#i think i just find big holidays so overwhelming that i need to keep things level. same as my birthday. i dread it every year

[steampoweredskeleton]

Tomorrow I am going to buy baldurs gate as soon as I've finished work and I am BUZZING WITH EXCITEMENT

[tieronecrush]

so much wine

joel miller x reader

summary: christmas is difficult for joel, with and without you.

rating: M

wc: 2.8k

warnings: no outbreak, angst MAJORLY, alcohol consumption, drunkenness, acts of mild violence (NOT towards reader or any other person, it is toward an inanimate object), joel hating christmas, grief, anger, depression, big big feelings, mention of break up, sad joel, angry joel, resentful joel, reader trying to make christmas nice, um i may be forgetting some so if you notice any big ones lmk!

a/n: ya girl is always on her angst grind. ESPECIALLY around christmas cause....issues. hope you all find the means to enjoy this lil one shot based on one of the saddest but still incredibly beautiful christmas songs. here's the link to the song! tysm to @northernbluess & @kiwisbell for beta-ing and encouraging me to post this. love you both xx

“Tommy?”

“Hey, m’so sorry to be callin’ ya on Christmas Eve. I know…Well, I know this is probably the last thing ya wanna be hearin’ but I really need your help. It’s Joel…” The noise level on the other side increases with a gust of rowdiness, clueing you in that he must be at a bar. You press the phone tighter against your ear, listening to Tommy ramble off reasonings for your help interwoven with profuse apologies. Guilt hangs heavy inside of you, the soft music and glasses clinking in the other room a reminder of your own Christmas Eve plans. How it’s supposed to go every year. Peaceful, light, fun, full of love. Your holiday with Joel looked different. Full of love, yes, but overwhelming, stifling with grief.

“I’ll be right over, Tommy.” You can’t turn away, you can’t hang up and go back to your life tonight. Not with knowing how much pain Joel’s in.

The tree lights up as you stick the plug in the socket, your nightly task for the last month just as the sun sets. Clear, warm bulbs illuminate the otherwise dark living room, shining out to the street as a beacon of a lived-in home. Reflections of warmth bounce off of the shiny glass ornaments littered around the branches, heirlooms from your family, and some you’ve collected yourself. Combined with ones from Joel’s past. It’s not cohesive, but it’s a beautiful smattering of your lives. Pine wafts from the sappy center of the tree, filling the room with the scent of evergreen, tinged with the stuffy warmth from the central heat.

You’d decorated the tree on your own a few weeks ago. Joel helped you pick up the tree from the sale lot in the H.E.B. car park, strapping it down in the bed of his pickup. More than willing to help you get it inside, into the basin, and secure it tightly to avoid any accidents. But that’s when his assistance stopped. No humming along to the Christmas CDs you queued, no suggestions of festive movies to watch, no sneaking some Bailey’s into the mugs of decaf coffee you brewed to keep warm. Instead, he retreated up to your bedroom, shutting the door behind him and effectively shutting you out for the evening.

Tommy’s truck pulls into the driveway, dropping off Joel for the holiday after last-minute projects were tied off. Joel had mentioned grabbing a drink with Tommy, to celebrate another year gone by with their new business venture, Miller Construction. You didn’t think anything of it, wishing him a good day that morning and sending him off while you prepped dinner and baked cookies to bring over to your parent’s house tomorrow.

As you sit down on the couch, Joel fumbles at the door with his keys, finally getting them jammed in and the lock turned. He stumbles inside, tripping over his own feet despite his eyes being trained on them, grumbling to himself as he frustratingly kicks off his boots. You stand up to greet him, a warm smile on your face faltering when he looks back at you with a scowl.

“Need a drink…” he slurs, avoiding you completely in the middle of the living room, frown lit up by the tree. Joel treks to the kitchen, straight for the whiskey bottle that he takes a long pull from before filling a glass halfway. The amber liquid sloshes as he turns to look at you, holding out the crystal tumbler.

“You want some, baby? S’Christmas Eve! Everybody thinks it’s something to celebrate, right?”

It never snows in Austin, but driving down the highway with your windows down, it smells like winter. Crisp, cool air rubbing your cheeks raw, running your nose. Thin air, fresh. A medicinal feeling, like inhaling the menthols you used to smoke. It’s freezing, but you can’t bring yourself to roll up the windows, to close yourself into your car as you cruise on the open roads. Everyone’s tucked away at home, with family or friends, while you drive towards something as familiar, but much more grisly.

Christmas carols crack over the stereo, painting visions of picture-perfect holidays, the feelings of joy, love, belonging, and warmth that you’ve craved for him since you met him. Something you so desperately wanted to drip back into his life from your hand, dribbling water to a lightless soul.

The glass is empty now, bottle as hollow as Joel’s eyes look. He stands in front of the tree, studying the decorations with a freshly opened bottle of wine in his grip, one you were meant to bring to your parents tomorrow. His brows haven’t relaxed, not one stitch unsewn since he walked in the door. Mumbles of anger have rolled from his chest, never directed toward you, but aimed at the world around him. At the holiday. At the lack of presents addressed to his daughter under the tree, the missing duties of playing Santa.

You met Joel after Sarah passed. He spoke about her often, telling you all about his little girl who was funny, bright, bubbly, better than him in every way. She’s been gone for a handful of years now, the tragedy worn on Joel’s face and in his curls; aged and grayed. He was still so handsome, still held a smile for you despite the deep, open aches he feels the pains of every day.

Never having a holiday with him, you didn’t know that this is ‘just how he is’. Tommy had heeded some warnings to you, had called you in a whisper as he pulled away from the house that evening with apologies — ‘I tried to cut him off, but when I left for a minute to go to the bathroom, he’d gotten the bartender to pour him another double…I tried to take it, but he wouldn’t…’

You expected feelings these days, this month, the whole season. How could a father not miss his only child when the rest of everyone’s happiness, luck, blessings are thrown back in his face? But this…this was a different Joel. Someone angry, someone cursing his own existence. He fumbled around the living room, shoving the coffee table when he bumped into it, picking tinsel off the tree and tossing it to the ground.

At the time, it seemed like a good idea to intervene. To attempt to talk him into bed, or at least into eating something and laying down on the couch. Other issues to address in the morning when he was sober.

Now, you know that was a mistake.

“What do you want from me? What does my brother want from me? Am I just supposed to get over it so everyone can have their merry little Christmas?” His voice strings words together, his drawl thicker with inebriation. Wine splatters across the kitchen tile, Joel’s arms swinging around as he speaks with his hands.

“No one is ever asking or expecting you to get over it, Joel. We just—I don’t want you to be like…to feel like this. Sarah wouldn’t want you to—”

He doesn’t raise his voice. Joel never raises his voice. The calm chill of his voice sends a wash of anxiety over your entire body, words punching clear now despite his physical state.

“Enough. Don’t even say that 'cause you wouldn’t fucking know.”

The freezing air fills your lungs, choking out as it stifles your inhale. Strong heaves of breaths expand your lungs before they squeeze out with sharp exhales, the coughing fit morphing into sobs. Tears blur your vision, flowing over your waterline and burning hot against your cheeks. Carving trails across your face with iron branding. Find the same paths of all their predecessors, all that came before them for the very same reasons.

You manage to pull off to the side of the road to compose yourself, parking near enough to your exit. Slipping out of the driver’s seat, you open the door and tumble out, talking yourself down from hysterics. Wading through the thick emotions, the unresolved slashings of anger and frustration, the unanswered love.

Facing the midnight sky, twinkling spots stare back at you, reminding you of your size in the world. How large everything feels, how all-consuming. How it doesn’t seem to be felt all the same by the one person you want it from. Need it from.

Struck with a flash of a star falling against the black backdrop, there’s a brief moment when you think it’s Santa Claus. In his sleigh pulled by reindeer, riding around to deliver joy to families across the world. Another reminder of how small you feel. How much like a kid you feel. Unsure of where you stand in his life, uncertainty facing your future, undecided in what is the right thing to do.

The sky kaleidoscopes in your watery eyes, small shining bursts gazing back at you. And your first thought is how similar they look to Joel’s eyes that night. Sad, glossy, shimmering with anger that sat long enough to finally introduce itself as grief.

You stayed out of the way after that. Let him drink himself into a hole. Dinner is left untouched until the later evening when you wrap it all up and store it away in the fridge. Noting another bottle of wine gone from the cabinet.

Joel’s corralled upstairs with less persuasion the drunker he’s gotten, craving the comfort of your shared bed the closer he gets to passing out. He trips over his feet while you walk behind him, a hand pressing into his lower back to direct him. Hiccups shake his body. Teeth stained red. Life sucked from the day, no more chances at honoring memories, no more magic left to make something special for Joel. Nothing that can sprinkle some goodness into his life.

He’s got an iron grip on his resentment, on his rage. Understandably.

But that grip drops his hand from his happiness, from his comfort, from his remembrance. It all slips through his fingers now, grains of sand falling through the lines in his palms, the ridges of his fingerprints. What was so ingrained in him, years ago with his daughter, days ago with you, is easily forgotten as the monster of misery uses your kindhearted man as a vessel. Rendering him unrecognizable.

Taking in his sleeping form, fully clothed and half covered with a quilt. He was out as soon as his head hit the pillow, his coping catching up with him to finally receive the desired effect — feeling nothing. Turning his brain off completely, emptying him to float in a void for at least one night.

His lips parted with slow, even breaths. Brows relax, falling back to lift his eyes, despite them being closed. Delicate eyelashes lay against his cheeks, and you watch as a smattering of exhausted tears slip from the corners of his shut eyes. No more stubborn will to hold them back. The first real emotion you’ve witnessed all evening.

It’s another moment before you turn away, filling the empty glass at his bedside with water from the bathroom tap. Avoiding his soft sleeping form and your empty side of the mattress, you pack a small bag to retreat to your parent's house, a short note left for Joel in the morning inviting him over when he’s feeling up for it.

One last glance at him drives an ice pick into your heart, warm blood pooling around your feet matching the shade of red on his lips. It feels cruel, to pack up and leave for the night, but without knowing if this charade continues through the next day, you don’t quite feel like sticking around to find out.

The bar is busier than you would have thought, with a good amount of groups growing rowdy for the holiday. You imagine they are there drinking in camaraderie, in celebration. The opposite to your Joel. He’s slumped over the bar in his green flannel, hugging his broad frame that shields him from the joy raucous of the room.

Tommy stands next to him, hand on his shoulder in an attempt to draw him away from the wooden bartop, to get him away from the stool and the glass filled with amber liquid.

When the bartender greets you while you approach, Tommy turns toward you, sighing and shaking his head as he leans into his older brother to mumbling loud enough for your to overhear as you settle behind Joel’s seat, “M’sorry I had to do this, Joel, but you’ve got to get home…”

Joel grumbles, shrugging off his brother’s hand. When he’s turned to address his brother with a protest, he catches you in the periphery, reacting with a molasses-like double take. Angling in your direction from his perch on the worn leather barstool, his eyes widen in shock, and he swallows hard. The drink in his hand is left discarded on the bar top, Tommy signaling for the bartender to come by and grab it while Joel stands dumbfounded by the presence of you.

“Sweetheart…”

The name is a punch in the gut, recalling every other time it raised goosebumps in its wake while it was whispered against your skin, each time it was tacked onto a gentle tease, each time it was spoken in place of feelings he couldn’t, he wouldn’t, communicate to you.

Recovering quickly, you right yourself internally, rising tall and holding your shoulders back while tender kindness masks your anguish. A head shake draws up a watery expression despite your efforts, your smile plastering onto your expression. Joel frowns, seeing straight through the guise.

“C’mon, Joel. Let’s get you home, yeah?”

Both of you stare at the hand of yours laid on his bicep, radiating heat from the contact that starts to melt the ice that froze your feelings for him in place those months ago. Joel is the first to look away, the burn of his saucer eyes drilling into your profile.

“No. No, I don’t need to—” he argues, always a mule.

“Joel,” you interrupt, voice thickened with sentiment, “please. I wanna go home. Let’s go home.”

The statement isn’t a lie. The furthest thing from an untruth.

It’s exactly what you have been wanting to say to him for months, feeling untethered and lost. You’ve been aimlessly searching for that same solace elsewhere. In other places, in other people. Nothing could compare. Joel is home. And all you want to do is return, to feel safe and warm and welcomed at home. To feel as if there is room for you there, that you aren’t driven out by the torment that tortures Joel, and in turn, you.

That’s what gets him to agree. The promise of home, with you there with him. The same piece he’s felt missing, the second heart of his home stripped from him because of his unwillingness to let up his grip on his anger and resentment. Because of his resistance to cradle his comfort, his contentment, his love for you.

“You wanna go home?” A nod answers him, rolling his actions into motion, “Okay, okay. M’gon—gonna take you home, baby. We can…I can give you your gift.”

“Sure, honey. We can do that in the morning,” you counter, the corners of your mouth turning up for a split second when Joel agrees.

His large form falls from the stool and into his brother when he attempts to get up. It’s a dance between the three of you to get him into your car and to his place. Tommy follows, there to drag him up the stairs with you behind, a hand on Joel’s lower back. He preens into every touch from you, glancing over his shoulder to check that you’re still there. That you haven’t left again. You can’t help but notice the living room illuminated by a Christmas tree, the smell of pine filling the house and the delicate glass ornaments placed carefully around the tree. He tried this year.

You do stay. This time you’re sitting with it all, ready for the confrontation of the next day. With Tommy gone, you and Joel are left alone with each other for the first time in months. In your old bedroom of all places.

Joel sits at the edge of the bed, head hanging in shame while you kneel in front of him, tentatively laying a hand on his knee.

If this time is going to be different, you need a reason to stay. A single brick taken out of his walls, the signal of the start of a wreckage that you will happily clear so long as you can have your Joel feel like a semblance of himself again.

“You’re always gonna see the bottom of your glass, Joel. Nothing can save you from that, not even all the drink in the world. It’s all still going to be there. You have to decide to face it.”

It’s quiet for a moment, the only sounds filling the room are your slow breaths in sync with each other’s. Joel picks his head up, angling it to look down at you directly. Tears have carved channels into his face, fight leaving his eyes as he opens his mouth to speak in a rasped whisper.

“Sarah always loved Christmas...”

taglist: @northernbluess @atinylittlepain @swiftispunk @joelsversion @mrsmando @ilovepedro @lovers-liability @deathwife @undrthelights @atticrissfinch @casa-boiardi @wannab-urs @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @fishingforpike @msjarvis @walkintotheriveranddisappear @sugadolly @yazsos @peppesgirl @pastawench @addictedtotlou @brittmb115 @anoverwhelmingdin @spishsstuff @wolfbook87 @mswarriorbabe80 @harriedandharassed @decemberdolly @laiisleitte @fierce-bab @vickie5446 @pertinentpostmortem @livingdeadmaria @sullyosully @bitchwitch1981 @its-nebuleuse @marini03 @piercethevic03 @joeandpedrosimp @kiwisbell @planet-marz1 @txtattoostark @jrosie25 @tbniarq @vee-bees-blog @thereaperisabitch @spidermanfrog @belliezz @joelsflannel @cartoon-garbage04 @bianqueee04 @nostalxgic @xyzstar @cumberpegg @b00klvrs @burningnerdchild

[natti-ice]

you’re my favorite writer! could you pls make one of eddie asking chrissy/fem!reader to marry him? 🥹🥹

Thank you so much<3

Pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!reader

Warnings: established relationship (0.9k words)

Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated<3

"Come on baby, we're almost there" Eddie reassured you as he led you deeper into the woods, his hand wrapped around yours gently pulling you towards your destination. He refused to tell you where you were going, he even made you put on a blind fold just to ensure the surprise wasn't ruined. You could only tell you were in the woods because of the sound of leaves being crushed under your feet and the sounds of crickets filling the dead air with their song.

"How much further?" You ask, you're starting to get a little nervous about what he has in store. Eddie has never been the best at keeping surprises a secret, every birthday or holiday when he gets you something special he ends up spoiling the surprise because of how excited he is to give it to you. He tries so hard to keep his mouth shut but the overwhelming desire to make you happy wins every time.

"Just a few more feet, I promise" you can feel his hand becoming clammy, he's definitely nervous about something but you can't figure out what it is. Eddie being nervous wasn't a new thing in your relationship, in fact when you first started dating he was nervous all the time. On your first date you were surprised he didn't pass out after he asked to hold your hand, his face was beet red and he kept twisting his ring on his index finger as he stuttered over his sentences. A lot of girls would find that unattractive or that he lacked confidence in himself but you found it endearing, his soft smile and his nervous laugh as he asked about all your hobbies showed you that he was truly interested in you.

When he asked you to be his girlfriend officially, you would've thought someone had just handed him a million dollars with how happy he was. You could see all his teeth with that big goofy smile plastered on his face after you said yes, you remember that day so vividly, it's crazy to think that it was almost four years ago now. Since then, your relationship has been a dream come true. Eddie has been the best boyfriend you've ever had but he's an even better friend, even when you two hit a rough patch he was there for you when you needed him.

"Watch your step- riiight here" Eddie stops you in your tracks and turns you to face north "no peaking, keep that blind fold on until I say take it off okay?"

"Okay" you say hesitantly, your heart starts to race as you anticipate what you're about to see. You hear Eddie take a few steps away from you and take a deep breath before speaking "alright you can take it off" his voice shakes slightly.

You slowly untie the bandana wrapped around your head and pull it off, you let your eyes adjust to the light being looking at your surroundings. You look at the ground and realize that you and Eddie are standing in the middle of a heart made out of lit candles, you look up at him and see that soft nervous smile he gave you on your first date.

"What's all this, Eddie?" You question, his hands shake slightly as he grabs both of yours gently.

You see all his emotions on his face, he looks down at your hands as he speaks. "This is something I've wanted to do for a while now" he swallows thickly before finally meeting your gaze. "I love you so damn much and I can't wait another day to ask you this" he releases one of your hands and digs into his pocket and pulls out a box. You immediately know what's going on, your heart is now pounding so hard you can barely hear him speak. You dreamed of this moment for years and now it's finally here.

He slowly gets down on one knee and looks up at you, "you are the love of my life, I have never met anyone in my life who gets me the way you do. I've spent months trying to find the best way to ask you this," he starts then chuckles softly to himself "hell, I've been trying to come up with something romantic to say as we walked up here but I realized I just need to tell you how I feel." He shakily opens the box revealing a ring with a modest diamond on it "I love you more than anything in this world, it would be the greatest honor if you'd agree to be my wife... will you marry me?"

You could feel every hair on your body raise as you hear those words, he actually wants to marry you, of course he's always said he has but right here, right now he's asking you officially.

"Yes" you blurt out before you could think about an answer, you didn't have to think because you knew. You always knew.

His nervous smile turns into one filled with pure joy, "yes? You really want to marry me?"

You giggle softly "yes, more than anything!" He laughs as he takes the ring out of the box and puts it on your finger. He immediately stands up and pulls you into a tight hug, you can feel his heart pounding against your chest as he holds you close. "I love you so much" he whispers in your ear

"I love you too, baby" you hold back tears as you cling onto him. He pulls back slightly to look at you before pulling you into a passionate kiss.

Tags: @eddie-munsonscoffin @ali-r3n @thebiggestnaturaldisaster @olives-and-sunshine @arthurcerverogf @thepurplelovewitch @luv4peterba1lard @boa-hemian

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[fangirlingfromdownunder]

A Sweet Mishap - Chapter 8

Pairing - Jensen Ackles x Reader 

A/N: I just want to start by thanking everyone for all the love on this story so far. Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist.

A Sweet Mishap Masterlist | Main Masterlist

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

I spend most of Christmas Eve in bed relaxing and catching up on much-needed sleep after days of long, busy shifts at the cafe paired with hours of wedding and party planning, all while trying to stay in contact with my intriguing new phone pal. But much to my dismay, and appreciation, Stella refused to let me stay alone through the night. She insisted I come over for dinner and stay for Christmas. As in her words, “It would be an atrocity for my best friend to spend the holidays alone”. So, I had no choice but to kindly accept her demand. 

As I walk towards the subway station my phone starts buzzing in my jacket pocket. I smile hoping it’s Jensen or Stella, but instead, it’s my boss. I sigh and brace myrself as I step out of the path of fast-passing pedestrians and lean against the brick wall of a fashion boutique. 

“Stewie, Hey!” I answer as brightly as possible.

“Y/N, Hi. I know I agreed to let you have today off, and that still stands. We’re closing soon anyway. But I just wanted to let you know a package got delivered here this morning with your name on it. There something wrong with the mail at your apartment? Your neighbours stealing your packages again?”

“Uh…no. Not that I know of. I didn’t order anything.”

“Ah, well I’ll leave it in my office. You have a key, you can swing by through the back and pick it up whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m actually around the corner right now. Can I swing by now before you close?”

“Sure! I’ll be here.”

“Thanks, Stewie. See you soon!” I hang up and rush down the street in the opposite direction, back towards the cafe. The sign’s already flicked to ‘closed’ when I get there, but there's light on in the kitchen so I go in. 

“Stewie, it’s just me. For the package,” I call out as I walk towards the lit-up kitchen. As I get closer, the smell of fresh bread and cookies overwhelms my senses. “You know we’re closing for two days, right?” I call out as I round the corner into the spacious kitchen.

The short, round balding man, with just a few strands of grey hair, comes into view carrying a tray of shortbread biscuits straight out of the oven. His glasses, sitting on the tip of his nose, are fogged up. “Yeah, yeah. But I got a big family to feed and a tiny kitchen to do it with. I put everything I got into keeping this place open. I may as well make the most of it.”

“Good idea. So, uh, the package?” I ask as I eye off the golden biscuits, shaped like gingerbread men, wreaths, bells and candy canes. My empty stomach growls andI clear my throat to hide it, but, despite his age, old Stewie hears it.

“Help yourself. I can spare a few. Grab a takeaway container. You can even have a loaf of bread, they’ll be done soon…Wife wants me home before dark.”

“I couldn’t. They’re for your family. I’m just here for my package, remember?”

“Listen, I ain’t no Scrooge. I know your measly salary may make you think I am, but I pay you as much as I can. Outside the holidays, we’re barely making rent. Least I can do is give you a few cookies and some bread.”

“Stewie, I know you do your best for this place and all of us. We all know it. But if you insist, I do find it hard to resist your cooking. Rudie’s great, but you’re the master.”

“No need for flattery, kiddo. Go grab your package from my office and I’ll package up some cookies and bread for you.”

“Alright, thanks. You’re the best!” I smile at Stewie as I go into his office. Mamma Jo was his mother, who passed a few short months ago. She was the light of the kitchen whenever she visited to check on things. Stewie runs the place with as much passion as she did, yet he hasn’t baked since she passed, that is, until tonight. I smile, hoping he’s finally finding his passion again. 

I spot a medium-sized cardboard box on the edge of the desk, I shake my head wondering what it could possibly be. Once I get close enough, I read the label. 

To Y/NMamma Jo’s Coffee and Chocolateria204 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019

From Jensen Acklesc/o Management Beverly Hills, CA 90210

I quickly pull my phone out, snap a picture of the parcel and send it to Jensen.

Hey Superstar, this your doing? Thought you were in Texas?

I don’t wait for a reply, I put my phone away and go back into the kitchen with the box tucked under my arm and my overnight bag slung over my other shoulder. Stewie hands me two boxes of warm goods; I don’t look inside but they smell delicious. He looks at me dubiously as I attempt to carry it all.

“How far you headed, Kiddo?”

“Not far, it’s okay. I’ll manage,” I try to assure him, but he sees right through it. He gives me a look to say he doesn’t believe me; it’s the kind of look you would expect from a parent who’s waiting for their child to come clean. “My friend’s place in Lower Manhattan. She and her fiance invited me for Christmas so I wouldn’t be alone. Plus, I’m helping with the wedding planning.”

“If you help me pack all these up,” Stewie says gesturing at the cooling cookies and bread, “and clean up the kitchen. I’ll drive you.”

“I’m happy to help, but you do not need to drive me that far out of your way on Christmas Eve.”

“I don’t endorse free labor, so either you get out of here now, or you stay and help and then I drive you.”

Feeling the strain in my arms already and dreading the walk in the snow, I make a decision. I sigh and put everything down on a clear counter and then start carefully boxing up cookies. Stewie nods and starts packaging the loaves of bread, croissants and other pastries on the other tray. Once we finish packaging everything, I clean the trays, bowls and utensils while Stewie wipes down the oven and benches. Working in perfect harmony, we’re finished in no time.

It takes a few trips to load everything into his delivery van parked in the back alley. Despite his insistence that it’s all for his family, I know he’ll end up sharing with his whole block and it just makes me admire him more. 

After shutting off the lights and locking up, Stewie skillfully navigates out of the alley and out onto the busy street towards Lower Manhattan. I provide directions to the best of my ability, using my knowledge of the few times Nick has driven me with some –a lot of–help from the GPS on my phone. AsI’m looking at the map I notice a text come through from Jensen, but I swipe up quickly to make it go away so I can focus on providing directions. 

After a while, Stewie pulls up in Stella and Nick’s driveway. I thank him sincerely, collect my things and carefully trudge through the light covering of snow to get to the front door. I wave Stewie off once Stella opens the door. I’m instantly welcomed by the warm and enticing smell of roast chicken. 

“I come bearing gifts, Merry Christmas guys!” I say as I signal for Stella to take the boxes of treats. She eagerly takes them as she eyes the other box at the same time. Luckily, though the smell distracts her and she hurries into the kitchen to put the boxes down and peek inside. 

Nick peeks over her shoulder. “Sourdough? That’ll be perfect to go with dinner. I’ll put the store-bought shit back.”

“Rudie or Stewie?” Stella asks critically.

“Stewie. He’s finally coming back on board after everything,” I offer happily.

“Yay!” Stella says clapping as she reaches for a cookie, but Nick slaps her hand away.

“Dinner’s almost ready.” He looks over at my still full arms and nods towards the stairs. “Guest room’s all set up for you so you don’t have to pass out on the couch this time. And if that’s a gift for us it can go under the tree.”

“Uh, yeah. Thanks. I’ll just go put my stuff down,” I say with a smile before slipping upstairs to the guest room. I dump my bag on the floor and the box on the bed. I stare at it curiously. Then remember the text in the car. I pull your phone out to read it, but Stella bursts in.

“I tried to make it all nice and pretty and festive for my bestest maid of honor!” She says joyfully as she points out the little Christmas tree and tinsel decorating the dresser.

“It looks amazing! You’re the best,” I say brightly, yet distracted. 

“You didn’t have to get us anything you know,” she says as she gestures at the box. “You being here and organising the bridal shower and helping with the wedding is more than enough. I know money’s tight at the moment.”

“Good, 'cause it’s not from me…Jensen sent it to the cafe. Stewie called and told me to pick it up, hence all the pastries and cookies. I wasn’t meant to go in today…”

“Jensen sent you a gift?”

“I’m not sure if he did or if he got his management team to. Maybe it’s an NDA and warning? He’s in Texas and it says California so…” I finally look down at my phone screen.

It was and I amI wanted to put my address, I didBut with no NDA my agent was against itBut I promise it’s from me

“He says it’s from him, his agent just wouldn’t let him put his address,” I explain, half to Stella and half to make yourself believe it. As I’m talking another text comes through.

Open it yet, Sweetheart?

“He asked if I opened it yet?”

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Stella urges as she pushes the box closer to me.

I touch the tape but then withdraw and text him back.

Should I not wait until Christmas?

After a minute his name pops up on my screen. I look hesitantly between the phone and my best friend. She nods understanding and stands up. “I’ll be downstairs, but I want details when you’re done!”

I nod and shoo her out quickly before leaning my back against the now-closed door.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Taglist: @stoneyggirl2 @hobby27, @n-o-p-e-never

[krikeymate]

Fictober 2023: Day 5: “You’re the smartest person I know.” - Sam feels stupid. Fandom: Scream Rating: T Warnings: None.

➖

“FUCK!”

Sam throws her phone at the wall.

A much quieter shit follows as it thumps to the floor, drywall cascading down after it.

Not even day three in their new apartment, their new city, and Sam’s already gone and fucked it up.

Always fucking everything up.

How did she think she could do this? When has she ever done anything right?

She should have just stayed in Modesto, let Tara go off to college by herself with the twins. At least she had a job there, she could have supported her from afar. Tara could have come back during the holidays to visit… it’s not like they would have disappeared from one another’s lives, not again. That’s… that’s how normal people live their lives. They go off to college and they see their family occasionally and they just… grow up. Move on. Tara doesn’t need her big sister hovering over her shoulder. She could be in the dorms, getting the good ol’ college experience! …Whatever that is. It’s not like Sam would know.

The thought leaves her feeling hollow.

Sam would never have that.

All she has is her sister.

There’s no college in Sam’s future, she didn’t even finish high school. No fancy degrees, no connections or qualifications.

…No job.

Fuck.

Sam slams her foot into the end of her bed.

The sharp ache that zaps up her leg feels deserved somehow. She deserves this pain. She deserved that rejection. If she wasn’t such a failure-

Her head snaps up as the door creaks open.

She makes a mental note to get some oil, and takes a deep breathe, fixing a smile to her face as she turns around.

“Hey,” Tara greets warily, slipping past the partially open door. “I heard yelling.”

Her sister notices the wall before Sam can think of an excuse. Of course she does, Tara’s always been the smart one. Quick and clever, fast on her feet, able to look at a situation and know. And what is Sam?

Only trouble.

Tara frowns as she bends down to pick up the abandoned phone. “I uh… think you dropped this,” she says, waving it in the air, dutifully ignoring the dust it scatters or the fresh staining on her fingertips.

Something about the act makes Sam break.

She collapses back to sit on the bed and groans into her hands. She feels her sister sit down beside her, but can’t bring herself to look at her. She doesn’t deserve to look at her.

“Hey,” Tara whispers, nudging her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

When she fails to respond, she wraps her hands around Sam’s wrists and pulls them away.

“Sam, talk to me. Please.”

Oh. Tara’s voice is doing that thing it does when she’s trying to hold back tears. Sam finds she’s holding back tears of her own.

“I’m sorry,” she croaks, throat feeling tight. “I just… I got rejected, again. And all I can think about is how are we gonna pay the rent?” Sam shudders through another breath, unable to continue.

Laughter is the last thing she expects from her sister in this situation.

“Didn’t you hear me?” she says, pity making way to frustration. “We have no money and I can’t even manage to get a fucking job.”

Sam yanks her hands out of her sister’s grip, slamming them down into her own lap. The change in mood leaves her feeling dizzy.

“Sam,” Tara sighs, “you’re being overdramatic.”

She bites her cheek to resist the overwhelming urge to snap. To bite and maim, to lash out. Anything to protect herself.

It’s so stupid. She knows it’s stupid.

This is her sister. The one person she never needs to protect herself from.

The one person she would never protect herself from.

Maybe that’s stupid.

But Sam’s always been-

“Look, Sam… You’re the smartest person I know.”

What?

“And I know you’re gonna do whatever it takes to look after us and keep us safe.”

There’s a lump in Sam’s throat and she stares at the ceiling to fight back the tears clawing at her eyes. Tara has no idea the lengths Sam would go to, just what she would do to keep her safe. Housed and warm and fed. There’s nothing she wouldn’t do.

 “You’re going to find a job, I know you will. And when you do, I’m going to get you a cake and balloons and we’re going to celebrate.”

Chancing a look to her sister, Sam finds her smiling up at her, dark eyes staring at her intently. It feels a lot like the sun peeking through the clouds.

“I love you,” she blurts out, unable to stop herself.

Tara’s beams back at her. “I love you too Sam, more than anything in the world.”

The storm inside her breaks.

[pluvoiphile]

I hope your doing okey and fine love

Idk if u write headcanons if not just ignore this but if u do then would u write about Prince Wilhelm x male reader who is also famous and they meet at the school of hillerska (i think that's the name of the school idk i might have forgotten it)

Wilhelm x Male Reader Headcanons

warnings: none

word count: 763

A/N: i’ve never written any kind of headcanons so bear with me :) also this has been sitting in my inbox forever (so sorry abt that)

————————————————————————

1. Secret Relationship at First:

• Due to Wilhelm’s position as a prince, your relationship starts off very low-key. The two of you sneak around Hillerska, finding quiet, hidden spots to spend time together, like the library’s far corner or behind the dormitories late at night.

2. Comfort in Similar Struggles:

• You, like Wilhelm, understand the weight of being in the public eye. Whether you’re a fellow student at Hillerska with a famous family or a well-known figure in your own right, you both find solace in each other’s understanding of privacy, fame, and the pressure to conform.

3. Late Night Conversations:

• One of your favorite things to do is lie in bed together, talking late into the night. Wilhelm often shares his fears about the future, the pressure of being royal, and how uncertain he feels about it all. You listen, offering comfort and grounding him when he feels lost. He finds peace in your presence.

4. Playful Teasing:

• Despite the seriousness of his life, Wilhelm can be playful when he’s comfortable. He loves to joke with you, especially when you’re alone. There are playful jabs about how “official” he looks at school events, and he likes to challenge you to little competitions, like who can sneak past the house staff without getting caught.

5. Defender of His Heart:

• Wilhelm gets jealous easily. He trusts you, but whenever someone flirts with you or you get too much attention, he feels a twinge of insecurity. He’s not overly possessive, but it’s in the little ways he pulls you closer or lingers with you in public just long enough for people to notice. He doesn’t say it aloud, but his actions scream: He’s mine.

6. Escape from Royal Duties:

• Being with you is Wilhelm’s escape. You encourage him to live beyond his title, to experience things as just “Wilhelm.” You both go on little adventures when you can—hiking in secluded spots, watching movies no one else cares about, or simply driving around, windows down, enjoying the freedom of anonymity when possible.

7. Public Pressure:

• If and when your relationship becomes public, it’s a big deal for the media. There’s initial scrutiny, but Wilhelm is surprisingly resilient with you by his side. He’s confident that, together, you can face the pressure. You both decide to keep your relationship private as long as possible, and when it eventually goes public, you face it head-on, strong in your bond.

8. Supportive Partner:

• You’re always there for Wilhelm when royal duties or school stresses become overwhelming. Sometimes he just needs to vent, and you’re his rock during those moments. Whether he’s dealing with public pressure or the weight of his family’s expectations, you’re always there with a comforting word or a warm embrace.

9. Affectionate Moments:

• Wilhelm can be a little shy with affection in public, but in private, he’s much more open. He loves leaning into you when you’re studying, stealing kisses when no one’s around, and wrapping you up in a warm embrace when you’re relaxing together. When he feels safe, his affection is unreserved, full of gentle touches and sweet moments.

10. Holiday Getaways:

• When the school breaks come, Wilhelm loves planning quiet getaways where the two of you can just be yourselves. No press, no eyes, just the two of you. Whether it’s a cabin in the woods or a remote beach destination, these trips become the highlight of your relationship—precious, carefree moments that help you both reset.

11. Shared Silences:

• Some of your best moments together don’t need words. Wilhelm loves that he can be quiet around you, especially after a tough day. You sit together, maybe reading or just holding hands, and the comfort of being in each other’s company is enough to make him feel grounded again.

12. Small Acts of Care:

• Wilhelm shows his love in subtle ways. He might leave you a note tucked into your books, bring you your favorite snack after a long day, or gently brush a strand of hair behind your ear when you’re talking. It’s in these small moments that you know how much he truly cares for you.

13. You Help Him Grow:

• You help Wilhelm see that he doesn’t have to carry the world on his shoulders. With you, he learns to embrace who he is, not just as a prince, but as a person. You challenge him to think about his future in new ways, encouraging him to stand up for what he believes in, even if it’s hard.

[phoenix-positivity]

22 april 2024 - have a feeling this will be venty

I have that feeling cause I just started dissociating as I opened this. Maybe I already did before. Am I forgetting why I wanted to make this post? It's getting harder to breathe? Why? What a strange feeling. Overwhelming. Fear in my arms again. Let me move my body around and come back to this. Maybe get a sour candy. Smell a scent stick.

It helped a bit. I have a little spiky ball and I grabbed a plushie to hug. The sour candy was nice. My head started hurting though. I'm still feeling triggered. I don't really know why.

I've not been able to write much on here cause I keep dissociating too much or feel too triggered. I don't remember what the last thing I wrote was..

It makes sense though. Even though I've been very lucky with lot's of rain and cloudy weather!! The plants still grow though, perhaps even more with all the water. Sometimes the rain makes them emit more scent. Like the earth itself will smell. I still don't know what the sources are for the scents that trigger me. It's likely a cocktail of many different things.

I find it hard to actually stand still and face the triggers instead of rushing and trying to get away faster. I've tried standing still and it just keeps building up and up and it makes me want to give up before it starts decreasing, though I did it today too and I focused really hard on grounding and it felt like I had at least taken the edge of. But yeah I am surely avoiding it, I guess I don't feel strong enough to bear the pain perhaps. Or well, it's normal to want to go away from pain. At least I still take my dog for walks and walk through the areas where the scents are bad.

I also said to my therapist last week I felt the trauma I wanted to process that session wasn't bad enough to warrant processing. She replied saying that if that were the case we could start the processing and if we discovered it was no big deal for me then I would be feeling fine and we could just do something else. Obviously it was a big deal for me. I did partly process some triggers during the EMDR as well.

It also makes sense because a big triggering holiday is coming up this week. I've been sensing it's approach for some weeks now. I will do exposure during it. Actually.. it might be good to process that in my next therapy session too. Let me look something up in my trauma diary.. (not the best idea, I admit)

I ended up reading the whole diary. It makes me see how far I have come in my healing. Comparing my current situation to back then. That is hopeful.

Someday, a future me will be reading these journal entries. And they will think what I think now: "wow, I've improved so much compared to the past"

Hope.

This is but a moment in time. A painful journey to travel.

On a brighter side. I purchased VIP tickets to go see a concert and get my album signed and meet the artists. This year is a good concert year for sure. Going to concerts by myself opens up a lot of fun experiences.

I have also been working on my sleeping schedule as much as I've been able to hold myself accountable. Which is why right now I need to turn off my pc and get into bed. I've purchased a white noise machine and I've been using multiple different sound options to fall asleep. It really does make me feel safer in bed. It's a noticeable difference.

I can do this. Being triggered might make it feel like the world is standing still but this is just another day among many. The sun will set and rise again.

Dissociation doesn't last forever. It comes and goes. I will feel fully grounded again. I wont feel this way forever. I wont get 'stuck in this setting'.

Even if my dreams wont be good I will wake up and get to experience a new day and my dreams can be forgotten again.

I can recharge in bed with my plushie. It's okay to feel scared. But there is no danger in bed. The music box will be there for a comforting melody. It will be okay.

[pbandjesse]

Well today did not go absolutely according to plan. But thankfully it was not as off the rails as yesterday was. It was a better day even if it didn't work out perfectly.

I slept alright. I slept in a bit and when I woke up I felt pretty good. I am glad I was able to get some good sleep. It let me be very productive today.

I started by taking a shower. I wanted to wash my hair and then I would perk my eyelashes. I had to time everything well if Naomi and Kim were coming at 1.

I felt pretty good. I was very clean and decided I would get dressed before I did my eyelashes.

I just wanted to be cozy. I love this long sweater dress and it was pretty perfect for this grey and foggy day.

I would set up on the bathroom floor and do my eyelashes the left eye went poorly like it does every time. But I got them done at the same time and not doing one eye and then the other. I over curled my left eye though and I hope it calms down a bit but that's okay. I'm still happy with my progress in learning to do this. I get better at the application every time, but it is a hard thing! So weird.

After I finished that and cleaned up I worked on cleaning the apartment. I changed the kitty litter and vacuumed. Moved some stuff around and started preparing the house to have people over.

I went to check my phone and Kim texted me that they were sick and would have to reschedule. Not a big deal. We will find another time.

Well now it wasn't even now and I had a clean apartment and hours with no plan. So I decided to finish cleaning up the apartment and then I would go out into the world.

I haven't been to savers in forever. I decided that would be a fun trip. So I would make that drive. Which kind of sucked because people can't drive in fog and were acting stupid even though visibility was fine.

I enjoyed my music and the drive despite others, and made it to savers in one piece.

And it was an awesome trip. I got a grab bag with three wedgewood plates for $4. I got a deck of vintage playing cards with ducks on them. I got a gift for someone.

I wasn't exactly planning on looking at clothes. But I did and I had some awesome finds. I got two jumpsuits that are skin tight and will be amazing for layering and keeping warm. I got a soft Tshirt dress. I got a beautiful tea dress that has tie straps and I love.

But the big find. The prize of the day. I found a LL Bean long coat. For $12. I am so beyond thrilled. I love a long coat but they tend to be overwhelming because I'm short but this one is so so perfect. I'm thrilled.

I was all excited and happy with my new jacket. I looked around for a little longer but nothing was topping that.

I finished looking there and paid and headed out. Onto the next one.

I went down the street to hit up the goodwill there. I found a few more gifts there. And a new picnic basket with a lid. Some frames for gifts. It was so good time.

I went back to the car and drove to Marshalls to look for sweater tights. No such luck. And I got very very tempted by leather purses. That I do not need but I will continue to think about.

I walked over to target next. Where I did find the sweater tights I wanted. I also got the hair stuff James needed and some holiday deodorants. Then I wandered around for a while.

The lines were very long so I decided I would just get in that now. And it did take a while but it was whatever. I paid and went back into the world.

When I got to the car I checked in with James and decided I would get a sandwich and then go to the museum and after they were done we would go look at the two houses.

And this worked out great. I went and got Wawa. I got a little sandwich and ate in the car. And then went to find my husband.

The drive back was kind of rough. There was an accident on the ramp to the highway so I had to go a different way and the gps took me all around the beltway which was bizarre. But I got to James before 4.

I enjoyed sitting with James while they finished up there day. I chatted with Phil for a bit. And told James about the day. It was nice. I enjoyed being at the museum.

James would finish up and load up the bike on the car and we were off.

We saw two houses and neither were amazing. The first one was another blue house. And it has potential but it makes more sense now why there were no photos on the listing. This was rough. It was still occupied and the woman was nice but this place was a mess. The carpets were disgusting. There were bones in the basement. Of a rodent probably. Everything just seemed dirty. But the real issue was the smell. The owner has poured spearmint oil on everything. The smell was so strong my eyes and nose burned. It was clear she was covering something up. But man. It was tough.

We were all in agreement that this was not the palace. Even at the price, it would need so much work it wasn't worth it for us.

So to the next one. This one was as far away as we were comfortable with. And it was cute. But this one also had basement water damage and clearly there had been a grease fire in the kitchen. I loved so many parts of it, but we decided that it just wasn't going to work out. We had a good conversation with Harold about first time home buyers. And it turns out we see his first first time home buyers! So he is learning a lot too. He would send us a few more to look at and we might go see those tomorrow. Exciting. I'm glad he's trying to hard for us. It is a big ask.

We would head home and soon Callie was coming over! I was so glad to see her. James would make us quesadillas which was so nice of them. Me and Callie went over my camp schedule and she pointed out a few things I can fix up. And we just talked about camp nonsense. Hopes and dreams for next summer. It was just so nice hanging out with me friend.

We talked about other stuff to. Life. People. Diagnoses. We talked about the upcoming Christmas party at camp. And the drama around that. Im so glad she came over.

She would leave around 930. And I would spend some time trying in my new things. And it was a good evening.

I am cleaned up and in my jammies now. I'm going to get ready to sleep now. Tomorrow is another busy day.

But only a little. I have to get an x-ray and I get my injections. We might see houses. I'm looking forward to being with James. It will be a good day.

I hope you all sleep well tonight. Take care of yourselves and be safe. I love you all!

[whentherewerebicycles]

okay i am feeling a little overwhelmed by the volume of stuff i have to do and learn and read!! i think that what’s making it more challenging is that i don’t have a good mental schema yet to hold all these disparate tasks & pieces of advice & bits of information that are flooding in, so it’s hard to know where to put stuff or how to prioritize certain tasks over others.

here are my big urgent priorities, which i am defining to mean “stuff that needs to happen in the next 2-3 work days”:

i need to closely read & take notes on these two position descriptions we’re hiring for so i can have an informed conversation with the other hiring manager early next week. however, I don’t have that meeting until wednesday, so i am shifting this task to tuesday after the holiday.

i need to read my student worker’s job description and do some thinking about how i want to approach our first expectations-setting meeting together. i’m sensing there is going to be a tricky balance here - it seems like the student role has been treated very casually as there hasn’t really been one direct supervisor in place... but also people have made some offhanded comments about the student that make it seem like there are some reliability/followthrough/communication issues that probably need to be addressed. i need to read the job description closely, gather some more information from the coworker who was informally supervising her, and then figure out how i want to structure our first meeting next tues. i think i can save some of this for tues morning, but might want to take advantage of my coworker being in the office today to have an information-gathering conversation with her where i ask some more specific questions about the issues people have mentioned & get her thoughts on how/when to address them with the student. so today’s task: have that conversation and take some notes for myself so i can let the question simmer in the back of my mind over the long weekend. tuesday morning’s task: read the job description & think about whether i want that first meeting to incorporate an expectations-setting thing of some kind (maybe using some of alison green’s AMA stuff).

i need to create some way to track & map the names of people i’ve met so far or been told i should connect with. i think this will tentatively take the form of a freeform board (for now), since the post-it option will let me easily record & cluster names in a mind-map board. that said, i don’t want to get sidetracked into putting a lot of information into the board right now, as i think i could easily lose a whole day or more on that. so today i will limit myself to JUST adding the names, a one-sentence description, and a note about whether i’ve scheduled a meeting with them yet. i think i would like to set a timer and spend 30 min max on this.

i need to read the long onboarding document they created for me so i can figure out whether there are additional things i should be thinking about or doing. this also has a more detailed description of my primary responsibilities, which will be helpful for building that mental schema. some tasks on the list will be little practical to-dos, like register for benefits or get my ID card photo taken. others will be more substantive, like sit down and do some journaling to consolidate my understanding of my role & what my first 3-6 months will look like. i think that to keep myself from getting sucked into the journaling work (which could also easily swallow an entire day), i want to skim through the document first and pull out ONLY the concrete to-dos (trainings i have to complete, benefits enrollment stuff i have to do, practical tasks). THEN i want to read through 

we have this gigantic messy sharepoint folder that has tons and tons of info relevant to my job, but is not organized in a way that i find especially intuitive. i do NOT want to get sucked into reading stuff today because there are so many files in there and not all of that info is immediately relevant. i think that what i’d like to do today is just a VERY deliberately surface-level skim of the folders, where i don’t let myself actually read any documents in-depth but just look at first pages of stuff and make a list of folders or files that seem like they’ll be useful to read in greater depth. once i’ve created that list, i want to figure out how to organize it (maybe ordering the entire thing in order of priority or relevance, so i have a list of stuff to steadily work through during my downtime, or maybe loosely grouping stuff by theme/category so i have a better sense of where information is when i need to access it later on.

at the end of the day, i want to take about 15-30 minutes to check on my list, jot down possible priorities for monday (though i don’t have to set my agenda just yet), and record any priorities that are not immediate (next 2-3 work days) but should be shorter-term (next couple weeks).

i think that these tasks will easily take up the entire day! my number one obstacle is: i know that as i work through this list i will feel a VERY strong impulse to delve more deeply into individual items and lose myself in the highly enjoyable work of reading, researching, reflective journaling, etc. however, i want to remind myself that i will have lots of time for that later, and at this stage it’s much more important for me to build out the skeleton infrastructure of this job in my mind so i can start fitting pieces of information into it. to combat that tendency, i will keep a catch-all notebook page or document to the side where i can write down threads i want to follow later or questions as they come up. that way i can feel sure that i’ll remember those things i want to explore later, but i don’t have to actually dive into them right now. 

[cieloclercs]

lover, you should’ve come over , send me a description of yourself + a fandom and gender preference, and i’ll ship you with a character

i want it with f1 and it doesn't matter old or current drivers. i sent you this request before but i think i forgot to add preference so it was my fault. hope it doesn't bother you that i'm sending you a new one again, if it bothers you then i'm sorry. i think it's gonna be long so... sorry in advance x2

i'm 22 and history student. i want to be an academic because knowledge is pretty much everything to me. if a djinn grant me 3 wishes, one of them would be to know everything about universe, humankind and other things. i like learning new things and i like to share them with others whether its something scientific, about history, philosophy or just random fact about pop culture it doesn't matter. sometimes i just starting to tell someone a random fact i learned out of the blue so there's that i think. i also think my love language is quality time. i'll remember whats your favorite book, movie, song, sweater, drink etc it doesn't matter i'll etch everything about you into my brain forever. its my curse, sometimes i think that way.

i like buying new books even if i have billions of them i haven't read it yet at my home it doesn't matter. i like to go museums. my idea of relaxing and holiday is going to new historical places, museums, exhibitions, watching something or reading something, explore new music etc so you get the idea.

i like to watch art movies, documentaries, keeping an eye on film festivals. my favorites are those 3 hours long old movies you can hardly find subtitles for but when you do... it gives you everything you need and more.

when i said i like learning new things i mean it as a learning different subjects or matters. it doesn't matter tbh if that thing got me interested in then you probably gonna find me searching it online at 3 am.

i'm a bit cold to others i'm not gonna lie. definetely judge someone and if i dont find them okay-ish then warming up to them and liking them is gonna be hard. i tend to isolate myself and zone out frequently when i'm overwhelmed so even if you continue to talk there's a big chance i'm not gonna hear you but i have pretty good focus so thats the plus for me.

i'm definetely quick to anger and hold grudges really well won't forget something you said to me 10 years ago. but i'm also a ride or die and would bring shovel to your house unquestioned so i guess that's even it out?

but there's a weird and kind of intimidating side of me? at least that what my friends been saying. my classmates and friends often saying to me how they were/are intimidated to talk to me because they didn't want to seem stupid or didnt gage out what would i say or react. weird side of me i think its that sometimes i tend to get awkward not gonna lie...

also i tend to get... disappear for extended period of time out of the blue. i'm just vibing at home or outside by myself. i'm happy with it but others don't.

i hope it's not too long and if it is sorry </3

i ship you with lance stroll!

— i’ve never pictured lance as the academic type per se, but i always get the sense he’s a bit of a dark horse when it comes to his talents outside of f1… i feel like he’d be super interested in all of the stuff you are, especially philosophy. once you guys start dating, i can picture him getting really into philosophy and history and reading to the point where he’s basically just feeding your own need for more knowledge (match made in heaven frrr)

— obviously the guy is loaded so he has no problem buying you whatever books you want. instead of being the kind of boyfriend that goes out and buys his girlfriend jewellery to show affection (bc his love language is DEFINITELY gift giving) he’ll buy you a ton of books instead 😭 i feel like you’ll get so used to it that every time you go out you leave a reading list on the table for him to look at, and when you get back he’ll have bought you EVERY SINGLE BOOK. even the really obscure ones, and you’re like how did he manage to find this at such short notice? 😭

— loads of your dates consist of either movie nights or trips to museums and exhibitions. you might do some more mindless lowkey stuff in-between, but lance will pretty much do whatever it is you want to do 😭 he’ll definitely surprise you with random trips to loads of interesting historical places. even if you only mention a particular place one time in passing, the next thing you know he’ll get you on his private jet and take you there for the weekend 🥹 it just shows he’s a really good listener too !! a bit like you, he just wants to commit everything about you to his memory 🤍

— i never thought i’d say this because i picture lance as being quite isolated a lot of the time, but he encourages you to get out more and stops you from retreating within yourself. he knows that you have no problem being alone with your thoughts, but he also wants you to get out and experience things with new people 🥹

— BUT on the other hand, you guys are definitely the judgy inside joke couple 😭 i mean in the sense that you tell each other everything. if you’re holding a grudge against someone for a particular reason, he knows exactly why and holds a grudge too 😭 basically you always tell each other your drama to the point where you’re essentially just sharing enemies. this unfortunate person will never know why but every time they come near you both you’ll automatically just fall silent and stare them down 😭 half the grid is scared of you both for this but it’s fine you’re iconic

— ps. i’m sorry this took so long! i’ve been mulling over this one for a while 😅

[fadeouttowhispers]

hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near

A/N: see the ‘disclaimers’ in the first one. Same thing applies: unbetaed, imperfect, probably not their final-final form. Rewatching the show has meant getting lots of ideas, and I was able to write this one rather quickly. Let's chalk it up to being sick when I wrote it. It's a bit different from the others (and not just because it's over 500), but not less ridiculous. I think it's obvious but this is set between Arctic Radar and Holy Night, in S4. Enjoy ♥️

Christmastime was probably the best time of the year to be at the White House – it was joyful, with its colorful lights and lovely live music, and this year, after an overwhelming victory at the polls, the jubilation in every staffer’s face was palpable. Unfortunately, Katie knew this feeling wouldn’t last for very long... Which is why the words in the email sent by her former mentor sitting in her inbox didn’t really surprise her. In fact, the kept promise made her smile.

“Hey, Mark,” she called for the colleague sitting behind her, poking him on the shoulder playfully. When the redhead turned around, he followed her finger to the screen. Katie’s eyes begged him to keep it quiet as she whispered, “Danny’s coming back soon.”

“For good?” Mark sounded as surprised as she has been, but the email answered it all. “Oh, okay, just for a couple of days. So… For now.”

As the email read, the erstwhile senior correspondent was coming back for the holidays, making a brief pit stop in DC to say hello to his friends, and to make sure his apartment was still standing, before flying out to his family’s home in Michigan for the remainder of the holidays. But first, he was heading to Bermuda for a short vacation. “No doubt to drink some rum,” Katie quipped. “He could’ve left that part out, so we didn’t have to feel jealous.”

“Maybe he wants to get lost there, after spending so much time traveling around the other side of the Atlantic,” Mark joked back. “Maybe this is the proof of life we need in case he’s not back here on December twenty… something.”

“There’s also this…”

Katie realized she needed a bit more cloak and dagger, as C.J. had entered the room to get Steve about a quote from earlier, and they were now standing by the doorway. Her mouse highlighted a passage – the one with the special request.

I’m pretty sure my press credentials are still valid, but I’ll ask around to make sure. I say this because I’d love to drop by as a surprise just before everyone leaves for the break. Is there any way you could keep my return quiet? I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but I’d love to see everyone again.

“Can we do this?”

Mark considered for a second, pondering the possibilities. Keeping it quiet should be relatively easy, especially if only the two of them knew about it. “You know what? He would make a pretty fun Press Santa.”

“You just want to get out of it,” Katie pointed out, biting back a smile. “You know C.J. will make a crack about Canada not having the same simple traditions as the US. Again.”

"Or how redheads are interchangeable," Mark smiled affably. “Think about it. Unless somebody else finds out and tattles, C.J. would have no idea who’s under the costume. He’s already cleared, so there shouldn’t be a problem there. And… You know she’s the person he wants to see the most.”

“She would be thrilled, too. So excited, actually. They’ve always had this…”

“Indescribable thing?” he completed.

“Yeah. She was happy to see Sawyer on his pit stop after Myanmar, but this…” Katie just raised her eyebrows, wordlessly conveying what she couldn’t say out loud. “It’ll be better.”

Mark nodded in agreement, looking discreetly at the Press Secretary. “I heard the other day that she brought our wayward friend up to Mitch… So I think his return would be a good present on its own.”

“You’re not wrong,” Katie said diplomatically, as she watched C.J. leave the Press Room. She had a front-row seat to their dynamic for months and knew better than to bet against Danny. “Let me find out about his travel plans, make sure he’ll be here that day. I’m sure he’ll be game with whatever we throw at him. We can discuss specifics as we get closer, but I think the Santa idea might do. We’ll get some laughs out of this Christmas miracle.”

[onemaebee]

So uh. my parents are moving 11 hours away (by car).

the entire family on my mom's side is in an uproar and scrambling. my aunt has revealed herself to be even more of an absolute jerk than suspected and has been VERY entitled. my grandma can't understand how they could possibly move far from their grandkids. my sibling is torn between sadness (just moved back to the country and thus near the parents) and relief (dad+some of my other siblings have been very clear that respecting their nb pronouns and new name is stupid, in their bigoted book). my grandpa, who has dementia and is in the middle of a prostate cancer scare, is just vibing.

we don't talk to the family on my dad's side. they happened to be the ones to give him an origin story, and that's about the best thing they've ever done or ever will do.

one of my younger sisters (the other local one with kids) hasn't talked to me about how she's feeling about it yet; but maybe i'll get the chance to chat tomorrow when i'm in town near her.

my husband is baffled, as it seems very rushed. (of course it's rushed; but that's my dad's modus oprandi and they are literally selling the house to pay off debts and debt collecters ain't exactly patient) depressed because my mom+good and respectful younger siblings were the only ones we trusted not to be overwhelmed with our kids so the 3-4 dates a year we request babysitting for are now evaporated entirely.

kids were upset until i phrased it as "hey! we couldn't do this the last time they moved because kid1 was a baby and kid2 was a NEW baby, but now we could do car trips! family vacation, which we've never taken! and 3/4 of your aunts+uncles are moving out and going to be living nearby still, so you'll still see Best Uncle!" and then they were SET.

i'm. okay?

focusing mostly on what new holiday traditions we can make. what i need to do to finish making the boys' halloween costumes (kid2 was BORN on halloween which makes it even more of a big deal here). what crafty things i can do for birthday (3 kids born in oct) and christmas gifts. planning out a Christmas Gift Box to be sent to my parents+lil sis AND one for another sister out in cali with my adorable wee nephews.

not my circus; not my monkeys. is it how i'd have done this? nah. do i have any right to think about it other than in terms of how to adjust future plans? nope. they're moving to an area they lived in briefly a decade ago and it was legit the happiest i'd ever seen them. why would i be entitled enough to tell them no, keep your debt looming over you like a crushing shadow, stay here where you are constantly stressed (because their small town really sucks) instead of going to the place where you can reliably find happiness???

i'm pretty sad about not seeing my mama at least once a week, but we facetime everydayish anyway so it's not like we're limited to the faceless phone. but my dad will cheer up which will in turn boost her mood and things will generally be better for them.

i do have therapy tomorrow and last month my homework assigned was to 'go on a date and have 1 night without the kids for the love of god mae you need to have some alone time with your husband as a couple holy shit,' and hahaha i failed :)

[dogsofardour]

part one | part two

Just getting some Jotileen and Holiday Fluff out of my system :)

Oh! There's some suggestive-ness by the way!

In 1992, Father's Day was on June 21st. This was 10 days before Jolyne was born.

Of course, Jotaro and Eileen didn't exactly know exactly when Jolyne would arrive, but Eileen thought that the holiday was too close to her due date to not celebrate it!

Jotaro gave a big huff about it since he "wasn't a dad yet" but Eileen countered with how spectacular he's been to her (and by extension their baby) throughout the pregnancy! There for the appointments, the cravings, the crying, the grosser stuff and so forth! The amount of consideration, tenderness, patience and love Jotaro has given Eileen when she's felt so... So all over the place! Overwhelmed? Happy but scared? She couldn't have imagined a better boyfriend. Especially since Jotaro has been attending university on top of it (two full terms of research papers, readings, lectures, it's a lot even without a baby on the way). Somebody else would've surely buried themselves in the course work and not done much else. So, why not celebrate?

Granted, they couldn't do too much. Eileen was pretty heavily pregnant, and although her due date was on July 3rd... Yeah, she's exhausted.

A week before Father's Day, Eileen proposes that they can spend the afternoon at a nearby beach.

"You can nerd out about the local fauna while I chill with the biddy bug under an umbrella," she suggests.

"... I would like to see more Comet Stars..."

"And maybe you could find me another seashell?"

"...Maybe."

"You know I know that's a yes!"

The night before Father's Day Eileen found herself wide awake. Not unusual, since the little bug liked to roll and kick when Eileen's finally ready to hit the hay. The doctor said as her due date gets closer the baby should've been slowing down a little, but little Jolyne seemed to say otherwise. Eileen tapped out a little pattern where she could feel her little baby kick her stomach. The little bug really enjoyed it.

Jotaro's conked out beside Eileen, his nose pressed against her collar and his arm stretched across her shoulder. His breath is a nice warm puff against her skin. It was cute seeing Jotaro sprawled partially on her, and nice to feel his sleeping body against hers. Usually he climbed into bed long after Eileen.

She enjoyed it for as long as she could, but sooner rather than later Eileen had to pee. She slipped out of Jotaro's grasp carefully. He was a pretty light sleeper.

It's when she's washing her hands Eileen started to think about lunch the next day. The morning would be havoc, getting the towels, bathing suits, sunscreen, medication, go bag (just in case). It would be nice if lunch was already packed.

That's how she found herself in their kitchen at 2 in the morning, making a couple of recipes Holly taught her. Eileen didn't typically like to cook, but when it was for someone - it felt special. Soon enough, everything was tupperwared, and refrigerated if need be. Eileen felt more at peace. When she slipped into bed with as much grace as a heavily pregnant woman could muster, it was with a satisfied smile.

***

"--And give your mom an easy day, alright? She's been working hard for you," Jotaro's morning voice was the first thing Eileen heard.

She kept her eyes closed for a couple more moments, trying to keep her breathing even. It was always a treat to hear Jotaro talk to Jolyne when he thought nobody else could hear.

"I... We're really excited to meet you, and I just," he laughed a little, "I know you're going to be wonderful." He traced a warm finger over Eileen's belly. "Just like your sneaky mother."

Okay, so he knew she was awake, Eileen never claimed to be a great actor. Jotaro's stupidly handsome face smirked at her when she opened her eyes. Smug bastard.

"What time is it?" she asked through a yawn and a stretch.

"We have plenty of time, don't worry."

"Mhmm," she hummed. "B'eakfast?"

Jotaro ruffled her bed head, "I got it."

"Aw you really do care!"

Eileen could see the roll of Jotaro's eyes as he clambered out of bed, "Pfft. Whatever."

"'Whatever' whatever," Eileen stuck her tongue out at his retreating back.

Damn, his ass looked great in those dolphin boxers.

***

Eileen's late night lunching paid off, they made it to the beach by 11:45 with the glorious Sunday sun blazing down on them. The little grains of sand that made its way between Eileen's sandals and feet were scorching, but thankfully not too much of a problem.

It took a couple of trips from the car to their spot to unload everything (given that Jotaro refused to let Eileen carry anything other than their cheap beach ball), but in no time the couple were sprawled on their towels, taking a little break from all the movement.

The umbrella Jotaro had struggled with shaded both of their bodies, but Eileen knew something truly awful was on the horizon. The damn sunscreen.

"I can just stay here, in the shade, no catching rays, no problem? Eh?" Eileen offered, eyes on the dreaded bottle in her boyfriend's hands.

"If that isn't the biggest lie I've ever heard," Jotaro popped open the cap.

"Oh, what about this one?" Eileen challenged. "'Only the tip, I promise?'"

Jotaro turned beet red. "That's completely unfair!"

[agentstarkid]

Now idk when you’re gonna update next but if I don’t get an adorable Halloween couples costume with Ruben and girly that when Daniel sees it he almost loses it cause any holidays when they were together was COVID/lockdown so even though they were together they couldn’t actually do fun couples celebrations…we might have to fight 🤷‍♀️

nonnie, I think we are definitely gon' fight, my love WDYM they couldn’t actually do fun couples celebrations?!

They went to a Halloween get together at Dax and Kristen's in 2021 (Kalopsia), while they didn't do cute couple costumes and it wasn't a big party, they did had costumes on (she was a mime and Dan was...a scarecrow..? a farmer..? idk) and I did a little edit and everything so we are beefin' now, babes 😠😤 JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING!! NAAAAH SQUARE UP... lol JK JK... unless... 👀👀👀

I reaaaaally wanted to have Ruben and Girlie attending a Halloween party during the last chapter bc I know Man City had one in 2022 but these were all the photos I could find:

and I wanted Girlie to go as Santanico Pandemonium from From Dusk Till Dawn (salma hayek is the queen mother btw)

LOOK!!! AT!!! THIS!!! WOMAN!!!!!

SO LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE HEADCANON!!!!

caution: things might get you a little 🔥🔥 bc it certainly got me like that 🥵

Girlie did go to the party with Rúben.

It was their first official outting as a couple.

He went as Michael Myers and she went as Santanico Pandemonium.

He was the one who took those first two pics of her btw and you better believe my man couldn't keep his hands to himself the whole night 🤪

He tried to play it cool, mingling with his teammates, but he kept sneaking glances at her while she was talking with the other wags and every time she passed by, he found an excuse to brush his hand against her waist, pull her closer, or simply rest his palm on her lower back.

it was a no phones 📵 party so that's why there are not many pictures of it

at one point of the night, my girl definitely went up to the dj and told him to put Retrotón (reggaeton oldies that are 🔥🔥) and got the real party started

I definitely think Toda (Remix) by Alex Rose started pumping through the speakers (although this song is not, by any means, retrotón btw) and to me, that song was made to dance suuuuper close 👀

She turned around, her back pressing against his chest, as the beat vibrated through them. With every sway of her hips, she moved sensually against him, her body in perfect rhythm with the music ((obvs, she is latina c'monnnn)). She let her hands glide up her own waist, slowly, teasingly, while her hips rocked against him. And my man Rúben reeeeeally tried to keep his cool, he really did bless him, but the heat between them was impossible to ignore.

she arched her back slightly, leaning into him, grinding against him as the song’s slow, sultry tempo made the entire room disappear. She looked over her shoulder, catching his smoldering gaze—his eyes dark, filled with desire and his ragged breath on her ear 🥵🥵

My man Rubs, clearly affected, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, his fingers tightening with every movement she made. "You're going to kill me, anjo," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear. She just smiled, knowing exactly the effect she was having on him. "That's the idea," she whispered back, not slowing down for a second.

Rúben, normally composed and controlled, was undone, completely captivated by her every move. His hands gripped her hips tighter, the need to close the distance between them almost overwhelming, but she just continued to tease, drawing out the moment and leaving him completely hot and bothered.

sooooo that's where my man said fuck this and dragged her to some abandoned room in that place or the bathroom ((it's up to you)) and they had their own party iykyk 😏

She might have posted some photos/videos of the night to her CF ((she posted those photos of her and ooooof)) and OF COURSE Danielito—who's still on that list—saw them all bc he defff has her notifications still on ((as much as he claims that he just keeps forgetting to turn it off, we all know that man is LYING))

His jaw dropped, his heartbeat skyrocketed, something else went UP and hard and then he saw green 🤷🏽‍♀️

fuck i need a cold shower now

ANYWAYS, the next halloween party is not coming until the chapter after this one I'm working on bc tumblr only allows me to use 30 pics per post 😩 and about this next one, I'm trying to finish it by the end of the month so I have 2 weeks to get my shit together and finish it, but I WILL FINISH IT because I've been gone for too long 😞

i hope you liked that lil' thing i pulled from my horny lil brain, nonnie!! we'll see what else comes out next lol I might need to make a blurb or something of Girlie and Rúben together hmmm 🤔 we'll see, we'll see...

thank you for reaching out, babes! hope you have a great day!!! ily chaucitoooo 🖤

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

An art retreat at the Apple Blossom Diner and Inn

I thought after visiting the Snowcaps we’d be back at the camp by now before going off on another adventure, this time out in space. I mean, we still have plenty of time to rest and recharge before the holiday rush, so a detour’s no big deal.

Knowing how hectic the holidays can be, I try to manage my time effectively so I don’t end up being stressed and burned out. As an introverted homebody, I need time to rest and recharge my social battery. I don’t mind being by myself, but sometimes it feels kinda lonely knowing that you can’t be as social like most people. Sure, I go on lots of travels and adventures, but I also have times where I just do nothing in between, and that’s how I pretty much function.

Luckily, most of my friends are kinda similar, so that makes it less alienating. And my extrovert friends are respectful towards us introverts when we just don’t have the energy to keep up with them. I know some people who are less than understanding. And even though most of them try, to them, it’s an inconvenience, a personality flaw that needs to be fixed.

It’s not so much of an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ but more like, ‘we refuse to accept that people have different ways of functioning, so if you can’t keep up with our pace and do things our way, then it’s obviously your fault for being so incompetent.’ I don’t want to go off on a tangent but it really does feel like that sometimes, especially during the holidays when you have to interact with certain people.

Although I was a bit hesitant about a sort of last minute retreat, I’m glad I went. First of all, I got to finally meet Beryl, Ruby, and Topaz, as well as catch up with Landry, Connie, and Pai. and, of course, most of our time up there was spent alone, just taking in the scenery and focusing on whatever creative projects we wanted to really make progress on.

There’s just something about being in a cafe with a cozy atmosphere that makes me feel more inspired to be in a creative mode. I think it helps when everyone else is looking for the same, so it’s not like you have to worry about a group of people coming in just to socialize, which is nice, but it also breaks your concentration. Another plus is when the place has quite a bit of activity while not being too crowded and overwhelming.

The Apple Blossom Diner and Inn is one of those artsy retreat places for people who need a couple days to rest and recharge. To keep it from getting crowded and defeating the original purpose of the place, space is limited. Eloise happened to luck out as she was originally gonna go solo and later found out that the other group that was planning to visit the same time as her had to cancel at the last minute. In other words, she would have gotten the entire inn to herself, which she felt would be kinda weird and probably not good for business. So she invited me, Connie, Pai, the siblings, Daisy Jane, and Landry’s entourage, putting us at around 12 people, which is a decent party.

I remember Landry saying that she got a new position, something that reunited her with Captain Yang, an old friend who’s now her partner. Both of them are in charge of a new crew called the Epiphany. From what I’ve heard, being in charge of a ship is a huge deal, so congrats to both of them! They’re just starting out, so they’re focusing on finding their footing. So far, they have two members, Laufey and Jiangyi, wanderers who Captain Yang took under his wing.

Laufey accidentally let slip that there might be two more recruits. Jiangyi and Landry clarified that it’s not finalized yet, though they like that Laufey’s being optimistic. Connie also gave her a word of caution not to make any premature announcements as stuff can always fall through or suddenly change at the last minute. I suspect they’re referring to cases like Hanzou and Eloise, which makes sense. Although Yang said they were proceeding to move forward with one prospective member, and that was why they happened to be in the area at the time, allowing them to accept Eloise’s invitation.

And it seems like Eloise has an idea of who that person might be as she was able to figure out that Yang came from a place called the Fortress, which is in the outskirts of Marippe. Connie and Pai actually spent some time investigating there under The Justice’s supervision, though it seems like they likely have never met the person in question. To be fair, they were only in the Fortress for less than a week, and it’s a pretty big place.

Beryl’s spent some time there too, and while he’s not 100% certain, he has some speculations of who that person might be, like the fact that they might be a former inmate turned staff member, either with the medics or admin if they work odd hours. If that’s the case, then maybe they have some sort of connection with the warden, who was rumored to also have been a former inmate.

Okay, so maybe we spent a little too much time speculating about that, but neither Landry nor Yang stepped in, so I guess it’s not like confidential or something. I think Laufey and Pai are similar in that they’re easily excitable and enthusiastic, so they tend to get a little ahead of themselves. That’s not a bad thing, and I’m sure we all have a tendency to do the same, it’s just that Landry, Yang, and Connie have been through stuff like this a lot and don’t want her and the others disappointed when things don’t work out for some reason.

So I finally got to meet the siblings and that was a lot of fun. Beryl’s full of energy, definitely the extrovert type. He’s a performer who knows how to charm and captivate his audience. In contrast, Ruby and Topaz are more reserved, the kind of people who rather be behind the scenes and not draw too much attention to themselves.

It’s clear that they’re a close knit group, especially since for most of their lives, all they had was each other. After their mother died, they lived in the streets, just barely surviving. Then Beryl met some street performers and he got interested in learning their tricks. Eventually, Beryl caught the attention of some nobles, who he later found out were more interested in exploiting him and his siblings. Had the Underground not intervened, who knows what would’ve happened to them?

Beryl may act carefree but it’s clear that he has a lot on his shoulders. From my understanding, the Underground is a conflicting organization, which is why Connie and Pai are wary of them. To make matters more complicated, it seems like each faction in the Underground does their own thing, making it even harder to tell what their true motives are. At least in Marippe, the Underground faction over there, the Court of Honor, is more of a neutral group rather than an outright antagonistic one. Since Beryl, Ruby, and Topaz were basically raised by them, it’s safe to say that they have strong ties.

I figured that Connie has their reasons for helping Beryl out when he was targeted as a scapegoat. Aside from him being an intriguing person, his ties to the Court of Honor would be worth looking into as well. That’s why Connie and Beryl were able to negotiate a “package deal” with Marippe’s adventurer’s guild, to be able to safely exchange information while keeping an eye on each other. I guess a lot has happened since then and now it seems like they’re all getting along well.

Ruby seems to be the opposite of Beryl as she’s a lot more laid back and would prefer to let the others do the talking. She and Beryl have a fun dynamic with her deadpan expressions being a stark contrast to his dramatic flair. Ruby claims that because they’re twins, that means they can read each other’s minds, which is why she likes to mess with him once in a while.

Topaz isn’t as well known compared to his performing siblings, and he prefers to keep it that way. While he’s also quite talented in the arts, he’s more interested in mechanics. He’s also a certified diver who specializes in underwater ruins, which sounds really cool. According to Beryl, he knows most of Marippe’s underwater like the back of his hand.

Right now, Connie’s taking a bit of a break, especially after the last few weeks have been hectic. There’s still a lot of unresolved issues that need to be addressed, but right now there’s nothing to do except wait. I don’t fully understand what’s going on, but I can tell it’s been kinda rough on Connie and the siblings. Eloise is probably dying to know what’s going on too, however, she’s been around long enough to know when not to poke around.

That said, I think this was a good time for a retreat. The island’s sort of in the middle of nowhere - right between the waters of Marippe and Adrikha, sort of smack dab in the middle. It’s a nice, quiet place, the ideal location for those who just want to shut off and get away for a bit. There’s also a bit of a more touristy area for travelers as it is a stopping point for those at sea, so if you want a bit more activity, then you can hang out there.

For us though, aside from meeting up and leaving, we mostly stuck to the inn and diner. The diner’s fairly busy, so it’s not like we’re totally off on our own. I didn’t plan to do much, and that’s just the way I want it.

While hanging out and trying almost everything at the diner, I sort of ended up starting a knit along. I think I ended up being the leader because I happen to be the most experienced knitter in this group. Aside from the siblings, the rest of the group has dabbled in knitting. I’d say that Daisy Jane, Laufey, Pai, and I are in the intermediate level. Connie, Yang, and Landry are more like advanced beginners. Eloise and Jiangyi have learned the basics and are interested in delving more deeply into the hobby. And the siblings are starting from scratch, though they’re making good progress and want to learn more as well.

Somehow, we had this bright idea to have our main project be a cardigan. I mean, we had the novice knitters do simple things like scarves as a warm up, and they’re pretty confident with the basics now. At least the cardigan is beginner friendly, part of Jamila’s Classic Novice collection, which is specifically designed for new knitters who are interested in the world of garments. It’s a basic, classic stockinette cardigan that pretty much goes with anything. And as usual with Jamila’s patterns, she has suggestions for modifications if you want to do step a bit outside your comfort zone and try something different.

So while it may be a bit ambitious - don’t @me, I’ve never “hosted” a knit along before, nor will I be super strict about the pace because idk - but I think it’ll be a fun thing to do over the holidays. Between this and a scarf, the cardigan was unanimous. I mean, I agree, a cardigan’s a lot more interesting than a scarf. And this is just from my experience, but as long as you know your basic increases and decreases, a seamless raglan stockinette cardigan shouldn’t be too difficult to pull off. I had the others, specifically the novices to look at the pattern several times before deciding that we were gonna do it.

Of course, we weren’t a 100% sure until we visited a yarn store that was a couple blocks away from the inn as we had to get the materials before we could start. Not only we needed yarn, but we also needed needles, row counters, and stitch markers. There happened to be sale, so we lucked out on that. Once we saw what yarn they had, our enthusiasm shot right up!

Since I’ve been doing a lot of neutrals lately, I went for a variegated yarn called rose boba milk tea, which is a lovely blend of pinks, browns, beiges, and blues. It was a lot of fun seeing what colors the others chose. Daisy Jane went for a lovely sky blue, Landry chose a lilac and cream beige colorway, Eloise picked a red and orange colorway called sunset. Ruby chose a warm rust brown, Beryl went for shades of ocean blue, and Topaz, a pretty shade of ochre. Connie settled on a soft tweed with earthy colors while Pai went for a bright electric blue. Yang chose a colorway called cappuccino and Jiang went for dark olive green.

Along with catching up on some much needed alone time, we all made good progress on our cardigans. I wanted to make sure they got a hang of the raglan increases before we left. And because it’s a top down construction, we can easily adjust the length to our liking. Since this is a simple, basic pattern, it’s easy to customize however we like.

So in my case, as I’m a bit more advanced, I decided to follow Jamila’s suggestions for short rows, which will add some nice shaping. I’ve only done German short rows, and while I still don’t really understand how short rows work, I do like how they shape a garment. Plus, it makes me feel more like an expert knitter.

Daisy Jane and I also taught the novices how to pick up stitches for the sleeves, so we got extra needles for that. I’ve never done it myself but I’ve heard of people starting the sleeve while doing the body so they wouldn’t be in sleeve island. I know for designers especially, they need to be able to see how everything works out, so it makes sense for them to multitask. I find myself with second sleeve syndrome, so maybe I should try doing things out of order and see how that works out - if I remember.

Everyone made good progress on their cardigans, and with the construction of working the button band at the same time - on the same needles as the body - it’s bound to go by more quickly. Just as I hoped, the novices were able to get through all the raglan increases and get started a little bit on the body, which is just knitting straight. At least the button band and button holes will keep things interesting.

It’s nice seeing how everyone’s projects are working out, especially with the novice knitters enjoying the process. Ruby’s a quick learner, as well as Eloise. Beryl struggled a bit at first, but he was determined to get it right and soon found his rhythm.

Topaz and Yang are interested in the mathematical aspects of knitting, like shaping and gauge, which I’m afraid are beyond my scope. It’s interesting to note that quite a few knitters and designers I follow have a background in math and science related fields like engineering or health science. Like Jamila has a degree in psychology and biology, and a popular knitwear designer in the community went to medical school. There’s also a lot of indie dyers who studied in some field of science and chemistry.

I didn’t really give a finish date as I knew that we were gonna be busy for the holidays, plus I wanted the novices especially to go at their own pace. I mean, it’s a simple pattern that’s a fairly quick knit, so it’s easy to pick back up if you take a break.

Overall, I had a good time at the retreat. I wasn’t expecting to do much, so it was a nice surprise planning a knit along. We also got to enjoy a lot of good food and drinks the inn has to offer, as well as the quiet scenery and cozy spaces. I’m looking forward to how my cardigan’s gonna turn out, as well as everyone else’s. I’ll unfortunately have to put my project on the back burner a bit to focus on gift knits, which hopefully won’t take too long as they’re smaller projects. But it’s a mindless yet engaging knit, so I’ll definitely pick it up when I need to de-stress.

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[devinkarlson]

12 Incredible Instagram Followers Hacks to Get Tons of Followers

Introduction

Insta-followers is a big deal. However, sometimes it's not as easy to get hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers as you might think. In this article, we'll go over some popular and effective Instagram strategies that helped me grow my audience from zero to more than 300k—and they can work for you too!

Use hashtags

Hashtags are a great way to get more exposure. You can use them on your Instagram posts, and they will help you reach the people who might be interested in what you’re doing or want to know more about it.

Here are some tips for using hashtags:

Use hashtags that are relevant to your content – For example, if you post about how much fun it was at an event, then use #funtimeevents as one of your tags. This will make sure people who have posted similar things in the past also see this content!

Use popular hashtags – If there are lots of other users using these same tags (and therefore getting more followers), then they’re probably worth checking out! You might also find new audiences by searching through trending topics on Twitter or Facebook as well—just keep an eye out for trends related specifically towards whatever niche market(s) interest groups tend toward; this could mean anything from foodie restaurants near where someone lives now vs ones near their old home city/state/country etcetera."

Post at the right time

Posting on Instagram is one of the best ways to get Instagram followers hack, but it's also one of the most difficult. When you're trying to grow your account, you want your posts to be seen by as many people as possible. However, at the same time, you don't want to post too often or too late in order not to overwhelm people with content they may not care about—or worse yet: unfollow because they're tired of seeing your updates.

To avoid this problem (and other issues), there are certain times during which many users will be online:

During daylight hours (8am - 6pm)

Weekends and holidays

Use your followers' names

If you're trying to get more followers, one of the easiest ways to do so is by using your followers' names in a post.

For example, if you have 200 Instagrammers and want to use their names in your hashtag as well as yours, here's how:

Create two separate hashtags for each person's name (e.g., #Martha# and #John).

Tag both hashtags with an emojis that represent what those people love most — a heart or thumbs up might be good choices! For example:  - Marthas Love Coffee Beans Hashtag

John's Love Wine Hashtag

Create a video preview for your stories

In order to create a video for your Instagram stories, it's important that you make sure the video is short. Make sure your audience can watch it in one sitting and that they're able to understand what you are talking about.

Next, use a catchy title for this video preview so people will want to click on it!

Finally, make sure the content of this video is relevant to your followers' interests and needs (e.g., if someone sees something funny or sad in their feed). Also try using relevant hashtags so people who follow those brands see them too!

Turn on post notifications for your friends

If you have a few friends who are already on Instagram, turn on post notifications for them. This can help you get more followers faster because people will be notified whenever one of your friends posts something new.

You can also use a third-party app like Followers+ to get more followers. The app sends out notifications when someone follows or unfollows you, so it's basically like having an army of social media managers at your disposal!

Create your own hashtag

Hashtags are a great way to get more followers and engage with your followers. You can use hashtags to promote your business, products, events and more!

For example: If you’re selling food products on Instagram (like I do), then you could use the hashtag #foodporn for a recipe post! That way people will be able to see what kind of recipes they can try out themselves or share with their friends if they like them so much.

Also Read Blog: How To Unlock My Snapchat Account?

Use Instagram Stories.

Instagram Stories are a great way to get followers and engagement.

Stories allow you to post short videos on your feed, which can be up to 60 seconds long. They’re great because they allow you to show people what you do in a fun and engaging way, without them having to sit through long-winded descriptions of your business or product.

It’s also important that Instagram Stories are easy for users who aren't on mobile (such as those using desktop computers). This means that if someone doesn't follow you yet but likes what they see in the stories of others they might start following those accounts!

Tag other users in your photos.

You can tag other users in your photos. This is a great way to get them to see your photo and like it, but also a great way to gain followers as well!

Tag other users in comments: If you’re using Instagram stories (the new feature that lets you post videos), then take advantage of this feature by tagging other people in comments. It’s an easy way of connecting with them and building up rapport before asking them for something else—like their email address!

Tag other users in your stories: When posting new content on your profile page, be sure not only that it makes sense but also that there are hashtags included so others can find it easily (and follow). Also consider adding tags related specifically towards what type(s) of content/posting style(s) you prefer; this will help ensure readers know exactly what they’re getting into when viewing any given post from yours!

Create a collaboration group for shoutouts

If you have a large following, it’s likely that some of your followers would be interested in collaborating with other people who have similar audiences. This is a great way to grow and expand your reach!

To start off, create a group for shoutouts. Then invite influencers from the same niche as yourself or someone similar (like an artist or blogger) who has many followers on Instagram. Ask these individuals if they would like to share and tag their content using #yourbrandnameandtaglinehereincaseyouneeditforthetitleoftheyrolexwatchbabyscotthesky(orwhatever). They can even ask you to follow them back so they know where else they can check out your beautiful photos/videos when they go on Instagram!

Share user-generated content.

User-generated content is a great way to get your followers involved, but it's also one of the most effective ways to grow your Instagram following. If you're looking to expand your following and make more money from it, there's no better tool than user-generated content. The best way to promote this type of content is by using hashtags like #IGers or #IG; these are both commonly used hashtags on Instagram (and can be searched by anyone who isn't logged in). You can also use other popular hashtags like MyStory and InstaStory if you want something specific for how you want people to view your story.

Run contests and giveaways.

Running a contest is an easy way to get new followers, and it can also help you grow your following. If you’re looking for inspiration, there are plenty of great examples out there!

The most important thing about running a giveaway is that it should be relevant to your niche. You don’t want to give away something that no one would want or use—or worse yet, something that just isn’t interesting.

Here are some tips on how best to run contests:

Giveaways should be easy-to-enter and easy-to-administer (ease of entry means ease of participation). If there are too many hoops involved in entering the contest (like creating an account on Facebook), people won't participate as much because they don't want all those steps involved in order for them just simply enter a drawing where everyone wins stuff by watching videos played back through Facebook Live which requires registration with an email address before being eligible for winning anything (which could take days).  * A clear winner must exist before prizes are awarded so everyone knows who won what prize before they even complete their registration process by submitting their information along with why they think this person deserves such an award over someone else who didn't submit enough information yet still wants theirs waived off due TBD reason."

Follow trending topics

Trending topics are popular and people are interested in them. If you want to get followers, this is a great way to do it! Instagram has thousands of different hashtags that can help you find the right audience for your brand or product. For example, if you're a fitness coach and follow #fitness, then others might see that as an indicator that they should follow your account too (and vice versa). This can be helpful because when someone follows us through our hashtag, it shows up publicly on their feed so other users also see it—and vice versa if they follow us back!

I followed these hacks and now I have hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers!

The secret to success is not some magic trick. It's hard work and consistency. You have to put in the effort, and it won't happen overnight. Here are some tips for how to get started:

Follow these hacks and be consistent with your posts every day! Don't slack off when it comes time for posting content; make sure that you're getting at least one good post per week (or even better). If possible, try posting twice a day or more often than that if that helps keep things moving along quicker!

Take action! It doesn't matter how many followers someone has if they don't know what they're doing with them...

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned a few hacks to get more followers on Instagram, it’s time to put them into action. Remember that your goal is not just to have followers—it’s to build a community of people who are invested in your business and interested in what you have to say. Your audience should want to hang out with you every day!