#i love how despite the cold winter is really the coziest season

[go-star-sailor]

you should draw greg and wirt bundled up for winter i think greg would have a coat thats way too big and he can barely move in it because i think thats super cute lol

oh for sure!!

i remember a long time ago seeing someone’s headcanon that post unknown wirt hates feeling cold.. my heart melts thinking about him always making sure greg is warm enough too..,.,,., ough :,)

but we stay silly so have these too

[boysenberrybunny]

3 Seasons Review

(7/10) Features: -POC Protagonist -Pronoun Options (He/They/She) TWs: N/A Average route time: About 45 minutes to an hour

Link: https://hamiltonhour.itch.io/3-seasons Three Seasons by HamiltonHour is a fun and light-hearted, albeit short, experience! Here we follow our protagonist, whom you can name and select pronouns for, as they go to supposedly be interviewed at Three Seasons Inc., only to be whisked away into the elemental realm. Stuck there for "a week", you meet our current three choices, Yuto (the Winter Spirit), Sol (the Summer Spirit), and Rye (the Fall Spirit.) Let's start with Yuto!

Going into it, I expected Yuto to be cold and closed-off, as he claimed the others described him as 'cold-hearted.' I find this a bit odd, as he doesn't ever really act that way, always acting about as kind and open as the other two, although in a much more responsible manner. His route has some cute date moments, but, like the other two, it is tragically short, and I feel as though the development from strangers to lovers happens much too quickly. As well, he comes out of his shell extremely fast. Even so, his unexpected cheekiness gave this route a certain special something that I find mediocre romantic visual novels often lack.

Sol also managed to surprise me, given that when I had selected Yuto the first time Sol had made a passing flirtatious comment, giving me the impression that he would be the flirt of the game. Upon selecting his route, however, he had much more of a himbo energy, and was monumentally oblivious to my advances. It was cute, and despite how short and fast the route was, it made much more sense for his character to fall for someone so quickly, so I didn't mind it as much. His concern after the MC is nailed in the face with a volleyball was especially wholesome and sweet. As well, his design is one of my personal favorites.

The current final route, Rye, was fairly decent. His design was the warmest and coziest, and his office was definitely the comfiest looking. What made him stand out a bit amongst the other two options is that he had an actual plot going, separate from your own "trapped-in-the-elemental-realm" thing (this plot being his art show.) His love of art and reading was very cute, and his hopeless romantic energy was extremely pleasant, giving him an overall comforting and warm vibe, much like Fall itself. I also loved his teasing, though this is something he shares in common with the other two boys as well. His ending was the most satisfying, ending with a kiss in the rain, although I still must bring up just how quickly things escalated. Speaking of which...

The Problems with 3 Seasons. Every game, no matter how good, has problems. The first, and smallest, issue is with the textboxes. There's no easy way to tell who's talking, aside from the nametag, as all the boys talk relatively similarly. I feel as though we could benefit from some flourishes on the textbox, both so it looks less 'default' and so that we can better differentiate who's talking at any given time. Different fonts could also help add more visual interest to this section of the screen. The routes also could use a little more variety in the beginning, as they’re all a bit too same-y pre-dates. One issue with the game is that, as stated multiple times before, the routes are extremely short. The game is supposed to take place over "a week" (re: five days, re: two to three days), but due to time passing much faster in the elemental realm, it feels like we barely get any time to get to know the boys, and it certainly feels like much too little time for them to fall in love with us. As Yuto said, the time we spent together is a drop in the bucket of his life. I feel like the game would be better if the time was extended, say to a month, or if time didn't pass so quickly in the elemental realm, so that we would have more time to see these characters grow, and give more reason as to why an immortal being would fall in love with you so fast. Another issue is how useless the protagonist feels. There are two minigames wherein we do our job, and whilst functional, they (the minigames) don't add anything to the experience, both being extremely short and pointless. Were these to stay in the future product, I would recommend a wider variety of them, or perhaps a more difficult and frequent version (which would also be easier to accomplish with an extended time limit!) As it stands, the protagonist does two tasks and then nothing, and whilst I understand the justification being that they don't have magic, the other boys mention how, once teleported, the protagonist is wearing a "Spring staff" uniform. Surely, not every menial task the Spring Staff does requires magic as well? Introducing some side-characters in the form of seasonal staff (such as the Spring Staff) who you could help and work alongside would help breathe life into the game and add some variety aside from the gorgeous boys we have! As well, it would help feed into the sense of progression in the game, especially if they were to note subtle changes in the boys you pursue, something you yourself probably wouldn't notice since you didn't know them beforehand. Praises for the game are still abundant, despite those issues! The character designs and backgrounds are gorgeous, and I feel as though each office fits the boys perfectly! Despite the short length, the game still manages to be quite funny and even romantic at times, with each of the boys' dates being unique and enjoyable experiences. I hardly ever felt as though they said something out of character, which attests to how pleasant the writing can be. Additionally, I absolutely love how each boy gives you a customized piece of jewelry at the end of their route, making it all the more personal and special, as well as giving closure as to how you would find or see them again. The music, also, is nice, if not repetitive. Overall, I would recommend this game to someone with around two to three hours open and who enjoys isekai-type short stories. Please excuse any clunkiness, as this is the first review I’m posting, and I’m still working out the kinks in organization! Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you again soon! <3

[channy-mae]

Flower Boy Next Door 1

TW: mentions of suicide and self harm

Word Count: 2k

Angst

You had always been depressed but who wasn’t? You and your friends would talk about how much you “wanted to die” that the whole idea became normal, laughable even. To you that meant everything was fine and therapy worked so you stopped going. But after Namjoon left things...changed. At first it seemed like your lives were actually starting to go right. Between your flower shop booming and his new promotion to Spain the two of you felt untouchable. It wasn’t until Namjoon actually moved that you realized how lonely you were. Before you could call him and he’d run over to your apartment in seconds. Now since he was thousands of miles away, and in a different time zone, it wasn’t so simple. You were lucky if you could reach him for an hour between work and sleep. But that wasn’t all. Most of your friends seemed to vanish with Namjoon. They rarely answered your calls or came to visit anymore. By the winter it was just you and your shop. 

It was ironic in a way the more that you thought about it. Winter was your favorite season because that’s when everyone came home. You felt together. You never really bonded or felt welcomed around your family so you would rarely visit them this time of year. Usually a casual call to your parents and a quick visit the day after Christmas would suffice. But your friends were different. No matter what they always made sure to stay with you for a few days. And before they left, you would always have a dinner. Each year the location changed from your place, to a restaurant, to a local park. But Everyone was always together. It finally felt like you had a family. People who understood you. People who would never toss you aside. At least you thought so. Now with Namjoon in Spain you knew things would be different. But you figured there’s nothing a quick Skype call can’t fix. You were sure the others wouldn’t mind if he wasn’t there in person, he would still be there. So the two of you managed to find time in his busy schedule when he could call and have dinner with the rest of you. In the days that came though, no one showed. You figured that it was simply due to weather and holiday traffic but you were proven wrong. You texted them asking where they were only to find them posting pictures with their families or already on their way home. Crushed you gathered yourself remembering you still had your Skype call with Namjoon. But as you were waiting you got the message…

[Joon: Hey I’m so sorry I’m not gonna be able to talk tonight. They just called me in and idk how long they’re gonna need me for. I’ll try and leave as soon as I can. Promise….]

You looked at the message and sighed. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but you still felt responsible. He was a grown man with a functional job. He didn’t need you to waste his time playing some dumb game and yet there you were. Trying to set up something that you knew wouldn’t fall through. But you being the blissful idiot you were, you decided to test your luck and look where it got you. Sad and alone in your cold,dark one bedroom apartment. You didn’t know where you went wrong but you were tired, tired of everything for absolutely no reason. Apparently no one cares enough to visit so you didn’t have to work on keeping up appearances. With the holidays your shop has been making a large profit. And to top it off, you have somehow managed not to get sick despite the weather. You had no reason to feel this way but you did. And best of all, there’s nothing you can do to fix it. You’ve tried everything: exercising, medications, therapy, nothing works anymore. You still feel like shit.

After laying on your couch for what seemed like years, you finally sit up. Your gaze falls to an old blanket on your lap. You’ve had it for God knows how many years and it shows. The once cozy blanket has become a tattered and a pale almost dusty version of once vibrant blue. All the warmth it once held was gone, and now it was really only around for convenience. Drawing yourself out of your thoughts, you gathered yourself up enough to go outside on a search for a new blanket. At least making something out of your ruined day. However, it managed to only make you feel even worse.

The harsh cold hit your face as soon as you opened the door to your complex. Pulling your scarf up you gather the little determination you could muster and started your journey. As you walked it seemed as though everyone was proving to you just how alone you were. Everywhere you looked there was a happy couple holding hands as they pointed out the street decor. Or a group of friends would be standing in front of a resurgent, giggling as they say their goodbyes. You lower your gaze in shame and fear of making eye contact. When you enter the store, your met with a nice warm breeze. You quickly shuffle past the cashier towards the back of the store, hoping that your walk wouldn’t have been a complete waste. You found plenty pillows and bed sets but no blankets were in sight. Sighing in irritation, you decide to at least purchase something so the trip wouldn’t have been a total waste. There wasn’t much you wanted, or could think of, that you could buy with a couple bucks so you settle for a few light snacks. Ready to quickly return home, to most likely sleep for the next couple hours, you pay and pull down your hat and rush through the door only to hit someone. You immediately apologize only for the man to do the same, saying it was truly his fault for not looking. You both look at each other and give a soft smile as he moves aside for you. Thanking him you turn as you begin your walk home.

The snow was starting to fall harder and got thicker by the time you reached your apartment. Searching through the channels you found nothing that piqued your interest. So you settled for grabbing your snacks and blanket to sit on your balcony to watch the sky. You were there for hours, simply reminiscing over the past.

It was your mother’s favorite pastime. The two of you would always sneak out at night while your father was asleep to see the snow. She’d bring the biggest,coziest blanket she had along with piping hot chocolate to keep the two of you warm. When you were little you always thought the best part of it all were the stories. One of you would find that “special snowflake” and create an elaborate tale from how it was made to the minute it melted in one of you hands. But now as you look back, your favorite part was your mother’s face. You could never forget it. Everytime she had this look of pure joy and love for you, always you. Dad never understood it and would reprimand the two of you once he found out but neither of you listened. Rest assured, the next night the snow fell the two of you would be outdoors once again. And you got to see that look one more time. After she got sick, it was the only thing that kept you going for a while. Every day you would see her lose little bits of herself but her eyes never changed. She was still there. She was still Mom. That was until she finally passed. You couldn’t handle it anymore. Seeing that body before you. That wasn’t-couldn’t be her. She looked so empty. You felt so empty. Your dad had found a new lover soon after your mother’s passing because it helped him “feel alive again”. You hated every second of it. This woman came into your life and didn’t care for you any more than she did for your father, she was just there to fill an irreplaceable space. Still trying to cope with your loss and balance these new feelings soon grew to be too much for you. And you resorted to taking your own life. 

Your father had found you and immediately got you to the nearest hospital. You thankfully lived only to be shunned by most if not all of your family. They couldn’t believe you would do something so cruel to your father who was still trying to recover from his “one and only true love” leaving this world. As you aged, it only got worse. You were now the black sheep, the one no one dared to discuss because of how ashamed they were. You tried not to care but, everything they said somehow managed to get to you and destroy you. Every day you had to see those damned scars as they not only remind you of what you’ve done but what they’ve said, like some kind of twisted joke. And at the end of every day, you stare at those same scars wondering if they somehow held the key to going back. To feeling genuinely happy. To being back with Mom…

Wiping the tears from your eyes as you wake, you hear your cell phone ringing. You lazily pick it up and answer, hoping for it to be Namjoon. He always knew just what to say, especially in moments like this. To your surprise it was your father. He was calling only complain and express his frustration towards you once again. He told you of how many relatives presumed you were dead because they hadn’t seen you in so many years. He was tired of telling everyone that his one and only child had not died every year and that you needed to stop being selfish and actually be with the people who care about you. Growing colder and tired of your father’s rambling you hang up as you walk into your living room. He was probably going to give you hell but honestly, it didn’t matter anymore. The only reason he called was to complain about you ruining his image as a father, which he efficiently did on his own. You were so tired of dealing with people’s shit but at the same time, you were so tired of being lonely.

You lied down on your couch wrapped in your blanket trying to decide what to do. You wanted to call or text Namjoon but he told you he was busy. You had already read all the books in your library and there was nothing good on the television. The only thing that seemed in anyway appealing was sleeping but, the couch was growing uncomfortable and your bedsheets are still untouched in your laundry basket. You sigh in defeat as you decide the only other comfortable place was the greenhouse. While it was unconventional it was warm, you’ve slept there before, and you’re the only one with a key now so your sleep would go undisturbed. Grabbing your keys and shoes, you decide to take your blanket with, to keep you warm for the walk from the roof’s door to the greenhouse.

After an eternity on the flight of stairs you finally reached the door. Opening it, you are greeted by a sea of snow and large flakes falling. It all looks so surreal and takes your breath away. You smile to yourself as you take your time walking the few feet to reach the greenhouse. Once you open the door, you are met with a nice,soft warmth and inviting smell. Locking the door behind you, you walk towards the middle where your favorite plants are and lie down on your side. The long vines are finally able to reach the floor after so many years of your hard work and love. You smile and gently touch the vine, proud of what you’ve somehow been able to accomplish. Finally yawning, you decide to curl up and pull your blanket close, letting the gentle warmth carry you back to much happier times.

[pepperonijem]

Snowflake || Tom Holland

This is like the second fic I’ve posted here, and wouldn’t you know it, it is ALSO a late Christmas fic. I promise this isn’t on purpose, but we could always use a dose of Christmas fluff while it’s still winter.

Warnings: it’s literally just Christmas FLUFF, just really late, also a pretty abrupt ending. I couldn’t figure out how to finish this sooo…

Word Count: 1.2k

     She took one last look in the mirror, put on her coziest beanie and tied on the warmest scarf she had. Tonight was predicted to be one of the coldest of the season, and somewhere inside her she was hoping for snow. Although snow wasn’t a rare occurrence where she lived, it always sparked the same childlike anticipation for Christmas every time the flakes fell. And with only two weeks left until the big day, she had a lot of shopping to do if she wanted to make sure she had everyone’s gifts, especially her boyfriend, who was always the hardest to shop for. His gifts were always so thoughtful and clever, and well, one Christmas the best she could think of was a pack of white socks because he “rocks her socks off.” She took in a deep breath and braced herself for the biting cold that would meet her on her way to the car.

     After finally finding a parking spot, she took a second to look at the scene before her – the trees were laced with warm lights and wreaths and garlands were hung on the fronts of each shop. Every now and then people would stop for pictures and others would walk out of shops with new bags of things. The sight amused her, as people watching often did, but she was snapped out of her thoughts by a ding! on her phone. Seeing the name Tom on her screen put a smile on her face, and then a laugh when she saw he was asking how she felt about getting a set of Spider-Man themed placemats for Christmas. In all honesty, she wouldn’t have minded them, as any gift from her boyfriend was special, whether it was a diamond necklace or a Ringpop.  But she knew this was just a joke. Tom was a cheeky one, never failing to mention that he was Spider-Man. This however, could never actually be true – even though he does play him – because the Tom she knew would be ridiculously bad at keeping his identity a secret. She chuckled as she typed up a response, and stepped out to join the rest of the shoppers.

     The first stop she made was at a small antique shop. She knew Tom appreciated anything that looked old and worn. “That means it was well-loved,” he would tell her. It taught her to cherish the things she did have, instead of always yearning for what she didn’t. Scanning around the shop, which was saturated with an assortment of things, from mirrors to art to lamps, she couldn’t help but be in awe of how much history was in the room before her. She took a few minutes to just walk around the store, appreciating the trinkets that surrounded her when one in particular caught her eye. It was a wooden box with gold carvings and embellishments on the lid, and on the side there was a winding key. She turned the key a few times and lifted the lid, revealing a tiny figurine couple dancing together on a platform in the middle of the box to a whimsical version of a Christmas song. The rest of the box was covered in red velvet, and from it came the same smokey and worn out scent of an old book. Her heart flipped with every turn the dancers did, as she realized that this was the perfect gift for Tom. She picked it up and giddily made her way to the cash register, proud of herself for finding something that would completely surprise him.

     She was third in line, standing behind an elderly woman who turned back to her and asked about her purchase. “Oh, it’s for my boyfriend,” she explained. “Every year he gets me such wonderful presents but mine are always, well, lackluster. Until now, anyway. He’s going to love this.” She knew that she was oversharing, and probably being a bit loud, but she couldn’t contain it. The lady smiled politely at her and turned back around as the man in front of her finished up his payment. As her eyes wandered around, they were met with a familiar pair of brown eyes and a smirk. But before she could register what was happening, a chuckle escaped his lips.

     “Such wonderful gifts, is that right darling?” Tom questioned. His eyes lit up with mischief as he waited for the familiarity to settle on her. “What’s with the box?” His eyes looked down towards the music box resting in her arms.

     “Uh, I guess there’s no point in pretending this isn’t for you,” she admitted, almost dejectedly. “Damn, I guess the surprise is gone, but you’re still going to love it.” she added, the excitement returning to her voice.

     “Of course I will,” Tom agreed. “Because it came from you.” He added with a smile. It was this kind of cheesy remark that always kept her confident in their relationship. Tom was never tearing her down, but rather building her up. And although she was shy about her feelings at first, his kind words made her more comfortable with showing her affection for him. She was no longer anxious about the possibility of Tom thinking she was weird, or awkward, because she was sure he loved her and all she did, the same way she felt about him.

     Tom waited for her outside of the shop while she paid, and once she stepped out he wrapped her into a warm embrace. “So my love, do you still have other gifts to buy?” Tom asked, entwining their mitten covered hands together. She nodded in reply and they made their way to various stores until finally, a gift was bought for everyone on their lists. Although there weren’t many people they needed to get gifts for, it definitely took them a lot longer to find them than necessary. But, after many stolen kisses and wasted minutes playing with various toys, gadgets, and trinkets, they managed to get their shopping done.

     The couple decided to settle down into a coffee shop to escape the cold for a bit. Walking in, they were enamored with smell of fresh coffee with a hint of peppermint. Tom ordered them two hot chocolates and a few gingerbread cookies to satisfy the appetite that they had worked up from shopping. “Hey Tom, I forgot ask you about what you were buying from the antique store,” she questioned. She had watched him buy gifts for all of his brothers, and his parents, and his friends, so she had deduced it was hers, but asked anyway for confirmation.

     “Well, I suppose that since I know you bought my gift from there, you should know I bought your gift from there as well,” Tom confirmed. “But, that doesn’t mean I’ll tell you what it is, darling.” He raised his eyebrow at her while taking a bite of the gingerbread cookie in his hand.

     “That’s fair, since you don’t know your gift either,” she conceded. The pair sat in the warmth of their booth, sharing laughter and cookies for what felt like only minutes. But in a quick glance out the window, they noticed a blanket of white had begun to form outside. The trees that were a few hours ago glowing yellow were now covered in a light dusting from snow, and children had already begun their attempts at making snowballs, despite the thinness of the sheet of snow. She looked back at Tom, who was as engrossed in watching the snowflakes fall as she was, and pulled him out the door. “Let’s go!” she exclaimed.