#just romanticizing winter a little bit

[knightinink]

Why can’t it be the middle of winter now???

I wanna stand outside at night with a distant light & watch the heavy snow fall around me, enjoying the silence a cold winter’s night has to offer.

I wanna take my headphones out & listen to the crunching snow under my boots as I walk home, just existing in that moment.

I wanna come in from the cold, hang up my wet jacket & put my boots by the heater to dry, & wring out the snow & ice stuck in my hair.

I wanna curl up in a warm sweater on my rocking chair with a nice cup of cocoa with as many small marshmallows as years I’ve lived.

I wanna read a book with oldies music playing softly in the background, surrounded by warm-toned fairy lights & candles.

I want it to be the middle of winter now.

[inbarfink]

Goddam, just seeing Simon in these last two episodes is really flooding me with so many conflicting emotions.

Because, on the one hand, after his lowest point in Episode 4 - resigning himself to death in the hands of the Scarab - he’s clearly finally doing better. Just look at him making plans

And showing off his smarts

And finally genuinely smiling and feeling happy

And being so glad to meet the alt versions of his friends

And getting excited about his nerdy shit for the first time in glob-knows-how-long

And cracking goofy geeky jokes

And offering others the same grace and kindness he was given when he was trapped under the curse of the Magic Crown

And trying to be comforting and fatherly and give Fionna advice and cheer her up

He’s so clearly doing a lot better now, he’s rediscovering aspects of himself that his depression has torn away from him, he found a meaning and purpose in his life again. And it should warm my heart, and on some level it does....

But it also sends a chill down my spine knowing that this purpose that brought back the light into Simon’s eyes, the purpose he finally found is sacrificing his mind and identity again for the sake of Fionna’s happiness and her world.

He’s throwing himself right back into the miserable existence and the trauma he tries so hard to move forward from. He’s dooming himself because he honestly believes now that he’s always going to be miserable and lonely and fucked up so he might as well have be the kind of miserable and fucked up that is not lucid enough to know how miserable he is all of the time. The kind of misery that at least fits into his world.

Because he started to romanticize being the Ice King in a twisted kinda way, and now he has found the excuse to turn it into a selfless, noble act. Because the only way he feels like he’s useful and like he has worth is by protecting and helping and sacrificing himself for the sake of others.

(And like, especially in light of how he was trying to resign himself to death just moments before coming up with his plan. Not to get extremely dark, but.... suicidal people often seem to ‘get better’ just before the try to kill themselves. Because they feel like they’re finally ‘doing something’ and their misery is almost over. That kinda feels what Simon is going through right now? Becoming the Ice King again is not literally death, but it is a sort of death for Simon Petrikov’s identity.)

And this new sense of purpose in saving Fionnaworld by dooming himself is clearly blinding Simon to so many obviously telegraphed signs that this is a horrible idea.

He saw hints of just how badly Farmworld Finn has been dealing with his own Magic Crown Related Trauma

and maybe if things would’ve been different this could’ve been something they could have commiserated over. Simon could’ve had someone who understood a bit of what he has gone through, and seeing a version of Finn, of all people, face similar struggles - maybe could’ve helped him feel a little less Uniquely and Irredeemably Fucked Up. (For bonus points, they're ALSO both dealing with the grief of losing their Significant Other)

But his newfound obsession that Everything Will Be Better Once He’s Cursed again was making him totally ignore all of this.

And then there’s their little adventure in the Winter Kingdom. Which had both the Candy Queen/Princess Bubblegum as a perfect reminder of the suffering and pain involved in being trapped in the Madness of the Magic Crown

And the Winter King as a reminder of the harmful and twisted things he was capable of doing as the Ice King.

But instead he basically refused to learn any lesson from that Universe that’s not just ‘Fuck That Version of Me Specifically’ and tried to advice Fionna to do the same.

But well, while I am still worried about Simon’s mental state, his improved disposition does give me a little bit of hope. Hope that maybe he himself will notice that he is doing better and won’t be quite so eager to sacrifice his own sanity. Or maybe more likely, hope that now that he’s not just a miserable sadman screaming at their faces

Fionna and Cake are growing to appreciate Simon Petrikov for who he is and will simply refuse to let him sacrifice himself for their sake. Because, yeah, Simon tried to tell Fionna to not worry about all of that Winter Kingdom stuff, that it was just that Simon was ‘messed up’ - but since when does Fionna Campbell do what she’s told?

[cowgurrrl]

Some way some how Joel and reader in lftl are able to take each other back to their homes from before. For closure and memories. They both are just two people who miss their babies. And now they get pictures and cards from their homes. Another little piece of Sarah and Jane to go back to jackson.

Hello do you have access to my wips I was literally working on this!! I wrote this more about reader going back to their last apartment because @hier--soir has an amazing fic about Joel going back to Texas and it's absolutely gorgeous <3 anyways, I hope you enjoy!! this made me CRYYYY

Never Grew Up With You

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader

Author's note: Jesus Christ I haven't cried at a fic like this in a LONG time I'm genuinely exhausted

Summary: "To never see her face again is what grief is." — Euripides, translated by Anne Carson, Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides aka this ask [1.5k]

Warnings: talks of Jane, memories, oh it's so sad

It's eerie being back in that town. It's empty, but the remnants of Outbreak Day linger in the streets— decomposed bodies, crashed cars, craters where the bombs hit. You recognize bits and pieces. The downtown area which used light up with Christmas lights and smell like funnel cake during the winter months. The church where you lied on the application form so Jane could get into daycare. Your apartment building. You stop in front of it, Joel at your side, and look up at it. 

It looks smaller than you remember it like maybe you romanticized the shithole after so many years of living in a worse shithole. Only a few windows still have glass, and you catch faded curtains flapping in the abandoned apartments. "Mommy, look!" Jane had yelled that day so you could catch the jets flying over the building. You were standing in the same area you are now. Your heart clenches, and Joel seems to feel it at the same time.

"Are you sure bout this?" He asks, and you nod. "I'll be right here with you the whole time. We can leave whenever you want." You don't answer him. You just take a deep breath and start walking toward the stairs—bullet holes and rusty, dried blood line the path up to your third-floor apartment, but other than that everything is the same. There's even still a flyer on the bulletin board advertising an apartment-wide potluck set the week after Outbreak Day. Jane wanted to go. She said her friends were going and she wanted you to meet them. You said you'd think about it.

When you reach the top of the stairs, you find your apartment door still open and immediately regret not closing it. What if there's nothing left? What if it's been raided? What if it's all destroyed? You push yourself forward until you're over the threshold and back into the life you left behind. The body of the runner who burst into your apartment that night is still there, grey and all but dust at this point. Dirty plates sit in the sink. Jane's kindergarten homework has slid off the table and onto the floor, her scribbly handwriting boring holes into you. You pick it up despite it having boot marks and ripped edges and stare down at how she wrote her name. Joel doesn't say anything, but he squeezes your shoulder and lets you know he's there.

Together, you silently move through the rooms and salvage whatever you find. In your room, you find ratty old clothes from 2003, medical textbooks, and a file full of important documents shoved under your bed. Among the papers are your tax forms, a copy of your college diploma, and Jane's birth certificate— the only physical proof that she was ever here. Jane Eloise born April 7th, 1998, to you and no one else. Somehow, the glaring absence of Matt's name on her birth certificate still makes your stomach turn. You find a few more keepsakes before moving to the living room.

Whatever might've been there has been taken or destroyed by whoever's been in the building in the last twenty years. The blankets and pillows that once lived on your couch are gone. Your TV has been smashed in. The shoes Jane always left in the middle of the floor have disappeared, probably taken by some other parent who was desperate and was too scared to think of the child who left them. You're about to walk down the hallway to the bathroom and Jane's room when something crunches under your foot. You look down, and all the air gets punched out of your chest. As gently as possible, you bend down to pick up the shattered picture frame and stare at it. 

It was a picture taken by a friend at the county fair. Jane is on your right with a half-eaten blue cotton candy in her hand and a water bottle tucked under her arm. Her hair is in a braid, and there's a big blue stain on her Princess Ariel shirt, but she looks happy. You're both smiling big, the reflection of the colorful carnival lights shining in your identical eyes. Everyone always said she looked like Matt, but you can clearly see your features reflected back to you in this picture. God, how could you have forgotten about the way her eyes crinkled when she was happy? Or how she leaned into you in public? Or how young you both were?

"What's that?" Joel asks as he walks over to you, and you meet him halfway to show him the picture, unwilling to hand it over just yet. It takes him a minute to realize what he's looking at, but when he does, he looks up to catch you staring at the picture. "'S that Jane?"

"Mhm,"

"She's beautiful," he says, and you smile. "Is that cotton candy?"

"Yeah, it was her favorite. Practically begged me to buy it for her. I'm pretty sure I overdrafted my bank account just to get it."

"How old are you in this photo?" He asks, and you furrow your brows as you think. 

"Uh, Jane looks about three or four, so I was, at least, nineteen."

"You look happy."

"And tired," you say. Both things are true, but you can't ignore the bags under your eyes or your horribly fitting clothes. You were struggling. You were alone. You were so incredibly ill-equipped and felt the weight of the world on your shoulders. And Jane... Jane is none the wiser. She's smiling. She's fed. She's loved. She's happy. Maybe you were doing a better job than you thought you were. "You know she wanted to go on the Ferris wheel?" You ask, and Joel raises his eyebrows.

"That little?" He asks, and you laugh, nodding.

"I said the same thing, but she was so determined. So, my friend got us tickets to go on it, and we went, just the two of us. But when we started going around, she started getting really scared about the height and how fast it was going. She buried her head in my arm almost the whole time, and I was stressed that she was miserable and we had wasted my friend's money, and I was so fucking tired," you say. "But when we stopped at the top, I told her to look at the sky, and she did. I pointed at the different stars and talked to her about the moon, and she calmed down. I don't know if I distracted her or if she realized how big the sky was in comparison, but when we got down, all she could talk about was how close she got to the moon. After that, we'd go out every night and look at the stars. Even snuck out of our QZ shelter after the Outbreak."

"D'you get caught?" 

"Once. I knew a FEDRA guy, and he let it go. We never got caught again." You haven't thought about Owen in years. You don't know if he's dead or alive. You don't even know if he remembers you. You're not sure if you want to know. 

You grab a few more things from her room: a teddy bear, a few shirts, and a picture of you and her on the day she was born. Being in her space again makes your head swim, and you want to stay here forever and leave as soon as possible, all at the same time. Eventually, after combing through every nook and cranny you still know, you do leave. You say a proper goodbye to the first home you shared with Jane and the memories you made there. You're silently grateful to the apartment for holding so many treasures you would've otherwise never gotten back. 

You don't know why, but you trace your steps back through one of your old routes. Joel is silent beside you and lets you lead, knowing you would never do anything to endanger him. You recount stories as you pass certain buildings or paths; he listens and asks questions about her and your shared life. Before you know it, you're on the same hill overlooking the QZ. The one where you hid with her when the Outbreak first happened. The one you sat down on and sobbed after Adam died because you had to pull yourself together before reentering. The one you buried her on. 

The tree holding her has gotten bigger, its limbs stretching to the sky and the leaves a brilliant green. Seeing it thrive makes you smile just a little before you pivot and start walking to where you know she is. The sight of a fresh bouquet on her spot stops you in your tracks and makes your breath catch. All these years, you worried she would go unremembered under that big oak tree. You worried she was alone and scared. You worried and worried and worried because that's what any good parent does. The yellow flowers protecting her prove your worries wrong. You take a deep breath and grab Joel's hand before walking over to her. 

"Hey bug," you start, fighting your tears, "This is Joel. He’s Sarah’s dad and he’s my… he’s my best friend." You squeeze Joel’s hand and take a shaky breath. "He takes care of me and I take care of him. So, you don’t have to worry about Mommy being lonely, okay? I’m gonna be just fine. You don’t have to be scared for me. I've got my people here just like you've got your people there. So, you just rest and I'll be okay." Now, you're really crying and there's no stopping it.

"I love you. I hope leaving didn't make you think otherwise, but I came back. I'll always come back because you're my baby. You'll always be my baby."

TAGLIST: @abbyhaslongshorts @kiwiharrykiwi @sumsworldz @myloveistoolittle @anavatazes @marantha

[solitaire-addict]

A deep dive into Solitaire, its Characters and Relationships

Solitaire is a deep, complex and entertaining book. Once opened, it becomes very hard to put down and it is the type of book you would read multiple times, listen to the audiobook version, and create a blog fully dedicated to. Solitaire has that kind of seasonal feel like when it snows for the first time and your feet are cold no matter how many blankets you put on or you’re nose keeps running because you’re outside waiting for someone to come pick you up and you’re putting your hands in fists because they might just freeze off. Solitaire isn't romanticized winter, it's the gross parts that make people hate the cold seasons but you still like them because it still has a nice feeling to it, even though it may be the end of you. Personally I have read solitaire in every season but Solitaire can't be beat in January, when everyone is stupid depressed and there isn't a point to living anymore.

 Victoria (Tori) Spring portrays this deep depression and bitter feeling that everyone feels at some point and she is the embodiment of the term “pessimistic complex”. While being a relatable character to everyone, I've found that she really strikes a chord with the Asexual/Aromantic community. In recent events, it has become canon that she is Asexual and most suspect she is on the Aromantic spectrum which seems reasonable due to her behavior around one Micheal Holden. Micheal Holden, who is Tori’s friend and co-investigator in the Solitaire mystery, is (at first glance) an upbeat and strange character. Micheal holds the role of curious, and a bit mysterious and his and Tori’s friendship forms from the fact that they both got curious and did the exact same thing. In many ways, these two are very similar and when thrown together by some force, Tori ignores this and uses some freakish defense mechanism that (to anyone else) would drive away the opposing force, however, Micheal is not an opposing force, or any kind of force for that matter. He’s just a guy who happens to be a little strange and who ice skates and is secretly mad all the time. When Tori and Micheal first interact, Tori does not in any way want to talk to this guy, in fact i bet she would rather have thrown herself out the nearest window than exchange more than two sentences at once. Michel wants to be friends with Tori, so much so that he will not stop showing up out of nowhere even if he doesn't mean to. Keep in mind that Micheal has no friends and Tori has one friend and that isn't even going well.

 Becky (who has been Tori’s best and only friend for quite a while) is popular. Not in the sense that everyone knows her, more so that everyone knows of her and a couple extending details, this leaves her feeling alone in the world and her only support is Tori, who frankly, is not doing well in the slightest. And of course they’re drifting, not quickly but over time, like a call that gets worse in audio quality over time. When Becky seeks support from Tori and wants to share things with her, Tori is disengaged, I'm sure she doesn't mean it but that still sucks when you’re the one who needs to talk. There are many versions of the book and in the first one when Becky tells Tori that she just had sex with her almost boyfriend. Tori is disappointed, she even goes on to say that it made her respect Becky more for being a virgin up until now. Now remember that the first addition of this book was released in the early 2010’s so it's a bit desensitized and there are probably better words to put it other than not respecting her as much anymore but it's still a good example of Tori’s distance and self isolation from the rest of her public life, which brings us back to her relatable self destructive tendencies. 

When with Micheal, Tori continuously keeps him locked out of her life. When Micheal tells her that he wants to be friends, Tori goes on a tangent about how she doesnt know why he wants to be friends and says “i'm not some manically depressed psychopath” and they get into a fight that ends with michael saying “well maybe you are a manically depressed psychopath” and everyone ever is disappointed because Tori cant let people care about her. There's a point where Tori and Micheal finally accept each other as people and decide not to question one another, they both care and they both are okay with that, Micheal is there when Tori needs him and Tori is there when Micheal needs her, it's one of the most beautiful things and their friendship and care for eachother is deep and true and it's my favorite thing in the universe. When Tori is about to get killed by a firework, when she's literally standing on the edge of death, when she's sat at home after Charlie's relapse Micheal Holden is there. Micheals constant anger has noticeably taken a toll on him and he has said “i'm always angry, other emotions just overrule it” he means that Tori’s presence is the emotion that overrules, not in a cheesy love story way but in the way that when you’re having a bad day and then you go home to your bed and take an advil and drink some water, it makes you feel better. Tori is Micheals bed, Advil and water, no matter how cold the bed is, or how gross the Advil is or how unfiltered the water is. She’s still there, overriding the constantly lingering aggravation with himself. When Tori’s about to kill herself, Michael is there to save her, pull her back into reality and even though Tori isn't okay in the slightest afterwards, Micheal is still there, and they still care, even if the water is muddy.

 In between the 4 month gap between Solitaire and Heartstopper, nothing is technically canon on what happens between them but 4 months later Micheal has proposed the idea that they confirm their relationship status as girlfriend and boyfriend and this scared Tori. Not because she doesn't like him in that way, but because she doesn't want him to get bored of her. Along with Tori’s asexuality being confirmed, it's also confirmed that Tori and Micheal had sex and Tori was sent a confirmation email for her ticket for the asexual train. Charlie and Tori’s conversation about this is very touching, Charlie brings up that he once said that if Nick never wanted to have sex with him, he wouldn't want to either and it wouldn't change how he felt about Nick in any way. This is an example of why Asexuals FLOCK to Alice Osemans writing, it focuses on the emotional connection between characters, not the sex and tension between them. Charlie reassures Tori that Micheal will understand and he most definitely will not get bored of her (considering that they canonically stay together for at least like 10 more years) Tori’s fear of a labeled relationship is an important factor within the idea that Tori is on the Aromantic spectrum, as an aromantic person, when a relationship that I’m in is labeled, it stresses me out. It creates this internal fear of commitment and that might be what Tori is experiencing. At the end of the page, Tori and Micheal are shown talking probably about her being asexual. My hopes are that Tori and Michaels relationship remains unlabeled because it's very important that different types of queer relationships are shown in mainstream media, especially ones that aren't labeled or inside queer norms. There's nothing like queer erasure from other queer people.

[milkoomi]

₊˚⊹ ᰔ how i romanticize my life ᝰ.ᐟ

living life isn’t easy. this shit is HARD. just simply trying to get through a single day can be so draining, but it’s so important to give yourself a reason to keep moving forward in your life. one reason could be living for your own sake; living so that you, yourself, can feel happy and at peace. live for you. live and love for you.

disclaimer: my life isn’t perfect lmfao. i genuinely feel like my life is just at the point where it feels like it’s finally about to really start. i’m still in school, i work, and i quite honestly enjoy my days off by simply doing nothing. but there are some aspects of my life that i choose to romanticize, even if it’s something really small and simple. my life can be boring and lack luster sometimes, but i still try to make things even the slightest bit more interesting if i can (and if i even have the energy) !!

let’s begin !!

ᝰ.ᐟ creating a morning & night routine

most of my day consists of me attending class, studying, or clocking into work. luckily, i’m on winter break so i have a bit more free time, but since i work i still have most of my days consumed by my job. which makes it even more important to me that i create some kind of morning and night routine!!

having a routine (even if it’s only in the morning & evening) allows me to prepare myself mentally for the day or helps me unwind and relax after the day!

MORNINGS

up @ 7:30am - 8:00am, get out of bed immediately, morning stretches, drink a glass of water, make myself breakfast & coffee/tea, watch a few episodes of my fav show, skincare/morning hygiene routine/get dressed, and finally prepare my bag with all my essentials

EVENINGS

change out of work uniform/clothes i wore outside & put on house clothes (i have house clothes and sleeping clothes), eat dinner @ 5:30pm - 6:00pm (7:00pm - 7:30pm if it’s a late day), shower (i do an everything shower at least once a week, typically on fridays since that’s the end of my work week), dental hygiene, skincare & haircare, unwind in my bedroom (gaming or watching a show/youtube), and finally - about an hour before i sleep - i journal whether it’s finding a prompt to write about or just reflecting on how my day went! i’m usually heading to sleep around 9:30pm - 10:00pm!

ᝰ.ᐟ practicing self care

whether it’s doing my skincare, taking an everything shower, journaling, or simply saying affirmations to myself in the mirror, it’s really important for me to practice some kind of self care throughout my day!

everyone always talks about the importance of self care, and i’m just going to reiterate just how important it really is!

taking care of yourself, no matter how big or small the action is, is one of the major keys to finding happiness and peace within yourself and your life. i found that neglecting my own needs or myself in general just made me more miserable and made handling my own mental health a real struggle. i know that having mental health issues makes even just getting out bed the most difficult thing, but if you truly want to romanticize your life or just even feel an ounce better about yourself and your life you have to put in the work for yourself. it’s definitely easier said than done, but i promise that starting small will make the biggest difference ㅤ♡

side note: if you find yourself struggling, please reach out to your loved ones/your support system. i promise there are people who are more than willing to lend you a helping hand and be there for you when you really need someone. asking for help is always 1000% okay!

self care examples

skincare / haircare

playing your favorite video game(s)

drinking water

making a little snack or meal for yourself

watching a comfort show/movie

disconnecting from social media for a day (or however long you want to!)

talking with a friend/loved one (either through facetime or physically hanging out with them!)

journaling (if you need to let some emotions out, write it down!! or simply just writing about how your day is going or a big accomplishment you made or whatever!)

cleaning your room

going for a walk, going to the gym, doing some yoga (get yourself moving!)

breathing exercises / meditation

find a self care routine or self care tasks that work for you and make you feel good!!

ㅤᝰ.ᐟ taking myself out on dates

while i’m happily engaged to the love of my life, sometimes i need some alone time to just be with myself and enjoy time with myself, and that’s okay! i will say though, i do struggle with social anxiety and a few years ago it was really severe and it had gotten to a point where i couldn’t even run simple errands without the company of a loved one. but!! encouraging myself (and honestly almost forcing myself) to go places by myself helped me a lot.

solo dates have been so freeing for me! i personally get myself all done up and ready as if i were going on an actual date with my partner, and it makes my solo date experience 10x better! it helps me feel more confident when i go out and go on my little adventure and, for some reason i honestly can’t really explain, makes me feel more accomplished once my solo date is over!

solo date ideas

go to a café! maybe bring a book to read or something to journal with! i have an ipad so i’ll bring that with me because i can journal on there, watch a show, play some games, or (if i’m actively in school) i can study and write my notes!

movie theatre! i personally have not done this yet, but i have friends who have gone to the movies by themselves and they really enjoyed it!! &, if you get lucky, you could have a whole theatre to yourself!!

go to the mall! i LOVE taking myself on a solo mall date! i brought my headphones with me and i went to all of my favorite stores to browse around (or even treat myself to something if my paycheck hit hehe)! there’s also not a lot of local boba shops near me, but at the mall i go to there’s two boba places so i’ll also treat myself to a little drink!

go for a nature walk! if the weather permits it, walking outside and just enjoying nature can be so peaceful! i’m lucky to live in an area where there are lots of forest preserves that have great trails to walk through! of course, be safe when you head out for a nature walk & be sure to plan accordingly!

run errands! idk if people would really consider this a “solo date”, but running errands by yourself is such a fun experience! and, if you’re like me, it really helps to make you feel like your own individual! just grabbing any essentials you might need or even getting groceries by yourself can make you feel so productive!

take yourself out for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! treating yourself to a nice meal can be so rewarding! you can get yourself all nice and dressed up and just enjoy a delicious meal!

ᝰ.ᐟ self photoshoots

if i ever need a confidence boost, i’ll put makeup on, put together a super cute outfit, and start taking pictures of myself! just getting myself ready and capturing how good i look just makes me feel so much better about myself. seeing my own beauty and taking those aesthetic photos of myself makes me feel so so good!

now, i don’t use a fancy, professional camera, i literally just use my phone and i don’t have any fancy lighting other than a small ring light and a sunset lamp but i’ll still get myself set up to take some good pics!

ᝰ.ᐟ signature scent

i have always loved and adored perfume, but recently i’ve been trying to curate and perfect my signature scent. having a signature scent just adds a little something to you and your aura! i was finally able to land my signature scent (at least for the winter season) and every single day i’m getting compliments on how i smell and it’s genuinely one of my favorite things ever!

play around with perfumes and scents! find something that makes you feel beautiful and confident!

if you wanna know my signature scent…

Lattafa Now Rave Women perfume (yes, i got it off of tiktok shop), Victoria’s Secret Tease perfume, EOS Vanilla Cashmere lotion, & Vaseline Cocoa Radiant body oil

𝜗𝜚 final notes 𝜗𝜚

these are just a few things i do (or try to do) to romanticize my life! and, just to reiterate, live for yourself! live and love how you want to! life isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t have to be, but if you want to add a little spice, fun, or flavor to your day or week or month, live how you want to live!

live and love, babe.

sincerely, juno ⭑.ᐟ

[this-witch-writes]

I was think about steddie and that post going around about "intangible love" and the romanticism of unspoken acts of affection and the replies show how differently people react to that.

Part 1 (Show Don't Tell)

part 2, part 3

Steve Harrington's parents are distant (always emotionally and usually geographically) his only serious girlfriend wouldn't say she loved him, and most of his friendships were either surface macho things or a bunch of literal children. He loves Robin and they talk, they do, but she's not exactly mushy either. That actually is fine with her and the kids, but it's not what he's hoping for in a relationship.

Eddie’s parents said they loved him, said they wanted what was best for him, but it was just words. The person who actually loved him, who cared, who showed up when it mattered, hardly ever said much at all. Wayne knew how to make love understood. His uncle didn't have to say he loved him it was obvious with the hours he worked, how he hadn’t hesitated to make space for Eddie, to listen to him, and never ask him to change. Wayne always paid attention to his likes and dislikes, and Eddie thinks that kind is real love.

After spring break, Eddie was pleasantly shocked by the level of care Steve showed people around him, in those little actions that meant everything. Eddie gets so swept up in how Steve makes him feel that he doesn't even realise that Steve thinks that Eddie made the first move.

Steve had known he liked Eddie and tried to look out for him after spring break, but he was surprised when the guy kissed him. It was nice though, nice to be wanted, nice to be the one pursued and not doing the pursuing. It made him feel more confident than he had in a long time. He doesn't worry about the rest of it. When Eddie never wants to talk about how he feels, what him and Steve are to each other, Steve doesn't love it but he figures that Eddie just needs time.

It doesn't get better with time, it gets worse.

They've been dating for six months and Eddie wants to be over the moon. Steve is amazing and sweet and hot. They have so much fun together, but Eddie doesn't know why nothing he does is enough to show Steve that he cares. He notices the little things, favourite foods and flowers, times a joke goes too far with the kids and Eddie shuts them down. Eddie knows he's paying attention, but Steve still constantly questions it, asking how Eddie feels like he’s not bending over backwards to show it? He just wants to feel like he's enough.

Steve is lost. He can't make sense of Eddie. He's so caring, so attentive, and the way he acts... it can't just be casual to him, can it? But it took four months for Eddie to use the word boyfriend and only when repeatedly asked. He hasn't said he loves him.

Steve did.

Five months in, riding the high of Eddie saying “boyfriend” instead of using vague hand-gestures to define their relationship. Steve had been stressed from work and got soaked in the November rain only to come home to Eddie cooking him a beautiful dinner.

'I love you, Eds.'

Eddie smiled big and bright and kissed him. They kept kissing and it wasn't until the next morning that Steve realized Eddie hadn't said it back.

Steve waited a week before saying it again. Eddie seem happy to hear it, not uncomfortable, all smiles and kisses and promises to pick Steve up after work but... no I love you. Steve kept trying for a few weeks but eventually he stopped. He told himself that it was fine, he could wait, but he missed that feeling from the start, so confident that he was wanted.  

Eddie knew Steve had been a bit quiet through the winter. He knew that he was missing Robin away at college, that the kids were busy, and that the holidays were tough for a lot of people with shitty parents. But he was still blindsided when he asked what was wrong and Steve looked him in the face and asked if Eddie loved him.

Did he love him? That hurt. How could Steve even ask that?

'Nothing's ever going to be good enough for his highness, is it?' He snapped at him, determined not to show how close to crying he was. He was just so tired. He’d been working all hours trying to save up so him and Steve could leave Hawkins and it was still not enough.

Steve blinked back at his boyfriend, the second person he'd loved who just refused him this most basic part of a relationship, who just couldn't seem to choke out the words even to humour him. Heartbroken and speechless, Steve walked the rest of the way home.

The next day Eddie worried. He'd expected Steve to call that night to make up, Eddie was big enough to admit that Steve was better at reaching out first to apologise. Eddie was good at words, descriptions, stories, but putting words to the messiness of emotions, not so much. When Steve didn't call Eddie decided that he'd been too harsh. So what if Steve was a little insecure sometimes? Eddie adored everything else about him, he was allowed to have a flaw. He drove to Steve's but no one answered. He had a key though and so let himself in

Downstairs was as empty as usual but Eddie got anxious when he saw a lot of Steve's things were missing from his room. There was a note on the desk on his desk he was too scared to read. Maybe Steve had been too upset to talk and needed to write it now for Eddie to understand.

'Eddie, I nearly couldn't go, but this isn't fair to either of us. I hope you find someone someday that you love as much I love you now, someone you love enough to get past whatever's holding you back. yours, Steve.'

Eddie didn't understand at all.

-

Continue: part 2, part 3

[xo-zozo]

Do you have any headcanons about avery during thl when she was healing from the plane bombing? Like Nightmares, difficulty with limitations from her injuries while she's healing, processing all the info she learned and trauma from near death experiences, trouble sleeping because of the coma, etc. Because other than her waking up, we don't see much else even though she says it was the worst time in her life in brothers hawthorne.

this is such an interesting idea... i'd gladly do it for you <3

~ i feel like she would definitely get nightmares while she was in the coma and jameson would sit there with there while she got them (like holding her hand, kissing her on the forehead, touching her hair, etc. 🥹)

~ she would also have nightmares after the fact but i think we all knew that but i don't just mean right after i mean like in the grandest game era yk

~ i think i read a fic where it was her leg that got hurt but i'm not sure... anyway, i think that it would be hard for to do things for a little bit afterward and she would need more help with things that she used to be able to do and knowing her it would make her upset because she was so used to doing things herself (ofc jameson would be her number 1 cheerleader)

~ migraines all the time after she woke up from the coma

~ she would have trouble with everything that she learned but i feel like that would be expected considering how much she learned before the plane freaking blew up

~ the media would be really hard on her after she disappears for a while so that would be another really hard thing for her to deal with but i just KNOW my girl alisa was on that

~ most of the time she just wouldn't tell anyone how she felt because she thought that she was being dramatic about how much pain she was in

~ for a while her hands were really shaky so that would also make it hard for her to do stuff

~ she would also get sick really easily because she was so weak and so there was just a period in the winter/fall where she kept getting sick

sorry if i felt like i was romanticizing this with the averyjameson... i just can't survive one post without mentioning them ig

-zoey ☆

[waarmsalad]

Not really quick note: so ive never actually 'finished' any fics so i wasnt sure how to, this is also the first one ive posted on here, id love to have any tips even from people who dont really write, constructive critisism is always welcome. I think i stuck to the theme but im not sure lol. Ive edited most of it but some parts i only skimmed through after writing them so mistakes are probably present, anyways thanks for reading and i hope that this is enjoyable and not too goofy😭

(I love your work so much @mustainegf, thank you for the opportunity!<3)

Words: 2k

Warnings: my writing, fwb but no smut, mostly fluff, making out and a mention of smoking. I dont really think theres anything else

You noticed as you looked out the vehicle's window, intricate patters of frost decorating the glass. It was the middle of winter, and by the looks of it neither you or cliff would be trying to get anywhere else after you arrived at his place.

The changes in recent weather had been drastic. It had rained the night before, but now even the air was frozen forcing previous puddles to be formed into patches of slippery ice.

You two figured that after hitting up the grocery store, which had been before the heavy snowfall, you would hang out, watch a movie, share a smoke or get into some other suggestive activity.

You were quite content in that moment but the thought that you'd spent nights awake about itched at your mind again.

A while back Cliff had suggested to add a twist to your benevolence. "I was just thinkin' cause you're always complaining that you're not getting laid-" he  pauses to smirk. "And I'd also like to have a little fun now and then." He had previously explained that if uou were up to it, a freinds with benefits situation wouldnt be so bad.

Before you answered he made sure that you knew that he only wanted to if you were up for it, and that you could call it off at any point. "Its completely up to you, just think about it." He told you.

And you did. Of course you wanted it, or rather him, but you knew most of these sort of relationships excluded feelings. Cliff hadnt thrown in the rules yet so you asked him about them, clarifying that you were still only pondering the option.

Cliff said to you that he just wanted to discuss where boundaries lied, as well as any thoughts about the arrangement. He mentioned a few other things like being honest, which was important, but he never said anything regarding avoiding any romanticism. So you agreed.

There was this little sliver of hope deep in your heart hoping that maybe he didnt forbid those kind of feelings because he reciprocated them. However you countered with yourself that he would have just asked you out if he did, since he wasnt one to play with a person's emotions.

You opened your mouth to bring up the topic in the car, but stopped yourself. The different ways you believed he would respond forced you to change your mind.

You noticed after the first few weeks of the arrangement that cliff had been acting a little bit different. A change like that had been expected in some way by you, but he just wasn't the same. And though you knew that you should talk to him about it, the tension was currently a little weighted. You didnt feel like adding to it by asking anything that you deemed momentarily 'unnecessary.'

After a couple of minutes he pulled into the driveway, parking the car on the frozen cement with caution. The heater had previously been blasting hot air into the cab of Cliff's car. That being so, once  you opened the door and stepped into the fresh air, a harsh chill immediately encased your entire body.

Cliff quickly grabbed some of the grocery bags from the back, giving you a head start getting to the front door. Once you were inside, cliff swung the door shut, placing the bags down before beginning to shed his basic winter layers.

While you took off your own jacket, he decided to tease you, he grabbed your sides, icy fingers clawing at your covered flesh. His actions caused you to shriek. He snickered at your reaction, which drew out a scoff from your lips. "Meanie" you commented quietly. Cliff only chuckled and shook his head, smiling.

Once the two of you discarded all of your snow-packed apparel, he informed you that he was gonna grab a shit ton of blankets and haul them into the living room after he put the groceries away. "We can do whatever afterward, I just wanna get you warmed up." He winked, nudging you before dissapearing into the hallway.

You smiled, even without any cozy blankets you could feel a little bit of warmth in your heart already.  Although he was only a freind, he took care of you, which you could do by yourself easily but you needed to feel loved, as your life had been all sorts of messed up.

Suddenly remembering that he was nothing more than that; a freind, you started spiraling again. You knew you needed to finally talk to him about his difference in mood toward you, except you were intimidated by all of the possible outcomes.

As soon as you started to feel a farmiliar burn in your face from holding your tears from the confusion and longing, he staggered into the living room before you. A massive pile of blankets and quilts were stacked high in his arms. He struggled to avoid dropping any, but some dispersed onto the hardwood floor.

Luckily that made you smile before you could cry. You tried to stiffle a giggle, however failing miserably. Once he stubbed his toe on the coffee table next to the couch, you knew that was the breaking point. You bursted out laughing while he hissed in pain.

Cliff pouted, dropping all the fabric onto the loveseat. He turned around and huffed. "You're kind of mean yourself there, sweetheart." He claimed, chuckling. You only beamed at him, posing as innocent.

Feeling quite generous afterwards, you assisted in gathering the blankets and stacking them on the  couch neatly. During your time spent on making the couch look nice, your mind nagged at you once again to ask him, but you ignored your own persistence.

Cliff soon heads to the kitchen to grab the snacks and junk you had picked out for the movie, insisting that you pick what to watch while he left you in the den.

Once you finished, you sat down in front of the coffee table and looked under the tv, finding his vhs tape collection. After you sifted through the different movies for a bit, Cliff brought in a large bowl of popcorn and another small bowl of candy, a couple of drinks inside since his hands were mostly full.

"So what did you pick?" He wondered out loud. You grinned and held up the shining. He groans, placing down the bowls. "How many times have we watched that in this room alone??" He teased you.

"I just really love it, theres Shelley Duvall too" you quipped back, ignoring his faux annoyance. "And to be fair, you almost begged me to pick the movie." Cliff nodded, snickering softly. You slid the tape into the vhs player, sitting back onto the couch as soon as the beginning ads start playing.

You were sitting a little ways away from cliff on the couch. He noticed and pulled you toward him, now sitting sideways. Your legs rested over the arm of the loveseat as you flipped some of the blankets onto yourself.

About half an hour into the movie you could feel a new tension build. It had started modestly, but soon it seemed to be intolerable. You turned your neck a little ways to look at cliff, whose eyes were glued onto the screen. Regardless, you could sense that he wss struggling to pay attention to the film.

You looked back, and were on the verge of speaking up when cliff opened his mouth. "I think we should call it off." He said. He couldnt see the the sudden shock that took over your face because he was still staring straight at the TV. There was no real emotion present in his voice when he told you that, which threw you off.

You knew that he was talking about the arramgement  but you wanted to be clear. Shifting in your spot, you asked him, your tone almost more bewildered than you were. "What do you mean call it off?"

"I mean I cant do this anymore." He claimed, finally looking toward you. He winced at your slight scowl. "Thats not a reason Cliff, you said that we had to be honest." He groaned at your reminder and huffed, putting a hand over his face.

He mumbled something, but you couldnt hear him cause he spoke so quietly. "What?" You asked. This time he spoke louder. "I didnt mean for it to happen!" He stated, which confused you.

"For what to happen?" you were confused, the movie continued to play in the background as you scoffed at him again.

He sighed "Im sorry" he said quietly. "What happened Cliff?" You huffed, getting a little tired of going back and a little concerned. "What did you do?"

"I love you." He says bluntly, he was unable to look you in the eye as he scrunched his face and stood up.

You sat on the couch, no words could explain how many emotions were trying to unscramble themselves in your brain, but the gears started turning so you tried. "Cliff I-" you sputtered. "Why were you apologising before?"

He raised an eyebrow and dropped his hands to his side, your sudden calmness unnerved him. "I thought that it was a basic kind of 'rule' in these kinds of...relationships" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well you never mentioned it." You told him. He thought back to when he suggested it and nodded. "I guess I didnt but I thought that you'd-" he began ro ramble again before you cut him off.

"I love you too, cliff." God, was that a great way to shut him up at first his expression was flat. Eventually he just stood and smiled like a little kid. He did nothing until you rolled your eyes and patted the couch. "Just come here, you dumbass," you chuckled and shook your head. He obliged, pulling you even closer once he sat down.

For a moment you two just looked at eachother admiringly. You had thought Cliff was at an absolute loss of words but he proved you wrong. "Can I kiss you?" He wondered out loud. You smiled and reached your hands to hold both sides of his face, bringing him forward and allowing him to reach your lips in a soft kiss.

You had kissed Cliff before, but this time it felt different. It didnt feel rushed or cloddish. It was sensual, and a little strange. You felt as if every weight had been lifted off of your shoulders. Butterflies started stirring in your stomach, which  made you feel giggly and lovesick.

Slowly, the kisses moved on to small touches, and though it had almost been a routine as well, this too felt different for you and cliff. It felt strange, but amazing both at once.

You broke away and tucked your head into the crook if his neck, littering small kisses and nips on his skin. Cliff groaned and made little sounds every once in a while, he smiled widely, basking in the moment.

Your tounge darted out and you licked over where you had nipped, smoothing over some of the purple marks you had sucked as well.

You kissed back up his jawline to his face, planting a singular kiss on his cheek before pulling away to gaze at him again. His eyes flutter open, his grin staying as it was as he sinks into the back cushions.

He holds you by the small of your back with both hands as you straddle him. Leaning forward, you hug him. "Can we just stay like this?" You asked, feeling no urgency for anything at the moment. Cliff agreed, smiling and kissing your cheek before rubbing your back, the light pressure making you sigh happily.

He held you close. It felt good, to finally be like that with him. The tension was long dissipated and he made it clear that he was only acting strange as to not scare you away with his confession.

The only occurence that disturbed your peaceful atmosphere being a playful popcorn fight, which started because of a small tiff about the movie neither of you remembered by the time it was over.

AGHHHHH idk how anybody writes anything so fast ive been working and procrastinating on working on this for probably four or five days😭

I really hope this was okay, thank youu<3

[strawberryscentedd]

Warnings for Bollywood-typical corny-ness, reader is implied to be south asian in some but anyone can insert themself in this. I hope y'all appreciate me translating south asian dishes like chai and halwa puri into English for the One section bc that was tricky 😭 In other news, I don't know how to write a sword fight..

𝓝𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓭 𝓪𝓼 𝓑𝓸𝓵𝓵𝔂𝔀𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼

𝓓𝓸𝔂

Royal Lovers & Enemies to Lovers

Clank!

You gritted your teeth as your fingers tightened around the handle of your sword. It may be that you agreed to marry Doy at your family's behest, but you weren't going to play the role of the decorative wife who sits in the background and adorns her husband's home.

When you saw your husband-to-be practicing his sword skills in the courtyard, you raised your head and straightened your back as you asked him to spar. You suppose you should've expected the smirk.

Doy didn't go easy on you as you practiced, and you didn't mind. Most suitors who learned of your hobby thought it was 'endearing' and nothing more. Doy fought like he meant it, like he knew you could hold your own. As your swords locked you together you noticed that Doy had furrowed his brows, and felt a secret excitement at the thought of you being a difficult opponent for him. You gasped and stumbled back when Doy wrestled his sword away while you were lost in that thought.

You both studied each other as you regained your breath, and for some reason you felt lighter. Like the cloud that hung over the both of you since your betrothal had been confirmed had suddenly lifted.

𝓢𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓱𝓪

When You're Around the World Changes

Sangha had read many a poem and heard many a song that claimed love could change the world; It made the stars brighter, the flowers more fragrant, it made summer refreshing and winter warm. It's a nice enough thought, but Sangha never imagined such sentiments could be true. This is real life, after all.

And yet, whenever he looks at you, he begins to wonder if those writers had a point. As he watches you talking with your friends, he ponders the way the sun's rays illuminate your hair. He studies the tiny, yellow buttercup you plucked from the grass. Were they always that beautiful and delicate?

As sangha sits a few feet away, the observations meld into a world of their own. A world inhabited only by him and you, where the sky is just a bit brighter, the wind just a bit gentler, where he gets to listen to you all day.

𝓞𝓷𝓮

The Lunchbox a.k.a. The Inherent Romanticism of Little Gestures

Jiwon blinked owlishly at the dining table. Before him sat typical south asian breakfast setup-- black cardamom chai guarded under a tea cozy, warm and inviting deep fried bread, sunflower seed pudding and curried chickpeas. It was the same breakfast you normally made for him before he head of to work, and Jiwon always appreciated the effort as you two had only been married for a month. But the quiet distruptor of the breakfast-- a yellow Lunchbox-- couldn't be ignored anymore. Was this the famed lunchbox all those male love interests in Bollywood movies proudly carried to work? What did you pack inside it? Should Jiwon peek now or allow to remain a surprise?

Jiwon turned at the sound of you padding into the room, but the feeling of heat rising up the back of his neck compelled him to finish his breakfast and escape as soon as possible. He couldn't understand why such a simple gesture moved him so much. Maybe Jiwon just loved everything you did.

𝓡𝓲𝓿𝓻

Frolicking in the Rain

You swallow harshly, nearly out of breath. Kangsu continues to lead you forward, your hand in his. Your laughter warms you up for a moment as you both run down the street. The rain had caught you both by surprise, as neither of you had checked the weather forecast before heading out today. Before you knew it, the sky was gray and you and your boyfriend were drenched. The plan was to look for shelter, but given you both zoomed past a bus stop, your boyfriend is content to play around for a little longer.

You yelped when Kangsu suddenly hoisted you up and placed you on a bench, holding your hand to balance you as you walked. You looked down at him. The rain had glued his bangs to forehead, and his cheeks were rosy from the cold. As a harsh gust of wind rushed past you, Kangsu must've decided it's time to find shelter after all, as he gently took you in his arms and helped you down.

𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓸

Arranged Marriage Gone Right

You weren't sure what to expect when you first arrived at Junho's home. When your parents showed you his photo the week prior and told you about the good family he comes from, you decided to give him a chance. He was a pleasant surprise, in the end. When he first met you, he showed you his room and told of his love of making music, and played you a song on the guitar. He made you laugh and told you of all the paces he wanted to travel to in the future.

Its still early, and both of your families are visiting a waterfall together. You turned when you felt a hand grab yours, and saw Junho motion to be quiet. You held back a laughas you both snuck away and walked into the woods. You think to yourself that Junho fits in with nature, as you two admire the scenery from afar. Fireflies gather around the both you, and Junho wears a contented smile. Tonight, you'd tell your parents it's a yes.

Taglist:

@slytherinshua

[enbyleighlines]

1 2 3 5 springtime trio

1. When did you start shipping them?

Good question. I don’t really remember when I was first introduced to moominvalley, but I found a post about them on my blog from 2019. So, it’s been at least 5 years.

Basically, there was a big surge of popularity around the Moomin franchise, and I ended up swept up in it, because the character designs kept invoking a sense of nostalgia, despite me having never seen them before. Intrigued, I watched the 90’s anime. And the more I dove into the lore, the more I shipped Moomintroll with both Snufkin and Snorkmaiden. And now, I even ship Snufkin with Snorkmaiden!

2. What do you like about them as individuals?

Well, Snufkin is my favorite of the trio! There’s just something about him that produces so much serotonin in my brain. I love how carefree and easygoing he seems on the surface, but he also has strong convictions and a distinct sense of right or wrong. In the Snufkin game that came out, Little My taunts him with a line like, “Why are you late? Were there some butterflies in desperate need of being appreciated?” And I think that sums up my love for him. He romanticizes the mundane, and I think that mindset is so admirable.

Snorkmaiden is Best Girl, and you cannot convince me otherwise. I love how multi-faceted she is. Like, yes, she is a bit of a drama diva, wishing that her life was more like one of those romantic fantasies she’s always reading about. And yes, she can be jealous and petty and made foolish by those emotions. But it’s those facets of her character that make her so interesting. Especially since as idealistic as she can be, she can also be reasonable and clever. And for how petty she can be, she can also be so sweet, supportive, and understanding. It’s no wonder that Snufkin and Moomintroll seem to both immediately fall in love with her when they first meet in the Comet in Moominland book.

And as for our titular Moomintroll, I love how he grows over time. He starts out so naive and sensitive, with unrealistic expectations about the world and adventures. And while he never quite loses that completely, he grows wiser. When things go wrong, when he learns about the various injustices of the world, it makes him more mature, yes, but it also teaches him compassion. I love how upset he becomes on the behalf of others, and how he loves so deeply that he cannot help but involve himself in everybody else’s problems.

So, yes… I love them all a bunch.

3. What about their dynamic appeals to you?

Well, they have the childhood friends to lovers thing going for them, which is my absolutely favorite relationship trope. I also love the dynamic between Snufkin and Moomintroll. Snufkin is an introvert who likes to travel by himself, and needs his alone time. Moomintroll is very clingy, which clashes with Snufkin’s needs. I love how painful it is for the both of them. Snufkin wants to travel in the winter, but he doesn’t like upsetting Moomintroll. And Moomintroll doesn’t want to be parted from Snufkin, but he learns eventually that it’s something that he will have to accept.

I love that Snorkmaiden provides for Moomintroll what Snufkin cannot. She is social, like Moomintroll. She can be just as clingy, too. And she better fits into the happy domestic life that Moomintroll has in Moominvalley. I also think her love for romance and fantasy pairs well with Moomintroll’s personality. He is also a dreamer, prone to wishing for adventure. Meanwhile, Snufkin concerns himself primarily with the familiar world he knows and loves.

That being said, I love when Snufkin indulges Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden in their whimsical fancies. Such as that time that Snorkmaiden bumped her head and believed that she was a princess. Snufkin was remarkably calm about the whole wacky situation, and even played his part as a potential suitor. Snorkmaiden seems to have the unique talent of drawing out Snufkin’s more chivalrous/playful side, which is endlessly amusing to me.

Meanwhile, Snufkin does his best to lessen the pain Moomintroll experiences each winter when he leaves to travel south. Being tied down isn’t his nature. Worse, it goes against his nature. And yet, for Moomintroll, he tries. He tries to stay as long as he can, he leaves behind a letter, and he tries to return on the very first day of spring each year.

I love how they both influence each other. Snufkin helps Moomintroll be more independent, while Moomintroll helps Snufkin realize that relationships are not a burden, but something that he can carry with him.

They’re just… such a bittersweet trio. There’s so much room for angst, for misunderstandings, for jealousy, for conflicting needs driving a wedge between them all. But there’s also so much room for fluff, for friendship, for understanding, for finding magic in the mundane, for being transformed by love, for laughter and inside jokes and playful teasing. And who doesn’t love a little bit of hurt/comfort?

5. How do you envision them getting together?

Well, obviously Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden get together first. Depending on the adaptation, Snorkmaiden is more or less already Moomintroll’s girlfriend.

The real question is how Snufkin gets involved.

I like to believe that Snorkmaiden is the one who first brings the idea up. It’s obvious that Moomintroll is pining for Snufkin, but Moomintroll himself thinks that he has no chance. After all, Snufkin is the independent sort. Nor has he ever shown the slightest inkling of interest in romance.

But Snorkmaiden is a woman of keen insight into the feelings of others. While everyone else thinks Snufkin as the last person to ever be interested in a relationship, Snorkmaiden can see beyond his cool facade. And what she sees is that Snufkin is pining just as hard as Moomintroll. Especially once Snorkmaiden lays her official claim on Moomintroll, Snufkin has been just a touch gloomier, and Snorkmaiden knows jealousy when she sees it.

So I imagine Snorkmaiden talks it out with Moomintroll, and the two of them conspire to attempt to court Snufkin.

It probably takes a while, though.

Snufkin is very determined not to be seduced, because as much as he loves Moomintroll, he is hesitant to risk their friendship. But Moomintroll and Snorkmaiden are a fearsomely persuasive duo. Snufkin cannot possibly hope to win against their combined weaponized determination.

So Snufkin and Snorkmaiden both date Moomintroll, but they don’t immediately reveal that they have feelings for one another, too.

I headcanon that while Snufkin and Snorkmaiden were very close as children, they drifted apart as teenagers. They wound up clashing a lot, Snufkin’s practical, easygoing, but reclusive nature butting heads against Snorkmaiden’s passionate zeal for parties, romance, and fairy-tales. And, of course, both were jealous of each other. Snorkmaiden wanted Moomintroll’s undivided attention, while Snufkin wanted to be brave enough to confess his feelings.

But as adults, they find themselves charmed by each other. And slowly, but surely, Snufkin and Snorkmaiden find themselves falling in love.

Anyway, this response is getting waaay too long, so I think I’m going to cut it off now. Thanks for the ask!!

[dudeshusband]

Ship: Mike x Pete Nelson

Words: 900

Description: Mike and Pete get a pumpkin.

Warnings: A bit of insecurity on Mike's part. But that's just me.

The circus returned back to its home base after Halloween. It had been a long spring and summer of touring the country, and soon the circus would close for the winter. Mike walked through the crunching leaves, on their way from pitching hay for the elephants. They passed their boyfriend, who was dealing cards on the Midway. His eyes lit up as he saw them, and he ran up to meet them. 

“Hi, Pete,” they said. 

“There’s a pumpkin patch, a little ways off from the circus.” 

Mike furrowed their eyebrows. “A pumpkin patch…?” 

He nodded. “Get your coat and I’ll get you one.” 

“Pete, it’s after Halloween.” 

“Make a pie out of it. I don’t know. It’s not Christmas yet.” 

Mike smiled. He seemed so adamant about it. “You know, if you want to spend time with me, you can just say so.” 

His eyes glittered in the light of the setting sun. It made Mike weak in the knees. 

“I wanna spend time with you.” 

He said it so gently, so earnestly. Mike thought they turned to jelly right there. 

“Well, I have to change,” Mike said. “I have to put something nice on.” 

“You always look nice.” 

Mike shook their head fondly. “Pete, that’s not what I meant.” 

Mike hurried off to Pete’s trailer, which they lived in at this point. They made quick work of freshening up, changing into one of their turtleneck dresses, and applying makeup. They twisted their hair into the neatest bun they could do quickly. 

Pete was waiting for them outside the door, leaning against the side of the trailer. He’d put on his jacket, and held a cigarette loosely between his lips.

“Ready?” he asked, without taking the cigarette out of his mouth. 

They nodded, and stepped down. Pete took their hand in his, and used the other to light his cigarette. He turned to them, flitting his eyes up and down their body. 

“You get all dolled up just for me?” 

Mike chuckled. “Not just for you.” 

“For the people at the pumpkin patch?” 

Mike shook their head. “What about me? Don’t I get to look good for myself?” 

“Sure you do.” 

Mike stared at their boyfriend as much as they could on their walk, without tripping. He looked ever so pretty in his blue jacket and the crisp morning air. His hand was warm compared to Mike’s which always ran cold. And, they could help but be mesmerized by his lips. When he smiled, when he talked, and when he smoked, as he was now. They often wondered if he had a similar obsession with them. 

As they walked, he glanced at them every so often, smiling gently. They wondered, too, what he was smiling at. What did he see? The hastily applied lipstick? The tired eyes? The hair sticking out of their bun? Some permanent, flawed, facet of Mike’s face? What was he romanticizing in his mind? 

Mike had gotten lost in their own head, so much so, they had no idea where they were. 

“Mike, honey, we’re here,” Pete said. He dropped his cigarette and put it out with his foot. 

Mike snapped out of their fog. “Sorry.” 

Mike looked around the pumpkin patch. It had some pumpkins still in their patch, some on carts, and a cart of non-pumpkin miscellanea. Up front there was a cart selling 10 cent hot apple cider. 

“Should we get a little one or a great big one?” Pete asked them. 

“Can we get some apple cider?” Mike asked him. 

He nodded, and led them to the apple cider cart. He ordered for them, which he was used to doing for girlfriends, and Mike didn’t see the point in correcting it. He paid, too, which Mike was still trying to get themselves used to. 

The pair sipped their cider and walked through the pumpkins. 

“We should get a small one,” Mike said. “It’ll be easier to take back and keep.” 

He nodded. 

“Also, don’t you think I should buy my own pumpkin?” 

“I don’t see why,” he said. “I’m takin’ you out. I wanted to get you one.” 

“Alright.” 

“I expect to buy you things,” he said. When Mike opened their mouth to protest, he amended, “I want to buy you things. It makes you happy. It makes me feel good.” 

He squeezed their hand gently. 

“Now, get yourself a pumpkin. Make us both happy.” 

Mike got one of the smallest pumpkins in the patch, and showed it to their boyfriend. 

“Here,” they said. 

“That’s barely a pumpkin!” he exclaimed, with some amusement. “That’s a kid pumpkin.” 

“It’s done growing,” Mike said. 

He took the pumpkin in his big hands. “It makes me feel like a giant.” 

Mike chuckled. “That’s the one. Perfect.”

Pete shook his head, but still smiled at them. He walked to the front, and gave the owner some money out of his wallet. Once the pumpkin was theirs, he returned back to Mike, and handed it to them. Then, he took their other hand. 

“Ready?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” Mike said. “It’s cold out here.” 

Pete swung his jacket off, and put it over Mike’s shoulders. 

“Hey, you only have that polo on, I have this turtleneck dress.” 

He smiled. “I can handle it.” 

Mike snuggled up to him as they walked. It was a bit awkward, but they soon figured it out, and made their way back to the circus. 

[almostsomewheremaybe]

Once Upon a time in Toronto

In late 2016, I was fresh off probation, and invited my friends to roadtrip up to Toronto with me for New Year’s Eve. I wanted to be out of the country (never had been) and not sober to celebrate my freedom. I had gone to see a special person, too, but everything was special back then.

The morning of New Years Day, me (very hungover) and my friends were sitting in traffic. I saw an unhoused man pan-handling. Before I could reach into my pocket for spare change, another man in a luxury car physically shoo’d the unhoused man away. I immediately hopped out of the car, and ran over to his defense. I flicked off the luxury car as it jolted away, and gave the man what little money I had.

“Did you have a good New Years?” He asked sweetly.

It took me back a bit. He had just been publicly humiliated. I was furious and embarrassed for him. It was cold that morning, and certainly freezing last night, and he’s asking me how my New Years was?

I said, “I did,” and asked him how his had been.

“I spent it under a bridge with the person I love.” He grinned, “So it was good.”

He gestured his head back behind him. I looked over his shoulder, and saw an unhoused woman lounging atop a cushion-less, worn-down couch. The couch was on a raised platform, so the effect was something like a lioness resting on a tall rock. The sun was shining on her, and she wore dark shades. Suddenly it didn’t feel so cold.

I looked at him one last time, and he smiled in unfamiliar and boundless riches. And this person he loved, relishing in her winter rays, and this thirty second interaction all left me feeling so awe-struck, and incomplete, and inconsolable for months after.

To this day I think about it. I think about what a love like that can do, even (especially) in the “worst” of circumstances. It broke something in me, and healed something else. I don’t want to romanticize the housing crisis, or any of the other plagues unhoused people experience, but something in me was forever changed during that thirty second interaction. Love is the miracle of miracles in our shameful indifferent age, and even its slightest glimmer is enough salvation for the whole world a hundred times over.

— Once Upon a Time in Toronto I discovered what priceless really means

[dustorange]

This book may need more than one preface, and in the end there would still remain room for doubt whether anyone who had never lived through similar experiences could be brought closer to the experience of this book by means of prefaces. It seems to be written in the language of the wind that thaws ice and snow: high spirits, unrest, contradiction, and April weather are present in it, and one is instantly reminded no less of the proximity of winter than of the triumph over the winter that is coming, must come, and perhaps has already come.

Gratitude pours forth continually, as if the unexpected had just happened—the gratitude of a convalescent—for convalescence was unexpected. "Gay Science": that signifies the saturnalia of a spirit who has patiently resisted a terrible, long pressure—patiently, severely, coldly, without submitting, but also without hope—and who is now all at once attacked by hope, the hope for health, and the intoxication of convalescence. Is it any wonder that in the process much that is unreasonable and foolish comes to light, much playful tenderness that is lavished even on problems that have a prickly hide and are not made to be caressed and enticed? This whole book is nothing but a bit of merry-making after long privation and powerlessness, the rejoicing of strength that is returning, of a reawakened faith in a tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, of a sudden sense and anticipation of a future, of impending adventures, of seas that are open again, of goals that are permitted again, believed again. And what did not lie behind me then! This stretch of desert, exhaustion, disbelief, icing up in the midst of youth, this interlude of old age at the wrong time, this tyranny of pain even excelled by the tyranny of pride that refused the conclusions of pain—and conclusions are consolations—this radical retreat into solitude as a self-defense against a contempt for men that had become pathologically clairvoyant—this determined self-limitation to what was bitter, harsh, and hurtful to know, prescribed by the nausea that had gradually developed out of an incautious and pampering spiritual diet, called romanticism—oh, who could reexperience all of this? But if anyone could, he would surely pardon more than a little foolishness, exuberance, and "gay science"—for example, the handful of songs that have now been added to this book—songs in which a poet makes fun of all poets in a way that may be hard to forgive. Alas, it is not only the poets and their beautiful "lyrical sentiments" on whom the resurrected author has to vent his sarcasm: who knows what victim he is looking for, what monster of material for parody will soon attract him? "Incipit tragoedia" we read at the end of this awesomely aweless book. Beware! Something downright wicked and malicious is announced here: incipit parodia, no doubt.

X

[alrightbuckaroo]

I'm not sure if you're still doing these, but 22 for the Spotify Wrapped Drabbles please 💜

Hello Dalawa! That'll be The Visit (She Was Here) by The Cyrkle (a fun little [now defunct] sunshine pop band from the mid 60s!) It's a bit of angsty song despite the sound so I hope you don't mind a little heartache that also ended up being much longer than I planned it to be:

Carlos' fingers are interlocked with TK's; they hold onto one another as if that's what their hands were made for.

Carlos has never been more in love and it scares him. Each and every day, Carlos finds himself falling that much harder and he's worried that one day he'll reach the ground and never know how to get up again.

Then TK will casually tell him something that's anything but casual, like, "I never liked that shade of yellow until I saw it on you," or "I never understood my mother's favorite song but then I met you," or "I dreamt about you last night, I can't believe I get to wake up to the real thing," and just like that, Carlos is no longer scared because this is a man who loves him just as much as he does him.

At the moment, they're walking through the farmer's market and making ridiculous puns that no one but them will find funny. That's fine though, who needs the rest of the world when the embodiment of your world is standing right next to you.

After leaving the farmer's market, they go home. Carlos tells TK he can call it Carlos' apartment but TK says he likes the way 'home' rolls off the tongue. As Carlos opens the front door, he hears the faintest sound of a beep, but chooses to ignore it.

Once dinner is finished, they both get ready for bed while listening to Neil Young's Harvest Moon. TK's a romantic so he loves romanticizing the mundane and Carlos loves letting him. As Carlos spits out his toothpaste, he hears that fainting beeping once again, but this time it's the tiniest bit louder

Now, they're in bed, treating the silence as their favorite song. Carlos is rubbing his thumb across the ridges of TK's knuckles, holding on because all he ever wants to do is hold TK's hand.

"I feel like I've dreamed you up," Carlos whispers, softly and tender. He presses an even more tender kiss to TK's knuckles and TK begins to chuckle. Carlos' eyebrows knit together at the sound, and he swears he can hear that beeping again.

"That's because you did, baby," TK pulls his hand away from Carlos' and leaves a trail of heartache in its wake. He runs his fingers through Carlos' curls but his fingers feel lighter than ever; almost as if he's not there.

"What?" Carlos can hear that incessant beeping start to get louder.

"You dreamed me up," TK explains, his touch feeling akin to the feather, it's there, but barely just. "I'm not here."

"But I need you to be," Carlos argues, reaching up to grab onto TK's hand but when he does, it's like TK's hand becomes sand in his palm; grains flowing through the spaces between his fingers.

Carlos sits up in the bed, trying to ignore that damn beeping, and he waits for TK to sit up and join him. He waits for TK to sit up and say that he's playing some cruel practical joke even if he's not known for playing them ever before.

Instead, TK continues lying down, looking up at Carlos with dewy emerald eyes and a sympathetic smile. "It's time to wake up, baby."

Carlos jumps awake, propelling himself from the sheets and breathing erratically. He looks over to the nightstand, grabs his phone and puts an end to the incessant beeping.

He looks to the other side of him and sees that one half of the bed is still made. He sighs when he remembers; this is what he was scared of.

He wakes up, goes through his morning routine in a bout of silence that seems especially loud. He listens to the weatherman say that there's winter storm coming and Carlos thinks it's fitting, he's in hell so why not have it freeze over.

He makes breakfast for one before going to work; after work, he comes home and has dinner for one.

Later, as he's showering, Neil Young's Harvest Moon begins to play through the speaker and Carlos couldn't be in more of a hurry to try and change to the next track.

Now, he's in bed, waiting to go to sleep and scared that when he starts dreaming, he's going to do it all over again.

send me a number 1-100 and i will try to write a short drabble based off whatever song that corresponds to in my spotify wrapped - here's #63

[hiding-in-the-vault]

A bit of a random question today, but I’m curious. What’s your favorite season? And is it because of the weather, the holidays, the traveling/scheduling going on for you that time of year? Or something else?

-🐝

RIGHT NOW, BABBEEYYY

I am thriving in this season. Anyone seen posting photos of snow in any of my discord servers has had to put up with me aggressively romanticizing it. I looovve the winter holidays. SNOW and LIGHTS and hot chocolate and cozy gloves and boots and scarves <3 <3 <3 FIREPLACES!!! I just love the vibes

I am of a warmer climate™ that doesnt get snow, so I am a little bit crazy about it. just a tad. Also my tolerance for cold is Not Great, so I love everything besides the early mornings when I have to wait for my car to heat up,,

[acnhconfessions]

i want a game thats kind of, mostly like acnh with all its customization and yes the fact you can keep the villagers hostage bc im evil like that. but with all the charm and coziness that acnl seems to have. listening to the music from that game or looking at screenshots from the game, i get this overwhelming cozy feeling of both like, a warm summer night and a festive winter day. i never got to play it bc i was still tiny when it came out and then when i got interested in ac they stopped selling acnl, also i have no clue how to use an emulator lol.

for some reason it reminds me of like, falling asleep mid-day while reading and laying in the sun. or like, going out for a walk while its raining and seeing all the worms start to come out of the dirt. or just going about your day completely normal until you see 1 little thing and youre suddenly transported back into childhood as nostalgia washes over you. it feels like buying yourself a little snack after work, or like making dinner using vegetables you grew yourself. like home brewed coffee. nl tastes mostly sweet but with a bit of bitterness and saltiness. nl would taste like toast with jam on it.

of course, thats just a romanticized version of it but comparing that with the real experience i have with acnh is just kind of... i know acnh seems to be the most hated game at the moment but honestly sometimes it feels like chore. some days i dont even talk to my villagers and just go straight to the dlc. the flowers multiply too fast and its really bothering if you only want a certain flower color or they spread so much theres not enough room to place things. i use my house as more of a storage unit than something to decorate. it feels... inorganic, far too sanitized (and thats coming from a germaphobe). if i were to compare how thinking of it right now makes me feel and compare that to how just looking at acnl makes me feel its like...

having a job thats technically easy but draining, and then after a long day you see a motivational poster as you leave. feels like throwing your old clothes in the trash instead of the thrift store. its like those shitty 5 minute crafts with the incomprehensible script. its like a starbucks or dunkin donuts, its not bad tasting but you would only get it on your way to work, you wouldnt sit down at the coffee shop and eat there. it feels like having to pay $4 for 2 tomatoes. so... it just feels corporate and clean. not hating if youre all about that acnh capitalism life!!! it just doesnt feel right. animal crossing is supposed to be like, THE cozy game but nh does not feel cozy.

idk, maybe pocket camp is that game? its a mobile but it came out inbetween nl and nh, im just not sure if i wanna spend date on that