#mason jars rule

[freshairwithaflair-00]

Well.... if you insist.

All of our FreshAir with a Flare products will come packaged in mason jars with an air-tight seal. So you know your air is still in pristine condition!

[lowkeyrobin]

NEWT ; the night we met

summary ; newt is new to the glade & you're there when he regains his name

warnings ; language, alcohol, very pre-thomas era (about three or four years)

track ; the night we met ; lord huron

word count ; 1.3k

masterlist

Newt, with his arrival to the glade in the box, was a frightened little Greenie. He was merely fourteen years old, about 5"7, with dirty blonde hair just barely hiding his eyes. He seemed awestruck, as usual Greenies were, and obviously scared and confused.

Alby sadly didn't have any answers for him, many, at that. He just had the rundown of the Glade to give him and the rules and to introduce him to the other Gladers out and about. He wouldn't be able to introduce him to you or Minho, seeing as you were both running the maze right now.

The second the poor boy heard the word maze, he nearly had a panic attack. It was like something in the back of his brain had been triggered, reminding him of something he couldn't remember.

But as the cool, green forest faded into an orange-y warm fire, the sun set above, leading you and Minho back to the Glade to join the monthly Greenie bonfire. There was work to be done, tasking you with business before you could join.

The fifteen year old Minho begged you to hurry up, but you had to map out a new section of the maze. There was no fooling around for you at the moment. So, he leaves without you, curiosity stabbing him as he jogs back into the main Glade, away from the Deadheads.

You, finally, were able to join around eleven or so, the moon nearly centered in the dark sky above.

You had a cup of Gally's secret juice in your hand as you rest your back against a tree, a nice view of both the fire and the little fight-circle. You take your time to enjoy the peace and intoxicate yourself, ridding yourself of any worries.

You lay your eyes on the new Greenie, a light, inviting smile as he looks back at you. He was standing all alone, staring at the fire like he was trying to think long and hard about his past. He joins you, seeing that you were also alone, watching the fire and the other boys talk and have fun.

He sits criss-cross next to you, an awkward little hi slipping from his mouth.

"Know your name yet, Greenie?" You ask him, taking a sip from your cup.

He shakes his head, a slight twinge of sadness twinkling in his eyes.

"Don't worry," You pat him on the shoulder, "You'll get it back soon"

He nods, basking the two of you in a calm silence, listening to the fire crackle and the boys cheering and whooping a few yards away. He speaks up after a few minutes, having been conjuring up a question for you.

"How long have you been here?" He asks, question and curiosity dripping off his tongue.

You shrug, "Seven months. Same thing every day, all day. It's nice after a while, I guess."

He nods, watching Gally and Alec tussle and shove each other around the fight circle. He looks down at the mason jar in your hand, seeing you cringe as you feel the sour taste hit your tastebuds.

"What's that?"

You deviously smile, "Gally's secret concoction." You hold out the glass for him, giving him a look to try it.

He looks between you and the glass jar filled with the dark yellow liquid, seeking approval in your eyes. You nod, silently urging him to try it.

"It's good for the nerves"

He's silent for a moment before he takes it in his hand and takes a quick swig of it. He cringes as he hands the jar back, coughing up a fit as he rubs his mouth with his wrist.

You lightly laugh, watching his dramatic reaction.

"Good for nerves?" He repeats, smacking his lips to try and rid the taste from his mouth. "What is that, bloody hell!"

You giggle, setting the jar down in the grass with a little twist so it'd stay. "Dunno, ask Gally"

"Which one is Gally? Good God" He lightly coughs, "It tastes like piss!"

You stand up, a hand out to help Newt up. "I'll show you around, hm?"

He nods, taking your hand as you walk around the bonfire.

"Y'know Alby and Fry, right?"

He nods.

"Cool. Well, that's Minho, my best friend. He's a runner, as am I. He's Keeper of the Runners, though, very down to Earth and stuff. There's Gally and the other builders. They're strong but dumb." You shrug. "Winston is Keeper of the Slicers. He and that whole crew are wonderful. Zart and Jeff are the Med-Jacks. Go to them if you have a splinter or a cold, they'll help you out"

The blonde nods, following your gaze and finger as you look to and point the others out.

"And those are the Track-Hoes. They're gardeners, very sweet, that's Sam, Keeper of the Track-Hoes" You finish, giving him a warm smile as you look back at him.

He goes silent for a moment, looking dazed and zoned out before you snap him back to reality.

"Greenie? Hey, dude?"

"Newt" His lips curl into a smile, eyes twinkling as he looks at you. "Newt. My name is Newt"

You widely smile and chuckle in excitement, both of you with your hands on each other's shoulders as you bounce around, both buzzed off of the alcohol you'd been served.

"Greenie has a name!" You shout, looking to him for him to shout out his name, the whole Glade looking at you two.

"My name is Newt!" He smiles, looking to you for approval.

In your buzzed state, you convince him to jump on your back as you loop around the large fire, the boys chanting his name.

"Welcome to the Glade, Newton!"

"Newton?"

"It's gotta stand for something!"

The boys continuously chant and holler his name, a smile painting his freckled face. You had all of him now, his kind, friendly and trustworthy personality, his dirty blonde hair, his freckles, and his dorky name.

He felt his brain take a photo of the scene as he looked slightly down at you, a hand on your scalp, the other formed in a fist which he held in the air. From the crackling fire beside him, to the feeling of the warm air against his face, to the boys in a circle watching as you proudly carry him on your shoulders. The smell of the bitter drink passed around the bonfire haunted his nose, and the way you gripped onto his ankles for safety did as well.

After the bonfire, the drunk boys return to the Homestead one by one, leaving you, Minho, Newt, and most of the builders by the fire. Minho struck up a conversation with Newt by the fire, sitting on a log together while you sit at the log on the right of them, sipping on Gally's secret drink. You weren't shitfaced but you weren't buzzed either, just the right amount of kind of out of it. You wanted to rid your life of any stress tonight, considering your friend and your new friend, Newt, were getting along and no one had tried to kill each other today, a win in your eyes.

Minho, wanting to embarass you, buzzed, brings up how you requested a guitar from the box and actually received it, although you never touched it afterward because you didn't want to be made fun of. Newt found this interesting and began begging you to play, even just for a minute. He never heard any real, genuine music before, and to experience it from you, his first actual friend would've been a memory he'd remember for a lifetime and more.

You eventually comply, striking a deal that if you play, you wouldn't be singing. You walk back and forth from the fire to the Homestead, retrieving the guitar, re-tuning it on your walk back to the two boys. You sit down again with a dramatic sigh and strum on the strings once to make sure it was properly tuned now.

Newt watches with a smile as you strum away, humming along to the rhythm.

The same rhythm that he could decode one certain phrase from underneath the warm, orange light of the fire, which was now dying out.

Take me back to the night we met.

[written-by-jayy]

Tagged by @mj-iza-writer , thanks!

Rules: Tag 10 or more people you want to get to know better.

Relationship status: Single. Happily so, but still open to the thought of mingling 👀

Favorite color: Any blue or cool toned purple

Song stuck in head: Slow dancing in the dark, by Joji

Favorite food: Pad Thai

Last song listened to: What's good, by Tyler, the Creator

Dream trip: Going to Costa Rica this summer, so I'll just say that :D

Last show/movie: Terrifier 2 (love Art. he's my babyboy <3)

Spicy, sweet, or savory?: Probably spicy, but sweet is a very close second

Last thing googled: Are mason jars microwave safe (they are!)

Imma just tag some random blogs I follow <3

@sickiehugs @dainluvr @roblingoblin285 @sunnynwanda @saraswritingtipps @shibara @whumblr @wh3nturtlesfly @oprhan @dappermouth

Of course, no obligation and no pressure :]

[ahedderick]

Kitchen

I got slightly nauseated recently seeing a post with weird, white expensive-looking kitchens, everything so off-kilter and false-looking. You know the one. I'm posting my own kitchen as a rebuttal.

The parts that are pine we bought from a local mill, the black locust countertops are from trees cut here after a damaging windstorm. My husband built the cabinets and countertops. We did all the installation, including the ceiling. We had help from a plumber to install the new sink and the dishwasher, and help from tile-guys for the tile behind the oven and sink. My number one rule was that I wanted the cabinets to extend all the way to the ceiling. I didn't want an upper surface above where I could easily clean just getting trashed with dust and fine oil particles from cooking. I have a nifty little step ladder and I can access the top cupboards when I need to without too much effort. (Also, I accidentally crinkled the dog treat bag, which is why Chance and Rosalie rushed into the picture.)

Butcherblock table, highly worn. Random clutter of plants, fruit, mason jars, coffeemaker, condiments, etc. It would be a more efficient kitchen if it didn't have FIVE doors (attic, back porch, pantry, living room, basement), but it pretty much serves my needs.

[mountttmase]

Winter Sun - Chapter 2

Note - thank you so much for all the love on the first chapter 🥺 it was honestly so overwhelming like I’ve been sat on this series for so long and I can’t believe I’ve finally introduced you to my babies 🩷 I hope you like this chapter just as much and feedback is appreciated as always 😘

Pairing - Mason Mount × Reader

Word count - 6.5k

Warnings - series will contain fluff, smut & angst

Masterlist

You’d made it home from Bens at around 11am the next day and you flopped onto the sofa as soon as you got back. The only thing on your mind was McDonald’s hash browns but the text from Mason distracted you instantly.

Another text never came, instead Mason was calling you and you let out a big breath, biting your lip to stop your smile before answering.

‘Morning Mase’

‘Morning morning. You still at Bens?’

‘No I got back like ten minutes ago’

‘Okay good. Now what’s it’s gonna take for me to convince you cause let’s face it you know I always get my way’ he laughed and you rolled your eyes cause you knew he was right. You were still unhappy about the amount of money it would cost him but if he was stupid enough to offer to pay for you then why weren’t you accepting? Chances like this didn’t come around very often and you knew you’d be miserable sat at home watching everyone else have fun.

‘I’ll talk to nads, alright? If she’s fine with it then I’ll consider coming’ you told him, not having the energy to argue anymore and the laugh and cheers coming from him made it worth it. ‘One condition though. Don’t tell anyone I want to surprise Carly at the airport’

‘Deal’

‘I also have another question. How are you gonna pay everyone back? I presume my part was split between everyone but that’s gonna be long for you to sort out surely’

‘So I have a confession’ he laughed and you knew you were about to hear something you wouldn’t like. ‘I’d already paid for you. I was hoping to try and convince you nearer the time’ he confessed, laughing like a small boy who’s just been caught with his hand in the sweet jar and you’d be lying if you said you didn’t find him endearing.

‘Mason’ you huffed, trying to fake scold him for his actions but it wasn’t working. He was too cheeky for his own good and you were too overwhelmed by the prospect of him wanting you to come so bad he paid for you without even asking.

‘What, it worked didn’t it?’ He told you. ‘Let me know as soon as nads says it’s okay and we can sort everything out’

‘I wanted to talk to you about something else too’ you asked carefully, not wanting to startle him but your conversation from last night was still playing on your mind. Even though he’d said he still felt the same as he had last night, you were still unsure.

‘Oh yeah? What’s that?’

‘This little arrangement we might have going on’

‘Oh yeah?’

‘I think we should set some ground rules’

‘Okay yeah, that’s fine. Why don’t you think about them and we can talk about them on the plane’

‘But I might not be sat next to you’

‘Oh muffin, I made sure you are’ he drawled, causing you to roll your eyes at his cockiness.

Once you were finally off the phone to Mason you called up Nads who was more than happy to take over the shop for a week. Letting you know that you deserve a break and that she was more than up for the challenge and by the way she spoke you felt a lot more at ease about the whole situation.

Everything after that was a bit of a blur. Having to buy everything you needed for your trip plus a few extras. Realising your underwear selection was pretty sparse and not exactly flattering and you wanted Mason to not be turned off instantly so you treated yourself to some new sets you thought he might like to see you in as well as some other clothes you thought he might like to take off of you.

The week passed by in a flash and soon enough you were on your way to the airport on your own. Excitement and nerves filled you as you’d never had to do this on your own before but once you were through security and through to the lounge you sent Mason a quick message.

You treated yourself to a solo breakfast before having a quick look around duty free so you could pick some snacks up and also some things for Mason. You knew you wouldn’t be here without him so you’d promised to treat him in different ways and you were just picking up a few bags of m&m’s when you felt your phone buzz in your pocket.

You let him know you’d meet him outside the shop you were in and as soon as your eyes met his you felt your heart thud in your chest. He looked so cute in his comfy clothes and even though his hood was up you’d recognise him anywhere.

‘Hey muffin’ he smiled, pulling you into his chest and you knew your face was flushing which he only made worse by planting a kiss on your head. ‘I’ve left everyone in the first class lounge, you ready to go say hi?’

‘Okay’ you smiled, letting him lead you through the airport by your waist. You knew Mason was touchy but this was different. Normally he’d keep his hands where you could see them but you couldn’t deny you loved the feeling of being close to him as you chatted about your journeys. Your arm around his waist too and you knew to anyone looking it looked like you were a couple but you just went with it as you loved having him close ‘You go, I’ll be in in one sec’ you told him when you got to the doors and he eyed you curiously. ‘Need to make my big entrance’

‘See you in there’ he laughed, closing the door behind him and you waited 30 seconds before following him in. Thankfully they were all sat facing the other way and you used it to your advantage to surprise them.

‘Well well well. What the hell are you guys doing here?’ You asked in a sing-song tone, watching them all turn to you but it was Carly’s face you were focused on.

‘What the hell?’ She whispered, looking more shocked than you’d ever seen her as a smile began to take over her face.

‘You didn’t think I’d let you leave without me did you?’

‘You’re coming?’ She asked quietly, her bottom lip wobbling slightly and you just nodded as her face was getting you emotional yourself and before you knew it, she was throwing herself in your arms. You could feel her body shaking a little bit so you held her tighter as everyone else piled in for a group hug. ‘Mason, was this your doing?’ She laughed, looking for him in the big crowd of people and you could see how hard he was blushing, making your heart thump a little in your chest.

‘I just wanted everyone together’ he laughed as you all pulled away, watching Carly make a beeline for him so she could pull him into her arms. You knew she was saying something to him but you weren’t quite sure what so you went round and said hello to everyone else.

When you were called for boarding, you and Mason seemed to get separated but you managed to make it on the plane without him, eyes constantly checking to see if he was coming and around ten minutes after you’d sat down he made his appearance.

You watched on as he shrugged his bag off to pop in the overhead locker and you knew your face was probably bright red now as you caught a glimpse of his tummy when he reached up to shut the compartment. Clearing your throat as he finally took his seat next to you and could see he looked a little apprehensive but you didn’t want to pry.

‘You sure you’re fine sitting next to me? I bet Woody is missing you’ you mumbled but he shook his head as his brows pinched together slightly.

‘No, don’t be silly, I made sure I was next to you. I know if I was next to him or one of the others I’d wake up to a mouth full of peanuts or something’

‘Well I’ll try and keep my nuts to myself’ you joked, hearing him laugh properly for the first time that morning. ‘You sure you’re okay?’

He was playing with his fingers absentmindedly before he looked up at you and your heart almost broke at the vulnerability in his eyes. ‘I’m not the best flyer. I might not be the best company unless you can think of a way to distract me’

‘Well that’s perfect cause I’m not the best either’ you laughed, rolling your eyes to try and play off how nervous you actually were but his sympathetic smile settled you.

‘We can distract each other then’ he offered and you nodded back. Unable to form a proper sentence for some reason as his chocolate eyes were making you feel fuzzy.

You sat and chatted casually for a little while as the plane filled up. Watching the air hostess give her little safety speech and he was starting to open up with you a little more, relaxing back into his seat and soon enough the plane started to move but you felt the panic roll through you.

You went ridged instantly, linking your hands together for some form of comfort and you took a small deep breath to try and calm yourself but it was no use. You felt sick and hot and you could feel Masons eyes on you but you didn’t care. Too caught up In trying to calm your own nerves. You pulled your hands apart, one now gripping the arm rest as you bunched your hoodie up between your fingers in the other but the feeling of someone’s grip around your wrist snapped you from your thoughts.

Mason lifted your hand away from the arm rest, his fingers threading through yours carefully before giving your hand a gentle squeeze. You we’re looking at him the whole time but when his eyes flashed up to meet yours and he gave you a little wink, you could feel your heart thump in your chest. Not from the nerves this time.

You grabbed your clasped hands with your free one, pulling both into your lap before resting your head on his arm and you felt him give a little chuckle before leaning into you a bit more. His head resting on top of yours as the plane sped up which caused a small whimper to fall from your lips.

‘S’okay’ you felt him whisper into your hair as your free hand moved up his arm to hold it tight to you. ‘I promise you’re safe but just squeeze my hand as hard as you want, yeah?’

Under any normal circumstances and with anyone else you would of probably felt a bit weird grabbing onto them like you were but with Mason it felt normal and he was right, you were safe but that didn’t stop another tiny whimper falling from your lips as the plane finally left the ground.

You felt him press him lips to the top of your head, leaving them there as you squeezed him as hard as you could and by the way he was squeezing you back you knew he was scared too but the way he’d seemed to of pushed that to the side to comfort you made you smile even though you felt like you were about die.

You didn’t move until the plane had levelled out, even then wanting to stay wrapped up in him but you knew you’d have to move eventually and when you pulled back to look at him, his shy sympathetic smile melted you.

‘Sorry Mason, I-‘

‘You don’t need to be sorry, honestly it’s fine. Sort of took my mind off of me being freaked out’

‘I feel like such a wimp’ you laughed, going to pull your hand away from his but he squeezed a little tighter as if he didn’t want you to let go.

‘Do you mind?’ He asked quietly, nodding down to your linked fingers, a small smile taking over his face as he gulped nervously. ‘I think I still need the emotional support’

‘Okay’ you whispered, settling back in the seat as a comfortable silence came over you.

‘You uh, thought about those rules yet?’ He laughed, trying to calm you down and change the subject. Little did he know you’d been thinking about them a lot.

‘Of course I have’ you winked, reaching for your iPad and he looked at you with a curious expression.

‘Oh yeah’ he laughed, watching with wide eyes as you opened your iPad up and went to your notes app. ‘Please don’t tell me you’ve got them written down’

‘Well I didn’t want to forget any’ you scowled causing him to laugh.

‘Go on then, what are you thinking’

‘Well, I think the first one should be no random kissing. There needs to be the intention of it going somewhere or when we’re… you know’

‘But I like kissing you’ he pouted, the crease in his eyebrows more pronounced than you’d ever seen it. You liked kissing Mason too, the fact that he’d admitted it made your skin tingle but you knew it was for the best. This was meant to be a friends with benefits situation and friends don’t kiss like you and Mason had done. ‘Come on, what else are you gonna disappoint me with’

‘No cuddling after and no sleeping in each others beds’

‘Fine, then no lingering eye contact’ he argued back, wanting to try and get some of his rules in but you were happy with that one. Eye contact with Mason was like a drug and you weren’t sure you could keep your cool with him if it was happening often so you quickly added that one to the list.

‘No sex with anyone else’ you told him and he looked back at you like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

‘No teasing, playing games or flirting with anyone else’

‘What do you take me for’ you laughed, typing it in anyway. ‘No telling anyone either. And the most important rule?’

‘What’s that?’

‘No feelings. At all. The friendship comes first. Deal?’

‘Deal’ he laughed, taking your iPad from you so he could sign his name and you quickly took a screenshot so you could send it to him later.

The rest of the ride was plain sailing. You watched a few films together as you spoke about what was planned for the week. As you’d joined late, a lot of things had been booked already so he filled you in on a few activities that were booked and when you were about to come into land Mason made sure he held your hand just as tightly so you weren’t scared.

You all made it out of the airport in good time, splitting into two taxis and whilst you were in the same car, Mason sat up front with the driver whilst you sat in the back next to Carly with Ben on her other side as she let you know how excited she was to have you joining. She knew you hated talking about money though so thankfully she avoided the topic and soon enough you were pulling into the drive of a huge villa.

You felt intimidated by it immediately, nothing you could ever dream of staying in without Masons help and he must have seen you looking a little overwhelmed as he left a quick kiss on your forehead when no one was looking before sending you a cheeky wink.

The others arriveded ten minutes or so after you so you used the time to give the place a once over and it was just as pretty as the pictures Mason had sent you. You felt out of place the more you walked around and everytime Mason tried to catch your eyes you couldn’t meet them. Another car was pulling up soon enough so you followed Carly down to meet everyone else in the kitchen.

‘Right there’s three rooms upstairs and two downstairs. Who wants what?’ Carly asked as you all gathered together and Mason was first in to make his argument about who should go where.

‘I think the three couples should take the rooms upstairs and y/n and I can take the two downstairs. That way the two single people don’t have to listen to you lot getting it on at god knows what time’

‘That does make sense’ you laughed, secretly hoping everyone else agreed as it would make yours and Masons little arrangement a lot easier and you could tell from the little sparkle in his eye that he’d been thinking about this for a while.

‘But you’ll be far away from me’ Carly pouted, knowing she liked her room to be close to yours when she could but for this trip you were hoping to be as far away from her as possible.

‘I know, but it makes sense, as long as everyone’s happy with it? And I’ll come up and visit you all the time’ You tried to reason but Mason had made his mind up for everyone and began picking up your bags.

‘Come on, Y/n. I’ll help you with your stuff’ he winked before nodding his head in the direction of the stairs. ‘We can all meet back here in like an hour or so?’

‘Sounds good’ Dec called, already halfway up the stairs so he could pick the best room and you laughed as Carly chased after him to try and stop him.

Once you were downstairs Mason lead you to the two rooms, doors opposite each other and you let him pick first even though they were both the same before he dumped your bag in your room and looked up at you with a shy smile.

‘I’ll um… I’ll go sort my stuff out and then come and get you?’ He asked, eyes everywhere but on you and you nodded before clearing your throat awkwardly. The air feeling like it had shifted since you got here and with one final nod he was making his way across the hall.

Mason was right, it was beautiful here and you were happy you’d let him talk you into coming away with everyone as you put all your stuff away but you still couldn’t help but feel like a bit of an imposter. You were hanging up your last few shirts when you heard him move across the hall and you braced yourself for him to come and see you.

‘Knock knock’

‘Oh, hey Mase. You alright?’

‘Yeah just coming to see how you’re getting on. You all unpacked?’

‘Almost’ you smiled, turning to hang up the last thing as he sat himself on your bed.

‘Y/n?’ He called softly and you turned to see his unreadable expression.

‘Yeah?’

‘Can I kiss you?’ He asked timidly and even though you were a little shocked, you knew you’d have to let him down a bit.

‘Mase-‘

‘Yeah I know it’s against the rules but I feel like we’re being super awkward with each other and it might ease the tension a little’ he explained, kicking yourself that you’d be so transparent.

He was right, you were being a little stiff with each other and probably could do with something to calm each others nerves so you slowly walked over to where he was sat and stood in between his legs as he carefully touched the backs of your thighs.

‘One kiss. That’s it?’

‘One kiss’ he smiled, standing up slowly and once he was close enough you rested your hands on his chest as he gripped your hips.

He started out pressing a kiss to your cheek, a smile breaking out on your face as he slowly peppered them towards your mouth before he finally popped a quick peck on your lips.

‘What was that’ you giggled

‘A kiss’ he winked, feeling the pressure evaporate off the pair of you almost immediately. ‘Always leave them wanting more’ he teased, squeezing your hips once before pulling away from you. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine. Sorry I guess I feel a little out of place’

‘Well don’t, you’ve got as much right to be here as everyone else’

‘It just doesn’t feel like it right now I guess’

‘‘Well you’ve got time to settle your debts’ he winked, a coy smile on his face as he squeezed your arm reassuringly. ‘You ready to go up?’

‘I guess so’ you huffed, following him up to meet everyone else to discuss what to do for the rest of the day. As the pair of you were the last ones up you were told you had to go and do the food shop with Woody and Kayla whilst the others sorted everything out at the villa.

You should've known it was a bad idea as soon as you started shopping. Mason never taking his hands from your body as you gathered everything from your list and it was safe to say he was driving you wild. He always seemed to have to get something from next to where you were, moving you to the side with his hand on the small of your back or reaching around you with his lips on your neck.

Thankfully Woody and Kayla were so wrapped up in themselves they didn’t seem to care what the pair of you were up to and as they rounded the corner to the next aisle towards the end of your trip you felt Mason pull you back and press you up against the glass door of the freezer. You would have been shocked but the heavy kiss he planted on you made you forget about everything else for the moment.

‘Mase, we’ll get caught’ you whispered, lips brushing against his as you spoke but he just smiled and kissed you again.

‘Sorry, that last kiss wasn’t enough for me earlier. I need a little more’ he winked and you couldn't help but smile. Truth be told you needed a little more too so you let him get away with it.

‘Well you’ve got it, let’s go’ you giggled, sliding out from under his grasp before walking him round to Kayla and Woody who we’re starting to load it all up at the till.

‘We’re just doing somewhere local for dinner, you okay with that guys?’ Lauren asked when you all got back, letting you slip off to go and get changed into something a bit nicer before meeting everyone to leave.

Mason stayed at the back of the group as you walked to dinner, talking with Woody and Kayla and you stuck with Carly so she could let you know the plan for tomorrow. Apparently it was a pool day for the most part but they’d booked a table at a club in the evening and you already began planning your outfit in your head.

‘This seat taken?’ Mason asked, holding the back of the chair next to you as you all began to take your seat around the circular table once inside.

‘No, it’s yours if you want it’ you smiled up at him, secretly thankful that he’d be sat next to you as Carly was on the other side of you next to Ben and you knew they’d spend their time all over each other.

Mason spent most of the night with his arm casually slung around your chair and whilst it meant and looked like nothing to everyone else, you felt yourself turn shy at the small gesture. He picked up on it too, eventually pulling his hand away to place on your knee discreetly but that just made you feel even more shy so after a quick squeeze he kept his hands to himself.

‘I can’t wait to get back to the villa and get to bed, it’s been such a long day’ Lauren yawned, falling into Decs body so he could give her a little cuddle and you watched on with slight envy as the other girls got loved on by their boyfriends. Your eyes falling to the table as you played with your fingers and you wished you had someone to show you a bit of affection however it was too risky to look to Mason for that right now.

He was your friend, nothing more than that and there was no way he should be acting like the other boys were with their girls but you so wished he would.

You thought maybe he sensed it too, sneaking a glance up to him and he was already looking at you with sympathetic eyes before he sent you a wink. Letting you know that once you were back you could have him all to yourself.

You were silent on the walk back, you and Mason falling behind as the others walked hand in hand with their partners but the sudden feeling of Masons arm around your shoulder as he pulled you into his side made you smile.

‘You alright there muffin?’

‘I’m alright Mase’ you sighed, resting your head on his shoulder but he just squeezed you a little more.

‘Promise?’

‘Of course’

‘You tired or do you wanna hang out for a bit when we get back?’

‘We can hang out for a bit’ you nodded, knowing exactly what he meant and even though you were nervous to say the least, you didn’t want to be on your own for now.

Everyone was off to bed as soon as you got back and once you and Mason had made it down the stairs he nodded into his room and you followed without a word. Watching him climb into bed and hold his arms out for you and you let yourself melt into his body.

‘What’s wrong, Muffin?’ He asked gently. ‘You know we don’t have to do anything-‘

‘It’s not that’ you laughed. ‘I dont know, I guess I didn’t realise how different it would be going away with three couples when you’re single’

‘I get that’ he breathed, kissing the top of your head. ‘They’re all over each other aren't they? sometimes I just wanna tell them to let each other breathe’ he chuckled. ‘Don’t feel bad though, you’re mine this week okay? and I take care of what belongs to me’

‘Yeah yeah’ you laughed, rolling your eyes but you couldn’t deny it felt nice to be referred to as his.

‘I’m serious. And I’m also serious about us not doing anything unless you want to’

‘I do want to I just…’

‘What?’ He pressed gently, lips on your head as he spoke and you nestled into him further before speaking.

‘I’m just a little nervous’ you whispered. ‘I know we’ve had sex before but we were drunk and practically fully clothed. What if you don’t like-‘

‘I’m gonna stop you right there’ he laughed. ‘Sit up for me’ he told you, sitting up himself before plonking himself down opposite you.

You weren’t sure what was happening but when he reached for the neck of his top and pulled it off you weren’t sure where to look.

‘What are you doing?’ You asked, looking up into his face and the gentle smile on his face melted you.

‘Your turn’ he told you, head nodding to the off the shoulder crop top you had on and you thanked your lucky stars you’d changed into your strapless bra earlier so you weren’t bare chested straight away.

As soon as it was off, his eyes were looking over you hungrily as he bit his lip hard. His reaction boosting your ego slightly before he stood up and pulled you with him so he could unbutton his trousers and take them off. You’d seen him in shorts before but looking at him in his fancy green boxers was a whole other story and you felt your mouth go dry.

You didn’t wait for his instruction this time, slipping your thumbs into the waistband of your trousers and you pushed them over your hips before stepping out of them.

‘C’mere’ he whispered, holding his hand out for you to take and you let him pull you into his body. His warm skin touching yours for the first time and you were surprised about how smooth it felt under your fingers. Gripping his strong shoulders as he wrapped his arms around your waist before he lent down to kiss you.

He was taking his time, slowly brushing his lips against yours as his hands travelled down to your bum. Gripping it gently as he began to knead it and you felt your knees go weak from his touches.

You wanted to feel more of him though, feel his skin against yours so you reached behind your back to unclasp your bra before throwing it to the side and the feeling of his warm chest pressed against yours made you both sigh into each other's mouths. He was turning you on in a way you don’t think anyone ever had so when he turned you both a little and gently pushed you off and onto his bed you went with it and fell back gently.

You could tell he was happy with what he was seeing, his eyes raking over your chest as his bottom lip got trapped in between his teeth but he wanted you further up the bed. Nodding his head to encourage you to move up and into the centre before he knelt in between your legs.

‘I’ve got an idea’ he told you, hands gripping your thighs gently before giving them a little squeeze and you felt your heart thud in anticipation. ‘You still nervous?’

‘A bit, yeah’

‘Maybe we should do something to ease it then, yeah?’

‘What do you have in mind?’

‘Well, I was thinking. Why don’t you show me what you like’ he asked, eyes slowly trailing over your body before looking back into your eyes. ‘And I’ll show you how I like it’

You felt your cheeks flush immediately, wondering if he was really suggesting what you thought he might have been but when he brushed his fingers over the bulge in his boxers your suspicions were confirmed.

‘Oh, I don’t know mase’

‘I know it seems scary, but once we get going you’ll be fine’ he reassured, leaning over to place a soft kiss to your lips. ‘And I promise I’ll take good care of you after yeah?’ He spoke against your lips.

You felt yourself nodding, agreeing to his plans before you’d even really thought about it and when he reached for your underwear, you lifted your hips and let him pull them from your legs. Thinking if you could just get through this part then he’d give you what you wanted and the satisfied groan that fell from his lips as he finally caught sight of you fully undressed made you shiver. The sound travelling straight in your ears and down your spine to your core.

‘You want me to go first?’ He asked, sounding almost breathless as he continued to touch himself over his boxers so you nodded to let him know he was good to go, hoping seeing him playing with himself would give you the boost you needed.

You kept your eyes on his until he hooked his thumbs under his boxers and pushed them down. Watching his hard length spring free and slap his tummy gently and you couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

Yes you’d felt him before but you never really got to see him. And he was big. Intimidatingly so and when he took himself into his hand and started to pump himself you almost lost it.

It’s like you were in a trance, your eyes watching his hand go up and down, drinking in the noises he was making before his free hand reached for yours in an attempt to position it where you’d follow suit and even though your cheeks were burning you went with it. Shutting your eyes as your fingers brushed over where you needed some relief.

The moans pouring from your lips only appeared to be spurring him on, eyes never leaving where your fingers were so he could memorise the way you touched yourself for later but soon enough it all became too much for him. Slowly tearing your hand away so he could line himself with your entrance and once a whimper had fallen from your lips he was gently pushing his way in.

‘Fuck’ he stuttered, closing his eyes as he moved his hips, picking his pace up almost straight away like he couldn’t contain himself and you relaxed into the sheets as he laid his body on yours. Face nuzzled in your neck as you wrapped your arms around him but it was almost as if it was over before it started. Mason moving his body up before removing himself from you and taking himself back into his hand so he could release himself over your tummy.

‘Shit shit shit’ he spat, his breathing heavy as he looked at what he’d done but you couldn’t catch his eyes to make him talk to you.

‘Mase?’ You asked, looking up to his blood red face that was full of embarrassment and when his eyes finally met yours you felt your tummy drop. He looked humiliated and scared, like you’d were about to throw him out for cumming too quickly but that was the last thing on your mind.

‘fuck I’m so sorry I couldn’t hold it’

‘Mase it’s fine-’

‘No it’s not, Jesus Christ’ he interrupted, his hand scratching the back of his neck. ‘You can tell it’s been a while huh’ he laughed awkwardly, grabbing his shirt so he could clean you up a bit. ‘There you were worrying I wouldn’t like what I saw, you’re too attractive clearly. My dick can’t take it’

‘What about last time’ you laughed, referring to your little escapade on Ben’s sink and whilst it wasn’t the longest time you’d ever gone it wasn’t as short as this.

‘I had whisky dick last time. Normally I can’t even get it up when I’ve had that much to drink so the fact I fucked you is actually pretty impressive I’ll have you know’ he laughed shyly before slipping down next to you. ‘Look just lay back so I can finish you off yeah?’

‘You don’t have to’

‘Well I do. Won’t leave any of my customers unsafisfied with my service’ he winked, a strange feeling settling in your tummy at his words but in the end you just laughed him off.

‘Mase that’s gross’ you told him but you were soon silenced as he pressed his lips to yours whilst hooking his leg around yours to keep them apart before plunging his fingers into you with no prior warning.

You thought he might try and get you to your high quickly so you could leave after what he’d done but if anything he was taking his time. Slowly pulsing his fingers inside of you as he stared straight into your eyes and the change in pace made you dizzy.

‘Mase, p-please’ you stuttered, grinding your hips down onto his hand in hopes you’d feel the friction a bit more but the teasing smile on his lips made you shiver.

‘What is it, muffin?’

‘Faster please’

‘Oh I don’t think so’ he whispered, leaning down so he could place a kiss on your lips ‘remember last time? I said I wanted to take my time with you but we couldn’t. So I’m gonna take my time with you now okay?’

‘Okay’ you nodded, knowing he’d get his own way anyway so you let him have you as he wanted. Moving himself in between your legs so he could rest his forehead on yours but the eye contact was proving too intense for you, not to mention it was against the rules, so you shut your eyes just before you felt him kiss you again.

‘You think I can have a taste?’ He asked, lips dancing across your cheek as you nodded, your legs shaking in anticipation as he kissed his way down your body. Seemily wanting to cover every inch of your skin with his lips all whilst his fingers still worked away inside of you but soon enough he was where you needed him. Kissing all over your thighs until you couldn’t take it anymore so you gently threaded your fingers through his hair so you could move him. Feeling him chuckling against you before the warmth of his tongue finally made contact with your clit.

‘Fuck Mase’ you shuddered, fingers gripping his hair even harder so you could ride his tongue. Thinking you may be pushing it a bit far but the way his free hand was roaming your skin let you know he was enjoying it just as much. Touching as squeezing every part of you he pleased and the warmth of his hand made it all feel more intense.

You reached your high soon after, arching your back off the bed as he rode you through it before you slumped back down. Chest heaving as you came back to reality but Mason settling himself next to you made you smile.

‘I’m sorry about earlier, hopefully that made up for it’ he laughed, pressing a kiss to your forehead and making you chuckle.

‘I guess we can call it even now’

‘Do you think you might have another one for me?’ He asked seductively, lips by your ear before he kissed your neck. ‘I think I might have enjoyed eating you out a little too much’ he told you. Taking your hand so you could feel him again and to your surprise he was as hard as a rock.

‘I think I might, yeah’ you winked, lips reaching up to his so you could kiss him again as you both got lost in each other once more.

y/n

liked by masonmount, okaylaaa, decalnrice and others

y/n out of office activated ✅

view comments

masonmount plane pals 🤜🏻🤛🏻

y/n thank you for keeping me sane 😊

carlywlms_ I still can’t believe you’re here 🥹

y/n believe it baby 🤭

laurenfryer_ THE GANGS ALL BACK TOGETHER

y/n LET THE FUN BEGIN 🤪

declanrice Mason is such a baby

y/n are just jealous you couldn’t hold his hand like normal?

decalnrice 🤐

__nads have the best time 🩷 i promise to look after your baby with my life 🧁

y/n thank you 🥰 just call me if you need me!

__nads girl relax I got this 😉

lukeshaw23 thanks for the invite

masonmount I’ll bring you back something nice 😏

declanrice 😘

woody_ hope Mason didn’t hurt your hand 😭 could hear you squealing from three rows away

masonmount yes cause I was the one that caused it 🙄

y/n sorry Mase ☹️

Tagged: @footiehoemcfc @prideofpd @yoursselo @chelseachilly @willow-writer-ivy @mm-vii @katharinanadiaa @mmountseb @carlottawllms @saltyheartnightmare @masonmtxo @harvestmount @chillymountsjess @treblebluesblog @pulisicsgirl @bluesswift @feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps

[ravennaortiz]

August 30th A features Opie with the prompt "Wishes and Kisses for my favorite birthday girl" requested by the lovely @darqchilddaydreamz As always my stories are 18+

“Good Morning Sweetheart” called Opie as you appeared in the doorway of the kitchen yawning. “Morning” you replied smiling as he kissed your forehead as you hugged his waist. “Sit down and I ‘ll get your coffee” he stated as he flipped the pancakes he was making quickly. Once you were seated you watched your giant teddy bear hustle about. His kiss the cook apron flying as he moved back and forth.

You sipped your coffee as Opie finished up your breakfast. Your eyes lingering on the mason jar with a purple bow on the table. Before you could ask Opie was setting your favorite birthday pancakes, hash browns and bacon in front of you. “Looks great love” you stated as you smiled at him before digging in. You moaned as the fluffy pancake practically melted in your mouth. Opie chuckled as he watched you. “You don’t make those sounds when I’m in you, getting kinda jealous” he laughed making you shake your head. “Hush. You know damn well my neighbors are well aware of your name and how endowed you are with all the praise I sing” you retorted making him laugh.

“The walls of this apartment are hella thin” agreed Opie as he chewed on a piece of bacon. “I wish I could be done with this place” you sighed as you grabbed a piece of toast spreading jelly on it. Opie nodded as he thought about his gift. The year had been rough and he wanted to do something unique and cute for you. He only hoped you wouldn’t think he had overstepped with one of them.

Clearing his throat he drew your attention to the mason jar. You watched him curiously as he scooted it to you. You could see it was filled with your favorite candy Hershey kisses and little bits of colored paper now that it was closer. “I know you said no gifts….but this isn’t” he stated as you grabbed the jar and turned it over. You grinned before looking back at him. “Should have known the big bad biker wouldn’t follow my rules” you stated making Opie bark with laughter as you opened the jar and popped a candy In your mouth.

“What can I say baby. I’m an outlaw and all about the fairy tale” laughed Opie making your snort. “Alright Jax” you teased making Opie laugh harder. “Yeah, that felt wrong” he agreed as he watched you pop another piece of candy into your mouth.

“It’s nothing crazy. It’s just wishes and kisses for my favorite birthday girl” he stated as he stood up and came around the table. “I figured you can have kisses all day long while I’m at work and then pull wishes out as you feel like it and I’ll get you that gift.” Explained Opie as he bent and kissed your forehead. You felt tears pool at your lash line at how thoughtful his gift was.

You heard rustling and he set a folder in front of you labeled lease. “I also…..umm got you out of your lease early…..if you umm want to move in with me finally?” he continued as he knelt next to you grinning. You couldn’t help the tears and laughter that spilled from you. “Of course” you replied leaning forward and kissing him. “I think you better call off work though. I want real kisses all day long” you whispered in his ear making him swallow hard.

Return to Masterlist

[catindabag]

Every District “facts” and “local info” according to Festus Creed and old Professor Dementia Demigloss in my TBOSAS on Crack!AU.

[Read this for context]

District 1

Provides the Capitol chocolate coins!

Luxury items Fake gold.

Fashionista Land.

Their mayor is a ✨diva✨ who lives in a gold encrusted treehouse.

District 2

Provides the Capitol hugs and cuddles!

Masonry Mason jars??

Throws bread to their dead.

Their mayor (Mr. Rocky Rock O’Rolly) is a piece of rock. #immortalmayor2me&u

District 3

Provides the Capitol “free” flat screen televisions and spy cam teddy bears.

Technology Techno Pop Robo Cop??

They can hack your ass.

Their mayor has a flying wheelchair.

District 4

Provides the Capitol sea witches and lobster guards.

Fishing Catfishing. Duh.

They don’t serve bacon pizzas in D4. They might not even know what a pizza is (according to their local gremlin).

Their mayor is a self proclaimed mermaid.

District 5

Provides the Capitol the strongest Hello Kitty duct tape in the world.

Electricity Power Rangers!

Clemmie’s daddy is the shadow king of D5.

Their mayor is a homeless electrician.

District 6

Provides the Capitol Thomas & Friends.

Transportation Transformers??

Nero Price used to be the shadow king of D6, but now he’s a werewolf.😔

Their mayor only cares about her exclusive toy train collection.

District 7

Provides the Capitol wooden chairs and “free” firewood.

Lumber Cucumber??

They can throw and swing their axes taxes!

Their hobo mayor is a self proclaimed “flower child” who can talk to trees and bees.

District 8

Provides the Capitol sparkly mini skirts and sexy lingeries??

Textiles Project Runway.

Apple berry pies and cookies are their only “accepted” currency.

Their weird mayor claims to have a walking and talking bathroom rug. She might be crazy (but not “Palmyra Monty” crazy).

District 9

Provides the Capitol grain rain??

Grain Raisins.

They might have a secret “rice worshiping cult” over there. Who knows. Don’t care.

Their mayor sells a suspicious smelling “sugar powder” for a living. Is that even legal? Somebody should investigate him.

District 10

Provides the Capitol blue cheese and ✨Moo Moo Milk✨.

Livestock Chicken wings and drumsticks.

Domitia’s himbo daddy rules D10 with his emotional support cow (Lord Claudius).

Their mayor is Lord Claudius.🐮

District 11

Provides the Capitol cabbages and lima beans.

Agriculture Cabbage land and vultures!

They can legally marry their scarecrows. However, they are not allowed to divorce their scarecrow spouses for some reason.

Their mayor’s wife is a sexy scarecrow.

District 12

Provides the Capitol singing birds and pole dancers??

Coal mining ✨Pole dancing✨.

They’re poor but they don’t live in dumpsters with their freaky pet rats.

Their mayor’s daughter is a mean boyfriend stealing b*tch (according to their local singing rainbow bird).

District 13

The Capitol Nobles are currently pretending that D13 doesn’t exist anymore. But we all know it does. Lol.

D13 is now called the underground “Mole Kingdom” ruled by the mole people.

President Ravinstill is highly allergic to mole people and their rebellious mole habits.

Their self proclaimed “mole president” is deathly allergic to Bichon Frisé puppies. But who cares! D13 doesn’t exist.😉

[become-a-robot]

I am making vanilla extract which involves sealing vanilla beans and alcohol in a mason jar and shaking it every now and last night my brother asked me "are you shaking your vanilla?" and I shook my actual Vanilla blow mold snowman as a joke and it made a maraca sound and some sand fell out of it all over the damn floor and I got really scared like why tf is Vanilla full of sand like where you at the damn beach but then I looked into it and it's normal to weigh your blow molds down with bags of sand so they're less likely to be blown away or stolen and the sand that came out must have been what was left when he was emptied out and sold but I'm still not ruling out him sneaking out of my house to play on the beach tho

[readnburied]

169 Scavenger Hunt Reading Challenge 2024 — Announcement

As this year draws to a close, it’s time to announce the 169 Scavenger Hunter Reading Challenge 2024. This is a reading challenge which is hosted by me and takes place every leap year. The first one took place in 2020 and 2024 will be a leap year so it’s time for this challenge to appear. 

Rules & Levels

The challenge will run from January 1st, 2024 till December 31st, 2024. There’s a list of 169 items given below and your job is to find each item in the books you read. You can find multiple items in one book, or you can choose to read one book per item, that is up to you. 

There are levels of accomplishment based on how many items you manage to find in the books you read which are as follows: 

Bronze Level: 0 — 52 items

Silver Level: 53 — 91 items

Gold Level:  92 — 169 items

So without any further delay, here is the list of items you need to find for the 169 Scavenger Hunt Reading Challenge 2024. 

169 Scavenger Hunt Reading Challenge 2024

wristwatch

Scarf

Mason Jar

Ticket

Fuse

Guitar

Rocking Chair

Rock

Picture Frame

Fireplace

Moon

Calendar

Duffel Bag

Boarding Pass

Star

Plate

Ceiling Fan

Coffee Cup

Barista

Sparrow

Bottle

Soda

Egg

Mascara

Strobe Lights

Martini

Leaf

Stethoscope 

Squid

Dagger

Blue Car

April

Bow

Cat

Tapestry

Bookshelf

Pearl

Ice Cream

Christmas Tree

Grandfather Clock

Staircase

Shampoo Bottle

iPhone

Crocodile

Facebook

Winter

Teeth

Pen

Space

Spa

Mouse

Bar Stool

Sculpture

Faucet

Shoe Rack

Tulip

Black Tie

Gym

Flag

Soccer Ball

Halter-Neck Dress

Seashell

Windmill

Selfie

Mahogany

Red Light

Wallet

Brain

Building

Fashion Designer

Chinese Vase

Seed

Hot Chocolate

Envelope

Heart

Herb

Flame

Road

Web

Stitch

Music Notes

Chocolate

Sling

Bracelet

Bell Boy

Shovel

Racket

Flip Flops

Fireworks

Waffles

Frosting

Condensation

Sticker

Headline

Tea

Folder

Salt

Soap

Pipes

Tiles

Raindrop

Brick

Gravel

Cloud

Teardrop

Ring

Speaker

Balloon

Basketball

Marble

Pestle

Parsley

Tracks

Ice Cube

Pouch

Comforter

Fridge

Rainbow

Highlighter

Bulb

Earthquake

Lamp

License

Diploma

Gown

Tunic

Wand

Boots

Lighter

Laptop

Socks

Cookies

Foam

Dolphin

Grass

Helicopter

Skyscraper

Credit Card

Boat

Camp

Hat

Invite

Vampire

Syringe

Coat

Switch

Twig

Bag

Bulldozer

Couch

Pizza

Hot Air Balloon

Keychain

Charm

Medicine

Tweezers

Fountain Pen

Pirate

Treasure Chest

Mist

Instrument

Carton

Moisturizer 

Baloney

Fish

Sweater

Cabinet 

Air

Popsicle

So here is the list of all the items you need to find to complete this reading challenge. I hope you find it interesting and wish to participate. If you do, feel free to comment down below and if you can’t or don’t want to comment that’s okay as well. I just hope you enjoy doing the challenge! 

Happy Reading!!

[twigg96]

hiya love!!

I know I was just as shocked to hear people have WIP folders lmaoo

could we get a little sneak peak for the preturn Merle fic cause 😭I want to ask about Avery x Daryl so bad but I want it to be a full surprise ;)

sending good vibes, love you!! <3

Hello @asgardianhobbit98!! You absolutely may have a peek of The Book of Merle!! 👀❤️ I’m so happy you’re excited for your surprise and I hope you enjoy this snippet!!

Prologue

Rating: M

Characters: Merle Dixon, William Dixon (Father cannon), Lizbeth Dixon (Mom OC)

Warnings: Mentions of Child Abuse and Neglect, underage drinking, arrests, removal of children from homes into foster care,

The Book of Merle

From the time Merle was little, he knew and understood the rules right away. He had to in order to make it in the Dixon household. It was ingrained in him. Forcibly. Carved into his very skin. Over and over. His momma always told him his first word was Daddy then his second Shhh. It was even then in his subconscious known that there was a danger and it needed to be avoided.

Rule Number One:

Don’t make too much noise in the mornings when daddy first wakes up, especially not before he has his first drink. The welts on his back and his mother’s black eyes were proof enough of what could happen if he strayed from this rule. His Daddy did his damnedest to provide for his family the best he knew how… Or so that’s what he said. He always went out to the shed in the woods and made that “liquid gold” that was clear as far as Merle could tell and made him a nicer man to be around when he drank it. Said it was refreshing. Merle assumed it was like when he pressed his lips to the water pump outside, letting that cold spring water rush past his lips in the heat of the summer. But when he pressed his lips to one of the mason jars he found one day when he was all but six years old and his momma and daddy were preoccupied, busy in their room having kicked him out of the house for the day, Merle found that the drink burned like hell but eased his worrying mind in a numbing way that he found he liked.

Rule Number Two:

Never ask questions when dad gives you important business to do for his work, just shut up and get the job done quickly. Merle didn’t adhere to this rule once. Just once however. His father had advised that he skip school and take the long way to a “colleague's” house where he was to drop off the mason jar he placed in his knapsack. But the familiar warm feeling of the “liquid gold” his father made called out to him oh so loudly. He wanted another taste even if it was just one. And so instead of heeding his father’s words to follow the rugged deer trails around the mountain Merle followed the main roads he always took to school. How would his father know if half the jar was gone by the time he arrived at his friends? How wouldn’t he know he hand just… spilled it? But then the police pulled up. And everything moved so fast. Too fast. And before he knew ir he was sitting in holding waiting for his momma to come get him and his daddy to come with his belt.

Rule Number 3:

Never cry if your belly ain’t full. It ain’t right not when momma and daddy work so hard to put what they can on the table while yer at school.

Rule Number 4:

Never make momma cry, it makes her makeup run and when it does the bruises show through. The ladies at work like to ask questions and call the cops for her getting their noses in her business like it’s their job to care.

Rule Number 5:

Can’t never tell yer teacher what daddy did for work. If they ever asked he had to say he was waitin’ for a good management position.

Rule number 6:

Whats hunted is shared or we all starve. In the same breath. We give back to the forest for it feeds us and gives us shelter from the dangers that exist in life. If we do this we will always have a place to hide when things get really bad. The woods will always be the safest place.

Rule Number 7:

Most importantly… Hide when the people in suits came calling from CPS they were never any good and only ever took ya away momma and wanted to keep you from protecting her.

See… Merle knew these rules… he learned them through experience. And knew them all like the back of his hand. He learned how to skate between braking them and keeping them in check. Daryl however… born 8 full years after Merle. He didn’t. And Merle really didn’t want to teach him. But… if he didn’t, who would?

[searchingforserendipity25]

Whatever ship you had at age 13 + “It wasn’t my language, but I understood enough.”

"And do not gamble," Stannis ordered.

"I do not," Davos said. And then, conscientiously, "Not in company, since I joined your service, my lord; though at home we are rather freer with games of sticks and small coins. I would rather my sons knew the way of dicing from me, so they should not learn it at the edge of a charlatan's dirk."

Stannis frowned, passing judgement. Davos would have to tell this to Marya: she found it very amusing how Stannis liked to dispense high notions of conduct, for all she had still not quite forgiven him for Davos' lovely strong fingers.

"I suppose that is better, if they are like to be near such vices," he conceded, a little grudgingly. "Well I wish I could say they shall be pages and squires, perhaps, and have no need for a clear head; but pages are as terrible as any mason's son for gaming, and often more reckless, for having more money to spend. See that they are sensible lads, Davos, and they shall do you credit, if only be comparison."

Faint praise that was, but Davos knew what he meant by it. Three years with three long seasons in the Red Keep, managing his lord's household; he was starting to understand.

It had been foolishness to think poverty was enough to guess at the indifference of the highborn.

None of them cared for justice - not as Stannis did. They cared less, even, for their smallfolk; and paid no mind to the small ruffians in the port, the small hungry ship-boys very like the one Davos had been.

"Trust no one to be capable or interested in being capable to do their work, be sure they shall be greedy, and keep away from any excess."

His tone made it clear he did not grasp why this simple matter should prove so impossible a standard to his peers, and thought very little of them for it.

Davos hid a smile in the corner of his beard. His new lord was quick to sense any slight, and imagine many others; he did not trust mirth, when mirth came to stand by his side to keep him company during long balls.

Or at least to leave the festivities with him, when the feasting went on too long. The endless courses of sweetcakes and merenges decorated with the sweetest fruits from the Seven Kingdoms and Essos had soured Davos' own appetite.

He had eaten at similar tables, in the cabins of pirates, the worst thieves of the sea. This was no different. He had no tooth sweet enough for it now; his head ached behind his eyes when he ate too much indulgence, his body little used to it.

They left the stifling heat of the great hall to walk the battlements when the last round cheese wheels and small, rich wines and liquors were still being served.

Which was just as well: Davos had an urge, very unworthy, of squirreling away a slice or three, or a small jar of jam. He had to remind himself his sons ate well, now; that Marya grew rounder and redder and full of laughter, and not only ruled well their pantry, but shared their plenty with neighbors and dependents.

Quietly, in the privacy of his heart, Davos was quite determined that he should expect trust, and no derision, from one person at least.

A lofty goal, but as he was come to an unexpected windrush of good fortune, he thought he might have some luck in this endeavour, too.

Davos and his lord spoke long of honor and justice, these being the things dearest to Stannis' heart; moreover, Davos found it a matter of much interest.

His rise to knighthood, never expected, could not have been a stranger course for a smuggler. In those first years at Dragonstone, he went through his new duties and new life feeling keenly as a cabin-boy boy on his first voyage again - finding his feet when the swells of court life rose, keeping his head down and doing his best with the tasks given to him.

Always with a wary ear out, always certain of his disposability, his smallness to the engines of politics.

It rankled, more than he thought it would; for in his way he had been a man of some importance, ruler of his own crew, and well-respected, ship won with effort and cunning, while knights donned armour costing a spring's worth of ten families' work in the fields.

At least he had a new, good and stalwart captain to lead him through troubled waters. Davos grew ever more grateful for it, the more he came to know of the foibles of the kingdom's nobles.

"Honorable conduct is very simple, smuggler," Stannis told him. He turned his half-empty glass of lemon water between his palms - his wrists, narrow still, caught the silver light, too stark under his skin to be comfortable to look at long.

Davos did like to look at him, though. A fine sort of discomfort; he knew how to keep his feet and his head. So perhaps he was a gambling man still, in his way; though as honest a one as he could make himself become.

"And as you already do keep it, learning the ways of court shall be easier," Stannis added, in that stilted, stiff way, that was not a compliment in him but might have been in another man.

"I shall do my best, lord," Davos agreed. "If only by comparison."

Davos thought of him in the light of that moon, often, in years to follow, though he did not always know this was what he was thinking of in particular. The long cheeks framed by long lines, the dark curls starting to thin already - the young man with his unhappy mouth twitching, for a moment.

-

Thank you so much @displayheartcode! Now this was fun a trip down memory lane <3

[einsteinsugly]

August 1964. A Hard Day's Night.

The world is weird, sometimes.

Sometimes, there's a lot of happiness. Sometimes, there's a lot of sadness.

This isn't sadness, or happiness. It's something else, entirely.

She's in a whole new place, and it's overwhelming. Just a little while ago, she was staring at the Atlantic Ocean. And now, she's on this driveway. Catching fireflies, in a place that's far, far away.

And with her parents, it's like talking to walls. They'll never understand. She doesn't know if she's smarter than them quite yet, even though she's only four, but they see things a lot differently.

Her mom just wants to be happy. Her dad just wants their ducks to be in a row, but in a flashy way. Like life in a Beach Boys song or something.

But life isn't like a Beach Boys song, because that's obvious. The world is a weird place, with lots of twists and turns and…

"Hi." There's that same scrawny little neighbor boy again, coming out of nowhere, playing on a hippity hop. "You aren't gonna punch me in the tummy again, are you?"

Donna rolls her eyes. "If you look at me like that again, yeah."

He's awkwardly forward, as if he bounced onto the scene with his hippity hop. Just to see her, and play with her. "Wanna play?"

Once again, she rolls her eyes. "There's only one hippity hop."

The boy, whose name is Eric, is pathetic. He's pathetically pouting, with wide, green eyes. "We can share."

"That's not fun." His desperation is painful, and she reluctantly relents. "You wanna catch fireflies with me?"

"I'm not good at catching anything. 'Specially balls."

"I am." She declares, oblivious, and she hears snickering from behind a screen door, slightly ajar. "Who's that?"

"That's my sister, Laurie," Eric proclaims, and Laurie sticks out her tongue, "She's stupid and evil, but mostly stupid."

Laurie chuckles, using her index fingers to create devil horns. They're the stupid ones, since both are none the wiser. About basic human anatomy, as their mom would state. And lots of other things. "There are two balls, one on each side of…"

"Laurie!" Their mom's voice is like the voice of the adults in Charlie Brown, but angrier. "Can it!"

But Laurie refuses to relent. "I think Eric wants her to catch them."

Mrs. Forman has had enough, and makes an appearance. With her hands firmly on her lips. "Go to your room."

"I thought there was a three strike rule."

"I'll count to three." The porky mouth isn't helping, and it only seals her fate. "One, two…"

Finally, Laurie runs away. "Fine. Bye."

*****

After that fiasco, all is calm. Quiet, on a warm summer night.

"Laurie always takes my fireflies, and says they're hers." Eric has caught a firefly in his mason jar, and he's twirling the jar, in sheer fascination. "She's mean."

"I'm not as mean as her, right?"

"No, you're nice," He states, finally looking up, "And I was weird, and I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She sets her mason jar next to his. Two fireflies, lighting up the night. "Everybody's a little bit weird. Like my parents. My parents are weird."

"They are?"

"My mom's dumb," She insists, glaring at him, "But I'm the only one allowed to say that. Got it?"

"Uh huh."

"And my dad's just…weird. He really likes The Beach Boys."

Eric shrugs. They're really popular, right? "The Beach Boys aren't that bad."

"Okay, you're weird," Donna declares, "I think they're annoying."

"The Beatles are way better, though," He's getting tired, and he's about to sleep like a log. "My dad says only girls like The Beatles, but I think he's wrong. But if I say that, I'm gonna be in big trouble."

"You shouldn't get in trouble. You aren't breaking any rules."

He's always been terrified of his dad, for as long as he can remember. "But what he says, goes."

But Donna is quick to challenge him. "Are you sure about that?"

He's notably hesitant, and his typically uptight reply wavers. "Yeah."

*****

Author's Notes:

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's part one of my gift.

Canon constantly contradicts when Eric and Donna met. One episode says their entire lives (although there may be exaggeration at play), and another says at age seven. So I've arrived at a rough median, at the age of four, an exact homage to the pilot. Only certain elements of Class Picture make sense, and when they do (they do, two-thirds of the time), I'll include them. When they don't, I'll make small edits, like Hyde being a hired gun to protect Eric from Donna makes no sense, especially if they've been friends since they were four. That, and I can't see Donna being that mean to Eric for that long (a week or two, probably, in Class Picture). I can see her being standoffish, as shown here, but not downright bullying him.

[pinkacademic]

Girly Teen Sleepover

This is the promised Teen Edition to the previous post. I don’t actually know how many of my followers fall into different age brackets, but I hope this is interesting to some of you! The Ultimate Girly Sleepover is a noble pursuit at any age, after all, so I hope you get some ideas!

Activities

Truth or Dare

Makeovers

Photo Shoot

Never Have I Ever

Quiz

PowerPoint Party

Would You Rather

M.A.S.H

Board Games

Hide and Seek/Sardines (provided your parents are very tolerant!)

Karaoke

Food The same rules apply that getting a pizza delivery is the best option, but if you don’t have your own money, it’s time to get resourceful.

My friend, here’s a tip that you should take into adulthood, honestly: Group fund. With your besties, choose a reliable treasurer, and everyone puts any pocket money etc they might get over the course of a month, say, into the fund- aka the mason jar- and put that towards a delivery of food, maybe some sweets, a discoball if you want, or a group cinema trip.

This works only if you’re all honest,but we’re not here to breed cynicism.

Aside from that

Frozen pizza is usually cheaper, and you can get a margharita and spruce it up yourself

You can get creative with what you have in the kitchen… and what your parents’ allow. Pool your skills as a team

Box brownies are always improved with crunchy m&m’s

10 Sleepover Movies that are Actually About Teenagers

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Absolutely binge all three, by all means)

Clueless (As IF! this wasn’t going on here)

Mean Girls- 2/3 of my holy trinity made it on here!

Wild Child

Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging

Do Revenge- my modern classic

Grease (even if the cast had the worst age gaps between themselves and their characters)

Heathers

Dirty Dancing

The Breakfast Club

Clearly there are some differences in tone between some of these movies, but you know your friend group better than I do! I could also add to this list forever, so this is in no way comprehensive.

Anyway, I hope some of you took some ideas away from this post, and a bit of inspiration!

[strawberryshortcake1495]

Miserable Mason

Mason was a perfect child. He always followed the rules, laid low under the radar, and was very polite to his elders. As he entered elementary school, his parents started signing him up for extracurricular activities to give him something he can be “proud of”. It didn’t make him feel proud, though. Just tired. The attention felt overwhelming to him, and whenever he’d try to divert it to his sister, Mabel, the adults would simply go on and on and on about how awful she is. Most of the time, his mother was the one whining. On the playground, there was this bush littered with the most beautiful flowers anyone’s ever seen. Everyday, Mason picked a flower and tried to give it to his sister. Mabel would always spit in his face and spew insults at him before running away laughing. It’s okay. He deserved that. Who was he to ruin her day? That’s their parents’ job.

Mason tried so hard to make it through these years because he was terrified. Why? He didn’t know. He shouldn’t be scared. Everything he wanted was handed to him on a silver platter. His parents treated him as if he were some prince. But that was only because he makes them so proud. By what? Being good at a lot of things? Is that it? What happens if he’s not good? Will they tie him up? Throw rocks at him? Maybe they’d stop speaking to him. No. No no no. He didn’t want his parents to hate him. Because deep down, he knew he wasn’t perfect. Nobody is. He was…weird. He could get into an argument with someone for a whole 30 minutes over little things. Whenever he was excited, he’d flail his arms as if he were a bird. And of course, he had that stupid Big Dipper birthmark on his forehead. That was the part of him he hated the most. He was just like Mabel. Ugly, gross, disgusting. Yet…he was somehow gifted? It didn’t make sense. Why is Mabel not gifted? Why does she get to be called miserable? He’s as miserable as her. One day when he was 9 years old, he tried to show everyone who he really was. A nasty vile creature who shouldn’t be alive. He sprayed his sister with a hose and replaced all the chocolates in the candy jar with slugs. But his parents blamed Mabel, even when he confessed to the crime. All he did was make her hate him more. As he laid in his bed, his small framed curled up in a fetal position, he realized that he truly is alone in this world. He’ll always be “Merry Mason”.

[coochiequeens]

He kept what in the fridge?

Pontiac — A district court judge Wednesday denied a pair of dueling $6,500 small claims petitions that centered around a transgender woman's attempt to get her surgically removed testicles back after they were kept for months in her ex-boyfriend's refrigerator.

During a contentious small claims hearing in Pontiac's 50th District Court, Judge Jeremy Bowie ruled "it's a wash" after hearing testimony from Brianna Kingsley, 40, and her 37-year-old ex, William Wojciechowski.

Kingsley filed a handwritten small claims petition in August claiming Wojciechowski "retains possession of my surgically extracted testicles, preserved in (a) Mason jar, kept in (the) fridge next to the eggs. Demand immediate return of my human remains specimen and damages of $6,500."

Wojciechowski filed a counterclaim seeking $6,500 in damages because he said he had been "humiliated" by coverage of the case by "worldwide news outlets."

Bowie denied both claims, a decision he said Wednesday can't be appealed. The judge said Kingsley had an opportunity to get her testicles back when an Oakland County Sheriff's deputy accompanied her to Wojciechowski's Pontiac home in January 2023.

When the deputy escorted her to the house, Kingsley had just gotten out of the Oakland County Jail, where she'd been incarcerated for three days and fined $100 for violating a personal protection order Wojciechowski had filed against her.

"We allow a one-time visit with a Sheriff's officer in situations like that for people to go back to get their belongings," the judge said. "Ms. Kingsley failed to retrieve the testicles from the refrigerator at that time. ... If they were so important to her, she had the opportunity to grab them, and she didn't."

Wojciechowski said he threw the body parts away in July.

"They were rotting in my fridge, and it was disgusting — I've got food in there I wanted to eat," Wojciechowski told the judge. "She didn't keep them in a biohazard container like she was supposed to."

"Specifically why I asked you: I can put a dollar amount on, say, if you were missing work at $16 an hour," Bowie said. "But as to testicles, I can't really put a number on it."

Kingsley, who clutched a small black comfort dog throughout the hearing, said the March 23, 2022 surgery at Henry Ford Hospital cost $20,000, although she said because she's disabled, the state footed the bill.

But the state paid for that; you didn't," Bowie said. "You're not going to be unjustly enriched."

Kingsley replied: "They were my testicles. ... We're talking about my nuts. ... I wanted them in my fridge — not his. ... He denied me access to my own body parts. I don't think that can be quantified. The damages were the loss of these nuts."

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, "The Medicaid program covers medically necessary gender affirmation/confirming medical, surgical, and pharmacologic treatments and procedures for beneficiaries clinically diagnosed with gender dysphoria." Medicaid is the government health insurance coverage for mostly low-income residents.

At one point during Wednesday's hearing, the judge told Kingsley to stop interrupting him, saying, "I've been patient enough."

Kingsley and Wojciechowski said they met on Facebook Community in April 2020 and in the fall of 2021 they moved into a Pontiac house Wojciechowski bought.

After her surgery, Kinsley said she put her testicles in a Mason jar and stored them in the refrigerator "because I deal with trauma with comedy. Shakespeare did it."

The couple broke up in December 2022. Wojciechowski secured a personal protection order against Kingsley, which she violated a month later. After she got out of jail and was escorted by a sheriff's deputy to retrieve her belongings from Wojciechowski's home, she visited the house a second time about a month later.

Wojciechowski said he denied her entry the second time because he felt she was harassing him. The judge said he had a right to deny her entry, since she'd already been allowed to retrieve her belongings a month earlier.

Earlier Wednesday, Kingsley had a hearing scheduled on charges of destruction of property, after she allegedly damaged Wojciechowski's front door. Bowie said she didn't appear for that hearing and that it had been rescheduled for Feb. 28.

[ahordeofwasps]

Find the Word Tag

I’ve been tagged by the wonderful @amewinterswriting! Thanks for the tag! My words are steal, seal, meal, real, and ideal. I’m going to share excerpts from To Not Falling Off Cliffs!

But first, the no pressure tags! I’ll be tagging @emelkae, @isherwoodj, @kaiusvnoir, @space-writes, and open tag! Your words are shield, yield, field, and wield!

Now, onto To Not Falling Off Cliffs!

Steal and Real

She was lucky the Sunodos still allowed reapers to still buy items. When the reapers were allowed to interact with the souled, more rules than simply talking about those they reaped were put in place. They were forbidden from being employed (and thus earning currency), yet were allowed to pursue hobbies and acquire material items. Stealing usually wasn’t forbidden and there wasn’t much anyone could do to arrest a reaper, but it was frowned upon and it did dampen relationships with the souled. Purchasing them in a roughly legal way was preferable, yet the reapers had no real way to acquire currency. The Sunodos invented a solution for this. If a reaper wished to acquire an item, they simply did a specific hand movement, and a calculation was made. If the act of buying an item did not alter fate “outside acceptable deviations,” then the correct amount of currency was spawned in the desired form. But, if buying the item altered fate, then the currency was simply not spawned and the reaper was denied the transaction. Sometimes this was predictable; reapers couldn’t invest, rent or buy property, nor make transactions above an unspecified threshold. But other times this was unpredictable, and seemingly innocuous items were denied. Tiffany remembered a time when she tried to purchase a muffin and was denied the transaction.

Seal

Steve had nothing to say. Several words, most of which were crude, ran through his head, but to speak them could seal his fate. Or lack thereof, given his predicament.

Meal

At first glance, the apartment looked the same as it was when Erika last visited. There was still a bucket of crystals on the end table next to a stack of unopened cardboard boxes with facial cleansers targeted towards teens. The blue macrofibre dusting cloth was still left forgotten on the bookshelf next to a series of volumes on pigeon breeding. Beer cozies with various energy drink logos printed on them nestled mason jars filled with origami flowers were scattered about every available flat surface. Next to where Erika sat was a potted plant sitting on a cardboard box that once contained meal replacement shakes.

But, as Erika examined the room further, she spotted new items among the clutter. A small box of make-up was in the bucket of crystals. A bar of soap that looked like a cupcake sat on the bookshelf, still in its original packaging. The paper petals of the origami flowers look like they were wet, and the room reeked of peppermint, with the stench being strongest next to the origami flowers. There was a plastic depiction of a zombified cat having a tea party with a ceramic frog in the soil of the potted plant.

Ideal

Not found. I’ll share a fun fact instead! Because reapers aren’t allowed to own property or rent, they live exclusively in abandoned places. Tiffany lives in an abandoned lighthouse, while Steve lives in an abandoned mining shack once used to store dynamite.