#first off : snow. cute looking weather nostalgic looks pretty

[starrysharks]

[fifteenskies15]

Spouse made of Snow

(Obanai Iguro x Yōkai! Reader x Kanroji Mitsuri)

Summary: Iguro finally got his happiness with Mitsuri in marital bliss, but everyone didn't know that they have another spouse and they're made of ice and snow...

Admin's Note: This is my first Obamitsu x Reader and it's certainly bizzare yet interesting since this fic include poly marriage, cross my fingers to hope this will go well, this'll be OOC (besides who wouldn't want to be sandwiched between Iguro and Mitsuri? I mean what-)

⚠️WARNING: SPOILER OF OBANAI IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE MANGA, TREAD LIGHTLY, OR JUST PLEASE LEAVE FOR YOUR OWN SAKE

(Artwork does not belong to me)

----

Winter is here at long last, not many people enjoy winter because of a lot of factors like food and weather, in winter only specific plant and crops that could grow in such a cold and harsh season, food are said to be limited in times like this

This season however is the one that Snake Pillar and Love Pillar favored the most, Iguro and Mitsuri always loved winter because of some reason...

Knock, knock, knock

"She's/he's here!" Mitsuri said as she rushed to front door with Iguro trailing behind her, under his bandage, he's probably smiling now, eagerly, Mitsuri open the door...

And to find a beautiful girl/handsome guy in white kimono, her/his skin is as white as the snow and (E/C) eyes clear like crystal, the girl/guy pull down the hood and smiled at them "Mitsuri okusan, Iguro danna" you smiled at them as Mitsuri squealed and hugged you "We're so happy to see you again!!"

Iguro nodded and put his hand on your shoulder "We have missed you, (name), winter couldn't came sooner" Odd that Iguro seems being nice to you, eh? Well now, he knows that he have to be nice and affectionate towards his wife/husband.

That's right, wife/husband.

He's with Mitsuri but he had you as his second wife/first husband.

You could feel something around your neck and to see Kaburamaru slithering your neck and nuzzled you with his head, you smiled and use your finger to caress his head "Why, hello to you too, Kaburamaru, it's been a while" you booped his muzzle and chuckled.

Mitsuri pulled away from the hug and took both of your hands with hers "We finally get to spend time together!! Are you hungry? What would you like to eat? Nabe? Some hot soup? Or nice hot nikujaga?"

...

...

...

...

Iguro sighed and facepalmed as you just laughed nervously

"Mitsuri..."

She looked at you and Iguro in confusion she realized something.

Oh...right...

You can't even eat any hot food or else...

...

Mitsuri start to blush and sweat nervously and covered her face in embarrassment "I'm so sorry!! I forgot that you can't eat anything hot!!" You smiled and patted her back "It's okay, okusan, it's not a big deal"

"I believe it is" Iguro said crossing his arms "We feared the worst, dear (name)" his tone of speaking are rather gentle and show great concern towards you, you smiled and shook your head as you pull Mitsuri to a reassuring hug "Danna it's okay, I knew that okusan would sometimes forgot that" Mitsuri let out incoherent mumbles as she buried her head in your chest.

Iguro sighed and nodded as he ruffled Mitsuri's hair "It's fine, Mitsuri, just try to remember next time" she looked up at you and Iguro then nodded, wiping the tears off her eyes "Okay, I won't forget next time"

Iguro nodded in acknowledgement "Well, now that we're all here, why don't we enjoy the snow together?"

You and Mitsuri nodded in agreement and smiled "I'm going to get us some senbei and tea! Iguro, you can go ahead with (name)-chan"

"I'll help you, Okusan"

"No, no! You leave this one to me!" She said as she push both of you and Iguro to the engawa, you pouted and sighed "But I really want to help Okusan..." Under the bandage Iguro smiled and caressed your (H/C) locks "You will, next time, we still have plenty of month" you smiled and nodded "You're right, danna, I'm going to cherish the month we're going to spend from now on"

You smiled at him "I guess, you're right" you looked up at the snowy sky, you decide playing with the snow and make them into various shapes, "I never get bored to see you doing that" he said as he lay his head on your shoulder, you smiled and kissed his forehead, Kaburamaru lolling out his tongue as if he wanted some affection.

"Hehehe, you want a kiss too, Kaburamaru?"

He responded by giving you a boop on your nose, you giggled and stroke his head with a smile "You're welcome, Kaburamaru" Iguro looked up at you "Should I be jealous that Kaburamaru get more attention more than me and Mitsuri?"

You chuckled as you put your arm around him.

(Admin 15: You're taller than him by the way)

And gently run your fingers through his black hair as he hummed "If I did, I'm pretty much married to Kaburamaru than you and Mitsuri" he chuckled at you, your sense of humor never ceases to make him smile "That's an audacity"

"Yeah! Don't you think Iguro and I are cuter?!"

You both looked at Mitsuri with plate of senbei and three cups of tea, she put down the tray and lay her head on your shoulder too.

"Come on, say it! We're cuter!" She said huffing her cheeks, you decided to tease them "I don't know, Kaburamaru is rather cute, wouldn't you say?"

Kaburamaru lolled his tongue in response, maybe saying "I know, I'm too lovable"

Iguro though seems jealous, he pulled himself away from you and crossed his arms, huffing, his snake is winning his wife/husband by landslide?! Outrageous! "Then marry him instead"

You couldn't hold your laugh and hugged Iguro close to you and bury his head on your breasts/broad chest "I was just joking, danna! No need to be so angry!"

"I thought you were being serious!!" Mitsuri said hugging your arm as you giggled and kissed her cheek "No I'm not, why would I do that? I had the best husband and wife in the whole world"

Mitsuri smiled and give you a kiss on cheek "I can't argue with you there, what do you say Iguro?....Iguro?"

You looked down at him and to his face was beet red, he shyly hide his face under the sleeve of his haori "N-next time you're doing that, warn me..."

You laughed nervously "Sorry..." He just sighed and smiled through his eyes, the three of you then decided to enjoy the snowy view while eating senbei and drinking a cup of hot tea (and cold ones for you), you looked as Iguro gently took off his bandage, you smiled at him, kissing his scar, he return the smile and kissed your cheek as well.

"How long has it been?" Mitsuri said while sipping her tea and tugging her haori tightly to warm her up a bit, you don't know what she's talking about, but Iguro seems catch what she meant "It feels like a long time ago we met you, (name)"

"To me it feels like yesterday though!" Mitsuri said smiling at both of you "I remember that day we take a mission on snowy village"

Ah, so that's what they mean.

A warm smile spread across your face as you played with the snow "It did felt like yesterday... I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic, can we have a trip to memory lane?"

Iguro put his cup down and lay down on your lap "I don't mind" Mitsuri grinned and join him "Me too! It's so memorable that it's impossible to forget!"

You smiled while stroking their hair.

You could almost see that day when you met them...

Few years ago...

Mitsuri and Iguro were appointed to patrol in the snowy village near the mountain, many people was struck in fear regarding the demon attacks that has been recently happened and missing people.

Some of the villagers thought there is a Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko that cause a great concern towards the villagers, everyone knows well what Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko do to most missing people, Iguro actually disregard this, he never believed that something mythical like Yuki onna are exist.

Mitsuri however was different, she's intrigued and curious whether she's exist or not, she knows well that Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko are known as the beautiful yōkai in many Japanese tales, Iguro convince her that they don't exist, but she insisted on investigating, and who is Iguro if he refuse her wishes?

So at the third day of their mission, both of him and Mitsuri went to the forest where the snow yōkai lives armed with their sword and oil lantern, it was snowy night it was colder than usual, Mitsuri was kind of scared but knowing that she had Iguro she feels safer than ever.

"W-whatever you do, Iguro-san I hope you'll be careful, because we're going to see a yōkai"

Well that's not reassuring...

"No matter what happens I won't die, this bitch or whatever it is, they should know their place even though we're armored with swordsmanship"

Mitsuri nod and keep following him, she stopped as she hear something "Iguro-san..." Iguro gripped his sword and looked around "Stay close, Kanroji..." She nodded and keep following him, she flinched when she saw a silhouette of a human kneeled next to a dead body.

She instinctively reach for her sword, Iguro even ready to fight.

No matter how they try to move silently, the person seem to notice their presence "W-who's there?" They both froze in place, but knowing that it won't do any good, Iguro take initiative "Whatever you do, you better stay put before I cut off your head" the figure froze in fear, as they both come closer, they stopped their tracks as they see you.

The rumored Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko.

There's a dead body next to you and blood everywhere and on your hands but not your mouth.

"So you're actually the culprit behind the recent attacks and missing people..." Iguro said pulling out his sword, you look at them in fear "Wait! This isn't what it looks like!" Iguro just scoffed "Typical words coming from a scoundrel like you"

He was ready to cut you until...

"Iguro-san, wait!!" She managed to grab his arm which cause him to stop and looked at her questioningly "She's/he's innocent! I don't think she's/he's not the one who caused all of this, look at her/him! She/he doesn't have any blood on her/his mouth!"

Iguro looked at you closely, you don't seem to have capability to hurt someone, and Mitsuri got a point, there's no blood on your mouth meaning you didn't even eat the man, Iguro scoffed and put his sword back and glared at you "Then why would you have a dead body there?"

"This man was running away from the demon, I happen to be around... I tried to stop the demon but..." You bit your lip "you know what's next..."

Mitsuri listened closely and nodded, she then looked at Iguro, tugging his sleeve "Iguro, I'm sure she/he did nothing wrong, she/he wouldn't kidnap a human much less killing people..."

You nodded "Yes, I won't! I may be a famed Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko, but I never had a heart to hurt humans! Please believe me, sir! I'm sure I could be a help to you and your lover here!"

Iguro blushed as you call Mitsuri his lover, she also blushed at that, their eyes met but they quickly avoided eye contacts, Iguro cleared his throat and looked at you "Very well, Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko, but if you didn't keep your word, I swear I will burn you alive"

Mitsuri looked at him, terrified, "Iguro, I think that's-"

"You have my word" you say smiling and bowing respectfully at them "By the way, you can't call me Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko for too long, I'm (name) by the way"

Mitsuri smiled at your friendly demeanor "Nice to meet you! I'm Mitsuri Kanroji and This is Iguro Obanai! You can call us whatever you like!" You smiled at them "Okay, Kanroji dono, Obanai dono"

"You're so polite!" Mitsuri said as she hugged you, you could feel Iguro glaring at you with jealousy and try to not to be unshaken by it, "You better make yourself useful tomorrow" Iguro said turning his back from you, you pouted "He hates me doesn't he?" Mitsuri smiled and ruffled your hair "He's actually very nice when you get to know him even more, well, we'll be looking forward to work with you!" You smiled at her "Y-yeah!"

The very next day, you helped them scouting the demons, knowing you always wandering around the forest area you know how demons would hide here now and then, in your spare time, you and the two pillars enjoy having a good warm food until you tell them you can't eat anything hot or warm because you'll melt.

"you're joking"

"I-i'm not... I'm not like my mother and siblings who could return to our forms normally..." You say twiddling your thumbs "Aww, poor thing! But don't worry! The next time we came we'll bring something for you!" You smiled gratefully at her "Thank you Kanroji dono" you looked at Iguro just scowling, he must be jealous because you're close with Mitsuri...

Day by day and weeks passed, the three of you keep scouting for demons together, it took Iguro to finally warm up to you but he was being tsundere to admit that, he would just scowl and steer clear from you

Once you found the demon behind all the chaos in the village, the two pillars fought with you by their side, Mitsuri was very thankful to you and Iguro...well, he's thankful but he didn't show it.

Knowing Mitsuri, she will definitely will bring you to the estate so you and Iguro can get along really well, he, of course, refused, but she insisted him because you're actually a good yōkai and won't eat him in his sleep, you even begged him because you really want to get along with him, and he had no choice but to obey...

However, upon hearing the news about you going with the humans, the mountain spirit had no choice but to not letting you come back ever, you were sadden knowing that you don't have any place to live, but Iguro reluctantly decided to take you in with him, both of you and Mitsuri couldn't be more happier.

Discreetly, Iguro bring you inside the wooden box, you're made of snow so it's easy for you to adjust (like Tanjiro carrying Nezuko), everyone was suspicious of him bringing a box to his estate, they joked that Iguro bring a demon just like Kamado did, haha, not demons but yōkai...

Having you in his estate certainly give changes... He didn't want to admit it but he find your presence rather pleasant, no one aside from Mitsuri knows about this, but they assume things as Mitsuri would always visit Iguro's estate.

Few months later, he became comfortable with you , he slowly show his fondness towards you and find comfort in your presence, and he was awfully happy since Mitsuri accept his proposal, you are very happy hearing them finally going on that level, he noticed you sitting on engawa, recently he notice you always looked anxious and awry.

"You looked agitated, is everything okay?"

"Iguro sama..."

He noticed tears in your eyes "(Name) what's wrong?"

"Iguro!!~ (Name)!~ I'm here..."

She stopped as she saw Iguro hugging you as you cried, she hurriedly ran towards you "(Name)! Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" You looked up at them with tears in your eyes "Iguro sama, Mitsuri sama, I'm so sorry... I think it's time I say goodbye..." They both widen their eyes with surprise

"Why?! Is everything okay? Why would you leave?!"

Iguro looked at you wistfully

"...Is it about me and Kanroji?"

You shook your head, you both love them too much there's no way you're not happy that they're finally together "Spring will come soon, and I'm not that strong to keep my form like this, meaning that I have to leave you two... At least until the next winter comes..."

It sounds like hearing thunder in broad daylight, the two of them planned to take you as their spouse in secret, sure you can all live together but that only last every winter...

...

Both Mitsuri and Iguro hugged you tightly as if they're afraid to let you go, "So that's what bothering you lately..." You nodded and wipe your tears "I'm not saying anything because I don't want to make you worried but I guess the cat's out of the bag now...I could visit you even if it take so much time

They both parted the hug and looked at you, Iguro placed his hand on your cold cheek "(name), what if the three of us get married instead?"

"What?!"

Mitsuri nodded "Iguro and I talked about it, we want that you stayed with us after our wedding and even take you as our spouse in secret, but I guess it's not that easy, huh?" She smiled sadly, then caressed your hair affectionately "But actually, it's not that bad, at least we can see you again even in winter only"

Iguro nodded and slid his bandage down, even though he had a scar on his face, he's still beautiful to you, he gently kissed your head and smiled as Mitsuri did the same "Once my wedding with Mitsuri is over, we will have one for the three of us afterwards, if you don't mind..."

You smiled and hug them "I don't mind, I love you both so much and who am I to refuse?" They smiled and hugged you back then they remember that winter over in two weeks, so they plan it all quickly, they even asked Himejima to officiate their wedding with you, they trusted him and Oyakata-sama to help them with this wedding.

And once their own wedding is over they headed to nearest shrine where Himejima and the rest of Ubuyashiki family waiting for the three of you there, it was short and simple but memorable regardless how simple it was.

Once the last night of winter come, you embraced them and give them a sweet kisses on lips as you pressed your foreheads together "I will see you in next winter, okusan, danna..." They smiled at you with tears in their eyes as you headed out.

The next morning, they saw your (F/C) kimono laying on the ground, Mitsuri took it and hold it close to her as Iguro hugged her and looked up at the morning spring sky

"See you in next winter, dear (name)..."

Mitsuri wipe her tears as she hugged you, Iguro followed her suit and embrace you as you drink in their warmth, it didn't make you melt though it feels nice...

"I have good news though..."

They both looked up at you "What is it?"

"I think if I get enough strength I could live for all season even in summer" they both smiled brightly at the prospect "Then we will do our best to make it happen"

You smiled even more "Oh, and guys?"

"Yes dear?" They say in unison, they were distracted when a strange light came in front of you and an adorable child came out of the thin air, Iguro and Mitsuri gaped at the little child, it's a girl with Mitsuri's hair, Iguro's eyes and your face.

You giggled and hugged the adorable child "I'm a mature Yuki onna/Yuki ottoko now so I'm able to have our own Yuki warashi~"

...

...

"Oh my God..."

"AAHH!! She's so CUTE!!" Mitsuri say hugging the child as Iguro looked at her in astonishment, the child looked at Mitsuri, Iguro then you, you nuzzled her affectionately "Hello, child, we're your parents, nice to meet you" the little girl point at Mitsuri.

"Mama!"

Mitsuri squealed and nodded, then she looks at you "Mommy/dada" you smiled and hugged her then looked at Iguro "and he is...?" Your daughter looked at Iguro for a while and giggled "Papa!!"

Iguro felt like he got a heart attack, she's just too cute.

"(name) can I hold her?"

You smiled and nodded and hand her to him as Iguro hold his daughter, her small hand touched his scar as she smiled, her touch is cold but in pleasant way, Iguro can't help but smile "We're so going to raise you to be a fine woman, kid"

You and Mitsuri smiled at him as the three of you played with the child and planning on making her.

The winter you had with them is certainly amazing now that the three of you became parents...

----

Admin 15: Ahahaha, I was bored so I made this, the ending was definitely unexpected to me, all of you may be familiar with Yuki onna and not Yuki ottoko, I added it for the sake of the story.

And also some of you might haven't heard about Yuki warashi, well they literally mean "snow children" there is the story about a child sculpted by old childless couple, the pattern of reader's visit to Mitsuri and Iguro had similarities from the Yuki warashi visiting their parents.

Also you might wonder why the reader call Iguro "danna" and Mitsuri as "okusan"

For some of you who doesn't know yet danna (旦那/旦那様/旦那さん) means "husband" or "my husband" and Okusan (奥さん) means "my wife"

Well that's all for now, I hope you enjoy it and if you're not, then I'm sorry, I try harder next time, and apologize for that random ending, well then, see you later!

[7-wonders]

As Above, So Below Ch. 21

Summary: Your average, mundane life as a college student is flipped upside down when the man you thought you knew as your next-door neighbor turns out to be the God of the dead. When Michael lures you down to Hell, everything that you thought you knew about the world is proven wrong.

Word Count: 2523

A/N: Hello, hope y’all enjoy this new chapter! If you did, likes and reblogs are extremely appreciated, as are comments :)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6| Chapter 7| Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21: Of Heaven, Hell, and All In Between

In all of your wildest dreams, you would have never imagined getting to show your love your favorite parts of being a human would be one of them, let alone your reality. Now, Michael’s hand clasps yours as you walk down the streets of . He had given you the option to go anywhere and, while there’s so many places and things that you want to show him, you had to first go to where it all began. The situation almost feels mundane, were it not for the fact that Michael’s the literal God of the Dead. 

“What’s going on in that head of yours, darling?” Michael mutters into your ear.

“Just...thinking about how weird this is, that we’re together Above.”

“Is it a good weird or a bad weird?”

He’s teasing you, the quirk of his lips betraying his cautious words, so you play along. “A bad weird, obviously. I had hoped to parade through the streets after successfully returning from the land of the dead. Unfortunately, I seem to have fallen in love with the ruler of that land.”

Michael smirks, stilling when you smile at him and kiss his neck. “What was that?”

“Uh, me kissing your neck?” Michael nods. “Because I think you’re cute, and I can show you my affection when we’re not fighting, fucking, or on the verge of death.”

He stares at you for a long moment, making you nervous that kissing his neck was the wrong move. “Do it again,” Michael commands.

Biting your lip to stifle your giggles, you oblige and kiss his neck once more. Michael hums contentedly, pulling you closer to his side. Everything about you clashes with him. Michael’s skin, pale as new snow, while your skin has weathered years of being under the sun. He’s clad in nothing but black, which makes your sweater stand out even more. He refuses to show more than a minuscule smirk in public, but the wide smile on your face more than makes up for his lack of one. On the outside, you’re two completely different people. Your souls, however, are another story.

If souls could have colors, Michael’s would be the darkest shade of black. It’s the type of soul where, if anyone were to get too close, they would come away with hands stained the same color as his soul. You’re not sure what color yours would be, but certainly lighter than Michael’s. While your soul no doubt bears the mark of Michael, just as his has your lightness, a stain’s something that you want to get out. You would never want to remove Michael from any part of your life. No matter the differences you may share, your souls are in perfect harmony with one another, each drawing light from the dark and vice versa.

“This is the best that your mortal life has to offer?”

You shoot Michael a playful glare. “Well, I didn’t exactly have much of a forewarning before arriving at Violet’s, which makes it a little difficult to come up with a way to fully celebrate my last day as a mortal.”

“We can do whatever you would like, darling. This is your day; I will follow you anywhere and do anything as long as I’m with you.”

“Including just standing around, waiting for me to decide what to do?”

Michael laughs, pulling you closer to him and kissing your forehead. “Especially that.”

You continue walking through a park, no destination in mind as you think about the possibilities of the day. You could go to Paris or Milan. Greece would be nice to visit, although you’re not sure Michael would be too excited about that. Somewhere tropical, maybe? The mental image of Michael, dressed in his long sleeves and slacks and sitting under a black umbrella to keep out of the sun, makes you laugh.

“Wait,” you say suddenly, an idea forming. “Can you give me like half an hour to get some things together? I know what I want to do.”

“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

You shrug. “I don’t know. Go help your sister? Or I’m sure there’s business to attend to back home, if you think you have the time.”

“Half an hour,” Michael says after a moment, “and no longer. Then I’ll have to hunt you down and it will spoil whatever you’re planning.”

“Deal!” Kissing Michael quickly, you glance around to make sure nobody is looking your way before you transmute to where you need to go. Michael sighs while looking at the spot where you once were, your excitement getting the best of your conversational skills.

“Love you too.”

//

Exactly thirty minutes later, you track Michael down with very simple divination. You’ve kept good on your promise of never using a mirror for divination again, the experience of being sucked into a living nightmare one that you’d like to never repeat, but divination using objects like pebbles comes in handy. He’s not at his sister’s apartment, nor is he in the Underworld. Instead, Michael’s in a location that you’re both familiar with; the location where you first met.

The Murder House doesn’t hold the same dread within its walls that it once did. After battling the literal Devil, you don’t think anything could scare you like it used to. Traipsing through the house like you own the place (maybe you do--if Michael owns it, then that means it’s technically yours, right?), you find Michael standing in the unfinished living room.

“Feeling nostalgic?” You wrap your arms around him from behind, leaning your head against his firm back.

“Just reminiscing.” Michael lifts your arms from his torso, turning around so that you’re face to face with him. “Did you accomplish what you set out to do?”

Humming your affirmation, you look up at Michael. “When was the first time you saw me? Was it when I snuck in here to go ghost hunting, or were you up to some stalker shit?”

“It was not ‘some stalker shit,’” Michael quotes with a scowl. “I had simply come Above for some business, using the Hellmouth under this house as my portal, when I saw you struggling to carry all of your groceries into the house at once.”

“Wow, and you didn’t bother to help?” you quip sarcastically.

“If I remember correctly, I heard you saying that ‘multiple trips are for amateurs.’ Didn’t want to diminish your accomplishment.” Your face heats up at the quote, but you can’t help the smile at the first time Michael saw you.

“That’s when you knew you loved me, right?”

Your teasing tone is lost on Michael. “No. I knew I was in love with you the first time you met Cerberus and you immediately managed to become best friends with him.”

“How do you manage to make my jokes into something sweet and sentimental?”

“A millennia of practice.” Michael looks out the window, towards the house that you used to occupy. “Do your roommates know what’s become of you?”

“I told them I’m studying abroad in England next year, and that I wanted to leave early to travel through Europe. My belongings are still there, but I can worry about getting those later.” You can tell that Michael is starting to feel guilty about what he believes is himself forcing you from your mortal life, so you grab his hands. “Are you ready to see what I have planned now?”

“Lead the way, my queen.” Closing your eyes tightly (the sudden change of location still makes you a little nauseous), you transmute both you and Michael to your so-called “secret” location.

It takes Michael a moment to adjust, the sunlight so bright that his eyes squint to avoid being temporarily blinded. You giggle, waiting patiently as he becomes accustomed to being in nature. When he’s finally able to open his eyes, he looks around in confusion. 

“Is this--”

“The meadow that you recreated for me in Elysium when you took me on a date. I decided that I wanted to show you the real version of it.”

Michael’s at a loss for words as he looks around at the wide open space, and the best response he can come up with is “why did it take you thirty minutes if you knew where you were going?”

Gesturing to a spot beneath a large tree, Michael sees a large blanket set up with a variety of foods spread on it. “I figured I would return the favor and take you on a date this time.”

“That’s quite backwards, isn’t it?”

“It’s the 21st century, Michael. Women can take men on dates if they want.”

Michael knows you’re joking, but still holds his hands up in mock-surrender. “I’m not complaining, I’m just not used to this.”

You lead Michael over to the picnic you set up, sitting down and attempting to keep your excitement contained as he joins you. “Pick your poison, baby. What speaks to you?”

“What are those?” Michael asks, pointing to a plate.

“They’re cupcakes.” He tilts his head in confusion, reminding you of a puppy. “It’s cake, but in cup form so that you don’t have to eat it with a fork.”

Hesitantly unwrapping one, he sniffs it before taking a cautious bite. Michael looks at you with an indecipherable expression, his lips sporting the remains of the white frosting.

“Oh, I really like that.”

You laugh, surprising him when you kiss the frosting off of his lips. “You have to be careful though, because they can be pretty sweet.”

“Just like you,” Michael fires back, making you roll your eyes. 

“Wow, how original. There must be a universal playbook or something.”

“Or every other man in history has learned that line from me, because I’m pretty sure I was the first to use that line,” Michael points out, making you begrudgingly nod.

“I didn’t think of that possibility.”

“Your turn.” Dipping his finger in the frosting of a cupcake, Michael holds it up to your lips and watches intently as you lick it into your mouth. You know exactly the game that he’s playing towards, and you refuse to give in.

“What’s it like?” you ask suddenly.

“What’s what like?”

“Being immortal.”

Michael thinks for a moment. “There’s a certain...power that comes along with knowing that you are one of the privileged few that get to live forever, but I can tell that’s not what you’re curious about.”

You smile slightly, shaking your head. “I’m scared to watch my family and friends grow old and die, while I remain the same.”

“I can’t pretend that I know what that’s like,” Michael sighs, “but I can attempt to offer you comfort. While that must be difficult, the upside of being the Queen of the Underworld--”

“Not yet,” you chime in.

“Not yet, but you will be. Anyways, I suppose that’s the beauty of our realm. Life does not end with death; it continues, just in different forms.” At the mention of ‘death,’ Michael looks down at the wilting flowers around him in disdain. “Well, life does not end with death when it involves you.”

“Here, give me your hand.” Michael looks at you suspiciously, but you just hold your hand in front of his face. “Hand.”

Michael complies, placing his large hand in yours. You breathe deeply, ignoring how he looks at you like you’re going a little crazy. 

“Now look.” Michael does as he’s told, looking down at the ground. The flowers around him are now fully blooming, each a variety of colors that have Michael bending down to get closer.

“You’re spectacular, (Y/N).” Michael beams at you. “I cannot wait until you’re my wife.”

“Your wife?” you say, choking on air.

“Yes? That’s typically what comes along with being a queen.” Michael hesitates at the look on your face. “I mean, unless that’s not what you want, in which case exceptions can be made.”

“Michael,” you call, stopping his rambling. “It’s--you just surprised me, that’s all. We’ve never talked about marriage before, so I wasn’t really expecting it.”

“You...would want to be my wife, though?” Michael asks cautiously.

“Is this you asking to marry me?”

“Would you accept if it was?” 

You shrug, stringing him out just a little longer. “I don’t know, I suppose you’ll have to ask and find out.”

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N), I love you. As a man who did not believe I was capable of being loved, you’ve shown me how to love and be loved unconditionally. For that, I give you my word that I will love you until the end of days. I can only hope that you will do the same; that I have left the same indelible mark on your soul as you have mine.

“I am sure you are aware that our union would not be the traditional one that you have in mind. No white dress or elaborate ceremony, no ‘I do’s or wedding marches. However, I can promise you that you will be mine, just as much as I will be yours. We will be married for all intents and purposes as according to the customs of the gods. I will move mountains for you; hang the stars in the sky and then take them down, solely because you asked me to do so. So, (Y/N), will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

You grin, desperate not to cry as Michael spills his feelings to you, ending it with a declaration that’s just as surprising to him as it is to you. He knows what you’re going to say, he’s been able to read you like a book since the day you met, but he still waits patiently to hear you say it.

“Yes, Michael.” You whisper it so quietly that you fear it may get lost in the wind, but he hears it. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

He takes your face in his hands. “Yes? Really?”

“Yes,” you laugh. “Really.”

Michael surges forward to kiss you, eagerly touching any piece of you that he can. You giggle as he lays you back on the blanket, hovering over you and kissing your cheeks, nose, neck--everywhere.

“My wife,” he says in awe. “You’ll have to forgive me for not having a ring at the ready for this spontaneous proposal.”

“I don’t need a ring, love,” you stroke his hair away from his face. “Having you as my husband is all I’ll need.”

“Your majesty,” a voice says suddenly, causing you and Michael to spring apart. Cassius, the demon who had helped with your plan to dispose of Satan, stands above the blanket.

“Jesus Christ,” you mutter, still getting over the shock of having somebody interrupt an intimate moment. “Look, I know you shun modern advancements, but everybody should seriously consider investing in cell phones to give some forewarning.”

Michael huffs a laugh under his breath, kissing your hand that he holds. “Cassius, what brings you here.”

“I have a message from Hermes, on behalf of Hera. The golden apple has been procured. Hermes will be bringing it Below henceforth.”

//

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[justmeinbigd]

Dallas Christmas Lights: A Tour of 5 Not-Highland Park Neighborhoods

Some of the biggest lights displays in the Dallas area let you take a carload of people for one price, and I guess that’s a great way to go - for families. But it’s “just me,” so it seems like a splurge, especially when I have to shoot photos through the car window.

Dallas also has several great Christmas lights tours, but some of them make a big dent in your wallet. I tried one for the first time last year, and it was great, but there’s no way I’m getting in a bus with other people this year, even if it’s only half full. 

Luckily, the tour company, Dallas by Chocolate is offering special tours this year that you do in your own vehicle, with treat stops along the way. I’m a big fan of Jeanine Stevens and her company that’s been shining a light on local businesses with Dallas food tours year-round, since 2011. Check them out if that’s the way you want to go.

Still, my favorite way to see the lights has always been behind the wheel of my car, armed with Google Maps and copious notes from years of lists from D Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and local blogs. 

Here’s my list of some super fun Christmas lights you can see in Dallas neighborhoods for free, and on your own schedule.

I’ve mapped out a route to take you through up to five (not Highland Park) neighborhoods in a single evening. If you want to go to Highland Park and University Park for more, there’s a list of the highlights at the very bottom of this post!

Swiss Avenue Historic District

Stop 1

Overview: Simple, yet elegant, low traffic most of the time, in  a scenic neighborhood of historic homes.

Map Pin: I started at Aldredge House, at 5500 Swiss Avenue. You can drive down Swiss for 3-4 blocks each direction and then make the circle to go down the other side.

What you’ll see: Stately homes, mature trees (mostly not wrapped with lights), and classic yard decorations and Christmas lights that outline the architectural elements of the houses.

When to go: Of the Dallas neighborhoods known for Christmas lights, this one provides the least crowded drive through experience, so you can come any time. It’s also pretty during the day when it’s not lit up, so give that a try if you’re not a fan of nighttime driving.

Pro Tip: Pics from the passenger side may come out better, so if you’re traveling solo, you may want to get out of the car and walk around for a better vantage point. Otherwise, after pulling over, you’ll have to snap pictures across the wide, grassy median to the opposite side of the street. 

Tour Tip: If you’re not going to Electrict Lizzieland, head North on Skillman or Matilda to exit the Swiss Avenue neighborhood. Avoid driving down Greenville Avenue unless you want to get stuck in traffic (bad) or stop for to-go dinner/drinks/snacks for the rest of the tour(not bad at all.)

Electric Lizzieland (pic coming soon)

Stop 2

Overview: One house with lots of lights and glitter, a bit of a wild take on Christmas, but 100% family-friendly.

You will want to get out of the car for this one, so bring your mask. It can be a little crowded, due to a smaller window of time each evening the display is turned on. 

What you’ll see:  If you took the Christmas decorations from 10 or so houses and put them all on one house, it might look like this. A yard full of playful snowmen and candy canes, rooftop scenes with lighting, and lots more. Head toward the porch to get a close-up of brightly-painted and glittered plywood panels and a tree-covered walkway with hundreds (maybe thousands?) of lights. 

When to go: Lights are on from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.(don’t expect precision on the timing) most nights. When there’s inclement weather, the lights will be off. You can check the status on their Facebook page before you go.

Map Pin: Electric Lizzieland 

If you want to check out other homes in the neighborhood, you can choose a starting point on Newell Avenue between Santa Monica and Lindley. 

Joy Triumphant at Abrams and Trammell 

Stop 3

Overview: A hodgepodge of everything from traditional Christmas to nerdy and nostalgic on a large corner lot with high visibility.

What you’ll see: Every passerby will see the word Joy lit up in giant letters and some fun inflatables. Look a little closer and you’ll find a dinosaur, maybe a Kip’s Big Boy, and lots of other quirky lawn decor.

I call it Joy triumphant because when some of his inflatables were stolen or vandalized, people wrote notes and cards to the homeowner, and some even sent money, which he did not want. Sharing Christmas spirit is what matters to him, and he just keeps doing it with his wacky and joyous lawn.

When to go: Any time. The intersection gets moderate to high traffic, so you’ll need to pull over on a side street  and “zoom with your feet” to view more closely. Please do not attempt to take this photo while driving!

Map Pin: 32.84483, -96.75293

Hit the Highlights in the M Streets

Stop 4

Overview: A neighborhood with lots of Tudor houses, largely occupied by affluent young professionals with children, with lights ranging from simple to “we just threw a little bit of everything out there.” 

What you’ll see: A wide variety of decorations, many with high kid-appeal. Not every house is lit or decorated, and on those that are, you’ll see everything from elegance to extravaganzas and inflatables.  Map Pin and Points of Interest: 2.826532972222225, -96.77127899999999 The map pin and the second photo shown above are for a house that sits next to one of the more exuberant ones (though not the one pictured above it.) The lights above the window say “Bah, humbug.” I found it hilarious to see them side by side. 

Other interesting homes from previous years were in the 5600 Block of Vickery, on Marquita between Matilda and Delmar, and in the 5800 block of Mercedes.

When to go: Some houses turn their lights off by 9, others are on all night. There aren’t “lines” like in Highland Park, but the narrow streets can be hard to navigate with cars parked on the street.

From here, it makes sense to head over to Highland Park, but if you do, you’ll miss my favorite Christmas lights neighborhood. It’s not too far out of the way, and then you can circle back to Highland Park.

12 Days of Christmas at Timberhollow Circle

Stop 5

Overview: Understated, “old school” yard decor of painted plywood with floodlights and the occasional extravaganza mixed in.

What you’ll see: Each of the 12 Days of Christmas are represented, in order at neighboring houses on Timberhollow Circle. Most are very understated, but cute, and at least one is absolutely stunning. 

I also enjoyed driving through the neighboring streets for beautiful and thoughtful decorations including nativities, smaller inflatables, and smaller light displays.

When to go: Any time, just not too late at night; it’s a quiet neighborhood. 

Map Pin: 32°53'26.3"N 96°44'33.2"W

This is my favorite neighborhood for drive-through Christmas lights. Here are pics from two other homes on Moss Haven.

And I guess I’m just giving away my age, but this is my favorite house of all. It’s also on Moss Haven Drive.

Highland Park Highlights Here are some Highland Park highlights I transcribed from an infographic posted by Snow Day on Instagram and from my previous trips.

Highland Park/University Park Highlights 6767 Turtle Creek Blvd, Dallas 6920 Turtle Creek Blvd 6767 Druid 4316 Edmondson 3200 block and 3600 block (or really ALL) of Beverly Drive 4345 Rheims 4401 Lorraine Further North

3700 Block of Southwestern -  All the Santas. This isn’t even all of it!

6767 Hunters Glen (This is an enormous home with yard lights for nearly a full block. The two pics below only capture a portion of it!)

Wherever you go, please stay safe this Christmas. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy. Merry Christmas!!

[softyubi]

tagged by: the lovely @atinybrew <3 i’ve never been tagged in one of these so forgive me about it being pretty bad :((

answer 10 questions then write your own and tag some mutuals!!

what animal do you feel most connected to?

kind of a basic answer but cats! i’m more on the independent carefree side of things ><

would you rather travel to europe or asia?

asia! i’m an extremely americanized asian and a part of me wishes to be more in touch with my culture, but not only that, i’ve been to a few places and all trips have been amazing!

what historical time-period intrigues you the most?

i’m extremely bad with anything related to history because my mind automatically goes to some not so nice things, but probably the renaissance since their goal was to be the most you can be. 

is there a colour you associate with your bias?

yunho.... do not get me started on this man or i won’t be able to stop,, i see him as orange! it’s a definitely a happier color for me and the color brings a sense of excitement which are traits yuyu has <3

what’s your comfort food?

jam on toast!

are you a listener? if so, would you say you’re more inclined to shyness or quietness? are you a talker? what do you enjoy sharing?

 i’m a extrovert and i love love sharing/keeping the converation going,, i’m probably annoying and way too much of an oversharer..... i like talking about current things that are happening or happening around me! (ENFP here!)

what trait do you have most in common with your bias?

based off the mbti ateez video,, we both like to drag invite people to things into activites etc!

what classic disney character do you relate to most?

ariel... i’d probably give evrything up for my gf cute girl too (i luv u btw >;))

what’s the most nostalgic classic disney movie/children’s story tale that always makes you cry from your childhood?

snow white!!! i was a confusing kid, but i cried at the fact she had to look after 7 men THEN preceded to almost die from an apple

what colour lenses do you see the world through?

on a serious note, i see the word in a jade-colored lense,, i’m probably a person who doesn’t trust others easily and takes a very long amount of time to open up. i tend to see the bad in others first, which isn’t very good but i am open to any type of change. some people in my life do remind me to take off those lenses and put on a rose-colored lense once in a while

my questions!!

what song evokes a strong emotions from you?

what is on your bucket list?

what is something you regret? if you could redo it, would you?

what aesthetic do you associate yourself with?

if you could meet your bias, what would you say?

what is your favorite weather?

would you rather be crazy rich, or deeply in love?

what are the most beautiful things in the world to you? why?

what do you think is your most noticeable trait?

would you say your bias is someone who you are romantically or platonically attracted to?

tagging: @aasthrielle @ve1vetyoongi @jungkookiebus (y’all are probably confused on why i’m suddenly active and i’m too much of a wimp to actually dm y’all but this game was cute so i had too!!)

also my dm’s are always open and i’m fucking awkward so don’t mind that...<3

[swiftpng]

❥ — taylor swift’s fall netflix list // gettin’ deep & personal task.

Taylor’s a sucker for binge-watching a television show and ignoring the fact that she should be replying to emails about work, so what’s a better way to procrastinate than answering a bunch of fall related questions while watching a baking show? (click on the picture for hq!)

what’s your favorite part of fall? Everything. I know, I know… I might’ve said summer was my favorite season, but honestly? I love this time of the year so much. The leaves here are beginning to change colors. Soon they’ll fall to the ground in an array of golden-tones, stripping the trees bare in the process. We’ll all soon follow, wiping ourselves clean of the year’s hard times in anticipation of the better that’s sure to come. Pumpkin flavors can now be requested in coffee shops all over, and in just a couple weeks time, children will line the streets in costumes. There’s something in the breeze that heals. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. Goosebumps litter my skin and at times I have to question whether I’m cold or whether my body is coming alive for the first time in ten months. Fall has arrived and so has my spirit. 

what about your least favorite? Hm, hard call. Maybe the colder weather? I don’t mind it, but I don’t really enjoy the feeling of my limbs feeling numb from the coldness.

what’s a song that always makes you think of Halloween? Thriller by Michael Jackson! If you don’t do the dance when you hear this song, we can’t be friends.

describe your quintessential fall outfit? Fall fashion is some of my favorite and, in my opinion, often the most creative! Usually, I’m always wearing fall colors with jeans, boots, and a sweater. Scarves, hats, and gloves can be found in my wardrobe during this time of year, too.

have you ever played with a ouija board? No, I wouldn’t do that. I’ve seen one too many horror films to know that it never ends well when you mess with those things.

do you feel that fall makes you happy or sad? Happy, most of the time! Although, it does make me feel slightly nostalgic, so that can always bring up unwanted feelings to the surface.

what’s your favorite Halloween-related movie? I always go for more light-hearted movies rather than all out scary movies, so I would have to say Hocus Pocus. But, I like Practical Magic, too.

now that the weather’s getting colder, what’s a go-to comfort meal for fall? Mac and cheese is my comfort food. It’s homey, warm, and so delicious. 

do you believe in ghosts & spirits? A little bit. I’m the kind of person to hear a mysterious noise and think “ghosts!” because that’s just who I am. I believe there are things we can’t see that exist, but I don’t really believe in the traditional ideas of what “ghosts” are. Maybe I’ll Buzzfeed Unsolved it one of these days and see if they’re truly real for myself.

favorite fall-related scent? Freshly made pumpkin pie from the oven is such a good smell, but I also love the smell of nature after it rains.

are you a generally superstitious person? I’m not overall superstitious, but I believe that there are things we can’t see or fathom. I believe there’s things we can’t explain, yet or ever. I believe that the number thirteen is my lucky number, and whenever it pops up randomly, I always believe it’s good luck for me.

do you rake up the leaves in your yard, or leave them fall where they may? I just leave them on the ground until I know it’s supposed to snow, and then I rake them up for them to burn. Fallen leaves make for a good bonfire.

if you were home alone and heard footsteps in your house, what would you do? I would probably check my security camera footage, and if I felt really spooked out, I’d call a friend to come over and stay the night!

hot apple cider or pumpkin spice coffee? Oooh, don’t do this to me. I love both, but a mug of hot apple cider is amazing when you’re at the window and reading a book.

pick a team of three people to go with you to a haunted house if you wanted to survive? Let me see… I think I’d choose Bill Skarsgård because he’s taller than me and I trust that he could protect the rest of the team; James McAvoy because he’s hilarious and I’m sure he could calm my nerves and lighten the mood; and Delta Goodrem since she’s my soul sister and I would need her for moral support. Bill, James, and Delta – those three would be my team if I had to go into a haunted house to survive.

do you use the pumpkin seeds once you’ve scooped ‘em from the jack-o-lantern? I usually save them! I roast them in the oven and eat them as a snack.

favorite Halloween costume that you’ve ever worn? Getting the chance to wear Ryan’s Deadpool costume was pretty cool. Didn’t think it would fit at first, but I’m glad it did!

what’s your favorite fall time activity? Going out at night and walking against the brisk air, warm coffee in my hand, feeling free and abandoned with my loved ones; sitting outside in the afternoons with a cozy sweater and writing/drawing; watching the darkening of the days, giving way to even brighter sunsets and sunrises.

graveyards at night: yay or nay? Uh, no. I don’t even like going to them in the daytime, so going to one during the night would not be for me.

do you enjoy baking during the fall season? Of course! Imagine if I didn’t bake almost everyday during the fall season? If you can name it, I can bake it. Cookies, pies, cakes, bread – those will fill my kitchen at all times.

are you more into Halloween parties or trick-or-treating? Since I’m older, I would say Halloween parties. Though, now that I’m living in Bayview, I’m hoping to get a chance to pass out candy to kids. Seeing little ones dressed up in their costumes is so cute.

what role do you play in a horror movie: the final girl, first to die, comic relief, the brain, or the murderer? Honestly? Depends on my mood. Kidding. Well, maybe. I feel like most people would assume that I would be the first to die in a horror movie and they might be right, but I feel like I could be the brain to come up with a plan to save us all. I’d be the comic relief if I’m nervous or feeling stressed during it all, the final girl if my plan goes like it should, and the murderer if I saw someone I disliked.

have you ever changed your appearance with the season? like dyeing your hair or doing different makeup? A lot of people dye their hair darker as the seasons change, but I don’t think I can pull off brown hair, so I just stick to blonde. I usually change my makeup to more darker tones.

after a scary movie… lights on or off? On, always. And I have to watch something more light-hearted afterwards otherwise I can’t go to sleep.

what’s your favorite candy that you look forward to getting around Halloween? Definitely Reese’s Pieces or M&M’s. You’ll never see me with candy corn, though. Whoever likes those are wrong. Very, very wrong. They have no taste, they’re boring, and they’re just not a good Halloween candy. Or even candy in general. Honestly, just don’t even talk to me if you like candy corn. Please. Also, if you have any in your presence, you should do yourself a favor and throw them away.

you’re a witch or warlock… what’s your familiar animal? Would it be too predictable to say a cat? It would be cool if they could talk like Salem, too.

it’s an apple, and it’s coated with what: chocolate, candy or caramel? A chocolate M&M covered apple would be my pick. I never eat it from the stick, so I usually cut it with an apple slicer and then have my way with it.

do you believe in any urban legends like moth man or chupacabras? Can’t say I do, only because I’m not really familiar with either of those. I will say that I believe in Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

are you more into the fall aesthetic, or just in it for Halloween? Both? I love fall because of the crispness of the air against the gentle warmth of sunlight, the reemergence of cozy dark clothing and boots, a fresh brew of coffee as the sun rises and the chill starts to nip at your nose and cheeks, the faint scent of cinnamon, shorter days in exchange for softer evenings and brighter sunrises, greenery turning over to bold reds, oranges, and yellows, a tangible feeling that you can do anything… I could go on forever, I just really, really love autumn, my soul feels so at home when it’s this time of year. But, I do love Halloween and I refuse to believe it begins within the plane of manmade time, and is not an atmospheric state that graces us mere mortals every year without fail, bringing with it an odd chilly peace and natural pleasantries and a sort of magic, all of which is willed by the Gods of Spook. Yes, I know, I’m weird.  

supernatural time: do you wanna be a vampire, werewolf, or zombie? I’ve been a zombie once, and let me tell you, sitting for six hours in a makeup chair is not fun. But in all seriousness, if I had to choose based off of what I’ve seen in TV shows and such, I think I’d go with being a werewolf. I mean, having to turn on a full moon and have every bone in my body break doesn’t sound like too much fun, but it does sound better than having to live off of blood and never actually dying (unless you get stabbed in the heart with a wooden stake). With how much the world is changing, I don’t think I would to live long enough to see how it all ends.

[wayneooverton]

10 reasons why fall is the best season for adventures

Cool, crisp air. Shorter days. Fireplace cranking, Hot toddy’s flowing. The crunch of fallen leaves underfoot.

There’s no question that fall is the season of cozy. Dare I say hygge?

Even the die-hard lovers of spring, summer and winter can admit there’s just that strange, mysterious factor that make everyone feel warm and happy when they transition into the season of color.

I know better than anyone how tempting it is to go into hibernation mode in autumn. An East Coast girl at heart, these colorful months are in my blood, even since I moved to New Zealand and have come to accept fall in April – which let’s be honest, is still kinda weird.

I love snuggling up next to the fire with a good book, content with spending a day baking and writing, and of course, thinking. But I love even more wandering outside beneath yellow leaves, and the smell of fire in the air.

I know it’s tempting to put on your long johns and start the Christmas music in October but don’t be too quick to skip this magical season all together. Fall is my favorite time of the year and is arguably the best season for adventure, even if it arrived very late this year.

Step aside summer and winter, we’ve got a new favorite adventure season in town.

1. The perfect weather

Congratulations, you’ve made it through the sweltering summer.

You’ve endured endless nights of restlessness because it’s frankly too damn hot to be comfortable. You’ve survived the bug bites, the ugly ass sun hats, the hair that sticks to your sweaty forehead making looking presentable almost impossible. You’ve done it!

Welcome to fall where you’ll be greeted with the perfect temperatures. All those hikes you decided to abandon because it was too hot? Now’s the perfect time to do them.

You’ll be comfortable and cool and maybe you’ll even get to wear more than the absolute bare minimum for layers. Throw on that cute beanie you’ve kept in storage.

You’ll be just cool enough to keep the sweating to a minimum so you can get those summit views easier and more comfortably.

Nothing beats Central Otago in autumn

My house in Wanaka is decked out in Wilson & Dorset New Zealand sheepskins

Two Paddocks, my favorite local winery, looks stunning in the fall

2. All the pretty colors, obviously

Anyone who pretends to be unfazed by the radiant light show that nature puts on every autumn is, quite frankly, full of shit.

It is spectacular when the leaves change, heralding fall, no questions asked.

Golds, reds, oranges, I love them all. As soon as the leaves begin to change, my heart soars and I want to be out and about amongst the colors as much as I can.

Nature is literally changing its whole color scheme from bright green to earthy browns, yellows, reds, purples. Seeing an entire landscape explode into a totally different shade than a month ago?

That’s magic.

It’s like seeing a mountain on fire without any of the danger. Yes please, can nature look like this all the time??

3. No more crazy crowds

Good news! Summer vacations are over.

Those crying, screaming kids disrupting your peaceful nature time are back in school.

For some reason, people are spending their weekend watching football which is great because that means you get nature all to yourself. Take advantage of the quiet trails while everyone else is gorging on cheese dip and pumpkin spiced lattes.

Just avoid those heavy Instagram autumn spots, can’t guarantee those won’t be busy.

I kept my portable Lotus Belle Air Beam Bud set up all through the autumn in Wanaka

Onesies by the fire, am I right?

4. You get to wear all of the clothes and be all cozy

Summer wardrobes suck.

Everything is exposed all of the time and after few weeks of sweating through your outfit every day, you begin to miss the beauty of an autumn wardrobe.

When on a summer hike, you can only take off so much but in fall, it’s time to layer up, baby! Leggings, thick socks, leather boots, long-sleeves, hoodies, jackets and beanies.

Fall wardrobes have so much opportunity, so much diversity.

I live in this Patagonia flannel top come autumn

Danner boots are my favorite adventure boots when I’m on the road

5. Explore the mountains before they’re covered in snow

You may already be frothing for winter and a season on the skis but don’t forget that when the snow comes, a lot of the alpine will generally be off limits.

This is your last chance to get high without the complications of ski gear and avalanche knowledge.

In fall, the peaks may get a small dusting of snow but it’s still accessible and plus, a light dusting paired with a fiery mountain landscape is the stuff photographers drool over. Enjoy those peaks. You might not see them again for another six months.

A light but high quality puffer jacket is essential for hikes in the autumn

6. Vinyard harvest

Living near wine regions around the world, I have because highly aware of autumn because of the harvest. Come vintage time, all hands are on deck and these beautiful bits of land truly come alive as everyone works to bring in the grapes before the frosts of winter descend.

A true art form that I’ll never understand, what I do get it is the wild harvest parties that happen at the end, that I often end up at!

So much fun.

7. It’s totally fine to end a hike with hot cider and a hearty meal

Roasted veggies, hearty stews, mashed potatoes. Fall is the season of comfort food.

No one wants to end their hot summery hike with a big roast dinner and a hot apple cider. No thanks.

In Autumn? Definitely! You can reward yourself after your adventure with a hot, comforting meal fit for kings.

8. Shorter days means you get to see more sunrises and sunsets

Fall is great for lovers of sleep.

It’s darker longer which means that pesky sun won’t wake you up until much, much later. You even get an extra hour of sleep when the clock rolls back. For those of us who love sleep to an unhealthy degree, seeing a sunrise in the summer is brutally painful. Waiting up at 5:30am just to be prepped for morning golden hour? Sounds good in theory but never works quite like I want it to.

In Fall? No problem. Go ahead and give yourself a sleep in. You’ll get your beauty rest, have time to make a coffee and still make golden hour. Nice!

Planning an autumn hike when the days are shorter means that you need to be extra prepared with gear. I always throw in a headlamp if I’m going on a day hike and always carry more layers than I think I’ll need in case the weather really turns. You gotta be prepared for it all.

9. Wildlife viewing can be amazing

Grab your binoculars!

Bird are migrating, salmon are spawning, elk are bugling, the high alpine animals are slowly making their way down the mountain as the temperatures drop. Bears are scrounging up the last of the berries before heading off for hibernation and squirrels are busy gathering and stashing nuts for the winter.

For those who want to get a glimpse of these elusive animals, autumn is your chance! But be careful, wildlife can be especially aggressive this time of year so keep your distance and resist all temptation to get a selfie with wild animals.

If you’re hiking in bear territory, it’s always a good idea to carry a bell and bear spray, just in case.

10. Get cabin cozy

And last but not least, my favorite thing to do in autumn is spend time out away from the cities cozied away in a cute cabin.

From the smells of the first wood fires to the crunchy leaves under your feet as you walk through the woods, there is something so nostalgic and lovely about getting away for a few days to a cabin somewhere. Airbnb is usually my go-to for looking for little cabins to get away to. Do you have any faves to share?

Spill – do love fall as much as me? What’s your favorite autumn adventure?

Many thanks to Backcountry.com for supporting us on our adventures. Note: some of these links are affiliate links. Like always, we’re keeping it real. All opinions are our own, like you could expect less from us!

The post 10 reasons why fall is the best season for adventures appeared first on Young Adventuress.

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[miss-becca]

exactly one year ago, my feet stepped on osakan soil for the first time.

so here we go. the final chapter of my exchange as documented on this blog. i’ve been procrastinating this for 24 days. i’ll do my best to pick up where i left off and limit my overly nostalgic feelings haha.

mid-january marked my first japanese snow experience. strolling out of a store with そうき, we spotted white-capped cars, and with great excitement (on my part, at least), we drove out of the parking complex into a snow-sprinkled wonderland.

i think i spent a good fifteen minutes iterating variations of すごい and きれい

vince stayed with me for most of the rest of the month, and we alternated between going to sightseeing hotspots and just hanging around in warm places. basically all the photos i have of this month are food, but that pretty accurately describes how we spent those days. (for extra captions, hover your cursor over the photos!)

double birthday party bowling! ビンスと陽介誕生日おめでとう！楽しかったよ！

the lead-up to v day could be seen everywhere <3 <3

special trip to kobe just to eat some of this glorious beef

and then dessert and the hardest i’ve laughed in a quiet public place ever

guess who’s is who’s! ;)

最後のご飯うううう

dessert became an integral meal

more special beef for our last lunch

we also had the pleasure of touristing around osaka and the surrounding regions with all our fellow australians who were holiday traveling :D somehow, i have no photos of the big group trip to usj though…

sorry for taking the only gudetama with a visible butt!

hello kitty cafe with cute cakes

and cute drinks (and the most ear-destroying song played on repeat for the whole 45 minute duration that we were there)

tempura after a day traveling kyoto!

saying bye to vince was pretty tough, but そうき made it better with a lovely evening spent playing with his dachshund  アンディ (andy <3), homemade food and then an annual mountain burning night in nara. そうきありがとう！その日はめっちゃ楽しかったよ！（ううう）

めっちゃ美味しかった！そうきありがとう！！

奈良の若草山焼き (wakakusa yamayaki – the burning of wakakusa mountain)

shiga february 3: 大学の授業全部終わった後、そうきと陽介とあいかと一緒に雪山に行った！天気めっちゃ良くて皆んなベックにボードの方法を教えたし、楽しかったよ！皆んなと一緒に遊んだの時間、いつも覚えてる！ありがとう！<3 <3 <3

after my classes finished, soki, yosuke and aika took me to the snow! the weather was fantastic and everyone patiently taught me how to manage myself on a snowboard, and the day was spectacular! plus, yay for onsen at the end to ease us out of the cold. ^_^

めっちゃ天気よかった <3 this weather though

the top of my first slope T_T (みんななんでこれは最初の…）

あいか〜 コーヒーありがとう！

nagoya february 10-14: my very last trip inside of japan, spent with the very best company and i couldn’t have loved this city more. we spent our days roaming around, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, オシャレ cafes and pretty shopping streets. at nagoya castle, i had my first voluntary guided tour from a lovely man called sho, who gave us (in english!!) the history and stories of the structure as he walked with us through the grounds. on our way out, we caught the castle ninja (sora-san~) and he pointed us to visit the world’s largest planetarium, somehow hidden away in humble nagoya. added to the magic of city lights and stumbling across fairy-light heaven, i fell far more in love than i could have ever expected <3

味噌カツ！the must-have nagoya specialty: miso katsu!

pretty city

making fake meals at an art expo

goodnightmare bear

cake #1

cake #2

nagoya castle

the only one with a dry moat

reconstructions

world’s largest planetarium (though we arrived a few minutes after closing time…)

味噌カツ#2

stumbling upon pretty lights is love

didn’t find cindy but…

<3

cake #3 (of many)

i discovered a weakness for city lights

nagoya tower <3

my first omikase sushi!

dessert at pablo’s

i chose to stay in osaka for the remainder of my time in japan, hoping that everyone would have a little time to catch up on more time. i’m forever thankful to everyone who accommodated my unorganised schedule so that we could meet again, and to everyone who did their best even if it didn’t work out in the end like we planned. here’s a photographic (food-centric) ode to those days. ;) (bonus points if you can identify which photo is from our date based on the food i ate! and sorry if i forgot to take a picture of my food and our date isn’t represented here..)

just had to add this brutalised guitar in

and the creepiest coat hangers we found in a dingy cafe

speaking of last times, there were a lot of inwardly teary moments as i realised the year was truly wrapping up.

1. my very last day of undergraduate uni (if credit transfers go okay…)

from my favourite on-campus cafeteria

past the gym

the front gate (took me a solid 5 minutes to get this panaroma without butchering people’s passing cars)

the top of my morning struggle hill

my least favourite red light to wait at

i’ve run through this ground so many times on late mornings (also, the skyyy)

ただいま！tadaima!

and walking home for the last time from suita campus

2. my final (and fifteenth) visit to usj

and somehow we scored a day which was simultaneously stunning (that evening sky..) and empty. for a moment, it felt like we were the only ones there. also, hooray for parfaits.

3. my final wall mural

which was built up over the year, inspired by the desire to cover my overly yellow door. taking this down was probably one of the hardest things i had to do over the year.

4. my final glimpse of osaka

and then i found myself in my beloved hong kong; surrounded by family and family-cooked food. <3

my favourite restaurant in this whole country is my uncle’s house

the feast that mum and my aunty cooked for me <3

mum’s special dish <3 <3

i never truly appreciated the beauty of hong kong before, but this time the skyscrapers somehow had me speechless. and of course, the dimsims.

here again, i was thankful to the people who met me in my few free days for quick catch ups!

earl grey waffle with my cousin

green tea lava cake also with my cousin

super spicy fish with paul! ^_^

round two

a walk along the harbour to digest the food

before round three ^_^

not the usual view from victoria peak

pretty walk near cuhk

the view from cuhk

some cute streets nearby

then, my final travel spot: taiwan!

かおりちゃん、ありがとう！

goose! <3

of course, taiwanese night market is a must

not-too stinky tofu

pretty rock structures at yehliu

waterfall near jiufen

this place smelt like very rotten eggs

but it was pretty!

my first volcano visit!

beautiful kaohsiung

愛河！the love river <3 <3

cijin island with my bby!

accidentally finding this place

kaohsiung railway museum

pier 2

snoopy exhibition

if you look carefully, it’s actually the leaves that are pink!

lotus lake and the famous dragon tiger pagodas

after one more night in hong kong, spent not packing my bags (to my mother’s dismay), i boarded my plane back to the homeland.

this made me look forward to being home more

and australia really did give me a heartwarming welcome me back. <3

chicken skewers

chicken salt potato on a stick

custard bun

projected portraits on the back of the australian national portrait gallery

cloud of fairy lights and lightbulbs

on my first weekend here, canberra’s annual enlightened festival was finishing up. i was reminded of how wonderful my friends are when three phone flashlights backed me up so i could take that photo of the chicken skewers (please take a moment to appreciate it). <3 thanks guys <3 :3 i am happy here. so to end this joyously, here are some of my happysnaps of my week and a half back in one of the places i’m glad to call home.

sticky rice mango with mum

tacos with my dizz

pretty new university buildings!

oh the beautiful sky

day 346 (and then another 24): さようならではないとしってるけど、悲しいで〜 from home to home exactly one year ago, my feet stepped on osakan soil for the first time. so here we go.