#do we all feel renewed. refreshed even

[ministarfruit]

yuri month day 27: please be here for me ♡

(femslashfeb prompt list)

[yuu-kantokusei]

~The mischievous predator~

Malleus Draconia x gn!reader

Reader is yuu

TW: none

Summary: After a magical mishap leaves Yuu transformed into a cat, an evening walk takes an unsettling turn when they cross paths with someone who seems far too amused by their predicament.

The day had been an ordeal, to say the least.

Yuu had accidentally transformed into a plump tabby cat during potionology class, their spell ingredients mixed up while Professor Crewel’s sharp eyes were momentarily distracted. Grim, surprisingly sympathetic (and amused), volunteered to translate their distressed meowing to Ace and Deuce. The trio carried them around from class to class like an unwilling mascot until the day’s lessons finally ended.

Ace and Deuce headed back to Heartslabyul after classes, complaining about the weight of carrying both Yuu and Grim. Grim, now more of a reluctant caretaker, waddled alongside them on the way to Ramshackle Dorm.

"Alright, you can rest up for the night," Grim said, flopping onto the couch as they arrived. "And don’t expect me to babysit you forever. I’m a mage of great renown, not a cat-sitter!"

Yuu meowed back insistently, their tone sharp.

“What? You wanna go for a walk?” Grim translated, squinting. “Sheesh, it’s dark already! Fine, fine—just don’t get into trouble, okay? I don’t have time to rescue you from some stupid tree.”

They pawed at the door until Grim opened it. A chilly evening breeze greeted them as they stepped out into the quiet grounds of Night Raven College.

Yuu padded along the cobblestone path leading away from the dorm. They didn’t intend to go far; the cool night air was refreshing after an exhausting day of meowing and being carried around. Their thoughts drifted to the potion class debacle, wondering how they'd explain the incident to Crewel when they returned to human form.

Just as they considered turning back, they heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind them. Before they could react, a low, amused voice reached their ears.

“My, my… what do we have here? A little stray?”

Yuu’s fur bristled as they backed away from Malleus, their tiny body trembling with both fear and anger. They let out a low, warning growl, their tail lashing behind them. But their attempt at intimidation only seemed to amuse him further.

“Oh, don’t look so upset,” Malleus said smoothly, his voice like silk laced with thorns. “You’ve always been the curious type, haven’t you? Wandering out here all alone, so vulnerable… Surely, you knew someone might come across you?”

They hissed, their green eyes narrowing. If they could speak, they’d have had plenty of colorful words for him, none of them polite.

Malleus knelt down to their level, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the moonlight. His smile widened as he reached out, his long fingers brushing gently under their chin. “Now, now. Is that any way to greet a friend? I’m hurt, truly.”

Yuu swatted his hand with their paw, claws extended. They managed to scratch his glove, leaving faint marks across the leather. A small, victorious feeling bubbled up in their chest—until they saw his reaction.

Instead of being annoyed, Malleus’s grin only grew sharper. “Oh my, such sharp claws. Feisty as ever, I see. How charming.”

Before they could dart away, his hand shot out, and in one swift motion, he scooped them up into his arms. Yuu yowled in protest, their paws batting at his chest, but he held them firmly.

“My, my,” he said, his voice laced with mock concern. “You’re heavier than I expected. Have you been indulging a bit too much, child of man? Not that I mind, of course. You’re quite… soft.”

They froze for a moment, utterly mortified. Then, with renewed vigor, they wriggled and kicked, trying to free themselves. But Malleus only chuckled, adjusting his grip so they couldn’t escape.

“Relax,” he murmured, stroking their back with an unsettling tenderness. “You’re rather adorable like this, you know. It’s a rare opportunity to see such a side of you. I’d be a fool not to enjoy it."

Yuu let out a furious growl, their ears flattening against their head. If Grim were here, they’d demand he claw Malleus’s smug face for them.

“Oh, don’t be so angry,” Malleus teased, his thumb trailing along the top of their head in a gesture that was almost affectionate. “You should consider this a valuable learning experience. It’s not every day you get to view the world from such a unique perspective.”

They swiped at him again, their claws catching on his uniform this time. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he tilted his head, studying them with that same predatory smile.

“Hmm, still so full of spirit. I wonder… how much fight do you have left, little cat?”

Yuu twisted and turned in his arms, trying to escape, but Malleus’s grip was unyielding. Their frantic meowing filled the quiet night, but no one came to their rescue.

“Shh,” Malleus said softly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “There’s no need to make such a fuss. No one’s going to hear you out here. It’s just you and me.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down their spine, and they stopped struggling for a moment. Malleus noticed, of course, and his smile became almost triumphant.

“There now,” he said, stroking their head again. “That’s better. See? I’m not so bad, am I?”

Yuu growled low in their throat, but the sound came out more like a pitiful rumble. Malleus’s fingers trailed down their back, and they couldn’t suppress the involuntary purr that escaped them. They immediately regretted it.

“Oh?” Malleus’s expression lit up with amusement. “Enjoying yourself now? How delightful. I suppose even you have your weaknesses.”

Their ears flattened, and they glared up at him, their green eyes blazing with indignation. If looks could kill, Malleus would have been long gone. But he simply chuckled, clearly enjoying their frustration.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, his tone almost scolding. “You’re the one who decided to wander out here all alone. Surely you knew the risks?”

They meowed sharply in response, their tone accusatory.

“Ah, blaming me, are you?” he said, his smile widening. “How cruel. I’m simply taking advantage of the situation you created. It’s not every day I get to see the child of man in such a… vulnerable state.”

Yuu’s tail lashed furiously, but their efforts to escape were futile. Malleus’s grip was too strong, his touch too deliberate. He was toying with them, and they both knew it.

As they continued their strange standoff, Malleus suddenly shifted his grip, cradling them in one arm while reaching into his pocket with the other. Yuu froze, their instincts screaming that whatever he was planning couldn’t be good.

“Now, let’s see…” he murmured, pulling out a small, shimmering object. It was a thin, silver ribbon, its surface catching the moonlight.

Yuu’s eyes widened in alarm. They meowed frantically, struggling harder than ever.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Malleus said, his tone soothing but entirely insincere. “It’s just a little accessory. Something to make you look even more adorable.”

Before they could react, he looped the ribbon around their neck, tying it into a neat bow. He held them up, examining his handiwork with a satisfied smile.

“There. Child of man,” he said. “You’re quite the picture, child of man. Perhaps I should take a photo to commemorate this moment?”

Yuu growled, their tail whipping back and forth like a metronome of fury. Malleus’s laughter echoed through the quiet night as he set them down, finally releasing them. They bolted a few steps away, turning to glare at him with all the venom they could muster.

“Oh, don’t run off just yet,” he said, his voice teasing. “You’ll miss all the fun.”

Yuu hissed at him, their fur bristling, but Malleus didn’t seem the least bit intimidated. He leaned casually against a nearby tree, his mismatched eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Go on,” he said, gesturing with a lazy wave. “Run back to your dorm if you like. But do remember, child of man… I’ll always find you.”

Their heart raced as they turned and fled, his laughter following them into the night. The ribbon around their neck felt heavy, a constant reminder of his lingering presence.

Yuu didn’t stop running until they were safely inside Ramshackle Dorm, their chest heaving as they tried to calm down. Grim looked up from his spot on the couch, his eyes narrowing as he saw the ribbon.

“What the heck happened to you?” he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Yuu meowed weakly, too exhausted to explain. They curled up in a corner, their tail wrapped tightly around their body. The sound of Malleus’s laughter still echoed in their mind, sending a shiver down their spine.

They couldn’t wait for this nightmare to be over.

[seresinhangmanjake]

Simon "Ghost" Riley x Reader - We Both Know

Summary: Simon broke up with you but you both know it was a stupid choice.

Notes/Warnings: Stalker-ish Ex!Simon; Soft!Simon; Insecure!Simon (a little bit); some smut (18+), fluff, cursing, typos probably

Words: 1642

He’s here. You know he’s here. Not because you can see him or hear him or feel him—he’s too skilled for that—but because you know Simon Riley like the back of your damn hand. And Simon Riley won’t let you go. He has not proven himself capable of letting you go. Not yet, not fully, and if you can help it, not ever.

When you close the door behind you and kick off your shoes, you don’t bother turning on the lights. You’ve spent nearly two months flipping that switch in your entryway, pretending he isn’t somewhere in your apartment. Two months of going about your nightly routine as if there isn’t an intruder in your home. Two months of ignoring the soft shutting of your front door or window once you’ve settled into bed. But you’re tired of playing this game, and frankly, you miss him—the man; not the ghost who has been haunting you, trailing you, hiding in plain sight.

“You've been watching me,” you announce into the void. 

A handful of beats pass but not for a second do you let yourself believe you’re crazy for attempting to converse with blackness and silence. Then the little cord on your lamp is pulled by thick fingers, illuminating the side of the apartment where he stands. He’s a shadow in the corner of your living room, drenched in black from head to toe, skull-printed balaclava included, and it takes everything in you not to rush to his side, shove that piece of fabric up over his chin, and kiss him.

“You've made it necessary,” he scolds; the first words he has spoken to you in nearly sixty-five days. It’s the longest he has forced you to go without hearing his voice, having been attached at the hip since you met; and having that smooth, deep tone in your ear is like soaking your body in a hot bath, sloughing off the wear and dirt and grime to come out renewed and refreshed.

You nod because you know what you’ve been doing. You’ve known your choices would bring him back to you. You hoped, at least. But you also hoped he would give himself and his stalker behavior up long before you would have to call him out. He’s usually much more possessive when you spend your evenings drinking and freely dancing amongst crowds, and the thought of you flirting with other men has always put him in a sour mood. You thought seeing it up close would make his vision go red, but he's held himself back. However, you suppose him watching and following you from a distance is better than not caring to watch or follow you at all. 

“You're not being safe,” he tells you. 

“You mean I'm doing things you're not happy with.”

Simon doesn't respond to that. He can’t, because you’re absolutely right and he isn’t the type to disrespect you by lying to your face.

“You broke up with me to—what was it—‘live my life’ while you're gone? Do you really have a right to be pissed at me for getting a head start?” you ask as you take steps further into the apartment and toss your purse on the counter. “If that's the case, maybe you should've dumped me a little closer to your deployment date so you wouldn’t have to witness it.”

Now you do feel him. You see him through the mask. He’s bubbling inside, the beginning of a boil, because he made a silly choice and doesn’t like to be reminded of his mistakes. He hasn’t exactly voiced that, specifically, but it’s the truth. It was silly. It’s also the truth—though again, not specifically expressed—that he regretted it the very minute he walked away from you, leaving you in tears because he is the one afraid of what will happen when the two of you face his first deployment in your relationship. He is afraid to come back home expecting a loving welcome only to find disappointment if you’ve chosen to seek out the comfort of another man. So, ‘Don’t let me hold you back, love’’ he’d told you. ‘Live your life, and I’ll figure out what to do with myself.’

Simon groans, grumbles, vibrates the room. He begins to close the distance between you until he thinks better of it and halts beside your couch. “I did it because–”

“Do you miss me?” 

“That is not rela–”

“Do, you, miss, me,” you press.

He swallows hard, Adam’s apple protruding under the balaclava. His fist clenches at his side. You don’t think he's going to give you the satisfaction, but then he sighs and says, “Of course I fucking miss you.”

Your breath catches in your throat and your vision starts to blur at the edges. Those words heal the bits of your heart that he broke when he left.

“Then don’t be stupid,” you say, crossing the room until your chest is nearly pressed against his. You rest your hand on his cheek, or what would be his cheek if not for the mask. “Don't make us spend your last week here apart from one another.”

With another exhale, his shoulders loosen their rigidity, and in that moment you know you have him.

“Fuck me, Si,” you whisper. 

His eyes flick to yours. A flash burns through his irises.

“It'll just make it harder.” That pathetic argument betrays his actions. One of his palms instantly goes to your waist, gently tracing the curve. The gesture is so natural between you you’re not sure if he even knows he’s doing it. 

“I promise it won’t,” you say. 

Then your hands slide along his shoulders to grip his biceps and you slowly turn his body until you can push him into a seated position on the couch. He lets you lead. He lets you staddle his lap. He lets you lift the mask a few inches and connect your lips as you grind your hips down, hardening him within his pants. 

Simon’s fingers squeeze your thighs. They travel to your hips, encouraging your movements, before they continue a path up your spine. With his tongue in your mouth, you lose track of his touch for some time until he’s settled on a placement for his hands. One wrapped around your waist, hugging you tight; the other woven into your hair, holding you in place as his kisses swell your lips, verging on bruising. 

“Come on, baby,” you mutter into his ear when you break the connection to breathe. “Don’t you want to be all warm and snug inside me? Don’t you miss how well you fit? Like my pussy was made for you, right? That’s what you’ve always said.”

You know how it sounds. It’s desperate and needy, but you don’t care. You’re begging, not just for the man who sets your body aflame, but for the man who altered the trajectory of your life when he entered it. The man you refuse to live without. 

“Love–” he starts, but his groan from the nibbles you give to his neck interrupts him. 

“You can rest deep in me for a while if you want. I’ll stay perfectly still for you. Or I can go nice and slow the way you like.”

Moving your head back, you stop the shifting of your hips and lock your gazes. You pointlessly wait for him to deny you. Pointlessly because Simon Riley doesn’t deny you in situations like this. The equal balance of your need for one another has made that impossible, so it doesn’t surprise you one bit when he nods in agreement.

Your thumbs delicately guide the balaclava over his nose, but you stop there. Only he removes the mask. It’s his right; his decision to show his face and to whom. You are one of the lucky ones, but you’ve never taken advantage of that gift. 

With one hand, Simon grips the top of his mask and jerks it the rest of the way off his head—hair sticking out in a million directions—as he sneaks his other between your bodies to undo the button of his pants. He lifts his hips, bouncing you on his lap, before you do the same so he can push his pants down his thighs. 

You don’t spend time marveling at the thick column of flesh he’s pumping with his fist. You know everything about his cock. Every ridge and valley from base to tip. Every vein. Every inch of him you have memorized, and you’re too hungry to waste another second without him where you want him most.

When Simon finally slides inside of you, you hum in satisfied delight. Like basking in the heat of the sun after the chill of Winter. Like the first bite of your favorite ice cream hitting your tongue. Like quenching a thirst. Like coming home. 

Simon’s head falls back against the couch and his chest heaves with heavy inhales and exhales. His eyes are closed, but you catch a hint of a smile on his face.

“We feel so good together, Si,” you say, slowly rubbing your hand up and down his chest. “I want this when you return. Don’t you want this when you return?”

He doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

“Then why deprive yourself of what you love? Especially when what you love wants you so bad.”

He lifts his head and reaches up to brush his knuckle from your cheekbone to your chin. “I was trying to make it easier.”

Palms cupping his jaw, you run your thumb over his bottom lip. “Fuck easy.”

“Love, it’ll be a year. No less.”

“I don’t care,” you swear. You start to rise and then you sink back down onto him. “I'll be waiting for you, Simon.”

[naturistgirl]

NAKED SNOW WALKING AND THE BIRCH MOON

The first new moon after the Winter Solstice has various names. Some call it the Ice Moon, others the Snow Moon. Here in the High Pennines the snow has been plentiful and deep. The weather feels exceptionally icy. Here in the Britain however it is rarely ever far below freezing. We have a mild climate compared to say, Continental Europe or the Northern States. It's a great time for naturism!

We headed up to the Wild Wood on January 6th. It was an invigorating walk, uphill. We walked briskly, we had to! Walking clothes free when it is this cold is a very different experience to textile walking. In the depths of Winter, people tend to layer and muffle up. True, all those clothes DO keep you warm when sedentary; layers trap body heat. However, as you exercise, particularly when walking briskly, things are very different. Muffled up in layers, you rapidly slow down as you overheat, carrying the burden of heavy clothing. Naked, you walk briskly, unencumbered by the weight of clothes. You don't want to stop or slow down and your naked body soon acclimatises to the cold. Stepping out and climbing the hill to the wood felt refreshing, invigorating and ever so free!

The wild, wooded hills around here were once heavily mined for coal and yellow clay to make bricks. The industry left its scars for a while, even after it had gone. Nature will always reassert itself and soon, woodland returned. The countryside began to recover. One of the first trees to regenerate is birch. The Wild Wood has older trees, mainly oak, but around it's fringes, birch and alder predominate. On snowy days like this, the silvery bark of birch shines like a beacon. It isn't a long lived tree. The soil is thin and rocky here. Birch often succumbs to the ravages of winter storms. Birch has a more human life span than other trees; 80 would be a good age for a mature specimen. This tree is nonetheless a hardwood and has long been used for all manner of beneficial things.

Birch, being the first tree to grow back after devastation, has a connection to birth and new life. Baby's cradles were made from birch wood and the tree is deeply associated with fertility, renewal and re-birth. Birch twigs make good broomsticks, perfect for a clean sweep of your house at the start of the year. Cattle were herded with a bunch of birch twigs which was also thought to ensure fertility. When birch grows again in Spring, its delicate pale green leaves are heart shaped. The sap of the birch tree is also used to make a delightful wine. Britain's Queen Victoria was said to have been very fond of it!

We made our way to the very summit of the Wild Wood. Here, the woodland is denser and criss-crossed by little paths. Holly shines green and glossy amid the larger trees. There are also larch, oak, ash and sycamore. Out on the sheep pasture beyond, sheep were scraping at the snow, searching for grass. We walked the wood but saw nobody. There was only one other set of prints on the previous night's snow. We stopped to take the photographs which we have shared in this blog. Thank you to Mart, my loving husband for these. He adores naturism every bit as much as me.

The ground temperature was low and I was glad of my pink wellingtons with two layers of socks. My green wool beanie (thank you sheep) was a must; most of the heat you lose is from your head. We hope you find our photographs inspiring.

It would be lovely to see other's photographs of their own naked snow hikes. We look forward to seeing your posts. Tumblr has way too many endlessly recycled photos of naked young women on summer beaches! Give it a rest. The promotion of naturism needs contemporary photos of yourselves, enjoying your local environment as nature intended. why not write as well, describing what you do. Non-sexual nudity should, and does represent, all manner of body shapes and types. You are never too old to walk naked. You were born this way.

We receive lots of messages of affirmation from likeminded naturists. Thank you so much. I also receive some flattering yet less suitable comments and requests from others who are; how shall I put it? - not exactly passionate about naturism, more about sexy naked ladies! Let's face it, who isn't? Sex is great and I love it. It isn't however the focus of this blog.

My purpose in writing this, is to inspire you to your own naturist activities. So while it is gratifying to have you send photos of one tiny part of yourself, please don't. Most of these messages come from Tumblrs who follow hundreds of others yet are entirely empty with no avatars. Sadly, I have come to realise that these accounts are best blocked, no offence. We do welcome messages of support however as well as photographs of your own naturist jaunts and hikes. So if you want to follow me and have me follow back, post an avatar which is actually you and some real pictures of yourself in your blog. Message and tell me what motivates you to naturism! OK?

Stay naked!

Jane xx

[jsprnt]

Americano PT. 16 | Jude Bellingham x Reader

What happens if two individuals who absolutely despise each other are forced to interact after unforeseen events occur?

A/N: hello loves!! I can’t believe we’ve already come to the end of this series😭 thank you guys so so much for all the love you’ve sent my work and efforts!! Love y’all so much, enjoy reading- and stay tuned for my future fics 🤍🩷

W/C: 4.025

part fifteen

I sigh for the millionth time today, leaning back against the backrest of my chair. I rub my wrists, massaging my fingers and knuckles, groaning in relief when I hear some of them pop.

There were only a handful of matches left in the league, along with the Champions League final. The entire PR and marketing department had been working overtime for a couple days now, wanting to end the season on a high note.

I was so tired and stressed out, internally debating whether to call in sick tomorrow, but there was no way the team could finish all of this without my help.

Since my role in the department has gotten much more important this season, I needed to attend more meetings and calls with a lot of different people.

Never in my life, had I exercised my social skills this much, and it was only a matter of time before my social battery ran so low that I couldn't take interacting with people anymore, without looking like a total jerk.

Though, the generous paycheck that dropped into my back account every month, motivated me to work harder, well, sometimes..

I shift from my position, grabbing a single pen from its holder. Looking back up to my laptop to write down some refreshing and creative questions for the upcoming, very important and widely viewed interviews.

Winning both the national league and the Champions League in the exact same season would be absolutely insane to witness.

I had experienced the feeling in my first season working at the club. After almost three years of getting to know the team and the players who had come and gone, this year would feel even more special.

I had grown closer to the club, not just as an employee but as a supporter as well. I had multiple personal and dear connections with the club.

My father had just renewed his contract with the club. A topic that everyone working for respective companies joked about was the possibility of the agreement not being renewed.

After all these years, both companies had become synonymous with each other.

I had also gotten closer to my colleagues, much closer than I would've ever imagined. Starting this job as an eighteen-year-old, I was incredibly intimidated by the sheer size of the operations behind the scenes.

Of course, juggling both working here and studying for my law degree was hard at first. Work in the morning had switched to the evening when attending the matches.

Study breaks consisting of trying to figure out what interview questions were rubbish and needed to be scrapped, and packing my little suitcase for another trip, only to overpack again.

Thankfully, I had gotten all of my results back from this school year, and I was absolutely over the moon knowing I'd be going for my next year of my degree after summer break.

All my hard work had finally paid off when I saw my grades, and I had celebrated it that night- with working…

The biggest change in my life?

That was the fact that I had actually found love.

Going from hating each other to loving each other was a weird feeling. Even so, Jude and I had been together for almost six months now, and honestly speaking; I had never felt so loved by anyone in the entire world before.

We supported each other wholeheartedly, and it was definitely easier to do than other couples.

Mostly, because we worked together.

Living together for the first few weeks of our relationship, definitely sped up the process of actually getting to know each other. It bonded us faster than I would’ve ever expected.

Looking back, it's difficult to even imagine a world where Jude never moved into my place..

Jude had moved out of my house in the middle of March. He had changed houses following everything that had happened the last few months.

The new house is quite far away from the old, temporary house he lived in, that got broken into. The home was spacious and modern, just like I'd expected before visiting for the first time.

My father and his partners at his firm, had finally built up a proper case to take the intruder to court. I didn't know the specifics because, for some reason I wasn’t allowed to, by both my own father and Jude.

I already knew that the man who had caused so much chaos wasn't getting off the hook easily, and that was enough for me. Knowing any more details about the situation, would probably cause me more stress and anxiety, so I had just learnt to let it go.

I couldn't even lie, lately I had spent more time at Jude’s place than my own. There was something so comforting about it, maybe it was how inviting and cozy it felt.

His friends from England and Germany would always be over, for the simplest of reasons.

Playing games, both board and video ones, watching new movies in the unnecessary, huge cinema room. It created a very fun and friendly atmosphere and made me feel more comfortable than ever.

Jude’s parent’s presence, especially his mother’s- was very much appreciated. I loved chatting to her, from the most mundane things, to the things that I was worried about.

Just like the other women in my life, she gave me guidance and encouragement to keep on going and be even better at anything I wanted to accomplish.

Obviously, there was no way we could keep on hiding our relationship from certain teammates Jude was very close with. We'd decided to be open with them, because keeping a 'secret' from them wouldn't exactly give us peace of mind in the long run.

Scratching what I've written down so far, I drop my pen onto the desk. Glancing up at the clock to check the time, and gasping softly when I remember I have a meeting that starts in a minute.

I quickly grab the necessary paperwork, and dash out of the office. Into the meeting room, already full of my coworkers, sat waiting only for me..

"Okay, I'm really confused. Do I have something on my face? Like sauce from lunch or something?" The puzzled y/n asks, turning around in her office chair, only to glance at the busy Lina.

"Uh.." The older woman begins, looking up from her monitor and shaking her head.

"Nope, no sauce. Why?" Lina takes her hand off the computer mouse, sighing before leaning back.

"Everyone has been looking at me, like since- this morning.." y/n rolls her chair forward, holding out her foot, to stop herself from violently slamming into Lina's desk.

"You think? I thought it was because your dress looked cute.."

Lina smirks at her own words, her hand reaching over to grab her purple water bottle, swiftly taking the top off and chugging a couple gulps.

y/n scoffs, glancing down at the dress she's wearing. Yes, of course the dress is cute, that's why she wore it today. But the stares she got were definitely not in appreciation of the cream-colored dress.

"Are you serious? I don't think-"

She's cut off by a loud knock. Both women break eye contact, looking up at the glass doors where someone is standing in front of.

"Jude?" y/n perks up, standing up from her chair and making a beeline towards him. Ignoring the unnecessarily loud and teasing whistle leaving Lina's mouth.

Stepping outside, she furrows her brows, looking around for anyone who could eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Follow me.." Jude can only say, immediately starting to walk down the stairs without sparing another second.

"What are you-" She trails off, sighing in defeat, before following him down, into one of the empty meditation rooms.

She looks at Jude as he locks the door behind them, his hand immediately reaching to wrap around her waist. He pulls her closer than ever, planting a kiss on her lips.

"Something wrong?" She asks, picking up on his stressed out demeanor. Pulling back, she scans his face once again.

"I have to show you something, but don't freak out, yeah? I called your dad already, and he said he'll see what he can do.."

This only sends her into a panic, his warning going over her head as she watches him pull his phone out of his pocket. Arms flexing underneath his training jacket as he moves.

She looks at him with a confused frown on her face, her eyes almost popping out of her head when Jude shows what was so important.

Grabbing the phone out of his hand without thinking, she brings the device closer to her face. A small noise of annoyance leaving her mouth.

It's all photos of the couple, outside during various times they had been on dates for the past- six months.

"This one's from Valencia, and this one's from that night in Mallorca?!" y/n exclaims, hands shaking as she tries to scroll through the other photos. All off guard pictures of them, taken while they were out together, after matches, and even on dates in Madrid.

Noticing how distressed the photos make his girlfriend, Jude grabs his phone out of her hand. Setting it down on the table next to him, he grabs onto her shoulders, making her look up at him.

"It's okay, we prepared for this, remember? I won't let my team put out a statement, apart from legal action. Your dad's handling it with my team, okay?" He brings her frazzled form into a reassuring hug, planting kisses on her cheeks and the tip of her nose.

Of course, just like her boyfriend explains- they knew their relationship couldn't be kept secret for much longer. Jude, being the high profile football player he is, couldn't exactly keep people from prying into his private life.

She knew that the media had caught a whiff of her, even back when they despised each other. The night at Wembley Stadium months ago, had caused a little commotion back then.

The gossip pages and newspapers loved a story containing love, a successful and beloved young man, and not to forget- her having actual connections to the club in both work, and her father's partnership with the club.

To the couple, when they entered the training center or the stadium, they would work at that particular day- it was about work and work only.

When they clocked in, they prioritized working. It would've obviously been very difficult for them to keep their relationship on the low- if they glanced at each other every damn second, while in the same room.

During working hours, they'd greet each other like their other colleagues, acting like they didn't make out the night before in his room.

Unavoidably, the players who knew about them dating, would try their best to sneak little jokes and teases in. The couple would successfully brush off the comments.

Practicing all these months made the perfect facade, but sometimes the jokes were too good not to chuckle, at least very discreetly.

"Okay, I trust you.." She mutters, pressing her face into her chest, a soft hum leaving her mouth. Thoughts and worries swirling through her mind.

"Baby! I'm ready!" I shout, almost falling flat on my face while pulling on my new heels.

These red bottoms were absolute hell to wear, especially since I had just gotten them as a gift, from Jude.

It would take some time before I could break them in, but with how stunning they looked paired with this dress, it was worth the pain, at least tonight.

To celebrate winning the league, Jude and I were finally going on a date. It had been a while since we had been on a proper date night, mostly due to how busy we both have been lately.

Jude with training and I with preparing everything, from interviews to social media posts, and even some press releases that needed to be out before the Champions League final that was in a couple days.

"I'm here.." I walk out of his bedroom, chuckling at the sheer amount of my clothes stuffed in his closet.

We had been staying over at each other's place on and off, but looking at both our closets, you'd think we'd been living together again.

Considering how important the past few weeks had been, Jude had been training a lot. I was especially worried about him and his health, mainly thinking of his shoulder injury.

His doctor and the team's physiotherapist had reassured me personally, but still, I could help but wince every time he touched his shoulder and grunted. Or seeing the multiple, pain-stopping injections, he had to take to play a full ninety minutes.

"You look handsome.." I mutter when reaching the front door, pressing a kiss onto his plump lips, my hands reaching to fix the collar of his button down. My lipgloss leaving a sheen of glitter on his lips, it making me chuckle as he gave me a dumbfounded look.

We’re fairly young, and early in our relationship, we realized that fancy dates weren't really our thing. But tonight was one of the few occasions we'd go all out, and dress up very nicely.

"You look absolutely stunning, love.." He smiles, his hand circling around my waist and down my back, fingers digging into the fabric of my dress.

"Thank you, baby.." I hum, giving him a small wink. A loud chuckle leaves my lips as he attempts to wink back, though, just like every time, it looks like he's got something in his eyes, instead of being cheeky.

"What's so funny, hm?" Jude questions, hands trailing down to grip at my bum, squeezing slightly.

"Mhm, nothing.." I say, reaching up to fix his hair a little. "Should we leave? It's getting late.."

He agrees instantly, and I wrap my arm around his as we walk out of his house. The sun hadn't set yet, mostly because summer was coming soon, and I couldn't wait to enjoy the weather this year, yet again.

"Wait- I didn't grab my keys.." I gasp, eyes going wide as I watch him pull the door shut.

"Oh, you're definitely not driving missy, especially not in those heels.." Jude says, giving me a cheeky smile, and I can immediately sense that he is hiding something.

"You got your license?!" I beam, eyes glistening in happiness. Though, my excitement is cut short when he shakes his head, an embarrassed look on his face.

"No, I did not get my license.."

"Oh.." I say, the corners of my mouth twitching as I hold back a menacing laugh.

"So, you'll be my passenger prince forever?" I bring my hand up to grab onto his bicep, squeezing the muscles as my body leans against his.

"Will you ever stop saying that?" I watch his lips move, eyes glimmering when his lips pull into a slight pout.

"When you get your license, sir. I'll stop calling you my passenger prince..."

"I'm sure you would like a break from it then.." Jude says, his expression changing to a smug one within a split-second, and I follow his lead without thinking.

My uncomfortable heels click against the concrete as Jude leads me outside the gates of the house, a sleek black Rolls Royce parked right in front of the driveway.

"You got a driver for tonight?" I ask, eyes fixated on the, admittedly sexy car.

"Going all out for my lovey tonight. I've got to spoil my girl, always.."

I grin at his sweet words, warmth reaching my face, and I suddenly feel shyness creeping up on me. I shift my gaze for a second, avoiding eye contact with him and staring at the concrete.

"Aw, is my pretty girl shy now? You weren't like this a moment ago, huh?" A soft noise of protest leaves my mouth at the loving words. My breath hitching as he presses a kiss on my neck, right against my jugular.

"Come on, love. We'll be very late to our reservation if I keep you here longer.." Jude gives me a charming smile, grabbing onto my hand and pulling me towards the car, making me forget whatever my thoughts were before he'd made my heart flutter.

"I'm sweating literal buckets. I can't even breathe properly right now.." My eyes immediately shift to Luis, my right eye twitching, just like it has been on and off this entire day. The stress and anxiety of this all had been building up in us both, causing actual physical symptoms to show.

"Ask me about it, I went peeing two times already, and we're just seventy minutes into this match.." I say, wiping my sweaty hands down my black jeans. The laptop and phone on my lap shaking, as I bounce my knee up and down in anticipation.

My heart also leaped in my throat every time Jude got fouled. Checking the stats confirmed my suspicion, he currently is the most fouled player on the pitch.

I obviously knew it was a part of the game, but considering his injury- I couldn't help but be worried.

"Fuck, I swear if we score, I'm going to lose my shit." Luis says, running a hand through his curly hair, and I can almost feel the nerves radiating off of him.

Well, all 90.000 people in Wembley Stadium feel the exact same way right now. From supporters to chairmen of both respective clubs, sitting on the edge of their seats as we all watched the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund unfold, live in front of our own two eyes.

My breath hitches in my throat as we're given a corner. The grip on my phone getting tighter as Luis glances at me.

"Okay, we got this, Toni's so experienced-"

"Shut up, I'm trying to focus.." I exclaim, grabbing onto Luis' shoulder to calm him down.

"You can't exactly focus with 90,000 people screaming.." He replies, glancing at me.

I open my mouth to speak, but decide to spare my breath, and stop breathing in anticipation.

Right, at that moment, Toni kicks the ball from the corner flag, it flies upwards as we watch both our players and Dortmund players scramble in front of the goal.

Finally, Dani jumps up and GOALLLL!!

The entire Madridista side jumps up in celebration, my devices almost slipping out of my hand and onto the floor as we jump up to cheer as loud as we can.

"I'm going to kiss Dani's forehead after this!" Luis screams, making me choke on my laughter. I hurry up and return my attention back to my devices, as happy as we were, we still had our job to do and execute.

I close my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm down, before we both go back to doing our jobs.

Our wishes and prayers for a second goal aren't that far away, time-wise. Dortmund player Maatsen tries passing the ball, due to a wrong estimation, Jude gets the ball instead, shooting to Vini.

He goes on to score the second banger of the night. The stadium erupts in both cheers of happiness and screams of protest.

It's even louder than after the first goal, and we know it's only a matter of five minutes before our boys secure the victory over this season's Champions League..

y/n fixes her shirt for the nth time, trying to fidget with something before she loses her mind. Standing in the tunnel, she glances at Luis. Both of their eyes glimmering, as they wait for the families of the players to enter the pitch to celebrate the win.

They were insanely busy with handling their work, channelling their emotions into doing their job, to make sure it's all taken care of before they were done for the night. The automated system, consisting of already edited work, would take care of the rest from now on...

"Dude, what just happened?.." Luis whispers, glancing at the equally mesmerized girl next to him.

"We won!" She squeals, letting her excitement and happiness show as she hugs Luis. "Fuck, I don't even know what I would do if we lost. I'd actually be having a breakdown right now.."

Luis hugs her back, patting her head affectionately.

"You've worked very hard, y/n. Thank you for being my best friend and best colleague.." He says, giving her a brotherly smile.

"Thank you too, older brother.." She laughs, voice slightly teasing, as she pats his shoulder.

"Oh, I think we can join the celebrations.." He says, pointing to the families they’ve gotten very close with over the years.

The familiar faces joining their loved one on the pitch to celebrate this huge milestone in their careers.

"Come on.." Luis says, dragging her along and onto the pitch.

She looks around, a permanent smile plastered on her face as she's overwhelmed by the emotions running through her body.

"Dani!" Luis shouts, and y/n watches him run up to the goal scorer, just like his promise- Luis plants a fat kiss on the athlete's head.

y/n laughs loudly at the interaction, making eye contact with Dani’s wife, and laughing even harder at her confused expression.

She shakes her head at her best friend’s antics. Realizing she's alone now, she freezes. Cameras were absolutely everywhere at the moment, and she was absolutely sure at least one was pointed towards her.

The weeks following the photos of their dates being leaked were quite turbulent, with a lot of support, but also criticism- it was very difficult to ignore the reactions.

She wasn't anywhere close to wanting to be a public figure of some sort, so the attention was putting a lot of pressure on her.

But loving a star athlete, like Jude meant having to sacrifice some part of her privacy. If it meant she could run up to him now, and kiss his face a couple of times.

Then screw privacy, she'd throw that all away to get to him right now.

Her eyes darting to the rest of the enormous pitch again, frowning when she can't find the boy she's so desperately looking for.

Finally, after squinting a whole lot, and definitely causing damage to her eye muscles, she finally makes eye contact with the equally lost looking Jude.

He's standing in between both his parents, arms around them as he looks around wearily.

Jude's eyes immediately light up in relief when he spots y/n, mumbling something to his smiley parents before he makes a run for it.

Within seconds, he's by his girlfriend's side, and she jumps up to wrap her legs around his waist in greeting. He pulls her flush against him in a tight embrace. y/n cups his jaw tenderly to place multiple kisses on his face.

"I'm so fucking proud of you, baby.." She breathes out, cut off as he presses his lips onto hers, exhilarating kiss that makes them forget other people are around, and especially the hundreds of cameras and phones filming the pitch.

He catches her lips, plump lips sucking onto her bottom lip before they're forced to pull back for air. They pant, faces warm, and cheeks hurting from how much they'd smiled within the past couple minutes.

"I'm proud of you too, baby. Come on, you're my family too. Forget about work and the cameras here for me, yeah?”

She plants her shoes back onto the grass when he lowers back on the floor. She looks down as he grabs onto her hand. Playing with her fingers as he makes eye contact with her.

Reaching up, she swipes at a piece of grass stuck on his temple, probably from being fouled earlier, she chuckles at the sight, biting her lip.

“Come on, then. Your parents are waiting..” She says, turning and dragging him along the pitch. Skipping towards his awaiting, happy parents. Who look at them with an infinite amount of joy and proudness in their eyes.

“He’s a winner! Jude’s our winner!!”

[amourdivine]

PAC ઉ YOUR CURRENT ENERGY!

Hello, lovelies, I know it has been some time, but I missed you. I hope everyone is doing ok these days. Let's look into your energy today, shall we?

paid readings are closed as of february 2024

none of the images are mine unless stated otherwise!

pick a card masterlist & information

the piles.

1 → 2 3 → 4

how to choose your pile.  take deep breaths for a few minutes & look at each and every one of the piles separately. see which one brings you to a feeling, a place or a memory. take your time and feel free to come back to it later.

amourdivine. 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

disclaimer. this is a general reading! tarot is a divination tool & is not a substitute for medical and professional advice, nor is it meant to be taken as such. i do not take responsibility for any choice(s) made by you or others regarding my readings.

PILE ONE

queen of cups ✧ death ✧ ace of swords ✧ the high priestess

Before I shuffled, I couldn’t help but feel lonely, like there’s this pang in my chest whenever I think of life and the current state of the world. It reminds me of the term “loneliness epidemic” and how so many of us are struggling to make friends or maintain pre-existing relationships. I think you are beginning to find emotional fulfillment in different things than you did before. Nothing may have worked out - at least, the things that used to work out aren’t working out anymore. There’s this voice inside of you begging for a new beginning, for clarity, and it’s slow but surely coming towards you. Where your energy is will wildly depend on how much you’ve listened to that inner voice already, but it’s a calling towards something new, regardless.

I think you’re scared because you haven’t done this before. You may be discovering things about yourself as well that are quite surprising, like new hobbies or gifts. It’s refreshing too, both painful and refreshing. Sort of like the concept of growing pains - growing up is not easy and there are no guidelines, no roadmaps. Often, we discover things through trial and error. 

You may have withdrawn your energy as well, especially from old social circles. I get the feeling you were unsatisfied. Things felt stuck. They may still feel stuck, boring and completely lost in the routine of it all. It’s okay. You’re growing. Bones can hurt when they heal and grow. The same goes for you. I see snakes here, shedding their old skin. In your case, I don’t think you have found a “new skin” already, but you’ve shed your old life either way. It’s okay to want more, pile one. It’s okay to change. We’re ever-evolving. What suited you then won’t suit you now, that’s how life goes, with the changing of the seasons. It’s beautiful to witness - and when you look back you’ll realize just how much we can shift, how many places we’ll go and how much more there is to life than our old selves.

It’s okay to let it go. You’ll be okay even if the waters are muddy for now.

This is a very spiritual pile! Make sure to cater to your emotional and spiritual needs, taking care of your physical body and being around soothing, comforting or quiet places while you tend to this new self.

channeled messages & songs: white snakes, ring, scarf, life path 8 (or 8 in general), silver jewelry, bodies of water, sleeping, bed-rotting, kundalini awakening, modern loneliness by lauv, scorpio, pisces and cancer, hermitting, social batteries, introvert, epiphany, books, the bible, prophetic dreams, chocolate, ego death. 

PILE TWO

six of cups ✧ the hanged man ✧ eight of cups ✧ seven of wands

You are returning to yourself, it feels like a sort of homecoming. Fighting for your peace while, at the same time, learning to accept what you can’t control. You have walked away from old beliefs, from restraints of the past and renewing your faith in yourself. Even the picture you’ve chosen is a close-up of someone’s outfit walking away. You’ve found dignity and you’re not willing to sacrifice it anymore. Maybe you’ve left a situationship or relationship that was draining you, molding you into someone you weren’t. Props to you for that. It’s not easy and I know it.

Your guides are proud - they’re very serious and regal. They think you deserve more than what you’ve had. Not in a self-serving way, don’t mistake it for self-indulgence, but in a human, dignified way. They see you as royalty, too. They don’t want you to settle for breadcrumbs in life anymore. No matter how difficult it’s been, they don’t want you to stop believing that things can get better.

For most of you, this is a time when you’re shifting into a more peaceful but assertive phase. You’re taking charge of your joy, your future and your responsibilities without clinging to self-blame or guilt. Maybe it took you a long time. I heard “recovery” in my mind and this has possibly something to do with a specific illness or disease you’ve battled for so long. There’s a huge feeling of relief, of taking a long breath after a tiring day. 

It’s okay, you’re home now, you’re safe now. You can relax. You’ve got this, pile two.

channeled messages & songs: therapy, journaling, barbie or baby doll, sage green, green tea, pastels, tiktok, doomscrolling, healing, “i’m not the girl i used to be”, rainbow by kacey musgraves, self-acceptance, shadow work, “i’m still standing”, camping, nature, libra and taurus.

PILE THREE

three of swords ✧ the hermit ✧ the star ✧ queen of pentacles

Your heart is broken. Someone or something has left you to lick your wounds and tend to the bruises they gave you. You’re in pain, so much pain that it may be unbearable to wake up everyday. You’re questioning your worth, your self-esteem has crumbled.. and you don’t want anyone to find you, to see you in such a vulnerable state. All you do now is hope for better days, pray a rainbow comes after the storm because the current is heavy and has taken you astray.

Unfortunately life can’t always be what we want or expect. Allow room for these heavy emotions - this too shall pass. It’s okay to be disappointed, to feel betrayed and hurt by what happened. If the ground was pulled beneath your feet, was it ever really that solid to begin with?

This is the aftermath of something painful. And that’s okay. You can’t force yourself to feel good. In the meantime, you can take it slow, nurture the hope for better days and hold onto it. I know we tend to view hope as mostly something negative and passive, but you can take baby steps towards emotional fulfillment. The Queen of Pentacles suggests you take it slow - there is no rush to healing, nothing to be accomplished, there is nothing for you to prove. You’re human, and therefore, worthy of compassion, patience and healing. Remember the Wheel of Fortune: what comes up must go down, what goes down must go up eventually. You’ll feel better, pile three. I promise.

channeled messages & songs: taking a walk, flower pot, cacti, heartbreak anthems, olivia rodrigo, punk rock, “i’m angry all the time”, hurts like hell by fleurie, capricorn, saturn, personal year 5, backstabbing, depression, navy blue by muna.

PILE FOUR

the hanged man ✧ the hierophant ✧ six of pentacles ✧ the star

You’re learning and teaching. Giving and receiving. Letting the scales balance themselves out, remembering that balance is not always fifty fifty. All the piles have had somewhat similar themes, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you have felt drawn to either pile one or two, but this one feels like a continuation of it, so it could be that you’re transitioning from one to another. Naturally, please take only what resonates for you!

You may have found a new job, a stable relationship, a good circle of friends. You know, despite the positive feeling of these cards, I can’t help but wonder if you’re waiting for it all to crumble again, feeling like the shadows of your past are going to haunt you forever. I keep wondering if you’re okay, I keep wanting to ask you. You’re scared, you’ve got your guard up. You can’t really trust it will last - and while it’s true that it all comes and goes, you can trust nothing is ever wasted. 

Let your guard down. Not everyone has your worst interests in their heart. Maybe self-isolation suited you before, didn’t it? You weren’t used to being loved, you still aren’t. But you still deserve it. Sometimes it’s easier to endure the hard things because they’re all we expect. It’s difficult to take in the good things, isn’t it? To feel worthy of them. To realize there is more to life than survival. You’re finally living now - and that’s a good thing. Uncertainty is scary, but in a way, so is the familiarity of hurt, of unrequited lovers and callous friendships. Are you ready to be loved, pile four? You can ask for the good times as much as you want, but when it is here, you have to remember to enjoy it, to not be on the lookout for the bad things so much.

We’re rarely in control. I know it’s difficult, but that’s often a good thing. Not being in control means you can worry less. You can fret less. You can take it day by day, knowing that the outside forces will do what they must and we’re all silly little souls on a giant floating rock.

PS: You’re doing well, I promise.

channeled messages & songs: self-sabotage, nightmares, attachment issues, bulletproof by la roux, bones, candles by daughter, earrings, 2024 planner, five year plan, entj, istj, quiet singing, “the pen is mightier than the sword”, studying, sweater weather, stress cleaning, autumn girl.

amourdivine. 2021 - 2024 © do not copy, redistribute or edit my content.

[messylustt]

El Trato request: HCs on Hobie being the petulant lil brother that won’t share his big sis with her new boo Miguel

ok. i love this ( el trato (the deal) series )

when everyone had found out about you and miguel, all their reactions were versitially different, but hobie brown’s was the most skeptical.

he had had an inkling about you both for a while—even before you and miguel had realised your own feelings—and maybe at first he had found it refreshing, seeing "scary" miguel spare you small glances when you weren't looking, while he'd fiddle with your bracelet that rested on his wrist.

but hobie's feelings towards the situation began to grow a tad sour, because now every chance miguel got he would seek you out, taking you away from...say a lyric session between you and hobie.

you'd be nodding along to a few lyric ideas—hobie's guitar laid across his lap—as you'd chip in possible word changes. hobie loved when you'd change things up.

but then you'd be turning away from him, gazing up at the appearance of miguel who would "not so subtly" tilt his head to the side, asking you to go with him.

hobie at first brushed it aside. 'they've just gotten together' 'the honeymoon phase ‘ill end and i'll ‘ave ma song partner back' hobie would think to himself.

but no...whatever "phase" you and miguel were going through wasn't seeming anywhere near close to ending. it grew insufferable for hobie.

one time, when you tapping away at a keyboard (the tech room having gotten fixed up and renewed) hobie jumped down onto a swivel chair, spinning to sit beside you as he gazed at your work. "boring shit again?" he’d ask eyeing the screen, as you would smirk.

"when are you ever gonna try and describe what I'm doing?" you would ask, leaning slightly back in your chair. hobie would scoff. "it's not that...hard to grasp."

hobie would lean forward, eyeing the computer and the code displayed, as he began to nod. "uh huh." you would just laugh.

then he'd give his reason for his arrival. "i need a partner in crime." he'd grin.

you'd raise your brows. "is it illegal?" "no of course not." you'd chuckle. "either way i can't right now...sorry."

hobie would frown, resting his head on your desk as he'd grab your hand, then in a mockingly deep voice he'd say "are ya' jus' too busy bein' miguel's bed? that it?"

your eyes widen as you snatched your hand out of his, pushing his head off your desk, making him groan as he caught himself rather fluidly. "oh come on, mate...ya spend so much time with tha' goddamn scowler."

you'd just roll your eyes. and of course miguel would appear, making hobie copy the action. don't get me wrong he does like you two as a pair, but with miguel constantly managing to take you away from him his expression is set.

"now who's the 'scowler'" you would sneer.

miguel would eye hobie. "shouldn't you be out?" miguel would then "accidently" knock hobie's chair farther away from you, his clawed hand lightly tapping against the back of yours.

"i'm so sorry, boss..." hobie would drag out sarcastically, standing as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "ya girl seems to be rather busy."

"mhm." miguel would slightly narrow his eyes on hobie. you'd sigh, spinning in your chair as you stood. “I do need to work…so if both of you could get out, if it isn’t important, that’d be great.”

miguel shifts his gaze to you. “what’d I do, chaparrita?” you’d slightly narrow your eyes, as you’d whisper. “I told you not to call me that anymore…”

“but it suits you.” miguel would mockingly grin, his claw digging into the belt loop of your pants to tug you closer.

but then hobie would be grabbing your shoulders, moving you away. “not at work please.” he’d say this to miguel, as miguel would cross his arms. “and not in front o’ me.”

“weren’t you the one who asked if we “banged”?” miguel quotes, making your cheeks flush and hobie’s eyes narrow.

“yeah…well…I mighta lost a bet.” he sniffed, acting “casual”. “oh…uh huh.” miguel would mockingly nod.

and then you manage to get out of hobie’s grasp, beginning to head to the exit. “all this ‘sarcasm’ is making me feel a tad suffocated.” you’d mutter eyeing them both.

but before you could completely leave to take a break and possibly eat, you swiftly reach up, placing a small kiss onto miguel’s cheek. then even more swiftly—rush out of the tech room.

you’re still not amazing with showing too much PDA.

miguel watches you go, his lips itching with amusement. and hobie just eyes him, soon turning narrow. “I told ya not to do tha’ in front o’ me…”

miguel’s half smile drops, looking back to Hobie. then Hobie’s stepping closer, swinging his guitar strap over his body. “don’ fuck it up.” he partially whispered, with raised brows.

miguel tilted his head. “do you really think i would?” there’s a finality in Miguel’s tone that makes Hobie realise his true intentions. leaning slightly back, Hobie nods once.

“then you’re not gonna die if you don’ see each other every 5 seconds.” Hobie’s tone is back to normal, beginning to head to the exit. “so lemme have ma time…”

miguel licks his fang, slowly shaking his head—basically saying ‘no’. hobie throws his hands up in the air. “impossible.”

[s-sugustar]

1-800-SUGAR!

synopsis : after an injury caused him to retire at an early age, aizawa has a lot of money in his bank account that was hardly ever used in his prime time; so why not splurge it on someone else?

pairings: yandere sugardaddy!aizawa x black!fem!reader

content warning : nothing yet.

word count : 2.2k

It has been a few months since Aizawa was no longer a hero. After the fight with Shigaraki, the sleep deprived man had no choice but to sever his leg from the rest of his body in order to stop the decay from spreading. Although immobilizing him to an extent, Aizawa still had the perks of being a UA teacher to his students.

Instead of fighting crime late at night into the wee hours of the morning, Aizawa finds himself catching on things he hadn't been able to do or complete for some time. This included reading literature, taking care of his plants and gaining much more rest than he had before.

It felt refreshing, he felt renewed but a small flicker of want called out to him. Of course, Aizawa had no idea what it could possibly be. Aizawa felt hopeless, like nothing could fill this growing void that garbled inside of him. It wasn't until one day that Hisashi, Aizawa's closest friend figured out what has made him so drained.

It was a night out for both Aizawa and Yamada; a bit unfortunate that Midnight wasn't able to attend due to a last-minute mission that required her assistance. Instead of crying over one less friend, they both decided to head out to a bar nearby. As the two settled down and ordered drinks, Hisashi started off the conversation. Gleefully updating Aizawa on the outer world things since Aizawa chose to move away from the world heroics and politics.

“So what have you been up to since you have all this time in the world now?” Haisahi questined, his drink in one hand and his chin laid flat on his open palm facing toward Aizawa. The man in question huffed, downing the cup of whiskey he had ordered earlier. “Not much. Other than school and reading a few literature books here and there.” Hisashi raised an eyebrow which caused the raven haired man to sigh in annoyance. “No Hisashi, there’s no ‘special person’ in my life.” Shouta commented, earning a dramatic groan from the blond next time.

After Aizawa left the heroic life, Hisashi pestered the man to find something that would take up most of his time, rather than sleep, working out and reading books. More so, Hisashi hinted at him getting into a relationship, but Aizawa quickly shot down the idea; claiming that him getting into a relationship of some sorts wouldn’t help him in any form or fashion so Hisashi pestered on. Aizawa never really had any love life as others would call it; in all honesty, he wasn;t interested in such trivial things.

A friendship seemed as pleasant as a relationship so what’s the big idea about a relationship? Was it the status, the wants and needs of being held? Aizawa never focused too long on such things, they were always on the back burner for him.

“I know you said you didn’t want a relationship of some sorts but have you tired being a sugar daddy?” Hisashi asked, a malicious smile on his face when he saw the way Aizawa’s eyes widen before coughing up the drink he had just downed. The poor man barely caught his breath before sneering at Hisashi, who seemed to have a blast at his misfortune. “Why is that even an idea for me? “ Aizawa asked, not bothering to stress of hte reason Hisashi thoughts this was a good idea in the first place.

“Oh come on, I mean, it isn’t a relationship as you said you had no interest in but you know, you have allllll that money sitting peacefully in your bank account and with me knowing the type of person you are, you won’t spend a red cent unless it is absolutely necessary for you to. So why not give the sugar daddy thing a try. Just for one week. If you don’t like it then we can totally stop whenever you are ready.” Hisashi voiced, giving Aizawa the option to opt out if he isn’t feeling it.”

With many thoughts running through his head , Aizawa stared at the empty glass in his hand before quietly answering, “I’ll think about it.” Hisashi squealed in delight, causing some of the others in the bar to look at him for a brief moment before turning back to whatever they were doing.

The alarm from your phone went off around 6:30 a.m. causing you to groan. The yawn that fell from your lips was a testament to how tired you were from your last shift. You stretched your limbs before moving from your position in your bed. After fixing your bed, you made your way over to your closet, pulling out your uniform from inside. The cold shower washed off any remaining tiredness that was in your body, soothing your skin and pushing your mind into a work state.

After locking your door, you made your way out of the apartment and onto the street, quickly checking your watch to see that you only had half an hour to get to work. ‘Shit.’ you thought, you ran over down to the metro station which was only a couple minutes away from your home. Hopping on, you placed your headphones into your ears, shuffling your playlist as you were on your way to work.

Upon entering, you quickly went over to your locker, the small tabby cat sticker that you had placed on it when you first came to work there. After pushing your bag into your locker, you quickly grabbed your apron before heading over to the cashier to start your day. You worked in a pastry shop as a source of retaining money. You first started it off as a way to pay off your student debt, but after a while and a bit of saving, you were able to move out and move into your own space.

Now it wasn’t massive or anything, but it was good enough for you to reside in. As you greeted customers with a smile and cashed in their orders. When it was close to your lunch hour, you exchanged with your other co-worker. After taking off your apron , you clocked out before grabbing your phone and heading down to a cafe nearby. As silly as it sounds, there was a small cafe nearby that you normally venture to during your lunch break. It was a small cute cat cafe that you heard about from some people back at where you worked.

You were cashing out an order when you heard Maxi, a chubby girl, who;s entire aesthetic was surrounded by barbie and white lace was gushing to her girlfriend Ana, who had been the complete opposite to Maxi; arm tattoos, piercings almost everywhere and bubble-pink hair. Without noticing, you tuned into their conversation. “Come on Ana, it’s super duper cute and they have cute cats there too. And I know how much you adore cats. It’s called Cat’s Haven you know, the people that own it, bring in rescued cats and give them a place to live.”

You zoned out after hearing about the cats, focusing on the customer that was in front of you. When it was time for your lunch hour, you handed over before going over to Maxi who was rolling the dough. “Hey Maxi, I uh, overheard you this morning talking about the new cat cafe that opened recently, I didn’t mean to listen in on your conversation I just -”, you were interrupted when Maxi shook her head at you before answering. “Oh, no worries. I kind of figured you would tune in since I do recall you telling me that you love cats.” She gushed, handing over the rolled dough to her girlfriend before facing you.

“You remember where the old flower shop that Ms.Hatti once had?”, you nodded your head in agreement, remembering the times when you would go over there after you finished work and bought daisies for your mother on your way to home. A bittersweet memory when you think about it; mainly because your mother hadn’t been interested in much of anything pertaining to you during that time, even up until now. Ridding yourself of those negative emotions, you zoned in on what Maxi was saying, pushing away those negative thoughts that tried to force themselves inside the centre of your present state. After you were given directions, you thanked Maxi before heading out to the cafe.

Outside was a bit warmer than you had expected, so you pulled off your cardigan and wrapped it aroumd your waist, tying the sleeves to the front so that it wouldn’t fall. Once you got closer to the cafe, you could hear the slight buzz and chatter from those who were nearby. The feeling surrounding the cafe was that of newness and solitude.

As you entered the cafe, the bell jingled once you opened the door, alerting customers as well as workers. A comfortable buzz fell through the air as you entered, small meows and soft purrs filled the air . You looked around at the variety of cats that were all over the cafe. Small and big, different types varying from american bobtail to balinese.

Your heart warmed at the sight before spotting a lone maine coon resting near on a table near the back of the cafe; an empty booth where the lone cat rested. You were close to approaching when one of the waitresses stopped you. “ I know where you are going and i would advise you not to, “ she paused before continuing, “ that particular cat isn’t one we let customers interact with because of previous incidents. She’s known to be aggressive towards customers. Unfortunately, we can’t giver her back to the shelter so we just advise customers to steer clear from her.” You nodded in agreement, taking in the lady’s words but still hell bent on going after her. You thanked the waitress before walking over to the same table that you were warned of.

You slowed your actions, making sure not to startle the cat. Once you sat down, it seems that the cat that laid before you noticed your presence; so in return, she sat up and hissed in your direction, probably hoping that you would leave her alone, but you stayed. With a bright smile on your face, you pulled out a few treats from the little cat bag you were given when you entered.

Placing a small treat on the table for the orange cat, not bothering to annoy her. You stayed silent as the cat whose name you learned was Cinnamon, stared you down for while before slowly moving to the treat you had placed on the table. “Atta girl.” you whispered, silently placing down another treat for her to pick up. Many customers watched in awe and adoration of how you handled the cat.

As she ate, you watched in silence, barely resisting the urge to pet her. In a calm and cool environment, both you and the cat sat in silence, not bothering to intrude on one another’s presence but merely enjoying the low noise with hardly any interaction; other than you slowly feeding her treats, time and time again.

It was couple minutes before your lunch time was up so you decided to finish your treat before giving Cinnamon the rest of her treats before getting up to leave. Once you stood, you gathered all that had been yours and started towards the door.

Before you could leave, you were stopped by the same waitress who had warned you earlier. In awe and amazement at how easily you handled the fiesty cat, she gave you a warm smile, almost begging you to come back more oftern and tame the said cat.

“You must be some sort of cat whisperer,” she started, “I’ve never seen someone tame that cat as how you did, even more so stand aroundher for so long.” she mentioned, looking back at the said cat who rested quietly on the table, looking through the window at the birds outside. You giggled at the compliment before shaking your head. “I’m no cat whisperer, I’ve just had experience with cats like her before.” you smiled before making your way theough the door back to your job.

Now weeks after, going to the cat cafe had been a routine for you, once your lunch started, you quickly took off your apron and made a bee line straight to the cafe, only sitting wherever Cinnamon had been. You weren’t the only one who the cat had tolerated. Apparently, there was some other person who was able to do just as you did with the cat. Were you jealous, somewhat; since you did want that particular cat all to yourself but you didn’t catch a hissy fit over such things.

As you sat quietly in the booth, patiently waiting on your order, you watched as Cinnamon pushed her head against the palm of your hand, you chuckled before combing your hands through her fur, sighing at the vibrations her fluffy body made.

You really weren’t paying attention to your surroundings when it came to other people; you were a bit too engrossed by the fluffball in front of you. “So you’re the other ‘cat whisperer’ I’ve heard others talking about.”

A/n: it’s been awhile. Not as good but i’m getting back there.

[reikorun]

BLEACH TYBW Anime Cour 2 Booklet: Behind the Scenes [Translation - Part 1]

Translated by @reikorun

Director's Note × Author's Eye

We pick out several points from all 13 episodes (#14 ~ #26) of the second cour. For each point, pay attention to the explanations by Director Tomohisa Taguchi and the perspective of the original creator and general supervisor, Tite Kubo!

Section 1

Start with Yhwach again

1. A baby being held. As that being, raised up by countless hands, grows and opens its eyes, cour 2 "The Separation" begins. (ep. #14)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

"Let's place the focus on the Sternritter for the second cour", from the early stages, this is what was decided among the staff. On top of that, in order to make a link with the first cour which began with Yhwach reciting the Kaiser Gesang, we thought "let's begin the sequence of events in cour 2 with him as well." In that case, that scene depicting his origin would be appropriate. In the original work, it was drawn in a manner which took a comprehensive view reminiscent of folklore, but I struggled with how to go about creating a similar impression in the anime. As a result, the visual expression became closer to an art film represented through images alone, without the use of any narration or dialogue at all.

A: Tite Kubo

From the moment I laid my eyes on the storyboard for the first time, I had a feeling that it was going to turn out really good. Regarding this scene, there were actually various changes made until we arrived at the final cut, and even the versions we didn't use were very interesting. During the dubbing session, the process of overlapping the collective "Yū, Ha, Vē, Ha" was also enjoyable to listen to.

2. In addition, there was a memorable scene where Yhwach's 'power' was portrayed through a visual representation. This is the scene where a 'shadow' extends from the throne as Yhwach falls asleep, leading to the appearance of Haschwalth. (ep. #18)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The portrayal of that shadow was an idea I received from Kubo-sensei. In the original work, we were able to gain an insight into the power of Yhwach as well as the connection between Yhwach and Haschwalth through Haschwalth's words to Uryū, but since there was no concrete depiction in itself for the transfer of power, it lead to discussions where we considered that It would also become an element linking to the subsequent cour, so we thought “let's do that in the anime!”

A: Tite Kubo

At first, the manner in which the shadow emerged looked as if it were surging up from below, but viewing it from a choreography standpoint, I suggested that the shadow itself should appear in a sort of sliding manner, giving the impression that it had some mass to it. The transfer of power occurred while Yhwach was sleeping, so in order to preserve the nuance that the transfer to Haschwalth happened while he was in that state, I also had Haschwalth depicted standing with his eyes slightly lowered.

Section 2

Storytelling 

3. In the second cour of 'BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Arc', the war situation changes moment by moment due to the Sternritter invasion, and the outward appearance of the Soul Society also undergoes transformation. As a free-for-all breaks out in various places where enemies and allies intermingle in a state of chaos, the anime adds a scene where the newly appointed Captain-Commander, Kyōraku Shunsui, issues orders to each soldier. (ep. #14, #18)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

One component of that is our desire to include explanatory scenes and scenes where the narrative is refreshed so that the audience are not confused by the ever-changing situation of the war. Another component was our desire to depict the organization that is the 'Gotei 13', which includes Kyōraku who became the Captain-Commander, in a renewed light, and these components overlapped seamlessly.

As a result, I think we were able to depict his status as Captain-Commander inherited from Yamaji, as well as his work ethic. In combination with the scene depicted in the original work that evokes the essence of Kyoraku, i.e. the handing over of Soul Tickets to Tatsuki and the others in the Human World, I'm happy if we were able to successfully delve deeper into the characters. 

A: Tite Kubo

It was a really nice scene with both the essence of Shunsui and the essence of a Captain-Commander coming through.

4. In addition to Kyōraku, the appearance of the other troops were added, including Vice-Captains. (ep. #16)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

While the scenario building sessions were moving forward, I realized that I also wanted to depict the Shinigami's point of view as they strive to fight back against the invasion and try to fulfill their duty to the Gotei. Rather than simply portraying the scene, we added a series of shots with the intention of showing the state of the Shinigami who remain unyielding even as the war situation worsens and they are gradually forced into a disadvantageous position.

A: Tite Kubo

Even in a fan service sense, I think the audience enjoyed being able to see a variety of characters in the anime. 

5. With regard to the main character, Ichigo, extra scenes have been added, such as the manner in which he received training under Hyôsube Ichibei. (ep. #14 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

As mentioned earlier, the foundational principle for the second cour is to place the main focus on the Sternritter, while that's true, 'BLEACH' is still the story of Kurosaki Ichigo, isn't it? There were some concerns that the number of episodes in which Ichigo does not appear in the anime may end up feeling longer than it was in the original work, so we came up with the idea of showing what Ichigo is doing at the present time. The knowledge that Ichigo was training at the Soul King Palace is also depicted in the manga, so I speculate that even though Kubo-sensei undoubtedly had a concept and an image in his head, perhaps he deliberately chose not to draw the specifics. We had the privilege of making suggestions and consulting with Kubo-sensei about how we would go about incorporating the event into the story; those scenes were the result. In a sense, it's to be expected, but we were able to receive a tremendous amount of material from Kubo-sensei, far more than what we expected…. It made us think, "Ichigo, that's what you were doing in such a place!?'' As a fan of the original work, I was delighted, and I also maintained the feeling that I needed to put all my effort into portraying it.

A: Tite Kubo

About the Irazu Sandō part, I didn't include it because if I tried to draw it in the manga, the scene depicting the agonizing ordeal would span across multiple pages and end up too long. I'm glad that it could be expressed in the anime~!

6. The stage upon which Ichigo undergoes his training, Irazu Sandō. A mysterious and beautiful sight, yet it is also a peculiar place where a solemn air, a stillness and a sense of awe all coexist. (ep. #14 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

There's torii gates, a cobblestone pavement, shide (*zigzag-shaped paper streamers) adorning both sides…. If we hadn't received materials from Kubo-sensei, I don't think we would have been able to find our way to this point. Whilst enduring something which tries to push him away from the approach path, the more he walked, and the more he advanced, the heavier the wooden sword in Ichigo's right hand became. When he walks, he walks by moving his legs forward without letting his feet leave the ground. A lot of detailed images and ideas were provided, such as scenes of rain falling outside the path. This was then projected into anime visuals, and the Irazu Sandō came to a state of completion. I think this is a training ground packed with every element that is typical of BLEACH, down to the smallest detail, and that cannot be found in any other work. We've also incorporated an abundance of elements that will be connected to the third cour and onwards such as what happened to Ichigo during his training and the scenes he witnessed, so I would be happy if you could take another look.

A: Tite Kubo

Originally, the mental image I had was 'a sacred place, but at the same time, there is a sense that one is being cursed.' However, I thought that if I communicated this to the production team, the eeriness might end up being too pronounced, so I deliberately didn't mention it. The impression I had was that it was like an abandoned path. As a result, I think the team were able to capture that balance in the sense that it is a sacred yet potentially frightening place, and thus they were able to express it well. 

Section 3

Design & Color Concepts 

7. After the invasion by the Sternritter, the sky of the Seireitei was dyed red, and the squad barracks were transformed into unfamiliar, inorganic blue-white buildings. Director Taguchi's production plan is markedly reflected in those colors as well. (ep. #14)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The main goal was to dramatically shift the setting away from Seireitei in a time of peace. Additionally, the upper part of the frame is red and the bottom is blue, which serve as completely opposite elements in terms of hue, so the aim of the production was to consider how the image could be made into something vivid. After the invasion, the Seireitei became perpetually uniform to that coloring, so there were some concerns about whether it would be acceptable as there are very few anime that employ a color scheme which breaks away from the norm to such a degree. However, we wanted to convey the might of Yhwach's power and also the sense that his power had indeed transformed the world. Furthermore, since blue is also the color of 'Quincy Reishi', I considered that perhaps this extreme staging effect in which the space itself ends up dyed in the colors of the Quincy side would make it easier for viewers to perceive the phenomenon where visually, it no longer feels like the Seireitei = the world of the Shinigami.

A: Tite Kubo

When I first received this proposal for the color scheme, I thought the expression might be too extreme, but the way Taguchi-san uses backgrounds is masterful, so I decided that I would try to leave it with him. I harbored some concern that colors of the characters may become difficult to distinguish, but that aspect was also rendered in a well balanced manner. At various points during meetings and dubbing sessions, I often get the feeling that Taguchi-san is someone who can clearly see the final visual outcome. 

8. From the standpoint of color, the attire and laboratory, which Kurotsuchi Mayuri contrived as a countermeasure against the Sternritter lurking in the shadows, are also very interesting. (ep. #15 and others)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

Initially, the glowing Mayuri was only supposed to shine yellow. However, this time, Mayuri's lab itself also shines brightly, so it meant that when we tried to station him there, he ended up blending into the scenery quite a bit. While searching for a way to make Mayuri shine, an idea came from the color scheme designer Gōda-san: "How about a lighting method which shifts into a variety of colors like a gaming PC?" We adopted the idea thinking "it'll probably look great on screen!" We proposed the idea to Kubo-sensei, who readily approved, and it started to take form in the visuals. The colors continuously shifting midway through the plot is an interpretation that can only be represented in the anime, so I believe we were able to exhibit Mayuri's natural presence by using a different approach from the original work.

A: Tite Kubo

This was indeed an interesting portrayal that could only be done in the anime. It's also interesting that it was intentionally made to look like a moiré pattern. After all, this cannot be pulled off by any character other than Mayuri.

9. Mayuri's laboratory is designed to completely eliminate any shadow as a countermeasure against the Sternritter invasion. Evidently, it took a great deal of trouble to express this. 

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

It took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to express 'no shadows' in the anime. The most significant factor in creating a three-dimensional effect in an illustration is the contrast of the shadows, isn't it? Given that it was necessary to reject that, we said "there is likely no other way to do this but to test an array of other patterns!" The art staff and I went through the process of trial and error a many number of times. As a result of taking into consideration various opinions that came up along the way, we translated them into the concept of 'creating gradation within the light', ultimately representing three-dimensionality.

A: Tite Kubo

When drawing it in the manga, the way I used to express the idea of 'glowing without shadows' is by erasing around the circumference of what I had drawn. I'm glad that I was able to have it portrayed in such a satisfying manner in the anime too.

10. Hirako Shinji's Bankai, "Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari". A Bankai, which did not appear in the original work (※first appeared in the novelization), is made to enter the stage in the anime, therefore a great deal of enthusiasm has also been poured into its rendition. (ep. #16)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

The bud of Hirako's Bankai pedestal is formed by the petals narrowing inward when open, retaining their form to become the bud, however I thought that if we produced it with cel animation, the petals would inevitably lose their shape, rather, there's a high possibility that it wouldn't look like a rigid object. So, in order to show the precise movement of a rigid object, we deliberately used CG. At first, what I imagined for the texture was a brass-like luster, similar to the lotus flowers used in Buddhist altar fittings. We struggled while attempting to express the feeling of that material and searched for ways to depict it using CG surface reference / textures and such.

11. Many characters have made their Bankai debut in the original series. Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō's "Kinshara Butōdan", and Humanized Komamura Sajin's "Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe" were also portrayed by utilizing 3DCG technology. (ep. #18, #17)

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

I think 'Kinshara Butōdan' managed to incorporate a finely tuned quality that doesn't look like it was made with cels, having said that, nor does it overly emphasize CG elements, rather it strikes a delicate balance between the two. Similarly, "Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō: Dangai Jōe" was also developed in 3D, I think we were able to well execute the way the gigantic body moves freely and abundantly as opposed to the challenges of producing it with cel animation, which is susceptible to making the movement appear choppy. In the story, there are various Bankai, but in terms of compatibility with 3DCG, rather than the type where it's just the sword changing, it's my opinion that Bankai transformations where the appearance changes completely or another entity emerges, is the kind that fits better from a direction perspective. As mentioned earlier, expressing it in 3D has the effect of altering the feel, so you can stress the distinctness and change in atmosphere brought about by performing Bankai. In a certain way, I suppose it's possible to convey a stronger sense of harnessing something that is not of this world. Therefore, from now on, I intend to continue requesting (to those in the field), that one doesn't adopt a cel animation look completely. 

A: Tite Kubo

Both were really good. As Taguchi-san also mentioned, I wanted to avoid having the CG elements coming to the forefront in an odd manner. I think CG shines particularly during Bankai transformations that feature inorganic matter. The CG was skillfully utilized, especially in critical moments where traditional animation eventually tends to falter, like when Myō'ō comes in with a slashing attack, for instance, making it quite impressive to watch.

12. 3DCG is not the only technique utilized for showcasing Bankai. The skills of various staff members have also been brought together.

D: Tomohisa Taguchi

Even though I understood the principle behind it, figuring out how to visually represent Muguruma Kensei's Bankai "Tekken Tachikaze" in the anime, among other things, was challenging because how we'd go about expressing that is a different story. While the blades remain in contact with the target, it continues to explode infinitely. It creates the illusion that the punches being thrown are repeatedly landing tens of thousands of times without the arm ever being pulled back from the point of impact, doesn't it? We worked strenuously to express how immense the power of Kensei's Bankai is by doing things like deliberately adding cel style motion blur to make it look as though the opponent was being hit, aiming for a visual effect that makes it seem like he's trembling after being struck multiple times, and using an approach where we incorporated sound effects reminiscent of a drill used in road construction. In terms of his character and Bankai visualization, Rōjūrō is likened to an Opera, implementing theatrical staging such as the rapidly changing movement of his conductor's baton and the lighting. The music attached to the scene also became particularly important, director of audiography Nagasaki-san and re-recording mixer Hoshino-san fine-tuned it masterfully. 

[lovelyiida]

Hey.

Would you mind writing about Tenya Iida asking out a fem. Reader that works in a flower shop?

Like he comes there every week, to get some flowers for his mother or grandma and they talk everytime and he just falls in love with her.

(If you want more Infos you can send a message 🙂)

Thank you

YOU HAVE NO IDEA! How I physically rejoiced when I seen this request, Iida will always be my soft spot tee hee <3

WARNINGS: TOOTH ROTTING fluff, implied fem reader, reader and Iida are in their 20's, mentions of crime (kidnapping etc.)

MASTERLIST

WORDS: 3.1K

YOU AND IIDA HAVE THIS CYCLE GOING ON AT THE MOMENT...

"Wow, nice to see you again—it's already your third day here this week, isn't it?" With a delightful bunch of plum blossoms in hand, you set them down on the table with a smug smirk, reveling in the familiar atmosphere. Iida, as always, greets you with a warm and genuine smile, which instantly puts you at ease.

Calm, cool, and collected, he places his arms on the table and looks deeply into your eyes. "I have to stay loyal to my favorite business, don't I?" he says playfully, reaching for his wallet. You turn away with a quick chuckle, secretly cherishing these lighthearted moments you share.

Heading to the back of the charming flower shop, you step into a well-lit room where the vibrant blossoms seem to shine even brighter. The feeling of humidity from the water misters, tirelessly hydrating the flowers, sends a refreshing shiver down your spine. With swift steps, you gracefully approach the side table adorned with a mesmerizing array of bouquets.

Picking up a bouquet, you walk back to the front of the shop with a pep in your step, you come back with a renewed smirk. Setting the flowers down gently, you reach out to grab Iida's card, your fingers brushing against each other ever so briefly, sending a tingle through your body.

"Y'smell nice," he says appreciatively, and you can't help but roll your eyes playfully at his comment. "It's… the dew from the back room, plus this is a flower shop after all. I'm bound to smell nice." You effortlessly slide the witty remark at the rising hero.

Banter like this has become a routine between the two of you, happening on a multitude of days, multiple times a week. It all started when Iida got off a morning patrol shift after a great victory, a moment that marked his increasing recognition by the general media, leaving him absolutely elated. His heart brimming with gratitude, he began expressing his appreciation to his family by buying thoughtful gifts.

And what's more gift-like than a nice, meticulously arranged bouquet of flowers?

You remember when he first came in, looking around; playfully tugging at some of the flower petals that took almost a week to grow. "Not to be rude, but don't touch if you're not gonna buy" You peaked at the pro-hero, trying not to sound too passive agressive.

The well-mannered man jumps, "apologies! Do you have angel roses by any chance?" he says. Eyeing the man, you give him a all-natural corporate smile and nod.

"Yes, we have some in the back, just a second." You state, taking a brisk walk to the back the young hero walks up to the front and eyes the wall of flowers in front of him. As you stride back, you place the roses on the table and enter the total for the bouquet.

As you look up, you notice the hero staring at you, a light shade of pink dusted over his cheeks was present. Furrowing your brows you clear your throat. Snapping him out of his thought, he awkwardly dusts off imaginary debris from his clothes.

"Your total is 2,800¥, cash or card?" you say, voice tired and yearning for this encounter to end. Looking up at the man again, he pulls out his card mumbling a quick "sorry," he hands it to you.

Reaching for the card, you tug at it but he won't let it out of his his grip. Rolling your eyes you let out a scoff, "listen I'm not in the moment for flirting so if you could just—"

"L/N Y/N, class 4-B?" Iida says, a smile forming from his lips. A look of confusion washes over you, "I'm sorry...do I know you?" You asked. You watch as the man rakes through his raven blue locks, a little flustered.

"You may not remember me but, freshman year when the academy went on lockdown and everyone was rushing to the doors? You were about to be pummeled down by students until I caught you." He chuckles, a moment of silence goes by until your eyes widen.

"Oh my god!" your eyes lit up and a genuine smile shows against your lips. Even tho your high school days were far past you, you remembered that day like it was yesterday.

It was freshman year, you were smaller than you were now. And everyone was in complete panic, trying to guide yourself in the sea of panicked teenagers, another student bumped harshly into you sending you off your balance and a one way ticket to the hard polished floor.

But before you could hit the ground, a strong hand reaches around your waist. Pulling you in close, you look into a pair of dark eyes. "Are you alright?" he yelled, your arms reach around his neck and you hold on tight to him. You nodded frantically in response, you watch as the aspiring hero looks around scanning the room quickly.

You couldn't help but to admire the young hero in training, even though he seemed scared, he kept composure and exuded bravery. Looking back into your eyes, he give you a reassuring smirk, "hold on." Eyes widening, you brace yourself for whatever he was about to do. Closing your eyes, you felt the ground fall before you eyes snapping open you realized the crowd about to trample you was below you.

What felt like a mere second, you were back on the ground. Looking at him, you begin to spew out many words of gratitude. Letting you of him, he bows politely and smiles, "it's my duty as a young hero in training to do what is right, please stay here!" he yells back.

Oh, how punctual he was.

That was the last time you interacted with him before leaving the school at the end of the year. Sometimes, as you grew up, you'd catch him on TV or in certain social media posts related to the school, and you were happy to see that he had achieved so much.

"You were the guy who did that corny speech!" You exclaimed.

"Yeah, that too, I guess," he replied with a shy chuckle, crossing his arms and reminiscing about his past behavior. "Yeah, I remember you. Wow, it's been so long… you look great!" You smiled.

"You do too, you look amazing," he complimented, humming in response. You wrapped up his flowers and handed them to him politely. "Well, I'll see you around then, Ingenium," you giggled. The pro-hero's eyes widened.

"So you do know me?" he said, sounding as if he had been waiting for this moment his whole life. "Well, of course, you're everywhere on the news! What you did that day was basically historic!" you beamed. Handing him the flowers, you rested your hands on the table, unable to help but admire him. "—I knew from the day you saved me that you were going to make it to the big leagues," you said softly with a smile.

The hero smiled back, bending down and giving a respectful bow. He looked at you once more. "Thank you… for believing in me, L/n," Iida said, and soon after, you bid each other goodbye.

What you didn't even realize was that he knew your full name, even though you never told him years ago. After that interaction you had back then, Iida started to have an infatuation over you.

When you walked the halls, his trained eyes would meet your figure. He constantly checked over you, and sometimes you would share a glance. He remembered your smile as both of you politely bowed to each other.

During his daily training, every time he jumped and soared to his goals, he imagined saving you every time. It's a usual phenomenon—the relationship between a hero and their first saved citizen.

Maybe he was romanticizing you, but maybe he wasn't. He never had the time to focus on domestic relationships that weren't his immediate family. The only relationships he was able to make were completely platonic or for business connections only.

But today, that changed.

It's been two months since the day you both reunited, and it became a weekly occurrence for him to show up for a bouquet or maybe just a single flower. Often, you'd talk about life since high school or how you got to where you are now. Other times, it was just a simple visit, like the one time he was on patrol and couldn't stop to smell the roses… literally.

Outside, you were watering the blossoms, fully focused on their well-being when you almost missed the tap on your shoulder. Head shooting up, you saw no one there at first, but then you leaned back down to attend to the flowers.

Suddenly, a loud whistle caught your attention, and you couldn't help but smile as you saw the pro-hero in action, accompanied by another hero with spikey red hair. They seemed familiar, too.

You waved back happily, and they both smiled and waved at you. When you turned back, you never noticed the hero turning back just to get a look at you over and over again. Basically to the point where he colleague had to slap in upside the head and force him around the corner.

But the next day you noticed that Iida seemed different. He usually exuded his headstrong personality, but now he appeared more relaxed and reserved, almost nervous.

Frowning, you immediately sensed that something was wrong. "Hey there! Everything alright?" you asked. Iida jolted a little, taken aback by your words, but he reassured you, "Don't worry! Everything's alright over here. I just need another fix of your amazing flowers." However, you hummed to yourself, not believing a word he said.

"Is it just the regular fix, or do you want just one singular flower today?" you teased, but Iida didn't laugh back like usual. Something was definitely amiss.

"Oh no, I actually want something different this evening, please," he said softly. You snorted out loud, "What's with the politeness? What will it be today, Ingenium?~" you sang playfully.

"I'd like a full bouquet of (favorite flowers), please—the biggest bouquet you can offer," he said in a monotone voice, almost too serious for your liking. Your eyes widened, and you nodded, "Okay sure. Did something bad happen? Is someone alright?" you asked, concerned.

Iida shook his head, "No… there's something special I have planned—"

"Wait, don't tell me yet!" you exclaimed excitedly, rushing to the back to quickly gather the requested flowers. Looking into the empty bin, you frowned a little, cursing under your breath. You were a bit upset that you wouldn't be able to bring your favorites back home this week since you were all out.

Walking back with a smile, you set the bouquet down and began wrapping it up. "So! What's the plan?~" you asked, brimming with curiosity. Iida chuckled lightly, "Well… I plan on going on a date this evening. I'm going to confess my feelings to someone very special to me tonight," he said aloud, and as you handed him the bouquet, you faltered.

Oh.

"Really?" you said, your voice sounding almost sad that he was about to change an important part of his life for good. With a smirk, Iida took the flowers out of your hand, "Yep, so if you'll excuse me…" he said, and without even bidding you goodbye, he walked out the door.

You didn't understand what you were feeling at the moment, but it wasn't good.

You knew that Iida was a very social man; it was his job to be social, to interact with the public constantly. But romantically? You felt an unsettling feeling in your stomach. Maybe it was wrong to assume the basis of your friendship, but was it wrong for you to feel that there was something more between the two of you?

It wasn't hard for your coworkers to notice that you were sulking for the rest of the day. You were less chatty and had a "get the work done and bounce" kind of day. As the sun set, you were the last to leave, walking out the back door and locking it behind you. However, you noticed another car parked right next to yours.

Your senses heightened, and you cautiously took a few steps back, reaching into your bag to quickly dial Iida's phone number. "In case of emergency," he had told you. "Today must be my lucky day," you whispered to yourself.

Staring at the screen, the phone rang for what felt like forever. As the call went unanswered and the screen turned red, your lip began to tremble. Stepping backward, the sound of the car starting startled you, sending you into a jolt.

With sharp eyes, you watched the car move, feeling a bit more relaxed as you assumed it was leaving the parking lot. But no, it was coming straight towards you. Gasping, you turned around completely and rushed to the door.

Reaching into your bag, you rummaged around for your keys. Your heart was beating faster than 100 mph, and your eyes watered. You started to think the worst—what if you got killed, kidnapped, or trafficked? Then, the car stopped in front of you.

You were in full panic mode now, trembling as your vision blurred, and your bag stained with tear droplets. This was going to be the last of you.

"I-Iida…" you said, clenching your eyes shut as you braced yourself for whatever was going to happen. You heard footsteps approaching you, and a voice said, "L/n?" Your eyes widened, and you could recognize that voice anywhere.

Whipping around, you noticed that it was him. "Oh my god, Iida!" you cried out, running towards him and wrapping your arms around him tightly. Arms wrapping tightly around you, he looks at you eyes scanning your face, his face filled with worry.

"What's going on? Are you hurt?" he says, his tone wary and shaky. Shifting out of his touch, your eyes red with tears, but your face filled with anger. Not a second passed before your fist met his bicep. You'd expect that hitting someone would hurt on the other end.

"Ow, fuck!" you exclaimed, and soon Iida came rushing to your aid. You had underestimated how muscular he was. "You shouldn't hit other people without cause, L/n," he told you. You groaned in frustration, "I'm hitting you for a perfectly good reason!" you yelled, and Iida looked at you expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"I thought you were some… I don't know! Serial-rapist-kidnapper!" you exclaimed slurring your words, pointing over, and then you sighed, "You parked right next to my car, Iida. I thought I was done for and was going to end up on the news by next week!" you complained.

"And why are you even here? Don't you have a date?" you grew irritated at his behavior, noticing the present frown on his lips. "L/n, I'm sorry for frightening you, I am. But I've been parked outside the whole day…waiting for you."

"What? I don't understand," you said, your anger washing away as Iida stepped away from you. He opened his car door, reached inside, and pulled out something. Turning around, you looked down and lightly gasped—it was the bouquet he bought today.

Looking back at him, you noticed a shit-eating grin on his face, and you scoffed, rolling your eyes. Iida walked back up to you and extended the bouquet for you to grab. "These are for you, L/n," blinking rapidly for a moment, you silently accepted the flowers.

"These… were for me?" you said, and the hero nodded. The loud noise of silence enveloped both of you. "I'm sorry, but can you explain what the hell is going on? I'm not a mind reader." This made Iida chuckle.

"Y'know, Y/n… since I was young, I wasn't sure when I was going to experience life to the fullest. I wasn't sure I was going to get what every other person was given—a right to their own identity. A chance at love, a chance of building a romantic relationship."

He said smoothly, and as your eyes widened, everything started to come together.

"What–“

"Let me finish," he said, reaching out for your hand, and you quietly let him take your hand into his. "From the moment I met you, years ago… I was immediately drawn to you. The mere thought of you drove me crazy. Every day and every night, I would think of my life with you, what our future would look like. Fantasy after fantasy would run through my mind like crazy… until it didn't."

"The year you left, the year I stopped seeing you… I had to snap back into reality and look ahead and not up into the clouds. I realized that I was going to become a hero, and there was a certain mindset that had to be established within me. And when you left, so did the dream to find something better, something worth living for. Something that didn't involve me being a hero."

"I don't believe in fairytales or the magic of chance or coincidence… but the moment I walked into your shop? That all changed. When I saw you, every thought of you rushed back into my head, and it felt like I was a freshman all over again. And I realized that the universe, or whatever god that's watching over me, has given me the chance to see you again and make you mine."

"Y/n? I like you, and I like you a lot…"

Taking a deep breath, he stepped even closer.

"Now you don't have to accept, I'll understand completely if you don't, but—will you go out with me?" He proposed, his voice trembled with nervousness.

Eyes swelling with tears, you smile brightly. No questions asked, you crash your body against his "Yes, of course I will!" you shout against his chest. Iida laughs at your response, lifting you from the ground, he spins you around excitedly, overjoyed with your response.

Setting you down, the both of you pull away; still attached to the hip. Arms draped around his shoulders as his hands fit perfectly against your hips. You stare into each others eyes, your eyes filled with wonder and undying affection as his were filled with longing and yearning for your affection.

Iida's hand reaches to cup your cheek, his free hand grabs tighter against your waist and pulls you back against his chest. You chuckle at his suave actions, reaching to touch his hand resting on your cheek you shake your head.

"Mmm...not yet, you haven't taken me out yet" you giggled.

"Well I would love to, but I think you need to change first...you stink" He says flatly.

that’s a first.

Laughing, you bring him back into your funky embrace. "Sorry, I was on mulch duty," you say. Iida chuckles and rests his head against yours, holding you even tighter.

"well, that explains it."

OMG YAAAAAAAAS THIS EATS SO HARD YAY ME, I had such a silly fun time writing this, thank you so much for the ask it was so nice to write something about Iida (not that I am complaining but...)

PLEASE put in some more asks! I think I'm going through the realization that I don't like doing headcanons anymore and I'm more of a one-shot/series girlie. We have changed...we have evolved!

till then!

— 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐢𝐢𝐝𝐚 ❤︎︎

❥: @xo-evangeline, @superkittywonderland, @nar00, @king-dynamight, @gold24fish, @lovra974 , @bakugospartner , @gaby-11 , @smokers-sweetheart , @akqsa-xxi , @jolynegf , @goldenglow149 , @aliruuiz , @zukowantshishonourback , @ilovedenk-i , @atsushiki , @smolbeanzzz , @urdecentartist09 , @lem-hhn , @stevenknightmarc , @ryumiii , @idontevenknowlolls , @lyn07 , @kennshifts , @ackerman-suck-3-r , @elegantvoids , @thecurlyhairedgoddess , @sunyrose , @thisbicc , @thekookiecorner , @rubymha , @katsukisxslut

[albertfinch]

UTILIZING TIME AND SEASON

It's important to know the times and seasons you're in, so you don't miss your widow of breakthrough. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter..."

Many are in a season of transition and crossing over to a new place God has prepared for them as the advance in their Christ calling.

Deuteronomy 11:10-12 says, "For the land which you are entering to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot like a garden of vegetables. But the land into which you are about to cross to possess, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of Heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year." You're getting ready to crossover into a place of promise the Lord has prepared for you in this season.

To cross over and possess the promise, it is necessary to go through the valley of Baca (Psalm 84). Right before times of breakthrough, God will often lead us through narrow and tight places. The pressure and the closed-in feeling many have been feeling is by walking through that narrow place. Many die spiritually or get stuck in the hallway of transition because they stop moving forward; they don't have the endurance and stamina to go through because the do not fully understand their Christ identity.

Psalm 84:5-7 - "How blessed is the man whose strength is in You...  Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings.  They go from strength to strength."

God brings us through narrow places because not everything can go with us into our new season. We have to leave the baggage from our last season. You're in a hallway right now, attached from your last season to your new season. To reach your breakthrough you have to go through.

STAY CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT

There's a reward for those who diligently seek the Lord (Hebrews 11:6). "Diligently" is defined as constant in effort; persistent in doing anything. God is looking for those who will stay consistent and persistent.

Psalm 23:4 (TPT) says, "Lord, even when Your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for You already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I'll never be lonely, for You are near."

Sometimes God's path for our lives will take us through the dark places but we are never alone, He is with us. David says, "...fear will never conquer me, for You have already have!"  What conquers you will lead you.

In Psalm 84:6 its says that as they walked through the weeping valley it began to change to a place of overflow. You have to continue to go through the valley because each step is prophesying and bringing transformation to your valley. Your valley of weeping is turning to a place of refreshing and overflow.

ACTIVELY WAIT

Psalm 84:7 says, "They go from strength to strength..." "Strength" means might, ability, wealth, force. Strength to strength comes when we learn to wait upon the Lord.

Isaiah 40:29-31 says, "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who has no might He increases power. Even youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly. But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power. They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not grow tired."

When we wait on God it's an active waiting. It becomes a place of exchange and renewal. As you wait you begin to mount up, ascend, and arise. It's not something you have to force, it naturally occurs when we dwell with the Lord.

God wants you to catch the wind of His Spirit in this hour and begin to soar to breakthrough and new places in your Christ calling through the realm of the Spirit.  Your promise is waiting on the other side of your weeping. Keep pressing through. Breakthrough is your portion as you learn to bear fruit that remains for God’s advancing Kingdom!

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[perseidlion]

This is probably gonna rub some people the wrong way but...I think two things are true, re: The Acolyte:

Some Star Wars fans were hostile to The Acolyte because it starred a woman and most of the supporting cast were women and/or POC so they were never going to support it.

AND

The Acolyte was not a very good show.

SPOILERS BELOW.

If the show had starred a white man and had more nostalgia bait, it probably would have been renewed, let's be honest. But that doesn't mean it was a good show or it would have been better with those changes. It just would have meant the hardcore complainers would have supported it just because it was Star Wars.

A lot of Star Wars stuff is getting multiple seasons when the shows themselves are lacklustre. And don't get me wrong...this isn't necessarily a bad thing. I think the networks cancel shows WAAAAAY too fast these days. How many great shows can we think of that had kinda shitty first, second, and even third seasons that went on to be classics and huge hits? So when I say the show wasn't great, that doesn't mean I think it deserved to get cancelled. But also we aren't stuck between a binary of "a great show got cancelled unfairly" and "an awful show got deservedly cancelled." There's nuance here.

Full disclosure: I am an extremely casual Star Wars fan. So on the surface, I was the perfect potential audience member for The Acolyte. It was a show that tried to stand on its own merits without a dozen callbacks and references that only appeal to hardcore fans/fans with nostalgia feels. I was fully willing to accept it as just a solid science fantasy show that happened to be set in the Star Wars universe.

Frankly, I was bored through most of it. I like Amandla Stenberg, but I don't think she did a very good job differentiating Osha/Mae and she didn't do a great job getting us to root for her.

The show also set up tension only to immediately diffuse it, or the tension they teased all season turned out to be no tension at all. The mystery of what the Jedi did on Brendok should have been central to the story. It should have been kept secret and concealed. And it should have been darker than it actually turned out to be. That's what had to happen for that to work. Like, the Jedi were ordered by a corrupt high council member to purge the coven or something. THAT would have been interesting and worth the narrative stakes. Instead, an accident, impossible choices, and bad circumstances were at the heart of the whole show.

The show also wants us to root for Mae after she straight-up murdered a bunch of Jedi masters in cold blood in the first few episodes. That's a hard thing to ask Star Wars fans to come back from, especially when the Jedi's "crimes" were revealed, which for most of them ended up being "were present when an injustice occurred."

Qimir had so much potential as a villain and Manny Jacinto's performance almost justified the whole show's existence. Unfortunately, his introduction was fumbled. Everyone figured out very quickly that he was the mysterious master. Again, zero narrative tension.

There are a lot of good ideas in The Acolyte, and a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it fumbled a lot of those ideas and the whole thing just ended up being a mess. It is a shame because if a certain segment of the SW fandom hadn't been so hostile to it for even daring to exist, we might have seen those problems ironed out in a second season and beyond. But it'll never get that chance, and that's a shame.

I would LOVE to see more exploration of the hypocrisy of the Jedi and the imperfect nature of their philosophy. I think that's something baked into the DNA of Star Wars, especially from the prequels onward. It's a rich bit of story fuel, and it was refreshing to see a show that wasn't just crammed full of stuff to make you do the Leo point at the screen or go "I got that reference."

Two more things are also true:

The Acolyte was not a very good show

AND

It deserved the support of Star Wars fans and a second season to try and do better.

[yuu-kantokusei]

~The mischievous predator~

Jade Leech x gn!reader

Reader is yuu

Story: one shot

TW: none

Summary: After a magical mishap leaves Yuu transformed into a cat, an evening walk takes an unsettling turn when they cross paths with someone who seems far too amused by their predicament.

The day had been an ordeal, to say the least.

Yuu had accidentally transformed into cat during potionology class, their spell ingredients mixed up while Professor Crewel’s sharp eyes were momentarily distracted. Grim, surprisingly sympathetic (and amused), volunteered to translate their distressed meowing to Ace and Deuce. The trio carried them around from class to class like an unwilling mascot until the day’s lessons finally ended.

Ace and Deuce headed back to Heartslabyul after classes, complaining about the weight of carrying both Yuu and Grim. Grim, now more of a reluctant caretaker, waddled alongside them on the way to Ramshackle Dorm.

"Alright, you can rest up for the night," Grim said, flopping onto the couch as they arrived. "And don’t expect me to babysit you forever. I’m a mage of great renown, not a cat-sitter!"

Yuu meowed back insistently, their tone sharp.

“What? You wanna go for a walk?” Grim translated, squinting. “Sheesh, it’s dark already! Fine, fine—just don’t get into trouble, okay? I don’t have time to rescue you from some stupid tree.”

They pawed at the door until Grim opened it. A chilly evening breeze greeted them as they stepped out into the quiet grounds of Night Raven College.

Yuu padded along the cobblestone path leading away from the dorm. They didn’t intend to go far; the cool night air was refreshing after an exhausting day of meowing and being carried around. Their thoughts drifted to the potion class debacle, wondering how they'd explain the incident to Crewel when they returned to human form.

Just as they considered turning back, they heard the soft crunch of footsteps behind them. Before they could react, a low, amused voice reached their ears.

“My, my… what do we have here? A little stray?”

Yuu’s fur bristled as they backed away from Jade, their tiny body trembling with both fear and anger. They let out a low, warning growl, their tail lashing behind them. But their attempt at intimidation only seemed to amuse him further.

“Oh, don’t look so upset,” Jade said smoothly, his voice like silk laced with thorns. “You’ve always been the curious type, haven’t you? Wandering out here all alone, so vulnerable… Surely, you knew someone might come across you?”

They hissed, their eyes narrowing. If they could speak, they’d have had plenty of colorful words for him, none of them polite.

Jade knelt down to their level, his mismatched eyes gleaming in the moonlight. His smile widened as he reached out, his long fingers brushing gently under their chin. “Now, now. Is that any way to greet a friend? I’m hurt, truly.”

Yuu swatted his hand with their paw, claws extended. They managed to scratch his glove, leaving faint marks across the leather. A small, victorious feeling bubbled up in their chest—until they saw his reaction.

Instead of being annoyed, Jade’s grin only grew sharper. “Oh my, such sharp claws. Feisty as ever, I see. How charming.”

Before they could dart away, his hand shot out, and in one swift motion, he scooped them up into his arms. Yuu yowled in protest, their paws batting at his chest, but he held them firmly.

“My, my,” he said, his voice laced with mock concern. “You’re heavier than I expected. Have you been indulging a bit too much, Prefect? Not that I mind, of course. You’re quite… soft.”

They froze for a moment, utterly mortified. Then, with renewed vigor, they wriggled and kicked, trying to free themselves. But Jade only chuckled, adjusting his grip so they couldn’t escape.

“Relax,” he murmured, stroking their back with an unsettling tenderness. “You’re rather adorable like this, you know. It’s a rare opportunity to see such a side of you. I’d be a fool not to enjoy it.”

Yuu let out a furious growl, their ears flattening against their head. If Grim were here, they’d demand he claw Jade’s smug face for them.

“Oh, don’t be so angry,” Jade teased, his thumb trailing along the top of their head in a gesture that was almost affectionate. “You should consider this a valuable learning experience. It’s not every day you get to view the world from such a unique perspective.”

They swiped at him again, their claws catching on his uniform this time. He didn’t even flinch. Instead, he tilted his head, studying them with that same predatory smile.

“Hmm, still so full of spirit. I wonder… how much fight do you have left, little cat?”

Yuu twisted and turned in his arms, trying to escape, but Jade’s grip was unyielding. Their frantic meowing filled the quiet night, but no one came to their rescue.

“Shh,” Jade said softly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “There’s no need to make such a fuss. No one’s going to hear you out here. It’s just you and me.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down their spine, and they stopped struggling for a moment. Jade noticed, of course, and his smile became almost triumphant.

“There now,” he said, stroking their head again. “That’s better. See? I’m not so bad, am I?”

Yuu growled low in their throat, but the sound came out more like a pitiful rumble. Jade’s fingers trailed down their back, and they couldn’t suppress the involuntary purr that escaped them. They immediately regretted it.

“Oh?” Jade’s expression lit up with amusement. “Enjoying yourself now? How delightful. I suppose even you have your weaknesses.”

Their ears flattened, and they glared up at him, their green eyes blazing with indignation. If looks could kill, Jade would have been long gone. But he simply chuckled, clearly enjoying their frustration.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, his tone almost scolding. “You’re the one who decided to wander out here all alone. Surely you knew the risks?”

They meowed sharply in response, their tone accusatory.

“Ah, blaming me, are you?” he said, his smile widening. “How cruel. I’m simply taking advantage of the situation you created. It’s not every day I get to see the Prefect in such a… vulnerable state.”

Yuu’s tail lashed furiously, but their efforts to escape were futile. Jade’s grip was too strong, his touch too deliberate. He was toying with them, and they both knew it.

As they continued their strange standoff, Jade suddenly shifted his grip, cradling them in one arm while reaching into his pocket with the other. Yuu froze, their instincts screaming that whatever he was planning couldn’t be good.

“Now, let’s see…” he murmured, pulling out a small, shimmering object. It was a thin, silver ribbon, its surface catching the moonlight.

Yuu’s eyes widened in alarm. They meowed frantically, struggling harder than ever.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jade said, his tone soothing but entirely insincere. “It’s just a little accessory. Something to make you look even more adorable.”

Before they could react, he looped the ribbon around their neck, tying it into a neat bow. He held them up, examining his handiwork with a satisfied smile

“There. Perfect,” he said. “You’re quite the picture, Prefect. Perhaps I should take a photo to commemorate this moment?”

Yuu growled, their tail whipping back and forth like a metronome of fury. Jade’s laughter echoed through the quiet night as he set them down, finally releasing them. They bolted a few steps away, turning to glare at him with all the venom they could muster.

“Oh, don’t run off just yet,” he said, his voice teasing. “You’ll miss all the fun.”

Yuu hissed at him, their fur bristling, but Jade didn’t seem the least bit intimidated. He leaned casually against a nearby tree, his mismatched eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Go on,” he said, gesturing with a lazy wave. “Run back to your dorm if you like. But do remember, Prefect… I’ll always find you.”

Their heart raced as they turned and fled, his laughter following them into the night. The ribbon around their neck felt heavy, a constant reminder of his lingering presence.

Yuu didn’t stop running until they were safely inside Ramshackle Dorm, their chest heaving as they tried to calm down. Grim looked up from his spot on the couch, his eyes narrowing as he saw the ribbon.

“What the heck happened to you?” he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

Yuu meowed weakly, too exhausted to explain. They curled up in a corner, their tail wrapped tightly around their body. The sound of Jade’s laughter still echoed in their mind, sending a shiver down their spine.

They couldn’t wait for this nightmare to be over.

[revlyncox]

Peace and Darkness

The darkness of the approaching winter solstice may help us get re-centered in the middle of the pressures of this time of year and these times in particular. Let the blessings of darkness call us to imagination, rest, and inner peace. This sermon was recast from earlier work and was delivered to The Unitarian Society in East Brunswick by Rev. Lyn Cox on December 8, 2024.

“Come into my arms and rest, child,” [said Night.] … You were born out of my darkness, billions of years ago, and you will return to me when all things end.” (From the story, “The Rebirth of the Sun” by Starhawk, retold in Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions.)

I have to say, that sounds pretty nice to me. As the sun disappears from evening skies, I wouldn’t mind a little bit of respite with the timeless origins of the universe. December means a lot of things to people in our culture. It can mean bringing things to completion, or showing up to annual gatherings, or figuring out what to say in the holiday letter. Those aren’t bad things. Holiday busy-ness can call forth our creativity and remind us of our values. On the other hand, sometimes the season is so crowded with demands that we produce and perform, it’s hard to remember to simply be. Added to that, the pain and anxiety of the world are very much with us, and we may be feeling some pressure to make some grand gesture to save the world, if only we knew what it was.

Let us remind each other that, as Universalists, we know human worth is unconditional. Our place in this world does not depend on our usefulness, our productivity, our decorative qualities, or our ability to be entertaining. You belong here. When each one of us makes time and space to acknowledge ourselves as human beings rather than human doings, it is easier for us to practice acceptance of one another. Peacemaking in practical terms requires us to do a certain amount of letting go and practicing grace, for ourselves and for each other.

The dark days leading to the Winter Solstice make the perfect time to celebrate acceptance and renewal. It can be argued that axial tilt is the reason for the season, so let’s search for meaning in this time of chilly temperatures and late sunrises. With the next harvest so far away, we may be able to use this time to experience ourselves apart from tangible results.

If this is a time of year when we search for words to write in cards or to say in party conversations, perhaps it is also a time ripe for silence, to allow words to come to us. With the hope of growing light and fresh calendar pages ahead of us, perhaps we can connect with wonder and meaning as it happens right now, before we get caught up in planning for the future.

There is another element to celebrating the darkness of this time of year. White supremacy culture has elevated all things light and pale to mean good, and has put down all things dark and mysterious to mean bad. We may not make conscious connections between that dichotomy and skin color, but the bias operates on us nonetheless. Furthermore, equating the starkness of simple solutions and obvious choices with good and light leads us to reach for easy answers rather than allowing ourselves the learning experience of not knowing. That makes actual, practical peacemaking and cultural dialogue more difficult. Dark and light, good and bad are more complex than two flat sides. We need to go back and reclaim the divinity of darkness, the sacred place of mystery, and the open-heartedness of the unknown.

This Winter Solstice, let us rest in the heart of night, refreshing our spirits with imagination. Let us receive words and silence as they fall like snow, finding beauty in both their dance and their stillness. Let us attend to the year being born, holding off on answers as we honor the mystery of beginnings. 

Rest in the Heart of Night: Imagination

One of my colleagues is a certified facilitator in the Jewish Studio Process, which is an art-based spiritual practice. The purpose of the project is to cultivate creativity as a practice for spiritual connection and social transformation. It’s part art therapy, part study of sacred text, part group reflection. I have had a couple of opportunities to participate in this process at virtual UU minister conferences, meaning I was among my own art supplies at home while I was connected virtually with colleagues across the country. There is time for words, and a time for creating without words, which allows all kinds of insight and emotion to land in the artwork, there to be explored, experienced, discovered, and released. As they say in the Jewish Studio Project, “the page can hold it all.”

Creating art on my own during the non-verbal time brings me face-to-face with a number of personal obstacles. As with any contemplative practice, I have to return to my breath over and over, as worrying about products and outcomes distracts me from the present moment. I struggle with vulnerability, opening myself up to thoughts and feelings that aren’t especially convenient. My inner critic has some things today about my artistic abilities. But the facilitated process helps me make friends with all of those voices and lets me keep going. At the end of the session, I feel more accepting of myself and others, more attuned to the gifts I have to offer, more ready to learn what the universe has to teach me, and more prepared to take meaningful action for justice, kindness, and community building.

None of the things I create in the studio process are going to win awards. It’s not about the result. It’s about the experience of imagination and creation. It’s about opening windows to what is possible. To get there, I have to practice some humility. In a way, I have to let myself be in the dark. Being focused on the process rather than the product has created the space for finding a moment of inner peace.

For those who are motivated to work on external peace, the kind between individuals in conflict or countries at war, the value of allowing time for the darkness and mystery of creativity may not be obvious. I assure you that imagination is essential for the work of peace and justice. Theologian Walter Bruggeman writes:

“The prophet engages in futuring fantasy. The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented, for questions of implementation are of no consequence until the vision can be imagined. The imagination must come before the implementation. Our culture is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing. The same royal consciousness that make it possible to implement anything and everything is the one that shrinks imagination because imagination is a danger. Thus every totalitarian regime is frightened of the artist. It is the vocation of the prophet to keep alive the ministry of imagination, to keep on conjuring and proposing futures alternative to the single one the king wants to urge as the only thinkable one.” 

Bruggeman urges us to expand on what is thinkable. There is more than one answer, more than one path, more than one perspective. In order to allow the imagination to flourish, we may need to quiet our linear minds for awhile. We might need the blanket of night, or the assurances of soft music. or the presence of supportive creative friends.

The winter holiday season often includes a lot of activity and deadlines and pressures. At the same time, the early sunsets and late sunrises, for many of us, cast a mood of contemplation. Perhaps we can allow these conditions to lead us into the here and now. This Winter Solstice, rest in the heart of night and allow your imagination to wander among the stars.

Let Words Fall Like Snow: Silence and Waiting

Like many of you, I spend a fair amount of time in waiting rooms. I keep discovering that, no matter what I bring to do, waiting simply takes as long as it takes. Lately, I’ve been finding that looking at my phone does not support my health and wellbeing, so I have conversations I wouldn’t otherwise have, or I rest my eyes, or I read all the signs on the walls. Not trying to escape from the waiting room seems to work better than filling those moments with the highs and lows of the internet. I forget, and open a book or a magazine or my email, and if I’m lucky I remember again and re-engage with the experience of waiting.

Perhaps these days of late sunrises and early sunsets create a seasonal waiting room. There are significant dates on the calendar that aren’t going to get here any faster. Some of us may have packages we’re waiting to receive or to be received on time. Even after the Winter Solstice, it’s still a few weeks before the effect of the year’s turning becomes obvious.

For me, the anticipation and the weather conspire to bring words more slowly to mind. I have to wait for words to form, like crystals growing on a snowflake. Again, like the snow, the words take their time on the way down, drifting where they will until they land in a place where I can gather them up. 

In her book, When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chödrön talks about the benefit of avoiding unnecessary activity and being present with a kind of “cool loneliness.” She writes, “Could we just settle down and have some compassion and respect for ourselves? Could we stop trying to escape from being alone with ourselves?” In other words, sitting and waiting might help us to find kindness.

My colleague Nancy Shaffer of blessed memory wrote a poem about this (from her book Instructions in Joy: Meditations, which is out of print but some of her poems are on the UUA’s Worship Web database.):

In Stillness

I have been looking for the words that come

before words: the ones older than silence,

the ones not mine, that can’t be found by thought—

the ones that hold the beginning of the world

and are never used up, which arrive loaned

and make me weep

The Christmas story is also one of waiting. The nativity stories portray a family and a culture, tired from living in oppression and from long journeys. They are expectant, waiting for meaning and direction to emerge from among them. In the book of Luke, when the shepherds relate what the angels told them about the child, “Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

Mary has plenty to say elsewhere in the Bible. As you may recall from a skit that Marie and I did last year, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, she has a beautiful speech about a coming time of justice, framing her words as if God has already done it. Her song includes things such as, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:46-56). Powerful stuff. Mary has a voice. Sometimes she directs her attention to contemplation. In the nativity story, as events are new and concrete, she ponders words in her heart.

There are gifts that the darkness and the silence have to offer. Theologian Howard Thurman wrote, "In the stillness of the quiet, if we listen, we can hear the whisper of the heart giving strength to weakness, courage to fear, hope to despair."

At times of great transition, waiting in silence may have more impact than words of cleverness or wisdom. Advice and pronouncements may fall short in the face of the heights and depths of life. When we face birth and loss, progress and starting over, it matters how we listen to ourselves and to each other. As the earth spins through the solstice, we face a transition together. If only a few flurries of words rest at your window, that is fine. Hold moments of silence and waiting in your heart as they come. Receive words as they fall like snow.

Honor the Mystery: Let Questions Go Unanswered

In this morning’s Time for All Ages story, the sun is reborn at the Winter Solstice. It’s a mythic story. The metaphor might mean different things for us at different times. What is clear to me, in season after season, is that there is always something being born and re-born at this time of year. Just what that is may not be clear at this point. We don’t need to know that in order to honor the mystery.

When I was in seventh grade, we had an exercise in science class that made a tremendous impact on how I see the world. The teacher put a slide on the overhead projector and asked us to name our observations out loud. We said we saw paw prints in the snow. There were two sets, one big and one little. We talked about the path of the paw prints. Finally, one of the students said, “I see black spots on a white background.” You could have heard a pin drop. That was a holy moment, with a roomful of young adolescents suddenly grasping the difference between observation and inference. We can get into philosophical discussions about how much we trust our senses, but for young scientists it was important to acknowledge that difference, and to realize how fast we jump to drawing conclusions.

In the moments of the sun’s rebirth, or gathered around the baby, or lighting the first candle of the menorah, we don’t yet know what will come to pass. Running ahead to answer questions skips the part where we connect with meaning as it emerges. If peace is going to enter into our hearts, it must pass through the door of unknowing. Predicting and controlling are rarely calm activities. Deep questions, sacred questions, do not require immediate answers.

Perhaps that’s part of the draw of winter lullabies and Christmas carols about sleeping babies. Pictures are painted in music of one profound, relatable moment, filled with love. For instance, in “Silent Night,” there are a few hints about what the writer foresees, “the dawn of redeeming grace,” but most of the details in the song imagine the nativity itself. We have the sense that a story is just beginning, yet right now we rest in the glory of one moment.

In the story of the Winter Solstice, the reborn sun looks out on the wonder of what has already happened. The sun sees and hears joy and gratitude from the earth. The next year may see a familiar turn around the spiral, some things repeated as the seasons turn. The next year may see something new. We don’t know for sure. Direction and meaning are still emerging as the sun is reborn. When we allow some of the big questions to go unanswered for now, we leave room for inner peace. That sense of calm, of openness to imagination, of being in the present moment, then equips us to create peace between neighbors and nations.

Conclusion

My prayer for all of us this Winter Solstice is that, like the sun, we find some sanctuary for rest and renewal. May we find in the sacred dark a connection to that which is timeless and accepting, that which binds us to the rest of the universe. May we take pleasure in the process of being human, realizing that our inherent worth does not depend on productivity. May we gratefully receive meaningful silence as well as words that fall to our minds and ears. May we leave open the doors of unknowing, honoring the sacred mystery as a new year comes into being.

So be it. Blessed be. Amen.

[queenburd]

I'm still writing TSP fics! I've been primarily writing Parable Actors ficlets that are confined to the discord server, but I've been thinking about classic TSP stuff, so here is a piece about how the Narrator's memories work.

Takes place in TSP HD, after lotus eaters and the flashback that's seen in in-game motivation, part 1. It also uses the pause feature that is mentioned in pause. None of these are necessary reading, but if you like my writing and want to see how Stanley and the Narrator have gotten to this point, then I would appreciate if you checked them out!

CW for an incomplete Zending run.

|.|.|.|

“Stanley, please,” the Narrator says, voice weak, “let’s go back to the other room. Please?”

Stanley swallows, looking up at the stairs. He shakes his head.

“You don’t have to do this, you know you don’t.”

He sits on the first landing, looking at his shoes where they rest on the steps.

The Narrator promised he would reset.

“I will! I will reset, soon, as soon as I’m ready, like we agreed!”

Stanley grimaces and gets to his feet. He ascends a flight and the fellow groans in frustration.

“Please, Stanley! I just wanted to be in there a little longer, you said I could—!”

He fell into the trap again.

It’s hit or miss, with the starry room. The Narrator is still trying to find his own sense of empowerment. The peace the room affords him can become addicting, drawing him in and in and in. It quiets his mind like nothing else does, and he’s loathe to leave it.

But sometimes, he can manage it. Sometimes, he can take his fill, then sigh happily and reset the game, refreshed and renewed, and ready to do and be more. Sometimes he can free himself of the siren song, stop eating the lotus flowers, and continue sailing, as Odysseus did.

This is not one of those times.

Stanley doesn’t want to do this! He doesn’t like it—doesn’t like putting himself or the voice through this experience. He finds no power in it, not like others might, nor does he find catharsis. Yet he has little choice—he has no other way to free them from this ending. There’s no other way out.

“There is! Please, just listen to me, just go back and we’ll relax and then I’ll reset!”

It won’t. He knows that. It wants to believe it will, but deep down, the voice knows.

Stanley makes it to the top landing, and steps off.

“No no no no no!”

The Narrator’s voice breaks as he makes impact. Stanley gasps as he pulls himself off the ground. There’s no blood—some pain, but no centered to any point of him. It’s diffused through all of him.

Still hurts like a bitch. He’s limping to the steps again, noticeably slower, when the Narrator says, frantic, “I’ll reset, I’ll reset, I’m resetting, I’m—“

THEENDISNEVERTHEENDISNEVERTHEENDISLOADING

Stanley braces his palms on the edge of his desk, and thinks in the same moment the Narrator speaks:

[ "Pause." ]

He inhales sharply, and then relaxes into his office chair. The Narrator lets him sit quietly, gathering his thoughts, before the fellow speaks.

“Stanley? Is everything okay?”

He lifts a hand in a seesaw gesture, and lets it fall into his lap.

What does the Narrator remember?

The response he gets is a thoughtful hum, noticeably without distress. “Let me see—if I recall correctly, we went through the red door in the warehouse, yes?”

Stanley nods. The Narrator continues calmly.

“Well, then I must have managed to reset without issue.”

All at once, Stanley feels very tired.

“Oh. I didn’t manage it, did I?”

On his part, the fellow seems at least politely apologetic. And, really, Stanley doesn’t hold it against him, that he can’t remember, nor that he struggles with the issue every time. It’s why he’s not even angry, or upset, about this. He’s just… tired. Resigned, perhaps.

The voice sighs gently. “Will you tell me what happened?”

He offers the memory.

“No, please; in your own words, if you don’t mind. I’d rather not force you to relive it.”

That’s generous, he thinks. He can oblige.

They went through the red door. They were in the room with the lights for a while. The Narrator stopped talking to Stanley, and didn’t respond when Stanley asked to reset. So Stanley had left.

He had gone to the stairwell.

“Yes, I think—yes,” the voice interrupts. “I had tried to tell you to go back, but you did end up falling before I finally forced a reset. Oh, Stanley, I am sorry,” it says, with real sorrow.

It—remembered?

“Yes, though not without prompting, I’m afraid.”

How? It hadn’t remembered before, what had changed?

“I—um—oh, look.”

Stanley’s monitor display—changes.

The black screen disappears, instead displaying a desktop, with task bar and icons. As he watches, the folder icon is clicked, quickly opening a window that displays more folders.

“Now, this is simply a visual metaphor, you understand, yes? Imagine, perhaps, my mind is the computer, and the files inside house all the different bits of me. However, I am also the person navigating the computer. Are you with me so far?”

Stanley presses his hands together and rests his elbows on the desk, then his chin on his hands. He was… kind of following.

“Now, imagine every memory is a file. Every run is located somewhere in the computer, you see? All my scripts, every word I have said and every thought I have had, it’s here, somewhere.”

Then why does he not remember certain things?

“Stanley I am getting to that, you’ve always been so terribly impatient,” the voice huffs at him, eliciting an eyeroll. “Honestly, you wouldn’t know good set-up and pay off if it bit you in the arse thirty minutes from now, after I’ve foreshadowed it.”

Yap yap yap. He frees one of his hands to open and close it like a talking mouth.

“Oh for God’s—no, no,” the Narrator interrupts sharply. “I will not get irritated, I will not become distracted, I am going to explain this because this is important.”

He inhales deeply, and exhales slowly, and as he does Stanley sits back again, focusing once more on his screen. Curiously, he moves his mouse and double-clicks on a folder.

More folders, and a collection of files with names that were just a garble of letters and numbers.

He clicks a folder.

More folders, and a collection of files with names that were just a garble of letters and numbers.

He clicks a folder.

More folders—

Oh.

“Yes,” the Narrator says, “You see? I simply don’t know where the memory is. I need guidance. I need to know where to look.”

Stanley sits back.

“Mind you, it’s not a perfect metaphor. Sometimes I do have an idea of where to start, a path or—“

An Adventure Line™️, his mind adds unhelpfully.

“A-hah, not, not quite. But you see, when you give me the starting point, you can lead me to the correct file, do you see?”

Kind of, yes. The thing is, Stanley didn’t understand computers too well, so some of the metaphor didn’t make a lot of sense.

“Alright, let’s try a different example. Let’s take the office, for an example. Let’s say we have the office, with its many halls and doors, and behind a door, somewhere, is the memory. The problem is, I’m not sure which door. But say you know the building, so you can wind through the halls and lead me to the correct door, and I just need to open it.”

Okay. So…. The Narrator’s memories were lost, but not gone. If Stan gave him context, he could get to the memory himself?

“I do believe that’s the case! It is, I think, a matter of experimentation to confirm my theory, but I do believe the fact that you and I have a rapport now is what makes this even possible. Could you imagine, if we hadn’t come to a sort of truce, what would have happened? Why, I probably wouldn’t even know there was a missing memory to even search for!”

Stanley’s mouth curls down. Yeah. He could imagine.

“…oh.”

The single utteration feels heavy. There is a long pause.

Then;

“I—I can’t recall if I’ve said it before, how grateful I am to you, Stanley. I—I know we’ve had our differences—“

Issues. Fights. Desperate bids for control—

“—yes, thank you, your point has been made; but I… appreciate that we’ve been able to come to an accord and tried to, to bury the hatchet, so to speak. I… I know I would be far worse off, if you hadn’t… been willing to compromise.”

Stanley crosses his arms, feeling a little off-balance. He imagines getting all that out was absolute hell.

“Honestly?” The Narrator sighs. “Not at all. I really—I really don’t know what I would do without you.”

His eyes fall. The voice asks, a bit hesitant.

“Are we okay? Is this too much?”

Stanley rubs an eye. It… it is a bit much, he thinks. He’s recovering from a bit of a rough reset, and new information, and this still growing connection they have is something he doesn’t know how to talk about, sometimes. It isn’t the first time the Narrator has apologized or thanked him, and their bond isn’t a new one at this point, but there’s still a part of him that doesn’t like looking at the hurt before it. It still feels raw. Maybe because of the ending they just experienced, but still.

“I see. Well,” the voice starts, feigning nonchalance, “I’m ready to go whenever you are, but if you need to pause for a little longer, then I’ll leave you to it for a bit, shall I?”

His screen closes the folders window, but it does not return to the black input display. The voice quiets, not gone, he thinks, but giving him space to think and decompress. It makes no argument, at least, when he double-clicks on the cards icon on his desktop. It lets him play Solitaire in peace.

He doesn’t keep it waiting. He exits the office, hops out the window, and lets it serenade him with a new, silly song. He thinks it is grateful.

It’s getting better. The Narrator is making strides with every run. There are stumbles, in the path, certainly—the last run is an example of one—but each time he gets a little better.

And Stanley is proud of him. And Stanley doesn’t know what he would do without the Narrator, either. Despite everything, he’s—glad. That they have each other. That they’re trying.

That they’re friends.

He’s glad.

[vibetribetarotcoach]

✨ The “Fresh Start, Big Protection, Major Abundance” Bath Spell ✨

(Because we don’t do stagnant energy over here. It’s time to cleanse, reset, and step into our full power.)

🎶 Vibe Setter:

Before we even get into it, press play on “Fluid” by Basit—let the smooth, flowing energy get you into the zone. This bath is all about releasing heavy energy, stepping into divine protection, and magnetizing abundance. We’re here to cleanse, recharge, and glow the hell up.

🛁 What You’ll Need:

(You can grab most of this from the store, your garden, or even that cute bouquet you buy for your altar.)

🌿 Base Ingredients (A must!):

Epsom Salt – Relieves stress, soothes aches, and spiritually clears stagnant energy.

Pink Himalayan Salt (optional but luxe) – Detoxes negativity, amplifies self-love.

🌸 Floral Add-Ins (Pick what calls to you):

Rose Petals – For self-love and attracting blessings.

Lavender – To keep your peace and intuition on 10.

Chamomile – For deep relaxation and calling in lucky breaks.

Sunflower Petals – To boost confidence and glow-up energy.

💎 Crystals (Place them around the tub, NOT in the water if they’re not water-safe!):

Black Tourmaline – Blocks negativity, protects your energy like a spiritual bodyguard.

Citrine – Calls in money, success, and prosperity.

Amethyst – Keeps you spiritually aligned and connected to your intuition.

Clear Quartz – Boosts the energy of everything else.

🔥 Candles (Pick one or mix it up):

White – For pure cleansing and renewal.

Gold or Yellow – To attract success and happiness.

Purple – For power, wisdom, and high vibes.

🍯 Extra Luxuries (If you’re feeling fancy):

Honey or Brown Sugar – Sweetens your energy, attracts positive people and experiences.

Orange or Lemon Slices – To refresh your aura and bring fast, lucky opportunities.

Coconut Milk or Almond Milk – For softness, goddess vibes, and deep spiritual nourishment.

🔮 Setting the Mood & Intentions:

Before running your bath, cleanse your space with incense, palo santo, or Florida Water.

Light your candles and dim the lights—set the vibe.

Press play on “Fluid” and let the sound move through you.

As the bath fills, hover your hands over the water and say: “I release what’s heavy, I welcome what’s divine. My energy is cleansed, my path is open, my blessings flow easily.”

💦 The Ritual:

Step into the water like you’re stepping into your higher self.

Take some salt in your hands and scrub from your feet up—let all the old energy dissolve away.

Let the flowers float around you, feel them recharging your spirit.

Hold your crystal (if using) and speak your desires into it—tell it what you’re calling in.

Close your eyes and soak—visualize golden light surrounding you, sealing in your protection and abundance.

🌟 After Your Bath:

Pat dry, don’t rinse—let that magic stay on you.

Pour a little of your bathwater at your front door to invite blessings in.

Put on something cozy and soft—feel yourself glowing.

🚿 Keep the Magic Going: Shower Affirmation

Every time you shower after this bath, repeat: “I am cleansed, I am protected, I am abundant. Everything I need comes to me with ease.”

Let the water run over you and imagine your aura growing stronger, brighter, more magnetic.

💌 Final Notes:

This is not just a bath—it’s a full reset. Do this whenever you feel blocked, drained, or need a fresh start.

Want to keep the energy going? Light a candle, wear a crystal, or keep fresh flowers in your space.

Most importantly? Trust that it’s working. Your energy is powerful.

You’re cleansed, protected, and ready to receive. Now go out there and walk in your abundance. 🔮✨💜