#elves and ikea

[undreaming-fanfiction]

My brain refuses to sleep, so more drabbling! Probably modern-ish AU?

Steve makes a career for himself as a re-decorator (or de-decorator, as he loves to call himself). His clientele are those celebrities who rose to fame so quickly they have plenty of money, but they don't have time to make their houses feel like home. They just bought penthouses and mansions and now live in homes that are fancy, but they feel like hotels.

Steve is there to fix that.

One of his clients is the hard working rockstar Eddie Munson whose life path went from a trailer park to couch surfing to living with 4 people in a tiny apartment, then suddenly tours, hotels and boom! He has a house that looks like an IKEA prop.

He doesn't hide his distaste at the pristine condition of the place (yes, Eddie has a cleaner). "Oh god. A beige carpet?" he scoffs and he sounds so bitchy Eddie decides he likes him already.

He likes him even more when Steve puts on reading glasses. Damn.

Over coffee, they discuss what Eddie wants. Except Steve doesn't just...tell him. He doesn't give him any hints. He just keeps asking about Eddie's favorite colors, what movies he likes, does he have hobbies apart from music? Can Steve see some of the items that bring him comfort?

And Eddie's surprised. "Shouldn't you, like...be telling me what I'm supposed to want?" he asks the gorgeous man who almost wails when he sees the vase with fresh flowers ("This is the third place in a row that has this fugly thing! Is it like a status symbol? Uh, tasteless.").

And Steve just stares at him. "Uh, Mr. Munson?"

"Eddie."

Steve nods. "Eddie. Why should I have any say in what you want? If you ask me what's practical, easy to clean, what bounces off light well, that's another thing. But in matters of taste...you're the boss. You live here, I don't. (Pity, Eddie thinks) Now, let's change this place into somewhere you actually like staying, hm?"

They spend the whole afternoon talking. Eddie opens up about what he loved before the touring and expectations from his agent took that from him. He talks about the Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy in general, and Steve listens, makes tons of notes and asks questions that make Eddie's heart bleed, such as "and who is your favorite Lord of the Rings character?" and "you mentioned elves, dwarves, orcs, wizards...so what is your favorite group?" and "which DnD class would you be then? I guess a bard? Is that too obvious?". Now, Steve doesn't know much about these things, but learns quickly and works with the info he has.

They walk through the house again, with Steve making notes and wincing at transgressions against humanity or at least against his taste in things ("Oh ew. EW. Glossy finish on a kitchen counter? What is this, a future crime scene?") and Eddie feeling equally amused and curious. Eddie orders dinner for them, it goes something like:

"I don't know what would be appropriate, any preferences?"

"Eddie, there's no time or space when pizza is not appropriate."

"What about a funeral?"

"It puts fun in a funeral."

"Touché."

They follow up on a bunch more things. Steve notices Eddie fidgeting and asks him like the mindreader he is if perhaps the place is too clean for him. "Minimalism is what everyone's trying to push," Steve says, not without sympathy, "but it's not for everyone. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but you seem like a person who'd love a more....personal, cluttered space."

And god, Eddie feels so seen. He tells Steve about all his favorite books and trinkets that he lost during a horrible earthquake in Indiana, so when he moved to the city it was just some clothes and his two guitars. Steve makes so many notes. "I've seen quite a lot of collectibles for your beloved trilogy," he says with a hint of a smile. "Is that something you'd like in your home?" Eddie can't nod any faster.

They talk about the budget (Eddie just scoffs at that, for the first time in his life money is not an issue), Eddie's absolute no go things ("No more vases, please! PLEASE. Also maybe the one room that can stay as it is is the studio, there's no decor"), if he has issues touching any materials, if he wants to keep any areas in the house neutral for visitors (he doesn't). Then finally, he asks Eddie if he wants to be more consulted or surprised.

And Eddie, tired and surprisingly relaxed from talking to Steve, just grins and says: "Surprise me, big boy."

Steve just smirks and makes one more note. "Oh, I will, Eddie."

...

Eddie goes on yet another tour for a couple of months, which is the ideal time for Steve to start working on the house.

Steve sometimes texts Eddie random choices, such as "Rohan or Gondor or both?" or "what's the best pub in the Middle Earth?" and Eddie usually trips over his feet trying to get to his phone after concerts to see if maybe he has another message from Steve. He learns bits and pieces about the man as well - he has a younger brother, Dustin, who is into the same stuff that Eddie is. Sometimes it goes like this:

STEVE: What's the best battle in the LotR movies?

EDDIE: The Ride of the Rohirrim, duh!

STEVE: Dustin says you're wrong, it's the last stand at the gates of Mordor.

EDDIE: The disrespect to king Théoden!

And finally, the big day comes. Eddie meets with Steve at the door. From the outside, the house still looks boring, but that's what they agreed on. At least for now.

But there's one notable difference and Eddie gasps when he sees it.

"I know we said no changes on the outside," said Steve sheepishly, "but I took the liberty to make one slight change."

Where the door used to be bland and white, it is now carved with silver etchings. It replicates the Doors of Durin. Eddie loves it.

Steve smiles at him. "Speak friend and enter, right? Dustin told me. Anyways, are you ready?"

Turns out, Eddie wasn't ready. Steve took all of the shiny and sterile surfaces and turned them into something beautiful.

The kitchen is now in warmer colors, brown and green, imitating the Green Dragon inn, plaque included.

Guest rooms have been changed, each to represent a group or a nation of the Middle Earth. Eddie thinks his uncle will love the Rohirrim one.

No more vases are to be seen, but Steve got potted plants ("almost immortal, as long as your housekeeper waters them once a week or so").

Eddie howls in laughter when he sees that Steve somehow managed to disguise all his security cameras as tiny eyes of Sauron.

The bathroom is inspired by the Rivendell, with soft tones and nods to Elvish architecture.

Eddie's bedroom resembles the Shire, with round shapes and homely motifs.

But Eddie's absolute favorite is the living room.

The only things that remain there that he bought are the massive TV and his stereo system with records. The rest though...

Gone is the ugly and sharp couch that looked like a geometry exercise. The new one is large and comfortable, with a couple of armchairs to finish the cozy feel. The coffee table and TV stand are more rough looking, with decorative ironwork. And then, around the room and on the walls...

"Oh wow," whispers Eddie and Steve beams at him.

There are collectibles and figurines that young Eddie Munson would have killed for. A replica of the Narsil hangs over the TV. It's cluttered but tasteful, still easy to clean, but Eddie always has something to touch, to play with.

And then he spots the bookcase and actually sobs. "What the fuck, Steve?" he asks, but there's no anger, just awe. "How did you know?"

The bookcase is full of Eddie's most beloved books, all that he told Steve about and more, but it's not just that. These aren't just pristine new prints - Steve managed to get both those and well-loved used copies. Most of them are the same editions that Eddie had before the earthquake. He runs his trembling finger over the back of the Hobbit and it feels like home.

"That was the hardest part," says Steve and leaves Eddie to rummage through the books, the old DnD guides and used comic books. "But I assumed you're sick of new and shiny. In fact, most of the collectibles are already used as well. They have some history. As for the books, uh..." He scratches his neck, embarrassed. "I will be honest, I don't read much. Dyslexia and some issues with the eyes, although audio books are making it more possible for me now. So I had to ask Dustin for help. We looked for editions published before the earthquake. I hope we got some of them right?"

Eddie just mutters "Sorry, I'm about to do something really unprofessional now" and pulls Steve into a bear hug. And Steve reciprocates.

"Fuck, this...this is everything," says Eddie into his shoulder. "How did you do this? Are you magic. You must be magic."

Steve grins. "I take it the surprise was a success then?"

Eddie finally pulls back. He would have loved to keep embracing Steve for a bit longer, but boundaries. "A total one. Wow. I mean. It's a lot, but so good. SO GOOD. How can I repay you?"

"You already paid me, Eddie."

"You know what I mean!" Eddie points and the books and apparently also a DVD collection he now owns. "This must have been so much more work than you normally do, no? I doubt every client has you memorize the members of the Fellowship."

"Not just that, but also why Sam is the best," Steve smiles at him and fuck. Eddie might be in love. "It was more than usual, but I loved it, Eddie. That's why I like my job so much, helping people find themselves again. You don't owe me anything. Although, if you're offering..."

"I'm listening."

Steve runs his fingers through that majestic hair. "So, I didn't tell Dustin that I was decorating the house for you, but he's a huge fan of your music. Like, massive, has every album, has been following your career from the start. And feel free to tell me it's too much, you are my client after all, but...he'd love to meet you. Over a pizza, maybe? The plain ham and cheese one you like so it doesn't have too many flavors?"

And Eddie melts. Because Steve still remembers his pizza choice from months ago, even though this definitely wasn't in his notes. He decides there and then that Steven Harrington is a national treasure.

"Sure, big boy," he smiles at Steve, and hopes he didn't imagine Steve leaning into the touch. "How about you invite him over for a movie night or something? With pizza of course."

It looks like Steve could kiss him, but he doesn't. Not yet. That only happens a week later, when they bump into each other in Eddie's kitchen when they scramble to make more popcorn for Dustin.

Steve stays the next night. And maybe a few after that. Always in a different themed bedroom.

They travel for work a lot, but when they are both in Chicago, they always meet in the Green Dragon kitchen, cuddle in the bed that would be far too large for a hobbit, and in the night, Eddie wraps himself around Steve and whispers: "My preciousssss."

And Steve can't really complain, because it's his fault that his boyfriend has re-discovered his dorkiness, so why would he mind?

[copperbadge]

Earlier I posted about the Stoner with ADHD's Dilemma (take an edible and have a good time or take an Adderall and have a productive almost-as-good time) so of course I pulled a real ADHD move, took neither, and lost several hours making Old Bay Chex Mix and unpacking various holiday decorations and setting up the electrical ones. (The chanukiyot are also set up but won't be as photogenic until they're lit in a few weeks.)

It's now too late to take Adderall, so an edible it is!

[ID: Two images; one is of freshly-baked Chex Mix featuring only rice chex, goldfish crackers, and cashews, basted with Old Bay spice mix. The second image shows my TV, which hasn't been turned on in months, draped with a Chicago Fire football team flag and surrounded by lighting: a small "flicker tree" with LED lights on the branches, a row of little backlit holiday elves from Ikea, and a couple of LED flicker candles. The overall effect is of a weird altar to football which I didn't intend but I'm not NOT into.]

[vaile-elenya]

do you guys think the Elves would be sorely disappointed with what we've done to the Earth if they had the chance to see it?

i'm imagining Celebrimbor looking at how we're just slapping together prefabricated boxes and calling them homes... we probably shouldn't tell him about IKEA. poor guy would be convinced it's some kind of elaborate practical joke before storming off in search of a piece of actual wrought iron to restore his sanity

[fictional-library-tournament]

Prelims round 1, poll 16

Propaganda

The Narrator's Library, The Tatami Galaxy:

In the penultimate episode of Tatami Galaxy, the unnamed narrator/protagonist "Watashi" gets trapped in an endless repeat of his student 4½ Tatami room. Opening the window or the door just lands him in another identical version of his apartment. However, after exploring room after room, he realises that the content of his bookshelf changes a little on each iteration. Each bookshelf contains the books the narrator has bought over the past two years, but some of these narrators have lived very different lives, and as such read different books.

This library potentially contains every book he would ever want to read, and may serve as a self-portrait, but it's also just a mouldy IKEA bookshelf repeated times infinity. But as those versions of himself may have led wildly different lives over the past two years, and all of them including him are self-hating failures, will he like any of them?

Magic School library, Charmed (1998-2006):

It is the single most comprehensive resource of magical information in the world and even contains books on things that everyone thought didn’t really exist or things that everyone thought had gone extinct or were long forgotten. If you have a magic question you will find a book that contains the answer here (also a few books that will swallow you and make you take part in the narrative or that will spit out people that cause problems (although this is normally bc a student was messing around)). Oh except for time travel. It has shit resources on time travel. You could find more information googling in the early 2000s :)

Rigsarkivet aka The Danish National Archives, The Pyrus Series:

Real world archives might be a bit dry and dusty, but Ri(g)sarkivet is in this case the one from the Danish Christmas Calendar tv shows collectively known as the Pyrus series. The archive itself holds a collection of books and other items from Danish history, but what sets this archive apart is the staff - the human staff, of course, is quite competent, but the archive is also home and workplace for a small group of nisser - Christmas elves - including the respectable archivist Gyldengrød and his rascal of an apprentice Pyrus. In their work of studying Danish history and history more generally (and saving Christmas every second year for a while in the 90s) they routinely employ magic - magic allowing them to jump into books and thus experience both historical events and works of fiction (and the odd computer game) from the inside; and magic to draw people out of the books. If you want to go visit vikings at their Yule feast or a medieval Lucia dance, or if you want to have a chat with Hans Christian Andersen himself? This is the place for you. Despite its appalling lack of rice. (Also, the series is the only place I've ever found a song offering a fullblown musical tribute to the very concept of cataloguing: https://youtu.be/eSQx7fvxhpg?si=O9NhKCm36oy_yxMs )

Vault of Knowledge, Sky: Children of the Light:

It's ancient. It's magical. Its employees are all ghosts. There's so much information here and all translations have been lost

The Library, Oneshot (2016 RPG by Nightmargin et al):

One of the last strongholds of society and a safe haven as the world begins collapsing into itself, the Library is located in the aptly-named Refuge within the world of Oneshot. Here, the player learns more about the mysterious Author, whose works have been dogging the entire playthrough and are crucial to understand in order to finish the game. Player meets George here, the enigmatic head librarian with a dice for a head who has six distinct personalities, one of which will be encountered depending on RNG. George will translate the Author's books, lending the knowledge needed to progress the plot.

Later on, various dwellers of the Refuge (shopkeepers, children, vendors, and more) will, as it says on the tin, take refuge in the Library when their city begins to be unhabitable as they wait for the fate of the world to unfold.

Archives of Magic, Cookie Run: Kingdom:

This was once a library housing all the knowledge of the greatest wizards in the land. While there's still a librarian maintaining it, the wizards have been gone for a long time - but there are still secrets to find within its walls, for those who can make their way inside.

[fantasticallyfruity4]

Billy and Eddie got a little place together after highschool.

It’s nothing fancy, really. But it’s nicer than the house on old cherry road, and nicer than Wayne’s trailer. Which yes, is Eddie’s home, and he’d never speak bad of, but god knows is held together by duck tape and prayer.

Honestly it’s only nice because it’s new. It’s a little 2 bedroom apartment above one of the stores on main. The owner used to use it as storage but since the mall opened he could used the extra income from converting it to a little apartment.

It’s got steady heat and electric. And they can even make the room to splurge on a basic cable package. they both know just how much that is to have. just how lucky they are to have that much.

they both know how lucky they are that the fridge isn't overflowing but always stocked enough. that they can afford a few meals out a week when they’re lazy, or as a little treat. that they can have days off during the week, fucking weekends!!! like they're middle class or some crazy shit. ends are met, and there's still some give. fuck, there's even a tiny savings account ($10 a week in the big shoebox Billys work boots came in. they deposit it when it fills up).

The entirety of the apartment is pretty humble. the “new” bed frame was from ikea, on sale because it was the display. the nightstands were from one of the thrift stores. the couch was from garreth’s place before his mom decided to redecorate, and garreth told them if they would lug it it was theirs. the coffee table was a house warming gift from Joyce Byers (and Billys still not sure he deserves her forgiveness or love, but that’s besides the point), the kitchen table from a flea market and the chairs (which honestly look like they could go, right eds? they're a great match we’ll take em) from a yard sale (same as their dressers). but everything works damn fine.

And best of all they were able to take Max in.

See, when Billy got the fuck outta dodge Neil got real mean to Max.

nothing happened, at least they were told so by the girl. and if she lied? billy wouldn't hold it against her, he'd been there- lying to anyone and Eveyone about what went on in that house. but assuming it didn't happen, it did still come too damn close.

And when max called one night and said “Billy I’m scared”, the boys were over with Eddie’s van in a half an hour and packing her shit while eddie Called in a favor from Steve harrington who called in a favor from Jim hopper, who just stood menacingly in the doorway, daring Neil to say or do a damn thing.

And this town is too damn small. Because Jim told Joyce, (the boys guessed), and Joyce must have called around, because when they got home Nancy wheeler was standing outside their door with an air mattress, a shopping bag full of some twin size linens, and a bag from melvads, just of “what her and her mom thought max might have forgotten or might need. there's some uh, snacks too. whoppers are mikes favorite so-”.

And max settles in easy. Eddie took her to the mall that Saturday to pick up some “posters and shit” for her new room, because “babe come on it’s the least we can do, that room is fucking sad”. she replaced a couple of the tapes she left at Neil and Susans, and even got 2 new ones. she picked up some posters for her wall, some stickers. some fuckin girly bath shit or something, Eddie was trying not to get a headache from how much that store smelt like one of Santas elves hurled, and some odds and ends clothing wise. (”you forgot your raincoat but not your boots?” “no you need a real jacket for the cold its fucking November your bother would kill me come on, pick one” “how many pairs of socks- no honey we don't do laundry that fast you need another pack... maybe two”) 

and billy spends the morning calling around the thrift stores, flea markets, the god damn churches, to see if anyone has anything for a bedroom set for a teenaged girl. saint some-fucin-one had a dresser he could come get, and the sally anne had a decent bed frame and a desk too (fuck the kid needs a desk doesn't she, billy realized), and he saw a little nightstand on someones curb that was fucking fine condition just needed a good cleaning. but he had to bite the full price bullet on a mattress and that hurt a little but okay. and... shit she’d like that rug. it'll make it more homey. the kids had to hard, she deserves it.

after everything they were a little low on their usual comfy pocket change and 80 bucks into the shoebox fund, and fuck were they so lucky to have it. max was overjoyed, and so happy with it. and she looked so relaxed, so comfortable. 

they never even mentioned kids. not even in a far out future way, but here they were.

max slowly casually slips into calling billy her brother. and then one day her and Eddie are getting tacos on the way home from a movie billy thought was “way too stupid to sit through, you two dorks have fun” and they bumped into one of max’s classmates and she introduced Eddie as her bother in law and fuck, did Eddie feel a lot of things at that. not as many as when he heard her on the phone say “sorry my brothers hosting his d+d thing tonight and its like, a family thing so I can’t”

the apartment is a weird mix of metal and Kate bush, but they’re all so comfortable with eachother.

Eddie hosts his D+D nights in the apartment and the kids are still a little bit skittish around Billy but he’s getting better. He stays out of the way, spends most of the nights in the bedroom, but occasionally comes out to make the party snacks and put out some water or iced tea. Interrupts with a kiss to Eddie’s cheek, saying “time to take a fucking break there’s snacks on the counter”, virtually court ordering a 10 minute recess so he can ask Eddie to catch him up on the campaign. And Max, who only really comes out of her room on these nights to bully Lucas and sit with El on the sidelines spectating (making fun of the boys), realizes that Billy doesn’t give a fuck what the campaign is, or how it’s playing out, he just wants to see how excited Eddie gets talking about his hobby, watching with soft eyes as he gets the full eddie munson: DM experience. And it seems like even if he doesn’t understand, Billy does encode what Eddie tells him, with the questions he asks and the comments he makes. Her brother is in love. And yeah she kinda knew that, they did move in together after all, but he’s really, really in love, Max realizes.

Billy’s a better cook than Eddie. And Billy isn’t great by any means, but Billy had to learn how to keep himself alive at a young age, whereas Eddie kinda always had Wayne looking out for him. So Eddie’s in charge of toast and coffee in the morning (which he burns more often than he’d like to admit) and Billy does the honors of real breakfast on the weekends, when they aren’t rushing around for work and school. Billy usually handles Dinner, and Eddie tries to help, god knows, but he’s a safety hazard and a half, as max has screamed while shooing him out of the kitchen many times.

Eddie takes good care of Billy too. It’s like he reads his mind, face getting worried and asking if he’s okay out of no where, catching a triggered Billy before even billy knows sometimes. Eddie takes care of Billy emotionally, which Billy’s never had before. He holds his hand and rubs his knuckles and promises him the world and delivers it. Max never really saw Billy cry before she started living with them. And it’s only happened twice, but she’s caught Eddie holding Billy while he honest to god Sobs, and she thinks it should probably freak her out but it’s kinda comforting to know Billy feels safe enough to do that, and that Eddie’s gonna take care of him.

Max thinks that maybe this is what normal parents are like. Loving each other, looking out for each other, taking care of each other. Trying to appreciate the others interests.

And they support her too. Much to her discomfort. Her report card is on the fridge, (held down by a magnet that’s a bottle opener) and both young men had stars in their eyes that she did so well her first quarter living with them because that means they haven’t fuck up too bad. (“It’s 4 Bs and 3 A’s Billy it��s not that great” “it’s better than I ever did! Fuck, Eddie get over here look that this! Isn’t this amazing!” “Yeah max holy shit! I had to re do senior year like, twice, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an A in my life!”) Eddie was digging through the drawers desperately looking for anything magnetic to hang it up the second he finished talking. Eddie never really got into skating himself but some of his friends did. He gives max rides to the park a few towns over some evenings, swears it’s no sweat because he likes the record store here better anyway. And sometimes cassettes just show up on her desk randomly, songs and albums she maybe said she liked once on the radio in Billy’s car.

At first max doesn’t know how to interact with Wayne. She never knew her grandparents too well, and neither her dad or step dad were worth their weight in salt. So the first dinner he’s around she’s a little stiff. So stiff that Billy takes her aside to make sure she’s alright.

But Wayne’s alwyas been good with skittish kids with fucked up families, and he gets on her good side pretty fast. Wayne helps max replace her old skateboard wheels that Sunday.

It’s not a normal family, Max is well aware of that. But it’s the best she’s got, and the best she’s ever had. She likes it fine enough.

[amethysttribble]

While Westeros may be a bit of a culture clash for reborn elves, I think a Target Superstore may just kill them out of shock like the Victorian Child meme. Maedhros isn't made for xxtra flaming hot cheetos. (Caranthir would probably do okay though lolol)

Bold of you to assume the Noldor didn't have five different competing chains of Home Depot type stores in FIERCE competition with each other at the time of the Darkening. It was a war so horrible it is scarcely spoken of.

Caranthir, Turgon, and Finrod were all on the boards of a different chain. Finwe was on the board of the first and keeps it afloat passively, and with a dangerous smile. The fifth was run by a different family of crazy motherfuckers who stayed in Valinor during the flight and subsequently cornered the market, laughing evilly all the while.

I agree that they are not built for a Target, but I think the problem is that they would despise the concept of mass made good in general. I think all the boys would take one step inside, see the quality of the average item and that there are dozens of each, and decide to burn it all down.

They are ARTISANS dammit. Consequently, they would also revile the idea of an ikea. If you can't make your own furniture, at least get someone else to make you a custom piece, you philistines

[fuzzy-oooze]

I use plant names for elves, ikea products for giants, and benedict Cumberbatch name generators for gnomes

[kezzart]

I love D&D.  These are antics with me and my friends and bless our DM for putting up with our antics at a Fantasy Ikea. 

[princecharmingwinks]

Sterek Fic Rec - November 2022. Wow, lots of things happening this month so I didn’t get through all my reading as quickly as I usually do. Sorry for the delay. Here’s the next round of fic recs!

Something New Is Going to Happen by dragon_temeraire (1/1 | 4K | Teen)

Stiles accidentally discovers that their school mascot is super cute.

Kiss me if you must by raisesomehale (1/1 | 2K | Teen)

Derek is wrapping up the announcement on the Elves that have come into town when Stiles gets a text from Danny, asking where he is, and that if Stiles isn't there when his shift comes, he is passing any kiss induced diseases onto him.

OR

The one where Stiles has a shift at the kissing booth and everyone secretly wants his dick.

On Building an IKEA Den for an Alpha Werewolf. by orphan_account | podfic by  churkey (2/2 | 13K | Mature)

Senior Prom is coming up, and Stiles doesn't have a date. Additionally, Derek has an unfurnished apartment, and no one to take him to IKEA.

Wrong Number by greenleaf (1/1 | 9K | Teen)

Even wrong numbers can get it right sometimes.

...Or one where Stiles dials the wrong number and keeps forgetting to change it, while Derek ends up going along for the ride and sees Stiles four times before Stiles meets him.

It's In Our Lungs, Our Blood by xxjinchuurikixx (1/1 | 9K | Explicit)

“It’s… it’s amplifying urges. Primal urges influenced by thoughts my wolf has already had.” “So… so, do you want me? Did you… before?” “Yes, Stiles. Always.” “Then let me help.” * Derek gets hit by some sex pollen, and only Stiles can work it out of his system.

seems to me it's chemistry by HalfFizzbin (1/1 | 4K | Teen)

Awkward Nerd Derek has been crushing on Handsome Jock Stiles since forever—so getting paired with him on a Chemistry project is definitely the best/worst thing that's ever happened to him.

Why the hell does it have to be a Dämonfeuer? by Winchesterek (1/1 | 916 | Teen)

Stiles is a Grimm hunting a dragon.

Scent Marking For Dummies by Hatteress (goddammitstacey) | podfic by sallysparrow017 (1/1 | 8K | Teen)

Stiles is almost used to being chased around the school by werewolves at this point. Having to share a bed with Derek freaking Hale, on the other hand, is just needlessly complicating his life.

Shelter by five_ht | podfic by chemm80 (1/1 | 7K | Explicit)

After the rave, Stiles can't go home, and Derek doesn't want him to.

Wolfed In A Good Way by LadyDrace (1/1 | 2K | Explicit)

Stiles and Derek make out. Derek accidentally goes wolfy. Stiles is a HUGE fan of this.

princecharmingwinks special mention (Soft Derek kills me in the best way and the dialogue in this fic made me melt!)

Vodka happened by GreyHaven (1/1 | 6K | Teen)

5 times Stiles has no brain to mouth filter and turns into a malfunctioning octopus, and 1 time Derek does. Featuring drunk Stiles and pining Derek, a giggling fit, lurid blue vomit that costs Derek a car, a vodka incident and a kiss.

I’ve been listening to a few more podfics now (ensuring I also comment on the wonderful fics themselves as well!) so if I have listened instead of read, I’ve included both in the recommendation so everyone can take their pick.

[tamilhobbit]

Elven craftsmanship

I was watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey while chatting to @glorfindel-of-imladris​ (Ulan), and the following conversation ensued.

Me: Elven craftsmen are so freaking extra

They can’t just carve a table

They have to engrave all sorts of flowing entwined patterns on the top (as seen in the movies, anyway).

Which means you can’t just put a single piece of paper on it and write, because it isn’t a smooth surface. You’d need a writing pad or some sort of backing to place under your parchment. Elves being Elves, it probably has a fancy border carved in. 

Ulan: Elves are effing extra probably because they have all the time in the world for it xD 

Me: I imagine Erestor put his foot down about all the office desks and library desks being solid sturdy smooth desks with maybe small carvings along the border. Otherwise the craftsmen would have kept going and probably produced honeycomb surfaces on the desks or something.

Ulan: If you present to them one of our minimalist box tables they probably won’t even recognise it as a table, lol 

Me: I can imagine their disgusted faces 

Ulan: Lol dear lord 

Me: “What is that ugly plain thing?" 

Ulan: But Erestor is ever the pragmatist. I wonder if a smooth table surface is a radical concept in the Second Age xD 

Me: And they’d be brandishing a chisel and probably itching to fix it. "Please, I beg of you, just let me carve some curving lines in!”

Imagine their faces in IKEA.

Ulan: XDDDDD

Oh, the horror.

So, uh, if anyone wants to draw horrified Elves in IKEA… I imagine they’d find this table very LACKing. :D

[dream-about-dancing]

I say Ikea. Imagine every year they dress up as a human with their non clothes and go shopping in Ikea. 3 house elves who stand on the shoulders of the others in crazy things but the humans only think 'Hipsters' or something similar and the elves can enjoy their shopping trip. They also love the food at IKEA.

i'll bite. Where do you think the furniture in the common rooms comes from?

Hmmm good question?? What if it’s made by wood from the forbidden forest?? That’d be interesting

[toku-fangirl-dolls]

Dolly Good Season: Christmas

Merry Christmas! I love pajamas, both for myself and for the dolls, so I had to get everyone dressed in their holiday jammies! Evette’s are handmade and the rest are from AG. I have a matching pair with Mary Kate (the red snowflake top) that I got on clearance for like $5…I think AG must’ve way overestimated how much interest there was in matching pajamas for women, because they only did it the one year and they originally wanted $50 for the adult sizes.

Santa Claudia and her elves Sarah and Eiji have lots of toys to deliver! The mini stuffed toys and Cabbage Patch dolls are Happy Meal toys and the Care Bear in a gift bag is an ornament. I actually had the Cabbage Patch toys as a kid, so I was super excited to find them again at a toy show a few years ago.

We got the shelf from IKEA. I love having another level for displaying things!

Melody and Evette are putting the finishing touches on the gingerbread house while Luciana, Bree, Mary Kate, and Addy set out milk and cookies for Santa.

[baby-bearie]

for blurb night !

-> going to ikea and goofing around until you get kicked out with rafe cameron (omg)

“y/n, y/n, look at this.” rafe called for your attention.

“god, rafe, what now?” you spun around to see rafe standing in the center of a model room filled with children’s furniture, looking extremely out of place. rafe looked like a giant playing doll’s furniture, and the childlike look of amusement on his face did not help. he reached a hand out to you as you recovered from a laughing fit, and you accepted it, letting him pull you onto the model room with him. “this shit is so tiny! who’s even this small?” he laughed.

“how about children?” “no, it’s elves. oh my god, look at this.” rafe sat down on a tiny bed, leaning back and extending his legs until he was lying down. he barely fit on top of the skinny bed, and it ended at his knees, so his legs dangled over the footboard. “oh my god, rafe, no,” you tried to stop him to no avail.

“y’know, y/n, this is a lot like the bed where we,” he began before you slapped a hand over his mouth. “rafe, please, stop freaking people out,” you glared are him. “someone’s gonna hear you and think you’re serious.” “and i think you’re too serious!” he pulled your hand away from his mouth before pulling you on top of him.

“rafe!” you yelped. “what? are you uncomfy?” he laughed. “here, lemme’ jus’, now hang on,” he scooted around on the bed before quickly flipping himself over so you were now lying on the bed with him over you. in the process, his fingers danced across your stomach, making you jerk away from him.

“rafe! stop tickling me!” you squealed, realizing your mistake as you watched the devilish smile grow on his face. “rafe, no, don’t,” you scooted away from him, but with no where to go on the bed, he darted his hands out again to wave his fingers over any patch of skin he could find, making you wriggle around until-

“um, sir? we’re going to have to ask you to leave.” a squeaky voice called out to you from the main floor. you both scrambled out of the bed, rafe still laughing. you elbowed him before apologizing to the worker and dragging rafe out of the store by the wrist.

“damn it, rafe.” “god, y/n, can’t believe y’got us kicked out.”

[livielfinarfiniel]

I can't explain why but I thought about this a few months ago already. I guess I just love Ikea and the Feanorians. So I'm gonna try to put the notes I found into understable sentences. I'm German so please excuse any mistakes. I don't know if Ikea is the same in other countries but I'll just assume it.

All of it is from my headcanon so please don't get mad if I get something wrong or there are things that aren't really logical. Hopefully y'all enjoy what I wrote half-asleep like three months ago :)

It's mainly notes but somehow also Feanor's POV.

So, I just decided that Valinor is modern now and because the Valar kicked Feanor out of Tirion he and his family had to move to Formenos. But there's no furniture yet which means that they're gonna visit Ikea.

Feanor hates Ikea. With all of his being. He's literally never been there but still. He thinks that the first to letters stand for Ingvar Kamprad the owner. First of all: what a weird name for a Noldo. And secondly: Even in Feanor's view it's a little to much to name your company after your own name. He didn't call the Silmarilli the "Feanárilli", did he? Long story short: Feanor hates this guy. But since there is no Home Depot yet [or something like this I don't know where people buy furniture in the USA or basically any other country that isn't Germany].

The Ambarussa are excited because they'll visit Småland. They trust Maedhros and Nerdanel with choosing their furniture. Even though they're not kids anymore but grownups nobody says anything about them wanting to stay in Småland. Except Celegorm who is quickly shut up by Caranthir who doesn't want the twins to come with them. They'd just cause even more trouble. And Feanor is pretty sure that the Ikea guy he hates so much for no apparent reasons will make him pay for everything they break. (Breaking things, preferably the expensive ones. That's what the Ambarussa are experts for. Like Ulmo's favourite fishbowl. Or Fingolfin's ...well... his house. Still something Feanor - and the twins too of course - loves to remember and brings up at every family dinner. It's just a bonus that Fingolfin turns incredibly red every time. Yes, Feanor is the bestest big bro ever...)

Huan has to wait at the door. Celegorm's day is ruined already now.

Feanor really hopes that they serve wine at the Ikea Restaurant. He needs alcohol because he bumped into like five dressers in the first 10 minutes and is already pissed af...

Nerdanel and Maglor are clever enough to just leave without attracting any attention and go empty the decoration department of Ikea. They're really good at leaving without anyone noticing.

Feanor bets they took one of those weird shortcuts. Last time Feanor used one of those he got lost in Ikea so bad that an employee had to make an announcement for him. "Please fetch Noldorin crown prince Feanáro at the service point." It was so embarrassing! Nerdanel and Moryo - sharing the same dry sense of umor - laughed at him for hours after they picked him up shortly after. He swore an oath to never take a shortcut in Ikea again.

Because Nerdanel magically disappeared with Maglor Maedhros has to pick a bed for the twins. He chooses a bunk bed.

Feanor buys a safe and is already thrilled to bits about locking his Silmarilli up in it.

Because he forgets he's actually pissed for a bit Feanor lets Curufin choose the new tableware because his mini-me is just the best with knives. This could result in very dangerous forks but honestly who cares? Feanor clearly doesn't. He also likes weapons so it's most probably gonna be fun.

When Feanor asks "what f***ing cupboard" this is now for the 7th time Maedhros takes the list from him which Nerdanel made at home. So now Maedhros looks for the furniture together with Curufin who mostly makes sarcastic comments and nods interested when Maedhros mutters something like "This is Platsa, right?" or "You're a Billy, aren't you?" as if the dresser - that clearly isn't Billy - would answer.

Curufin also writes down which wardrobe belongs into which room. Letting him write is probably a very bad idea if you ask Feanor because not even Curufin himself can read his own handwriting... Luckily most of them don't care what furniture they get. That just would've caused even more chaos.

Only Curufin wants to have specific furniture fitting his very extraordinary style and doesn't trust anyone with it - not even his favourite brother Celegorm.

Feanor is very happy about not having to manage the whole situation anymore. He follows the others around and makes fun of the names of all the furniture pieces with Celegorm.

Caranthir quietly pushes the shopping cart they unfortunately had with them since they entered Ikea. At some point he strolls off to pick up the twins from Småland.

Caranthir hands the cart to Feanor and Celegorm promptly plants himself on it and makes Feanor drive him around.

Nerdanel buys LED lights for the twins. Feanor doesn't want to argue with her but he thinks it's a fatal mistake considering that the Ambarussa already like to turn the lights off and on all the time which is annoying to say the least.

Feanor nearly has a heart attack when Nerdanel and Maglor suddenly appear from behind a mirror (probably another mysterious shortcut who knows?) and empty their shopping bags into the cart which is now completely full. They're most probably gonna need more than one.

Finally at the Ikea Restaurant Feanor orders Köttbullar for all of them. The cook recognises him and puts a little flag with the Feanorian Star on it on his plate.

At the Ikea Restaurant Feanor learns four things: 1. Köttbullar are delicious. 2. Still never buy them again! 3. Köttbullar can be used perfectly with your big brother's bow he carries around all the time. 4. Next time eat before visiting Ikea. (But not at McDonald's because ChickenMcNuggets work perfectly fine as well...) The cook now regrets giving them the little flag.

When they finally arrive at the depot where you pick up your furniture boxes everyone already has their own cart filled with all the random things offered in Ikea.

Everyone makes use of Maedhros' height to get the things from the top drawer.

Curufin, Maglor and Feanor sneak their stuff onto the carts of the others who don't notice at all.

The twins buy lots of sweets. They got it from Maedhros who in contrast to them knows his limits.

Maedhros buys two tubs of ice cream. One for himself and one for Fingon. Nobody has the heart to remind him that it will melt too fast. He somehow manages to hold all the ice cream in one hand so he can use the other one to eat his hot dog. He's weirdly good at carrying things in on hand...

Celegorm is upset because the others are eating innocent puppies. Nobody dares to ask if he really thinks that there is actual dog meat in hot dogs.

The next day they start putting all the things they bought together. But at first Maedhros and Curufin need to sort all of it so they know which item belongs to which of them. Feanor is pretty sure that Curufin planned this the whole time. He just helped so willingly yesterday so he wouldn't have to carry around all the boxes to other rooms now. And then back and after that into even another room and then "for Eru's sake where does this shit belong?"

It wasn't Maedhros' fault that all of this was so messy. He only told Curufin what to write down. And he did write something down. Maybe not 100% correctly but still. But it wasn't Curufin's fault as well. It was Ikea's fault. That's for sure if you ask Feanor. But he may be a little subjective...

The whole situation only gets worse after the Ambarussa ate all of their candy at once and got sugar shock. Only Maedhros was allowed to eat from it because he looked at them with puppy eyes and later installed their LED lights. Nerdanel now regrets buying those...

When it's all sorted Feanor and Nerdanel have fun building all the shelves and wardrobes and beds. The rest of the family hands them things or holds stuff for them.

Maglor successfully talked his way out. He's really good at talking himself out of things. Now he ensures that everything is done correctly and writes down all the things they forgot. Luckily it's not that much as Feanor feared. It's still much tho.

Please someone headcanons for the Fëanorians assembling IKEA furniture???!!!

[notallfay]

More #ikea pictures from today, some #elves frolic in nature... I also frolic in #ikea because both are so much fun to do! #bjd #abjd #balljointeddoll #doll #minifee #Lucywen #lucywenelf (at Ashton Under Lyne Ikea)

[kerie-prince]

We're Worlds Apart (4)

Draco Malfoy x American No-Maj!reader

series m.list | general m.list | previous chp

warnings: a curse word if you squint, sassy Draco

summary: Draco Malfoy is a pureblood wizard. Magic runs through his veins and has been since his birth. You're a Wiccan No-Maj; a non-magical being with ordinary blood through your veins, but practices what you call magick. And this very practice upsets your neighbor.

a/n: a day late bc i got distracted watching game of thrones lmao i have adhd so i honestly should've known better than to have something so attention demanding in front of me :P

(gif cred)

Three more days.

Three more days until your brother and his girlfriend come to your Buffalo suburban home to spend Thanksgiving. You came home from work on a better day than the ones from the week before, only to walk inside and was almost convinced you entered the wrong house.

Your mother took the liberty of decorating your house while you were gone. The place looked like an IKEA catalogue. Green and cream colored throw pillows were on your black leather couch, your small dining table had a fall-themed centerpiece and a blood orange table cloth. New dining chairs, all of them matched, unlike the mismatched ones you had before. And that god-forsaken ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ wooden sign hung in your kitchen. That damn thing is leaving first thing in the morning.

“Ma, what the hell did you do to my house?” The more you looked, you groaned at what you saw. Your grandmother’s tapestry was no longer hanging at its original place, now hung hidden behind the tv. “Oh, don’t give me any grief about it. Y/B/N is coming and I don’t want the place looking like the Spirit store.”

You knew you couldn't really fight her on this. It would be more frustrating to have to argue and still not be able to put everything back to how it was until she left. Taking a deep breath, you walked yourself to your room to get changed into comfortable clothes and light some sage for your nerves.

Three more days.

—

One more week.

In a week's time, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott were to come to New York to spend the month of December with Draco and to say he was excited was an understatement.

He was excited, nervous, and many other feelings that he was too stressed to name. The guest room was prepared for the two of them to share, all he had to do was figure out what to do with them while they were here. He had taken a week off and had no idea what to do. He still hadn’t gone around the city he lived in. He could always ask his friends at Saint Marie but for some reason, he was too shy to.

He could always ask Mrs. Charles for recommendations on what to do. She was a sweet muggle neighbor that he came to like as well as her husband. He could also ask you, but it’s been over a week since he spoke to you in your yards. From glimpses into your window, you seemed so exhausted. Not that he really cared, but he remembered that you would try to get along better and so far, all he’s done was give a nod towards your direction when he walked into his home as you were leaving yours.

His bedroom blinds were always closed now because he knew that if he were to see you doing your… whatever you do in your room just once, he’d change his mind about the whole thing. It still bothered him, but not as bad as it did when he first saw it.

Draco’s stomach growled as he sat on his couch, bringing him out of his thoughts and walked over to the kitchen. To his despair, his pantry, cabinets, and fridge were all empty. Guess I’ll have to grab something. He pondered on what he was in the mood for as he ran out the door. Draco figured he'd just figure it out as he drove around the streets downtown.

Since moving to America, he found so many new cuisines than he had ever imagined. He usually always ate at home, and if his family ever ate outside of home they usually went to the finest restaurants in France. Of course, they were all wizard-owned restaurants. But in New York, he’s been introduced to new things. For one, he had his first ever hamburger with Blaine. Ashley took him to a Chinese restaurant, and Ian bought Draco a traditional New York pizza.

Yes, all these things existed in London. Maybe not so much New York-style pizza, but there was pizza. Draco, however, never had the opportunity to try any of these foods. Lucius was extremely strict about eating out. It was never necessary considering he could afford the best quality foods to be made at home. When they did eat at restaurants in France, it was only because a higher official at the Ministry had invited them for a night out.

Around the streets, the bright lights of buildings and restaurants lit the streets as he drove around them. Draco turned into a street he hadn’t been into yet in hopes to find something else he could find to try. There were a couple places he hadn’t been into; a Greek restaurant, a Brazillian one, and a couple shops. There was one shop close to the end of the street. It was sandwiched between two boutiques and had a neon green and purple sign in the front. Soul Beads. In front of the building was a man with a weird sign in one hand and an even weirder thing that seemed to have made his voice louder in the other. Draco couldn’t make of the rubbish he was yelling into the thing from inside his car.

Draco pulled to the curb to walk around the street and check out the restaurants. A bell jingle caught his attention, turning around to see one person he didn’t really expect to see here. “Draco?” your face showed the same expression as his. He watched as you closed the door to Soul Beads and walked up to him. The weird man that stood in front of the store yelled out, “DON’T TALK TO HER, THIS BITCH HERE WORKS FOR THE DEVIL!”

“Do you know him?” Draco asks with a quirked eyebrow. The stranger kept yelling profanities at you but Draco saw how you couldn’t be bothered by it. “He does this every couple weeks. What brings you out here?” Your hands were stuffed tightly in your pockets for warmth.

“Do you own the street? Can I not be here?” he asked sarcastically. You faced him with a deadpan look as to ask him again without having to say the words to him. Or call him a smartass. Which he is. With a roll of his eyes, he continued, “I’m looking for something to eat but I’ve never been to these places before.”

“Ah,” you started, “Well I don’t know what kind of stuff you’re used to, but I suggest the Greek restaurant right across. Over-priced, but the best gyros you’ll ever have in Buffalo.”

“It’s yee-roh, not jahy-row.” Draco corrected. He couldn’t tell if you were irritated or confused after he said that. Probably both.

“You know Greek?” you asked.

“I studied it when I was a child. My tutor showed me the word once and hit my hand when I had mispronounced it. Learned the hard way to never do that again,” flashbacks to the older woman teaching him the language cursed his mind for a few seconds.

His stomach growled even louder now in the silence between them. Draco blushed in embarrassment, shifting around to look away so you wouldn’t see. You slightly chuckled and tapped his shoulder. “Come on, neighbor’s treat.” And you walked onto the busy street.

This bloody woman is crazy to be crossing a busy street he thought as he rushed to follow you across the street. He got scared as a car got too close and ran to the safety of the sidewalk. “You’re gonna get yourself bloody killed one of these days like that,” he scolded. “If you’re gonna live in New York, you’re gonna have to deal with annoying pedestrians and sometimes be an annoying pedestrian. Be glad you don’t live in Manhattan, they’re worse. A person could be hit by a car and he’d just get on up and keep walking.” you informed.

Draco would be lying to himself if he said that didn’t spook him a little. Sure, he’s seen a few students get hexed, some by him, but they’d never just dealt with it and continued walking in the halls. They’d either have to hope their friends knew the counter curse or they’d end up in the hospital wing and had Madam Pomfrey help them back to normal. These muggles really are just… strange.

The restaurant looked old and desperately needed a remodel but by Merlin, it smelled amazing. “Now, are you getting a yee-roh sandwich or are you getting something else?” you mocked his previous correction with a playful roll of your eyes. Draco looked at the menu but it didn’t matter as he didn’t know the first thing about Greek food. What the hell did my father force me to take lessons for? “Do you want me to just order for you?” you asked as he kept browsing for too long. There were only 12 things on the menu but it still confused him.

He held back a snarl as he agreed to your help. He stood aside as you ordered and waited until it sounded like you were done, then headed up to the window to pay. “Oh, you don’t have to. I insisted I would pay,” you tried to push his hand away and reach for your credit card but he proceeded to hand the money to the cashier. “It’s nothing.”

“Here or to-go?” the lady asked with a thick New York accent. The two of you just looked at each other waiting for someone to say something. “Do you want to just-”

“Eat it here?” He looked at the small space and saw only one unoccupied table by the window. One of two tables. No longer growling, his stomach was shaking nearly violently, indicating that he can’t wait any longer. It was a strange feeling to be starving. Never had he ever had to wait for food at Malfoy Manor nor at Hogwarts. Whether it was house elves or first years, someone always ran to get him food with a snap of his fingers. “Yeah, here’s fine.”

The lady handed your plates to you as he went to claim the small table before someone else did. He looked around the space with a slight disgusted look. It’s not that it was run by muggles, but just because the place looks so old and kind of dirty. Even the house elves at the Manor lived in better conditions. The corner he sat in made him feel slightly claustrophobic. How do they sit and enjoy anything like this?

You sat the food on the table and shook your jacket off on to the chair. Draco watched as you placed the plates as neatly in front of you both. He couldn’t help but notice the rings that covered most of your fingers. Some were simple silver bands, some bronze bands, and some looked like wire that had a wrapped, colorful rock in the center. They were mismatched but coordinated at the same time. If that made any actual sense.

You started some simple small-talk, “So, what brings you all the way out here?”

“I got a better job opportunity,” Draco responded. His voice sounded uninterested, and his eyes stared at the plate. It had three pieces of meat on a bed of white rice, a small salad and a little dipping bowl of some white sauce. He dipped the meat into the sauce and as he tasted it, he nearly groaned in content. The flavors danced around his mouth and he had to hold himself back from devouring the whole plate in a matter of seconds.

He could feel you staring at him but chose not to look up to see judgement in your eyes. Whether it was with amusement or not. The food was so good and he would most definitely order another one to-go on his way out for his lunch break tomorrow. I’m definitely bringing Blaise and Theo here.

“What kind of job do you do?” Draco stopped chewing his food and swallowed nervously. He should’ve expected this kind of question sooner or later, but here he was sitting in silence trying to figure out what to say. He couldn’t just tell you that he’s a Healer because then that would lead to more questions and that’d be more answers he couldn’t give you. “What, you don’t wanna tell me?” you furrowed your eyebrows at him as he continued his silence.

Finally, the word popped in his mind, “I’m a doctor.” Hopefully that ends that conversation.

“That’s cool, what kind of doctor are you?” Shit. There’s more than one kind?

“Uh, I work with people who come into the hospital with major injuries like a broken arm and such,” Draco stuttered.

“So, an emergency room doctor. You work in the ER then,” you concluded with a hand over your mouth as you chewed. “Y-yeah, that.” Draco tried not to sound suspicious. “What about you?”

You cleared your throat, drank some of your soda and pointed out the window, “You see that store over there? Soul Beads? That’s my store.” It was weird how coincidental it was that of all streets to drive into and of all people to run into, he ran into you coming out of your personally owned store. Looking back at you, he saw your face relax and smile at the building. “What do you sell? I’m assuming it’s not food seeing as you didn’t invite me in.”

Now it was time for you to stutter, “Oh, just candles and stuff. Nothing too flashy.” You poked at your food and took small bites of it. There was an awkward silence between you two for about ten minutes before you started the conversation before, “Assuming you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, will you just be working that day?” Draco didn’t know much about the holiday, only that he was getting paid more that day.

“Yeah, I’ll be at the hospital for the night. Probably until four in the morning.”

“Well that sucks. You’ll miss out on the greatest American tradition that is Black Friday,” you chuckled.

“What’s that?” Yet another thing Draco didn’t understand.

“Black Friday is when people fight to the death for a discount on things like appliances and tvs. It’s quite amusing to watch,” you slightly exaggerated. Keyword slightly. Draco had wide eyes as he heard the description. “I’m sorry, to the death?”

With that, you laughed so hard you placed one hand flat against your chest and the other held the table with a tight grip as if you were to fall from your seat. He then realized you actually didn’t mean to the literal death and mentally scolded himself for being so gullible. You continued laughing and he rolled his eyes before chuckling to himself. You leaned back up and wiped some tears underneath your eyes, “Oh my god, I needed that laugh.”

A shiver went up Draco’s spine once he caught a glimpse of your smile. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen you smile at all. Before your little argument, you would smile towards him and all the other neighbors all the time. But this never happened before. He looked away from your eyes and tried to find anything else to look at. Tilting his head up, he saw an air conditioning unit. Oh, that’s why.

Small talk ended there with a clear of his throat and proposed to go home. Draco saw how you looked a little disappointed and forced a small, kind smile on your face, “Yeah, it’s getting kinda late and I don’t want to keep my mother waiting. God knows what she’s done to my house while I was gone.” He wasn’t going to keep pressing on the matter as he figured they still weren’t close enough for that. One dinner didn’t make them friends in his book. It wasn’t terrible, though. Maybe he would do it again.

Walking to their own cars, she said “See you around, neighbor,” and got into her car and drove off. He just nodded his head as he always did and drove off as well. They arrived home at the same time and walked inside without looking at each other, thinking that it would just be weird to keep saying goodbye.

—

It was finally Thanksgiving, and Y/B/N and Stephanie were going to be over around three in the afternoon. Your mother was more of a pain than usual, waking you up at six in the morning to do last minute cleaning, grocery shopping, and starting on roasting the ham. The loud argument over ham or turkey in the grocery store the week before lasted for an embarrassing two hours after your mother caved and let you pick the main entree for dinner.

Once you got an hour to yourself, you went to your closet in the hall and grabbed a small glass jar then walked to your backyard for some lavender. You walked to the kitchen for a stick of cinnamon, placed the items on the kitchen counter and walked quickly to your room for something small. Your eyes found a loose ribbon on the floor and grabbed it then went back to the kitchen.

You put all the items into the jar and browsed the kitchen for one more thing. There was a bouquet of flowers on the dining table that your mother bought. Perfect. You grabbed a couple flowers and took the petals to mix in the jar. Once you were done, you chanted to yourself three times:

“Goddess, please take the negativity out of this kitchen.

Replace it with positivity and love. So mote it be.”

You heard your mother waking up from her nap from the guest room and ran into the kitchen to hide the jar somewhere she couldn’t see it. The spell can’t exactly work if she sees something to nag about. She walks in the kitchen and sees you looking suspicious.

She looks at you with squinted eyes - mainly because she had just woken up - but said, “I’m not gonna ask what you’re up to. Can you make the potato salad? I like the way you make it better.” You silently agreed as you looked for the things in the fridge and grabbed a large bowl to mix it in. Your mother walks up to one of the cabinets to grab a pot to boil the potatoes with, only to find the thing you tried to hide. “What’s this, honey?”

You stammered over your words trying to find an explanation before she cut you off, “It’s pretty with all the things in there. You should keep it out.” She placed it beside a photo on the countertop and walked away to fill the pot with water. You were surprised she didn’t ask any further questions. You continued cooking and had a hopeful smile on your face. Maybe it won’t be so bad tonight.

The doorbell rang and you both looked at the clock on the wall. It read 1:55 and you looked at each other in confusion. “Y/B/N must be early,” your mother guessed and went to the door to let him in. The greeting was loud as she greeted him in. You could hear your little brother’s laugh with enthusiasm as he walked into your kitchen, “What’s up, big sis?”

You placed the utensils down and ran up to him with your arms up, “I’ve missed you too, baby brother.” He was much taller than you as he picked you up and hugged you tightly. You slightly swung your legs to give him the signal to let you go. He got his height from your dad, leaving you short thanks to your mother. Your brother had a big smile on his face and you reciprocated the smile. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen each other.

“Oh, lemme introduce you. Steph, c’mere!” He looked over his shoulder and called for the special guest. A beautiful woman with long, chocolate brown hair and doe blue eyes walked next to Y/B/N. “It’s so nice to meet you, I’m Stephanie.” She held her hand out causing you to quickly wipe your hands on your apron. “Hi, I’m Y/N.”

“Y/B/N has told me so much about you. I was so nervous to meet you,” Stephanie admitted with a slight blush on her cheeks. “I wonder what this dummy told you. I bet you I can tell you more embarrassing stories about him,” you jabbed his arm.

“That’s not fair, I didn’t say anything all that bad. You’ll hex me or some shit,” he had his hands up in defense.

“Y/B/N!” Your eyes widened and you laughed nervously, “Don’t listen to him, he’s an idiot.”

Stephanie looked back and forth at the two of you and finally settled on you, waving a hand, “Oh no, that’s okay. I practice, too.” Wait, what? It seemed your mother thought the same exact thing, only out loud. “Yeah, Stephanie also does the same thing you do. Crazy, right?”

Your mother stood shocked before them, not saying anything. Your brother had a smile that wasn’t exactly fitting the situation. Stephanie had a kind smile, and although you were visibly surprised that your little brother’s girlfriend was, of all things, also a Wiccan, you were laughing inside at your mother.

This is gonna be the most interesting Thanksgiving ever.

—

next chp

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