#emi's christmas special

[a-romantics-guide-to-life]

⋆𖠰₊⟡ ˚❆ 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 ❆˚ ⟡₊𖠰⋆

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: coriolanus snow x fem reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: just a regular day snow day with Snow; aka now that coriolanus has you in his arms, he doesn't intend on letting you go

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬: just pure fluff : ) very short n sweet

𝐚/𝐧: welcome to my version of 12 days of christmas! been in the holiday mood so.... i hope you enjoy!

𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

The winter wonderland outside your window kept you and the man next to you snuggled up in bed. The weather outside was frightful, but the fire in your fireplace was so delightful. And since you and Coriolanus had no place to go, it was a fine day for cuddling underneath the snow white sheets.

Coryo couldn’t think of a better day to have, especially during the harsh winter where just going outside for fresh air could kill you from sickness. He swears that's how the Senator from last year, the one who you had joked was knocking on Heaven’s door, passed away suddenly before the annual Holiday Gala all those politicians held. Of course, there was a ton of conspiracy surrounding the deadly winter Capitol season ranging from assassins hidden in the snow injecting victims with a poison to Rebels spreading a toxic gas to the water that became snow.

You and Coryo didn't believe it one bit but that didn’t stop you from lying to the awful politicians Coryo had to deal with on a day to day basis just so that you could spend some time with your husband.

“Coriolanus?”

He raises himself onto his elbow, his hand coming up to stroke your flushed cheeks. You look up at his bright blue eyes, his hair golden in the faint sunlight. He admired you, his eyes trailing down your perfect face, your robed body. 

He was completely taken with you. Consumed by your love and desire, your unadulterated care for him when no one else would even dare look at him afraid of the power he had. Coriolanus had been feared which had been effective when rising to the top of the Capitol’s corrupt power system but so so so tiring when it came to his house at the end of the day. It was so damn lonely so much so that Coriolanus often found himself wondering if love was even real.

And then you happened and he never doubted it ever again.

“Yes, my dear?”

You smile, setting yourself up to lean against the headboard of your opulent bed. The dark oak of the frame, rich with engravings and gold painted ridges. Leaning forward, you press your forehead to his, your hair so messy it starts to tickle his ears and neck.

“I love you.”

He smiles, wrapping his hand gently around your neck, his thumb continuing to stroke your cheek. When you nuzzle your nose to his, Coryo’s heart leaps out of his chest. 

Lovely, he admires, you are absolutely lovely.

He leans in, pressing his lips to yours. You sigh, wrapping your arm around his torso, his pale skin warming your arm. He nearly growls as he pulls you to him further. He kisses you senseless as he sends the two of you tumbling down in a fit of laughter.

Coryo starts to kiss his way down your neck to your collarbone where he leans in and rests his cheek on your neck. You giggle, chest heaving from the movement while his arms come to your sides and tickle you.

“Noooo Coryo! Stop! I can’t stop laughing!” You scream as Coryo smiles at the effect his hands have on your sides. His fingers move as if he is playing a beautiful piano symphony across your heavenly body. He smiles as he admires how you look, the cool white sunlight lighting your face. You glance outside to the snow falling right outside your window.

“What are you thinking about my dearest?” He asked you, bringing your hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle on the hand before kissing each of your winter kissed fingertips.

“It’s really snowing out there Coryo.”

“Indeed it is,” he sighs before laying down next to you once more, his arm moving your body closer to his, “grateful for it too. Means I can spend time with my wife rather than those fossilized politicians.”

You laugh, “that too love. What I was thinking of was more along the lines of…”

You crawl on top of him, your hair draping on either side of his face, plush lips pressing kisses to his nose and face.

“Snow lands on top.”

Coryo smirked, growling as he flipped you underneath him before ravishing his wife.

[everygame]

Special Delivery: Santa’s Christmas Chaos (C64)

Developed/Published by: Dalali Software / Creative Sparks (Thorn EMI Computer Software) Released: 1984 Completed: 05/12/2024 Completion: Got a high score of 8750. I’ll take it!

Writing about old video games for an audience of very few could seem like a thankless task–especially when they’re as awful as Christmas Crackers. But there’s a reason I do it. One, I just love playing games, even if they’re so crap I give up on them in minutes. Two, I just love learning. I love discovery, I love finding out things that are new to me about video games and their history. And sometimes, if I’m lucky, I find out some things that no one has really paid attention to before.

I never thought playing a completely random Christmas cash-in on C64 would bring me anything like that.

Special Delivery: Santa’s Christmas Chaos is a game for C64, Spectrum and Atari 8-Bit released by Dalali Software under Thorn EMI’s “Creative Sparks” imprint. At the time it sank without trace due to, apparently, a lack of marketing. After playing it–and I will get into that–I did my usual investigation into the developer, and was quite prepared to dismiss Dalali as one of the many fly-by-night British game developers of the 1980s–they appeared to be only a going concern between 1984 and 1989 and didn’t have any particularly notable games to their name. They were responsible for ports of Rescue On Fractalus and Lilttle Computer People to Amstrad CPC, but largely seem to have had the bad luck of being most related to 1986’s Biggles game. The weirdest thing about that is that not only did I really like the movie on which it was based (which I’m sure no one else remembers but me) when I was a kid, watching it on telly several times, I’ve actually played the game! It was on Amstrad Action #68’s covertape (along with How To Be A Complete Bastard!) and, as vague as my memories of it are now, I’m sure I played it loads of times. Less than How To Be A Complete Bastard, admittedly.

This led me to dig a little further, and sometimes things just fall into place, because I found an astonishingly in-depth article from Sham Mountebank’s When Were They Now? blog (a new one to me) all about Dalali. I think Mountebank slightly buries the lede however, because digging into the linked articles it seems absolutely remarkable that Dalali is not only in the ranks of the earliest companies to have been founded (or co-founded) by a woman, but very likely the first game company founded by a Palestinian: Hanan Samara.

Hanan Samara, pictured in Computer & Video Games March 1985.

Game companies had been co-founded by women before–most famously Sierra, by Roberta Williams and her husband Ken in 1979–but I think Samara’s story might be unique.  According to an interview with ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Podcast she believes she might have been the first female assembly programmer in the UK, starting out by converting software to work for the Arabic market. Moving to work for Thorn EMI, she’d see a Humpty Dumpty puzzle game–programmed by her future husband(!) Chris James–and be “hooked.”

After coding Jumbo Jet Pilot for Atari 8-Bit for Thorn EMI, it seems that she made the leap to founding Dalali–named for her mother’s maiden name (as her mother said go for it, while her dad said to get a job at IBM...) with another ex-employee, Adrian Wadley.

Something I really appreciate about Samara’s story is that she immediately brought herself to game design, with Dalali’s first game “Jinn Genie”. While this kind of Arabic-theming undoubtedly seems stereotypical today, in an interview with Popular Computing Weekly it is clear that this is an early example of someone trying to represent their culture via the art of video games:

“Jinn Genie is a game that incorporates many of the basic myths and children’s stories of my culture–I am an Arab, a Palestinian, and all the ideas of genies and so on are familiar to me.”

Jinn Genie, on C64.

The most disappointing thing, to me, is that Samara is, at this point, unheralded outside of a blog post, one short podcast, and about… three short articles featuring three pictures that can be found on archive.org! She’s one of the UK’s earliest female programmers, game designers and founders, perhaps the first Palestinian game developer, and she has managed to run Dalali since 1984 because it’s still going–they just stopped making games.

Samara’s story isn’t mine to tell, so I hope that institutions like GDC, The Video Game History Foundation or The Strong can find out more and champion her. Figures such as Muriel Tramis have gone from overlooked to winning the Legion of Honour, and if I can help get the word out about Hanan Samara, just a little bit, I’ll feel I’ve done my part.

But I know what you’re asking now.

“But how good is Special Delivery: Santa’s Christmas Chaos???”

So let's return to regular programming. First, I’m going to note that I believe I have played the wrong version of this. When it came to games, Samara was an Atari 8-bit coder, and it is absolutely transparent that Special Delivery is based entirely on Jinn Genie–both feature a flying section, a climbing section, and a section with floors and ladders. It does feel like I should have played the Atari 8-bit version to experience the most representative version, as I did with playing the C64 version of Pirates, let’s say.

(It’s worth mentioning here also that the ANTIC podcast–recorded seven years ago now–even notes that the version of Jinn Genie that Samara coded, for the Atari 8-bit, seems to be lost, although Samara does say that she has a copy of it somewhere. Aforementioned institutions could probably help with that too. What that largely means, though, is that the Atari 8-bit version of Special Delivery is the closest you can get to playing the original Jinn Genie.)

To be fair, the C64 version seems pretty close to the original (the ZX Spectrum port is… not).

As I’ve said previously, my expectations for a Chrimbo cash-in have been low, and no matter how much this is sort of a reskin of a previous game, that it’s got an idea and an actual design exceeds anything I’ve expected. At first glance you might go “well, isn’t this just Santa Claus again?” (or even Santa’s Sleigh Ride.) But it’s honestly much more–even if it is still a bit weird.

In Special Delivery, you’re first flying across the screen in Santa’s (somewhat confusingly drawn) sleigh, collecting presents that… angels are dropping. Which implies that this is in fact the historical Saint Nicolas, or maybe I’m just overthinking it. You’re trying to collect a target number of presents, but you lose them if you crash into clouds (odd) or accidentally collect a demonic present dropped by a devil (who appear rarely, but look very much like angels, annoyingly.) Losing presents won’t kill you, but Santa has a set amount of hours in the night, and you lose an hour if you get struck by the lightning that occasionally appears from the strangely firm clouds.

If you collect enough presents, you get to land on a big house to put presents under the tree. First this requires you climb down the chimney, which in this situation is: huge, full of ladders, and lit so flames keep climbing the ladders that you have to dodge. Once you’ve done that, you’re actually in the house, where you have to Solid Snake your way to the tree, drop off the present, grab the front door key, and then leave through the front door, while the residents run wildly from one room to the next, seemingly out of their nut with either excitement for Christmas or hatred for Santa. Get hit by a flame or grabbed by a resident and you’ll lose an hour.

Interestingly, if you don’t collect enough presents, you don’t get to go into any big houses, but you do get to drop presents down the chimney of some wee houses. You only really pick up big points for going into big houses, which raises the concerning idea that Santa only gives a fuck about you if you’re rich enough to live in a big house.

But to be fair, the people in big houses seem absolutely determined to not get pressies, keeping their fires roaring and attacking Santa on sight, so perhaps he just likes the challenge. “I hope Santa doesn’t show up” they’re saying, “we’ve got all the stuff we need in this big house. We don’t need wooden toys or whatever the historic Saint Nick would be handing out, he should give those to the poor people in the wee houses.”

More fool them, I checked Wikipedia and he was dropping off bags of gold coins through people’s windows. (Admittedly to stop them being sold into prostitution.)

Anyway. Even before I knew the exciting context for Special Delivery, I was struck by how… weirdly ok it was! Maybe it’s just how bad the other Santa-em-ups have been (well, I guess I didn’t hate Merry Xmas Santa) but the different sections largely make sense together, undoubtedly because it’s based on Jinn Genie. The main problem really is that it just doesn’t control very well. Flying the sleigh is stiff, and when you’re actually controlling Santa himself, he reacts very slowly to your input, meaning you have to time presses based on the lag, and I probably lost most of my lives in the chimneys as a result–it might be better on the Atari 8-Bit, so more fool me.

Special Delivery is not really the kind of thing that’s going to hold your attention for very long, but it does actually manage to be playable and feels properly festive. I’ll celebrate that.

Will I ever play it again? I was surprised to see a non-zero number of people say online that playing this is a bit of a Christmas tradition. Well, I don’t think I will be taking it up, but I do fancy playing Jinn Genie at some point now--maybe once that Atari 8-bit version is found!

Final Thought: In my research I was surprised to discover not only had I played a Dalai Software game before, I’d also played a Creative Sparks game, similarly loads of times: Danger Mouse In Double Trouble. Strangely, it has the same multi-game design as this (and I guess, a lot of the computer games of the era) but suffered a lot more for them not having any meaningful connection and mostly being rubbish. Even as a child I remember enjoying just the jungle level and suffering through the rest to get through that. The things you’ll do when you’ve got nothing else as a child.

Every Game I’ve Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW! You can pick it up in paperback, kindle, or epub/pdf. You can also support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up digital copies of exp., a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[mirillua]

Ppss

Ppss

... yes, you! Here, a cookie 🍪

And now that I have got your attention, look at what my friend @herzzgeist did:

A fanart of me and Law, as a gift for Christmas. Isn't it adorable? (It's definitely useful for my daydreams about him 🤣)

I wanted to catch the opportunity to thank Emily here: she is truly a person with a kind soul, always having something nice to say no matter how hard her day was, cheering me when I am the one stressing out and one of the first I can talk about my dreams without feeling judged, in a way or another.

I am so glad such a person joined my life thanks to something like One Piece: there are so many amazing people I am managing to admire and to befriend, loving their creativity and works, arts and scenarios that I wouldn't have ever seen if it wasn't for OP.

So yeah, thank you for being another special piece of this 2024, Emy-chan, hehe 💜

[neiptune]

Knock knock🤍

Daichi Sawamura + New years kiss + newly dating couples

Birthday boy deserves it ✨

daichi sawamura x will you be my new year's kiss?

You’ve been dating Daichi Sawamura for less than two months but when he asked whether you wanted to spend new year’s eve with him, you didn’t think twice about saying yes.

That’s not to say you aren’t feeling nervous about tonight: while Daichi is very kind and never once made you feel uncomfortable, sometimes it’s hard not to feel intimidated by his innate charisma. He’s so attractive and he hardly even tries, which is so unfair. New year’s eve can put a lot of pressure on couples and while you’re not official yet (hence why you don’t expect any serious commitment on his side) it must mean something that he wants to spend such a special night with you. Everything has to be perfect.

Little do you know Daichi is on the exact same page and when he rings your doorbell, he’s more nervous than he’s ever been. When was the last time he spent new year’s eve with a significant other? He genuinely can’t remember, casual dating is not really his thing and he’s not been in a proper relationship in years. If tonight goes well, maybe he’ll be able to muster the courage to ask you to be his girlfriend.

“Hey”, you smile as you open the door. His brain short circuits upon seeing how pretty you are in the outfit you’ve picked, reply coming after a pause that stretches for a moment too long. 

“Wow. I mean, hi”, Daichi clears his throat, nose a pretty shade of darker pink and a few snowflakes melting on his shoulders, “you look beautiful”.

“Thank you. Come in, I need five more minutes”, with a grin, you take his hand to gently guide him inside. He hums, gloved hands softly tilt your face towards his.

“Did I already comment on how gorgeous you are right now?”, Daichi smiles when you wrap your arms around his waist and bring him closer with an airy chuckle, lips brushing against his.

“I wouldn’t mind hearing it again”.

He clicks his tongue.

“You’re so beautiful. Can’t believe you’re my date for new year’s eve”.

“You’re not too bad yourself”, you smile and kiss him, because you can’t quite believe he’s your date either.

The familiar sound of a ringtone interrupts the sweet moment and you step back, giving him space to take the call.

“Be right back”, you mouth as Daichi brings the phone to his ear with a dopey smile.

“Hey, mom. No, not yet, why? Oh. No, sorry, you know I have plans already… well, can’t you tell them? No, don’t put her on the phone, don’t-”, he heaves a deep sigh, “hi, Emi”.

As you make sure you have everything in your purse, you curiously listen to the odd conversation and watch him pace across the living room, getting increasingly restless. When he runs a hand through his hair, you ask what’s going on and he briefly presses the phone to his chest.

“My siblings. They want to spend tonight with me, christmas wasn’t too fun because they were sick. I’m trying to explain that I’m busy”, he whispers, then resumes the conversation in a normal tone, “I’m really sorry, Emi. I know. What if I come by tomorrow? No, stop, I can’t talk to Daisuke, I’m in a rush-”

With a giggle, you watch as Daichi shuts his eyes, lips pressed into a thin line.

“Tell them they should come. We can pick them up”.

He looks at you, astonished.

“What? But-”

“Please! We’ll take a stroll and watch the fireworks together. Plus, I get to meet them”.

You know they’re way younger than him and, honestly, despite the perspective of meeting part of his family during the holidays feeling scary and all, it also fills you with excitement.

And so, you do end up picking them up. His mom is so sweet and you’re the one she thanks the most, she takes your hands in hers and bows and tells you just how happy she is that he’s son has finally found someone special. Daichi’s face is so red his youngest sister asks if he’s sick.

Dinner reservations are promptly cancelled but you hardly care as two smaller gloved hands are holding yours, guiding you towards different kiosks amidst crowded streets. Daichi buys six portions of traditional toshikoshi soba from a portable vending stall and you all eat together, chatter and light teasing warming your heart as you’re exposed to his older brother side for the first time. He’s sweet, which doesn’t come as a surprise at all, and caring. Makes sure his siblings eat without getting too distracted by all the questions they ask you, an endless, rapid sequence you can hardly keep up with.

They’re surprised when you ask back, curious about their favorite colors, which presents they received for christmas, Daichi’s most embarrassing moments when he was younger. He huffs but there’s so much affection simmering beneath an exasperated smile, one hand distractedly playing with Emi’s dark hair.

It’s almost midnight and Daichi’s siblings couldn’t care less as they glide from one end of the ice rink to the other, the upcoming shrine visit long forgotten. You rest your head on Daichi’s shoulder while you watch them and his arm is around your waist to keep you close.

“Thank you for doing this”, he murmurs, “I’ll make it up to you”.

“There’s nothing to make up for. I had so much fun, they’re really sweet”.

“Runs in the family”, he grins and you roll your eyes.

“Hard to disagree. You are sweet”.

He hums, content.

“So, will you be my new year’s kiss? Given that I’m sweet. And so handsome”.

You look up and meet his playful gaze, soft smile tugging at your lips. A light snow is falling, frosty flakes already melting in the creases of his green scarf.

“Yes”. Given that I’m also falling in love with you.

thank you for trusting my writing and for drawing yet another GORGEOUS header, hope you enjoy! happy holidays mwah

[sylveaugust]

Merry Christmas to every single person who interacted with me this year

Merry Christmas to @emi-the-gremlin and @diangelodork who helped me have a great time on tumblr this year(@anonymousrickroller-of-dbda is my special mention)

Merry Christmas to @a-jasminator , @anything-thats-rock-and-roll, and @paraphwrites for your lovely dbda fics

Merry Christmas to @technically-human @homoquartz and so many others for your dbda art

Merry Christmas to all you lovely tumblr people that I haven’t mentioned yet and wish you all a happy New Year!

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

💖 Sapphic Books Coming Out October 2024

🩷 Good afternoon, bookish bats. By now, you know that sweet, sapphic romance books have a special place in my heart. Here are only a few of the amazing sapphic books hitting shelves in October 2024.

💖 Which ones are you adding to your TBR?

Contemporary 💖 Stand Up! - Tori Sharp 💖 I'll Be Gone for Christmas - Georgia K. Boone 💖 Haunt Your Heart Out - Amber Roberts 💖 Most Wonderful - Georgia Clark 💖 Make the Season Bright - Ashley Herring Blake 💖 Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick 💖 How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? - Anna Montague 💖 Turning Twelve - Kathryn Ormsbee & Molly Brooks 💖 Sweet Home Alabarden Park - T.J. O'Shea 💖 Lucy, Uncensored - Mel Hammond & Teghan Hammond 💖 New Horizons - Shia Woods 💖 Writ of Love - Cassidy Crane 💖 What It Meant to Survive - Mala Kumar

Fantasy 💖 Metal from Heave - August Clarke 💖 Whispers Most Foul - Emma MacDonald 💖 Fang Fiction - Kate Stayman-London 💖 House of Frank - Kay Synclaire 💖 The Ghostwing's Lie - Rebecca Mix 💖 This Dark Paradise - Erin Luken 💖 Chai Jinxed - Emi Pinto 💖 The Bloodless Princes - Charlotte Bond 💖 Skysong - C.A. Wright 💖 The Forbidden Book - Sacha Lamb 💖 Until We Shatter - Kate Dylan 💖 Witchwood - Kalyn Josephson

Paranormal/Horror 💖 Haunting Melody - Chloe Spencer 💖 All the Hearts You Eat - Hailey Piper 💖 The Bloodred Moon - H. Noah 💖 Strange Beasts - Susan J. Morris 💖 Feast While You Can - Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta

Historical 💖 Women's Hotel - Daniel M. Lavery 💖 I Shall Never Fall in Love - Hari Conner 💖 Outlaw Hearts - Lori G. Matthews

Mystery/Thriller 💖 Staying the Course - Rebecca K Jones 💖 Long Time Gone - Hannah Martian 💖 Johnny-Boy - A. F. Carter 💖 This Ends Now - T.M. Payne

Sci-Fi 💖 On Vicious Worlds - Bethany Jacobs 💖 Sargassa - Sophie Burnham 💖 Villain - Natalie Zina Walschots

[veeagainsttheday]

Thank you to @naranjapetrificada @epersonae @chaotic-neutral-knitter and @emi--rose for tagging me to post about my favorite fics I've written. I've loved reading what each of you had to write about your fics! I know we put so much of ourselves into these things and it's lovely to learn more about friends.

My favorite fics that I've written are my two fics retelling the two seasons of OFMD, the completed Don't Let Me Die with My Soul in the Air for season 1, and the in progress My Heart is Full of Love (I Have Nothing Else) for season 2. I just really, really love thinking about Ed's journey throughout the show. He's such a special character to me and I love thinking deeply about his motivations and inner world.

I also love the canon world of the show very, very much - it takes a special AU for me to read it, but I will read literally anything set in canon. In addition to the fics above, I have written several things filling in moments in canon and have two others in my WIPs. My fic going from Ed and Stede's kiss in 2x5 to Calypso's birthday in 2x6, The Kissing Game, is one that I particularly wish I could see acted out by Taika and Rhys :D. I feel like it hit the spirit of the show well and also captured the big emotions we see from both Ed and Stede during those episodes.

I have written quite a few AUs and each of them is special me for its own reason but I think that More of the Gravy Basket than the Grave is one of my best because a. it incorporated s2 very shortly after s2; b. I posted it every day leading up to Christmas which felt fun and on theme; and c. A Christmas Carol is so ripe for AUability and it was really fun to riff on that with the various "ghostly" characters. Honestly I could easily do another version of A Christmas Carol AU using completely different characters and this coming Christmas I just might.

Another fav of mine for stylistic reasons is my Gold Rush AU, The Legend of the Gentleman and the Outlaw, by Lucius Spriggs (La Leyenda del Hidalgo y El Bandido, translated by Jim Jimenez). I worked on this fic for months and it was extremely fun to play with the onion style from Cloud Atlas as well as write from the POV of nearly every character in s1, including two birds.

Finally, there's the fic I wrote with @petrichorca, Runaway Effects, which was my first collaboration and made me a wonderful friend. It's also the only one of my fics that anyone has ever made fanart for - the lovely @lizluzz made SUCH a beautiful painting for one of its scenes.

Tagging @petrichorca and @ghostalservice and @thetardigrape because I have not seen them do this yet!

[vxnus-seraph]

⊱ 'CAPTURE ME, UNTIL YOU REMEMBER ME.'—

@ventismuse ; here's your best holiday memory with venti!

there is a certain warmth in the air which manages to enchant venti, the sound of whose harp softly comes in the clearing of the garden, dusk slowly settling on the horizon as it embraces his wings. the whimsy magic of loving gatherings never failed to warm his heart, sensitive for his loved ones as it already was.

but what made this day a particularly special one was that his beloved had fashioned a beautiful lyre out of the finest woods from the north, lined with gold and a custom green feather that designated it as his own. the gold appeared iridescent, managing to capture the eyes of even birds who loved venti's songs, and even more the lyre in his hands.

in a way, it managed to capture the humanity of 'venti' well, but he was far beyond mortal fragility and claims, and yet that his beloved cared enough to gift the world something to remember this human side of their god by. the lyre was enchanted with spells that prevented the wood from decay, and the gold ensured longevity. when it would fall out of the god's hands, it would land in the cathedral- to be remembered as the humanity of lord barbatos, the lover of whom eternalized him forever.

but for now, he was contented thinking of the present and of the love he felt at every moment and the happiness love brought him. truly they say, even gods fall to their knees for love. emi's eyes glittered gently with the anticipation of a warm christmas, and venti's own lips curved into the most beautiful of blossoms as they danced with his blooming mirth.

[lucawrites11]

Any Keira and Evie headcannons? Maybe things they do together/traditions/important events <333

keira doesn't get evie for christmas day because emy chooses lucy's family. she went once to the walsh's and was appalled by the lack of roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings and couldn't believe they were having a takeaway. keira is not offended, she respects the choice entirely motivated by food.

instead keira gets boxing day and the week after and they do an extra christmas where they eat far too much cake and open lots of extra presents and watch every single christmas movie under the sun. most days end with evie asleep on her no matter how old she is.

keira also gets the best holidays. easter and pancake day. no matter where they are or what's happening, these two eat food. keira taught evie how to make and flip pancakes once during lockdown and now it's their thing. they have lots of topping available but the classic is obviously lemon and sugar. they often compete to see who can flip the pancake the highest or the most. in barcelona, they introduce pancake day to the team as well. on special occasions, they will also make pancakes for breakfast.

for easter obviously. chocolate. the religious aspect is irrelevant, for them, this is the chocolate holiday. who can eat the most without being sick. and easter egg hunts. keira goes all out for the hunt and often uses the training grounds to set it up because there are more hiding spots.

[lgcmanager]

LGC CHARMS JAPAN: THE RADIO

SCHEDULE TYPE: VARIABLE GIG SCHEDULE RESTRICTIONS: read below

over the years, LEGACY ENTERTAINMENT’s groups have released several japanese singles and albums. in more recent years, with LGC CHARMS JAPAN, they have shown a desire to further their presence in japanese media. thus the launch of a permanent radio show on Nippon Cultural Broadcasting that airs weekly for 45 minutes at 2200JST on Sunday evenings. each week, the radio show features various legacy artists cross-talk, reading fan mail, and several other segments.

the current PERMANENT HOSTS are HIRAWA EMI, KANG SARANG, PARK TAEHA and TAKANASHI ASAMI. each trimester, a total FOUR GUESTS will also be invited as per the following schedule:

WEEK 1: Asami, Emi, Sarang and Taeha

WEEK 2: Emi and Taeha

WEEK 3: Asami and Guest 1

WEEK 4: Emi and Sarang

WEEK 5: Taeha and Guest 2

WEEK 6: Sarang and Asami

WEEK 7: Sarang and Guest 3

WEEK 8: Taeha and Asami

WEEK 9: Emi and Guest 4

WEEK 10: Asami, Emi, Sarang and Taeha

(due to year end activities, the show will be on break during the last two weeks of the december and the first two weeks of january ! )

GUESTS AND THEME

each trimester, a different theme will be picked and some guest restrictions may be placed.

for the current trimester, the THEME is HOLIDAYS; with chuseok right behind and halloween, christmas and new year on the horizon, it's time to talk about holidays ! episodes may center around anything related to any holiday; for instance do the muses have favorite holidays, special memories on any of them, yearly traditions, plans during the winter break, ect.

EACH HOST will be in charge of picking their GUEST through an ON DASH PLOT CALL, with priority given to any JAPANESE ARTIST OR TRAINEE (must have at least 60 japanese points) or any DEBUTED ARTIST with over 60 JAPANESE POINTS.

GUEST cannot participate on the show two trimesters in a row.

REMINDER: this is a PROFESSIONAL setting. as such, even if conversations touch personal matters, both the HOST and GUEST need to keep a good etiquette. the show isn’t to talk about friendship, family ties or past between the hosts and guests, but for listeners to be entertained. furthermore, if a host cannot maintain a completely professional conversation comfortably and without awkwardness or tension with someone, they shouldn’t pick that person as a guest.

REQUIREMENTS

since radio shows are more of a DISCUSSION, we want the requirements to reflect this. therefore the requirements are lowered to a minimum of 50 SPOKEN WORDS per post. on the other hand, you’ll need to write a thread of EIGHT POSTS (four posts each) minimum to collect +4 MCING/HOSTING and/or VARIETY, +4 FREE SKILLS, and +5 NOTORIETY

for the hosts, guest threads are MANDATORY. you may also do a BONUS thread with any of the other hosts, with the same requirements and reward.

make sure to use the hashtag lgc:charmsjapanradio on your threads and solos ! to validate your skill points and collect your notoriety points, please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog before DECEMBER 28, 2024 11:59 EDT.

MUSE NAME ∙ CHARMS JAPAN RADIO - THREAD: +4 MCING/HOSTING and/or VARIETY, +4 SKILL POINTS DISTRIBUTION +5 notoriety [ LINK ] - BONUS: +4 MCING/HOSTING and/or VARIETY, +4 SKILL POINTS DISTRIBUTION +5 notoriety [ LINK ] *only if applicable - HOSTS: do you want to continue hosting next trimester? yes/no

[a-romantics-guide-to-life]

⋆𖠰₊⟡ ˚❆ 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 ❆˚ ⟡₊𖠰⋆

happy holiday season! here's my special countdown to christmas special where every day from december 14 to christmas, a new holiday themed fic will be out. mainly tom blyth characters (plus one VERY self-indulgent draco malfoy one), hope you enjoy!

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐰 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

coriolanus snow x fem reader just a regular day snow day with Snow; aka now that coriolanus has you in his arms, he doesn't intend on letting you go 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟒

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

alex nilsen x fem reader warm freshly baked brown butter chocolate chip cookies? a staple of your's and alex's holiday routine 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, .❆ ִֶָ࣪

single dad! billy the kid x fem reader christmas is just around the corner so you and billy help kara write her wishlist to santa (technically falls underneath the single dad hockey player universe) 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

billy the kid x fem reader you and billy take choosing a tree very seriously. better known as snowy forest shenanigans 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟕

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢'𝐦 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

alex nilsen x fem reader even though alex loathes cringey holiday rom coms, he'd sit through hundreds of them just for you (talk about corny and cliche) 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

draco malfoy x fem reader the weekly hogsmeade trip has always been magical, especially during the winter, but the holiday present rush? you and draco both agreed that it was a bloody mess 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐦𝐚��𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

coriolanus snow x fem reader coryo's first holiday dinner as a presidential canidate, what could possibly go wrong? answer; everything, especially when you wore that red dress 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢'𝐦𝐚 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐞 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

alex nilsen x fem reader teaching kids was much more fun that high school seniors, especially when they manage to catch mrs.claus kissing santa underneath the mistletoe 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 ‘𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

billy the kid x fem reader "there we go baby, string 'em up nicely now" "how is it possible for you to make decorating a tree sound sexy?" 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐢 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐨r .❆ ִֶָ࣪

alex nilsen x fem reader alex loves surprising you early for christmas, how? well, thats a good question 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟑

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐢 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐬 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

dad! coriolanus snow x fem reader you are coryo were supposed to be stealthy about setting up the presents underneath the tree, if only you two weren't so noisy 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒

࣪ ִֶָ ❆. 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 .❆ ִֶָ࣪

billy the kid x fem reader you loved christmas as did billy. although, sometimes it felt like you loved the holiday that you two met on more than the man himself 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓

[kyurilin]

I had so much fun making posts about my stories I did in 2022 last December that I've decided to do a post about the stories I've done in 2023 today! Unlike last year I'm not breaking it down by story so sorry it'll all be one post lmaoooo. And today's the perfect day to do it because this is the third year anniversary of when I started Stray! I'll throw it under a read more because it's a long post lol

Ironically I'm not starting this post off with Stray

FIRST UP

I actually did this one for a secret Santa event I was in a discord for at the time and it's the only instance of a story I've written that didn't have one of the rooftop gang as the main character

technically since the erasermic cats are named Present Meow and Fog this can count as a sneak peak into erasermic post Mic's Bullshit Life where they're now at the dorms lol

Also the Thirteen and Midnight bit of friendship in this story is kind of a subtle hint of where I'm taking their friendship in Crumbled Rooftops

NEXT

STRAY MY BELOVED

ya'll should thank @shabby-blog extra special for this one because they are 100% the reason this story even got dropped this year. They are also the driving force behind the fact I'm still working on it

as an extra special 3 year anniversary gift and because chapter two is taking so long to finish (it's a beefy bitch) everyone's Christmas present is access to the OG doc that was started on this day 3 years ago. Meaning this doc is from the era I was still writing Mic's Bullshit Life

the version on ao3 was started in October of 2021, then I don't think I touched it again until AFTER I had done the BNHA big bang and written some percentage of crumbled rooftops since that was THE focus

Genuinely one of my favorite things about Stray is the relationships. Emi and Shouta being exes and yet still close best friends. Nemuri showing up in Hizashi's apartment like "WAKE UP NERD". Oboro professing his love for Tensei and five minutes later hoping that Present Mic dropped nudes on Twitter. There's some great relationship things coming up in chapter 2 that I know you guys will love but writing the way these characters interact is a treat

I'm so glad that there are people who like this one and I'm so sorry it's taking so long to get more of it done but i promise. The next chapter will be worth it. And then chapter 3 will be extra worth it (even though I haven't even started that yet)

NEXT

This is so far my only published cloudnight story and it's also mistnight so it's obviously first and foremost the best thing I've published

I count this story as an apology for what I did to people in chapter 6 of crumbled rooftops

I LOVED writing this one so much. Particularly the opening bit where Kurogiri is like stunned into silence by Nemuri just being Nemuri.

Obviously it takes a lot of cues from the way I write Kuroboro in Crumbled Rooftops in regards to the dynamic between the two of them as well as introducing how late story Kuroboro will probably behave. Getting to go ahead and write Kuroboro where both parties are in agreement that this situation is permanent and are fine with that was a lot of fun since that's the end goal for CR.

And obviously it's always fun getting to write for Nemuri, particularly since the story I gave her the biggest role in is also one of my saddest. Getting to write a dynamic between Nemuri and Kuroboro was WONDERFUL. Obviously a lot of it is pure headcanon because, at most, in canon Oboro definitely crushes on her.

And on that note it's not that Nemuri has an easier time seeing Kuroboro as he is now compared to the Oboro she knew than EraserMic, it's just that the circumstances in this story are different. I didn't get to delve into it so much, but Kuroboro is on far better terms with them as well since he's not competing with them losing Nemuri. Obviously it's still hard on all of them to cope with Kuroboro as he is now but it's EASIER since theu'de not also grieving for Nemuri

obviously this is one of my favorites I've written this year but then again all my stories are my favorite

AND FINALLY

YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT TWO CHAPTERS OF CRUMBLED ROOFTOPS HAVE COME OUT THIS YEAR

Listen. I KNOW it takes me forever to update this one. And I'm once again going to say that shabby is a fucking godsend because they are the reason I managed to get chapter 5 done after I had to rewrite basically all of it just to get it to a point where it was good enough

This story is my BABY, OKAY. It takes a lot of cues from Mockingjay and the entire Hijacked Peeta storyline that I didn't realize until I reread that book earlier this year. And it WORKS.

We hit two pivotal points in this story this year, one of which has been in my mind since the story was originally outlined for the BNHA big bang last year and the other that I kind of happened into.

So to go into chapter 5 first- the Tensei reunion is one of my favorite parts of the story. The way Tensei interacts with Oboro was so GOOD. He is open and honest with Oboro (with the exception of exactly one moment) and it gives Oboro a perspective on things that sets into motion what happens in chapter 6

Not to mention the Eri and Oboro bonding in this chapter is absolute perfection. Eri dropping "your quirk hurts people too doesn't it" and Oboro realizing how similar they are is. Just. One of my favorite things.

BUT CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER. FUCKING. 6.

I am genuinely not lying when I say that one of the first scenes in my head for this story was Oboro confronting Hizashi and Shouta about Nemuri. I wanted the story to get to that moment so bad and I didn't know when or how I was going to get there

So obviously when I started chapter 6 and knew in my heart that THIS was it, it was going to happen in THIS chapter, I knew I had to do it right. And judging by the comments I got for it I feel like I nailed it (LET ME HAVE MY CONFIDENCE)

giving Oboro the single happy moment of finally being called Uncle Oboro was my apology to him

And I want to give a shout-out to the ending of that chapter specifically, since it's one of the few times I acknowledge the manga storyline that's currently ongoing rather than sticking to anime only information. Considering how long it's taken to write this story, when I knew for sure I was going to make Nemuri's death a pivotal part of the plot, that was going to be the major manga spoiler. But the anime beat me to it and suddenly before chapter 6 came out, the audience reading it was more likely to have the same information that everyone but Oboro had- that Nemuri was gone

HOWEVER while it's not particularly a big part of the plot character wise, the original ending to chapter 6 was going to be Oboro alone on the rooftop of UA. That had been set in stone since the reveal scene happened. But at some point in the final arc, at least two of the towers of UA get destroyed. Whether it's ACTUAL UA or not (thanks @machiroads for planting a doubt in my mind lol), my immediate thought was 'oh SHIT my FANFIC'. Because it was absolutely important to me that Oboro warp to the roof of UA, since in his mind it's safety. But suddenly that wasn't there and it changed how that last little bit of the chapter had to go and HONESTLY. IT WORKS SO MUCH BETTER.

I have no idea how long it's going to take me to get the next chapter out but I can tell ya'll this- we're entering the next arc of the story now. The biggest secret is on the table, and what happens next is going to define a lot of how the characters interact with each other and I am so looking forward to sharing it with everyone

AND THAT'S A WRAP. Last year I mostly did trivia bits but this year I just kind of went all over the place lol sorry everyone

[sailormoonandme]

During the production of the original 1992 Sailor Moon anime the voice actresses for the five Inner Senshi (Kotono Mitsuishi, Aya Hisakawa, Michie Tomizawa, Emi Shinohara, and Rica Fukami) formed a group called Peach Hips which performed several songs from the anime.*

Astonishingly, the group never performed Moonlight Densetsu, the defining theme for the original anime/the Sailor Moon franchise as a whole.

That is...with the exception of a bonus feature attached to Vol. 9 of the Sailor Moon Laser Discs. The performance can be viewed here:

As you can tell the sound quality is unfortunately not great. However, a higher quality version of the performance also exists in another video which presents the full bonus feature:

I have used my amateur sound editing skills to extract the performance as an mp3 so that you can all enjoy the song as performed by the original voice actresses.

*The most famous of which was probably 'Moon Revenge', the theme song for the first Sailor Moon film, Sailor Moon R The Movie (aka Sailor Moon R: The Promise of the Rose for you DiC fans).

[calypso-finale]

Ninety Six.

Looking up at Robyn and she looked down at me, she gave me the biggest side eye “you know you should be up here?” I sniggered “you wanted to climb those stairs I wasn’t going to stop, you go girl” she put a finger up at me “don’t worry I am holding it for you” I shook the ladders again “fuck you!” she spat, I chuckled to myself, this is too funny to me, but Robyn wanted to be the man of the house and decorate the tree. We are spending Christmas as a family in London at Rylee’ home, no extras just us and really it’s to settle Rylee back home since she is ready to be back, it’s been a few months really and she openly said that she is, we as parents didn’t want to say it because we have wanted her to stay but it’s Christmas now and it’s time she came home and that she sees Aziel, he is missing mom and I like he said it when he would talk to her, she needed to hear it from him. I am excited really, to be spending it in London and that all my kids are here, Taylan is away from us. I was so happy when Rylee told me he isn’t coming, then I asked Tianna just to make sure and she said he can’t come, I was happy. I don’t hate him I just find him annoying and really I would have told him to get a hotel, he isn’t married to Tianna she he shouldn’t be staying here, but that would have turned into drama, so I am glad he just isn’t staying really, saves an argument. I really like her home here, it’s very beautiful because the snow and how we decorated the whole place, it looks like Santa does live here, we want this to be extra special for her, she wants to get her life on track, and I feel like she is in a better space with herself. We have had some patchy moments, but we have been there for her, but Saint did what he needed to do and took the blame because if he went to court he would have got more time and Kim knew that, she should be ashamed of herself. She hide all this shit, she hid what kind of person he is, he has some serious issues with women “from being here and looking down your hair on the top is looking thin” Robyn said as she made her way down and then placed her hand atop of my head “I will push you off, make it look like it was an accident and then I can be the billionaire widow” Robyn gasped as I picked her off the ladders and placed her down “that is so rude, imagine it. I didn’t put your name in my will, so you get air” I laughed sarcastically, she is so unfunny with that, I know she has “money isn’t nothing if I ain’t got you around, fuck that noise” Robyn cooed out “I know” she grinned.

Robyn is making me hot chocolate “you know what I am most excited about, that you and the girls are making the Christmas food, it’s going to be so Caribbean, real Caribbean and homemade” Robyn sighed out “I regret being that excited to say that shit, I am thinking back now, and I am like uhmm let me take it back” Robyn chuckled “homemade hot chocolate too, you really feeling the Christmas vibe aren’t you?” she grinned “I love this house, like I am in love. I feel like we should buy this from her and make her move” I busted out laughing “stop it, it is big though. But that is her decision, this house is amazing, it gives me Christmas on crack, like this is a real white Christmas and it’s snowing, like we don’t get this in LA, I do like it. We can do snuggle more too” I winked, she placed the cup of hot chocolate in front of me “we should be asleep but fuck it, the kids are grown. I mean Emi will have her sisters so we can sleep in, they are going to be so excited seeing downstairs, I wish I was here to see their faces. I feel like Christmas with the eldest three were hit and miss, and yes because of me, I missed it all and I admit it. I put my hands up” Robyn said “I know but it’s the past now, we are here for them, I think we have all learnt something. During the whole issue of what happened, I just fucking hate the kid. Like I hate any man near my daughters, you know how happy I was when Taylan said he couldn’t make it?” Robyn sniggered “I saw! I was like I hope Chris can reign it in because Tianna will get upset” rolling my eyes “but like, I just. If it isn’t Oakley with Rylee I ain’t going to trust another with my daughter, and you know I have had sleepless nights over this shit! Like all this shit that went on” I have lost sleep because of it.

Robyn sighed out “we are so old now, look at us with hot chocolate and a warm fire” I snorted laughing “that is literally us being old, I mean it is late though. Going on four in the morning, but who cares. So what you feel about Rylee being back here now, because at some point we will be going back?” looking at Robyn “I personally feel positive, I think she is scared of men. She is really withdrawn with men. She is not looking for a man. I did speak to her about it, and she said, it’s about me and my son, I don’t want no man. It will take a mountain they need to hike to get to me, she said never again. I said to her what did her therapist say about it, she said that I should just concentrate on me, then I said what if you have a photoshoot with a man, would that upset her. She said no, she erm, she has gained a lot of sympathy. But like she said, she doesn’t want to be that girl, you know a rape victim” I cringed “I think she has learnt a lesson, that stop living a fast life. You know the girl I met when she was pregnant, or should I say not that. The girl that was with Oakley, the calm one, the one that was ok. That is her now, and I am glad she is doing this without a man. I am happy to leave her here, but this home is big for her” I sniggered “stop trying to take this house from her, cheeky. But yeah , I am excited for this Christmas. I feel like it will be our most peaceful one” Robyn leaned to me and pressed a kiss to me “how do you feel though? I mean this is a big thing for you” I asked her “oh god, weird enough my worry was always Rylee, I always felt something wrong would happen. I feel this mess would have been quicker if she stayed in LA though, North was never good and we knew that” rolling my eyes “we know, see how she switched?” Robyn gave me a dirty look “I would beat her up, stupid bitch but I am glad she is out of our lives though. I guess that is a plus for us really” Robyn has a point she is out of our lives “maybe we should help Rylee and Oakley reconcile” I had to laugh “Robyn you’re a fucking trip, get out of my face. You are the biggest hater” I pointed “now I see the light” she is so annoying “I think we should slightly help” I scoffed, she is annoying because she was the biggest hater.

I sighed out as I sat down on the floor next to the fire “what did grandad get you” I asked Aziel “a toy” he is opening his gifts now, I mean it’s a week earlier but he is going back to his mom and it’s been months so I just said to Chris, let Rylee have him and come next year we can start having shared or whatever so I said to my parents that Christmas is early for him, so we doing it early “look dad, it eyes” he showed me “it lights up, did you say thank you to big Neil” he nodded his head “I did, I have more” I grinned “you do have more presents, you just taking your sweet time opening them up aren’t you” he sighed out “uncle Wadz bought you something too” Aziel has such a tan on him, it’s funny because this boy has been living life with the boys, I have enjoyed him. He has been raised with a bunch of boys, but I been telling everyone he has to have manners, and they all been helping and making sure Aziel is saying his please and thank you, I have been doing my thing, but Aziel has been joining me, I have been overseas in Europe a lot. I have enjoyed him, the boys have too, I have so many memories made with him. I am happy “Aziel is still opening presents” my mom said “It’s like his first Christmas with us really, no drama” looking at my mom “really is, and he has been spoilt so much. I am trying to feed you” Aziel looked at my mom “I want that one” he pointed, and my mom grabbed it for him “thank you” that is a big box “who gave that?” I think that is the biggest box “me” Juke said “oh, JJ got that one son. It may be cheap then” I sniggered “hey!” Juke spat “I got him something he likes, ain’t cheap” he got offended there “it’s so nice to have him though” my mom said “you did that to yourself” looking at her “I will apologise to Rylee personally ok” she huffed out, I shrugged as my dad stared at me, but I can’t fault my mom she has been good, and I think she regrets her words, and she should.

I am going to miss Aziel a lot actually, it’s just been me and him travelling everywhere and just spending time together. I’ve enjoyed having him in the studio, I love how he is so close to my friends and my friends are close to him, I love that “come on, in the bedroom now, don’t play around or touch that bath water. That is from your dirty butt” placing the hood from his robe over his head “I see mommy” walking behind him “yes son you are” Juke’ girlfriend came out of the room at the same time as Aziel is walking to the bedroom “oh” she said, Aziel ran back to me “what is wrong” I laughed at him “see my peepee” I busted out laughing “my guy, seriously. She can’t see it, he’s so stupid” she laughed “he doesn’t like girls” picking him up “at the moment, girls stink anyways. Let’s hide you, she can see your butt now” she laughed “stop teasing him” she said “aww man, why are you so dense” kicking the bedroom door shut “I don’t like it” he has something against Juke girlfriend, and it makes me laugh “why” standing him up on my bed “you got some crazy beef with her Aziel, this been going on since you been here” he pushed his hood back “she’s a girl” I chuckled “and? What is wrong with girls, what is mom? Mommy is a girl, you’re being dense for no reason now, she has been here all this time and you still got some nasty beef with her” he shrugged “you funny, I’m going to miss you though. Come, let’s pick an outfit” picking him off the bed, I need to pack his things still “did you enjoy your time with grandad and Ruby?” He calls my mom Ruby, and I don’t know why “yes, I like my toys” I’m glad he did “good, well now you going to see Papa and mommy, and you’re going to have so much fun” he started moving his clothes around “sir!” I spat “messing this up for, do it nicely” hearing a knock at the door “yeah?” I said “bro, I’m going out so see you tonight” nodding my head “sure” he looked at Aziel “I can see your ass my boy!” He shouted “stop!!!!” He shouted “he is so dense; I love you kid. Give me a hug, I won’t see you after” poking Aziel “ok” he went over to Juke “I see you again” he protested “I know but I won’t see you for a few days, I have had the best time with you!” Smiling at them both “are you crying” I snorted laughing, he’s so cheeky “I can cry if I want, I’ll miss you” my son is the best, no other child if I ever more children will amount to him at all.

The Fenty-Brown family really went all out with this thing, the house is decorated to the max, this is crazy “hi baby” Rylee opened the door “mommy! Hi” Aziel jumped into her arms “I’ve missed you so so so much!” She picked him up “my son is home” Chris came from behind Rylee “you got jokes” I laughed, dapping him “bro forget Aziel it’s all about Oakley” he is such a clown “it’s about time I get some peace” I said as a joke “you look like you had some fun over there really, don’t lie to me I was jealous at some points” I shrugged “we had fun, he was just like my little bedrin coming along with me. I enjoyed it a lot really” Chris grabbed the case “we saw, he was having a lot of fun, come in” he said waving me in, the house is amazing. They really want all out “hi” I said to Rylee “hi” she said back to me, walking inside “Santa grotto, you dressing up for this? You dressing up as Santa? You better be” Chris shook his head “I ain’t dressing shit, but like it’s all the kids here and I want to you know go all out for this, I want to show out too. So we erm got this all done up, big family thing. You’re invited” shaking my head “nah man, thank you though” Chris is always inviting me it’s awkward really “always denying to come, come. Let’s go and sit down “hi” Tianna smiled “hey” I really want to go and leave them to it now, I am sure Rylee finds it awkward. Like this home was supposed to be the beginning and I find it hard to come here and to like to find out about my cancer, everything just really went to shit when I came here “dad!” Aziel shouted “I’m in here” dapping Junior “hey” they switched everything up in this place “sit down, we was playing games anyways” I paused staring “oh man, I can’t stay. I do need to go” Chris sat on the floor “where? Come on bro, sit down” they having games night or whatever “for a few minutes” I jumped at a hand on my back “hey Oakley” oh Rihanna is happy “hi” I smiled at her, sitting down as he wanted “you want anything to drink, look at you with a tan!” Rihanna said seeing Aziel “you little globe trotter” Aziel got a little shy and jumped onto my lap “I missed your little face” Aziel is being shy for no reason, he’s so silly.

I want to go, but I’m still sat here stuck with the family “I was jealous seeing you in Guyana, like you was living life” Rihanna said, I smiled “yeah, after Spain we went Guyana, see family there and they was happy to see Aziel. Then we came home, and then we went” I paused “I think Greece, we went to a lot of places. Just doing work really, we went on tour didn’t we” smiling at Aziel “he’s in a video of mine coming out, but we just came back from Dubai Friday, this is why he has a tan on him but yeah, he’s had a good time, I think Guyana is my best part” Rihanna cooed out “stay for some food” I was quick to get up “I have to go, I really do. But thank you” I am not staying at all “you not coming for Christmas” shaking my head “I have like stuff on, but you all can spend time with the man of the hour, he has had too much fun now” Aziel ran over to me and slapped Raihan head “hey!” Raihan shouted, picking him up “I am going now, you going to go and say bye to me” he wrapped his arms around my neck “I will see you in a few weeks, spend time with your mom and have a lot of fun” making my way out “I see you” he mumbled “yeah, you see me. You have had me for weeks now! Acting hard don’t by for what, stop squeezing my head bro” I chuckled “JJ not take my toys” he pointed “nah, he won’t take your toys, he would never” Rylee came out of nowhere, placing Aziel down “how are you?” I asked, “I am ok thanks, how you are?” nodding my head looking away from her “I am glad to know you good, erm I packed all his things I think. He did have a little cold, but like it went, and I took him to his appointment for his skin on the back of his leg, they gave a different ointment, it’s in the case. But that is it really, he had a good time and I will see him next year” looking at Rylee “you can come and see him before then” I shook my head “spend time with him and your family, it’s nice that they all here init” this is so awkward “nice to see you both talking” looking behind me at Rihanna “oh yeah, yeah” I just said “I am going now anyways, if anything happens with him let me know but when you want to talk to me then call me ok Aziel” he nodded his head, looking at Rylee again “good to see you’re ok though, bye” making my way out to leave the house “Oakley are you sure you don’t want to stay?” Rihanna said to me “this is going to be harassment at this point” laughed as I kept walking, she is really pushing for me to stay “bye dad!” Aziel shouted I ain’t even looking back “bye son” I am leaving.

[gonukkadleecommerceprovider]

Flipkart Upcoming Sale: Get Ready for Unmatched Deals and Discounts

India’s favorite online shopping destination, Flipkart, is all set to roll out its much-anticipated Flipkart Upcoming Sale. Whether you’re planning to upgrade your gadgets, revamp your wardrobe, or stock up on daily essentials, the upcoming sale promises to deliver jaw-dropping discounts, exclusive offers, and exciting deals across categories. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this shopping extravaganza.

What Makes Flipkart Sales Special?

Flipkart sales are known for their unparalleled deals and massive discounts. The platform collaborates with top brands to provide customers with the best prices on premium products. Additionally, Flipkart’s user-friendly interface, reliable delivery services, and secure payment options make shopping during these sales a seamless experience.

Highlights of the Flipkart Upcoming Sale:

Exclusive Early Access for Flipkart Plus Members: Members of Flipkart Plus will enjoy early access to the sale, giving them the first pick of the best deals.

Blockbuster Discounts: Expect discounts of up to 90% on select categories such as electronics, fashion, home appliances, and more.

Bank Offers: Collaborations with leading banks will provide additional cashback and EMI options for credit and debit cardholders.

Flash Sales: Hourly flash sales will keep the excitement alive with limited-time deals on top products.

Crazy Combo Offers: Bundle products and save even more with Flipkart’s special combo deals.

Categories to Watch Out For

1. Electronics and Gadgets

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your smartphone, laptop, or other gadgets, the upcoming sale is the perfect time. Expect discounts on popular brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, and Lenovo. In addition to smartphones and laptops, keep an eye out for deals on headphones, smartwatches, and other accessories.

2. Fashion and Lifestyle

Refresh your wardrobe with the latest trends in fashion. From ethnic wear to casual outfits, Flipkart will feature unbeatable discounts on clothing, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and kids. Top brands like Puma, Nike, Levi’s, and W are expected to participate.

3. Home Appliances and Furniture

Transform your home with Flipkart’s sale on appliances and furniture. Grab deals on refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances. Additionally, explore stylish furniture options and home decor items at pocket-friendly prices.

4. Beauty and Personal Care

Pamper yourself with beauty and personal care products from top brands like L’Oréal, Lakmé, and Maybelline. Discounts on skincare, makeup, and grooming tools make this category a must-check.

5. Daily Essentials

Save big on groceries and daily essentials during the sale. Flipkart’s wide range of products ensures you can stock up on everything you need without burning a hole in your pocket.

Tips to Make the Most of the Flipkart Upcoming Sale

1. Create a Wishlist

Prepare in advance by adding your desired products to the wishlist. This ensures you can quickly check out once the sale begins, avoiding sold-out items.

2. Enable Notifications

Stay updated by enabling notifications on the Flipkart app. Get timely alerts about flash sales, restocks, and the best deals.

3. Compare Prices

While Flipkart offers incredible discounts, it’s always wise to compare prices with other platforms to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

4. Check Bank Offers

Maximize your savings by utilizing bank offers. Look for no-cost EMI options, instant discounts, and cashback deals available for specific cardholders.

5. Use SuperCoins

If you’re a regular Flipkart shopper, redeem your accumulated SuperCoins for additional discounts or free products during the sale.

Upcoming Sale Dates and How to Prepare

While Flipkart is yet to announce the exact dates for the upcoming sale, it’s expected to align with major festive seasons like Diwali, Christmas, or year-end celebrations. Keep an eye on Flipkart’s website and app for official announcements.

To prepare, ensure your account details are updated, including delivery addresses and payment methods. If you’re planning to shop for big-ticket items, check your credit card limit or activate EMI options in advance.

Why Shop During the Flipkart Sale?

Shopping during Flipkart sales is more than just grabbing a bargain; it’s about experiencing the joy of value shopping. The combination of exclusive offers, quality products, and seamless customer service makes it a favorite for millions of shoppers across India. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or searching for the perfect gifts, Flipkart’s upcoming sale has something for everyone.

Final Thoughts

The Flipkart Upcoming Sale is an event you don’t want to miss. With discounts across categories, exciting flash sales, and additional bank offers, this is your chance to shop smart and save big. Start preparing now by making a wishlist, setting your budget, and staying tuned for updates. Get ready to enjoy a shopping experience like never before, only on Flipkart! Read Also: Amazon Upcoming Sale

[dragonmom-art]

One thing that has been helping me to go through the rough times lately is raffles. Raffling some of my Amigurumi pieces made me understand the importance of keep creating and most of all, made me see who's actually by my side supporting my work and my dream.

So today I'll show you some raffles I did back then and I'mma be updating you guys about my future raffles as well in this blog. Let's go!👍

This pretty dollie was the first raffle I've ever made. She has a bittersweet story behind her.

A client came to me commissioning this big doll and I made her as she requested. But in the end the client refused to pay the price the doll was worth. It was supposed to be my biggest commission back then and I got very disappointed. The dollie lived in my Amigurumi cupboard for about 2 years since then.

That's when my mom came with the idea to raffle the dollie for Children's Day (a popular holiday here in Brazil) and I saw the opportunity to not only make some money out of the doll but also make a kid happy on their day. So me and my mom prepared everything and mom started selling the raffle numbers at her workplace. To my surprise it was a BLAST and all the numbers were sold in basically 2 days! I must confess that I'm lucky that mom has a lot of good friends that knows me and my work and support me there, but still I was impressed on how quickly the raffle numbers sold out.

I got very satisfied with the results. I earned more than double of the money the doll was worth and now she belongs to a very special little girl.🥰

I got so overwhelmed by how quickly and easy everything went and mostly how kind people were to me with their support that I decided to gift all the raffle buyers a little thank you favor, these cute heart keychains. And that was a jackpot idea, 'cause I got lots of commissions for these keychains after I distributed them.

The second item I raffled was this Schnauzer doggie. I posted it's story here earlier so go check it out if you missed. Long story short, it was another frustrated sale that I decided to raffle on Christmas, since I couldn't prepare anything specifically for that date and, again to my immense luck, people were asking for a raffle. Again another stuck piece that I raffled for twice it's price.

The winner was a dog lover that was thrilled with the prize, which made me very happy.

Unfortunately I didn't had time to make thank you favors this time, but I made sure to let everyone who's have joined the raffle know how grateful I was and still am for their support. ❤️

And last, but not least, here's my latest raffle. I don't know why, but I wanted to make some handbags sooo bad! My first idea was to raffle 2 bags separately to make more money and offer to my friends outside mom's workplace. But my plans were frustrated by a case of yarn incompatibility, so I had to stick with one handbag only. Then mum suggested me to make a Snoopy doll to complement and bring more attention to the raffle since many or her fellow coworkers are fans of the little puppy. So I made it and it was again a huge success, the numbers sold out in a few days as well.

My favorite part was acknowledging that the winner was actually super confident of winning and it was a pleasant surprise when I sorted her number out of many others. I'll never underestimate confidence again. 😂 (Here's Mrs. Emi with her Snoopy! ❤️)

As favors this time I sorted these lovely owl key holders amongst all the raffle buyers. They all loved the idea and I am very happy with another successfull raffle round. 🥰

One thing that caught my attention is that, in a way, every raffle prize went to the right person and that inspires me to keep doing what I do. I hope this streak never ends.🙏🍀

The patterns I used for the raffles are:

"Boneca Bianca" by Amanita Crochet (PT-BR)

"Chaveiro de coração em crochê fácil e rápido!!" by Geovana Amigurumi SZ (PT-BR)

"Amigurumi Dog With Fur" by Projectarian

"Bolsa de crochê Arco-iris" by Cristina Luriko (PT-BR)

"Snoopy amigurumi" by Queiroz Ateliê (PT-BR)

The owls were inspired by "tutorial crochet keychain owl | owl crochet for beginner" by knitted with azi