#or Nordic 13 whatever

[fanficfish]

hetalia parenting hcs and theories

i got on a Sweden kick lately, alright-

Austria wasn't *too* great at parenting (*gestures at Italy*) when he was younger, but to be fair: the man obtained a child, was essentially being bossed around by his younger brother, and also the kid was Italy. His punishments were on the nicer end of the spectrum considering the time period, though-as far as we're aware, his punishments were more towards "stop Italy from eating a fifth serving of pasta" then anything physical (wait is that why Italy's so into pasta now, is it trauma? ...let's not unpack that right now-). But if it's related to art- that he can appreciate, that's the main trait that sticks around with Kugelmugel. Austria would totally get mad at his charges/kids for messing up his own art, but he won't actively stop them from expressing themselves, as an artist that would be hypocritical. He'll deny he cares about his wards when asked, though. Hungary thinks it's cute. And yes, he totally gets Italy to come over to hang out with Kugel because "you're artists, right? Go on, I'll be over in the corner playing Mozart."

China - nah he's just a normal Asian parent. Drives everyone up the wall, means well, stuffs everyone full until they're bursting, then beats them over the head with a frying pan until they finish their chores. Love language? Food. So. Much. Food. Even Japan can't always escape the Family Dinner, and to his great dismay China acts like he's going to starve (he's not, he swears-) and.

America is that dad that has free-range kids, because well. America. Also, he has other things besides parenting 50 states and all of his territories and micronations and Native nations, because do you know how many personifications that is? A lot. He's 400, not 1000, between him and Canada they're kinda just accepted they need to delegate a lot and just never plan on a family dinner-that's why America throws a big party on all major holidays and Canada sometimes joins in ("the states and provinces all hang out anyways"). Both America and Canada but mostly America's inboxes are constantly full, and they have one phone for work and the other nation personifications and whatnot and one for "family matters". It's fine, most of them govern themselves anyways- wait, what do you mean Florida is fighting an aligator on the NASA launchpad-?!

Prussia actually didn't do half bad, but Germany was already half-grown, so that helped. He passed the parenting test with flying colors though.

Denmark (and Norway)....Iceland took one look and wisely decided not to move in with them like other nations were doing with their caretakers and stayed on his island. Away. Far away from Vikings and all the ridiculous things going on with wars and what-gives. He, Greenland, the Farce Islands, Aland- they all were quite content to just ignore the chaos their big brothers were stirring up and to be fair, maybe having the immortal 13-year-olds raising 6-year-olds wasn't the best idea.....Denmark did try, though, when he wasn't being beat up by Sweden or fighting the neighbors. Making trips to Iceland (the country) (with Norway in tow, of course) and bringing gifts from the mainland, and such. Iceland in turn visited, but very rarely- he did his best to jsut skip whatever nightmare Denmark cooked up during the Kalmer Union (wise choice all things considered) and visited only when necessary, no wonder Finland and Sweden didn't really meet him until the 1700s and it took to the 1950s before Iceland deemed his brothers were mostly sane again. But all things considered he got a decent end of the straw, and he got his quiet life, though there's a reason Norway mother hens him (bro feels bad he didn't do much with the kid for the first 800 years after the initial "yo you're mine now, oh wait now we're both Denmark's" thing).. Iceland takes it in stride even if he found out he wasw a bit more touch-starved then he realized. The other Nordics definitrely mother hen him now, and Estonia tries to act like it too but really he ends up like that weird slightly-older cousin who keeps turning up for some weird reason. (Y'all, Estonia and Iceland are physically the same age I can't-)

Sweden is the ultimate dad. Welll, the ultimate dad that spoils his kids but still a dad. Actually pays some degree of attention to the kids he ends up with, even if he isn't technically supposed to acknowledge Ladonia as a country but "c'mon, there' sa personification, and also he's MY kid. I made this. Technically. Don't you DARE touch his laptop". Also Sweden definitely is the one fixing the laptop when something goes wrong, He kind of wishes Ladonia and Sealand meeting didn't happen by Sealand getting super bored and making a micronations club but he supposes at least it worked out. Finland pretends he's staying out of it, but he's kind of hyped there are kids and a dog around. Funnily enough, Selanad only found out later that Iceland is his uncle....after trying to declare he was his "sempai". Iceland was not amused, because dammit he's 1000, you little- Sweden, get your children under control!

England and France.....well, at least France tried to keep America from drinking too much beer once but neither did particularly outstanding jobs. But hey, Canada and America are alive and mostly in one piece! So that's a win, right? Right? Australia, New Zealand, back us up here- PUT DOWN THAT KANGAROO, YOUNG MEN- (England also had a bad habit of delegating but that's what happened when your wards span the whole world and you can't really bring them all home because they're territories and colonies. England the personification was secretly glad he didn't' have to deal with whatever personification nightmare was going on in America after a while). (But they do care enough that England wil still offer calming tea after a good soclsing and lug Sealand home after he sneaks into another world meeting because "you aren't going home at this time of night that's rodiculous- what no ofc i don't care but don't hitchhike back home that's dangeorus!" And France will invite his lot pvwe for dinner and throw "extra things i had lyong around" at them during Paris Fashion Week. They care but in a strange, "we're flipping old ans don't always get ir" way.

And Spain just tried his dammed hardest to keep Romano from doing stupid stuff. Not that it worked, of course, but E for Effort!

I can't think of any more right now. I'll add more when i think of it. Obviously out of everyone, Greece and maybe Egypt probably had the best upbringing. With somewhat-normal parental figures that weren't preteens and teens running around trying to figure out how to care for five-year-olds

[holmesoverture]

I posted another fic! Still restricted to AO3 users for now, but I've included a snippet below the cut. It even includes an indirect Hobbit reference for funsies :)

March 13, 1945

My dear Watson,

It has occurred to me that I was not as considerate as I perhaps should have been regarding the recent vicissitude in your personal habits. You were of course well within your rights to employ whatever methods necessary to escape Dedrick’s associate, even if those methods involved inadvertently sacrificing your facial hair. It is only that I have never known you to look any other way, and the idea that weeks will pass before your face is restored to its usual condition was a disturbing one.

In short, I apologise for yelling at you for shaving your moustache and I would like to offer a small token as a penance. I don’t know why you insist upon keeping written accounts of my adventures when you know I won’t allow you to sacrifice my anonymity by publishing them, but I know that doing so makes you happy. Therefore, to make amends for my behaviour, I will tell you how I reunited the pieces of the broken key, rediscovered the lost windows of St. Aidan’s, and almost rescued you from two aspiring art thieves.

Our misfortunes began two mornings past. We were working our way through both our breakfasts, such as they were, and a lively discussion on the literary merit, such as it is, of Nordic poetry.

“But this makes no sense,” I protested. “Just look at this passage here: ‘Nyi and Nithi, Northri and Suthri/Austri and Vestri, Althjof, Dvalin/Nar and Nain, Niping, Dain/Bifur, Bofur, Bombur—’ and on and on it goes! It stops in the middle of the narrative to list off dozens of dwarfs who have no bearing whatever on the story the author has just introduced.”

“That text is centuries old,” you replied. “Passages such as that one were probably intercalated from other sources. Bellows says as much in his introduction.”

“That is only an excuse for its gaucherie, not a cure.”

“Bluster all you like, you’ll never convince me these poems aren’t a perfectly lovely way to spend an evening. Besides, I should hope that I, the aspiring author, am rather more familiar with good writing than you, the man who finds muddy footprints more entertaining than an afternoon at the cinema.”

“Muddy footprints make more sense than those silly comedies you waste your pension on.”

You prepared to defend your poor taste, probably with something along the lines of how comedy is one of the only genres not to regularly feature gunshots and explosions, and how paying to forget the war for a few hours was not a waste at all. I in turn would argue that scientific journals provided the same effect without the implausible plot devices and painful overacting. Then you would shake your head at me, with affection I hope, and flop back into your armchair by the fireplace and read your intercalated poetry as obviously and as obnoxiously as you could without making a sound. Fortunately we were saved the trouble of re-enacting this argument by Mrs. Hudson, who announced the arrival of a new client.

I told her to send him up and she went to do so, pausing halfway down the stair to readjust her left shoe, which she had been a bit hasty about stepping into when she heard the ring of the bell. She spoke briefly with our visitor in a voice too low for me to clearly hear and then went out to tend her infernal chickens, so the man—it was probably a man, for few women wore boots so heavy and broad, or possessed a gait so long and loud—ascended the stair alone. His knock was confident and perfunctory, performed out of a sense of obligation rather than genuine courtesy, and he entered without awaiting a response. He wore a recently-purchased secondhand suit—he was saving his coupons for something else, then—and had stayed up working on papers of some sort rather later than he should have. I remember you saying later that he could have been handsome if not for the thick sinister brows and the slippery smile. He introduced himself as James Dedrick and insisted that his story would be well worth our while.

[thana-topsy]

2, 5, 13, and 14 for Harukar for the Skyrim OC Ask Game, please!

"I certainly appreciate all the interest!"

Which cities do they prefer to stay in and why? Which cities to they avoid at all costs?

"I prefer to stay in any city with a vetted contact. When your personal safety hinges on strong allies, all other factors become moot. Falkreath is one that comes to mind. The shade of the tall trees also provides a bit of relief from the sun, which is a pleasant bonus. I tend to avoid Morthal due to nearby Vigilant activity, but I fear my duties will lead me there sooner rather than later. I've heard rumor of vampiric activity that needs to be dealt with."

Would they be able to live off the land if they were lost in the wilds of Skyrim? How skilled are they at foraging and hunting?

"Well, unfortunately, I have a very restrictive diet." He laughs. "Vampires can survive off of animal blood for a short while, which I don't think many know or realize, but it would be akin to subsisting off of broth. It can stave away the feeling of hunger, but you'd still starve to death eventually. Before I was turned, however, I considered myself skilled at living off the land. That was in Hammerfell, however. Skyrim presents an entirely different set of survivalist skills."

Do they believe the old nordic tales about the Dragonborn?

"Old tales from any culture should often be taken with a grain of salt. It is hard to say what has been warped by time and exaggeration. Do I believe that an individual could swallow the soul of a dragon? Perhaps. I have witnessed many strange phenomena in my extended lifetime. At this point I know better than to discount possibility, even in the seemingly impossible. Do I believe that Alduin might return to devour the world? I certainly hope not. Though, perhaps the 'devouring' is something to understand in metaphorical terms. The dawning of a new age, as opposed to a literal end of life. All things that begin must also end."

Who is their mentor? Who do they go to most for lessons?

"Ah, an interesting question. I find myself in the role of mentor more and more these days. I used to lament the fact that I had outlived most of my elders, and I felt that there was no one that I could turn to for wisdom or guidance. But, as it turns out, my greatest teacher has been Sarel, especially when he was very young. His perspective was so unique and thought-provoking. With a single observation he could shatter whatever delusion I'd been clinging to for decades. Not that he isn't still capable of that now that he is grown, but there was something almost mythical about him when he was a child. It's hard to explain."

[nirnrude]

for the dragonborn ask meme: 1, 8, 13, 18, 23!

Ooo thank you so much! (I was the anon sending you a bunch btw I think, didn't want to expose my main blog haha)

Gonna answer these with my two oldest dragonborn OCs I think, to keep it shorter. I've since made a few more but these are the ones I've written fics about, so they're the most developed ones. :3

1. Vanya Whale-Bane

A fisherman's daughter with a knack for magic who lost her parents to the Thalmor (Thalos worship and whatnot), joined the Stormcloaks in her grief only to have a change of heart after understanding the extent of the racism in the faction. Betrays the Rebellion to join the Imperials, stumbles into Helgen by accident, cue main plot, cue stumbling across Borgakh in her travels and TRUE LOVE. <3 Ravarruh'ra, "Rava"

The daughter of traveling Khajiit merchants who got to hunting on the side upon realizing the value of game and good furs in Skyrim! The hunting wasn't enough to provide for her anymore after the start of the civil war, so she joined the Thieves' Guild for extra cash on the side - cue the whole Thieves' Guild questline and a trip to Markarth where she has a fling with Cosnach and gets messed up in the Forsworn rebellion (on their side) and runs from the city along with her new hubby. They try to settle down in Falkreath but y'know, Helgen happens. Rest is history.

8. Vanya

She's very attuned to fire in general, so I feel like she'd probably invent something like... draws from the power of fire to bring warmth? Especially with how cold Skyrim is, she'd find that extremely helpful. Faad Med Yol (warmth akin to fire), possibly.

Rava

Oh she gets really into Dovahzul and at some point just wants to flex at Alduin by inventing her own shout, dunno how effective it would be but something of an insult that maybe causes a foul smell. Pook Se Praan (stink of death).

13. Vanya

She's very into investigating Nordic ruins, tho feels a bit bad for disturbing the dead there, what with them being her ancestors and all. But she's interested in the old gods, like Kyne and such, having learned about them from his father.

Rava

Not really, she prefers fresh air. Dungeons stink. 18. Vanya

Pale, near white scales, small in size. The scars on her side remain as a cluster of missing scales and the lighting scars on her neck become a glowy glowy pattern on her dragon form. Her horns are smaller than most dragons. No real special abilities per say.

Rava

More cat-like in shape and movement, wings aren't quite as big and better for gliding than flight, tho she can still fly shorter distances. Her fur patterns remain in her dragon form and her bites and thorns excrete toxins. She is not kind, she is not fully... there. More a feral force of nature than who she really is.

23. Vanya

She has 2 enchanted blades she carries with her at all times, one of them an elven dagger stolen from Ancano (still working to get to that part in the fic haha) with a paralysis enchantment. The other one's a fire enchanted sword given to him by Ulfric as a sign of respect during her time in the Stormcloaks. There's also a special piece of jewelry she'll hold in her person at all times when the time comes, enchanted with a very special soul gem, but... that's a story for another day.

Rava

She's not very magic tuned at all and outside of her nocturnal armor there's not really much she uses in terms of magical items, really. I'd imagine maybe she has some special fabric laced with ice enchantments to wrap whatever meat she wants to bring to city in.

[hetaestoniahq]

Hetalia NB8 hub!

Hei hei heiiiii you wanna join a discord server where we have all our nordic and baltic beloveds together? Well it exists and it's ready for people!

In this server you will find usual Hetalia related chats but also language, history and country (where you could discuss culture or anything else to do with it) channels.

Share art, fanfiction, memes, literature, videos, etc

Ask questions and possibly get answers to whatever culture, history, lingual knowledge you may be craving for.

Connect with people who have the same interests as you.

Like by Discord guidelines you must be at least 13 years old to join this server. Adults who wish access to the 18+ (NSFW) section of the server must go through a short but simple verification process to prove they are of legal age.

We also have a set of rules on what is okay to be talked about and what isn't, but don't worry they're simple and we just want inappropriate to be avoided!

[poppy5991]

Since I’m bored and if you’re curious about the blogger behind the blog…

1. I have three tattoos and want more. My tattoos are actually based on flower language and have meanings based on the flowers in them. I want to get a large back piece next.

2. Fave color is purple!

3. Gluten free pop tart and coffee was my last meal. Ya girl is gluten-intolerant.

4. It’s currently mid-morning.

5. Aries

6. Not a movie, but Over The Garden Wall

7. Hmm, I don’t think I really have one? I actually mostly read. I don’t own a tv and I’m not a person that rewatches stuff. Though this is an MHA blog so maybe I should say that ��

8. I’d like something akin to a commitment ceremony with tailored legal agreements for property division/medical power/etc. But I don’t want to get legally married since I don’t like how the US marriage laws are setup. I want separate finances and I’m childfree so there’s no real need to commingle interests. Also I’m an atheist so no religious reason to marry.

9. ESTJ

10. I really liked Scottish accents when I went.

11. Yes, I have a few scars from a bad burn. But they’re not noticeable unless you know they’re there. A teapot of boiling water fell into my lap and I got second degree burns 😅 it healed fine tho

12. Yes, my real name is very unique. The blog name is based off one of my tattoo flowers.

13. My apartment very much resembles a dark academia-esque library.

14. My real name translates to the meaning “nobility and grace”

15. I got my Bachelors in Microbiology in 2017 and my Masters in Epidemiology in 2019. I was actually top of my class and president of multiple student organizations, but would go back for a PhD over my dead body (everybody was kinda shocked that I didn’t). Unfortunately, I came up through a very harsh/toxic academic culture in STEM. I don’t miss it.

16. Lol no, I tried to get my ears pierced as a preteen and turns out I’m allergic to like everything. So I can’t have piercings. I can wear cuff earrings though.

17. Blue eyed 🧿

18. Generally whatever is easiest? I tend to grow it out long in the winter and chop it short again in the spring into a bob.

19. Well, my family let us drink wine/champagne with them as teenagers, but I don’t think I officially went out and got drunk with friends until my 21st bday. I volunteered at a STEM outreach for high schoolers the next day hungover for the first time because I wanted extra points on my immunology exam lol

20. Yes, the most drunk I ever was resulted in me telling my friend that she was a beautiful mermaid. I tend to just compliment people and laugh a lot.

21. I fear the unlived life. Also, spiders.

22. Would rather be too cold. I live in a hot place and blehhh

23. I like chilly weather. The crisp and cozy kind of cold.

24. Fall 🍁

25. Cats!

26. I have two kitties, both rescues. I adore them. One of them meeps like the roadrunner instead of meowing. 🐱

27. I have an inherited sleep disorder so the answer is a whopping two days without sleep. Thankfully the meds I’m on now regulate sleep pretty well.

28. Tennis, rock climbing, reading, traveling, drawing, writing, cooking, learning about history

29. Literally everywhere. I’ve been to 18 countries and my goal is to hit 20 by age 30. Trying to decide if I should do Costa Rica or the Nordic countries next.

30. Maybe flight prices are my most googled?

31. Podcast app

32. Definitely a city person, although I like to go hiking/do nature activities. I just wouldn’t want to live in a rural area bc I would get bored.

Get To Know Me !

Again, idk why I made this but enjoy I guess (some of these may be uncomfortable for y’all to answer, idk).

🖌 - Do you have/want any tattoos?

💚 - What’s your favourite colour?

🍕 - What’s the last thing you ate?

🕰 - What time is it where you are rn?

🌟 - What is your zodiac sign?

🌍 - What is your favourite accent?

⚡️ - Do you have any scars?

🌺 - What’s your MBTI type?

🥀 - Favourite animated movie?

📺 - Favourite show?

😂 - Are you ticklish?

💍 - Do you ever want to get married?

😳 - Do you like your name?

💙 - What colour is your bedroom?

🤓 - How did you get your name?

🎓 - When did/do you graduate?

🍄 - Do you have/want any piercings?

👀 - What colour are your eyes?

👱🏻‍♀️ - What is your go to hairstyle?

🥂 - Have you ever drank underage?

🍾 - Have you ever gotten drunk?

😱 - What’s your biggest fear?

🥵 - Would you rather be too hot or too cold?

🌦 - What’s your favourite weather?

🍂 - What’s your favourite season?

🐷 - What’s your favourite animal?

🐶 - Do you have any pets?

😴 - What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

🎨 - Any hobbies?

🛩 - If travelling was free, where’s the first place you’d go?

🎇 - What’s your most searched thing on Google?

📱 - Favourite app on your phone?

🤠 - Are you more of a city person or a country person?

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] The Estonian duo Puuluup has returned to India! They will make the auditorium of Piano Man New Delhi, Eldeco Centre, filled with a Nordic vibe with their modern folklore performance on 21 October 2024. During their India tour from 13 to 21 October 2024, Puuluup visited also Bangalore and Jodhpur, as well as taking part in the 2024 Rajasthan International Folk Festival. Puuluup has performed in many countries from Chile till Taiwan and they represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in May. Puuluup is a multiple awards winning duo and currently one of the most famous Estonian contemporary bands. They play traditional Estonian string instrument talharpa with bunch of electronics and loops, pushing obscure folk material towards the mainstream with a whole lot of panache. The music of Puuluup has influences from folk, punk, klezmer, African gospel, Sahel music, hip-hop and even R&B. The lyrics are mostly rather abstract, and are to set the mood, and are open to different interpretations. What would you expect from elegantly dressed middle-aged gentlemen coming to the stage with the traditional Nordic instrument talharpa? Well, do not waste time, because whatever you are expecting is wrong, unless you have seen Puuluup already .  It is the most surprising and beloved Estonian band and all Estonians are proud of having them. They are like a joker card – you take it and you win! Their show is contemporary, it is traditional, it is funny, entertaining, and danceable and the best way to experience it is live!! The concert of Puuluup at the Piano Man New Delhi, Eldeco Centre on October 21 takes place in cooperation with the Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi, Estonian Honorary Consuls in India, and Piano Man Jazz Club. Get ready for the charming craziness of Puuluup! https://youtu.be/pVFFHgqrvZg http://www.rollingstoneindia.com/gigscalendar [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] The Estonian duo Puuluup has returned to India! They will make the auditorium of Piano Man New Delhi, Eldeco Centre, filled with a Nordic vibe with their modern folklore performance on 21 October 2024. During their India tour from 13 to 21 October 2024, Puuluup visited also Bangalore and Jodhpur, as well as taking part in the 2024 Rajasthan International Folk Festival. Puuluup has performed in many countries from Chile till Taiwan and they represented Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in May. Puuluup is a multiple awards winning duo and currently one of the most famous Estonian contemporary bands. They play traditional Estonian string instrument talharpa with bunch of electronics and loops, pushing obscure folk material towards the mainstream with a whole lot of panache. The music of Puuluup has influences from folk, punk, klezmer, African gospel, Sahel music, hip-hop and even R&B. The lyrics are mostly rather abstract, and are to set the mood, and are open to different interpretations. What would you expect from elegantly dressed middle-aged gentlemen coming to the stage with the traditional Nordic instrument talharpa? Well, do not waste time, because whatever you are expecting is wrong, unless you have seen Puuluup already .  It is the most surprising and beloved Estonian band and all Estonians are proud of having them. They are like a joker card – you take it and you win! Their show is contemporary, it is traditional, it is funny, entertaining, and danceable and the best way to experience it is live!! The concert of Puuluup at the Piano Man New Delhi, Eldeco Centre on October 21 takes place in cooperation with the Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi, Estonian Honorary Consuls in India, and Piano Man Jazz Club. Get ready for the charming craziness of Puuluup! https://youtu.be/pVFFHgqrvZg http://www.rollingstoneindia.com/gigscalendar [ad_2] Source link

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Armed woman killed in Joel Osteen Texas megachurch shootout (BBC) A woman clad in a trench coat and accompanied by a child opened fire in a crowded Texas megachurch before she was gunned down by police, officials say. The suspect, named by police as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was with her seven-year-old son, who was critically injured in the Houston shootout. A 57-year-old man was shot in the hip during the incident and has since been discharged from hospital. The gunwoman's unnamed son was shot in the head during the shootout and is currently "fighting for his life", said police. It is not clear who shot the boy. Officials told Monday's news conference the attacker has a history of mental health issues and was placed under an emergency detention order in 2016. Public records indicate Moreno also has a long record of arrests and convictions on assault, drug, and weapons charges. Motive for the attack was unclear.

Mexico says it seized 20 tons of meth from a drug lab in Sonora state (AP) Mexican law enforcement agencies said Monday they seized over 20 tons of methamphetamine at the biggest drug lab found during the current administration. The Mexican navy said Monday that the lab was located in Quiriego, a township in a remote part of the northern border state of Sonora. It said the 91,000 pounds (41,310 kilograms) of meth found there was equivalent to about half of the 162,000 pounds of the drug Mexico has seized all year so far. Another 28,000 pounds (12,705 kilograms) of meth chemicals were found, the navy said.

Nicaragua’s crackdown on Catholic Church spreads fear among the faithful (AP) Nineteen priests kicked out of the country, dozens of incidents of harassment and church desecrations, rural areas lacking worship and social services: the situation for Catholic clergy and faithful in Nicaragua is only worsening in 2024, according to exiled priests, laypeople in the Central American country and human rights advocates. The fear of the ongoing crackdown by President Daniel Ortega—on the Catholic Church in particular but not sparing evangelicals—has become so pervasive that it is silencing criticism of the authoritarian government and even mentions of the repression from the pulpit. “Life in Nicaragua is hell, because surveillance is brutal. You can’t say anything that’s against the government,” said an exiled priest.

Finnish line (BBC) Finland's conservative former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has won Sunday's presidential election, final results show. He secured 51.6% of the vote, while his Green Party rival Pekka Haavisto, the former foreign minister, had 48.4%. Mr Haavisto has already admitted defeat. It is the first election since Finland joined the Nato military alliance. Mr Stubb, 55, takes a hardline approach towards Russia, with which the Nordic nation shares a long land border. He had said that joining Nato was a "done deal" for his country as soon as Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

An Outburst by Trump on NATO May Push Europe to Go It Alone (NYT) Long before Donald J. Trump threatened over the weekend that he was willing to let Russia “do whatever the hell they want” against NATO allies that do not contribute sufficiently to collective defense, European leaders were quietly discussing how they might prepare for a world in which America removes itself as the centerpiece of the 75-year-old alliance. Even allowing for the usual bombast of one of his campaign rallies, where he made his declaration on Saturday, Mr. Trump may now force Europe’s debate into a far more public phase. So far the discussion in the European media has focused on whether the former president, if returned to office, would pull the United States out of NATO. But the larger implication of his statement is that he might invite President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to pick off a NATO nation, as a warning and a lesson to the 30 or so others about heeding Mr. Trump’s demands. His statement stunned many in Europe, and by Sunday morning his comments had already resonated with those who have argued that Europe cannot depend on the United States to deter Russia.

After embrace, pope and Argentina’s Milei meet amid speculation Francis might finally go home (AP) Despite their rocky start, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Pope Francis appeared to have hit it off as they held their first meeting Monday amid speculation that the Argentine pontiff might finally go home for a visit later this year. The Vatican said the two men met for an hour and 10 minutes, an unusually long audience by Francis’ standards, especially given no translation was required. Vatican video showed a smiling Francis briefly grasping Milei’s arm for support as they walked to his desk at the start of their meeting. Milei, who once called the pope an “imbecile,” gave Francis some of his favorite Argentine dulce de leche alfajor cookies and lemon biscuits. As recently as last month the 87-year-old pontiff repeated his hope to visit Argentina later this year for the first time since his 2013 election.

Russia launches barrage of 45 drones over Ukraine as Kyiv changes more military leaders (AP) Russian forces launched 45 drones over Ukraine in a five-and-a-half-hour barrage Sunday, officials said, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued the reshuffle of his war cabinet as the war enters its third year. In a statement, the Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 40 of the Iranian-made Shahed drones over nine different regions, including on the outskirts of the country’s capital, Kyiv. The attack targeted agricultural facilities and coastal infrastructure, officials for Ukraine’s southern defense forces wrote on Telegram. They said that a strike in the Mykolaiv region had injured one person, sparking a fire and damaging residential buildings.

525 million (WSJ) The projected size of China’s population by the end of the century, researchers estimate. That’s a precipitous drop from today’s 1.4 billion people. Beijing miscalculated its way to a baby bust with its one-child policy. The sometimes brutal enforcement and decades of propaganda about the benefits of a small family created a hard-to-change mindset, while the traditional preference for sons meant many couples who could have only one child preferred a boy. Now the number of women of childbearing age is shrinking quickly and not all of those who can have kids want to.

55 dead in Philippines landslide that buried a village (AP) At least 55 people died and 32 were injured in one of the southern Philippines’ deadliest landslides in recent years, the government of Davao de Oro province said Monday. Search and retrieval operations are still underway for dozens more missing after the landslide that took place Tuesday night on the southern island of Mindanao in the mining town of Maco, some 600 miles south of the capital, Manila. The death toll is expected to rise as the government verifies more dead and missing. A local official said during a live-streamed news conference late Monday afternoon that of the bodies that have been recovered, five remain unidentified and that 51 people are still unaccounted for. The landslide swept away three buses and a jeepney carrying miners and buried a village, according to authorities. The region was inundated by floods in the past week, hampering rescue operations.

Young Israelis block aid to Gaza while IDF soldiers stand and watch (Washington Post) It’s approaching 1 a.m. Yosef de Bresser, 22, is in the thick of planning. He fields calls from the car as it zips along dirt roads just outside southern Gaza near Egypt. “Are people there?” he asks. Around 40, he’s told. He taps out a WhatsApp message to rally more: “We sleep tonight in Kerem Shalom and block aid and fuel to Hamas!” Before Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and the war that ensued, Kerem Shalom was the main commercial crossing between Israel and Gaza. Today, it’s one of just two entry points for lifesaving food and medicine to the besieged enclave, where aid agencies say civilians are on the brink of famine. But De Bresser and his three companions are determined to keep any trucks from getting through, and they aren’t bothered if innocents suffer: “War is war,” De Bresser shrugs. The United States didn’t care about civilians when it blew up Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Who gives his enemy aid?” The Israel Defense Forces—ostensibly, at least—have made Kerem Shalom a closed military zone since late January. But there are no checkpoints at night, making it easier to bring in busloads of protesters. Inside, they shake hands with soldiers and begin to line up their tents.

Israeli forces rescue 2 hostages in dramatic Gaza raid that killed at least 67 Palestinians (AP) Israeli forces rescued two hostages early Monday, storming a heavily guarded apartment in the southern Gaza Strip and extracting the captives under fire in a dramatic raid that was a small but symbolically significant success for Israel. The operation killed at least 67 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Palestinian health officials in the beleaguered territory. The raid was celebrated in Israel as a victory in the sluggish battle to free the hostages, with more than 100 captives still held by Hamas and other Gaza militants, and briefly lifted the spirits of a nation still reeling from Hamas’ cross-border raid last year. But in Gaza, where civilians have borne a staggering toll since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the operation unleashed another wartime tragedy, with many Palestinians killed or wounded.

Media casualties in the Israel-Gaza war (Washington Post) Some 85 journalists and media workers have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war. The rate of journalists killed in the conflict, about five a week, is the highest since the Committee to Protect Journalists began keeping records over 30 years ago. All but seven of the 85 killed were Palestinians.

Egypt is threatening to void its decades-old peace treaty with Israel (AP) It was a warm handshake between the unlikeliest of statesmen, conducted under the beaming gaze of President Jimmy Carter. Sunlight streamed through the trees at Camp David, Maryland, as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin solidified a landmark agreement that has allowed over 40 years of peace between Israel and Egypt. It has served as an important source of stability in a volatile region. That peace has held through two Palestinian uprisings and a series of wars between Israel and Hamas. But now, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to send Israeli troops into Rafah, a city in Gaza on the border with Egypt, the Egyptian government is threatening to void the agreement. If Egypt were to nullify the agreement, it could mean that Israel can no longer rely on its southern border as an oasis of calm. Bolstering forces along its border with Egypt would no doubt challenge an Israeli military already thinly stretched. But it would bear serious ramifications for Egypt as well. Egypt has received billions of dollars in U.S. military assistance from the U.S. since the peace agreement.

[sunnygrrrl]

I really wanna do this so here I go

I think witchcraft is an earth centered thing. AI has so place (unless you’re talking about online grimoires, talking spaces, and pdfs of books)

2. I assume you’re talking about deities in books and movies. As long as it’s similar to the original work (I love Magnus Chase 🙏🏻 for Norse Gods, hate Marvel for it tho)

3. Most of the time it’s in a negative evil light (I really want a show with just an average witch girl dealing with actual spells and spirits, maybe give her a gf) and it’s not all that accurate which can give people the wrong idea. (And let’s just say, it does give people the wrong idea)

4. I have no clue what that means but I’m guessing it’s pretty straightforward. (Have a baby with a God?) I don’t really believe in it, or see it. So no.

5. Witchcraft has been seen in religions, but it itself if a practice and there’s many atheists who participate in witchcraft

6. Don’t know enough about him to make an opinion

7. It’s great! I love it (i had a ton of Wicca books but my mom threw them out)

8. I personally like it and put it into my work but I understand why people dont

9. yes, I think they should really think about it before jumping straight in

10. I don’t know a lot about him personally but I like Wicca (I think he was referenced in a lot of my books)

11. Have been thinking about getting into it. It sounds like a good time :) (OMG I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ABT WORSHIPPING NORSE GODS NOT RACIAL PURITY WTF)

12. No. Not really. But they should protect our rights, practices, and beliefs

13. No and also no (have you guys read the books? Didn’t turn out so swell for those guys)

14. It’s really similar to what this post said about Nordic religions (im still figuring out my religious believes)

15. Yes!

16. Terfs don’t deserve a place where so may of us are queer. Why join a religion where we go against the grain of society?

17. Whatever you send out, comes back around. Be fun, be playful, be comfortable, be human when it comes to your deity.

18. A tiny bit (that’s the autism talking). But I think just finding places where paganism is practiced and going to those spaces and learning with likeminded people is great :)

19. I find it weird (because I’m a minor, and also spouses of gods/goddesses never turned out great in mythology, along with the fact I see them as more parental figures than anything) but who am I to dictate what other people do?

20. Yes. But I’m not willing to convert.

21. Nope! Thank my goddess, everyone’s been so kind on here so far.

22. Yes I do

23. And yes as well.

24. I used to have a bunch of books but my mom is a Christian so she threw all of my stuff away. Managed to save a few things though

25. Practicing witchcraft?

26. I’m getting there!

27. Sort of? Still figuring some stuff out but I know it’s there

28.. reincarnation babyyyyyyyy

29. To be close to my goddess, to earth, to myself, and be happy and have a purpose in my life.

30. Saying you need a very certain ingredient from them or joining their online program because only then you’d be a real witch

31. Someone told me my goddess hated me and to turn to Christ. No thanks buddy, I’m okay

32. I don’t really have one? I think most of my opinions are reasonable

33. Love. (I don’t understand the question all that well)

witchcraft ask game

except it's actually real fucking specific and possibly shadow work in disguise idk

What are your opinions on AI in Witchcraft?

How do you feel about pop culture deities?

Opinions on fantasy depictions of witchcraft/paganism?

Thoughts on Astral pregnancy?

Do you think witchcraft is a religion or a practice? Why/why not?

What do you think of Aleister Crowley?

Opinions on Wicca?

What do you think of the divine feminine/masculine archetypes?

Do you think they're should be a set period before someone becomes a full-fledged witch?

What do you think of Gerald Gardner?

What are your thoughts on odinism?

Do you think witchcraft is inherently political?

Do you think you can hex/curse/jinx a deity? Do you think you should?

How different do you think your gods are from other religion's gods? What work have you done to deconstruct that?

Do you believe in spiritual psychosis?

How do you feel about TERF witches?

What is your moral code? How do you justify that?

Do you wish paganism were more organised?

Do you think it's okay to have a sexual relationship with a deity? What about romantic (i.e. godspousing)?

Do you research ex-pagans viewpoints with an open mind?

Have you ever been in argument/sent hate to another witchcraft blog? What was the story? Do you still think you were right?

Do you believe in closed practices?

Do you believe in cultural appropriation?

Outside of the online space, where do you get your resources from?

What makes someone a real witch?

Are you a real witch?

Are you confident in your beliefs?

What do you think happens when we die?

Why are you a witch? What need does it serve?

What do you think is a scam in witchcraft?

What post have you seen recently that makes you wanna scream?

What's your hottest take in the witchcraft space?

Do you move out of fear or love?

---

Please feel free to reblog, and send me an ask <3

[astroexaminer]

Astro-Inspiration for March 7, 2023: A Hint of What’s to Come

Today’s Full Moon at 7:40 am EST illuminates the need to not only dream (Pisces) but also do (Virgo) whatever is necessary to make it happen. Just an hour later, Saturn, the taskmaster, moves into the oceanic sign of Pisces, where it will reside from March 7, 2023, to May 24, 2025, and then from September 1, 2025, until February 13, 2026. It’s time and envision an ideal world and take concrete steps to create that world. 

Synchronisticly, “back in 2004, the UN set up an ad hoc group to discuss ocean protection. It wasn’t until 2015 that the organization adopted a resolution to develop a binding oceans treaty. After years of preparatory talks, negotiations began in earnest in 2018 (when Uranus first entered Taurus, the sign most concerned with our earthly environment). Then on March 6, just before Saturn entered Pisces, it was announced that “nearly 200 countries have agreed to a legally-binding “high seas treaty” to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet’s surface, but have long been essentially lawless.” Of course, policing the oceans of the world won't be an easy task. 

Entire article... https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/04/world/un-oceans-treaty-biodiversity-climate-intl/index.html

Today’s Quote

“This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics.” .... “We praise countries for seeking compromises, putting aside differences and delivering a treaty that will let us protect the oceans, build our resilience to climate change and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of billions of people,” Laura Meller, Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic

Today’s Sky

Moon in Virgo Trine Uranus in Taurus, Opposite Sun in Pisces (Virgo Full Moon), Square Mars in Gemini.  Saturn leaves Aquarius for Pisces.

[bookwyrminspiration]

hey!! i am back at last although not for long because i'm going on a weekend trip in uhhhh. checks watch. approximately 13 hours. but i do wish you luck with scheduling some reading and writing time!! i feel i've had so much of that because i accidentally signed up for fast track classes and am waiting for them to start to get stressed out about it haha. i AM excited to start those classes though because i miss writing an essay, although WOW, there are so many group projects. was that how it works in high school too? group project for every class?

and VERY glad you are having fun with bramble!!! i also know very little about that realm of mythology but seeing the small things you post about the game itself is really cool! although it is DEFINITELY not my cup of tea i very much respect it & think it's very cool. also interesting how they use AI for the hostile enemies thing!! my dad does programming and was very excited about AI things so it's always interesting to hear (as someone going into compsci as well) all the different things that people can do with it. the art stealing is only a facet of it yk?

Hello! I hope you enjoy your trip, whatever you're getting up to. And I think I'll be good with the scheduling thing, I just need to actually sit my ass down and do it. The hardest part is just getting started because there's no deadline, you know?

Good luck with your classes, though! and with all the group projects. Must admit, am not a huge fan of them, and I'm...not sure the last time I did one? maybe 9th grade...? there was probably one in there somewhere.

anyway! I do know a fair amount of mythology, but only for certain kinds. I, quite predictably, learned a lot about greek myths as a percy jackson kid (though I have done research outside of percy jackson I promise). I've got some baseline knowledge of norse myth figures, but less of the other folklore. Dabbled in Aztec mythology, though I haven't given it the attention i want to yet. i actually have a small collection of mythology books I just haven't read yet since I've been busy

point of that is I know some mythology and am interested in it, but am largely unfamiliar with the "nordic fables" that inspired this game--like Näcken, Skogsrå, and Pesta. so I'm very much so enjoying it! it is my personal cup of tea <- actually does not like tea

Also ah, should've been clearer about using the word AI when it's taken on such a different meaning recently. That's actually just how video games are made and have been for a while, it's not unique. When you have more of an...open choice game? like where you can move around and the enemy has to respond to your movements and to some of the decisions you make in order to follow and target you, they're programmed to have literal artificial, created intelligence that can, to some extent, respond to what you do. Both enemy AI and the art-theft AI we now think of are just clever bits of programming, but enemy AI is nothing new. it's just the word for enemies' programming :) (here's an article from 2015 I haven't actually read but I think is talking about relevant info..?)

[hetalia-text-messages]

That was fun! Does this mean we have to call them the Nordic 13 now?

[rakimaiirisa]

for arisa! 13 -Dungeon delving- are they a fan? Do they do it for fun, or money, or just because of circumstance? Do they prefer Dwemer or Nordic ruins?

Arisa is absolutely a fan of dungeon delving! She loves to explore and with her, it's both for the fun of discovery and the lure of coin that draws her to ancient ruins. She prefers Dwemer ruins due to her fascination with their technology and will often bring home whatever books and items related to the dwemer to study when she has time.

Thank you for the ask @jirosan 😊❤

[bangtanfancamp]

Into the Garden (JJK)

∴ masterlist

∴ series masterlist (part one of 2 )

∴ pairing: Jeon Jungkook x reader

∴ word count: 5k

∴ rating: pg-13

∴ genre: fluff, romance, strangers to lovers, dinner theater au? Lol

∴ warnings: none to speak of, eventual affection? sexual tension? Probable future make out sesh

∴ summary: It’s a Friday night out with your friends— a perfect opportunity to try out that mysterious new restaurant everybody’s talking about. Always game for new things and a good time, even you never expected to stumble upon the smart, incredibly handsome waiter you meet there who knows his flowers. Who knows where the night will take you now?

∴ vibey playlist that kept me company during writing

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“God, this place is gorgeous.” You gasped.

You felt yourself go still once you’d finally managed to push the heavy wooden doors open. Was it unreasonable to wish you lived in a restaurant if it looked like this? Because it was beautiful in here. Every corner was immaculately decorated- rich, emerald velvet in the waiting area, cognac wood floors, industrial light fixtures… each element carefully designed, but aged and warm, like maybe this place had been here forever, and you’d only just noticed it.

And the plants- there were plants everywhere, on every available surface. Shades of green wrapping and weaving around iron railing. Ivy crawling up the side of the exposed brick like nature was trying to take this luxurious place back for itself. You’d never seen anything quite like it.

This place was all anyone could talk about lately, but you’d never seen it first hand until tonight. It had been your coworker’s bright idea to get a bunch of the staff together and blow off some steam here this Friday night. She’d even wiggled her way into getting the company to pay for it by calling it a “team building experience,” a.k.a “let’s all get drunk together and moan about our problems on the boss’s dime.” You’d be skipping the alcohol tonight, but this place was a million years beyond your “guac at chipotle is a treat” personal budget and there was no way you were going to miss out on a free dinner here.

So far, no regrets as you wandered across the hardwood. You hadn’t even eaten any of the food yet, but it was already your new favorite place in the city on decor alone. And on top of that, you had something else to look forward to. Apparently, the hook here — not that it really needed one— was an upscale version of dinner and a mystery. You wondered how that was supposed to fit with this whole industrial utopia theme.

You hadn’t been to a restaurant that did a show with dinner since you saw Cinderella at a children’s dinner theater in eighth grade, but the shabby, primary colored castles of your memory clashed distinctly with the elegance of this place. The gaping imbalance made you chuckle. Sherlock dinner theater and artisanal hand glazed pottery seemed like an odd mix to you, but you were intrigued nonetheless, knowing you’d have fun whether the plot was brilliant or not.

After gawking an appropriate amount of time in the foyer, you realized you should probably check in for your group since you’d arrived first. Gliding through the Garden in search of the hostess booth, you found it hidden away beneath the shade of an almost prehistorically large fiddle leaf fig tree. You smiled up at the gargantuan plant, fingers tracing the edge of a leaf. If the millennial garden of Eden interior of the place hadn’t already been an indication, this alone reinforced what a miracle worker their main gardener must be.

Every fiddle leaf fig you’d ever owned had died many a gruesome death long before it ever even reached two feet, but this one almost brushed the exposed ceiling beams. You wished you could ask whoever was in charge here for some pointers, but they’d probably smell your plant mom failures on you from a mile away and decide not to waste their time. Plants just never seemed to like you back the way you loved them… oh well. That’s what plastic is for, you supposed.

Getting back to the task at hand, you leaned up on your toes to look for assistance, quickly noticing that the station was empty. Maybe they’re busy watering the crops, you chuckled to yourself wondering if this place really was pretentious enough to grow their own inventory-they certainly could- when you were suddenly greeted by the most stunningly handsome boy you’d ever seen.

“Hello, welcome to the Garden.” The living, breathing Adonis statue could speak apparently. You tried not to stare as he smiled back at you politely, his silky curls shagging about his face as he slid behind the hostess booth. Holy crap. Did they grow him in the back too?

He was beautiful- some undiscovered demigod with broad shoulders and a jawline so strong it could cut glass. He lifted his eyebrows pleasantly, waiting to assist. “I apologize for the wait—how may I be of service this evening?”

You couldn’t help the silly grin that spilled across your face when his wide chocolate eyes smiled your way.

“Um, Hi. I need a table for, lets see… 1,2,3,4...10 people I think?” You counted unashamedly on your fingers as the host’s lips quirked into a smile. “Oh! Actually, you know what? What am I doing—do you guys take reservations? My friend Beth might have called about us earlier?”

“Let me see…” The boy’s amused doe eyes drifted over a computer screen. You fiddled with the edges of a particularly plump succulent on the counter as you waited. “Here it is. Beth party of 10. Now usually when we have a group that big, we do offer the option of one of our private rooms. You guys would have your own separate narrative from whatever the main restaurant is doing….Would you be interested in that this evening?”

“Sure! Why not—that sounds amazing!” You answered, a bit too enthusiastically admittedly, but when his face lit up at your bubbliness, you found you couldn’t be bothered to feel embarrassed. Not when a boy who looked like that was looking at you that way, all soft around the edges. Will you be there? you wondered.

“Okay, then you’ll come right this way. Oh! And you’ll need this.” Dipping into a crystal bowl behind the counter, he fished out a crisp white piece of paper and slipped it into your hand, fingers brushing over yours as he did.

Something in your belly reacted sharply to the contact. Apparently, the electric crackle affected him too. His already round eyes widened, a nervous chuckle tumbling from his lips as your cheeks blossomed a warm, soft pink.

Suddenly, a ruckus erupted behind you, crashing into the tranquil silence. You turned over your shoulder to see your friends piling in the tall front door, laughing and smiling widely at you.

Tearing his eyes away from you with a self conscious gulp, the host cleared his throat before leading you all back past fountains, lush greenery and elaborate floral installations into yet another beautiful space. This room was just as intricate as the rest of the restaurant, with its warm terra cotta-colored walls dripping with ivy and orchids, lit with the dappled light of melting pillared candles piled atop the elaborate raw wood table spanning the length of the room.

As everyone happily clamored to find a seat along the banquet table, you noticed your friend, Erik, crashing along its opposite edge. Erik had been a football player in college, some defensive position you didn’t know the title of. He was a mammoth of a man, his blonde Nordic hair making him look like an off brand, out of shapeThor.

He paid little to no attention to where he threw his weight around like a puppy who didn’t yet know his size. So when he dropped himself onto the neatly slatted bench (gosh, every detail here was dripping in aesthetics) and promptly leaned against the wall, crushing the intricate orchid display, you couldn’t help but laugh. You heard the host’s strangled gasp and giggled at the beautiful boy's wide eyes as his horror-stricken face went pale across the room. Before he seemed to realize he was even doing it, his feet began to march across the floor to say something to your friend, until his politeness overtook him and he froze a few feet away. He grumbled to himself as your friend carelessly peeled himself off of the bench, annoyed complaining about something scratchy digging into his back. The host was positively fuming as irritation ticked in his jaw, but His big brown eyes betrayed his disappointment and downright bewilderment as the bedraggled orchids limped back into place.

“No.... They’re ruined. Now what am I supposed to display?”  You heard him attempt to mutter under his breath, but his anger seemed to make his volume louder than intended. He was so flustered—it was oddly...kind of adorable. You couldn’t help but laugh. You knew your friend had meant no harm. He was a sweet guy, but generally oblivious, so things like this seemed to happen a lot. Chuckling under your breath, you couldn’t help but notice the strain in the host’s angular jawline, not to mention how good he looked with his eyebrows furrowed like that. Intense. It made you want to kiss the creases to relax him. Man, this guy was really getting to you...

Maybe it’s time to have some fun, you thought.

Leaning over the edge of the bench, you whispered surreptitiously, “Hey, maybe you should consider wheatgrass instead.” You sent a quick wink in the host’s direction, a thick cloud of giggles falling from your lips. Lashes fluttering , the poor guy seemed startled by your comment. He had been so wrapped up in blinders over his restaurant being ruined that he hadn’t realized anyone had been watching the entire interaction. For a quick second, embarrassment flashed over his features. The sudden chagrin on his face as he nervously ruffled his hair softened him. The Greek god of a man suddenly a soft, flustered boy. He looked so... sweet.

The whole scene gave you the oddest urge to pinch his cheeks and tell him how cute he was. But just as fast as it had appeared, the innocence in his wide eyes was gone, his composure swiftly resettling itself as his shoulders rolled down, his posture lifting him back up to full height. His confidence was back, and so was a lopsided smile that you decided you quite liked. “Might not be the worst idea.... certainly less overhead,” he sighed resignedly, hands hanging low on his hips as the tick in his jaw loosened, replaced instead by the beginning of a smirk.

“Much less upkeep. Less horizontal space. Equal level of pretension. I see no downsides,” you shrugged nonchalantly. You felt your own smile bloom wider the longer your gazes stayed fixed on each other. His eyes were dazzling- coffee brown and deep- as they glittered back at you. “I’ll look into it...might be a solid option. Have,” he hesitated. “Have you been here before? I don’t think I’ve seen you... I get the feeling I would have remembered you.” His face was so soft and unguarded, his pretty mouth just a bit too open as he searched his memory for a glimpse of you. You pulled your lip between your teeth as your smile threatened to grow.

“No,” you shook your head, hair bouncing around you. “It’s my first time here. First time for all of us actually. Hence, my friends lack of good graces with your horticultural displays.” you offered an apologetic shrug.

“May my orchids rest in peace,” he sighed with a shake of his head. “Not your fault though. You guys, uh, celebrating something?” He was suddenly too close for a stranger, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to care.

“Oh, no. We just work in that massive upstart down the block. Kept hearing about the place, and Instagram kept hacking our feeds with ads for it so we finally caved. Figured we’d try it out. ” You waved across the table gesturing to everyone. There were all so deep in their own side conversations that no one seemed to pay any mind to you lingering oddly with the wait staff. “Glad to see the marketing is working out,” he chuckled. “Well...if it’s your first time, then you’ll need a proper guide through the story.” A glint of mischief sparkled deep in his chocolate eyes, and you felt something effervescent glitter up your spine in excitement. “I suppose we will.” With a bow from his hip and a nod, he turned on his heel with no explanation, leaving you to smile down at your menu like an idiot in his absence. Trying to read was pointless honestly. The letters might as well have been in Arabic as they swam across the page- you weren’t processing anything. Far too lost in a dreamy eyed splendor over the boy you’d just met until a bony elbow nudged its way between your ribs. “What was THAT all about?” Eileen’s eyebrows bounced with curiosity. “ I don’t know.” You answered honestly as your head shook. At this point, you were smiling so much your cheeks were beginning to hurt. “But my God, isn’t he CUTE?” You hid behind your hands. “Cute??” Eileen shoved you in the shoulder. “He’s not a corgi, y/n. He’s a grown man.” She bit her lip. “A GORGEOUS, full grown man....did you see him when he walked away? God, what a view.” You pressed your forehead into her shoulder and whimpered, “I knowww. His smile, those thighs, my god...and his butt. Did you see it? It’s better than mine.” You both fell into a fit of giggles.

“All I know is that if you don’t give him your number then he’s definitely getting mine tonight. Or anything else he’d like for that matter.” Your jaw fell open at her brazenness. “Hey! slow your roll. You can’t call dibs before I’ve even gotten his name!” you laughed.

“Then you better work fast, babe. Cuz butts like that don’t stay single for long.”  She tipped her head to the side matter of factly.

“Oh my gosh, shut up! You don’t know when he’ll come back. He might hear you.” You breathed.

“Let him. It’ll make my job easier.” She bit down seductively on her red straw. Swatting at her, you both giggled before back into the table’s office gossip.

Apparently, Elliot had shown up to the office wasted again today- either from getting trashed the night before or from getting sloshed the morning of, no one was quite sure at this point. Either way, everyone was annoyed as hell that he’d never get more than a slap on the wrist for it since his dad managed their branch. Nepotism still alive and well. Clearly.

Popping an entire potsticker in your mouth, your belly ached with laughter as Sean told you all how his assistant had accidentally walked in on two higher ups making out in the supply closet this morning and how traumatized the poor intern had been. He described in detail how the poor slob had still tried to get around them to get the extra printer paper, and what a mess the whole ordeal had been. He owed you a clean fifty bucks now.

With your keen eyes, you’d been the first person to be suspicious of them- you’d called it a solid month ago- and had put your money where your mouth was. You’d started the office pool that they were in fact a secret couple- a bet you’d clearly just won if Sean bleak expression was anything to go by. Lunch on him all week. Potstickers til i burst? Don’t mind if I do.

It had been a great evening, full of unwinding and bonding. So great, that you’d completely forgotten about the mystery element of the dinner. That is, until a crystalline voice spoke above you, snapping you to attention.

“Pardon me, everybody. But it’s time for the mystery of the evening to begin.”

Surprised, your eyes darted up to see the cute guy from earlier. He was standing right behind you. Your pulse spiked as he sent a smirk your way. What were you supposed to do with that? He was so close now that you could hear the fabric of his dress shirt rustle every time he shifted or gestured above you. With every movement, a burst of his scent surrounded you. It was something citrus, something fresh. A dizzy smile tugged at your lips as it enveloped you like a cloud. God, you wanted to bury your nose in it. You were such a sucker for a good smelling boy...

And this one was so in your personal space. Which should have been off putting, honestly. Especially since you’d barely known him for half an evening. It was a bold choice on his part, to get so close to you. It should have been a turn off. Should have. But it wasn’t. Instead, you found yourself almost vibrating with excitement at the proximity of him. Whatever this gravitational pull was around him, you were perfectly content to get pulled straight into it.

If you’d had the nerve to, he truly was close enough that if you tipped your body back just a few degrees you could’ve rested your head against his lean stomach if you’d wanted to… which, of course you did want to do… but you’d only just met him. So instead, you bit down to stifle your smile, eyes flicking over to Eileen who was just as giddy on your behalf.

God he’s so cute, you thought. Wait- is he still talking? Crap-focus, you scolded yourself, tuning back into his monologue.

“As everyone knows, we all have the same five senses. But what happens when we lose one? How does it affect our instincts? Our gut? How does it change the way we listen to each other?” he paced around the edges of the table, hands clasped behind his tailbone. It made his dress shirt bunch deliciously in all the right places, and you bit back a smile. It was getting harder and harder to hide your little infatuation.

“When each of you arrived,” he continued, “you were each given a character and a backstory- No one should know it but you- but only one of you received the card that said killer. Someone at this table has committed a murder, but who? Often, our eyes can deceive us, so as part of tonight’s story, your sight will be taken from you as you try to decipher the truth. Can you rely on your other senses, your hearing, your intuition to solve this case?” A few other waiters approached the table with baskets in hand before the room went dark- completely.

Not the “the lights are off but we can all still see” kind of dark. It was the “it's so black in here that you can feel it” kind of dark. The kind of complete nothingness you never get with the ambient glow of street lights and screens everywhere. It was heavy and consuming, the absoluteness of the suddenly inky black room.

Swirling your own fingers in front of your face, you saw absolutely nothing. Not even the glint of your own jewelry, and something fantastic bubbled up in you. This is going to be so fun. Your heart began to race in anticipation- you didn’t even know what for yet. You felt your knuckles wrap around the bench beneath you, bracing, waiting, holding your breath, wondering when the night would finally be-

Only to have your thoughts stop. Completely.

Each individual one of them halted in their tracks by the sudden contact of warm fingertips against your skin. The gentle press of a large set of hands melted into the tops of your shoulders, thumbs bracing on the back of your neck. It was him again, wasn’t it?

He squeezed once, tense and hesitant despite his obvious strength, like he wasn't sure touching you was the best idea, but he couldn’t back out now that he’d started. The delicacy of it left you buzzing. In the silence, the pads of his fingers sunk deeply into your skin, and your breath caught. You’d never been this grateful for off the shoulder clothing in your life.

“May I?” he asked, tone honeyed and sweet.

You realized he meant the blindfold you’d heard so much about before you came and nodded your head just once, tension sticking in your throat as you tried to swallow it down. It was only then that you realized he probably couldn’t see you in the darkness. You’d have to gather your wits enough to verbally respond. You hoped he wouldn’t catch the way the “yes” that left your lips was embarrassingly breathless.

You heard him hum in response, holding whatever was left of your breath as his fingertips slowly fell from the tops of your shoulders, dragging across the edges your sleeves like he was in no rush to let you go. It was a strange intimacy from a stranger, but to be honest, you didn’t want him to let go either.

Until, quick as a whisper, his warmth was gone, leaving you alone in the dark. The shift so abrupt that part of you wondered if you’d imagined the last thirty seconds. His lingering hands had fallen away so abruptly at the end. Where had he gone?

It all felt like a fever dream you’d cooked up, like your own subconscious was mocking you for wanting him so bad. For a second, you wondered if you should be concerned by how obviously attracted you were to him. Should you be ashamed by how quickly you welcomed his touch? By the way your traitorous body showed no intention of pushing him away? Maybe you should, but he didn’t give you the time to overthink it before he was beside you again.

“Jungkook.” He whispered, only loud enough for you to hear.

“What?” You breathed, face turning toward his sound in the blackness.

“That’s my name. Jungkook.” He repeated, his voice airy and soft. You hadn’t realized how beautiful his voice was until it was the only thing you had to focus on. You could feel that he was bent low, his chest just brushing the tops of your shoulders. You felt dizzy at the sensation of his warm breath ghosting over the shell of your ear as a cool satin ribbon was draped over your eyes.

“In case you were wondering.” He whispered, pulling the edges of the fabric into a soft bow as he dipped to the other side of your shoulders. “But I’ll also answer to ‘guy with the butt that’s better than yours’ if you prefer.” His breathy laugh filled your ears, and you could practically hear him smiling. “Oh god, you heard that?” the back of your hand smothered your mouth, a smile emerging even as you cringed.

“Oh absolutely. Acoustics are insane in this place. It was kind of nice though... I mean, how often do I get to hear such a pretty girl compliment me ?” You could feel the rush of blood practically crashing into your cheeks. You knew the whole world would see you blushing if the lights were on. “I’m out of witty comments for that one.” “Don’t smile. You’ll mess up the blindfold,” he warned, the endearing softness in his voice undermining his words. “I’ll try. Don’t think I can help it though.” A satisfied hum left Jungkook’s lips as he pulled away and went back to the task at hand.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

And just like that, the mystery began with Jungkook as the narrator and weaver of your tale.

Your group had been given a story set in feudal Japan. Clashing samurai, feuding houses, forbidden love- Your friends all got surprisingly into it, losing their normal voices into the adopted lilts and pitches of their newfound characters.

It really was incredible the nuances you caught when you focused on your hearing. Jin’s voice, for example, was far more nasal than you realized. He had a tendency to react dramatically any time someone pressed him for details- clearly signaling how close they were to the truth the more he tried to hide it. Lina’s expressionless monotone was nearly impossible to read on voice alone, but it made her all the more fun to try to figure out. Despite focusing on the story, you couldn’t help but notice that while Jungkook had the entire table to canvas as he narrated, he still stayed suspiciously close to your side the entire time- like he couldn’t help himself. His fingertips would brush the fabric of your blouse when he’d pass. His taut arms would graze the swing of your ponytail as he walked by. He had no mercy on the fragile hummingbird flitting with wild abandon in your chest at each of his actions. In fact, you could hear the distinct note of something that sounded an awful lot like laughter in his voice anytime he gave instructions to your character specifically. Smug son of a gun. Soon, the story unraveled as it was revealed that Jin had, in fact, been the murderer. He was jealous of Lina’s love for samurai Hoseok and had killed him in a drunken rage but tried to frame Bobby for the dishonorable act.

With the crime solved, the lights were turned back on, a fuzzy halo emerging around the edges of your vision as a staff member came behind each guest to remove their blindfold. You were unsurprised when you were met with a gentle waft of clean citrus as Jungkook appeared once again to help you with yours. The warm pads of his fingers grazed your cheeks when he removed the satin ribbon. It was so quick- it was so hard to tell if it had been on purpose- before his touch was gone again far too quickly for your liking. “I must say, you were particularly clever.” He offered softly as he stood behind you. You dropped your neck back to look up at him, eyes wide. “Anyone paying attention would have known that wasn’t Bobby’s blade work.” “Still, most people don’t catch it on their first time through the story.” He tipped his head matter of factly. “Maybe I just had a good guide,” You winked, tucking your chin back to normal when you saw a faint pink color his cheekbones. He cleared his throat before addressing the table. “You’ll find your individual checks have been placed in front of you, along with a complimentary dessert. Thank you for dining with us this evening. It has been our pleasure.”

He bowed at the waist as he gave his farewell, making his last words spoken dangerously close to your ear. Adrenaline spiked in your veins at his proximity for the thousandth time tonight. As he returned to full height, another man approached the table, this one taller, leaner than jungkook, with a smile so innocent and wide it could have belonged to a child.

“Good evening everyone! How was your experience with us tonight?” His voice. It boomed like a clap of thunder. It was oddly deep for someone who looked so young. Everyone at the table chattered with random superlatives about how amazing the night had been as the man's smile glowed brighter.

“I’m so glad to hear it!! You had a real treat tonight- guided by our finest story teller.” Pride swelling in his eyes, the man clapped an embarrassed Jungkook on the shoulder. “Such a shame it might be the last story he tells here.” The baritone lamented. “What am I supposed to do without my partner?” The man used his other hand to clutch at his chest dramatically, face scrunched in distress, as you felt your heart free fall into your shoes.

Last story? “Calm down, Taehyung. You make it sound like I’m dying.” Jungkook rolled his eyes and swatted at the man. “You might as well be!” Taehyung huffed. “He’s leaving us tomorrow to start his new life! Off galavanting in the mountains somewhere with flowers and goats. Leaving all his old, true friends behind.” He wrapped an arm around jungkook’s shoulder, dragging him against his will into a side hug jungkook vehemently tried to escape. “Quiet down, bro. You’re making a scene.” Jungkook balked, face pale at the unwanted attention.

He’s…. leaving? Your stomach took a swan dive. No. But I just met him. How... where was he going? Your eyes fell back to the table as you steadied yourself.

You’d been so excited about where this all might go. It was hard enough to accept that you’d already gotten this attached to him. Let alone invested enough to be this disappointed…..but, you’d felt something so strong around him. The kind of glittering spark you hadn’t felt with another person in a long time, if ever.

Every time his eyes had lingered on you or his body had brushed against yours, a supernova had ignited in your chest. You’d spent the whole night going mad with the electric possibility of him- just to what? Feel like a fool for being infatuated with a stranger? Look like the naive girl you were, pining over a daydream?

This was ridiculous. You shook your head at yourself. This boy didn’t owe you anything. He was a stranger two hours ago, he’d stay a stranger when you left twenty minutes from now. But no matter how you tried to convince yourself, your poor heart still felt sick about it all. He’d just seemed so— you don’t know, special. So magnetic. And You’d thought he’d felt the same pull bringing him to you too.

Because why else would he have flirted with you half the night? He didn’t seem like the kind of guy to lead you on if he knew it was going nowhere. An assumption you realized was a heck of a leap. You didn’t actually know anything about him, but somehow, something about that narrative just didn’t sit right with you. The look he’d had in his eyes each time he smiled at you tonight had seemed too sincere to be a lie. But from the way his loud friend was still talking, he made it sound like Jungkook was moving to the Alps.

So even if his sweet eyes had genuinely meant every smile tonight, was it really all for nothing? You knew the night was ending, and it was a long shot, but you’d really been holding out hope it might go somewhere beyond this. Apparently not. In an instant, he reappeared by your side, having broken free from the grip of his affectionate friend’s grasp. Jungkook dipped beside you once again as you stumbled to rearrange your now troubled features into something resembling disinterest.

“Hey, Sorry about that. But, I um, really do hope you have a great night. So your uh, your check is on the table.” His poise seemed a bit more rattled than before, but you were too glum to give it much notice.

You sent an out of focus glance in the ticket’s direction and nodded. He’d already told everyone that. Most of the table already had their debit cards out for their tickets. You didn’t know why he was bothering to mention it again when all you wanted to know was where he was going and if it was far.

“I um...didn’t get to catch your name earlier,” the smile he offered you was gentle, hopeful, as his wide brown eyes looked down at you. You felt yourself sigh withought meaning to. You’d have found the sheepish look in his eyes hopelessly adorable just a few minutes earlier, but now all it did was make your chest hurt. “Not a detail you need if you’re moving away though right?” You asked, a sadness creeping in your attempted smile. God, you weren’t fooling anyone. This was pathetic. His brows dipped at your response, confused by the shift in your demeanor. “I’m... I mean, i told you mine.” His gentle eyes tried to salvage the situation. The confidence he’d exuded all night was slipping away, a boyish vulnerability taking its place. There was no harm, you supposed. “Fair enough. It’s y/n.”  you conceded. “Y/n.” He repeated, like he was trying to make the shape a new habit for his mouth. “Pretty name for a pretty girl.”

The smile you gave him back was a limp, pitiful thing, but it was the best you could give. Half an hour ago, you definitely didn’t think him calling you pretty would have made you so sad. Compliments didn’t usually send you into a craving for solitude and halo top ice cream, but this one certainly did.

“Well, y/n, I may not be as far away as you think. Have a good night.” And with that he was gone.

Bummed, you looked over your shoulder as he disappeared into the kitchen. “Shoot. Well, that was a fast track to nowhere,” you sighed to Eileen, slouching in your seat. “I know. Bummer. Seemed like he liked you too.” Eileen commiserated. “Right? So it wasn’t just me? You could tell too?” “Oh, he was totally obvious about it! He  also gave you more ice cream than me. Shameless. Boy has no subtly.” You chuckled at her accusation, but sure enough, you did in fact have one scoop more ice cream in your jadeite bowl than the rest of your friends. This boy already knew the way to your heart.

“Still. Why act interested if you’re disappearing the next day?” You pouted. “Why show interest when he’s just a server you’ve never met before?” She asked pointedly, eyebrow arched as your eyes fell away. “People react when they feel something- and clearly you two were feeling something the entire night. His eyes didn’t leave you for a second....We don’t get to pick the timing of when we’re attracted to people, y/n. Nobody’s working with that kind of control.” Flopping onto her shoulder, you heaved a heavy sigh. “Again... you’re right. I just, I don’t know. There was just—something about him. He felt... special.” “He looked special in that outfit. Those buttons were crying.” She mockingly bit her lip as you swatted your napkin at her. “Eileen! Unhelpful! I’m aware.... I guess you just don’t always get to know where things could have gone.” You shrugged, wilting into her warmth. “I know, babe. Sorry.” She patted your head comfortingly.  You turned to your ice cream to heal the wound, accepting that beautiful Jungkook would just be a passing meeting and a quick deadend to nowhere. After polishing off your dessert, you pulled out your cash to at least leave him the memory of a good tip when your eyes caught on scribbled handwriting in the top corner of your receipt. Hey, I don’t normally do something like this, but there’s a place around the corner that stays open super late. Meet me for crappy coffee + good conversation at 11? -jungkook xxx-xxx-xxxx You choked on nothing as you processed what was going on.

“Eileen! Eileen!!” You grabbed at her sleeve. “What?? What is it?! Calm down.” She pried your clutching hands off her cropped leather jacket, brushing off any damage you’d done.

“He gave me his number!” You nearly shouted.

“What?” She almost spat out her cocktail.

“He gave me his number!!” You waved the receipt wildly in her face. “He invited me to coffee and gave me his number!!!” You squealed, shrieking at an octave usually reserved for wild piglets. “Shut up! No way!!!” “Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” You rambled ecstatically. “But wait!” your face fell,“ we’re supposed to go out for drinks with everybody after.” “And? Is that a joke??? You see us every day! What are you doing talking to me?? Text him! Go meet your man, honey. I’ll cover for you.” She winked as she swung her purse over her shoulder. “Really?? I love you! I owe you!” You yelled as she made her way to the door. “Um, You really don’t, but I’ll never turn down a favor. Let me know how it goes. See you on Monday.” She waved back at you, flipping the platinum ends of her ebony hair over her shoulder. “Hey! Where’s y/n? Isn’t she coming with us,” Jin seemed to be the only one alarmed by your absence. “Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, dear. I’ll fill you in later.” She grabbed him by his shoulders and nudged him out the door frame. “Ooo, bulking up are we, Kim? Feeling solid these days.”

“Yes actually!” His face glowed. “I have been! But you know, muscle tone is 80% genetics anyway. You cant just make yourself handsome, you know.You have to be born this good looking to start with and work from there.”

She knew there was no quicker, sure fire way to get Jin off topic than to ask him about himself. Once that train had left the station, there was little hope if any of ever turning back.

Eileen really took one for the team there. “Call me” she mouthed back at you as they slipped off into the night. You chuckled to yourself at the scene, finally realizing the turn your own evening was about to take. You plugged his number into your phone and shot him a quick message. [10:35pm] Hey, how did you know I was always down for quality conversation? Moments later, your phone began to buzz. Jungkook [10:36pm] Just went with my gut ;)

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[helltalia-inc]

RULES + LIST OF CHALLENGES

RULES 

1. Pick a challenge from the List of Challenges;

2. Create whatever you want, as you want;

3. Use the tag #helltalia-inc and @ with the name of the page;

4. And don’t forget to have fun!

Not that hard, right?

 More info:

· There are no language barriers here, so feel free to use the language that you feel the most comfortable to express yourself;

· Bad behavior will not be tolerated;

· Feel free to use any characters and any ships;

· Take attention to tag your ships, any warming or triggering content;

· And for the last, but not least… support the “CONTENT CREATORS”!

 LIST OF CHALLENGES

(This list will be updated occasionally. Feel free to search for the number of the challenges, for example like #1, or #20, I made sure to tag every work with the number of the challenge. So, if you want to see the works related to each challenge, you just have to search in the page by the number. And, of course, feel free to use the challenges to inspire your future works.)

 1. Favorite Character

2. Egg Themed

3. Books + Favorite Trio

4. Your living country + his national flower

5. Crossing the line with the Star Wars Universe

6. Pajama Party + Female Characters Only

7. Revenge the Hetavision

8. Wedding dress

9. Child’s Day

10. Recycle, Reduce, Reutilize

11. Nordics appreciation challenge

12. LGBT Respect Day

13. “If you meant it, kiss me”

(Just to record it: starting from here, it was added as option, the “challenge quote”) 

14. National Animal + The Country where you live / “No matter where I go, my heart will always be yours”

15. Healthy Food Habits/ “But loving you had consequences”

16. World Day of Friendship/ “It’s okay if you don’t like me. Not everyone had good taste.”

17. REVENGE FIFATALIA/ “I’m so sick of lying. I have to tell you…”

18. ROCK IN HETALIA / “the music is the language of feelings”

19. Stuck on a desert island/ “I’m so sorry I kissed you, my mouth just slipped”  

20. ICE CREAM AND WATERMELON/ ”I wouldn’t do that if I were you”  

21. Pirate and Mermaids AU/ “That’s the summer when we first met”  

22. Aquarium park / “It is easier to pretend we are strong; it is much harder to admit we are weak; a true friend, by loving every part of us, teaches us to love our weaknesses”

23. Crossover with one of your favorite movies / “The two of us, we’re the best kind of disaster. Apples and oranges. Well, more like apples and machetes.”

24. Alice in the Wonderland AU / “I really did think you were cute when you were jealous.”

25. Improvised Olympic Games out of Season/ “I’d find you whenever you were.”

26. Ancients Countries Appreciation Challenge / “Chaos isn’t meant to be understood”

27. University AU / “Never say “Goodbye””

28. Color’ (or body or personality) swap / “Puns are the highest form of literature.”

29. Crossover with Sesame Street or The Muppets / “I’ve missed you. But it seems like you’re not happy to see me.”

30. Alter Ego AU / “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have even come here tonight.”

31. Your favorite writer + his respective nation / “I wanted to end the world, but I’ll settle for ending yours.”

32. Candle in the dark / “I’m pregnant”

33. Orchestra AU / “You can run, but you can’t escape”

34. Trapped in a maze / “Can you keep a secret?”

35. Wingtalia / “Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off”

36. Space, stars, moon / “You’re better than you think.”

37. Villain AU / “I don’t want to sleep alone today. Will you sleep with me?”

38. African nations / “You promised that we would always be together… now, how I’m supposed to live without you?”

39. Love potion / "We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun"

40. Treasure hunt / “The only thing you’re good at is fake crying”

41. Asian nations / “You can see me?”

42. National desert / “Nice try. Better luck next time”

43. Death note AU / “How long will you keep me waiting?”

44. Kabedon / “What is your problem?”  

45. Siblings / “Don’t just say nice things, give me advice.”

46. The 7 deadly sins / “Take that stupid grin off your face”

47. Reincarnation AU / “We have only one chance at life. And I want to live a life with no regrets.”

48. Autumn / “You said I could do whatever I wanted.”

49. Red apple / “I want to crush anyone who dares to touch you. I want to hide you, monopolize you.”

50. Hot chocolate / “It’s too late now.”

51. Tarot Cards / “Take your hands off of me.”

52. Summon Demons /”Have I done something wrong?”

53. Ouija / “That’s the one thing I regret the most in my life.”

54. Underworld / “If you want, we could swap secrets.”

55. Supernatural creatures / “Close your eyes and listen carefully.”

56. Hunter / “Even though it isn’t a big deal now, it will be later.”

57. Shadow / “You helped me become who I am.”

58. Bloody sunset / “If you took well care of it from the beginning, then none of this would’ve happened.”

59. Ghost mansion / ”What the hell do you want from me?”

60. Mysterious box / “It’s not extreme, it’s the most effective way.”

61. Scream / “What makes you think I’ve changed?”

62. Evil laugh / “I thought I knew you better than this...”

63. Superstition / “There are times when it’s dangerous to approach something or someone when you don’t have sufficient knowledge about them.”

64. Roses / ”My understanding is that faith is something that one builds up through actions.”

65. Destiny / “I don’t want to live like that.”

66. Coincidence / “Growth always follows hardship.”

67. Broken heart / “They want me to find happiness more than anyone else.”

68. The wedding day / “You don’t have to worry about me anymore.”

69. Slow dance / “It’s better to spend the rest of my lifetime alone, than being stupid and crying over someone who broke my trust.”

70. By my side / “Time flew by.”

71. Holding hands / “I gave you a chance to pretend that nothing happened.”

72. Friendzone / “I won’t run away this time.”

72. Rejection / “Sorry, I let my emotions get the best of me.”

73. Forever alone / “If they’re your friends, they’ll understand and be happy for you. Just like how you were for them.”

74. BDSM / “Whatever you choose, I’ll respect your decision.”

75. Dirty talking / “You’re just taking advantage of the people around you.”

76. Love letter / “Money and Status... you’re nothing without those things.”

77. First love / “Seeing you happy means the world to me.”

78. First time / “Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest, it’s about who came and never left.”

79. Crush / “I’m in a threesome with anxiety and depression.”

80. Decorations / “Just fantasizing about it isn’t enough for me.”

81. Presents / “You just have to work hard to turn it into a reality.”

82. Traditions / “Anger cannot be dishonest.”

83. Family Dinner / “Relationships are like glass, sometimes it’s better to leave them broken than trying to hurt yourself putting it back together.”

84. Friends / “I’m glad I at least left an impression on you. Though apparently, it’s a negative one.”

85. Figure skating / “The mirror is my best friend because when I cry it doesn’t laugh.”

86. Snowboard / “The saddest people have the brightest smile.”

87. Ski / “I don’t think we wasted a single second.”

88. Hockey / “I wish I knew I was in the good old days before they became the good old days.”

89. Snow globe / “Those who are already dead don’t care about those who are still alive.”

90. Acts of kindness / “People only listen and believe in what they think is entertaining.”

91. Aurora Borealis / “If this is for the best.”

92. Church bell / “The more envy you show, the worse you look.”

93. The little match girl / “Whatever you do, I’ll never be disappointed in you.”

94. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / “When people brag so openly about their past, if often means, that they have nothing to brag about now.”

95. Heart made of ice / “You should be ashamed of yourself.”

96. Message on a bottle / “I never truly fell in love with anyone.”

97. Bubbles / “This is all very suspicious... extremely suspicious.”

98. End of the world / “I was afraid kindness would make me weak.”

99. Halloween dolls / “No hard feelings but I hate you.”

100. Redemption / “I should apologize for this. But I won’t.”

101. Femme fatale / “Do you think you can handle it?”

102. (more challenges will be added eventually. If you want, send your challenge’ suggestions to the Ask Box)

 Note: Most of the quotes aren’t mine and have no source.