#i used my own money to decorate for Valentine's Day Halloween and Christmas and have not been reimbursed yet for this job!

[lavender---sunshine]

Not my boss trying to convince me to deny a 19 year old boys family holiday vacation request and telling me to imagine if it was MY paycheck being docked because he didn't want to work

[oneforthemunny]

baby, you're a haunted house |rockstar!eddie munson x nepo baby!reader|

prompt: eddie is horrified to find out you don't decorate for halloween, and is determined to fix that. based off this ask request sent in by @harmonib for the spooky stories series :) thank you!!

contains: mentions of shitty parents/ shitty childhood. nothing extremely graphic but touched upon. really the rest is sweet sweet fluff. alludes to smut bc it's them, but nothing graphic. for timeline purposes, set after the engagement.

"That's it?"

Eddie's brow lifted so high that the silver hoop piercing disappeared under his curly bangs.

"Yep." You gave a short nod, hands resting on your hips, looking down at the large plastic bowl, covered in an array of Peanuts characters all in various costumes.

"That's- Baby, are you serious?" Eddie's eyes widened, lips pulling in a look of shock, maybe horror.

You frowned, looking down at the bowl resting on top of the counter. You thought it was cute, you thought Eddie would find it adorable too.

"Yeah, I mean, I know it looks small but I don't get a lot of trick-or-treaters, honestly-"

"-Probably because they think no one's here." Eddie scoffed before he could help it, grimacing at the frown you gave him. "Sorry, but... Sweetheart, this is it? This is all you have? All your Halloween decorations?"

You wrapped your arms around yourself, scowl only deepening on your features making Eddie cringe. "So what? It's a candy bowl. That's all kids care about anyways." You muttered, eyes darting from his gaze back to the bowl.

"But what about you?" Eddie twirled the bowl around, examining the wrap around design on the lip. "You don't like to decorate for yourself?"

"No, not really." Your chin ducked down, toying with the edge of the cream fur trimmed sweater you'd bought yesterday. You had been so excited to go shopping for fall, at the first dip in temperatures. Eddie had promised you he'd take you somewhere with real seasons, back home to Indiana where the leaves actually changed.

"What?" Eddie gawked, lips curling in a soft smile, hoping it would ease you out of your own defenses. He'd grown used to coaxing you out of yourself when you got like this, guarded and snippy when you felt challenged in any way.

"That's shocking. I thought you'd be like, the biggest decorating fan. give Martha Stewart a run for her money." Your lips twitched in a smile you tried to hide, eyes finally meeting his.

"I mean, I would like to. I just... I don't know. I've never really decorated before." You admitted, twirling the puffs of fur at the end of the zipper. "My parents didn't ever really decorate so I guess I never got in the habit."

Eddie's eyes widened, blinking in shock. "Ever? They never decorated ever? Not even for Christmas or-or Valentine's Day or something?"

Your face twisted, tight the way it always did when you were talking about something painfully uncomfortable- when you talked about your childhood. "No. Well, we did a few times when I was younger for Christmas and my Dad's parents were still alive. They'd come over and spend Christmas, but my Mom would just hire one of those staging companies to come a few days before Christmas and bring decorations and make it look nice."

"You didn't even have a tree?" Eddie gaped. "Even I had a Christmas tree."

You rolled your eyes, lips pursing in annoyance. "Yeah, congrats, Ed. I had shittier parents than you, I guess." Your tone clipped, dripping in surly sarcasm.

Eddie sucked in a breath, biting his tongue to keep any sharp retorts back. It was still an adjustment, even now that you were engaged, to keep his retorts soft when they needed to be- to be soft with you.

"I didn't-" Eddie's breath huffed, a strangling sigh that kept in the rest of his words. "Go put your shoes on."

"Why?" Nose scrunched in confusion, still lingering with hints of an attitude Eddie was hoping wasn't going to be a problem.

"Because," He grinned, dimples creasing softly into his cheeks. "We're gonna go shopping."

Your eyes lit up, perking at your favorite activity- or so Eddie said since you were always shopping for something. "Shopping?" It was your turn to grin. "For what?"

"Decorations." Eddie nodded firmly, patting his pockets for his wallet, chains jingling on his jeans. "We need some for our house."

"Don't you have some we could use?" Your voice was softer than before, shoulders a little deflated.

"Yeah, but those aren't ours, those are mine." Eddie shook his head. "We need some for both of us. That we both like. So when we're old as shit and putting 'em out, we still like them." He grinned, pinching your cheek gently, heart skipping at the giggle you gave him.

"C'mon, it'll be fun, babe, I promise. You'll like it. Just like when we decorated this house, but better because this isn't boring stuff. It's actually fun." Eddie grinned, motioning towards the painting behind him- a real Van Gogh given to you as a wedding gift, bought off your registry, of the infamous 'Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette'.

"We'll go to that one store you like. The Pierce-"

"-Pier One-"

"-Right. That one. We'll start there, and we can just look everywhere. As long as you want." Eddie's hand slid down the soft cashmere of your sweater, giving your forearms a gentle squeeze that had your skin tingling with excitement.

"As long as I want, hm?" You hummed, brow quipping playfully. "That's a risk, Munson. You're sure you're committing to that?"

"Always committing to you, Munson." Eddie's lips curled. "You know that. As long as you want, wherever you want. We'll hop on a flight to New York if you want to. They might have better stuff, actually. More fall than the places here."

"Hm, that's pretty tempting." Your lips twisted in thought. "I do love New York."

"I know you do." Eddie grinned, his eyes shining with that familiar sparkle of wild that had your knees shaking. "Fuck it, let's go to New York. Go pack."

"Eddie," You gawked lightly, a breathy giggle slipping out with his name. "I- We can't go to New York."

"Why?" Eddie frowned. "I don't have anything to do. Do you?"

"No, but-but I haven't told Jacques. The jet won't be ready-"

"-LAX is still a thing, baby." Eddie teased lightly. "We'll just take the plane down there. Call Jacques and get the jet set up for us to take back. That's when we'll need it, anyways, for all the Halloween stuff we're gonna buy." Eddie's grin only widened, eyes getting more and more wild with the excitement of the trip.

"Go pack. I'll call Nelson, tell him to get us a hotel room at The Plaza- You want The Plaza, right?" Eddie pointed at you, walking towards the phone on the wall in the newly renovated kitchen.

You hesitated, tummy flipping with excitement and rushes of adoration, nodding gently. "I can get Jacques to call instead. He knows the manager there."

"Yeah, you know what, that's probably a good idea." Eddie placed the phone back on the hook. "Last time we stayed there, we kinda fucked the place up. Don't know if they'll let us back. Good call, baby. You call Jacques, and I'll start packing."

Eddie walked past you, ringed hand skittering across your waist, stopping to pull you into him, lips smashed to your in a sweetly steamy kiss.

He pulled back with a wet smack of his lips, grinning wide and bright back at you. "This is gonna be so fun. I can't fuckin' wait."

You giggled in response, brain fuzzy and gooey with a warmth you'd never felt before, not with anyone other than Eddie. Love blinded, completely and utterly by him. Willing to follow him anywhere, and do anything with him, which is why you dialed the phone, feeling like you could float on air as you leaned against the counter, chatting with your family's personal assistant about the spontaneous plans. Jacques' snarly tone of disapproval when you mentioned Eddie couldn't even soil your mood, too stricken with excited affection to be anything other than giddy.

"Oh, what about this one?" Eddie lifted the metal Jack-O-Lantern, spinning it by the painted stem towards you. "This looks like you."

Nearly two hours after landing, you and Eddie hadn't wasted any time. Throwing your bags in the presidential suite before stepping into the chauffeured car, hauling to 5th Avenue.

"I do like that." Your lips curled, running a hand over the smooth surface. "That's really cute. Do they have two?"

"Yeah, they've got a bunch. Look this one has a different face." Eddie beamed with pride, grabbing the other pumpkin, a little taller than the others, making a more shocked face rather than smiling like the other. "Do you want the exact same one?"

"No, I like the different ones. I think that would be pretty by the mantle. On the ledge?" You looked at him, and though you didn't say it, he knew you were looking for approval. Still a little apprehensive at the newness of decorating, unsure that you were doing it right, and just needing that extra push of confidence that Eddie always gave you.

"That would look amazing, yeah." Eddie grinned, curls bobbing as he nodded. He handed the two back to the eager sales person behind him, nodding with a muttered thanks as she took it to the front.

"What about some ghosts?" Eddie reached into the shelf, turning a stuffed ghost holding a stack of pumpkins around to show you. "That looks pretty cool."

"Can you... Do you think it'll match the other?" You bit your lip, fingers twirling the small pumpkin coasters against your palm nervously.

"Yeah, sweetheart, it's all Halloween." Eddie grinned softly, a hand on your hip, giving you a sweet, reassuring squeeze. "That's the great part about it, it's all on theme because it's all Halloween. Can't mess it up."

You relaxed under his touch, giving a quick nod. "I do like that." Your head tilted lightly, reaching out to feel the felt ghost. "It's cute."

Eddie nodded with a wide smile, picking it up and curling it against the leather of his jacket. "What about witches hats? Feel like you'd really like the witchy stuff."

"What's that supposed to mean?" You frowned playfully up at him, swallowing back a smile.

His hand moved to the small of your back, rubbing the skin that peeked out gently. "I dunno, you seem like a witchy woman, I guess." Eddie grinned playfully, giving a small shrug at your exaggerated gasp. "Seems like you'd really like that kinda stuff."

"Are you calling me a witch?" You pressed your lips together, slipping down the aisles towards the brooms and pointed hats.

"Nah, you're definitely more of a vampire vibe. Like Camille from Undying Love." Eddie snorted lightly.

"Why? Because I suck the life out of you?" You rolled your eyes, manicured nails raking over a pointed hat covered in stitched beads that made a sparkling spiderweb.

"Well, I mean, you're pretty good at sucking. Give amazing head, baby." Eddie snickered, his own cackles growing watching you squirm, eyes darting around to make sure no one heard.

"You're gross." You rolled your eyes, lips curling in a smug grin you couldn't fight back.

"Yeah, I think you like it." Eddie's hand dipped lower, squeezing your left ass cheek hard enough to have you squealing lightly, ducking down and nipping at the tip of your ear.

"Put it on." He nodded towards the hat your hand was still lingering on. "Wanna see you in it."

You scoffed lightly, picking up the witches hat. "Thought I was more of a vampire type."

"Yeah, I think you are, but I can't know for certain." Eddie shrugged, stepping back. "Lemme see you in it, then I'll make up my mind."

You snorted lightly, situating the witches hat on your head, spinning it so the long sheer fabric was in the back. You threw your hands out gently, pivoting from side to side sillily so Eddie could see, exaggeratedly modeling for him.

The loud wolf whistle he let out took you by surprise, had you jumping and snatching the hat off with a glare. "Ed-"

"-No, baby, that's definitely a keeper." Eddie laughed, uncaring about the others who turned towards the two of you. "I was wrong, you're definitely more of a witch. That looks so good on you."

You rolled your eyes, shaking your head. "You're relentless."

"And you're hot." Eddie grinned, tossing you a wink that had you bristling with excitement, turning and hoping he didn't see how flustered it made you.

"We'll be taking this, and definitely this too." Eddie turned to the sales associate, passing off the finds.

"Why are you getting the hat?" You lifted a brow, hand running down the bark of a 'witch broom' that hung on the rack. "Are you going to wear it?"

"Shit, I will if you want me to." Eddie flirted, smoothly sliding his hand back over your waist. "Was thinking you could wear it later tonight. Stop at Vivienne Westwood and pick you out something black and sexy. Really put you into costume."

"Is that right?" Your tongue ran over the inside of your cheek, trying to still yourself, hide your fluster.

"Yeah, c'mon, you know how I love when you dress up for me." Eddie's breath was hot on the shell of your ear, leaving you shuddering.

"Thought we were here for Halloween decorations?" Your voice was tight, far squeakier than what you were hoping.

"We're here for that too, but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun." He teased, fingers tickling up your waist. "Dressing up in a costume is apart of Halloween, anyways."

You hummed, grabbing at the ceramic bottles of potions, each etched with a different deadly name. "I like those, get those." Eddie nodded, grabbing one of each.

"I like the broom too." You tilted your head over to the one hanging. "And the cauldron. It says it turns on and makes sound."

"See?" Eddie smiled, chin hooking over your shoulder. "Knew you'd like the witchy stuff."

You giggled, turning so your noses were nearly touching. It was nice to be open and affectionate, not have to worry about sneaking around any more or saving the love for behind closed doors.

"It's more fun than the other stuff. Don't you think?" Your eyes batted sweetly at him. Eddie didn't know how to tell you that he'd agree with anything you said in that moment. Instead, he leaned forward, lips pressing against yours, a short but sweet kiss that had you both reeling.

"I love you." Eddie muttered, eyes rounded with affection, nearly drunk off his affection.

"I love you." You giggled, pressing your cheek to his. "This is a lot of fun. I can... I can see why you like it so much."

"Yeah, told you. This isn't even the best part. The best part is when you get to put it all up, ya know? Putting stuff where you want and makin' it all spooky and weird and Halloweeny." Eddie gushed with excitement.

"Yeah." Your tone dropped, looking down at the cauldron in your hand. "Guess I really missed out, huh?"

Eddie frowned, pulling back to look at you, his hand sliding over your jaw, cupping your cheek softly, pulling your gaze up to his. "Hey, c'mon, it's alright." He muttered, voice low in case others could hear.

He leaned forward, tip of his nose to yours, heart aching at the way your lip jutted lightly in a sad pout. "You're never gonna miss out again, alright? I promise you. I'll make sure you never miss out, and when we have our own kids, they won't miss out. Promise."

You moved into his hold, lips beginning to curl in a soft smile. "Thank you." Your voice barely a whisper, taking a slow, steadying breath in.

"I mean it." Eddie nodded fiercely. "You're locked in for life with me, baby, and I swear we'll decorate every single fuckin' holiday until we're a hundred years old."

You held his gaze, locking eyes in such a passionately fierce yet soft way, like you two were the only ones in the store- on the planet, maybe. It felt like that, it always did when you were with Eddie.

"Um," The timid voice of the sales associate brought you both back to reality. "I-I'm sorry, are you still finding everything ok?" She hesitated.

You pulled away, chin ducking with light embarrassment, but Eddie didn't seem bothered. "Yeah, we're gonna take these too." He nodded, passing her the ceramic figures and broom. "Oh, and this." He took the cauldron from you, passing it to her with a muttering of thanks.

"Let's keep looking. I think they said the outside stuff was over here." Eddie's hand found your back, pointing towards the next aisle.

"Outside? I thought you said you had your own outside stuff." You looked at him.

"I do, but I don't think it's really... you." Eddie looked at you with a small smile. "It's kinda scary shit. Not sure that's what you want."

"Do kids like it?"

"I don't know, actually. Never really had trick-or-treaters. I always have a party on Halloween, you remember." Eddie nodded lightly. You did remember, the infamous Halloween rager he had just a year ago. How you'd shown up in a skimpy little costume, resting on the arm of his sworn rival just to piss Eddie off. It had worked, of course, much to your discomfort. Your tummy flipped with heat, hairs raising on your spine at the memory.

"That's right. Are you doing that again this year?" You asked, passing by the plastic graveyard signs.

"I can, if you want." Eddie shrugged. "Up to you."

"Maybe have it start after trick-or-treating is done." Your eyes lingered over the costumes in the corner, a tiny bat onesie that had your heart swelling. "I want to pass out candy this year."

"Done." Eddie nodded. "Usually doesn't start until ten or eleven anyways. Gives us time to change. Shit, that reminds me, we gotta figure out a costume."

"I thought I already had a costume." You nodded towards the front where the witches hat was waiting behind the counter with the rest of your things. "Isn't that why we're going to Vivienne Westwood after this?"

"Nah, that's just for me, baby." Eddie grinned, pulling you close to him, pressing a kiss to your head. "That's your costume for me. We need something for the party. Somethin' cool and weird. Gotta be a good one, ya know? Our first Halloween together, together."

You giggled, shaking your head lightly. "I'm sure you'll come up with something good. You always do."

"Needs to be perfect." Eddie nodded, picking up a plastic headstone with Frankenstein's Bride etched on the front. "For my bride." He droned dramatically, leaving you laughing.

"Oh shit, wait, that's actually a good idea." Eddie's eyes lit up. "Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein- oh shit!" Eddie exclaimed, a little too loudly, other patrons glaring at him with cutting eyes.

"I gotta call Ricardo, see if his costume guy can make somethin' happen. Oh man, this is gonna be so good, babe. Gonna be the best fuckin' Halloween ever." Eddie babbled, excited and bubbly with ideas.

Your heart swelled, squeezing his hand in yours as you pulled him down the aisles, letting him ramble about his ideas, decorations, Halloween traditions- everything. You listened, just as excited as he was. You finally would get to have traditions of your own, with a man you loved, in your own home that you decorated with items you both picked out. No longer would the holidays feel meaningless and boring. You finally had what you always wanted, finally found with Eddie.

[katzkinder]

Today, the official servamp account made a tweet in celebration of Otogiri’s birthday on the 28th of September! Her favorite food is soba and she does karate for a hobby!

Under the cut I have some headcanons of my own for her, so please enjoy!

This one is my favorite and it’s that whenever Sakuya needs to have a teacher meet with his guardian she goes along with Tsubaki and they act super annoying to embarrass him lol. Like she dotes on him and calls him goofy pet names and pinches his cheek. On the occasions where he’s in trouble for something Team M view as justified, though, she puts on a face of “our perfect little angle? No, never, you must be mistaken”

This is still somewhat humiliating to Sakuya. She loves teasing him in her own way. Makes her miss Johannes.

Speaking of Johannes as kids he used to cut the hair off her dolls or tear their heads off. It’s fine she’d tie him to a tree with her jump rope and leave him there.

Karate was actually a hobby she picked up as a child for self defense purposes. She continues with it because it’s good to help her destress, especially when doing her forms. Something about the rhythm of them helps her clear her mind

She writes fan fiction and will die if anyone finds her ao3 account

I headcanon her, personally, as wlw (not sure what flavor though. Just in general) A major part of this is because she’s the only female member of the cast you can gift chocolate to during the valentine’s event at TanakaBox! I’ll put a link to the event translation in a reblog later

Because she’s so busty, she has a fair bit of problems buying bras she likes that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Living with Tsubaki and working for him means money is no object, of course, but it’s the principle of it. Belkia surprises her once with a custom replica of Madonna’s cone bra corset in bedazzled hot pink. She needed to take several moments.

She did in fact try the whole thing on for him. She felt ridiculous. She also loved how silly the whole affair was. Far too often people get weird about the size of her chest and it makes her so uncomfortable, but with team M… It’s just another body part. She can relax around them

Speaking of people being weird about her body, this is a headcanon Yarra told me that I loved so much I adopted it immediately. She used to go out late at night into seedier parts of Tokyo trying to find men who would start trying to feel her up or force the issue after she rejected their advances, so that she could kill them without feeling guilty, using them as proxies for the doctor who assaulted her. This was not actually a healthy way to cope.

She wants to do a soba tour. Just go around the country trying all different types of soba. One day she wishes to be able to boast she’s had every soba from every restaurant in japan. For now she’s working her way through Tokyo. She’s a subclass so she has all the time in the world to do it.

The entire hotel is (was) outfitted with her strings. They kind of acted as an early warning system. It’s a strange kind of magic that doesn’t seem to have much limits in the way of distance so long as the space she’s in is enclosed.

During holiday seasons, especially Halloween, Christmas, or New Years, these become places for decorations to be hung.

She truly cherishes everything Tsubaki has done for her. The one regret she has about being a subclass is that she had to kill herself for the chance to meet so many wonderful people. She thinks if she’d had anything remotely close to this while human, she would have found the strength to keep living.

They’re her family. Someday, she hopes Hansel can also be part of it again.

[nickgerlich]

Forks And Napkins And Burritos

Eleven of the twelve months have some notable day, either a federally observed holiday, or a socially recognized day worth noting, and as is often the case, celebrating. August is the only month with nothing; sometimes April joins August if Easter comes early, but it typically falls in that month.

Mothers Day and Fathers Day are in May and June, respectively. St. Patrick’s Day is a rite of Spring, even if we aren’t really all that Irish. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day fill the winter months, Valentine’s Day causes couples to get all amorous in February, then we honor our war dead in May, laborers in September, and independence in July.

That leaves October, and it can only mean one thing: Halloween. While the day is technically All Hallows’ Eve, and tied to the Christian observance of All Hallows’ Day on the 1st of November, somewhere along the line it was twisted into ghosts, goblins, tricking, treating, and silly costumes. And we love it, to the tune of $12.2 billion in Halloween-related sales last year. About 73% of Americans participate in the shenanigans, and I am betting few if any are concerned with the religious aspect once the calendar page is flipped.

So large is the business of Halloween that seasonal retailer Spirit Halloween has come to dominate sales. The chain, which is owned by Spencer Gifts, typically rents vacant storefronts in malls and strip centers for a few months each year, usually starting in August. It is so ubiquitous that it has even become the butt of jokes.

But it is also highly respected, which explains why Chipotle partnered with them to sell several bodysuit costumes promoting the burrito chain. As if wrapping burritos in foil weren’t enough, now fans can wrap themselves in skin-tight polyester outfits designed to spoof the Chipotle napkin, fork, water cup, burrito and to-go bag.

As much as I was scratching my head on this one, I am also high-fiving the marketing genius. When you can get people to pay good money to promote your brand, you know you have hit a high point. The costumes sell for $40 online via Spirit Halloween.

The academic in me wants to dive a little deeper, though, into the consumer psyche. What is it about Halloween that so captivates people to want to decorate, splurge on candy to give away, and dress up as someone they aren’t? If anything, it’s the intersection of creativity and fantasy. Maybe you manufacture your own costume, like those crazy head-turning ones that look like two persons but with only one person inside. Or perhaps you go as a celebrity, the opposite gender, a star athlete. The sky’s the limit.

And maybe that’s just it. You would never do that any other time of the year, but you can do—and be—whatever and whomever you want to be at Halloween. It’s ok. It’s socially acceptable. Forget about all those social norms you read about in text books that regulate what we can and can’t do, at least without raising the eyebrows of the general public. Furthermore, what many years ago was something primarily done by children, it now seems the adults have as much or more fun dressing up as their kids.

To be fair, we do that a little in March, wearing green and sporting shamrocks to honor a dead saint with a dubious story. But that’s about it when it comes to cosplay and all that, unless we are attending Comicon, a Civil War re-enactment, or a Ren Faire.

The level of participation in this seasonal distraction (some might call it an indiscretion as well) comes out to about $50.60 per person for the 73% of us participating. That should cover the Chipotle costume and a couple of bags of candy to hand out to the little ones. Not bad for a “holiday” most of us know little about, or even care to learn.

Maybe I’ll go as a fork.

Dr “Burritoful Idea” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[shipskicksandgiggles]

Title: The Gift of You

Pairing(s): Harley Keener x Peter Parker, other background relationships

Summary: So, yes Valentine's Day is a scam. Yes, it's stupid that couple's get their own holiday that isn't their anniversary. Yes Harley wants it anyways. Sue him.

Warnings: none

AO3 Link: x

~~~

If he didn’t know any better, Harley would have thought that Peter was pissed about decorating for Valentine’s Day. He owed the president of the campus GSA a couple of favors, which she decided to use to make him decorate the rec room for the holiday. He suspected she was just out with her girlfriend, but it was something to do, and he’d asked Peter to come along and help. 

“If you didn’t want to help, you could have said no.”

“What?”

“I just mean, I wouldn’t care if you didn’t want to be here.”

Peter gave him an irritated look. “I don’t mind helping you out.”

“Obviously. And that’s why you’re staring at those streamers like they’ve personally offended you. Everything okay?”

Harley set down the poster he was about to tape to the wall and went to sit behind Peter who was twisting red and white streamers together so he could hang them from the ceiling and hooked his chin over Peter’s shoulder. 

“What are you doing?”

He poked his side. 

“Dude.”

He poked him again, and he noticed the almost-smile on Peter’s face. 

“Stop,” he whined. 

“So stop moping,” Harley teased. “Seriously man, what gives?”

“Guess I’m just not as into it this year,” Peter admitted. 

“You give couples a run for their money with how into Valentine’s Day you get.” Harley frowned. “Did something happen? Or someone happen?” He thought he knew everything about Peter, but he could always be wrong. 

“I think I just burned myself out. It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

Harley nodded sympathetically. “If you want to go home, you can. I’m not going to make you stay and do something that bums you out.”

“And leave you alone? You need a spotter to get up on a ladder, Harley. If I leave you alone, I will be concerned for your safety.”

He didn’t want to say Peter was right, but he had a point, so he let it drop. 

A few minutes later, Peter spoke back up. “Don’t you normally hate Valentine’s Day?”

“I mean, it’s no Halloween.”

“Yeah but like, you’re willingly decorating for a holiday I once heard you call ‘the worst stain on Hallmark Card Capitalism second only to Christmas’.”

Harley had called it that once. “Okay? I owed Liz a favor. It’s not like I chose how she called it in.”

“And you’re not bitching about it?”

“Do you have a point?”

Peter seemed to consider him carefully. “Did something happen to you? Someone? Are you a body double? Who are you and what have you done with my Harley?” he demanded. 

“Okay, you’ve officially lost your marbles.”

“So something did happen.” Peter’s eyes widened. “A guy? Girl? Enby? Some combination of all three?”

Harley rolled his eyes. “I will have you know that I actually came to a revelation this past year.”

“Oh?”

“No longer shall I moan and groan about all the sugar and sweetness I see walking down the street!”

Peter started laughing. “And why is that?”

“Self love is love too, bitch. I can buy myself candy and flowers and a stuffed animal and that’s just as good.”

“Can’t argue with that. Wanna tell me what prompted the attitude change?”

He raised an eyebrow. “There has to be an event? I can’t just reevaluate my outlook on life once in a while?”

“It’s a dramatic shift is all. Just curious if you had any inspiration.”

“Nope, just good old self care.” 

Peter gave him a doubtful look, but he didn’t push it anymore. The decorations didn’t take too much longer, and they decided to walk to get coffee before catching a ride home. 

~~~

Not that he would ever admit it, but there was absolutely a reason for his shift in attitude around Valentine’s Day. His biggest issue had never been the fakeness of the holiday, even though he totally complained about that more than once. Someone was probably keeping a running list of his pessimistic quotes about the holiday, but the ones he could remember were:

“Why are flowers considered a romantic gift? All they do is wilt and die. If they’re a metaphor for something, I have some serious questions.”

“Yes, because everyone wants an anatomically incorrect heart hanging somewhere on their body. That makes perfect sense.”

“So we’re just not going to talk about how Halloween is the official candy holiday? If you think about it, Valentine’s Day is a knock-off Halloween with worse lies.”

...yeah that last one had gotten a lot of shocked gasps from anyone who heard that. He stood by it. 

The point is he had finally found the time to do some serious reevaluations of his life. People were starting to tell him he had serious problems with cynicism especially when it related to romance, and he couldn’t say he disagreed. 

So he’d done the most logical thing he could in that situation. 

Actually that’s a lie. He did the second most logical thing. The most logical thing would have been just going to therapy. 

Instead he called MJ at 3 in the morning, crying his eyes out because he realized he wanted the kind of love that warranted flowers and candy and cheesy cards. 

Worst of all, he realized that he wanted a particular someone to do all of it with. 

She listened to the whole breakdown before telling him to hold on, and then she hung up. An hour later, she showed up at his door with a half gallon of lemon ice cream and strawberry licorice. 

He felt a lot better after that.

Somehow, he got to the point where he accepted it. He started thinking about how if Peter could have a positive outlook on a romantic holiday no matter what his relationship status, he could too. 

Self love is a perfectly valid form of love, he decided. 

He even had a list of things he always wanted to get for Valentine’s Day pinned to the back of his bedroom door so he would remember to pick them up at the store. 

The biggest teddy bear he could find

Dark chocolate

Strawberry licorice

Lemon ice cream

A bouquet of roses

Puzzles and a new blanket were also tentatively etched at the bottom of the list. He’d decide when he got there. 

The point is, he was ready to actually not be an ass about the holiday for once, and he was really proud of that. 

Peter being less than enthusiastic was throwing all sorts of alarms his way. 

Their conversation at the school was in direct contrast to how the two of them usually acted, and Harley was tempted to reach out again just to see if he needed anything. 

He sighed and pulled his phone off his charger. 

From Harley: hey, want to go valentines shopping with me and see if we can’t find anything that’ll cheer you up?

Typing bubbles popped up almost immediately. 

From Peter: not scared I’ll bring you down?

From Harley: the goal is literally to make you not bitchy, I think we’ll be fine

From Peter: when and where?

From Harley: tomorrow after your last class gets out. I’ll drive

~~~

“What the hell are we supposed to be getting?” Peter asked as he landed in the passenger’s seat. 

“You don’t have a list of shit you always wanted someone to get you for Valentine’s Day?”

“You do?”

Harley refused to meet his eye. “Obviously.”

“Oh my god, don’t tell me you’re a closeted romantic.”

“Hey now, I was a lotta things in the closet, but a romantic wasn’t one of them.”

Peter snorted. “Holy shit, I never knew you actually liked the idea of romance.”

“Why wouldn’t I like romance?”

“Harley, honey, as long as I have known you, any time someone has even thought about mentioning something about love, you start being all doom and gloom about it.”

“I resent that.”

“It’s true!”

“I don’t have to deal with this. Get out of my car, I’m not taking you with me anymore.”

Peter locked the doors. “This is Tony’s car, I’m not doing shit. And I am coming with you because I feel like I’ve lost all grasp on reality now that I know you’re secretly fucking adorable.”

“That is categorically untrue, I am the most adorable person you’ll ever meet. It’s not a secret.”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you gonna fucking drive us somewhere or not?”

“Pushy.” Harley put the car in reverse and started on the route to their first stop. “Do you want me to tell you where we’re going?”

“Sure.”

“Okay so I was just going to stick around that one neighborhood of really cute small businesses that’s right near the Tower because they have the ice cream place and flower shop I like, but I think we should hit Target first.”

“Really?”

He shrugged. “Hey, it’s the place to get cheesy cards and stuffed animals without ordering them online.”

“Fair enough.”

~~~

They pulled into the parking lot and Harley pulled into a spot. Before he could reach to unbuckle his seatbelt, Peter grabbed his wrist. 

“We should make this a little more interesting.”

“Oh no.”

“Don’t give me that look! I was just thinking-”

“-that is a terrible start to anything you say-”

“-I think we know each other pretty well. We should try and shop for each other! And then like reveal everything at the end of the day once we’re back home.”

Harley regrets a lot of things. Mainly this. “I will agree to this with one caveat.”

“And what would that be?”

“I reserve the right to go back and get the things I was planning to buy for myself if you get it wrong.”

Peter nodded. “Completely fair.”

~~~

“Okay,” Harley said once they made it into the store. “How much time do you think you’ll need to find what you think I want from here? Half hour?”

“Yeah that should do it,” Peter answered as he checked his phone. “Meet back here in half an hour?”

“Sure. Ready, set, go!”

Harley and Peter took off in opposite directions with Harley headed towards the back of the store. His plan was to work his way forward in order to grab everything he thought Peter would want. 

First: seasonal shit.

Lord have mercy on his soul, the whole area looked like Cupid had shot himself with his own arrow. He took a deep breath and scanned the isles. 

Decorations, hand towels, those cheesy cards kids pass out in elementary school, and there! Harley darted towards where they had those chocolate boxes. He thought they tasted like cardboard, but Peter loved them, and if he was lucky…

He was lucky. There were Star Trek themed boxes. He found one without mint-filled chocolates (he must be insanely lucky today) and threw it in the basket he grabbed from the front of the store. Then he went into the next isle to try and find a stuffed animal. 

Peter had been on a thing about raccoons recently. Harley found the biggest one he could and shoved that in the basket too. 

He did one more quick scan of the Valentine’s section and picked up some gift wrap and a box of shitty Valentine’s cards he wanted to stick to the rest of the Avenger’s doors before he ran off to another part of the store. 

It took just over five minutes to find everything for phase one. Phase two was going to be a bit more difficult. 

Harley paused near the hardware section and took stock. The not-childish cards were near the front of the store which meant he would grab one of those last, but he was picky about cards so he would need time for it. 

Knowing Peter, he’d buy himself themed socks. Those would most likely be in the clothing department since he didn’t see them in Seasonal. Or maybe he’d overlooked them? Chances are they’d be both places anyways, so it probably didn’t matter. 

He took a deep breath. Before he did that, he needed to find a yo-yo. He’d overheard Tony talking about how he fidgets and maybe being able to replicate the swinging of webs with yo-yos, and Peter had gotten really excited about it. 

20 minutes left to go. 

~~~

The cards took as long as expected, so Harley managed to check out and be waiting by the door with two whole minutes to spare. 

Peter appeared next to him when his timer hit zero. 

“Ready to move on?”

He nodded, and they walked about to the car. 

Harley unlocked it and popped the trunk. “Here’s how this is gonna work.” He pulled his toolbox and jumper cables forward and positioned them in the middle. “The stuff you buy is going on the right side of the line, and the stuff I buy goes on the left. I have blankets we can cover shit with so we don’t see what we bought each other.”

“Okay. Hand me a blanket.” Peter got to work setting his bags in the trunk and covered them up securely, and Harley did the same. 

They hopped back into the car and Harley put in the coordinates for their next stop. On the way there, Peter started telling him about the crazy lady who’d mistaken him for her son and almost made him late getting back to the front of the store. Harley was laughing so hard he almost missed their exit. 

Once they made it to the street with all the shops Harley had planned to go to, they found parking and made to split up again. 

“Time?”

Peter thought for a moment. “Bigger area to cover. 2 hours, and I get access to the car so I can drop shit off occasionally.”

That was fair, Harley supposed. He tapped on the dash. “Car’s coded to your fingerprints already, you just need the spare key.” 

“We have spare car keys?”

Harley knew that Tony had a thing about car keys. He knew why too, he was there when the incident happened. 

“Yes.” He dug in the console for it. “Here.”

“...huh.”

He set the timer on his phone. “Two hours starts… now.”

~~~

Harley waited a minute to get out of the car, but Peter was already long gone, clearly on a mission for God knows what. 

Maybe he did know him that well. 

Ideally, he’d have more time to plan, but Harley was going to have to improvise a little. 

Flowers: Peter likes daisies, forget-me-nots, roses, and small, classy accent flowers. (First stop. Need time to put the arrangement together. Pick up second to last)

Candy: Better quality chocolate than the Star Trek box, preferably dark, maybe something with peanut butter, and definitely something with caramel. (20-30 minutes)

Ice Cream: Blueberry Cheesecake, and he needed to buy extra graham cracker crumble that he’d give him separately. (5-10 minutes. Last stop)

Bakery: Whatever was raspberry filled. Also croissants. (30-45 minutes. The place typically had a line)

Harley stared at his hastily scrawled list. He had time to pick up a cup of coffee too, and maybe even that specialty hot cocoa mix the shop had in the winter. 

He added it to the list. 

~~~

It managed to work out that he never crossed paths with Peter, not even while making trips back to the car. 

The errands also managed to only take about an hour and 20 minutes. He was going to have to send the ladies at the flower shop a fruit basket. 

Instead of sitting in the car for the last little while, he wandered around looking at the nearby shops he hadn’t really considered while he was focused on his list. 

He ended up with little gifts for the team too. A special edition copy of that book Bucky wanted, a watercolor palette for Steve, a puzzle game Tony and Bruce were going to get a kick out of, another arc reactor pin for Rhodey because Harley knew he was planning some big thing for Tony and needed as many as he could get, a new record for Sam, a commemorative Avenger’s keychain for Clint because for some goddamn reason he collects them, a little snake plushie for Thor, and an insanely soft sweater for Natasha. 

Harley finished putting everything in the backseat when Peter opened the trunk. 

“Got everything?” he called. 

“I think so,” Harley grunted when he hit his head on the roof. “You?”

“Oh definitely. Let’s head home. I say we take a break and give each other the gifts after team movie night.”

He couldn’t agree more. “I need a fucking nap.”

Peter just laughed at him. 

~~~

Actually getting back into the Tower and onto their floors was much more complicated than they expected. Harley made Peter take the stairs. 

He put everything away first so nothing would melt or fall apart on him before he could put the gifts together, but he managed to get in a nap before they were called to dinner. 

Tony made fun of him for being a stereotypical college student, so he was bumped to Harley’s least favorite Avenger. Thor took second place when he let him lean on him so Harley didn’t have to stand on his own. If it hadn’t been for Natasha, he’d probably have taken first.

“Where were you two all day?” Sam asked after they all sat down. 

“Valentine’s Day shopping,” Harley answered. 

Steve glanced between him and Peter. “You two have people to shop for?”

Bucky spit out his water and smacked the back of his head. “Steve!”

“I didn’t mean it like that! I just mean we haven’t heard anything about their significant others, so I was confused!”

Natasha looked like she was about to fall off her chair. “There are other ways to word that, Steve,” she wheezed. 

“Well I for one thinks Steve makes an excellent point,” Tony said. “Who were you shopping for?”

“Each other.”

Peter’s answer caused the whole table to pause for a moment before there was a lot of noise. 

A lot. 

Harley couldn’t even breathe, he was laughing so hard. 

Half of them were yelling about the ‘How/When/Where/Why’ of the scenario, Tony was at a genuine loss for words, and the remaining adults were congratulating them on getting together. 

“We really need to work on the communication skills on this team,” Peter muttered. Then louder, “We’re not together, we were just messing around.”

The silence returned. 

Rhodey looked the most lost. “You’re gonna have to walk us through this one, kids.”

They exchanged a look, and Harley launched into the story of how they got to where they are now. 

After he finished, the room let out a collective “Ohhhhh, okay” and went back to socializing like normal, if with a few more jabs about the boys being ‘together’.

~~~

Tony gave them an hour to do whatever after dinner so he could get the movie set up in the living room. 

Romantic movies weren’t Harley’s thing, but he heard a rumor that they were watching Tangled so he wasn’t mad about it. Anyways, he was starting to look forward to giving Peter his valentine afterwards. 

The box was easy to prepare. He still left some things out until the last minute just so the ice cream wouldn’t melt and the flowers wouldn’t get crushed. Once he was done, he packed up all of the Avenger’s things and set out to find them. 

He left most of the gifts in front of people’s doors, but he ran into Bucky so he just handed the bag to him. Bucky hugged him upon opening it. 

Rhodey’s was also hand delivered. Tony wasn’t allowed to know what his husband was up to, so it had to be very secretive. 

Because Tony and Bruce’s were for both of them, he left it in the lab they used together most often and sent them both a text. They were both excited about it based on the number of exclamation points thrown around. 

Harley made it back upstairs and slipped into his pajamas before heading downstairs. Nat met him with a bowl of popcorn and a kiss on the cheek. She must have liked the sweater. 

He flopped onto a beanbag, and Peter sat on the one next to him a moment later. “20 minutes after the movie ends, we can meet on my floor.”

“30. I still have things to put together,” Peter told him. 

“30 minutes then.” He held out his bowl of popcorn to share, and once everyone joined them, they started the movie. 

The rumors were true. It was Tangled.

~~~

The movie ended and they stayed to chat for a bit before heading upstairs. 

“Half hour, Keener. You better be ready.”

“I thought you were the one that wasn’t ready, Parker.”

Peter rolled his eyes. “Shut up. You know what I mean.”

Harley smiled and walked out onto his floor. “See you in a bit, my flower.”

“Don’t you quote Tangled  at me, you piece of-”

The elevator door closed before the yelling could continue. “Thank you, JARVIS.”

“It was simply good timing, sir.”

“I’m sure.”

Harley was pretty much ready, so he decided to shower quickly before Peter came up. He pulled on his old Rose Hill High shirt before he put the finishing touches on the gift. 

He closed the lid on the box just when the elevator dinged open. 

“You’re late.”

Peter glanced at his phone. “I’m early actually.”

“That’s a first.”

“Hey!”

Harley lifted the box and set it on the coffee table. “For you, dear.”

“All this?” Peter set his box down next to it and then sat down on the floor. “Here.”

“I have a couch.” He sat across from Peter on the floor. “You’re up first, sweetheart.”

Peter grabbed his box and opened it up. His reaction was immediate. “You got the ice cream I like! And the hot cocoa!”

“You think you’re the only one who pays attention around here? I know what you like.”

Every time he got to a new thing, he would gasp in excitement. The yo-yo caused a particularly strong reaction. “Did Mr. Stark tell you about this?”

“I was in the next room, and neither of you are quiet.”

He set down the toy and pulled Harley into a hug. “You’re the best.”

“Don’t say that! I have an ego problem.”

Peter snorted and dropped back onto the floor. “Open yours.”

The box had everything Harley would have bought for himself and more. Lemon ice cream, strawberry licorice, a huge teddy bear, and a new hexagonal rubix cube were surrounded by cute little trinkets that must have reminded him of Harley. There was even a NASA themed mug tucked in with his favorite cookies and the coffee syrup he secretly liked. And there was a small bouquet of roses, sunflowers, and baby's breath set off to the side. 

He could have cried. “I think I love you.”

Peter smiled softly at him. “There’s one more thing, but it didn’t fit in the box.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“You have to close your eyes so I can go get it, dumbass.”

Fair enough. He closed his eyes and heard Peter rustling around as he got up and started moving around. 

“Ready?” Peter sounded closer than he had a minute ago. 

“Sure. Just tell me when to open my eyes.”

He heard Peter move again, but he still didn’t open his eyes. Then, he felt something move close to him. 

Not something. Someone. 

Lips pressed against his, chaste and unsure. 

Fuck. Peter. 

He pulled away, but Harley caught his waist and dragged him back in. Peter settled into his lap, and Harley held him tighter. 

The second time they kissed, it was less gentle and more sure. Their lips moved together, and Harley didn’t even try to resist the urge to run his hands up and down Peter’s body. He never wanted it to stop. 

Peter tasted sweet like the ice cream he’d had, and salty, probably from the caramel. His heart was beating hard against Harley’s. 

“Is this okay?” Harley asked when they broke apart. 

There was a deep blush on Peter’s cheeks, and he was breathing heavier. “I mean, if it’s not I technically started it, so that would be my fault.”

“That’s not what I mean, Peter.”

“I want you,” Peter sighed. “I’ve wanted you for who knows how long and I just-” He entangled his fingers in Harley’s hair. “I needed to kiss you.”

Harley felt like something had freed itself from his lungs. “You’re incredible.”

Peter ducked his head in embarrassment. 

“I mean it baby, you’re incredible. So beautiful, so sweet. God, half the reason I hated Valentine’s Day so much was because I couldn’t kiss you and you-” he reached up to hold Peter’s face- “you just kissed me.”

“We could always do it again,” Peter suggested innocently. 

He was happy to oblige. 

~~~

In the end, their ice cream almost melted. Peter had physically shoved himself off of Harley when he remembered. 

Then Harley had lifted him onto the kitchen counter to keep kissing him. It was honestly a dream come true. 

Or you know, a nightmare for Tony when he was the first to see them at breakfast the next morning. 

They walked in together, hand in hand. Peter was wearing one of Harley’s sweatshirts, and Harley wouldn’t stop peppering his face with kisses. 

Harley was pretty sure they could hear Tony’s shrieks from the basement.

[skateboardtotheheart]

Domestic Headcanons

I wrote a fic in which the band were all alive and living together in their early twenties, and @zendrella sent me questions about what them all living together would be like.

**Established Willex, Julynn, and Ruke/PeterPatter in these**

- The band moved in to a large, expensive Hollywood apartment when the boys were 19 and Julie was 18. Their first two albums, released when they were all still in high school, had blown up across the country and the world, so they had plenty of money. They were able to buy their own apartment/house/whatever you want to call it with four bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and an in-unit washer/dryer

- They still use the Molina’s garage as their studio- partially out of nostalgia because they have so many good memories there and partially out of convenience because Ray doesn’t make them pay and Julie gets to see her family pretty much every day

This got really long so read more under the cut!!

- Since they were already with their significant others when they moved in, Julie and Alex had offered for Flynn and Willie to live with them, too; they certainly had the space. Both turned down the offer, though, because Flynn was attending UCLA for music business and wanted the dorm experiences, and the apartment was just a little too far of a commute for Willie when he had to work at the Hollywood Ghost Club, so the skater has his own place that wasn’t too far away from the band’s

- It takes another two years after they all move in for Reggie and Luke to get together. Julie had been dating Flynn for six months by the time they got the apartment, and Willie and Alex had been together since they were 17. The four of them team up to stage an Intervention with Luke and Reggie so they would finally admit their feelings

- After the Intervention, suddenly Reggie's room becomes completely useless because he's always sleeping in Luke's. Eventually (read: within a week) it becomes their room, and they turn Reggie's old room into a guest space for Julie or Luke's families, or as the space they go to when they want to have a sleepover in their own house (usually with Flynn and Willie, too)

- When it comes to cooking, Julie is surprisingly enough the one Not Allowed in the kitchen. Yeah, she can cook pasta and stuff, but one time she tried to make one of her aunt's recipes for the boys and accidentally set off every fire alarm in their Very Large apartment and maybe a couple of the ones in the apartment above them too

- None of them are great bakers, honestly, but since they're at the studio basically every day, Ray is constantly sending them home with different baked goods from both him and Victoria. When it comes to cookies, though?? There is not a single chef/baker in the world who compares to Luke's cookies. He's never burned them once, can make basically any type the band can think of, and he never uses a recipe??? They're just freaking perfect every time and the rest of them Do Not Understand

- Luke stress bakes most often, but sometimes it’s Reggie in the kitchen at 3AM and he makes the best pie any of them have ever tasted???  But if you try to get Reggie to bake at any other time it always comes out burned or misshapen or just something's a little off and you can't tell what but it's possible he mixed up the baking powder and baking soda and holy fuck Reg is this olive oil???

-  Reggie makes the best coffee, but he also disgusts each and every one of them because he drinks it black??? What the fuck, man???

- Alex does the cooking more often than not, with a few nights a week reserved for Luke or Reggie to make dinner, but it's Luke who's in charge of grocery shopping. You'd think, like the rest of his life, it would be a chaotic mess, but in reality he would always go grocery shopping with his mom, every time without fail until he moved out. Emily always knew all the best deals, where to get the Good Coupons, and how to masterfully budget the amount of groceries they would need. She didn't even really teach Luke, but he'd managed to pick it all up. They discovered this the first time the band tried to go shopping, when the rest of them were confused and goofing off a little and Luke came out of nowhere with price calculations in his head and telling them "no, no, no, grab this one, it's less expensive and actually tastes better”

- Whenever they do the dishes, Luke is not allowed to put things away because even thought they’ve lived there for two years already he's the only one who does not seem to understand that THE SILVERWARE GOES IN THE DRAWER BY THE STOVE and THE GLASSES DO NOT GO WITH THE PLATES

- When they can’t sleep, they all get midnight snacks, but Alex is the most likely to get one almost every night. It surprises all of them because Alex is the healthiest eater yet his midnight snacks are always something sugary or very much not his usual healthy food. They lowkey blame Willie for getting Alex hooked on certain sugary foods because the skater has the Sweetest of sweet tooths

- They all stay up way too late, but it's a different person depending on the night. If they've done a gig or a concert, then it's definitely all of them. On weekends Alex and Reggie like to stay up late together to watch SNL reruns. Sometimes Luke and Julie have to physically be dragged to bed because they're working themselves ragged over a new song. Since Alex and Julie don’t get to spend as many nights with their significant others, if Willie or Flynn is over chances are everyone is getting less sleep than usual. Sometimes it’s because the couples get a little too loud and sometimes it’s just the excitement of seeing each other and all six of them start goofing off around the apartment

- Reggie is the designated "would you please go tell the neighbors to fuck off" person. Reggie loves talking to people even though he's kind of an introvert, and when they were moving in he made an effort to go say hi and introduce himself. Reggie has by far the best relationship with their neighbors, so he's usually the one who kindly asks them to quiet down a little because Luke and Julie are in Writing Mood and the noise is making them stressed, which is making Alex stressed, which makes Reggie want to vacate the premises as soon as humanly possible. Considering they're a band in their early 20s, the four of them are actually the quietest apartment in the building

- Julie, though, Julie's the one willing to yell at their neighbors. She may be small and innocent looking, and she really does hate confrontation, but she can destroy you with a single damn look that makes you regret your entire life. The other three just let stuff go usually, but after about 10 incidents of neighbor issues that aren't noise, Julie gets ready to blow and the boys just stand back and let it happen. They tried to stop her once and just got caught in the crossfire. It's even worse if Flynn has been staying over when Julie gets mad because Flynn will hype her up and support her even if she has no idea what the neighbors did

- For the most part they all do their own laundry because they have an in-unit washer dryer, so it's easy to just throw in a load, but if they're doing all their clothes or towels and things at once, Julie is definitely in charge of the laundry. The boys do not understand the concept of delicates or how to properly wash bras and things, so Julie does Not let them touch her clothes. She's had too many shirts shrunk in the wash because of them. And the boys' clothes never seem to come out cleaner than when Julie washes them. The one thing they all insist on washing themselves are underwear and sheets (because let's face it, all of them are in a relationship and things are bound to get at least a little messy, and they might be Close with each other, but no one needs to deal with that when doing the laundry)

- When it comes to holidays, decorating is always, always, always a group activity. They invite Flynn and Willie over when they do, and it becomes like a little party with the six of them. They dress up for whatever they're decorating for (in Halloween costumes, Santa hats and reindeer antlers for Christmas, reds and pinks for Valentine's day) and make hot chocolate, no matter the time of year. The entire apartment looks like holidays threw up on it, but it makes them smile and laugh every time, so they always do it

That’s all I’ve got right now!! If you have any questions about who does what or anything, feel free to send them my way and maybe I’ll do a part 2!! If you made it this far thank you very much for reading and I hope you enjoyed <3

[yandere-society]

The Ultimatum

Synopsis: Valentine’s Day has rolled around once again, and just like last year, you plan on spending it with none other than your emotional support dog. What you don’t know, however, is that you have an unexpected visitor awaiting for you at home.. and not only does he have a loaded gun on his hip, but he also has your beloved pet in his lap.

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Word Count: 6,000

Admin: @tatertotthethot​

Valentine’s Day Event Masterlist

Trigger warnings: yandere-themes, signs/mentioning of mental disorders such as: anxiety, depression, PTSD and dissociation; Mentions of gang violence; Depictions of gore; nonconsentual kissing (nothing sexual); no dogs were harmed in the making of this…

“Here you go, guys.” You said as you handed the couple across the counter their drinks. You returned their smiles and bid them a good day, but as soon as they turned away and linked their fingers together on the way out, your expression settled into one of disdain.

Baley, your manager, noticed it. But like always, she chose to ignore it. She’s very much use to your secretive, albeit bitter distaste towards romance. She’s been working along side you for two years now, and knows that you’re a big advocate for holiday decorations. You’ve decked the place out on Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas— even fucking Saint Patrick’s day. But for Valentine’s Day, all you did was slap some heart shaped stickers on the window and didn’t even look too happy to be doing that, either. But she’s never been one to push.

“Guess what I’m doing this evening,” She hinted, hanging the ‘closed’ sign on the door.

“Hm?” You asked, having zoned out while rinsing your shot glasses out.

“I’m gonna eat the rest of my edibles and read some alien erotica.”

Not expecting anything less from her, given her personality, you only choked out a laugh and shook your head. It’d be more amusing if you knew she wasn’t kidding. Baley has a weird obsession with aliens and you never took her serious about it until you bought her a tentacle dildo as a gag-gift on her birthday, and instead of laughing about it and going off into a banter like you were anticipating, she started screaming and jumping up and down like you just handed her the last Golden Ticket to the fucking chocolate factory.

“What about your boyfriend?” You asked, forcing yourself to engage in conversation to keep you from spiraling.

“He’s out of town. So I’ll be thinking of him as I read about the alien king abducting me and using my tenta-holes—“

“Never mind.” You cut her off, trying to let that lighten up the mood. You appreciated the effort, but it didn’t work. You just wanted today to be over.

It’d be a whole lot better if only you could tell her the truth and come clean about your past. But it’s not like she’d believe you, even if you had the guts. But in all honesty, her fantasy about alien abduction was more believable.

You’re a barista making $10 an hour, living paycheck to paycheck and inhabiting the house your grandmother left you in her will. You have no car, you rely on public transportation; all your clothes are from goodwill and when you’re not working at this shop, you spending your life in confinement of those walls with your dog, as a recluse.

If you even dared to tell Baley that, just three years ago, you were living in a million-dollar mansion in South Korea, and had a luxurious wardrobe from big-name designers and that you didn’t even own a pair of fucking socks that were under $100.. she’d look at you as if you were the alien. She wouldn’t entertain the bigger half of the story, about how you were engaged to a man who’s now serving a life sentence and could possibly be put on death row for committing a robbery that left one of the international banking systems short 23-million won— which would amount to be approximately 20 million dollars in America... you would’ve lost her at the word Fiancé.

It’d be easy to prove, though. Your associations to the crime may not show up in your background check, being as you’re back here in America and was never detained, and the news isn’t relevant enough to circulate here. However, a simple google search would reveal it all, even with pictures of you two in public.

But not even you wanted to look up his name to know what was going on with his case. You were still ambient to forget about him, in a way. You wanted to ignore his existence. You fucking loath that man.. you swear, you do.

You had fallen back into a brooding silence again without even meaning to, and although you were busily cleaning up off muscle memory, you were detached. He still has that effect on you. And truth be known, the first year you spent in lonesome isolation after leaving Korea was just a change of scenery but not very different from the lifestyle he had subjected you to. But even still, it was so much better than living with him at the estate. And now, with your dog Sweetpea there, you feel safe again. At least you were in the same place you grew up, and felt closer to your grandmother—

Fuck, you missed her so much. He wouldn’t even let you visit her in person before she past. The man owned his own private jet and it never had any maintenance problems until the one fucking night you needed to go back home. You only got to speak with her on the phone, and bawled your fucking eyes out and spewed out an incoherent apology just hours before her heart gave out. That’s when she told you that she left you the house, and how sorry she was for kicking you out of it because you didn’t pursue the career field she wanted you to go for.

If only they would’ve arrested Taehyung a month prior, you could’ve been there for her. You could’ve hugged her and the two of you could given each other the apology you both deserved.

“Hey..” Baley’s voice suddenly came to your left ear, the only one that you could actually hear out of. Your right one, despite being 80% deaf even with a functioning hear aid, was faintly ringing from the emotional tangent you had accidentally drifted into.

You looked over at her, and broke down. Although she could never fully understand, she still gave you an empathetic frown and was pulling you into a hug before you could sputter out an apology— not that there was any use for one.

You had secrets that still haunted you, and will always impair your daily life— much like your botched eardrum and this shitty device you spent way too much money on. That’s another thing you only had Kim Taehyung to thank for, along with your fucked up shoulder.

You had to carefully elevate your arms but eventually returned the hug and cried a little harder, not able to help it. Sweetpea was a great reciprocate for affection and did a swell job with distracting you, but as far as human comfort goes, you haven’t had so much as that in.. well, seven fucking years. Tae was always big on affection, and also comforted you when you needed it. But it was redundant and didn’t have a sincere effect, being as he was the very one that initially caused the hurt it derived from.

“I don’t know what the hell is going on with you, I never do... but I want you to know that I can see how strong you are. You’re doing a great job at making it through each day...” she muttered, rubbing your back as it shook with each silent sob. You felt bad when you heard her own voice beginning to thicken, but that was no surprise. She was a sympathizer and a little bit emo in general. Seeing others cry was enough to jerk a tear out of her, and you loved that about her. She’s a weirdo, but she’s pure, and she’s very good hearted. You could even say that you may have deeper feelings for her as well, and they may even be mutual, but you were no good for her. Hell, you were already putting her in enough danger just by being an employee at her shop. If you were to let your relationship stem past being friendly coworkers, or even hung out with her outside of work, that could pose an actual threat to her safety.

So, even though you wanted to lengthen the embrace, and longed to tighten your arms around her even more, you pulled back and wiped at your face, giving her a weak grin and a nod instead.

She squeezed your shoulders one last time before taking a step back, recollecting herself.

“You go home. I got everything else.”

You sheepishly nodded again, thanking her one last time before collecting your things and booking it out of there. Had you not felt so broken and defeated in that moment, you would’ve refused. But her show of affection triggered a deep, dire need to give and be given more comfort.

Fortunately for you, though, you had a special someone for that. Your dog is the only living creature on this planet that can be trusted with the revelations of your past. She’s the only reliance you have for receiving unconditional love and support without any judgment... probably because she doesn’t even understand what the fuck you’re saying half the time, nor can she repeat the shit you say, but as far as comfort goes, it’s always a guarantee.

— That’s just in her nature, like most pets. Pitbulls, however, are very sensitive and attentive to certain emotions— especially depression and anxiety. They’re just as good with protecting their owners, as well as they are with babysitting them. Everyone knows pitbulls have a notorious and misguided reputation for being aggressive. But little do most know, before dog fighting became a popular thing and defamed their personalities, pitbulls were primarily referred to as ‘Nanny dogs’. They’re great with babies in general, and very domestic and charismatic by nature. But despite being big, loveable goof balls themselves, they can literally sense stressful emotions and will know what type action to take in order to sedate them.

Sweetpea may not have professional training and certification but it is by her true nature and personality that you call her an Emotional Support Dog. When you’re having another one of your episodes— panic attacks, senseless paranoia, nightmares— she’s running to your aid and doing anything she can to distract and get you to play with her. When you’re depressed and spiraling into another breakdown, she licking at your face and sitting in your lap, not even seeing the problem with her being three times bigger than the average lap dog—

“Kneehemplamaforseeking?”

You sucked in a breath and blinked over at the PetsMart employee, smiling a few away from you. You probably looked lost, and in a way you quite literally were. You hardly remember walking in the direction of this store, let alone entering it. But this a common thing for you, so you easily just went on about your way despite the sudden worry of missing your bus... again.

“I’m sorry, what’d you say?” You had asked, turning your good ear towards her and watching her lips move.

“Do you need help looking for something?” She repeated, carefully annunciating her words this time, now that she could see the device in your ear. In today’s age, most people mistake it as a bluetooth— which has unknowingly saved you from accidentally talking to yourself in public, more than you would know.

You shook your head in response to the lady, and checked the time on your phone. You had 30 minutes left, thank God.

“No thanks. I’m just here to get some treats and waste some time before my bus comes. It’s windy as hell outside.”

“Ah, it certainly is,” she agreed, making her way to the next aisle. “Be safe out there!”

“I’ll try.” You muttered to yourself, grabbing a bag of bacon strips off the shelf— the very thing you had ultimately came for. It should’ve taken you no more than 5 minutes to grab and go. But it wasn’t uncommon for you to take much longer and aimlessly wonder down multiple aisles only to get one or two things from the same aisle, though. You do it at every store you go to, if you can stand to be outside of your home or away from work.

After checking out, you made it a mission to stay present until your bus came. By the time you got home, you were more stable.. up until the bus driver— a sweet elderly man who’s been transporting you on this route for last couple of years, handed you a rose on your way down the stairs.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, young lady.”

You had the strength to give him a genuine smile, but as soon as you stepped off and the doors closed, and the bus engine picked back up and left you with a gust of wind, you broke again.

Taehyung always gave you a bouquet of blood red roses for Valentine’s Day. He knew you were a sucker for them. And you still are, but sentiment wasn’t the only emotion to come now. They brought on an ache. A pain. A worry. A twinge of longing, but a fuckton of resentment.

You wanted to throw it on the ground and stomp at it.. better yet, you wanted to set it on fire and watch it burn while smoking a much needed cigarette. But first, you need to see your dog. You know she’s just as anxious to see you.

You trudged up to your door and was quick to unlock it... but frowned when you didn’t see her on the other side. Maybe it was because your ears were ringing again from how worked up you’d just gotten. But usually, the mere sound of your key twisting at the lock would have her running to the and practically beating it down, and you’d opened to see her gleefully wining out and wagging her tail.

But she wasn’t there.

“Sweetpea?” You called out, making it a point to swing the door shut behind you. Still, nothing—

Whimpering. You heard her whimpering and your head snapped over to the hallway. Your heart began to race. Your bed door was open, as always, and you could hear her in there but she wasn’t coming out. Only whimpering for you to come to her.

Fearing the worst, thinking perhaps she’d hurt herself to the extent that she couldn’t move, you barged down the hallway and listened with a sickening sense of uneasiness as her whimpering turned to muffled howls.

“Sweetpea, wha—“

You screamed. Sheer horror and white-hot adrenaline erupted through your veins and scorched your nerve endings, leaving you numb in the limb to the impact of the floor beneath your kneecaps. All you could feel was the volcanic eruption of despair in your chest and the strain in your diaphragm.

Sweetpea was okay, but very much in danger. She had a muzzle on, and her big, canopy-like ears were peeled back and her big, doughy eyes were wildly beading dead at you as she struggled and pawed at the carpet, watching you fall to you fall out. She was so worried to get to you but she couldn’t, do to the death grip of the man who was holding her by a leash. She couldn’t even interpret the lethality of the weapon that was also aimed at the back of her head— a glock you specially recall being the weapon of choice when Taehyung pistol whipped a man’s head open before emptying all twelve rounds in his magazine into his face.

Now, all you could envision was the same being done to that sweet face and big, bulbous head.

You screamed out and wailed even louder, not even looking at the intruder or registering who it was. Because you already fucking knew and in your mind it was too late.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” He roared, making you and Sweetpea flinch. You stopped screaming but your breath was ragged beyond your control. Your vision was bouncing between his fierce scowl and Sweetpea’s fearsome one. You dove forward, intending to crawl and beg but two pairs of shoes stepped out from where they’d been standing behind the door, and their hands gripped you by the biceps before hauling you up to your feet. You didn’t even try to resist them. You knew better than that. But fear still had you discombobulated and speaking out to yourself, feeling incredibly dizzy and disarrayed.

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”

“You’re not dreaming.” Taehyung snarled, palm itching to slap some sense into you. But even within the three years he’s spent in bitterness, it didn’t change the morality he did have in relations to you. He’d never hit you out of anger.

But then he realized the real reason why you were saying that, when your knees suddenly gave out and the hold his men had on you became the only thing keeping you up right as you fainted out. He didn’t realize you still had that problem, and it hurt him to see that now.

Back when he had you in his possession, you had accidentally witnessed an execution down in the basement of his mansion. It was the first time you fainted, a d your body came toppling down a good ten-or-so steps, which were made of cement, and you were lucky to have only broken your nose and dislocated your shoulder.

Guilt crashed over him, suddenly. He meant to terrorize you in a way that wasted little time to gain submission, but he didn’t mean to trigger your PTSD— although he knew it was likely. Given the resolve, he put the gun back in its holster and stood up, beckoning for Yoongi to take the leash. Jungkook easily held you up by the waste and waited to pass you off to your fiancé before bringing your wrists behind your back. You slowly came to as he did so, and your head lolled back up only for your entire body to snap back into attention all at once, now that you were face to face with the Devil himself.

“Come on, you fucking idiot!”

Your head snapped over and you began to panic again as Yoongi fought with your, trying to drag her over to her cage by the leash. She was putting up one hell of a fight and audibly wheezing from the choke, her eyes now bulging as she looked at you.

You bucked against the both of them, your maternal instincts causing you to go feral as you saw red.

“QUIT! YOU’RE FUCKING CHOKING HER, YOU FUCKING PRICK! PICK HER UP!”

“She’s too squirmy!” He shouted back, the shock of your outburst causing him to lose tension and Sweetpea lunged the both of them forward. Tae was shouting at Jungkook to hurry with the restraints and squeezing you tighter, but you were kicking and flailing like a fish out of water now.

“MAKE HIM STOP!” You cried out, but was forcefully silenced by the gigantic hand that grabbled around the entire bottom half of your face— including your nose. Having been in this situation before, knowing his antics, you knew he wasn’t going to let you breathe again until you did as told. So you were forced to settle down but was still desperately pleading with your eyes, crying as your dog continued to heave against the menstruations.

“Yoongi, for fuck sake, the dog is 50 pounds. Just pick her up and put your in the kennel.” Tae stressed, eyes still locked with yours.

With a grunt, Yoongi tackled your dog and trapped her in a bear hug, snatching her up off the ground. You wanted to scream at him again but you were actually starting to struggle for oxygen, chest jolting with an involuntary attempts to inhale.

“Alright, they’re on. I just gotta link them.”

Tae’s hand finally dropped and you hacked out, swallowing as much air as you could. Now that Sweetpea was safely in her cage, you had time to worry about your own safety, but the look on his face wasn’t giving off such a merciful vibe.

“You do whatever you want to me. I don’t care. I won’t fight back... but if you hurt my dog—“

“If I hurt your fucking dog, it’ll just be tough shit for you. I’ll still do whatever the hell I want and unless you need me to prove that, I suggest you stop with ultimatums..” he chuckled, but it sounded so cold and twisted. He was on the verge of snapping, and was fighting to keep as much composure as he could right now, for your sake.

But he was on a heist right now, you readied yourself for the unknown when he punctuated his sentence by grappling your throat with the same, vandalized and accessorized hand he just smothered you with— fingers digging in at the sides. Your breathing was once again constricted and your eyes reddened in strain, your voice dying out.

Tae may not beat you, but he knows your worse fear is dying by suffocation. Hence, why he’s so big in breath play.

“Can you?” He reiterated, snarling his teeth at you and revealing the top and bottom pair of golden, fang-shaped plates framing his pearly white canine teeth. Back in the day, you found them so extravagant and tasteful, but now you found them all the more threatening.

He waited until your eyes began fluttered back before letting go again, and Jungkook’s body was the only thing that saved you from falling back. You never understood why, but for some reason, Jungkook was the only person Tae allowed to be in closer range of you, even when it wasn’t necessary. He even reminded you of that when Yoongi had stepped a little too close and Taehyung shot a glare over to him that had him taking a couple steps back. But Jungkook was apparently free to stand there, holding you up even as you regained your footing. You feared that one day it will all make sense, but for now, you were thankful that he was there to at least to save you from collapsing.

It’d be great if they weren’t even fucking here, at all.

“Go put the kennel in the car— not on the seats, though. Hobi will kill me if I fuck up the interior.”

“Please let me rehouse her.” You begged, cringing as his eyes returned to you. They looked even more colorless than before. “I’ll come with you, but I don’t want her there with us.”

“She’s fine. As long as she doesn’t shit and piss everywhere and doesn’t chew any of my shit, or try to attack me, I’ll let you keep her.”

“You were just holding a fucking gun to her head, Taehyung. Please let me rehouse her. My friend Baley will take her. All I gotta do is leave her in the cafe with a note— I have the keys. I’ll even let you write the fucking note yourself and we can go...” It was significantly getting harder to speak, now that your airways were irritated and your unsteady emotions were only making it worse.

You had already accepted your fate, but had a twinge of hope left that he’d at least hear you out on that request. His features had softened into a crestfallen display of guilt, and remorse. But your faith in him shattered all over again when he stubbornly shook his head and reached for the gun again. You were just about to throw another fit until he pulled the magazine out and showed it to you.

It was empty, until he pocketed it and pulled out a fully-loaded one and clipped it into place, before putting it back in the holster.

He tricked you, and although it was still pretty fucking evil, you were relieved. He never intended to shoot her and wouldn’t have been able to, even if his finger applied enough pressure on the trigger. But you were still very much in the midst of an abduction, and you still hated this man for what he was doing to you now.

“Why are here?” You croaked.

“To come get you and our new pet,” he announced, faking the enthusiasm before reinforcing his glare. “I’m... incredibly pissed about the fact that abandoned me.. but even more so offended by the negligence to stay updated.”

His eyes then caught the flash of a blue light at your ear. Your hearing aid was dying and faintly peeping in your ear. The remembrance had his entire demeanor shift to a sullen one, like a switch.

“But at the same time—“ his voice had fallen into a lower pitch, almost to the point of being a whisper as he stepped closer and easily molded his hands around your face. You suddenly felt fragile, but not in a way that made you giddy, like it use to. Now, you had to swallow down the bile in your throat and fight against the nausea as his suddenly lips came near.

“—It’s really hard take that out on you, when I can’t even blame you for it. But It’s been three fucking years, honey. Three. How could you not even have enough concern for my well being, to not even send a fucking post card? Did you really think you‘d never see me again, and that you had snuck away from me? I knew what you were doing, and where you were going before you even boarded your fucking flight.”

“You’re suppose to be in jail. I thought you were letting me go.”

“First of all, you didn’t even know the original plan to think that it had failed. All my charges have been dropped and the suspicion of my involvement dismissed. Namjoon has been found guilty and is now serving that sentence, like I had initially plotted from the beginning. You never knew shit to fucking assume anything!”

You glared at him despite the jolt that came with his drastic notch in volume, and not your tongue as he went on.

“But I did allow you to leave the country, but only to give you space and to let you touch base with... whatever the fuck it is that you still find valuable here. I didn’t think I’d have to clarify the circumstances of your stay, but for you to not even reach out.. and the fact you got some shitty, minimum wage job on top of it all, when you still have access to the saving account I’ve put in your name.. You really thought we were over? You haven’t even checked the news articles to see any updates on the case. I’ve been out for a week!”

He was still holding your face but his hands were shaking and the pressure was increasing again. He always pulls back and regains control over his temper before inflicting harm, but it’d be foolish to not expect him to one day lose that control. He’s hurt you on ‘accident’ before. He’s slaughtered many people, more than you’ll ever know to keep count. Nothing is sacred.

But now, you are a lot more contempt and able to tolerate the fear of him hurting you on impulse, being as Sweetpea was out of harms way and no longer in the room. You were still shaking though and had closed your eyes, bracing for it. But the jerk of shock only came when his suddenly lips covered your’s, and Jungkook finally backed away.

The kiss only lasted about three solid seconds before he pulled back, and was heavily panting through his nose. You dared to look up and caught a glimpse of the physical pain marring his features. His eyes had gone watery and his jaw began ticking like a time bomb, nostrils flaring and chest rising. He pressed his forehead against your’s and snaked his fingers into the hair at the nape of your neck, trying to fight off his own sobs and choking on them more and more with each second.

“You hate me.. you haven’t even missed me.” His voice was so thickened by his emotions that it deepened the natural richness he already had, making it sound contorted and almost inhuman. A tear dropped down his nose bridge and hit your quivering lips, and for the life of you, you couldn’t fight back the heart wrenching burn it inflicted on you.

How could you still feel anything for this man? It can’t be. It just fucking can’t be..

But it was. You were so bewildered and petrified by the oncoming sympathy that it stunned you into a froze state of shock. He kissed you again, thinking it was a show of fear for own safety— and he was right to interpret the fear, but it was with different cause. He was steadily conjuring up feelings that you wished you could’ve watched burn, like you had intended to do with the rose your bus driver gave you. But here you were, heart bleeding for him.

You still didn’t reciprocate the kiss but it brought on more involuntary anguish.. you cried harder and so did he, and as he leaned your head back to kiss at your neck, you stared in perplexing awe at the gigantic bouquet of roses sitting on your nightstand.

“It’s okay. I‘ve missed you too fucking much to punish you now.” He calmed, and took a good 30 seconds to regain his composure. There was still a groggy undertone in his next words, but once again, he was back in his domineering mindset. “But I ain’t cutting you that much slack.”

You yelped when he suddenly shoved you back, straight into Jungkook for the nth time. He heatedly wiped at his eyes and stepped back, and it was the first time you took in how much more muscular and rigid he’d become over the years.

Before, he was a lot more slender and you’re certain that the very shirt he’s wearing now use to be at least 2 sizes too big on him before.. however, the black silk was skin-tight and clinging to the humps of his biceps, and straining around the buttons between his pectorals. His skin was more pale than ever before but now you could see a tattoo curving along his temple, arcing aside the edge of his pierced brow. The word that was written in elegant, cursive writing made your heart palpitate and your stomach twist even more.

Honey. That was your signature endearment. That was the name you’d given him in place of your real one the very night he met you, and asked for it.

This crazy motherfucker really is obsessed with you. How he can lie to you, deceive you, punish you and drive you fucking bonkers and stalk you down only in the act of what he calls love.. and for it to actually be a form of true—albeit dangerous love, was beyond you.

The scripture on his handsome, albeit matured face distracted you for a few seconds. You snapped out of it when Jungkook suddenly hauled you up by the midsection and slammed you down on the bed, pinning his hand down between your shoulder blades and rendering you defenseless.

“What are you doing? Taehyung! Please! Get him off of me!”

“If I could trust you to stay still, I would.” His voice was neutral again, despite a offhanded sniff. You struggled to look back, but it was no use as he was standing out of view.

“Stay still for what?”

“Do you still have your ring?” He asked instead, ignoring you.

“It’s in my nightstand drawer. Now tell me—“

“Told you she kept it,” Jungkook finally spoke— and just like it was back then, it was a very rare occurrence for when he did speak on your behalf. That’s another thing nobody else dared to do, unless asked. But knowing that he was the one stalking you for Taehyung made you all the more disturbed with him.

“Fucking creep. You’re hurting me!” you screamed at him, and he had the audacity to increase pressure. Tae said nothing, nor did he stop his friend from retaliating.

“I also know about your little affair with your coworker. Since when did you start swinging both ways?”

“What are you talking about?” You growled, and he only snorted in response.

“She knows you like her. She knows you stare at her ass every time she bends over and that you bend over on purpose to make her look at yours. She knows you like it when she slaps it.”

You, one again, went unmoving.

Jeon Jungkook is her fucking boyfriend.

“What does Jk even stand for?”

“Jackson. But he doesn’t like to be called Jackie, and you know how I am about nicknames. So I call him JK.”

“Don’t you fucking hurt her, Jungkook. You leave her alone. Tae, don’t you let him—“

“Don’t you worry about me.”

“BALEY?!”

Baley walked into view, an unreadable expression on her face. The mere realization of what was happening finally over filled your mental tolerance and you brain suddenly launched you away from reality.

The beach. You were at the beach with your cousins, all of you a little over the age of 18. You were on spring break your senior year in highschool and talking about the future. Graduation. Prom. College~

“She’s zoned out.” Baley said, and Jungkook finally let go. You were indeed paralyzed and had completely dissociated, talking to yourself. Taehyung, with a fully-loaded syringe in his hand, leaned over to look at your face. Your pupils were dilated, eyes stargazing in general, lips softly moving as you babbled nonsense. He hated knowing that it was coming to this, but he swore he’d earn your forgiveness.

“I’m gonna get your ear fixed.. or at least get you a better device. We’re gonna be okay. We’re so fucking rich now, I don’t even know what to do with all our money— only to turn it into more. I won’t have to work as much. We can get married, have the best fucking honey moon we can imagine. We can get started on a family. I’ll win your dog over, too. I promise.”

He sank the needle into your bicep, and you didn’t even flinch. Only blinked in rhythm as a tear fell.

“I’m gonna be a forensic scientist, like Mawmaw wants me to be.” You incoherently muttered, having said that to your friend, Jessica, on the beach.

It was insensitive, but he couldn’t help but crack a grin at that. Whatever memory you were reliving at the moment, was quite sometime before you actually began your classes for such profession. He bent down and kissed your cheek one last time as he injected the entirety sedation serum into your system and pulled it out. But you were oblivious to it all.

“I think I’m smart enough...”

”You’re very book smart, baby. But you’re probably gonna drop out after three semesters and become a bar tender at a strip club, because you’re not fit to be a homicidal investigator. You’re too soft.”

“I’m not..”

“You sure?”

“I’m gonna be a forensic scientist, like Mawmaw wants me to be.”

“Well, you’re gonna become my wife before you become anything else.”

“Ew, don’t even play like that. You’re my cousin.”

“Jeez..” Baley muttered. “You really have driven her a little bat-shit, huh? This is way more disturbing than I anticipated—“

“Babe, lets go sit in the car. Come on,” Jungkook hurried, pulling her out of the room.

Taehyung continued to whisper sweet nothings into your deafened ear, but the last night you heard before it all went blank was the perfect, bittersweet saying that bidded you goodbye for the night.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Honey.”

[goldie90]

🌍 🎄 🎃 💗 👀 ~ rebeccaselfships

Hey Rebecca.😃

🌍How do you and your f/o feel about the world you live in? Is there something either or both of you would like to change about it? For better or worse?

Hmm... let me think for a moment.🤔 I think I can say for sure that one thing Nubbins would like to change is the whole thing with the new killing method at the slaughterhouse. See, when it became common to kill the animals with a gun instead of a hammer, my husband, his brother Bubba and many other men lost their jobs and that´s something Nubbins is still very sad about. Also, this whole matter was a big problem for our family, cause with Nubbins and Bubba being out of their jobs, me being a housewife, grandpa being way too old to do anything and Chop only having a little part time job back then (That was before he went to vietnam. He haven´t worked since then.), Drayton was suddenly the only one who really brought some money home and we are a family of six, so I think it´s no surprise that money got pretty tight at this point, which was the reason why we had to umm... change some things about our lifestyle and from the moment we did so, there was no turning back. Therefore I have to say that although I, just like everyone else in the family got used to it, I would also like to change this part, cause if this haven´t happened, we would still live a normal life.😩 Though Nubbins doesn´t feels any regrets about this part. He would like to have his job back simply because he loved his job, but he also loves our new lifestyle, especially because of the new possibilities it gives him.

🎄If you and your f/o celebrate Christmas - how do you celebrate it together? Please describe.

Oh, our Christmas celebration is always wonderful. We celebrate with the whole family and everyone of us has their own tasks for it. Drayton cooks the christmas dinner, while I´m responsible for baking cookies.🍪 Bubba usually helps me, while Nubbins and Chop are decorating the house, which means that Chop is putting christmas lights everywhere, while Nubbins decorates the tree with his self made decorations, which means that our tree alsways looks rather unusual, mostly because of the materials he uses.🦴🦷

Also, something that´s really cute is the fact that Bubba still believes in Santa Claus🎅 and no one has the heart to tell him the truth about it, so we all just play along with it (yes, even Drayton).😊 And when on christmas eve Bubba provides milk🥛 and cookies🍪 for Santa before he goes to bed, Nubbins and Chop always start to fight about the cookies as soon as Bubba went to his room.🙄 

So you see, Christmas in our house is always a little bit chaotic, but it´s also a lot of fun and a wonderful opportunity for us to spend time as a family together.💖

🎃Do you and your f/o celebrate Halloween? If you do, tell us how you like to celebrate it.

We don´t really celebrate it. Usually we just stay at home and watch some scary movies, while we have a few drinks.🥂 

💗How do the two of you celebrate Valentine´s day?

It differs every year, cause Nubbins is always the one who plans our Valentine´s day dates and he loves to surprise me, so I never know what to expect. (Although midnight picnics in the graveyard seem to be one of his favorite activities for this day.)😅 Sometimes he also takes me out to a restaurant, or to the movie theater. And of course, he always gives me a nice gift,🎁 just like I do for him. Also, I´m always baking his favorite cake for him and if I can (when Drayton isn´t home) I also like to make him breakfast in bed.😊

👀Your favorite physical feature of theirs?

His hands.🤚 I absolutely love his hands.🥰

Thanks for asking and I wish you a nice day/night.🙂

[iceartweek]

Day 2: Holidays

Felix had started to lose his patience which he didn’t have a lot to begin with. Every holiday whether it be Christmas or Halloween, the others always managed to out do him in their caring. Luka had written them personalised songs and picked up extra delivery hours to afford lavish bookends for him. Kagami had snuck out of her house on multiple occasions to track down ties for him, or worked painstakingly hard and continuously pricked her own fingers to make him one. Then there was Marinette, the little sugar angel who always appeared with cakes to suit everyone’s taste, had made them all matching gloves last Christmas, and was blessed with knowing the right gift.

Their first group Valentine’s he had attempted to throw money at the problem. Diamond necklaces and signed guitars. The gifts were appreciated, but they felt inadequate compared to what he received. It wasn’t that giving was a competition, just they had given him so much he wanted to return the love even just a little. 

Felix sighed, scrolling through another etsy page wondering if Kagami would prefer a fencing inspired mug or keychain.

___________________________

The one downside to having her loved returned was holidays. Gifts just seemed annoying. Kagami would much rather just put the money and time from gifts into date funds. The four of them rent a cabin in the Alps and she could teach Marinette to ski. Maybe a little place in Nice and she’d help Luka with sunscreen. She’d even be happy with Disneyland and trying to convince Felix to ride roller coasters. She had already wasted three hours trying to decide Marinette’s gift, precious time that could be spent with them instead.

Kagami smiled though as she saw the bracelet they had given her for her birthday. Maybe gifts weren’t so bad.

____________________________

“Ho ho ho!” Called Luka stepping into Marinette’s room. He wore a Santa hat and fake beard, instantly making her burst out laughing. 

“Aren’t you a few days early, Luka Claws?” Marinette scrambled, attempting desperately to hide her latest little project.

“I’m checking my list to find out who’s been naughty and nice.”

“So judgy.” She laughed, kicking the hatch closed and greeting one of her loves with a kiss. “Are you ready for Christmas?”

“For the most part. I would ask you but I know you have gifts for the next five years.” Luka returned her kiss. He was still warming up after being out in the cold, now using Marinette as his personal hot water bottle. 

“More like a year.” Marinette corrected as if disappointed she was only 12 months ahead of everyone else. “Hey look, mistletoe.”

____________________________

Due to other family obligations, Christmas Eve was the day to celebrate. Kagami had a flight to Japan late that night to visit family, Felix was being dragged to the Agrestes where Luka wasn’t exactly welcome after a certain incident, and Luka had to do his best to ensure Anarka didn’t get noise complaints again. Tom and Sabine had both repeatedly offered to host everyone despite their own families visiting. Anarka had considered the offer but for some reason never accepted.

Therefore, it twas the day before Christmas and all through the house no one was silent, not even a mouse. They wore paper crowns carefully snatched and decorated by Marinette. Ate the feast before them lovingly prepared by the future in laws. Exchanged presents that reduced Marinette to tears with how thoughtful they were. Kissed under mistletoe that Kagami kept moving above them. When they were stuffed and exhausted, they relaxed on the couch wearing the matching socks Marinette had given them and matching rings Felix had gifted them, watching carols as they tried to sing along. 

[macgyvermedical]

Look at what I purchased, as a 25 year old, with real human money and from an honest-to-goodness mainstream retailer, in the year of our lord 2019:

You’re seeing that correctly, folks: a 1985 MacGyver-themed escape room game.

“Why does this exist??” I’ve asked myself repeatedly since purchasing it. I could see a similar game with Lucas Till’s face on the front of the box, but Richard Dean Anderson’s??? Target can’t exactly be making boatloads of money off this. In fact, it seems to be made specifically for the one person who both does escape rooms exclusively to pretend to be MacGyver and could give you the episode title of any 1985 MacGyver ep based on the injuries the lead character sustains. Which, you know, is me.

Here’s how I came to purchase it:

There I was, on New Years Day evening, minding my own business and worrying about my taxes (there was, at the time, a solid chance I had not actually filed them for 2017, but that’s another story), when my sister sent me this picture:

Before I’d even finished reading “MacGyver: The Escape Roo-” on the package, I realized I needed to own this. Now, overall, I had put a moratorium on spending on anything except food, gas, and insurance until I got a job, but that’s neither here nor there. I decided if it was under $30, I was going to own it.

But, instead of asking where my sister was or how she had come across a gem like this, I decided to glean some extra fun out of it.

Due to the stress of my taxes debacle, I’d been playing a lot of GeoGuessr in my New Years Holiday free time. So I figured, I’m like, the MASTER of context clues now and can DEFINITELY do this without any instruction. I’m gonna real life GeoGuessr the crap out of this game.

Based on the red sign in the background, the holly decoration, and the design of the merchandise tags, this is clearly a Target. I’m like 90% sure my sister was nearby last night, so i drive to the Target by my parent’s house. So the next morning, after settling the taxes debacle (turns out I did file them, just partially for the wrong county) I set out for my hunt.

When I get there, I realize this might not be as easy as this game just casually being in the game section. Because, see, this store was TORN UP in the after-new-years-and-christmas-and-probably-still-halloween season. I’m talking carts of unsold merchandise in the aisles, shelves either awkwardly shoved with products or picked clean, clearance signs, empty boxes everywhere, etc...

Also, based on context clues, this game is being sold as “bag accessor” and it appears to be between an aisle and some women’s clothing. So I zoom right in on the red sign hanging from the ceiling (it says “Girls”) and try to orient myself based on that sign and the long edge of the ceiling lights.

I end up by the greeting cards and office supplies, across the aisle from the girl’s department. And I do see a display that looks similar to the one in the picture with relatively similar clothing behind it. Score. Except, the game isn’t there. So I think to myself: who the actual crap bought not one, but TWO copies of “MacGyver: The Escape Room Game” from Target in the last 17 hours?? What kind of HIT employee would do something like that??? To little ol’ ME??

Of course, something else that’s missing is the decoration. Which could just be because there’s about a million employees desperately trying to redecorate for Valentine’s Day and clean up from end of year clearance hell, and they very well could have removed that particular cardboard cutout of holly last night, but it ends up leading me to the fact that the Target in the picture is a lot... longer than the Target I am currently standing in.

Well shite.

So I finally text my sister to ask her which Target she was at yesterday. She confirms that its the Target I’m at. I’ve used my free hint.

But that does narrow it down. Because if I’m in the right store overall, I’m definitely on the wrong end of it. Which was not something I'd thought of for some reason. So I head on over to the women’s department to find the “bag accessors” (which is, if I’d thought about it, definitely where the “bag accessors” would be located).

And voila, there on a display with scattered Back to the Future DVDs, hair scrunchies, and luggage tags, is the very same two “MacGyver: The Escape Room Game” sets. Naturally. Of course. Who wouldn’t put this in the Women’s Clothing section???

Basically, that’s the tale. And it did end up being $30.

So if anyone’s interested in repeatedly escaping from my apartment some weekend in February, hit me up.

[frostinmyshadows]

Please read all of this. It will be hard, but I really, really need you to.

I had a nightmare about you the night before last. I was reliving the moment you told me you couldn’t love me over and over and over. I woke up panicked, sweat sticking me to the sheets. I’ve been revisiting that nightmare ever since. I wish it had only been just that; a simple nightmare. Not a memory. One of my last memories of you.

I’ve spent the last seven months mourning you. At times hating you. I’ve officially been apart from you for longer than I was with you. It had gotten easier, being alone. It had gotten easier to suppress the memories, to ignore  the parts of me that are stuck on you. and the parts of me I left behind with you that day. But the last few weeks I’ve felt myself slipping. I’m having a hard time writing more poems about loving you when one of the last things you said to me was that you couldn’t love me.

What would have happened if I hadn’t done what I did, in the end? What would have happened if I had simply left, and gone home, and carried on? Part of me wonders if you would have called me a few days later, missing me, taking everything back. But another part of me fears that you would have treated me like you treat a lot of people in your life- disposable. I watched during our time together the ways you found new friends, made them think you cared about them a hell of a lot more than you actually did, had a really intense relationship, and then it ended. You told me yourself that you didn’t know why you had this habit of making people think they meant more to you than they did. The whole time we were friends I feared that I was just another one of these relationships. That I would be disposed of shortly, and that I better just enjoy our friendship while it lasted. And the day you said those terrible things to me, I felt that my fear had come true. 

But when I got home from inpatient, I spent hours and hours poring over the notes you wrote me, looking at the pictures, the friendship bracelet you made me, the silver bracelets with the date we met on it. I spent hours upon hours in therapy trying to piece together the puzzle, how you could have written me these things and given me those gifts, if just weeks later you’d decide you couldn’t love me and didn’t want me in your life anymore. There was this great divide between these things, and what you said that last day. If you don’t remember the things you wrote to me, here are some examples:

“This is the gayest thing I’ve ever done. You find pockets of happiness in the most unexpected places. Amidst a world seemingly tumbling down around me, I found one. This time, my pocket is you, Em. You’re humming and fixing your hair in the reflection in the window. You’re wearing all burgundy but who cares. Oliver is making noise and rustling in tissue paper. We’re putting up Christmas lights and decorating the tree in November, going to any store open at 1 am. Tonight, you’re not alone in the dark, and I’ve learned that hot chocolate has caffeine. Now, it’s almost 4 am. I’ve got class in a few hours, but it doesn’t matter. The sun is starting to touch the tips of the horizon and I know I’ll be tired, but my best friend is sleeping in the other room, our kitten is sleeping on the back of a chair next to the Christmas tree we decorated. The lights are a little out of focus, and it’s okay. I’m safe at home, at home in a pocket of happy, watching life unfold through my runny egg (tear) eyes. I never thought I’d make it here, Em. Thanks for being my home.” -11/29

“... I know with 100% certainty that without you in my life I would not be here, alive, writing this. You are my guardian angel, and I thank our she-god every fucking day for that. You know more about me than anyone or anything that has ever existed, and you still love me. When I tell you something that in my head I’m like, “this is it, this is my most unloveable moment, I deserve no compassion or love right now,” you shower me in it. That in itself is the greatest gift you could ever give me. You’ve loved me in a way that has given me the freedom to grow and be myself, which is the best way you could ever love someone... I love you Emily Adair, even when I think you’re the dumbest person to ever live, and even when you don’t fold towels into perfectly proportioned thirds. We’re two pods in a pea and we’ll always be slices from the same pie. I know these last months haven’t been walks in the park, but I’ll walk with you in light or in dark. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will keep loving you, you digbat.” -2/14

The list from my fridge of the weird food combinations I eat. The parking slip from when we went to Arctic Monkeys in Seattle. A receipt from a Thai restaurant. The lotto ticket you bought with my money and then forgot to ever check up on. The polaroid of yours and Oliver’s footprints on our balcony from the first snow. My “I Voted” sticker, which for some reason you saved. The valet ticket from when we went to Twenty One Pilots. The lady bug you stitched me, with my nickname: “Love Bug.” (I have to tell you that it stings that you call Emma “Lady Bug.” I mean, come on. Emily, Love Bug. Emma, Lady Bug. When I learned that, it was like watching you replace me in the most literal way possible.) A sticky note: “You’re a star, I’m drunk, your love would be too much.” The photo strips we took at some point that winter, on the back of one of them you wrote “Two pods in a pea. I love you. Slices from the same pie.” The ad we put out when searching for a roommate. The polaroids from Halloween, you in your hippo suit, me in my Commander’s Wife dress. A polaroid of you and Oliver. The ring you gave me. One of your car keys, which I had carried on my keychain. Finally, a thumb drive that has every picture and video I’d ever taken of us on it. All of this is kept in the box you gave me for Valentine’s Day.

How could you have loved me with such impossible intensity, and then decide you didn't want me anymore?

I understand that taking care of me burnt you out. But the thing is, I never asked you to take care of me. I could feel, as the months went on, that the scale of our friendship was vastly imbalanced. I started to resent the way that you felt the need to do everything for me, the way you were clearly doing more for me than I could have possibly done for you, being so sick. And I think part of the reason you felt compelled to do so much for me is because it distracted you from your own problems. I began to understand that you were doing to me what I had done to G. I just gave, and gave, and gave to him without him asking me too, me trying to rescue him while expecting an equal amount of effort towards me in return, when he was so incredibly depressed that he couldn’t have possibly done so. The resentment grew between us, me resenting him for not being as good of a friend, him resenting me for putting him in a position where he felt he constantly was indebted to me This revelation was what led me to meet him for coffee and apologize. I told you, afterwards, about this analogy between our relationships, and you nodded but I don’t think really understood what I was trying to say- that you needed to back off and take care of yourself, or else you would get burnt out, while I constantly felt indebted to you for things I never asked you to do in the first place. Trying to rescue me would eat you alive. And then, ultimately, our relationship would end with the same abruptness and pain that G and I’s did. You were trying to keep me afloat when we were both drowning.

Even when I did try to return the support to you, you would shut me out. If you were having a depressive episode (when you would spend a day or two in bed) I would try to help in whatever way possible, but you wouldn’t let me. You had a hard time being vulnerable. You isolated yourself, and wouldn’t let me be there for you. I felt so helpless. This made it especially hard to keep our scale balanced. 

I can’t say enough how sorry I am for hurting you. I didn't see the impact my illness was having on you until you and Kelsey and our moms had that sort of intervention with me and you guys cried so hard, pleading me to go home for help. I’m so, so sorry for staying in the apartment as long as I did. I know I hurt you and Kelsey very much by staying when I got to that really terrible point, and if I could I would take it back. But in the moment, I couldn’t face the pain of leaving you. I wanted to keep living the way we had been, going on midnight runs to the store for holiday decorations and candy, getting high and spilling our guts to each other, doing absolutely everything with you that was giving me a purpose to live at that point. The idea of going home for months, where I would be so completely alone, was terrifying. Most of all, I was worried you would forget about me when I was gone. That our friendship would fade, and you’d move on to someone else. Which is why I panicked when you went days at a time not texting me, growing distant, and why I came up again so soon to visit. Which is when it all happened. 

Those words you said were probably the worst possible way to say what you were trying to say. You could have simply said “I need to take care of myself right now, and that means we need some distance.” If our positions were swapped, saying the things you said wouldn’t have even occurred to me. I don’t understand how they could have to you. I want to know. I don’t understand. I just don’t. Even in the moment I remember asking if you could love me when I was healthy, and you said yes. I replied “I love you because you are you. In sickness and in health, in good times and bad. How could you choose to only love me in health?” 

I know you’ve apologized, and explained the way you felt then and feel now. I appreciated that immensely. You have no idea how much it meant to me. And I do forgive you, for everything. But I just still can’t piece the puzzle together. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to. Maybe it’s less of a puzzle and more of a shattered mirror. Too many millions of pieces to put together, leaving a distorted, hazy image even if they manage to be put together correctly.  Maybe it’s possible that you really could have said those terrible things while still really loving me, though not letting yourself love me. Maybe these opposites were true, simultaneously. 

Though it was mostly wonderful, our relationship was very codependent. I had lost my sense of identity with being ill and unable to live the way I always had, so I poured myself into you and made you my identity. Looking back, I see the red flags of our relationship. I so willfully ignored them at the time they occurred, but now I see how our relationship got to be the way it was. Our friendship was the most intense, beautiful thing I have ever experienced- but it had fatal flaws. We are imperfect humans, and we both fell into different traps with each other. I’ve spent a lot of time at home going to therapy and learning about how to have healthy, non-codependent relationships. I hope in the future we can both experience these relationships. I think it would be a good idea for you to learn about the topic as well. I put my entire self-worth in your hands, which I never should have done, and it ultimately almost killed me. I gave you too much power in my life. I didn’t understand balance, I didn’t know how to achieve interdependence instead of codependence. I didn’t understand how to set boundaries or follow yours. I just desperately loved and needed to be loved by you, at whatever the cost. 

Since coming home, I’ve gained ten pounds. I’ve fixed my posture. My issues with eating have virtually disappeared. I’ve tried several new treatments, including ketamine therapy for my mental health and fibromyalgia pain; (it didn’t work, but it was fun while it lasted.) I’m back in college. I have a steady job. I have a couple of friends, including G. I learned that I have Infection from Chronic Mold Exposure, my doctors said it was probably the black mold that was in the bathroom at our apartment (we had our house checked and it came out clean.) There was probably some also in the hole they made in my bathroom wall that time. I believe this is what made me so sick in Bellingham, to get better only in a matter of weeks in La Center. This realization has made me very, very angry. What would have happened to us if I had never gotten so sick in the first place?

I’m so fucking angry that this all happened. I hate the fact that I’m not with you right now, decorating our Christmas tree early and watching holiday movies. I hate the fact that I can’t remember your smell. I hate that I’m starting to forget the sweet sound of your voice- thank god I have the videos we made to remind me. They help me remember the sound of your laugh, and all of your facial expressions. I hate that we aren’t laughing like crazy together on the kitchen floor right this minute, unable to compose ourselves over some stupid joke. I hate the fact that we aren’t grocery shopping together, singing along to the music in the car together. I hate the fact that we aren’t leaving each other cute notes, I hate the fact that we aren’t sleeping just down the hall from each other. I hate the fact that I couldn’t be there for you when that disgusting guy did that to you, that I couldn’t hold you tight and kiss your forehead and tell you that everything was going to be okay. I hate the fact that I won’t be spending my 21st birthday with you by my side. I hate the fact that our memories are finished being made. I’m angry about so, so many things, but being angry won’t bring you back. It won’t reverse what happened. 

I want you to know that you will always and forever be the first girl I loved. I don’t know if I will ever really stop loving you. I don’t think I can. You are simply a part of my heart. It’s so, incredibly painful, and some days I don’t think I can move forward. I fear I will never have the same level of connection with anyone ever again. I fear every relationship will pale in comparison to ours. I fear I will spend my life comparing everyone I meet to you. I fear I will always be alone. I fear so many things. Mostly, I think I just fear that our time together was the best my life will ever get. That it’s all downhill from here. 

If you ever even for a second doubt that you are loved, just read To The Girl With The Hazel Eyes. I meant every word of it, I poured my entire heart into it. You are the most special, beautiful ray of light that I have ever met, and I’m so sorry, and so unbelievably angry, that our time together had to end. I made mistakes. You made mistakes. We tore each other apart, in the end. We burned so bright we burnt out. But that flame was warm and beautiful while it lasted. I will always be chasing that light. 

[tessmontyart]

2018 Year In Review

Another year, another review 💕(I actually typed most of this up before 2019 and then got distracted, whoops)

To put things short, 2018 has been AWESOME :D Exhausting and fast, but awesome.

I started it off pretty uncertain how things were going to go, dreading it would be a repeat of 2017′s boring TAFE courses and endless job rejections. But the miracle happened - a 2D animation studio opened up near me, I applied, did an animation test and got the job!

The job was a contract from 1st of April - 21st of December, so I spent the majority of my year going to work to animate characters for a really crazy but hilarious new kids show called Spongo Fuzz and Jalapena, due to air mid 2019 :) 

It was honestly the most fun job I have ever had and I can’t wait for the next project! 🎉 I have never been this exhausted in my life, though. 😅I had already booked a whole bunch of conventions before I got the job, and didn’t want to cancel them so I was working nonstop - Animation during the day and intensive convention prep every night. 

I also had the bright idea of creating a full colour 26 page comic -with a tight deadline - so I was madly working to the point I didn’t even have time for dinner half the time :’) I am sort of happy with the comic, but also kind of wish I never had the idea in the first place. 😅

I tabled at a ton of conventions; Melbourne Supanova, Central Coast ComiCon, Other Worlds Zine Fair, Sydney Supanova, SMASH and Canberra Gamma Con. If next year doesn’t go so well on the job side of things I’m hoping to add a few more conventions to that list - Brisbane Supanova, Oz Comic Con and Animaga to name a few. I’ve already booked Sydney Madman Anime Festival!

2018 was the year my partner and I celebrated our 4th year together, and he never fails to amaze me with his continuous love and support. I was too sick to attend the first day of SMASH, so he set up and ran the whole stall for me while I stayed at home. Same with Sydney Supanova, I was too bogged down in animation work and couldn’t afford to take the Friday off, so he set up and ran the stall for me on Friday, then we ran the stall together on the weekend. He also tended to my every need when I broke my toe, cooked all my meals when I was busy with work and even packaged + posted all my Etsy orders every day because I was always working during post office hours. He listened to all the problems I was having with my stall setup and helped make shelves and decorations to make it look and function better. I was getting stressed because my desk space was too small, BAM he bought me a brand new desk with plenty of storage. I was getting stressed that I had so much on my convention to-do-list and couldn’t keep track of all my project ideas, BAM, he sets up a whiteboard and helps me brainstorm everything so I can keep track of all my thoughts and ideas and what to prioritise for future conventions. I didn’t even ask him to do any of this, he just loves to help me and make me happy and I am forever blissed and happy to be able to spend my life with such a wonderful human! 

(Home made High Tea I made for him on Valentines Day) 

Arsty Highlilghts / accomplishments:

🌸I designed 9 cute Houseki no Kuni acrylic charms which have been doing really well at conventions!

🌸I also drew a cute series of ‘Sleepy Gem’ Houseki no Kuni / Steven Universe holographic prints, which I’m quite proud of 😊

🌸I created my 2nd enamel pin design, which already needed 2 reorders because they were so popular! ;w; I never knew I could make something that so many people love *sob* I’ve already planned to make these into a series! (already designed some deer ones, and thinking of doing foxes next ^_^ )

🌸I also tried getting gold foil prints done for the first time, which was pretty cool! I got the american sizes mixed up though so I might try for the bigger size next time :) (grainy photo cause its a screenshot from a video)

🌸I’ve been taking steps to make my stall look more ‘professional’, and got a really neat wooden sign made for me by my friend as_sweet_as_jasmine!

🌸I’ve started revamping my favourite series of posters - the Eevee Gijinka girls :) I plan to have them all done and ready for 2019s conventions! 

🌸This was the year I got an iPad, so I could do digital art on-the-go. Honestly its helped me so much, and I can’t wait to be able to use it more (sorta didn’t get a chance to touch it while i was working!)

🌸I got Copic Markers for my birthday so I had a whole new medium to play with! These mixed with using a brush pen for inking really make my inktobers pop and I’m eager to draw more with them  :) 

🌸Speaking of Inktober, it was a huge accomplishment for me to put effort into a decent artwork every day this year! Usually theres a few dud ones when I lacked inspiration, but I somehow managed to make it work ;w; So when it came time to printing the books, theres 31 illustrations rather than 25 like the others :) Also the whole rainbow theme idea came from how cool I think it would look flipping through a rainbow book - so I managed to make that happen and couldn’t be happier!

🌸I passed 1000 sales on Etsy!! 😱As well as 1000 followers on instagram! Crazy right??

General 2018 highlights

🌸2018 was the year one of my best friends got married! I made cute little clay wedding cake toppers for her :)

🌸The year Owl City’s 7th album Cinematic came out!! All the tracks are so GOOD and exactly the sound all us hootowls were longing for. Also Be Brave is a tearjerker, in a good way. What an amazing human Abbey is to Adam <3 

🌸The year Spyro Reignited Trilogy came out!! It’s absolutely amazing, and I love every second of it. Every time I play it I just can’t help but stand there looking around at every detail because everything is just so gorgeous *_* And the nostalgia is so real.

🌸Not exactly a highlight but the year Tumblr went NSFW free, and lost hundreds of thousands of users 😂I’m still here though. Got a dumb tradition to keep up ya know.

🌸The year my work had a hilarious Christmas party where we had to dress up as a character from Spongo Fuzz and Jalapena. It was the first time I actually put effort into a cosplay by myself 😂(possibly the last) (wont put a photo up for embarrassing reasons)

🌸the year I broke my toe for the first time xD;; definitely not a highlight but a first! I couldn’t walk for weeks! it sucked!!! T__T

🌸The year my friend successfully funded his kickstarter for his own cartoon ‘Nurry Brothers Adventure World’ :D So proud of him. I’m gonna help him animate!

🌸The year Lano and Woodley reunited with their amazing show ‘Fly’!! I loved it so much I saw it twice :D 

🌸The year I tried doing Halloween for the first time - I bought a bunch of lollies and chocolates and decorations on my letterbox/door to let people know I was participating. I got 2 different groups of people at the door, 5 people all up 😂More than I expected tbh!

🌸I tried Ruby chocolate for the first time! It was ok .. just kinda tasted like berry yoghurt flavoured white chocolate though ;w; 

SO! What’s coming for 2019?

I’m not really sure at the moment, but I have high hopes for Cheeky Little Studios (the animation company I worked for) - so I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if any of their next projects get concrete start dates :) I’m not as terrified of the year as I usually am when its just one big question mark. I know I can make decent money through conventions and commissions in the meant time so I’ll just continue doing what I love! 

LAST YEAR I SAID:

“I am crossing my fingers for an animation job I applied for a while ago” - I GOT IT! :D

“I plan to do even more conventions. Hopefully I can get into Oz Comic Con!" - didn’t end up applying because I was busy with the job, but keen to try for 2019 :)

"I’m keen to apply for like Animaga in Melbourne, as well as Madman Anime Fest in Brisbane and Melbourne.” - didn’t end up doing so for the same reason above, but that might change this year :)

“I also want to make a lot more non-fandom things for market stalls, as well as a comic and zines!” - I made the comic, as well as 3 inktober zines and a cute ‘if I fits I sits’ cat zine! As well as a bunch of cute original enamel pin ideas and my whole inktober was original art :D 

“Hopefully I’ll hit 1k followers on fb/ig? :D that will make me feel important lol” - I hit 1k on instagram!! I felt very important xD

“I’m also hoping to go on a holiday this year." - I didn’t, for job reasons ... buuut I’m booked in for a cruise in Italy / Greece this September that I’m extremely excited for!

“PLEASE BE KIND 2018, I’M BEGGING YOU 😱” - You were very very kind to me, 2018. 2019, please follow suit! 

(man this is the 7th year of review I’ve done. Can’t believe I’ve been on tumblr this long 😅)

[2017] [2016] [2015] [2014] [2013] [2012]

[papermoonloveslucy]

MY FAVORITE HUSBAND ~ Season 2

July 2, 1949 - June 25, 1950

“My Favorite Husband” ~ Season two aired on CBS Radio from September 2, 1949 to June 25, 1950.  There were 40 half hour episodes sponsored by Jell-O. Episodes were also aired on Armed Forces Radio & Television Service (AFTRS) without advertising.

Regular Cast: Lucille Ball as Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Cooper, Richard Denning as George Cooper, Gale Gordon as Rudolph Atterbury, Bea Benadaret as Iris Atterbury (and others), Ruth Perrott as Katie the Maid, and Bob LeMond, Announcer.  

Season 2 Guest Cast: 

Hans Conried (17 episodes), Frank Nelson (11 episodes), Hal March (8 episodes), Jay Novello (5 episodes), Eleanor Audley (5 episodes), Peter Leeds (4 episodes), Elvia Allman (3 episodes), Richard Crenna (3 episode), Herb Vigran (2 episodes), Jerry Hausner (2 episodes), Anne Whitfield (2 episodes),  Doris Singleton, Jack Kruschen, Rolfe Sedan, Joe Kearns, Wally Maher, Johnny McGovern, Sam Hearn, Norma Zimmer, Sam Edwards, Jim Backus, Gege Pearson, Joe Forte, Mary Jane Croft, Harry Bartell, and Veola Vonn (1 episode).

To Experience the Full Episode Blogs - for both “My Favorite Husband” and “I Love Lucy” - simply click on the hyperlinked (underlined) text.

“The Elves” ~ September 2, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz and George arrive home from summer vacation to find that someone has been ordering strawberry ice cream from the milkman every day, and the pink trail leads to the doorstep of their new neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Wood, and their ten children.

“The Auction”* ~ September 9, 1949

“The Bank Outing Baseball Game” ~ September 16, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz is determined not to be left out of the baseball game at the Annual Bank Outing, so she persuades her neighbor Mr. Wood to teach her how to play the game.

“The Attic” ~ September 23, 1949

Synopsis ~ One of George’s old Glee Club friends is in town and George wants to find his old ukulele, so he and Liz search for it in the attic but get locked in.

“Women’s Club Election” ~ September 30, 1949

Synopsis ~ George has cause for alarm when Liz is elected treasurer of the local women’s club because he knows how much trouble she has with figures but Liz has a surprise for him.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19) 

“George Needs a Raise”~ October 7, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz tries every trick in the book to convince Mr. Atterbury to give George a raise. To get results she even resorts to selling apples in front of the bank where he is employed.

Basis for “Ricky Asks for a Raise” (ILL S1;E35)

“Too Many Television Sets” ~ October 14, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz can’t get George interested in buying a television set, until they spend an evening at the Atterburys, who have one. With his interest piqued, George arranges one be sent over on trial. Little does he know Liz has done the same thing - as have the Atterbury’s!  

“Liz’s Superstitions” ~ October 21, 1949

Synopsis ~ A chirping cricket in the Cooper’s hearth is driving George crazy, but Liz is convinced it means good luck. When Liz insists that it isn’t lucky to banish a cricket, George gets upset with her superstitions.

“Halloween Surprise Party” ~ October 28, 1949

Synopsis ~ The Atterburys decide to throw a Halloween surprise party for Liz and George, but when Liz hears about their party at the beauty salon, she thinks that she and George just weren’t invited.

“Mother-in-Law” ~ November 4, 1949

Synopsis ~ George gets a letter from his mother that she’s moving to Sheridan Falls. Liz has no doubt that means staying with them!  But when will she ever leave?

Although similarly titled, this radio episode is not the basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy’s Mother-in-Law” (ILL S4;E8) in 1954.

“BABY SITTING” ~ November 11, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz takes up baby sitting to balance her financial books and earn money for George’s Christmas present.

Shares plot elements with the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Amateur Hour” (ILL S1;E14) 

“Liz The Matchmaker” ~ November 18, 1949

Synopsis ~ After dating Mr. Negley the postman for three years, Katie feels that their relationship is not going anywhere, so she enlists Liz’s help!

Although similarly titled and themed, this radio episode is not the basis for the “I Love Lucy” episodes “Lucy Plays Cupid” (ILL S1;E15), “Lucy is a Matchmaker” (ILL S2;E27), “The Matchmaker” (ILL S4;E4), or “Lucy, the Matchmaker” (HL S1;E12).

“College Homecoming”* ~ December 2, 1949 

“The French Lessons” ~ December 9, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris are humiliated when they can’t read the menu at a French restaurant, so they decide to take French lessons. The lessons lead to the prospect of a duel between her favorite husband George and her amorous French teacher.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episodes “The Adagio” (ILL S1;E12) and “The French Revue” (ILL S3;E7)

“George’s Christmas Present” ~ December 16, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz vows to finish knitting George a sweater by Christmas. She finds George’s Christmas presents for her and exchanges it too early.

“The Sleigh Ride” ~ December 23, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz is taken for a sleigh ride (figuratively and literally) when she and her neighbors borrow a milkman’s horse and make a jingle bell trip to the countryside for a yule log. The party turns sour down when the horse insists upon making all the stops on his milk route.

“Liz & George Are Handcuffed” ~ December 30, 1949

Synopsis ~ Liz is playing ‘cops and robbers’ with little Tommy Wood from next door, and lets him handcuff her and George with what turn out to be real handcuffs! During the time the Coopers are linked George finds himself under the hair dryer and Liz later has to stand by at the barber’s while her husband gets a shave.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Handcuffs” (ILL S2;E4)

“Is There Another Woman?” ~ January 6, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz buys a book that lists the danger signs to look out for to tell if your husband is being unfaithful, and George has them all!  Liz then she finds herself innocently coupled with her husband’s boss!

“Liz Teaches Iris To Drive” ~ January 13, 1950

Synopsis ~  The Atterburys have bought a new car but Rudolph refuses to teach Iris how to drive. Liz readily volunteers to be Iris’s driving instructor.

“Liz & The Green Wig” ~ January 20, 1950

Synopsis ~ George goes over Liz’s accounts and discovers that she has listed $180 for miscellaneous expenses! George decides she can eliminate the $10 a week she’s spending on her hair. Liz buys a green wig to show George what might happen if she dyed her hair at home.

“Liz Writes a Song” ~ January 27, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz is convinced that she is a musical talent, but when a music professor tells her she’ll never be a singer, she decides to take up songwriting.

Portions of this script were used as inspiration for “The Benefit” (ILL S1;E13)

“Country Club Dance” ~ February 3, 1950

Synopsis ~ Iris and Liz want to go to the country club dance, but George and Rudolph want to go to the fights.  The girls decide to get dates and go anyway, until their plan ends in disaster.

The plot inspired elements of the story in “The Girls Want To Got To A Nightclub” (ILL S1;E1)

“Mrs. Cooper’s Boyfriend” ~ February 10, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz decides that the only way to keep George’s mother from coming over on Valentine’s Day is to get her a boyfriend.

“Liz Teaches the Samba” ~ February 17, 1950

Synopsis ~ George talks Liz into teaching Wally, the son of the bank’s newest director, Mr. Forsythe, how to dance the Samba, and Wally gets a crush on Liz.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” “The Young Fans” (ILL S1;E20)

“Liz Redecorates the House” ~ February 24, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz wants to hire the town’s new interior decorator, Andrew, to redecorate her house, but George tells her she’ll have to do the job all by herself.

Although this script never directly inspired any specific episode of “I Love Lucy” it is most like 1952′s “Redecorating” (ILL S2;E8)

“Women’s Rights - Part 1″ ~ March 5, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris start a campaign for equal rights, so George and Rudolph take them out to dinner but insist they pay their own check. With no choice but to do dishes, Liz plots to make the boys resent abandoning them - but even when everything is patched up they still want equal rights.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episodes “Equal Rights” (ILL S3;E4)

“Women’s Rights - Part 2″ ~ March 12, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris have bet George and Rudolph that they can hold down a job, and the boys have bet the girls that they can take care of the housework and cooking.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “Job Switching” (ILL S2;E1)

“The Wills” ~ March 19, 1950

Synopsis ~  After Liz and George make out their wills, Liz is convinced that George intends to do away with her. Liz is startled to find a receipt for some arsenic and rope in his pocket, but is shocked when George suggests a trip to the country - with a one-way ticket for Liz!

Basis for a scene in “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” (ILL S1;E4) 

“Liz’s Radio Script” ~ March 26, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz’s entry is a finalist in a playwriting contest, and the Coopers and the Atterburys perform it on the local radio station.

Portions of this script inspired the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Writes a Play” (ILL S1;E17)

“April Fool”* ~ April 2, 1950

“Hobbies” ~ April 9, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris are tired of waiting at home on weekends while George and Rudolph are at the golf course, so they decide to leave half-smoked cigars around the house to make the boys jealous.

Some elements that were later used on “I Love Lucy” in “The Golf Game” (ILL S3;E30) 

“Anniversary”* ~ April 16, 1950

“Liz Appears on Television” ~ April 23, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz and Iris make an appearance on a television show celebrating Friendship Week. Their friendship is tested, though, when they discover they’ve bought the same dress for the occasion.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3) 

“Spring House Cleaning” ~ April 30, 1950

Synopsis ~  Liz sends George an anonymous love letter that she wrote to him during his bachelor days, and he thinks its from his secretary, Gladys.

”The Health Farm” ~ May 7, 1950

Synopsis ~  Liz and Iris are fed up with their husbands taking them for granted, so they check in to a fat farm.

This episode features elements that later went into the “I Love Lucy” episodes “The Diet” (ILL S1;E3) and “The Charm School” (ILL S3;E15) as well as the “Lucy Show” episode “Lucy and the Countess Lose Weight” (TLS S3;E21)

“Numerology” ~ May 14, 1950

Synopsis ~ Mr. Curry, George and Liz’s landlord, is raising the rent, supposedly on instructions from his late wife, Bernice. Liz figures that she can fix things with a crooked Ouija Board.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episode “The Seance” (ILL S1;E7). It is a revision of the script used for “My Favorite Husband” episode #24, also titled "Numerology” when the characters were then known as the Cugats.

“Mrs. Cooper Thinks Liz is Pregnant” ~ May 21, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz tells George’s mother that she’s ill so the older Mrs. Cooper won’t try to come to Liz’s bridge game, but George’s Mother thinks Liz is really pregnant, and tells all of Liz’s friends what she thinks.

“Liz Sells Dresses” ~ May 28, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz accidentally returns a dress to a more expensive store than where she bought it, and makes money on the deal. She then decides to go into business buying dresses at one store and returning them at another.

Basis for a scene in “I Love Lucy” episode “The Freezer” (ILL S1;E29). It was a revision of the script for episode #14 from season one, when the characters were known as the Cugats. 

“George is Messy” ~ June 4, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz is fed up with George’s messy habits around the house, so she draws a line down the middle of the living room and divides the house in two -her half and half his.

Basis for “Men Are Messy” (ILL S1;E8) of “I Love Lucy”

“Liz Learns to Swim” ~ June 11, 1950

Synopsis ~ George makes a bargain with Liz: If she’ll learn to swim, they can go to the beach with the Atterburys for their vacation.

“Be a Pal” ~ June 18, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz feels thinks George would rather not spend time with her anymore, so she tries everything she can think of to be a pal to her husband.

Basis for the “I Love Lucy” episodes “The Camping Trip” (ILL S2;E29) and “Be a Pal” (ILL S1;E2). It is a revision of the “My Favorite Husband” season one episode "Be Your Husband's Best Friend" when the characters were named Cugat.

“Dance Lessons” ~ June 25, 1950

Synopsis ~ Liz cons George in to taking her to a nightclub by telling him it is to celebrate their anniversary but it is actually to celebrate the anniversary of the last time they went out to a dinner dance.

[buckyscrystalqueen]

Nobody’s Perfect: Part 4

Pairings: David Harbour x Reader

Warnings: Swearing, angst, fluff, unplanned pregnancy, more angst.

Word Count: 4,674

A/N: This story was an idea that came to me from an interview David did. The quote was “…I’m better at the fantasy of relationships than I am at the daily real life, but I’m trying to steer myself into a realist…” And this is the story I came up with. I obviously don’t know David therefore I’m using my first amendment right, here…. & since David reads fan fics… if you ever see this, love… well, I’m sorry….

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@DavidKHarbour- She said yes! My baby mama said yes! I want to shout it from the roof tops but I got scolded by my fiancée for yelling it off her back porch so Twitter it is! SHE SAID YES! #Harbourfamily #fianceeandme #andbabymakesthree

@(Y/T/H)- Don’t let @DavidKHarbour lie to you, people. He shouted it from my porch for ten minutes until my neighbor threw a tennis ball at him. I am not the bad guy here… (but I am the baby mama that said yes!) #Harbourfamily #fianceeandme #andbabymakesthree

—September 24th—

@(Y/T/H)- Welcome to the world Jackson David Harbour. Not even a full day old and I already love him more than life itself. #Harbourfamily #BabyBoyHarbour -@DavidKHarbour retweeted.

@DavidKHarbour- Yep, my fiancée convinced me to name our son Jax… I will warn every man out there- when your girl is pregnant and crying with an empty pint of ice-cream in one hand and a baby name book in the other, don’t agree to ‘any name you want, sweetheart’ because she WILL hold you too it. #Harbourfamily

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Do you really have to go back to work?” David nodded slowly with a sigh as he ran his fingers up and down his two week old son’s back while he slept on his chest.

“Trust me, I don’t wanna go. But I’m only three hours away so I’ll be up here every chance I get.” You nodded with tears in your eyes and you looked at the two men who held your heart as he looked over at you. “And it’s just for a few months. Then we can all go back to New York together as a family.” You nodded as you leaned into his side and put your head on his shoulder. He sighed and draped his arm around your shoulder and gently ran his fingertips across your ink covered skin.

“We could go with you.”

“I don’t want you and Jax in a city like Atlanta, in an apartment for hours on end without me when he’s this young. You’re much better off here with your mom for the first couple months.” You nodded again and sighed as you reached up to run your fingertips through Jax’s dirty blond hair.

“He’s so beautiful.” He nodded in agreement as he kissed his son’s head.

“I don’t want to leave him… either of you.” You nodded in understanding as you curled into his side even more. “I love you, baby. Remember that. This isn’t gunna be easy on either of us.”

“I know.” You said as a few tears fell on his shirt. “I love you, too.” He turned his head and left a long kiss on your forehead.

“Alright, take him or I won’t leave.” You sat up and wiped your tears off your cheeks before carefully taking your son from your fiancé. You both stood up from the couch and he grabbed his duffle bag off the floor. He gently gripped the back of your head and gave you a sweet, gentle kiss before pulling back and searching your tear filled eyes. “I love you. I’ll call you when I get to my hotel.” You nodded as you followed him to the front door of your mom’s house.

“Drive safe, my love. Be safe.” He nodded and walked as slowly as he could, backwards to the door.

“I miss you both already.” You bit your lip and sniffed as your son began to fuss on your chest. You held him to you and stopped in the doorway with a slight shiver from the cold.

“We miss you, too.” He took two steps forward and kissed you once more.

“I love you, (Y/N).”

“I love you, David.” With one final kiss on the back of his son’s head, he forced himself to turn and walk to his car as Jax began crying from the cold. David’s heart broke with the sound but you both knew he had to go to work. With tears in your eyes, you stepped inside and closed the door; unable to watch your fiancé drive away. “Shhh…. It’s OK, baby boy. Daddy’ll be home before you know it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You really had to dress him like a biker?” You smiled and nodded as you snapped Jax into the Sons of Anarchy onesie you bought from Amazon.

“It’s adorable and you know it.” David smiled as he wrapped his arms around your waist as you pulled on a pair of jeans, a mock leather jacket and baby converse.

“He makes a pretty badass biker.”

“Wait, you haven’t see this yet.” You picked Jax up off the changing table and carried him over to the dresser where the Amazon box was. You passed off your son to your fiancé and snagged the Harley beanie. You pulled it on his small head with a smile.

“He’s perfect.” You nodded in agreement as you kissed the top of your son’s head.

“We did good.” He nodded and kissed your forehead before following you out of the nursery in your mom’s house.

“Well look at you.” Your mom called out from the front door where she was hanging up her last Halloween decoration on the door in her witches costume. “You guy look so good!” You glanced back at your biker and David in his ‘borrowed’ Jim Hopper costume and looked down at your blue jeans and your ‘Daddy’s Lil’ Monster’ shirt and nodded.

“I try.” She came inside and grabbed at her grandson.

“Oh, I could just eat you up, my little monkey.” She smirked at your fiancé and tipped her black witches hat. “Sheriff.”

“Mother, stop it.”

“On that note, I’m gunna go start the fire.” You smirked at David as he grabbed his jacket and headed out into the brisk autumn afternoon air.

“God, you need to stop.” You laughed as you headed into the kitchen to grab the plastic witches cauldron and fill it with candy. She shrugged as she rocked Jackson back and forth.

“What? He’s so not my type but no woman can say no to a man in uniform. Like this cutie in his biker uniform.” She cooed softly as she brushed her knuckle across his cheek. She smiled down at him and you could almost hear her heart melting.

“You got him, mama?” She nodded softly and sat down on the couch. With a smile, you headed out with the bowl of candy and your leather jacket to sit by the fire. “Hey.”

“Your mom’s still hilarious.” David said with a small laugh as he crouched by the growing fire; adding a log to the side to get it built up. You nodded as you set the candy bowl down next to the massive punch bowl on the table you had dragged out from the back porch.

“I warned you. She thinks she’s funny.” You walked over and gently rubbed his back with a smile. “Sorry if she made you uncomfortable.”

“Oh, not at all!” He laughed as he stood up to grab another log. “It’s Halloween, I’m a sexy man in a cop outfit.”

“MY sexy man. No one else.” He smiled and looked up at you with nod.

“Only yours. And I’m one lucky son of a bitch.”

——

“Hey sweetheart. How are you?” You smiled warmly at your fiancé’s tired face on the video call as you smoked a cigarette on the back porch.

“Sleepy. Your son didn’t want to sleep last night at all but thankfully he slept well today and went to bed a little early tonight.” David pouted around his own cigarette.

“Damn. I wanted to see him tonight since I missed him last night.” You nodded and glanced over at your mom, who was sitting next to you, and she nodded her head.

“Where were you?” You asked carefully as you glanced back at your phone screen. Your fiancé inhaled his drag sharply and shook his head.

“Sorry, baby. I was filming late and didn’t get a chance to call.” You nodded again and took a drag of your cigarette to steady your nerves. This wasn’t the first time David hadn’t gotten a chance to call or fallen asleep before he could call in the past few weeks since Christmas. It happened almost every other night now.

“David, are you seeing someone?” He choked on his cigarette and rapidly shook his head.

“No, baby never!” He coughed as he went into his kitchen to grab a glass of water. “How could you ever think that?” You glanced back at your mom again, who nodded again and gestured for you to voice your fears.

“Because you’ve stopped calling your family. You haven’t come and seen your son in weeks…”

“Baby we’ve just been super busy. I swear to you, I’m not seeing anyone else and I’m actually getting Thursday through Sunday off of filming so I will be there in just a couple days for Valentines day. Just you, me and Jackson.” You nodded at him as you took a long drag of your cigarette.

“Promise?” He nodded as his blue eyes searched his phone screen.

“I swear, baby. I swear.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’m gunna go up to my mom’s house for a few days since it’s my week off with Jax.” Your head whipped over to David as you changed your six month old’s diaper.

“You’re kidding, right?” You snapped as you tossed out the dirty diaper and grabbed a clean one. “Are you even going to ask me if I can take off work to go?”

“I don’t even know why you’re working. It’s not like I don’t give you money.” You scoffed and grabbed the jeans you had your son in that day to put them back on.

“David, I have to pay bills, too. I can’t just live at my mom’s house for free.”

“Well can you take off work to come?” Your brow furrowed as you picked up your squirmy little boy off the changing table.

“No, David I can’t just take off work. So this little vacation isn’t happening.”

“My mom has the right to see him, too, (Y/N). And I wanna spend time with my son.” Tears filled your eyes and you shook your head.

“You know what, David. Just go.” You kissed the side of Jax’s head and passed him to your fiancé. “If that’s what it takes for you to step up and be a parent, go. I can’t with you any more. I really can’t.”

——

“Hey (Y/N). How are you?” You smiled at your future mother-in-law weakly as you tossed out your third beer of the night.

“I’ve honestly been better. How’s my son?” She smiled and nodded at you.

“He’s beautiful, sweetheart. Wanna see him? David just put him down a few minutes ago.” Your smile lit up your face and you nodded frantically.

“Yes, please. Even though he’s only been gone a day, I am missing him like crazy.” She gave you a warm smile as she got up off the couch in her living room and headed back to the guest bedroom.

You missed her glance at her son, who was coming out of the bedroom as you grabbed yourself another beer from the fridge. You looked back just as she was turning the phone around to the crib. Tears welled in your eyes as you looked at your precious baby boy, fast asleep, just like his father slept. You huffed a laugh at your son, who looked like he was announcing a football touchdown with his arms as you headed back out to your back porch.

“Look at my sweet boy.” You cooed with the slightest slur as you sat down in your chair. Karen nodded as she flipped the camera back to her and sat down on the bed, confused.

“He’s an angel… but honey, how come you called me and not David?” You sighed and shook your head as you threw the cap off your beer towards the trash can and lit a cigarette.

“He doesn’t answer my calls anymore.” She glanced up at David as you took a pull of your beer. “Apparently, I’m not really worth his time.”

“Oh honey, no.” Karen sighed as she sat back against the headboard. You nodded your head as the alcohol in your system took over the vocal part of your brain.

“Did you know, I took off my ring a month ago and he still hasn’t noticed? Yea, it’s been sitting on his bed side table all this time and he doesn’t even care. Not that he comes here anymore to see it.” Tears welled in your eyes as you ran your fingers through your hair and you huffed a laugh. “Do you know I spend more time talking to you on the phone than seeing the father of my child who lives three hours away. Valentines day was the last time I say him and that was a month and a half ago. Oh, and I talked to my lawyer friend again today.” You nodded to yourself as David fell into the door frame with tears in his eyes.

“I found out, that I never should have let him take my son. Since David pays his insurance and his medical bills and technically pays child support and shit and he has a copy of his birth certificate with him, he could go straight to Atlanta from your house and I can't stop him. If I were to go get Jax, I could get arrested for kidnapping. Yea…” You took another swig of your beer and Karen stayed quiet, knowing that you needed to let your emotions out and that her son needed to hear what you had to say. Tears rolled down your cheeks as you took a drag of your smoke.

“Funny thing is… I’ve had these custody papers for a two weeks. All I have to do is sign them and I can stop putting myself through this heart break every single fucking day… but I can’t bring myself to do it. I can’t…” You looked away from the screen and took another swig of your beer, desperate to drown out your pain in the bitter taste.

“I don’t want to take his son away. I don’t want to be that woman. But I don’t want this… need for distance from his family or whatever David’s doing to hurt Jax in the long run. It's ok if he doesn't love me any more. I get it. But his own son… What am I supposed to do, Karen?” She shook her head.

“I don’t know, sweetheart.” You quickly downed the rest of your beer as she looked up at David’s tear stained face. He was sitting on the floor of the guest bedroom staring at his sleeping son and he and Karen both jumped when you threw your beer bottle at the trash can. It missed by at least six inches and shattered on the floor of your porch.

“Shit.” You slurred as you looked at the burned out cigarette in your hand. “You know, I love him so much… but honestly, I wish I had never met your son.” You looked back at the phone screen and frowned. “I should probably go. Yea, I’m… I’m gunna go. Just… make him bring my baby home.” Karen nodded as tears filled her eyes. Before she could even respond, you hit the end button, dropped your phone on the table and burst into hysterics. In New York, Karen looked up at her son.

“What are you doing to her, David?” He shook his head as he forced himself up off the floor.

“I have to go home.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your brain pounded in your skull as Jax’s small whines carried through the baby monitor on your dresser. It only took the little boy a moment to self sooth before falling back asleep. You laid on your bed for a moment before the need to urinate and to pump your painfully full breasts forced you to wake up a little more. You peeled your eyes open and groaned at the bright sunlight pouring through your bedroom window. You felt the bed shift beside you, followed by soft footsteps and the sound of your curtains closing. You groaned in response and curled into your pillow for just a moment longer. You mentally scolded yourself for drinking in access since you typically didn’t drink at all as the bed dipped in front of you again.

“(Y/N).” You forced yourself to open your eyes to look at David’s tears stained face and he shook his head at you. Very carefully, he reached up and moved your sleep tangled hair out of your face. “I would… never… take your son from you.” You searched his face for a moment and burst into tears and he instantly moved to pull you into his arms. “I’m sorry. Baby, I’m so sorry.” You sobbed into his chest as he held you painfully close, apologizing over and over again. You fingers gripped the cotton material of his shirt firmly as he did everything in his power to use his body to hold you together until you cried it out.

“Don’t leave.” He whispered, his lips brushing across your forehead when you had finally cried it out. You sighed and pulled yourself back to look at him in the darkened room.

“I can’t do this anymore.” He nodded and cupped your jaw in his hand.

“I know. And all of this pain you’re dealing with is my fault. And I know, nothing I can say will change the last few months. But please, baby I’m begging you to just give me one more chance. I love you so fucking much and I have no idea why I’m doing this to you but I can’t lose you. I can’t…” He closed his eyes and shook his head as tears fell onto his pillow. “Just give me a chance to be the man you deserve and the father our son deserves.” He opened his blood shot eyes and visually pleaded with you as his hand gripped your hip. “Don’t sign those custody papers. You don’t have to wear my ring yet, I understand. But don’t sign those papers.”

“You heard.” He nodded as he reached up and brushed your tears away.

“Every single thing.” You nodded as you pulled back, grabbed the baby monitor and your blinking cell phone and got out of bed to go to the bathroom. Your fiancé didn’t say a word, knowing that in that moment, you understandably just needed time. You grabbed your breast pump from the kitchen, some aspirin and a bottle of water and headed out to the porch to check your voicemails from the job you were supposed to be at. David came out with Jax a just as you were finishing your cigarette.

“Lost my job.” You said as you took Jax. You smiled weakly at your baby boy as you stood your smiling son up on your thighs.

“I’m sorry.” You shook your head and glanced over at him.

“No you’re not.” He met your eyes through the smoke of his cigarette and you gave him a tight lipped, partial smile. “I know it’s not like you’re happy I lost my job. But right now, you don’t care.”

“I do.”

“Please… don’t insult me, David. Just don’t.” He nodded as you looked back at your son. “You have been absent from our lives for months. I don’t know why and frankly, I don’t even want an excuse from you. I just want the man I fell in love with to care. I want the father of my child to care.” You looked over at him with tears in your bloodshot eyes. “I love you, more than I should right now. But you’re killing my soul.” He nodded at you and scrubbed the heel of his hand across his eyes to wipe away his tears.

“I don’t want that. This isn’t me, baby.” You nodded as you looked back at Jax and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t help but smile at him. You pulled him into your chest and hugged him tight. “If it’s OK with you, can I stay here for the rest of my break? I know it won’t make it right but I want to start making up for lost time.” You nodded your head slowly as you kissed the side of Jax’s head. “I… umm… I’m gunna hold on to this.” You looked over at him as he looked your engagement ring in his calloused palm. He flipped the white gold band over with his thumb and looked up at you. “God, baby, I wish I could take it all back.”

“Just fix it.” He nodded as he closed his hand around your ring.

“I will. I promise you.”

——

“Why is he in my house?” You glanced up at your mom through your lashes as you nursed your son in your room.

“Technically, he’s outside on the porch right now because he’s still my fiancé and he’s the father of my son.” You could see the protective side of your mother coming out as she leaned against your door frame and crossed her arms over her chest. With a sigh, you grabbed your remote and turned down the volume of your TV. “Mom, I can’t do this right now.”

“Baby, you have to.” She crossed the room and sat down on the bed at your feet. “He’s hurt you.”

“Yea, he has. But you of all people know how much I love him, mom.” You shook your head and glanced down at your son. “I can’t throw away the last year and a half because of two months of poor judgement so I’m giving him the chance to figure his shit out. I’m giving him the chance to prove himself; to prove that this is where he really wants to be.

He wants to stay a couple days while he’s on a break from filming to start building the foundation again. So I said yes. But I’m not stupid. He may sleep in my bed tonight but I am not forgiving him yet. Mama, he finally realized the severity of what he was doing to his family. He deserves a chance to make it right before it’s too late, right?” You shook your head and looked back down at your son. “I want my family to work out and he’s finally ready to work on it. Is it so bad to want that?” You looked up at you mother and she shook her head.

“No, baby. Not at all.” She reached out and cupped your jaw in her hand. “Sometimes I wonder if I raised you to be too nice.” You huffed a laugh and smiled.

“No, mama. You raised me to love whole heartedly.” She nodded and pat your cheek gently. “Oh, by the way, I lost my job.” She sighed and nodded her head.

“Figured that’s why you were home before me. You were pretty drunk when I dragged your ass off the porch last night.”

“Extenuating circumstances.” She nodded as she got up and kissed your forehead.

“We’ll figure it out, sweetheart. We’re doing just fine without you working anyways.” You gave her a smile as she bent down and kissed the side of Jax’s temple. “He hurts you again, and I’ll kill him.” You smiled and nodded as she headed out of your room to go to bed; glaring at your fiancé as she passed him.

“She hates me.” You looked up at David as you finished nursing Jax and nodded.

“You hurt her baby girl.” He sighed as he came over and sat down on the bed beside you, pushing a few toys out of his way. You looked over at him as you sat Jax down on the bed between you. “Give it time, David. With both of us.” He nodded as he cautiously put his arm around your shoulder. You leaned into his side as Jax waved a plastic, hole filled ball at you. You smiled at him as he handed you the ball and grabbed his stuffed tiger. He babbled incoherently as he hit the tiger on the bed.

“He’s so perfect.” You smiled and nodded against his shoulder.

“He really is.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hey sweetheart. Sorry I’m calling so late but I only have a minute before I have to go back on set anyways. It’s been a long day but I just had to call you.” You nodded sleepily at your phone as you curled into yourself under your blankets.

“’s’OK. Better than nothing.” He gave you a weak smile behind his cigarette before pulling it from between his lips.

“So I got the call today. I’m Hellboy.” You smiled broadly and proudly as you blinked yourself a little more awake.

“Good job, baby! I’m happy for you.” He nodded slowly and took a nervous drag of his cigarette. Your brow furrowed as you instinctively reached out to rub your thumbs across the creases of his forehead. “What’s wrong?”

“Well… it films in Europe… for six months.” You let out a small whistle and sat up on your bed. David was just getting on the right page of calling every day and visiting every chance he got and you had agreed just the day before to go back to New York with him when ‘Stranger Things’ finished shooting. Now he would be leaving you again. “I want you to come with me.”

“David…” He shook his head as he looked up at someone from production calling his name and told them to wait a minute. He got out of his chair and walked away from set with a shake of his head to you.

“We both know I gotta take this movie right now but I’d have to miss my son’s first birthday and our anniversary. We’d be in two completely different time zones… I won’t do that after everything I’ve put you through.” He sighed and looked down at the ground before looking up at his phone again. “Come with me, please. I already made it a demand in my contract that my family comes with me.” You huffed a laugh and ran your fingers through your bed head. You gave him a small smile and shook your head.

“You purposely made this call, at this time of night, to get me at a weak point where I couldn’t do anything but say ‘yes’, didn’t you?” His entire face relaxed into a smile as you leaned back against the headboard of your bed.

“So are you saying yes?” You shrugged and tried to force a look of indifference on your face.

“I’ve never been to Europe before. I’ve actually never been out of the country so I’d need to get a passport… and that’s just such a hassle… I don’t know about this…”

“I’ll have them figure out a passport for you and Jax, don’t worry.” He laughed. His blue eyes searched your face, hopefully. “So…?” You smiled and nodded.

“Yea, I guess we can all go to Europe.” His smile threatened to break his dimples as he ran his fingers over his phone screen.

“Thank you, baby girl. I love you.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart. Now go save the world or whatever it is you’re doing. Text me when you make it home.” He nodded as he took one last drag of his cigarette.

“I will sweetheart. Sweet dreams. Sorry I woke you.” You shook your head as you got out of bed to have a quick smoke before you went back to sleep.

“You know I absolutely don’t mind. Good night, baby.” You blew him a kiss, which he playfully caught and stuck in his pocket before hanging up the video call. With a small sigh and a shake of your head, you lit up a cigarette with a smile because your family was finally coming together again.

[jaybear1701]

A fresh round of snow floated down from the gray sky in thick, fuzzy flakes, turning even the drabness of downtown Purgatory into a winter wonderland.

“Remind me again why we can’t just get a fake one?” Wynonna grumbled as she hopped out of Waverly’s Jeep, zipping up her leather jacket and winding a maroon scarf that Waverly had knitted tighter around her neck. “The needles and sap get everywhere.”

“Because Alice loves real trees,” Waverly explained as she locked her car, even though Wynonna already knew the answer. “And you want to surprise her when she comes home from school.”

“Right, right,” Wynonna sighed, her breath puffing out in a cloud of white. “At some point we’re gonna have to teach the kid she can’t always get everything she wants.”

“She knows that.” Waverly shook her head in exasperation, the tassels of her winter hat swishing to and fro. It wasn’t Christmas without Wynonna’s usual Scrooge-like facade, which always melted in the face of her daughter’s holiday excitement, like clockwork. Grumpy at the beginning of December. But by the end of the month, Wynonna could give Santa Claus a run for his money with her level of holiday cheer. “But if you’d like to deny my only niece, be my guest.”

Wynonna gave an exaggerated scowl and kept marching toward the town square where Lou, the self-proclaimed “Pine Baron” of the Pine Barrens, had set up his annual Christmas tree lot in the town square. Waverly followed with a knowing smile, burying her cold hands inside the pockets of her puffy turquoise coat. She had forgotten her mittens at Shorty’s the night before in the wake of the fiasco with the beer taps.

Inwardly groaning, she tried not to think about it, and instead focused on catching up with Wynonna. They approached the lot, delineated by red-and-green pennant banners strung up with twinkling yellow fairy lights. The falling snow coated the rows of evergreen trees like powdered sugar, while the air was filled with the buzzing sound of chainsaws and the whir of palletizers that wrapped the trees in plastic nets.

“Are you gonna help us decorate the damn thing, or do you have a shift at Shorty’s?” Wynonna asked as she eyed a 2.5-meter tree that towered over them both.

“Gus gave me the night off,” Waverly said, burying her nose in her scarf.

Wynonna raised an eyebrow. “Was it really that bad last night?”

Waverly’s head whipped around so fast, she was surprised she didn’t pull a muscle. “You know about that?”

“I know all, Baby Girl,” Wynonna smirked, walking toward the Blue Spruces.

“In other words, Jeremy told you,” Waverly concluded.

“Threaten his Optimug Prime, and he sings like a canary.” Wynonna chuckled, examining the spiky needles of a Norway Spruce. “Kissing the Five-O. I know pretty much anyone is an upgrade than Champ the Chump, but didn’t I tell you that the law ain’t nothing but trouble.”

“You’re the law.”

“Exactly.”

Waverly covered her face with her hands, but the bite of the frozen air had her quickly shoving them back in her pockets. “And you’re currently boinking her partner.” Avoid and deflect. It was the Earp way.

“I’m not boinking Dolls,” Wynonna protested, tugging at a White Pine and wrinkling her nose at its long, flimsy needles. “It’s…complicated.”

“Uh huh.” Waverly stopped by a rack that displayed hanging boughs of holly and fresh wreaths. She tried, and most likely failed, to not blush when she saw bundles of mistletoe.

“I’m gonna go down that way.” Wynonna chucked a thumb further down the aisle. “Why don’t you pick out a wreath?” She too noticed the mistletoe. “And try to keep your lips to yourself if you can.”

Waverly rolled her eyes, but nodded with a grateful sigh, letting Wynonna wander off and giving them both an out from discussing the previous night and their love lives, or lack thereof. The red ribbons and white berries of the mistletoe caught her eye, and her thoughts drifted back to Nicole Haught and the kiss. God, that kiss. The memory alone made her pulse quicken.

That is, until she remembered the beer and her soaked shirt. Waverly cringed in embarrassment, recalling how everyone’s attention had been drawn to her, including Nedley and Nicole’s. She had retreated upstairs, avoiding Nicole’s concerned gaze. By the time Waverly had finished changing her clothes, the sheriff and his newest deputy were nowhere to be seen. Waverly wasn’t sure if she had been relieved or disappointed.

She was so lost inside her head that she didn’t notice the incoming snowball until it smacked the side of her head and exploded in a shower of fluffy crystals.

Shrieking in surprise, Waverly whirled around in time to watch Wynonna disappear behind a Douglas fir. She immediately gave chase, an excited grin stretching across her face. Waverly scooped up a handful of snow with her bare hands and formed it into a sphere, ignoring the way the cold stung her skin. She sprinted past several rows of trees toward the end of the lot, boots slipping a bit on the frozen ground, hoping to catch Wynonna unawares. Waverly rounded a corner ahead of Wynonna–she couldn’t have timed it any better–and lobbed her snowball as hard as she could toward where she was sure Wynonna would emerge.

Except the person who came into view wasn’t Wynonna at all, and Waverly’s projectile knocked a white Stetson clear off their head.

Correction: her head.

“Shit!” Waverly smacked her own forehead with the icy heel of her hand. She rushed forward and froze when the woman turned around.

“Waverly Earp, you sure do have a way of saying hello,” Nicole Haught drawled as she bent down to pick up her hat. “Though I might have preferred last night’s greeting instead.” She winked as she brushed snow off the top.

Waverly blushed immediately. “Officer Haught, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Waverly,” the redhead interrupted gently. “It’s okay. No harm, no foul.” She placed her hat back on her head, settling it just over her earmuffs. “Picking out a tree?”

“Yeah, um, with my sister.” Who was now nowhere to be found. Waverly swore she was going to murder Wynonna. Or, at the very least, find all of her hidden whiskey bottles and pour their contents down the drain. “We’re gonna surprise her daughter with it later.”

“That’s sweet.” Nicole’s cheeks dimpled as she smiled, and Waverly’s knees weakened. “See anything you like?”

Waverly most definitely saw something she liked, unable to stop herself from running her eyes over Nicole’s uniform. In her khaki pants and dark blue bomber jacket, Nicole looked even more striking than she did the night before. Shaking her head, Waverly cleared her throat and averted her gaze back to the silver-dusted trees.

“Oh, you know, can’t go wrong with a classic Noble Fir and all,” she reached out and awkwardly swatted a nearby branch.

“I prefer the Fraser Fir myself,” Nicole said. “Not as bulky.”

“Also a solid pick.” Waverly inclined her head forward. “Actually my sister’s selecting the tree. I’m supposed to get the wreath.”

“Ah,” Nicole nodded, pointing a gloved hand toward where Waverly had come. “I think I saw them that way.” She led the way back and Waverly followed, keeping to herself that she had already been there.

“Are you scoping out a tree?” Waverly asked as they walked side-by-side, shoulders brushing every so often when they moved closer to avoid other shoppers. She clenched her fists inside her coat, wishing for the millionth time she hadn’t forgotten her mittens.

“Me? No. Just out on patrol.” Nicole said “The sheriff sends his regards, by the way. He didn’t get to wish you a goodnight yesterday because ol’ John Hubbard thought there were elves running around in his attic.”

Waverly giggled. “Was it a family of squirrels again?”

“Not exactly a town secret, I’m guessing.”

“Every holiday it’s something,” Waverly confirmed. “On Easter, it’s bunnies. Valentine’s Day, cupids. Halloween, goblins.”

Nicole chuckled. “Can’t wait for that.” She fell silent for a beat as they approached the wreathes, holly, and other plants that Waverly pointedly ignored. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye to you too.”

“Don’t be.” In actuality, Waverly was partly grateful that she didn’t have to face Nicole after embarrassing herself with the taps. “Though… you did skip out on your portion of the winnings.”

“Oh?” Nicole’s eyes darted toward the mistletoe and Waverly swore Nicole’s cheeks tinged a darker shade of pink. Or it could have just been the cold.

“I’ve got $50 in my wallet with your name on it.” Waverly dug into her purse, but Nicole placed a gentle hand on her wrist to stop her.

“Keep it,” Nicole said, the leather of her gloves cool and smooth against Waverly’s skin. “How ‘bout you use it to buy me a drink sometime?”

“A… a drink?” Waverly asked dumbly, flustered from Nicole’s lingering touch. Was Nicole asking her out on a date?

“A cappuccino, maybe? Or a hot cocoa.” Nicole unzipped her jacket halfway, reached inside, and pulled out a business card. She hesitated, blinked, then offered it to Waverly. “Call me.”

Before Waverly could react, Lou bumped into her shoulder from behind and into Nicole, who steadied her with a pair of strong hands on her shoulders.

“I beg your pardon, Ms. Earp,” Lou apologized. “Don’t mind me. Just gotta put up the latest shipment.” Using a long pole, he hung several bunches of mistletoe on a line just above Waverly and Nicole’s heads.

They caught each other’s gazes and couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the unexpected awkwardness. Waverly straightened out. “Thanks.”

Dropping her arms, Nicole quirked up an eyebrow. “So that drink?”

Waverly took a deep breath. “You’ve got yourself a deal.” Her fingers shook slightly as she accepted the card and slipped it inside her pocket. Nicole frowned slightly.

“Your hands must be freezing.” Nicole pulled off her gloves, tucked them into her pockets, and cupped Waverly’s ice-cold hands in her own.

Nicole’s grasp was oh so warm, thawing Waverly’s chilled fingers. “I’m okay, really,” Waverly said, breath hitching as Nicole brought her hands to her lips. Nicole slowly breathed out heat before placing a soft kiss to the knuckles of each hand and quickly covering them with her gloves.

“Oh,” Waverly exhaled in surprise. “I can’t take these…”

“You can and you will,” Nicole said in a manner that invited no argument. “I’ve got a spare set in my cruiser. You can give these back when we go get that cocoa. Deal?”

Waverly smiled so widely her cheeks ached. “Deal.”

With one last grin, Nicole tipped her hat forward and bid Waverly a good day, disappearing down the sidewalk with a noticeable pep in her step. Waverly watched her go, convinced she was going to melt right then and there on the spot, until another snowball smacked her right between the eyes.

“D-dammit Wynonna!” Waverly shivered as she brushed the snow from her face.

“Thought you could use some cooling off!” Wynonna cackled in the distance, dashing off once again. Waverly once again gave pursuit, forming a snowball between her warm leather gloves, Nicole’s business card burning in her pocket.

[roxxdafoxx]

Why I stopped celebrating the holidays...

for me holidays were always a disappointment the decision to not celebrate the holidays can save you money and  your sanity its definitely a “rich mans holiday” my grandmother always made it a point to make sure i felt valued she always got me a gift and a birthday cake My great grandmother an I shared the same birth date and having a birthday with my great grandmother was the best now with the exception of a few cousins and my children now that my entire family is dead and after spending every holiday in the hospital ive had a lot of time spent in isolation to learn and get to know myself and God on a more intimate and deeper level not being with family always being depressed during the holidays made me realize why am i allowing these holidays cause me anxiety get me all upset about being able to afford gifts for everyone especially when u have a big heart and the desire to give to everyone id give to almost everyone in the entire world if i could but feeling that way during holidays never sat right with me it would ruin my mood my self esteem/self worth i would feel i had no value like i was never good enough no matter hat i did or gave would never be good enough i would find myself damn near balled up in a corner crying on a day that was supposed to be happy my birthday being so close to christmas put my birthday in the my mind in the  “you dont matter box” lol im sure most can relate if their birthday is during that time when most people are getting ready for the holidays while everyone else gets both a birthday present and a christmas present for christmas babies your lucky if you even get a gift in general trying to throw a party around that time is equally as difficult people are just too busy the holiday its supposed to be about Jesus and his birth and birthday although its not even the day he was born a lot of people aint even really thinking about Jesus at all some celebrate christmas and dont even believe in God its just tradition for them and a reason to celebrate and get gifts and its origins have nothing to do with God!!! The origin of Christmas is completely opposite of what most think theyre celebrating and most are in denial that they continue to celebrate a lie with a dark origin they say halloween is a devils holiday but Christmas is too!! the reason the birth of Jesus is not listed in the bible is because God never planned or commanded us to celebrate his birth because he doesnt have a birthdate he has always existed the bible even calls it foolishness (Jer 10) this is the reason people cant wait for the holiday cram to be over with because theyre busy trying to please everyone except God being selflessly selfish and putting themselves into debt is that really the correct way to show people that you care?  When u travel a bit when u go through some things when u see people struggle just to have a roof over their head are homeless or living in a shelter or if you think of people in other countries who are just grateful for a pair of old worn out shoes you realize how vain the holidays really are the bible even calls it “vanity” when you look at all the beautiful decorations all the money spent on trees and lights etc u start to see it for what it really is its all “vanity” please believe im not being judgemental i celebrated this holiday before i somewhat celebrated it even tho i was in the hospital i mean you really cant avoid the celebration because the majority is celebrating and it will trickle its way on down to you in one way or another for instance i no longer celebrate and this is my first year deciding not to the nurses bought me gifts along with a santa claus hat that ive been wearing because i love hats its warm im into costumes and fashion but even fashion can be considered vanity we have put ourselves in a place and position that we forgot where we came from and what our ancestors went through.. I loved planning birthdays and surprises for friends, but when it came to me, the favor was never returned. That's when I realized that planning my own birthday or holidays or others birthdays that it was too much pressure trying to please others. it still makes you feel inadequate and terrible. nobody cares  Let's be real Everyone is already in debt. Your birthday just became another errand on their daily to-do list. If you invite a lot of people they dont show up or might not bring anything some folks just really are there for the food and a party could care less about you but its just something to do it could mean you have false friendships/relationships in general and you're just there hoping for gifts even fake friends buy gifts too u just never know .... the dark origins is really what made me give up on holidays valentines day is supposed to be about love but i never felt more unloved than on that day halloween aka “the devils day” you get more gifts of candy from strangers than any other holiday ironically and its like the  day where being scared is supposed to be fun the bible clearly states fear is not of God a lot of people like that stuff and like the feeling of being afraid until its a real situation then its not so fun.. i can barely watch horror films i honestly dont know how people come up with these crazy scary movies how do they film them write them and play these characters i mean acting is most def a talent...If you’ve never researched where our Christmas traditions come from, if interested in the truth look into it. I started to share them here, but it would take me FOR.EV.ER. to go through all of the names, dates, traditions, etc. But look into where Dec. 25th came from.  the Yule log, the Christmas tree and its ornaments and lights, holly, mistletoe, wreaths, the Christmas ham… look up Winter Solstice and Saturnalia. If you are really interested in knowing where your traditions come from and what they mean… do some studying.Suffice it to say, what we are doing when we partake of the traditions of Christmas is nothing more than imitating the pagan’s worship of the sun god. And i no longer can stand to have any part of spitting in the face of God. (Sorry, I know that sounds harsh, but this is how it makes me feel.)For a long time I tried to rationalize that it was okay to continue enjoying the festivities. After all, we weren’t doing it to worship a sun god, we were honoring the birth of Christ! Right? Well, after much prayer and studying God’s word, one day the Lord revealed this analogy to me.Let’s just say that your spouse has cheated on you. After all, the Lord does call his people an “adulterous bride” after they went chasing pagan gods.Let’s say that your cheating spouse has come back to you, and asked your forgiveness. All has been made right again.Now, let’s say it’s your birthday. And your spouse wants to honor you on this day. (Although, in an appropriate analogy the celebration wouldn’t even be on your actual birthday!its on the other womans/guys birthday)But instead of giving you gifts that you have clearly expressed a desire for, your spouse gives you things that his lover enjoyed! He made his/her favorite foods, wanted to enjoy his/her favorite activities with you, lavished you with things that would have delighted him/her! Now, would this honor you? Would you feel loved and esteemed in this situation? Of course not!!! You’d be Livid!!! Is this not what we do to Christ, when we say that we are honoring Him by means of pagan traditions!? Being me,.. I wanted to find something in Scripture to solidify my convictions. Would God see the intentions of my heart, and understand that I’m just trying to please Him? Or would He be angry as I know I would be in that situation?...YHWH brought me to Exodus 32, the story of the Golden Calf. Remember that one? Moses had gone up onto the mountain to speak with God (and bring down the 10 commandments), but he took so long in coming that the people began to wonder what had happened to him. They asked Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship, and he did so. But I thought this was fascinating, in verse 5 of that same chapter Scripture says, “And when Aaron saw it (the golden calf), he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.”Do you see what he was doing? The people had fallen back into pagan practices, and were worshiping an idol, yet saying it was to honor God!!  The next verse goes on to say,“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”Wow. Sounds like they were having a very fun celebration, huh?! Did the Lord look at the rejoicing of their hearts and feel honored? Let’s find out…In verses 7-9, YHWH speaks to Moses and tells him what the people are doing. He says that they have “corrupted themselves”, and “turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them”.Then in verse 10, YHWH says, “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them…”.He was SO ANGRY! He was ready to destroy them all! Evidently, He was not pleased at the way they were trying to honor Him… mixing worship with pagan traditions. Mixing the holy with the unholy. water oil Vinegar type mix Just. Like. Christmas.....As I continued to study, I also came to 1 Samuel 15…This is where King Saul went out to destroy the Amalekites. But the Lord specifically told him (through Samuel) that he was to “utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” (verse 3)But if you read on, you’ll find in verse 21 that they did not do as the Lord had commanded, and had in fact brought back with them the best of the sheep and oxen instead of killing them. Of course, when Samuel confronts him about it, Saul rationalizes that they did it “to sacrifice unto the LORD”.Here again, man is disobeying the Lord’s commands, yet saying he is doing so to try to please God. What does the Lord say? Verse 22-23, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to “OBEY” is better than sacrifice”!!!, .For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”God didn’t want the sacrifices. He wanted obedience!!!.Here’s another in Deuteronomy 12:29-31; He is speaking to the Israelites before they go into the promised land,“When Yahweh your Elohim cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, `How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’You shall not worship Yahweh your Elohim in that way; for every abomination to Yahweh which He hates they have done to their gods…”We are specifically told NOT to worship God with the ways of the pagans!! Jesus himself said in Matthew 15:7-9, “Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”I don’t want to worship in vain, forsaking the commandments of God and clinging to the traditions of men. (also in Matt. 15:3)I don’t want to have anything to do with the unholy.Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”In fact, the recurring theme all throughout Scripture is for God’s people to NOT follow the way of the pagans (in other words, go along with what the rest of the unbelieving world does), but to be set apart as holy, and to honor YHWH by obeying His commandments!If we profess to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, then we cannot ignore the very character of God as repeated to us throughout Scripture. He is a loving God, yes, but He is also a jealous God. He will not share His people with idols.“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:14 But let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that Christmas traditions don’t really have pagan roots. Let’s just pretend that’s a bunch of baloney.Even still, nowhere in Scripture is it commanded to remember the birth of Christ. In fact, what we are commanded to celebrate are the Biblical Feasts of the Lord (given in Lev. 23), including Passover in remembrance of Christ’s death. Yet, far too many Christians have never even heard of the seven Feasts of the Lord, or they think they are “Jewish” celebrations. Scripture doesn’t call these holy days (not holidays) “Jewish feasts”, but the LORD’s Feasts. And everyone who calls himself a child of Elohim is to keep them. Forever.And so, we have chosen to give the Lord the gifts He has specifically requested, and honor Him through celebrating and remembering the Feasts of the lord.Loved ones, I know that Christmas is a special time of year, and that people get very caught up in its traditions and festivities. But our hearts yearn to honor the Lord… above all else. And this is something that i feel is non-negotiable.So, im  saying “No”: to the holiday rush, and fighting over the latest toys for my kids, and inflatable yard decorations, and the lies of a bearded man who claims to have the powers of God (all seeing, all knowing, all present), and the Great Big Toys “R” Us Book, and “Yuletide” carols, and guilt induced credit card spending, and drunken company Christmas parties, and everything else that the world gets so wrapped up in during this time of year.For me, it really only comes down to one thing:“If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 And I think I’ve laid out pretty clearly what i believe the Lord expects from us.  one holiday i like which is the 4th of july because it summer and there’s fireworks in the sky and bbq but what is the true origin of 4th of july? i wish we didn’t have to have wars i wish people could just live and let live without hurting anyone why steal why not just learn from each other share a world without greed would be beautiful but also when u have nothing really left and after you have gotten rid of all the fake people in your life u find no real reason to celebrate if you have no one to celebrate with with my family all passing away the money has been short after being  locked up in an institution it puts a damper on things i feel like these holidays are made up just to make the rich get rich yes we all want to have fun and have a good time but id rather celebrate with the right people for the right reason without any ulterior motives that battle against principalities ans spiritual wickedness against rulers of darkness evil spirits in high places the fowl of the air id much rather sell things to people who do celebrate these holidays because at least it can help with bills instead of be a hindrance and burden in my life i’m not judging anyone who celebrates holidays i use to celebrate them too i’m just sharing why i have chosen not to  honestly i celebrate everyday i buy gifts throughout the year why celebrate when the government wants us to? so they can capitalize on the citizens have us participate in their hellenistic rituals that we aren’t even  made aware of until we do the homework and learn about them for ourselves these traditions were forced on us we weren’t given a choice and to think we were told that by celebrating these days we are honoring God and all along we arent we are honoring other gods celebrating holidays that have origins of other gods and not the true God the bible doesn’t encourage us to entertain these practices why even celebrate anything that has the potential to be a set  up for disappointment by not celebrating it eliminates any expectation of having a day that you really only see in the movies on the hallmark channel i’ve also noticed people dread and just cant wait for it to be over like a funeral and its supposed to be a joyful prosperous time its even programmed to be called the most wonderful time of the year i tell ya satan is a sly trickster i chose life and freedom from the imprisonment that i feel when it comes to the holidays so while everyone else is celebrating i decided to be happy and enjoy myself in my own company with God the real comforter snuggled up to him in worship and gratefulness as an introvert id rather spend the days away from all of that i enjoy being an introvert i enjoy being in my own company creating with the creator holding me down and uplifting me and perhaps the holidays have turned me into  a “scroogey your highness grinch” because i view things differently now but with that comes the freedom of me not having to do what everyone else is doing setting myself apart from the masses (mass level of destruction lol insider) i’m living my life by my rules by my preferences and spending time with God my best friend God never asked for anything but for us to live right and be holy because he is holy this is something to be celebrated always everyday everyday is our unbirthday one day out of the year is a day we were born on and we shouldn’t feel pressured or disappointed because someone didn’t get us a gift or acknowledge the fact that we are here another year and alive if anything we should spend our birthday alone with God because for sure its facts that you’ll feel value and loved in the arms of God i feel we should do something special for ourselves no one will ever love us like God can no one will ever love us like the self love we give ourselves truth be told people will always fail u people will not always be there for you people die there are no guarantees in life except the existence of God and his everlasting word anything else is temporary everything we see will one day no longer be  so i make it a point not to depend on external happiness internal happiness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves  always do you stay true to yourself get rid of old habits that dont benefit your soul and be happy do what makes you happy there’s always room to learn more and to improve in certain areas in your life in all areas a friend once told me and it will forever stick with me and that is we aren’t perfect we are not all knowing we are forever learning and correcting things we are all a work in progress give to others keep yourself in alignment with the word of God by giving to others its like youre giving to God and it will be given back to you within the same measure you gave with so just be a happy cheerful giver give from you’re entire heart good things will happen just dont give and expect something back giving to receive doesn’t work like that...another thing  don’t wait for their birthday or a man made holiday to do things for people some might not even live to see another birthday this kinda follows the saying don’t wait till i’m dead to buy me flowers or wait till im gone to finally miss me invite someone to dinner just because why wait until thanksgiving to feast and be thankful around your loved ones thanksgiving a day where we are actually celebrating stealing the land from the people who were already here thats like allowing someone to move in with you you teach them how to grow food and make a living for themselves and then they rob you and kick you out of your own home and force you to pay them to live in the street and first and foremost last but most assuredley not least never allow the holidays to validate you your value doesnt depend on gifts u get or didnt get or the people around you i like small numbers i think God prefers small numbers too because quality is and always will be better than quantity id rather have 1 real friend than a thousand fake friends even if my only friend is myself i remember in elementary school they would give out secret candies on valentines day some student s would recieve like 30 gifts because either they were that much admired and popular or they bought themselves gifts and made it look like someone else did it for them to make themselves appear to be better but i wonder if fake love makes them feel better its kinda like today how they buy followers do me a favor be happy keep the fake stuff to the side seek to be happy internally so nothing or no one can take that from u people and material things are all external things theyre all temporary the things money cant buy the things we cant see are the more permanent things our bodies are also temporary but these souls of ours are gonna be with us a lot longer so make sure you take good care of it and of you real love is internal and eternal and its the best gift we can give to ourselves signed #EternallyYours #EternalLove