faculty tours. His fellow classmates tease that Dean's thread is already picked out for Pharm. And in the past Intouch is the one to tie the red thread on Korn.)

I also get that visually the show wanted to associate that Intouch and Pharm look similar and that Korn and Dean look similar because that makes it easy.

But you know what stupid romantic is this post about the Japanese legend that you have the face of the person you loved the most in your previous life (okay so the post applying that legend to Avatar the Last Airbender but it's still stupid romantic).

Apply that to these two and tell me it's not sweet and romantic to think that they get reborn into the same families they were originally in and that they are surrounded by people who loved them in both their lives and now those people have grown and learned to support them AND they have the face of the person who they loved most in their past life.

Yes, I'm late to the party (I only found found out about how to get easy access to Thai BLs in October 2023 - thank you @talistheintrovert) but I have thoughts. Also this was fun.

#until we meet again #deanpharm #Now that what I call overthinking!#I have thoughts #This probably isn't new #mine

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aurumsims · 1 year ago

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ALPHA HORSE MANES, FORELOCKES, TAILS UPDATED TO HQ MOD Read about HQ mode HERE

Hi! It was requested, finalygot time to make it HQ compatible <3 Pls delete old files and replace them with new ones (they have HQ in package file name) Stay safe! Links: The Sims Resource - Chief - Alpha style horse mane The Sims Resource - Lucky - Alpha style long horse tail The Sims Resource - WildSoul - Alpha style Horse Mane The Sims Resource - Eleganto - Alpha styled Long straight horse Mane The Sims Resource - Cinnamon - alpha styled forelock for horses The Sims Resource - Breeze - Alpha styled short horse mane The Sims Resource - Winter Holidays 2023 - Sapphire horse tail (alpha style)

#the sims 4 #aurum ts4 #simblr #ts4 cc #the sims resource #ts4 custom content #ts4 cc free #the sims mods #ts4 #sims 4 #sims 4 cc #sims 4 horse #sims 4 horse pack #sims 4 horses #ts4 horse cc #ts4 horse ranch

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asecondglassofcinnamonwine · 1 year ago

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December 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

Read Count: 9 books Average Page Count: 448 Goodreads Unread Count: 446 books Owned Unread Count: 4 books

Books: Mask of Mirrors - M.A. Carrick How Far the Light Reaches - Sabrina Imbler The Half-Life of Valery K - Natasha Pulley *Fool's Fate - Robin Hobb Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke Fit for the Gods - edited by Zainab S Williams & Jenn Northington Last Days - Adam Nevill Pnin - Vladimir Nabokov *The Angel's Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Read from Owned TBR: 2 Day/Night Challenge: 0 Finishing Series: 1 *Starred Reads: 2 Nonfiction: 1 Deep-Dive Author: 2

Genres: Fantasy: 3 Histfic: 2 Memoir: 1 Scifi: 1 Horror: 1 Litfic: 1

Goals Not Reached: Ingathering (stretch goal, currently reading) A Brief History of Seven Killings (stretch goal, abandoned)

#cinnamon reads of 2023 #happy new year everyone

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allgirlsareprincesses · 2 years ago

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Love At First Sight (2023)

Okay, we’re going to talk about the new Netflix romance directed by Vanessa Caswill, Love At First Sight, because I’m seeing almost no chatter about it and that cannot stand. Full disclosure, I’ve never read the book on which this movie is based, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, so I’m reacting only to the film (which I’ve now seen 4.5 times in 2 days).

The Surface Reading

It’s a perfect, tight, adorable little RomCom that’s heavy on the Rom and light on the Com, with a wrenching dash of angst and the most hair-twirling chemistry between two leads that has graced our screens in years. Truly, if all you want is 90 minutes of two actors being saccharine precious cinnamon rolls, look no further!

There are simple takeaways here, like that chance can only take you so far, but in the end you have to choose to love. Or that change and loss are part of life and you can’t run from them. Or that London is a massive labyrinth of eccentric people that probably looks 400% cooler onscreen than it is in reality (I wouldn’t know, I’ve never visited, so this and the 90s Parent Trap are the extent of my knowledge about the city, sorry).

Anyway, I adored how straightforward the story was - that the narrator (played brilliantly by Jameela Jamil) tells you directly in the first two minutes that it’s a story about love, fate, and statistics. She then repeatedly describes every development as it is happening, the characters’ histories and internal monologues, and all the context you need to follow the thin but fast-paced plot. The writing, performances, and production design are all solid, allowing the audience to get lost in the romance as it unfolds.

BUT if you’re slightly unhinged like I am and you’re always looking for more layers in your media, HAVE NO FEAR! There is in fact more going on in this little movie than you might expect.

Color Theory

For starters, the use of red and green in the film is fascinating. Yes, I realize the action of the story takes place a few days before Christmas, so you might assume it was just a seasonal aesthetic choice, but if you look closer, you can see very carefully selected shades of red and green repeating throughout the film. The red is a cool, deep rose color, sometimes pink, while the green is cool and dark, like oxidized bronze rather than emerald. Further, while they appear over and over, these hues are rarely used in a purely decorative or festive way. Instead, they play a role in the separation and coming together of the couple. On a color wheel, red and green are complements, perfect opposites that are never adjacent but always joined in the middle.

The title card during Hadley’s introduction is literally a green stripe over a red stripe, then the hallways of the airport are green, and of course Hadley’s ever-important backpack is a rosy red. As the couple grow closer on their flight, the light turns pink. Once in London, a green van takes Oliver one way while a red taxi takes Hadley the other. At her father’s wedding, Hadley is dressed in red (“the color of a bruise” she calls it), contrasting beautifully against her green jacket. Upon realizing Oliver’s true purpose, she chases after him on an iconic red double-decker bus. Meanwhile at the living memorial, Oliver’s father is dressed in red while his mother wears a faded green, as if to say she is already beginning to fade away. The event is decorated with green drapery and streamers, and there are even stacks of red and green chairs in the stairwell where Oliver begs his mother to receive treatment.

Hadley gifts her red and green bouquet to Tessa, and when she is driven away, a green-clad narrator returns the red backpack to Oliver. Wandering London alone, Hadley exchanges her painful red heels for a pair of green trainers (“sneakers!” she insists), and tries to call her dad first in a red phone booth and then on a phone from a stranger sitting in a cluster of red chairs. Finally, Oliver chooses to pursue Hadley to the wedding reception which is lit in pink, and where they finally share the long-awaited kiss.

There are many more examples, but in general we see that green indicates separation and loss, while red symbolizes joining, intimacy, and (what else?) love! It lends the film a gorgeous, subtle aesthetic without being garishly festive, and shows the lovers’ emotional journey from lonely childhood to vulnerable, loving adulthood.

Death and Rebirth

Speaking of which, there’s plenty of rebirth imagery too! When Hadley and Oliver meet, they are both still children, struggling with the impending loss of parental security through divorce and death. Thus, when they board the plane, it is as if they enter an underworld or womb, separated from their families and remade as new adults. They emerge on the other side into a hallway (read: birth canal), as each must still confront their own dying childhood before they can join as full and equal partners. Hadley journeys to a bright, red-strewn celebration of life, while Oliver must enter a dark green commemoration of death, his fear driving him deeper to hide in another hallway. Here his mother comes to find him, begging him to emerge into life, but Ollie still can’t confront her death alone.

Thankfully, Hadley travels to this underworld to find him, bursting into the memorial like a bright red flower. Even the bruise metaphor works, acknowledging the pain they are both experiencing at the changes in their lives. But Oliver still refuses to face his fears, trying to take a shortcut around death to life with Hadley. Still, she knows he’s not ready (likely because she’s not yet, either), and gently pushes back. And so, Oliver returns to the underworld, and Hadley walks off alone until she descends barefoot through a soggy riverside tunnel (birth canal again!). Finally, she calls her father and admits she is “lost.” When he arrives, Hadley at last gathers the courage to ask why he ended their old life, and to tell him how much it hurt her. But as Oliver predicted, she forgives her dad and even begins to accept his new bride.

Back at the memorial, Oliver is reminded by Hadley’s red backpack - his unaddressed emotional baggage - to be honest about his pain. In at last openly mourning his mother and his own childhood, Ollie takes a step into adulthood, just enough for his family to nudge him that extra bit to go after Hadley. And so, the family delivers him to his bride, who has meanwhile learned to dance again, even through her heartbreak. With one last confession, the two consummate their love with a kiss, bathed in pink light before an open door.

Happily Ever After

There’s so much more, with the hand-holding, numbers, Shakespeare, Dickens, the music, and beyond, but the point is that this cute, charming little romance is actually very deliberately constructed. It follows timeless patterns and motifs which we instinctively understand through visual and auditory language. And the narration plays a huge role in this as well, not unlike the prologues and epilogues of the Bard’s plays in that they state the story’s lessons plainly: that we cannot always be prepared for unwelcome surprises, but that we can make the choice to love every day.

Anyway, Vanessa Caswill deserves all the flowers and if you haven’t seen her gorgeous adaptation of Little Women (with all due respect to the marvelous Greta Gerwig and Gillian Armstrong), please do yourself a favor and watch that after you finish this!

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besaya-glantaya · 2 years ago

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Thoughts on Alex being wrong and loving it

Red White and Royal Blue (2023 movie)

Remember the little quip Henry makes about admiring Alex's willingness to admit when he's wrong? It's such a great moment of foreshadowing, especially since Henry has no idea just how right he is.

Alex prizes himself on being someone who is skilled at reading people, at seeing the person beneath the surface, but he's never come across anyone quite like Henry before.

Alex must be used to people hiding who they truly are - he's been steeped in American politics for years - but he probably isn't expecting anyone from such a legacy of historic power and entitlement to be, at their core, an actual cinnamon roll.

Their initial meeting also comes at a time in Henry's life when any chink in his armour reveals only pain and anger, leading Alex to assume that what lies behind the carefully controlled façade isn't pleasant.

This assumption is only reinforced by further antagonistic interactions, fuelled by Henry's attempts to balance civility while protecting his heart as Alex consistently pulls Henry's metaphorical pigtails.

The fallout from cakegate forces them into extended periods of proximity and we see Alex start to glimpse pieces of the real Henry beneath his bland public persona. Each further piece that's revealed surprises and delights Alex and it's a joy to watch Taylor Zakhar Perez bring those moments to life.

Allow me to ramble about some of these:

1. Alex's pause of panic followed by surprised relief as Henry suavely responds to the interview question, "How did you end up on the floor of Buckingham Palace, covered in cake?" Alex's relief is two fold: he was floundering with no idea what to say (shouldn't have rebuffed Henry's request to prepare for this interview, Alex...) and Henry's answer is not at all what Alex was expecting. Henry could easily have attributed the event to clumsiness or tomfoolery on Alex's part - even just by subtle implication. That wouldn't have been out of line with some of Alex's answers (e.g., "Three words to describe Henry? Um... White, blond and British.") but Henry chooses a more protective route, deflecting attention from Alex, which comes as a pleasant surprise. [Of course he can't show this, so instead retaliates with something as annoying as possible. Cue side eye from Henry.]

2. Alex's big-eyed expression of sympathy as Henry tells him the Palace insisted on parading him around while he was grieving for his father. It's the key moment Alex realises he's built a lot of assumptions on a misunderstanding and has probably treated Henry rather unfairly.

3. Alex frowning at Henry talking and laughing with the little girl in the hospital bed. He's seeing Henry through a new lens and realises this picture doesn’t fit with a lot of his previous assumptions.

4. Alex shaking his head at Henry's joking attempt to decline an invite to his NYE party that most people would kill to get. "That's perfect, you kill me and then I won't have to go." It's the first time Henry uses his sharp wit to share a joke with Alex, rather than directing it at him in a fit of pique. It's an olive branch and I don't think Alex was expecting such easy forgiveness.

5. The sublime series of text based interactions where Alex is surprised and charmed by Henry flirting (under the guise of gentle ridicule).

6. The iconic "I can't believe how wrong I was about you," while he and Henry are as close as two people can get.

7. My all time favourite: Alex's reaction to Henry pointing out the yellow roses on his tie. Henry employs this in a sweet distraction during a moment of all encompassing anxiety for Alex. It's enough to bring Alex out of his fog, to realise how much strength he draws just from Henry being there to support him. The way Taylor says "Oh my god. I'm so grateful you are here," is perfection.

I'm a gooey mess thinking about all the future moments where Alex is surprised and overwhelmed by Henry's kindess.

[Sobs]

On a related note @mulderscully has a great post titled: Alex's headshake of Love™, which captures several of these moments, and more, in perfect gif form.

#red white and royal blue #rwrb #nicholas galitzine #prince henry rwrb #alex claremont diaz #rwrb film #rwrb thoughts #first prince #henry fox #red white and royal blue movie #taylor zakhar perez

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tiofrean · 2 years ago

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Anyone here for some hurt/comfort with Silverflint? (Dibs on that tiny spae between them!)

In all seriousness guys, I drew that months ago for Reading Between The Lines podcast for the episode "Cinnamon" which happens to be my fic. If you wanna give it a listen, links are below <3

#black sails #james flint #captain flint #captain james flint #black sails fanart #john silver #toby stephens #long john silver #luke arnold #my art #tora draws #fanart #digital art #podcast #reading between the lines #silverflint #illustration #Spotify

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absolutebl · 1 year ago

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hey, do you know of any BL-s similar to A boss and a Babe? I don't mean plot wise or setting but a bl with a similar uke (Cher). I feel like I haven't seen much or at all BL-s with an uke that's such a crackhead, so vital, positive, non dramatic, up for anything, vocal about feelings and love, the one who also kinda pursues when it's needed, that pushes boundaries etc etc

Huh, you mean like a GGG uke? (good giving game)

There are LOTS of crackheads... seek ye Japan. But that goes real fast into cringe, like Secret Crush On You.

The GGG part is where we fall down. This is a very new take on the archetype. Also non-dramatic, I mean it's a BL drama so dramatic is kinda the point.

I'll take a stab!

crackhead

vital & positive (sunshine)

pursues when it's needed (switchy)

non dramatic (good)

vocal about feelings and love (giving)

up for anything, pushes boundaries (game)

Fits all 6 criteria (but in their own countries' style):

All the Liquors (Korea)

Mr Heart (Korea)

Ocean Likes Me (Korea)

Be Loved In House I Do (Taiwan)

Love Sick (Thailand - bet you didn't see that one coming)

And now some that do their best satisfying 4 ore more of the above requirements.

Thailand

Everyone is just really dramatic in Thai BL.

Coffee Melody (sides 1,2,4,5,6)

Ghost Host, Ghost House (2,3,4,5,6)

Great Men Academy (if you count it 2,2,3,6)

Ingredients (2,3,4,5,6)

KinnPorsche (1,2,3,5,6)

Love By Chance 2 (1,2,5,6)

Love In the Air (PayuRain 1,2,5,6)

Love in Translation (2,3,5,6)

Make A Wish (1,2,3,5,6)

My School President (2,3,5,6)

My Tee (1,2,3,5,6)

Secret Crush On You (1,2,3,5,6)

Why R U? (2nd couple 1,2,3,5,6)

Taiwan

Seme/uke is always weak, queerness is more authentic so roles less prescribed and campy

DNA Says Love You (sides 1,2,3,6)

Kiseki Dear to Me (sides 1,2,3,6)

Stay By My Side (1,2,35,6)

Korea

Seme/uke is pretty weak, little to no crackhead, and everything will be more reserved and muted.

Some More (2,3,4,5,6)

The Eighth Sense (2,3,4,5,6)

Behind Cut (2,4,6)

Jun & Jun (2,4,5,6)

Long Time No See (2,3,4,5,6) but also LIES

Our Boarding House (2,3,4,6)

Oh My Assistant (1,2,3,6)

Tasty Florida (2,3,4,5,6)

The Lover (2,3,4,6)

Tinted With You (2,3,4,6)

Unintentional Love Story (2,3,4,5,6)

Why R U? (2nd couple 1,2,5,6)

Japan

But the ones it does have it REALLY leans into.

Seven Days (2,3,4,5)

If It's With You (2,3,4,5,6)

Restart After Come Back Home (2,4,5,6)

Silhouette of Your Voice (1,2,4,6)

Takara & Amagi (1,2,3,5)

My Memory is shot but???

Like Love from China might work.

Most stuff from the Philippines first some if not all.

Vietnam's My Lascivious Boss and You Are My Boy satisfy soem criteria.

Might also be worth reading

List dated Mid Dec 2023, ongoing BLs not included. If it aired after that date you should add it to the comments or something.

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smilingformoney · 1 year ago

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Rickmas 2023: Day 6. Out of Care | Snape & Eileen

Read now on Ao3 or below the cut:

Christmas was a time for family, so everyone said, but to Severus that only meant misery. Quiet, tense dinners in the Snape household were the norm; it was no different on Christmas Day, except with even heavier drinking from his father and maybe the odd card from a distant relative Severus had never met.

But there was one thing he loved about Christmas. Every Christmas Eve, his father spent the day at the pub with his mates for a “boys Christmas,” and his mother took him to the Christmas Market in Diagon Alley.

It was the one day a year that Severus got to go to Diagon Alley as a child. He and his mother would wander the streets, looking at the trinkets on sale that they could never afford, smelling the food and drink on offer, and some years Eileen even managed to save up enough spare change to buy Severus a treat.

He also got to visit the shops, to look in wonder at the apothecary and the bookshop. Severus was forbidden to go down Knockturn Alley, but that just made it all the more enticing, and Eileen more than once turned around to find him gone, running after him only to find him talking to some cloaked figure down the forbidden alleyway.

At Hogwarts, Severus learned enough of potions and magic to offer an under the table potion brewing service at school, and he saved every knut of it for Christmas time. For years Eileen had been saving to buy her son a cinnamon-dusted hot chocolate at the Christmas Market every year, but now he was finally able to buy one for her. He treated her to sweets too, and a gift, and she begged that it was too much for a son to treat his mother, but his stubbornness won out and for once in her life Eileen Snape smiled.

When Severus brewed his first successful Amortentia, it smelled like the old books of the library, a vanilla blancmanche, and cinnamon-dusted hot chocolate. He made a fortune selling love potions that year, especially with the school’s winter ball coming up, and for once he was looking forward to going home, because he would finally be able to treat his mother as she deserved.

It was only two days before the Hogwarts Express would take him home that Professor Slughorn pulled Severus aside after Potions class and delivered him the news that his mother had been found dead in her home, the muggle police were treating it as suspicious, his father was nowhere to be found and did he have somewhere else to go for the holidays or would he like to stay in the castle?

Although between a castle empty of Marauders and a home with his father he’d prefer the former, he had every year previous chosen the latter for the sake of his mother. He couldn’t bear the thought of her alone with Tobias at Christmas when he was at his drunkest, and he didn’t want to miss out on treating her at the Christmas Market.

But there was nothing to go back to now. Christmas was family, and as far as Severus was concerned, his family consisted of himself and his mother - and now, with her gone, he was alone.

When he told Lily why he wasn’t coming home for Christmas, she showed him pity and sorrow, and though he would have said yes in an instant the invitation to spend Christmas with the Evanses was never extended.

And so Severus opted to stay at Hogwarts. For two weeks the castle was almost empty, save for him, one Slytherin girl a year above him, and two first-year Ravenclaws. There was a peacefulness to it - no Potter lurking around the corner to ambush him, no giggling girls gossiping in the library, no boisterous Gryffindors running down the corridors. It was everything Severus had dreamed of at school.

And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to enjoy it. He didn’t care for Christmas anymore. The one spark of joy that it had brought - that one trip a year with his mother - was gone with her, and he felt empty in the moments he was too exhausted to feel angry.

On Christmas Eve, Severus got out of bed only because his stomach had begun to growl at him for not eating for three days straight. He pulled back the curtain of his bed and turned towards the bedside table to retrieve his wand… and almost knocked over a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

He paused, his hand frozen in mid-reach for his wand. He looked around the room, as if someone would step out of the shadows and reveal their mysterious hot chocolate ways. But he was alone, just as he had been since the end of term.

He picked up his wand and cast charms on the mug, but he found no evidence of magic other than a warming spell to stop it getting cold.

The mug even looked the same as the ones from the market stall. In fact, if he wasn’t mistaken, it was the same one as from the market stall. The smell was unmistakable, the colour, even the way the cinnamon was sprinkled on top in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Severus picked up the mug and cautiously took a sip. It was the same!

On the table beneath where the mug had sat was a slip of parchment. In unfamiliar handwriting, it said:

Severus - Keep her alive.

That was it. No signature, no clue of who his mysterious benefactor was.

Keep her alive. That was what the note said. His mystery barista had only one message for him, one they felt the need to deliver anonymously, and he hoped they weren’t watching him now to see the tears falling down his face.

Whoever they were, they were right. He had to keep her alive. She was half of him, and he owed her everything. Next year he would go to the market, and he would have the hot chocolate with cinnamon, and he would remember her.

But he still never really cared for Christmas.

#rickmas2023 #severus snape #pro snape #alan rickman #eileen snape #(just pretend he's a teenager in the gif lol)

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