#here's to 2023 - i hope your new year's gotten off to the right start!

[queenofbaws]

Hi! ^^ It's been such a long time! You don't know how much I missed you! With my exams and everything I have had so little time to be on tumblr... But I'm so happy to read your writings again! ♡ How are you doing? I hope everything is going well and that you're happy. ^^

If you're still taking requests, could you just one day write about Ash and Josh together? ♡ I just miss this two sooo much and I love how you write them. ^^

Anyway, Happy New Year and all my wishes of happiness! ❤

It was a dangerous game they were playing - a very, very dangerous game.

So far so good, John hadn’t noticed the way the spiral notebook kept moving between them, at one moment in front of Ashley, the next slid over a few inches to rest in front of Josh; nor had he given them any reason to believe he’d clocked how quickly they were writing once it was their turn. If he had, well...he was one of those professors who prided himself on embarrassing his students, so there was no doubt in either of their minds that he’d grab that notebook off the table, give it a shake, then proceed to read everything they’d been scribbling out to the rest of the class.

There’d be plenty to read, too, just...not what he was expecting, probably.

Unless, of course, what he was expecting was a sprawling story about himself getting lost in a ghost town, every other sentence (the ones Josh was writing, obviously) seeing him falling, or tripping, or, on more than one occasion, bending over too far and ripping his pants right across the ass before farting loudly to scare off any of the ghosts Ashley kept trying to write in.

So yeah, it was a dangerous game the two of them were playing, passing that notebook back and forth and doing their best not to break into giggles each time...one that was probably a little more dangerous for John’s ego than, say, either of their grades.

six sentence sat(or)sunday!!!

[sakuyomihana]

⋆˙⟡ Tangled Threads Of Hearts ⋆˙⟡

Hello everyone~! Chapter 3 is finally out!! Apologies for the long wait~ As usual, a big thank you to all the readers who have supported this series since day 1! I hope to be able to continue this series and finally accomplish a small dream of mine. Thank you for supporting Tangled Threads Of Hearts~ *Disclaimer: This is an original work done by me. Pls do not steal it or repost anywhere else. Thank you and have a happy reading day~!

Chapter 3: Reunions & Longing

Year 2023, Spring

Location: Xianzhou Luofu, Divine Cloud Estate

  Two months have passed since you started your first semester of the year.. Over the last two months, you had gotten better acquainted with a certain silverette and were now the bestest of friends. Even your other friends had gotten along with him pretty well, thus making outings with your mutual friends group more livelier and often. Today just so happened to be a chill day for you to relax at home, since it was the weekend and you had completed all of your assignments. Sprawled out comfortably on the couch in the living room, you were scrolling through whatever social media apps that you had on your phone with Mimi laying next to you on the ground below.

The house felt a little empty minus the ticking sound of the wall clock that kept you company. Both of your brothers’ weren’t home today, with Jing Yuan being at the enterprise and Yanqing was out at his tuition centre. You were supposed to be glad that your affectionate older brother wasn’t home, however, you felt a little lonely today.. Not that you would let your brother know of this. The servants of the house were all smiling and stifling their laughter in amusement at how adorable their young lady was acting today. Of course, you pouted whenever they pointed it out. To add on to your misery, there were no new messages or calls from your dearest friends, leaving you to your lonesomeness.

Groaning, you toss your phone aside and face planted on the couch. As if acknowledging how you are feeling, the lion nuzzled its snout into your hair and licked your face.

“Ahaha! Mimi, that tickles!”.

The lion let out a happy grunt, happy that it had successfully made you laugh. Taking the chance of having this big floof ball right here, you decided to exact your revenge from all the jump scares that he had caused you. Nuzzling into its fur, you took a big sniff of its comforting smell and cuddled it. The lion squirmed and whimpered as it tried to escape your clutches, but to no avail. In the end, it succumbed to your endless teasing. Servants passing by were all laughing at the lion’s failed attempt of escape, nonetheless they were happy to at least see you back to your usual self. You were no different from your brother in displaying your affections, that was something that you agreed on.

It was then you felt your phone vibrate beside you.. Ceasing your attack, you let the poor lion go and picked up the device. After what seems to have been an eternity since you last received a text message from someone, there was finally one now. You thought it was from either Caelus, March or even Seele, informing you about the latest gossip that they have heard from their peers but it wasn’t. To your surprise, it was a text from your dear friend and rising superstar, Robin.

“ Robin <3

 Robin:

Hey there, [Name]! 

It’s been a long time since we last met, how are all of you doing?

You:

Hey there, Robin! 

Yeah, it sure has been a really long time since we last met! My brothers’ and I are all doing well, Gepard too. What about you?

Robin:

That’s great (＾▽＾)!

Yes, brother and I are both doing well too!

Actually, I wanted to ask if you are free to hang out sometime soon.

You:

Glad to see that you are both doing well~

Of course, we can hang out any time!

Robin:

Wonderful (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ ~ ”.

You had met Robin back in middle school, alongside her twin older brother, Sunday. The both of you hit off pretty well, with her kind and outgoing personality, you instantly became the bestest of friends. Much unlike her brother who was unapproachable and had this condescending air around him. When you first met the halovian siblings, you thought they looked absolutely stunning with their little wings sprouting from behind their ears, their halo glistening under the sunlight and the aura they exuded was of high society. 

You may be of high society yourself, however you don't see yourself compatible to be friends with them. It was not until Gepard, who was the only friend that you had at the time, pushed you to step out of your comfort zone and talk to them. Robin, being the sweetest girl that you have ever met, immediately jumped at the opportunity to be your friend whereas Sunday, who under the guise of a polite smile, gave you the sting eye for trying to approach his beloved sister.

Just then, the sound of the door opening plus the scattering of footsteps snapped you out of your reverie. Sensing the familiar presence from around the corridor leading to the living room, you immediately leaped out of your seat and jumped straight into the person's open arms. Your brother was taken aback by your sudden action but there was a rush of affection in his heart, he was happy, delighted even. Chuckling as he hugged you back, he finally felt at peace. Nothing else mattered at this point..

A few minutes later…

“[Name], were you that lonely without me at home today~?”.

Jing Yuan decided to tease you a little, in turn, he received a whack from you. He chuckled again as you finally lifted your head to look at him with a tiny pout evident on your lips. He knew you were gonna deny it later, so he chose to ruffle your hair affectionately.

->>>>>>>>>

  Earlier today, your brother had received an invitation from the Family to attend a party hosted by the Dreammaster in Penacony. Knowing that you had friends there, Jing Yuan wanted to bring you along. He decided to get off work early today and invite you for a little date to choose an outfit for the event. Coincidentally, that was what Robin had messaged you about.

“Sure but…”, you started hesitantly.

You were grateful that Robin had reached out to you, however, you feel yourself unworthy of attending such a large scale event that was meant for business partners to attend. You couldn't see yourself mingling with the crowd, let alone stand there side by side with your brother who was more well known than you were.

“Brother, are you sure that I can attend such an event with you? I’m far from having made any contributions to the banking enterprise..”.

“Nonsense, my dear. You are far more than worthy to attend it with me, besides, you have Robin there with you no?”.

“Yes.. but..”.

“*sigh* [Name].”, he said firmly.

You expected him to be disappointed with your actions, so you kept your head low.

“[Name], look at me.”, he placed a gentle hand on your head.

Timidly, you slowly lifted your head and was greeted with a forlorn, yet gentle smile. Gently patting your head, he turned his gaze towards the setting sun outside.

“Brother?”.

“[Name], you do not realize how important you are, both to me and the enterprise. Your presence in my life was what made me able to keep on moving forward no matter what obstacles I have to face, in order to give you the happiness that you deserve. So [Name], don't think so lowly of yourself. This big brother right here would be nothing without you as my backing and support.”, he pulled you into a comforting and loving hug.

Melting in his embrace, you felt your eyes start to blur. Closing your eyes, you reciprocated with a squeeze of your own.

“Mm.. Thank you, brother.”, you said with a silent ‘I love you’ echoing at the back of your mind.

“Haha. No, rather it should be me that's thanking you for having grown up into such a refined and beautiful young woman. Thank you, for staying by my side all these years. Father and mother are surely proud of the person you have become.”, he lightly chuckled.

The heartwarming atmosphere that made every servant in the house tear up was then interrupted by none other than your younger brother, who had just returned home from his tuition centre.

“Big brother and big sister, what are you guys discussing about? And I want to join the hug too!”.

Jing Yuan and you couldn't help but laugh at the sudden interruption, before indulging the boy’s request.

A few moments later..

“Robin <3

You:

Hey, Robin.

Yes, I’ll be attending the party with my brother. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Robin:

Splendid!

I’ll let my brother and father know! See you there~ ”.

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Penacony, Dewlight Pavilion

  Hearing a light chuckle across from him in the living room, Sunday curiously looked up from the book that he was reading.

“Dearest sister, may I inquire on what has your attention?”.

“Oh, pardon me. I was conversing with [Name] over text, does Brother remember her?”, Robin explained.

“Ah yes, Mr Jing Yuan’s little sister.”.

Of course, he remembered you. How could he not. The young lady who he failed to recognize at the start as the younger sister of Xianzhou Luofu Banking Enterprise’s head and showed you unruly disdain for conversing with Robin back in middle school, despite the sheer resemblance. He shook his head and bit back a chuckle from the memory.

“[Name] said that she’s going to be attending the party too! I can’t wait to see her again~”.

Seeing his sister beaming with happiness, he couldn’t help but let out a smile.

“I’m sure that she will be delighted to see you.”, Sunday reassured her as he placed the forgotten book on his lap.

“Honestly.., I was worried that she would turn down the invitation.”, she started hesitantly as she stood up from her place on the sofa and walked over to the window behind her.

“And why is that?”.

Placing her hand against the cold glass surface of the window, she stared back at her own reflection and placed her clenched fist against her chest.

“I know that [Name] tends to view herself lowly as compared to others, she’s always like this… That’s why I am glad that she had agreed to attend.”.

Knowing full well of what she meant, Sunday closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. You were truly different as compared to everyone else that he had ever met in his life, maybe it was because of your upbringing and background. Being the youngest of your family at the time, you had witnessed so many despair and hardships. You only had your older brother to look up to and at a young age, he took up the failing family business and brought it back to its former glory. Sunday never knew what your parents were like, but he could sense that they were kind and gentle like you were.

In fact, before he discovered who you really were, he had at some point grown accustomed to your presence and grew to like you over the years. He has Robin to thank for letting his view of you change for the better, if not he will feel conflicted with his emotions. Considering how similar the situation was for both you and him in the past, he fell deeply in love with you. He wishes to keep both you and Robin safe from the harshness and cruelty of the world, he wishes to give you a better life that you deserved, thus he seeked further guidance from his adoptive father and current dreammaster of Penacony, Mr Gopher Wood. However, he knew it was going to be difficult to get your brother to agree to this relationship as the man did not particularly seem to like him. He could easily use the power bestowed upon him to force your brother to change his mind, but he decided against it as it felt underhanded to use a tactic like this. He wanted Jing Yuan to genuinely like and approve of this relationship before deciding to court you, if all else fails, not to worry as he always plans ahead to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

“Robin, do not worry. I’m sure that with you by her side, she will have no reason to not attend.”.

‘And mine too.’.

He will make sure of that, one way or another. He wishes to see you again after all…

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Xianzhou Luofu, Divine Cloud Estate

  It was finally the day of the party... You were currently dressing up with the help of your personal maids in your room. With your maids being the biggest supporters of the operation on helping you find a beautiful husband, they were practically prancing around your room to find the perfect outfit from your newly replenished wardrobe. You have your older brother to blame for this. A few nights prior, your brothers’ and you had gone out into the city to find matching outfits for the party. It had originally been a small date between you and Jing Yuan, however, your younger brother had asked to tag along. Of course, who could resist the adorable little pout that Yanqing gave when Jing Yuan said he couldn’t go. Thus, the date that was meant for two became three.

Now back to the issue at hand, your beloved older brother had personally asked your maids to doll you up as beautifully as possible. Extravagantly if you might add. Sighing, you just let them do their thing, since you have already promised them to let them do as they please. Laid out before you on your bed were the dresses that you had newly bought, amongst them there was one that you particularly like. Seeing that your maids were taking a while trying to decide on which one to pick, you suggested the one that you had your eyes on. No harm in trying right?

“Xiao Lan?”.

“Yes, milady?”.

“How about this one? I particularly like this design.”.

All of a sudden, their eyes lit up with a flash of inspiration.

“But of course, why did we never think of it?! It suits the lady to a tee~”, Xiao Xue exclaimed in excitement.

The other two nodded in agreement at the realization.

“We should hurry and let the sire kn-”.

“That won’t be necessary.”.

You smiled at the maids as they looked at you in confusion. Well, that was true actually. When you were picking your outfits that day, your brother had been eyeing this dress for awhile since you had entered the store. Not to mention, Yanqing too. Upon mentioning it, your brother immediately asked you to try it out in the changing room and lo and behold did you look beautiful in it, as if this dress was made just for you.

You knew that your brother would obviously pick an outfit that matches with this dress and you were not disappointed with the outcome.

->>>>>>>>>

  ‘Knock, knock!’.

Coupling with a few gentle knocks, your brother’s voice could be heard from the other side of the door.

“[Name], may I come in?”.

“The door’s open~”.

With a soft click, the door swiftly opened revealing Jing Yuan and a pouting Yanqing standing in the hallway. Chuckling as he pushed the young boy in, your brother signaled for your maids to leave before gently picking up the dress that still laid on your bed. Casting a glance at your brother’s getup, you snorted an amused chuckle at how lazily his blazer, shirt and tie were done.

“Dear brother, are you in such a hurry to see this sister dress up in thy beautiful dress that you had bought to match with your own?”, you teased.

Deciding to play along, Jing Yuan held up the dress and gestured gentlemanly towards the full length mirror that decorated the wall next to your walk-in closet.

“Why yes~, dearest sister. I wanted to dress you in this magnificent dress with my own two hands and help out with styling your hair for the occasion. Am I not allowed to do such honors?”.

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he faked a hurt expression. ‘This big baby~’, you thought. Placing a finger to the bottom of your lips, you feigned a thoughtful expression.

“Hmm.. Then, what about Yanqing?”.

The pouting boy finally looked at you and Jing Yuan at the mention of his name, realizing that he needed to say something, he quickly turned his head to the side desperately hiding the blush that had crept up to his cheeks as he whispered.

“I-I… wanted… t-to… help o-out.. big sister too..”.

‘Aw..’, you and Yuan both internally squealed out how cute he was.

“C-can’t I?’.

“Of course, you can~”, you cooed.

“What about me?”.

“In exchange, you let me redo your tie for you and make you look more handsome and presentable~?”.

“*chuckles* Deal~”.

Silently apologizing to your maids who supposedly wanted to help you dress up, you promised to make it up to them. Letting your brothers dress you up, Yuan with the dress and hair, Yanqing with picking the accessories and lastly, getting your makeup done by Fu Xuan. Fu Xuan, your brother’s fiance and also your soon to be sister in law, had come over to accompany or rather babysit your younger brother. She and Jing Yuan had both gone a long way back, meeting in college to working side by side in the current Luofu Banking Enterprise as partners and lovers. Just a year ago, he proposed and she accepted, making her his fiance. Although she was usually swarmed with work as the COO, otherwise known as the chief operating officer, she still made time to drop by and visit the family. You honestly love her since the day you met, with her being the only one tolerable and also with the ability to remain steadfast towards your brother’s antics. Despite her strict and up-tight personality, she was still gentle and caring on the inside. They may quarrel sometimes but they both know what’s in their best interest and make up afterwards.

Arriving just in time before your brothers’ can touch the makeup materials on your dressing table, Fu Xuan shooed them out of the room and worked on the final touches of your outfit and your makeup.

“There.. All done.”, she said as she finished applying a light pink lip gloss to your lips.

Proud of her work, she got you to open your eyes and allowed your troublemaker brothers’ back into the room to witness her masterpiece. A small gasp escaped your lips as you stared back at your own reflection.

“I-is this… truly me?”.

As if on cue, Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan both said the same thing.

“Yes, it is. This is not an illusion, [Name]. It is really you in all your glory.”.

“You look absolutely stunning, my dear.”.

“Big sister looks so beautiful..”.

That was all it took to give you the confirmation you needed. A stray tear slipped down your cheek, tears began brimming at the corners of your eyes. You did not intend to cry, however it felt like a dam had burst as you finally let loose of the feelings that you had kept inside for so long. All these years of constant downplaying on yourself, never truly understanding what people had seen in you and outside of you. You thought that they all were just being polite, as you were the sister of a renown figure in the business industry. You were indeed both beautiful on the inside and on the outside, the you now made you more radiant than ever before.

“Oh come on, you are gonna ruin the makeup that I had painstakingly put on you! Come now, dry your tears. You would not want to show up at the party with puffy eyes and ruined makeup do you?”, despite her sharp tongue as she chided, you know that it was because Fu Xuan deeply cares about you.

With comforting words, you finally managed to smile. You truly felt loved and blessed to have such a wonderful and loving family…

->>>>>>>>>

Location: Penacony, Grand Theatre

  Decorations adorned the once empty theatre, chatters could be heard from all four corners of the building. Busy greeting guests from all around the world who have come to attend the party, Sunday had a perfectly crafted smile etched on his face as he conversed with guests after guests. Although tired, he still remained professional and composed, afterall he would not want to disgrace the Oak Family’s name. A couple of distance away, was his younger sister who was also effortlessly engaging with the crowd. Robin was supposedly performing on stage tonight, wanting to let her get some rest, he decided to take matters into his own hands. Brushing past the crowd without letting a single crease form on his pristine suit, he was about to reach her before his attention had shifted to something else or rather someone from afar. Golden irises widened in astonishment, as if time itself had just stopped. The young woman he had once known, had become even more breathtaking and elegant than before. The dress highlighted your curves perfectly, the light makeup enhanced your natural beauty and the light pink lip gloss made your lips look more plush and kissable..

‘Insolent!’, he thought at the last minute. Successfully reeling himself in, he had his wings covered his already rosy cheeks as he tried to calm and composed every fibre of his being to not snap out of control.

‘Goodness, gracious..���, he could not believe that just your presence alone was able to break the facade that he had held up for so long. He could not believe himself either.. That was how deeply he had already fallen for you, your presence today had reignited the dormant feelings within.

“Brother? Are you alright?”.

Snapping out of his reverie at his sister’s voice, he cleared his throat.

“*ahem* I am fine, dearest sister.”.

Still albeit concerned, Robin decided to just leave her brother be. More importantly, there was someone who she was excited to see again. In truth, she knew who had caught her brother’s eyes at that moment. Back in their final year of middle school, she had an inkling that you were the one who had tugged on Sunday’s heartstrings and she was proven right by the many encounters where her brother seemed extremely engaged in his conversations with you. Chuckling at the fond memories, she then turned to give her brother a push.

“Robin..?’.

“Come on, let’s go greet them!”.

Standing amongst the crowd of renowned business partners, you felt a little small at the immense pressure that was thrown at your face when it comes to greeting them as you have never met them before. Leaving the conversations and introductions to your brother, who happily indulged, you stayed close by and occasionally nodded and spoke when the conversations veered towards you. More often than not. Sensing that you had grown slightly uncomfortable, Jing Yuan politely excused you and himself from the conversation and led you to a quiet corner for a breather.

“That must have been too much for you on your first social event. I’m sorry, [Name].”, your brother apologized for not getting you out of it sooner.

“Mm, I’m fine. I should be the one that’s saying sorry in these circumstances, I caused you to cut a potential business deal short.”.

“Nonsense, taking care of you and worrying for your safety is second nature to me. There’s no need to apologize, besides I did not like how that man was eyeing you since the start of the conversation.”, you could hear the annoyance in his voice as he scoffed at the offender.

After a short reprieve, you managed to convince your brother to get back to mingling with the crowd and chastised him to stop worrying about you as you were sure that Fu Xuan is waiting for some good news on new business ventures. Leaving you to your own lonesomeness, you stayed away from the crowd as you slowly sipped on the glass of mocktail in your hands. Noticing that your glass was empty, you were about to get up for a refill when a pair of familiar hands handing you another glass filled your line of sight.

“..Robin?”.

“Hehe~ It has been a long time, [Name]!”, the halovian before you exclaimed.

Nostalgia overtook your senses as you immediately pulled her into a tight hug, not caring how others looked at you in this very moment. Reciprocating your action, Robin returned with one of her own. Off in your own little bubble, you failed to recognize the other halovian standing behind her.

“*ahem*”, the said male cleared his throat, gaining your attention.

“A-ah, I didn’t see you there.. My apologies, it has been a while, Sunday.”.

“It’s quite alright.. Either way, it’s a pleasure to see you again, [Name].”.

Smiling teasingly at you two, Robin nudged him closer and pulled all three of you into a hug.

“R-Robin?!”.

“W-woah?!”.

The hug was albeit awkward, however, he was glad that he got to hold you close. Something about it brings him peace and calms his nerves from the sudden contact. The three of you then broke off and began chatting like old times. Occasionally, one twin would leave to tend to some guests and the other stay when their presence was required, in hopes of keeping you company and to an extent, spend some alone time with you. You were grateful for it and was bemused by their actions. After a few rounds of to and fro with Robin leaving the group, the lights in the theatre finally dimmed. A stray light flashed towards the centre of the stage, a loud round of applause resounded across the room as Robin took the stage.

“A very warm welcome to everyone who has taken the time to attend this special event today. I hope that everyone of you has enjoyed your stay thus far and please look forward to this special concert that the Family has prepared for you! Thank you!”.

The next couple of minutes flew by like a blur, as performers performed one after the other. Finally, it was Robin’s turn to shine. As her gentle voice filled the theatre, everyone in the crowd began slow dancing to the beat. Your brother had opted to look for you, rejecting any offers to a dance, as he wanted to do it with you. However, he was beaten by a certain halovian. He may dislike the man but it didn’t matter if you were fine with it.

“My lady, may I have this dance?”.

“S-sure.”.

Initially, you were shocked that Sunday had asked you for a dance. You thought that he would not mingle with you, but on a closer thought, you had forgotten how much closer the two of you had gotten since the day you had met, thanks to Robin. The thought that currently sticks out the most was, ‘Is it alright that I’m dancing with such an important figure in Penacony?’. Shaking the thought away, you turned your focus back on the dance, wanting to enjoy the moment tonight.

“Is there something bothering you?”, he inquired.

“It’s nothing. I just want to enjoy the night.”, you wondered if he could read your mind.

“Is that so? Then, I hope that this night will be a night to remember for you.”.

Making small talks as you let the halovian take the lead, his steps matching yours to ensure that you do not injure yourself. You danced with him a little longer before your brother whisked you away, proclaiming that he is your next partner as the current song came to an end. The time spent with you may have been short but it was fulfilling, such as having your lingering warmth etched upon his skin..

End of Chapter 3: Reunions & Longing.

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

[kimmiessimmies]

Make this night count...

"Look at all the colours! Isn't it pretty, James?"

"Very. The view is great from up here."

"It was a good idea to book this room for tonight."

"I'm full of good ideas."

"We have made things difficult for her this year, haven't we, James?"

"For whom, lovely?"

"Our author. This. Us. It was never part of her plan, was it?"

"No, but, haven't we also made things great for her?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Well, we've made things great for us, either way, Sade."

"Cheers to that, lovely."

"Sade..."

"Hmm...?"

"You wouldn't let me kiss you under the mistletoe because of where it might lead, but... since we're here now... Will you let me kiss you for New Year's?"

"Umm... No, I don't think so...

"Oh... Sorry..."

"I'm not going to let you kiss me for New Year's, James, because I'm going to kiss you first."

"Wha..."

"Happy New Year, you."

"Happy New Year, my girl..."

......

....

...

"James?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think she'll let us be together in the new year?"

"We'll have to see, love... Let's make this night count while we're here..."

My dear followers,

This year has been very... intense... for me. I already wrote a long post about my mental health struggles, which put a huge stamp on my year. However, 2023 will also forever be the year I went back to my Sims, back to my stories, and back to Tumblr.

I spent five years away. Both because real life took over and because I had gotten into a rut with my Sims and the story. I never forgot them, though, and never stopped loving them. And suddenly, somewhere in February, it clicked. Everything fell into place, and I knew where I wanted to go with it all. In fact, it was this boy up here, my dearest James, who pulled me back. His story was suddenly clear as day to me. But how to begin? So, in March, I decided to just start writing. Then, I dusted off my game, found that all shortcuts and cheats were apparently in my muscle memory, and started shooting pictures to go with what I had written. And once I got going, I didn't stop. Everything I wrote in 2023 (and that's a lot!) even if it seemed unrelated, was geared towards James's story and the big moment that still lies ahead. However... As I've emphasised several times by now, I didn't account for this girl... So now it's like James said, "We'll have to see."

Coming back to my story brought me so much this year; I went from gameplay-based to story-based and found out how much I truly LOVE writing and how much it helps me, especially now that I'm going through rough times. Encouraged and inspired by someone dear to me, my story gained a title and came to Tumblr in full. I learnt to not only accept the benefits of poses, but how incredibly enhancing they can be to bring my ideas to life when used right. I reconnected with old contacts and made new connections too, some of whom proved to be true friends outside of this Tumblr/Sims world too. I've loved getting caught up on the stories I used to follow and discovering new ones. I've been amazed at how good CC has become in five years and pleasantly surprised to see there's still a good crowd playing TS3 in addition to the great things some of you are doing with TS4. All of this has been bright spots in my darkness.

And now we're entering 2024. I hope it will be light and bright for all of us. May the good days outnumber the bad ones and may we continue to feel the joy these little pixel-people bring us. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Much love. ❤️

-Kim

P.s. I know, I know; Some of you are now very disappointed you didn't get to see James and Sadie "making the night count." Just for all of you filthy animals I have one more post in this non-canon series set to go. Be forewarned; this one is very NSFW (And Not Suitable To View At New Year's Parties With Lots Of People Around) and will be labelled mature. I also have a sneaking suspicion it'll take Tumblr about 3 seconds to take it down, so I have an alternative post with Pillowfort link waiting in the wings. Going live as the the New Year hits where I am, at midnight GMT+1. See them making the night count by clicking here!

[dearly-somber]

Rain Dance | h.js

-> pairing. non-idol!han jisung x wolf shifter!reader (f)

-> genre. strangers-to-???, werewolf/wolf shifter!au, horror elements

-> rating. 13+

-> w/c. 2047

-> warnings. y/n’s kinda creepy in this one ngl 😭

-> a/n. I did a choreo to this song when I started dancing years ago and I loved it so I was like “huh.”

-> collection. songfics

-> started. ???

-> fin. Dec. 15th, 2020 @ 12:05

-> edited. Mon., Nov. 20th, 2023 @ 07:23

Your hair stuck to your neck and cheeks as rain poured from the heavens, water sloshing loudly down the streets as it made its way to the sewers in the large city of Seoul.

Your clothes hugged your body tightly, almost see-through with how wet everything was. Blood was running down your arm, trickling off the tips of your fingers with each step. You kept your head down, hoping that it'd hide your eyes, which were currently glowing a dim gold. Your hands were shaking, and everytime someone walked forward to ask if you were alright you pushed past them. You had to get away from their territory, unless you'd like to get into another fight. Which of course, you didn't.

With each extension of your legs, your breathing became more and more labored, but you moved with steadfast determination. You had a destination and you wouldn't let anyone stop you from reaching it.

Or at least, that's what you had been set on.

You hadn't realized that a man from across the street had looked at you and saw the blood running down your forearm, leaving not only a trail of it on the sidewalk but also drawing onlooker’s eyes to you. This man's hair was brown, like his eyes. He had an ear piercing and held a pure white umbrella over his head to shield his outfit from the rain: a white collared shirt with a fluffy jacket hanging around his shoulders, tight black jeans matching his combat boots nicely. He looked angelic with the water cascading around him, as if it were forbidden to touch his skin.

He wasn't alone, however. He had a chaperone with him; a man in a fully black suit with an earpiece and sunglasses hiding his eyes. He looked more like a bodyguard than a chaperone, though the fact that he was standing in front of a black limousine gave off the impression that he was being chaperoned.

"Jisung-ssi, aren't you getting into the car? You'll catch a cold if you stay outside." The suit -man said, leaning down slightly to talk to Jisung over the rain.

The man nodded before turning to his friend. “Stay here, hyung. I'll be right back."

"Jisung—“

It was too late to stop him as the man, Jisung, jogged over the street towards you, stopping you cautiously.

"Excuse me? You don't look so good." Jisung called from behind you, making you turn around. Your eyes went back to their natural color when you saw his face, your shoulders tensing.

Instead of answering, you just nodded slowly. Jisung walked forward hesitantly, not wanting to frighten you. "Why don't you come with me? I can give you medical assistance back at my manor... And a new pair of clothes,” he added with a reassuring smile, putting his hand on your uninjured arm, walking closer and shielding you from the rain. You took a moment but nodded, not having found your voice just yet.

After the confirmation, Jisung rushed you over to the limousine and an anxious looking guard, tense as he watched you.

"Jisung-ssi, why would you—"

"She's injured, Minho hyung. We're helping her." Jisung said firmly, opening the car door for you and letting you slide into the back of the car. The back was spacious, and it felt as if it could be it's own little room. Jisung closed the door with a smile before turning back to his bodyguard.

"We can't take her, Jisung. She needs to go."

"But she's injured!"

"She must've gotten it in some sort of fight then, no? She could be dangerous." Minho pleaded, putting both his hands on the younger's shoulders for emphasis. Jisung bit his lip before pressing it into a thin line.

"She's coming with us, and I will help her. End of story. Tell Hyunjin to look for some comfortable clothes. She can use some of mine. And get Chan hyung to run a bath—"

"Jisung—"

"That is an order, Minho,” Jisung said sternly. Minho sighed in frustration before nodding stiffly and opening the door for him. With a thankful nod, Jisung got into the car, watching as Minho took out his phone before sliding into the passenger seat.

You were looking at Jisung curiously, your eyes glued to his form. You had one hand over your still bleeding arm.

"I'm sorry about that. My name is Han Jisung, it's a pleasure to meet you." Jisung smiled at you, his eyes drifting from the blank expression on your face to your arm.

You followed his gaze and winced slightly. "I'm sorry about your car. It might need cleaning,” you said, your voice gravelly from not talking for the last few hours or so.

"Oh no, that's fine, really! The bigger issue here is your arm..." Jisung waited for the car to start moving before he got up from his seat and crouched in front of you. He grabbed a scarf that had been laying in the corner of the car which you hadn't noticed until now, taking your arm and wrapping the cloth around it, tying it firmly.

"This will be all I can do until we get to my house, but it should be enough to slow the bleeding."

"You're the son of those two doctors, aren't you?" You asked in a low voice, meeting his eyes as he looked at you slowly. With a sigh he nodded, smiling half heartedly.

"I am, yes. My parents are the best doctors in the country." You nodded slowly. That explained why he was good with injuries. Clearing his throat after a minute of silence, he looked at you curiously. "I don't think I know your name?"

"Right. Sorry. My name is Y/N." You tried to mimmick his smile, fighting against your urge to lean forward and sniff him. Jisung nodded and smiled, lurching to the side when the driver hit the breaks.

You laughed at him, helping him up and gently patting the seat beside you. Embarrassed, he sat next to you while running a hand through his hair, trying to strike up conversation.

By the time you got to his manor, it was around 22:00 due to terrible traffic. And when you said manor, you were being serious.

It had at least three stories and a gorgeous garden leading up to the garage. The main gate was a pure black and from outside the car window you could see the pure white house and large oak door leading inside. You took a small road leading away from the main entrance to the garage.

The doors inside opened automatically and once you were parked inside, you saw how many cars they had. It seemed like they had an endless amount. A beautiful red Ferrari, a Grey Porsche and what you think was a black Bugatti. Jisung led you into the actual house, with it's carpeted floors and large fireplace in the center.

A seven inch flat screen TV was mounted above the fireplace. On it's mantel, there was a neat row of what seemed to be family pictures, a small, maybe five or six year old Jisung in each picture. As he led you further inside towards the steps, you saw their kitchen, all white with tiled floors and birch cabinets. It smelt like cookies and cream and milk.

Off to the left of the kitchen was the dining room, a beautiful rectangular glass table lined with ten chairs total. Jisung shouted something about a guest and being in his room as he took you up the stairs to the second story, leading you down a series of different hallways before finally turning into his room.

Though you hadn't noticed him before, you finally saw Minho trailing after you and Jisung, his glasses in his jacket pocket. You looked away while he glared at you suspiciously.

Walking inside Jisung's room, your jaw dropped.

It was a gorgeous beige color with a king sized bed in the middle, a large carpet at its feet. There was a birch desk to the left of the bed, a PC sitting neatly in it's center. The door to his bathroom was ajar, the smell of strawberry scented bubbles wafting through the air. A man walked out of the bathroom, looking curiously from you to Jisung.

"Your bath is ready, sir."

"Call me by my name, hyung. Thank you, by the way. Did Hyunjin hyung get the clothes?"

"Yes. They're in the bathroom."

"Wonderful!" Jisung turned, beckoning you over. "That'll be all. Minho hyung, you can wait outside. This won't take long." Reluctantly, both men left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Who was that man?"

"Oh, Chan hyung? He's a friend of mine." Jisung said with a smile, walking over to his desk before taking out medical supplies and patting the edge of the bed. You sat down and held out your arm, watching curiously as he untied the scarf and started doing doctor things you didn't understand.

"He seems more like a servant than a friend..." You said thoughtfully, nervous as to Jisung's reaction. He merely laughed, however, easing your nerves.

"I guess. They, all of my friends I mean, are more or less bodyguards to either myself or my parents. Since we're all worth quite a lot of money we do have to deal with a few attempted attacks once in a blue moon." You nod, mind racing. Who'd knew that a family of renowned doctors faced the fear of assassination?

Either way, you didn't care. You looked over Jisung again, and felt your heart leap like it had before.

He must be him, then. You didn't think you'd ever find him, but you guess it was true when they said it would be a chance meeting. "All done! There should be a pair of clean, dry clothes in the bathroom along with a nice, warm bath. Take as long as you'd like. I'll send someone up when dinner’s ready."

You nodded speechlessly, watching him leave before walking over to the bathroom. Suddenly aware of how much you were dripping around the room, you made a mental note to dry the floor before you left.

After a nice long bath, you were called downstairs for dinner. You were escorted by a young looking man, though he still towered over you, as most of the men you'd met so far did. When you got downstairs jazz music filled your ears and the lights were all on in the kitchen and dining room. Jisung ushered you over with a smile, patting the arm of the chair next to him.

You shuffled over hesitantly, bowing to everyone already at the table before taking a seat.

An older man and woman sat at each end of the table, looking at you curiously. "You're Y/N, I presume?"

"Yes. I'm sorry for causing you all such trouble... Your son was kind enough to invite me inside,” you explained softly, meeting Jisung's eyes before looking away once more. The urge to smell him washed over you again, but you resisted easily enough.

"It's quite alright, dear. We're glad you're looking healthier. Now let's eat!"

You thanked everyone for the food before eating as if it were your last meal, the eyes around the table keeping close watch. There were a good amount of unfamiliar faces sitting around the table eating with you, though you recognized Chan, Minho and the boy, Jeongin, who had escorted you down. You assumed the others were the rest of the bodyguards Jisung had mentioned.

"Why're you wearing Jisung's clothes, by the way?" Jeongin asked after swallowing his food, a brow tilted curiously.

"I'm not uh.. I'm not sure... I didn't know these belonged to him—"

"I leant her some of my older clothes since I don't think Mom's style would fit her."

You laughed awkwardly, listening into the conversations starting all around you now.

When the meal ended you insisted on cleaning the dishes, as a thank you for Jisung’s help.

Jisung came to you a bit after, smiling. His hair was damp, probably from a recent shower, and he was wearing a pair of silky black pajamas.

"Yes?" You probed. He stood there quietly, staring thoughtfully. He huffed before clearing his throat.

"Right. The guest room you'll be sleeping in is across from mine. If you need anything at all, just ask. We're happy to help."

"Thank you..." You mumbled, bowing. You held eye contact with him, both of you sharing the moment in complete silence. "Uhm, Jisung?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you helping me?" You asked in a small voice, tilting your head to the side. Jisung shrugged thoughtfully.

"I don't know. There's just something about you that makes me want to help."

You nodded, pushing back the feeling of your eyes changing color.

"Goodnight, Y/N. Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Jisung."

You creeped out into the hallway, your feet completely silent.

Your eyes were glowing a faint gold, your vision as clear as if it were still daylight. Since you couldn't see anyone, you walked across the hall, opening the door to Jisung’s room quietly before stepping inside.

Quiet as a mouse, you watched over him, his breath even as he slept, completely unaware. You crawled on top of him, somehow not waking him up. In the cover of darkness you leant in and sniffed at his neck, a blissful feeling making its way down the back of your throat. He was the one for sure.

Jisung's eyes opened, before widening. As he was about to scream for help, you covered his mouth with your palm, putting your finger over your lips in a hushing motion. His eyes were wide and fearful but most of all questioning. With a small, toothy smile, you leaned in towards his ear.

"It'll all make sense soon."

Your eyes glowed just a bit brighter, Jisung's mind going hazy as he relaxed underneath you. You used your free hand to tilt his head back, exposing his neck. Easily sensing the vein pulsating with each beat of his heart. You straddled him since he was already awake. You brushed your lips over his neck, chuckling as a chill ran down his spine.

Biting down onto his neck, his back arched up, gasp muffled by your hand. The last thing he saw was a flash of pure black fur and glowing golden eyes before going limp.

[slipping-through-my-fingertips]

Tis the Damn Season

Klaine Advent 2023

Day 1: Plead

Ao3

Blaine was in serious trouble. His Intro to Tap class ran long; he really should’ve dropped that class at the beginning of the semester because it always runs long. Truly he should’ve known better than to schedule his very important meeting with his advisor for ten minutes after tap. Though had his professor not kept them over class time Blaine would’ve made it to the other side of campus by now.

When he first started school at NYADA, Blaine walked slowly. Taking in the campus greens, enjoying the shade of the trees during those warm summer afternoons. It was rare to find gorgeous greenery in New York City aside from Central Park. This campus felt a little like home. Not that Blaine missed Ohio too much but he did miss his friends.

Orientation week was supposed to help freshmen make friends but his assigned group didn’t seem to understand that. Then Blaine was hopeful he’d make some friends during his first week of classes.

Intro to Tap moved too quickly for friends. From the moment you stepped into class, you were on the move. Blaine spent that hour and then some out of breath.

Philosophy just made his brain hurt. The fact that he even had to take a math class sent chills down his spine but Blaine kept trying to make friends with his math tutor but nothing yet. His last hope had been Improvisation 101.

Improv was in his favor. He made his first friend in New York. They were assigned partners on their first project together.

“I’m Tina Cohen-Chang,” she said, “and I don’t intend on failing my first assignment here so you better be willing to pull your weight.”

“Blaine Anderson and I don’t plan to fail either.”

She had smiled then, “good.”

They had gotten the highest grade in class and from then on always saved the other a seat.

Tina was texting him now asking how Tap had gone. It was almost finals week—man had this semester flown by—and Blaine was trying his best to make dean’s list. He needed an A in Intro to Tap.

He was pleading with the universe for just one thing to go right— like his advisor not being too mad at him for being ten minutes late and not to comment on the coffee stain on his pants—which, of course, is exactly when he crashed into someone rushing in the opposite direction.

Blaine was texting Tina back while rushing to make this meeting.

Tina: did you kick ass in Tap or what?

Blaine: more like tap kicked my ass

Tina: boo, Blainey. Step up your game

Blaine: I trie

He never got to finish his text to Tina. His phone tumbled out of his hands, papers went flying, and Blaine was flat on his ass. The sidewalk was freezing.

The sun blinded him when he looked up to see if the person he had just trampled was alright. Blaine used a hand as a visor and the other student came into focus.

“Are you okay?” He was asking. “Hey…”

“Yeah, I think so,” Blaine said.

“I’m really sorry I wasn’t looking where I was going…”

“No, no, really it’s my fault. I swear in the new year I’ll stop texting and walking.”

The other student laughed. “It’s a good resolution.”

Blaine stood up and dusted himself off.

“Oh, let me help you.”

He gathered up some papers and handed them over.

“A band?”

“Yeah, I’m trying to start one.”

“I’m Blaine by the way.”

“Kurt.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“This yours?” Kurt asked, holding up his phone.

“Yes,” Blaine chucked.

That’s when he remembered the time. He was sure to be 15 minutes late by now.

“I’d love to stay and chat more but I’m already late to this meeting.”

“No worries, nice running into you.”

Blaine smiled, “yeah it was.”

He started to rush off again but Blaine spun around and yelled, “hey Kurt! Starting a band is a good resolution too.”

That made the other boy smile wide. Blaine vowed to make him smile like that again.

[suzy-queued]

New Year's Ask Game for Fic Writers

To close out 2023…

1) What fic did you have the most fun writing this year and why? Or, if you can’t decide, what was most fun about writing this year for you?

It was a lot of fun writing the Masquerade story, because there was a lot to consider. Should I use my own voice or try to mimic someone else's? Should I write a story that I normally wouldn't take a chance on? Game-ifying fic writing makes it really exciting. And now it's fun to guess on everyone else's stories!

2) What’s a scene/story that you finished and felt “wow, I really accomplished that, that actually went so well”?

Chapter 13 of Out of Nowhere. I knew from the beginning that I'd have to write that angsty sex scene, and I felt like I was training for a marathon leading up to it. It had to balance anger and love, had to involve force but not be rapey. There were so many complex and competing forces in the scene, and I wasn't sure I could pull it off.

3) What helped provide the most inspiration for stories, if anything? Was it poetry? A song on repeat? A gorgeous gifset? A walk outside? A book you read that made you want to change everything? Whatever it was! Tell all.

Songs! Always songs. Murder ballads. Heavy metal opuses. Raw 2000s emo. Give me all of it.

4) What is something you want to share about what you’ve written this year? A particular line, a comment that made you feel really good, a scene that was difficult to write — you get to choose! What do you wish someone would ask you about when it comes to what you’ve written?

I tried to write novels back between 2012-2018. I wrote 2 YA fantasy novels and pieces of four others. But none of them ever felt complete. None of them gelled in my mind. I don't know why. I shelved them all. Then, I discovered the Gallavich fandom. I read the fics and a fire got lit inside me. And now I've written five novel-length stories. FIVE. And they all feel right! I can't thank this fandom enough for being supportive, inspiring, and transformative. I may not have a ton of fics, but completing a fifth multi-chap makes me feel like a superhero.

And to start off 2024…

1) Do you have any writing/creation goals for the year? What are they?

Finish Out of Nowhere, which will happen ... any day now!

2) Is there a fic or idea that you’re really excited to be able to continue to work on in the new year (shout out to my fellow fic writing folks who take forever to finish wips, sometimes it’s nice to be able to continue working on something even if you wish you’d gotten it done! Now you get even MORE time with it!)

I am exited to continue the @galladrabbles series No Sleep 'Til Nashville. It makes me giggle to put all the fandom tropes in there. It might go on for the entire year, who knows? There's a lot of story left to tell, and I have a lot of shenanigans planned.

3) What’s something new in your writing you want to try/are going to try? A different writing style? Different fandom? Darker works? Fluffier? Longer or shorter?

I might write more short stories this year. I might write a non-Gallavich original novel (if the idea strikes). All I know is that I'll always be writing something.

4) What’s something you love about your own writing that you will continue to appreciate in the new year?

I love creating suspense — in a scene, in a chapter, in an entire fic. I enjoy the challenge of making every scene sing, or at least having narrative tension. I don't see that going away. Here's hoping I can succeed!

Tagging, if you'd like to participate: @sweetperversiongirl @sweetbee78 @depressedstressedlemonzest @juliakayyy @notherenewjersey @metalheadmickey @creepkinginc @whatthebodygraspsnot @arrowflier @crossmydna

[verfound]

MINIFIC: Oct. 23: Day 19: Space Ghost (MLB, Lukanette, DLM AU)

...anyone up for some casual flirting? 👀

For @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers October Minific Challenge 2023.

Read on Ao3

To Feel Alive Again: Ch19: Space Ghost

“Do you think there are reapers in space?”

Mendeleiev looked up at Marinette’s question, her eyebrows lifting above her glasses.  Luka snorted and looked at her, but the apathetic derision the head reaper had grown so accustomed to was missing from the kid’s face.  He looked…amused.  She would almost say smitten, but she liked to think she knew Luka better than that.

“What?” he asked, shaking his head.  Marinette looked up from her ice cream – that weird dot stuff they’d started making a few years ago, which the mayor had bought special for the announcement of the city’s new space program.

“Well, people die in space, right?” Marinette asked, tapping her cup with her spoon.  “Not like…rocket explosions.  People actually die on missions.  It’s in the movies.”

“…there’s a lot of shit in space movies that doesn’t actually happen, Marinette,” Luka said, rolling his eyes.  He poked her side, making her giggle, and Mendeleiev’s eyebrows rose even higher.  “Ex-ter-min-ate.”

“Dork,” Marinette giggled.  He scoffed.

“I am not,” he huffed.  “I was in a band, Marinette.  A rising rock star.  I was cool.”

“Jules assured me you were a total loser,” she giggled, bumping her shoulder against his arm.  “And I’ve seen your Netflix queue.  Dork.”

“You’re so cruel,” Luka lamented, his voice dry.  “See if I ever invite you over for movie night again.”

“I invited myself the last couple times,” Marinette snorted.  Mendeleiev dropped the pamphlet she’d been flipping through when Luka dropped an arm across Marinette’s shoulders and tugged her against his side.

“See if I let you in next time, then,” he sighed dramatically.  He glanced down at her, grinning.  “Or ask you back.”

“…they’ve gotten chummy,” Théo grumbled beside her.  Mendeleiev was too surprised by whatever the hell was going on with her other two reapers to jump at his sudden appearance.  “I don’t like it.  Don’t we have some rule about…fraternizing?”

“…you were trying to fraternize with her just this morning,” Mendeleiev said, glancing at him.  Théo snorted and bent to pick up her pamphlet.  She took it back robotically.

“I’m harmless, though,” he said.  “We both know nothing will actually come of my attempts at fraternizing.”

Mendeleiev hummed.  She watched as Marinette rested her head against Luka’s shoulder and he didn’t shove her off.

“Luka’s a lot more harmless than you could ever hope to be, Théo,” Fred said as he walked up to them.  He handed Mendeleiev a coffee.  Théo pouted until he handed him an ice cream cup.  “He’s a better person than you.”

“Now that’s uncalled for,” Théo sniffed.  “I’m a delight.”

“You’re a menace,” Fred sighed, sipping his own coffee.  “Let them be.  This is the first time in years I’ve seen Luka actually smile.  Shouldn’t we all grab at happiness, wherever this cruel world chooses to give it?”

“I still don’t like it,” Théo huffed.  His head perked up when a voice in the crowd called for a Frank Hawkins to get back here.  “Well, duty calls!”

He slipped off into the crowd, and Fred sighed as he shook his head.  Mendeleiev was still watching Luka and Marinette, who had finished their reaps and were sticking to the outer edge of the crowd, talking.  Marinette was still leaning against Luka’s side.

“What does happen to reaps in space, anyway?” Fred asked after a moment.  Mendeleiev shrugged.  “She has a point.  I’m sure someone’s died on a mission before.”

Mendeleiev had a few theories, mostly involving souls getting popped before the missions left orbit, but she was too busy watching her reapers to tell Fred that.  She was also a woman of science, and until she had empirical proof…

“Beats me,” she said, sipping her coffee.  “I’ll let you know when we have one.”

[echoghost1]

InvisoBang 2023 - Dawn Of Influence - Chapter 2

Title: Dawn Of Influence Chapter 2 Title: Headaches & How’ve You Been’s Summary: Danny is in his senior year of high school. His life, even with his still secret half-ghost nonsense, has settled down to a new, but manageable normal. That is until one day he starts to notice something is off. He doesn’t feel right, so he tries to find out what’s going on. His ghost form is changing but he has no idea what it’s changing into or why. Characters: Danny Fenton, Sam Manson, Tucker Foley, Jazz Fenton, Clockwork, Pandora, Frostbite Total Word Count: 17,010 Trigger Warnings & relevant tags: Mystery, Horror, Body Horror, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Ghost King Danny Fenton

You can find my fic on ao3 and read chapter 2 down below the cut!

Ch 1 | [you're here] | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8 | Ch 9 | Ch 10 | Ch 11 | Ch 12

Once a week Jazz would call home from college. She said it was so she could let them know how things were going for her. That she didn’t want them to worry.

Danny was pretty sure it was more for her. To make sure he was okay.

He had a feeling if she could, she would have driven home every week. Thankfully she saw how insane it was to make such a long drive weekly. 

Normally he enjoyed catching up with her. He liked hearing about how much she was enjoying herself. 

She was thriving on the east coast.

She was doing even better when he was able to prove he wasn't going to starve to death or let their parents blow up the house while she was away. 

The first couple of weeks without her was a bit of an adjustment but he managed. He might not be good at much, but he was very adaptable. 

Plus he had another new weekly tradition of having family dinners at Tucker’s house. 

The problem with having a weekly call with Jazz was he never wanted to give her bad news.

He always made sure to have something positive, even if it was just something he was looking forward to later in the week.

This week he had nothing. 

Midterms were coming up and even if he wasn't in danger of failing it didn't stop the test anxiety he always got. Test anxiety that had only gotten worse after that whole bad-end future business. 

To top it all off, he had a headache.

He really wanted to have something good to say, but the more he tried to think of something, the more it made his head hurt.

By the time she called he had almost convinced himself to go out and miss the call. Almost.

He knew avoiding it would just make it worse. Somehow.

He couldn’t think of how. His head hurt too much.

Danny picked up the phone on the second ring. 

“Hi Danny!”

“Hey Jazz.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah, got a headache, but it’s fine. How are you?”

“You sure?”

“It’s fine. I’m sure there’s something you were dying to tell me about.”

“I can tell you about that later. Did you take anything?”

“Like what?”

“Headache medicine? For your headache,” she said in a way that pointed out just how obvious that was.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I thought it would go away.”

“How long has it been?”

“Um,” Danny hesitated.

“Um? Why um?”

“I don’t think you’re going to like this answer.”

“I already don’t like it.”

“That’s fair.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

He was hoping she wouldn’t notice that.

“Danny.”

“I don’t know, like a day?”

“A Day!?”

“Is that bad?”

“Danny!”

“What?”

“That’s not a headache, that’s a migraine!”

“I thought migraines were the ones that made you not like light.”

Jazz sighed heavily.

He really didn’t mean to upset her.

“Danny, go take something for your headache. There should be a bottle in the bathroom.”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I was supposed to have something good to tell you but I just made you mad instead.”

“I’m not mad,” she said angrily.

“You sound mad.”

“I’m not mad at you.” she clarified.

“Are you mad at my headache?” Danny asked as he stepped into the bathroom.

“Yes, but also Mom and Dad.”

“Why are you mad at them?”

“The usual,” she said simply.

He just hummed in agreement. They were both well aware of the long list of things that made up The Usual. 

She probably didn’t mean the whole list right now, but he had a feeling that having a list was definitely a bad sign. Or at least not a very good one.

They may not have the best parents, but they weren’t bad on purpose. B+ parenting, maybe C average for when they got a little too passionate about their plans for ghost research.

One of the many advantages of having dinner at Tucker’s. He didn’t have to worry about the topic of ghost dissection at the table. Or ever. 

“Did you find it?” Jazz asked, bringing him back to the present.

“Just did,” he shook the bottle so the pills rattled for emphasis. “How many do I take?”

“Start with one, and see how that goes.”

“Thanks.”

“No problem. That’s what big sisters are for.”

Once he was done in the bathroom he went back to his room. He hoped the medicine both worked and kicked in fast.

Until then he’d chat with his sister.

He flopped on his bed and ignored how the movement reverberated in his skull. “So what are you getting up to in your exciting college life this week?”

Jazz was now more than happy to fill him in on her college life. She told him about a presentation she did, an event she went to, a couple of books she read, a guest speaker who came, and the things she did when she wasn’t in school.

He wasn’t sure how she found time to do all of the things she did in a single week.

Maybe some of these things were from last week.

Whatever it was, he was glad she was still having fun.

Still able to live her life.

That she was able to do what she wanted despite everything they’d been through.

“Danny.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s not true.”

“What?”

“Earlier. You said you were supposed to have good news for me. That’s not true. You can have bad days when I’m not around. It’d be a little weird if you didn’t.”

“I don’t want you to worry.”

“The thing about that is, it’s never going to work. You can’t stop other people from worrying about you. It shows they care about you.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“Of course it is. I said so.”

“Hope you don’t run into the doorway with that big head of yours.” Danny teased.

“Don’t worry, the doorways here are huge. Otherwise, the professors and half the students wouldn’t be able to get around.” she joked right back.

“Only half?”

“You’re right, it’s all of us.”

The siblings shared a few more laughs until there was a knock on Danny’s door.

“Oh, hold on,” he got up and found his mom on the other side of the door.

“Who are you talking to, Sweetie?”

“Jazz.”

“Oh, it’s Thursday already?”

“You want to talk to her?”

“Of course! Gimme the phone.”

“Alright hold on,” he said to his mom before he made sure Jazz knew what was going on.

“Hope you feel better Danny.” Jazz said in lieu of goodbye.

“Me too.”

He was glad she didn’t ask if his headache was gone.

[shanie]

Hiii Shanie! (is that what I should call you? 🤔) I'm the guest from ao3 that sent you that long ass comment 😆😅

Just wanted to start of by saying how extremely sweet it was of you to do this and also how much I appreciated you taking the time out not once but twice to write back! Tbh yes my dumbass did not realise what "noodle incident" meant till you explained it so thank you for that 😊 clearly I'm a bit new to all of this. 😅

Honestly I'm extremely late to the party. I discovered zowens only a little after they won their tag titles last year. I had no idea who they were before that. I took a break from wrestling for about 13 years and only got back into it by accident because of Sami, then Kevin, then zowens. I was switching channels and stubbled upon zowens who happened to be on screen at the time.

So I've had to go back and do a bit of digging and now and then I'll find something that everyone already knew about yearsss ago 🙄😂 and I'll get all excited over it, but everyone else has already been there done that 😂 (also absolutely no one I know likes wrestling or really even knows about it 😭)

I know I've missed out on a LOT with these two (their "glory days") 😭 and I get only glimpses of the past here and there, but I guess as they say better late than never 😁 So I'm enjoying your stories so so much. It's pretty incredible the way you write and the journey you take us on through it.

Ta

🐨

PS. the draft this week..zowens..😌

Hello again, nonnie! 

Glad you could make it! 

I was hoping to hear from you. This mess of business with AO3. Bleh. Hope they get it straightened out soon. 

First off, don’t feel bad for not knowing what “noodle incident” meant. I don’t know if a ton of people do these days. TV Tropes as a website has sort of fallen into obscurity in the past decade or so and that’s where I got the term from. Looking it up, the definition on the site (found HERE) apparently comes from Calvin and Hobbes. Of note: The way I use the term isn’t exactly correct because I have explained the pneumonia incident a little, and will do so in upcoming writing more, but I use the term improperly anyway because it makes sense to me. 

Regardless, stay tuned for more info about the pneumonia incident!  I will warn you though, the current story it’s being written into, “Never Say Goodbye”, is VERY dark. I’m probably going to have to up the rating on it. I use my writing as therapy and I’m going through some stuff right now, so this is how it is manifesting. Hope this doesn’t make you or anyone else hate me, but just know that writing it is helping me cope with my pain and getting me to a better place. 

So yeah. Forgive me. 

Second, don’t feel bad about just discovering Zowens in 2023. Some of the best people just discovered Zowens in 2023! I don’t know how much of last year you’ve managed to see but there is a fair amount of stuff just between summer of 2022 and fall of 2023 that is epic. If you haven’t gotten to explore it yet, I recommend starting HERE. It’s an episode of The KO Show from back in May of 2022 that planted the seeds of the entire Zowens storyline that would go on to them becoming tag champions. That said, as another video reference, that episode of the KO Show would actually be followed up on in August 2022 to properly start the storyline... in a post-show segment after Smackdown in Montreal. Finding video of that post-show segment can be difficult, but HERE is a fan video that has most of the encounter, minus the section that involved Matt Riddle (and the Zowens hug he spurs on) 

Really though, if I had to offer some key highlights, just in WWE, I’d recommend the last ten minutes or so of NXT’s R-Evolution PPV, their match at Battleground 2016 (DEFINITELY Key viewing), The very end of Hell In A Cell 2017 (and the Zowens segment from the next episode of Smackdown), the 10/31/2020 episode of Talking Smack, The leadup and immediate aftermath of their WrestleMania 37 match, the clips I linked above from May and August 2022, Royal Rumble 2023 main event (OMG THAT), and most of all, the ENTIRTY of the 3/17/23 episode of Smackdown which, telling you now, as a Zowens shipper was like a friggin fever dream the night it happened. Cannot understate how that was some Joker Origin Story stuff that night, but the payoff was AMAZING.  

All that said? Like Kevin said at WrestleMania 37. They met, at this point, almost 22 years ago, and the journey has been nuts. If you want a good, easy-to-absorb rundown of those 22 years or so, I highly recommend Mithen’s substack Ring the Bell. It has so much information that starts from the beginning and goes step by step along the path. They’re writing a book too! Keep an eye out for that. 

Anyway, it’s great to see you here and if you need any more tips about how to dig further into the story, let me know. I know you said “Their glory days” but the truth is, in their own words, they’re “Destined to do this forever” and the glory days aren’t over yet. The story has been going on for over 2 decades but it hasn’t ended yet and I don’t believe it ever will. The Sami and Kevin show, and by extension, The Kevin Steen and El Generico show, will never end. 

Over 20 years and counting.  Long live Zowens/Steenerico 

Enjoy the ride. 

[cryptidsurveys]

Thursday, August 29th, 2024.

what is the one thing you remember most about January of last year? I remember almost nothing from January of 2023. I don't think I was in the best mental space? Like, not terrible, but not super good either? Idk. Things started to gradually improve in March, though, and by mid-year they were significantly better. As for January of 2024, I also recall relatively little. I was volunteering at the shelter, but as for specifics…I'm drawing a blank.

you look at the clock and it’s 11:11, do you wish? Yeah. I don't necessarily believe my wish will come true or that repeating numbers/number sequences have any inherent meaning, but it's a slightly superstitious habit.

how do you think you will look 3 years from now? Assuming I continue on this path of progress, I think the biggest changes will be related to body language and how I carry myself. I don't think three years will make a big difference in how old I look, and I don't plan on making any drastic style changes either.

once you graduate (if you haven’t already) are you leaving your hometown? I didn't graduate - from high school or from college. I also had no plans to leave my hometown. In fact, I'll probably reside here for the rest of my life.

what is your dream job? Working at the animal shelter.

what would be number one on your bucket list? Thru hiking either the Colorado Trail or the Appalachian Trail. I'm leaning more toward the CT, though. I just think the AT has changed too much and may no longer provide the experience I'm seeking. Another big bucket list item would be to travel to Japan.

how old do you think you’ll be when you make your will? I have no idea.

you get a text message. who do you hope it is? My mom. If I got a text from my dad right now, I'd be worried it was bad news (he'd probably just call, though). And I don't want a text from Alex because it would most likely be calling me in to the shelter and I just want to enjoy the rest of my days off.

are there any songs that you hear that just make you wanna dance? I had to look up the name of it, but I'm Good (Blue) by Bebe Rexha and David Guetta. Every time I hear it on the radio at the shelter it makes me wanna bust a move. ;D

do you get any of your songs from limewire? Is that even still a thing? I haven't done that since maybe 2010-2011.

what’s the oddest thing you are wearing right now? It's really not that odd, but I'm wearing a t-shirt that says, "Bigfoot doesn't believe in you either."

you and your best friend get in a fight. why do you think that is? I can't imagine us fighting over anything atm. I guess if anything it would be related to my very delayed text response time. I'm already a bit of a procrastinator when it comes to that form of communication, but it's gotten worse now that I'm working more. I think they would be understanding, though.

do you use the word “basically” a lot? I don't notice myself saying it a lot, but I do feel like I use it often in surveys. Same with "practically" and "pretty much."

do you use proper grammar or use IM talk? I primarily use proper grammar, but I'm not opposed to a bit of chatspeak.

what is your biggest annoyance at the time? Probably the constant nagging worry about getting a migraine at an inopportune time. I'm grateful that I've been able to keep them at bay on most workdays, but they catch up to me on my days off.

you see the person you fell hardest for. what do you do? Like just in passing? I doubt I'd do anything except feel kinda weird about it. It's one thing to have the memories, but it's another thing entirely to be unexpectedly confronted with their physical presence.

have/are you depressed? Looking back…I'd say a lot of what I experienced was "situational depression" (as opposed to a long-term chemical imbalance). I don't have much of an issue with it at this point in my life. I still have issues with my mental health, but they're nowhere near as severe as they once were.

did you grow up in the united states? Yeah.

are you dreading tomorrow? Only slightly. You know what though? I'm so glad I don't dread going to the animal shelter like I used to dread going to school. I think I feel an average amount of "ugh" when it comes to going to work.

do you call anybody ‘baby’? My own kitties and the kitties at the shelter. They're all my stinky babies.

if your school had a winter formal on new years, would you go? I can't recall whether we had winter formals or not…but if we did, then I didn't attend.

where is the fanciest place you have ever visited? That fundraising event at the Union Depot was pretty fancy. Everyone was all dressed up and I was just sorta there…in clothes I would wear to any other casual occasion. :')

who is the one person you can completely be yourself around? My dad.

are your pop-ups blocked on your computer? I don't know if they're blocked or not, but I don't get any.

do you wear earrings on a normal basis? No. My ears aren't pierced.

how old were you when you realized that life goes on? I don't know when I first came to that realization, but I do tell myself that fairly often now. This situation will end, this sadness will pass, etc.

are your parent’s night owls or morning birds? My dad is an early bird (actually, he has a pretty eccentric sleep schedule) and my mom is a night owl.

do you like to sing? I'm not really any good at it, but yeah.

are there some songs that you will never understand the lyrics to? Probably.

do you own a lot of picture frames? I don't.

who is your favorite author? One of them is Joshua Cutchin. He writes a lot of books about the paranormal. Two of my favorites would be Where The Footprints End (in partnership with Timothy Renner) and The Brimstone Deceit.

how many pillows are on your bed? Two decorative pillows, two regular pillows, and three body pillows. Okay yeah I might have a bit of a pillow problem. :')

how is your hair right now? Nice and buzzed and short.

is your phone fully charged? It's at 94%.

what’s your favorite thing about the holidays? When it comes to the "holiday season," I just love the whole vibe. The weather, the decorations, the food, the nostalgia…

are you still in school? No.

how many days/months until your next birthday? It's not until next March.

what is your favorite type of cake? Hmm…maybe carrot or red velvet.

how many rings do you wear on a day-to-day basis? I don't wear any rings on a daily basis, but I have three that I wear on occasion.

when will you next laugh until you cry? I have no idea. I can't really predict that sort of thing.

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

11/19/2023 DAB Chronological Transcription

Acts 7-8

Welcome to The Daily Audio Bible Chronological. I'm Jill. Today's the 19th day of November. So good to be here with you. Truly an honor and a privilege to be reading the word of God to us as a community and we do this individually, we do this collectively and we do this as a community- beautiful community of brothers and sisters all over the globe united by one common theme and that is the word of God because we are all from different walks of life, different ethnic backgrounds, different socio-economical backgrounds. We all have different faiths, we all have different theology, we even have different belief systems and the beauty of that is recognizing that and we still come together and center ourselves around the scriptures because the goal is not to get everybody else to believe the same way that we do and to see things the same. So I'll pick himself up off the ground but when he opened his eyes he was blown way that we see them but the goal is to come together in our differences and worship the one true Living God and so we come together around this beautiful global campfire and continue with the reading of the word today. We'll be continuing the book of Acts, reading Acts chapter 9 and 10. And it's also a brand new week, so welcome to the brand new newness of a fresh start. Simply begin again. If you lose your way, if you fall down, simply begin again no matter what time of day, no matter what day, no matter who you are, no matter where you are, simply begin again. This week we'll be reading the New Living translation. As we start a new translation when we start a brand new week. So let's jump in- Acts chapter 9.

Prayer:

God we thank you for this week, this representation of brand new newness, a fresh start, a chance to simply begin again. And as we read this passage today as a reminder that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, we're reminded that we all, we all can make Jesus Lord of our life. We can simply begin again with Jesus no matter who we are, no matter where we've been, no matter who's we are, no matter how wrong we have gotten it, no matter how right we have gotten it, we are not excluded. We are not denied, we are not diminished by our past and in our unworthiness we can come boldly to the throne. We can come boldly back to Jesus to simply begin again. Thank you for this reminder. Thank you for a brand new week that is out in front of us full of hope, filled with promise and beaming with possibility. We consecrate this week to you making you Jesus, Lord of everything in our lives- submitting everything, surrendering every will, every choice, every thought, every determination to you. Come and be Lord of all, in us. I pray this in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Announcements:

Looking forward to a beautiful week together with all of you in the word as we center ourselves, as we simply begin again as many times as we need to. And we'll turn the page together tomorrow, until then love one another.

Community Prayer Line:

My name is Tanya from Ohio. I am calling in with a prayer request for my relationship. I truly care about my boyfriend and he is amazing. There's been some things that I've prayed about and the truth has been brought to my attention and I don't really know where to...guys abusing his prescription sometimes he takes more than he's prescribed and sometimes he gives it to people then he gets 90 for 30 days and I could roughly last a week maybe a little more. My son absolutely loves him and he went through a really hard time with his Dad. We still have a lot of struggle with his dad so I just need guidance if a door needs to be closed, if God can do a work in him because he has so many amazing qualities. Pray that he could get through this- we can get through this. I just need to be strong if the door needs to be closed- strong for myself and for my son because we have been through a lot last couple of years. So I appreciate any of your prayers and love all of you. Thank you. Bible says if we humble ourselves before the Lord he will lift us up and you hear us. 

A lady called yesterday from Colorado- California I'm moving to Colorado and it was very concerned about her son being homosexual- she was the first time. I just want to lift you up to the Lord in prayer. God is good. God is faithful and when we are weak he is strong- just want to encourage you to be strong and courageous and to know that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask, or think. Lift your heart up to the Lord. You will hear your son- we don't know what God has in store for him but as long as we pray and have hope that nothing is impossible with God. So continue my sister to come alongside us and pray. Thank God we're here. I pray all this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to love you up in Jesus name. Amen.

Hello everyone, this is Sonya from Austin. I haven't called in in a while but I want to call in for Wendy from Michigan. You said you lost your dad 3 months ago to suicide and I lost my father to suicide- it's been over 30 years and it gets easier at times and other times it's still fresh, but you're right not to live life with regrets. I did that for the first year after he passed- went into a very dark hole and now I realize you know that's not what God wants me to do and that's not even what my dad would want me to do. So we're all going to lose people as we continue to age and they continue to age and life happens that's not a single person that's not going to lose a loved one and knowing that that's a part of life and knowing that that means we need to enjoy the times we have with them and then when they're gone to remember the legacy that they have passed on. And I've heard someone say take other people out on their birthday, anniversary and celebrate them and I think that's a great idea and I'm going to start doing that myself. So I just want to lift up those that are hurting because of losing loved ones. Dear Jesus we just thank you for all the precious people that you give us- that you put in our life and we know that no one lives forever on this planet but we know that our hope is that we will be reunited with them in heaven with you.

[deathmcth-archived]

hiiii!! new years is tomorrow, so i wanted to send off the last day of 2022 with something nice before i roll up my sleeves and tackle my drafts. i'll be honest, the start of this blog was a little rough! at the time i was wondering if making a new blog here was the right choice. but after weeding out the people i knew i didnt want to be interacting with, i found a solid group of mutuals who i can trust and adore seeing on the dash!! i'm literally so bad with sappy, mushy stuff.. LKDHJF i get embarrassed BUT i am really happy to have met the majority of you! even if we haven't talked much or gotten the chance to write yet (totally my fault on my end, i'm trying to make a heavy dent in all my asks/drafts before i tackle new stuff), i still see you!

I think a new years goal for myself and for this blog is to be more active in my mutual's stuff. sometimes i totally space on it, but i do want you guys to feel seen when it comes to your oc or your canon muse. unless me liking and commenting on the majority of your stuff annoys you, which you can totally tell me btw, i wont get offended! I also wanna apologize for not talking a whole lot in DMs. i know i dont have to apologize, but i still want to! because i know i could be making that extra effort to get to know people better. i just really dont have a whole lot to say KDJFK which is funny because i never shut up on the dash. BUT IN ALL, thank you guys for sticking around and having fun with me!! i hope 2023 treats you all well and im wishing everyone the best!! muah muah xoxo

[yallmakemyassitch]

Happy New Years everybody!!! 🎉🎉🎉 🥳

Congrats to us all for making it this far, to 2023~☆ (hopefully this year will be a little more merciful to us 🙏😖)

I think now’s a better time than any to finally release the fourth and final part to my series of Ayana x Tabi HCs~ I held off long enough. 😅

So, hope y’all enjoy~ Let’s go!

(Rating is still out of 10)

Light Scratches/Pokes/Gentle Strokes & Scritches From The Fingernails

Tabi:

Neck – 9

Another way Ayana likes to tease Tabi is by scratching her nails along the back of his neck, ever so lightly. The feeling sends dreadful shivers down his spine and never fails to make him freeze up in shock before he starts squirming, fighting the urge to make any sound. If it persists long enough, muffled giggles and chuckles will spill as he begs for Ayana to cut it out. And she will, with a cheeky grin, satisfied that she succeeded in her mission.

Sides & Tummy – 7 – 8

Back – 6

Ribs – 9

Especially the region in the upper ribs that stops just below his armpits. That spot is a solid 10. Go there and he cracks *instantly*! A few quick pokes, scritches, kneading —anything will work; good place to start if you wanna get him vulnerable.

Back of the knee – 6

The crook/inner part of the elbow (or the “Antecubital fossa” if you wanna be technical) – 8

This is a very peculiar spot that Tabi had never thought was capable of being ticklish (that and the area behind his knees). It was accidently revealed to him one day when he and Ayana were clowning around/play fighting with each other. Ayana tried to blow a raspberry into the crook of his elbow (for reasons idk) and the feeling caught Tabi off guard and made him shriek. Ayana was equally surprised but immediately delighted at this sudden revelation; she decides to test it further by gently gnawing at the skin, prompting a very frantic & giggly “Nohoho stop-!!” as Tabi tried to pull away. (Unfortunately they were too entangled in each other’s limbs for him to go anywhere, so he had to just sit and take it.)

Palm of the hand – 8

Tabi’s palms have always been strangely sensitive for some reason, and he can’t figure out why. Luckily, he usually doesn’t do very much with his hands, when it comes to physically interacting with other people, so nobody else really knows about it.

Except for Ayana.

You know that one game friends & couples play where the person has to trace shapes or write something on your back or hand with their fingertips (without you looking) and then you have to guess what it is? Well, Tabi & Aya play that game with each other sometimes. Although, Tabi would much rather have the tracing be done on his back because he can never sit still when nails are being dragged along his palms. But of course Ayana will pick the latter spot, just to torment him~ 😋

It is the absolute *worst* if she had gotten her nails manicured that day, making them even more pointy and sharp. 🙈

“Ehehe! Tabs, you gotta stay still~!”

“I CAHahAhan’t!!”

Ayana:

Back of the neck – 6 – 7

To borrow your headcanon, Gypsy- the small spot in the back of Ayana’s neck, right at the base of her head, would be the *only* part of her neck that would be ticklish. (Whereas Tabi’s whole entire neck is a death zone.) A few little scritches there will make her whole back arch involuntarily with a suppressed squeal.

Thighs – 7 – 8

Lightly spidering your fingertips over the flesh here will cause her to squirm and twitch.

Legs & Feet – 7 – 8

Back of the knees & inner crook of the elbows – 7

Lower Back – 9

A lot of people don’t know about this one but it’s true. Ayana is shockingly very ticklish around the small of her back.

Her best friend Dalia accidently discovered it once when she lazily poked Aya in the back to get her attention and was startled when she let out a squeak and reeled back like she just got zapped with a taser. (How embarrassing! 🙈)

If Tabi notices Ayana laying on her stomach preoccupied with something or just resting, sometimes he’ll sneak up and give her a quick tickle there, just to watch her wiggle around and hear her surprised titters, which are always adorable. 😋

Sides – 9 – 10

Tummy – 10

Yeah, I think I mentioned already that the stomach area is pretty much Ayana’s weak spot like the neck is for Tabi. Literally any method you try here will reduce her to a puddle of giggles, some more effective than others~ 😉

For instance, you know that one scene from that one Jim Carrey movie, where he was a dad who happily greeted his son when he arrived home and playfully tickled his tummy via “The Claw”?

[ This scene right here? ]

Yeah, Tabi does that too. And it is the bane of Ayana’s existence. She considers it nearly as, if not JUST as bad, as the raspberries, or when he attacks the “Giggle Button” under her navel. It makes her lose all control and she’s laughing so much she can barely even beg for reprieve.

(But.. maybe a part of her secretly enjoys the thrill of it all too~)

Squeezes To The Thighs/Knees/Hips

Tabi:

To borrow this person’s headcanon, he would be pretty ticklish on the spot 3 – 4 inches above the kneecap if you give it a good squeeze there; I’ll give it an 8½.

Thighs & hips are a 7.

Ayana:

Thighs – 9

Will crumble from the slightest pinch or squeeze.

Knees – 7

Hips – 10

Definitely comes in at #3 on her list of death spots (behind her stomach and ribcage); once you grab her there she’ll be putty in your hands~ 😋

She just instantly melts like butter on a stove, her whole face blooming like a rose with her eyes shut tight as she giggles, squeals and cackles helplessly at Tabi’s devilish touches. She can feel herself growing weak in the knees and literally has to lean on Tabi so she doesn’t fall to the floor. The sight is considered both hilarious and adorable by anyone there to witness.

Meanwhile, Tabi is just looking at Ayana in silent awe and adoration. All he can think is, “My god. It should be illegal for someone to be this cute! What is this witchery?! ”

Then he himself would start to feel flustered and he’ll eventually stop. He cuddles her from behind with his face turned away, hoping she doesn’t notice *his* blush. (He swears this girl is gonna be the death of him one day! 😖)

It’s little things like these that just make him love her more and more~ 🥰

And just like that we’ve finally reached the end. If anybody feels inspired and wishes to draw any of these HCs or incorporate them into a (TabixAyana) fanfic, you are more than welcome to~! 😁 (*Hint, hint*)

I’ll even include links to the previous three parts to make them easier to find.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

And as a bonus, enjoy some fanart too~! 😁 (none of them are mine!)

https://mobile.twitter.com/tabi38918689/status/1430537936160837637

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615843791930/

https://twitter.com/072_hysh/status/1501403132630384640?t=JvaxmDmf7bkxbg7C3sn31w&s=09

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615843791956/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615842769615/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615843546376/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615842769325/

https://twitter.com/jtijsj3/status/1423986230279114757

https://twitter.com/jtijsj3/status/1412654948966232064

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/715157615842769591/ (When you ask who's the biggest lee in the relationship and they're both too embarrassed to say. 🤭 Spoilers: it's both of them.)

Thanks for reading! 👋🏾😁

Everyone wake up!!! Anon is back with another banger!!!! :D

Happy new year to you as well! Ahhhhh 💕💕🥹 these are all so good, I love, it! Thank you for your dedication to getting these out, I really enjoyed these! But that doesn't mean the TabixAyana saga has ended, we still gotta get part 3 for this! Until next time (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)

[jawabear]

1 of 10 (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Not my GIF (look at this man...)

A/N: so here’s that Bucky fic I’ve been talking about. This took me too long to write but I like it? I’m absolutely loving Falcon and The Winter Soldier! I’ve mentioned this before but Bucky Barnes is my all time favourite fictional character. This is set before the events of episode one but maybe like a week or so before. I hope you enjoy. Sorry for any mistakes. Stay safe.

Genre: fluff, angst

Warnings: fem!reader, tfatws spoilers, Bucky being awkward, nightmares, therapy, Bucky isn’t as smooth as he was in the 40s but he’s still cute

Summary: Bucky has ten contacts in his phone. One of which belongs the the girl he feels he has been searching for for 106 long years.

The times in which he found himself now were more than confusing. But that was the best way Bucky could think to describe them. For him though it seemed a lot worse than for others. For others, they had a gap of five years missing. For Bucky, he had far more than that.

From 1943 to 2023 there was a lot missing. He remembered it however. He remembered everything. The good, the bad, and the horrifying. What was meant by missing was that it wasn’t him who was living. He had missed out on living between those years. He had missed out on everything. And he knew, like the billions of others, he would never get those years back.

But now he was a civilian. Working to make amends from his past after being given a pardon. However, settling into his new easy life was proving far from that. It had been a few months now since the whole ordeal with saving the blipped half of humanity, Bucky included, and it had been a few months now since Steve went back in time and started a new life leaving him and Sam behind.

Sam. Right.

Sam was an avenger. More so than Bucky could ever be. So he was off doing his avenging work while Steve’s shield gathered dust in a wardrobe somewhere he was sure. Sam didn’t have it in him to take up the mantle of Captain America. He felt the shield belonged to someone else. It was Steve’s. It only ever could be.

More often than perhaps Bucky would like, he would get texts from Sam. Asking him how he was and telling him about missions he was going on. Bucky never replied. He didn’t know how to half the time and he didn’t want to.

He didn’t know how he was. He didn’t know if he was okay. He was forced to go see a therapist but all he did was lie to her.

“Have you had any nightmares recently?” She would ask him.

Bucky would think back to the night before their meeting and all the others as well. Each night he’d have to be faced with the horrors of his past. Every mission he carried out. Every person he carelessly killed.

“No” he would answer. And it wasn’t like he was wrong in his answer. The things he saw in his sleep were not nightmares they were memories. The nightmarish horrors he was were his reality, so when he said no in response to her question, he found it difficult to be accused of lying.

There were few things he could agree with her about. But the one thing he could see eye to eye with her about was the fact he was alone.

Sure, he had Sam. But only when Bucky wanted to acknowledge him which had not been often as of recently. And as his therapist so kindly pointed out he only had ten contacts on his phone. But in his defence, he still wasn’t used to the whole world of mobile communications and internet. So his phone was basically redundant to him. His mind was still in the 1940s where you’d find a date, what would now be classed as, the old fashioned way. By looking in person and talking. Not just texting or swiping left or right on an app.

Granted, Bucky did try his hand in online dating but it was far too much for him. It wasn’t only hard for him to figure out but also he saw too much of people he didn’t even know. The openness of the internet was something that was mind boggling to him. So that was thrown out of the window pretty quickly.

But what his therapist had failed to note was one name in his contacts. The name of his neighbour and quite possibly the one he wanted to end his loneliness with.

Back in his time, when he didn’t just have the looks of someone in their 20s, Bucky was in fact quite popular and good with the ladies. But the ladies, he found, of this new age were completely different to the ones of his time. Not that there was a problem, he just knew that he couldn’t used the same moves now as what he could back then.

He met (Y/N), his neighbour, as he was first moving in. After coming back, loosing Steve and getting a pardon, Bucky thought it be best to try and start a new. He did that by moving back to his old home of Brooklyn. His old apartment was obviously gone and with little money to his name he couldn’t afford the one that replaced it. It was far to big for him anyway. But he managed to find a smaller more affordable one and he much preferred it. If not only for the quieter location then the others in the building too.

(Y/N) was the first person he spoke too when back in Brooklyn. She was sweet and kind when introducing herself. She offered to help him move in but he really didn’t have that much stuff to use in making his new apartment more homely. And he had no food either. So (Y/N) did the neighbourly thing and invited him in for some food. A meal of sorts although she didn’t have much food either at the time. Even so, it was nice for him to be in company for once. And it was such warm company. They didn’t speak about much but he learnt a few things about her.

And now, on most Thursday evenings, he’ll find himself with her in her apartment eating a meal, sometimes she’ll cook, sometimes they’ll order take out, but he enjoys it regardless.

It was clear from the offset that she knew who he was. He frantically explained to her that he wasn’t what he used to be anymore and explained the terms of his pardon and how he’s making amends. But he needn’t have waste his breath on it. She didn’t seem to care about it. About who he used to be. She told him that she doesn’t live in peoples pasts and that she wanted to get to know him for who he is, not who he was. Those words meant a great deal to him. And from that moment on he had fallen for her.

Bucky sighed as he dragged himself up the stairs to his floor. He desperately wished there was some way of getting out of these therapy sessions. But he was tied to them. He couldn’t stop going to them even though he wanted too. But there, it wasn’t really like he had anything better to do. Nothing but either sitting at home in silence or walking around busy streets constantly looking over his shoulder. Those were his only other options.

As he walked to his apparent at the end of the hallway (Y/N)’s door opened and she walked out dressed for the outdoors, it was getting cold so it was smart of her to be wearing a warm coat. “(Y/N)” he called gently to her. She lifted her head after locking her door and gave him a warm smile.

“Hi James” She said, she always called him James rather than Bucky. He didn’t know why but he didn’t exactly mind. “How was your session today?” She had memorised the times at which he went to his therapy sessions. She probably knew he schedule better than he did.

Bucky shrugged “the usual” he told her making her laugh a little.

“That bad huh?”

“I guess” he said scratching the back of his neck.

“Well, I’m heading to the store to get some food if you wanted to talk on the way? Don’t feel you have to”

“No, that sounds good” he tried to smile but it was a little awkward, but she didn’t seem to say anything and just motioned her head for him to follow.

The shop wasn’t too far away so it was a quick walk. Bucky wasn’t the talkative type, not really anyway. Especially not to someone he didn’t like. And Dr Raynor was someone who he didn’t like. He was sure that deep down she was a lovely person but he didn’t like the fact she was insistent in getting him to admit his feelings. Although that was her job.

It wasn’t long until they arrived at the store “so what happened?” (Y/N) asked as she picked up a basket.

“Just the usual...she asked me if I had a nightmare-“

“Did you?” Bucky didn’t answer and just looked away from her. “James, you know that it’s her job to help you. And it’s in your best interest to let her”

“I know...but at the same time...I don’t see the point. These things are mandatory. So if I don’t want to go then I don’t see it being helpful”

“I can understand that” her eyes flicking between two boxes of cereal as she inwardly decried in which one to get, but her indecisive nature got the better of her so she opted to get both. Her indecisiveness, Bucky thought, was incredibly cute. It linked in with her kindness, on their Thursday evening meals together it takes ages just to decide what to have. “But still,” she continued, Bucky following her like a lost puppy “like you said, it’s mandatory. And there are people who would love to be in your position. Getting therapy I mean. So you should at least make the most of it while you can”

“I mean...yeah. I guess. But...I don’t know I just...well it’s easier to talk to someone like you then it is to talk to her” (Y/N) smiled at little at this as she finished putting on the last few items before making her way to the till.

Neither of them said much else. Expect for (Y/N) making light conversation with the cashier as she paid although both (Y/N) and Bucky knew that the cashier really didn’t want to be there. Luckily it didn’t take long for (Y/N) to bag her items and pay for them before they were both leaving the store.

It had gotten colder outside then when they left originally. (Y/N) shivered and pulled her coat around her a little more before they both began walking back to their apartment building.

“So what is it about me that makes you find it easier to talk?” She asked, she brushed her hair from her face as a sudden gust of wind blew it out of place when she turned to look at him.

“Well...” he muttered shoving his hands into his pockets “for one, you don’t sit there with a passive aggressive notebook ready to write shit about me” this made her laugh a little, she always found it funny when he’d talk about this notebook Dr Raynor had. She didn’t really know why he hated it so much, and she knew she shouldn’t have found it funny but he never stopped her from laughing about it, in fact often times he would join in thereby encouraging her.

“Yes, that is something better I guess. Although, I’m sure I could find a notebook if you wanted” she teased.

“Oh god. Please don’t” He said holding back a smile.

“Anything else?” She asked him.

Bucky thought for a moment. There were many things about her that made it easier for him to talk to her, but he couldn’t list them all. For one, that would be embarrassing, and two he didn’t think he’d have the breath to do it. “Well-“

He was cut off when he saw (Y/N)’s smile fall and her pace began to slow right down to a stop. Bucky stopped and looked at her “everything okay?” He asked her, his voice full of concern.

She turned sharply to the side so she was facing the road “y-yeah..” she stuttered nervously “just...my ex is walking this way and I really don’t want him to see me”

Bucky felt a strange feeling inside him. He didn’t even know she had been in a relationship. It must’ve been a recent thing right? Unless it was a really bad break up in the past, or this guy had done something to her to prompt her being so on edge. Bucky turned to try and scope out this guy but he didn’t have a clue what he was looking for. So he reached over to her and pulled up her hood on her hoodie that she wore under her coat and pulled her into his side so that her face was hidden from view.

“Tell me when he’s gone” Bucky muttered to her. She nodded her head and let him walk her along the path, she kept her eye on the path ahead as best she could while still covering her face. But she was now more focused on two things, his arm around her and his wonderful smell. Never did she think she’d ever get this close to him. She never thought he’d let her, but here she was attached to his side with his arm wrapped around her, holding her protectively against him.

And his smell. It was just as comforting as she dreamed it would be. A mix of his cologne and what she could only describe as Him. All she wanted to do now was to just melt into his strong and warm embrace and just stay there forever.

In all her daydreaming she didn’t notice that her ex had long since walked by and they had reached the entrance to their apartment building and she didn’t tell him he could let go or that it was safe for her to walk properly.

Bucky came to a stop and slowly slipped his arm from her “I mean...I take it he’s gone now right?” He said a little nervously. (Y/N) stood up straight and pushed the hood from her head and nodded quickly, her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

“Yeah. Yes, right. Sorry. Yes. He’s gone. I um...I just wanted to make sure he didn’t suddenly turn around you know? That’s all” she said in an unconvincing tone. But Bucky himself was too flustered to actually care that she was flustered as well.

“Of course, that’s smart. Well we made it back” he said stepping up to the door and pushing it open for her. She nodded and thank you and quickly hopped inside the building, Bucky following after her.

The walk up the stairs was an awkward silence. They felt like teenagers after their first ever date. Who says something first? What do they even say? Luckily for them, this wasn’t a first date, and they weren’t teenagers. They were fully grown, mature adults. But that doesn’t mean adults can’t get flustered in the presence of their crush...right?

After what felt like hours, but was more like five painstaking minuets, they finally got to their floor and walked down the hall, both briefly forgetting that they lived right next to each other.

(Y/N) stopped at her door and placed her bag of food on the floor to fish out her keys from her pocket. “Uh...you want to come in?” She asked whilst fiddling around in her pocket to find the keys. “I know it’s not Thursday but we didn’t really talk as much as usual...” her voice seemed to trail off as she finally found her keys and put them in the key hole before unlocking the door. “You don’t have too..”

“I’d...like to...” he said in a soft voice with a gentle smile to try and put her at ease even though he too was freaking out inside. She smiled back and picked up her bag before walking inside her apartment, he did too.

They both made their way into her small kitchen and he made himself at home by sitting in his usual seat at her white kitchen table and she began to unpack the shopping “Do you want me to help?” He asked her as he went to stand up but she waved off his offer.

“No no, it’s fine. There’s only a few bits anyway” she told him as she began to pack each item away in its rightful place.

“So uh...” Bucky began quietly as he scraped his metal finger again the wood table. “This ex of yours...what’s the story there?”

Bucky was a little cautious of his words. He didn’t want to say anything to hurt or offend her but at the same time he wanted to know what about the guy made her so on edge earlier.

“Oh uh...” she muttered as she pulled two cups from her cupboard.

“You don’t need to tell me if you want want to. Sorry..”

“It’s fine” she assured him “nothing really happened I guess. It was just a bad break up. He didn’t really take it well and for a few weeks after that he just kept texting me and trying to call me. He came round to my place too to try and get me back. He never did know how to take no for an answer. But about a month ago he finally got the message and stopped all contact with me. Seeing him today...I was just worried that he’d try it all again”

“He sounds like a real asshole” Bucky said flatly making her laugh a little as she went about making some tea for the both of them. “But in his defence, if I lost a girl like you, I’d struggle with taking no for an answer as well”

(Y/N) let out a nervous laugh and almost dropped his tea cup from the shock of his comment but she was a little more used to his flirtatious nature that would sometimes make an appearance when they were in her apartment. After he told her about his boyish charms back in the 40s she noticed how he would often slip back into that era. It was cute to say the least.

She set down his tea in front of him and he flashed her a “thank you” smile before wrapping his fingers around it.

There was a brief silence in the room. She was greatly over thinking is earlier comment. But so was he. Maybe he shouldn’t have said it. He meant it though. But what if he had pushed the limit a little too far?

“What was the other reason?” She asked him, her finger nail scratching again the tea cup trying to avoid eye contact with him at all costs.

“Huh?” He questioned looking over the table to her.

“Earlier. You were going to give me another reason why I’m easier to talk to. What was it?”

Bucky’s muscles tensed as his fingers gripped the tea cup handle as he stared into the black tea she had made for him. “If I’m being honest...” he began slowly “I think...there are too many reasons why I find talking to you easier. But I guess one is that you don’t do it because you have to or it’s your job to. You do it out of kindness. And it’s...easier to talk to someone who’s listening because they want to. And yes, I get that Dr Raynor probably does want to help me but I also know that at the end of the day, it’s all for a pay check. But with you...you do it because you want to. Or at least...I think you want to”

“I do want to, James. I’ll always be around to ask if you’re okay. And to make you okay when you’re not. I care about you...”

“And...I care about you. Another reason I prefer talking to you is because...I like you...a lot. I just think you’re the most beautiful woman, and you have such a sweet and caring nature and a good heart that is wasted on me. But I can’t help but like you...” he couldn’t really believe he just said what he did. He wasn’t mean to tell her that. It was meant to stay a secret within him into the end of time. But there was a shift in atmosphere that just made it all slip out.

“You...you like me?” She asked, still not looking at him.

“Yeah...” he said. There was a little more confidence in his voice as he admitted his feelings towards her.

“I like you too..” she too held a little more confidence in her voice as she admitted her returned feelings. It felt...good. Especially since she knew he returned the feelings she had harboured for him since they met.

She stood abruptly and held her hand out to him. He looked at it and looked up at her again before taking her hand. She pulled him to his feet and a little close to her.

He smirked a little as he looked down at her “you want me to kiss you or something?” He said almost proudly.

“Yes..” she said “but first...I want to know something”

“What do you want to know?” He asked her. She squeezed his hand and dragged him out of her kitchen.

She lead him to her bedroom and noticed the worried expression on his face when he looked at her bed. This was what she wanted to know.

“You don’t have a bed in your apartment...” She told him quietly. (Y/N) turned her body so she was facing him completely, he cautiously lifted his hands to settle on her waist.

“I know...” he mumbled.

“Why?”

Bucky paused but he felt safe enough to give her an honest answer “I...I’m...scared. Of them”

“What is it about a bed that scares you?” She whispered, her fingers gently trailing down his cheeks. Bucky didn’t answer right away, for one he was to busy focusing of the beautiful touch of her hands, and for another, he didn’t really know the answer to her question. But he could take a guess.

“Because I...I don’t think I’ve slept in one since 1943. And I...after everything I’ve done...I don’t deserve to lie in such luxury...” his voice was quiet and barely audible, had it not been for the close proximity they were in, she probably wouldn’t have heard him.

“James...” she laid her forehead against his and he instinctively griped her waist a little tighter. The comfort and warmth she was bringing him was something he didn’t want to loose. She was someone he didn’t want to loose. He felt safer with no one but her. For once he actually felt...okay. But he felt he was holding her too tightly, but if he was she was wasn’t willing to tell him that.

“You know that you have no reason to be afraid. You are changing. You are becoming a good man. You do deserve to live in luxury, even if that starts with sleeping in a proper bed. Maybe it is scary for you...but...if you’ll allow me, I’ll help you face it”

“Please...” he whispered with a nod before pressing his lips to hers.

05/04/21

Taglist: @lunaserenade @phoenixhalliwell @slytherin4ever

[bisexual-horror-fan]

I’m not going to lie, “What If It Isn’t A Joke?” really made me emotional.

The way you detailed how their lives were before it all, which we kinda knew hints about from the movie, but you fleshed the feelings of it all out so beautifully. And the whole morbid journey and how it actually in some utterly mad way makes sense that they ended up together. How Stu’s homelife made him seek out validation and affection, no matter what the cost, and how Billy’s homelife was ripped away from under him, making him seek comfort from the only person he could trust anymore. And in their broken minds that feeling of closeness and trust grew around all that abandonment and bitterness, not really hiding it, but empowering it to such heights that neither of them would have gotten there on their own. And in a way it’s really absolutely not good, because it enables that murderous poison to grow, but to them it really is the best thing that has happened in their lives. They are like two damaged puzzle pieces that fit awkwardly together and nowhere else.

And how lost they are with their emotions still. Stu barely allowing himself to desperately hope that Billy could actually feel the same way instead of just using him to vent his anger and lust. And Billy keeping it all in his head, because damn all those feelings, they make things complicated, and they make him feel weak. And could he actually admit it out loud that he trusted someone that deeply, even after his own goddamn parents had proven that trust is something that can be very easily and painfully broken?

And the crime itself; I got the feeling that neither of them could have done it alone. Not only did they plan and execute it together, but they pushed and pulled each other in the right spots to get past those brinks they wouldn’t get over alone. Without Bill Stu wouldn’t have held the knife, and without Stu Bill wouldn’t have been able to stop and get away.

And the fact that we know where it all will eventually lead them both. That them ending up together in the first place means that they are doomed to stay on that path where they can’t put that brutal crime behind them and pretend it never happened, because together they’ll keep fanning that insane flame that makes them feel so powerful, hot, in control, invincible. And they’ll seek that high again and again, until it kills them both.

---

What a perfect way to start the New Year reading this fic was (I started reading it around 2 in the morning here, couldn't stop, and had to get my thoughts down on it, so here we are, on the first hours of 2023.)

Happy New Year Bex.

-Furball891

---

Furball! Oooh this is just, the best! You are the best! Your comments are always the most memorable, the loveliest, a perfect way to kick off the new year! I am so, so fucking glad you adored the fic, I had a blast writing it! I am very much looking forward to this brand new year and for all the more writing I am gonna get up to in it! I have today, the first day of the year off, and I am curled up in pjs with movies and my laptop, working on some writing right now!

Seriously Furball, you've been here like the longest out of anyone and the fact you are still here means the world to me, I hope to keep on impressing and entertaining you this year!

[carladuquette]

A little Close your eyes NYE flashback. Have a great start to 2023, everyone!

** Carla's and Lu's first New Year's Eve together

Lu's dad dropped her off and Carla waved at him with a sweet smile as Lu got out of the car. They had counted on him not getting out to talk with her parents, and he didn't.  

"He really bought it?" Carla wanted to be sure. Lu's grin was wide as she nodded. As far as Lu's dad was concerned, the two of them would spend New Year's Eve watching movies and painting their nails at Carla's. Why he wouldn't let his 13-year-old daughter go to a NYE party with her friends, Carla still didn't know. Her parents hadn't even blinked an eye when she'd asked whether she could spend the night at Guzman and Marina's. But Lu's bright smile had dropped almost immediately after Guzman had invited them on the last day of school before break.

"There's going to be boys there and their parents won't be home, I'm never going to be allowed to go," Lu had said, her nails digging into Carla's arm as she'd dragged her down the hall and into a bathroom stall. Carla had already decided to help - she'd only known Lu for six months, but they had decided that they would be best friends for the rest of their lives, and there was no way Carla would spend New Year's Eve without her - when Lu had looked at her with wide eyes.

"Carla, I can't not go. We have to figure something out." Of course she'd been desperate to go. Guzman had not just invited the two of them to the party, but also to the post-party sleepover, along with only Ander and Polo.

Carla wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what Lu's hopes for the night were. She didn't get what Lu saw in Guzman, but if that's what her best friend wanted, Carla was determined to help. They spent an hour going through the dress options Lu had brought in her overnight bag and finally decided on a black, sparkly dress so short Carla made Lu sit down in it to ensure she could do it without giving everyone a free show. Her own outfit, a satiny dark-green dress with a sweetheart neckline, had been waiting in her closet for weeks. Carla didn't know indecision. She'd seen it, tried it on and immediately loved it. Polo had started stuttering when she'd come out of the dressing room and asked whether he liked it, confirming that it was the right choice.

Now they were getting ready in Carla's bathroom. Lu's tongue was out as she was trying to curl her hair into perfect waves. When Justin Bieber's Sorry came on on the party playlist blasting from Carla's phone, both of them squealed. Lu put down the curling iron, took another swig from the champagne bottle Carla had swiped from her parents (who were off with Guzman and Marina's parents on a three-day trip to La Gomera) and came up bouncing behind her. Carla laughed, took her hands and twirled.

A few songs later, Carla was sitting on the counter with her eyes closed as Lu applied the metallic eyeliner they had both bought for tonight, Lu in silver and Carla in gold. There'd been a copper tone perfect for Marina's hair color but Carla had decided against getting it for her. Marina's current thing was animal cruelty and Carla didn't want another lecture like the one she'd gotten when she and Marina had gone on a - now pretty rare - shopping trip downtown and she had tried a hand cream that Marina had been appalled by. Researching Estee Lauder was too much work for a small gift like this.

"Ready!" Lu sounded proud and Carla could see why when she checked herself in the mirror.

"I love it," she told Lu. "You are so good at this! Thank god your dad bought that story. I wouldn't have had any fun without you tonight."

Lu stood on her tiptoes to hug her. "Me neither. But now it's going to be the best New Year's Eve ever!"

A few hours later, Lu's eyeliner was mostly gone from the water Carla had splashed on her face in a brief break from having to hold her hair back. They had been in here for at least 20 minutes and Carla was glad she'd had the wherewithal to drag Lu into Laura and Ventura's en-suite, so they didn't have to deal with everyone else wanting to use the main first floor bathroom.  

Lu was still leaning over the toilet but hadn't thrown up in a few minutes. Carla rubbed her shoulder. "Better?" She nodded. After a brief hug, Carla let Lu settle on the floor and filled one of the porcelain toothbrush tumblers with water. One of the first things she had been impressed by when Lu had first walked into class after summer break was that she'd looked at least 15. But the girl now crouched in a glittery heap on the floor didn't look any older than the thirteen-and-a-half that she was.

"Guzman didn't see, did he?" Lu asked so quietly that Carla almost missed it. "That I nearly…"

"No," Carla said with utter confidence. "He was in the kitchen getting more chips. Don't worry."

What good would it do Lu to tell her the truth? That Guzman had walked in just as Lu had pressed her hand to her mouth, her face suddenly pale and Carla had noticed in a split-second that they'd only had a few moments before Lu would throw up all over the Nuniers' large dining table. They had made it to the bathroom just in time.

"Thank god." Lu let her head fall back against the wall behind her.

Carla made a non-committal noise. "If you didn't feel good, why didn't you stop?" She let a little grin creep into her voice. "This isn't your first time getting drunk, you should know better."

"I do!" Lu opened her eyes and Carla snorted when she saw the indignant look in them. The pissed off expression stayed on Lu's face for a few seconds longer, then she joined in with Carla's giggle.

The change came quickly, but Carla saw it even before Lu lurched forward again. She held her friend's hair as Lu emptied what looked like the last contents of her stomach into the toilet. After wiping her mouth with a piece of toilet paper, Lu made a pathetic little noise and leaned into Carla.

"I really wanted to win," she mumbled. Carla bit her tongue to not say how stupid she'd thought the whole game was from the very beginning. Someone had lined up two rows of tequila shots along the entire length of the dining table. Two people played on both sides. The players took turns downing the shots and the last one standing after the other three had bowed out won. Carla and Lu had both played once and were beaten by Juan, a junior who was on the swim team with Guzman.

When Carla had seen Lu glance at the show Guzman had made of congratulating Juan, hugging him and loudly proclaiming him to be "the man!", she'd known that Lu would want to go again. But before Lu, Ander, Marina and that blonde kid from debate were even halfway done, Guzman had lost interest in watching and wandered off. Lu had made it two-thirds down the table, and Marina and Felipe (Francisco?) had already stepped away, when she'd gotten sick. It figured, Carla thought, that Guzman had more or less ignored Lu the entire night, but was there to raise his eyebrows and smirk at them as she dragged her off to the bathroom.   

"Do you want to go home?" she asked as she tugged a strand of hair behind Lu's ear.

"No!" Lu sounded scandalized. "We're doing the sleepover! Can we just sit for a little bit longer? I can't go back out there yet."

Carla agreed, but then she had a better idea. "I know the way to the roof, Marina showed me. How about I grab a Diet Coke and whatever is left of the pizza and we get some fresh air up there?"

"You know I can't have more pizza," Lu said flatly.

Carla latched onto the fact that the reply sounded mostly like a tired reflex. "But you've just thrown up for like half an hour. All the food you've had tonight is out of your body, so it totally doesn't count," she said with as much authority as she could muster.

Lu looked up at her like she wanted to be convinced, so Carla added: "Plus you need something to soak up the alcohol."

"Fine." Her voice sounded reluctant but the small smile on her face was grateful.

Carla moved quickly and managed to sneak into the kitchen and out with the pizza and diet coke without running into Polo, who at this point had to be looking for her. When she got back to the master suite, Lu had made it to the bedroom. Carla instructed her to grab the down comforter ("I don't want to freeze to death"), then dragged her out of the room, around the corner and up the stairs. There were about 15 seconds where Carla was convinced that Lu would fall from Marina's window, hit the ground and break her legs instead of making it onto the roof, and she regretted her decision bitterly.

But that was forgotten when they finally sat on the roof, the sounds from the party distant below them and the clear night sky stretching out above them. Lu's left arm and leg were pressed into her right so they could both fit into the comforter cocoon they had wrapped themselves in. Lu stuck out a hand and Carla gave her the last slice of cheese pizza.

"This is really cool." Lu sounded almost in awe and Carla felt giddiness bubble in her chest like champagne.

"The first time I was drunk was up here," she told Lu. "Marina and I decided we had to know what it was like so it wouldn't take us by surprise when other people were around."

"Smart," Lu managed through her laugh.

"I had brought a bottle of wine and she had swiped like four beers from Guzman. He'd caught her, but he couldn't exactly tell their parents that Marina had taken his beer." Now Carla had tears of laughter running down her cheeks, too.

She told Lu about how her and Marina had been convinced it wasn't working until Marina had tried to get up and almost fallen off the roof.

"Why don't you hang out as much anymore?" Lu asked her.

Carla shrugged. "I don't know. Marina has changed." They were quiet for a moment until Carla decided to change the subject.

"Hey, didn't you say Valerio might stop by after midnight if his friend's party sucked? It is," she checked her phone, "almost 1:30. Do you think he's still coming?"

"No," Lu said immediately.

Carla frowned. That was weird. "Ooook… Did something happen?"

"We…" Lu wouldn't look at her. She pulled the comforter closer around her, which ended up pulling Carla so close, she could hear her friend's quick breaths. "We had a fight." She finally looked up with a smile so obviously fake Carla was almost offended, and rolled her eyes. "Val thinks Guzman is kind of an idiot, I told him he was an idiot and then we were both yelling. So yeah, he's definitely not coming."

Carla was inclined to agree with Valerio at least half the time, but all she said was "I'm sorry." She knew how excited Lu had been about her half-brother spending his three-week winter break in Spain.

"Sometimes I wish I had a brother. Or a sister." Carla didn't know where the words had come from. She had never said them out loud before. Polo would take it as meaning that he wasn't enough to keep her happy and Marina would go off on a rant and offer her Guzman, Carla was pretty sure.

She could feel Lu look at her for a few seconds. "Yeah, I get that," she said softly then. "Being alone with your parents kinda sucks, right?"

"It's a lot sometimes," Carla said. She bit her lip. Why did her voice sound so weird? "They have all these expectations…"

Suddenly she felt Lu's arm around her waist and her head on her shoulder. "Well, I can't take the wineries off your hands," she said with a grin that Carla didn't have to twist her head to see to know it was there. "But you know, you still have me. You're basically like my sister."

Carla couldn't speak for a moment. Then she choked out a "You, too."

Lu pulled away. "Oh my god, are you crying?"

"No!" Carla slapped her arm. "My throat hurts because we've been sitting up here in the cold for forever. Are you ready to go back to the party now?"

"Sure, whatever." Lu dropped the comforter and got up. When Carla was standing, too, Lu enveloped her in a hug. Carla held on tight for a few seconds. Then they made their way back into Marina's room and downstairs to the party.