#oh and some embroidery i recently finished

[byeveryhumanlove]

🌊 Summer post! Summer post! 🌊

[haruhar-u]

“A rose upon you”

Rook x g/n reader, fluff

A/N: damn this is finished earlier than I thought it’s be finished. I did struggle to write his dialogue so I apologize if it’s ooc

edited but not beta read

The first day, it was a red rose that smells vaguely of apples. Then it was a box of your favourite chocolates. The rose had a velvety garnet bow with gold trim around the edges. In gold embroidery was the initial "R.H." Seriously, who is this admirer of yours? You sat on the couch in Ramshackle’s lounge, holding the two items in your hands. Oh, Ace was there too. Your flaming tuna cat and Deuce were out buying snacks at Sam’s. 

"Oooh,” Ace cooed at you in a teasing manner, almost like when in elementary school a boy and a girl get called to the board together, or even in the same group, for that matter.

“Shut up.” You elbowed Ace in the ribcage, not hard enough to hurt him, but hard enough for him to get the message at least. You looked closely at the ribbon around the rose, softly tracing your finger over the embroidered initials. Ugh. Everything this person did made your heart race. You weren’t even sure you could think straight.

“Yo, look.” Ace pointed out the embroidered initials. "Obviously, that could be Rook Hunt…..he’s the only one crazy enough to do this anyway.” 

Rook Hunt….? The vice of Pomefiore. You will admit the two of you have gotten oddly close as of recently. He’d always try to help you with your work and would suggest you two go to the oddest places together. Such as the woods. At 3am. Why????

“I’m gonna go on a….walk?” You tell Ace and get off the couch and put on your fuzzy jacket and boots. You all but gently open the door. The icy winter air blasts on your face as you step out, snow crunching under your boot.

You don’t have to trek out much further until you hear someone call out “mon trickster” from the bushes. At this point, you’re not going to question why he was in your bushes in the first place.

“Were you the one behind... well, all this?" You ask bluntly, approaching him with the rose in hand. He steps out to hold the rose in his hand, gazing at the ribbon.

“Of course it was me. I thought you needn’t have to put much thought into it!!” He says all dramatically. “-Name- do you accept my confession of love??”

Your name instead of a nickname in French?! Does that mean he’s more serious than you originally thought? You take a moment to think about it. After all that happened in Styx, the Pomefiore vice was with you every step of the way. He always made sure to check on you to make sure you’re okay, both physically and mentally. Sometimes it’d be by tapping on your window at 3 a.m., but that was his way of showing affection. “I do.” You say when you finally come to an agreement with yourself.

“Magnifique!” He grabs your hand abruptly, causing your heart to skip a beat. “I have so much for you to witness.” He pulls you off into the nearby forest, presumably to read you some poetry. The snow-capped trees looked a lot more inviting with him by your side. Forever and always.

Taglist : @xen-blank @krenenbaker @edith-is-apparently-a-cat @whspermy-name @the-banana-0verlord

[gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan]

Candle Store

Author’s note: More of Ramiel and Jophiel in Husbandry AU.

Summary: Ramiel and Jophiel wander into a Candle store

Warnings: None? Let me know if I need to add anything!

Tagged: @barn-anon, @bleedingichorhearts, @c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @egrets-not-regrets, @kit-williams

Tagged: @sleepyfan-blog, @ms--lobotomy , @thevoidscreams, @i-am-a-dragon34, @gra93fruit-blog

Tagged: @felinisnoctis

Ramiel had noticed that they were running low on candles for the private shrine that the Primaris Marines have set up in their quarters. While he could go to the quarter master and request some candles, in exchange for work.

Another option could be to make the candles, but Jophiel had noticed what he was looking over and had said that one of the times that he had been going through Gannet Point, he had spotted a shop dedicated to selling a wide variety of candles.

Ramiel had pointed out to Jophiel that they would need to get local currency in order to buy candles from a baseline shop. Jophiel had grinned at him saying that some people had commissioned him for his embroidery and he'd gotten those commissions done.

He had gotten local currency, among other things, for the needle point work that he'd finished recently. Jophiel was happy to spend some of the local currency on candles. So the pair of them had made plans for during their time off to go to the candle store and check it out.

Ramiel really liked candles, they soft light they gave off, the flickering light that glowed softly in the darkness. The way that they illuminated something, without being overly bright.

The pair of Primaris Marines go to the Candle shop, it's only about a twenty minute power walk away from the Loyalist Base, and still is in Gannet Point.

After double checking, before heading out to the shop, it was rated Space Marines friendly and they headed into the store. It had wooden colored walls. It had a lot of different kinds of candles in glass containers with wooden tops.

Ramiel coughs a little at the strong scent that comes wafting, invading his nose and he quickly puts on his helmet in order to filter out the almost overwhelming smell of all the different kinds of scented candles.

He sees Jophiel stagger a little bit and his eyes water as he puts on his helmet and groans to Ramiel quietly that he might get a small headache from the overpower smell of the different candles.

Despite that minor hiccup, they look around the shop, there are a bunch of base line humans in the store, and some of them are in the candle shop uniform.

One of them is looking at the pair of Space Marines nervously- one of them going into the employees only section of the shop. Ramiel and Jophiel had noticed that, but were very happy to go through the various candles, lightly holding them and assessing the look, smell and quality of the candles.

Discussing the various pros and cons of the different candles, particularly the scented ones. They turn when they hear someone approach them and see a first born space marine in an Astartes-sized version of the candle shop uniform approach them.

He's heavily scarred and neither Jophiel or Ramiel can figure out which Chapter he's from. "Hello there brothers," The first born says slowly, a slight lisp, due to a scar that carves through his lips that has his face in a permanent sneer. "I see you are enjoying the shop. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh- we were just looking for some candles," Jophiel says, the more talktive and outgoing of the pair of Scout aged Primaris Marines cheerfully.

"I can recommend you some Astartes-tolerable scented candles, if you would like." The First born marine offers.

"That would be great," Jophiel says with bright smile.

"I go by Lysander," The First Born says. "Can I know your names?"

"I am Jophiel," Jophiel introduces, and waves a hand at Ramiel, "And this is Ramiel."

"It's nice to meet both of you," Lysander says, "Just as a reminder, little cousins, do you have local currency?"

"I do have local currency with me," Jophiel says as he pulls out a hand stitched and embroidered pouch that rustled with local currency in it.

Lysander nods and goes over the various options for candles that are Astartes-safe scented and they decide on half a dozen different candles. The expense for the hand crafted candles is a little surprising to Jophiel- but he's able to cover the bill with an easy smile.

The way that Ramiel had been like an kid in a candy story as they looked around the Candle store had been worth it, well worth it to see the happy expression on his often melancholic brother-cousin's face.

[thesparkling-diamond27]

The Second Bridgerton And I: Part 8

Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

Summary: Y/n Clearwater is named the “Sparkling Diamond” by Queen Charlotte herself, but she doesn’t know what to do with all this attention. Of course she has her family, but sometimes that doesn’t seem enough. But what happens when she encounters a specific Bridgerton, which changes the course of her season.

Author’s Note: This chapter includes scenes from season 3 episode 5 of Bridgerton. Down below is the link to the part 7. I hope you enjoy!

Dearest Reader,

While most seasons of our fair marriage mart follow a predictable pattern, this author likes it most when there is a surprise. It is said that surprise is one part secrecy and one part speed. And last night, an announcement came with great speed indeed. It may come to a surprise to all that Mr. Bridgerton’s rumored assistance in helping Miss Featherington find a husband has, instead led the two of them finding each other. Regardless of how it happened it is surely a wonderful time for the happy couple.

Adeline finished reading the Lady Whistledown pamphlet that was released this morning and to say that I was surprised was an understatement. I know that Penelope and Colin recently shared a kiss with one another, but I did not except them to become engaged, and especially with such haste. They did not even court one another!

However, although I was surprised I was also quite elated for my dear friend. I know how long she had harbored feelings for Colin and it is about time that Colin saw what a remarkable woman she is.

“Oh that is wonderful news!” I exclaimed from the couch in our drawing room.

“Their betrothal is definitely a surprise.” Noah said as he plucked a biscuit into his mouth from the plate that was on top of the nearby table.

“Did you know about this Carina?” Alex asked me.

I shook my head in response

“No. I knew that they shared some sort of affection for one another, but I had no idea that they would get married, especially since they never began to court one another, and definitely not so soon.”

“Well no matter how quick or surprising this news may be, Penelope is a lovely young girl and it is nice that she has found someone who appreciates her for who she is. They will make a handsome couple.” My mama said.

I nodded in agreement.

“Can I visit Penelope Mama?”

“I know you would like to visit Penelope and congratulate her, but I would wait Y/n. Her family is probably celebrating at the moment, so I would wait a few days before doing so.”

“I guess you are right.” I said disappointedly.

“But you can still send something if you would like. We can go shopping for a gift this afternoon. How does that sound?”

“That sounds lovely mama thank you.”

My mama gave me a smile and returned to the book she was currently reading and I returned to the embroidery I was working on.

I was stitching blue cornflowers with a few baby’s breaths scattered around. I am not the best at embroidery, but this one did not seem to be turning out so bad. Seeing the needle go up and down, as it poked holes within the cloth, was soothing and I found myself enjoying myself.

I heard Adeline playing the piano forte in the background. It was nice melody and I soon found myself humming along as I stitched.

“What has got you in such a pleasant mood sister?” Alex asked.

I looked up to where Alex was sitting, across from Noah, at the table.

“Hhmm?” I asked.

“What has you in such a pleasant mood?”

“Yeah. You are in a chippier mood than you have been of late.” Noah added.

Mama did not look my way, but I can tell that she was intently listening for my next words.

“I do not know. The weather is lovely, Adeline’s playing is excellent, my best friend is engaged. What more can I ask for?”

“Being married yourself perhaps.” Noah said.

“Well…Maxwell is returning this week, so we shall see what happens.”

Noah seemed satisfied with my answer, but Alex looked at me unconvinced, but said nothing nonetheless with a knowing smile. He knew me so well that he could tell when I was lying.

I was not lying though. They were all real reasons why I was happy, but the main

reason I was in such a good mood was, because of me and Benedict. We finally resolved the misunderstanding between us and he graced me with his presence this morning. Well sort of. He waved at me from the street below while I was in my bedroom. He is lucky that my basket of thread was near my window because he would have been waving at nothingness if I had not seen him.

Of course I could not voice that Benedict was the reason for my unexpected happiness, so I kept quiet and hoped that my family (except maybe Alex) would believe my answer.

When thinking about Benedict, I couldn’t help, but reimagine a certain series of certain events that happened at last night’s ball.

When his lips came into contact with my own, it was as if I was reborn. The woman I once was completely gone and I was left with someone who was fresh and enlightened. Benedict made me feel things that I did not know was even possible.

Our first kiss was beautiful and gentle. As if he was afraid I would break if he attempted the kiss otherwise. But this kiss was hot and heavy. It was as if Benedict was demanding me to kiss him. His left hand found itself at the side of my face, but his right hand wandered lower.

His kisses trailed down from my mouth and to the nape of my neck, which caused noises of pleasure to escape my mouth. Benedict brought his mouth back on to my mouth to silence me and separated from me enough for him to say,

“You do not want us to get caught right?”

I nodded.

“Then keep quiet.” He whispered in my ear, which sent shivers down my spine.

I nodded again and he continued to where he left off.

Eventually, he lifted up my leg to his waist and he slowly inched his hand under my skirts. I quickly pulled away and stopped his hand from going any further.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I brought my leg down.

Well I did know what he was doing I was not stupid. My mama made sure I knew everything I needed to know a few years ago, but I was surprised that he would do such things in a public setting. Even though we were alone, someone could easily walk to the very balcony we were at for some air. And then we would be caught and it would all go downhill from there.

“Do you trust me?” He asked.

“Yes.”

I did not even need to think. I did trust him.

“Then you do not have to worry about what I am doing.”

“That is not what I meant. I know what you are doing?”

Benedict looked at me shocked, but said nothing.

“I just…do you think it is a good idea to do such things here where someone can easily find us?” I asked.

He took a step back to think about my words.

“No I do not think it is a good idea. I think it is an excellent idea.”

I looked at him puzzled. Benedict stepped towards me and cupped my face.

“I love you and you love me and that’s all that matters.” He said.

I was shocked. I did not expect him to say that. He loved me. I could not believe it. Benedict loved me. I was happy. No I was more than happy. I was overjoyed. What I was once wishing for was actually reality. He loved me. I did not know how much I yearned for him to say those three words until he did.

“You love me?” I asked.

“Of course I do. You are kind.”

He kissed the back of my hand.

“Compassionate.”

He kissed my ear.

“Strong willed.”

He kissed my cheek.

“Insanely beautiful.”

He kissed my nose.

“And the woman I want to be with.

He kissed my lips.

“Any man would be stupid to not fall in love with you.”

He looked into my eyes. His blue eyes met my e/c eyes and I knew I was a goner. I was probably gone a long time ago, but it was not until now I realized the true depth of my situation.

“How do you know I love you.” I said teasingly.

“Well you are here. With me. Alone. And you have no objections when I do this.”

His lips found his way to my mouth again and I got lost in his touch. Benedict bit on my bottom lip lightly, which caused me to to leave a small opening for Benedict’s tongue to have complete access to my mouth.

Without breaking a sweat Benedict gently pushed me up against the wall, so that we can be concealed better. My hand found its way into his hair. His touch set me on fire, but it felt familiar at the same time. I could be like this forever in Benedict’s arms. Doing this, or simply holding hands while promenading. It did not matter what we were doing just as long as it was with him. I wanted to do everything with Benedict.

I slowly pulled away and we both took a moment to catch our breath. Then I uttered the three words that he said to me earlier.

“I love you.”

A smile broke across Benedict’s face and his hand pulled a stray hair out my face. He grabbed my back securely holding me up straight. I wrapped my arms around his neck and re-connected his face to mine.

His hand slowly bright my leg to where it once was and his hand went—

I had to stop.

I was currently daydreaming about what occurred between me and Benedict when the rest of my family was still in the room. I had to get out of here, before my family noticed I was acting off.

“I am going to see if I have green thread in my room for my embroidery. Maybe a different blue as well.” I said.

I grabbed the blue thread I was currently using and stood up from the couch.

“Are you alright dearest?” Mama said, “you look a little pale.”

“I’m fine I assure you.” I said.

I walked out of the drawing room before the rest of my family could say anything, with my blue yarn in hand, and made my way to my bedroom. The walk to my bedroom gave me some time to steady my breathing and calm down from my daydreaming. Benedict could still affect me even when he wasn’t present.

What a discovery!

I entered my room and went towards the basket of yarn that sat beside my vanity on the floor. I found a green thread that I thought might match the blue I had already used and another blue thread I quite liked. When I rose from the ground, I noticed the hancherchief that Benedict had given me still on my vanity.

I looked down at the threads in my hands and then back at the handkerchief. An idea suddenly popped into my head.

————————

Benedict

I quickly walked up the stairs to enter my home. Anthony and Kate were supposed to return from their extended honeymoon today and I wish not to be late. Before I entered the main entrance of the house I heard a voice that sounded like Anthony’s.

“I could get used to such long journeys if every return was like this.” Anthony joked.

They must have just arrived. I entered to see my family welcoming back Anthony and Kate.

“Brother.” Anthony said as he grabbed Colin’s arm.

“Brother. Good day.” I said as I pulled him into an embrace.

“And from where have you returned?” Anthony asked.

“Just out for a morning stroll.”

I did go out for a morning stroll. And it was to see a particular Clearwater through her bedroom window. Good thing when I waved to her window she noticed me because then I would have look like a mad man. Well I guess I did look like a mad man to the general public. Who knows what I looked like to them when I was waving at someone who was not in front of me.

But I did not care. I was living in my wildest dreams ever since last night and I did not have any plans of leaving my dreams. Then I remembered a little piece of information I heard in Whistledown’s issue this morning.

I looked Colin dead in the eyes and said,

“I read a curious piece of news in Whistledown this morning.”

“Mm-hmm.” Colin responded.

The rest of my family showed knowing grins while Anthony and Kate looked confused.

“Oh. What is it?” Kate asked.

“Brother you must tell them.” Hyacinth said excitedly to Colin, but before Colin could say anything she said.

“You delay so I shall. Colin is engaged to Penelope Featherington!”

Kate looked in complete shock, but seemed overjoyed for Colin, while Anthony, well I could not read his expression, but he did not seem overjoyed.

“Hyacinth must be the most excited of us all.” Mother said.

“Congratulations.” I said.

“Thank you.” Colin replied.

“Ah. Well what wonderful news.” Kate said to Anthony mostly. I think she was trying to get him to be happy for Colin.

“Of course.” Anthony replied.

“Thank you. I am in high spirits.” Colin responded.

“It seems…” Anthony said as he broke away from Kate to meet with Colin and I, “…we brothers have much to catch up on, indeed.”

The three of us decided to go to a local bar where we could discuss Colin’s engagement with an afternoon drink. We found ourselves a table and Anthony went to go grab our drinks.

“Devin was very well, but…we have bigger fish to fry.” Anthony said, “First…” Anthony took a seat beside me before saying, “…explain!”

Anthony and I looked at Colin waiting for his answer. Our seating arrangements were like an interrogation. Rather comical if you ask me, but Anthony and I wanted answers.

“No furtive looks necessary.” Colin said.

“Come now, you must admit, its’s all rather sudden.” Anthony said and I had to agree with Anthony on this one.

“What was sudden was my last betrothal.” I had to agree with Colin on that one. His betrothal with Marina was much more shocking and sudden compared to his betrothal with Penelope.

“So I cannot blame either of you if you are prone to think me foolish.” Colin continued. “My feelings for Penelope are not a thunderbolt from the sky. I have known her for a very long time, and perhaps I have always felt something for her. My only foolishness this time was not realizing it sooner.”

I sighed at Colin’s words. He really did care for Penelope and he was serious. I can see the vast difference compared to his last betrothal with Marina. Penelope was a perfect fit for Colin.

“Have you said these words to her?” Anthony asked.

Colin tensed up. I guess he never told her these words.

“The final part, the betrothal, it…it did all happen rather swiftly.”

Swift indeed Colin. Swift indeed. Colin’s words made me think about what happened between Y/n and I last night. The feeling of having her so close was ecstasy and I only had a taste of her. I simply could not get enough. I wanted to discover more about her and I could not wait to do so.

I wonder if she enjoyed it as much as I did. I would think so since she greeted me rather warmly this morning through the window.

“Ah, it’s swift because—“

“Are you going to duel with your own brother, or…” I interrupted Anthony.

He looked at me with a look of annoyance, that I was right, and understanding.

“Well you are marrying her, and for all the right reasons, it seems. That’s all that matters. But tell her.” Anthony continued.

Anthony and I both looked at Colin expectedly.

“Very well. Perhaps I shall go see Penelope now.”

Colin stood up from his chair, but before he could leave, I raised my glass and said,

“First…to your wives,”

Anthony raised his glass and so did Colin.

“Congratulations.” Anthony said.

“Thank you.” Colin said.

We all drank.

Colin then quickly left the room without another word.

“Can you believe that.” I said “I did not know that.”

Anthony looked amused.

“What about you brother?” He asked.

“What about me?”

“What about your wife? I’m married. Colin is engaged. Is there a special someone that caught your eye?”

My mind immediately went to Y/n. I would like to court her, show everyone in society that we were betrothed to one another. But I know she was currently courting Maxwell. But maybe after last night…My thoughts probably showed on my face because Anthony said.

“There is someone!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Do not lie to your brother.”

“I am not.”

Anthony seemed to realize that I was not going to change my answer.

“Very well then, but I would like to meet her. Or at least know who she is.”

“Maybe.” I replied.

————————

“One chocolate and two vanilla please.” Maxwell said.

“Oh you do not have to pay for mine dear.” My mama said.

“No it is alright. It is the least I could do since you let me take Y/n out for an outing today.”

Mama looked at Maxwell with acceptance and gratitude. He definitely received some brownie points from my mama today.

The worker took our order and then told us to sit in the corner near the display of treats. Maxwell and I sat at one table and my mama sat at the table next to ours.

“I used to love coming here as a kid.” I said.

“Yeah? Why so?” Maxwell asked.

“Well doesn’t every child love to go to the ice cream parlor?”

“Well…yes.” Maxwell laughed.

“Well me as a child obviously loved coming here for the ice cream, but I also loved coming here with my family. I have the fondest memories here. I remember one time Alex threw a spoonful of ice cream on my dress and I had a fit. I was furious back then, but now I remember the memory with fondness. I guess that’s what happens as you get older. Maybe it’s because you want to go back to when times were simpler. When all you had to worry about was an ice cream stain on your dress.”

“That definitely makes sense.”

The waiter arrived with our glasses of ice cream.

“I bet it is nice having siblings. Being able to grow up along with the same group of people.” Maxwell said.

“You are an only child right?”

Maxwell nodded.

“Being an only child is probably vastly different from growing up with siblings.” I said.

“It is indeed.”

“Is it lonely?”

“Sometimes. But sometimes I quite enjoy the solitude. Allows me time to think.”

“I cannot remember the last time I had some quiet to hear my own thoughts.”

“I can see how that can be a problem.” Maxwell said with a laugh.

“You do not have any cousins?” I asked.

“I am not that close with them.”

I could not help but feel sorry for Maxwell. I could never imagine not growing up with siblings or not being close with my non-instant family. I then realized how different Maxwell and I are.

I for one have three siblings, Maxwell has none, and although they drive me insane, I would not trade them for the world. Secondly, I am quite close with my cousins, while Maxwell is not close with his at all. I guess we are what people call “opposites attract”. Right?

“Well this conversation took a sad turn.” Maxwell said.

I lightly laughed in response.

“Now enough about me. I know you said nothing happened much while I was away, but I want to know everything. Even details that you might think are boring.” Maxwell said.

I instantly thought about what happened yesterday with Benedict, but I absolutely could never mention this to Maxwell because he would immediately call off this courtship.

“I already told you. Nothing eventful happened. Plus I wrote you letters, while I was gone. Although one thing that recently occurred, that you might know about already, is that my friend Penelope Featherington recently became engaged to Colin Bridgerton.”

“I in fact have heard about it. I did not realize you two were friends with one another.”

“Oh yes! We have always been friendly with one another, but it was not until the end of last season that we became friends.”

“Ah I see.”

We continued to talk as we continued to eat our ice cream. I had just finished laughing at a joke Maxwell said and he continued to say,

“I really enjoy spending time with you Y/n. If being married to you is anything like this, I will be the happiest man alive.”

My smile slowly fell from my face as I heard his words. His words were simple, but to me they carried so much weight.

“Are you alright?” Maxwell said.

I cleared my throat and said, “Um…yes I’m fine. I just had some ice cream stuck in my throat.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes I’m sure.”

I smiled at Maxwell and he seemed to think that I was alright.

“Okay then, but if you are feeling upset you can tell me.”

I nodded.

“Good. Now I am going to go pay for the ice cream. I will be right back.”

“Alright.”

Maxwell left our table to go pay for our ice cream and I was left alone with my thoughts. If I were to be honest I felt guilty.

Guilty for cheating on Maxwell with Benedict. Well maybe not necessarily cheating. Me and Maxwell are not married, but we are courting. That is two steps down from marriage, so my actions do carry some significance. Maxwell does not deserve such treatment, but I could not help but think about Benedict and—

“Y/n are you alright?”

I turned around to see my mama looking at me concerned.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You were simply sitting still at the table. I wanted to make sure you were alive.” She joked.

“Oh…I was simply thinking.”

“About?”

“Maxwell.”

Which was not a lie.

“He is a fine young man isn’t he.”

I nodded.

“You found a good one Y/n.”

“I did didn’t I.”

My statement was true, but I was not happy about it like I should be.

—————————

“Miss Y/n there is a letter for you Alexandra stated.

I looked and noticed that she had an envelope in her hand. I grabbed the letter and replied with a thank you before noticing that it was from Penelope.

I quickly opened the envelope to see what she had written.

“Dear Y/nn,

Thank you so much for the blue silk coin pouch. The embroidery on the pouch is exquisite. I can tell it was done by you (you have always been better at embroidery than me). Thank you for giving me a blue one instead of a family color. You know how much I distaste those colors. I am sorry I have not been able to see you recently. Ever since my engagement things have been hectic. We must spend time with each other soon. Perhaps a promenade around the park? I do hope to see you this weekend though. In the envelope I included an invitation to my engagement party. Your entire family is invited as well. I would love for you and your family to be able to attend. I hope you have been doing well and I cannot wait to see you again.

Sincerely,

Your dear friend Pen

I smiled at Penelope’s letter. I am glad she enjoyed my gift for her and I did in fact work hard on the embroidery. I figured I should give her a blue coin purse because a) she hates her family colors, and b) she will become a Bridgerton soon.

I looked into the envelope and found the invitation Penelope was taking about and I knew I had to show this to mama. Suddenly my mama entered the room.

“The menu is set?” My mama asked.

“Yes ma’am.” Our head maid Mary replied.

“Tea?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“The children?”

“Two out of four are ready ma’am.”

“Only two?!

Mama turned to see that only Alex and I were currently present.

“Where are the others? The Bridgertons are about to arrive any minute!”

Before Mary could reply I interjected.

“Relax mama. Everything shall be perfect. There is no need to be so formal.”

“Y/n is right mother.” Alex said. “It is not like the Queen is coming over for dinner. It is only the Bridgertons.”

Our words seemed to calm her down.

“You both are right. It is only the Bridgertons.”

It seemed like my mama finally came to her senses.

“Very well then. Mary, see where Adeline and Noah are. Y/n and Alex go up to the drawing room. There is no need for you two to be down here. I am going to make sure that a few things are in order.”

Our mama left before we could say anything.

“Oh Mary before you go. Make sure that my mama reads this eventually. It is an invitation to Penelope and Colin’s engagement party. And can you bring this letter to my room?” I asked.

“I will have her read it before the Bridgertons arrive.”

“Thank you.”

Mary took the invitation and my letter from Penelope and went wherever my mama went.

“Mama’s mind gets so frazzled sometimes.” I said as Alex and I began to walk upstairs to the drawing room.

“I know.” Alex said, “At least we know where Adeline gets it from.”

We both broke into laughter.

“Are you looking forward to seeing a certain special someone?” Alex asked.

“I do not think Maxwell is attending dinner tonight.”

But I had a feeling that Maxwell was not the “special someone” Alex was talking about.

“I am not talking about Maxwell. I am talking about a certain Bridgerton. The second one to be exact.”

And it appears that I was correct.

“Benedict? Well of course! He is a great friend. As is Francesca. The whole Bridgerton family really.”

“As a friend? Really? Is that why you decided to wear the dress you are wearing? The same exact dress you wore in order to impress Maxwell at a ball not too long ago.”

I suddenly had a loss for words. I looked down and realized that I was in fact wearing the same exact dress that I have worn to impress Maxwell. I completely forgot I told Alex such information. The one time I regret doing so.

I did not intentionally mean to wear this dress, but maybe I did subconsciously. Benedict has been on my mind for quite some time now and that may be why it influenced my wardrobe choice. Was I trying to impress Benedict? I did not know. I did want him to think I looked presentable.

Alex must have noticed my overthinking because he grabbed my shoulders and said,

“Hey I am sorry for saying such things. I was only teasing. I know you are courting Maxwell and you are happy about it. You are happy aren’t you?”

I nodded. That was not a lie. Maxwell did make me happy.

“Then forget I ever said anything. Can you forgive me?”

“There is nothing to be forgiven.” I said with a smile. “And like you said, you were only teasing.”

Alex smiled back at me.

“Now come on. They will be arriving any minute now.” I said.

As we walked to the drawing room I could not help, but feel nervous. Benedict will be arriving shortly and this shall be the first time that I will see him since the event that occurred three days ago. I hope we both can act civilized and not draw any attention to ourselves that would reveal anything to our families.

When Alex and I entered, Noah and Adeline were already seated in the drawing room.

“Were you two here this entire time?” I asked.

“Of course!” Noah said, “It was stupid to think to even listen to mother and wait for the Bridgertons at the entrance of the house.”

“You could have said that more nicely.” Adeline said. “There was no need to drag mama.”

“I am being honest.”

“A little too honest.” I added.

I decided to take my seat at the piano forte. I hovered my hands above the keys before I began to play a simple familiar

tune. I let my muscle memory take me and fell into a trance as I played a song that I knew since childhood.

I didn’t realized I had an audience until I heard applause at the end of the song.

I turned and noticed that the Bridgerton family were standing near the couches watching me. I wonder how long they have been here. I quickly rose from the piano stool to greet them.

“That was lovely piano forte playing Y/n.” Violet said as she brought me into an embrace.

“Thank you. It has been a while though, so I was a little rusty.”

“Nonsense! You are as good as me. Maybe even better.” Francesca said as she hugged me as well.

“Have you met Anthony and Kate dear?” Violet asked.

“No I do not believe so. I believe they were on their honeymoon when we last had dinner.” I said.

“Oh! That is right. Well here is my eldest son Anthony and his wife Kate.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you both.” I said as I slightly curtsied.

“Oh you do not need to be so formal.” Kate said. “The pleasure is mine to meet you as well.”

Kate seemed nice and her smile was warm and welcoming. I turned to Anthony and he gave me a kind smile and I returned the favor.

“Am I chop liver over here.” I turned to see Benedict on the other side of Violet and I instantly blushed.

“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry Benedict I did not see you there.”

“It is alright. I am used to it by now. Being second best. Who can compare to the Anthony Bridgerton.” He joked.

“What…that was not my—“

“Quit hogging her Benedict!” Gregory said and I was grateful for the little boy for freeing me from further embarrassment. I knew that Benedict was joking, but I was too nervous to say anything in his presence.

Hyacinth grabbed my arm and added, “We are going to go play cards with Y/n.”

And before I could protest I was dragged over to the table where a game of cards was already set up for three.

“How did you know where to find the playing cards?” I asked.

Hyacinth shrugged and I shook my head. I played a few rounds of cards, with Gregory and Hyacinth, until I got bored and decided to join Francesca at the couches, along with her mama, my mama, and Kate.

“I hope you all will come to Colin and Penelope’s engagement party this weekend. I am sorry that Colin could not attend tonight. He had some matters he had to attend to.” Violet said from Francesca’s right as I sat next to Francesca.

Francesca gave me a sweet smile and I returned it.

“Oh Y/n! I am glad you can join us. Your mama was telling me that Penelope sent you an invitation to the engagement party this weekend.” Violet said.

“Yes she did and I cannot wait to attend.”

I answered.

“Yes you can expect all of us to be there.” My mama said across from Violet.

“Wonderful! I do not think there should be much people in attendance from our side, but I am not sure how much people will be there from Penelope’s side. I hope there is not much people. I recall Lady Featherington mentioning a long list of people, but I hope it is not true.” Violet said.

“If there is a lot of people attending, I hope I prepare enough food for everyone.” Kate said worried.

“I am sure you will dear.” Violet said. She placed her hand on Kate’s shoulder for support.

“Y/n it is so great to meet you. The whole family told Anthony and I so much about you.”

“All good things I hope.” I replied.

“Oh you have no idea.” Kate said, “You were praised by everyone and especially Benedict.”

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Benedict.

“I was only speaking the truth.” Violet added. “You are a very lovely young lady Y/n.”

“Thank you.” I replied with a blush. I never took compliments well, but it was nice to think that I am thought of so highly by the Bridgertons. And “especially Benedict” did not go undetected by me and the comment made my blush even deeper. But I was saved by the bell, literally, when Mary walked in to announce that dinner was ready.

“Finally!” Alex said, “I am starving!”

I rolled my eyes at his comment.

As I rose up from the couch Francesca asked me.

“Shall we walk together?”

“Of course!”

We linked arms and joined our families to dinner.

“I have some wonderful news Y/nn.” Francesca said. “Can I call you Y/nn?”

“You most certainly can. But do tell this wonderful news.”

“Well do you remember, not too long ago, when you and I and our mama’s went shopping together?”

“I do recall.”

“And we ran into Lord Kilmartin and he left rather abruptly?”

“Yes.”

“Well he left… because he went to go get the sheet music, that the musician was playing on the street, and he had it arranged to the way I would have liked that piece of music to be! Can you believe it! I could not even believe it! I have been learning and playing it non stop and now I have it memorized.”

This is the most excited I have ever seen Francesca. Her feelings for Lord Kilmartin seemed much stronger compared to her feelings for Lord Samadani, if she had any feelings for him.

“I am so happy for you Francesca! Lord Kilmartin seems like a nice man.”

Francesca nodded.

“I decided to follow my heart and that is to pursue Lord Kilmartin and my family is supportive with my decision, or rather they are at least trying, and that is all I could ask of them.”

I nodded in understanding.

“What about you and Lord Tewkesberry?”She asked.

“Things are going quite well. Ever since he left for Paris, Maxwell and I have exchanged letters to one another, and yesterday him and I attended the ice cream parlor together.”

“Do you feel happy with him?”

“Things are easy with him.”

“Are you happy?”

“I could be.”

There was a frown displayed on Francesca’s face.

“Can I be frank?” She asked.

I nodded.

“It seems to me that you feel comfortable with Maxwell, but you do not feel content. It could be because you are holding yourself back or maybe…maybe…”

I could tell she seemed hesitant to say her next few words.

“It is okay. You can say what you would like to say.”

Francesca took a deep breath

“Maybe Maxwell is not the one for you. Maybe you need to go over your options. It is just a thought.” She said quickly.

I stood silent and began to process what she had just said. There was some truth to her statement, but I could not say that I wanted to court her brother. I believe that she did not even have an inkling of our feelings for one another.

“Oh my goodness! I said the wrong thing haven’t I.” Francesca said. “I am so sorry! I overstepped and now you are—“

“Francesca relax it is alright.” I interrupted “Your words just gave me some things to think about.”

Her words gave me a lot to think about.

“Are you sure?” She asked with uncertainty.

“Yes I am sure.”

“Alright because the last thing I want to do is to make you upset.”

“Do not worry. You have done nothing wrong.” I reassured her, but her words did not reassure me, so I began to consider my options.

I thought about the good qualities that Maxwell possessed. He was kind, considerate, caring and he takes great care of me. My family also approves of him. He is also someone I can talk to when I am down. All qualities that I would want to have in a husband.

But I could not help, but hear the nagging voice in the back of my mind. Telling me to look the other way. Telling me that Maxwell was not the one for me, but in fact Benedict. But this was not the time to think about such pressing matters. Tonight I am supposed to have a lovely night with my family and the Bridgertons. My thoughts on my future husbands can wait until later.

We all made it to the dining room and we began to take our seats.

I was about to sit beside Francesca when someone pulled me away from her.

[creations-by-chaosfay]

The tree is up!

My ornaments are pins and buttons. I made this a couple years ago, and absolutely love it.

My hope was to make several more of these to list in the shop this year. That will have to wait until next year, which is fine by me. They take me about a week to make, start to finish. Excellent option for having a place to display your pin and/or button collection, and when yoy don't want to look at it, or simple put it away, roll it up and you're done.

More info below...

The thing behind the sign is where the old doorbell noise came from. Any gifts we get will replace the boxes currently there. We have no closets, so all our mittens, hats, and scarves, as well as shopping bags, are in there. I would love to get a nice breathable storage bag thing to put all the cold weather things in, and fit it under the bed. The suitcase houses the postcards I don't have albums for. Soooo...it's impressively heavy.

Zoom in to see the buttons. Several are from @spiralhouseshop and @pangur-and-grim and others from Kickstarters I supported, gifts, stuff I acquired at cons I've attended, free comic book day, and a pre-ordered book. My husband gave me the Spiderman pin even though I can't watch the film it's associated with.

I need pins from:

Dragon Age - If I manage to acquire a large number of them, I'll make another tree quilt to fit the theme.

Flowers - they don't need to ve realistic! My favorite flower is daisies, but I would love some colorful wildflowers, even dried flowers pressed into buttons. @spiralhouseshop I'm gonna work on snatching up more of those next year.

More pins by @pangur-and-grim because I love how delightfully weird some of them are.

Birds - my favorites are penguins, hummingbirds, and peacocks. In that order.

Tea related - I collect teacups and mugs, and looooove tea. I intend to make a tea quilt for myself, quilted tea decorations for my living room and "dining" room. That room will house my quilting frame, The Monster (massive hutch) packed with machine quilting stuff, my growing collection of teacups, mugs, and teapots, as well as all my small selection cookbooks. Oh, and it currently has my tea and snack station. We dine in the living room.

Fairies - I collect fairies, but I'm a little picky about them. Punk/rock/goth are a nope, but garden/whimsy/Brian Froud are my favorite.

It would be funny if I made trees for each of those collections and rotated them through the month of December. Buuuuut I need the pins and buttons first.

Tree themes I plan on making ans selling in the future:

Halloween - a few, with different colors and prints, and experiment with embroidery and lace. Make some more playful and some more goth.

Traditional winter prints - snowflakes, blue/white, snowflakes, tree and holly. No Santa stuff.

Animals - cheetah/leopard print, pets

Mushrooms and Plants

Food

Beverages - a friend suggested I make at least one that's wine themed and another with coffee. Another wants one that's all beer.

Sports - my husband is a steelers fan, and I want to make one for his space.

Fantasy - dragons are always popular.

As for why I made this in the first place...

A real tree, unless kept in a pot, will simply die a slow death. That's depressing! Plus, messy. As they rot, they shed all over the place. Oh, and they're a fore hazard.

A plastic tree is made if plastic, requires manually building it, takes up space regardless of being on display or stored, and it's too much work.

Decorations are expensive and take up too much space when not in stored.

Until recently, we had cats (RIP), and they love climbing things and exploring. They would destroy all the work put into decorating a tree. Oh, and knock it over.

Ease and Convenience! I can just roll this up when not using it, and unroll it when I want to display it. A whole whopping three minutes. Most of the work is attaching the drapery clips to display it evenly. I don't even need to take the pins off. Between chronic pain and ADHD, this is ideal.

I can add more pins and buttons, remove them too (buttons will be more work), and even add some patches.

I can make these any color I want, use whatever prints and fabrics I fancy, and that makes me happy.

[biorust-art]

From one bag to another!

Hey yall, I just recently made Ashton's black side pouch for cosplay and uh, turns out it's relatively easy! You just need a few extra materials and nerves of steel for cutting into your official cr dice bag.

Tutorial under the cut! but ofc if there are any questions, just let me know. Image Descriptions tacked onto the images.

Material list: - CR Dice Bag (I used Ashton's cus i bought the dice and was like, woah the insides are purple just like they're side leg pouch! oh dang!) - Seam Ripper - Cloth the same color as the leather (or not! but you will need some cloth for the back.) - Purple and Black thread (I am assuming yall have a sewing machine, if not this will take longer, but it's not Not doable) - Needle -Seam glue/ Fray glue if needed - Snaps/ buckles/ whatever closures you want to use -Extra chain (though you can probably also use ribbon, embroidery floss or whatever else you have on hand.)

1- First step is carefully cut the seams using a seam cutter. This process does need to be exact if you're going to keep as much as the fabric viable to use.

2- Second step is iron everything out. The leather melts easily so please put something (cloth) over it to stop that from happening.

3- cut the fabric. The approximate end dimensions for the finished bag are: 5.5in x 4.5in x 1.0in OR 13.9cm x 11.4cm x 2.5cm Which mean you will cut the leather side into 4 parts.

Do Not Cut the one with the CR logo if you want to it decorate the front.

Look at the purple squares in the pic above. Do Not alter the width of the leather pieces, instead cut so you have two 1.5in (3.8cm) long pieces and one 3.75in (9.5cm) long piece. There Will Be Extra Leather Left Over.

Cut cloth in a 6in by 5in square (15.2cm by 12.7cm) (the extra .5in (1.27cm) is seam allowance)

4- Assembling. Look at the blue pattern I've drawn out above and lay out the bag pieces how they should be. Always sew with the right sides of the fabric facing each other. Sew the front/bottom of the bag (same piece) to the back, then sides to the front/bottom.

5- Add the purple/ contrast color/ lining of the bag. Determine where you want the contrast color to start (mine is a little less than 2in (5cm) away from the top) Sew the right sides together and then flip the fabric over.

Cut the excess so you have enough to hem (so the edges don't fray) (1in (2.5cm) or so, whatever you're comfortable with) and then hem it down.

You can do the same process with the sides, just be careful if you want the contrast colors to match up with the sides.

6- Sew the sides to the back, then the front. Once Again the right sides are together. I used a machine for this, but if the ends are too close, you can hand sew this in your preferred method (back stich, blanket stitch etc) And then you can turn it inside out and boom! bag looking thing!

7- Next up comes down to a lot of preferences. Hem the flap of the bag in the style you want (I put rounded corners in mine and messed up a bit lol) I have found the leather slips on the sewing machine and is a bit difficult! Be careful of this, go slow.

After hemming the top, you can use the round piece of leather to cut a strip (give or take an inch (2.5cm)) hem it if you want, sew it onto the bag with an X pattern if you want, you choose how you want the front of the bag to look.

I sewed on black snaps to close the bag.

8 - Add the bell's hells pendant. I used an extra chain I had laying around (in gun metal color to match) and simply sewed the chain onto the bag in a way I thought looked cool. Customize it! I imagine Fearne's bag would look cute with a peach ribbon, Laudna with some red string/yard etc etc! go ham.

this bag is going to be attached to my Ashton pants using more snaps but add more things if you want! Add a loop for a belt! etc etc.

I have never made a tutorial before so if there is anything unclear or missing let me know! and if you have tried this, show me how it went!

[violsva]

November Reading

Post delayed by a vacation and then PMS. More thoughts than usual, though.

Recent: Finally finished My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness, but fast enough that things did not really sink in, or not all at once. It was good, interesting cultural differences and similarities, probably won't read the sequels.

Reread Steadfast, by Mercedes Lackey. This is not a good book, people. I knew that when I started it. In terms of pacing and plotting and unnecessary digressions and historical accuracy and giving agency to characters it is very very badly done. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Which is maybe what I need, given how much I get tied into knots about the free fanfic I write for fun needing its theme to be supported by a coherent narrative arc.

I read some of T. Kingfisher's commentary on fairy tales in The Halcyon Fairy Book and most of Lace Making by Eunice Close (published by a tiny Canadian press in 1975, don't go looking for it). I tried to reread The Bacchae for catharsis purposes, but it was a not-great Victorian translation and I didn't get very far. I did find out that Alan Cumming played Dionysus twenty or so years ago and the trailer for that is on Youtube.

Read A Phantom Lover by Vernon Lee, which was good for what it was but I did have to force myself to it. On the drive with @consultingpiskies I finally managed to articulate that I am just not up to unfamiliar fiction right now, and maybe that's okay.

I read all of May Morris: Arts & Crafts Designer at the library, which is the book of an exhibition of her work and was absolutely gorgeous and also gave me feelings about her relationship with her father, so that was great. And on the theme of the English Arts and Crafts movement, English Embroidered Bookbindings by Cyril Davenport, which might have been improved with more practical knowledge of embroidery but was generally good.

Also read Meet Me on the Other Side by @sparklepocalypse, RWRB 1890s cowboy AU. I could be nitpicky about a couple historical attitudes but basically this is just a really good romance novel and I liked it.

Current: Rereading Swordheart by @tkingfisher, and I really want to know more about the Temple of the White Rat's embroiderer(s). Like, maybe Zale does their own embroidery, but in that case I would have expected them to take a project along for the wagon ride. For a while I was carrying this around with me everywhere, but now that I am getting to the climax things are going more slowly.

Just gave 3/5 of my library books back unstarted due to the fiction realization above. I have two digital craft books to flip through, and also some from the Antique Pattern Library, and Chats on Old Lace and Needlework by Mrs. Lowes. Look, basically what I want to do right now is get overwhelmingly caught up in craft projects and never talk to anyone ever again. I won't, because there is Christmas shopping to do and people I am trying to make friends with and so forth, but that's probably where my head's going to be all month.

Various RWRB fanfics going on still. Oh, and there's been more Madame C—. Thank god for Madame C—.

Future: I still have The Dire Days of Willowweep Manor by Shaenon K. Garrity and Christopher Baldwin out from the library, which really does seem fun but I don't know if I have the brain for it. I would also like to get through more of my AO3 Marked for Later list before Yuletide adds a bunch to it, but, well. (I didn't sign up for Yuletide this year, not because I didn't think I could manage it but because I suspected I would hate the process, and that was a good decision.)

If all else fails I will relisten to the Roaring Twenties Magic audiobooks while sewing.

[solarpunkani]

Solarpunk Aesthetic Week Plans... 2!!!!

It's the official second-ever Solarpunk Aesthetic Week tomorrow, and so I'm gonna share my plans for the event!

Let's be real, the odds of me doing everything on this list are low--I'm easily distracted, the bed is oh so cozy, and The Christmas Weekend means I've got Christmas Things to do.

However, as one of the co-hosts of @solarpunkaestheticweek, I'll try and do what I can, so here's what I'm hoping to get done!

In the perfect ideal world I'll finally turn some old jeans I've been holding onto into a vest that I can turn into a cool battle jacket-vest-thing! I'll wanna get it dyed (probably after I make it a vest though?), but I've got a sewing machine and I just bought some denim needles recently so fingers crossed!

I have an embroidery kit I'd gotten started on, and another one I still haven't opened yet, so maybe I'll try finishing those! I got stuck on how to do french knots, but one of my friends said they're easier than I'm finding them, so I'll probably ask her for advice.

I'm learning how to crochet! I actually just started learning Tuesday the 12th! I'm decently far into a tote bag out of granny squares, and maybe if I'm corageous after that I'll try and make a hooded scarf! Or if I'm feeling super daring, I might even make a hooded cloak!

Maybe I'll learn a recipe! I at least want to bake some cookies, which is a bit basic but it feels solarpunk to me so its on the list.

Writing! I have a solarpunk short story I was working on thats almost done (endings are hard) that I might post when I finish and get it beta read! Otherwise, I also have a solarpunk zombie apocalypse story I've been poking at off and on.

Art! Ideally, I would work on some of the more solarpunky drawing ideas I have--solarpunk train cars, greenhouse-friendly societies, zine on milkweeds of Florida, stuff like that. Unfortunately I have a long list of people I really should be drawing Christmas art for, so we'll see if this actually happens.

I have some collard greens growing in the garden, and I planted carrot and bunching onion seeds on the 6th, so I'm gonna count 'water the garden at least once' as a Solarpunk Aesthetic Week event so I actually remember to do it.

If my family goes out anywhere and I see a bare patch that looks like it'd work well for wildflowers I always carry some wildflower seeds in my purse so uh. We'll see if any guerrilla gardening happens but who knows.

I need to go biking more often so my knees stop being cringe while I'm biking so I'll count that as participating because bikes are pogchamp

[guilty-pleasures21]

Chapter 5 - the opera

Part A

Part B

Part C

Warnings: none.

----------------------------------------------------------

     She glanced up from her embroidery when she heard the sound of a carriage pulling into their driveway. She set her cloth aside, tucking the needle carefully into it so it wouldn’t get loose, then she rushed to join the rest of her family at the door. 

     “Pavitr!” Lord Singh exclaimed, greeting his nephew with a hug when he stepped out of the carriage. “How was your journey?” 

     The young man flashed his uncle a tired smile. 

     “Exhausting,” he admitted truthfully, “but I am so grateful that you have given me a place to stay, Mamaji.” The tension between the foreigners and the natives in British-occupied India had been escalating in recent months, so his mother had asked her brother if he would be willing to let her son stay with him for a while. Lord Singh waved away his nephew’s thanks as he led him into their house. 

     “You are always welcome here, Pavitr,” he reassured him, patting him gently on the back. “Come, have some cha (tea) and take some rest. The servants have already prepared your room and I am sure your cousins will be happy to show you to it.” 

     “Sat sri akal, Veerji (Greetings, older brother)!” Anjali exclaimed, wrapping Pavitr in a hug as he stepped through the entryway. “It is wonderful to see you again!” 

     They had not been back to India since they had moved to London eight years ago, but their aunt, uncle and cousin had visited them once before, leaving them with fond memories of their extended family. Pavitr returned Anjali’s hug with a delighted grin. 

     “You too, Anjali,” he agreed before turning to Rohan next. His eyes widened with surprise when he saw how tall his young cousin had grown. “Hai Raba (Oh my God)! You could probably see all the way to Punjab, Rohan!” 

     Rohan chuckled and bent over to give Pavitr a brief hug in greeting. “It is good to see you too, Veerji. How are Bhuaji and Fufarji (aunty and uncle)?”

     “They are doing well,” Pavitr replied, his bright expression faltering as he thought about his parents back home. “How have you guys been?”

     “All right,” Rohan shrugged, taking a step back so X could take her turn to greet their cousin. Then suddenly, he remembered the most exciting piece of news to happen as of late. “Oh! Penji just had her debut the other night. The whole town was practically knocking down our door yesterday morning!” 

     Pavitr’s eyes lit up with excitement and he turned his attention to X when she pulled away. 

     “Really?” he asked, eager to find out more. “Anyone catch your eye, Penji?” 

     X rolled her eyes as her lips twisted up at the ends in amusement. 

     “It has barely been a week, Pav,” she pointed out calmly. “I have time.” 

     Except that she didn’t - well, Miguel didn’t have time. X felt her stomach tighten with nerves at the reminder of the façade she’d agreed to put on for his sake. But she didn’t need to burden her cousin with that right now. “But enough about me! We can catch up later. Let us show you to your room!” 

     Gabe jogged down the steps to the carriage where his brother was already tending to the horses. He looked up and his gaze landed on their neighbour’s house across the road. They’d been to the opera a few times together after X had begged Miguel to bring her along: she didn’t understand Italian, so she’d always sit right by him, right where he could lean over and murmur the translations into her ear. “Miguel, have you-”

     But that had been before she’d come of age; before she’d become a viable prospect whom his brother couldn’t seem to take his eyes off anytime she stepped into a room. So perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea to bring her along to a darkened theatre where the two of them would be trapped next to one another in intimately close proximity for three hours. Miguel looked up at his brother, waiting for him to finish his sentence and Gabe pursed his lips as he tried to come up with a different question instead. “Uh … Tied your shoe? I … don’t want us to be late …” 

     He trailed his sentence off into an awkward chuckle and Miguel’s expression turned even more suspicious. 

     “My shoes are fine …” he replied carefully. “And I think we will make it perfectly on time, brother.” He turned around to get into the carriage and Gabe rushed down the rest of the stairs, desperately trying to stop his brother from seeing X as she walked out of her house. But he was too late. 

     A comfortable warmth filled his chest when he saw his neighbour. She was clothed in a pale lavender dress that swirled around her ankles as she walked out of her house. He waved at her to try to get her attention, but she was too absorbed by her conversation with her family, her sweet features lit up with delight as she chatted to them excitedly. Miguel turned back to Gabe and gestured across the road. “I will ask X if she would like to join us.” 

     Gabe flashed his brother an awkward smile, just managing to conceal his defeated sigh: it was going to be a long night. 

     Pav tugged on the collar of his shirt, allowing himself a little more space to breathe. 

     “These outfits seem … unnecessarily fancy,” he pointed out, keeping his tone light so no one would take offence at his complaint: they had offered him a safe place to stay, after all, he should be grateful for their generosity. Rohan shrugged as he walked towards their carriage. 

     “At least they keep the cold out.” 

     X smiled at the way her brother’s easy manner put their cousin at ease: she’d noticed how careful Pav was with his words, always thinking twice before speaking his mind around them. But she didn’t want him to spend his time with them walking on eggshells and constantly policing himself to make sure he didn’t unintentionally offend anyone: that was the exact reason for which he’d left India, after all. 

     “Lady X!” She startled as the familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts. “Might you be on your way to the opera?” 

     X turned to find the owner of the voice and her heart gave a little flutter when she saw Miguel approaching her. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from reciprocating the wide grin on his face, but she did allow herself a polite smile of greeting. “Lord Miguel. We are indeed paying a visit to the opera. And yourself?”

     “We are heading there as well,” Miguel revealed, feeling his heart speed up at the thought of accompanying her to the opera. “For the eight o’clock show, I take it?” 

     X opened her mouth to respond, but was immediately interrupted by her sister. 

     “Lord Miguel!” Anjali exclaimed, rushing over to join their conversation. “How lovely to see you! Are you off to the opera?” 

     She leaned to the side, sneaking a glimpse of Miguel’s carriage, then she turned back to him with an expectant look on her face. 

     “Yes,” Miguel confirmed, amused by Anjali’s inexplicable enthusiasm. “I was just asking X if-”

     “Wow!” Pav gasped, scurrying up to the group to take in Miguel’s broad and towering form. “You’re as big as an ox, Sir! I bet you could plough fields all on your own!” 

     Miguel furrowed his brows at the unfamiliar young man, unsure how to respond to such a comment. “Uh …” 

     “Oh! Miguel, this is our cousin, Pavitr,” X introduced him. “He has come to visit us from Punjab. He will be staying with us for a while.” 

     She shot him a meaningful look, silently conveying to him that the matter was a sensitive topic, and Miguel nodded in understanding. “Nice to meet you, Pavitr.” 

     “And you as well, Sir,” Pavitr replied, shaking Miguel’s outstretched hand enthusiastically. X flashed Miguel an embarrassed look, but he returned it with a warm smile that immediately eased the tension from her body. 

     “So, will you be joining us at the opera today, Pavitr?” Miguel asked. Pav’s features lit up at the question. 

     “Oh, yes! I have never been to an opera before! Although I have been told that everything is in Italian.” His brow furrowed with anxiety and Miguel quickly waved his concerns away. 

     “That is all right. If you don’t mind riding in the carriage with me and my brother, I could explain some of tonight’s story to you on the way over?” he offered. Pavitr turned to X in question, a hesitant expression on his features. 

     “You are perfectly safe, Pavitr,” Miguel added quickly, instantly understanding the reason behind his unease. “X and I have known each other since we were children. I am sure she trusts me with your safety.”

     “Oh! Yes! Of course!” X agreed. She gestured to Miguel’s large and imposing frame, trying to stop her eyes from lingering on the outlines of his muscles pressing against his shirt. “ I mean, you said so yourself: he could probably take down an ox.” 

     Goodness! Whatever could have possessed her to say something so silly?! She forced out an awkward laugh as she glanced between the two men, then she straightened her features again when neither of them joined in. “But anyway! Let us make haste before we arrive late.” 

     She nodded at each of them in turn, then rushed into her own carriage. Miguel’s lips curled at the ends as he watched her skitter away and his chest warmed at how cute she was whenever she got embarrassed. She’d started being embarrassed around him a lot lately, if he really thought about it. Though he couldn’t figure out a possible reason for her to-

     “Er, shall we go, Sir?” Pav asked, clearing his throat when the silence had stretched on for a little too long. 

     “Oh! Right, yes.” Miguel forced all thoughts of his neighbour out of his mind and turned around to lead Pav over to his carriage. “But please, ‘Miguel’ is fine.” 

     “All right, Miguel,” Pav replied, bouncing after him obliviously.

Continue

[the-skin-inthe-bath-is-mine]

This is a personal project that I'll be embroidering and sewing by hand.

Okay so I'm planning the 20cm test before finishing the 10cm tests just because it takes a while to polish off the digital planning. Gives me something to do when I can't access my embroidery stuff. I have three characters in mind just because I'm currently limited to yellow/blonde hair + pale completion with fabric. I'm only gonna pick one to do for now. Doing an established character just in case I grow a pair and decide to sell it if the project turns out okay. Three different characters from three different fandoms+ rambling under the cut. I'll most likely be posting progress for whoever is picked like with most of my projects so if there's any bias for who anyone wants to see lmk. The possible test subjects are Satan (OBM) Raphael (WHB) and Nazuna Nito (Enstars)

Used my fandom blogs @ for the drawings out of habit. Oh and these all have some type of animal ears because I think it's cute. I wanna use snaps magnets or velcro to hold everything in place but I'm not sure yet.

Satan - Obey Me

The only one who looks halfway decent because I've been drawing him since 2021. My goal is to make a large scale Thirteen plushie with a lamb theme similar to the middle Satan. I also really don't like it when people delude Tanny to cat guy but I am a cat guy so he's most likely getting optional kitten ears if picked. The plain bows would just be plain embroidery but if the lamb design is picked I'll be embroidering fabric on top of fabric. I don't know what the methods called. I'm not a professional. I have an idea on how to make Satan's tail but would be weird to explain??? Possibly my favorite but that's just because the Obey Me brain worms run deep. Also the only one I feel confident in making clothes for.

Raphael - What in Hell is Bad

Look. We aren't gonna talk about why I'm playing the horny demon game. I don't understand why I play either. Anyway. I love Raphael's design too bad I wanna choke him in the most violent lest sexual way possible. This design would involve a lot of sewing fabric on fabric which I really don't mind. I have an idea on how to make little bandages that a kinda wanna tryout. The only thing is I'd like to add beads to the embroidery for his piercings. A bit of a price to pay for only doing one eye but I think it's worth it. This one specifically will also be good practice for using metallic embroidery thread. I'm torn between bunny and the fake horns??? Raphael is just annoying angry rabbit chewing on power cords coded. The only problem is I'd probably wanna make the other two dick heads eventually and *vague choking gestures* why are those freaks so damn pretty. Overall a lot of fun different textures to play with. The only thing is I probably won't post much about making him aside from helpful design components because dude is from a R18 game.

Nazuna Nito - Ensemble Stars

I actually already own a few Enstars plushies and plan on making both Jin and Akiomi for the larger scale tests. So. Yea. I don't think I need anymore??? The first is the easiest with the whole bunny thing. Probably gonna sew the fabric for the stomach art on and embroider around it. Second is loosely based on Nazuna's first 5* event card. It was the event that was going on when I started playing Enstars. Trying to figure out the game while playing Love it Love it still haunts my nightmares. The final one is based on his recent scout 5* I need to work on coloring gemstones but I think it'd translate nicely to embroidery. This design is gonna be the easiest out of this bunch. The most complicated thing will probably be color matching embroidery thread.

[koszmarnybudyn]

Ask (hehe) and you shall receive:

Any new hobbies that you've gotten into? Or old hobbies that you've picked back up again? I've recently restarted crocheting after a long depression stint because I saw some cool pieces I wanted to make for the upcoming ren faire and I'm happyish with how it's going so far

Oh yeah crotchet is nice although i tried and failed at doing it myself and enjoying in because as a leftie all tutorials are confusing :( same with crotchet, i would love to be good at it but trying to do it sucks my soul out.

I've started actually sewing human clothes recently, and will probablly adjust some of my regular ones. I've actually worked on doll making recently after like months of nothing and am planing a linocut, maybe.

Oh I have a cosplay to finish and for that i need to sew and craft a bunch of stuff which is just like really cool, i really enjoy how many diffrent skills and crafts go into costuming. And idk i kinda wanna get back into embroidery because i haven't done any in so long and its quite relaxing.

[jheqiawrites]

re: more fic writer asks:

I guess the ones that I would be most interested in would be 1, 8, 12, 14, 19, 25, 29 and 30. Although if I had to guess, I would say that the answer to 30 is BLR!

As for myself, many of the questions don't apply, since I only have one work so far, and The Caves of Raven Point is still a long way from being finished (not to mention that I am in the midst of a major writer's block and lack of time. I do, however, have a couple of other story ideas that I'd like to write.

Okay! Here we go! 1. The last sentence I wrote: Maybe Alya’s idea about confessing to Adrien wasn’t so bad after all.

8. If I had to write a sequel for a fic... It would probably be a oneshot for A Royal Pain showing Arthur and Amelie happily married and doting on their grandchildren. Pure fluff.

12. A trope I'm really into right now: Well, like enemies to lovers, but in the "they just don't get along" sense, not in the I'm going to attack you for looking at me weird sense. I am also playing with time loops. (this last one makes me feel giddy!)

14: Where do I get my inspiration from: I'm not completely sure, but probably from a lot of things. I watch a lot of Chinese movies and shows on youtube, so that would be my first go-to. I also tend to get a lot of ideas when I'm tired or I am about to fall asleep.

19. Most interesting topic I've researched for a fic: Hmmm, I think that would be a tie between how to store electricity at a medieval level of technology and researching the British Royal Family for ARP. Both fun and weird in their own way. The former led to my husband building me a capacitor out of a medicine bottle and some aluminum foil and the later led to me finding out about the Instrument of Consent - basically a legal document that is required of anyone seeking to be married who is six places or less from inheriting the throne.

25: Other hobbies? Well, I cycle through a lot of them. Embroidery, quilting, painting, reading, drawing, and baking are my main ones that I keep coming back to, but I have also done woodworking, songwriting, LARPing, gardening, and way more than I can remember at present.

29. How easy is it to come up with titles? Most of the time, it is pretty easy for my to come up with a title for a fic. The story itself generally makes the title pretty obvious, but other stories start with the title and the story grows from there. Rings of Fate is an example of the former while The Black Lion and The Ghost in the Machine were the later.

30: Share a fic you're especially proud of: Black Lion is definitely on the list, but I have several that I am proud of. Ghost in the Machine and Nor No Man Ever Loved were the two stories that got recommended by @flightfoot last year - the first time my stories had received a wider recognition in the fandom. A Royal Pain and A Hard Spray's Night were both a lot of fun to work on with @sing-in-me-oh-muse (aka Cass). And, most recently, I think To Catch a Thief would be one I am proud of too. It has allowed me to stretch myself in new ways as a writer.

Thanks for playing with me, @anakinmousestalker!

[bunnyboy-juice]

hitting u with the 2-for-1

colors - yellow, ruby, pink?, green, jade

soft asks - 1, 14, 21, 25, 30 !!

hehehehe it was really fun answering these :3c

1) What song makes you feel better?

oh ummmmm hm. if im feeling insecure recently its Pacer by Doechii or IT GIRL by Aliyah's Interlude, if im feeling like Sad and i need to cry but i cant its Into the Ocean by Blue October, if i need full distractions though from my sadness i throw the B52s on (usually my "dont kill my vibe" playlist thats like70s-00s pop & disco & related songs vibes; i really cant pick one song from this playlist or even the B52s bc im such a "put the song on and let whatever happens happen" type of person - OH AND AS I WAS WRITING THIS I REALIZED since its come out ive started listening to Alligator Bites Never Heal (Doechii) in order all the way thru 0 interruptions and that album gives me all the spectrum of emotions and even a good cry sometimes depending on the headspace I'm in

14) Whats something upcoming that you’re excited for?

BIRTHDAYS (my wife's is coming up in a week, mine's in exactly 1 month :3c)

21) Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?

this is so hard. . . . . . tea i think tho b/c i love coffee but its hard for me to finish more than 1 cup a day (and sometimes i cant even do that) but i loooooove tea and can have it More often than coffee (hot take: fruity tea lemonades taste better than Most juices)

25) If your soul was a color, what would it be? 

oh! ive actually been told by a lot of ppl it's orange or yellow (specifically warm yellows like sunshine and sunflowers) and i trust everyone's judgement considering how Consistent its been so (:

30) What do your hobbies look like?

LMAO okay so majority of my hobbies can be described as "arts and crafts" and "very hands on". i love crocheting (im making a baby blanket rn!), i enjoy embroidery (havent made anything major in a while but i think ive got photos if anyone wants to see c:), im not Great at it but i love painting/drawing, im a beginner at machine sewing (ive been handsewing since HS), i like playing with air dry clay a LOT!!! uhhhhhhhh i dunno what other hobbies exist rn but tbh i just love learning to do new things c:

Yellow - every time i see you on my dash you're always so happy and it's so lovely! ( 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 )

Ruby - you are such a gem, you deserve so much better <3 ( 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 )

Pink - biting you biting you biting you biting you licking you biting you biting you (🥺 BITING U BACK 🥺)

Green - wanna go touch grass with me? (yes i love grass, I'll make u a flower & grass crown too)

Jade - honestly you have some of the best takes on this hellsite. (🥺🥺🥺😭 u are so niceys to me)

[a-cup-of-fantasy]

so, as the next couple chapters for my main @smvillainsweek fic are going to take a while for me to finish, here's a bonus snippet for the free day (though it still fits under the theme of corruption) that takes place between the second and third chapters.

I actually wrote this like a year and a half ago, and it's been sitting in my giant folder of sailor moon wips, and I thought now would be an appropriate point to share it, to tumblr at least. I may post it to ao3 eventually, idk.

(edit: I have now posted it to ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50676811)

it's a short kunzoi piece, with implied/fade to black sex, but nothing at all explict. hope you enjoy!

Zoisite marched into their rooms in a huff, only to sigh as he entered to see Kunzite pouring over papers at the table there. “You’re still at it? You promised you’d be done for the day hours ago.” 

There was no response.

“Kunzite?” 

He walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. At the touch, Kunzite whirled around, with his fingers just beginning to spark with the light of a spell and his eyes a dull grey, unfocused. “Hey, it’s just me! All I did was say hi—you’re not usually this jumpy.”

Kunzite’s eyes widened as he took in what was before him. He shook his head. “I’m sorry—I didn’t hear you come in. I must have been more absorbed in the work than I thought. What time is it?”

“Far past time for you to go get something to eat, if you’ve been sitting here since I left you.” Zoisite said, and he sighed, letting go of the snide tone. “Come on, I’m worried about you. You’ve been so stressed the past few days. And what are you even working on that’s got you like this, anyway?”

“I’m looking at the records of who and how many people have been entering the Earth from the Silver Millenium. There’s something—”

“Really? That’s what has got you so stressed you forgot we were supposed to have dinner together?”

“We were—oh shit. That was tonight, wasn't it.”

“Yes, yes it is. Why do you think I’m dressed up like this?” Zoisite turned around, showing off how the green silk of his shirt shimmered in the light, and how it highlighted the embroidery of the floral patterns he so loved. He stopped when he was facing away from Kunzite, and made as if to walk out the door. “Though, I suppose since you’re so occupied with your work, I may as well just leave you to it.”

Kunzite stood up from the desk and put his arms around him. “I’m sorry, love. I got caught up in this, and I completely forgot. Can you find it in yourself to forgive me?”

“I don’t know…” he said, but he broke off in a giggle when Kunzite began to press kisses to the back of his neck. 

“How about now?” 

Zoisite wanted to melt back into Kunzite’s touch, but he decided he’d play hard to get for a while longer. “I think it’ll take more than a few kisses to get me to forgive you for standing me up like that.”

“What about some pretty words then? Like how absolutely ravishing you look in that outfit, or how incredibly sorry I am to have left you on your lonesome for so long? Or, would you prefer me to get on my knees?” His words were punctuated by kisses, and one of his hands began to slide down Zoisite’s leg as he murmured into his ear.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough, you flatterer.” Zoisite turned around and drew Kunzite into a long kiss. “I forgive you,” he said as he pulled away. “But, I’m still worried about you. You’ve hardly been doing anything but work the past few days, and I could have sworn you’d said you wouldn’t be as busy now as you had been recently. What’s going on?”

“Oh, forget about it for now.” Kunzite lifted Zoisite up in his arms and carried him to the bed. 

Zoisite frowned as Kunzite set him down. “I’m serious.”

“Fine. It’s the Moon, there’s something—” He stopped and sighed when he saw Zoisite’s blank stare. “You don’t see it.”

“You’re right, I don’t see it. I don't understand what it is that’s got you so worried.” He looked into Kunzite’s eyes, still the brilliant silver that he’d fallen in love with. “Just… just promise me that you’re okay?”

“I promise.” He started to undo the ties holding Zoisite’s shirt together. “Don’t worry, my love. It’ll be fine. I’m fine. Now, I think there is something far more enjoyable we could be doing, don’t you agree? ”

The caress of Kunzite’s hands on his skin thoroughly distracted Zoisite from his concerns and drove any worried thoughts from his mind, if only for a little while. For, as he lay in bed afterwards, with Kunzite’s strong arms around him, he couldn’t get rid of the sensation that was creeping up his spine, the unshakable feeling that something, somewhere, was going wrong.

[haltandcatchfiretothemax]

FEMSLASH FEBRUARY 2024 #16: In which Cameron and Donna are relaxing after an ideal weekend

[CN: food/meal prep mention] . . It was around 9:15 on Sunday night and Cameron and Donna were in the media room, the tv showing a rerun of the Battlestar Galactica reboot, relaxing after a busy couple of days. Haley, Joanie, Tanya, Risa, and Dr. Katie Herman had come over with their partners and kids on Saturday for the first pool party of the season, and Cameron and Donna had spent Sunday doing their usual chores (meal prepping for the week, refilling the bird feeders, laundry, etcetera) and post-party clean up.

Cameron, who had developed an interest in the fiber arts after reading about how Ada Lovelace had studied embroidery and based her approach to programming on her knowledge of an automated weaving loom, was happily mending a hole in one of her favorite sweaters with yarn and instructions from Katie Herman, while Marshmallow the flame point siamese loafed on the arm of the couch next to her. Donna, who was usually still alert at 9pm, was lying on her side, her head resting on a throw pillow on the couch’s center cushion, and had recently announced that she was just resting her eyes.

“You know,” Cameron said, as she threaded her yarn needle through a loop on the right-hand side of the hole in her sweater, “you can go to bed, if you’re tired.”

Donna yawned. “But we’re hanging out.”

Cameron held back an affectionate laugh. “Yes, and it’s very nice, I’m glad you’re here.”

“Hmm,” Donna agreed.

Licorice the cat, who had just finished her nightly patrol of the perimeter, trotted into the media room, and chirped. She sprang up onto the couch and made herself comfortable in the space near Donna’s legs. Donna opened her eyes long enough to give her a scritch behind the ears, and then went back to ‘resting’ them.

Cameron watched, and then glanced at the television before looking back at her mending. “You must really be tired if your eyes are closed while Starbuck is on screen.”

“Fortunately, I can see her very clearly in my mind’s eye,” Donna said.

Cameron threaded another loop, and then another, and tugged at the yarn to pull the loops together, and then spent the next few minutes finishing her mending while wondering if it was a coincidence that looping in programming language was called that. After she snipped the yarn and sewed the rest into sweater, she said, “There!” proudly.

“Oh?” Donna said. “Let me see.” She sat up, and gently took the sweater from Cameron. She saw that the sweater was grey, but that Cameron had used some left-over bright purple yarn from Katie Herman’s collection to patch the hole. “Characteristically bold,” she decided. “I like it.” She handed it back to Cameron.

“Thank you,” Cameron beamed. She folded the sweater, and put it on the coffee table. She put her yarn needle back in the old mint tin she used for storage, and put it on coffee table with her sewing scissors and the handful of purple yarn that was still left. She turned to Donna, and asked, “You wanna go back to resting your eyes?”

Donna nodded enthusiastically. “Yes please!”

“Alright then.” Cameron grabbed the extra large blanket from the back of the couch, and after Donna rested her head in Cameron’s lap, Cameron threw the blanket over the both of them.

Donna closed her eyes, and said, “Who needs Starbuck when I’m already married to the perfect, muscular, jump-suit wearing blonde?”

Cameron blushed with happiness at the compliment. Licorice meowed, as if to agree, and Cameron and Donna laughed. “Can’t argue with that, Boss,” Cameron said.

[iantimony]

tuesday!

hello tuesday :) i'm going to start crossposting these onto my dreamwidth also just so i have a non-tumblr log of my weekly updates. please friend me on dreamwidth i would love an excuse to move platforms more

listening: OH i listened to SO much this week. i tuned in to my spotify release radar thing and it was a great idea to get exposed to some new music from artists i already know i like! i also peeped the discover weekly one a bit

i haven't listened to the newest paramore album in full but 'running out of time' was on the release radar playlist and i really really like the sounds! it feels very st vincent-y to me in a way that i wasn't expecting from paramore so i wonder if that was a conscious influence at all? or if they were both separately influenced by the same sources? it's really good though. i dont remember following shakey graves but they also rule i've been jamming to the whole album 'deadstock' which i think is just a collection of some of their more popular tracks? plus some live recordings. and tom rosenthal makes me cry still

from discover:

and then i found memi through...instagram reels i think? instagram has unfortunately nailed the type of music they should serve me to get clicks so i do. keep clicking them. anyways i love her

reading: quantum :V

oh wait actually i do have reading this week! i re-opened the slowly app (i downloaded it years ago but stopped using it at some point), which is a real-time penpal app - you can send letters to random people in the world, and it will send in "real time" as if you were actually mailing a letter! so i opened it and the app went oh? you're active? cool! and i started getting letters! so i got one from a guy in morocco, which i replied to right away, and also one in mandarin which i have NOT replied to right away because i had to spend like an hour translating it rip. out of five i put my mandarin proficiency at a 2 on my profile but honestly that may be too high oops. ah well. it'll be cool to try and get my mandarin back up to snuff! it'll also be a great way to learn things like idioms and other stuff that doesn't show up as often in traditional learning materials.

for example, phrase that i learned is 畅所欲言, chang4 suo3 yu4 yan4, which is a standard four-character idiom that means to speak without inhibitions or to just frankly speak your mind. i have like a full two pages of new words and phrases that i had to look up to read the letter which is awesome!

the letter from morocco was very cool and like...poetry adjacent? which im not sure if it's just because of a translation quirk - he said his english isn't the best - but i dunno. "I am writing to you because writing is a companion of the tired". anyways.

watching: i started watching evangelion with my partner!! we did ... i think about five episodes last week? it owns. this is the first time in a really long time that i've, like...gone blind into a media? my only exposure to eva has been through out-of-context memes (shinji get in the robot) and i feel like a lot of the time with TV shows i tend to read the wikipedia page before watching to see if it's really worth it :") i've never really cared about spoilers or whatever because honestly if it's a good enough show it won't really matter if i know what's going to happen or not, it's more about How it happens and how it's shot/framed/acted/etc. but i have zero context for eva and im very much enjoying it! i wasn't expecting the body horror at all it rules

making: making good progress on my embroidery project! this photo is from about two weeks ago but it's the most recent one i have and honestly haven't done THAT much more. i just finished filling that vertical headphone cord in with red, started some other headphone cord...after that all i have left is the letters (rip) and then doing maybe some sort of sashiko stitch/cross hatching as fill for the hair? like some spaced out x patterns in a grid or something like that. because i'm sure as shit not doing a satin or brick stitch to fill all that in and i think it'll still look good that way.

im also finishing up valentines gifts to mail to people :3

misc: hgg. quantum midterm on march 2. it is Rapidly approaching and im very nervous about it but in a VERY different way - this semester he's having the exams be open note and open book, which could be really good or really really bad. on the plus side i dont have to drive myself insane memorizing equations on flash cards again, most of my studying will probably be uber-familiarizing myself with the layout of the notes so i know where to reference things and also copying out things from online that might be relevant. on the minus side it means i have really no clue on how hard this exam will be. pain.

research is going. i feel like im sooo close to getting shit to work. however i am also experiencing research fomo because a prof that i didnt even know existed gave a presentation on her group for potential new students and i went wait wow that fucks. sigh. i think that's all for this week gang, gonna crosspost to dreamwidth after lunch!