#shipping was pricey but I love them

[snowdropsandtigers]

A nice thing this month was receiving the Illumicrate Exclusive editions of The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan! They look so nice, and I love the author’s paintings. It’s a been a beloved series for me since 2004, and has warm fandom memories. I’m glad to have it in a fancier version. 🥰

[bitfruity]

i hope everyone had a good holiday! i wasn’t very active yesterday because it was christmas day here and i was with family. but i wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful christmas tree messages (i had to download the app later to read them🙄) they really warmed my heart😊💚

i know others have made some lovely posts about this fandom and the community here that are way better than anything i could put into words. but i just wanted to say thank you all because i’ve honestly never interacted with or had the confidence to post much of anything in a fandom before. i’m a very socially anxious person and unfortunately that carries over to online interactions as well so i usually used to just lurk and maybe leave a tag here and there.

but this beautiful frandom has made me come out of my shell more and given me confidence to post my silly thoughts or contribute to the conversation. i’ve even made some internet friends which is something i’ve never done before!

one of the tree deco messages said that they enjoyed reading my tags and that made me really happy because i didn’t used to do that very often and now i feel like i’ve joined in on the fun. i often have insecurities if i’m doing fandom/internet speak right or if my jokes even make sense😅 so it’s really validating to hear that at least one person enjoys my commentary just like how i enjoy so so many of yours💚

anyway before i get too sentimental here are some of the gifts i thought you guys might enjoy

my sister made me this card🤩💚

and she also got me a gengar plushie😈

[99centmusecd]

🔥🔥🔥THEY'RE HERE🔥🔥🔥

(wow the image quality kinda got scrungled... oops)

Scissors, Odin, Ouja, 2 Zoldas, 3 Knights... and not one, not 3, but 6 Ryukis! They make such a fun hollow plastic sound when they're dumped in a pile together hahaha. The listing had them as "dirty and damaged" but just a wet q-tip was enough to make them look much nicer.

Size comparison with SHF Vulcan (honestly, one of my favorites SHF so far, up there with Thouser and Ex-Aid... though, all the others I have are either new and expensive or old and breakable so I don't pose them near as much)

Investigating and Invading my desk

And another something special! An EP by Scissor's actor, who was in the band The Lantern until 2006. There's hardly anything about the band online; I can only find one recording anywhere (though I'm probably not looking in the right places tbh tbh) but I've been looking off and on for months and finally!

:)

[cerbreus]

every time i start trying to look up how to fill out the customs form for the packages i wanna send to my bf i get sooooo nervous because the Australian customs enforcement is just a full website of "DON'T MAIL ANYTHING EVER" basically. Bruh i just wanna mail some rocks it shouldn't be this hard.

[xenosagaepisodeone]

been thinking about how collecting things acts as a form of play recently. obviously, certain hobbies like rock collecting involve aspects of what we would conventionally think of as 'play' (searching, digging, dusting and examining, etc), and the process of displaying something is often too, play (though we generally call it decorating). collecting anime figures or vintage action figures in particular often invokes a kind of play-pretend that isn't acknowledged due to the commercial elements of these hobbies, despite this play also underlying more conventional forms of collecting. Let's put garage kits, gunpla, figmas, and anything else that would give figure collecting overlap with productive kinds of playing out of mind of a moment. You go to amiami and buy a 1/6 scale hatsune miku figure for $120. Shipping is anywhere from $10-30 depending on where you're getting it from(pricey!). You have the intention to sit this figure on your desk and little else. No fancy photoshoots or anything(at best maybe a few photos to share), just You and Your Toy.

at the core what you're buying is just emotional proximity to the things or characters in media you like (<- deeply obvious and boring sentence, but please keep reading). a child will play with toys as a way of exploring both fantastical ideas and the world around them in a way that is safe. with collectible figurines, those ideas and fantasies are self-contained in the toy itself, the predictability and familiarity acting as another form of safety. the satisfying comfort of 'playing' occurs when you look at the figure and feel like its meaning is self-evident. the act of 'play' becomes the bond you have developed to the object. the object is real. you can define yourself in relation to it- but more importantly, the ownership over this object affords you the ability to define the object in a way that would be somewhat less warranted as a mere spectator of a book or tv series. miku isn't just a figure, she is your idol, or your daughter, or a weird pet. this bond you have dictated has made her more real, and your self-concepts by extension. but this is all playing at the end of the day because she is a toy. a rock collector takes pride in their collection in part because of their love for rocks, but also because it reflects their mastery over understanding the world of rocks. it becomes testament to the relationship with their special subject. they are transformed by the physical presence of the rock. anime figure collecting is quite similar.

hoarding is kind of interesting with re: collecting because to me it's the process of play being stilted. there is desire but not so much intimacy between the person and their object. i often get the impression that hoarders desire to play with their objects, but are inhibited from being able to engage in that kind of vulnerability, instead turning the act of acquisition into a kind of less enriching pseudo-play. after all, hoarding can be a response to periods of traumatic deprivation. the hoarder who accumulates tons of stuff receives some of the comfort and safety of play via the guarantee of a new item added to their collection. they aren't sure how to treasure their objects beyond ensure that they are not thrown away. they cannot 'play' with them, and have their relationship defined largely by the emotions created by the absence of play. by being unable to engage with play and thus failing to acquire the fulfillment or enrichment of play, they end up snagged in what usually ends up being a frustrating cycle.

[botaniqueer]

Seed Sources

I updated the sources list for 2024! Here is the Google Docs link for sharing off Tumblr. A lot of my gardening guides are written with the Pacific Northwest in mind, but this should useful for most folks on Turtle Island. For people elsewhere I'm not 100% sure how many of these are able to ship off-continent but it's worth checking out! EDIT: I have found out the hard way that indented bullets do not work on Tumblr for web browser so I have tried my best to make them visually distinct. The Google Doc is formatted properly though.

General/Big Brand Seed Shops

Burpee Seeds

Ed Hume Seeds

Johnny’s Seeds

Renee’s Garden

Territorial Seed

Independent online fruit and veggie shops 

(More exotics and rare cultivars)

Adaptive Seeds

Breeds plants specifically to adapt them to the Pacific Northwest

Alliance of Native Seedkeepers

Indigenous-owned seed company

Experimental Farm Network

A network of plant breeders with an extensive collection of unusual cultivars and species of edible plant that don’t commonly appear elsewhere.

Very reputable

Pro-Palestine

Fedco Seeds

Good on social justice issues and have awareness of white supremacy

Maui Seed Company

Lots of Hawaii-growing species, plus soaps!

Pricey

Smart Seeds Emporium

Some of the photos are enhanced stock photos which is a little annoying, but I have ordered from them

True Love Seeds

Works with Black and Indigenous populations to source seeds and does education projects regarding race and ethnicity

Contains unusual seeds from breeding projects

Pro-Palestine

Uprising Seeds

Pro-Palestine

Local to the Pacific Northwest

Succulents and Other Ornamentals

Mesa Garden

Smart Seeds Emporium

Lots of ornamentals in this shop as well as food plants

Germination can be inconsistent on some of their seeds

Avoid/Blacklist

Baker Heirloom Seeds

Take credit for seeds from other sellers, including Indigenous farmers.

Work with Cliven Bundy and upholds white supremacy

[estellan0vella]

Sunshine's Guide To Murder│Lee Minho

Chapter Thirty: Toad In The Pond SS: 10 (ignore time stamps and dates) Word Count: 4.1 K Content Warnings: None? Previous Next Masterlist

Minho leans back in his seat, sipping on his iced americano, the soft hum of the car heater filling the space. Snowflakes flutter past the windshield as Hayun adjusts her scarf, taking a long sip of her hazelnut honeycomb frappuccino. She sighs contentedly, her earmuffs slightly askew, and Minho shakes his head.

“I need to understand your aversion to coats,” he says, his voice teasing but with genuine curiosity. “It’s freezing out there, but here you are. Bare legs and no coat. You’re dressed like winter Barbie.”

Hayun shrugs, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Coats ruin my cute vibe. I look like a marshmallow.”

“Yeah, because frostbite is such a good look,” Minho retorts, rolling his eyes. “I’m just saying, princess, a little practicality wouldn’t kill you.”

“Neither will a little cold,” Hayun quips back, taking another sip of her drink. “Besides, you’re my personal heater anyway.”

Minho huffs, his lips twitching into a smirk. “You’re impossible.”

They watch the diner from their vantage point, the windows fogging slightly as the heat inside contrasts with the snow-covered world outside. Hayun leans forward, peering at the entrance, and then settles back in her seat.

“What if we planted someone there?” she muses aloud. “Like Hyunjin? Hospitality workers live for customer gossip. When I worked at the café with Seungmin, we’d talk about the regulars all the time.”

Minho tilts his head. “Hyunjin, though? You think he’d blend in?”

“Hyunjin can blend anywhere,” Hayun replies with a laugh. “He’s like a chameleon with perfect bone structure.”

“Fair point,” Minho agrees. “But Seungmin working at a café? I can’t picture it.”

“Oh, he hated it,” Hayun says with a grin. “But he was great at eavesdropping, and his deadpan commentary kept me sane. I bet he’d love this plan.”

Hayun takes another sip of her drink and hums. “You know, this would be beautiful with some Bailey’s in it.”

Minho glances at her. “What’s Bailey’s?”

She perks up, animated now. “Okay, so before Etta passed, we celebrated my eighteenth birthday with a trip to the UK. We discovered Bailey’s. It’s this magical mix of Irish whiskey, spirits, cream, and flavourings.”

“Is it good?” Minho asks, intrigued.

“Good? It’s life-changing,” Hayun declares dramatically. “You pour it over ice, and it’s like drinking a creamy hug.”

Minho chuckles. “You have some at home?”

“Imported,” she replies proudly. “You better appreciate it when I share it. Shipping’s expensive as hell, but it’s worth every penny. I’m thinking of getting Chan a bottle for Christmas. He’d love it.”

“Fancy,” Minho teases. “Podcast money treating you well, huh?”

“Oh, you can’t talk, Mr. Fancy Car,” Hayun counters, smirking. “Besides, it’s the shipping that’s pricey, not the drink.”

Minho shakes his head with a grin. “You’re a trip, you know that?”

“I try,” she says with a mock bow of her head.

Minho shifts in his seat. “What if we did a big Christmas? My house and your house together. Sweet potato noodles, divine.”

Hayun wrinkles her nose. “Christmas roast is where it’s at.”

“That’s a Western thing, right?” Minho asks.

She nods enthusiastically. “Etta introduced me. Roast chicken, turkey, beef, gammon, vegetables galore, gravy, and- oh! Yorkshire puddings.”

Minho frowns. “Yorkshire puddings?”

Hayun lights up. “Oh, you’re in for a treat. It’s like this pastry thing, kind of, but not really. It’s an experience. You can put gravy on them, or apple sauce if you’re Felix or me.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“And toad in the hole!” Hayun adds, clapping her hands.

“Toad in the what?” Minho’s voice is incredulous.

“Toad in the hole,” she repeats with a grin. “It’s sausages baked into this batter. It’s delicious.”

Minho stares at her. “You’re making that up.”

“I’m not!” Hayun insists, laughing. “British food is weird, but it’s amazing.”

Minho shakes his head, taking another sip of his americano. “You’re a strange one, princess.”

“And yet, here you are,” Hayun teases, nudging his arm.

Minho’s lips curl into a small smile as he glances back at the diner. “Yeah, here I am. I can make beef Wellington, you know.”

Hayun groans dramatically, clutching her frappuccino like it’s a life raft. “Ooh, I might marry you. Forget the podcast, forget the plans, let’s just settle down and make beef Wellington together.”

Minho smirks, raising an eyebrow. “High standards, I see.”

“You’d be surprised,” she shoots back with a grin, tucking her legs under her on the seat. “Can you make any other British dishes?”

“Not really,” Minho admits. “Beef Wellington is just one of those things I got obsessed with once, and I nailed it. You?”

Hayun nods proudly. “Etta was half-American, half-British, and she taught me a lot. You want cottage pie? Done. You want bibimbap?” She pauses for dramatic effect. “Expect a minor fire.”

Minho bursts into laughter. “Cottage pie?”

“It’s like shepherd’s pie,” she explains, already knowing where this is going.

Minho blinks, confused. “Okay, so there’s cottage pie and shepherd’s pie? What the fuck? What’s the difference?”

“Shepherd’s pie uses lamb mince, because, you know shepherds. Sheep,” Hayun replies, gesturing like it’s obvious. “Cottage pie uses beef.”

Minho tilts his head. “Okay, but why isn’t it called cow pie or farmer pie? Who comes up with this shit?”

Hayun freezes for a second, then laughs. “That… that’s a really good question. Cottage pie does sound unnecessarily fancy.”

“So, what actually is it?” Minho presses.

“It’s just meat and vegetables in gravy, with mashed potatoes on top,” she says. “I like being a little extra and putting cheese on the top.”

Minho nods thoughtfully. “I respect the cheese move. Tonight, you could make me the sheep pie or the cow pie.”

Hayun giggles. “We’d have to go shopping for ingredients.”

“Done,” Minho says without hesitation. “Or better yet, I want the toad in the well.”

Hayun snorts, nearly spilling her drink. “It’s toad in the hole. And that means you’ll get to try Yorkshire pudding too because it’s basically sausages baked into one giant Yorkshire pudding.”

“Deal. Toad in the hole it is,” Minho says, already starting to plan. “We’ll get the stuff after this.”

Hayun nods, sipping her drink again. “You’re really about to experience British cuisine, huh?”

Minho looks at her sideways. “Why is it called toad in the hole, though?”

Hayun leans back in her seat. “Something about how toads wait for their prey in burrows, with their heads poking out. Just like sausages peep through the batter.”

Minho stares at her, incredulous. “Why do you know that?”

She shrugs. “Read it once. Eidetic memory, remember?”

Minho shakes his head, smiling. “Yeah, that’s cute and all, but can we circle back to the fact that you, a native Korean, know how to make Western dishes but can’t cook bibimbap without setting something on fire?”

Hayun rolls her eyes, playfully smacking his arm. “It’s not that I can’t! I just don’t. It’s intimidating!”

“Intimidating?” Minho looks genuinely shocked. “It’s literally rice, vegetables, meat, and gochujang. You stir it all together.”

“You make it sound so simple,” Hayun grumbles. “I grew up on instant noodles and convenience store meals, okay? Western stuff was Etta’s thing, and it stuck. Bibimbap was not on the menu in rural America.”

Minho just shakes his head. “Princess, we’re fixing this. Tonight, toad in the hole. Tomorrow, bibimbap lessons.”

“Only if you teach me,” Hayun retorts.

Minho smirks. “Oh, I’m absolutely teaching you. And if you burn anything, you owe me.”

“Deal.” Hayun grins. “But tonight, you’re eating British food. Cheese-covered mashed potatoes and sausage-filled batter coming right up.”

“Sounds divine,” Minho deadpans. “Let’s hope I survive.”

Minho watches as Hayun shifts in her seat, her white mini skirt riding up slightly as she adjusts her position, wincing. “Two o’clock on the dot,” Minho says, glancing at his watch. “That’s one part of Mr. Shin’s schedule mapped out.”

Hayun sighs, leaning back against the seat. “Good. My ass is starting to go numb.”

Minho smirks, leaning closer. “I can smack it to bring the feeling back.”

“No,” Hayun snaps, glaring at him. “You did it earlier, and it still stings.”

Minho chuckles, unapologetic. “Can’t help it. It’s too tempting.”

Hayun groans, taking a long sip of her frappuccino. “You’re incorrigible.”

Minho hums in agreement, starting the car. “Now, let’s go get the toad in the pond stuff.”

Hayun turns to him, her brows furrowed. “It’s toad in the hole!”

“Right, right,” Minho replies, smirking. “Let’s go get the toad in the mud stuff.”

“You’re being patronizing,” Hayun accuses, narrowing her eyes.

Minho puts on his most innocent expression. “Me? Patronizing? Never been patronizing a day in my life.”

“Yeah, right,” Hayun mutters, rolling her eyes as Minho pulls out of the parking lot.

When they arrive at the store, Minho parks and leans back in his seat. “This better be good,” he says, side-eyeing Hayun.

Hayun gasps dramatically, clutching her chest. “Your lack of faith in me hurts, Min.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “A few weeks ago, you nearly burned my house down.”

“I can’t cook Korean food!” Hayun protests.

“You’re Korean!” Minho retorts, throwing his hands up.

Hayun huffs, crossing her arms. “Most of my foster families weren’t, okay? There’s a surprising number of Westernized people fostering Korean orphans. It’s not like I grew up learning traditional recipes.”

Minho softens slightly, but he doesn’t drop the teasing smirk. “Fine, but I’m holding you to this British masterpiece you keep hyping.”

Inside the store, Hayun grabs Minho’s hand, lacing her fingers through his as she pulls him toward the shopping carts. Minho looks down at her hand, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Dainty little hands,” he remarks.

“Patronizing!” Hayun snaps, tugging him forward.

“Me?” Minho feigns shock. “Never.”

Hayun doesn’t dignify that with a response as she starts loading the cart with ingredients. She grabs flour, eggs, milk, and a pack of sausages. “We’ll need these for the Yorkshire pudding batter,” she explains. “And I could make onion gravy to go with it.”

“You’re the chef tonight,” Minho says, letting her take the lead.

Hayun nods, grabbing onions, stock, and butter. Then she makes her way to the vegetable section, selecting broccoli, carrots, and green beans. “You’re my sous chef,” she declares, dropping the vegetables into the cart. “I’ve grabbed enough to make two toad in the holes in big dishes, so you can take one back to Chan, Changbin, Hyunjin, and Seungmin.”

Minho stops pushing the cart for a moment, blinking at her. “You’re too nice.”

Hayun shrugs nonchalantly. “I know Chan misses stuff like this sometimes. He mentions Australia and his family a lot, so if I’m already making it, it’s no big deal to make another. I’ll give you instructions on how to make the gravy.”

Minho stares at her, an unfamiliar warmth spreading in his chest. “You’re really something else, you know that?”

Hayun smiles at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I know. Now let’s check out before you try to talk me out of it.”

As they reach the checkout, Hayun pulls out her phone, ready to tap the card reader. But Minho, quick as lightning, snatches it out of her hand. “Nope,” he declares, holding her phone out of reach.

“Minho!” Hayun whines, reaching for her phone, but he steps back, grinning.

“You’re not paying,” he says, effortlessly balancing the bags in one hand while reaching for his own wallet. “I’m still wooing you, remember? Besides, you’re making this because I asked for it.”

“So what?” Hayun huffs, crossing her arms. “Let me pay, you overgrown flirt.”

Minho merely chuckles as he taps his card to pay. “Not happening, princess.”

He grabs the bags and starts walking toward the door, leaving Hayun no choice but to trail after him. She sighs, glaring at the back of his head. “You don’t have to pay for everything, you know,” she says, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “You paid for my coffee earlier, too. Besides, I thought the wooing would end after we kissed in my bed.”

Minho glances back at her, a teasing glint in his eye. “The wooing doesn’t stop, even once we’re officially dating,” he replies. “But you’re right, I don’t have to do anything. I want to.”

That simple, sincere admission makes Hayun pause, her cheeks warming. She quickly pulls her scarf up over her mouth and nose, trying to hide her reaction.

Minho notices immediately, his smirk widening as he slows his pace to walk beside her. “What’s this?” he asks, his voice dripping with amusement. “Is the princess blushing for big, bad Lee Minho?”

“Shut up,” Hayun mumbles from behind her scarf, refusing to look at him.

Minho laughs as they reach the car. He places the bags in the trunk, glancing over at Hayun, who’s already climbed into the passenger seat. Her scarf is still hiding most of her face, but he can see the tips of her ears, red from embarrassment.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, Minho starts the car and adjusts the heaters, turning to her with a mischievous grin. “You know,” he begins, leaning closer as she fumbles with her seatbelt, “I think it’s adorable how flustered you get. It’s nice to know I can have this effect on you.”

“Minho,” Hayun warns, her voice muffled by the scarf.

“What?” he says, feigning innocence. “I’m just pointing out how cute you are. It’s not my fault you’re so easy to tease.”

Hayun groans softly, pulling the scarf higher until it covers her nose entirely. “You’re insufferable,” she mutters.

“Am I?” Minho teases, his tone mockingly hurt. “But you still agreed to let me woo you. If anything, you’re encouraging this behaviour.”

“I take it back,” Hayun jokes, her voice light but muffled. “You’re terrible at this.”

Minho leans back, placing a hand on the steering wheel as he smirks at her. “Oh, princess, if you think this is terrible, wait till I start pulling out the real flirting. This is just the warm-up.”

Hayun peeks at him from behind her scarf, her eyes wide with mock horror. “This is the warm-up? God help me.”

Minho laughs as he shifts the car into drive, sneaking another glance at her as he pulls out of the parking lot. “God can’t help you now, princess. You’re stuck with me. And trust me, I’m not letting you out of this so easily.”

Hayun finally lowers her scarf slightly, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. “You’re lucky you’re cute, or else I’d kick you out of the car.”

Minho raises an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. “I’m the cute one? That’s rich, coming from the girl who blushes at the drop of a hat.”

“Minho!” Hayun protests, half-laughing as she covers her face with her hands.

Minho chuckles softly, his eyes flicking between the road and her. “You’re going to regret letting me know how much you like this, princess,” he warns, his tone low and playful. “Because now, I’m never stopping.”

Minho and Hayun pull into the driveway of Hayun's house. The moment they step inside, Hayun kicks off her white Converse near the door, and Minho follows her into the kitchen, placing the bags of groceries on the counter.

Minho claps his hands together. “Alright, Miss British Cuisine Chef, put me to work.”

Hayun laughs softly, her cheeks slightly pink as she nods toward the groceries. “Okay, we’re making toad in the hole.”

At her words, a commotion comes from the living room. In an instant, Jisung, Jeongin, and Felix burst into the kitchen like excited children. Jisung’s eyes are wide with disbelief. “You’re making toad in the hole?!”

Hayun nods with a grin. “Yeah, Minho’s never had it, so I figured why not.”

Felix clasps his hands together, feigning tears. “Are we getting some, or is this all for him?”

“I’m making two,” Hayun replies, amused by their enthusiasm. “One for us five and one for Minho’s house.”

Jeongin leans against the counter with a wide smile. “Onion gravy too?” he asks hopefully.

“Of course.”

They all whoop in unison, their collective joy making Minho chuckle.

“Why are you guys acting like she’s making Michelin-star food?” Minho teases as Jisung, Jeongin, and Felix retreat back to the living room, clearly thrilled by the news.

“You’ll see,” Jisung shouts over his shoulder. “It’s a fucking masterpiece.”

Once the kitchen clears, Minho rolls up his sleeves. “Alright, boss. What’s first?”

Hayun hands him a cutting board and a knife. “You start chopping the carrots and broccoli. I’ll handle the potatoes.”

Minho gets to work, his knife moving methodically through the vegetables. “So, how do we do the veggies? Fry them?”

“Nope,” Hayun replies, peeling a potato with practised ease. “We steam them. For a dish like this, frying doesn’t fit the vibe. But we do have to boil the potatoes first to mash them. I add garlic cream cheese when I mash them.”

Minho freezes mid-chop, scrunching his nose. “Garlic cream cheese? In mashed potatoes?”

From the living room, Jisung shouts, “It tastes fucking divine!”

Minho shakes his head, amused, and keeps chopping. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Hayun finishes peeling the potatoes, dropping them into a large pot of cold water. She turns on the hob, adds a pinch of salt, and stirs it gently with a wooden spoon. “Potatoes are on. Now we need to make the Yorkshire pudding batter.”

Minho sets down the knife, grabbing the ingredients she’s already laid out. Under her watchful eye, he begins mixing flour, eggs, milk, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. His brows furrow in concentration as he whisks the batter, his arms flexing slightly. Hayun watches quietly, a smile tugging at her lips.

“You’re pretty good at this,” she says.

Minho smirks, not looking up from the bowl. “Told you, I’m a man of many talents. What’s next?”

Hayun lines two deep rectangular dishes with greaseproof paper and preheats the oven. “Frying sausages,” she answers. “I’ll handle the bacon.”

Minho moves to the stove, heating a skillet and tossing in the sausages. As they sizzle, he glances at her. “Why do you need bacon if you’ve already got sausages?”

Hayun grins mischievously as she lays strips of bacon on another skillet. “You’ll see.”

Once the sausages are golden and fragrant, Hayun carefully wraps each one in the cooked bacon. She holds up one of the creations with a smile. “Pigs in blankets.”

Minho raises an eyebrow. “Pigs in blankets?”

“Yeah,” Hayun says. “Sausages are from pigs, and the bacon is the blanket.”

From the living room, Jisung’s voice rings out. “Are you making pigs in blankets toad in the hole?!”

“Yes!” Hayun calls back.

“I love you!” Jisung shouts, making Minho chuckle.

Minho carefully places the last bacon-wrapped sausage into the deep dish, arranging them evenly before stepping back. “Alright, chef. What’s next?”

Hayun grabs the bowl of batter Minho prepared earlier and slowly pours it over the sausages, the pale mixture spreading and filling the dish perfectly. “This,” she says with a grin, “is where the magic happens. The batter rises around the sausages to form a fluffy, crispy Yorkshire pudding.”

Minho watches intently, leaning on the counter as she pours the batter over the second dish. “How does it not just stay soggy?”

“It’s the heat,” Hayun explains as she slides both dishes into the preheated oven. “Super hot oven makes the batter puff up and get crispy on the edges. It’s science, Min.”

Minho hums, clearly unconvinced. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Hayun laughs, setting the timer for thirty minutes and turning back to the counter. “Now, we start the vegetables.”

She moves to the steamer, arranging the broccoli, carrots, and green beans in neat piles in the baskets before setting it up over boiling water. Minho peeks over her shoulder. “Why do you look so precise doing that?”

“Because presentation is part of cooking,” she teases. “Now, check the potatoes.”

Minho lifts the lid on the pot and peers inside. “Why is the heat so low? Aren’t these supposed to boil?”

“They are,” Hayun says, washing her hands. “But we don’t want them done too early. Timing is everything when you’re cooking a big meal. We still need to prep the onion gravy.”

Minho crosses his arms, leaning against the counter as he watches her move around the kitchen. “I feel like I’m just here to be bossed around.”

“You’re here to help,” Hayun corrects, pulling out onions and beginning to peel them. “Now grab a knife and start slicing.”

Minho takes an onion and slices into it, glancing at her. “You know, you’re way too organized for someone who’s burned water before.”

Hayun rolls her eyes. “I didn’t burn water. I just forgot I was boiling it, and the pot went dry.”

Minho chuckles. “Sure, princess.”

They work in comfortable silence for a while, slicing onions and preparing the other ingredients for the gravy. Minho occasionally sneaks glances at her, smiling when he notices how focused she looks, her lips slightly pursed in concentration.

“You’re really good at this,” he says suddenly.

Hayun pauses, looking up at him. “Good at what?”

“Cooking,” Minho replies, gesturing at the organized chaos on the counter. “You’re like... competent. It’s surprising.”

She laughs, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thanks, I think?”

Minho smirks, brushing a piece of onion off his fingers. “It’s a compliment. Mostly.”

Hayun tosses a bit of onion skin at him, laughing when he flinches. “You’re the worst.”

“And yet, here I am, slicing onions for you,” he replies with a grin.

They finish prepping the gravy ingredients, setting them aside for later. Hayun glances at the timer on the oven. “Fifteen minutes left. Let’s check on the batter.”

Minho crouches in front of the oven, squinting through the glass. “Holy shit. It’s puffing up. It actually works.”

“Told you,” Hayun says, leaning over his shoulder to look. “Yorkshire pudding magic.”

Minho straightens, turning to face her with a teasing grin. “You’re not allowed to look this smug.”

“I think I’ve earned it,” Hayun retorts, bumping his shoulder with hers.

Minho grabs the pot of boiled potatoes, draining them into the sink. “Alright, twig wrists, hand me the masher.”

Hayun snorts as she passes him the masher and a mixing bowl. “Jisung usually does the mashing because he insists it’s the most therapeutic part of cooking.”

Minho starts mashing with a dramatic flourish. “Therapeutic for him, labour for me.”

“You’re so dramatic,” Hayun teases, opening the fridge and grabbing the garlic cream cheese. She scoops out a generous dollop, plopping it into the bowl. Then she adds a splash of milk and a pinch of salt. “Here, this will make it heavenly.”

Minho mashes a little harder, mixing everything together. “You know, you keep calling this heavenly, but I have my doubts. What’s so special about garlic cream cheese, anyway?”

“It’s magic,” Hayun replies, her tone almost reverent. “Trust the process.”

“You sound like a Pinterest board,” Minho grumbles but continues mashing until the potatoes are smooth and creamy.

Meanwhile, Hayun turns to the pan of onions sizzling on the stovetop. She stirs them, adding flour and stock to create a rich, aromatic gravy. The kitchen fills with the comforting scent of onions and herbs, making Minho pause mid-mash to sniff the air.

“Alright, maybe I’m starting to believe,” he admits, grabbing five plates. He starts plating up the mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables with precision, clearly trying to impress her.

Hayun glances over. “Look at you, Mr. Perfectionist. Do you want to be a chef in your next life?”

Minho grins. “Nope. I just like showing off.”

The oven timer beeps, and Minho sets down the last plate to pull out the toad in the holes. He carefully places one on the counter for his housemates and brings the other to Hayun. “Here’s your masterpiece, Princess.”

“Don’t call me Princess when you’re holding my creation,” Hayun scolds lightly, but she’s smiling. She quickly starts cutting portions, spooning onion gravy generously over each slice.

Minho picks up the pot of leftover mashed potatoes and takes a bite. His eyes widen. “Holy shit, this is actually really fucking good.”

“Told you,” Hayun says smugly as she drizzles gravy over the last plate. “It’s all about the garlic cream cheese.”

Before Minho can retort, Jisung, Felix, and Jeongin appear in the kitchen, lured by the smell of food. They immediately start peppering Hayun’s face with kisses, one on her cheek, one on her forehead, and one on the top of her head.

“Stop!” Hayun laughs, swatting at them half-heartedly.

The trio suddenly freeze, realizing Minho is standing right there. They all look at him like deer caught in headlights. Minho raises an eyebrow, casually eating another bite of mashed potatoes.

“What?” Minho says, smirking. “You all like dick. I’m not worried. Unless—” He turns to Hayun with mock suspicion. “Something I should know?”

Hayun laughs, raising her hand. “Vagina haver, right here.”

Felix groans, burying his face in his hands. “You’re insufferable.”

Jisung leans against the counter, grinning at Minho. “You’re actually not freaking out. Impressive. Most straight guys would be sweating by now.”

Minho shrugs, still munching on potatoes. “I’m comfortable with my masculinity. Plus, I’ve got the girl, so what do I care?”

Jeongin shakes his head with a laugh. “You’re cocky as hell.”

“Damn right,” Minho replies. “Now sit your asses down and eat. Hayun’s been slaving over this for you ingrates.”

Hayun rolls her eyes but can’t hide her smile. She places the plates on the table, and everyone gathers around, digging in with eager anticipation.

Minho takes his first bite of the toad in the hole and pauses, savouring the flavours. “Alright,” he says after a moment. “This is fucking amazing. I take back everything I said about your cooking skills.”

Hayun beams. “Thank you, Min.”

Jeongin raises his glass of water. “To Hayun, the best chef in the house.”

Everyone cheers, clinking their glasses together. Minho leans over to whisper in Hayun’s ear, “You might actually be winning me over with this cooking thing, Princess.”

She nudges him with her elbow, laughing softly. “Good. That’s the plan.”

"But you still can't cook bibimbap for shit,"

Taglist: @hityoulikebahng @drewsandsebastianswife @fackeraccount @lily-loves-kpop @stilldontknowhoiam

@ziggy1221 @justaspoonofjam @tr-mha-fan @candycurshidkwhatthehell

@heeseungspookie @smigcrazy @skzstannie @nightmarenyxx @beaann

[benkyoutobentou]

Hello

What are some good resources for learning Japanese?

Thank you for asking!

For just starting out, I recommend JapanesePod101's videos on both hiragana and katakana.

For beginner grammar, I used and really enjoyed videos from both Japanese Ammo with Misa and Miku Real Japanese (both on YouTube). Misa's videos are a lot longer and more in depth, but if you want a quick overview of a grammar point, Miku's videos are great. Both channels also have lots of other Japanese learning content as well!

For beginner textbooks, Genki is well loved, but I haven't used it myself. I also believe that there are YouTubers who make videos based on the lessons within Genki, if that's up your alley. I won't even name the textbooks I used to start out, because I'd never recommend them.

To get started with kanji, WaniKani is a popular choice that seems to work great, but it's a pretty pricey subscription. I use the app Learn Japanese! - Kanji, which is a one time purchase of 10 USD. It can be buggy, but it has a built in spaced repetition system and, hey, it's ten dollars.

The subreddit r/LearnJapanese has a huge resource list here, but I only link this hesitantly, as my main advice to using it is to look at the resources, and never darken r/LearnJapanese's door ever again. That place is horrible and will eat all motivation you have to learn Japanese. I saw someone ask elsewhere if it was possible to be fluent in Japanese because they saw someone on that subreddit say it wasn't. Seriously, it's bad.

As for my current resources, ie. very much not beginner resources, I'm slowly but surely making my way through Tobira. I really like it as a textbook, but I also just use it as far as I need it. To elaborate, I came back to it after a while of not using it, and found that it was just a bit too easy now (singing the praises of immersion!), so I've been skipping around on the reading comprehension questions, because I just don't think they're worth the effort for me right now. The later chapters probably will be, though.

JPBD is a lifesaver for me right now. I've fought with Anki on multiple occasions and had it work for me many times, but right now, the premade decks are what are gonna get me to study vocabulary, not pretty pictures. I also really like the ability to study a deck before you read something, rather than only being able to study vocabulary retroactively. The example sentences can be weird or terrible, but it allows you to choose from multiple sentences or make your own, so the benefits absolutely outweigh the drawbacks for me. Another thing of note is that these flashcards only go Japanese-English, so if you want to have the option to do English-Japanese cards, you might want to stick to Anki (or idk rip the decks and put them in Anki).

If you're ready to immerse and want to start a collection of physical books, I buy 90% of my Japanese language books through CDJapan. They have multiple options for shipping and are generous enough with sales and rewards points that usually I can get that to cover the cost of shipping. Plus they sell at Japanese retail price (minus tax!) so it's extremely reasonably priced.

I hope this helped a bit, and good luck on your language learning journey!

[lillified]

hey sorry if this is a weird ask but would you ever consider shipping internationally? im european and adore your art and would love to buy from you when i have the money, but i understand that international shipping is expensive sometimes ^^

hi! I do ship internationally, but if youre having issues AFAIK there are some countries Etsy doesn't ship to--I currently handle shipping through them for the sake of convenience, so if you've experienced issues that might be why! MOST international shipping works, it just tends to be pretty pricey

[emmyrosee]

How did I never know you’re a makeup artist??😭 that’s so cool!! I have to ask though, do you have a favorite colorful eye palette? I’m getting into having fun with my makeup and not just doing whatever is “trendy” ig. But I can’t find a good, affordable colorful eye palette 😭😭

yes yes!! I’m a professional makeup artist, working on getting my esthetician license 💪🏻💪🏻

(Putting my recommendations under the cut bc im a yapper and like, this is my favorite thing to talk about ever)

AND FUN MAKEUP MY BELOVED OH MYLANTA OKOKOKOKOK- so here’s the thing. When it comes to affordable, colorful makeup, Colourpop is THE way to go. I love their nine pan palettes and their 36 pan palette. Not to mention the sales they have CONSTANTLY. You can get them in ulta if you don’t want to pay for shipping, and the quality for the price is something you can’t go wrong with.

Another great one is Juvia’s Place, and their pans are so big, they can also be used all over the face!

Glamlite is another super nice one, and their palettes go on sale a lot too! Plus they’re usually themed, which is super fun to display 🥹

THAT SAID!!!

Blendbunny is my favorite brand of colorful makeup. Their palettes are a little more pricey for sure, but the colors are pigmented, they blend like butter, and their “blends” palette has basically every color you’d ever need (also some of their palettes get marked down like. A TON). Shipping for me takes two days, and it’s a brand I constantly get eager to reach for.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT ANY OF THEM LMK WHICH ONES YOU LIKE THE BEST BC I LOVE TALKING ABOUT MAKEUP MWAH MWAH

[beyondtheborderridiculous]

Watch Mankai Stage Autumn 2020 (The Tale of Genji) w/ Eng Subs

Watch Mankai Stage Autumn 2020 (The Tale of Genji) Eng Subs

Yay! It’s here at last! The third autumn play is finally here! (It only took 10,000 years…) Get ready for the yakuza!

If you are feeling generous, my tip page is here. It’s hella empty, but it’s me, I promise. I just have no idea how to organize it… YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PAY ME THOUGH. Please, don’t feel pressured! 

INSTEAD I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PURCHASE THE DVDS ON YOUR OWN TO SUPPORT THE FRANCHISE DIRECTLY!

For those of you guys who didn’t get a chance to watch the previous ones, I’m really sorry, but because of lack of storage, I won’t be reuploading it. But if someone wants to do a discord watch party or something with someone who already has the files, I wouldn’t be opposed to it (I’m also willing to do it, but my timezone is Pacific, so that might not match with some of you).

I’ve also been getting requests for my transcripts of the scripts. Those I have decided to charge. A coffee per script. Again, if you want to watch the previous ones for free, just dm me to schedule a watch party.

But if you guys still want to watch Autumn 2020 anyway, please read my following rules! 

Since it’s a bit risky posting this on YouTube, I’ll be uploading this onto a google drive. Please DM me with your email, and I’ll be happy to share the link with you.

Also, I’ve been receiving requests for the drive through anon. I can’t reply to anon messages directly, and I feel iffy about publicly publishing your email, so please, for your sake, don’t send me a request through anon. Also, the fact that you’re on anon kind of makes me nervous? So please just dm me off of anon.

I also want to note that I purchased both the DVDs and the scripts, and combined, it was pricey as hell (don’t even get me started with international shipping). So out of respect, please don’t post this or share this anywhere else. I don’t mind if you decided to download it, but if I ever come across this anywhere else, then I won’t be sharing the others. Also please DO NOT UPLOAD SCREENCAPS OF THESE ON TWITTER ON INSTA. Tumblr is fine, since no one checks this hell site, but the other ones? No way.

Also, my reading comprehension is a lot better than my listening in Japanese. Mankai Stage loves their ad-lips, and as much as I love them, they drive me up the wall. For example, there’s a lot of yakuza lingo being thrown here and there, and omg was that a struggle. I cannot claim to have 100% accuracy in any scene. I merely tried my best. If someone wants to make corrections, I totally don’t mind! Instead, I’d love to know! (But I probably won’t be changing it officially since… rendering the whole thing again would take fucking forever.)

I’m just an amateur at subbing, so I apologize if the quality isn’t the best. I do a proof-watching before rendering, but I’m not sure if I caught everything. Sorry if there’s some mistakes!

Lastly, I have one request, and it’s totally optional! But I would love to hear your commentaries/thoughts/opinion, on Mankai Stage Autumn 2020, since it’s kind of lonely just fangirling about it myself. 

As proof of you reading through this whole thing, please include the word: yakuza, in your DMs to me! 

Thank you!

[objectlovingobject]

Hey what's a good vpet where you can have a cat and it doesn't die? Or dies/leaves very rarely ... I'm interested in vpet digipet tama type toys

I have the perfect one!!! Its a bit pricey depending in ur budget(i think mine was 80 after shipping) but its the motchimaruzu punitto nyanko!

Heres mine, her name is mochi!

I looove this vpet so so much, its my fav uwu in this vpet you take care of a kitty, and it will evolve into a number of unique adults depending on the stats u raise it with! Unfortunately this is a more niche pet so information is scarce on it and there is no growth chart for this pet atm! But its fun to find out the evolutions on ur own imo!

Also the case is squishy and it can be taken off of the device to preserve the paint

Another barrier to entry(possibly) besides price, is that its japanese only, but i notice that its very intuitive and there isnt much text anyway! Heres a pic of the kitty in its mid stage! It has a full color, backlit screen!

I think its very cute and its soo content rich! Theres a bunch to do, and since i love gimick pets, the squishy buttons(i forgot to mention the cheeks nose and paws are buttons) are soo so cute and fun and i love them!

And this pet doesnt die! It also doesnt call out (i think) so its not annoying ^^ it cant get sick either :) if u want a new kitty you can have yur current one move out(more for the sake of getting all the characters)

Im willing to answer any questions abt this pet, or p much any other ^^

Also if u can find one, a qpet kitty is v fun, but its in chinese and somewhat hard to find from what i remember??

Also gigapet has a kitty i think, but idk if it dies!

[sevi007]

Tales of the Abyss, part 13

Yeah okay, first of - I do not understand the Item Trading system at Chesedonia port yet. I will have to look that up later. I did not have the patience today to figure out if I need specific items to get specific rewards.

Much more importantly:

Ma'am I consider this sexual harrassment, cease and desist!

Ah she wanted to steal stuff. Alright that's slightly better.

Jade take this seriously, you're the only adult of the group. JADE. I need your backup to hold this people together. XD

Also holy smokes why is everything here so PRICEY. I need money, quick.

Aw, I wanted to know what the fon disc said. Read a part now? Please? No? Mean.

Ah see, we should have read them!

also that does not look good. A curse maybe?

I love how everyone including his own allies are just ignoring Dist entirely.

Then again, it's not like my party has any better kind of dynamic so.

I know it all happened real fast and stuff, but are you telling me the entire party missed the huge glowy thing on Guy's arm? Great. I got a potential puppet number two on the team.

Mayyyybe someone finally understood the whole amnesia and sheltered part of Luke's character.

Oh by the way I followed you guys' advice and read the diary more often now! After their talk on the last ship, Luke noted down that he "had to learn faces, the language, and how to walk" after his kidnapping, so thorough was his amnesia (I'm starting to wonder if it is really amnesia, or if my clone theory holds up and he HAD no memories before all this). See that shocked me quite a bit, and now I want to bite anyone pointing out that "this is common knowledge!" - yes, knowledge he was never taught, or did not have the capacity to learn on top of everything else. Instead of just rolling your eyes and steamrolling over his protests, how about you slow down at points like he asks you to.

(Of course I'm aware that Luke has not told as much as he did to Tear to the others. But at least Guy, who knows him for a long time, or Anise, who claims to love him / his money, or Ion who is so gentle, really ought to consider what they are doing, or not doing, more often around Luke. This is NOT going to help his attitude towards you guys at all)

I'm starting to think we will never get a calm trip with a boat or airship in this game. It's always something!

Resounding no on that front! (What was that, anyway, a toy?)

I'm um... will just leave them to it, I think. XD

@magicmetslogic

@ahsokaisawesome

[allmightskitten]

Hiii! Hey I would love to hear about the wip n2! Romance Dawn trio has such a special place in my heart :D! (obviously excited to see what's coming up for Flower Shop but I will be patient✨)

HII yes, thank you for this ask!!💖

I shared some details about this WIP over here, so let me share a little snippet (apologies for how short it is– it was pretty much the only one I could use 😢!) from the WIP;

(psst @addict-with-a-unicorn )

'The future king of the pirates rides some water cow and other tourist-y scams'

☆

The floating city of Water 7 offered a mixed bag of public settings, from crowded daytime markets selling fresh produce of all kinds, to streetside vendors of bits and bobs and pricey establishments for the rich and sophisticated; it was like any other city, except the flowing waterways and tiered city sections made everything feel brand new. It was not remotely surprising that Luffy had gotten carried away earlier. It was even less surprising that Zoro managed to get lost twice, finding his way back to them purely on accident, which was why Nami wasn't taking her chances anymore.

"Do we really have to do this?" Zoro complained for the sixth time that evening.

"Shut up," Nami told him, coming to a stop in front of one of the numerous neon signs lighting up this tier of the city. She held her map out in front of her, using the light from the streets to better see it. "This is our last spot for the day. I don't want to have to look for you before we return to the ship."

Luffy dug his nose with the pinkie of the hand that wasn't holding Zoro's.

"Where are we going, Nami? I'm hungry."

Zoro narrowed his eyes at him unhappily, indicating their enforced connection.

"...you do that with this hand too?"

You're one to talk about hygiene, Nami thought judgily. She shook her head, properly diverting her focus from both of them. She had a place to find on the map, a place that wasn't on the map.

☆

I unfortunately ended up losing most of the WIP because of my stupid decision to only write it on the ao3 processor:( not given up on it though!

[vibratingskull]

A night with you

Part1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Tag list

ThrawnxF!reader

You’re at the Opera with your suitor when you receive a text from a certain someone later that night...

You hide your mouth behind your hand, letting a single tear stream down your cheek. A silent sob gets caught in your throat and shakes your shoulders.

He takes your hand and intertwines your fingers, squeezing it reassuringly. He turns his gaze on you and flashes you a smile. You smile back, sniffing your sobs away, you nod your head to reassure him.

“Everything alright?” He asks in a tone of confidence.

“Yes! Yes, it's just… It’s beautiful.” You manage to say without your voice cracking completely.

“I knew you would love it.”

You gaze back on the stage where the Opera singers finish their song. It is the last one. It is about the region where your planet is from, about the war, about its conquest by the aliens, a story about courage and treachery, a tragedy. You wipe your tears away and rise from your seat to clap like the rest of the audience. You clap with all your might and shout hourrays and praises. You’re moved beyond tears, you felt it down your bowels. You made a good call to come see this opera with him. He puts your fur coat on your shoulders, squeezing them gently.

“There is supposed to be a soirée after, but I want to steal you away from them.” He chants.

You feel your cheeks heating up, you nod once again and take his gloved hand to exit the Galaxies Opera House. The fresh air hits you and you shiver in your furs, you thank him once again for gifting you such a pricey item, that and the dress and the jewelry…

“Do not worry about it.” He kisses your knuckles. “You wore it perfectly, I could swear it was tailored for you.” Wrapped up in his own black fur he delicately guides you away from the crowd of other rich people to his limousine. "Come. There is a place I want to show you.”

___________________________________

“Don’t walk so fast! I can’t keep up with my heels!” You protest.

“Sorry! I’m just so excited to show you!” He laughs without letting your hand go.

You walk with difficulty between the branches and the thorns, you already find it surprising to find a forest on Coruscant. You knew some parks, but a forest? Never heard of.

You finally arrive and he gestures to you proudly. You are in awe, before you is a clearing of wild flowers with a wonderful lake where the moon reflects its light in delicious reflections. In the middle of the opened nocturnal flowers is a tablecloth with a basket and a candelabra. You can’t contain your laughter.

“You really planned all this?” You ask incredulously.

“Well, you told me you were feeling down lately and I thought it would be a great change of atmosphere after an evening with all those stuck up people.” He says. “I wanted to make a nice gesture.” He approaches you with his beautiful smile, his bun a little unmade.

“Thank you, Governor Satlove.”

“What did I told you before, (y/n)?” He chides you lightly, grazing his finger against your lips “Call me Nather.”

“Alright…” You look down at your feet, suddenly shy, before meeting back his eyes. “Nather.” Your voice got low, like a secret.

He nods approvingly, holding your face in both of his hands, eyes in eyes, he kisses your forehead. He guides you to the basket and takes out two glasses and a bottle of Calamnsi. You both sat down in front of this gorgeous moon.

“Tell me rather, how’s everything going?”

You sigh.

“Oh, it could be better…” You clink your glasses and take a sip. “I’m drowning with work and the little time I have for me I dedicate it to you.” You confess.

He raises his glass.

“And I am honored.”

You smile, playing with the trim of your dress.

“It’s been a while since I got to see my different friends and my family, and I think it started to down on me.” You sigh."That, and these pirates we can't get our grips on…Are you sure none of the ships coming from and around your planet were never attacked ?" You inquire

He takes a sip, fixated on your eyes.

"I've never heard of it in any reports, nor have we received any call for help by any helpless ship." He responds.

You lower your head, a bit discouraged. You'd hoped he would have more information on his hand. It's been years now that this group of pirates is wandering the universe freely and the Captain Marttilf is really displeased by it. The only constant you picked on is that they will appear near Nather's planet, Tirahnn, at random and unpredictable times and disappear just as quickly. For you they are clearly doing business with the local underworld and you wanna know what deals it is about.

"We've augmented the patrol on our own, but we can't do much more for the time being, I'm afraid…" He takes your hand with "sorry" spelled in his eyes. “Tell me if I can do anything else to help you. I only need to pass a phone call…”

You shake your head, you’re grateful for his eagerness to help but you can’t really do anything for now. It is useless to place a ship in ambush for a target that might come in several months or a year.

"We will get them." You look in his gray eyes with resolution. "In one way or another… We will get them."

He looks at you in silence, like he is in his thoughts, but raises his glass once again.

"Then we will drink to your success! And your long awaited promotion." You smile at the prospect. You figure Marttilf would get most of the glory, but the idea is nice. "I can do something about that, you know? I can pull the right strings to speed up the process, no problem."

"No!" Your sudden firm tone surprises him and he gets back a little. You smile and sweeten your voice. "No. If I have to advance in this career, I want to advance by merits alone."

He shake his head.

"You're an idealist, (y/n). You cannot advance by merits alone. It is the slowest and least effective way."

You know he’s right, but you don’t want to admit it, not yet at least. You’ve raised one rank and are now a junior lieutenant, so really low in the chain of command and you know your next promotion will come in years. You will need patience and abnegation.

"I know, but I would rather prevent politics from intervening in my career as much as possible."

"Politics already mingles in your career, whether you like it or not. You should take full advantage of any ressources you have, as soon as possible." He puts his head on his fist, laying lazily on his side.

"So you are a resource now?" You ask laughingly.

"I can be so much more." He says, eyes fixed on your lips, caressing your hand with the tip of his fingers.

"What can you be, then?" You bend over, getting closer.

"Anything you might desire…"

You're close, you feel his breath on your parted lips and his heat emanating from his body. You shiver in anticipation. His eyes travel between your lips and your eyes. His hand comes caressing your cheek, sliding lightly to your chin to bring you closer.

The kiss is tender, slow. It sends shivers down your spine. It’s the first one. You savor it, like a rare delicacy with your eyes closed. Your hand gets in his bun, that you undo to let his long hair fall free and hold the back of his head, his hand slides back on your cheek, his thumb caressing it with gentleness.

You part with regrets, forehead against forehead. You're breathless and panting, your shoulders raise as you breathe air.

"Was it really reasonable ?" You ask with swollen lips, under your breath.

He laughs a cristalyne laugh with gleaming eyes.

"Is anything fun ever reasonable?"

You sigh, putting your head on his shoulder.

"Maybe you're right…"

His hand comes grazing your temples. Away, a firework is lit. You observe the colorful wonders in silence, well wrapped in your furs between the fluorescent open flowers. Your mind is racing but calm and organized at the same time. You bury your head in his neck, enveloping yourself in his scent, you sigh, content.

___________________________________________________________

You climb up the stairs to your apartment with your heels in your hand. Nather drived you back, his limousine really out of place in this rather modest neighborhood, you would have come back in a cab but you didn’t feel like leaving him yet, so you hugged on the bench seat on your way back. The cold cement against the plant of your feet keeps you awake.

Finally you reach your floor, your door slides and you're home. You lean against the door, touching your lips, remembering the feeling of his mouth against yours. You smile to yourself, moistening your lips. Your face heats up with the memory of this moment.

You walk toward your room with an idiotic smile, putting down the fur coat delicately in your closet, putting your pajamas on and removing the different pieces of jewelry. You slump on your bed with a satisfied sigh, you take your comlink to check your messages, you got several: some of your family members asking you to finally come see them, some of your friends proposing you a drink after all this time. You check your agenda and your orders and answer them no with a pinch of the heart. Captain Marttilf is demanding you to shorten your leave to come back at soon as possible on the Zéphyr. You pout. You had little time to yourself and now you had even less. You scroll down the rest of the messages until you come across a name you haven't seen in years. Thrawn.

You stare his name in silence for a minute, unsure of what to do. You click on it to see the message with a beating heart..

"Good day junior lieutenant (y/l/n), I require your services."

Good day? Good day?! After 3 years, that's how he greets a friend? Granted, you didn’t have much contact during these 3 years but your friendship didn’t wither that much, right? Your finger holds its place over the screen as you think about those shared moments that keep getting more and more rare until they disappeared completely, to those messages that keep getting more sparse… Maybe what you had wasn’t as strong as you first thought.

You hold your comm unit and stare at it for a while, not knowing how to carry the conversation, you start taping a friendly reprimand, a frustrated opener, the joyful salutations. You erase them all, opting for a more cordial and professional tone.

“Good day to you too, Lieutenant Thrawn. How may I assist you?”

You reread your message several times and send it. You put your comlink on your heart, eyes fixed on the ceiling. You realize your fling didn’t disappear over time like you hoped. Just having his name resonate inside your head sent your heart racing. You gulp in discomfort, you now doubt to be able to get over it. His face draws itself under your eyes on your ceiling, floating in the dark with the memory of his voice coming back like an old melody. You close your eyes to chase it from your mind but his image persists behind your lids.

A buzz sound pulls you off your thoughts. He responded despite the late hour.

“I must inform you I am no longer a lieutenant, I recently ascended to the rank of captain. I need to use your connection to the underworld.”

You blink.

He’s captain? Already? But it takes a decade to be promoted to this rank! You whistle, whatever he’s chasing, he has his eyes on the prize. You who felt proud about your promotion will seriously need to review your objectives upwards. You’re getting outrun, and by far.

Now to the less pleasant part of the discussion, he wants you to get in contact with the underworld? But your parents cut ties with that part of your family years ago and you’re not sure you want to get back to that. You barely know them anyway.

“My congratulations. It will depend on my abilities, why do you need to enter the crime world?”

You don’t have to wait long for the answer.

“Thank you. I need intel on the black metals market and information around a name I suspect to be highly influential in the milieu.”

What is he on about? Does he dream of himself as a blacksmith?

“Find everything you can about an individual that names himself Nightsawn. Union, lobby, mafia, search every environment susceptible to birth protest and rebellion. You must also find details around the mining guild.”

You stare at the screen, concerned. It’s a true investigation he asks of you. You can’t possibly just pop up at the door of your former family with a smile and such a mission… On the other hand, getting closer to your family and their network could help you with your situation with those pirates…

It could work. You will just need to be convincing.

Really convincing.

“I will see what I can do. I will keep you informed.”

“Thank you.”

You scroll back and reread the conversation. The tone is cordial and professional but desperately impersonal and cold. You sigh discouraged, it’s your first contact after several years and it didn’t go as well as all your planned scenarios. You didn’t expect hugging and kissing but still something warmer than this arid conversation.

You stare in the void, screen in front of your face, burning your eyes. It vibrates once again in your hand.

It’s Nather.

“Good evening my pearl. Prepare a proper suit, I will bring you to a nice place next time. In hope it cures you from your loneliness.”

Strangely, you only feel a black void at this news.

It should brighten your mood and bring a smile to your lips, but at this moment you can’t be helped. It only sharpens the dark needles in your heart.

You go to your contact and modify Thrawn’s profile to a more professional and stern “Captain Thrawn”.

That’s all you’re gonna be able to call him from now on, anyway.

You put down your comlink and bury yourself under the cover with your eyes shut close.

@bluechiss, @al-astakbar

[kingkenzieofmold]

Hi, I love your art and the comic of Henry Stickmin ships. Can I request Stickprice? I requested this on your art request post and you didn’t respond. I’m so sorry if I’m being annoying.

Your not annoying at all! Enjoy some Stickprice for the soul! (Still think Pricey is a another good name for them<3 /lh)