#its shop has a bunch of cool stuff check it out

[ratboycunt]

epic shirt from @pillsburysoyboy 's shop that I immediately cropped and cut the sleeves off of

[alornights]

⟢ airheads

➜ in which ! stan is head over heels in love with the bimbo girl.

🌷 ﹫stan marsh.

✩ 🦩 warnings﹗suggestive.

🍧 ⟡ notes — me core somehow.

bro i got so carried away with this its so long, i love this sm.

masterlist [ check mlist for details ! ] — previous | next

"Who's that?" Stan murmured nodding his head over to a girl who walked through the cafeteria doors dressed in all pink, looking like a lost deer.

Kenny giggled leaning his chin on his head, "The new love of my life, she's new to town. Dumb and pretty I heard."

"You shouldn't degrade people like that..." Kyle murmured taking a sip of his drink, watching her walk around.

"Totally would bang," Cartman yelled with a grin.

"Like she would ever go for you."

"AY- I HEARD THAT-"

Stan tuned them watching you look around, scratching your hair with some pretty long nails. He sighed standing up, walking over to you, "Do you need help?"

You turned around with a big smile but Stan couldn't help but look down at your chest. "Oh, I just don't know where to sit. Why don't you sit with me!"

"What."

he doesn't understand it. he just can't wrap his head around why he liked you so much.

it wasn't even because of your looks, something about you just scratched his brain the right way.

the way you talk, the way you moved, the way you do anything is just so addictive to him. even you just writing something makes his head spin because it's you.

anytime you talk to him he just blacks out, to be honest, just being around you makes him so dizzy.

the way you pout when you get a question wrong in class has him gripping the table trying not to react to how adorable it was.

"I don't understand." He groaned laying on the concrete ground. "I can't fucking get her out of my mind. It's like she injected me."

"Whipped." Kenny teased passing the ball to Kyle.

"Shut up."

"Probably because you dated Wendy for so long that you're so used to serious mature people," Kyle concluded with a smirk shooting his basketball. "She's dumb, she's energetic, she's cool, she's hot. You like those stuff but you put them aside for Wendy."

"...God I hate it when your smart and right."

"It's part of my charm."

by this point it's mental. there's not a single second where you're not in his brain, even little things get him thinkin' bout you.

would help you in classes he's good at and no matter how much you don't understand it he'll help you get through it.

he thinks you two are a match made in heaven. the emo kid dating the popular bimbo girl? WHERE COULD IT GO WRONG-

loses his mind when he sees you biting the end of your pencil with narrowed eyes trying to understand the material.

gets very flustered when you actually flirt back with him when he accidentally called you gods best creation.

"God's best creation?" You teased leaning over the desk where you two sat and Stan tried his hardest not to look at your rather revealed chest. "Why that means we may be a match made in heaven."

"What."

You giggled taking your hand in his. "You're so cute, Stan."

"What."

he got a bit better but not really.

kenny got hella mad when you started being stan's new passenger princess. instead of all his shit in the glove compartment, he finds a bunch of makeup, candy (not that he doesn't mind), hair ties, and some other shit.

would drive you anywhere you wanted. just ask him and he wills, it doesn't matter what he's doing he'll drop everything for you.

loves listening to you ramble about those reality tv shows or all the twitter drama going on, while very confused, he still loves it.

somehow gets you into rock. he doesn't know how.

bro if you two got to the point of kissing, he's obsessed with your lipstick smudging his lips, it's his fav thing ever.

extra points if you kiss him on his neck and shoulder, HE WILL NOT WIPE THAT SHIT OFF.

if tegrady farms is still around and making money will probably use that money to go shopping with you.

"Are you sure?" You questioned clinging onto his arm as you walked around the mall though the smile on your face said you loved this.

Stan smiled, "Of course baby. I wanna treat you right today."

"Baby?"

maybe he did get bold.

but seeing the way you lit up when he called you that. so he keeps going with it, and he loves how jealous everyone gets.

his dad may complain about all his money disappearing but stan couldn't care less with the way he gets to see you trying on clothes for him like a runway model.

especially those revealing outfits... lord have mercy on him.

couldnt help but stare at your ass when some of skirts and dresses started hiking up.

and tbh if you beg enough, he will get his nails done with you. he fucking enjoyed it, and went back again with you.

bonus, the first time you went with him, you let him pick out the nails and it was your favorite set ever.

and then you started getting very bold.

The two of you sat on the floor of Stan's living room studying for a science test. Stan got lucky that his parents were out of town for the weekend and his sister was off in college.

Unluckily, you two were getting no progress done.

"I don't understand Stan this is too haaard," You whined out loudly throwing your hands over his neck. "I'm boreeed. Why don't we..." You trailed off letting one of your hand land on his thigh, "Why don't we take a break? Have some fun."

"Huh...?" Stan murmured, eyes widened as his body got hotter and hotter with every second, his mind running to all sorts of thoughts.

"So?" You questioned with a pure smile letting your hand trail up.

"Oh."

[urlocalnonbinarybastardwrites]

https://www.tumblr.com/sadie-bug345/747512319142232064/can-i-get-a-sugar-mommydaddy-gn-so-x-greasers

Twinning with @sadie-bug345 for this head canon go check out her super cool blog!! (The link is above!)

Headcanons for greasers x sugar daddy/mommy (aka super rich soc who buys them anything) s/o!

Ponyboy Curtis

-so grateful

-he’s not really used to having nice things

-but now he has you

-you make his day whenever he comes home to find a pile of brand new books on his bed with a sweet letter

-you also come to his house one day and look at his clothes are are like no

-you buy him a bunch of new clothes and he’s sooo grateful

-“I-I mean gee you didn’t have to do that.. I mean it’s wonderful and all but… wow”

-“I know, I wanted to.”

-he feels so spoiled oml

Johnny Cade

-the least used to having stuff done and paid for

-he wears clothes two sizes to small because his mom forgets to make or buy him new ones

-so when you come into his life and start buying him all this stuff

-new clothes, whatever he wants, a nice watch, fancy dates

-he’s so overwhelmed he doesn’t know even what to do about it

-he always says thank you

-he’s so cute about it honestly

-he also feels super spoiled and uncomfortable when you pay

-but he gets used to it after a while

Sodapop Curtis

-loves it

-like he enjoys it a lot

-he cherishes everything you give him and wears it all with pride

-jeans you bought him? New favorite pair. Wristwatch? He’s always wearing it. Fancy date? He’s gonna remember that for life

-he’s so proud and loves shopping with you, and sometimes feels guilty for how much stuff you buy him

-but he quickly gets used to it with reassurance

-he’s always grateful and always bragging about you tbh

Darry Curtis

-at first he refused to let you pay

-but after repeatedly insisting on it he finally gives in

-still only lets you pay for the bare minimum, a few gifts, a few fancy dates

-it’s nice that he can finally get things he wants without having to save up for months

-he appreciates it

-he is a hard worker and used to working for what he wants

-so having things just appear in the palm of his hand… it’s new

Dallas Winston

-nah because he does have such an ego

-refuses to let you pay for most things

-sometimes you sneak paying for dinner and he takes it as a personal offense

-then you have to apologize… for paying for dinner?!

-he’s so silly goofy like that

-also wouldn’t let you buy him gifts

-but if you did it would literally be like this

-“Dal… I got you a wristwatch!”

“I’m not really a watch guy, y/n”

*look of hurt* “Fine, I’ll keep it!”

*he yanks it out of your hands* “No, I want it!”

Two Bit Mathews

-out of everyone loves it the most

-he loves going out and getting new jeans with you

-you give him a shit ton of money sometimes and just are like go ahead

-he spent it on candy and a bunch of stupid stuff (same thing as @sadie-bug345 ) BC ITS SO TRUE

-like prank stuff too

-and food but like shitty food like fast food

-he would 100% spent it like he just stepped out of Fred and George Weasleys shop

Steve Randle

-also a heavy bragger

-loves it when you spend on him

-prideful like soooo much

-he loves it whenever he can fix your car in return when you buy him things

-it makes him feel less guilty

-you also bought him his first car, it was a real nice blue mustang and he’s in love with it

-he adds upgrades and things to it all the time and you watch in joy

-he’s lowkey hot when he fixes cars n stuff

[elisedonut]

Speaking of PaperSeer

I've been meaning to post all the propaganda i did for them for that Ship Battle separately because I want it be in it's own thing vs hiding in the rbs

None of this is new if you were following those but I like having it all in one place

It's just a bunch of fun concepts or reasons i think they would be cute

Ex-boyfriends older brother? Ex-BFs Older brother!! because that's always so fun and adds some cool drama

OR

on the other hand Dating your crushes little brother specifically because they are related and you have little chance with the older one

They could bond over divination, which has the added effect of Lavender probably not expecting him to like it at all so it's a nice surprise for her when he does.

Could also be used to make a Mentor/Mentee relationship that changes as the years pass

Lavender sending him letters all the time in that first year after he graduates under the guise of wanting help when in reality the poor girl just has a crush.

And Percy is Percy so having someone just want his help with something is just such an easy way for him to become fond of someone.

Something about Lavender I've begun to notice makes me want to pair her with people older than her and while Percy is still close-ish in age his personality would most likely emphasize that gap a bit which is a plus to me

I'm a firm believer in the Percy was very lost after the war concept and in a world where Lavender lives she would be too which also gives them a good jumping point

Like Lavender stays with the Weasley's after the war but with so many people in the burrow there's just too much noise for her because trauma from the war so Percy ends up inviting her to stay with him instead. Which has the added benefit of being good for both of them.

TransGirl!Percy/Lavender would be so much fun I love the concept of TransGirl!Percy with the most high fem girly pop girls I can find and Lavender is no exception to that

Ok so I'm going to add on some extra thoughts to one of the more vague concepts i shared before because its been living rent free in my head

So-

the concept of Lavender ending up staying with Percy for awhile after the war

Maybe she lost everyone in the war (by death or by being abandoned by her family you know either way) Maybe she's just having strong self hatred hours over being scarred and doesn't want them to see her.

Whatever the reason she can't/won't go home.

And Percy lets her stay with him because maybe his family pushes him into it. Maybe he just feels bad about her situation.

if its a Werewolf!Lavender situation where she was abandoned by everyone because of it maybe he just relates to that feeling and invites her because of his feelings of never being able to do enough during the war regardless of how much he had done.

Point is it happens and after a few weeks their able to help each other with things they both struggle with

Percy flat that's been borderline empty since moving in starts filling up with just stuff like obviously you know the normal house stuff he hadn't bothered with.

A couch here. A table there. but also like random stuff. Lamps. Curtains that actually look nice. Rugs. Little things just start filling the place out and Percy realizes more and more that the clutter is nice and is finally making the flat that's been the place he'd slept for years at this point actually feel like a home to him.

How does Lavender get all that stuff? I was mostly thinking odd shops personally like I always envision Percy's flat as in London so despite having not checked for the time frame. I imagine there would be quite a few shops to choose from.

Also having multiple people who are bad at taking care of themselves in general but who are decent at remembering different things in the same house. Means they can help each other with the parts they struggle with more.

In their case I do think a big one would be Percy making sure she's actually eating and Lavender trying to keep him from working to much its basic but i think it works for them.

I think Lavender dives even more into divination post war and that's what she does for like work after awhile. I also think she originally had no intention of going back to Hogwarts to redo her seventh year but Percy manages to convince her too with the promise that she can still stay with him on breaks and after she graduates/

mostly because that being a big catalyst of them realizing they have like feelings feelings after being apart is cute to me

Like Percy comes home from work every day and is just like oh- right like it's for the best and he firmly believes that but he misses the company you know?

Lavender is also having a not great time. She's no coward but that doesn't make returning to Hogwarts after everything that happened in her last year not terrible regardless. She's on high alert the whole time and can barely focus on anything because of it. Even her readings are not going as well. She keeps catching herself thinking about Percy's flat as home.

In the end I think she ends up leaving the school and just like taking her owls at a later date because she just doesn't want to deal with it.

Which also means you get Percy helping her study for it which is really cute

I'll also add all my original, more diverse thoughts I added to their first round below a read more!

We are back to just random thoughts because I don't think I have enough of any specific concept to talk too long

So- Lavender while doing a divination reading seeing that her last love will have red hair and during this time she's still with Ron and as any girl her age just assumes that's who the sight is telling her about

she doesn't really think about it to to much after they break up until she's laying on the cold ground assuming she's not going to make it and then its all

ah- last love because it's my only real chance of it

But then you know in this scenario she does manage to make it somehow

maybe someone is able to stop fast enough to put a statis spell on her or something

Oh a soulmate au where you can save you're soulmate from certain death one single time even if they're technically already gone? that could be fun with them Like maybe as everyone's gathering up the rest of the dead after Voldy's gone and Percy's throwing himself into helping to try not to think about Fred too much and after carrying her for a minute she just wakes up that would really neat

Plus now all i can think about is everyone in the school touching legit everyone that died

you know just in case

just everyone going in a circle and holding every corpses hand for a few moments

could be used as a set up for a lot of interesting ships ngl

Anyway back to the topic at hand

In a scenario where most of the Weasley's hadn't seen much of Lavender after the war just imagine how funny that first time Percy brings her over would be

everyone would be so confused and I think it would be hilarious

[caelum-et-ocean]

The little things that they do

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐏𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃!!

FEATURING: Alphonse, Seth, Auron, and Finn (sorry Faust, Charlie, and Big Red fans, I either don’t have enough info or I didn’t listen to their audios yet)

Additional notes: help srry for not including much for Seth I didn’t have many ideas (_ _;) also this isn’t proofread

♡Alphonse♡

Seems like the person who would click his tongue a lot and tap his foot

Not even because he’s stressed or something it just happens on its own

Would also do that cool pen spinning thing during the (few) times he needs to write something down

Oh my god imagine both happening at the same time

Like just walking into the shop or something and then hearing that alongside the occasional pen falling out of his hand

Knowing him he’d probably show off the pen thing too

“Hey boo! Check this out!!” …*pen drops to the floor after like 10 seconds*

☆Seth☆

Bites his nails, probably bites pens and pencils too

He started to notice how fucked up they would get and eventually tried to just chew gum

But it just wasn’t the same (and the sound annoyed him a bit)

So eventually he switched back to just pens

That all being said, probably didn’t let anyone borrow his stuff during school because of all the bitemarks

Sorta unrelated but I also hc that he used to kick his dad’s seat in the car when he was really young 😭

❀Finn❀

Twirls and plays with his hair

Also does that thing where you twiddle your fingers

When he talks he probably also has a bunch of hand movements to the point where it almost seems like he’s acting out a story alongside telling it

This may or may not be a tie in with a certain bunny hc…but Finn seems like the guy who would stomp his feet when he gets angry

ALSO HUMMING, he often hums a tune around his shop when he’s cleaning up or just making arrangements

I like to think that he also quietly sings Orchid’s favorite songs while working since it helps make things less stressful when there are….annoying customers

༻Auron༺

Same with Alphonse, tends to twirl his pen around

Except since he’s more focused, he doesn’t drop it as easily

Paces around often too, helps him think and in general it helps with blood flow

At home he honestly seems like the person who would make sure everything was perfectly aligned and in the correct spot

Every book is on its correct shelf, and everything in the drawers are either neatly folded or put away

I have a feeling he does those silly yet cute stretches once in a while too

And when someone notices he just sorta. stares at them for a bit and proceeds like nothing happened 💀

[pendraegon]

omg!! I’m looking into phd programs in/around chicago and planning a visit there soon! you’ll have to let me know the “must-see” spots!

ooohhh dude if there's one thing that i fucking love doing it's [1] talking (just in general) and [2] specifically talking about my city, my sweet mistress, the love of my life chicago<3

first of all i wish u luck in ur phd endeavors!! im also like..shopping around for future phd programs and im also hoping that i can snag a place somewhere back home in the city instead of being out of state like i currently am with my masters lol (literally DREADING apps though i tried making headway on my statement and like. i have to do this again??? after my MA sop?? kms)

anyways here are some attractions<3

the riverwalk! it's basically like this giant strip of area along the chicago river with restaurants and bars and stuff<3 there's always music playing and people milling about and so many things to catch your eye! honestly i really like it at night, i think it's prettiest during sunset lol

the architectural boat tour. you literally just sit on a boat and some guy points out different buildings and tells you about its history and then you briefly go on the lake. i LOVEEEE taking people out on this, it's really really fun and you get good pics out of it. make sure to bring a jacket bc lake michigan. she is gorgeous and she is WINDY even in the summertime<3

obligatory millennium park/the bean mention. it's really fucking swarmed on the weekends so if ur not good with crowds avoid this area during that time but a good place to mill around! also to make fun of the bean. she is so ugly but she is a part of the city you know. (also it's right next to michigan avenue if you need to get a gift for someone/want to go shopping!)

wait obvi the sears tower + observational deck. if anyone calls it the willis tower you can spit on them. legally.

okay let's get into the museums. they're all cloistered around the same area (a bit past millennium park) so like. i guess you COULD try to see a bunch of them in one day but like. there's so much that you really can't feasibly do that lol

the art institute of chicago. MY FAVORITE PLACEEEEEEEE. i personally really like the medieval art exhibits + on the bottom floor is a really cool miniature exhibit where they showcast different rooms from different eras and theyre all SO tiny and SO cute. the food here's pretty good? lol

there's also the museum of contemporary art but the art institute has a pretty damn good modern art section but if ur really into that kind of stuff go here instead.

the poetry foundation!

field museum. LOVEEE this place. you can see sue the dinosaur<3 i once got in trouble here as a kid on a field trip bc i asked the guide how much of the shit there was stolen and they did not let me ask another question ):

adler planetarium + shedd aquarium + museum of science and industry -> these are also all in the same area. for all the museums they have days with discount prices so check that out before u go!

there's two zoos, lincoln park zoo and brooklyn. lincoln park is superior and also it's free and there's OKAPIS. GO SAY HI TO THEM FOR ME.

if you dont mind driving out a bit, there's the chicago botanic gardens around wilmette/glencoe (tied w the art institute as my fave place) and if you drive a bit further out to lisle there's the arboretum as well. they also do discount days!

if u drive out to the suburbs -> woodfield mall in schaumburg

for the museums and stuff i would really rec getting one of those city passes bc you get admission into a bunch of stuff either at a discount rate or it's included and it's WAY cheaper than getting individual tickets imo

ALSO. lake michigan. just in general. THE best of the great lakes and the truest love of my life.

if there's anything you wanna see u might check out the aragon before u come! same with ravinia. i fucking love ravinia it's great to sit on the lawn and listen to music during summer nights<3

EDIT: fucking forgot navy pier. if you come during august there's the air + water show. but also there's a ferris wheel there and that's fun. there's always something happening there on the weekends so you can always dip in just to see what's up

EDIT 2: there's some stupid fucking nascar thing happening in chicago rn that's blocking the roads so as long as u avoid that, you will be fine 👍

OKAY FOOD TIME<3

deep dish pizza is a must here. i dont care what people say about it, it's pizza. anyways my favorite place is lou malnati's (the lou especially) but giordano's is also really good. uno's is...whatever to me don't go there.

chicago hot dogs: SOOO many good ones. portillo's is a classic, superdawg, charcoal delights, byron's hot dogs..my personal fave is gene and jude's but it's a bit out of the city (it IS around o'hare the airport so if u can stop by then that would be best lol)

for korean food, you cannot beat cho sun ok. go and get their chadolbaegi and their mulnaengmyeon. killer combo. don't wear your best clothes here bc you will have to wash it bc of the (good!) smells. additionally you can go to joongbooshijang/joongboo market and outside there's a mandu/dumpling stand. their kimchi mandu and their red bean mandu. chef's fucking KISS.

for kabobs, noon-o-kabab or kabobi is my favorite! if you go for kabobi make sure you get their bamiyeh as dessert (^:

okay. im putting eataly on this list only because i like their dessert section on the first floor lol their tiny cakes + gelato always hits the spot

i looooveee goddess and the baker. bestttttt place for matcha/coffee and a sandwich. hero coffee bar is also pretty good but that one is a grab and go. oromo cafe is sooo good if ur into turkish coffee and pistachio and rose flavors. lots of vegan options there if you're into that. there's another one i love but i CANNOT remember the name of it for the life of me.

wait one last thing. frontera grill is like......really good. i went with my parents and it was nice, really fucking good flan lol

night life is an entirely different situation and if u want i can tell u about it later but for now i um. think maybe i talked too much. anyways fellow chicagoans i know youre there if i missed anything let me know lol

[pocket-lin]

hii <3

4, 11, 16 and 19 for the fandom asks??

(almost just wrote a plea for you to answer all of them but managed to restrain myself😅)

hi hi hi!! thank you for asking me these, this is so much fun!! reading back on these answers after I've written them is shocking because I really can just go on and on about stuff, huh? I really don't talk that much irl so I didn't know I had all this in me hahaha I'm so sorry!! I'm actually so embarrassed 😅 I'm gonna put the answer to 11 in a separate post so I can actually attach the picture I'm proud of!

4. say something nice about a ship you don't ship (it can be another ship in your fandom, a mutual's OTP, etc)

the one ship that's jumping out to me is dramione. I am a huge hater of this ship (sorry sorry sorry if you're reading this and it's your thing I love you and support you!!!) but you guys make some really cool shit and I'm happy you have a community you can share it with!! I've poked around in the ao3 and tumblr tags and its absolutely not for me, but there's some really beautiful and horny stuff out there for this ship and I so genuinely love that for all of you!

16. a tiny detail in canon that you want more people to appreciate

if I'm being totally honest with you, I haven't interfaced with the harry potter canon in a very long time. i already own all the movies and books and stuff, so I wouldn't even be giving jk money by rewatching/reading them, but it just kind of makes my stomach hurt when I think about supporting her in some way. I've had to work through a lot of complicated feelings in regards to jk and harry potter in general, as I'm sure many people have had to do! her words and actions and how I feel about it are not complicated at all, but what to do in the aftermath of it was something I had to figure out. I mean, I have a hp tattoo on my ankle!! my pinned post is about this specifically, but where I've ultimately landed on it all is this: I don't want to let her steal any more joy from me than she already has. there are so many queer and trans people in this fandom creating such incredible stuff, and I just don't want to lose that! I got off on a whole tangent here and definitely have a lot more I could say on the topic, BUT all this to say, I can't really think of tiny hp details anymore!! and in this specific fandom, I'm totally okay with that!

19. your current fandom(s)

the fandom that I interact with the most is definitely harry potter, but I have a bunch of other stuff I'm super into!!

the whole reason I got back into any fandom–and the entire reason I logged back into Tumblr for the first time since 2018–was because of our flag means death!! I've loved rhys darby since flight of the conchords and was so pumped that he was a lead in an hbo show! I was totally shocked when ofmd turned out to not be queerbait!! something about that first season just flipped a switch in me and I looked for fan fiction for the first time in like, 10 years!! I actually didn't even know about ao3 and tried to go to ff.net and it was a whole thing. getting back into fandom was very intimidating, I'm not gonna lie. (wow I really could just talk forever huh?)

my other fandoms are: the sandman, the witcher, good omens (I was so late to that show but jumped on right before the second season completely on accident), check please!, disco elysium, red dead redemption (especial rdr2), the x files, the walking dead, the rivers of london series, and d&d: honor among thieves.

and then there's some stuff that I don't even know how I got into!! like, the spideypool ship. gang, I've barely seen any marvel movies, I haven't read very many marvel comic books. and I honestly don't plan it because I just don't like marvel (once again, could go on about this forever, I was a manager at my local comic shop and have many opinions). but someone I follow posted about a fic (and I am not immune to beautiful fan art) and then I fell down the rabbit hole!! def have recs if anyone is interested!

another one is the ted lasso fandom. I genuinely don't remember why we never finished watching the second season but then the reviews for the third season was kinda mixed so I never went back to it. and then I saw a writer I'm head over heels for had a ted lasso fic (other lives by @andthepeople) and WHOOPS I fell down another rabbit hole!! i also have ted lasso recs!

essentially, if ya boy's read/watched/listened to something, you know he's gonna go look at what the freaks (affectionate) are posting on ao3.

[am-i-sans]

dnd adventures 31

cam returns from eeby deeby and lands on undyne! they apologize for landing on her and fall to the ground. undyne tells them to scram cause she wants to be alone. cam heads back to the shop.

frog is still resting on dans. suzy is still crabby. cam tells us what happaned. frog says they should go have fun. frog goes to a random person and asks if theres anything fun around here.

they dont know they just got here, why is that building destroyed? frog tells them about the zombies lol. shes like 'really? where did they come from?' cam says it was a necromancer. 'well thats a bother.' dans is still zoned out. cam tries to think of what to do.

she calls herself annika crow and walks off ok cool. museum? dinosaurs cool! dans is still zoned in the shoe shop oh no they just left him. the kids are in the dino petting zoo. frog can talk to the dinos! tori also talks to them lol. one if the dinos preens cam.

undyne cools off and now is lost again dammit. she got a crit she finds the dinos! meanwhile dans was wandering the city in a daze. a guy runs up to him. he looks like a normal guy but somethings off. he hands dans something and then leaves. dans checks for anything sus. its a brown package and has a weird staticy magical energy he hasnt felt before.

dans opens it. theres a foldable wooden board and an envelope with no signature. in the envelope is a jack of clubs! with a weird shine.

its dess why?! dans reads a letter inside, their instructions. typewriter? 'unfold the board on a flat surface, put the card face up' dans looks around then finds a spot to put the board down. the card turns black! dess pops up out of nowhere?! 'oh im back here. hi.' dans is fucking flabbergasted. 'did you hop out of the card or something?' 'yeah kinda thats employee storage.' 'does that...hurt? are you conscious?' 'nah the last thing i saw i fell to the ground so i guess i was put away.' 'so no eeby deeby?' '...what?' 'did you get your egg?' 'no. i think? now when i got put in the card.'

dans blinks a bunch then slowly tells dess what they missed. 'thats a lot of stuff. sorry im out of it.' dans says to find the others and get them some food. dess tells him to keep the board and stuff and into the bag it goes. we find the dinos!

undyne looks at the dinos and says cool your here and dinos are here nice. she just needed a moment to cool down. she asks if they let you fight dinos here. cam says she isnt allowed to fight dinos cause she would kill them immediately. 'id only knock them out!' tori offers to be a dino if needed. frog is stoked their mom can be a dino lol. tori says she feels smart when she talks to undyne lol.

attika speaks up and asks how you can be a dinosaur? undyne starts asking if she can turn into various plants and her lol. shes now a 9 ft tall undyne lol. now 11ft sksksk. now she picks up undyne lol. cam says she could pick up undyne oh no. dans and dess walks in as undyne is taking off her armor lol.

'uhhh dess is back did we...miss something?' undyne says whats going on and dans gives cam a sly look. oh no undyne is gonna run at her. tori waves at dans as she shrinks to normal. CAM FUCKING DID IT THEY CAUGHT UNDYNE LETS FUCKING GOOOO!!! they forget cam is a fighter lol. 'its not the size' says dess lol. frog tosses confetti hehehe. tori is mildly shocked. undyne tells cam to yeet her at suzy. 'dont break her undyne' undyne crushes suzy oh no lol. suzy cant even shove her off. she finally gets her off and kicks her.

now undyne asks tori oh no. she sighs and agrees. yes she caught her! annika speaks up and says they should stop cause this is a museum. dans is just smiling fondly at them. oh no. undyne. no. nonono. oh no. 'do you wanna be the reason god says yes?' tori throws her at dans oh god. HE GOT A FUCKING CRIT! hes just like how did this happen? she reaches down and fucking picks him up shes pumped now lol. then she puts her armor back on.

so whats the plan? that artifact right. undyne finally notices dess lol. dans says dess teleported in but we assume its weird eeby deeby shit. dans is fucking attuned to dess's board so shes stuck with him wtf. hes gonna be horrifed when he realizes lol.

annika perks up and asks about the artifact. cam asks if she studies magical items. she says magic in general, recently graduated. undyne shows her and annika asks to come along cause she might know of it. undyne tells her its dangerous and some of us have even died and she cant guarantee her safety. also we have a curse where we get stuck lol. annika says shes been in danger before so its fine. undyne calls dibs on the artifact but says she can come.

time to get on soupnik! annika is surprised to see them and undyne explains its her spiritual summon. tori asks if shes sure she wants to stick with us. shes studying soupnik now lol. frog actually introduces themself and blobbo to annika.

tori asks what field she was in. evocation. hmm. vani crawls forward and curls up against annika. we eventually land cause its dark and they need to rest. dans is making dinner. were in a swamp gross. vani is chasing a frog. not our frog like the animal. tori argues with undyne that no she cant magic the water away. undyne asks dans whats for din-din. dans is still kinda out of it and says its sliders.

frog is playing with blobbo who is now splashing around in the swamp lol. so is suzy lol. annika is reading after failing to help with the fire. dans told the local bugs to fuck off lol. tori for fun casts detect magic. she senses something weird in dans backpack hmmm. but she doesnt bring it up cause he IS a warlock.

suzy calls out to cam and throws a mudball at them! cam screeches and ducks under the log after it hits lol. undyne laughs and chokes a bit. cam yells that their shirt is ruined but dans yells they have magic for that. cam yells about the mental toll. dans tells them to throw back but cam says they dont like to get dirty. 'your already dirty.' 'fuck off.' suzy grabs cam and drags them into the swamp. undyne sighs and goes after them and picks them up.

suzy keeps trying to drag them into the swamp. undyne just picks her up too lol. suzy is just feral i swear. undyne offers to play in the mud if she lets go. now its on! cam goes and clings to dans and he sighs and uses presti. cam says they have something to tell dans. its a jar full of those feathers they pulled off of themselves. they say dans has no hair. cam wanted to braid them into his hair but the beard will do.

cam says its a social thing. if your close to someone you give them a feather. an old legend said the feather let the other person have influence over them. cam is a halfling but growing those feathers was so exciting. why is everyone giving dans influence over them lately lol. its to establish a connection aww they wanna share with everyone. dans gets misty eyed and says he would like that very much. cam combs through it and braids a feather into it.

cam looks at undyne and says she needs presti before getting a feather. undyne is too busy wrestling in the mud to notice lol. time to brain tori! then frog! frog gives cam a cool rock.

undyne finally wins and their both exhausted. dans cleans her off with presti, the most useful skill.

moss had to go so we had to stop.

[topluxuryproperty]

Dubai Creek Harbour: Your Gateway To Ultimate Fun & Dream Living

Now, Dubai Creek Harbour is one of the most beautiful regions in Dubai, where people from all over the world come to enjoy its natural beauty and well-developed infrastructure. 

This region was not always like that;  back in the day, it was a hub of activity, filled with bustling markets and fishermen. But, today this is a community of high-rise developments, modern infrastructure, retail, activity zones and so many things, thanks to the Emaar Properties. 

This real estate developer has kept its history alive while making it smart and green, blending the old with the new.  Now this is the community where you can wander through its streets, with homes, shops, and offices all around. And there's more – parks to relax in and cultural spots to explore. Each part of the area has its own vibe, like The Island, The Sanctuary, Retail, and Urban Core. 

So, let's explore - what Dubai Creek Harbour holds for the visitors and home buyers?

The Lagoons

Dubai Creek Residence is in The Lagoons, Dubai,  it has many high-rise towers with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments. These residential apartments come with a wide range of amenities like  gym, pool, sauna, kids' play area, and barbecue spot there, as well as, there are shops and fun things to do. It's a big area covering 6.5 million square metres!

Location

Located in close proximity to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Residence offers convenient access to various transportation hubs. Nearby bus stations include the Dubai Country Club Bus Stop and Aden Street 1, Ras Al Khor Bus Stop.

For those preferring the metro, Creek Metro Station is just a 13-minute drive away, followed closely by Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station at 14 minutes, and Al Jadaf Metro Station at 15 minutes.

The residence boasts a strategic location, with Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary a mere 5-minute drive away, Dubai International Airport reachable in 10 minutes, and iconic landmarks such as Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai just a 15-minute drive. Additionally, Dubai Design District is also 15 minutes away, while Deira City Center and Mirdif City Center are accessible within 17 minutes. For those looking to explore further, Dubai Marina is a 25-minute drive away.

Community Overview

Dubai Creek Harbour is a cool spot where you can find all sorts of stuff like eco-resorts by the water, a yacht club, and shops, it's not just about business though - you'll also find fun things to do and learn. Plus, there are outdoor galleries all around for everyone to enjoy.

Flower Tree

Emaar got a special artwork called the Flower Tree made just for them. It's pretty cool because it uses local flowers. The artist wanted to show how nature and human-made stuff can work together.

Location: Creek Marina Waterfront

Creek Play

This playground is inspired by Dubai's traditional buildings, it's colourful and fun for both kids and adults. Each part of it represents one of the seven emirates in the UAE.

Location: Creek Marina Waterfront

Joy Tree

This sculpture celebrates the simple joys of life, it's made of shiny stainless steel and looks like a bunch of balloons. When you walk by, you might catch a glimpse of yourself in its reflection.

Location: Creek Marina parking entrance

Musical shadows

Throughout the day, the sounds transform, unveiling various melodies in both the Bayati and Hijaz scales.

The community managers host events you can attend using EMAAR’s One app. With the app, you can check out news, upcoming events, request home changes, get virtual access cards, and manage move-in permits and renewals.

Latest Off-Plan Developments in Dubai Creek Harbour

Emaar ORIA - 1, 2 & 3 Bed Apartments

Emaar AEON - 1, 2 & 3 Bed Apartments

Emaar Creek Waters  - 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-bed Apartments, Townhouses, Duplexes Penthouses

Emaar Creek Edge -  1, 2, and, 3 Bedroom Apartments And 2 & 3 Bedroom Townhouses

 Emaar Creek Palace - 1, 2, & 3-Bedroom Apartments and 3 Bedroom Villas

Conclusion 

Dubai Creek Harbour is one of the best communities in Dubai where you can enjoy eye-catching views, peaceful surroundings, luxury homes with best amenities & features. So, if you want to give your family a best lifestyle then please contact Top Luxury Property to find the best home. 

[web99official]

Aussie Brands: Social Proof with User-Generated Content

Hey there, folks! We’re about to spill the beans on how Aussie brands win hearts using user-generated content (UGC). It’s like when your buddy tells you about a cool thing they tried and loved. Yep, that’s the magic we’re talking about!

User-generated content (UGC) is like a secret weapon for content marketers when used right. Savvy marketers have caught onto the UGC trend, and it’s no surprise why. The Nielsen Consumer Trust Index spills the beans –92% of consumers trust natural, user-created content more than those old-school ads.

Check this out: Curata did some digging and found that content marketers often sing the same tune – not having enough time and resources. Well, here’s where UGC swoops in to save the day. It can save your team time and money and boost your reputation by letting users create content for you. It’s like getting a range helping hand from the crowd.

But how can you leverage UGC for your marketing strategy in Australia? Here are some tips and examples to inspire you.

Why It's Gold in Australia?

You might wonder why this UGC stuff works so darn well Down Under. Here’s the scoop: Aussies have an allergy to BS. They want the real deal – no fluff, no frills. When they see someone like them raving about a product, it’s like getting a recommendation from a cobber over a cold one. It’s trustworthy, it’s genuine, and it’s as Aussie as a snag sizzle.

Picture This: Aussie Trust Boosters

Imagine scrolling through your social media and spotting a regular Aussie, all smiles, while showing off a product from a local brand. They’re talking about it like they found a treasure, and you can’t help but feel curious. That’s UGC doing its thing, showing that real people love a product.

The Tag Team: Reviews, Posts, and Influencers

Customer Reviews: Think of these as online high-fives. You’re thinking of buying some snazzy shoes, and you see many people saying, “These are the comfiest shoes ever!” It’s like having your friends vouch for a good time at a party – you trust them.A bunch of Aussies, 87% to be exact, read reviews before they shop, according to some clever folks at Bright Local. So, brands, if you’ve got great reviews, show them off like a medal.

User-Generated Posts:User-generated posts are any social media posts that mention or tag your brand, such as photos, videos, stories, or tweets. User-generated posts can help you increase your brand awareness, engagement, and reach and showcase your brand personality and community. You can encourage your customers to create and share user-generated posts by creating a branded hashtag, running a contest or giveaway, or offering incentives or rewards.This is like a fantastic scrapbook made by Aussies for Aussies. Brands are asking everyday folks to share their adventures with their products. Imagine someone showing off their new surfboard or a cool kitchen gadget they love – it’s like getting recommendations from pals. Brands like Aesop and Lorna Jane do this well. It’s like you’re seeing your mates having a blast.

Influencer Friends: Influencers are like those cool cousins who always know the best stuff. Brands team up with them to show their products naturally. You know that feeling when a friend tells you, “This cafe has the best coffee”? That’s influencer magic!

Imagine an influencer you like showing off a brand they love. It’s like getting advice from someone in the know.

You can partner with influencers by sending them free products to review, sponsoring their posts or stories, or co-creating content with them. For example, Bondi Sands, an Australian self-tanning brand, has partnered with various influencers in the beauty and lifestyle niche, such as Kylie Jenner, Tammy Hembrow, and Sarah’s Day. It also features influencer posts on its Instagram account, product information and discounts.

Web99 pro tips: Why Aussies Love It

So, why does this UGC thing work so well in Australia? Because Aussies dig realness. They’re not into fancy ads; they want to know if something’s worth it. When they see a regular Aussie enjoying a product, it’s like hearing a trusted mate’s opinion.

If you’re searching for a trustworthy agency specialising in web design and digital marketing to help you make the most of user-generated content for your business, look no further than Web99. They offer customised software development, e-commerce website design, and digital marketing services that can help enhance your online presence.

In a Nutshell: Trust the People

To summarise, Aussie brands are onto a winner with user-generated content. Reviews, user posts, and influencer pals make customers feel like they’re getting advice from friends. It’s not just about selling – it’s like sharing a secret with your best mate.

So, Aussie brands, go for it! Embrace UGC, shout about those happy customers, and collaborate with local influencers. Like a true-blue mate, your brand will become a buddy that people trust. Cheers to building trust, one UGC story at a time!

[yellow2022]

Zoho Consultants India: Making Business Easy

Hey there! Today, I want to introduce you to something super cool - Zoho Consultants India. It's like having your own team of tech-savvy buddies who help make your business life easier.

So, what's Zoho Consultants India, you ask? Well, they're a bunch of experts who know all about Zoho, a set of computer programs that can do amazing stuff for businesses. Let me break it down for you in simple terms.

Why You Need Zoho Consultants India:

You know how running a business can sometimes feel like juggling a hundred balls at once? Zoho Consultants India is here to make sure you don't drop any. They're like your trusty sidekicks, helping you use Zoho software to keep everything in check.

How Zoho Helps:

Imagine having a magical tool that helps you remember every customer's name and what they like. That's what Zoho does with its Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools. Happy customers mean more business for you!

Ever tried to keep track of lots of projects at the same time? It can be a real headache. Zoho Projects come to the rescue. They help you organize your projects and make sure they all finish on time.

Need to work with your team, no matter where they are? Zoho has tools like Zoho Mail, Zoho Docs, and Zoho Meeting that let you all work together, even if you're miles apart.

Money matters, right? Zoho Finance tools, like Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory, help you handle your cash, expenses, and stock. That keeps your business running smoothly.

Marketing can be tricky, but Zoho MarketingHub makes it easier. You can send out messages to people who might want to buy your stuff and turn them into loyal customers.

Taking care of your staff is important too. Zoho People helps with that. It keeps all your employee info organized, so everyone's happy and working their best.

Oh, and don't forget Zoho Analytics. It's like your business's secret detective. It looks at all your data and tells you the smartest things to do to make even more money.

Running an online store? Zoho Commerce has got you covered. It helps you build your shop, keep an eye on stock, and make sure your customers are happy.

Why Zoho Consultants India is Awesome:

You might be wondering, "Why do I need someone to help with all this Zoho stuff?" Well, here's the deal:

Expertise: Zoho Consultants India really know their stuff. They can make Zoho work perfectly for your business.

Custom Solutions: Your business is one-of-a-kind, right? Zoho Consultants India can make Zoho fit your unique needs like a glove.

Training: They won't just set things up and leave you hanging. They'll show you how to use Zoho like a pro.

Ongoing Help: They're there when you need them. Any issues, changes, or questions – they're on it!

FAQ Time:

What is Zoho?

Zoho is like a box of super-helpful digital tools for businesses.

Why do I need Zoho Consultants India?

They make Zoho work just right for your business, so you get the most out of it.

Is Zoho only for big businesses?

Nope, Zoho is for all kinds of businesses, big and small.

Can I pick the Zoho tools I want?

You sure can! Choose what works best for you.

Do I have to be a tech genius to use Zoho?

Not at all! Zoho Consultants India will teach you how.

Is Zoho safe to use?

Yes, it's safe and secure. Your data is in good hands.

Can Zoho help me work from home?

Absolutely! Zoho works from anywhere you want.

Is Zoho expensive?

Zoho has different pricing options, so you can find one that fits your budget.

Is Zoho easy to use?

Yep, it's designed to be user-friendly.

Can Zoho grow with my business?

Totally! It grows with you, so you're always covered.

So, there you have it - Zoho Consultants India is like your business's best friend, making things easier, helping you grow, and being there when you need them. If you want to take your business to the next level, give them a shout!

Is Zoho for Me?

You might wonder if Zoho is right for your business. Well, it's not just for one type of business. Whether you sell clothes, run a caf��, provide IT services, or anything in between, Zoho can be your superhero.

So, Why Pick Zoho?

Easy Peasy: Zoho tools are made to be simple. And if you're ever stuck, Zoho Consultants India will guide you step by step.

Save Time: Imagine not having to hunt for customer info or spending hours on boring paperwork. Zoho does that for you, so you can focus on what you love.

Happy Customers: With Zoho, you can keep your customers happy by remembering their preferences and sending them special offers.

No Stress: Juggling a million tasks can be stressful, but Zoho helps you organize everything in one place.

Save Money: Money's tight for everyone. Zoho helps you save cash by managing your expenses and stock better.

Grow Big: Zoho can help you expand and take your small business to new heights.

More About Zoho Consultants India:

Friendliness: They're not like those tech people who talk in strange language. They'll chat with you like a friend, no fancy tech talk.

Your Unique Solution: Zoho Consultants India will make Zoho work just the way you want it to. No one-size-fits-all here.

Learn at Your Own Pace: They'll teach you everything, and you don't have to be a computer whiz. You'll be a Zoho pro in no time.

Got Your Back: Any problems or changes, they're on it. You're not alone in this.

Now, Some Fun FAQs:

Is Zoho like a magic wand for my business?

It's not magic, but it sure can do some amazing things.

How do I know if Zoho is right for my small business?

It's worth a try for any business. You might be surprised how much it can help.

What if I'm terrible with technology? Can I still use Zoho?

Absolutely! Zoho is designed to be user-friendly, and Zoho Consultants India will guide you.

Will Zoho be friendly to my budget?

Zoho has different plans, so you can choose one that fits your wallet.

What if I need help late at night or on weekends?

Zoho Consultants India will be there for you whenever you need them.

Do I need to buy all the Zoho tools, or can I pick just a few?

You can pick and choose the tools that fit your business like a glove.

Can I use Zoho on my phone or tablet?

Absolutely! Zoho has apps that work on your mobile devices too.

Will Zoho make my business go viral overnight?

It won't happen overnight, but it can help you reach more people and grow steadily.

So, there you have it – Zoho Consultants India and Zoho software are like your secret weapons for running your business smoothly and successfully. It's all about making things easier for you, so you can focus on what you do best. If you're ready to take your business to the next level, give them a call. They're here to make your business journey a whole lot easier and more fun!

[tallclinton]

I told myself I needed to write 1000 words tonight since I’m going to be hosting an open mic on in a couple weeks. I’m excited. I need to be funny.  I’m going to crush it and hopefully I’ll get to set up another show with Mauriel. 

I’m glad I went and checked out Grounded Cafe.  Mauriel has built a cool little place. Like my bachelor uncles place before my dad kicked him out of the garage.

Next to the cheese place.  That place has got some expensive mold.  It costs $10 just to smell the gorgonzola.

Pueblo is getting too big. I had to get out. I'm living in Ordway. North of Rocky Ford. The main workforce in Ordway is the two prisons. There are only 1000 people living there and I think that includes the prisoners. Its a small town. I'm new and I'm learning all the small town stuff that goes on. I've been told the mayor and the police force are an Old Boys Club and there's a bunch of corruption.

Its really fun.

There's a cult! The big church in Ordway is the River of Life. I've heard that they're very culty and they were in league with some human traffickers from Mexico.

I got out here in December. I'm running a general good / thrift store with my partner Misty. We enjoy it. I buy storage units and host estate sales. I got to garage sales and auctions. I'm out here hustling. Its been excellent for my self esteem. I dislike myself much less now.

My days are spent interacting with the people of Ordway of whom most seem to be dying. Ordway is not a youthful town. Most of my customers are living in retirement communities. I love all these old folks. They're really go to Misty and I.

Joe, Judith, Ed, Judy, Brandy,

There are dozens of awesome people who come by my little shop so I'm kinda the cool guy. I've never been the cool guy so this is all new to me. Its new and I'm not doing great at it. I'm kind of a dick. Kind of is probably too kind. In the past I have been short with people and I would lose my temper. I still get those times to flair up and I have to remind myself that I don't live in Pueblo anymore and I'm not coming back.

My store has tools, clothes, furniture, books, dvds, housewares, electronics, antiques and collectables. I'm going to pitch that you come out and see what I'm doing because right now I'm selling all my clothes for $1 each. Everything in great shape and there are some name brands. I get donations for the local community and I don't get enough customers to sell as much as I'm getting in.

I may be on a sinking ship with this store but I'm really enjoying working with Misty. She great. She's a fox! I'm so lucky. She works her ass off. I've been trying to keep up with her. It's just the two of us and she's really good at staying busy and attending customers. She listens and people really like her. I've kinda inserted myself into the mix.

I broke 500 words and I'm ready to get away from typing for a little while. I'm glad I wrote. Gorgonzola is funny. I'm going to try to use that and the uncle thing.

I'd like to make fun of Ordway more while I'm hosting. I was doing a joke where their main attraction in town in the middle school football team. There's nothing out here but My Thrift Store, Hardware Store, Coffee Shop, Coffee truck, excellent restaurant called Feelin' Saucy. If you're coming out to Ordway be sure to stop and get a pizza. I'm a big fan.

The pizza place and the coffee place are neighbors and they don't like each other. There's apartments over the coffee shop. I haven't been in them but I assume they're nice.

I'm living in an RV. It was a cold winter. We froze up 3 times and had to stay in the back of the store. I've got a bed set up and sometime's I'll stay when I've stayed too late. The RV is only half a mile away from the shop. Sometimes I like sleeping alone. I love sleeping next to her and cuddling and enjoying her presence. Sometimes sleeping alone is awesome. She's on the rag so I'm staying here tonight.

My hobbies include Magic the Gathering and stand up comedy. I haven't done standup since last year in November. I was doing an open mic at a bar in bessemer and it was pretty bad. I thought the room had some potential but I don't have a following and trying to pull people to a dive bar in a bad area of town is hard. I think if I'd have stuck with it I would've been able to get a following but I was unhappy with the consistent low turnout.

I keep seeing something in my peripheral vision. I'm worried someone is looking in and checking me out. Its past midnight so there shouldn't be many people out. My thrift shop is across from the Columbine Saloon. I don't drink so I don't frequent the place. They stay pretty busy. There was a large group of bikers there this weekend.

I don't drink but I smoke weed. Most of the time I'm hitting my little vape. I like the smell of weed but smelling like burnt weed is embarrassing. I don't tell anyone in Ordway that I tough the devils lettuce. It's a pretty conservative community and I can't afford for a customer to stop coming to my shop because they don't agree with my Mary Jane consumption.

Wow. 1000 words came pretty quick. its easy to write when you're not trying to be funny. Looking for the funny in situations is a good idea though. I'd like to write about the cult and how I'm going to infiltrate it.

Hell yeah.

[rubywithin]

Who to Trust? 4

I went to the morning meeting like usual, but there was some sort of argument going on. (Aurel) “Got a problem with me you wannabe punk?” (Naruma) “No you are just being aggro for no reason”. (Sora) “Guys try to be calm if we start doubting each other that hedgehog will get his way!”. The two of them just ignored him, -bang- I turned around...Kyoya pinned someone to the wall. Sora and Yuga tried pulling him off the guy. (Kyoya) “I saw you watching me and I know you are waiting for the right moment to attack me”. (???) “Nah you just seem the most aggressive so you will probably try and kill first”. This guy has some pretty lazy logic....(Sora) “Kyoya, Tetsuya stop this stupid bickering we need to go back to working together to find a way out!”. (Ein) “Sora I get where you are coming from but it won’t work....I think we should spend a few days cooling off!”. 

I decided to hang out with Tetsuya as I was a bit curious about what his stance on Kyoya was. (Ein) “Sorry to be blunt but why were you watching Kyoya?, was he the one you got a picture of?” he shook his head. Wh....why is this guy annoying someone he has no ties too? (Tetsuya) “I would rather not tell you who I actually got but Kyoya seems the most tense out of the group. I feel that if pushed too much he would snap....I guess me provoking him was a dumb move”. He um seems very level headed, I looked at his badge and it said “Ultimate Puzzler”. I guess I can understand his curiosity, (Ein) “Thank you for the answers” I started to walk away. Part of me felt like he didn’t trust me though, I decided to visit the shop....I was curious to see if the stock updated. As I arrived it was the same stuff except it looked like someone else took a snooker cue!

I went back to my room to do some more reading, I started to wonder who this Hedgy guy was. How were they able to figure out who we would potentially have grudges, Yuri’s for me seemed more public which makes sense. While mine for Yuga is more personal yet I only recently met the guy.....-ding-. Huh? I went to the door, (???) “Hey um my name is Laura, I heard a weird sound in my room as I opened the door! Could you check if anyone is inside?”. (Ein) “I guess” I asked her to point it out but she just told me it was the end one on the left. I made my way over, I looked inside and some folders had fallen over, I turned around and saw Laura walk over. (Ein) “A bunch of folders are on the ground do you think someone....” (Laura) “OH I probably didn’t arrange them properly when I put them back. Its crazy how the host prepared all these pictures of flowers for me” ugh it just hit me...I never brought any books with me yet my room has plenty too read. (Laura) “Thank you Ein I owe you one” (Ein) “Don’t worry about it” I couldn’t help but notice she had a picture of Aurel yet Naruma was the one he argued with.

I made my way over to the meeting area where there was still a bit of tension in the air. We all signed our names, (Tetsuya) “Hey Kyoya can we talk....I ugh owe you an apology”. Kyoya looked a bit annoyed at first but he agreed so the rest of us left the room, for some reason Yuga winked at me. (Ellie) “Good night Ein sorry we haven’t talked as much lately” (Ein) “Night Ellie and don’t worry we can hang out tomorrow!”. I went back to my room, I hope things calm down tomorrow as a few grudges have been forming. Part of me wondered about Aurel so I may try talking to him tomorrow! -Yawn- I started to rest my eyes and eventually fell asleep.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

So I (finally!) bought a pair of really good noise cancelling headphones, and it has changed my life! It's the fanciest thing I've bought in years, so to recoup some of the cost, I’ve researched & written a little essay based on my experiences with extreme noise sensitivity.

Hypersensitivity to sound is something I’ve dealt with all of my life, but I only recently found out it's medically known a Hyperacusis. (Please note this is a separate condition from Misophonia.) If you consistently struggle to cope with noise, the info below could be helpful! I’m including a link to my ko-fi, and I will be answering questions in the notes.

(skip to the bottom to read fun facts about my tax return and/or street organs vendettas!)

DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional, this is based solely on my experiences as a patient, and on what I have read and been told by professionals. Please notify me if you have corrections or concerns about accuracy!

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to sound is a common type of sensory issue. While anyone can experience such issues (most people, for example, might be bothered by loud music in a crowded restaurant), some people are more sensitive than others, to the point it becomes a quality-of-life aka a medical issue.

If you consistently struggle with environmental stimuli that other people aren’t bothered by (background noises, bright lights, certain textures and tastes, etc), to the point it causes daily discomfort or limits the environments you can be in, I recommend reading about Sensory Processing Disorder.

SPD and sound sensitivity are both super common in autistic folks (like me!), but allistic (non-autistic) people can experience them too. Weep, ye prisoners of mortal coil, for none are safe, nothing sacred, not in this thy most accursed tomb of human flesh!

Anyway.

SOUND SENSITIVITY or HYPERACUSIS: Noise issues are particularly difficult to navigate in a world that is increasingly...noisy. The relatively new phenomenon of constant overhead music in restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls etc—all of this means that public spaces are increasingly inaccessible to people with auditory issues.*

As a kid, nothing quite triggered sensory overload/meltdowns for me like the constant exposure to noise I couldn’t control—the background chatter of other kids in the lunchroom, the constant noise in public spaces, being trapped in the car with the radio on.... I had so many fights with my siblings about the car radio, and who got to choose the music.**

But it’s not just loud sounds that are the problem. As an adult who lives alone and works from home***, I’m lucky enough to be able to avoid loud environments most of the time. This does wonders for my general levels of anxiety and discomfort. But even in a mostly controlled environment, I still experience problems. Because part of sound sensitivity is that even normal or quiet sounds can feel loud and intrusive. Here are some “normal” sounds that can cause me discomfort (ranging from annoyance to outright pain, depending on the day):

refrigerator/AC/ceiling lights humming

dishwasher/washing machine noises

ceiling fan making that damn ceiling fan noise

faint sounds of traffic

riding in a car

other people having a normal conversation in the background

someone talking to me in a perfectly normal inside voice

Unfortunately, even in a “controlled” environment, many triggering noises can’t be controlled. And many parts of life can’t be lived in a controlled environment. This presents...some incredibly freaking annoying problems. Luckily there are solutions!

Sorta.

There are sorta some solutions.

They are imperfect, but they help.

TREATMENT: And now I have something rather shame-faced to admit. In all the years of managing my symptoms, it never once occurred to me to see a hearing specialist for my issues with sound. I wasn’t even aware that treatment options exist, because none of my other doctors mentioned it. Instead, I’ve spent years finding my own coping mechanisms and tools, with help from therapists and psychiatrists, but without ever consulting an audiologist/ENT. It was only while researching this post that I found out that was even an option, holy shit.

So it turns out I am going to be making an appointment with my local ENT practice. shit.

Apparently treatment options include sound/acoustic therapy, systematic desensitization/exposure therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, sound machines, and other options that I had no idea even existed, goddammit.

MANAGEMENT: In the meantime, here are my current coping mechanisms. I’ve relied rather heavily on hearing protection, which is very useful when used in moderation. Unfortunately, it can cause its own problems: it’s important not to overuse hearing protection, because in the long-term this can increase your sensitivity. So again: a useful tool, but be careful not to overdo it.

With that in mind, here are some of the coping strategies I’ve used over the last decade to manage my symptoms. This is not a perfect system and you should contact your local ENT clinic for better, long-term solutions, but in the meantime here are some tips I use to just get myself through the damn day:

Regularly spending time in a quiet controlled environment, to allow my nervous system to decompress.

Wearing earplugs, (I use two different grade, depending on the level of noise prevention I need), and always carrying an extra pair in case I need them unexpectedly. I bought a 50 pack for $7 and put spares in all my bags and jacket pockets.

(I mostly use Mack’s Ultra Soft, but there are so many types and materials and brands, including foam, silicone, wax, custom moldable etc. Even if you have trouble wearing things in your ears, you might be able to find something comfortable.)

Similarly: hearing protection earmuffs, the kind used in gun ranges and on construction sites. I bought mine online for $10. they look like normal wireless headphones, so I've never gotten comments when wearing mine in public (other than “cool heaphones” bc i added skull glitter stickers).

Sometimes I wear the earmuffs on top of earplugs, when life is just too damn LOUD.

Listening to music w/ earbuds or headphones is a great way to balance out background noises, especially if you can find soothing playlists that help you concentrate. Also useful to put in just one earbud when you need to pay attention in class/at work.

Pro tip: if your hair is long enough you can wear wireless earbuds without anyone knowing.

White noise, rain noises, ocean noises etc can be helpful! Some people like whale songs although personally this activates my primal fear response

Active noise cancelling headphones: the reason I wrote this post to begin with—I finally bought a pair! As in, a really good pair! As in, a depressingly expensive pair with noise cancelling technology that actually WORKS, holy shit. I probably need to wear them a little less at home (bc overprotection causes problems in the longterm) but they have absolutely transformed my ability to go out in public and i never ever want to take these suckers off again please take a power screwdriver and nail these to my head, bury me in the sweet sweet shroud of silence. holy canoli and cream puffs I want to marry form a civil partnership with these headphones. Plus they have a bunch of features, like being able to control the level of noise cancellation, so I can hold a conversation or be aware of some ambient noise for safety reasons.

Oh, and also they play music I guess?

Sorry sorry I promise this post wasn’t supposed to be me shilling for Big Electronics. I’m just excited, I’m an excited flabby little ball of expired flubber. ANC headphones aren’t a perfect solution, and I still sometimes wear earplugs underneath, and I will always be uncomfortable some of the time, but for me it’s been a big step.

Unfortunately the cost of good quality ANC technology means this isn’t an option for everyone, and the (much cheaper) gunshot protection earmuffs I mentioned earlier still provide an impressive amount of protection and bang-for-your buck (maybe even an equal amount of protection, if you can find ones that fit well). But if noise consistently prevents you from enjoying public space and life in general, and you’ve already tried earmuffs & earplugs and find they don’t offer enough comfort/convenience/protection, and if you’re in a position to save up for a one time non-necessity purchase of $150+, noise cancelling headphones are an option to be aware of. (Please always check the return policy so you can try before you buy. I ended up buying and returning 2 pairs before finding what worked best for me. And please look for a retailer that offers an extended warranty. You want those motherforkers to last).

There are cheaper options available, including some under $50. The ones I tried didn't work as well as my hearing protection earmuffs, but some people report good experiences, so that is something to consider. it's always good to know your options! Passive noise canceling is another affordable alternative.

Medication: A final tool in my toolbox, which for me personally has helped as much as every other method combined. Like, a lot, it’s helped a lot. It turns out some anti-anxiety medications can also help sensory issues. There’s not much research on this, and I only discovered it firsthand when a medication my doctor prescribed for anxiety ended up significantly helping my sensory issues. I no longer need medication for anxiety, but my psychiatrist still prescribes that same medication off-label for my sensory stuff. Ask your psychiatrist to research your options (they will probably have to do some digging to find relevant research, but you deserve to know all your options, even the obscure ones). Fyi, the medication I use is in the benzodiazepines class, but there are other options for those concerned about dependency or side effects.

(I'm also told anti-anxiety supplements may be helpful, though I haven't tried this yet. If you're on prescription meds, always talk to your doctor about contraindications before taking anything over-the-counter.)

So there you have it, my main coping strategies for sound sensitivity! They are not a replacement for medical treatment (except that last one which is in fact...medical treatment), but I find them helpful and I hope some of you will too! I’ve struggled for a long time, and I’m very pleased to have reached the point where I can just do things in public. Eating out in loud restaurants? I can do that now, and even enjoy it, holy shit! I can comfortably travel in cars for hours at a time, and walk around shopping malls and grocery stores with overhead music, and, and —and just exist. It is so so freeing, to feel like maybe, after everything, you are actually allowed to just exist in a world that wasn’t really designed for you.

Again, be careful not to overuse hearing protection—the goal is to allow you to be less uncomfortable and to function better, but if you find you are becoming more sensitive to noise, it is time to dial it back a notch. Or maybe consider listening to music (at a reasonable volume) to block out background noise instead.

*(This also includes people with hearing loss and related issues, btw. While that’s not my area of knowledge, I would welcome it if any of my HoH followers want to share their experiences.)

**A sign of sensory issues that parents often miss is when a child complains about music being too loud—but has no problem listening to their own music at high volume. This is because music that is already familiar to the listener (and that the listener enjoys) is much easier for the brain to process, since it knows what pattern of sounds to expect. Loud music that they get to control can be soothing for people with sound issues, especially when it blocks out background noise and sensations. This is why repetitively playing the same songs can be a helpful form of stimming.

***(working on this blog, actually. since it’s my only source of income, my 2020 income tax return literally lists my occupation as ‘Tumblr Blogger.’ Oddly, my parent didn’t feel this achievement was worth including in the holiday family newsletter.)

bonus fun fact: Charles Babbage aka “father of the computer” may have been autistic and hypersensitive to sound. He definitely had a huge problem with public noise pollution, and spent his later year waging a war on street musicians (and organ grinders in particular).

(bc like, yeah. screw organ grinders.)

Sometimes when I’m out in public and the overhead music is particularly unbearable, I’ll take a moment to look up to the sky and scream out: “HE TRIED TO WARN US! THE FATHER OF COMPUTERS TRIED TO WARN US!!! we should have listened, sweet heaven we should have listened!”

except i don’t scream it, i say it very quietly under my breath

(i have issues with noise)

so yeah that is my short essay. and here is the ko-fi goal

k ciao i gotta go pick out glitter stickers for my headphones

[townofcrosshollow]

Twine Sugarcube 101

AKA, all you need to make a Twine game (I swear to god)

I’ve seen a lot of people go “Twine is too complicated for me :(” and give up before they’ve even started. And that makes me sad, partly because they’re giving up on a really cool hobby, and also because that’s false! It’s absolutely not too complicated for you!

I think the problem is that people look up Twine, see the documentation, and go “There’s way too much there! I can’t learn all that!” Well guess what- you shouldn’t learn all that, at least not yet. As a beginner you can skip pretty much all of this:

(Ignore <<linkappend>> too, forgot to crop that one out)

That’s a lot more manageable, right? Below the cut, I’ll let you know how to use all those remaining important things to make your story! Warning- it’s quite long! You might want to read it in sections! And while I’ll try to keep it entertaining, it’s also a coding tutorial, so... y’know. Might not be the most exciting read if you aren’t trying to learn Twine.

Welcome to below the cut!

First off, make sure your story format is set to Sugarcube 2. On the right side of the home screen (with all your stories), click format and choose the one labeled “Sugarcube 2.x.x” then open a new story with the green button! Here’s what you’ll see and what it all means:

Passages are all like individual web pages that you navigate between to play the game. When they’re linked together they’ll be shown like this:

Anything you write in a passage will just be shown on screen as plain text, no code required! But if you want to make anything more than just one passage with a bunch of text, you’ll have to link passages together with...

Links!

A link is composed of two parts- the text you see on screen, and the name of the passage you’re attaching it to. These are enclosed in [[double square brackets]], with a vertical bar | or a little arrow -> between them. If you want to show the passage name instead of alternative text, you can just put the passage name in square brackets alone! So this in the editor:

[[Visible text|Passage name]]

[[Visible text->Passage name]]

[[Passage name]]

Will look like this in the story:

Visible text

Visible text

Passage name

And all of them will lead to the passage labeled “Passage name.” You don’t even need to create the passage- when Twine sees that you’ve linked to a passage that doesn’t exist, it’ll add that passage for you.

That’s all you need to know! Technically, all you need to do to make a Twine story is add those fancy links between passages. If you add your awesome writing skills, that story will be super cool!

...but you want to do some fancy shit, right? Well let me introduce you to the next step up in complexity,

Variables!

“Variable” is a fun, code-y way to say “a bit of information that can change.” You could say they... vary.

Variables are useful for keeping track of information. If the player chooses to be blonde instead of a redhead, you might want to bring that up again- but you probably don’t want to write an entirely separate story based on that choice, right? So instead you save that information as a variable.

In Twine, variables are written as words with a $ in front of them. So my hair colour variable might be “$hairColour.” If you just write the variable out without any code, Twine will print the information you put into the variable. So if $hairColour is set to “blonde,” this...

She had $hairColour hair.

Will become...

She had blonde hair.

The value in a variable can be a boolean (ie. true or false), a number, or a string (like “blonde” or “any other string of characters”). They can also be fancy stuff like arrays, but we won’t be touching on that.

You can use variables to keep track of a lot of things! For instance...

How much money the player has

Whether a player has a key

What the player’s name is

I keep mentioning the value of a variable or “setting” it, but how do you do that? Well, one way is to add it to a link. If you want a link to set hair colour to blonde, for instance, you could write [[Blonde|Next passage][$hairColour to “blonde”]]. Clicking on that link would forward the player to “Next passage” and set the value of $hairColour to “blonde.”

There is a better way of doing it, however, but we’ll need to talk about...

Macros!

A macro is a snippet of code that runs when you put a special code word inside these <<spiky boys>>. You can write your own macros with JavaScript if you’re smart, find them on the internet if you’re even more smart, or just use the ones that come built in with Sugarcube.

The ones we’ll be talking about, and the ones that are the most important for most Twine games, are <<set>>, <<if>>, and <<link>>.

<<set>>

The <<set>> macro allows you to, you guessed it, assign a value to a variable. For instance, if you want to set $hairColour to blonde... well, that’s all you need to do! It’s just:

<<set $hairColour to “blonde”>>

It’s important to remember with the <<set>> macro that strings (collections of different characters) require quotation marks around them to show the code that it isn’t a number or a true/false value. If you put quotes around a number and try to do math with that variable, you’ll get a big ol’ error message.

If you’re using numbers, you can also use JavaScript operators in place of “to.” Each one will perform a calculation on the variable if that variable is a number, and then replace the variable with the result. If you want to add $5 to the player’s $money, you could use this:

<<set $money += 5>>

The “+=“ will add the number on the right to the variable on the left. “-=“ will do the same for subtraction, “*=“ for multiplication, and “/=“ for division. Easy enough, just don’t forget the = sign after the usual symbol!

By default, the <<set>> macro will be executed as soon as the page it’s on loads. Sometimes that’s useful, but sometimes you would rather the player click a link that sets a variable- like if they choose a hair colour. You might also want the same link to set multiple variables, like subtracting money and giving them an item when they use a shop. How do we do that?

<<link>>

The <<link>> macro is also pretty simple. All it does is create a link, and when that link it pressed it executes whatever is inside of it. Here we’ll be using it with <<set>>, but you can use it with all kinds of different macros and even nest some of them to do really complicated stuff!

As an example, we want the player to click “buy key,” give the player the key, and subtract $5 from their money. Here’s how we do it:

<<link “Buy key”>>

<<set $key to true>>

<<set $money -= 5>>

<</link>>

The text the player will click is in quotation marks, and after all of the macros we need to execute we have to close off the code by adding <</link>>. Easy, right?

But other than printing them on the screen, what can you actually use those variables for? Well, for that we’ll be using...

<<if>>

The <<if>> macro is my favourite, hands down, because it’s an easy way of accomplishing hard stuff. Simply put, <<if>> will check if the thing you asked about is true, and if it is, it will do whatever you put inside of it.

Here’s a simple example:

<<if $key is true>>

[[Use the key|Progress]]

<</if>>

Whatever is inside the <<if>> macro will be executed if the “if” statement is true. In this case, the link “Use the key” will be printed on the screen only if the player has the key. This also applies to code- if you put a <<set>> macro inside, that macro would only set a variable if the player has the key.

Now here’s a more complicated example, to show everything the <<if>> macro is capable of. Here we also want to check if they’ve already opened the door, and display alternate text if they have no key and the door is locked.

<<if $key is true>>

[[Use the key|Progress]]

<<elseif $doorOpen is true>>

[[Walk through|Progress]]

<<else>>

You need to find a key.

<</if>>

I’ll break it down line by line to tell you what each thing does.

<<if $key is true>>

This line is the only necessary one- it checks whether $key has been set to true. You can check for any value that a variable can be, like a number, true/false, or a string. You can also check for other things with this macro- for instance, “isnot” will check that the variable isn’t equal to the value on the right. “gt” or “lt” will check if the variable is greater/lesser than the value on the right, and “gte” or “lte” will check if it is greater than or equal to the value.

<<elseif $doorOpen is true>>

This line allows us to check for something else within the same <<if>> macro. Once the game has checked the original <<if>> and found that it is false, it will move on to checking each <<elseif>> until it finds one that is true. You can have as many <<elseif>>s as you need, and they can check the same variable or different variables, but only the first true one will be executed! And, of course, you can’t use <<elseif>> on its own- it’s stuck to the <<if>> macro!

<<else>>

This line is the last resort- if the original <<if>> and any <<elseif>>s have all been false, the game will execute whatever is after <<else>>. Because of this, there can only be one <<else>> line within any <<if>> macro! If you don’t have an <<else>>, nothing at all will be executed, so whether you include one depends on the situation.

<</if>>

This closes off the <<if>> macro. Nothing special, but very important! Put it after the last piece of code or bit of text you want the macro to control.

Phew. That’s it! That’s all I wanted to show you!

Now, HOMEWORK!

Okay, not homework, just practice. Here are some things you can try building to practice all these tools and get comfortable with how they work!

A store system with different items for different amounts of money

A character creation screen, followed by a description of your character (with variables!)

A puzzle that requires you to choose the right answer to proceed

If you have any trouble, need to ask any questions, or if something in this tutorial wasn’t clear to you, please let me know- you can DM me or send me an ask anytime and I’m happy to answer any Twine questions you have. I hope this was of use to you, and have fun making games <3

[cinderellana]

𝑴𝒖𝒈𝒔

Steven Grant x Original Character

SUMMARY: Steven took out his girlfriend to shop for mugs. Fluff ensues.

PAIRINGS: Steven Grant x Female Original Character

WORD COUNT: 1320

WARNINGS: none

Description of OC: Valeria Galvez, Black and Hispanic, 178 cm.

“Val, lookit this one!”

Valeria puts down the red and gold mug she was inspecting down onto a table and glances at the one Steven points at.

Of course, another ancient Egyptian print mug. This one has Horus as the center of attention and random hieroglyphics plastered all over the black background. She had to admit this one was actually kinda cool.

“Tacky. Put it away.” She told him with an amused smirk. Still it impresses her how many different ancient Egyptian-esque mugs he could find. (It’s 8)

He chuckles as he puts it back in its place and continues browsing around. A low whistle can be heard from his side a few minutes later as he grabs another Anubis printed mug.

For context, yes, they’re mug shopping.

Surprise surprise, walking with both eyes glued to a new ancient Egyptian history book while holding a hot mug of coffee was not a good combination! The blap and crash can be heard all the way to the loo and Val didn’t even have the chance to check if her ass was wiped because she jumped so fast to see what happened. What happened was just as imagined.

Steven, the clumsy idiot, tripped and there she found him, face planted, glasses and book tossed aside, favorite mug in smithereens. And as a cherry on top, his fingers burnt. Might as well burnt his ears too as he listens to Val’s stern reprimands while she iced his reddening fingers.

“That was my favorite, actually.” He sulked, hair askew and face sullen.

“I know, you should've been more careful then.“ her tone was sharp, but said without any real anger in them. She blew on his burnt patches even though she knew the ice will do the job, so it’s just for good measure. Or maybe she just wants a good reason to hold and inspect the calluses on his pretty hand.

Steven was silent for a moment, (not so) sneakily admiring Val’s beautiful side profile and letting his thoughts settle on how gentle she’s handling his wound despite her harsh tone. A plan formed in his head. Finally, he piped up.

“What time do you get off tomorrow, love?”

“Hm? The usual shit, around 5-ish. Why?”

Thus a mug shopping (date) to take place the next day was proposed and accepted. He picked her up at the library after his shift as a museum gift shop-ist ended. Here they are now in a mug shop, located right beside the paperweight shop Steven frequents. It's not that big but it sells a hella bunch of mugs, as people expect from a shop that sells mugs.

Some sort of fuckin thrift store for mugs heh, Valeria chuckles to herself. He might actually have a knack for finding these types of places.

The shopping trip that was supposed to be an 8 minutes get and go, now becomes some sort of show and tell. Steven excitedly does both work with childlike jokes and glee. As a bonus content (he said) he explains who and which gods are displayed on each mugs he found and the baffling misinterpretation of them. How a single ceramic mug with Anubis art but the name “Ra” painted above it had insulted him beyond relief.

In her perusal, Val’s eyes land for a few seconds at a mug with a smiling hallmark teddy bear hugging a valentine heart. She mindlessly reaches for it, and frowns once she reads the cheesy inscription on the heart. She gagged when she realized it's part of a couples mug, and an identical one with a different colored smiley bear sits beside it. She puts it back with a look of utter disdain.

No shade for people who like those things, but couples stuff gives her the ick. Been there, done that.

Her relationship with Steven is out of the question. So don’t ask.

“Oh!” Steven’s exclamation caught her attention.

“Found one you like?” She walked towards him and leaned on a rack, staring at an old mug in his grasp.

He eyed the mug in wonder, eyebrows close knit, an expression usually reserved to when he’s deep in thought. “Yea, this little bugger caught my eye a bit. You see this?” He points at the art plastered on the mug, featuring an old man and a child surrounded by a green jungle, a promotional art that looks like something out of an adventure series aimed for kids. She nods.

“I don’t remember what series or movie this one is about, but I just think it’s ringing a bell. It's like my brain recognizes it but… it doesn’t at the same time.” He contemplates for a while as he stares at the mug, tongue in his cheek.

“Huh.” He concludes.

She eyed him, gears slowly turning in her head and decided to probe him a little further. “Maybe you watched one of the reruns back home? Or… a memory from your childhood?” She asked in a casual manner even though she knows damn well this is a thin line Marc warns and forbids her to cross.

Fuck Marc.

Unfortunately, (fortunately?) she didn’t get anything important out of him as he thoughtlessly answered, “Yeah, yeah, probably one of the two.” With his eyes still stuck on the mug, he hesitatingly puts it back on the rack with the other vintage mugs.

With his thoughts still distracted by the familiar mug, He checks his watch. “Oh deary me, I’m so sorry for keeping you here for so long, Valley. I’ll just get whichever looks nice and be done with it.”

“No. No, baby, you have to get a good one. You loved the damn mug as much as you love that new book you got yesterday, so you gotta at least get something as nice as that, yeah?” She turned and looked around again. Her hand started busy pulling out several mugs that look identical to the former favorite. None of them were approved by Steven. The sweet man did try his best to look like he liked them though, just to appease Val. It didn’t.

When all seems lost, Steven finally found something. He shyly tugs at the sleeve of her jacket to get her attention.

“What about this one?”

She peered into the chosen mug, it’s a soft shade of blue and has a smiling black cat looking to the right on it. With a white heart as an extra decoration.

It doesn’t have any similarities with the old one, size, color and all. So Val eyes him questioningly, what is this?

But then Steven grabs another one off the rack and shows it to her. A similar blue shade, but with a white cat looking to its left.

It's a couple’s mug. When combined, the cats on both mugs look like they’re kissing.

And it’s abso-fuckin-lutely cheesy.

She tilted her head back, snorted and laughed heartily once she put the two and two together. Can’t believe this is happening.

“Aww come on now. At least consider it? They look nice yea? Lookit them!” The man proudly bumped the two mugs showcasing the kissing cat. “Little lovebirds they are.” He gushed, seemingly smitten with the mugs. His dark eyes glimmering with hope as he waits for his beloved’s approval.

The things she’d do for this man.

She knew how down bad she was for Steven Grant right after she decided to put a spare toothbrush on his sink, but still, it surprises her from time to time.

She stepped forward to close their distance, pushed aside the ridiculous mugs, and leaned down to peck his dumb (often creased) forehead. Her dark red lipstick stain was visible once she pulled back. “Let’s go pay for this.” She didn’t give him a chance to pull out his wallet.

The mugs!

a/n it’s been a while since I post a fanfiction. So enjoy :)