#ooh or the holiday! so many choices

[podcastwizard]

just ate a big sandwich with a jar of pickles and a jarritos on the side so it's ok if you're so jealous you want to kill me. it's perfectly natural to just want me dead in the ground on account of how good my big sandwich was. no need to beat yourself up about it

[adrienneleclerc]

hiii! i was wondering if you could do a fic based on this yt video with charles?

https://youtube.com/shorts/33NhUYNKqu8?si=90BAJ_FLoZFkq9pa

I just think it's so cute and he would be so pouty about it. like when the guy in the video was like, "he needs to wear glasses , what a nerd!" i was thinking about reader going, well you wear glasses too amour. i just think it would be so fluffy and cute lol.

Ooh yes! But I decided that Y/N also wears glasses because I wear glasses, and I think it would be hilarious.

Nerdy Glasses?

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x Hispanic/Latina Reader

Summary: Y/N decides to show Charles her favorite holiday movie and his reaction is hilarious to say the least.

Warning: spelling and grammatical errors

A/N: i have never seen The Holiday but I have seen this YouTube short many times

Y/N turned on the TV and got comfortable on the couch.

“Mon coeur, it’s not even Christmas yet, do we have to watch this movie?” Charles asked.

“I didn’t see you complaining when I made you watch Exmas last night.” Y/N said, getting her Calvin Klein glasses to watch the movie clearly, sitting back down.

“Fine, put it on, amour.” Charles said, sitting beside her.

“Thank you, I will.” Y/N got the remote and set up the movie. She snuggled into Charles and it was all going well until he saw that Y/N was practically swooning over Jude Law.

“Is he really that good looking that this is your favorite Christmas movie?” Charles asked,

“I mean technically my favorite Christmas movie is The Santa Clause, but it’s cute.” Y/N said.

“Why? Is it because he’s British? I speak French, mon coeur, the most romantic language in the world.” Charles said.

“Ay ya párale, muñeco, im trying to watch the movie.” Y/N said, a few minutes go by.

“He’s not that good looking, I bet there’s something wrong with him.” Charles commented and Y/N stared at him.

“Like what, please tell me.” Y/N said,

“I bet the cameras make him look taller.” Charles said.

“Please, he’s literally your height, don’t even lie, you’re 5’11 on a GOOD day.” Y/N said.

“I’m 1.80m Y/N, you live in Monaco, learn our metric system.” Charles said.

“Oh shut it, you have no idea how big the states truly are, now shush.” Y/N said, turning back to the TV. They get to the scene where Jude Law says he lost his contact lenses.

“You see! He needs to wear glasses, what a nerd.” Charles said. Y/N turns to stare at him.

“Muñeco, you wear glasses when you’re on the sim. You own those thick black framed glasses too and you sometimes wear them out.” Y/N said.

“But this glasses are by choice, his are prescription.” Charles said.

“Oh so are my prescription glasses nerdy to you, Charles? Am i nerd because i wear glasses?” Y/N argues and Charles stammers.

“Of course not, mon coeur, I actually think you look really sexy in those glasses.” Charles attempts to save himself.

“Mm hmm.” Y/N said, not believing him.

“I swear, it’s kind of a turn on when you wear your glasses, especially with your hair up” Charles commented.

“You are such a guy, let’s just keep watching the movie, yeah?” Y/N said, Turing back to the screen,

“Yeah.” Charles said. Y/N then whispers in his ear.

“It’s a turn on when you wear your glasses too.” And Y/N pulled away to continue watching the movie. However, when the movie ended, Charles had a new appreciation for wearing glasses.

The End

Hope y’all liked it, I think it turned out cute, I’ve also been thinking I should make more headers like this for my other fanfics

[matenrou-fan]

May I request Diavolo and Lucifer in a poly relationship with a female baker reader?

Diavolo x fem! baker! s/o x Lucifer

femreader, fluff, just wholesome stuff;;

-Ooh, poor Barbatos.. He has a competition now right here..

-Well, but can I really call it 'competition' if we all already know the winner? Of course it would be you. Because both your boyfriends are waiting for your baking more than for holidays.

-"Mm.. This pie that you made today, s/o.. It's absolutely fantastic!" - Diavolo laughs, with his casual loud tone. - "I haven't eaten something so sweet for centuries! And the dough is so soft it's like it's melting in my mouth.."

"Oh, Dia, stop it.." - You can't help but chuckle too, as it's really hard to stay calm and serious when the young Lord is smiling like that. - "You literally had a little tea party with Lucifer yesterday, aren't you? I'm sure Barbatos treated you two with no less yummy things.."

"Great considerable skill, even if it was developed and gone deeper through a hundred years, will never withstand a pure savour of real love.." - low chuckle escapes Lucifer's lips as he looks at you. - "It more feels not like the softness of the dough, but more like the softness of your caring heart, s/o.."

"What a great way to compliment, Lucifer!" - Diavolo gets surprised along with you, then titters shyly. - "Ahh, now I want to amuse s/o with my grateful words too.. Or maybe a kiss would be better to show my appreciation..?"

-It doesn't matter if baking is your job or just a hobby, your boyfriends would spoil you with presents to help you improve your skill and learn something new.

-And they both will choose everything themselves. For example, Lucifer can just ask (order?) Satan checks the library or bookstore for new recipe books for you, because his little brother knows these places inside out. Yet he prefers to go all alone, slowly exploring store shelves, flipping through different books. He will try to find something with only new interesting recipes, or with the things you say you wanted to bake..

-And Diavolo can just rely on his loyal servant's taste, as Barbatos is really good at finding high-quality spices and seasonings for his own cooking.. But your lover would go with his underling, to choose something himself, that he thinks would please your soul. Hm, aren't you talking about these expensive sprinkles a few days ago?

-Uh.. But there's so many magic items in Devildom, who knows what ended up in your arms this time?

-"Hm.. These strudels you made this time, darling. They're so much sugar.." - Diavolo mumbled, quickly draining his cup of tea. - "Even for me.. It's so sweet.."

"Was something in your mind when you baked it, s/o..?" - Lucifer also seems so unpleasant after a few bites, cause he had less sweet tooth than your other lover.

"I'm sorry.. Apparently, the baking soda I added this time had some magic effect.." - with blush on your cheeks, your gaze was fixed on a small package, too ashamed to look at your beloved demons.

"Mm? There's a small footnote.. If someone will use it for cooking for their lover, the level of sugar in the final product will increase depending on the strength of their love.." - Lucifer gets behind you and leans closer, reading over your shoulder.

For a moment you all froze.. How can you not notice this small note?! Yet then a prideful demon smirked, watching as your face got even more red:

"Oh.. how sweet of you, s/o.."

"I.. I have no choice but to savor every last bit of your love in that case, s/o.." - Diavolo nods as his cheeks also get redder, and he places another piece of strudel in his mouth with a more pleasant face.

"I also suddenly have an appetite for more.."

-I also totally can see Diavolo willing to learn something himself to understand what you're talking about, just because he gets kinda jealous when see you chatting with Barb about some new topping you find.

-"Oh! Yes, I do understand..!" - sparkles of joy flash in his pale yellow eyes, making it shine almost like gold. - "You're talking about bicarbonate of soda, aren't you..?"

"Hehe, no, dear.. It's cream of tartar, actually" - a small smirk appears on your lips. You were showing them both the new ingredients you bought for your next dessert, and it looks like Diavolo gets really interested. - "Well, but your guess was kinda close.."

"Since when did you start to understand something in baking? Or at least try to understand, Diavolo?" - your other lover smirks too, looking at different bags in your arms.

"W-well.. I just thought if I would know more I would be able to support s/o more in her interest.." - a small blush appears on Diavolo's cheeks as he looks away, shooting his eyes with furrowed brows in embarrassment.

"Oh! Then maybe we should ask our little darling to teach us?" - Lucifer's amused gaze meets yours. - "What do you think about it, chef?"

-Kitchen in House of Lamentation survived enough things already, so it turns for Demon Lord's Castle's Kitchen now. Cause it's gonna be an interesting experience..

-Lucifer would try to do everything accurately and carefully. He's an avatar of Pride, after all, he wants to surprise you with his cooking skill and receive some praise and compliments from you. When Diavolo would be more goofy, using this quality time not only to learn something but just to fool around with you.

-And everything ended up with Lucifer also playing along with your antics, forgetting about his role as strict partner, and actually enjoying some silly time. Yes, he will also love corny things like smearing each other's noses in cream or getting the whole kitchen in flour..

-"Huh.. I always scold my brother for this mess they always make in our place when it's their time to make dishes.. But it turns out I'm no better than them.." - Lucifer mumbled with furrowed brows and crossed arms after you three calmed down, and was just standing, catching your breath, all in dough, cream and glaze.

"Hahaha! But it was absolutely delightful, wasn't it?" - the loud laugh of Diavolo thundered through the whole kitchen, as he was even more excited and playful than usual now. - "I'm sure it would be the most delicious thing we all ever taste..!"

"Well, we will know after half an hour.." - you giggle, looking at the working oven. - "I think this time would be enough for us to clean at least part of this mess.."

"You're right.. Just please, never tell my brothers about this thing.." - Lucifer's voice gets quieter as he looks at you with a soft gaze. - "I don't want them to know about this side of me.. It's our little secret, okay?"

"Then maybe we should keep the whole situation confidential?" - Diavolo chuckles, his fingers on his lips. - "Despite the fact that I do want to brag a little about our ultimate cake, I also wish that this tea party would be enjoyed by just the three of us.."

[misericordel]

(comes to the toa anniversary munday late with starbucks)

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

Name: leon

Pronouns: he/him or they/them. idrc

Birthday (no year): august 30th!

Where are you from? What is your time zone? i was born in virginia but spent like 90% of my life in the midwest ✌️ i'm central time

How long is your roleplay experience?

i've been roleplaying since i was a kid! i probably have around 10 to 12 years of "roleplay" experience

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole?

i started roleplaying on gaia online before the inflation really hit in the late 2000s (iykyk), and then i moved to deviantart took a break from that and now i'm here!

How were you introduced to TOA?

found it on twitter through a moot i think. the details are foggy at this point LOL

Do you have any pets?

yesss my two beloved chichis beethoven (bae for short) and skippy. yall may have seen em in the server but they're my babies and i spoil them so much. i've had them for around 7 — 8 years and my family adopted them from owners who neglected them a lot.

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period)

late spring early summer you will always be my it girl

What is your IRL occupation?

i have a fancy title for it but for simplicity sakes i'm a university receptionist

Some interests and things you like/enjoy?

hmmm main interests are probably fire emblem, j-pop and vsynths/vocaloid/pjsekai (spongebob holding his hands out meme) I WAS A VOCALOID FAN STARTING IN THE LATE/MID 2000S

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play?

other than fire emblem i play a lot of jrpgs. i've been really into balatro and fields of mistria lately! (ooo you want to buy fields of mistria so bad) also project sekai as mentioned above. gacha is a curse though

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon:

i've always liked most psychic and dark types. my favorite pokemon is blaziken bc of nostalgia haha

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself!

much of my time spent writing here in toa is on company time bc i just happen to have access to a computer my entire work shift and it's generally quiet enough to do so

How did you get into Fire Emblem?

like a lot of people i first saw fire emblem in smash bros, then later on i think a year or two after awakening released i saw it on the shelves at my local gamestop and bought it because i recognized the namesake. of course i fell in love with fire emblem from that point haha (i have 100+ hours in awakening. lol )

What Fire Emblem games have you played?

i've watched playthroughs of a lot of em. for properly played though genealogy, blazing blade, sacred stones(never finished), awakening, fates conquest (never finished), three houses (golden deer + never finished blue lions), and engage!

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games:

first: awakening

favorite: genuinely a tie between engage and genealogy

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series!

veyle, sigurd, edain, caeda, tie between timerra and eldigan (yeah sigurd was actually beaten out by veyle. crazy times we live in.)

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason!

the very first one was cherche from awakening! very much was attracted to her weirdo onee-san vibes when i first played, and every playthrough after i would always put in extra effort to make her really good in my army haha

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳

y'all already know i go fucking rabid for sigurd von chalphy

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? - Awakening: chrom (BY CHOICE) - Fates: xander - Three Houses: claude - Engage: alfred bc hes a sweetie pie, though i almost s supported diamant instead

Favorite Fire Emblem class?

mage knight beloved

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable?

villager that needs a lot of extra planning to get anywhere good, or like a merlinus merchant type haha

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? (Black Eagles, Blue Lions, Golden Deer, Church of Seiros, Those Who Slither in the Dark, unaffiliated civilian, other - for example Almyran)

golden deer hehe

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent?

all banes. all of them. every single one. if you manage to reclass me they all go to neutral instead

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? (Firene, the Kingdom of Abundance; Brodia, the Kingdom of Might; Elusia, the Kingdom of Knowledge; Solm, the Queendom of Freedom; Lythos, the holy land of the Divine Dragon; Gradlon, the desolate land of the Fell Dragon)

firene bc i'm just a little guy. i'd die at port florra though.

How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔(separate letters, to-ah, other?)

toe-uh. always have and always will

Current TOA muses:

veyle. feels weird to be a single muser.

Past TOA muses?

lesse iin order from my very best knowledge : sigurd -> cherche -> edain -> arthur (fe4) -> caeda -> askr -> timerra -> here i am now. that's probably a little worbled of a timeline though

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again?

my first toa muse was sigurd! i certainly have been weighing in my hand if i want to pick him up again recently

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?)

i gravitate to any character who suffers from the empathy disease i think if i were to give an answer that were all encompassing LOL i do like muses that are a little stupid though

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could?

i cant handle the stoic type or the intelligent type. it's a running gag for me at this point that i'd be interested in writing laurent or miriel if i were smart enough to do so

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? (If you filled this out last year, has this changed in any way?)

i love writing anything with/in relation to romance. it's like my bread and butter haha. i think i do conversations between characters best and have always struggled with writing things like fight scenes (though i have improved since i started)

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”?

i'm pretty satisfied with what i've been able to write for veyle here. i do like when i get to write veyle getting angry/fighting back though!

Favorite TOA-related memories?

0 days since our last food discourse

Present or past tense?

present tense! started writing in it and it just kinda stuck with me.

Normal size text, small text, no preference?

small text girlie for lifeee

Got any potential muse delusions to share? �� 

wouldn't you like to know weather boy

[starrook]

anniversary munday

celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is. repost, don't reblog. only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing! happy anniversary, TOA! here's to many more years spent together.

Name: Bren

Pronouns: they

Birthday (no year): Nov 6th

Where are you from? What is your time zone? NJ, EST

How long is your roleplay experience? 10+ years

How were you introduced to roleplaying as a whole? Warrior cats official forums back when they were around! Stumbled into fanclans first and then went into human OCs with PJO. FERP was my first time playing canon characters.

How were you introduced to TOA? Heh.

Do you have any pets? I currently have Klein, 7 month old Standard Manchester Terrier. Recently said goodbye to Frisky, 15 year old terrier mix and my childhood dog.

What is your favorite time of year and why? (Season, holiday, general period) Right about now, late summer-early fall when the weather is starting to get reasonable.

What is your IRL occupation? Office admin/events coordinator.

Some interests and things you like/enjoy? I try to keep up with my art! I also like to listen to financial podcasts.

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? HSR and Sudoku

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: If I had to pick a type, maybe normal? As for Pokemon I have a soft spot for all dog pokemon but Dachsbun and Mabosstiff knocked it out of the park for me.

Tell us some funfacts and trivia about yourself! I am allergic to raw apples. My favorite childhood snack was cut apple with salt and lime and I miss it so much. Apple juice hits but it's not the same. I also wrote a couple of supports for the Gay Fates hack way back when! Though I wouldn't want to read them now tbh hahah old writing....

How did you get into Fire Emblem? I was... maybe 14? I saw Awakening, thought it was interesting and picked it up only to rage quit at chapter 9 (was too focused on marrying Frederick asap that the rest of my army was behind). Then I got interested in Fates and the rest is history.

What Fire Emblem games have you played? I've played Awakening, Conquest, Shadows of Valentia, Sacred Stones, Three Houses (GD Route) and Engage. ...The only games I played through the end were Sacred Stones and Three Houses—

First & Favorite Fire Emblem games: First was Awakening! I have a soft spot for Fates gameplay.

List your 5 favorite Fire Emblem characters across the series! I don't play favorites :weary: Alcryst grabbed me like no one else has tho tbh I'll give him that.

Who was the first character ever to make you go “ooh I like this one in particular” and why? Can be any context and reason! Volug/Nailah. I know I said I got into FE through awakening but my actual first introduction to Fire Emblem was through a youtube video that was showing off the laguz transformation and attack animations. Please understand this was in the midst of my middle school werewolf phase.

Any Fire Emblem crushes? 😳 Not a crush per se but (slaps noise cancelling headphones on Alcryst before dunking his head into a toilet bowl) Diamant is neat :)

If you’ve played (or are familiar with) the following games, who was your first S support? Who would you S support nowadays? - Awakening: First Frederick, now Lucina - Fates: First Silas, now still Silas - Three Houses: First Claude, now probably still Claude - Engage: I didn't get that far. My first choice was Diamant but I fucked up and he's too far behind to support now, so I'd go with Pandreo

Favorite Fire Emblem class? A good armor knight is worth their weight in gold. Donnel!Kjelle, Louise, and Effie were beasts in my playthroughs.

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class and stats? Would you be playable? If I was a Fire Emblem character I would be dead <3 But if I had to be playable I would be an early game cleric/support unit type.

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? Regular civilian! But if I had to pick a house, absolutely Golden Deer

If you were an Officers Academy student, what would be your boons, banes and potential budding talent? Boons: Faith, Heavy Armor Banes: Literally everything else. Maybe Authority budding talent?

If you were an Engage character, which nation would you originate from? Firene, they have good weather

How do you pronounce TOA? 🤔(separate letters, to-ah, other?) Tee-Oh-Ay

Current TOA muses: Alcryst and Claude

Past TOA muses? Nanna, Lukas, Arval, Niles, Silas, Lyon

Who was your first TOA muse? If you no longer have them, can you see yourself picking them up again? Claude!

Do you believe you have a type of character you gravitate towards writing? The fact that I wrote three moon-associated archers is completely coincidental!!!!!! I like grounded characters that can be both amicable and absolutely vicious when the situation calls for it.

Do you have characters or types of characters you don’t think you can handle writing, but wish you could? Tiki is one of those characters that I think I could RP well but I'm not confident I would be able to keep up with the Archaneans. Rhea is similar, but where I trip up with her is that bc she is such an important central character esp to Fodlan's history I'm intimidated by the idea.

What kind of scenes, situations etc do you believe you enjoy writing the most? Emotional scenes... anything where there's love and family involved gets me crying

Do you have any scenario in mind for your muse(s) that gets you thinking “man I hope I get to write this one day”? FELL XENOLOGUE ALCRYST!!!! Alcryst in situations basically

Favorite TOA-related memories? Claude surviving Ree's Hundred Hand Snake bitch double boss from Unlocked Hell.

Present or past tense? Present.

Normal size text, small text, no preference? Normal, formatting is a pain

Got any potential muse delusions to share? 😉 F!Shez! I'd like to play female characters actually.

[vivalgi]

July Choices Insiders came a day earlier than usual, probably because the upcoming holidays in the US. Although, technically it did arrive in the first minutes of Thursday for me 😛

It's a bit funny that a spooky book with a pumpkin image for a teaser releases in the middle of summer but it also looks like the final chapters will be close to Halloween if Terror Fest has around 16 chapters in total, at least for the VIPs. Still no sign that TeFe will have 2 female LIs though. Naturally there's no WIP sketches because everything is AI generated these days anyway 🥱

Seems like PB is trying to rush out the 3rd entries of BOLAS and COP. It took years to make both book 1 and 2 of BOLAS so it's making me worried about the quality that the 3rd one is finished in just a year.

Of course PB is avoiding the discussion about the actual FAQ about MC body types. Not many talk about fatter MCs but about those horrible designs we've been getting since Unbridled.

Ooh, Bitten! We're getting a Choices version of Spider-Man! Nah, that'll never happen. It's probably another vampire (or werewolf) smut, likely a century or more in the past this time, based on the thumbnail. We'll be another damsel getting whisked away by some Dracula type LI.

And it looks like HOF will already release this month for us, freeloaders. I guess it's time to start thinking about creating my custom MC.

[pascalssbabyy]

My darling Beth,

I’m here on secret springs business (I know I'm late)

These are 6 of my bucket list places - the question is simple: which destination, which P boy and what does the best day with them look like?

We got:

⭐️ Tokyo

⭐️ Sardinia

⭐️ The Northern Lights (destination of your choice)

⭐️ New York

⭐️ Havana

⭐️ Ghana

Much love

Al 🖤

my darling al, thank you so much for the ask!🤍

ooh i adore these questions, and all of these places look incredible! i do have a huge love for tourist holiday destinations, but the though of relaxing in the sun by the beach sounds so good right now, so i’m going to pick sardinia ☀️

picking which man though… i find very tricky because there’s so many pedro boys that come to my mind for this, but i just can’t help but gravitate to the softest man who has my whole heart, javi g 🤍

i’m actually getting jealous just by thinking about it 🤣 chilling (yes, just chilling because i can contain myself 😉) by the clear blue sea with a couple of cocktails and javi wearing that stripy speedo sounds like a dream right now 🥵

[jamdoughnutmagician]

11, 19 and 46 for the asks <3

11:Favourite Extracurricular Activity?

Well I was in my school's netball and hockey team, and I enjoyed that but I didn't take part in any extracurricular anything in high school (looking back I low-key hated high school in some ways)

19:Imagine we're at a sleepover, would you paint my nails?

Girrrrl of course! I've got a lot of nail polishes I can't help it I get drawn in by pretty colours I think I'd paint yours in a pretty pastel blue!

46:Favourite holiday movie?

Ooh so many great choices

Elf

Nativity (1 & 2, I don't really bother with the third one)

Love Actually

The Snowman, followed by The Snowman and The Snowdog which has never not made me cry 😭😭

[kimsmingyu]

hi Ali! your secret santa again :)

i think thanksgiving is tomorrow so i’ll take this opportunity to wish you a happy holiday! i hope you enjoy it since you’ve been looking forward to it. do you have any favorite dishes? like i said, i don’t celebrate it but i love food so i’d like to know.

it’s always tricky to get days off work, especially if you have bosses who can decided on that before you. but as long as you don’t work on christmas, i think that’s cool. there are many ppl who don’t get that chance due to the nature of their jobs so i’m always grateful for the breaks i have.

i don’t know much abt zodiac signs but it’s really interesting to know from someone who is. maybe later on you can tell me your perspective on my zodiac sign as i don’t think my personality fully matches with it, and i’ve only learned in recent years that there are many variations of them? it’s still new to me but i’d love to learn from you if you’re up for it.

i’m sure i didn’t give myself away, i truly want this to be a surprise. i love the secret santa concept so i always look forward to the revelations day :)

honestly, you could’ve picked any song and i’d say they’re bangers. i feel like we do have some taste in common regarding the songs though. you even picked one of my favorites ever.

btw i love your mobile theme! and it inspired me to ask you this: what’s your favorite mythical creature?

love, secret santa x

I APOLOGIZE!!! you've been so kind to me and i really am sorry that it's taking me forever to respond back to you!!

i did enjoy my thanksgiving and it was even better knowing i didn't have to go to work the next day omg. but my favorite dish is probably my mom's stuffing. she makes portuguese stuffing and the receipe was her mom's aka my grandmother so it's been in our family for a while. lowkey i get kind of picky with stuffing because i'm used to how my mom's made it for so long that i'm not interested in others!

THANKFULLY i haven't worked on christmas day in almost 10 years (i've worked at my current job for almost that long it's kind of sickening......) but i did work at target and they were closed on christmas day but christmas eve........................... stayed until at least 9pm because a lady stayed AFTER closing because she had a stack of expired coupons and wouldn't leave until we honored and i was the sucker who's register she went to. also thankfully christmas eve at the job i work at now is until 1pm! i work at a bank but not at a branch anymore so i have a lot more flexiability with my time than i used to

i feel like i know a good amount about zodiac signs but then i don't at the same time and i think it's either my friends telling me about their sign where i'm like oh okay or i'm researching about my family. i know the most about aries because i was amazed at how much of an aries i really am. i'm not sure how much help i'd be about zodiac signs, but i'd love to talk about it anyway!

this is my second secret santa with caratblr (though the person who had me for secret santa dropped off the face of the earth so i never received anything omg) but i had one for monsta x that went so smoothly and lovely and i was really happy and befriend the person who took the time to create something for me. and as someone who did something like this twice, i also like the reveal and excitement of telling the other person who you are!

ooh you have to tell me which one is your favorites ever when you reveal yourself. i know i went through a year long same dream same mind same night phase and i still hold that with me. i'll be honest, i enjoyed seventeen's cbs this year but they weren't my faves so i'm hoping when they come back they can do something like your choice again. i've had it on repeat lately.

for mythical creatures, i think i'd have to go with mermaid. when i was a kid i used to watch the little mermaid 2 a lot (no idea why i was a big fan of ariel's daughter) and borrowed a lot of picture books on mermaids. but i also did borrow the original little mermaid story with no happy ending multiple times. also as someone who can't swim, that's like a dream to just be able to swim under water... and breathe omg. do you have a favorite?

[achaotichuman]

Ho ho happy Halloween! 🎃🎅

I've heard you've been taking a much needed hiatus; I hope it's helped you! Sorry for my absence; I suppose this Santa needed a small hiatus, too. ❤️

I've been thinking about your gift, though! I've decided I would like to make a drawing for you, and perhaps a drabble to go with it.

You said your favorite Tamcien IT moment from canon was from ACOWAR. If you had to choose, would you choose a drawing of them from that book, or one from ACOTAR? If so, which scene stands out to you from that book? (Or even ACOMAF, if you like.) Tell me your wishes, giftee! 'Tis the season!

Now for some silly questions!

Since you said you like the spooky season of Halloween, do you have a favorite spooky movie?

If so, is that different from horror? Do you like horror movies, and if so, which one is your favorite?

How do you think Tamlin would celebrate Halloween in Spring? (Since your weather is fairly spring-y right now, too.)

And lastly, what is your favorite food, Halloween or Christmas or otherwise?

Have a wonderful spooky day!

HIHIHIHIHIHI!!!

OMG DO NOT APOLOGISE I FULLY UNDERSTAND, the lead up to the holidays is EXHAUSTING, I am dead so I completely get it.

YES I LOVE DRAWINGS, I will be happy with whatever you give me, but my absolute favourite scenes of them were, as you mentioned, the scene in ACOWAR (but if they kissed as they should have 🤣🤣)

Honestly I love post-canon, or post-first book Tamcien, but there are so many scenes throughout ACOTAR too where Lucien is just so concerned for Tamlin and soft with him and UGH I CANT PICK I JUST LOVE THEM

Ooh I love silly questions!!

I don't watch movies, and if I do its because my sister has dragged me along with her LMAO

I do like Coraline tho, Coraline is good.

Most of the horror stuff I watch is in the form of short videos on either youtube or tiktok, and two of my favourite series from this year was Spooky Lake Month by geodesarus and I've watched all the horror and ritual stories from thequeercrypt

Oooooh one of my personal headcanons for how Tamlin would celebrate Halloween comes from a Tamcien oneshot I wrote a LONG while back here is the link it's pretty much just Tamlin jumpscaring the fuck out of Lucien lol.

But my headcanons are that the Spring Court starts to darken around that time of the year, and on the night of Halloween a thick mist shrouds the woods, the people consider it the night of the year when the Spirit or the Shadow Realm is closest to our world. There would be tales of seeing figures in the deep forest, and sightings of long-gone dead loved ones.

The magic of the land would also change slightly during the course of the night, turning into a more 'wild' state. Paths would divert from their usual course, the foliage would change form.

Also, I'm adding new headcanons I recently thought of since being reminded of 'The Dark Mother' by @kateprincessofbluewhales, the night of Halloween is when the Dark Mother's influence over the land is at its strongest, and thats why the Spring Court changes so much. It would be the time of the year that the Spring Court resembles my headcanons for The Dark Spring Court.

My favourite food... that is a hard choice. Imma play it safe and say pomegranate since I could never ever ever tire of it.

Thank you very much for the questions, I hope I could help!!!!!

[my-name-is-not-audrey]

3 Phases of Falling

Fall, the season painted the patches of fields and tall plants to the shades from golden to brown by degree. During this warm palette imagery, one holiday spread the air with pumpkin spice, the sweet aroma of candy apples, and the mischievous minds of teenagers desperate to throw rolls of paper towels over the neighbourhood. Everywhere my eyes landed were the decorations of spooky props. It was the second holiday after my favourite one of all time, the joyous Christmas, Halloween.

Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost burnt on my wrinkled face, with aches tickling my mood, dancing along my curved lips while giving out sweets for trick-or-treating children. Kids nowadays prefer costumes of their favourite TV and internet characters over classic witches and monsters. And the choices of candies grew from various brands, many from foreign, some of which I'd never heard of at my age. As I watched the young couples roaming along with their siblings, memories of the good old days floated back to those we shared on this occasion.

I still remember the three phases of falling.

-

The first fall, ouch.

During my first year at university, party invitations were distributed like flyers. It was my first attempt at joining a Halloween gathering. Maintaining sobriety wasn't much of an option when friends constantly encouraged me to drink. I eventually gulped down a few cups, not only to warm up but also to join the crowds for fun. The night was young indeed.

I was never good at wearing high heels, but Halloween gave me the strength to doll up as Morticia Addams from the series; therefore, the black heels to go with the appearance. At some point, I stopped drinking and felt the need to use the bathroom. My head wobbled from left to right because the weakness in my limbs prevented me from walking a straight line. So, unfortunately, my limbs and consciousness gave in to the alcohol.

My face landed on the floor with a loud thud, ruining the make-up. Noises of oohs and ahhs nearby helped sober me up. Embarrassed, I struggled to get up, only to find both heels broken in half. Red in the face, tears brimming, I arched my elbows and used them as support; hopefully, it would prop my body up. After many attempts, in vain, though. My ankles sprang and refused to work.

A hand reached out before my eyes. Following, I saw you, one of the boys who dressed in Elvis Presley that night. The movie Blue Hawaii was a hit in bygone days; naturally, boys and girls fancied the legendary rock star despite it being the 60s, the era belonged to the Beatles. There was once a period when Elvis's songs were so famous that they sent waves of ripples everywhere. If I had the nerve to say back then, I'd say, "You were the most handsome one by far."

Placing my hand on your palm, a tinge of warmth spread from within, sending waves of electric shots through my veins. Then, I was helped up by your strong arms. A rush of heat caused me to flush as our eyes locked.

The pair of new shoes you drove me to the nearest store to buy afterwards are still stored in the closet, delicate and polished. The original song on the radio had changed from In My Life by Beatles to, what a coincidence, Can't Help Falling in Love.

The first fall was full of shame and pain, but it was worth it.

-

Days passed and came the second fall. Not physically painful, but rather a sinking heart, embraced by the ocean named: you.

Bell chimed while the orchestra struck up the tune as I walked down the aisle with my father's arm linked to mine. You and I dressed in a white gown and a suit, others in the matching colours outfit, mostly in pastel. Wherever we glanced were bright countenance, ready to share the bliss of us. Instead of the usual smells of rusty leaves and pumpkin spice in fall, the air was much sweeter, replaced with cinnamon and apples for the pies we served.

It was our fifth anniversary after my Halloween party in Uni; of course, there were second, third and fourth, all had you kept company with me.

Soft melodies of Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley playing in the background guided our moves as we danced. Your large hand on my waist, lips occasionally on my forehead, sparkling the sensation I could never get tired of. We turned and twirled, swaying our hips with the rhythm as if it were only us and tiny embryos in my womb in this world.

None of us argued that the song became a tradition in celebrating the significance of which we first met on Halloween. We secretly made the song to ours.

Under the stars, we committed to each other, exchanging vows that wished to bring bliss to our marital foundation. Amidst the cool breeze, you recited poems and sang songs with the band to entertain the crowd while children roamed about knocking on every door in their costumes. Beneath the dimming skies, you ensured my parents reached home safely, knowing they could hardly remain sober on such a merry occasion.

Intoxicated by your kindness, your lips, and all you did for my family and me.

The second phase is when I realized that I had fallen harder than expected. Your presence made me melt into your existence, plunging into your affection, falling to your charm.

-

As the seasons changed, so did the phases of falling. Last fall left me uncertain if it was truly over. Unlike the lovely fall traps you set for me, it was a nasty fall I wouldn't dare to imagine.

The reality of your burial beneath the churchyard didn't hit me until the constant "sorry for your loss" became an unending echo, sending a painful reminder of your absence to everyone who greeted me.

The news hit me like a comet—swift, sudden, and without any chance for preparation.

If I wasn't so confused by the ruthless march of time, the details of that day, which I could never mistake.

My eyes were fixed on the TV while getting the call from the news station you worked at, oblivious to the two crystal streams rolling down my cheeks and the person informing me of your demise. Why did it have to be two weeks before our anniversary?

It was my turn to recite as you did at our wedding, only it was an elegy, and dressing in no other colours but black conversely to our wedding.

There has been a castle, one you built for me like you promised. You were my prince, mender, listener, adviser, and the one I wouldn't thank enough stars for allowing such foolish thought of a soulmate entering my life. It was a safe place to guide me so that nothing would go wrong. But now there were cracks everywhere. Those cracks appeared out of the blue, too quick to comprehend, splitting further into the high tower; eventually, a large hole, beyond repair, was planted deep in me. No matter how long I bawled my eyes out or hiccuped the cries in drying my throat, time didn't fix my castle.

Flummoxed was the word I was searching for. My daily routines were out of order, just as my mental state was teetered on the edge of turmoil. It felt like a dark cloud had taken over my mind, blocking out all my senses and rationality, thundering the symphony of suffering. To think of anything but you. I assumed the most approachable term for youngsters to perceive was The Walking Dead. Hence, whatever I did would eventually drift to you.

Why would there be contemplation if I should buy your favourite coffee?

Were you on the news for today's international news during lunchtime?

Should I anticipate you would be home soon for dinner?

Did I set your tableware on your usual seat earlier?

Was I talking to myself again? I think I did.

Did anyone catch me doing so? I hope not. Our boys wouldn't bear the sight of me mumbling like a maniac.

That's when I surrendered to the conclusion in acceptance that my castle was falling apart. I couldn't stop thinking of you and never plan to. Every day during lunchtime, I would flip to the news channel you used to work at, searching for your presence. Sometimes, even at night, I dreamt of you taunting me to move on. You know that's impossible. With my castle wrecked and my spouse gone, my favourite season disappeared from when you left.

-

Fall is now the cruellest season for me. No more sweet, playful innocence that I used to recognize. As the leaves fall, mirroring the autumn of my soul, the bricks of my castle crumbled simultaneously with the changing seasons, echoing the abyss of my heartache.

It's been twenty-six falls since we last danced, which meant my sanctuary had been gone for that long. I sigh, wiping the tears that has been circling in my eyes. Enough with the time being sentimental. The kids are waiting outside for me to hand out the candies. Quickly squeezed the sorrow away, replaced with a smile to greet little guests.

With every falling leaf, I wonder how many more autumns I must endure without you until we reunite somewhere beyond this world.

I miss you so much, Charlie.

[notebookmusical]

Hi! It's so great that you're feeling better. Aww did you not even know what was wrong? Or was it just multiple symptoms? I hope it wasn't Covid and you get good results. Those are also my favorites on Red! I know it's long..honestly sometimes usually I just play the newer verses..but it was really awesome live! I totally get loving a song cuz it's your surprise song. That's me with Castles Crumbling..I liked it of course cuz of Taylor and Hayley but now I love it even more. My favorites on Speak Now are probably I Can See You and Timeless but they switch all the time. Like Timeless is such a classic Taylor song so I love it..and Foolish One is so relatable to me lol but maybe that makes it harder to listen to all the time. But I also love Electric touch and Emma Falls in Love! I think I told you I am a huge Emma Stone fan so to have that song makes me so happy..along with Hayley on Castles Crumbling. They are my two favorite friendships of Taylor and I was a fan of all of them around that time. My favorite Fearless songs are probably Don't You and Mr. Perfectly Fine but I also like them all. I won't be trading but I am excited to have more people enjoying the show in the theater this time compared to the Twenty One Pilots livestream show. I think we are planning for a late show like 11PM so it might not be as many people though. What time are you going? I'm so excited! My bday is June 14th..cuz we are Gemini twins and I love that. It's also Flag Day on the calendar haha. But otherwise I'm not really like what people usually think of a Gemini cuz I'm shy. Your birthday is so close to Taylor's. Do you also love the holidays or have Sagittarius energy like she does?

Haha I don't know if I loved it but I do enjoy Dr Seuss stuff so I did like it. Wow..now it makes sense how you've seen so many shows! I think that's super cool that Ooh I've never seen Phantom but I wanted to go to the tour a few years ago and sadly missed it. I think it would be cool with dropping the chandelier. Oh I noticed the Waitress playbills and had no idea her mom wrote the musical. That's so cool! Haha ya I told my parents to watch it eventually..I showed them the trailer and they said it looked funny so maybe they will. I told them they might not understand the jokes though.

Oh haha..no wonder you were excited or skeptical for the musical..especially if it means a lot to you or you know it really well. I might read it eventually by the time the musical is on Broadway or both musicals are. Maybe he will..I hope. I'm happy he has the role but I wonder if someone else would be a better choice..or who it could be in the Florence one. Or is there anyone you think could be a better fit? What did you think of the music overall? Cuz ya..it wasn't like 20s really but after watching the videos a few times..it was a little better. I think the performances are next week so we will find out if the full musical is any better and eventually how the Florence version is. By the way, kinda off topic, but I remembered the Little Women ask I sent a while ago and was wondering if you were ever gonna reply since it came up talking with my sister. No pressure obviously but it was funny to me.

Oh good..I'm glad I let you know then. I've never been to Seattle but I'm excited to read it so I can learn more about it. I will definitely read it by the time the sequel is out. Aww that's special and sweet to have that connection..and ya that's sometimes why I still enjoy reading YA cuz it makes me nostalgic or remind me that everyone has similar experiences. For a while, I confused the title with Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow from your poll actually..but then realized they were two different books haha. But maybe I can read that one with you too since that one is also on my long list and I heard it was good! Yay okay I will and I know I was a slow reading partner..but I finally finished some Mistakes were made so you can finally share your thoughts. I thought it was okay. I think the conflict wasn't that developed or dramatic..but I guess it seemed realistic and the characters choices made sense at least. The ending was a little rushed but at least it was a happy ending I guess. I would probably rate it a 3..I just don't have strong feelings about it but I also wasn't like bored reading it or anything. I couldve read it sooner but there were just some days I would forget about reading. I wonder if reading it in a day made you feel differently or not. Well I don't know if I will read Enchanted to Meet You but if I do..I will tell you how it is. I read the princess diaries before but can barely remember it. Oh I am familiar with Emma Lord and Sophie Gonzalez books. I've read Tweet Cute and was in the middle of Perfect on Paper at some point.. I usually enjoy more serious YA but I still enjoy their writing. Begin Again is on my list. There was more than I thought actually and probably even more. I guess it's kinda cool but it's like using a title that doesn't have to really do with the book..but the point is so more people will wanna read it. I guess it kinda works though since that's what made me interested in Enchanted to Meet you, and having a catchy title is important nowadays and I imagine coming up with a title is pretty hard. but I feel like popular authors usually have pretty good titles..like Emily Henry. Actually one of my favorite books..which is If He Had Been With Me I read based just on the title without reading anything else. But The Stepping Off Place..which is my other favorite, I always wanted a better title but I don't know what else I would name it either. Sorry I know I talked about these before, but I just realized this right now while typing, and these are always like a pair in my mind. So sorry if that seems random. Anyway I know this is long now so I hope you have a good rest of your week and enjoy the movie if I don't reply by then!!! Even if I don't, I'll probably send you another ask at least saying to have fun and a good time! 🩷

hi hi!! so the thing is is that i had a bad bout of bronchitis which set off my asthma, but i've also just been trying to get some other things diagnosed for ... forever, including my migraines! i'm feeling a lot better now from bronchitis-y things, but am unsure where the diagnosis for other general health things is going!

also i really do love castles crumbling! what's your favorite taylor collab? i think mine is either nothing new, the last time, or castles crumbling, but i also really love cowboy like me, exile… okay, i'm just listening every collab now. 11pm is so late!! especially since it's a 3 hour movie — get home safe!! i'm going to a 6:00 pm showing on friday, and then an afternoon showing on sunday! so i'll be seeing it twice this weekend! i'm very excited! are you going to be dressing up for it? i think i'm going to dress up a bit more (not like DRESS up though, just wearing a sweater + skirt) for the first showing since it's opening night but i think i'll wear very comfy clothes (probably just my eras quarter zip) on sunday!

june 14th is really close to one of my close friend's birthdays! i think it's so fun that you're a gemini and you and your sister are twins!! i believe taylor is also a cancer moon, which is what i am! i'm a sag sun, cancer moon and a capricorn rising, if that means anything to you — and i am very much like all of those things. i do love the holidays, but i am also very nostalgic about them! it makes me think of hong kong/home, and i get a bit sad. do you have a favorite holiday?

i also was very, very lucky, and seattle has a really good program for teenagers where you can see shows for $5 — it's called teentix (they also do museum passes, and other art stuff!), which is really how i got to see a lot of shows! and then once i was no longer a teen, i did student rush a lot! phantom is SO cool with the chandelier; i saw it in london (my first west end show!) when i went to london with some family earlier ths year, and i forgot how much i really like it.

if you want to read gatsby, we can always do a buddy read! i have no idea who i'd want for the florence one, but i'm hopeful it'll be someone good! and you're fine about the little women ask — i meant to save it for a time where i could reread little women, but then i got buried in other books and then i never got around to rereading little women (hence why it is still unanswered)! i see it every time i open up my drafts though 😂

and yes, definitely down to read tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow if you want to start that soon! i think i'm going to try to start that next week, but it depends on how busy i am!!! i have not read ... much ... this week ... (aka: i have not even picked up a book this week) and probably won't get the chance to until next week). i'm glad you thought that the book was okay — i wasn't particularly like, impressed, or disappointed with the book, i also just felt like it was fine! i think it was also really predictable, and i think there were some storylines that felt a bit rushed/that could've been handled with more care. i saw if he had been with me at the bookstore on saturday and thought of you, but already had way too many books in my hands! i'm always really curious about book titles too, like how many books stay with the original title vs. publishing/marketing suggests something else!

i hope you're having a good day/week! enjoy the movie! i can't wait to hear your thoughts after (even though we've both seen the tour hehe) 🤍 xx

[patchwork-crow-writes]

Ooh, this is an interesting take! I hadn't considered the idea of Ralsei being a full-blown alter for Kris, but merely as the physical manifestation of Kris's seeming childhood desire to be more like their adoptive family. You've given me something quite compelling for me to chew on, so thank you for that!

This is gonna be long, so more under the cut!

Your points about Kris's personality (or what little we know about it in any case) are particularly interesting, because from my perspective there does seem to be this sense of a "before" and an "after". Something happened to Kris - possibly linked to Dess's disappearance and everything that happened with the Holidays/Dreemurrs - that seemed to change them from a prank-loving trickster and rabble-rouser to someone who is just going through the motions, someone who is unwilling or unable to articulate themself, someone to whom life and everything in it just sort of... happens to them.

Crucially, whatever happened did not erase Kris's more fun-loving prankster streak, as is demonstrated numerous times throughout Chapter 2 in particular - the whole "trash orb" thing, kissing Ralsei's mannequin to wind him up, almost every single interaction with Noelle in Cyber City - but it does seem to have buried it deep, only manifesting when the circumstances line up just so... or when we manoeuver them into those circumstances where they can express that side of themself. This is why I don't think Kris hates us in the way that many players feel like they do, as if that were the case I don't believe they would act so playfully in these scenarios.

My current theory is that when this "something" happened, it kind of "broke" Kris - perhaps an aspect of themself, or in your interpretation a full-on alter ego, was sundered from them, which at some point became the Ralsei we know and love. Following on from that, I believe that deficiency they might have suffered would have at some point been supplemented by our introduction into their SOUL. They seem to need us, or the SOUL if nothing else, so that they can continue to live and/or function. This is why I made the point about Kris letting life "happen" to them earlier - our control over their SOUL allows the events of Deltarune to happen in the way that they do while not necessarily contradicting the idea that Kris is essentially running on autopilot, letting us make all the "important" decisions until something or someone motivates them sufficiently to take matters into their own hands.

I haven't really mentioned Ralsei all that much, haha... but I do think he has a purpose to serve here too! Note how encouraging Ralsei acts towards Kris specifically - even putting all the crush-coded instances to one side, he's always placing emphasis on how Kris's choices matter, how they are important and special and uniquely talented, and how they alone will decide whether the story will have a "happy ending". You could argue that he is in fact speaking to us, the players of Deltarune, so that we remain invested in the journey and fulfill the prophecy (i.e. complete the game)... but you could just as easily make the argument that he is trying to encourage Kris to begin to come out of their fugue state, to coax them into making choices for themself again instead of being wholly passive and letting events just roll over them. And we do indeed start to see them do so - most notably when they save Susie from one of King's attacks by throwing themself in its path. There is a correlation there at the very least, so you can reasonably say Ralsei's words might have played a part in inspiring them to make that choice for themself.

I have more to say, but it's gonna have to come in another reblog, so uh. Brace yourselves :P

i think it’s interesting that kris and ralsei are presented as very opposite personalities from one another, when they’re probably the most similar characters in the entire game.

i was thinking about the few things we know for sure about kris’s personality, and i started realizing how similar ralsei and kris’s interests are. we know kris plays a lot of video games, and i wouldn’t be surprised if this somehow lined up with ralsei’s ability to just… know battle and game mechanics otherwise unknown to the people around him.

kris has always expressed some level of interest in playing the piano, but all of the examples (like the spamton sweepstakes audio) are chaotic and described as loudly unpleasant in some regard. my castle town is one of the only songs in the deltarune soundtrack to feature live instruments as opposed to a midi score, similarly to the self-titled theme in undertale. to me, this comes off as the game wanting its audience to associate ralsei with the playing of piano.

i think it was ralsei that was always playing the piano at noelle’s house, in which he would always stop if she came into the room, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that he wasn’t kris. that he doesn’t play like kris, that he knows significantly more than them.

to me, ralsei seems like a manifestation of kris’s faun response. i’ve talked about the possibility of kris having a dissociative disorder/ralsei being an alter within their system, but he could very well be a much more metaphorical representation of how kris wishes to be seen/an alter ego of sorts. there’s also an argument to be made that the dark worlds are a representation of maladaptive daydreaming, which i also won’t rule out as a possibility (not to mention there’s quite a bit of overlap between dissociation and maladaptive dreaming, but that’s an entirely different discussion that i am definitely not qualified to be going in depth on lol).

meanwhile, kris is so far dissociated from their reality that they seem fairly apathetic in most social circumstances. it’s easy for toriel to look at her kid and assume they’re doing just fine when kris only lets her view that one side of themself. i’m so curious to know what toriel’s reaction to/thoughts on ralsei are going to be. for all we know, she could be aware of ralsei’s existence (perhaps kris went by the name back when they wore their headband regularly, maybe it was a nickname they gave themself or a character they played at some point).

point being: i love ralsei and i need to know what the fuck his deal is

[jerzwriter]

Thankful

Book:                   Open Heart (Post Series)

Pairing:                Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Kaycee MacClennan)

Rating:                 Teen

Category:            Holiday/Fluff

Summary:           Ethan and Kaycee’s Thanksgiving plans go awry, but they end up going better than they could have ever planned.

Words:                 2400

A/N:                    My babies are out and celebrating this Thanksgiving! I’m participating in @choicesflashfics the prompt is highlighted below.  Also participating in @choices-november2022 – Day 13 – Try something new.  😊

CHARACTERS BELONG TO PIXELBERRY STUDIOS

It was a grey November morning. The morning after the mercury hit freezing for the first time this season, and while the forecast didn’t call for it, it felt like snow. In other words, the perfect day to stay in bed. 

Ethan grumbled as he woke, without the aid of an alarm clock for once. Rolling over, he wrapped his warm arms around Kaycee, who smiled and cooed in response. 

“Good morning,” he mumbled groggily into her ear.  

“Good morning,” she smiled, rolling over to face him. “You didn’t go for your morning jog?”

“It’s a good day to stay in and snuggle.”

“Every day is a good day for that! Come on, Ethan, join me on the dark side. We have cookies!”  

“I’ll give it consideration,” he laughed. “But, speaking of cookies, should I bake the cranberry walnut ones you like later today? We really have to get ready for Thanksgiving?”

Her eyes lit up. “Ooh, I do like those. But since it’s just going to be the two of us, we’ll be fine with my pumpkin pie.”

“Have I mentioned how glad I am it’s just you and me? Both off, a quiet day at home….”

“…watching the parade, taking it easy, we can stuff ourselves silly.”

“We could eat naked.”

“I mean, if you really want to,” Kaycee laughed. She leaned over to kiss him gently when the alarm began to blast. Collapsing onto his chest, she groaned. “Of course! It was too good to last!”

“Think on the bright side. We have many mornings like this in front of us.”

“Mornings where I get you to skip your morning jog? Doubtful!”

“Hey, I promise. Now, let’s get ready for work.”

~~~~~ 

Kaycee was confident their relationship being out in the open would never lose its novelty. Walking down the hallway with Ethan at her side and no worry about veering just a little too close, was more exhilarating than she had anticipated. But nothing topped when they reached his office each day, then he’d turn and give her a little peck on the cheek before she moved on. Every time he did that, she wanted to skip down the hallway like a lovesick teenager, and the fact that she could contain it was a source of great pride.

She stopped at the nurses’ station to pick up her assignments and was delighted to find Sienna.

“Hey, stranger,” Kaycee smiled. “I’ve missed you!”

 “I miss you too. I honestly don’t know why you pay rent anymore. You should just move in with Ethan already.”

“In time,” Kaycee winked as she plopped into the chair next to her friend. “In time. So, what’s new?”

“Not a thing.”

“Oh, come now, something must be going on.”

But when Sienna looked up, her eyes told Kaycee all she needed to know. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t good. She placed a gentle hand on her friend’s wrist and implored her to share.

“I’m just… lonely. I’ve been working around the clock, and the apartment is almost always empty these days. Jackie is heading home for the holiday, and Elijah and I are on opposite schedules. It’s usually just Aurora and me, but she’s spending a lot of time at her aunt’s since her parents and grandparents are visiting for Thanksgiving.”

“Will you be joining them?”

“They invited me, but I’m not sure. I’m working anyway,” she shrugged.

“You are? I thought the pediatric interns had it covered?”

“I volunteered. I may as well, they had plans, and I didn’t.”

“Then we have to get dinner this weekend,” Kaycee insisted. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

“As if I could ever say no to you anyway.”

~~~~~ 

Ethan was reviewing a journal in his office when Tobias came strutting in, making himself comfortable at the seat in front of Ethan’s desk.

“What are you doing here?” Tobias asked. “I figured you’d be gearing up for Thanksgiving.”

“It’s just Kaycee and me this year; not much work to do.”

“Ah, just the two of you… nice!” Tobias chuckled. “At least we know that drumstick will get lots of gravy.”

“You know you’re incorrigible.”

“Yeah, it’s part of my charm.”

“What about you? Headed to DC?”

“Nah.  Mom’s spending the holiday in Cancun this year. She’s got a new boyfriend.”

“So, what will you be doing?”

“Working.”

“Why? I know I had you off schedule?”

“Yeah, well… I’ve got no plans… and no one to spend it with. So,” he shrugged. “I may as well come in.”  

“Are you reconsidering settling down with someone,” Ethan smirked.

“Nah,” Tobias grinned. “Let’s not get crazy. But, it would be nice if… you know, never mind.”

“No, what were you going to say.”

“It’s nothing,” Tobias insisted, gazing at his pager. “Gotta split, boss; I’m needed in post-op. Have a nice holiday if I don’t see you.”

~~~~~

Ethan was looking for Kaycee, and based on the time, he knew she’d be making a fresh cup of coffee in the breakroom. He smiled when he walked in and proved himself right. 

“I know,” Kaycee said, wrapping up a call. “But we’ll be down for Christmas; it’ll be here before you know it. Please tell Dad I love him too.”

Ethan could see the tension on Kaycee’s face, so he took her hand as he sat beside her.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I just feel a little… guilty. My mom is feeling down, it’s the first Thanksgiving we won’t spend together, and she’s… blue.”

“And you?”

Kaycee cupped his cheek in her hand with a soft smile. “We have our plans, and I’m looking forward to them. But….”

“I know exactly what you mean,” he finished. “I had the same conversation with my dad earlier.”

“Wait, Alan isn’t going to be alone, is he?”

“No, he’s joining Naveen, but it feels odd knowing he’s coming to Boston for Thanksgiving, but it won’t be with me.”

They both looked down in silence, then blurt out in unison, “Do you think we should….”

Kaycee laughed at how in tune they had become.

“Thanksgiving… just us and our parents?”  

“That sounds perfect,” Ethan grinned. “We have that huge turkey anyway; there’s no way we’d eat it all anyway.”

“Speak for yourself, buster. I plan on eating my weight in mashed potatoes on Thursday!”

“I don’t blame you,” he agreed. “My mashed potatoes are phenomenal.”

“Everything you make is phenomenal. Speaking of which, maybe you should make those cookies after all, and I’ll make a second pumpkin pie.”

“Really? Do you think that’s necessary?”

“Ethan. It’s Thanksgiving, and if I don’t go up a dress size, it means it was a failure.”

“Then, by all means, another pie it is.”

~~~~~

“You are such a bonehead. I can’t believe I agreed to this!”

“You know, Jackie. It’s almost Thanksgiving. A little gratitude would be nice. I’m saving you the cost of a taxi.”

“You know what, meathead, suddenly the $30 seems like a bargain.”

“Children…” Kaycee interrupted, “What did I tell you about fighting in the hallways! You frighten the patients.”

“Nah,” Bryce smiled, “They think we’re their own personal sitcom.”

“I can see why!” Kaycee chuckled. “So when do you two head out?”

“Tomorrow night,” Jackie informed. “I just hope the weather holds out. It really looks like snow.”

“The forecast isn’t calling for it,” Kaycee replied.

“Yeah,” Jackie sighed, “But meteorology is not a perfect science.”

“We’ll be fine, Jackie,” Brice insisted. “This time tomorrow, I’ll be on the way to catching a wave in Hawaii, and you’ll be heading to your parents… missing me desperately.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I’ll be doing.”

Kaycee shook her head at her friends. “OK, you two, I have to get going, but give me a big Thanksgiving hug, I’m off tomorrow, so I won’t see you again.”

“Lucky,” Jackie teased. “Are these the benefits of sleeping with your boss?”

Kaycee smiled as she walked away, “Bye, Jackie!”

~~~~~

Thanksgiving day arrived, and Ethan’s kitchen was in disarray. It was delightful chaos, but chaos nonetheless. 

Ethan chuckled at Kaycee as he chopped celery. Sitting at the table with a cup of ‘comfort eggnog’ in hand, she was still weepy from seeing Santa arrive at the Macy’s parade.

“You hanging in there, hon?” He asked.

“Mmm, hmmm,” she assured. “One more sip and I’m reporting for duty.”

“There’s really no need,” Alan insisted. A freak storm led him and her parents to come to Boston the night before. “You hadn’t planned on having extra hands here, so you go relax a little.”

Kaycee looked at him mischievously, her eyes narrowed into slits. “You’re just nervous having me in the kitchen! Be brave enough to admit it!”

“That may be part of it,” he grinned.

“Can’t say I blame you there,” Rose chimed in.

Ethan smiled sympathetically in her direction. “Sweetheart, it seems your reputation precedes you.”

Kaycee stuck her tongue out at all of them. “I’m going to help! It’ll keep my mind off Jackie & Bryce. I’m worried about them flying in this weather.”

“They’re flying?” Ethan asked. “In this weather, they’ll probably be grounded.”

“Not yet,” she said with a worried tone. “But look at this! The news says parts of Cambridge are without power.”

“Oh! And on Thanksgiving Day!” Rose lamented.

“Is Harper’s area impacted?” Ethan asked. “Her whole family is there.”

“Hard to say, but it appears so.”

“We’re very fortunate that we’re all here together,” Naveen said, handing everyone a glass of wine.

“Hear, hear,” Alan agreed.

After putting the last side dishes in the oven, Kaycee sat on the couch and scrolled through Instagram to unwind. 

The first post was a photo of Sienna and her family from a Thanksgiving long ago. “Missing each of these people so much today.” Kaycee could just feel her sadness. She looked up to find Ethan glancing at his phone poignantly.

“Sienna’s post?” she asked.

“No, Tobias. We’re texting, and he reminded me about one year when we were at Hopkins. The weather was so bad I couldn’t get back to Providence, so he invited me to dinner with his family in DC.”

“That must have been a far more formal affair than you were used to.”

“I wouldn’t know; we never made it. The roads were too bad in Baltimore, too. After sliding around for a half-hour, we decided to turn around. That’s when his car got stuck in a snow bank.”

“Oh no!”

“Oh, yes! We walked the rest of the way to our apartment in the middle of the storm. We stopped at the convenience store along the way and our Thanksgiving dinner. Two cans of turkey noodle soup, two freezer-burned turkey pot pies, some cranberry juice, and Ring-Dings for dessert.”

“That’s horrible!”

“No,” Ethan smiled wistfully, “It was one of the most fun, memorable Thanksgivings of my life.”

Naveen walked into the living room, shaking his head. “Harper called. She and her family are heading to the Wyndham hotel next to Edenbrook. At least they’ll be warm, and if lucky, they can order room service.”

“That’s terrible!” Kaycee frowned. “It seems everyone’s Thanksgiving has been ruined this year except for ours.”

Ethan looked at her sadly. “I take it Jackie and Bryce didn’t get on their flight?”  

“Nope. It was delay after delay, then all flights were canceled.”

“Oh my!” Naveen stated. “Do they have other plans now?”

“They don’t,” Kaycee fretted. “They’re just trying to get home now.”

Ethan reached over and took Kaycee’s hand. “Where are Elijah and Raf?”

“Working. Same shift as Sienna and Tobias,” she replied when a lightbulb went off. She looked up at Ethan, who was staring directly at her, and they could read each other’s minds.

“We have entirely too much food anyway,” he said.

“And the hospital’s just two blocks away. We could walk there….”

“No need,” Ethan interrupted. “The roads to the hospital are always the first to be cleared. We could load the food in the car and be there in no time.”

“We could set the food up in the team’s office and eat there….”

The two turned to Alan, Naveen, and Casey’s parents. “Would you mind?” Ethan asked.

Alan smiled back. “Honestly, son. We were hoping you’d make this decision.”

“Come on, David,” Rose said with a slap to her husband’s leg. “Let’s go wrap up some food!”

~~~~

Within an hour, a conference table was transformed into a smorgasbord, and an office into a warm dining room, filled with chatter, laughter, and, most of all, love.   

“Holy crap!” Tobias yelled as a snow-covered Bryce and Jackie sauntered in. “Who invited the abominable snowman to this thing?”

“Very funny,” Bryce grimaced. “We had to walk ten blocks in this. The car couldn’t make it.”

“And he cried like a baby for five of those ten blocks,” Jackie groused.

“Really, Jackie? Can you feel any of your outer extremities?”

“Nope, and it’s probably for the best.”

“Here,” Ethan said, handing them each a hot toddy. “this will warm you up.”

“Cute,” Jackie smiled. “But I’ll take a coffee and then a tequila.”

Sienna ran over and took the drink out of Jackie’s hand. “In that case, give me yours!”

“But you’re not cold! I should get that!” Bryce insisted.

“Nope,” Sienna grinned, “But Ethan’s been using that expensive brandy, and this girl is on a budget. So let go, Lahela!”

Kaycee joined Ethan and slid her hand into his. “Have you heard from Harper?”

“Yes. She and her family are coming over. Do you think we have enough food?”

“More than enough.”

“Hey,” Tobias yelled, “if we run low, we can always run to the 7-11 for some freezer-burned pot pies!”

“I think some things are best left in our med school years, Tobias.”

This is wonderful,” Kaycee beamed. “Everyone is so happy.”

“They sure are.”

“And you,” she asked. “I know people aren’t exactly your thing.”

“Well, that’s not entirely true,” he smiled. “You’re a person.”

“Correction,” she laughed. “People other than me usually aren’t your thing.”

“That’s OK,” he said, pulling her into a hug, “It’s true. I’ve never done something like this before, but it’s nice.”

“It’s not the Thanksgiving we planned, but it is wonderful.”

“It really is,” he agreed. “But I do have a question.”

“Sure.”

“When we get home, can we still make use of my drumstick tonight?”

“Oh, you’ve been such a good boy. I think we’ll have extra servings,” she laughed.

“Now, that is the perfect way to end this. Happy Thanksgiving, Rookie.”

“Happy Thanksgiving, Ethan.”

@choicesholidays

[warwickroyals]

CHAPTER XXXIII: USELESS OPTIMISM

Beginning | Previous | Next

Transcript under the cut - Click for HQ photos

AUTHOR’S NOTE: “Ooh, he is such 👏🏾 a 👏🏾 cunt 👏🏾 ” — Maddy Perez

PS - Back to adult Phillip next post.

All likes, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated! Thank you for the support 💖

[PHILLIP] It’s just one little test, why can’t you just do this one thing?

[COURTNEY] It’s not just about the test, it’s about being honest.

[PHILLIP] You do know that if I get sent away, we won’t be able to see each other. For years. I can’t even leave without my dad’s stupid bodyguard following me around.

[COURTNEY] Don’t be silly. You’re not going to Rosedale forever and besides . . . I’ll call you every day.

[PHILLIP] What about Scarborough?

[COURTNEY] What about it? You’ll still get leave and the holidays, too.

[PHILLIP] You’re being extremely optimistic about all this.

[COURTNEY] Yeah because I don’t really have a choice. This will be good for you, Phillip. You need a break from everyone and everything here. How many times have you told me you’ve always wanted to fly?

[PHILLIP] Yeah, but it would be nice to do it on my own terms. Not part of some perfect prince act.

[COURTNEY] You don’t have to hide from your title. It’s part of who you are. Maybe you’ll learn to, I don’t know, put it to good use in the military.

[COURTNEY] I wish you wouldn’t act so hopeless. You’re more than your addiction. Things can get better.

[PHILLIP] Listen, Courtney, I know you’re trying to help but you get that people tell me this shit all the time, right? My mom probably told me that yesterday. I’m not just my addiction? Okay, then what am I outside of it that’s so great? I never get an answer. Everyone just wants a James 2.0. He’s the entire reason any of this is happening.

[COURTNEY] James? Why would he—

[BODYGUARD] Time to go, Your Royal Highness.

[PHILLIP] Fuck. Okay, I gotta go, he’s not going to shut up otherwise. If you’re going to do this for me, now’s the time.

[COURTNEY] Sorry, Phillip, but the answer is still no.

[PHILLIP] Fine. See you next year, I guess.

[COURTNEY] Bye, I—I love you.

[PHILLIP] Sure you do. Thanks for being useless, Courtney.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello! This is my first time sending a request umm kinda nervous. May I request headcanons of first year gang spending summer holiday with MC/Yuu? Thank you very much!

🏖 Beach time...!! 🏝

Curiouser and Curiouser...

Ace is the kind of guy that’ll mercilessly splash you with water when you step in the sea. And if you refuse to? Well, that’s what water guns and water balloons are for, right? He’ll lure you close by claiming he has “something cool” he wants to show you, then attack when your guard is down!!

He brings along a beach ball, and the first years bop it around to see who can keep it in the air the longest! Ace cheats a bit by using his wind magic to send the ball afloat again just as it’s about to touch the sand—

Ace innocently buries his friends’ feet in sand for fun. He waits until Deuce has fallen asleep on his beach towel before burying his entire body (excluding the head!) in sand, all while snickering to himself.

Ace likes to make his own fun! He finds a few scallop shells, still intact, along with a shiny pebble or washed up pearl, and decides to make a guessing game out of it! He tucks the pebble or pearl under a shell and mixes the shells up, then asks you to try and find the pebble/pearl! If you do, you can keep it—and if not, you owe him lunch!

When he spots a wild crab at the beach, Ace will take a stick and try provoking it! “Why does Floyd even call me a crab anyway, I don’t get it,” he’ll grumble—until he screeches because that darn crab pinched him...!! Ace tries yanking the crab off, but it’s so stubborn! He eventually does, but he follows it up with a vow to hunt down all crabs and eat them to show them what for!

Hop onto Deuce’s Magical Wheel for a ride to the beach! (He drives kind of like a mad man, so hold on tight!!) As you race down the road and toward the sand and sparkling waters, the beachy breeze whips through your hair and welcomes you.

Despite how serious Deuce looks, all his beach gear is cute--especially his towel! It’s nice and fluffy, with a bunch of baby chicks on it. You can’t help but let Deuce know how fitting the design is for him.

He reminds the other first years (mainly Ace and Epel) to respect the rules of the beach! Every so often, you’ll see Deuce apologizing to the lifeguard for some minor thing he has done which might have violated the rules. Other times, you’ll see Deuce trying to copy the lifeguard’s gestures and mannerisms—after all, lifeguards are basically beach police! Now’s a good time to learn from them.

Deuce finds an anemone washed up to the shore and guiltily nudges it back into the sea. He’s eager to avoid any and all reminders of his unsavory deal with Octavinelle...!! Besides, Deuce is sure the anemone would be happier to be with its family again.

He loves lighting up sparklers! He’ll crouch on the sand and light them for hours on end with this amazed look on his face. Deuce just thinks there’s something really magical about how they burn. Someday, he wants to have strength like sparklers—magic that provide warmth and light in the darkness.

Jack enjoys being in the water! He’s the first to dive into the ocean to cool off. When the time comes to get out, it’s fun to see Jack shaking off water from his fluffy ears and tail! You can help him dry off the excess with a towel, too (but getting the sand out of his fur can be a hassle)!

He has the tendency to bark and chase off seagulls when they try to land nearby. Part of it is they give him “the same vibes as Rook-senpai”, and part of it is that the nice guy in him worries the seagulls might eat something they aren’t supposed to by accident. If you tell Jack he’s being so considerate, he’ll brush it off with an embarrassed blush.

He likes to take long walks along the beach and see what washes up! You’re free to join him, as long as you’re not disruptive. If Jack finds a cool shell, piece of glass, or rock, he’ll pocket it to use as a decorative piece for his cacti back in his dorm room.

Jack excels in watermelon smashing! He has the strength to crack them open in one swing, and the senses to locate the fruit’s location every time, even when blindfolded or with his eyes closed (Ace cries foul, but Jack can’t really help his heightened beastman senses)!

He acts like kind of the disappointed parent of the group, trying to keep everyone together and under control even though they’re hyped up on the excitement of being at the beach. It’s like Jack has invisible child leashes on the other first years!

Before Epel’s allowed to hang out with you, Vil has to make sure he has put on his sunscreen! Epel gets called away every few hours to reapply sunscreen, no matter what activity you’re in the middle of. He grumbles about Vil under his breath, but don’t let his Dorm Leader know!

He likes to make mounds of sand and then pretend he’s a big monster or an Overblot as he kicks the sand piles over. It’s even more fun when you or Deuce join in--more sand piles, and more stomping!

Leave the grilling to him! Epel’s not that skilled at making fancy food, but grilling’s quick and simple to grasp. He likes to use applewood to impart a slightly sweet, smoky flavor in everything he grills—meat, veggies, even marshmallows!

Epel drags everyone into a bunch of competitive games! Volleyball (Sebek and Jack aggressively spiking the ball back and forth, resulting in a tie), beach flag races (Deuce comes close, but Jack cinches the win) water basketball (Ace kills the competition)...!! Though Epel’s a little salty he won nothing, he ends up rolling in the sand with laughter by the end of it all.

Epel wears a swimming parka over himself (Vil’s orders to protect his delicate skin), so many other beachgoers mistake him as a girl covering up her swimsuit! He tries to contain his temper despite all the catcalls and whistles he gets, but Epel eventually blows up, strips his parka off to reveal his trunks, and shouts, “I’M A MAN, A M-A-N!!” to everyone, just to make it crystal clear.

If you ever lose Ace, Deuce, or Epel, you can count on Sebek to call out loud enough to part the beachgoing crowd for you to find your missing kids! He’ll nag them for going astray, too.

Sebek’s no artist, but he’ll happily take a stick and draw pictures in the sand while boasting about the young master’s accomplishments! He can throw in some stories about Lilia-sama’s triumphs in combat too, if you wish!!

He also tries his hand at making a sand sculpture in Malleus’s name, but almost has a heart attack when the tide comes in and attacks his monument for the young master (his words, not yours)! Sebek stands guard and shouts at the sea to ward it off when the tide returns.

Like an idiot, Sebek decides to inhale as much food as he can (he wants to enjoy this experience!!). Unfortunately, he also makes the poor choice of including shaved ice on the menu, so he ends up with a terrible brain freeze. Everyone consoles him as he recovers over time...

Sebek’s a huge dork when it comes to fireworks! He audibly “oohs”, “aahs”, and claps whenever colorful displays light up the night sky. When he sees a particularly impressive firework, he’ll point it out to you and the other first years, begging you guys to look at it too!