#iron works orange county

[a7xbrazilianfans]

M. Shadows was the guest on the inaugural episode of the Iron Never Lies podcast. In this episode, the Avenged Sevenfold vocalist trains with Brandan Schieppati (Bleeding Through) at his gym, Rise Above Fitness, located in Orange County. While lifting weights, sweating, and working hard, they dive deep into Avenged Sevenfold’s journey, business practices, shifts in the metal music scene, Pickleball and more. Watch the full episode HERE.

[simplegenius042]

WIP Roundup

Rules: Post the names of all (or some of) the files in your wip folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! Tag as many people as you have WIPS.

Tagged by @direwombat (than you so much for the tag) to share what I have cooking up in my folder. I'll only share some as there are way too many to fit in one post (...unless... no, begone devil thoughts!). I have four folders, one each for The UnTitledverse, Far Cry The Silver Chronicles, Life, Despair & Monsters, and some extra stuff that don't belong in the three universes above (includes Wings And Horns and A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore).

Anyway, below the cut is the WIP names (and their respective series they belong to) as well as the people I'm tagging. Just like direwombat (though a little differently), I will be listing them by active, snippets, or shelved. Enjoy!

[P.S I'm about to ruin my exact number of 4,000 posts LOL! Damn who knew I'd get that high]

ACTIVE WIPS (e.g. WIPs that are either published or that I am actively working on)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> Jurassic World Before The Storm

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

The Years In Hope County (FC5)

Silva's Hope (FC5)

Life, Despair & Monsters

One By One, The Towers Crack folder -> Sonya's Push - Jennifer's Story (Love Death + Robots)

SNIPPETS (e.g. WIPs I've only shown through snippets and have been bouncing back and forth between and/or can only publish once another WIP is finished)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> A Blast In The Past (original work influenced/inspired by Bendy and the Ink Machine)

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

A Truce, As Null And Void As Yourself (FC5)

La Última En Pie (Kind of Original Work with references to FC5 and adapted/AU characters from The Masquerade, The Bone Season, Mermaids of Eriana Kwai, The Priory Of The Orange Tree, The Locked Tomb and Rapunzel's Tangled Adventures)

No Snake, Only A Boa In The Garden (FC5)

The True Sinners (FC5)

You're Almost Like Family (FC5)

Life, Despair & Monsters

On Strong Foundations, The Tower Stands folder -> Miraculous Miracles: Tales of Hatter and his Two Buds (Miraculous)

Original Works and Other Series

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> It's A Matter of Perspective, Really... (FO3)

SHELVED (e.g. WIPs that I've currently put on the shelf as of now until I have the time and motivation to write or WIPs that haunt my dreams)

The UnTitledverse

The Perfect Storm saga -> The Dark Awakening (Original Work inspired/influenced by Bendy and the Ink Machine)

The Omniscience Rule saga -> All Who Remain (The Last Of Us)

The UnTitled Ventures saga -> UnTitled Venture: Village Of Shadows (Resident Evil Village)

Mario: Mother's Boy (Original Work)

Far Cry The Silver Chronicles

Old Dusk (FCND)

Call To Arms (COD: MW)

Ain't It A Joy? (We Happy Few)

No One's Safe At Home (Welcome To The Game)

Far Cry The Judge's Duty AU -> What Are The Chances? (FC5/FCND-ish)

Lady, Running Down To The Riptide (Taken Away To The Dark Side) (FC5 AU influenced by Bioshock Infinite)

Life, Despair & Monsters

Enemies Crawl, Along The Tower's Walls folder -> Word Of Woe - Wednesday Addams' Story (Wednesday)

On Strong Foundations, The Towers Stand folder -> The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones - Corvus Targaryen's Story (House Of The Dragon)

Original Works and Other Series

Wings And Horns (Original Work)

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> The Waters Of Life Flow (FO3).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> The House Always Wins (FONV).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> A Symbol For A Better World (Our World) (FO4).

A Radioactive Calamity of Love, Bombs & Gore series -> Vault Number 76 (FO76).

Tagging @socially-awkward-skeleton @shallow-gravy @adelaidedrubman @strangefable @strafethesesinners @wrathfulrook @g0dspeeed @josephseedismyfather @josephslittledeputy @bitchofedensgate @inafieldofdaisies @softtidesworld @minilev @snake-in-the-garden @afarcryfrommymain @nightbloodbix @derelictheretic @deputyash @deputy-morgan-malone @dephellseed @fourlittleseedlings @cassietrn @chazz-anova @voidika @onehornedbeast @carlosoliveiraa @corvosattano @skoll-sun-eater @neverthesameneveranother and @ladyoriza + anyone else who wants to share their wip list!)

[nightsprung]

incoming / @lastblues, featuring art donaldson for jordan riley: "what if i kissed you right now?”

the last two years have been nothing short of a whirlwind for jordan. coming out of an engagement with no marriage, no ring and no man was enough of a tabloid shit storm to deal with — one that she shouldered gracefully with little acknowledgement, as she had perfected over the years. the rothfield massacre helped with that; going through the media gauntlet before earning her degree gave her the thick skin she needed to survive the hollywood gossip machine. seeing her named plastered across headlines amid her failed engagement didn’t bother her much. she let the public mull over the reasons why her romantic life was in shambles (demanding work schedules, putting career before love, the ever-present cheating rumors) — they could speculate, and she would stay busy with a full filming and promotion schedule.

one of those projects — drop shot — is finally gracing the big screen and with it, comes the beginning of what jordan hopes is a massive positive reception of her hard work. the months spent training alone to serve an authentic performance as a tennis professional at the top of her game should earn her that much, and she had art donaldson to thank for that. while tashi duncan had been the director’s first choice for a trainer, they couldn’t pass up an offer for the next best thing. jordan was pleasantly surprised to have clicked so quickly with him; he knew when to be firm during training and when to crack a joke or ease up, and didn’t take it the wrong way when jordan asserted she didn’t want her hand held through the process.

maybe that’s why she was so happy to see he had accepted the premier invite. maybe that’s why she had taken time on the carpet to make sure she said hello and caught up with him. maybe that’s why she had made sure he got the details on the after party celebration, and maybe that’s why she lingered past her usual hard limit of a two hour party window. her attention had been occupied most of the night by others — colleagues, friends, former collaborators, future collaborators. let’s get lunch soon, I’ve got a project you’d be perfect for and I want to hear your thoughts.

it’s everything she’s wanted and there’s still some pieces missing.

she manages to sneak away and find herself on a balcony far enough removed from the rest of the crowd to where she can breathe, and when she realizes it’s occupied, she turns to leave, and when she notices it’s art, she finds so many reasons to stay. the rest of the world seems to disappear as she stands beside him, leaning against the iron frame of the balcony, looking out over the director’s estate — rolling hills and a winding drive up, easily one of the priciest homes in orange county. but her thoughts are elsewhere as the conversation flows between them with an ease that only comes with a natural connection.

she doesn’t notice the gap between them getting smaller and smaller. not until they’re turned into each other, and she’s close enough to count each freckle dusting across his nose, close enough to smell the mixture of his cologne and aftershave and the imported beer he’s been drinking. his voice has gotten softer now, so soft that she almost misses his question. almost.

‘ are you asking permission? ’ she can’t help but find it endearing. they’re both fully grown adults and yet he possesses a boyish quality so effortless, it’s charming and she leans into it. she’ll reach a hand out to smooth the lapels of his jacket, observing her work before her gaze lifts to meet his. if she craned her head, she’d be the one kissing him — but she doesn’t want to take the opportunity from him. not yet. ‘ there’s only one way for you to find out. ’

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

More New OCs

Glee:

Natalie Astor in Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl – Ash Astor's younger sister, parents were very very intense family vloggers and (with help from Ash and Roman) recently lost custody of her, she's just moved from Orange County (specifically Newport Beach or Huntington Beach) to Lima and is living with Josh St James because the courts decided that “real estate agent in ohio” was a lot more stable than “polyamorous triad with two working actors and a music producer in LA” for her custody

Used to be passionate about music but it was ruined by her parents (either discouraged in favour of more vlogging or pushed so heavily for the vlog that she's lost all enjoyment of it) but somehow gets roped into eventually joining the New Directions

(special thanks @the-witching-ash and @manyfandomocs for letting me be insane about her, helping me iron out details, and putting up with me being annoying about her face for 24 fucking hours)

Hunger Games:

Athena Crane – Arachne Crane's granddaughter. Arachne survived but that was kept secret for a year after the 10th games in order to feed the "districts are savages" propaganda. Top marks at the academy, capitolite princess, exactly what everyone expected based on her grandmother; decides that she wants to be a hunger games escort to see the districts, Snow never got past his grudge against Arachne so makes her apprentice under Effy and sends her to 12 instead of a career district

Phaedra Viatrix – Cressida’s younger sister, socialite, movie star in her sister’s films, secret rebel who uses her fame and connections to pass information on ( first name might still change, not 100% sure on it )

(also have the rest of my OUAT ocs so close to done but struggling to commit to 2 names so they aren't being included yet)

[a-mute-on-a-mule]

Hi!! for the oc asks: 🛋️ & 👥 & ⛰️

I love both modern and middle ages AU so I guess make the choice for me lmao (unless you want to answer each question for both OCs...👀)

Awww thank you!

It's the same character but in two different settings, in case there was some confusion there. Johann does get mentioned a couple of times though, so you do get a second OC either way lol. I'll go with the assumption that you're asking for both canons. Green for Medieval. Blue for Modern. Orange if true for both.

(Have an old style experiment to see the reason for the color code lol) _

🛋 [COUCH W/ LAMP] -> Where does your Original Character live? As in, where do they reside - one of the many stables across the Jorvegian Peninsula, or do they own an apartment/home within one of Jorvik's Cities?

Ruth does have a home to return to if she wishes, which is Johann's family farm (precursor to places like the Goldspur farmlands). But she's essentially a frontiersman for the Jarlaheim settlement so her usual home is wherever nature gives her the materials to build one.

Modern!Ruth has no permanent home. She can usually be found in places like abandoned storehouses, haylofts, and tree houses. Pre-built spots, if you will. Often in Harvest Counties. She does also build secret shelters around the map that tend to be built in a hillside or underground so they're virtually invisible. Yes, she basically makes Budget Hobbit Holes™. It's a very high compliment if she shows you one of those.

_

👥 [TWO PEOPLE] -> Has your Original Character formed any special bonds on Jorvik? Be it romantic, platonic, or a third secret option. Who have they bonded with?

Note: I may as well treat this as a light intro to the Medieval cast since just a list of OC names means nothing if people don't have an idea about who they are. This one does involve others' OCs and thus is an approximation based on what info I remember. So it may not be entirely accurate.

All of Ruth's and Johann's relationships both with each other and with other characters are platonic/familial by default.

Johann is Ruth's unofficially adopted son/little brother and a member of the Drake family. Ruth knows Johann through working with Ms. Drake. He is the "extrovert who finds and adopts an introvert" to Ruth and has a better moral compass than Ruth does, ironically. In the Medieval headcanon, his family may be Drake ancestors but they are not a medieval version of the game NPCs. Ruth does work for them for some of her early years in Jorvik. She's kind of his guardian as well.

William (Ravenyour. The player deleted her blog) is a Jarlaheim soldier that Ruth sees pretty often since she works with the livestock, including the horses. He caught her up on archery and horse riding once she upgraded to leysingi, and she became a guide for his patrols.

Renata is probably the first Jorvik native Ruth encounters (whether Ruth knows it or not). They're similar in some ways. Ren is quiet to start with, while Ruth is completely mute until she feels comfortable. So theirs is likely the kind of friendship that starts over common chores they have to be in the same place for and grows from there.

Astrid is a shieldmaiden of the Dundull settlement (under a different jarl) that Ruth bonds with as a fellow explorer. Pretty sure that's gonna become a friends-to-reluctant-enemies situation.

Suka is a Kallter and is probably the last member of the OC cast Ruth meets because of the distance and terrain between them. Don't have much worked out but at the moment she and Astrid run into her at the same time.

There is also a Vala called Lyssandra whom Suka knows before Ruth does. Haven't worked out how or when Ruth meets her but I imagine it's in somewhat close proximity to when Gunnar last meets Sive. _

⛰️ [MOUNTAIN] -> What is your Original Characters favorite spot on Jorvik? Are they more of a nature lover, or do they need the fuzz and buzz of the cities?

The Graydew Mountain Pass (the path we take to Epona the first time). It's a rough trail that most don't like to attempt but her mule is more sure-footed than most of the horses (plus the view and nature's bounty on the other side are great). The Pass may or may not become an escape route for Jarlaheim's inhabitants at some point as well.

It's a toss up between Greendale and Hollow Woods, though HW might come out slightly ahead because of the stream going through it and a water source is very appealing when you're a drifter.

She has no real issue with civilization or people in general. It's just more effort than it's worth to engage with most people when they're expecting you to talk and doing so is rather hard.

[ironmengatesdoorsdesign]

What Materials Are Frequently Utilized In Iron Work Services, And Also Just How Do They Contribute To The Total Toughness?

In the wide realm of building and also construction, iron job solutions command a substantial location as a result of their necessity in developing resilient structures. The integral stamina, convenience, and also longevity of iron make it an optimal product for numerous applications varying from constructing frameworks to crafting complex decorative aspects.

However, the total long life as well as efficiency of iron-based frameworks are not exclusively contingent on the natural buildings of this metal; they are equally affected by the type of materials utilized combined with iron as well as the particular treatments applied during the construction procedure.

The extensive use alloys-- compounds made by incorporating two or even more metallic elements-- is a testimony to this reality. Alloys boost the physical buildings of pure metals, making them preferable for particular applications.

For instance, adding carbon to pure iron results in steel-- an alloy known for its increased strength and resistance versus wear and tear. Similarly, surface treatments like galvanizing can considerably improve corrosion resistance, consequently expanding the lifespan of iron frameworks.

This article aims to clarify these typically made use of materials in iron job services while elucidating exactly how they add towards boosting general sturdiness.

Checking out the Function of Alloys and Treatments in Enhancing Long Life of Structures

The unification of alloys and treatments in iron work services becomes a perfect symbol of strength as well as long life, dramatically boosting the sturdiness as well as life expectancy of frameworks.

Alloys are a fusion of 2 or more metallic elements, which when combined, existing superior homes contrasted to individual parts. Significantly, steel - an alloy predominantly made up of iron and also carbon - is renowned for its high tensile strength as well as malleability. It has become a staple in building due to these top qualities combined with its resistance to environmental results such as rusting. Other prominent selections consist of cast iron, identified by its terrific solidity as well as put on resistance, making it excellent for applications where toughness is paramount.

Moreover, various treatments have been created to additionally improve these intrinsic characteristics of alloys made use of in the field. Hot-dip galvanizing involves finish iron or steel with zinc, giving cathodic defense that prevents deterioration successfully. Similarly, powder layer uses added protection versus weathering whilst at the same time supplying a visually pleasing finish. The procedure entails using powdered paint electrostatically onto steel surface areas after that treated under warm to develop a difficult shell-like layer over the product's surface area.

These treatment approaches not only add in the direction of enhancing general architectural integrity but additionally supply considerable financial benefits by minimizing maintenance expenses and also expanding service life cycles.

[jerryantiques]

All-transactions House Worth Index For Model Spanking New Jersey Njsthpi St Louis Fed

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Welcome to 1035-A, the primary in a 3 lot residential development in North Beach on Long Beach Island. 1035-A provides a complete of three,500 sq feet of living house, 6 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and three residing areas, a quantity of ranges of decking and an impressive end listing. 1027-C guarantees to be some of the magnificent oceanfront homes on Long Beach Island. This fabulous location provides a hundred ft of ocean frontage and a positive setback that ensures beautiful views of the seashore and ocean. I find that I can discover good stuff at storage and estate sales, however, generally, not as low cost or in quantity as auctions.

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The Iron County Food Pantry, in Montreal, WI, performs an essential role in feeding more than 50 area households every week. Enbridge lately donated 800 kilos of floor beef to the meals bank, after buying two native 4-H steers at auction. And we’re placing in the work and power to get there.

This West Orange estate incorporates stunning furnishings throug ... When the time comes to promote put our superior marketing plan into action to sell your Long Beach Island house for prime dollar. Whenever you see an estate sale happening in South Jersey area, know that somebody is going by way of a major change in their life. For example, when you have good experience doing storage or yard sales, and your estate is small and simple antique stores, you'll be able to probably do it yourself with the assistance of some family members. Many totally different conditions in life can call for closure and a new beginning. From our personal experience serving Southern New Jersey, we see that estate liquidation is normally required when a serious life change triggers a must sell a large volume of personal belongings.

Just as with Half.com you should provide good customer support and fully disclose the situation of the books so you can hold a great sellers rating, so folks will buy from you. Typing in certainly one of these codes is not much of a trouble, but if you've obtained LOTS of books to promote it could turn out to be so. If you've got received a lot of books to sell I recommend utilizing one of the locations beneath which has an app which is designed to scan the books bar codse.

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Was the one one of many Levittowns that was an integrated municipality. Was unfold over six towns and Levittown, Pa. over three townships and one borough. Not only had been the primary two Levittowns not more than a mailing address or submit office, however they were not even fully within one municipality, further threatening to dilute the Levittown name. Was fully inside the boundaries of Willingboro Township. When the name was modified to Levittown Township, things lastly fell into place--Levittown was the offical name of a municipal company and never part of another entity underneath some other name.

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[male-us-prison-experience]

Post 0078

“That’s the purpose of the chain gang,” – “The area should have never been in this condition.“  “Plus, Inmates prefer being outside, helping with the cleanup rather than being locked up in jail doing nothing” – Sheriff

Brevard County (Titusville), Florida

In August 2015, Brevard County (Florida) jail inmates spruced up a small a cemetery that had drawn complaints from veterans who said it was not well-kept.

The cleaning, raking and hedge-trimming came following a media story in which veterans said they found remnants of small Stars and Stripes strewn on the lawn, pine needles covering some of the grave markers and hedges that were overgrown at Brevard Veterans Cemetery.

A local president of National Veterans Homeless Support, contacteded Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who went out to the cemetery and sent the “chain gang,” a group of about 20  low-risk inmates tethered at the ankle by chains. The inmates generally do road work in Brevard communities.

“That’s the purpose of the chain gang,” Ivey said. “This is something I knew we’d be glad to jump into. The area should have never been in this condition.”

Inmates said they prefer being outside, helping with the cleanup rather than being locked up in jail doing nothing.

Editors Note:  A rather “over the top” inmate uniform, striped jumpsuits, neon green vests with inmate work crew stamped on the reverse, ‘correctional’ orange cap, bloused pant bottoms in black military grade boots, AND with chains around their boots.

You might think that they were trying to make being an inmate “attractive and fun”.

But why those chains with padlocks, and not 'normal' leg-irons?

[the-firebird69]

I'm go kart Mozart need this haha misc iron companies I hv them mk ts tons of it. I didn't put it together until just now. It's a great idea and that's not me on the bus thank you. But I do have a great idea and I see what he's saying about 2 or 300 small shops in LA county or nearby Orange and I can make a go-kart side by side and you make the single one because they have a car like that and they have several they're like these arrows or darts they call them something like that but you make it so it's fully covered in looks like a sports car not really like a super car and it's much more accepted even though the supercar version that you're doing is really speed than the one that looks like a formula 1 and it's weird cuz people didn't know that but our friend does and he's designed many of them and actually his father had Renault to sign it and took his design a little bit though he says they have versions of their own and it's what it is but still a little bit because they went ahead and did it and he had the idea because of his boss but it is a little bit like that and they say it is a little bit and they're laughing cuz that's how they get away with it so it's going to be a lot of fun but I do believe that these songs about me I'm going to go ahead with this idea and there's a lot of small shops out of business out of work and the workers are sitting around being jerks to everybody and they have something to do now and they will have a lot of work so you make the chassis in the chassis can be fitted for these types of sports cars they look cool and they look small but they're like a motorcycle car size they're bigger than the fit and they're kind of like a subcontact size with a little bit bigger it's the one that looks like a small SUV they're not that small and because they're fast agile and they break into the corner well it makes them safer and they have a full cage this will be a square one and that would be one step to make it on mobile frame and the way they're made you can cast it and it takes a lot less time but it's the way we should start and we can make them into kits and mail them all over the world you send them DHL if it's in a box it's like 8 ft and 6 ft by 2 ft and they can put a ton of them in a truck and it includes the motor so I'm going to go ahead and do this and the motor is the lawn mower engine and you can try very little money and he says he could possibly get one it's a little larger with a full cage and a certain safety rating I believe it too expensive and they're new and yeah I'm the guy making them on Australia but I wasn't New Zealand and it didn't work out I tried to make peace and they didn't want it now it's a big mess but still I'm going to start doing this and the biggest idea is to open up those little shops and put people back to work they'll be a lot less crabby and less mean and we've got to hold those shops and territory and we have to do it right now and I'm going to design them and I want to design them to look like go karts and with suspension and really it can be modified easily to make it into a car I'm going to make it that way it is just fascinating and you put the fiberglass on it and it's light and the new stuff's light and strong and thinner and doesn't smell it's going to be really cool. When you build it like a real car they're going to sell for like 120 Grand when you build it like this will sell for $1500. The odd part is it'll probably only go 40 miles an hour faster when you build it as a sports car I'm going to start now this is great

Peter c

Oh terrific he's into it too but we're going to do it with motorcycles we're going to do the square tube and with zero and we're going to call it a new name and he says 0 - and I think I might do that it sounds pretty cool and zero minus what and we're going to make fly cycles too and at the same place we have to do it and we have to do it now and then I try and say Yes bills and stuff I just sit there

Trump

Don't say I have a builder I'm going to sell the dent

Zues Hera

It does work that way and you can do that because he'd be tied to the company and he doesn't want to do that but that's funny

Thor Freya

Olympus

[flannelepicurean]

Okay, so...

One of the reasons I'm so goddamn bonkers about heritage apple varieties of the South (which I think I owe @werechicken an infodump about) is because of exactly this.

I'm a trans man from North Carolina. Both sides of my family, I'm two generations removed from sharecropping farms. I've got a cast iron pan that belonged to my great-grandmother and has been seasoned with the makings of probably thousands of pones of cornbread. My grandmother on my father's side was functionally illiterate, but she had so many skills in her working hands and her mind, she just knew how to DO THINGS, because...you gotta.

My grandfather on my mom's side is an old hippie, AND a true Man of the Land. When I was a wee young'un, he taught me about foraging, in the woods, in the yard, in the city. All over. He'd point out trees and bushes and weeds on the ground, and tell me how to eat what lived around me. How to tell when dandelion greens would be too bitter for a salad, stuff like that. And he taught me about the sanctity of nature, about doing little things like singing in gazebos along trails just to hear how they echo, just the beauty that's out there and inside, too.

My mom's mom is a Bible-thumping believer. And probably also bipolar, like me. She gets carried away, away, away. She can't hear music and not move. She weeps easily, when she feels things. The blast of color that is life in the world corporeal brings her to tears, and I think that makes her feel God in her soft matter and airy bones.

I'm fascinated, FASCINATED, by so many things, in the place that I'm from. From the way music comes up from people's guts and hollows when they sing about the places they've been, the places they're in, the places they're going whether they wish to or no. The way voices resonate like organ pipes. People open their throats when they sing. I'm fascinated by the fact that we say things in my family like, "Smells like snow," when the air takes a particular olfactory turn in the winter. By the fact that, in the summer, when the sopping-wet heat is just right, the moist places under the bowed-down grass radiate a smell like warm Jiffy corn muffins, the kind that are full of sugar. The bright, brick-orange earth in the Piedmont region. The powdery, cement-gray sand on the coast that squeaks underfoot right as you step onto the beach, before it gets wet enough to cling.

And the FACTS. The fact that NC has a big slice of the Southern Appalachian zone that has the greatest biodiversity of salamanders IN THE WORLD. Just...so many of them. It's truly wild. And the Benjamin Long Blue Ridge Fresco Trail, a series of churches in the mountains where one of the few modern masters of fresco art created religious paintings in the wet plaster of walls and ceilings of rugged old buildings. And gosh, just the mountains. Those rolling, rambling mountains that come out bursting with bright leaves like a slow fire on the hillsides in the fall.

And it's apple country up there. Henderson County, NC, produces the bulk of our apples. If Henderson County was a state, it would rank No. 8 in the nation for apple production. Currently, North Carolina ranks No. 7 in the U.S. Most of our commercial apples get processed into other items like juice and applesauce.

But.

Some time ago, I ran across this article, about a retired chemical engineer living within shouting distance of where I was born, who started an ongoing quest of finding old varieties of apples, thought extinct or lost to time and the wilds, of bringing greater diversity to the varieties available, and also simply the idea - “How neat would it be to find an apple nobody’s tasted in 50 or 100 years?”

Tom Brown is an apple hunter - there's a whole society of folks who do this, who go up the backwoods through old farmland and woods and scrubby brush, barns and backyards and all sorts, based on clues and hearsay and information gleaned from folks around and about, to find a few, a couple, a single tree. And they take seeds, cuttings, bring them back to the nurseries and orchards, and they bring. The trees. Back. And now, for example, we have a state Historic Site with a dedicated heritage apple orchard with ALL THESE APPLES (scroll down for list, it’s a good thing they are grouped, because there are OVER 400). And you can taste these apples, that haven’t been tasted in decades, perhaps a century, reach back in time, reach into the land and pull from the earth and the sun and the water something good.

I gave up my beliefs, any attachment to belief, nearly 20 years ago, and I am much more at peace since then. But I adore symbolism. I love magic as a concept, and I love storytelling, and I love magical realism probably most of all. That kind of, “Watch out you don’t step sideways just right, or you might end up somewhere just a tad bit strange,” and yet, “Well, things are a tad bit strange anyhow, but we get along alright,” kind of magic. And I love beauty, and how many forms it wears, and brings. And I recognize the holy and the sacred, regardless of the divine.

Some things do make me want to go down in the river to pray, even if I don’t really know what that means, anymore. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I dream of wandering into the woods in the gloaming, lying down in a little divot in the loam, letting wet leaves pile over me, and just disappearing for a while in the light of the moon, among trees and stones. When the sun starts to hit just right on a summer morning, and it’s for sure gonna be a hot one and damned-all humid, but the yard smells like warm tomato vines and the okra blossoms are spiraling open, it makes me smile. And sometimes when it rains, I feel red clay in my skin and the muscle of my limbs, and right down to my bone marrow, and I want to sing with an open throat.

there needs to be more content specifically aimed at people who grew up in the middle of rural bumfuck nowhere who love the shitty worn down rusty pickup truck unclean gas station bigfoot sighting 200 degree weather dirt-eating redneck vibe of it all without the whole homophobic white christianity thing

[dorischiangca]

The Quickest Way to Learn the Piano

There are plenty of ways to learn the piano. You can start with scales, learn to recognize notes or enroll in one of the piano lessons in Orange County. If you want the quickest way, make sure to attend the piano lesson of a good teacher.

Play Slowly and Attend Piano Lessons in Orange County

When it comes to piano learning, the journey is more vital than the designation. That’s why by playing slowly, you can effectively learn how to play the piano. You may want to master a certain song quickly. But you must ask yourself if you are playing it well. Speed is not an indicator of mastery. When you play slowly, you can easily identify your trouble spots.

Finding the Trouble Spots

As you practice slowly, you can easily identify which areas you need to improve more. Take your time finding those spots and alleviate them for more mindful practice. Keep in mind that if you can’t find those spots, you will only repeat them over and over. They will only cement deeper in your brain. That’s why it’s pertinent that you correct them as early as possible.

Communicate with Your Teacher Regularly

Piano lessons are vital to ensure that you gain proper knowledge about how to play the piano properly. However, lessons are only done once a week. For the remaining days, you will be left practicing on your own. If there are things that trouble you with your piano playing, make sure to reach out to your teacher. This is one reason you need a piano teacher that you can approach or talk to at any time. In that way, she can help you iron things out while you are practicing for a certain piece.

Practice Every Day

Besides attending piano lessons, you should also practice every day to master the art. You can’t expect to quickly learn to play the piano if you don’t practice regularly. Practice makes perfect as they say. And it is also true when it comes to piano learning. It is the reason you need to be committed to learning when you decide to learn how to play the piano. You must devote at least an hour every day to practicing a musical piece. The more time you devote to practice, the quicker you can learn.

Start Playing with Emotions

Every piano piece has a certain tempo. When you insert emotions within the piece, you can feel the song and go with the flow. However, to inject emotions while playing, you must play a piece slowly. Feel the emotion of the composer while playing it. When you understand the emotions behind the piece, it will be easier for you to play it.

Work with a Piano Teacher You can learn on your own or you can choose to attend piano lessons in Orange County to properly know the basics of piano playing. If you choose the latter make sure to contact our piano teacher here for more information : (562) 537-7548.

[supernaddourscustommetalwor-blog]

wrought iron fence orange county ca

How to pick the correct structure for you?

While remodeling your home, it is imperative to pick the correct kind of furniture and installations. Things that generally indicate the general appearance of the house incorporate the staircase, tables, windows, wrought iron fence orange county ca  and the sort of entryways.

We should take a gander at a couple of tips that would assist you with picking the correct plans for these things.

How to pick the correct winding staircase structure?

There are two kinds of winding staircases, i.e., U-shape and L-shape.

Winding staircase configuration relies upon the space and the topic of the house. Current pattern favors of iron stringers and winding staircases as they lift the house's class and advancement.

Likewise, if your home is brimming with intensely adorned furnishings, it is smarter to decide on a basic iron L-shape winding staircase, as that would adjust the stylistic theme.

Naddour's Custom Metalwork offers the best winding staircase structures for the inside and outside of the house. The best part about our metal staircases is that we make them redid. These staircases join well with the client's decision and the general subject of the spot.

How to pick the correct iron entryway plan?

The front entryway of the house ought to have a luxurious and refined look. Indeed, entryways are thought to get by for a considerable length of time, and this can possibly occur if the outside and inside of your home has iron entryways.

Fortunately, iron entryways are anything but difficult to clean, exceptionally sturdy, and have a tasteful and imperial vibe to them. There are four astonishing iron entryway structures you can look over:

Single Iron Doors

Twofold Iron Doors

Wine Cellar Doors

Custom Doors

The correct iron entryway configuration relies upon all out space. In the event that the inside is extensive, at that point introducing twofold iron entryways would make an ideal showing. Something else, a solitary iron entryway ought to be thought of.

In addition, on the off chance that you're searching for an impressive way to extravagant your wine assortment, at that point the wine basement entryway is your answer!

On the off chance that you have an extraordinary taste and explicit prerequisites, at that point Baltic Iron Doors got you secured by giving the choice to tweaked entryways. You can without much of a stretch pick the surface, shading, cleaning, and the size of the entryway.

How to pick the correct table for your place?

While picking the correct table structure, consider the space where you need to put the table. For instance, in the event that it's underneath the washroom reflect, at that point choose a table with marble on it and the base is made of iron. The explanation being, is on the grounds that water can grow up wooden tables.

Besides, iron tables look tasteful and engaging any place they are put. Actually, on the off chance that your home has a natural topic, at that point what can be a superior choice than iron tables?!

In the event that you need the most trendy and strong tables for your home, you ought to think about Naddour's Custom Metalworks. In Naddour's assortment, you can locate the most lovely tables with the most grounded base choices. Additionally, we offer a wide range of iron tables that go impeccably with the subject of your home.

[peakgenko]

Songs the Haikyuu boys would slow dance with you to...

CW; suggestive sexual themes

N/A, my heart nutted while writing this tbh

not proofread!!

© All content belongs to damnihateithere.

Kei Tsukishima

Dream A Little Dream of Me- The Mamas & The Papas

I don’t even know how i made this connection but i feel like tsukishima hums a lot of old songs and so this would be one of them

Or slow dancing in the dark by joji. it’s his favourite song. because of you.

Yuu Nishinoya

So Good At Being in Trouble- Unknown Mortal Orchestra

You’d rock back and fourth with him slowly while his lips press against the back of your hand— his eyes staring intently while he hums the lyrics

Shoyo Hinata

I’m Yours- Jason Mraz

So it’s not really something you can slow dance to but this is definitely his song for you. He sings this to you in the showers, during pillow talk, or drum the rhythm with his fingers against a Tupperware when he’s cooking something for you.

He’ll pull you in by the waist and nuzzle his head up against your back with a grin.

At this point it’s his favourite song because it always gets him in the mood. But that’s only because he thinks of you when he hums it.

Rintarō Suna

Versace On The Floor- Bruno Mars

OMG

okay so I imagine the two of you on some dance floor. Like at a club. I head canon that he’s good at dancing. Effortlessly too.

The music stops and and they choose a slow song to end the evening

You’re wearing a dress that cuts off mid thigh. And he’s in a little suit. His blazers loose and his collared shirt is buttoned down since it got a little heated in the midst of sweaty bodies practically grinding up against eachother

Underneath the red and purple spotlights, specks of iridescent lights from the disco ball hanging from the ceiling arrange themselves on your faces.

He’s singing the lyrics wholeheartedly with a fox like grin while his hands roam down to your ass. Although it’s intent was far from sexual.

Atsumu Miya

Corduroy Dreams- Rex Orange County

LOVE LOVES WHISTLING IT TO YOU

Definitely does kiss you in the shower for a couple hours.

He’s fresh out of the shower and he’s wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants. Drops of water race down to his feet as they roll down his bare chest. You have your towel wrapped around your chest

One hand laced with his, he leads you in a slowing pace around the room with a chirpy smile.

Osamu Miya

Blessed- Daniel Caeser

i’m not sure how i made this conclusion but i’m gonna go with it

He has the prettiest voice when he sings along.

It’s not really dancing though. He has your back facing his chest while his arms enveloped on top of your collar bones and shoulders. He’s pecking gentle kisses against your cheek while rocking back and fourth to the song while you two prepare breakfast.

Keishin Ukai

Fly Love- Jamie Foxx

I imagine you two on some sort of resort of beach. You two are soaked of water but this song just happens to pop up so you stand there in his arms while he teasingly blows a cloud of smoke into your face.

Keiji Akaashi

HENTAI BY CIGARETTES AFTER SEX!!!!

okay for those of you who don’t know that song i know by the title of the song it looks sus and trust me he was definitely skeptic of it as well but give it a listen because now you’re all he ever thinks about when he hears this song.

he swears he’ll dance to this with you in his arms on your wedding day.

if you’re feeling angsty, he’d definitely hold you close and dance with you to the swan by camille saint-saëns

Wakatoshi Ushijima

I Hear A Symphony- Cody Fry

He loves how classy it sounds and it perfectly describes how he feels about you. hell it may even be his favourite song.

He felt like volleyball was his only purpose and for a while he was more than okay with that. until he met you and now he strives for more in life. Hence the whole “I used to hear a simple song” verse. loves putting emphasis in his tone when singing “perfection is so quick to bore...you are my beautiful by far” (only to himself of course) homeboy gets a little embarrassed when it comes to singing.

Daichi Sawamura

Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby- Cigarettes After Sex

I don’t even need to have a scenario for this like he just radiates this energy:((

Like imagine his cheek pressed against yours while his hand weaves through your hair

Tadashi Yamaguchi

You say I’m in love- Banes World!!!!!!!!

Head empty just you and yams dancing to this song underneath LEDs and a ceiling projector

you’re all he thinks about when he sings this song

and bubblegum by clairo- he’d tell you not to focus on the lyrics but instead the instrumental portion. he says the comforting mellow beat reminds him of you.

Kenma Kozume

Nothing- Bruno Major.

Sings the lyrics to you

You’d think he’d be too shy and youre right but it’s because he does it subconsciously.

BRO THIS WOULD LITERALLY BE HIS SONG IN A RELATIONSHIP

Aran Ojiro

Ugotme- Omar Apollo

Such a good singer as well

When the two of you dance, you two dance.

His ability to dance is almost mesmerizing along with his singing.

Sings while covering your neck and collarbones with kisses

Satori Tendou

How Deep Is Your Love- Bee Gees

Also dramatically lip syncs the lyrics to you

Lifts you up into the air and into his arm almost five times mid dance.

He’ll shake his head with his lips pressed up against your neck while his hands trail upwards and toy with the hem of your shirt, his hands hungry with anticipation to just rip it off.

and you scold him when you feel his lips contort into a devilish grin.

Kotaro Bokuto

Hopelessly Devoted To You- Olivia Newton John

hear me out. He only knows this song because akaashi made him watch grease bc he says bokuto should be exposed to the “classics” and since watching it at age 12 with akaashi and bo’s two sisters, he’s prayed that one day he’d meet someone that’d make him feel the way that song did.

He does now and everytime that songs on he’s practically carrying you in his arms.

Tobio Kageyama

Love Me Please- OCTAVIO

this is the only song he knows with the exception of old kanye west because he considers his music grind music but you definitely put him on this song.

He’s literally a psychopath who doesn’t listen to anything EXCEPT like popular rap songs from 2017-2018. And even then he’ll only tolerate it when he needs to work out.

And then he meets you. Now he listens to music in a different aspect.

He knows he’s not the most romantic guy out there but he’s trying his best and you tell him that’s more than enough. He loves you so much.

Koushi Sugawara

This Side of Paradise- Coyote Theory

he’s dragging you out of the house to dance with you to this song. bonus points if it’s raining

he’s also the type to scream-sing to love songs.

There aren’t any cars in the vicinity due to the pouring rain so the two of you make your way to the road.

Your hand in his, he twirls you underneath the storm and into his arms.

Toru Oikawa

Pretty Boy- The Neighborhood

He’ll put so much emphasis in his tone on the “Even if the earth starts shaking, you’re the only thing worth taking- with me. Even if the sky’s on fire, got you here it’s alright.” verse

You’re literally everything to him

he won’t let you go even for a second until this song is finished even then he’ll have trouble parting.

Hajime Iwaizumi

Baby I’m Yours- Arctic Monkeys cover

It’s not even dancing at this point, it’s just you two cuddling and him pretending like he hates it even though he’s the one who refuses to let go of you.

Ryonusuke Tanaka

Knockin’ Da Boots- H-town

if he’s not dancing to this with you in his arms he’s definitely ironically grinding on the floor to this with a fuck boy face.

Hitoka Yachi

two queens in a king sized bed- girl in red

I just imagine the most “call me by your name” scenery type shit.

Or maybe like a field of flowers? You just have her in your arms on some sort of picnic date she planned for the two of you

Semi Eita-

I Wanna Be Yours- Arctic Monkeys

your arms wrap around his neck and his lips press onto yours while the two of you sway back and fourth underneath red led lights.

don’t be surprised if things get sexual.

Tetsuro Kuroo

Careless Whisper- George Michael

okay first he played this song when you were over once and he had it on so that he could initiate a little make out sess with you but when you could tell how nervous he was on making a move on you you told him that there was no pressure on anything and he sort of just danced with you instead. he ended up unironically really liking this song because of that.

(bonus: if it’s fanon kuroo he likes to dance to sway by Michael Bublé with you and the whole time he’s just eyeing you down with a sly grin)

Kiyoomi Sakusa

Beach Baby- Bon Iver

Space Song- Beach House

I imagine it’s raining horribly outside to the point where the thunder outside is retro boomin

but the windows are open because both you and Sakusa love the sound of rain pouring

he has this song playing from his record player while he hums against your neck.

[ironmengatesdoorsdesign]

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This intro aims to give viewers with understandings into what makes Irvine Range Facility Southern The golden state's premier buying location.

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The range center better enhances the site visitor experience by using a huge selection of entertainment opportunities made for people and households alike. A popular tourist attraction is the Gigantic Wheel - modelled after the iconic Ferris wheel in Vienna - which gives motorcyclists panoramic sights of Orange County's skyline; it offers not just as an entertainment trip but also as a symbol of area combination within this dynamic hub. In addition, there are real-time efficiencies at its improv comedy club and Edwards movie theater that accommodate those seeking social enrichment or merely preferring an amusing night out.

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[thera-daydreams]

PLUS ONE

》 A TRESE TWOSHOT 《

[Maliksi x Reader]

📝 Summary: In which your beloved best friend snatches you from your apartment at dawn asking you to be his plus one for his cousin's wedding. Unbeknownst to the clueless you, everything is just going according to Maliksi's ultimate masterplan. With the help of friends and family, the Prince of the Tikbalang finally gets the girl he's been longing for. And oh, Señor Armanaz gets his dream daughter-in-law and the promise of grandchildren within the year.

📌 Warning: May contain some slight NSFW for spicy suggestiveness and cussing. No smut or anything super SPG—this girl can't write that for her life—but just be prepared. It's Maliksi we're talking about. We've got friends-to-lovers, obliviousness, pining, fluff, and a tikbalang simp. Figure it out. 😃

(word count: 7,454) ♥︎ Part Two: ?

》 AUTHOR'S NOTE 《

Not an Inday spinoff, but a lengthy oneshot in celebration of this blog getting 90 followers. Just ten more to 100, yay! Thank you so much for the love and support, everyone. I also promised that I'll be making this brainrot that @binibiningbabaylan and I have fangirled over a few days ago (find the original post here) when I finished the latest chapter of Inday. Here it is! 🥰

Before I forget, I was also inspired by the cute fic made by @crispybasil titled "Sunshowers" and the "Trese Boys As Things My Guy Friends Do" made by the amazing @smolla-than-a-bug (I bow down to your wonderful works in the Trese fandom). I definitely see Maliksi to be the type to go on spontaneous roadtrips and be the boyfriend to drive you around eveeeerywhere (while also driving you crazy). 🚘

There are also some songs mentioned throughout this work. You should probably listen to them while reading for the full experience. Ending was somewhat rushed but eh, I'm too exhausted and I've rewritten it too many times. Also, if someone makes some actual tikbalang smut, tag me please. Anyways, enjoy! 💕

The way it all started was hilarious. Absolutely fucking hilarious. It happened like a blur. Literally. One second, you were snoozing in your bed. The next? You had a seatbelt on in the shotgun seat of a sophisticated-looking car. Your brain didn't even get to process it yet.

"... So let me get this straight," you grumbled, still half-asleep from your sleep marathon. You just finished a hugely successful project at work yesterday, got promoted, and wanted to make up for the restless nights you spent overtime in the office. Of course you were irritated from being disturbed. You were on vacation leave for two entire weeks, originally planning to go into temporary isolation by deactivating your social media accounts and reserving a beach cabana for yourself in Batangas.

Well, turns out, you weren't going to Batangas anytime soon. All because your unreasonably spontaneous bestfriend of ten hectic years stole you from your apartment at 2AM. Was this considered kidnapping? Was this him just being more in touch with his tikbalang side, taking unsuspecting women in their sleep and leading them to their inevitable death? (He was going over the speed limit, so it was a valid thought.) Will wearing your shirt inside-out save you today? Lord, masyado ka pang pagod para mag-isip ngayon.

"Go on."

"You abducted picked me up in the middle of the night because you want me to be your plus one at your cousin's wedding in Tagaytay?"

"Yup. And technically, the venue is right on the outskirts of Cavite going to Tagaytay," he corrected you as a matter-of-factly.

"Same thing, whatever," you huffed tiredly. "Your cousin's wedding is at 6AM today. In a few hours. In four hours."

"Uh-huh."

You groaned exasperatedly, "Mal naman, eh! You didn't even let me bring anything. Could've at least given me a heads-up a few hours ago. I'm practically emptyhanded right now save for my phone! Sinungaling ka, you said this was just a normal midnight drive—not a freaking wedding!"

The Prinsipe ng Mga Tikbalang, son of the Great Stallion, heir to the Armanaz herd, and the Top Drag Racer of C-5 Expressway—if that was even one of his Game of Thrones-like titles—grinned as he continued driving beside you. He let you continue ranting in the passenger seat while he mulled over his ultimate masterplan that would change his entire life later on. He was a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy, so all this wasn't his thing. But for you? He'll make plans, alright.

"Wala man lang akong dinalang masusuot o kahit konting makeup para maging presentable sa harapan ng buong pamilya mo," you exclaimed, in absolute despair. "Do you know how out of my league you are? Your rich-ass family might judge me—hell, your dad might see me as a hampaslupa if I show up there in my pambahay and tsinelas!"

"Psh, I'm not out of your league," Maliksi waved it off, smoothly turning a corner. "And calm down. We've known each other for a decade! My dad practically loves you as his own daughter. Heck, the entire family knows you and keeps telling me they want you adopted in already. Lolo Andres and Lola Perlita said they'd have the paperwork settled. You just need to sign them."

It would be even better (and easier) if you married into the family. To him, specifically (as if he'd let anyone else have you). God, he was already being so obvious in his advances, but you were just so damn oblivious whenever it came to romance. None of this needed to happen if you just got it through your thick skull that he was madly in love with you.

"That's not the point, idiot!" you slumped back into your seat, hopeless. "Do you think the bride and the groom will get offended? Shit, baka masumpaan ako kung magagalit sila, Mal. Mukha akong patay galing sa South Cemetery."

The long-haired tikbalang rolled his eyes, "Huwag kang mag-alala. Nothing's going to go wrong. Chill ka lang diyan. I've got everything under control, babe."

Babe. Yes, he even called you babe but you thought it was him being a himbo and a massive flirt. Now, it was his common term of endearment for you, but you still assumed it was him just being irksome to you and that you couldn't stop the man from saying it anymore. Thus, you let it be (the most obvious hint of his attraction to you, bestie).

"... Ugh, why didn't you ask Hannah or Amie to go with you?"

He just smiled knowingly, shrugging and making up an excuse, "Nagmamadali ako, eh. Hannah and Amie are also coming, but they already have the other tikbalang as dates."

"'Luh, ako pala ang backup choice mo?"

"Heh. Whatever you want to think."

Little did you know that you were always his first choice. Always. Even when he pursued Alexandra Trese many years ago, trying to convince himself you were just his best friend, it was always you. How did he come to that realization? Well, an international band he was a fan of released a song a couple years ago and he heard it being played in a club in BGC. The song title?

It Was Always You by Maroon 5.

Needless to say, after hearing the song and being unable to get it—get you—out of his mind at night, he stopped courting Alexandra. Unfortunately for him, that time, you'd started dating other men. Therefore, he was left on the sidelines... until your latest and most painful breakup, at least. That was five years ago. You still hadn't dated anyone since then, kind of traumatized from getting into another failed relationship like that.

In the present day, as if the fates were playing on you two, one of your favorite artists played on the radio. A very ironic song given the situation you two were in.

Best Friend by Rex Orange County.

Maliksi knew it was a favorite of yours. He knew it by the way your eyes lit up like a star brightening the twinkling night sky. Like the sun first rising in the morning at Apolaki's command. Like the moon extending its gentle rays from the magic of Mayari herself. If there was anything he wanted to ask of the old gods, it was you—everything else be damned.

"I wanna be the one that makes your day, the one you think about as you lie awake," you half-sang and half-screamed happily, somewhat out-of-tune. "I can't wait to be your number oooooone! I'll be your biggest fan and you'll be mine—"

Maliksi glanced at you, not minding that his eardrums were probably getting microscopic ruptures from your aggressive singing. As much as he wanted to stare at you all day, he had to keep his eyes on the road. But the lyrics you were singing were wrong; the Prince of the Tikbalang was already yours from day one.

"Babe, McDo drive-through tayo for breakfast. Let me make it up to you. Gusto mo ng caramel sundae for your promotion gift? Sige. Ako bahala. Chicken nuggets din? Mabubusog ka ba niyan? I don't think they serve those this early..."

》》》

"Sandali lang!" you shouted out from inside an empty room. You'd just arrived at the venue—the Alta Veranda de Tibig in Silang, Cavite (practically the gateway to Tagaytay)—an hour or so ago. The hired makeup artist just left so that you could privately change into the outfit that had been bought specifically for you. Curse Mal and his ability to buy anything (perhaps anyone) he wanted. "Bwiset, Mal, you didn't tell me we'd be part of the damn entourage. We have to be walking the aisle in thirty minutes, simbako! You just love rushing me, don't you!?"

If only you were the one walking down the aisle today towards him.

When you exited the room, Maliksi couldn't help but let his jaw drop as he skimmed your figure, clad in the luxurious, silky satin blush midi dress he bought in one of those fancy stores in Makati yesterday. He imagined that it would look great on you, but now, seeing it on you in person... you looked divine (and frankly, he wanted to see it off your body to see what was underneath—but don't get too ahead of yourself, Mal). It was a whole 'nother level from his imagination. The deep cowl neckline and thin spaghetti straps showed your lovely collarbones... as well as a peek of your cleavage. His favorite and the best part of it all? It was backless, allowing him to gaze at the tempting curve of your spine.

He hadn't realized he had grown silent until you smiled and closed his mouth, tapping his chin.

"Lalangawin ang bibig mo, Mal," you laughed softly. Never had you seen him so speechless. You then flicked your hair back, ridiculously posing for him like you were on the cover of Vogue magazine (haba ng hair mo, gurl!). "Do I look that good? Char lang."

"... You look absolutely ravishing—I mean, uh, stunning. Hot. Yeah." That was all he could say. He mentally punched himself for not showering you with more suave compliments.

Still, your face brightened up, not knowing that the man in front of you just fell for you a thousand times harder, "Wow! Really? Damn. Ang galing talaga ng MUA na kinuha mo, ginawa akong artista. Give me their contact number later! May work event pa naman ako in two months. I'm shocked, it's like they made me rise from the dead! Even my eyebags are gone, Mal! How'd they do that?" Heck yeah, your confidence was boosted. He offered his arm to you like a gentleman, making you half-heartedly roll your eyes (you took it anyway). From holding it alone, you could tell that your best friend was a sinewy man (well, you knew that already after seeing his tikbalang form before—the little shit didn't even wear a loincloth like all his clanmates; your poor eyes were eternally scarred).

You looked him up and down. You wouldn't lie—Maliksi is and always has been an attractive man. Now? With his hair in a ponytail (pun not intended), definitely one of the hunkiest men you've ever known. "You're not looking too bad yourself, horsey."

"Ako pa!" He puffed his chest out in pride. You chuckled at his reaction.

"By the way, how do you even know my dress size and my shoe size?"

"Babe, I've known you too long. You know almost everything about me, I know everything about you."

You snorted at his confident tone, "'Di nga? You don't know every single thing about me, Mal. Assuming ka masyado."

"Alam ko nga anong cup size mo. Wala lang 'yang shoe and dress size."

You slapped his shoulder, cheeks quickly flushing red, "Huy, umayos ka! Walang hiyang tikbalang na 'to." With this guy as your best friend? You heard dirty jokes at least once a day. "Don't be inappropriate here!"

"What? It's only fair I know!" He looked down on you suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows. "You already know I always go commando, so of course I know that your bra is a size—"

"Shhh! Baka marinig ka, 'nyeta."

"So? Let them hear. My best friend has a nice set of melons!" he shouted. You were grateful there was no one around. Hopefully.

"Oh my God..."

Your best friend chortled at how flustered you'd become. He led you to where some of his family was waiting, with a couple of his relatives already greeting you. You instantly and quite easily mingled with them, your worries of them not accepting you far from even true (they all knew how much their prince loved the innocent you).

"Kayo na talaga, pare?" one of his older tikbalang clanmates asked while you went away to be fawned over by his aunts.

Maliksi chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched you from afar, "Heh. Hindi pa."

Another one of his clanmates—a younger one—laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, "Talaga? That's cap, bro. You two are like a married couple already and you guys still aren't a thing?"

"Ilang taon na ba kayong magkakaibigan?" the older one asked him.

"Almost ten years," Maliksi responded, a smile unconsciously pulling his lips up as he remembered your moments together. He watched you converse with his female relatives (who adored you the moment Maliksi brought you to a family event many moons ago).

The two tikbalang snickered as they saw the look on the Great Stallion's heir.

"You're down bad," the younger one said, snapping a photo of his lovestruck kuya. "You've got it so bad for her, dudeparechong!"

"Balak mong ligawan anytime soon?" the older tikbalang inquired.

"Heh. Balak ko na ngang pakasalan. Kung pwede, ngayon."

They looked at Maliksi as if he was crazy. He was very much serious, though, even if there was a huge, lopsided smile on his face. The Prince of the Tikbalang raised a brow at them.

"What? Don't give me that look. Our ten years of being best friends is practically the courting and the dating stage already."

"Eh... you're right. Don't waste anymore time. Go and marry her today, dude. Suporta kami sa'yo, basta groomsmen kami sa kasal niyo, ha!"

"Ge. Without question."

Meanwhile, on your end with the ladies of the family, they started pestering you on your love life (like all typical Filipino aunties). Chismis everywhere.

"O, iha, single ka pa ba?"

"Kailan ka magpapakasal? Malapit ka nang pumasok sa thirties mo."

"Do you want kids? How many?"

"Are you and Maliksi a couple? You look good together! Kayo na, 'di ba?"

"Will you be getting married next? Are you engaged? When's the wedding? Invite niyo kami!"

Before you could get overwhelmed by their questions, Maliksi swept you off your feet to lead you to the entourage that was lining up outside the chapel area. Again, it happened like a blur. He laughed at the partially nauseated look on your face.

"You okay there?" he asked, grinning.

"Your family thinks we're together," you muttered quietly, not meeting his eyes. You weren't sure why you felt... tingly about their statements.

He tilted his head at you curiously, gently setting you down on your feet and helping you stand.

"Do you hate the idea?" It hurt him to ask you the question, but he wanted your thoughts on it. Perhaps doing this was a bad idea. Maliksi was competitive in many things, including wanting you to be his, but if you were so opposed to it, he would never force you into something you didn't want. He let go of your hand; you didn't even notice he'd been holding it until he let go. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Your wide-eyed gaze snapped back to look up at him, "No! No, it's not that! And... it's not bad." Your hand felt strangely empty now that his was gone. Biting your lip, you disclosed, "You're not making me uncomfortable, Mal. Don't ever think that."

With that, you shyly interlocked your arm with his, tearing your eyes from his to mask the growing warmth you felt spreading in your veins. You two didn't say anything else when the ushers let you walk down the beautiful, petal-covered aisle together.

The man beside you was starstruck. Hopeful. Maybe both of you did have a chance. Maybe somewhere in the depths of your soul, his feelings for you were being reciprocated. For the rest of the sacred ceremony in the gorgeous main pavilion, both of you relished in short, comfortable, and low conversations. He even cracked jokes every once in a while—really funny ones that made it challenging for you to you stifle your laughter.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride."

Maliksi fervently prayed to Bathala that he'd experience the same opportunity he was seeing with you someday. One day.

Even while the sun was brightly out, the sky began showering down light rain onto the land. You were in awe as you looked out the window.

"Hala, totoo nga pala! Tignan mo!" you laughed, tugging Maliksi's suit sleeve, pointing at the window.

"Na ano?" he curiously inquired, not understanding what you were referring to.

"Na kapag may tikbalang na kinakasal, umuulan habang may araw pa," you replied, eyes filled with childlike mirth and wonder. A rainbow had even begun to form by the clouds. "Look, it's magical! Ang ganda pala ng view dito kasama ang old Spanish architecture. Timeless na timeless. It's so pretty, 'no? Picture tayo 'maya, Mal."

Unlike you, it wasn't the sky outside that the prince was looking at. Amidst the loud cheers for the newlywed couple and the bubbles the guests were blowing, his vision could only focus on how magnificent you looked while being amazed. You were his best view. (Ed from 90-Day Fiancé, kabahan ka na, may katapat ka sa pickup line mo.)

》》》

"Smile for the picture!"

You giggled as Maliksi was dragged into a photo-op with the bridesmaids and the important older wedding sponsors a few feet away (funnily, he looked a little constipated around them). All of a sudden, when he was heading back to your direction, you were roughly pushed into the said man's arms. When you turned around, there was nothing (except maybe a gust of wind that came out of nowhere).

"Ooh, gotcha. Careful," the tikbalang steadied you, strong hands holding your biceps. "Natapilok ka?"

"... Huh, hindi naman," you wondered suspiciously, looking around. "I think someone pushed me? Parang tinulak ako... but wala namang tao."

"Weird. Maybe it was just the wind."

It actually was. Really. Maliksi knew for a fact that it was those two taong hangin who were spying on you from the corner, trying to pair you up. He gave them a thumbs-up while your back was turned in the opposite direction. Hannah and Amie returned the thumbs-up before vanishing. Suddenly, the two wedding photographers had moved on from the bridesmaids and were right beside you.

"What a lovely couple you two are!" she praised. Before you could correct her, she held up the black contraption she held towards you two. "Pose for the camera, lovelies!"

And so you did, the photographer guiding you two on what to do. Maliksi wrapped his arm around your waist and you leaned on his side, looking sidewards to the camera with one leg cocked in front of the other. Her assistant, who was holding a polaroid camera, printed out two photos for you.

"Thank you," you told him, taking the photos from his hands then flicking them rapidly to make the images develop. You and Mal were about to walk to the reception area when the photographer stopped you, handing the male beside you a business card.

"If you two need a photographer or a videographer for your wedding, call me," she signaled to both of you before running to another guest, bringing her assistant with her.

You gawked, "Mal, did you just hear what she said?"

"Loud and clear." A grin was on his face. He seemed very pleased at what he heard.

"... How can she even tell if someone is married or not?"

Maliksi's free hand took your left hand, tapping the ring finger, "Nothing here."

"Ooooooh. I get it now." Your brows creased. "Huh. This is like the fifth time today the people here have mistaken us for a couple."

Maliksi shrugged, teasing you, "Who knows? Baka may potential tayo, babe."

Before you could ask him what he meant, he was hurriedly towing you to the reception venue. While he was doing that, you stared at the now-developed polaroid photos you were holding. Huh. Maybe you two did look like a couple.

"Come on, they're serving some snacks at the welcome reception area. Peach pie and mango float-flavored. Paborito mo, babe."

》》》

The rest of the night went by without a hitch. You were actually enjoying the event—the host was great, the food was great, the music was great. Everything was great... that was, until the games.

"Alright! Now that the bride's garter has been removed, let's have the bouquet and garter toss... starting with the females!" the host announced. "Dear bride, please stay here in front. And all single ladies—and by single I mean ready to mingle and are not married—please rise and stand here on the dance floor. Let's play matchmaker tonight, everyone!"

"Uy, single ladies daw," Maliksi nudged your side. "Sign mo na 'yan." You snorted like a pig.

"Nope, ayokong madamay sa bouquet toss," you whisper-yelled at your best friend. "Do you know how embarrassing that is?! Besides, they won't notice if I don't join! Special tactic ko 'yan sa weddings: pretending I'm not single. Katabi naman kita."

More women came to the front, making you feel assured that you didn't need to participate. The host was about to say something, when the bride interrupted to whisper something into his ear.

"Hala, halaaa! Sabi ko all single ladies, pero may isang single lady na nagtatago pa!" he announced, making you freeze. Please don't let it be you. "What's her name, beloved bride?"

"Y/N L/N." You nearly spat out your champagne. You? Did they just call out your name? How did they know?

"Oh fuck," you cursed quietly.

"'Di ka makakatakas dito, babe," Maliksi jabbed, making you stand up. "Tinatawag ka na."

"Baka may ibang Y/N L/N dito," you resisted, attempting to sit back down. "I can't do this, Mal."

"'Sus, ikaw pa. And it's just a symbolic ceremony!" he encouraged, as if he didn't have any underlying intentions. "I doubt the bouquet will go to you anyway."

Sheesh, what a big fat liar you are, tikbalang prince.

You expressed your dissatisfaction with the situation, "Bwiset, fine. I'll just... dodge it. Or evade it. God, I swear..." You calmed down, confident. "I'm not going to worry. I've never caught the bouquet at my own friends' weddings anyway."

When you were at the dance floor, Maliksi snickered, seeing the bride—his cousin—wink at him. After all, he had thoroughly bribed her earlier.

《《《

"It's about time you settled down with someone, Mal," the bride commented while he slipped her the newest Hermés designer bag filled with a bunch of jewelry (plus some bills) two hours ago, right before the reception began and while you were in the restroom freshening up. "Hehehe, this is why you're my favorite cousin."

"Do we have a deal?"

"Of course. I'll make sure she participates. I'll also try to throw it in her direction."

"Good. Thanks."

"You better invite me to your beach wedding. I can tell how much you love her."

"Not a problem. I'll even make you a sponsor."

The bride stared at her bouquet, already practicing how she was going to throw it, "Tito's going to thank me so much for ensuring that he's going to get grandkids soon, hihi."

》》》

Back to the present, on the other end of the room, Maliksi saw a familiar duo give him a sign that they were ready. Bingo. Time to execute the most important part of his plan.

《《《

"I don't care how you do it," he told the two wind elementals after he bribed the bride. "I've already instructed the bride on what she should do, pero siguraduhin niyo lang talagang lumipad sa kanya ang bouquet."

"Mmhmm," Amie flipped her hair, a hand on her cocked hip. "And what do we get in return, oh great Señorito Armanaz?"

"Sagot ko bar-hopping niyo for one month."

The two girls pretended to think about it, making Maliksi roll his eyes. He had to pull out the big guns, huh?

"Fine. Magbibigay ako ng cash deposit plus pwede niyong gamitin ang black card ko for a one-week shopping spree in Ortigas." There. Bullseye. That's what they liked.

"Deal!" they exclaimed excitedly.

Hannah let a cool gust of wind enter one of the nearby windows, testing out how they're going to do this. "Ano pa bang pinaplano mo for Y/N mamaya?"

Maliksi hummed, "Basta."

》》》

You tried your best to hide within the densest part of the group of women. The bride seemed to have her eyes on you, weirdly enough, and she looked almost feral wanting to throw her flowers into someone's face.

That someone being you. Most likely.

"Target locked on," you saw her mouth move. She positioned herself like she was about to throw a football at someone (ahem, you). Holy shit, was she talking to you? Miss ma'am, it was a bouquet toss not a bouquet throw. The bride seemed to notice this, and once more regained her elegant composure.

"3, 2, 1," the host counted down. "Go!"

Surprisingly, the bouquet flew very high into the air (it was a wonder it didn't get tangled in the ceiling decor), but quite a distance away from you. You grinned, knowing it was too far to even touch you. Squeezing through the crowd of women eagerly awaiting the bouquet, you went to return to your assigned table.

Ah, what a wonderful evening.

Sike!

Something painfully landed right into your face, leaves and flowers getting into your hair and mouth.

... Wait, leaves and flowers?

Before you could comprehend it, the bouquet dropped right into your arms. What kind of ungodly, inhuman force allowed this to even happen?

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have our lucky girl for the night!" Everyone clapped, with some—those guests you knew—even cheering your name unbelievably loud. The host approached you, a glint in his eye which you couldn't understand. "Miss Y/N, kindly sit here while we await the lucky guy who catches the garter from the groom."

What just happened?

"All single gentlemen, please proceed to the dance floor. Remember, the man who gets the garter gets to slip it onto the lucky lady's leg later!"

Oh, God. You pinched the bridge of your nose. What you'd give to be back at home or to be in that resort in Batangas you'd planned on going to for a solo vacation.

"To make this even more exciting," the host stated, handing you a black blindfold. "Our lucky lady has to keep her eyes closed until her lucky man for the night captures the bride's garter! When the music plays, only then can she uncover her eyes."

See? Humiliating, just as you expected. Still, you wrapped the blindfold around your head (albeit hesitantly). You attempted to guess who it might be, thinking of all the tikbalang friends Maliksi had introduced to you back then whenever he invited you to his clan reunions.

"Groom, are you ready?" the host asked, microphone loud and clear.

"Ready na ready!"

"Single gentlemen, are you ready?!"

"Ready na ready! Awoo, awoo!" they loudly chorused, exactly mimicking Spartans about to engage in battle. You sweatdropped in the seat you were in. This was actually kind of scary. Maybe you felt a bit objectified.

"3, 2, 1, go!"

There was a brief moment of silence, which made you concerned. Ba't ang tahimik? Then, everyone erupted into roars and bravoes much louder than when you caught the bouquet—perhaps even louder by tenfold. What the heck was happening?!

The music played. Very raunchy, spicy, babymaking music. You expected it to be the typical Careless Whisper by George Michael or Pony by Ginuwine (corny songs which you could probably laugh at, at least), but no. Nuh-uh, this was probably worse. The DJ must be pretty young, the song of their choosing being a slowed, bass-boosted, sexier remix of Earned It by the Weeknd.

Ano 'to, bold? Fifty Shades of Grey? The hell was this?

Alright. This was embarrassing. Thank the heavens there were no children at this party. From the music alone and its implications, this was strictly for adults.

You removed your blindfold (that was okay now, right?) as the guests whistled playfully. You peeked one eye open reluctantly, then inwardly groaned. Oh, no. You should've expected it to be him of all people from how loud the reactions were. And all those yells from the crowd were from his family.

Son of a—

"Well, this has proven to be a very interesting arrangement!" the host proclaimed. "Our lucky man for tonight is none other than our great clan leader's heir, Maliksi Armanaz! Congratulations, sir! You get to slip the lacey little garter on Miss Y/N!"

The said very smug tikbalang stood a few feet away from the chair you were sitting on, smirking at you. His hair was no longer in that mesmerizing ponytail—instead, he'd tied it into a more sinfully attractive man-bun, loose strands framing his face and accentuating that sharp, angled jaw of his (say yes and thank you to Manny Jacinto's jawline, besties).

"Let's cheer him on in his new mission, everybody!" the host pushed. Was this that glint in his eye earlier? And was that a one thousand peso bill sticking out of his pocket?

The groomsmen, Mal's cousins and uncles whom you've met before, hollered words of encouragement to the tall man (who was, oddly enough, not one bit fazed). In fact, Maliksi seemed like he was famished as he stared you down.

You swallowed, feeling like you were going to get eaten (heh, say that again). Maliksi had shrugged off his dark suit blazer to the beat of the song (holy fuck, he also unclasped the suspenders attached to his pants right before your eyes—asdfghjkl). Were you prepared for this? No. Will you ever be prepared? No!

"Mr. Armanaz, before you begin," the host interrupted. "We have an additional challenge for you in this mission. Kaya mo ba? It was a request of the newlywed couple."

"What is it?"

"Use your teeth!" the bride and the groom cheerfully shouted, clapping with the other guests. Whatdidtheysaaaaay???

The cocky bastard didn't even hesitate, his smirk at you growing wider; those pearly whites of his on full display. Was it just you or were his canines a little sharper than usual?

"Anything for the newlyweds. Challenge accepted," he dashingly replied, winking at you. You sputtered indignantly. Pisteng yawa. Putangina. Putek. Pakshet. You swore you thought of every swear word in the book at that moment. What did that YouTube parody song about Filipino mythological creatures say again? About the tikbalang? Ah, yes. Half-macho dancer and half-stallion. Maybe the joke was true, especially when you saw what Maliksi did next.

He bit the shred of lace, loosening his necktie (bestie, you good there?), unbuttoning some top buttons, and rolling up the sleeves of his collared white undershirt up to his elbows (consequently showing off his toned, veiny forearms—those lucky bridesmaids behind him nearly fainted). Honestly, you felt like you were about to lose your mind from embarrassment. With how tantalizing your guy best friend was being? Let our response be: San Pedro, kunin mo na ako. Was he doing all this to tease you? To rile you up?

Because damn it all, it was working. In your ten years of knowing Maliksi Armanaz, withstanding all his daily dirty jokes and flirtatious attempts, never had you seen him like this. So... wolfish. Ravenous. Like he was a man that hadn't been fed in years.

He stalked closer towards you, falling to his knees in front of your legs. Your gown had a long slit that extended up to an inch or two below where your left leg began—your best friend was eyeing his target already, knowing where to place the garter. Normally, you would never even wear something as revealing as this gown. It just wasn't your type, but Maliksi was the one who bought this for you for this specific occasion, so you had no choice. It was this or your pantulog he stole you in just hours ago. At first, you were confident in the gown. Now? You felt too... naked.

Somehow, in the heat of it all, you'd muted out the noise of the venue. Maliksi teasingly lifted your foot up, fingertips slyly grazing the thin shoe straps around your left foot—his calculated touch leaving fire in its trail. Once the garter had been successfuly inserted past your high-heeled stilettos, the man kneeling in front of you kept his hands to himself. Despite the fact that now there was absolutely zero skin-to-skin contact between you and this man, your body felt hotter than it ever was before as he expertly slid the lacy bit of cloth up your ankle at an agonizingly slow pace.

Maliksi's warm eyes had turned dark, his pupils blown, a tinge of red in them—of his true beast—while he maintained striking eye contact with you, pulling the garter up your calf with his teeth. Smoothly tugging... tugging... tugging. Tangina, it was like he was undressing you with his eyes alone; like he was telepathically telling you to keep your eyes open.

To keep your eyes on him, where he was knelt inbetween your legs, his hands intentionally locked on his back. Did you ever imagine this? Him between your legs? Maybe. Once or twice. But you never thought about it seriously; Maliksi dated girls left and right in the past.

His lips... his lips were so close... so close to your leg that you could feel the heat of his breath along with the lace. Were you about to die? Perhaps you already did. Maybe you were in heaven. Up... up... up... snap!

Suddenly, he stopped, grinning up at you mischievously and letting the elastic bounce back to the skin of your left knee.

"I'm not going any further, don't worry, babe," he whispered, noting that your eyes had become misty and glazed over. Internally, he grew worried. "That's enough." Did he think it was from discomfort? From you being uncomfortable? Bitch, no. It was the exact opposite. You had never been this turned on in your entire life.

You felt like your soul had left your body at that moment. Did you just have a heart attack? Was your blood pressure okay? Before you or Maliksi could stand, however, someone bellowed from the wedding sponsor tables.

"Higher! That's an order!"

Fucking hell, it was Maliksi's father who shouted. He wasn't in the huge tikbalang form you'd normally meet him in, but he was still very intimidating in his humanoid form, commanding attention and subservience wherever he went. You could tell where Maliksi got it from.

Instantly, the other guests—already half-drunk and wanting the spirit of partying to continue on—joined in.

"Higher! Higher!"

The host cheered, "You heard Señor Armanaz! Higher!"

Maliksi gave you a questioning look. Even if it was his father who spoke up, he still wouldn't do anything you didn't want. Well, you two made it this far; there was no point in getting embarrassed now. You bit the inside of your cheek, nodding. You probably couldn't erase the redness on your skin with how much you'd blushed from this night. It was as if the heat was tattooed onto your skin.

"Go on, Mal," you whispered to him, bending your torso down closer to his face, eyes half-lidded from want. "Finish what you started, babe."

With those sultry bedroom eyes he'd never once seen you show him before—plus you turning the tables with that familiar term of endearment, how could he refuse? Like a switch had been flipped inside him, he immediately complied, taking the frilly scrap of stretchy lace between his teeth once more, moving it further up to your thighs until where your high slit ended—centimeters below the warming juncture between your legs.

Your legs felt wobbly... boneless, as you stood up from the chair, the fabric of your gown cascading over where the lace sat securely on your upper left thigh. The party was still going strong even after you two finished the garter wearing tradition.

"'Atta boy! That's my son!" Señor Armanaz blazoned, standing up and raising his glass for a toast. "Cheers to the newlywed couple! May they last forever!"

You guys weren't the newlyweds, but it did sure feel like it. If the clan leader was hyped up, everyone was hyped up. Heck, the groom and the bride didn't mind one bit what had just transpired on their dance floor. In all the chaos, Maliksi took you out of the reception area and somewhere quieter. More private.

You would need to have a serious, urgent talk with your boy best friend.

》》》

You two silently sat on a stone bench in a gazebo somewhere in the reserved venue for the wedding, trying to cool down and get yourselves back together (at this point, you needed ice from that steamy, half-scandalous event you just went through). Here, there was no one else except for the chirping of crickets, the lush trees surrounding the area, and the golden fairy lights strewn all over the roof. Awkwardness was something you'd expected after what just happened, but somehow, you still felt comfort in this man's presence. For the past thirty minutes, both of you just stayed still, lost in your thoughts and reflecting.

"Mal?" you finally spoke up.

"... Hmm?"

"Ano tayo?"

"Whatever you want us to be."

Your fingers instinctively reached out for his, just like they always did when you were anxious. Sensing this, he grasped your hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Soothingly. He massaged the skin of your fingers, distracting you from your nervousness. It seemed like both nothing and everything changed between both of you. The gesture was the same, but so different at the same time.

"Mahal mo ako." It was not a question. It was a statement. A truth—one that you'd been too blind to see before. One that you only discovered while you stared into each other's eyes in that party not as best friends. You realized with a jolt in your heart what he really felt for you, and now, what you really felt for him. In those thirty minutes of silence, you knew. You just knew.

"Yes. I do."

"... Just as a best friend?" you probed.

"..."

Finally, you gazed into his eyes, previously so dark and full of hunger. Now? Just reluctant. Vulnerable. Open. Unsure of what to do next.

Seems like you had to be the one to take initiative tonight. Taking out your phone, you opened your music app and pressed play on a certain song. Ikaw at Ako by Johnoy Danao. You removed your heels (which were starting to blister your ankles and toes), then pulled him up to stand.

"Dance with me," you murmured, grabbing his arms to wrap them around your waist. He was stiff. Tense. What was he to do when the woman he's been pining after for so long let him hold her? All his gallantry and ability to romance disappeared out the window the moment you let him touch you so intimately.

You two weren't even waltzing. Just swaying. Slowly, you leaned your head on his broad chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart.

"... I love you," Maliksi admitted in the middle of it all, feeling like he was dreaming. Your head on his chest kept him grounded to reality, however. "More than anything in the universe. I fell for you ever since you patched me up when you were nineteen and I was a reckless drag racer who didn't have a purpose in life. 'Nung dinala mo ako pabalik sa Armanaz Tower on the verge of death. Simula noon, ikaw lang."

"I realized that," you smiled, reminiscing the old memory. You were just a broke college student that time, coming back to your dorm from making your group thesis at a classmate's house. Imagine your panic when you found a half-man, half-horse bleeding out by some bushes on the way home at night. Despite your fear and your little money (only enough to feed you for the week), you went out of your way to buy a first-aid kit at the nearest 7/11. It was scary, but you managed to mend the creature's wounds by the side of the road. When he was finally able to speak, turning fully human (which you admit, freaked you out initially), you arduously carried him back to his address—to his father and his clan, even if you had classes the very next morning. Because of your heroic deed of saving their precious heir, the tikbalang clan had become indebted to you: a teenage girl on the verge of a mental academic breakdown, just making her way through the cruel adult world. How old of a memory that was, you thought, yet you still recalled it in perfect detail. "Just a while ago."

"Ah." He swayed you gently.

"Lahat ng ito, plano mo?"

"... Yes," Maliksi fessed up. "Except for this part where we're here dancing in this belvedere. Wala sa plano ko. Gusto ko sanang magconfess doon sa may fountain para sweet, pero..."

You lifted your head off his chest, smiling at him with one brow raised, "You know, between both of us, you're supposed to be the spontaneous one. Planning isn't usually your thing."

"I know. It's a failure, huh?" Maliksi sighed.

"Nah." You shook your head, then suddenly locked lips with him. It was so fast and surprising he didn't even get the chance to return your first kiss. For once, you caught him off guard. You pecked him on the lips again. "It's not a failure."

"Wha—"

"I'm sorry for making you wait, Maliksi. Ten years. We're twenty-nine now, and only tonight do I realize how blind I've been. We've been going around in circles, wasting so much time. Ayoko nang mag-aksaya ng oras," you whispered guiltily against his lips. How could you have been so blind? Andaming nasayang na taon. Making up your mind, you told him, "Yes. Sige, I accept. I'll be your plus one."

The tikbalang was flustered and baffled from the kiss, as well as your revelation, "... But, you already are?"

"No, silly. I meant that I'll be your plus one for life. For as long as you'll have me," you laughed, now processing that you were currently dancing barefoot with your boy best friend and had just kissed him in a wedding you didn't even plan on going to. The universe had a mysterious way of doing things. "Guess I'm the spontaneous one now, huh?"

Maliksi was tongue-tied. "Seryoso ka ba? Is... Is this a marriage proposal?"

"Whatever you want it to be," you echoed his words back to him. "Best friend, plus one, girlfriend, wife—mmpf!"

He kissed you so hard your lips bruised. After an impromptu makeout session which was definitely more in character for Maliksi, you both pulled away, panting heavily in search for air, still desperate for passion. He cupped your cheeks, giving you a sweet, featherlight Eskimo kiss.

"You're missing one more title."

"Hm? What do you mean, Mal?"

"Love of my life." He kissed you again, this time lifting you off your feet and spinning you around (his sneaky right hand was resting on your bum, too, giving it a tight squeeze). You know in the Princess Diaries where the main character's foot just... pops whenever the prince charming kissed her? Yeah, that happened to you on that humid summer night. This was right. You two were meant to be together. Everything was falling into place.

The bungalow you reserved for your Batangas vacation leave ended up being the site of your very eventful honeymoon with the Prince of the Tikbalang (with his libido, it wasn't that difficult to continue where you'd left off in the garter toss; that scrap of lace came off your leg the same way it went on). Actually, nauna pa ang honeymoon sa actual wedding (it was definitely spontaneous). Right after your confession in that alcove, you two went to Maliksi's father to ask for his blessing (which he gladly gave, cackling and saying that it took you long enough) before you guys went driving off to Batangas that night. You and Mal indeed had lots and lots of fun in that resort (I'll let you imagine the rest). More beautiful memories were made from that point on—this time, not just as best friends.

All that and your small, intimate wedding occurred in early April. Just when you thought that it'd be impossible to fulfill Maliksi's life goal of having a baby within the year (nine months of pregnancy meant that the earliest you'd give birth would be January next year), the impossible happened.

Exactly thirty-two weeks later, on New Year's Eve, the Armanaz herd welcomed one prince and two new princesses into the world. Triplets who were instantly adored by everyone in the clan.

Señor Armanaz had never been happier, and so were you and your husband. Your best friend. The love of your life. Your forever plus one.

Maybe being spontaneous wasn't so bad after all.

Taglist: @belladaises @binibiningbabaylan @4kodzuk3n @sparklingmallow @severuslovebot @holyshxtangel @marinac15 @space-flamingo @pippethealien @kashasenpai @disappointmentpastry @hornehlittleweeblet2 @seijohoe @monimiin @ibelievein2dmensupremacy @tinybonksharkcop @methehipster @banisuoh @genshin-idiot @lemonnie-kimmie

[arizonapoppy]

What’s your favorite season, and what do you love about it? ☺️

I love fall. I love fall because the heat of summer is beginning to ebb. The county fair is the first inkling of fall, when you look at the wall of canned goods and wonder about the rivalry of the two women who are swapping first and second place ribbons in every single category. Fall is a mosaic of reds and oranges on the Blue Ridge Parkway, or a steam locomotive's mournful whistle calling to you from high on a mountain covered with yellow aspens. Fall means back to school, and a fresh start, and open possibilities. Fall is seeing early morning fog drift across the open field on your way into work. Fall is the crunch of leaves under your feet, and the sticky orange squish of a persimmon.

Fall is spending hours over the stove canning muscadine juice for the winter -- 7 quart jars at a time -- until your kitchen floor is sticky and you've made your third run to the 24-hour Walmart for lids and ten pound bags of sugar. Fall means hurricane season and buying bottled water and drinking sazeracs while the wind howls outside and you speculate with your family which trees will fall over at the entrance to your neighborhood for the fire department to come chop up. Fall is watching the World Series, even though your beloved favorite team isn't in it because they tanked (again) and sold all their good players at the last trade deadline.

When fall comes, you can sit on the lawn at Priddy's General Store listening to live bluegrass music and eat Brunswick stew ladled into your bowl from the giant iron pot by Miss Jane, who asks how your Mama is. Fall means Halloween and almond joys and pumpkins and the fire pit at the end of the driveway for trick-or-treaters. Fall concludes with Thanksgiving at the farmhouse and playing Rook around the kitchen table and early morning hikes to get perfect shots of waterfalls in the State Park before the tourists get there. Fall is the hopeful promise of the holidays without the letdown malaise of January.