#popcorn lady music taste

[harlowtales]

Y/N has plans for Jack and his friends at her sleepover and Jack’s game night 🎮 💅🏽

18+ Only - Adult Themes

See Part One: “Girls Night”

All your friends started arriving. Jack’s friends weren’t there yet. The bottles of wine, chocolates, and popcorn came out immediately with cheek to cheek kisses and squeals. Pizza was ordered and you made your famous dip. Jack tried to taste it and you slapped his hand. “Um nope! Get your finger out the dip Jack!” You said.

The event was well underway. The first bottles were popped and glasses of wine poured. Your friends arrived in their pyjamas, cute hairstyles like pig tails, and fuzzy slippers. All 8 of you took over the living room blasting music and dancing while you picked a scary movie.

Jack went into the smaller room to set up for his friends. He already had a headache from the constant chatter and OMGs every 2 seconds coming from the living room. He said you could have the living room to keep the peace but he wasn’t happy about it.

“Bro dafuq??” His friends complained as they filed in.

“I don’t know whether to be pissed they took over our space or really turned on right now.” Phil said bewildered

“Let’s just make the best of it bro, we’re all packed into this tiny fucking room like sardines.” Urban said making a space for himself between 2 other guys.

As the evening wore on the noise from the living room rivalled the video games with screams from the movie and lots of talking giving directions and advice to characters that were dumb enough to go into an abandoned house all alone. Suddenly it got quiet. Real quiet. Jack noticed but was glad for it and didn’t pay it much mind as he was winning playing himself in 2k.

“We need to prank those mfs” your friend Ashley said. I gotta get Urb back for stealing my sandwich the other day.”

“Yeah!!! Let’s make it a night they won’t forget!” Your friend Jennifer said who had dated Sunni, who saw her but made a beeline for the smaller guest room without saying hi.

“Ok ladies…I have a plan.” You said with an evil grin.

“Maya and Jennifer you distract, me and Ashley will execute.” You said as you dished out military style plans to your soldiers. You went to your bedroom to strip down and put your robe on. Maya knocked on the door to the spare room shushing all the other girls to stop giggling and take things seriously. Another girl was waiting to record everything that was about to happen. Ashley was on one side of the door with the eggs and another friend was on the other side with party string and another with flour. The party string and glitter filled balloons were left over from Jack’s birthday last year. More girls were busily blowing a few balloons up that should stick nicely to the eggs, and were waiting with pillows filled with feathers. Everyone was still when Maya knocked on the door.

“Dafuq do they want?” Jack said as he opened the door thinking it was you. “Maya? Whats up?” Jack asked innocently “Does Y/N need me for something?”

“Naw, um Jennifer would like to talk to Sunni.” Maya said with a straight face. Matter fact, we have a treat for all of you if you don’t mind taking a break from those big boring games.” Maya said shooting a flirty look at Phil who gulped hard as Maya was in pyjamas and bouncy pigtails.

Sunni was vehemently shaking his head and mouthing “NO Way!” To Jack who said “Sure, let’s take a break fellas, the girls got something for us.”

You were waiting in the wings and when they all started coming out of the room it was like ambushing squirrels in a barrel. You gave the nod and one by one as they came out they were mercilessly pelted with raw eggs and flour and got tangled up in party string. As they we’re trying to see through the flour caked to their faces you streaked naked right through the chaos to glitter balloons ceremoniously popping and them getting hit hard with pillows.

All off the guys were yelling in confusion and surprise, bumping into one another slipping on the flour, getting their hands all sticky to get eggs yolk out of their hair and eyes, and spitting feathers out of their mouths. There were feathers, glitter, flour, party string, and eggs EVERYWHERE. You in just your robe and your crew of assassins stood there pointing fingers and howling with laughter. It was the ultimate payback.

Jack just stood a complete mess in shock. He had truly underestimated you. A part of him was proud, but among part was pissed not at the mess but you flashing everyone. “Y/N!!!” He yelled “Imma fucking…Imma…Im bout to…” He couldn’t even speak

“Bout to what? You got glitter and eggs up your ass” you howled red in face from laughing so hard.

“Come Y/N give your man some love.” Jack said as he came for you arms open to make a huge mess of you when he caught you.

“No!!! Jack no!!” You squealed as you tried to run and succeed in locking yourself in the bedroom.

“Y/N open the fucking door!” Jack said laughing and banging on the door.

Meanwhile Sunni stood looking at Jenn as she held her sides doubled over in laughter. “You look good enough to eat.” She said

“That was top tier. Wanna give me a kiss?” He said a complete mess as he took a feather off his nose that just landed there.

“Yes I…I do.” Jen said seriously looking at him longingly “Sunni…what happened? You just ghosted me.” She said and moved closer to him.

“Jen I’m so sorry. You know how shy I am. I couldn’t believe a girl like you actually liked me, and I wasn’t sure if you were tryna get close because I roll with Jack.”

“Sunni I literally have had a crush on you since kindergarten. I was invisible to you all this time.” Jennifer said

“For real?!” Sunni exclaimed in disbelief

“Yeah, so wipe that crap off your face and kiss me.” Jennifer said leaning in and they touched lips with Sunni standing far away so as not to mess her up.

“Hey don’t fraternize with the enemy.” Urban said to them while to Phil’s delight his crush Maya was helping to clean him off.

“Ok listen up boys!!” Jack yelled over the chaos “They got us good. Ladies well done.” He said clapping and kicking up flour like dust. “Let’s clean this shit up and go for Indis on me.”

“Y/N baby I need to shower, we all do.” Jack said of him and his friends “open the door I promise I won’t chase you.”

“Ok…you sure?” You said cautiously

“On my mama.” Jack swore

You slowly cracked the door open and saw everything the girls threw at them stuck in his curls, and all over his face and clothes.

“You look amazing. I hear eggs are good for your hair.” You said lovingly. Jack was being such a good sport.

“Why don’t you come give daddy a big hug?” He said and tackled you to the bed before you could run away.

“Jack!!! Fuck off!!” You said laughing now covered in the same mess.

“Oh no, now we both have to shower.” He said with a sly grin. “And don’t ever show my friends your goodies again. I think Shloob almost had to have his eyes surgically put back in his head.

“Even if there’s glitter involved?” You asked

“Especially if there’s glitter involved.” Jack said sternly giving your behind a slap.

@itsyagirljaz @okaaay-mice

[luvsreve]

WELCOME TO LUVSREVE'S

EVANGELINE

she - they , lesbian , blk & puerto rican , mb maker , 14+

byi : I'm stox , tox leaning and I don't know when I offend people unless you tell me , I sleep a lot so I'm not as active all the time , I hate slow repliers ( if ur doing smth / sleeping , I understand , but if ur active... ) , I talk a lot , I'm really picky , I can get NSFW at times

interact : gg stans , fast replier , 14-19 , supports/respects lgbtq+ , doesn't make fun of my interest , watches kdramas , likes/loves horror , has common sense

dni : sensitive , 14- , antis any of my favs , doesn't hold their favs accountable , makes "acoustic " and " restarted " jokes , basic dni criteria , jyp nd yg stans , people who still stream hybe artist , zionist , ppl who make fun of my friends , slow repliers , dry people, taeil supporters/defenders

MUSIC TASTE

KPOP ULTS

GIRLS' GENERATION - Seohyun, Taeyeon, Tiffany, Sunny, Jessica

BABY V.O.X - Miyoun, E-Z

M.I.L.K - OT4

LOONA ( + redebuts ) - Yeojin, Gowon, Kim Lip, Yves, Vivi, Jinsoul, HyeJu

AOA - Jimin, Yuna, Seolhyun

WONDER GIRLS - Sohee, Sunmi, Hyerim

Miss A - OT4

S.E.S. - Eugene

FIN.K.L - Jin, Yuri

AESPA - Ningning, Winter

AFTER SCHOOL - Nana, Kahi, Bekah, Lizzy

NCT ( all units ) - Jisung, Xiaojun, Jeno, Johnny, Mark, Chenle, Jaehyun, Haechan, Hendery, Jaemin, Doyoung, Jungwoo, Yuta

NEWJEANS - Danielle, Hyein, Minji

SISTAR - Dasom, Bora

IVE - Rei, Liz, Yujin

KARA - Hara, Seungyeon, Gyuri

F(X) - Sulli, Krystal

TWICE - MiSaMo, Dahyun, Nayeon

LIMELIGHT - OT3

FROMIS_9 - Jisun, Jiheon, Nagyung, Hayoung

GFRIEND - Yuju, Yerin, Eunha

SHINee - Key , Minho

IU

BOA

YUKIKA

BIBI

KPOP

2ne1, 4minute, 9muses, Adya, Alice, Apink, April, April, Ariaz, Artbeat V, Babys, BB girls + Brave girls, Beauty Box, Berrygood, BESTie, Brown eyed girls, Bunny.T, Busters, Bvndit, Chocolat, Chungha, Cignature, CL, Class:y, Craxy, Crayon pop, Csr, D.holic, Dalshabet, Delight, DIA, Diva, Deukae, Everglow, Fanatics, Favorite, Ferry blue, Fiestar, G-reyish, Girl's Day, Girls world, Girlkind, Good day, GOT the beat, Gugudan, Hanbyeol, H1-key, Hellovenus, Honey popcorn, I.O.I, ILY:1, IRRIS, Jewelry, Jiae, JINI, Kep1er, Kim Hyun Jung, Kwon Eunbi, Laboum, Ladies code, Lapillus, Lesserafim, Lee Chaeyeon, Lee Hyori, LeeHi, Lightsum, Limesoda, Lovelyz, Lunarsolar, Maka' Maka, Mimirose, Minimani, Momoland, Nature, Neon Punch, Oceanfromtheblue, OffonOff, Oh my girl + Oh my girl banhana, Papaya, Pink fantasy, Pixy, Playback, Primrose, Pristin, Purple kiss, Q6ix, Queen Eyez, Rainbow, Rania, Redsquare, Rocket punch, Rocking doll, Rolling quartz, S#arp, S.I.S, Saturday, Secret, Seori, Sha Sha, Sonamoo, Soojin, StayC, Stellar, Sunny hill, Tri.be, TripleS ( all units aswell ), Um Junghwa, UNI.T, ViV, We girls, We;Na, Weeekly, Weki Meki, WiTCHZ, Wjsn, Woo!ah!, XUM, Yerin, Yerin Baek, YooA, Younha, Youra, Yuju

NON-KPOP

21 savage, 2pac, A$AP rocky, Aaliyah, Ano, Arctic Monkeys, Ariana Grande, Attarashii Gakko!, Ayesha Eroctia, Azealia Banks, BABYMETAL, Bad Bunny, Beabadoobee, Beyonce, Bon Jovi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Brent Faiyaz, B.I.G, Britney Spears, Chase Atlantic, Childish Gambino, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera, Cigarettes After Sex, Crystal Castles, Cults, Cypress Hill, Daddy Yankee, Doja Cat, Doma Cyno, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Estabon Armado, Eyedress, Faye Webster, FLO, Frank Ocean, Fuerza Regida, Grimes, Gwen Stefani, Hanbee, H.E.R, Hyejin, IC3PEAK, Ice Cube, J Balvin, Kali Uchis, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Kikuo, Korn, Kyle, Lady Gaga, Lamp, Lana Del Rey, Laufey, Lil Uzi, LiSA, Mac DeMarco, Marina, Megan Thee Stallion, Melanie Martinez, Michael Jackson, MILLI, MISAMO, Mitski, Mother Mother, Mr. Capone-E, Nas, Nirvana, Playboy Carti, Rammstein, Rihanna, Rina Sawayama, Roar, Romeo Santos, Selena Gomez, Selena Quintanilla, Snoop Dogg, Souls of Mischief, Steve Lacy, SZA, The neighbourhood, The Weekend, TLC, TV girl, Tyler The Creator, XG, Yeat

[northwyrm]

Hi hello what's up! STS day wahoo!!! My question to you is about music! Is it present in your story at all? How so? If not, tell me about some songs you associate with your WIP! You can do that anyway, actually, I like songs :)

So sadly I have deleted the epic dance competition from the story, rest in peace Demon Dancy's Dance Competition

(Victor and Harriet in the clutches of dance fever by @zennyzach )

This scene, in which a demon forces everyone to dance for Ultimate Knowledge, included several unnamed tracks along with Abba's Dancing Queen, Beyoncé’s All the Single Ladies, Gershon Kingsly's Popcorn, Lou Bega's Mambo Number 5 and DJ Casper's Cha Cha Slide. As this is a dance competition run by a demon several people were killed by Cha Cha Slide; the rules are if you stop dancing the demon could teleport you to a random location (middle of the ocean, active volcano, your ex's bathroom) and well, when DJ Casper says 'Freeze' and everyone freezes...

HOWEVER this deeply silly scene no longer fits in with the plot so I have cast it aside. Currently Bloodmood involves no music, but I do think some day Victor the vampire will discover music and love it.

I am VERY BAD at associating songs with blorbos - my friends @cydork and @dragonfelling are a lot better at doing this and make whole playlists for characters - Dragonfelling even kindly made a Bloodmood playlist:

^ this has a lot of werewolf songs as Dragonfelling's OCs for my story are werewolves :)

I also had a crack at making a playlist; I watched the Dark on Netflix and was like "wow, this has a banging soundtrack, if Bloodmood was a TV show I hope it would have a soundtrack like this!" - the songs on this playlist aren't closely related to Bloodmood I just think they sound nice.

There are two specific songs that actually fit character vibes, we have This is Love by Air Traffic Controllers which is a 'Harriet' song:

And for a deeply silly and slightly lovesick vampire we have Brian David Gilbert's Abba parody...

BTW 'music I like for bloodmood' isn't 'music northwyrm likes the most' - my personal music taste is just Ghost, Lemon Demon and Blind Guardian.

[rom-e-o]

The Call - Ebenezer/Constance Modern!AU

A continuation of Ebenezer and Constance's meeting in a modern and AU setting. Here, they FINALLY set up a first date!

This story also includes characters from @quill-pen and her universe, including her Ebenezar/Wolf, Bess, Addie, and Gal, as well as characters like Eddie and Pippersnipe that have manifested through shared headcanon discussions!

The sound of the doorbell added further chaos to the already bursting cottage.

“Oh, yay! Pizza’s here!”

“I thought we were only making snacks for tonight. I just popped popcorn!”

“Who the heck complains about pizza?”

“You gals are like bloody garbage disposals – how can you eat so much?” Eddie asked. 

“Oi, ladies, can we start this flick ‘ometime in the next fifty years?”

After each woman had filled their plates with pizza and grabbed a glass of their favorite wine, the group filed into the cottage’s cozy living room and piled in front of the television for a much-needed movie night.

“Here you go, Eddie,” Constance said as she handed the older woman a hearty plate of food and a flute of her favorite blackberry liqueur.

“Tryna to get me liquored up, are ya?” she asked playfully as she accepted the very full flute.

“That’s what sleepovers with the girls are for!” Constance teased in return, giving her shoulders a playful squeeze before making sure her blanket with tucked in place.

“I can’t believe you’ve never seen ‘Anastasia’ – it’s a classic!” Bess exclaimed to Addie, who giggled as she assumed a spot on the floor. She put the bowl of freshly popped popcorn between them. “Gosh, I used to watch this with Millie on repeat when she was younger. I could probably recite it word for word.”

“Try t' contain y'self, Lass,” Gal said, stealing a fistful of popcorn as she fell into her seat of choice.

“Sorry, I’ve just … never had a reason to see it,” Addie reasoned with a shrug. “But I’m excited! Is it a romance?”

“Oh-ho! 'Tis a MUSICAL ROMANCE!” Gal corrected. She was lying across one of their tufted armchairs, her back resting on one armrest while her legs rested atop the other, socked feet bobbing up and down. “Wit' talkin' critters too.”

“How are you familiar with ‘Anastasia’, Gal?” Bess asked curiously as she twisted her long, dark hair into an updo. “It doesn't quite seem like your type of movie?”

“Eh, I dun'mind a princessy tale now and again,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. When the stares from her friends didn’t relent, she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Also, Jake fancies it.”

Amused cooing erupted from the other ladies.

“If ye tell 'im I told ye, I'll knock ye brains out an' serve 'em as fritters!”

“Eh, leave the poor man alone, it’s a cute little movie,” Eddie added, who was comfortably situated on the room’s other armchair, which sat opposite of Gal’s. “The mousy lad she falls for is quite the darling. A little young and an awful dresser, but I think I could fix him up nicely.”

“Shhh, no spoilers!”

“I haven’t seen it either, Addie,” Connie chimed in, reaching down from her position on the couch to take her hand, lace their fingers, then swing their hands like a pendulum back and forth. “We can be surprised together!”

“Seriously, you too?” Bess asked. “How did I not know that? I would have fixed this long ago!”

The redhead shrugged. “I just don’t watch movies very often.”

“Now, that is not true, Con,” she refuted, poking her friend in the knee. “You have a weird taste in movies, not a non-existent one. I know WAY too much about what happens in the ‘Sex and the City’ movies because of you alone.”

“W-Well…” she went to argue as Gal snickered from her position in the chair.

Truth be told, it would be nice to have the distraction of a movie for the evening. While Connie was doing her best to play it cool, her mind and heart were still racing from her morning shift.

That was when, motivated by her friends’ insistence and reasoning, she had found the courage to write her phone number on the cup of Ebenezer Samuel Scrooge’s morning order. It had taken weeks of build-up and peer pressure to take the seemingly small step, but it had been preceded by maddening amounts of flirting.

As if giving him her cell number wasn’t enough, she’d written the note ‘Call me~” right beneath it, and signed it with the letter ‘C’ for good measure.

That had been seven hours ago. And not a single call or text had come through.

Crickets.

Nada.

Goose egg.

With a sigh, she slipped her phone into the kangaroo pocket of her oversized sweatshirt and took a bug gulp of her wine. Well, she’d probably just lost her best customer. That would be fun to confess to her boss on Monday.

“Okay, everyone ready?” Addie asked as she reached for the remote to start the film. “Annnnd … play!”

About halfway through the film, after the two jumbo pizzas had been demolished, Constance felt a buzzing from her pullover’s pocket. She’d silenced the phone for the movie, not expecting anyone to reach out to her (after all, all her friends – aside from her mom and their landlord Mr. Pippersnipe) were in the room with her.

Constance glanced down at her phone and saw a familiar number flash across the top of the screen. She hadn’t created a contact profile for the number yet, but she knew it by heart already after weeks of seeing his number amongst her daily orders.

“It’s him!” Constance exclaimed as she all but shot out of her seat. “H-He’s calling me! H-He really is!”

Gal practically spat out her drink.

The other girls collectively gasped while Bess turned to shush them. “PAUSE! EVERYONE SHUT UP!”

“W-Who? Wait, is it that handsome man from the coffee shop?” Addie asked, which made Constance blush bright red before nodding. “Oooooh, it is!”

“I’ll be damned – the blighter has a backbone!” Eddie cheered, hoisting her flute. “Now you can check that front-bone of his, too.”

“Eddie!”

“MISSION CONTROL, WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THE ADONIS HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE SUN!” Bess continued, scrambling for the television remote. “Pause! Ugh, at least MUTE, darn you!”

‘Adonis’ was an affectionate nickname Constance and her friends had given to the silver-haired man that frequented the New Grounds Coffee Co. daily. It never needed explanation because, as soon as one saw a picture of the man, the reason for the name was evident.

“W-What do I do?” Constance asked.

“ANSWER IT!” all the girls cried in unison (“And put ‘em on speaker!” Eddie chimed in loudly before Addie frantically shushed her).

Constance took the deepest breath she’d ever taken before accepting the call.

“Um, h-hello, this is Constance,” she spoke timidly into the receiver.

“Constance! I’m glad you picked up. Um, hello. I-It’s Ebenezer.”

Her heart did backflips at the excited tremor in his voice. “H-Hi! I thought I recognized your number, haha. I’m glad you called.”

Now on her feet and pacing around in her black shorts and crumb-covered pullover, she was so thankful he hadn’t opted for a video call. While it was always nice to see him (literally, he was a treat for the eyes), she knew she looked like an absolute mess, with wine-stained lips and her hair in an updo that nothing but a shower could help.

She they talked, she saw her friends watching in intrigued, their reactions running the gambit from eager cheering to sly, flirtatious lip puckers.

“Are you busy?” he asked.

“Um, not really,” she replied truthfully, frantically gesturing for the girls to stay quiet. “I’m just at home. I-I hope you are too. It’s cold out.”

From her vantage point in the kitchen, she could see the beginnings of a gentle snowfall dusting the surrounding buildings in a flimsy layer of frost.

“I just finished at the office, actually,” confided, his voice low. “It’s been a long day, so I wanted to warm up with a drink before I left. I did want to give you a call as soon as I could. To tell you the truth, I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”

Constance was sure she looked like a crazy person as she spun in excited circles at his admission, but she was far too happy to care. “Really? I’m kind of relieved to hear that, actually! I’m glad I didn’t scare you off.”

“Hardly,” he replied with a warm laugh. “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner.”

“Oh, please don’t apologize! You were working. I’m just glad to hear you can head home soon.”

“You’re very sweet,” Ebenezer said, and her heart leapt again at his praise. His voice always got a little rumbly when he was pleased, and the melty effect it gave her legs was just as effective over the phone. “Constance, I wanted to ask … um, are you off this Saturday? We’re supposed to have a break in this cold front, and I was wondering if might be interested in going out to dinner to enjoy it?”

He was asking her out! It was REALLY happening!

She mouthed out ‘Dinner date!’ to the girls. The reveal was immediately greeted with silent clapping and eager thumbs-ups. Of course, Eddie mouthed back an ‘I told you so’, complete with a pointed finger to accentuate her correctness.

“I would love that,” Constance replied, tousling her hair nervously while she answered. “I’m free all afternoon and evening that day, honestly.”

The second the admission crossed her lips, she felt instant regret. Great, she thought. Now he probably thought she sounded desperate and needy for attention. Yet, Ebenezer only laughed again (goodness, his laughter was so nice – she could listen to it all day, every day).

“Fantastic! Would 8 p.m. work? There’s a fabulous restaurant on the riverfront called Estella’s that I think you’d enjoy.”

Estella’s on a Saturday night? The restaurant was well known for only serving London’s most upper of upper class. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to get a table.

“I’ve heard of it – it’s very exclusive! I-I hear it’s really hard to get in.”

“I think we should be fine,” Ebenezer said, his tone confident but not arrogant.

Unbeknownst to her, he was eyeing a reservation email in his inbox that confirmed the details of the dinner. He’d reached out to the restaurant’s owner and successfully booked the space before even calling to mention it to her. That way if she accepted his invitation, there would be no risk of him not being able to fulfill it. The last thing he wanted to do on a long-awaited date with the first woman he’d had a crush on in literal decades was not deliver on a first-date promise.

 “Can I pick up at 7:15 p.m. or so? I know it’s early, but if we have some extra time beforehand, there’s a lovely lounge on the restaurant’s second floor with a nice artwork display. We could grab a drink or two as well. I-If you wouldn’t mind that, that is.”

“That sounds so lovely,” she answered. Heavens, how long had it been since she’d been on a date that sounded so nice? Why, it probably hadn’t been since before her marriage to her ex-husband, Orin. That would have made it over 20 years.

“Yes, 7:15 p.m. would work perfectly! I don’t think I live too far from you.”

As she gave him her address, she heard the click of a pen and the faint sound of scrawling. He was writing it down.

“Sounds perfect,” he said. “I’ll let you know when I’m on my way.”

He was actually going to drive her? Ebenezer Samuel Scrooge, one of London’s most esteemed philanthropists and self-made billionaires, was going to drive her personally?

“Oh, good! We don’t have a ton of parking here, but when I see your message, I can walk just up the street to the –”

“Nonsense,” he interrupted. “London’s winters are frigid! I’ll not have you walking and waiting in the dark. When I’m there, I’ll get out, ring the bell, and walk you personally.”

This all had to be some elaborate dream, she thought. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep during the movie after all and was just one nudge away from waking up and seeing that their phone conversation was nothing but an imagined flight of fancy.

“O-Okay, that sounds wonderful.”

“Excellent. Well, I won’t keep you, dear. I will tell you that I’m very much looking to our date.”

“Me too,” she revealed. “T-Thank you again for calling. I honestly can’t wait.”

“I’m glad to hear that, and I hope you’ll trust me when I say that it’s my pleasure.”

She laughed, an easy smile crossing her face. She leaned against the kitchen wall and sank down until she was seated on the floor, knees nestled just beneath her chin. “Well, I really hope you have a safe trip home. Goodnight, Ebenezer.”

“I certainly will,” he said. Then, after another beat, he said, “Goodnight, angel. I’ll see you Saturday.”

Constance ended the call. After checking to make sure she’d hung up the phone, even dialing another digit to hear a dial tone click in, she shot up and danced in circles. The woman was just about to run to the living room to alert her friends only to see that they were all waiting in a gaggle on the other side of the threshold.

“So?” Addie asked, already beaming.

“8 o’clock on Saturday,” she revealed.

Bess was the first to cheer and pull her friend into a tight embrace. “I knew it! I knew he would eventually do it!”

“Where’s he takin’ ya?” Gal asked. Upon hearing the answer, her eyes nearly popped out of her skull. “Estella’s!? Blimey, he mighty does like ye if he's takin' ye to a fancy galley like that!”

“You think?” Connie asked, then giggled again as Addie hugged her tight.

“The real test will be the night of,” Eddie said, waggling her glass mid-air. “What he does during the date…and after.”

“I-It’s just a first date, nothing serious,” the redhead said.

Bess and Gal exchanged unconvinced looks. Addie hummed idly. Eddie all but snorted.

“Just don’t forget a change of clothes,” Eddie teased. “Or…do. He may like that more.”

Connie yelped and Bess only rolled her eyes at the older woman’s teasing. Meanwhile, Addie looked slightly lost in thought, eyes glazing at she rubbed her chin and stared with oddly serious intent at the floor.

“Addie?” the raven-haired woman asked. “You okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine!” she said, “I was … just thinking. Um, you said his name is Mr. Scrooge, right?”

Constance nodded.

“Ebenezer, or Ebenezar?”

“Um…Ebenezer?” Constance answered, her brow furrowing. “With an ‘er’ at the end.”

Without another word, Addie suddenly trotted back to the living room. The other woman trotted after to find her crouching on her knees, arm rattling around a small magazine rack they had under their end table. It was a common resting place for junk mail, catalogs, and other unnecessary mail items that didn’t have a purpose or deadline attached to them.

“Almoooost ...a-ha!”

Addie pulled a semi-smushed, rolled up finance section that had gotten mixed up in their morning newspaper delivery on accident. She flipped through it quickly before finding the page she desired. Then, splaying the pages open with her thumb, she held out the publication for the other ladies to view.

Right there, in the paper’s centerfold, was a featured article title: Scrooge Brothers Diversify Financial Portfolio with Expanding Philanthropic Efforts! Expert panelists weigh in…

There, beneath the headline, was an image of both men, side by side, engaged in some kind of presentation before a crowded room of onlookers.

One of the men was the man Constance knew from the coffee shop. Ebenezer Samuel Scrooge, the man who never ordered the same thing twice, complimented her skills, and remembered her birthday even when all her other coworkers had forgotten.

The other man beside him had the exact same face. Longer hair and a slightly sturdier frame, but otherwise, the resemblance between them was eerie.

Bess poked her head over Connie’s shoulder for a better look. Upon seeing the brothers featured, she grabbed the article and went bug-eyed. “No way.”

“Way. He’s a twin,” Addie said, “An identical twin!”

That had gone well.

Or, he thought it had … hadn’t it?

He allowed himself the pleasure of letting out a little laugh of relief. Bloody hell, he’d been so nervous about calling her. When he’s first seen the note she’d left him, he’d thought he’s been dreaming. Or, perhaps she was pranking him. Regardless, he’d tucked the note in the breast pocket of his coat for safe-keeping. Even the small scrap of paper carried the aroma of lilies and fresh pears, a perfume he’d come to associate with her. It paired quite nicely with the sight of her brightly greeting customers as they came in from the cold. After shuffling down the cold and sometimes hollow alleyways of London, the mere sight of her tanned visage and coppery hair was like glimpsing the summer sun.

Then, when he’d worked up the nerve to call (after the help of some liquid courage and from within the safety of an empty office) the sound of her voice had lured him into a sanctuary of further boldness. Each word from her lips was as clear as a bell, her articulation precise and her tone welcoming. Eager, perhaps. He certainly hoped so.

Ebenezer polished off the glass’ last finger of whiskey before pulling up a new tab on his laptop. After loading the website of a local florist he knew from their work at other charity events, he began to browse through the different flower varieties and arrangement options.

What flowers should he bring? Tulips? Too juvenile. Roses? Certainly beautiful, but still not quite right. Orchids? No, lilies! And sunflowers. An unconventional combination, he supposed, but it seemed so perfect for her. The lilies for poise and elegance, and the sunflowers for the way she lit up even the darkest days in the darkest city with just one smile.

As he clicked through different options, he saw the phone he’d temporarily set aside vibrate gently upon his cherrywood desk.

He was greeted by a text from his younger twin brother.

>>Ebenezar: I can see the office light on from my flat. What the hell are you still doing there? <<Ebenezer: I’ll be leaving shortly. I’m just grabbing a drink. >>Ebenezar: Must be a strong drink – you were pacing around the office with the loopiest grin on that mug of yours. Now, you’re browsing for flowers?

Ebenezer went to the window and yanked the blinds shut. Blast, he’d forgotten his brother lived so close to the damn office.

<<Ebenezer: Spying? Are you so bored at home? >>Ebenezar: I’m not calling on Yankee ladies like you. If that’s what you mean.

How the hell had he known? Blast, he must have heard him chatting about the phone conversation with Bob.

<<Ebenezer: Perhaps it would do you well. You’re handsome enough. >>Ebenezar: ‘He was hilarious.’ That’s what they’ll say on the day someone finally knocks you on the head for your smartass comments. <<Ebenezer: Pot, meet kettle. Like I said, I’ll be leaving shortly. Sorry to cut your entertainment short. When you start calling on Yankee ladies, I’ll warm them of your voyeurism. >>Ebenezar: Smartass wanker.

Ebenezer rolled his eyes and pocketed the device, quite content to abandon his post and get some sleep. It was getting colder out, after all, and Constance had expressed hope that he’d head home soon.

In a way, he wanted to honor her wishes, even if she wasn’t technically present to witness it.

The fact that she cared so much made heat flood his cheeks, and he suddenly doubted if he’d even need his winter coat anymore to keep his blood from freezing.

I really hope you have a safe trip home. Goodnight, Ebenezer.

His heart started again. The blush didn’t leave his face, even after he’d closed his laptop and shut off the lights.

For a man who enjoyed a productive and jam-packed workweek, suddenly Saturday night couldn’t come fast enough.

[daigina-3]

Star Dust, Angel Dust

Anthony Donatiello was going to be a star. 

The dark cinema was buzzing. The joint was full of his family and friends- the place rented out just for them. Not that he thought his uncle’s meathead friends or his cousins cared much for motion pictures, unless they were the kiddie vaudeville types. They just didn’t have the taste Anthony did. Molly liked movies all right, but mostly because she knew Anthony did. She did anything he wanted, went where he went, liked what he liked; even if she didn’t, really. 

He sat back in the big seat- his feet just reaching the floor. His frame was slight even at eleven, when most of the other kids his age were sprouting up and out. He was hardly any bigger than Molly was, the two of them identical pointy limbs and round, pinched-cheek faces. Though Ma said he’d hit his growth spurt any day now and be taller than all of them, and be on his way to becomin’ a big man like his papa. 

Anthony wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. He loved his papa, sure. But when he dreamt of who he would be as an adult, it wasn’t his father’s stubbly jaw line and gruff voice he imagined.

It was Roman Novaro, with his slender frame and shiny hair. It was Colleen Moore and her wire-thin dainty eyebrows and shiny bead-embroidered dresses.

It was Clara Bow. 

On the silver screen, Clara Bow’s big round eyes were pinched in anger as she was waving her cutesy little gun around (He didn’t know what she thought that little thing would do- he’d seen bigger guns in his pop’s bathroom), looking for all the world like she was about to jump out of the ten foot tall screen and into the room. 

Clara was the ultimate star- she had the face, the legs, the smile. She was everything. People called her the “it” girl- on the cover of every magazine, in every department store window on posters for perfume and powder- and always, always with all eyes on her. 

She was an angel.

Anthony had fallen in love with her the first time he’d seen her on screen with her thin painted lips and the way they quirked up in an impish smile. He’d made his mama take him to the cinema to see the movie three times. He practiced that smile in the bathroom mirror every morning for a week. 

Ladies of the Mob had been a funny choice for a family outing, looking back. Not that he’d really known then that the family business was anything more than some vague investment company or something else equally as vague and boring as shit to an eleven year old. He just thought that maybe all investment companies came with family bodyguards who were also his cousins- and also cousins that weren’t really cousins but they called them that anyway. And didn’t every family have weapon stashes in every room of the house? His pops always said protecting his family came first!

Next to him in the dark, Molly elbowed him gently and held out the little bag of popcorn for him to take a handful. Her big blue eyes were still locked on the screen as Clara’s lover, the poor crook who Clara was trying so hard to make a better man, grabbed her by the arms and shook her passionately. Anthony felt the tension rise as their faces got closer together and her lover shook her again, the piano music swelling. The gun fell from Clara’s hand as she stared up at her fella’s furious face.

“Don’t you know I love ya, ya dumb broad?” The title card read. 

Clara shook her head, moving her perfectly painted lips. Anthony mirrored her expression, copying the way she turned down the corners of her mouth.

“Well, you have a mighty good way of showing it.”

He yanked her forward with force until they were just an inch away, his mouth mumbling words that made Anthony’s tummy flip and his eyebrows go up in surprise just the same as Clara’s on screen.

“I’ll show you good.”

He crashed his mouth to Clara’s- Anthony didn’t have to look at his sister to know Molly had clapped one hand over her eyes. She still thought kissing was gross, the little baby. But he didn’t ever want to look away. In the darkness with stars in his little eyes, Anthony puckered his lips, instinctively copying Clara. 

Someone was gonna kiss him like that someday. 

*

“You're gonna be a star, Angel baby.”

That's what Val had told him when they first met in the corner of a hazy strip club. The moth demon had paid for private dances at the club, rented out rooms for days just to monopolize Angel's time and attention. And Angel took the compliment and the cash, batted his lashes and let Val flash even more bills than the day before or the day before. He was buying bottle after bottle without care. Hell, he was practically pouring the shit out on the floor. What did Val care? He could buy the whole bottling plant if he wanted. He had money, he had power, he had people falling at his feet.

So who could blame Angel if he fell, too?

Well. He sure as fuck could blame himself. He'd been stupid. Naive.

Val had been good to him, at the start. For a long while, Angel was a free man who went where he wanted and did what and who he wanted. And who he wanted was Val. He ate up the gifts; the clothes, the free meals, the sex- he was peppered with kisses and pet names and promises and in return when Val was mean, Angel told himself that was the shit he was into anyway. Even if he wasn't really into how Val did it.

And he wasn't mean outside of bed, anyway- Angel would never let that happen to him. He watched, tucked under Val's wing as he was cruel and ruthless to waitstaff, employees, dancers, bartenders. Didn't matter. That would never be him. He was Angel Baby, his star, Amorcito. He was special.

Stupid. Naive. And humble, as ever.

Anthony never got to be a star. But Angel was. His face was everywhere. His legs and ass were in even more places.

Just like Clara, he thought to himself with satisfaction when he looked in the mirror before a shoot, giving himself bedroom eyes and admiring himself.

Just like Clara? He thought to himself with a bitter pit in his stomach when he looked in a mirror after Val manhandled him. kissed him so hard it hurt. Talked over him. Didn't listen when he asked for a pause, a moment to catch his breath.

Breaks were not in the budget, on or off set.

Angel Dust was a star. But Anthony was curled up in bed, the only one who ever loved him right snuffling at his tear stained cheeks. He drew Fat Nuggets in tighter to his chest, letting him nuzzle his neck and snort sweetly.

[astarab1aze]

➥ CirQuet Dancer

⸻Technical Information. // Face, Voice, etc.

01. Faceclaim. Lucyna Kushinada  [ Cyberpunk: Edgerunners ] 04. Voice Claim. TBA

⸻Profile Information. // Name, Age, etc.

01. Name. Nishka Varonis 02. Alias. Neesh, Ninnie Mouse (given by Faith) 03. Sex. Female 04. Gender. Female 05. Age. 26 06. Birth Date. April 24th   [ Aries ] 07. Blood Type. Sub-type HS-WB+ 08. Race. Witch, American by nationality ; Polish-Latvian by ethnicity. 09. Marital Status. Single   [ Multiship ] 10. Orientation. Bisexual  [ Biromantic / no preference ] 11. Residence. In the same shitty apartment complex as Faith (they’re neighbors, actually!) in Salem’s Crossing, Miami, Florida ; She keeps her place as neat and as clean as possible, almost as if nobody lives there.

⸻Physical Information. // Body, Equipment, Family, etc.

17. Physical Description. Nishka has short, iridescent white hair cut into an asymmetrical bob, some illusionary hints of various colors shining through in certain lights. Her eyes are pale white with an almost-luminous white ring around each of her pupils, framed by thick black lashes. Her skin is pale, almost milky white, delicate and soft, unblemished. She stands at 5’3”, slender, petite, lean and lightly toned. She has no scars, but myriad minimalistic geometric tattoos across her back, shoulder, and collar bones, with some mechanical doll-like joint tattoos throughout her body in similar style to the others (sort of…built-in costuming), which she enhances with illusion magic in order to make them glow. She has a wide variety of tastes, but can most often be found in any odd assortment of handmade costuming, enchanted with illustrious illusion charms, and she may occasionally wear a wig depending on the vibe of the show. Salmon lip gloss, red eyeshadow, and sharply-winged eyeliner (thank you, Faith!).

13. Equipment. She doesn’t keep much on her aside from the very basics; A traveling mirror, her cellphone, wallet, keys, her howlite wand, a broom for posterity’s sake, and a change of clothes. Often, she can be seen carting around a suitcase full of costumes and outfits for the Cyber CirQuet. 14. Occupation. Technically, she has many, but the job she was actually hired for was to be a simple acrobat - it just so happened to be that she would play nearly every role in management, customer service, performance, and more. She’s a contortionist, illusionist, dancer, clown, juggler, tightrope walker, special effects specialist, HR– Working for a small-time cyber-themed circus show, Cyber CirQuet. 15. Job Performance. Highly valued, the circus would dissolve without her hard work. They would never have made it out of Salem’s Crossing to New York or Chimachi were it not for her dedication, willingness to sacrifice personal time, and ability to work a crowd. 16. Parents. She’s an orphan, raised by sectarian bloodweavers of the Sightless Eye. 17. Siblings. She considers some of the other orphans to be like siblings, but she wouldn’t say she has siblings at all.

⸻Personality Information. // Likes, Strengths, etc.

18. Likes. Performing, making people laugh, smile, or gasp in wonder, lavender and lemon, gin, periwinkle, shrinking violets, FrankenLeeches, boo berry pies, practicing her routines, spinning unique conjurations for the kids, sewing, reading fantasies, stargazing, gossiping with Faith, photography, music, lemonade, chatting up the Bearded Lady for beauty tips, night markets, building ‘bucket houses’ for dumpster fey, etc. 19. Dislikes. Bearing all of both the responsibility and the risk, making mistakes, bruised feet, scarbuncle cheese, the ‘dirty’ aspects of magic, modernist architecture, uncleanliness, dolls, bugs, Sanguinarians, snallygasters, blackwyrms, humans, daytime, popcorn, water, Salem’s Crossing, people who can’t directly answer a direct question, slime, affinities opposed to her own, cleaning up the mess after a show, eye stalks, beanstalk stew, etc.

20. Positive Traits. Friendly. Fun-loving. Hard-working. Compassionate. Flexible. Generous. Resilient. Moderate. Patient. Loyal. Mindful. Gentle. 21. Negative Traits. Proud. Unforgiving. Workaholic. Short-tempered. Stubborn. Picky. Jealous. Cynical. Impulsive. 22. Goals. To bring the Cyber CirQuet to new heights in popularity as an attraction and show, earning enough of a raise in pay she might be able to more comfortably split rent on a possible joint apartment with Faith. 23. Desires. To eventually learn about her birth parents, find some closure and peace there, where she comes from and why she was orphaned. 24. Alignment. Neutral Good

25. Personality. Nishka is somewhat socially detached despite being a bit of a butterfly, uncertain of the world around her and exposed only to illusions and elaborate lies. Other people are separate from her, at arm's length, while she painstakingly recharges her batteries, rifles through her mind on what she needs to prepare for work, what themes she's going to use, whether or not she brushed her teeth and hair, what year is it-- Somewhat scatterbrained, mostly preoccupied, and happily so, putting off her goals in an effort to distract herself from the context. She is a hard worker and often incredibly proud of her work and herself, sometimes to her detriment. She doesn't trust other people easily and will have cynical views of their (presumed) intentions, managing her (and others') expectations - she doesn't like to be proven right, and when she is, well, she can be quite unforgiving. She's lived an interesting enough life that sorta dips to one side or the other - safety and security vs chaos danger, simply put, so she knows not to put too much of her heart into something when its certain to fail, even if she's just stubborn enough to see it through to the end anyway. Ultimately, she's a complicated and somewhat contradictory woman, informed by a number of experiences, loving and good in her own ways but woefully wrapped up in her own little world.

⸻Sorcery Information. // Affinity, Talent, etc.

26. Affinity. Light, Air, some Bestial - low-level but high acuity in select spells and talents, truly above and beyond potential but an inability to apply herself. 27. Shapeshifting. Innate Sugar Glider- naturally capable of shifting into the form of a palm-sized white sugar glider with a single, almost entirely invisible stripe down her back; She cannot maintain this form for long, limited to the transformative capabilities of any low-level mage despite her blood. 28. Utility. Alteration, minor conjuration, light enhancement, Float, barriers, minor telekinesis, charms, animal speech, 29. Specialization. Neon, Prismatic, and Illusions - in combining her natural-born affinities, she’s developed the ability to harness neon gas and prismatic light, using both in conjunction with her illusions to enhance her performances. 30. Graduate School. Dogwood J. Cotton’s Vocational Sorceries - school dedicated to job sorting lower classed and academically unclaimed children into a fitting magical career choice 31. Classification. Non-Anthromorphic Hybrid - Witch & Shapeshifter ; As she is both witch and shapeshifter, she is considered a hybrid between the two, though she lacks the potency of a full-blooded shifter.

⸻Background Information. // Past to Present.

    Yaddayaddayadda working on this later (sorry)

[caztiel]

whatever thog dont caare. i took cutie for a ride in my death cab she tipped me with a kiss i dropped her off at the meth lab before she left she made a dashboard confessional and spilled her guts in cursive but whats worse is i could still see her bright eyes like sunny day real estate oh my and in a funny way the ceiling tastes so high but no chance my little chemical romance left a bad taste in my mouth but i imposed her like hey mercedes why the long face why you crying no need just put on this coheed and fall out boy meets girl jimmy eat world but schlep eats pills till hes all out not once not twice she was thrice times a lady macking on brand new but i had to bounce over to the postal services to pick up these pills that take care of my nervousness and on the way i saw planes and mistook them for stars she played games but she took them too far at the drive in watching soft porn and you can tell by the trail of the dead that there was something in the popcorn hop in my cab destination midtown just to get up with some kids that like to get down i made my rounds and that was that in between the frowns and scraps and heart attacks and i remember i seen her ass in early november on a thursday taking back sunday for a refund she shot a wink like no hard feelings then she jetted to brazil man them pills had me spun this is the story of the year right here this is hot water music cook your ramen to it whattup elliott i aint seen you in a minute how you doing

[mikavlcs]

TARA! Enough now. Leave Sam alone. She was in a bad place and needed someone. She trusted Richie, it's not her fault that he turned out to be a vile loser pathetic excuse of a man fucker. I'm sure Sam feels guilty enough already. I do NOT appreciate any Sam slander. If you keep this up, I WILL fight your tiny ass. (I'm not much taller but I'll protect Sam)

Tara, I mean it. Stop avoiding and ignoring Sam and act like an adult. I got my eyes on you girlie.

A movie night without popcorn is not acceptable. Sam getting some specifically for R is so adorable. I love her so much. Though it IS quite a daring and dumb idea to go alone and leave the other two at home... The call is such a great idea. We love a smart and caring lady.

SAM NO! NOT HER PLEASE. Bitch Tara you can't just sacrifice Sam like that!! Come on now. I gasped out loud when she shut the door. Poor Sam, Tara can be so cruel. I swear to you Tara, if anything happens to Sam I will come for you.

Great. Now Richie can easily disarm the alarm. Well done Tara. That's what you get for leaving Sam. Karma is a bitch.

If only Tara would give a tiny bit of her concern for R to Sam... (I don't even know at what point this turned into me simping for Sam. It started with absolutely loving Tara and R... oopsie)

You go Tara, beat that fucker to a pulp. What a true girlboss!

Hell yes R! Stab him to pieces and save your grumpy grudeg holding girl.

Lol, of course Tara enjoys the sight of R stabbing someone. That girl really is deranged, I love it!

"Equilibrium" another Google worthy word. English course with Mika. I can get behind that!

Oh Richie boy you're in trouble. Hurting R was your biggest mistake. Tsrs well obliterate your stinky ass now.

Lol Richie head soup. Dinner is served. But damn, if he is missing an eye Tara really went all out, didn't she? Love that for her.

Now that is poetic. Tara loves blood. The taste, the feeling and smell. Yet when it comes from the person she loves, she absolutely despises it.

Sam baby girl you're okay! Thank God.

AWW! Sam is willing to take the fall for Tara. My heart can't take it, she is so sweet and cute and hot and protective. I love Sam so much. She's the best. With your stories I always stray with my affection from the intended person to someone else. In your Wednesday stories it's my true love Thing and here it's Sam. But it's so easy to fall for a different character because your writing is just so gripping and wonderful!

"Plus, Tara would never lie to you" oh honey if only you knew... poor innocent R.

Tara come on now. Yes, you protected R and we all love you for it but let Sam protect you now. She's back and she loves you.

Sonic the Hedgehog music... Darling I'm not judging. If that music helped you create this masterpiece, then go ahead and listen to all the weird music you want! 😉

To no one's surprise, this was fantastic. I especially loved the tension. It felt so raw and real. And obviously Sam. She's the best. Well done, friend!

ok part 2 🙏

this whole message is so sam-oriented omg. a blessing 🥰

TARA! Enough now. Leave Sam alone. She was in a bad place and needed someone. She trusted Richie, it's not her fault that he turned out to be a vile loser pathetic excuse of a man fucker. I'm sure Sam feels guilty enough already. I do NOT appreciate any Sam slander. If you keep this up, I WILL fight your tiny ass. (I'm not much taller but I'll protect Sam)

me while writing the story LMAO

If only Tara would give a tiny bit of her concern for R to Sam... (I don't even know at what point this turned into me simping for Sam. It started with absolutely loving Tara and R... oopsie)

PLS this happened to me while watching the actual movies. showed up for tara and ended up leaving with sam taking up 90% of my thoughts afterward

"Equilibrium" another Google worthy word. English course with Mika. I can get behind that!

always happy to expand your english vocabulary 😌

Lol Richie head soup. Dinner is served. But damn, if he is missing an eye Tara really went all out, didn't she? Love that for her.

Now that is poetic. Tara loves blood. The taste, the feeling and smell. Yet when it comes from the person she loves, she absolutely despises it.

not the head soup 😭😭 but yes, she obliterated him<3 she made good on her promise!

and yeah, i liked the idea of that. it was something i added after i finished the initial story because, though my version of tara is pretty...psychopath adjacent, i wanted her to be pretty deeply affected by what happened and the fact that it's (kinda) her fault

AWW! Sam is willing to take the fall for Tara. My heart can't take it, she is so sweet and cute and hot and protective. I love Sam so much. She's the best. With your stories I always stray with my affection from the intended person to someone else. In your Wednesday stories it's my true love Thing and here it's Sam. But it's so easy to fall for a different character because your writing is just so gripping and wonderful!

please same. sam and her martyr complex are just so<333 and the way she kills people. she's just 10/10, y'know? and me making the side characters more lovable than the main characters in my stories is so funny omg 😭

Sonic the Hedgehog music... Darling I'm not judging. If that music helped you create this masterpiece, then go ahead and listen to all the weird music you want! 😉

LMAOOO i was slowly losing my sanity and it shows! sonic music slaps tho ngl

To no one's surprise, this was fantastic. I especially loved the tension. It felt so raw and real. And obviously Sam. She's the best. Well done, friend!

thank you so much pls, i'm just 💞💗💖💘

waking up to your messages and comments after i post a story is like a dopamine rush! thank you for reading and taking the time to type out your reactions (especially for long ones like this), they were entertaining as always 🙏‼️

[ahmairi]

Won't you rise it all up?

[bingoboingobongo]

task force 141 + holiday traditions

Characters: Simon "Ghost" Riley, John "Soap" MacTavish, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, John Price, Alejandro Vargas, Rodolfo "Rudy" Parra

Warnings: none

A/N: buhruh the hardest thing abt this series is finding gifs istg

john price:

okay so i feel like price's favorite holiday tradition is watching the nutcracker

fhhdhshs ok this is like a super duper random headcanon that's gonna go off on a tangent here and if ur a possessive price girly maybe u won't like it but oh well

but i can see price like at one point having a small little relationship with some other lady whatever she's kinda irrelevant ngl

what matters is her child

omg that sounds bad wait lemme finish

what im trying to say is that the ex's child danced in the nutcracker and his ex brought him to see it

but this was like quite a few years ago

either that or he just dated a dancer that was in the nutcracker

idk man all that matters is that the tradition of watching the nutcracker was started

he likes going to a different theatre/company every year so it sorta switches it up

so sometimes he'll go watch the royal ballet or sometimes he'll watch some amateur recital thing

he just enjoys watching people dance and listening to the music

he thinks it's so cool how effortless they make it look

especially since he knows it's anything but

he really likes the mouse king vs nutcracker part in the beginning

and he thinks the dance of the sugar plum fairy is overrated

lives for the snow queen tho

kyle "gaz" garrick:

man kyle just likes to hang out with his family

mainly because his family has like twenty different traditions they do together

making gingerbread houses, making christmas sweaters, making ornaments

i mean it's like an advent calendar of christmas festivities at the garrick household

honestly gaz is a family man but he's not ready to have his own family yet ykwim?

like he loves his family

but he want to wait until he's older to have his own family

absolutely loves hanging out with his younger brother and sister tho

and we've already established this before but they're like little kids

so he likes sorta bringing the magic of the holiday traditions to them

one of his favorite traditions is to take his younger siblings on a drive to watch christmas lights

and then he drives until they fall asleep

it's so sweet

guys im becoming a gaz girlie ngl and it's criminal how little fics there r of him

anyways

simon "ghost" riley:

ok so idek if this counts as a tradition im ngl my family is not very festive but whatever

but simon really enjoys (and is really good at) making popcorn and cranberry garland

i mean guys let's be real

simon is a seamstress at heart and on the surface

i mean it's not like he has the time to stop by the store and get someone else to sew his mask on for him

there's just something so therapeutic about sewing

and he really likes the sweet and tart smell of cranberries mixed with the buttery smell of popcorn

it sounds weird on paper but irl it's really good (i assume)

he also eats a lot more cranberries than he probably should but tbh who can blame him

on another note he also really likes making sugared cranberries and just keeping them in a bowl so he can snack on them

and i can't even blame him bc i tried them for the first time during thanksgiving and oml they slap

so yeah he honestly just lives for cranberry stuff

but ofc like everything else about his life this is a secret that can never come to life

but he will decorate his house with strings of popcorn and cranberry garland

also every year he always eats some by the end

kinda gross ik but like same

he doesn't eat the popcorn tho only the cranberries

and even then he pulls them all off and washes them

but he doesn't always eat much because they taste sorta weird by then

but yeah ghost is an ocean spray cranberry juice kinda guy

john "soap" mactavish:

soap absolutely loves gift exchanges

white elephant, secret santa, or just general gift giving

it doesn't matter soap loves them all

he loves to see who he gets and to buy presents for them

and ofc he loves getting presents in return

plus he really likes seeing just how much thought and effort everyone puts into their gifts

and he always keeps a camera on hand during gift opening so he can try and get that perfect moment of surprise

he's gotten a few good shots but a lot of them are really blurry

he's not the best photographer okay

but yeah he just loves seeing everyone so happy

his favorite one is probably white elephant though

because the randomness adds to the fun

and he likes to be able to look back at some weird object and be reminded of the good memories

rodolfo "rudy" parra:

okay so call it corny call it cheesy call it lame

actually don't call it lame i will fight you

but whatever

anyways rudy really likes taking christmas family photos

his family does one every year on christmas day and he lives for it

one of his uncles is a photographer so it works out anyways

and they always get the family matching pjs or outfits or costumes or something

and his family has a whole album of them

so he literally has like a christmas picture every year since he was a baby

his favorite one was a few years back where his grandpa was santa, his grandma was mrs. claus, his parents, siblings, and him were elves, and then his nieces and nephews were reindeer

he keeps that one on a frame in his desk

and it's cool to see how every year the crowd gets bigger and bigger as people get married and have kids

and guys it's been happening for a while but i am a rudy girl at my core

i can't help it im sorry

alejandro vargas:

honestly i feel like alejandro really likes advent calenders

he doesn't even really know why it just gives him something to look forward to everyday

before his break starts he always brings rudy over to open the day's gift with him too

he usually gets different calenders every year

some years he gets ones that have candy or chocolate

and other years he gets some with pocket knives or tools

is that a thing?

tactical advent calenders?

idk they should be

sometimes when he's feeling especially festive he'll get himself a few different ones that way he can have multiple things to look forward to

his favorite one is the neuhaus chocolate ones

he really has to fight the urge to sneak one in a day early

idk alejandro's just a fan of chocolate in general

but like fancy chocolate not just like hershey's

he needs truffles or cadbury or specialty chocolate

is cadbury even fancy?

idk i've never had one

[achillieus]

let you down. (sebastian stan x reader)

summary: it's a universal truth but it's worth repeating; feelings eat us raw. or just an actor and a girl falling in and out of love over the course of three months.

(this was inspired by sebastian's visit to greece for his movie, monday, and is based on that, so that means in the story we’re in 2018. also i have this posted on ao3 too but while i’m writing the last parts i thought of posting it here too)

pairing: sebastian stan x reader

warnings: alcohol, sexual references, implied depression, sebastian desperately needs to hug the reader, it's kinda slowburn because i love the yearning

(pinterest inspired board)

part: 1/6

(other parts)  (masterlist)

The day it happened, it wasn't a significant meeting at all, you barely even talked. In fact, when he opened the door of your neighbor’s flat that day with a beer in his right hand and his hair messy, he didn't have any effect on you. You always knew that living next to a director meant that sooner or later you’d bump into the pretty faces of well-known people. Sure, you didn’t expect them to be Hollywood actors like him, but to say you were starstruck by the man, would be the overstatement of the year.

The building you’ve lived in for the last three years has five floors; you live in the 4th, he lives in the 5th. He’s a quiet person, usually spending his evenings out of his apartment. You’ve talked sometimes, about the weather and the weird lady that lives in the 1st floor. You’ve never told him you find his directing style a little pretentious.

You’ve never been to his place until that annoyingly warm August evening, when you find a white button up shirt on your balcony. You can clearly see more clothing when you look up and you’re certain the item you’re holding belongs to him.

He’s not there though. Instead you find a different face behind the door. Lighter eyes and darker hair. The man in front of you is definitely younger than the director. You don’t bother to notice what he’s wearing.

“Can I help you?” His voice is deeper than you expected. Stronger, with a touch of European accent. The sound of English surprises you at first but soon you realize he must be another foreign coworker that came to visit your neighbor

“No, I just think Argyris dropped this and it ended up on my floor.”

He looks at you and then at the shirt, in your hands.

Then he says “Sure, I’ll take it.”

“Okay.”

Then it ends. He doesn’t even ask your name. You don’t have to ask his. You figure out, as soon as you walk down the stairs, that it’s Sebastian Stan that you just talked to.

And while being a big fan of marvel movies, you think nothing special of him at first. You just wonder how a mostly unknown director from Greece got an actor like Sebastian to come here so they can work together. It makes no sense to you, but you forget it when your phone starts ringing.

/

It would’ve been easier if you never saw him again, yet you do. You see him trying to understand what the old lady from the first floor is trying to tell him. You already know. The elevator is not working. The next day you see him walking up the stairs.

You exchange a quick hello, how are you and then off you both go.

The same night Argyris invites you to have a drink with them in the terrace. Part of you wants to just stay in bed and binge watch some Sherlock episodes. Part of you already thinks of what to wear.

There are around ten people there when you show up. They’re all sitting down in huge pillows drinking and talking loudly. You don’t know most of them.

You sit next to a blonde girl, across from Sebastian. This time you notice he’s wearing a plain black shirt and holds a glass of whiskey.

You don’t share any direct conversations but you learn that he’s afraid of growing old and that he thinks Taxi Driver is one fucking masterpiece, as he says.

When you mention that you’re probably the least artistic person in the room right now, you hear him laugh.

A curly haired woman starts dancing with him at some point. You decide he’s not a good dancer.

He leaves the same time you do, following you down the stairs.

“I thought you live here.” You say when he doesn’t stop at the floor you expect him to.

“Ah no, I stay at a hotel near the centre.”

He keeps talking about his suite until you reach your door.

You part in a blur, with a short goodbye.

He still doesn’t ask for your name.

It makes you feel genuinely offended.

/

Two days after, he is the farthest thing from your mind, until you find him sitting in front of your door, his eyes roaming the place with despair. And then he sees you.

“Ah finally you are here.” He starts casually. “Thank god.”

You just nod.

“Argyris told me to wait for him with you. We had a meeting but he got stuck in traffic.”

You give him a look.

“He said you’re always at home so you won’t mind.”

Ouch. Yeah sure, your social life wasn’t something to brag about but for some reason the way Sebastian said it, it sounded like an insult.

“Okay, come in.” You shrug, clearly not feeling comfortable and turn around to unlock the door.

You hear him call your name. You thought he didn’t know.

“Yes?”

He offers you an easy smile.  “Thank you.”

/

Sitting in your couch he’s eyeing the entire room, while you put some groceries in the fridge.

“Argyris says you’re a great girl.” He clears his throat. “But he thinks you’re too quiet for your own good.”

You look at him, your eyes flicking up and down his face.

“And from what I can tell, he’s right.”  You hear him laugh.

It felt weird to see him laugh while he was leaning back at your cozy pillow. He had entered your life so suddenly you didn’t even have time to react to it.

“I’m sorry but I barely know you.” Your words are sharp. He sits up.

“Okay then let’s get to know each other, what’s your favorite Disney princess?”

Defeated, you laugh. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, this is an important question.”

You wait for him to crack up but then you remember he’s an actor.

“I don’t know.” You think for a second. “Mulan?”

“Oh my god. Mulan is amazing.” You smile at him. “My favorite is Jasmine, she’s just so badass.”

You share your favorites that day, having almost nothing in common rather than your everlast love for animated movies and buttered popcorn.

When it’s time for him to leave, he stops and looks at you in the eye.

“You should talk more often.”

You stare at him with confusion. “I talk,” you raise your eyebrows. “When I have something to say.”

“Good.” he says, still looking.

/

Later in the evening, you’re eating some yoghurt when he comes knocking on your door.

He’s different. The white tank top he was wearing this morning is replaced with a dark shirt and his face looks tired. You assume they’ve been working since he went upstairs.

“Hiii”, he says dragging the i, “Am I interrupting anything?”

You desperately want to nod. You want to tell him that you were doing the most exciting thing in the world, before he came but you were never a good liar.

So you just tilt your head and take a step back.

That’s when he enters and is met with some loud rock music blaring from your laptop.

“You like AC/DC?” he asks, almost wide-eyed.

“Well, I can tell it’s them when I hear their stuff.”  For the first time that day, he seems to be in loss of words. “Why are you so surprised?”

He sits in the same spot in the couch as earlier and laughs.

“I just didn’t take you for the kind of girl who likes this music.” It’s your turn to laugh.

“Why?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Quiet girl who loves animated films and eats kids’ yoghurt” he looks at the carton in your kitchen table, “and also likes metal music? Doesn’t add up.”

“We’ve basically just met; you shouldn’t make assumptions about me.”

“Fair enough.” He sits back, fidgeting with his fingers.

You take some time just looking at him

There was a certain vibe about that man that made you wonder how it’d feel to cruise down a dessert highway in a convertible mustang with him. In the summer. With him wearing that white tank top.

The color of strawberries emerges at your cheeks just at the thought of it.

You wish he doesn’t notice.

You’re glad to find him looking the other way, before he speaks up.

“We’re going out tonight.” His voice is warm now. “Argyris says you should come along, even though I’m quite sure there’s no hardcore music where we’re going.” He laughs again.

I can’t. You almost say. But then anxiety slips away from you and out of sudden you want him to stop being so freaking arrogant, going around and acting like he knows exactly what kind of person you are.

He thinks you’ll say no. You can see it in his eyes.

“Sure, when should I be ready?” you say, surprising both of you.

He looks at you for some time and then trying to hide whatever he was thinking he says the first thing on his mind.

“How old are you?” He sounds pitiful. He knows. He wishes he could hit a wall; with his head.

“Twenty-one.” His eyes scan yours, unsure of what they’re looking for. “Why?”

“No reason.”

He inhales deep.

/

You try to blink. You’re at a party in a little bar you’ve never been before and a lot of people are wearing black. Alcohol. You can still taste it on the back of your tongue. You don’t remember how you end up pressed against a dark skinned man, but you can tell he smells of cigarettes and despair.

You sway your body to the beat, close your eyes. Breath in. And out. You think the music deafens you for a second but you open your lids and see Sebastian and he’s watching you, unashamed.

He’s not that far, though it feels like it with countless bodies in the way. The music melts. His gaze is almost angelic. Or devious. You can’t really tell.

He’s dancing with that curly haired woman again. You wonder how intimate their relationship is.

The red neon lights make his skin glisten. His muscles move divinely. It makes you think there’s an entire world inside him, his flesh barely keeping it hidden. Out of sudden you get the urge to walk towards him. You want to see him up close under this dim lighting. But you don’t move.

The man that’s groping your waist asks for your name. You tell him you need to flee. He doesn’t understand.

You sit outside with the sweet summer breeze touching your bare arms. The bass of the music in the background syncs with the beating of your heart. You can feel your ribs grow with every breath you take. Until you stop breathing because the door opens and his eyes suffocate you.

You can’t fathom the effect he has on you. He was a pretty face on screen some days ago. But right now he steals distance and stays near you.

You don’t look his way. He doesn’t say a word. Nicotine and smoke surround you as he exhales. His fingers hold the cigarette butt with care.

“Do you want some?”

You turn to look at him.

“I don’t smoke.” He laughs.

“That doesn’t mean you don’t want some.”

You want to know if his breath has the taste of sulfur. You want to pretend it’s the alcohol or the loud music that makes your head hurt.

“What’s the best part of being an actor?” The blue in his eyes glows.

There’s silence but he seems to be thinking about it.

“Do you ever feel things too much?” He says, his voice hoarse. “I mean, when you feel something so intensely it becomes a part of who you are.”

You nod. You understand.

“Acting allows you to let go of these feelings,” he starts. “You share the burden with the audience until it becomes light and you can hold it again.”

You look at him, shaking your head.

“I don’t think I could that,” you close your eyes. “I don’t think I could share what I feel so easily.”

He stands up. The wind hits you again.

“A lot people can’t. That’s why everyone is heartbroken,” he takes a breath, “Feelings eat us raw.”

You both go to bed alone that night. Tomorrow there is a hole next to you.

/

the morning after, search history

(02:45 PM) hangover recovery

(03:00 PM) best food after a hangover

(03:10 PM) sebastian stan

(03:30 PM) sebastian stan girlfriend

(06:00 PM) xanax side effects

/

You follow him on Instagram. He doesn’t follow you back. You remember he probably gets tons of followers every day and decide not to let it bother you. Instead you study for the exams of the following month.

The subject of your studies doesn’t interest you. Another poor decision you made under pressure. Sometimes you feel as if your life is borrowed from someone else. Sometimes you feel as if you haven’t found your home yet.

Feelings eat us raw.

His girlfriend looks beautiful in the pictures you find online. The media isn’t certain if they’re still together but you like to think so. It makes it easier to avoid him.

But the universe seems to be oblivious to your thoughts and you see him that same day. You’re taking the garbage out and he’s coming down from the top floor. You meet in the elevator.

“I’m glad to see you’re still alive,” his eyes are smiling as he talks “you looked kinda drunk last night.”

You fidget with the hem of the bag you’re holding.

“I wasn’t drunk.” You notice he’s growing some stubble. You’re not sure you like it.

“Whatever you say, doll.”  You bite your cheek trying to devour any sign that might give away how his words make you flinch.

He turns his body a little so now you’re facing each other. He’s so pretty. He’s so pretty in a way that doesn’t hurt. You try not to stare at him, but you fail sometimes. You’ve never noticed how slow the elevator moves until you want to get out. You can’t stand being so close to him for much longer.

He’s an arrogant rich actor who loves Disney and smokes a lot, you think. I have no reason to be affected by him.

“Ah! Argyris said we’re leaving for the weekend.” You eye him curiously. “He wants to show us some small villages in the south. He thinks we should get to know the country a little more before we start.”

You’re stunned by your neighbor’s dedication to his work. Sometimes you wish you had something you could be passionate about too. Sometimes you think you’re never going to find it.

“That’s great. I’m sure you’ll like it.” You give him a smile.

He leans his back at the wall. The elevator stops. Finally.

“I like your eyes.” You grab tight onto the bag. “But they don’t smile when you do.”

He opens the door and he’s gone.

They tell you that it’s fun to meet a famous person. They tell you, you can ask for a photo and a hug. They tell you celebrities don’t talk a lot but that doesn’t mean they’re rude.

But he’s not like that.

He’s fire. He’s burning heat and scorching flames. His words are his thoughts; raw. You don’t like it.

/

late night search history

(00:38 AM) blue valentine movie soundtrack

(01:15 AM) is sebastian stan a bad person

(01:30 AM) acting classes for amateurs

(01:50 AM) cheap leather boots

(02:10 AM) sebastian stan eyes

 You find it annoying; how he’s present even when you’re alone.

Thankfully he’s leaving for the weekend, you think.

/

The weekend, however, is two days away.

You think you can get away without seeing him. And you do. Until it’s late at night again. And they’re all upstairs with music so loud you’re certain the lady on the first floor is going to be rude about it in the morning.

The music tempo has you unaffected. All you think about is if he’s dancing with that woman again.

He’s such a bad dancer, he should not be dancing.

There’s a subtle knock on your door. You know it’s him. You hope you’re wrong.

“Do you feel like dancing?” His face is all flustered. It’s a good look on him.

“You can’t come knocking on my door at 2 AM and ask me to dance.” His gaze is filled with confusion.

“So you don’t feel like dancing?” You roll your eyes. He notices.

“That’s not the point Sebastian.” It’s the first time you call him by his name. You let it slip away slowly, testing the way it sounds coming out of your mouth.

He takes a step closer. You are suddenly aware of your pyjama shorts and your exposed skin.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to irritate you.” His eyes are the cliché blue of the sky. “I just thought you might want to dance, that’s all.”

Suddenly you feel guilty and embarrassed. He’s oblivious to it.

For a moment you feel his eyes linger on you. It feels surreal.

You nod at him.

He’s ready to say something when Argyris comes down the stairs, his shirt slightly unbuttoned.

“Ah man, I thought you got lost or something.” You lower your eyes. “Stop messing with the poor girl. People are looking for you.”

He throws a smile at you and Sebastian takes a quick breath.

“People are always looking for me.”

He gives away that he’s carrying a burden. Your expression softens. But then you look at Argyris and you see he doesn’t really pay attention to these words.

You share a quick look before you’re there standing alone at your doorstep, trying to grasp the idea of him.

/

When you wake up you feel like running. You can’t fathom where the feeling comes from but it starts like a liquid running down your veins and soon you can’t stay in bed even for a second.

Feelings eat us raw. Only if you let them.

.

i really appreciate feedback, it motivates me tons and also tell me if you’d like to be tagged in this six part story :)

[teagrl]

Ep 8: In which Andor keeps getting better and better

I’m gonna lose my shit. THIS FUCKING SHOW.

Um, the music continues to be everything I want in a Star Wars. Epic. Brilliant. Sci Fi. Just...I am overcome. 

In general I get that SW is space opera and does that whole blend with sci fi/fantasy, but for a long time it seems like the fantasy aspect was weighed heavily (probably because when Jedi show up it’s like THE SPACE WIZARD SHOW). I love Andor (and R1′s) corrective in bringing back the sci fi which is arguably about all sorts of flavors of imperialist dystopias with a more gritty flourish.

Given the above, man I LOVE LOVE LOVE the unholy marriage between the Empire and capitalist production. We started at the corporate sector and now we’re in a factory prison and it’s just pitch fucking perfect. Like I know canon has dungeon ships and we see Wobani in the Jynn novel Rebel Rising, but the prison here is just such a fucking sublime (all the sterile white, high tech “clean” torture) nightmare. It’s just so well done. THE KILLER FLOORS. The food without taste or flavor unless you are in a “winner group.” Oh my god writers. Way to bat it OUT OF THE PARK.  

(I loved the filming of it too, you got that overwhelm that Andor felt, trying to take that whole hellscape in.)

The pacing is just so excellent. I am in awe of the way we are in the “developing” part of the arc and nothing is easy after the Aldani “win,” for one Andor is in jail, Mon is having trouble moving her cash, Ferrix is a clusterfuck, even the ISB hasn’t yet reached a point where they can see a win necessarily, Luthen cannot bring other partisans under his fold.

On the ISB tack I so appreciated that Dedra didn’t immediately partner up with Syril. I love that, just as how I nearly SCREAMED at seeing Saw (one of the most compelling yet little seen characters in sw imo) and definitely loved that he told Luthien where to go. 

On the Saw tack, of course it’s not that easy to unite so many different factions. I’ve been saying for a long time how THAT’s a story I’ve been wanting to see and I think *knock on wood* Andor might deliver? What an unexpected gift! FANGASM.

Another thing I loved is how the women are pushing the narrative forward. I was skeptical about Luthen but that scene with Kleya (and Kleya with Vel last week) was awesome and omg spy ladies more more more more more! I’m not forgetting CINTA. Holy shit, “the struggle comes first.” Could it be...another one for my collection???

I don’t have as much to say about Bix and Maarva. Obviously the show wants to do something significant with them and I’m ready, popcorn in hand to see what.

Also those Chandrilan fizzy worm drinks. Amazing. Sixteen year old married senators. I love it all.

This shoooow man, this show.

[nancypullen]

Tick Tock

I’m about 24 hours away from what is hopefully my last appointment concerning that stupid kidney stone.  Tomorrow they’ll take out the stent and then we shall never speak of this again.  The removal has to be done at the surgery center even though it’s not surgery, and the whole thing should take just a couple of minutes.  Since I birthed a doctor, I feel free to ask him about the unknowns and this is what he told me when I asked if it really was that quick - “Oh yeah, they’ll yank that thing out like they’re starting a lawn mower.”  Imagine how comforted I was by that.  At this point, I don’t care - just get it out. But enough about all that gross stuff, how are you?  Are you excited to see the December calendar page? Are you loving seeing the Christmas lights and hearing the holiday music?  I AM!  Tonight is Denton’s Christmas parade, and tomorrow night is the Christkindlmarket. What a great way to start the month!  This time tomorrow I’ll be a lot more comfortable and I’m going to be a wrapping, decorating, Christmas tune singing fool.  

But for today, I’ve got some laundry chugging and dinner is in the crock pot.  For Mickey it’s Mongolian Beef, for me dinner will probably be soup.  I made a big pot of chicken soup on Monday and it hits the spot every time.  I don’t know the science behind it, but my tastes have changed drastically over the last month.  We normally eat pretty clean and healthy, I’d say 85% of the time anyway, but now I don’t even crave the other 15%.  I haven’t had a Diet Coke since Halloween and it doesn’t even sound good to me.  I’ve been addicted to Diet Coke since 1984!  Chocolate? Haven’t touched it.  Crunchy, salty stuff - not even popcorn appeals to me and I rarely went a night without a bowl of popcorn.  You know those people that get hit in the head and wake up speaking Swedish or something crazy like that?  This is my version of that.  All I want is fruit and veggies. My lunch today will be red grapes, cucumbers, and maybe a little yogurt.  If I’m really hungry a cup of soup.  Dinner is the same, or I zap a Healthy Choice frozen meal. There’s a Chicken Marinara that I like.  You’d think that thirty days of eating like this would have caused a change in my appearance.  Nope.  I’ve lost a grand total of four pounds.  I swear, scientists should study me.  Anyone else would have wasted away, my sturdy Scots and German DNA is holding steady.  I can identify with this meme.

I guess I’m built for survival.  Ya’ know what? I’m okay with that.  2023 is the year that I stop worrying about it.  I’m going to enjoy good health, a good life, and my wonderful family and dear friends.  I’m going to put my energy into creating art and being happy. You can do all of those things whether your pants are a size 6 or 16.  It. Just. Doesn’t. Matter.   The majority of magazine articles and television commercials are aimed at women and the overwhelming message is that we are not good enough exactly as we are.  They’re counting on us believing that and throwing all of our money at whatever product promises to improve us.  We’re not allowed to wrinkle, sag, gain weight, or ever dare to look our age. I’ve yet to see any ads targeting men with that message.  Sure, you see some stuff for bald guys, but everything else is for erectile dysfunction.  No one is shaming men for their crow’s feet.   For us, it starts before middle school and follows us to the grave - we’re not pretty enough, thin enough, fill-in-the-blank enough.  I’m calling BS on all of that.  Younger women, thankfully,  figured this out before my generation did. They’re out there loving themselves and living their best lives exactly as they are.  Bravo, ladies!  I’m learning so much from you.  I’ve decided to like myself.  Well, that went off the rails, didn’t it?  I didn’t share even half of what I was thinking once I got on my soapbox. You’re welcome.  I actually intended to come here and post my chicken soup recipe (it really is good).  I’ll have to share that tomorrow.  I’m going to have a little lunch and then sit at my desk and create something pretty.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and tomorrow I’ll take my pants off in front of strangers for what I hope is the last time for a very long time.  I may have to enter the Witness Protection Program after this.  Sending out loads of love on this first day of December.  I hope that  your hearts are light and your homes are peaceful. Stay safe, stay well.

Nancy 

[one-piece-aus]

Hello! I just found your blog and I'm looking forward to your content.

I've been itching to ask the question: what genres of music (or what present day musicians) do you think the Stawhats or members of the Supernova trio would listen to? I feel like this might be a tricky question though. I don't mind if you pick and choose who to answer for. Thanks for considering.

I love this question because I love music! You do not understand how happy I am to get this question!

Music Genres/Artists the Strawhats Listen to (Headcanons)

Luffy

In my post → here I had two songs that fit Luffy

The music he listens to is upbeat or ones that give good vibes so it's quite the mixture of genres

He won't remember artists, he'll just hear a song come on and say "Oh I know this song"

When he listens to music he wants to have a fun time and be able to smile

So songs like Staying Alive or Can't Hold Us

Totally would listen to We Are The Champions

You are deeply mistaken if you think he won't listen to Macarena and Cha Cha Slide, he will play that every time someone is playing music

Caramelldancing

I think Luffy would go to rave concerts, just having a good time being himself

And yes, he does listen to Sandstorm, Crab Rave, and Popcorn

Zoro

Eminem, that's the first artist that came to mind when I thought of Zoro, mainly because of the song I'm Not Afraid

He mainly listens to workout remixes since the dude lifts weight a lot

When he's not working out, he prefers music he can just nod his head to

Like Never Going Back or Burn The House Down

Doesn't like anything heavy/hardcore, it's too much for him

He's fine listening to pop if one of his friends is playing it

Secretly has a guilty pleasure of listening to Lady Gaga but no one will ever find out

Oh, this is a new genre I found but Zoro would listen to Lofi Hip Hop

Nami

Pop & Hip Hop are this girl's main genres

"It's Britney, bitch"

She listens to Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Ke$ha, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Iggy Azalea-

Not a fan of Taylor Swift but she likes the song "Look What You Made Me Do"

This girl listens to The Pussycat Dolls (yes that is an actual girl band if you didn't know)

Also listens to the girl band Little Mix

Songs that just make her feel like badass bitch

Hidden secret but she likes the band KISS

When sitting down to work on creating maps she'll have study music playing in the background

Usopp

Cats In The Cradle

I just- go listen to it, you'll understand why it's here

Usopp's taste is a lot like Luffy only he also can have songs that can make you cry or get you in the feels: Viva La Vida, Hey There Delilah

He listens to a lot of oldies

Guns & Roses, Queen, The Beetles, Nickelback, Elvis

You can't tell me he wouldn't sing Can't Help Falling In Love to Kaya

Absolutely would listen to the Black Eyed Peas & Maroon 5

Also would listens to Geometry Dash OST

Sanji

Is a complete sucker for love songs

Doesn't matter if it's by a male or female

You name it he has it

Payphone, Counting Stars, E.T., We Found Love, Cake By The Ocean, Mr. Saxobeat, Bad Romance, Made For Lovin' You

Also a big fan of Elvis Presley

Likes to vibe to the song Hound Dog

Sanji would be into smooth jazz

And dinner music

Anything classy Sanji will listen to

Don't forget he listens to songs from Equestria Girls thanks to Chimney

Chopper

Minecraft Parodies and MLP songs because it is kid-friendly for Chopper

He also will vibe with anything Luffy and Usopp listen to

Is not allowed to listen to anything Nami has in her playlist

Will listen to therapeutic music for animals

Robin

Another one who loves classic music

Really, any kind of classical music

From ones you hear in fancy restaurants to background ost you hear in horror shit to sad rainy day melodies

The violin and piano are truly amazing instruments

Robin prefers music without the lyrics because the rhythm of it has a story to tell and you can feel the emotion the musician is trying to express through their instrument

Franky

Franky loves funky music, and ones you can jam out to in the car

Memorized Life is a Highway and We Didn't Start The Fire

Disco, Rock, Electronic, and Metal are Franky's favourite genres

Definitely listens Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, KISS, Guns & Roses, Elvis, and AC/DC

He is the one that introduced Usopp to the great oldies

Certain alternative and grunge bands he can listen to like Foo Fighters, The Offspring, and Nirvana

Brook

The King of Music

He is the Soul King

This skeleton listens to anything and considers anything to be music

You know that video someone made of using mayonnaise as an instrument? That is on Brook's playlist (here's the link if you want to listen to it)

He loves all music and accepts all music

Is the friend you go to if you need the name of an artist or song, he's an encyclopedia for music

Will not judge you for your taste in music and will be the only friend you can count on to jam out to any song with you

Jinbei

I for some reason can visualize him listening to the band SIAMÉS (specifically their album Home)

Mainly because they make good vibe music

Which is what Jinbei would listen to

Vibe music

Aquatic or sea like music

Would join Zoro in listening to Lofi Hip-Hop music

When it comes to lyrics, he wants it clean, made with real emotion, and be able to understand what the words are

This took longer than I expected to finish but it was worth it! I am 1000% making a part 2 for the Supernovas so stay tuned, and thank you for sending in the request

[arthursknight]

wait but 49 is so spencer

49. “Go on, tell me. Tell me you don’t love me.” -- No one would believe him if he said it. He knows how everyone views their boss-- buttoned up and poised, proper, professional. But it’s been fancy restaurants and long nights on the other end of a line. It’s been secret glances and arm brushes in an elevator. It’s been scotch flavored kisses, and the slow pull of classical music, and-- Dating Aaron has been fun. It’s like nothing else Spencer’s ever experienced. On top of all the romance-- and there’s a lot of romance, Spencer had found out ever since Aaron showed up to his front door with a bouquet of flowers specifically chosen for their message of I like you, you make me happy, you remind me of the sunshine-- there’s just. There’s this boyish side to Aaron Hotchner that no one would believe if he was on his deathbed saying it. Aaron likes to tickle his side when he’s got an arm slung around him on the couch. He likes to make stupid jokes at the TV, while he’s cooking, and he does them with the same stern face he has at work-- and it cracks Spencer up every time. And even in their most... intimate moments, pressed together, Spencer’s back arching in the moonlight, Aaron likes to make him laugh. Press their smiles together in the dark. And it’s made Spencer more playful, too. Which is how they start play fighting.

It starts at the BAU. They can’t tell anyone yet-- it’s too soon, Aaron will say, and Spencer agrees, even if for a couple of weeks Derek hounds him about “who’s the lucky lady, huh?”-- so it’s a release, of sorts. Spencer will bring up some fact, Aaron will counter it with an opinion, they’ll get into a war of words. Everyone gets involved, choosing sides on important topics such as Is it correct to call the monster Frankenstein? or Which 1990s sitcom is the best? or Who was the better scientist-- Einstein or Newton? It extends into their alone time, too. They’ll play fight about the remote, who gets to choose the TV channel this time. They’ll play fight about what book Spencer should read before bed. They’ll play fight about work, or about Spencer’s latest obsession, or anything that they can think of. And they always make up. Tonight’s play fight has taken a turn. It’s over the popcorn bowl-- there’s only a couple handfuls left, and, “You’ve eaten way more than I have, Aaron, that’s not fair”-- and somehow Spencer has grabbed one of the throw pillows off the couch and is bonking Aaron with it, who’s just laughing and ‘defending’ himself with his arms up. “You’re such a brat,” Aaron counters, shaking his head as Spencer bonks him again. “Spencer-- come on, cut it out!” “You love it,” Spencer grins, giddy, and Aaron rolls his eyes. “I don’t,” he protests. “Being hit with a pillow is not my favorite thing, sorry.” “Aww, come on,” Spencer laughs, tossing the pillow to the side. He’s hyped up on sugar, and coffee, and Aaron. Aaron is still looking at him with these light eyes, playful and boyish in a way he only gets around Spencer, and Spencer pouts. “You doooo.” “I don’t,” Aaron says, Stern Faced. “You’re not going to make me love it.” “You love it,” Spencer says without thinking, “because you love me.” It’s because Spencer’s mind is going 10,000 miles an hour that he doesn’t notice it. The subtle shift in the air. The way that Aaron’s eyes turn serious, his body tensing. “Spencer--” “Go on, tell me,” he giggles. “Tell me you don’t loooove me.” And it might have been the wine, or the way that Aaron had kissed him senseless after dinner, against his kitchen counter, tasting of the vintage port they had shared and something so distinctly Aaron, or it might have been the fact that Spencer Reid is genuinely as happy as he’s ever been, but it takes him a while to realize what he’s said. When he does, though-- Aaron isn’t replying, which is weird, and it slows him down-- when he does, though, he realizes. “Oh,” he squeaks. “I-- I didn’t mean it like--” I didn’t mean it like that. He had just been playing. Play fighting. That’s all. Like always. But then Aaron is sitting up, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “You think,” he says, his voice even and authoritative like it is at work, “you can get away with being a brat, just because I love you?” And it’s so-- It’s so out of the blue, and so casual, and so carefree in a way that no one is going to believe when he tells the story later. But then Aaron is picking up the pillow and bonking him back, and Spencer’s squealing, and the popcorn bowl is long forgotten, because Aaron Hotchner loves him. Loves him through laughter, and salty kisses, and pillows kicked off the couch to give way to them falling back. This is one fight Spencer is okay with losing, just this once.

[adhd-disaster-willie]

home is wherever you are tonight

summary: Alex and Willie are suffocating beneath their respective parental figures, so, barely 20 and scrambling to just breathe, they leave LA. And they also slow dance.

notes: this was gonna just be a like 800 word fic of them dancing but I have no self control so I ended up with this monstrosity. (also, maybe listen to apple pie by lizzy mcalpine while reading)

word count: 2,600

---

“I been runnin' 'round

Try'na find a place where I can breathe

But me oh my

I found you

Under an april sky

And you feel like

City life, apple pie baked just right

Home is wherever you are tonight”

---

The early morning tastes like coffee and Willie’s breath mints, gentle laughter lingering on his lips. And Alex has never been a morning person, but with the first rays of sun in his eyes and boxes crammed into every empty space in his car, he thinks that maybe he should wake up early more often.

The road seems to stretch endlessly ahead of them, but Alex can’t tell if the tension in his chest is anxiety or anticipation. Willie squeezes his hand in reassurance as he starts the car and they take a deep breath in unison, realizing it’s maybe the first time they’ve ever been able to truly breathe.

They’re several miles down the highway, shoved in between cardboard boxes and the dry August heat; and Alex’s car is cramped and smells of fast food and summer and Willie Willie Willie. Alex adjusts his grip on the steering wheel, mumbling the words to whatever song is playing on the clunky, staticky radio. The whole world seems softer, with the sun dipping just below the horizon, the last dregs of light sticking to the clouds and painting them pink. Alex sighs contentedly, a grin tugging at the ends of his lips. Willie has their hand stuck out the open window, giggling into the rushing air like it’s telling him the whole world’s secrets. And with their other hand gripped in his own, no reason to let go ever, Alex thinks that the secrets of the universe are laid right out on the dashboard for him to hold.

“What’s so funny?” Alex asks, although it’s less of a question and more a reason to hear Willie’s voice.

“We’re running away together,” Willie replies breathlessly. He laughs again, throwing his head back and stretching his arm farther out the window like he’s trying to touch the clouds.

“Well I wouldn’t quite say we’re running- oh okay.” The last part is in response to Willie putting their index finger over Alex’s lips and looking at him like he’s crazy.

“Yes we totally are. Buzzkill.”

Alex huffs, but it doesn’t hold any weight and is laced with a smile. “I’m driving, idiot. Stop- okay move your hand please.”

“Make me.”

“Willie.” Alex’s fixes a stern gaze on him, just long enough to send them into a fit of giggles before he turns back to face the road. It’s several minutes of comfortable, soft silence before Alex sighs in resignation. “I guess you can say we’re running away.”

“Ha!” Willie pumps his fist, narrowly avoiding smashing the ceiling. And really, considering the age of Alex’s rickety car, smashing would probably be the right word.

Alex raises their intertwined hands briefly. “Here’s to running away.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Willie cheers. They crinkle their nose and kiss Alex’s knuckles, hugging their hands to his chest.

“That’s…” Alex shakes off the crimson tint to his cheeks. “You’re not drinking anything.”

“Not yet,” Willie replies, waggling his eyebrows mischievously.

Willie falls asleep with the sun, something that’s baffled Alex for years. The sky is twinkling with stars and the horizon with city lights, and Willie’s curled up around a pillow, their cheek pressed against the window, breath fogging up the glass. Alex shifts slightly to turn down the music, maneuvering around cautiously to reach the knob without letting go of Willie’s hand. He can’t help from humming under his breath, it’s an older Queen song, one Alex remembers listening to with tangled headphones, huddled in the corner of the gym to avoid the atrocity of dodgeball.

“Love of my life…” Alex trails off, mouthing the lyrics. Beside him, Willie stirs slightly, mumbling something incoherent.

“Hmm?” Alex likes having conversations with a mostly asleep Willie, it’s incredibly entertaining.

“Love you more.” Eyes still closed, Willie pats Alex’s cheek and nods decidedly. “Mostest.”

“Is that so?”

“Love of my life!” Willie sings along loud and off-key, voice slurred with sleep. “M gonna love you forever.” They fall back, last bits of consciousness gone, and Alex blinks back surprised tears.

“And ever,” he finishes softly, squeezing Willie’s hand. Forever sounds nice.

The rest of the drive floats by like a spring breeze snaking through a field of long grass. Willie wakes up at some point, eats an ungodly amount of popcorn and screams the lyrics of American Idiot out the window at the bustling city, like it’s the last time he’ll ever get to hear the song. Alex can’t help but laugh loudly when a conservative looking old lady glares at them, utterly scandalized.

“I think you just ruined her night,” Alex quips with mock seriousness.

“As I should!” Willie flops back into the seat, adjusting their tangled seatbelt and looking at Alex with a lopsided grin.

Alex laughs for what’s maybe the millionth time today, and it hits him that this is the most he’s ever involuntarily smiled in a day. It’s half past 8 and he’s settled at the base of a tree with Willie perched on a branch just above his head, rambling on about color theory or something equally as confusing. The drive would’ve taken 4 hours without Willie pulling on Alex’s elbow and squealing for him to stop at everything mildly interesting, but Alex isn’t entirely complaining, even if his back is sore.

It’s odd, to be leaving LA, but Alex thinks that everyone knew he couldn’t stay there his whole life, not with the church on his drive to work and the streets full of too many people that know him too well. And maybe he didn’t like change, but it can’t be that much of a change if Willie is still there with him. Willie grounds him. So do Luke and Reggie and Julie and Flynn, but in a different way. His parents tied him to the floor, his friends root him, let him grow and have a place to come home to at the same time. And Willie? Willie is the ground. He is the soil and the curling grass to Alex’s timid tree. Willie is home, wherever they may be.

“2 miles,” Alex states, pulling gently on Willie’s ankle, letting them know that he wants to look at them. Willie hops down and Alex winces even when they land safe and sound on their feet.

“Why do you do that?” Alex questions huffily, crossing his arms over his chest.

Willie gives a half shrug. “ ‘S fun.”

“For you, maybe.”

“Hmm.” Willie drapes their arms around Alex’s neck, pulling him into into a gentle kiss. Kissing Willie feels like rain after months of drought, sun breaking through a canopy of trees, and Alex is sure that it always will, until they’re old and grey. Alex smiles against his lips, pulls apart and rests his forehead against Willie’s, biting his lip in a soft smile. “C’mon.” He clasps Willie’s hand and sticks it in the pocket of his hoodie, bumping their shoulders together. “Lets go home.”

“Home.” Willie breaks out in a grin that glows like the full moon on a clear night. “Yea.”

---

The apartment complex is wedged in between a suspicious looking butchery and a quaint little antique shop with butterflies painted on the dusty windows that Alex reminds himself to take Julie to at some point, when his friends all inevitably visit in the whirlwind that they are. The pale yellow wall paint is peeling and the stairs are much more wobbly than Alex is comfortable with, but he lets out a breathless, bubbly laugh at the sight of it. His parents aren’t there, nor is Caleb, or any of the things back in LA that were suffocating them both to the point that they booked it, half-broke and with only 2 months of warning.

Alex swings their hands, looking at a very bouncy Willie with his eyes blown wide from excitement. “Hey, we’re home.”

“We’re home!” Willie grabs Alex’s face roughly, fumbling to kiss him with their hands shaking and lips curled up in a giddy beam. They settle for holding him in a crushing hug, swaying them back and forth gleefully.

“You’re excited,” Alex chuckles, brushing at his crumpled hoodie when Willie breaks away.

Willie sticks his tongue out childishly. “So are you, admit it.”

Softening, Alex cups Willie’s cheek and exhales softly. “Of course I am.” He crinkles his nose affectionately as Willie leans up to peck his cheek. “Now-” Alex stacks as many boxes as he can fit in his arms. “Lets do this.”

---

It’s 2am and Alex is completely and utterly exhausted. Half the boxes are open, they unpacked most of it just looking for the air mattress. His record player is resting on the counter, there’s a pile of books in one corner and several trashbags of clothes in another. Willie is sitting crosslegged on the floor trying to work the portable air pump and scowling at the still deflated mattress like it stole his wallet.

“Y’know, you’d think they would provide some sort of instruction book,” Willie says poutingly. They fall back onto the wooden floor with an annoyed sigh.

Alex looks up from where his head is buried in his arms, sitting on the single bar stool they’d managed to fit in the car. “There was an instruction book, speed bump. You threw it out because you claimed that ‘everyone knows how to work an air pump!’”

“But I’m not everyone!” Willie whines. “You should’ve warned me.”

“I… okay.” Alex bows his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Lets blow up the mattress and call it a night, okay?” He lowers himself to the floor, hovering over Willie and tucking a strand of hair behind their ear. “Give me the pump, I’ll figure it out.”

“Hmm.” Willie hauls themself up, yawning loudly. They settle themselves in Alex’s lap, head tucked into his shoulder while Alex wraps his arms around them and fiddles with the mattress.

“M gonna fall sleep here,” Willie mumbles into Alex’s shoulder.

“Yea?”

“Mhm, g’night.” Willie burrows further into Alex, tucking his hands into his hoodie pockets.

Alex exhales, a fond smile tracing his face. He lifts one hand to card his fingers through Willie’s long hair, using the other to blow up the mattress. Willie groans in frustration at the loud noise and Alex has to fight a laugh.

“Alright get up, we have to- Willie.” Willie’s latched himself onto Alex like some sort of leech, pretending to be asleep despite the soft giggling escaping his lips.

“William,” Alex says, snickering. Willie doesn’t budge. “Pretty boy,” Alex tries. That always works.

Willie melts, lifting their head and flushing bright red. “Stop taking advantage of me,” He grumbles as he stands, pulling Alex up with him.

“Stop letting me,” Alex retorts with a teasing chuckle.

But instead of flopping unceremoniously onto the mattress like Alex expects, Willie pads tentatively to the wide window facing the flickering city and lets out a breath of awe. He hugs himself firmly, brushing his thumb over his bicep. Alex approaches them and snakes his arms around their torso, perching his chin on their shoulder and humming in question.

“I’m okay,” Willie answers the unspoken question, nudging Alex’s head lightly. “It’s just overwhelming but like…” he pauses, eyebrow furrowed in thought. “In a good way. It’s a lot, but it’s all good.”

Alex nods in understanding. “Yea, I agree.” He intertwines their fingers, rocking back and forth. “Lots of good.” He presses a kiss to the top of Willie’s head, lingering for a moment to relish in his presence.

“It’s beautiful,” Willie remarks, eyes raking over the bright city lights. It looks so distant and yet so familiar at the same time.

“You’ve seen the city a million times.”

“Ok, but this is a different city,” Willie responds. It’s true. It’s like the same puzzle with all the pieces arranged differently, except for one in the middle that the whole rest of the world revolves around.

Willie wriggles in Alex’s grip and spins around, tossing their arms over his shoulders and fidgeting with the hood of his sweatshirt. “Dance with me,” he says, voice soft and silvery, a whisper of cloud waltzing across the moon. Alex raises a doubtful eyebrow.

“You wanna dance… Willie, we’re exhausted.”

“No, no, no,” Willie shakes his head slowly, eyes squeezed shut for a moment. “Just-” They settle one hand one Alex’s shoulder and the other on his hip. Humming a gentle, lilting tune, they begin swaying side to side, drumming his fingers to a beat only in his head. “Dance with me.” He presses an idle kiss to Alex’s lips, chapped from the wind and laced with fresh apples . “Please.”

Alex hums in consideration, moving Willie’s hands to hold them in his own. “One second.” He ducks out of Willie’s arms, earning a squeak of protest.

Alex has had his record player for years now, Ray gave it to him as a Christmas present when he was 15 and he definitely cried. He’d gone through 3 boxes packing his records and Willie had looked… mildly concerned. But ha, who’s laughing now? The vinyl starts, popping occasionally in the way that makes Alex giggle with joy. Alex steps back proudly, floating back over to Willie and mimicking their previous position, one hand on their hip and the other on their shoulder. Willie smiles fondly at the song choice, Apple Pie by Lizzy Mcalpine, though he knows that nothing else would’ve fit.

“Remember the first time we listened to this song together?” Alex asks as Willie stumbles over his feet.

Willie nods. “Course I do, hotdog. You got sooo blushy.”

Alex shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, you kissed me so it worked out.”

“It did,” Willie whispers.

Alex spins them messily, laughing aloud when they slam into his chest without warning. "Very graceful," he remarks sarcastically.

Willie scrunches his face affectionately, pecking the tip of Alex's nose, singing gently as he draws back. "Home is wherever you are tonight."

It’s a tender moment, until Willie steps on Alex’s foot and snickers an apology. “Oops-”

“Ow, Willie. You don’t know how to slow dance do you?” Alex teases.

“Ok-”

Alex sighs warmly, god sometimes all the feelings were just so big and overwhelming. “Just, c'mere-” He draws Willie closer to him, embracing them like he’s the only thing in the world. And maybe, for the moment, he is. Willie tucks his head into Alex’s shoulder, breathing in his scent, lavender and dust; and Alex follows suit. His eyes flutter shut and he hums contentedly, heart giving a leap at the sheer domesticity of dancing in the empty living room in their pajamas, Willie tracing slow, sleepy circles on his back.

They’re hardly dancing anymore, really, wrapped up in each other like the sea and the shore at high tide, swaying to their synced heartbeats. The unfamiliar walls and creaky floorboards, cold beneath their socked feet, suddenly begin to look like home beneath all the strangeness and Alex can’t help but grin.

Alex’s home is in the crook of Willie’s neck and the light curve of his spine; the scent of rainstorms and cotton holding him close like he’s prone to break. And perhaps one day he will break, fall apart in Willie’s arms. But with the scratchy record humming in the background, and Willie’s body melting into his own, he thinks that their arms would be the best place to fall apart in.

---

art i made :)))