#it's about presenting a cake to your child and seeing how they respond

[homemaderaspberryjam]

my friends are throwing a party for their baby's first birthday and they're not even doing a smash cake. millenials ruin another industry

[saturnville]

Let's Stay Together | David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.)

Pairing: David Cliff (The High Note) x Black Fem OC (Sybelle Selene Jackson) Summary: Sybelle is determined to make up Warnings: Angst, fluff, suggestive language. WC: 2050 Reference: Loosely based on Let's Stay Together by Al Green AN: Because @youreadthatright asked about David and Sybelle...part 3. I hope it doesn't break your heart, friend. Please let me know your thoughts! Remember: likes are appreciated, but reblogs, asks, and comments are encouraged!

"Hi," she said, breath catching in her throat. "My name is Sybelle Jackson-Cliff. Yes, hello! Um, you made a cake for my husband recently--David? I wanted to know your turnaround time—I need one in about two weeks...thank you, kindly!"

She hung up with a loud sigh. 

She felt awful. The disappointment lingered in the air, heavy and stale. Some weeks had passed since the bust, she called their wedding anniversary. When people asked her how it was, she plastered a smile on her face and claimed it was 'everything a girl could've asked for.' They couldn't know she didn't ask for her husband's tear-filled eyes and disappointed tone to suffocate her until she closed her eyes.

He claimed they were fine, but things didn't feel fine. He was present, but distant. He responded when she spoke, but there wasn't anything behind his eyes. No excitement. No flare. No...David. He stayed on his side of the bed at night, resisting the urge to turn and wrap her in his arms. They ate together in silence, save for utensils scraping against thrifted china. He hadn't touched her much, either. Sure, a kiss before he left for the day, but she'd yet to be reminded of what it was like to be pressed into the mattress and chest to chest with the man she called her lover and friend. 

Sybelle wasn't the type to bring others into her relationship, but she couldn't resist wailing like a child to her best friend once David had gone to sleep that evening. 

"I'm the worst wife ever! Like...he did all this and I was..." Her words could hardly be made out over her sobs and heaving breaths. "I messed up so bad; what if he decides he doesn't want to be with me anymore?" 

Her friend, the trusted Kayla Marie, sighed deeply on the other line. "I don't think it'll go that far. But, this is a wake-up call, B. You cannot marry someone and still be in an unhealthy relationship with your job."

Sybelle sniffled. "I don't want to choose."

"You don't need to choose--David has made that clear. But, he shouldn't be second behind the stuo. Let him know you're trying. Intentionally trying. Do it because you mean it and because you value him and your marriage."

It hit her like a ton of bricks. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but what she needed to hear. How could she become one with a man and treat him like he was number two, three, four, five, and six? She couldn't blame him for his distance, but she didn't like it. She despised it, truthfully. He'd forgive her, eventually. Hell or high water, they'd be okay, she was determined. 

It started simple. He'd been going on and on about a new microphone for a while, but was stuck on which one to choose. She'd understood how he may have assumed his comment had gone over her head from lack of response, but he hadn't known that she'd been in communication with some of the best music technicians, engineers, and instrument productions companies to find the one to suit his needs the best for their home studio,

It was meant to be a Christmas gift, something she hid under their bed and forgot about until eating turkey and drinking hot cider transitioned to eating ham and drinking hot chocolate. She determined now would be the perfect occasion. 

When he was out for the day, she called a series of technicians to install the microphone in their in-home studio. It was quick process, thankfully, as he'd returned just 30 minutes shy of their departure. 

He hadn't noticed at first. But when a shiny logo, unlike the one he was used to seeing, caught his eye, he was intrigued. David's fingers traced over the microphone softly, like it was the finest piece of china he was afraid to break. His eyebrows furrowed. "Slim, you been in here?" He called loud enough for her to hear over the clamoring noise she made just a few feet away in the living area. 

"Slim...?" He said, unsure.

"Wasn't me," she replied. "Had some folks come by."

"This...this is new?" he asked.

The sound of her heels against the laminate floor had his head turning toward the door. She was half dressed--nothing but a black bra, black slacks, and her favorite stilettos. In her hand was a blazer. He exhaled slowly. 

"You're the singer.  You got a new mic. Hope you like it. I've got the dinner soon. Do you want anything?"

David, gobsmacked by her appearance like he'd never seen her before, and by the new microphone that she gifted (though she tried to act like she didn't). It wasn't what he'd expected for a Tuesday afternoon. He swallowed thickly and shook his head, glancing over at his new music equipment. 

"No, no. I'm okay. Enjoy the dinner." 

He turned to press a kiss on her cheek, oblivious to the way her smile faltered just slightly when he intentionally missed her lips,oblivious to how her smile wavered when he chose her cheek instead. She stood straighter and nodded. This was only day one. She still had more time...she hoped. 

-

David sat at the dining room table, soothing sounds of jazz filling the atmosphere. His fingers moved swiftly across his laptop keyboard as he finished scheduling studio time for the next morning. His eyes cut toward the electronic clock on the stove. 5:05. The handle of their front door jingled. His eyebrow raised. "Slim, is that you?"

The click-clack of expensive heels against laminate answered for her. She huffed lowly and peeled her sunglasses off her face when she came into view. Breathtaking as ever, he noted. She donned straight leg pants that did wonders for her figure, a white tank top, a pink blazer, and tan heels. She smiled shyly. "Hi."

She dropped her keys and phone in the small bowl on the side table beside the couch. "Gonna shower. Anything you want for dinner?" 

David's eyebrows furrowed, and he stammered, confounded. She walked through the door at 5:05, which meant she left the studio at 4:45 PM, before the workday officially ended. Her phone joined her keys in the designated bowl. He noticed. And now, she was showering and ready to make dinner.

David blinked, mouth agape, as he tried to piece together what he was witnessing. Had his prayers been answered? He reminded himself to mark his prayer as complete before he went to sleep. 

"No," he called after her, voice hoarse. "I'm good."

She didn't respond, but the soft thud of the bathroom door closing was enough. A few moments later, he heard the water running. He sat back, brows still knitted, and glanced toward the bowl again. 

Her phone lay in the bowl. Abandoned. Silent. A part of her he often had to compete with. But it was there. Along with her keys. Like she wanted to be here. To be present, not just at home. That alone told him more than any apology could. 

His eyes returned to his laptop, the blinking cursor on the unsent email now an afterthought. He didn't want to get his hopes up. He couldn't afford to. But he couldn't ignore the strange feeling pulling at his chest. Hope. Hesitation. Confusion, for sure. He shook his head. 

"How was your day?" Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts. David cleared his throat and sat up. His eyes followed her as she moved gracefully around the kitchen. Her work attire had been traded in for one of his shirts and her college sweatpants. Her dark hair was clipped back, and her makeup had been washed away. Sybelle, the woman you are. 

"It was good," he said carefully. Sybelle hummed and leaned against the counter, her eyes trained on his despite her phone buzzing in the bowl. His eyes cut toward it, then back to her. She remained unmoving. "Not gonna get that?" 

She shook her head and shrugged. "I told them I was leaving at 4:45. They can leave a voicemail. Decide what you want?” She turned on her heels and started toward the fridge, rummaging through the neatly organized shelves, racking her brain for recipes. “I can make sausage and peppers…”

She rattled off a list that seemed never-ending, but he couldn’t focus. 

“Sybelle.”

She paused. “Yes?” 

David tried not to sound suspicious and accusatory when he asked, “What is this about?” 

Sybelle shrugged a shoulder and rummaged through the drawers for a can opener. “I was putting everyone else above you. It wasn’t fair, and it’s not right.” Oh. His heart fluttered. “Sausage and peppers or something else? Work with me here.” 

David smiled slightly and nodded. “That works.” 

They ate dinner together that night. Nestled side-by-side as they murmured about the highs and the lows of their days. For once, undistracted and undeterred. 

-

David stared at the closed studio door. A note was taped to it in her unmistakable cursive: "Dress nice. Trust me. Love you."

He spent the drive home racking his brain, searching for explanations on what she could have up her sleeve. Things had changed recently. Lately, he felt like a priority. The number one on her list. Yet, he struggled to embrace it. 

Sure, she could do all these things now. And when things got rough, when work got busy, when the going got tough, he'd slide down the totem pole and be back at square one where he began. 

But when he opened the door and was ushered into the ambiance of the candle-lit dining room, a dining table lined with a full-course spread, with a small heart-shaped cake in the middle, all his hesitation and suspicion went away with the wind. "What is this?" 

Sybelle smiled shyly and shrugged. She exhaled shakily and said, "I saw the way you looked at me across the table—like I was a stranger. I hated that. And...our first anniversary was supposed to be grand and magical just like you planned, but..."

Pause. 

Sybelle twiddled her thumbs nervously, then pitched the side of her light blue sundress."I messed up. I can't take it back. I can't turn back the clock, even though I've tried. I can’t undo that night. But maybe… you’ll let me try again?” Her voice slid an octave as her confidence dwindled and her statement turned into a question. 

She stilled under his gaze, unable to read his expression. His lips were pressed in a line. His eyes darted between the table and her. His hands clenched and unclenched like he was fighting an internal battle. And her anxiety was through the roof. It was her last chance, she felt. He'd put up with so much for so long; she couldn't be angry at him if he decided to throw in the towel. 

He didn't. 

Instead, he beckoned her over with the nod of his head that made her weak in the knees when they crossed paths in the studio two-and-a-half years prior. Sybelle stood in front of him. She raised her head slightly, damning her lack of heels for their lack of eye-level contact. 

The corner of his lips raised, and he raised his hand to trace her chin. She leaned into his touch. Sybelle had done many things. Some of which he didn't like, others of which he adored. She had to fight tooth and nail to make a name for herself in the industry, and some of those tendencies bled into their relationship. And her heart. Her big, beautiful heart softened somewhat to recreate what he thought was lost. 

"I appreciate you, Slim," David said lowly. "Can I show you how much I appreciate you, baby?" She whimpered and nodded. He bent down to press a kiss against her cheek, which marked the beginning of a trail of marks being left on her neck, collarbone, and chest. She'd complain about it tomorrow. All she could do was bask in her husband's hands around her thighs as he hoisted her into his arms and marched up the steps. 

Well, she thought. At least she wasn't the one who forgot about the dinner this time. 

-

Tags: @kirayuki22 @greedyjudge2 @notapradagurl7 @irishmanwhore @honeytoffee @theogbadbitch @jazziejax @kumkaniudaku @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @youreadthatright

[eliovyn]

neglect

I rush to the living room, mouth wide open with a smile, hand clenching onto a scrap of paper with a shaky drawn picture of me, my cat Milo, and my mum. The living room is cold, and a strong smell of pizza overwhelms my nose while I hear loud music blaring from the tv. The curtains are drawn messily, allowing small amounts of light to leak through, giving some colour to the dull area. ‘Mum, look at this drawing I did! I took a long time to pick the right colour for your hair. I even drew Milo on the window!’ I pushed my hair out of my face, looking for a reaction on my mother’s face that never arrived. Her eyes stuck to the tv like a moth to a flame. Or a deer in headlights. She didn’t even take one quick glance at my artwork, just a small grunt came out of her mouth as she began to sip on a fizzy drink and place it down again. I stood there like a fool, full of hope, determined she would give me a second chance and look at the effort I put into my art. But nothing. Nothing followed. I scrunched up my paper and ran to my bedroom, reopening my crayon box and scribbling all over the artwork, grabbing my scissors and aggressively stabbing my artwork, tears pouring down my face. I hated it. I wanted it to be gone. I wanted mum to be gone.

I was five. Five and a dream to be an artist. That ‘dream’ also stopped at age five.

Age 12 (brah I’m running out of vocab)

I’m officially a tween! I’m basically now a grown up, I can do everything my sister Marly can do now! Marly was my older sister, and I didn’t include her name before or in my art at five as the spotlight was always on her. Beautiful, effortless Marly. She could do anything, be anything, she could even make up her own words. I couldn’t do any of that. Could I even do anything? She was like a magnet, everything and everyone would be with her. If she wanted a hug, a swarm of people would be over her. If she wanted a piece of cake, my mum would serve a whole buffet for her. If she wanted attention, she would get it. Even a thousand eyes in a room would follow her. Even my mothers. In my life Marly was the flame to the moths. She could get everyone’s attention even with a sniffle. I hated Marly. I hated her, because today was the day I thought everything would change, everyone would start to love me. It was my birthday, of course, all these years I never got a birthday cake, or presents that nearly touched the ceiling or my face covered in lipstick from kisses planted from my friends like Marly did. This was the start of a new era. I was gonna be a tween. I needed to look good today. I found some leftover makeup from the living room table that was collecting dust, and I applied it to my face. I never knew how to use makeup, I was never taught how to, and I never played with it as a child. Confused about what mascara was, I frantically rubbed it on my eyes, not knowing how to properly apply it. I got a few rubber hair ties and put my hair into two pigtails. I thought I looked pretty. Smiling, I walk to the kitchen where Marly and Mum were located, food sizzling in a hot pan and mum wincing because of the flying oil. ‘How do I look? Guess what today is!’ I said breathlessly. I found my face going from a wide grin to slowly forming a slightly embarrassed face. Marly looked at me and immediately snorted. ‘WHAT on earth is that makeup look, and what did you do to your hair? Looks disastrous!’ She bit into an apple and looked and Mother for a reaction, to which Mum responded with, ‘Go wash your face. Today is Wednesday. Nothing new nothing old.’ She smiled at Marly and continued swivelling tomatoes in the pan, followed by tapping on the side of it with the spoon. I could feel my fingers trembling, my eyes swirling with pain and tears forming making my vision go blurry. I could still see Marly’s stupid face. I spun around and slammed the bathroom door open and locked it. I take a look at myself in the mirror. What was I thinking. I look like a clown. I’ll never be like Marly. Bursting with tears, I run the sink and flood my face with water, desperately rubbing my eyes trying to remove the horrible mascara from my eyes. I rub and rub and rub. I take a look into the mirror again and my frizzy, untamed hair catches my eye. I looked like a gorilla in pigtails. I frantically search for a scissor in my bathroom drawer and take a look on deep breath in, facing the mirror, eyes puffy. I pull my hair up and cut. I cut and I cut and I cut. After violently chopping my sorry excuse for hair off, I look into the mirror again. I was satisfied. It looked bad, bad I was satisfied. No one would notice anyway, right? They couldn’t even notice that today was my birthday. I didn’t even get one celebratory message. No one noticed.

[rbtpracticeexamus]

Autism Explained: The What, Why, and "Wait, How Do They Know?

Hey fam,

So, the word "autism" gets thrown around a lot. Maybe you're curious, maybe you're questioning things for yourself or someone you know, or maybe you just wanna be a better human and understand stuff. Whatever your reason, you're here. Let's break it down, Tumblr style.

Okay, So WTF Is Autism? The Real Tea ☕

It's Neurodevelopmental: Fancy talk for "it's about how the brain develops and is wired." It's not an illness, not a "broken" brain. It's a different operating system.

It's a Spectrum (but not like, a straight line): Think of it more like a giant, sparkly galaxy with infinite variations. Every autistic person is unique. The saying "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person" is 100% facts.

Core Differences (Generally Speaking):

Social Comms & Interaction: This is NOT about being "anti-social." It's about differences in how we communicate, understand social cues (sarcasm can be a wild ride), make/keep friends, or do the whole eye contact thing (can be uncomfy/too much/just... different).

Restricted & Repetitive Behaviors/Interests (RRBs):

Stimming is Life: Hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, repeating words/phrases (echolalia). Stims are often for self-regulation, focus, or expressing joy. It’s functional, not weird.

Routine = Comfort: Many autistic folks thrive on predictability. Change can be Big Mad™️.

Special Interests (SPINs): Intense, passionate interests in specific topics. These bring SO much joy and often incredible knowledge.

Sensory Stuff: Being super sensitive (hyper) or under-sensitive (hypo) to sounds, lights, textures, smells, tastes. The world can be A LOT. Or sometimes, not enough.

Important PSA: Autism is NOT caused by bad parenting. It is NOT caused by vaccines. Period. Anyone saying otherwise is serving up misinformation, and we don't have time for that.

How Does Autism Even Happen Tho? (The Science Bit, But Make It Chill)

Okay, no single "autism button" gets pushed. It's complex AF.

Genetics are a BIG MOOD: There isn't one autism gene. It's more like a combo of many different gene variations that can influence brain development. It often runs in families.

Brain Differences are Real:

Think different "wiring" patterns. How different parts of the brain talk to each other can be unique.

Sometimes early brain growth patterns are different.

It's not about a "damaged" brain, just a differently organized one.

Environmental Factors (But Not What You Think): When scientists say "environmental," they mostly mean stuff that happens before birth (prenatal) during critical brain development. Things like:

Advanced parental age (both mom and dad).

Certain maternal health conditions or severe infections during pregnancy.

Exposure to specific medications in utero (like valproic acid – always talk to your doc before changing meds!).

Extreme prematurity. It’s usually a combo of genetic predisposition + some of these prenatal factors. Not your Wi-Fi or the food dye in your snacks, fam.

It's like baking a super intricate cake – lots of ingredients and conditions have to come together.

How Do They Diagnose It? The "Mystery Solved" Part 🕵️‍♀️

There's no blood test or quick brain scan (yet!). Diagnosis is based on:

Developmental History: Talking to parents/caregivers (for kids) or the person themselves (for adults) about early development, behaviors, social experiences, etc.

Behavioral Observations: Skilled professionals observing how someone communicates, interacts, plays (if a child), and if those RRBs are present.

The Detection Journey:

Parents Often Spot It First (Trust Your Gut!):

Early signs in babies/toddlers can include differences in babbling, pointing, eye contact, responding to their name, play styles (e.g., lining up toys vs. imaginative play), repetitive movements, or sensory reactions.

If you're a parent with concerns, document what you see and talk to your pediatrician. Don't just "wait and see."

Screenings (The First Filter):

Pediatricians often do developmental screenings (like the M-CHAT-R) at well-child visits (especially around 18 & 24 months).

These are not diagnoses. They just flag kids who might need a more in-depth look.

The Full Evaluation (The Deep Dive):

This is done by specialists: developmental pediatricians, child psychologists/neuropsychologists, speech therapists, OTs.

They use specific tools. The ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) is a big one. It involves play-based activities and conversations to see social communication and behaviors in action. The ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised) is a detailed parent interview.

They're looking for a pattern of traits that meet the diagnostic criteria (like in the DSM-5).

Later Diagnosis (Teens & Adults – It Happens!):

Sometimes autism isn't recognized until later. Maybe traits were subtle, or the person was masking (trying super hard to hide autistic traits to fit in – it's exhausting and common, especially for girls/women/gender diverse folks).

Getting an adult diagnosis can be incredibly validating. Suddenly, a lifetime of feeling "different" makes sense.

Self-diagnosis is also valid for many adults in the autistic community, especially when formal diagnosis is inaccessible. Your research and lived experience matter.

Why This All Matters:

Understanding what autism is, how it might come about, and how it's diagnosed helps us:

Bust harmful myths.

Support autistic people better.

Get folks access to understanding and resources if they need/want them.

Celebrate neurodiversity as a natural and cool part of being human.

This is just a starting point, obviously. The autistic community (#ActuallyAutistic) is THE place to learn more from people with lived experience.

Got thoughts? Questions? Your own experiences to share (if you're comfy)? Reblog and add 'em! Let's keep learning together. ❤️

Resources (Always good to have a few!):

Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN): autisticadvocacy.org (Run by and for autistic people – essential!)

AANE (Asperger/Autism Network): aane.org (Great for adults & families)

Child Mind Institute: childmind.org (Good info on child development)

If you're a parent with concerns, talk to your pediatrician!

(Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor! This is for info & understanding. If you need medical advice or a diagnosis, please see a qualified professional!)

TAGS: #autism #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic #asd #autismawareness #autismacceptance #neurodivergent #specialeducation #autismdiagnosis #mentalhealth #stimming #specialinterests #sensoryprocessing #latediagnosedautistic #autisticadults #parenting #developmentaldisabilities #learnwithme #infodump #tumblrteaches

Why this works for Tumblr:

Conversational Tone: Uses "fam," "real tea," "WTF," "Big Mad™️," etc.

Short Paragraphs & Bullet Points: Easy to scan.

GIF Placeholders: Visuals are key on Tumblr.

Relatability & Validation: Especially regarding adult diagnosis and masking. Acknowledges self-dx.

Community Focus: Encourages reblogs and discussion. Highlights #ActuallyAutistic.

PSAs & Myth-Busting: Directly addresses common misconceptions.

Concise Explanations: Breaks down complex topics simply.

Relevant Tags: Crucial for visibility.

Disclaimer: Important for sharing health-related info.

Resource Links: Provides avenues for further learning, prioritizing autistic-led orgs.

Respectful Language: Uses identity-first language ("autistic person") which is preferred by many in the community, while also being generally inclusive.

[nuzifanficwriter]

Chapter 1 - Namie 3097

I rub my eyes to see my father standing above me holding a party hat and a pack of candles. Oh yeah. 19 years and 9 months ago my parents got drunk and conceived me at a party. At least that’s what my Aunt V says. I mean I believe her because mom never denies it and dad….is really wholesome and never talks about it. It’s surprising he knocked up my mom twice. I guess it’s hard for any kid to imagine their parents making them, but it was hard for everyone to process my father doing that stuff. So despite my mom getting pregnant twice, I’m an only child. A rainbow baby. That’s why my name is Namie. It’s Japanese for miracle or little help. My dad wanted a cheesy name with a meaning and my mom loves anime. Some people think I’m cool, some call me a freak of nature. I’m like a cross breed if that term even works for robots. My mom, Uzi Doorman, is a worker drone. My dad, N Doorman, is a disassembly drone. My dad and his “sisters” don’t have last names, so he took my mom’s. The story on how they met is so long, someone should’ve made an 8 episode show on it. Everyone knows the story. It’s basically a whole lesson in our history classes, which makes it really easy for me to pass, but all eyes are on me. They also know my dad is a stay at home dad while my mom inherited the WDF from my grandfather. Robo-god, just introducing my family would take ages, and I only truly have 4 real relatives. Apparently my dad  must’ve been rambling when I tuned out because he’s still talking when I snap back to it; “-and your Aunt Tessa baked a wonderful cake and your mom helped make a playlist of that scenecore music you like!” “6arelyhuman and Ayesha Erotica?” I ask. “Yeppers!” my dad grins his stupid, child-like grin my mom fell in love with, “and I got the best gift ever! But we have to share it.” Dad winks and I already have the feeling he and mom built a robo-puppy but I keep it to myself. I tell him to leave so I can get dressed and he does. I grab my fishnet undershirt, later over a black tank top and my green and black checkered alien shirt. I pull up my rainbow and black striped skirt, my fishnet leggings, and I lace up my boots. I add my striped leg warmers and gloves. I wrap my choker around my neck and now I’m good to go! I walk out to the kitchen to see an arrangement of my friends and family…..and my parents making out in the corner. I thought parents were supposed to mellow out after having kids? “Ewww! Get a room!” I joke. Aunt V joins in; “I’ve been telling them that for 25 years!” “It’s disgusting,” chimes Aunt J. “I’m surprised mom and dad invited you,” I say. Aunt J flips her now singular ponytail, “They didn’t, I just showed up.” Dad takes mom off the counter and sets her on the floor; “Actually, your Aunt Tessa wanted her to come.” Aunt J rolls her eyes. She’s done nothing but bully my dad since they were kids. “Aunt Cyn couldn’t make it?” I ask. Everyone in the room grows these devious grins. Finally, dad responds, “she will, she’ll just be late.” “Ah, I see,” I say as I slink in my chair in front of the cake. They sing happy birthday and I blow out my candles. It’s time for my presents and Aunt Cyn bursts through the door. She silently apologizes as she sets my present on the stack. Ever since she got taken over by the solver, that became her voice, so when my mom healed everyone with the patch, she became mute. Her voice box was destroyed. I’ve never heard her speak. Now everyone’s deciding which present to open next. Aunt Cyn’s or Dad’s. We settle in Aunt Cyns, and it’s a pretty basic gift, but it’s what comes with it that makes it better than Dad’s. As she hands it to me, I hear, seemingly out of no where, “Here, open mine first!everyone cheers and I give her a big hug. “Aunt Cyn! Your voice!“ She laughs, “That’s why I was late!” After everyone calms down, I open Dad’s obvious gift of a robo-puppy. We’ll name him in a bit. I’m ready to party.

[glendasguidance-inactive]

USA Election Aftercare (2024) Tarot Reading

Pile 1 🕰

How can you support yourself, your community, and Earth in the present moment and in the years to come? (for US citizens and non-US citizens - for every Earthling <3) 10 readings!

(link back to original post, click me!)

decks: Rider Waite, Sacred Rebels Oracle by Alana Fairchild, Nature Meditations by Kenya Jackson-Saulters, and Find Your Purpose by Jess Saunders

how to pick a card and disclaimers

Yourself, Right Now: get moving, trust that you know and reviewed and researched and prepared everything you need, move from what you’re focused on onto a new thing you’ve been called to do, this could mean exercise, a new subject to dive into, but whatever it is move forward into it, you will feel larger and expansive and you will be able to exhale

Yourself, in the Years to Come: learn to carry the thoughts of pain and grief with grace and patience, learning how grief and emotional pain affect the brain will help you realize you’re not spiraling out of control and you’ll be able to hold yourself through the storms passing in your mind, you’re allowed to let yourself and inner child cry and cry, it brings your innocence back to you

Community, Right Now: every idea for community building you hear about and hear yourself saying “yes!” go for it, take every opportunity to network and connect that you see, jump in, be ambitious, be dependable, be consistent, consistently doing a little bit creates something large, little bricks put down one at a time create a home

Community, in the Years to Come: when building support networks in community inventions etc, it is important to mind what you are doing along the way. if you want a good cake, you need to pay attention to what ingredients you’re using the amount the way you mix it together how you prep the materials how hot the oven is how long you have the pan in the oven for how long you let it rest before taking it out of the pan and what kind of icing you’re using. the results matter, and they only have a chance at becoming your intended outcome when you focus in the present moment

Earth, Right Now: you don’t know everything, you have a lot of shit to say, and you have good intentions. ask yourself before you create your posts what your goal is? what will be constructive? how can I prevent what i say and do from biting me in the ass later / watch my back as I head into “battle”? after answering these 3 questions and doing 10 deep breaths, you are free to talk your shit. go for it, say it. don’t hold back. save the draft, go to bed, and review it before posting it the next day. 

Earth, in the Years to Come: explore, meditate, learn about cultivating inner power. what is healthy power? what is constructive, creative masculine energy? I’m reminded of Hephestus, Greek god of metalwork, and that a hammer can build a home. You need to learn how to share power and let go of a hierarchal mindset as you embrace your leadership skills. Also, don’t reply on bursts of energy to get stuff done. Consistently give your goals 20-50% of your effort, and use energy bursts as bonuses to the effort you give (so the minimum 30% + bonus 40% = 70% effort made that day)

Sacred Rebel Oracle deck, paraphrased guidebook entry: after a “storm” there is a release and a fresh perspective, there is in life and the creative process a need to allow for wild storms. The storm wisdom offers you the gift of bringing things to a head, and clearing them away, so that energy can be freed from a pattern that has had its day, and is ready to become something new. if you’ve been praying for help, this oracle is a confirmation  that your prayers have been heard and Life / Universe / God / the Collective One is responding to you, stepping in and shaking things up so that situations can be sorted out according to a greater vision.

Go Touch Grass (Nature Meditation deck, word-for-word instructions): Find a quiet space to site with your eyes closed for several minutes. Visualize yourself walking through rolling green hills, stretching as far as the eye can see. See the grass and wildflowers underfoot, and feel the clean fresh breeze on your face. You are the only person as far as the eye can see. Notice what it feels like to move through the wide open landscape, with no limits, no boundaries, and no restrictions. Take 5 deep breaths and then open your eyes. Return to this meditation when you feel stressed or constrained.

Journal: What am I feeling called to do?

🦢 ♥︎ much love - Glenda ♥︎ 🦢

if this reading helped you, here's more on what I offer

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[simpcityy]

I’m Not Her (Father Miguel O’Hara x Teen! Daughter Reader)

Summary: Miguel O’Hara is your biological father but it’s not great being his daughter when he’s hooked in the past still.

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel or any of its characters. This is very short as well! Just a little prompt I thought also, I know the song is about a girl who loves a boy etc., but I thought of it more as father and daughter way. *Ahem* Him thinking of Gabi rather than the present daughter he has…I’m sorry if I confused you.

Word Count: 500

Warnings: Use of female pronouns, Use of (Y/N), angst, Father Miguel, overall, it’s just sad. Uhhh I think that is all for now.

Pt.1 Pt.2 Pt.3 Pt.4 Pt.5 Pt.6

Being the biological daughter of Miguel O’Hara has its ups and downs but mostly downs according to you. Walking through the Spider Society, you held some reports from Jess, she was on her way to hand them over to your father but seeing the kind person you are, you decided to do it for her so she can rest. You're amazed how a woman so pregnant can still fight. Walking down the halls, you were alone with your thoughts. The time he left to be a father to another girl..a girl named Gabriella…were you not enough for him? What did Gabi have that you didn’t? So many thoughts running through your head only to be snapped from hearing Mayday giggling in the room. Taking a deep breath, you pushed in ready for the chaos. “Hey! (Y/N)!” Peter smiles holding an energetic child. “Hey” You responded before looking over at Miguel who was looking at the videos that hurt you the most. Videos of him and Gabriella. You only frown a bit before masking it. “I'll just drop this off” You dropped the files onto a flat surface before walking to the door. “Hey Boo! You going to ask him?” Lyla appears in front of you smiling. You look at her and back to Miguel before shaking your head. “No…he has better things to do” You whisper walking through her, leaving. Lyla watches you staying quiet before next to Miguel. “Files were dropped.” She brought him back to reality. “Hmm? Who?” He mutters looking at the AI. He goes down his platform and picks up the files you left. “(Y/N) did, she was here not long ago” Lyla looks at her phone scrolling through it. Miguel looks at the door where you left not long ago.

Sitting out on the roof of your dimension, your thoughts only seem to be filling you up with anger. Why did he leave you to be a father for another kid…yeah, she lost her father but so did you…he left you to be with her. You groan out in frustration before looking at the time. “There is not enough time left” You mutter before getting up and going back to the house. A home where you stopped waiting for him to come home. Upon reaching your room, you changed into your pjs before walking over to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, you pulled out a cake you ordered yourself from your favorite shop. Placing it on the table, you put the candles on and sat down in front of it. “Happy Birthday to me…happy birthday to me…” You began to sing before letting out a sob. Your candles were put out from your tears. Another year alone and many more to go.

“If I could be her…but I’m not her and she’s not me.”

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

Authors note: This was just little one-shot. An idea that always comes to mind whenever I listen to that amazing song! I am working on part 3 of the Biomedical Engineer x Miguel. Hopefully this weekend it comes out along with the last part of my first father figure Miguel x reader. Please check those out if you haven’t. I’m stuck if I should make this into a full series as well, but I don’t know if people would interest in it. Anyways, as always sorry for any grammar errors. Thank you all for the support! Remember to stay hydrated and to keep on simping! (Simp City Population: 62!) Thank you so much for the follows and please you are welcome to reblog my works for others to be aware of this new Miguel O’Hara simp writer!

[dalishious]

Have you ever made a post explaining your thoughts on Flemeth? If so, sorry I couln't find it, but if not, what do you think of her?

Yeah, let's talk about Flemeth.

Flemeth was a horribly abusive mother to Morrigan.

Flemeth speaks of and to Morrigan as if she has been a burden; an unwanted pest she is glad to be rid of.

When a female mage warden asks about magic:

Flemeth: Not that I would mind a replacement daughter to order around

Morrigan: Believe me, you do not want that.

When the warden asks Flemeth what she will do when they leave:

Warden: What will you do once we're gone?

Flemeth: (Snort) Have a moment's peace, for once.

Morrigan: I hear the peace of the grave is eternal.

Flemeth: This is the thanks I get for feeding you and putting up with you for this long? Bah! May your child one day treat you the same.

Morrigan: Feed me, she says. Without me, I swear she shall be caked in dirt and eating tree bark inside of a month.

When the warden presents Morrigan with a replica of this mirror, Morrigan is taken back, asking what the warden wants. She doesn’t know how to accept a gift.

Morrigan: It is incredible that you found one so like it. I am uncertain what to say. You must wish something in return, certainly.

Warden: Don't be ridiculous. It's a gift, Morrigan.

Morrigan: You say that as if I should be accustomed to such a thing. I have... never received a gift, not one which did not come at a price.

Morrigan: I suppose I should say thank you. For the gift. 'Tis… most thoughtful, truly.

In Morrigan’s Fade nightmare, she is with her mother, except she doesn’t believe the spirit posing as Flemeth because it is too benign.

Spirit!Flemeth: I am your mother... do you not love me?

Morrigan: You are as much my mother as my little finger, right here, is the queen of Ferelden. I know you, fade spirit, you cannot fool me.

Spirit!Flemeth: Are you more clever than your own dear mother? Surely such pride must be punished!

Spirit!Flemeth: (Slaps Morrigan) 

Spirit!Flemeth: There! That is for not showing respect!

Morrigan: That is far more like it, but it is too little too late, spirit.

Morrigan getting slapped across the face is more familiar to her than Flemeth asking if she loves her.

When Brosca meets their own abusive mother again, Morrigan comments "We have more in common than I thought…"

We spend a lot of time getting to know Morrigan in DA:O, and a lot of that is breaking through the trauma and negligence she suffered under Flemeth's care. And no matter how mystical and vivacious Flemeth is portrayed as in the following two games, that doesn't change. Morrigan still remembers, and was literally willing to give up her life before seeing her son suffer the same fate in DA:I. "Do whatever you wish. Take over my body now if you must, but Kieran will be free of your clutches. I am many things, but I will not be the mother you were to me," she says, in one of the most haunting voice acting moments in the entire game. And how does Flemeth respond to Morrigan? With a simple frown, like she's disappointed that Morrigan feels that way.

It irks me enough that Flemeth, a human, was apparently so in need of vengeance more than any elven person in Thedas that Mythal chose her to store herself in. That's a strange choice for the writers to make all on its own. But what makes it so much worse, is that Mythal is the goddess of motherhood and justice. So now we have the goddess of motherhood and justice inside an abusive mother, in a way that Flemeth describes as her being and Mythal's being blended to a point where you could not distinguish them easily, similar to Anders being possessed by Justice. What the absolute fucking fuck were the writers thinking with that???

Flemeth's backstory is a tragic one, yes. But that does not excuse her own actions in any way. I personally know a thing or two about feeling bad for what happened to your parent while also resenting them for the abuse they put on you at the same time.

[stargazer-balladeer]

Random Imagines [Genshin Impact - girls]

[ boy edition ]

- qiqi’s, klee’s & diona’s are all platonic

nervously shifting her legs on the ground, amber shyly presents you a plushie version of yourself that looks similar to the design of baron bunny. she bit her lower lip in pure nervousness as she imagines worst-case scenarios if you didn’t like it. gulping mentally, she nervously smiles as she takes a peek of your expression before looking down again. “happy anniversary.” she quietly said, hoping to herself that you’ll like the gift and that her mind finally calms down.

ayaka smiles as she takes a sip of her tea right outside her house with her beloved by her side, the sakura tree’s petals fluttering around them wonderfully, making the atmosphere more romantic. it's been a while since she last spent her time with you, so she makes sure that it’s spent with zero interruptions. turning to you as she started the conversation with a sweet, serene smile on her face. listening to you starting to ramble on about a topic that interests you, with a look of admiration present in her face.

feeling thankful that you saved her from the crowd of fans, barbara guided you to a secluded area where she often visited to have peace and quiet. she lets you rest your head on her lap as she softly hums a tune, which slowly switches to an actual song. a concert exclusively for her biggest fan with no worries of being judged. smiling if you join in on her singing, even if your voice isn’t as good as hers, she considers your voice divine like the anemo archon.

laughing lightly as she noticed her significant other getting tipsy after drinking a bottle, beidou stood up and announced that she and her lover would be going back to the quarters early. as the celebration continued behind her, she carefully picked you up bridal style and brought you to her quarters. her eyes widened when you started to ramble how much you love her before letting out a small smile and ruffling your hair, minding her own flushed cheeks. 

diona hisses at the stranger who was obviously taking advantage of your kindness while screaming how disgraceful they are for trying to use you. wanting to teach them a lesson, she takes a step forward but you stopped her with a reassuring smile. huffing but obliging to your wishes, she only glared at the stranger, mentally memorizing their faces so that when they visit the bar, she would ask the traveler to mix up a horrible drink. after all, no one messes with you and gets away from it. 

her eyes widened as she saw how you got hit from the active ruin guard, with eyes full of vengeance, eula gracefully yet deadly strike it on the core, effectively making it inactive once more. quickly rushing to your side as she eyed the obvious injury that the ruin guard caused, she cursed to herself for letting it happen. she quickly tended your wounds as she said her usual line of vengeance will be mine while coaxing you to not fall asleep. 

fischl excitedly retells the stories she loved to you while being held by you in the bed after a tough day full of commissions. her prinzessin persona dropped completely as she started from the very beginning while playing with your hands. a soft smile present on her face, happy to share something she loved to you, her significant other. 

embarrassed at your request, ganyu shyly looks away while looking down, fully presenting you her horns. a pink dust appeared on her cheeks when she felt your hand softly yet carefully trace the design of her horns. the warmth of your hands against her horns made her at peace as the initial embarrassment went away, replacing it with comfort and tranquility.

smiling mischievously as her eyes landed on your unsuspecting figure, hu tao carefully and quietly navigate herself to you. she tries to conceal her excited giggles behind her hand as she crept up behind you. she stayed there for a while before quickly wrapping her hands around your waist and shouting “boo!” in your ear while giggling madly.

waking up at the sound of the birds chirping, jean slowly opens her eyes as she yawns. she blinked a couple of times to get the sleepiness out, once her vision was clear, her eyes quickly landed on your still-sleeping figure. she smiles as she brushes a strand of hair behind your ear, softly calling your name in hopes to wake you up. hearing you groan in protest, she pressed a quick kiss on your lips, promising to give you more if you wake up right now.

keqing huffing as she loudly makes her side of the argument, her face almost turning red due to the anger she’s feeling. she knew she was right, so why were you insisting you were the one right and she was in the wrong? not wanting to back out from the argument, she accidentally says something she regrets. after the adrenaline of the argument evaporates from her veins, she quickly realizes what she said as she quickly pulls you into a hug while quietly apologizing.

whilst keeping her company while in solitary confinement, klee happily hums a tune she heard from barbara as she draws on a piece of paper you gave her along with some crayons. patting her head while she does her task, she looks up to you expectantly with her huge doe eyes, showing you what she drew. guessing from the color schemes of the two figures, you figured it was you and klee. happily praising her with her drawing, she excitedly grins at you. 

the fatui agent screamed in terror as a cryo attack hit him, hitting him square on the chest. shouting profanities, he looks at who attacked him to give them a piece of his mind only to fear his own life. standing right behind you, in all her glory, was la signora, otherwise known as your lover. she clicks her tongue, staring at the agent with judgement, before turning her attention to you. cooing sweetly at you as she checks for any possible injuries before telling you to stay in her quarters as she deals with a pest. 

lisa blinkes in surprise at the scenery before her, the library now deserted from people is decorated with a festive decoration. the table she used to have her tea time with is filled with food, from cakes to cookies, it even has her favorite tea among it. the scent of her favorite filled her nostrils as her eyes landed back on your figure, who was fidgeting from nervousness. laughing softly when asked if she likes it, she coos at you and brings you into a hug. you really are adorable, too much for her heart. 

her eyes widened when the door leading to her room opened, lumine looked up to see you in the doorway, the light from the outside pouring in the dark room. she looks away while blinking away the tears gathered in her eyes, why did you have to see her like this? hearing the soft thud of a closing door, she felt the bed shifted and warm arms wrapping around her. your hot breath in her eyes as you whisper comforting words in her ears. deciding to finally drop her guard down, she clings to you and starts bawling. why did her brother leave her once again?

surprised at your question of your future, mona coughs in her fist as she decides to fulfill your curiosity, also with a promise of giving her mora even though she declined it at first. she let the chart of the astrology signs appear before her and started doing her fortune-telling stuff. seeing her nod as she stares at the constellation of what appears to be yours, you noticed that her face bursted into red. worried for her, you asked her what’s wrong and she could barely put out a coherent word from her mouth. she huffed as she looks away, hiding you from her view via her hat, her mind racing at the image of you settling down with her. 

ningguang confronts you one day about your distant behavior with her, her eyes scanning your body, picking up your nervous tics along the way. she tilts her head as she looks at you with expecting eyes, even though her face remains stoic, her eyes are practically pleading for you to tell her what happened, did she do something wrong? sighing at your explanation, she stood up from her chair and made her way to you. pulling you into a chaste kiss, she smiled at you, reassuring you that everything would be okay.

gently waking you up from your nap, the face of a worried noelle appeared after you opened your eyes. smiling gently at you while stating that she finished preparing the soup and medicine and it’s time to eat. she frowned when you told her you don’t want to eat, to which she responded “you won’t get better if you won’t.” deciding the best option is to feed you, she scoop up a spoonful of soup and encourage you softly to open your mouth. her eyes lit up when you complied with her wish. after feeding you and making you drink the medicine, she changed your wet towel on your head and gave it a kiss, hoping to barbatos that you’ll get better soon. 

qiqi looks up at you expectantly while raising her arms up, asking for you to carry her. because you can’t physically or mentally decline a sweet child like her, you lifted her up like she wanted and adjusted your hold on her so that she wouldn't fall off. wrapping her arms around you and smiling happily, you continued to traverse liyue harbor while carrying her.

watching you in amusement as you struggled to try to get a kiss from her, rosaria chuckled when even if you were standing on your toes, you still couldn’t reach her. seeing you pout at her, she gave your cheek a pinch while cooing at you. after having a deal with you, a kiss in exchange for a wine in the tavern, she gave you your desired kiss after rolling her eyes at your expecting face.  

while looking through her notes, sucrose heard you hum while doing your daily house chores. looking up to peek at where you stood, washing the dishes while swaying slightly and humming a tune. she smiles as her focus soon shifts to listening to you humming instead of focusing on her notes. noticing that the shy girl was looking at you, the said-girl let out a tiny shriek and quickly looked down to her notes. chuckling at her adorable action, you continued to wash the dishes as she went back to her notes. 

xiangling blushed profusely at the sight of you holding out a bouquet of flowers with a bag of jueyun chili on your other hand. she covered her face with her hands, incoherent words leaving her mouth as she tried to process what she’s seeing. you must’ve flustered her too much. chuckling at her reaction, you set down the bag and the bouquet at a table and wrapped your arms around her, patting her head to calm her down. 

excitedly yet nervously strumming her guitar in front of you, xinyan took a deep breath before starting to strum her guitar for real and began singing her heart out. she hopes you’ll like the song she composed, exclusively for you. the one and only fan she has that endlessly supported her through her rockstar career. she smiles at you brightly as she continues to sing, bobbing her head up and down. this is who she is, and she’s glad she found someone like you. 

feeling someone’s disappointing gaze on you, you look up to meet yanfei’s gaze with a frown plastered on her face. drunkenly greeting her, she shakes her head as she exclaimed she’ll be bringing you home now. it was a bit difficult as you kept wanting to wander off but she somehow managed to bring you home in one piece. plopping you down on your couch, she sighs as she mumbles that she became your babysitter and quickly fetches you some water. after some difficult time once again to make you drink water and the ending being successful, she stares at your sleeping face before letting out a sigh once again. why do you keep choosing someone else when she was right here by your side the entire time? 

[hyenahunt]

Saga: Release - 13

Writer: Akira

Season: Spring

Characters: Tori, Chiaki, Hokuto, Jin

Proofreading: 310mc (JP) & Peace (ENG)

Translation: kotofucius

Tori: I… I want to become someone people can love over such a long time, too.

Location: Mall 1st Floor

Time: After that… 30 minutes have passed since Rain-bows’s fansign event opened

Tori: Yeah! Thank you~ I’m really happy to see you, too! We’ll be having a performance right after this, so watch us if you can, okay? ♪

Yeah, bye-bye~!

Oh — wait, miss, you forgot something! I signed this for you, so don’t forget to take it with you, ‘kay~?

Right! Ahaha, I remembered you being a little clumsy…♪ I hope you’ll keep supporting Rain-bows and me, Himemiya Tori!

(Huff… I-It’s a lot tougher than I thought!)

(The fans won’t stop coming! I’ve been talking and writing signatures for thirty minutes non-stop! My throat and hands are killing me!)

(I thought a fansign event would be a piece of cake compared to performing, but…)

(I think I’m wasting more stamina than usual because it’s something I’m not used to, and I keep having to think up different ways to respond to each one of them.)

(Well, to be fair, I could treat them all the same, like when I'm approving documents…)

(But from the viewpoint of a fan, I know how ecstatic it feels when your idol responds to you in a special way.)

(Back when I was only a fan of fine, and went to their fansign events in secret…)

(Eichi-sama immediately recognized me as “Tori-kun of the Himemiya house” and struck up a conversation with me, and I was really touched.)

(Well, then I got so carried away that I got caught by Yuzuru who was tailing me...)

(But every single moment of it is a precious memory to me, including that part.)

(I hope this fansign event can also become a treasure for the fans who came to see me today.)

Tori: (Ehehe, I really feel like an idol right now.)

(When you’re neck-deep in the DreamFest system, the audience starts to look like numbers, but… each one of them is an individual of their own.)

(All their own persons, living different lives — and they’re taking their time to see us.)

(That’s just the happiest honor I could ever have; and I don’t think I can ever think of this as a “waste of time” anymore, even in death.)

Chiaki: I see! Ahaha, so you usually accompany your kid to our hero shows?

But today, you’ve taken a side trip from shopping to see me in secret?

Thank you! No, no — of course we’d be just as happy when fans other than children are cheering us on! If that’s the case, ma’am, I’ll write autographs for the child as well!

Eh!? It’ll be awkward if they find out you went to my fansign event without telling? That’s true! What to do, then…?

Ah, hold on! I always have Ryuseitai merch with me to give to people whenever I can, so by all means, take one as a present!

Please give it to your child! Just tell them that you got my autograph as a bonus when buying this merch for them… how about that?

Eh? “Is it okay for a hero to be an accomplice to a lie”? Ah, you’ve got me, ma’am! No matter what villains I take down, I’m still nothing when facing a mother!

Tori: (Ahaha. Morisawa-senpai looks so peppy.)

(He’s making so much noise~ It’s kinda amazing how he moves around in such a narrow space and manages to not bother anybody.)

(I haven’t been able to check how the others are doing since I was so busy myself, but they’re really dealing with the fans in their own unique ways…)

(This is so fun to watch~. I think I would’ve enjoyed this even if I was here as a fan ♪)

(Mm~ I’m not sure if it’s about our achievements, or how long we’ve been active as idols...)

(Sagami-sensei’s the most popular… Next is Morisawa-senpai, with a pretty huge gap from Sensei—and tailing behind them are both me and Hidaka-senpai… I think.)

(There’s people lining up in front of each of our desks, so thankfully none of us are strikingly unpopular, but… the gap is still there anyway. It’s frustrating.)

(I’m still a nameless new face with less than a year of work record behind me, so I know I’m probably already doing really well for my current status, but...)

(I can’t help but compare myself to other people.)

(No, no! I have to stop. Jealousy is an ugly emotion. I should observe their mannerisms and learn from their good sides...)

(I’ll attract more fans and become even better at entertaining them.)

Hokuto: Mm… are you okay? My hand isn't cold, is it?

I see. That’s good. Heheh, my teammates held my hands and warmed them up for me before the event.

I’ve always had a complex about my cold hands, but they helped me.

Hmm? Ah, I’ve heard of it. People with cold hands usually have a warm heart… I’m happy that you think that way about me.

Tori: (Ahaha. Hidaka-senpai’s so unbelievably stiff. His smile looks strained too~ Maybe Trickstar isn’t used to doing fanservice?)

(But, though I doubt he’s doing it on purpose, his inexperience is actually making him look cute.)

(That feeling like you can’t leave him alone… The fans are smiling with adoration at him.)

(I’m supposed to be the one giving off that adorable, naive vibe being the baby of the group, though…)

(You’re so unfair, Hidaka-senpai. You’re always taking away what I want.)

Jin: Eh~? No, no! I’m just joining the kids' fun for the time being!

This is an old man going against his better judgment~ Even just moving around a bit is already taking the breath out of me ♪

Eh? You didn’t want to hear that sorta thing from my mouth? Sorryyy, I guess I’ve really withered!

But it’s okay — the Sagami Jin in your memories is still shining vividly, right?

If you’ll continue to treasure that version of me in your heart… that’s enough to make me overjoyed. You’ll make me the luckiest man on earth.

I’m so glad to have met you. I will never, ever forget this day, same as you.

Tori: (Whoa… That’s an old hand for you. Sagami-sensei plays it so smartly without any hint of nervousness at all.)

(He’s aware that he’s not giving off the same shine as during his prime; so he shows everything he is now, without concealing anything.)

(But he still makes sure to sound earnest at the key moments, so his fans won’t be disappointed. He whispers to their ears… and charms them, making them fall in love with him all over again.)

(Most of Sagami-sensei’s fans are of pretty good age already… but when they’re talking with him, it’s as if they’re back to being young maidens in love.)

(I… I want to become someone people can love over such a long time, too.)

(…Oops, I gotta focus. I had a minute to watch since I finished signing for everyone, but the fans are starting to queue for me again.)

(According to Sagami-sensei, the fans should have some free time while waiting for our live show to start…)

(So they might line up for us too to kill time, even if it wasn’t our signatures they came for at first.)

(I should do my best to turn them into my fans. That’s what this unit’s for, after all.)

(Even if I didn’t catch their interest at first, just by having some connection with another idol they love… they’ll start paying attention to me, too.)

(Even people who would normally get buried away can get a chance to be shined on, and then they’ll be able to shine, too. What Eichi-sama created for us… is that kind of gentle and wonderful system.)

✦✦✦✦✦

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[saabbi]

Regret part 9

Light in darkness

Genshin Impact Adeptus! reader

warnings: self-deprecation, imposter syndrome

word count: ~1.7k

notes: please remember that you are loved, and not just in the fic itself.

[previous] [next]

No words are needed to exchange. Zhongli must surely be curious, worried even, to find out what happened in Snezhnaya. But he remained quiet, pushing away the rampant thoughts running across his mind.

What’s most important isn’t digging out what happened, but that you’re alright and safe.

Zhongli doesn’t miss the pale complexion on you, making sure to swing by Bubu Pharmacy to ask Baizhu for some antiseptic cream and aspirin just in case you’re still feeling unwell.

He brought you to his residency, which is unsurprisingly close to the funeral parlour. A few sprouting flowers in the interior caught your eye, the blue distinguish colour resembles that of a jewel. It must be a good season for glazed lilies to grow and bloom.

“Would you like tea?” Zhongli turns his head to you, holding up a few cups.

“Yes, please.” He also takes out some cakes, but you didn’t have the heart to tell him that you’re way too full for some tea snacks.

Zhongli is definitely inquisitive, his occasional glances and slight frown shows that he has much more to say apart from asking if you want tea and snacks.

But he didn’t ask you any questions, never pressuring you into telling him. He decided to wait until you feel ready to talk about it. For you, he can always wait.

You hold the cup in your palms, the warmth gradually spreading to your whole body.

“Zhongli,” you take a sip of the refreshing tea, making up your mind. “Can you ask Ganyu and Xiao to come? I… have something to tell you all.”

Zhongyi nervously nods with his heart thumping, not sure if he’s ready to hear what you have to tell them.

.

.

Silence fills the room, then your sharp inhales, the unsteady voice and shaking pupils as you begin to speak.

Your shaking voice, your spilling emotions, your trembling hands. The suffocating feeling in your heart and the bitterness in your throat. You keep on going, you can’t think straight, you feel light headed and exhausted, but you want to keep going. You want to tell them, the things you saw, the things you felt, the worthlessness eating you away.

Ganyu tugs your arm and hugs them tightly, Zhongli and Xiao each resting a hand on yours to remind you that they’re here. They let you keep going, even if you look like you’re in pain.

They listen in silence, allowing you to spill everything in the safe space. You stop for a second, hearing sniffles from the horned girl next to you.

Ganyu shakes her head, telling you that she’s okay, and that you can go on.

With trembling eyes and hoarse voice, you tell them, how you thought you would be okay even if the Tsarista didn’t need you anymore, thought it would be okay even if she throws you away. But you weren’t, your heart sunk to the bottom when she implied that you’re no longer needed, as if all the time you spent by her side as a faithful subordinate meant nothing to her.

You mentioned that you know the Tsarista is only interested in the power you possess, you repeatedly told yourself that if it’s what the Tsarista desires, you shall comply without any hard feelings, for you are her harbinger, her title-less twelfth harbinger.

So why did it hurt so much? Why did you feel something worse than physical pain? Like you were stabbed with thousand swords, mercilessly piercing you without a break, making you lose your breath and vision cloudy.

It felt like the world crumbled, blood rushing to your head and the sudden heaviness taking over your body.

Oh. In the midst of talking your own feelings out, you realised- you felt angry, desperate, hurt, betrayed.

You realised, that over the years, loyalty is not the only thing that sprouted. You always brushed it off, pretending like it never existed, but deep down, you felt angry.

Angry at the Tsarista for pulling you away from Liyue, angry at her for letting you go through terrible things, even if you can’t remember clearly what happened.

The mixture of admiration, loyalty, desperation and anger has always stuck within you whenever you see her cold yet graceful figure.

But you had nothing except her, so you clung onto your loyalty towards her and repressed other thoughts of her, ignoring the tingling senses and blindly telling yourself that you’re always loyal to the Tsarista.

Every single word that comes out, Zhongli takes them in all, even if it pricks his heart like thorns. He takes a deep breath and shuts shis eyes, he wants it to stop. But he knows he has to listen and share your burden.

He wants to listen, even if it hurts, lamenting for the times he couldn’t be there for you. But now, he could. And the least he could do is to listen to you.

In the past, Zhongli failed miserably as a guardian, but now he has the chance to be with the three of his beloved adepti once again. He’s the listener, he’ll always be willing to listen to you if you confide in him.

Zhongli takes one last gulp of his tea. He embraces the crushing pain in his heart and clasp your hand tightly.

You stutter and choke out some incomplete sentences in the process, words tying into knots, but it’s okay. There’s no need for you to rush, they have all the time and undivided attention for you to tell them whatever you want.

Your right hand feels like it’s about to be crushed, somehow. You glance over to the side and is met with another pair of amber eyes.

Glossy eyes filled with uncertainty, concern and shock. His mouth gaped open, unable to find words, so he chooses to hear instead of responding.

The way you described your journey in Snezhnaya feels lonely to him. Xiao is no stranger to the feeling of solitude, but your gaze feels far, far more lonelier than what Xiao has ever been through. He watched as unfathomable emotions swirl in your eyes, your gaze shifting every so often in trying to find the right words.

A part of him thinks that, perhaps he should’ve sought for you, or even just send a single letter millennia ago instead of pathetically dreaming in the Wangshu inn, then perhaps you wouldn’t have to always feel like you're all alone without anyone to rely on.

Xiao holds your other hand tightly. He doesn’t know how to show affection, but he hopes that this reassures you that you’re no longer alone.

Your lone narrative went on for minutes, then hours, until you lost track of time. You then mutter the last few sentences.

“I lost my powers, I don’t feel qualified to be an adeptus anymore, I-“ this part is harder to say than anything else. “I don’t know why I’m here, or anywhere anymore.”

“I feel like I…lost my purpose.” First was your abandonment from Zhongli, the bane of your misfortune. Then was the Tsarista, the one who broke you more than anything else. You feel lost in life, wandering without a purpose.

“I’m just a… nobody.”

Slam. The sudden impact on the table made you jump. You look up at Xiao who suddenly stood up and slammed his fists on the table with brute force.

His frown is deep, eyes burning with fury and looking at you with disbelief. He is livid.

“Don’t you dare say that one more time.”

Confused, you furrowed your eyebrows and tilt your head a bit. At first you thought he’s mad at the fact that you willingly let your powers be taken away from you, but that doesn’t seem to what he’s mad at.

“You are not worthless, not a nobody. I won’t forgive you even if you say that one more time, even if you said it yourself.”

Xiao clenches his fist tightly, glaring at you. He rarely gets mad at you, it makes you feel a bit guilty.

“Xiao’s right.” Ganyu joins in, her palms squeezing your arms with force making you turn to her. “Please do not say that, ever again. You mean everything to us, how could you- how could you say you’re worth nothing?”

Ganyu has a sorrowful look instead. You don’t know how to respond to them, you can’t figure out whether the present incompetent you means everything to them, or the you they once knew and adored.

You think of the latter one. After all, there’s nothing much on you that is actually worth something.

Zhongli seems to know what you’re thinking, as he slowly opens his mouth. “My child.”

“Nothing changes the fact that you’re an adeptus, one of us, with or without your adeptal powers.”

“No matter the past, present or future you, will always be the one we love.” His gaze firm and solemn, trying hard to convey his feelings to you.

“You don’t have to be perfect, it’s okay to be incomplete.” Zhongli stands up and treads towards you.

He stops next to you, bending down a bit before enveloping you into a tight hug. You stiffen up.

“Because no matter what, you are you, and nothing will ever change that. And the fact that we love you will always be true.”

Hic. You let out ugly voices from your throat, breaking into a ugly sob and staggered breathing.

The warmth warping you increases, with Ganyu and Xiao joining.

Zhongli soothes you by brushing your back softly, Ganyu patting your head and lightly ruffles your hair. Xiao appears to be quite awkward at first, but decides to rest your head on his chest and warp his arms around your head as you sob.

It’s so warm, so warm that it feels unreal. Words of affirmation and love is such a stranger to you, the words and actions they display makes your chest hurts.

Your heart tugs at you, but you know it’s not because you’re sad, it’s because you feel relieved, happy, and thankful.

You are loved. Even if you don’t realise it.

Love is not determined by how much one spends time with each other, nor will it diminish with time or distance.

Forgive does not mean forgetting. The past cannot be reverted. The resentful decisions Zhongli has made in the past remain embedded in history and cannot be undone.

However, it does not mean that relationships cannot be rebuilt. A step at a time, as long as you’re willing to, as long as you are here and with them, things can start over.

[previous] [next]

for extra info/drabbles on this series: #adeptus reader asks please feel free to send some asks as well :)

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[crazy-rich-asians]

birthdays and wonders

A/N: heyyy so this is an entry for @hollandsrecs tom’s birthday fic fest! hope u enjoy and let me know how this was!

Masterlist

(edit is mine!)

Pairing- Tom Holland x reader, both are married here :)

Word Count- 1.5k+ (yea i should practice writing more)

Prompt-  your birthday present for tom: telling him you're pregnant

Warning- just mentions of sickness and vomiting in the beginning, nothing too much.

Summary- on tom’s birthday, you have a certain special gift for thomas this year.

You tossed and turned on your bed as you felt something come up your neck and would come out of the mouth any moment. You felt nauseous. You opened your eyes and sat up. You climbed off the bed, trying not to make noise and wake Tom. You made your way towards the bathroom, covering your mouth so that you could avoid puking on the floor.

Quickly, you opened the bathroom door and jogged towards the toilet and lifted the seat and emptied the contents of your stomach inside the toilet bowl. As the contents left, you could feel a bit better.

When you were finally done, you flushed and rinsed your mouth thoroughly to get rid of the taste of vomit. You walked back to the bed and got inside the covers beside Tom, who stirred a bit in his sleep and subconsciously pulled you closer towards him. Closing your eyes, you drifted back to sleep.

----

This continued for a week. You didn't tell anyone about this, as it didn't seem like a big deal with you. Also because Tom would make a really big fuss, although that was also something that made him so adorable. You thought maybe this was a flu bug that was in the air and decided to dismiss this and focused on the upcoming days. 

Tom's birthday was approaching and you wanted to keep a small and homely affair with all of his family and best mates.

Right now, you were discussing the food menu and decorations to do. Since Tom was out doing some work, this was the perfect opportunity to plan everything out and hence you had called Harrison, Harry, Sam and Tuwaine to help you out and discuss the food, time, drinks, etc.

You suddenly felt an urge to pee real bad. This was weird, considering you had just gone to the bathroom ten minutes ago.

"Shit" you muttered, hurrying towards the bathroom again. You came out five minutes later, feeling very suspicious. This happened a bunch of times in the previous day as well. You were trying to wrack your brains.

Then it struck to you. You took out your phone and checked the calendar, and sure enough, your period was late by a week already. Now, just to be sure, you needed a test.

You went back to the living room, where the boys were chatting and planning.

"Hey Haz, could you come here for a second? I need to talk about something." He nodded and walked towards you. You gestures him to follow you to the kitchen so that you could get some privacy.

"What's up, (y/n)?" 

You took a deep breath. "Well, uh, I really don't know how to say this, but um I've been feeling some things over the last few days and uh" you looked down for a minute, wondering how were you gonna speak the words you were about to say next.

"I think I might be pregnant." You bit your bottom lip nervously as you looked at his face for his reaction. He held a bewildered expression, his eyes widened as he tried to process what you just told him.

"Wait, really? You're pregnant?" He asked, still confused.

"I think so, I'm not really sure."

"Oh, I see. Well, do you have any tests lying around? You could take a test and check."

"Well, that's what I called you here for. Could you just maybe purchase some tests from the nearby store? If it's possible?"

"Of course! I'll be glad to help you however I can." He smiled, making you smile too.

"Thanks Haz, you're a lifesaver."

"Anytime. I'll just go now and bring them for ya."

"Oh and Haz? Can you just not tell anyone right now? Especially Tom? I don't want anyone to know just in case this was a false alarm or anything."

"Of course, my mouth is zipped. You have my word."

"Thanks. Now hurry along!" With that he went out and made a simple excuse of getting a phone call and quickly went to the nearby medical store and bought a small bunch of tests. He came back carrying them in a small bag, entering inside quietly and sneakily placing them in your room, without anyone seeing him. He came back and nodded at you, you mouthed a thanks to him.

Later, when the other boys had gone, you decided now would be safe to test. Harrison, of course, stayed back as he wanted to know whatever the outcome was, and be there for you.

You went to the bathroom and prepared yourself to pee on the stick. Luckily, you made sure to drink a decent amount of water just in case so that this would go smoothly. 

You waited for five minutes and checked the tube. Surely, it showed two lined, which indicated that the test was positive and you were indeed, pregnant.

"Oh my god." You could not help saying to yourself.

"Is everything ok?" Haz asked, knocking softly at the door.

"Yeah, yeah it's alright." You replied, heading to the door and opening it.

"Well?" He asked, looking at you.

"It's positive."

"Oh my god is it true?"

"Yes it is Haz! You're going to be an uncle!" You smiled as he jumped a little in excitement like a kid. He gave you a tight hug, which you responded by hugging him as well, giggling and smiling.

"Hey, uh let's just not tell Tom yet. Or anyone. I think I know the perfect time to tell him." You looked at him knowingly, hoping that he could get the drift, which he did.

"You got it, chief."

----

"Happy birthday to you, Tom!" You sang as he cut his cake. The party turned out to be a very and cozy affair, with everything going well as planned.

You were yet to give your gift to Tom. You decided that it would be better when you both were alone and had your privacy to do it.

While the others were busy on distributing the cake and food for each other and taking their share, you went to Tom and hugged him from behind, making him grin and hold your hands wrapped around his waist.

"Happy birthday, darling." You mumbled in his ear, giving him a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Thanks love." He chuckled, turning around to give you a proper hug and pull you closer to him, his head resting on your shoulder and taking in your scent which always reminded him of home and comfort, what he always felt when he was with you.

"Hey, wanna come to the room for a second? I wanna show you something." He nodded and you took his hand in yours and walked to the bedroom. You walked to your cupboard and took out a small, neatly wrapped box which you had kept for this particular occasion.

"Here's my present. Happy birthday, baby." You whispered to him, handing him the gift. 

"Thanks, angel. Wonder what's in here." He sat on the bed and unwrapped the box, wondering what could be there. You could feel your heartbeat go faster as you waited for his reaction. He took out the box and opened the lid, his eyes scrunched in confusion as he saw a pregnancy kit there.

He picked it up and observed it closely in his hands and noticed there were two lines, which made him gasp in surprise and look at you. He got up, taking the pregnancy kit in hand walked to you, hoping he had read the situation right.

"Darling, is this what I think it is?  I mean, is it true? Are you h-having a baby?" He looked down gently at your belly and looked at your face again. You smiled and nodded, taking his hand and placing it on your belly.

"Yes Tom. We're having a baby." You smiled softly, waiting for his reaction.

"Oh my god, babe this is so amazing! We're gonna have a baby, a mini you or mini me in our arms in a few months, I just- wow!" He chuckled softly, running his fingers through his curls. He gave you a big hug, holding you close to him. You could hear him sniffle a bit as you hugged him back, wrapping your arms around his neck.

"I'm so happy and excited, darling." He mumbled in your ear.

"Me too, Tom. I'm excited for this." You could feel tears of joy coming out of your eyes. You pulled away from the hug and cupped his cheeks and pulled him in for a soft kiss. His soft lips moved with yours as he squeezed your waist gently. You pulled away and placed your forehead on his, looking into his eyes filled with happy tears. 

You both could not help but giggle, feeling so ecstatic about having a child, two years into your marriage, and were ready to welcome a little baby into your world.

"I love you, (y/n)."

"I love you too, Tom." You smiled.

"Now wanna tell the others?"

"Yeah, let's do that. Although, Harrison knows." You winked. With that you walked towards the door to break the news to everyone, while Tom muttered a 'hey!' before coming to join you to break the news. 

This certainly had been an amazing birthday, he thought. You were both looking forward to having your child and what the future held for you.

The End

taglist link in reblog!

[blu-joons]

When He Looks After Your Children Alone ~ BTS Reaction

Jin:

His eyes widened as he walked back into the kitchen to the state your two youngest children had made of their food on the floor and their seats. “You’re never this messy,” Jin muttered under his breath, “why are you like this for me?”

“What?” Your daughter asked innocently as Jin grabbed the paper and wipes to clean it up.

His head shook, kissing against the top of her head, “you like causing trouble for daddy, don’t you?”

“Me?” She continued to tease, staring across at her brother who matched her own clueless expression. “We didn’t do anything wrong; we just ate our dinner.”

“Sassy like your father too,” he frowned, kneeling down on the floor. “Did you even manage to eat any of this?”

His question was answered when his son opened his mouth to reveal a mouthful of food. “Yeah!” He spluttered, only adding to the mess for Jin to clean up.

“Alright, let’s stop talking and eat,” Jin chuckled, tapping the top of his head, “it’s like cleaning up a zoo in here.”

“We’re not animals,” your daughter smartly responded, rendering Jin speechless.

“No, you’re beautiful humans little one.”

Yoongi:

The sight of the living room left Yoongi stunned, noticing the toybox of your children turned upside down, leaving the toys all over the floor. “My doll fell right to the bottom,” your son announced, holding up the toy he searched for.

“Your mum will be home in a minute,” Yoongi sighed, kneeling down to pick up a couple of the toys.

Your daughter followed behind Yoongi, noticing the mess. “She won’t like the house being this untidy.”

“Exactly,” Yoongi frowned, looking between the two of them. “Do you reckon we could clear up the toys and then I promise we can all play with our toys.”

“But I want to play with my doll now,” your son cried out, crawling to the back of the room. “Y/D/N can help you clean up; she’s not doing anything.”

Yoongi’s head shook, taking the doll from his son. “You’re the one that caused this mess, so you can help clear it.”

“I’ll tell mummy,” your son continued to whine, but Yoongi’s head shook, refusing to let him get away with doing nothing.”

“I’ll tell mummy your trouble,” he challenged, watching your son’s eyes widen.

“Fine, I guess I’ll help.”

Hoseok:

His arms wrapped around his two girls who curled into either side of his chest, gripping tightly onto their blankets as their eyes threatened to close. “Daddy, can you sing to us?” Your eldest whispered up to her father.

“I don’t sing,” he reminded them yet again, “I don’t think a rap is good to get to sleep.”

Your other daughter’s head shook, glancing up at him. “You can sing, that’s why you’re famous.”

“Of course,” he chuckled, pressing a kiss to the tops of both of their heads. “Is there a song you can agree on for daddy to sing you to sleep then?”

“Butterfly,” your youngest called out, but straight away your eldest groaned, shaking her head across at her sister. “What’s wrong with butterfly?”

She let go of a sigh, “I prefer when daddy sings Mikrokosmos, it reminds me of when we went to go and watch him in the concert with uncles.”

“How about I sing both?” He suggested, determined to keep the peace between the two of them. “I can do a medley of the two to keep you both happy.”

“But Mikrokosmos first,” your daughter quickly chimed, making Hobi chuckle.

“Maybe I’ll choose a different song first.”

Namjoon:

He couldn’t help but groan as the shrieks of your three children playing downstairs gave him no peace to carry on with trying to get his lyrics written. “What’s wrong?” Your eldest asked when Namjoon sighed yet again.

“You’re so noisy,” he laughed loudly, “how does your mum work with all of this noise every day?”

Your youngest shrugged beside him, “mummy plays with us too, not just sit on her computer all day.”

“Does she?” Namjoon frowned, noticing the third spin around to nod in agreement with their siblings. “I guess I have been a bit neglectful of you this morning.”

“What if we help you write a song?” The eldest of the trio suggested, “you always say that you want us to be like you.”

Namjoon hummed, glancing at the three of them, “why don’t you grab a pen and some paper, and we can see if we can come up with something good to write?”

“I’m on it!” Your youngest yelled, racing through the house. “Maybe we could be the ones to write BTS’ next hit.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Namjoon smiled, “but it’s worth a try maybe.”

“Don’t underestimate us daddy.”

Jimin:

His eyes lit up when he noticed the drawings your two sons had drawn, squinting his eyes to try and figure out what exactly it was. “What have your drawn?” Jimin asked, trying not to hurt their feelings with his question.

“It’s mum,” the eldest of the two pointed out, as if it was far too obvious for Jimin to doubt.

Jimin looked a little closer, still struggling to see the resemblance. “How come you’ve drawn mummy?”

“We miss her,” the younger announced, “we want to give her a present for when she came back from her work trip so she wouldn’t forget us.”

“She’s not forgetting you,” Jimin quickly assured the two of them, “she’s only been gone for two days, it’s impossible to forget you.”

Their two sets of eyes turned up to look adoringly at their father. “Do you think mummy would like to come home and see our paintings up on the wall.”

“Of course, I do,” Jimin grinned, knowing how much you savoured all of their work. “We can put them all up in the living room.”

“Really?” The elder asked in slight disbelief, “can we make more for her?”

“We can make plenty.”

Taehyung:

When you were called into work last minute, Taehyung was terrified about being the only parent, waiting anxiously for you to come home that evening. “So, how was everything?” You asked him and your children as you sat to dinner.

“We had fun,” Taehyung began, trying to stop his children to spoiling the truth about the day to you.

Your head nodded, looking across at your three kids. “Did you have fun with daddy, was he good?”

“Well,” your eldest stuttered, feeling Taehyung’s eyes stare across at him. “It was a little bit chaotic; daddy definitely needs you mummy to look after us.”

“He broke some of the dinner plates,” the middle child interjected, “and I’m pretty sure he burnt our dinner, it was a bit black.”

Your eyes widened, glaring across at Taehyung. “How did you manage to burn their lunch? It’s one of the simplest meals to make, which is why I chose it.”

“It’s not as easy as you make it look,” he protested, “and they were no help, all they did was laugh at me not help me.”

“They’re children,” you reminded him, “what more did you possibly expect from them?”

“Single parenting is not for me.”

Jungkook:

Your two daughters groaned as Jungkook finally pulled out the karaoke machine, much to their dismay. “We don’t want to sing,” the eldest cried out, “we always just end up listening to you singing to us instead dad.”

“It’s fun,” he protested, plugging the machine in. “And you love to hear me sing? You always ask me.”

Both of their heads shook, “we enjoy going to your concerts, not singing in our living room together.”

“Mum would never do this with us,” the other chimed in, rolling their eyes. “She does things that all of us want to do, not just what she wants to do.”

“What does she do?” Jungkook asked them, refusing to acknowledge that you might just be the better parent of the two.

Their eyes looked across at each other, “she always takes us to the park, and she knows how much we love to bake, that’s why you always come home to cake.”

“Then, let’s make a cake,” Jungkook established, unplugging the machine. “If mummy can make a cake, then daddy can also make a cake.”

“Can you make a cake?” Your daughter squirmed, staring hopelessly at him.

“Of course, I can make a cake.”

---

Masterlist

[mocha-luv]

glimpses of the future (part 2)

word count: 927 a series of connected kuroken omegaverse oneshots

"tetsurou, they're coming!"

"i can't find my keys!"

"hurry!"

"who's coming, momma?"

kenma looked down at the kid sitting in his lap playing a child's video game. "aki, do you remember you once met a really energetic man with orange hair when you were very little, and i told you that was your uncle shoyo?"

the kid nodded.

"well, he and his husband tobio are coming to see mizuki for the first time. your father's going to the train station to get them."

akira looked up at kenma, eyes wide. "i don't have to talk to him, do i? he's too loud."

kenma didn't mind in the slightest that his son didn't want to have a conversation with his friend. he knew how overwhelming shoyo could be the first several meetings. "it would be nice if you at least greeted him, then you can let your brother do the talking. do you think you can do that for me?"

akira nodded slowly. "i think i can do that."

kenma caressed his hair and kissed his head. "thanks, honey."

the child perked up. "can i see her? mizuki?"

"as long as you don't wake her."

"don't worry, i won't!"

taking his son's hand, kenma got up and went to his room, where he'd made a nest for his daughter. they walked over and akira stood on the tips of his toes. when he couldn't see over the edge of the bed, he looked at kenma, silently asking to be picked up.

"be careful," kenma whispered. he helped akira onto the bed and smiled as he hugged his sister gently. the boy's face lit up when mizuki shifted closer to him in her sleep.

kenma watched for a few moments before leaving the room. he went to find his other son and make sure his husband had already left to pick up his friend. upon finding tadashi coloring in his room, kenma laid on the floor next to him, deciding not to fuss about having to step over scattered half-eaten crayons.

***

the blonde turned his gaming chair towards the door as it opened. "what's up?"

tadashi poked his head through the doorway. "i'm dragging akira to a party, and mizuki's asking me to drop her off at a friend's sleepover."

"tell mizuki not to eat too many cookies, and i better not get a call from the school tomorrow saying either one of you is hungover, go it?" kenma responded.

"okay. love you, bye!"

"yeah, yeah, love you, too, kid." kenma turned back around to find his stream's chat blowing up. many of the comments were asking to see tadashi or wondering how he was.

"uh, tadashi's doing good, and so are akira and mizuki." he paused to read more. "yes, tetsurou is also doing well. i'd ask him to come in, but he's not home yet."

something told kenma his viewers were no longer interested in watching him play video games, so he closed the game he was playing and left his viewers looking at the aesthetic skyline photo he had as his computer's wallpaper.

"how old are my kids? the twins turned 17 4 months ago, and mizuki turned 12 a month before that.

"someone asked what i do for their birthdays. whatever they'd like, really. all 3 of them are responsible enough to go hang out with their friends by themselves; they don't need their mom throwing a birthday party with cake and games. i don't even get them presents. they can get whatever they want, as long as they're deserving, of course, any time of year."

kenma scrolled through more comments. "'are you sure you're not spoiling them?' so what if i am? they're good kids. there's rarely a reason for me to say no, and if i do, they don't complain.

"'how are you such a good parent? your kids adore you.' yeah, see the crazy thing is, when you actually trust and listen to your kids, they'll do the same thing back. who would've thought? it's almost like that's how the world works.

"'what was it like having kids so young?'" kenma paused. he'd been 17, the twins' age, when he'd given birth to them. now he was 34, world-famous, and with his own company. "i wouldn't say it was extremely difficult, but it was easy, either. tetsurou... he was in college, and i--"

he stopped. he didn't feel comfortable sharing his family's hardships with the world. "anyway, we got through it, and we're all very happy."

he subtly moved his mouse so that the cursor on screen hovered over the "end livestream" button, unbeknownst to his viewers.

"'kodzuken, are you home alone?' uh, that's a very creepy question. i'll have you know that i have security details all over the building, so good luck getting in.

"'kenma, marry me!'" he lifted the back of his left hand to the camera. "no, thanks. i'm good."

kenma pretended to be worried about the time. "oh, guys, i have cats to feed. tetsurou, will be home soon, anyway, so i have to go make some dinner. bye everyone.:

quick, before anyone had time to react, kenma ended the stream and sighed. he loved his fans, but they could become overwhelming once they set their mind on interrogating.

looking at the time, again, and considering how long it took for his husband to get home, kenma decided to order delivery instead of cooking. it would take an absurd amount of time to feed only 2 people.

while dinner arrived, he really did have cats to feed.

***

[hpalways]

Surprises || Childe

a/n: i swear i’ll get to the requests soon akjdhfjfj sorry for the wait dudes. 

BUT YEAHHHHHH ITS CHILDES BIRTHDAY I LOVE U DADDY HAVE A NICE ONE 

THROWING a surprise party for Childe was more difficult than one could imagine. He didn't fully admit it, but he was obviously hurt when no one wished him a happy birthday today. And while everyone went on to set the scene for when you would all surprise him, you were given the role to distract him. As the two of you strolled through the streets of Liyue Harbor, his sea blue eyes darted everywhere agitatedly. Repeatedly letting out a sigh, he combed his gloved hand through his ginger locks. You stifled a giggle at his discomfort, sensing that he was too prideful to outwardly question why his birthday wishes were practically nonexistent this year. 

He peered at you with disappointment, for he wished to hear those words from you more than anyone else. Wondering if his birthday was really that forgettable, he thought back to the day you asked when his birthday was. The two of you shared the dates and he remembered how elated he was on your birthday, buying gifts and spoiling you with his dirty earned mora. He could still see the grin that was stuck to your face the entire day. 

"Thanks for joining me on some errands. I'm almost done," you told him, smiling. Guilt continued to pour into your chest at the sight of him. 

He nodded and forced out a smile, coloring his face with his usual facade. "Anything for you, comrade," he chuckled, ruffling your hair in a habit. "I was bored anyway. It almost feels like there should be something important today, but I suppose there's truly nothing."

You wanted to burst out laughing. He was trying so hard to be discreet about it, but you could easily read behind the lines. "Oh? Nah. There's nothing important today."

"Nothing at all?" he responded, voice hollow. "That's strange. Are you sure?"

"I keep all my important dates on my calendar. It was blank for today."

His flingers curled around his shirt, gripping so tightly they shook. You were very organized, but his birthday wasn't on there. Did he mean nothing to you? Did he care for you more than you did him? He was beginning to feel idiotic -- foolish even. Falling silent as he followed you to the next stall, he watched you buy daily groceries, picking out the biggest fish in the pile and bright fruits from the baskets. He numbly carried the bags, groaning to himself. Maybe he should leave the city and hunt down some hilichurls, skewer them so he could release some of his pent up frustration. 

While he was lost in his head, too busy thinking about his bottled up emotions, you noticed Hu Tao in the distance, making wide signals. She was dramatic as per usual and you glared at her, urging her to hide within the shadows. Quickly turning away from the merchant, you were relieved to know that Childe had not detect anything suspicious. It was showtime. 

"Okay. One more stop," you informed him. 

"I... think I should to go," he responded. "I'll drop your bags back home."

Panic seeped into your expression, your eyes growing wide. Oh no -- this couldn't get any worse. You had to stop him before he could leave, because who knew where he would go next? He was such an unpredictable guy, free to roam wherever he liked with that reputation of his. "It's just one more place," you pointed out, knitting your brows together. "Come on, Childe. It will be really quick. Please?" You gave him the best puppy eyes and slipped a hand in his, squeezing it tightly to feel tingles erupt at the contact.

His head leveled slightly at the feeling of your hand, so he slowly nodded. "Fine. But I'll have to go right afterwards. I have some business to do with the Fatui."

That was a lie. The both of you knew that, but Childe didn't want to seem so lame in front of you. He already felt that enough today to last a lifetime.

You pulled him through the crowds of people lingering on the roads beside buildings, making a beeline to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. You ignored the furrow of his forehead when he saw the building looming ahead of him. Before he could voice out any inquiries, you pushed the dark oaken doors open, stepping into the darkness. He stayed by your side loyally, his muscles strained, ready to protect you from the weird atmosphere of the room. 

The curtains dropped, golden sunlight spilling through the windows to reveal the secret. "Happy birthday Childe!" the entire group called out. There stood in the room were dozens of people, including Teucer, Zhongli, Hu Tao, traveler, Paimon, and fellow Liyue citizens. Tables were set up in the Parlor, banners were hung up on the wall, and food were lined up, including a birthday cake. You turned to look at the red haired man, whose irises took it all in, his mouth parting openly. 

"Teucer. You're here!" he gasped, opening his arms wide when his little brother ran up to him. He hugged the boy tenderly, thanking everyone for the throwing the party. They all began to surround Childe, while others mingled and conversed, for the party was starting. 

You faded into the background, leaning against the cool wall and feeling grateful that it was a success. It was a lot of work, but with everyone contributing, it went very well, which was a little strange, considering you half expected it to fall apart.

Footsteps sounded, so you turned to the left to see him approaching you. He looked breathless, his cheeks rosy, and his dimples showing. "The party was your idea, wasn't it?" he stated, rather than in question form. 

Nodding silently, you took something out from your pockets. "Happy birthday, Childe."

You handed it to him and he took it with a softened expression. Unwrapping the gold, shiny wrapping of the small box, he opened it up to find a keychain in it, blue and twinkling. It was carved into a hydro vision, the details exactly aligned to the vision that sat on his torso. 

He kissed you then, crashing his lips upon yours. Hands faltering to the sides, you clenched your fingers around his forgotten present and returned the kiss. He tasted of seasalt and apples, as well as a scent that no doubt came from his homeland. His warmth brushed over to you, spreading through your system and to the tip of your fingers. Your cheeks burned at the contact and your chest pounded, but eventually, you pulled away, embarrassed by the chance of any onlookers.

"There are too many people here," you said, shaking your head, still feeling flustered by the way he looked at you -- as if you were the only thing he could see in this world. He was so unashamed, willing to do anything to grapple at the goal he sought after. He had always been like that. And always will be. 

He raised a brow, the corner of his lips curving up mischievously. "Are you suggesting we get out of here and find a vacant room?"

You hit his arm and he pouted, laughing at your reaction. "How rude," you sniffed. "I threw this entire party for you and you're already willing to ditch it. Don't think I'll forget how desperate you were this entire day."

Embarrassed, he averted his gaze from you, scratching his head with an awkward chuckle. "I didn't care for a party, [Y/N]. All I wanted was to hear a birthday wish from you. I was scared you forgot it."

"I would never forget it. Not in a million years."

His cheeks grew red and he seemed content at your answer. Swinging an arm around you, he lugged you towards the food. Then he rambled on and on about something regarding stuffing himself so he could slay a bunch of enemies. Sitting down at a table, he declared a rematch with traveler. On the other end of the table was Zhongli, going on long tangents to the poor victim who was forced to listen in. Hu Tao was scaring off another customer, suggesting deals like the sales woman she was and suddenly talking about the afterlife. 

Everyone here was so distinct and peculiar, but in a good way. Grateful to be surrounded by such people, you knew that not a day goes by without an adventure. 

"Hey Tuecer," you said to the boy beside you. He was in the middle of playing with Mr. Cyclops, making sound effects with his mouth. "How are you doing, little guy?"

"Hi [Y/N]!" he giggled. "I'm good. Mr. Cyclops is doing good too. He wants to say happy birthday to my big bro too!"

Childe returned from his conversation with traveler and Paimon, on time to ruffle his brother's head like he did with you earlier. "Thank you Mr. Cyclops," he cooed, petting the top of the toy endearingly. You laughed at the scene and he locked eyes with you. "Hey, don't hurt Mr. Cyclops' feelings like that. Right, Teucer?"

"Right," Teucer nodded somberly, growing real serious. 

Ugh, these brothers. You rolled your eyes and tossed food into your mouth. Childe's head abruptly dropped to your ear, his breath hovering upon your lobes. You shivered at his close proximity. "I love you, [Y/N]. You know that, right?" he whispered into your ear. 

Heart hammering for the millionth time this day, you paused with your chopsticks in the air. "I love you too, dumb birthday boy."

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Gavin’s Spreading Wings Date

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 展翼之约, which has not been released in EN! 🍒

It is very important to read his birthday R&S before this!

[ This was released on 24 July 2021 ]

[ PROLOGUE ]

While heading home after work, I receive a call from Eli.

I’m guessing there’s information regarding the matter I asked of him from before.

MC: Hello? Captain Eli? Since you suddenly called, does this mean there’s a solution to what I asked about the other time?

Eli: That’s right. I personally made a trip to the municipal administration last week and retrieved the item for you. I’ve already asked City Express to send it over to you.

MC: That’s great! Thanks, Captain Eli!

Eli: It’s no problem. Although it took a little effort, it was retrieved eventually.

MC: I really have to thank Captain Eli. This item is pretty important to me, so you’ve helped me out big time.

Eli: Ah, it’s nothing. Oh yes, the STF is leaving tonight. Gavin just left the bureau and should be heading towards your place now. I shan’t disturb the both of you. I’ll hang up now. Watch out for the delivery.

MC: Mm, I’ve got it. I’ve troubled Captain Eli this time. When our TV station has a matchmaking show in the future, I’ll definitely recommend you!

I hang up. Sure enough, I receive a parcel from the STF not long after reaching home.

Tearing open the packaging, I see a dark coloured square box with the municipal administration’s logo engraved on it.

After removing the cover, a badge sits quietly among the flannel.

A cold light glints on the surface of the coiled design. The flag and peace dove clearly declare the rules of justice and protection.

It silently conveys a certain dignity that can make one hold their breath.

During an awards ceremony organised by the municipal government a few months ago, Gavin wasn’t able to attend in person. As a result, they didn’t manage to give him an honorary badge.

Although the municipal administration made several calls, the STF has been busy with missions, and Gavin hasn’t had the time to collect it.

This matter is something which I’ve always kept in my heart.

I feel that this honour, which represents an “acknowledgement”, shouldn’t be treated so flippantly and hastily.

Hence, while preparing for Gavin’s birthday, I asked Eli way in advance to retrieve this from the municipal administration using the name of STF.

This is an “acknowledgement” which belongs to him, and I wish to hand it to him personally.

All of a sudden, there are knocks at the door. Knowing that the person outside is Gavin, I quickly hide the badge and the box into a cupboard before opening the door.

Then, the person outside wraps me in a full embrace. His scent overtakes my senses.

MC: Are you leaving tonight?

Gavin responds with a “mm”. After nuzzling his head gently in the crook of my neck, he releases his hold on me.

In the short span of half a minute, he seems to have already derived all the strength he needs, and the light in his eyes is very bright.

MC: There’s no need to worry about me, but you have to take care of your safety.

Gavin: I’ll do my best to rush back. Don't worry.

The both of us speak at the same time. Gavin can’t help but laugh. Taking my hand, he pulls me outside.

Gavin: Let’s go and have dinner. We’ll eat outside today.

MC: Okay!

-

Walking along the street, I look at Gavin’s calm and resolute figure. Recalling the badge which is sitting quietly at home, I secretly purse my lips into a smile.

This year, my birthday plan is a secret which Gavin doesn’t know about. I’m looking forward to the day the secret is revealed, along with his reactions.

[ DATE ]

The faraway snow-capped mountains are reminiscent of a fog coloured outline. They stand at the end of the horizon, faraway and reticent.

On a road not too far from the border, I disembark from the car, standing underneath a street sign while staring ahead.

Approximately half a month ago, Gavin was sent to this city for a mission. Today is the day he wraps up the mission.

It’s also his birthday.

At this moment, my phone rings. I answer it quickly.

Eli: MC, have you reached the location I gave you?

MC: Mm, I’ve reached. Captain Eli, when will you guys be dismissed?

Eli: We’ve already been dismissed and are heading your way. Just stay where you are, and you’ll definitely cross paths with Gavin. Don’t worry.

MC: That’s great. I’ll thank Captain Eli in advance then~

After hanging up, I tap open my memo and verify its contents once more.

MC: The aviation park, guesthouse, cake, and presents. Mm, no problem at all!

I turn my phone off, thinking about how aside from celebrating Gavin’s birthday, I’m also shouldering a very “heavy responsibility”.

Since Gavin wasn’t personally present for the awards ceremony conducted by the municipal government, there’s a medal which has yet to be given to him.

After learning about this piece of news not too long ago, I’ve remembered it in my heart, and specially asked Eli to retrieve this medal from the municipal government in the name of STF.

With a really huge and hidden personal motive, I wish to personally hand this important honour to Gavin on this most special day.

The sudden chirping of birds pulls my train of thought back to reality.

I look at the time. It’s still very early, and the first glimmer of light has just appeared in the sky.

After waiting for a while longer, I spot a group of uniformed men appearing at the end of the road. My heart, which had been dangling in the air, immediately settles.

The person leading the group is wearing a combat uniform. Strands of brown hair curl up in the breeze, and he currently has his head turned towards a squad mate behind him as he says something.

Although they appear to have experienced a fierce battle, the atmosphere is very light-hearted.

Looks like this mission successfully reached its end.

Likely sensing my gaze, he suddenly turns his head, staring afar off towards my direction.

After he getting a clear view of my figure, those amber eyes suddenly freeze. The strands atop his head curl up in a silly manner, as though he doesn’t know how to react.

The early morning mist has not yet dissipated. The world is enveloped in a tender and pale greenish blue, and the chirping of birds occasionally grows faint and near.

The whirring of a helicopter drifts from overhead as it circles in the sky. It’s the aircraft which is here to send them back.

Seeing that Gavin is slightly at a loss, I can’t help but chuckle, waving at him.

Gavin immediately walks over to me, his pace much faster than before. The squad mates follow behind him in a leisurely manner, not planning to disrupt this early morning meeting.

Gavin stands in front of me. He sweeps a glance over my white denim jacket, his gaze a little astonished.

MC: How is it? Does it look good?

Gavin nods, responding in a straightforward manner.

Gavin: Looks good.

MC: I specially prepared a matching set~

While speaking, I pass him the bag in my hands. Gavin receives it and takes a look. With a chuckle, he puts on the exact same jacket deftly. 

Although it’s just a simple white demin jacket, it makes him look refreshed and cool.

The early morning mist dyes his eyes, giving them a tender coolness. When his eyes meet mine, they instantly melt into a warm gaze.

At this point, Eli and other squad mates walk over as well. A rope ladder descends from the helicopter, and Eli arches a brow at us.

Eli: This rascal was so anxious to see you that he almost flew back to Loveland City directly. This is good. He doesn't have to fly now.

He pats Gavin on the shoulder.

Eli: Captain Gavin, enjoy your birthday vacation. We brothers will head off first.

One by one, they climb up the rope ladder and board the helicopter. Tang Chao whistles, and he’s grabbed through the hatch by Eli.

Gavin doesn’t bother about them. He removes his half finger gloves, revealing his dry yet soft finger pads. He entwines all ten fingers with mine.

He lifts his eyes to look at me, and they are filled with an insuppressible brightness. He asks a question that he clearly knows the answer to.

Gavin: Why did you come here?

The helicopter circles into the distance, accompanied by a deafening roar. I grin while bringing my left hand to my mouth, curving it into the shape of a trumpet.

MC: It’s clearly to... wish you a happy birthday!

-

The public bus brings us to the entrance of a park in the outskirts of the city. I pull Gavin off the bus, and we stand at the entrance of the park together.

Turning my head, I scrape Gavin’s palm.

MC: May I know if Mr Birthday Boy is ready to spend a day of surprises with me?

The hand that’s intertwined with Gavin’s moves forward decisively. The smile in his voice is unambiguously clear.

Gavin: Of course.

When I was planning the birthday route a few days ago, I unintentionally chanced upon information pertaining to this park.

As compared to other parks, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about this aviation park.

It’s just another slow-paced venue to relax in within the city. It has a pond which can’t be considered large, and a few willow trees grow along it.

Magazines are displayed on the counter of a small stall, and a child is standing on his tiptoes, selecting a popsicle from the freezer beside it.

If I had to mention the biggest difference, it would be that this park was transformed from an airbase.

In order to remember that it was once an airbase, there’s a white statute of an aircraft in the middle of the park.

Similarly, in order to be in line with the theme of “aviation”, all the shops in the park display miniature aircraft models.

Akin to colourful birds, they carry a yearning for the unconstrained sky.

Perhaps due to it being the summer vacation, a teacher has brought children to visit this ex-airbase.

The children wear yellow hats while chattering away. They surround the aircraft models, debating on which one looks the best.

Gavin and I walk along the shade of trees unhurriedly. When passing by the aircraft statue, he suddenly asks me a question.

Gavin: Did you bring me here because this used to be an airbase?

His gaze flits past the aircraft statue, then pauses on my face.

I nod in acknowledgement.

MC: I heard that this used to be one of the first airbases. In the past, many aircrafts were studied here. It’s a place with lots of commemorative value, and bears the weight of the years when people headed into the sky. Since I’m celebrating your birthday in this city, I felt that I should pick a location which is slightly more special. Otherwise, it wouldn’t leave much of an impression when we recollect it in the future.

Gavin chuckles, then reaches out to pinch my face.

Gavin: Seeing you appear early in the morning while dismissing the squad was already enough to leave a deep impression on me.

I laugh in embarrassment, then continue the earlier topic.

MC: But the airbase is only half of the reason.

I pause, my sentence ending on an upward lilt.

MC: There’s another half.

Gavin arches his brows, as though wondering what other surprises I could have hidden in this small park.

Tugging on his hand, we turn into a small path on the left, a confident smile on my face.

MC: Come with me.

The small path extends forward, and the sound of our footsteps mingles with the rustling of leaves.

After making a turn, everything becomes clear.

Before us, there’s a spacious and empty patch of land. Green grass grows wildly, covering the runway which was once used for aircrafts.

The wreckage of a plane remains on the ground, the rust on its body akin to a brown coloured decorative pattern.

Everything reveals the creases of time, but certain lingering aspirations can still be felt from it.

Gavin: Is this the other half of the reason?

He looks at me, his brows arched slightly.

MC: This was the original location of the airbase. I heard that this abandoned plane used to have the most excellent workmanship. I felt that if you knew about such a place, you’d want to take a look. Also, this is quite a nice place for a hidden scenery~

Gavin suddenly reaches out to brush dust off the body of the aircraft, revealing a series of numbers.

Gavin: Y2251. This used to be an air freighter.

Gavin pauses for a moment. As though he grasped at a fragment from his memories, his eyelashes stir gently in slight disbelief.

Gavin: A very long time ago, I made an aircraft model. This was the aircraft I referenced and modelled it after.

MC: ?!

I’m stunned for half a second. When I see myself in Gavin’s calm and composed eyes, I can’t help but chuckle.

MC: I suddenly feel as though this world might actually operate in a circle. We might move and turn around, but there will come a day when we become part of the circle.

Gavin responds with a “mm”. He gazes fixedly at the set of numbers, as though patching up fragments of memories bit by bit.

Gavin: I used it to participate in a competition and won a prize. Back then, the officer who gave out the award came from this base.

MC: What kind of a competition was it?

Gavin: An aeromodelling competition. The prize was a small aviator badge.

We walk past the propeller of the aircraft wreckage with very light footsteps.

In my mind, a face even younger than the one right now surfaces before my eyes, along with a pair of clear amber eyes.

MC: Wow, that sounds really incredible!

I suddenly see the introductory plate next to the plane, which has a picture of how it formally looked like.

Smooth contours, blue wings, floating cloud patterns on its tail... just like a beautiful flying bird.

MC: How pretty. When you referenced this plane, did you make an exact replica?

Gavin nods. He looks at the plate, his gaze very serious.

Gavin: It was more or less the same as this.

He hesitates slightly, then adds on.

Gavin: Erm... it didn’t look as good. But it was very practical and could fly.

He gestures with his hands, pointing towards a faraway ginkgo tree.

Gavin: Around here to over there - the distance of half a field.

We walk over to that ginkgo tree. Its leaves are luxuriant as it stands next to the side gate of the park.

Since it’s summer, the leaves are lush and green.

A swing is swaying gently and quietly under the tree, and a few ginkgo leaves have fallen onto the wooden seat.

Tugging Gavin over to the swing, we continue our earlier conversation.

MC: We probably walked around 500 metres to get here. An aircraft model which is able to fly 500 metres is so incredible! You must have really liked it in the past in order to do such an amazing job.

Gavin holds the rope of the swing. He nods after hearing this, and his voice is certain.

Gavin: I did like it very much.

Seeing from my expression that I’m about to burst from curiosity, he can’t help but chuckle before going along with me and speaking.

Gavin: Back then, I bought many atlases related to planes. While studying them slowly, I conducted test flights too. I spent almost half of my summer vacation on this. Although the process was very fulfilling, there were times when I faced setbacks. Once, I got into a huff and tossed all the spare parts into my drawer and went to bed. 

MC: What happened next?

A nostalgic smile flashes in Gavin’s eyes.

Gavin: I couldn’t fall asleep, so I got up and took all of them out of the drawer. I fumbled around and managed to construct the extending and retracting mechanism of the wings. The next day, I slept till late in the afternoon... My mom didn’t wake me up.

MC: Pfft.

I can almost envision a youth who is sound asleep under the covers, a prototype plane laying quietly on the table.

A breeze enters through the curtains. It’s tender and light-hearted.

MC: Looks like it really isn’t easy to construct an aircraft model successfully.

I’m a little awed.

MC: I remember when we were doing handicrafts in school, the teacher would always say that the final step is to engrave our names as a marker. If I were you, I’d definitely paint my own name at the most conspicuous spot, and tell everyone how incredible I am.

Gavin gives this some thought before he shakes his head.

Gavin: I didn’t engrave my name back then. It was on the small aviator badge, but it got lost after I sent it to my father’s squad.

The way he says this so naturally causes my slightly flinched expression to reveal complicated emotions.

Gavin: Now that I think about it, it wasn’t anything special.

He chuckles, his tone as light as a breeze.

Gavin: They’re all in the past.

He narrates this calmly, as though these memories have long since been shut behind a dusty door.

I think of a 14 year old Gavin. I think of that aircraft model he made personally. I think of the past he had to experience...

A sense of discontent rises from my heart, and I wish to smoothen these regrets.

I stand up, and Gavin lifts his head towards me in slight puzzlement.

Gavin: What’s wrong?

MC: How could we not eat popsicles in a park during summer? I saw a stall selling popsicles earlier. I’ll buy two sticks.

Gavin nods. Just as he’s about to stand up and follow me, I press him back onto the swing.

MC: I’ll buy it. You can just wait for me here.

Gavin arches his brows slightly as he looks at me. As though seeing through my thoughts, he nods.

MC: What flavour do you want?

Gavin: I’ll go with whatever you like.

I nod. Just as I prepare to leave, someone grips my fingers.

I turn around to see that Gavin is looking at me.

Gavin: Be safe.

After a pause, he continues.

Gavin: I’ll be waiting for you here.

MC: Mm, I’ve got it.

I nod, giving him a smile.

-

I’m standing at a shop near the entrance of the park. Numerous aircraft models of various styles are displayed on the counter.

However, I instantly spot one particular style exhibited in the middle. With its white body and blue wings, it looks exactly like the plane in the original picture from earlier.

When the boss sees me staring at it, he enthusiastically introduces it to me from the side.

Boss: This is a bestseller from our shop. It’s a replica of the plane in the park, built in a 1:400 ratio. This is the only piece left today.

Without hesitation, I purchase it.

Even before waiting for the boss to package it in a box, I pick up the miniature plane and store it into my bag. Then, I quickly jog into the park.

When I hurriedly weave through the crowd and make a turn at the small path, I suddenly halt in my footsteps when I spot Gavin.

He’s sitting on the swing in the park, sunlight from the summer afternoon filtering through the crevices of leaves and descending on him in specks.

A few ginkgo leaves have fallen, scattering at his feet. A few bellflowers are suddenly blown by the wind, releasing a clear and rippling sound.

Gavin watches the bellflowers quietly, and all his sharpness has been retracted.

In an instant, along with the descending ginkgo leaves, I think I see the youth who is encased and hidden by layers of solid armour.

It’s as though he has found a wound which has yet to heal completely but was forgotten with time. When he faces that scar, he waits in quiet solitude.

Akin to an instinctive reaction, I sprint towards him and take his hand.

The moment Gavin lifts his head and looks at me, I see brilliant rays lighting up his eyes.

It seems that he has grown accustomed to waiting. But this time, the person he’s waiting for has arrived as planned.

MC: Sorry, I had to queue for a long time to get the popsicles.

Gavin shakes his head, his brows arched into a smile.

Gavin: It wasn’t very long.

I stretch out my hand, waving the two popsicle sticks in my hand.

MC: Here. The other flavours were sold out, so there’s only lychee left. Give it a try.

Gavin takes one stick. I sit beside him and take a bite of the popsicle, the clear and sweet taste spreading from the tip of my tongue.

I turn my head and ask Gavin a question.

MC: Why aren’t you asking me about what gifts I prepared for you this year?

Gavin: If I said that your appearance here is already the best gift, you definitely wouldn’t be satisfied with this response.

He pauses, his tone bringing with it an unhurried upward lilt.

Gavin: So... what did you prepare for me this year?

Heading out of the park via the side gate, we make a turn at a sloping path. In front, there’s a pretty large lake.

The source of water from this lake comes from the faraway snow-capped mountains. Since there aren’t many tourists, the water in the lake is clean and pure blue.

This patch of blue is reminiscent of a gigantic jewel. It’s deep and tender, adding radiance and beauty to the snow-capped mountain, as though extending to the horizon.

There’s a tranquil guesthouse next to the lake. Gavin and I push open the gate of the courtyard together.

There’s a gigantic tree in the courtyard. July happens to be its flowering season, and the tree is layered with cloud-like petals.

I guide Gavin to the second storey. After lifting the portiere made of colourful cloth, a meticulously decorated room appears before our eyes.

Sprigs of a blossoming plant have been inserted into a vase, and a simple and unsophisticated wind chime hangs by the window.

A birthday cake stored in a transparent box is displayed on the table, and there’s a blue ribbon on it which has been tied into a bow.

Ever since we entered, I've been secretly observing Gavin’s reaction, wanting to know if he fancies such a surprise.

He doesn’t say anything. He simply looks at everything quietly, as though he doesn’t want to miss out on anything.

Then, he walks over to the window, fiddling with the wind chime gently. He sits at the edge of the window casually, and stretches out his hand towards me.

Understanding this immediately, I walk over, placing my hand in his unfurled palm. Sunlight from outside the window envelops this square inch world, and it is tender and tranquil.

Gavin: A very long time ago, somebody told me that I can’t be unhappy on my birthday. 

Gavin: Because this day doesn’t just belong to me. It also belongs to everyone who loves me, and the people who have prepared and looked forward to this day for a very long time. 

Gavin: Celebrating my birthday with you for the fourth time, I think I truly understand the meaning in those words.

He lifts his eyes, looking at me quietly.

Gavin: I’m very happy. Not because it’s my birthday, but because there’s someone who wishes for me to be happy.

The wind chime that I hung up at the window jingles, akin to a song with an unknown melody.

I had prepared many, many things that I wanted to tell him at this moment. But right now, I swallow these words back.

MC: The person who told you that must have been looking forward to this day very much, just like me. Looking forward to giving you well wishes, and looking forward to you being happy because of the surprises I prepared.

I wink.

MC: Since the atmosphere is just right, it’s time to unwrap your gift.

Very carefully, I retrieve the miniature plane that I purchased earlier from my bag, handing it to Gavin under his watchful gaze.

MC: This aircraft model is a belated gift from MC to 14 year old Gavin. I hope he remembers to engrave his name on it when he receives the gift.

Gavin brushes the body of the plane with a finger pad. He suddenly releases a muffled chuckle, then reaches out to draw me into his arms.

His voice enters my ear, mingling with the rustling of leaves outside the window. It’s very soft, and very close by.

Gavin: If 14 year old Gavin received this gift, he’d have definitely remembered to say thank you on that day.

I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling our overlapping breaths in this moment. After a long time passes, I speak up.

MC: Each time I celebrated my birthday when I was small, I always loved to make many wishes. 

MC: Thinking back, many of those wishes were really childish and even greedy. 

MC: After growing up, I experienced many regrets, and faced many situations where I had to compromise and give up. 

MC: Gradually, my birthday wishes became smaller and simpler. It’s as if I no longer had the same courage as before. 

MC: But you’re different. No matter what I want, you’ve always been willing to fulfil them all. 

MC: You made me realise that if I’m properly loved by someone, my wishes can be fulfilled no matter how childish they are.

MC: So no matter what Little Gav’s wishes are, I want to fulfil them for him.

Gavin embraces me, and he doesn’t say anything for a long time.

I pat him on the back gently, chuckling as I continue speaking.

MC: Okay, since Little Gav’s present has already been received, it’s time for yours.

I leave from Gavin’s arms, reaching out to cover his eyes. His eyelashes flutter in my palm, and it’s ticklish.

MC: You’re not allowed to open your eyes in secret.

With the greatest of care, I retrieve the honorary badge belonging to the Commander of STF from my breast pocket, putting it in front of his chest personally.

Gavin doesn’t open his eyes. Rays of sunlight outline his face and figure, immersing his entire self in brightness.

Sunlight lands on the badge, and the golden rays reflected off it give a brief summary of the storms and severe winters in this person’s past.

MC: You didn’t participate in the awards ceremony the previous time, so this medal couldn’t be passed to you. Now, I can finally hand it to its owner.

I observe how it looks on Gavin’s chest, and my voice is very soft.

MC: This is also the most important gift of today.

Gavin: The most important gift?

The entire room is filled with a tender glow. Lifting my head, I meet Gavin’s quiet gaze as he stares at me.

MC: Because I’m a witness to every single reason that resulted in you obtaining it.

I’ve personally witnessed how he has used his own body to block off all sorts of dangers, and can clearly remember how many injuries he has sustained.

But he also experiences pain. When he doesn’t sleep for several days and nights, he also gets fatigued.

It’s only today that I vaguely surmise that the reason why he never mentions anything is because since a very long time ago, he learnt that he shouldn’t anticipate any reciprocation from others.

That aviation badge which was forgotten in a corner had once sustained the weight of a youth’s pure gaze.

Afterwards, it was covered by a thick layer of dust. Nobody held it with a heart filled with anticipation ever again. Just like that, it vanished into the depths of time.

Later on, the youth grew up and decided on a correct flight path. He stepped on dark shadows, walking on the path of justice.

He saved so many people, but the only thing he didn’t know how to do was to allow himself to receive a little reciprocation.

Fortunately, I can now stand before him and take his hand. I can tell him that he has done very well, and that he’s the Gavin I like the most.

I wish to give him the most resolute response.

MC: Gavin, you’re worthy of all the honour. You’re worthy of all the recognition. I... am extremely convinced about this.

After hearing this, Gavin blinks slowly. He lifts his hand and touches the badge on his chest.

I lean forward slightly to take his hand. Looking directly into his eyes, I recite the words that I’ve drafted multiple times in my mind.

MC: There’s someone I’ve known for a really long time.

MC: I’ve seen his valiant and heroic side, and have also seen his fierce and decisive side.

MC: He always doesn’t care about how many injuries he sustains, but gets anxious and blames himself whenever I get hurt.

MC: He has brought me to see many magnificent sights, and enabled me to appreciate many stories that I wouldn’t have been able to experience on my own.

MC: He has handed his gentlest side to me without holding anything back. But he doesn’t ask for me to reciprocate in any way.

MC: I wish to keep looking at him like this.

And I also wish to... have him forever and ever.

A breeze from outside the window brings with it a floral fragrance. I watch as Gavin stares at me without blinking, his gaze blooming with tenderness.

Gavin: MC, I remember everything that we’ve experienced together. These experiences are so wonderful, and they’ve filled this space.

He points at his heart.

Gavin: Because this space is full, I can continue to walk on the path that I want to with resoluteness, and do the things that I want.

He pauses, his tone wilful.

Gavin: I’ve decided on today’s wish.

He draws closer to me, and I'm able to catch a whiff of his breath.

Gavin: MC, you are the one who gave 14 year old me a gift. You are also the one who grabbed the hands of both Gavin from the past and the Gavin of right now.

Gavin: You’re the person I was waiting for.

Gavin: So your wishes are also my wishes.

Gavin: From now onwards, keep looking at me. 

A floral fragrance fills the room. I stare into his bright eyes, as feel as though I’m embracing the warmth of an entire midsummer.

✈️ Epilogue: here

✈️ Video call: here

✈️ Phone call: here

✈️ Moments and Text: here

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