#shuffled my station on apple music

[didyoulookforme]

did this on my other blog but doing it here so i can tag some of you :) i love polls lol

shuffle your playlist/library and make a poll out of the first five songs that come up:

i'm sorry if you've already done this but tagging: @sugar-coat-it @mystic-sands @heavenfalls @bedforddanes75 @on-administrative-leave @caterpillareyes @shesaidhello-hello @awellposhmagazine @ughgoaway and anyone else!

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

Confetti by Charlotte Cardin

The Great War by Taylor Swift

New Year’s Day by Taylor

The Alcott by The National ft. Taylor (lol I sense a theme)

Homesick by Noah Kahan ft. Sam Fender

bad idea right? By Olivia Rodrigo

Coming of Age by Maisie Peters

Gaslighter by The Chicks

Stick Season by Noah Kahan

love is embarrassing by Olivia Rodrigo

tagged by @taylortruther to shuffle my on repeat (i did my Replay on Apple Music) and post the first 10 songs!

i tag (no pressure): @delicatefalice @indestinatus @claudiajcregg @notesonartistry @please-picturemeintheweeds @pages-turned-bridges-burned @wildfloweronwheels @evermoredeluxe and anyone else who wants to do this!

[mmyrrhh]

Eyes on the road

Summary: A car ride with your favourite lieutenant.

Relationship: Simon “Ghost” Riley x GN!Reader

Word Count: 648

Notes:

Fluff

Mr. Riley strikes me as the kind of person who will listen to country music while driving and tapping the steering wheel rhythmically in the process.

My sideblog got shadowbanned so I’ll be posting my fics here until the issue gets resolved (if it gets resolved).

————————————————————————

You’ve been driving for two hours straight, and the silence between you grows longer as the miles pass. Despite your efforts to engage him in conversation, he appears content to remain silent, responding only with brief, cryptic remarks.

“Where are we going?”

“That’s confidential information.”

“How long until we arrive?”

“We’ll get there when we get there.”

Touché.

He was deep in thought, with his right hand steady on the steering wheel and his left arm resting casually on the open window. He had an air of confidence about him, seemingly able to take control of anything that life may throw his way; missions, injuries, cars, you. Oh boy, the power he has over you.

Every time he had to shift gears, he did with such poise and grace, releasing the wheel but securing it with his thigh so it wouldn’t drift away. You watched him every time he did that, anticipating the moment he’d place his hand on you instead.

His mask obscures his face, but you know there is concealed road rage lurking beneath. Now and then, a reckless driver would surpass you, and he would mutter a curse under his breath as his gaze followed the car. Other times, he would instinctively put his hand in front of you, inches away from your chest, acting as a human seatbelt.

Inches away...

The scenery is, well, nothing: an endless expanse of dirt, as far as the eye can see. And with the quiet between you, the boredom begins to set in. You figured a little music would lighten up the mood, maybe even spark a discussion of some sorts. You turn on the radio, shuffling through the stations until you find one that works. You turn up the volume and turn your attention back on the road. Ghost doesn’t comment on your action but has a lot to say about your taste in music.

“It’s shite,” he mutters under his mask.

“It’s the only one that works,” you comment back.

“It’s still sh*t,” he repeats.

“We don’t have any other option, Lieutenant.”

“There’s always another option, soldier,” he explains. “In this case, you could always turn it off.”

Is this an order or a suggestion? Better go with the safe option. You move your hand towards the radio button, but he catches it mid-air, his touch sending shivers down your spine.

“Don’t; let it play if you like it,” he whispers, his eyes still focused on the road, “my preferences should never dictate yours.”

In that moment of unexpected kindness, you turn to look at him.

You become immediately drawn to his profile and begin to examine any characteristic you can distinguish beneath his balaclava.

His brows appear sparse and washed out; is that genetic or permanent damage from a fire? His dark brown eyes are half-closed, emitting a sense of melancholy; that, or he’s tired from all the driving. He suddenly lets out an audible sigh. Your eyes travel to his lips; you can distinguish a faint outline through the stretched fabric. His Adam’s apple moves with vigour every time he swallows. His collarbone, chest, arms, abd-

“Eyes on the road,” he commands. Shit; caught red-handed once again.

You lightly cough in embarrassment and obey. Neither of you speaks.

As you continue driving down the road, he suddenly takes his hand off the wheel and goes straight for the volume button, turning it up.

You turn to look at him in confusion.

“It’s Johnny Cash,” he explains, shrugging.

“Johnny Cash, huh? Any relation to… John Price?” you quip, trying to lighten the mood.

“You and your fucking jokes,” he says with a hint of a chuckle in his voice.

And with that, the silence between you settles once more. But this time, it’s no longer oppressive, no longer boring. It’s a comfortable silence, with Johnny Cash speaking volumes about you and your lieutenant’s silent bond.

————————————————————————

[aesethewitch]

Shufflemancy 101: A Brief History & Analysis

Hey! If you like my work and want to support me in my quest for divination theory, digital tools, algorithmic quandries, and research into niche divination tools, consider throwing dollars at my Ko-Fi tip jar! Every contribution helps me keep making posts like this one. (You can also read this post over on Ko-Fi!)

The difficulty with researching something like shufflemancy is that it's a relatively modern phenomenon. I haven't yet found anyone (online or in a book) specifically talking about the origins of shufflemancy as a term or where it might've come from.

So, we start from square one.

What is Shufflemancy?

According to Wikipedia, shufflemancy is divination "by the use of an electronic media player such as an electronic playlist, iPod, or other medium wherein one skips a certain number of songs and the lyrics and/or tune of the song is the answer to the divinatory question."

Simple enough. Use an electronic collection of music that's been shuffled to divine.

This did lead me to the question: What counts as shufflemancy? Does tuning into a radio station count?

It's my opinion that radio divination does not count. There's no shuffle function. Yes, it has an element of chance, and that's what makes it divination. It certainly falls under the wider umbrella of divination via music, too. But it isn't shufflemancy if it doesn't make use of a shuffle function.

So, to make things simple, for something to be shufflemancy, it must:

Use an electronic medium

Involve a randomized shuffle function

Be something the shufflemancer can interpret to answer a question (pretty much anything)

Early Shufflemancy

The earliest form of shufflemancy as we understand it today, using the above requirements, would probably be tape players capable of shuffling music. With the nature of tape, it would take a while for the thing to wind and rewind to find the cue on the tape which signaled the start or end of a song, but it'd work.

With that said, shuffling as we understand and recognize it today would've started with CDs in the 1980s. There were CD players that could hold three to five disks at a time. They could shuffle songs between all disks held in the player, creating a random mix of tunes for listeners to enjoy.

Using either of these methods for divination would work, technically. The results would be somewhat limited, but that doesn't mean it's a bad method to use. Especially if your CD player could hold 5 disks, you could easily put in 5 albums from different artists with all different vibes for a wider variety of outputs.

I certainly remember using my little blue radio that held two CDs at once like this. I'd put in two albums and hit shuffle, and the first song that played would be my vibe and advice for the day. It was divination -- some of the earliest I'd ever done consciously, at the young age of nine. And when I got the bigger one that held three CDs? Game changer.

So this puts shufflemancy's origins somewhere around the mid-to-late 1980s, when Sony put out the first CD player with shuffle. As we moved into the 1990s, CDs became more popular and cassettes faced obsolescence.

The Shuffle Revolution & Early Modern Shufflemancy

In 2005, Apple changed the game again. It had already debuted the iPod in 2001, providing an easy, pocket-sized music experience as a direct challenge to the CD's cultural domination. On January 11, 2005, nearly 20 years ago, Apple announced the iPod Shuffle.

And oh, boy, did it change everything.

I could talk forever about the iPod's impact on the music industry, the death of the in-order album, and the eventual rise of music streaming services. But others have done that to death, so I'll focus in on our topic of shufflemancy.

This is where we start seeing shuffling music as it is now, in the modern day. In my digging, I found mentions of the term "shufflemancy" as early as 2007 -- just two years after the iPod Shuffle was announced. Someone proposed the concept and terminology of "shufflemancy" as we understand it today on a Halfbakery Forum "Idea" post on October 3, 2007.

It's difficult to say whether this is the first instance of the term. In reality, shufflemancy seems to have emerged as a natural by-product of the evolution of music technology. Where there is innovation, witches and diviners will mold it to their purposes. We're a resourceful bunch like that. It grew organically as we moved from buying albums to buying singles to streaming music without buying at all.

People were offering public shufflemancy readings as early as 2009 in places like TarotForum.net. It's spoken about during this era as a "silly" and "new" form of divination that people were trying out. There aren't any dates in that link, but according to the website's data, the first post in the thread was published on June 16, 2009.

From there, shufflemancy saw a gradual rise in popularity. It evolved from using iPods to iTunes, Napster, and eventually Spotify as these new applications emerged.

Shufflemancy Now

If you look up "shufflemancy" using Spotify's search function, you'll receive dozens of results. Many of the top playlists are public ones curated by shufflemancers for themselves and others to use. Options range from general playlists to "mega mixes" containing upwards of 200 hours of music from all different genres, artists, and eras. There are some with a paltry five hours of music, while one that I've seen goes up over the 600 hour mark. (If I can find that one again, I'll reblog it, because... damn.)

Select a "messages from your guides" option from the search or curate your own -- the choice is yours. For one-time shufflemancers, using a pre-made option may be the best, most economical choice. But dedicated shufflemancers sometimes boast multiple hundred-hour playlists for different purposes, all personally curated.

Clearly, it's popular. There are shufflemancers on Tumblr and Etsy offering free and paid services using their specially curated playlists. A quick search is all you need to find someone receiving a divinatory reading via song lyrics, meanings, and vibes. And it seems to work -- sellers on Etsy boast hundreds of positive reviews. Some even offer playlist curation services for personal shufflemancy or messages from deities and/or spirits.

It all begs the question, how does shufflemancy work?

Shufflemancy Methodology

Finding this is significantly easier than pinning down the history of shufflemancy. This post from Tumblr user orriculum, sums it up fairly well. So does this one by the-daily-diviner.

To do shufflemancy, the basic steps are:

Create or find a playlist of songs. A large collection seems to be the most favorable option for a wide spread of possibilities.

Ask a question. Divination 101 -- figure out what you want to know and ask it. Simple enough.

Pick a number. Choose any number and shuffle that many times or skip that many songs.

Listen to the song. Write down lyrics that stick out, messages that come through, and anything else that seems relevant (genre, tempo, vibe, etc.)

Interpret. Take the information gathered during the song and use it to draw conclusions, just like any other form of divination.

Simple enough. Shufflemancy is the sort of method that requires a high level of intuitive thinking. It's very mutable and suits a good amount of personalization.

This is both good and bad, I think. It would be incredibly easy to create a bias in your shufflemancy playlists by selecting songs with primarily one genre, artist, album, emotion, or through-line. The ideal playlist really does have a wide variety of music, and this means selecting songs that the shufflemancer doesn't necessarily like. We all have a genre or artist we hate; excluding an entire genre skews results. Impartial selections of music are critical to the success of good divination. Otherwise, we risk interfering with the outcome.

And speaking of interfering...

The Algorithm Problem

(Note: I'm focusing in on Spotify since it's very commonly used and because it's accessible to me. Shufflemancy can be (and is!) done with plenty of other apps like Apple Music.)

When Spotify was originally launched, it used a version of the Fisher-Yates Shuffle to perform its shuffling of music. In essence, this algorithm takes a finite sequence of data, picks an option from that selection of data, and removes it from the pool. Then, it picks another and another until no more options remain.

At first glance, this seems great! It creates a fairly random output. But as is the nature of randomness, there were clusters. The same artist would play four or five times in a row from a large playlist, and Spotify users complained. It was random, but it didn't feel that way.

The human brain is wired to find connections and patterns. When the same artist plays over and over again despite a playlist being on shuffle mode, it creates a pattern that the brain recognizes. Therefore, the "true" randomness of clustering outputs was unsatisfactory.

So, in 2014, Spotify updated it. Their new algorithm would detect and remember the song it just played and, in shuffling, account for the artist and album to provide a more random-feeling result. The new algorithm detects what's already played and selects accordingly to prevent the same artist from playing twice in a row, just as it prevents the same song from playing twice. It spreads artists out evenly (though not perfectly, to maintain the illusion of randomness) to provide an enhanced listening experience.

What does this mean for shufflemancy, then? If Spotify's algorithm is interfering in the output provided from a playlist, does that mean it's not a reliable form of divination?

At first, I wasn't so sure. I adjusted my thinking -- if a tarot app was preventing certain cards from being drawn (or from being drawn in a particular order) because I'd already drawn them that day or week, would that render the app unreliable? And the answer was yes. It would! It removes the random element from the method, therefore making it not true divination by my definition.

So shufflemancy with Spotify isn't (good) divination, then. Right?

My Opinion & Theory

In thinking about this further, I think it comes down to personal opinion. People certainly have success with shufflemancy via Spotify, or else they wouldn't do it. They definitely wouldn't offer their services (free or otherwise) if they weren't confident in the results it provides.

Thinking that way, I believe there's a way to off-set the algorithm's interference. With enough songs in a playlist, the random element is enhanced despite the algorithm. Not by having the same song multiple times (Spotify would surely detect this and prevent it from playing), but perhaps the same song covered by different artists. Songs with the same vibe, the same meaning, similar lyrics... AND songs from a wide variety of artists and genres, regardless of whether the shufflemancer likes the songs or not.

The person with that 600+ hour playlist for shufflemancy has it right, I think. That's the key. Variety and volume to make up for Spotify's algorithmic shuffler.

Additionally, in listening to my many, many Spotify playlists, I noticed something. If I'm listening to a playlist on shuffle and decide I want a specific song, I can choose to play it immediately. Afterwards, songs I've already heard might play. It seems as though doing this resets the shuffling algorithm in some way. Doing this in combination with a large and varied playlist might be the key to making shufflemancy in Spotify truly, fully reliable.

My Next Steps

Obviously, scholarly research only goes so far in situations like this. In order to properly gauge the accuracy of shufflemancy, I'll have to do it myself.

First, I'll need a playlist. I have a handful of playlists that sit in the hundred-hour range, but they're curated with friends for specific vibes. They're not really suitable for shufflemancy. So making one for myself is step one. I'll use premade playlists as a springboard for ideas, but the end result will be my own. For transparency, I'll make the playlist public and share it as part of the next edition in this series of posts.

The next step is to just... do it. Do the divinations, and do them regularly. Instead of a daily tarot card, I'll do a daily shuffle. I'll form "spreads" and put together a more in-depth methodology that fits my style as it develops.

Then, finally, maybe public ones? For reviews and feedback, obviously. It's one thing to do divination for myself -- confirmation bias and all -- but to do it for others and to be open for immediate feedback is entirely different.

Last, it's a matter of compiling my findings into a coherent document. Easier said than done, but done it must be.

Resources

I pulled from a lot of places for this one. Massive thanks to the Crossroads Discord for listening to me yell about divination for the last several weeks. It will continue.

In any case, here are all the resources I referenced for this leg of research:

Wikipedia - The Fisher-Yates Shuffle

Wikipedia - Methods of Divination

Wikipedia - The iPod Shuffle

PopSci - History of Shuffling Music

Engineering at Spotify - How to Shuffle?

The Verge - The Mixed-Up History of the Shuffle Button

Auntie PanPan (YouTube) - Shufflemancy - What IS It?!?

Halfbakery - Shufflemancy Idea Post

Fox and Faith Wordpress - Radio Divination and Intentional Living in Your Day to Day

Scientific American - How Randomness Rules Our World and Why We Cannot See It

PC World - The CD Player Turns 30

Make Use Of - How Spotify's Shuffle Feature Really Works

Orriculum on Tumblr - Post on shufflemancy technique

The-Daily-Divinre on Tumblr - Post on shufflemancy technique

Empirical Zeal - What Does Randomness Look Like?

[h4t08]

Music Tag Game

Thanks for the tag @gordopickett 💕

Put your music on shuffle and listen to the first 10 songs + tag 10 people. I have Apple Music, so I’m gonna go to my ‘radio station’ to pull the music from.

1.) Positions - Ariana Grande

2.) Don’t Bring me Down - ELO

3.) Ease my Mind (Come Over) - Nija

4.) Body Touching Body - Buju Benton

5.) How Can I Help You to Say Goodbye - Patty Lovelace

6.) Time After Time - Eva Cassidy

7.) Just my Imagination - The Temptations

8.) Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley with Alison Krauss

9.) Fillin’ My Cup - Hailey Whitters

10.) Paranoid - Black Sabbath

Tagging: @miss-ute @xmagicalmoonx @holy-ships-x-red-lips @gabolange @aimee-jessica @burneddownthegym @mandalamarigold @marymcmagic-hair @bluetrekker12 @a-tardis-at-downton @margospiano

And anyone else who wants to play! 💕

[programmedradly]

Thank you for the tag, @forerussake! <3

Rules: put your music library on shuffle, then list the first five songs that come up in a poll to let people vote for which one they like the most!

Fun times! (Using my personalized Apple Music station for this, so it's been somewhat curated by the ~algorithm rather than completely random. But they're all from my library.)

YouTube Links: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05

Tagging: @sarking, @lunarriviera, @elenothar, @miss-ingno, @omaenanimonoda

[uhuhuhfizz]

spotify has gone to shit so ive made a list tryijg to find a better one

music apps rated [WITHOUT PAYING]

may 2024

tested on

lyrics

skips

ads

playing while phone is off

locked songs

picking songs [without the shuffle, or from specific playlists]

wide selection [i looked up a few lesser known songs and if they had them they get a 10/10]

spotify

lyrics - limited ??

skips - 6 per hour

ads - one every song or two

playing while phone is off - yuh

locked songs - nuh

picking songs - no

wide selection - 7/10

notes - better on the computer usually

my rating = 4/10

youtube music

lyrics - for most songs

skips - unlimited

ads - 2 or so before videos, sometimes skippable

playing while phone is off - no

locked songs - no

picking songs - yuh

wide selection - 10/10

notes - premium goes onto normal youtube too, same with playlists

my rating = 6/10

amazon music

lyrics - yes

skips - limited

ads - yes every few songs

playing while phone is off - yes

locked songs - not that i can see

picking songs - yes

wide selection - 7/10

notes - prime connected to every amazon thing

my rating = 7/10

soundcloud

lyrics - no

skips - unlimited

ads - yes, not skippable and they dont play unless ur looking at them ?? like if ur in the app and an ad plays, if u leave it wont keep playing..

playing while phone is off - yes

locked songs - yes so many popular ones

picking songs - u can pick any

wide selection - 4/10 without premium

notes - most songs i enjoy are locked

my rating = 4/10

pandora

lyrics - no

skips - unlimited [i think)

ads - yes, very long ones

playing while phone is off - yes

locked songs - not that i can see

picking songs - yes

wide selection - 7/10

notes - it makes playlists for you immediately called 'stations', you can add artists not specific songs

my rating = 6/10

musie

lyrics - no

skips - unlimited

ads - yes

playing while phone is off - yes

locked songs - no

picking songs - yea

wide selection - 10/10 [i think they pull from youtube]

notes - the ads are like mobile game ads where they show up at weird times [like right when u open the app] but theyre skippable after like 3 seconds

my rating = 8/10

i will not be adding apple music fuck apple music

the songs i looked up[to see if they have a wide selection] were

the behind your back dance - that handsome devil

dont say no - tv girl

also most of these ive only used literally today so if its different long term tell me

[blamelessfish]

Silver Part Three

Previous // Next // Master List

The drive back to my apartment was uneventful, save for Alphus’ taste in music. It was some indie station, and between the music, it was advertising some kind of Woodstock reboot in July, in New York. I turned to Alphus. “Can we listen to something else?” I asked in a half-joking manner.

“What?” he asked.

“I just expected a centuries old construct to have a more refined music taste.” He laughed.

“Not all of us can get by on Mozart and mid 1950’s Jazz.”

“You leave Jazz Abroad out of this,” I said as we pulled into the parking lot in front of our unit. “It didn’t do anything to you.” He laughed, and we got out of the car. The smell hit me. Mrs.Kinnian from 3C was making her apple turnovers again. Alphus leaned on the roof of the car, my old Plymouth creaking under his bulk. 

“Smells like Mrs.K wants something from you again,” he said. I waved at Mrs.Kinnian through her window, returning the warm smile that she gave me.

“Why do you say that?”

“She and Mr.K don’t like apple turnovers. But you do.” I patted my stomach. I started towards her door.

“I might as well see what she wants then.”

“Silver, we’ve got our plate full.”

“And it’s about to be more full,” I said as I approached her door, across the hall from mine. “With apple turnovers.” I knocked on the door. Alphus sighed. “We’ll see what she wants and take some baked goods. That’s all.”

“We don’t have time for this.” Mrs.Kinnian opened the door. She was a tiny old lady, with frazzled white hair that blew up around her head like a frizzy halo, and glasses thick enough to stop bullets. The smell of cinnamon, apples, and chocolate blasted out the hall past her, and my stomach growled. She smiled at me.

“Well hello there silver,” she said, with the kind of affection that only a grandparent could give. Damn. I really was going to end up doing a favor for her, wasn’t I? She looked up at Alphus. “Hello, Martin,” she said, and smiled at him too.

“Hello, Dora,” he said, and I could hear that his resolve was weakening.

“Won’t you come inside for some baked goods and coffee?”

“Actually,” Alphus said, putting a heavy hand on my shoulder, “we just wanted to check in on you. We need to get to some other business we have.” 

“Oh you two can’t even take some of them off my hands?” She stepped aside, and her old, spoiled beagle wheezed his way over to me. I crouched and pet him.

“Unfortunately not,” Alphus said. “We’d have to take them to go.” The beagle, Mr.Whitmus, started licking my hands.

“Oh are you sure dear? I made those gooey fudge cookies you love, and you know they’re best warm.”

“Well, I- uh,” he hesitated, and I smiled, knowing we had him. “Okay,” he said. “Just a few minutes though.”

“Of course, dear,” she said. I stood up, and she led the both of us inside. On the walls of her entrance hall were pictures of her and Mr.Kinnian, a heavyset, kind man with dark skin and a bushy mustache. Her carpeting was plush, as was her furniture. She had a thick, orange and green floral couch, a padded rocking chair with purple cushions, and a gray loveseat. All of this around a dark wooden coffee table with an unsullied finish. The orange face of Garfield smiled at us from a set of four coasters set around a metal bowl full of multicolored stones that doubled as a candle holder. She shuffled off to the kitchen, and both Alphus and I took a seat on the couch. Alphus glanced at the T.V, which was playing a rerun of Jeopardy.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Alphus hissed.

“What do you mean?” I asked, doing my best to sound innocent.

“We have other shit we have to do, and-”

“Are you sure that I can’t get the two of you any coffee?”

“I’m good, thank you,” Alphus said, doing his best to hide his irritation.

“Just some tea for me, please,” I said. “I’m sure that Martin would love a cup, he’s just being polite.”

“What the-”

“Oh, he should know better than to be polite in this household!” Dora laughed, cutting Alphus off. Alphus groaned, and rested his forehead in his hands.

“No sugar, please,” he said, defeated.

“I’ll take some,” I said. A few minutes passed quietly, Alphus occasionally muttering the trivia that contestants on Jeopardy missed under his breath. Eventually, Dora brought us each a plate with our baked goods of choice, and our tea.

“Won’t you have any?” Alphus asked.

“I already had some,” she said. We all made small talk for a little while, which helped to ease the tension that had been growing in my neck since I woke up that morning. Well, it was more of the night before, but that didn’t seem relevant. Mr.Whitmus climbed into my lap. He was a heavy boy, but incredibly soft. At some point, Alphus leaned his head back, closing his eyes. He didn’t need to sleep, but he still needed to enter a sort of trance to regain his energy, where he sort of stopped paying attention to the world around him. I’m still not quite sure how it all works. I’m not a flesh-smith. “Silver,” she finally said after I finished my tea. “I need to ask you a favor.” I looked up from Mr.Whitmus, who I had been showering with belly rubs.

“What’s the favor?”

“Well I,” she hesitated, glancing out the window behind me. “I don’t rightly know.” I raised an eyebrow, and leaned forward as much as I could with a thirty pound beagle in my lap. She leaned in as well. “I think it might’ve had to do with your kind of folk.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, unsure if she meant gay people or practitioners.

“Folks of a magical persuasion,” she whispered, as though we were sharing a conspiracy. Most of the people in our complex were clued in on the supernatural, having had a severe haunting a few years prior, and some of the residents themselves being inhuman beings.

“What did you see?”

“Well I saw it outside, last night,” she said, and looked out her window again. “It was tall, taller than a person, and nothing but skin or bone,” a chill ran up my spine, and Alphus snapped out of his trance, his eyes fixing on her with razor focus. She balked. “Maybe I didn’t see-” Alphus shook his head.

“Please continue,” he said, “it’s important.” She nodded.

“It was so fast, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at.” I stood up, Mr.Whitmus hopping to the ground. Why hadn’t my wards alerted me the moment a feaster entered the complex? “It ran into the woods there,” she said, and gestured to the patch of woods across from the apartment complex. That was bad. I knew that a few families had houses on the other side of the woods, not to mention the people living in the woods themselves. “What should I do?” Alphus paced to the window, looking outside.

“First, get inside as soon as the sun goes down. Stay there. It might be a good idea for Harold to stay home too.” I glanced around her living room. “Do you have anything that’s made of Silver? Genuine, authentic silver. Sterling will do, but the purer the better.”

“I have my mother’s old set,” she said, and walked to a cabinet with glass doors. She opened it, and took out the silverware set, which sat below what I assumed was a picture of her mother. She handed it to me. I took a piece out, and tried to run Arcane Energy through it. It didn’t work.

“This is perfect,” I said. I set some on the windowsill, touching the window.

“Put the silverware by each window, and on the internal lining of the door. Tell the others I said to do the same if they can.” I glanced outside again. It was still bright out, but the sun was slowly beginning to set. About three hours until dark. “I have something else I need to do tonight, but the silver will keep it out.”

“What should I do if it shows up again?”

“It won’t be able to get in, but if something happens and it does, my door will be unlocked. Lucille will be home. She can handle it.” She nodded. She was shaking, clearly afraid. I hugged her. “It’ll be okay,” I said. She nodded. “I have to go handle something else, and then I promise I’ll take care of this.”

“Okay.” I let her go, and walked towards her door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I left her apartment, and glanced at Alphus.

“Still think it can wait?” I asked.

“Yeah, yeah. Why didn’t your wards pick up on an Outsider?”

“No idea,” I said, and opened our apartment. The smell of incense and old candles wafted out, mingling with the smell of Mrs.K’s baked goods. I paused. There was nothing else. Normally static washed over my skin when I walked inside, a side effect of my wards. Alphus bumped into me.

“Why’d you stop?” he asked.

“They’re fucking gone,” I said.

“What?”

“My wards, they’re gone.” Alphus swore in a language I didn’t understand, shoved me behind him, and drew his handgun. “Lucille,” I called, “is everything okay?”

“Peachy,” she called.

“Boxers or briefs?” Alphus asked.

“Boxer-Briefs,” she said. “Crunchy or creamy?”

“I prefer Hazelnut Spread,” I said. Alphus put the gun away. Lucille stepped out of the kitchen. She was frowning. She wore jeans and a T-shirt, and a scar worked its way down the left side of her face, from just above her brow down to her throat.

“Why the interrogation?” she asked. Alphus and I stepped inside, and I closed the door.

“My wards are down,” I said. She blinked.

“How?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said.

“I’m taking a look around outside,” Alphus said. “Stay here.”

“Okay,” I said. Alphus left, looking more nervous than I had seen him in a long time.

“What happened?” Lucille asked.

“A lot,” I said. “I’ll tell you over dinner. What are we having?”

“I’m making shrimp fried rice,” she said. I nodded. “Go sit down, I’ll bring you a bowl.” 

“Thanks,” I said, and sat down in the living room by the front door. Where Dora’s furniture was pristine, practically untouched, ours was scavenged from yard sales and thrift shops. Our futon had been patched with various different types of cloth, and Alphus’ big chair leaked stuffing from the various holes he hadn’t been able to patch yet. He didn’t let anyone else touch it. Our coffee table had been torn up by Lucille’s cat, Boomstick, and the surface was cratered with cup rings. We’d spent most of our furnishing budget on the TV, which took up a good chunk of the wall opposite the futon, and Lucille’s PlayStation sat under it, with a few scattered games. Boomstick joined me, and I scratched behind the large orange cat’s ears. He purred like an engine, and flopped over on my lap. He batted at my hands as I reached for the remote, flipping on some nature documentary. I heard Lucille start cooking, and closed my eyes. After a few minutes, she was nudging me, holding out a bowl.

“Eat up,” she said. I took the fried rice and put it down, and she walked to the kitchen, coming back with her bowl, and a beer for each of us. I tapped my beer to hers, and she took a long drink from it. She had dark skin, and as a lycanthrope, her features were just on the human side of the uncanny valley. “So what happened?” she finally asked.

“Well, I got a call around 10 AM from Seattle’s finest,” I said. “They had a body they wanted me to look at, and a ritual.” I took a bite of the fried rice. It was divine, the fattiness and saltiness being exactly what I needed. 

“Was it something real?” she asked.

“Oh yeah,” I said. “A little too real, actually,” I said. The door opened, and Alphus stepped in, closing the door behind him.

“Oh, sweet, fried rice,” he said, and walked to the kitchen.

“Find anything?” I asked him.

“No,” he said. “Footprints look like a feaster, but that doesn’t explain the wards.” He left the kitchen, and walked to his chair with a beer and his food. “Thanks for dinner, Lucille.”

“Of course,” she said. “So the scene was a bit too real?” she asked.

“Yeah. So I called the C.O.D in, met the replacements.”

“We knew you would at some point. Can’t leave the post empty.” I nodded in agreement.

“Yeah.” I took another bite. “So, after that fun scene, I head to Marcilla’s because she had something for me. Come to find out one of her guys was killed-”

“The packs didn’t-”

“Have anything to do with it, I know,” I said, and waved my hand at her. I thought back on the scene, and my stomach twisted as I remembered the Arcane pollution. The taste of blood. The way the energy was alive. That skittering. Thing. “I know,” I said again. 

“That bad?”

“Yeah,” Alphus and I said at the same time. I shook my head with disgust. “Then I come home and find my wards are dead, and there’s a feaster running around.” I finished my rice, and got up. “I need to go start my Steel-Soul and God’s Tears.” I put my bowl in the sink, and leaned against the hallway wall, looking at her.

“Are you heading out again tonight?” Lucille asked.

“Yeah,” I said, “I have to appease a revenant.” She clicked her tongue sympathetically. 

“Sounds like you have your hands full.”

“I do.” She met my eyes, thinking for a moment.

“You know, I can’t close the Third Gate for you,”

“I know.” I crossed my arms.

“The pack and I could hunt that feaster down for you, though.” I thought for a moment. She and the rest of her pack were shifters, unaffected by the phases of the moon, so they wouldn’t be weakened by it starting to wane. Additionally, I’d be too busy to handle it that night. Finally, and most importantly, I knew that whatever I said, she would go hunt it anyways.

“Sure,” I eventually said. “It’s not like it can infect you. Just be careful.” She nodded, and it was clear that I had passed some kind of test.

“I always am.” I chuckled as I turned away from her, and made my way to my work room. I put my hand on the door, and sent a pulse of energy through it. The door slid open, and I sighed with relief. The room was almost as large as my apartment on its own. I stepped in, and the door closed behind me. I was met with the hum of Arcane Energy, and I glanced around at the runes. The extradimensional space was holding, the place seemingly unaffected by whatever had disabled my wards. I let out a sigh, and took in the smell of the herbs I grew there. I had shaped the extradimensional void into a vague facsimile of an antique study, complete with a perpetually  roaring fireplace and heavy bookshelves. My summoning circle was untouched, which I took as another good sign. The easiest way for Outsiders to intrude on a Practitioner's home was through the summoning circle. The only permanent etching was the circle itself, and the protective hieroglyphs around it. It was at the end of the room, in front of the fireplace. A plush chair sat in the circle, a small olive branch I offered to anything I summoned. If I called you, I’d do my damndest to make sure you were comfortable. In the spaces between bookshelves and cabinets, I had placed planters, growing various herbs and mushrooms that I needed for alchemy. Small orbs of light hung above them. Along the center of the room was a series of six burners, each with a clean flask. In the middle was a well, which tapped into somewhere in the Beyond to conjure water within it. I got to work. I was out of powdered Drake Bone for the Steel-Soul, so I had to make do with just the God’s Tears. It had the unfortunate scent of rotten straw. While the potion was simmering, I visited my cabinet again, grabbing my bag, and loading it with Silver Powder, Crushed Quartz, Golden Thread, a vial of Fool Moon water, and my silver dagger. The dagger was a gift from my teacher, keeper Durello. It was a Pugio, the word Custos etched on the blade, as a statement of office. I left my athame behind. I wouldn’t need to open any gates. I grabbed the staff I had been working on. A focus isn’t necessary for working with the Arcane, but it helps, especially when you have to do it quickly and dirty. I tend not to use one unless necessary, because it draws attention. This one was specifically made of Ash Wood, to help ground and redirect hostile energies. I had worked three copper rings, the metal of the First Gate, around the bottom, etched with protective runes, to capture and hold energies. I had wrapped the staff in strips of Birch for further protection, simply burning “shield” into each strip in various languages. It was coming along well, but I still needed to affix a head to it. I wasn’t sure if I would go with a band, an orb, or an animal head. I put it aside once I had wrapped the eight strips around it, one for each Gate. I decided that I would have the head made of obsidian, as its connection to the void made it ideal to absorb energies. I put it back in the cabinet, and bottled the potion. God’s Tears was used to numb pain and raise resilience. I only made one bottle, as potions would be useless for Alphus, then cleaned up and left. By then, two hours had passed.

“Welcome back,” Alphus said from his room. It was a cluttered sort of den, with various weapons that he had collected over the centuries. “I grabbed my sword, and loaded up on silver bullets.”

“Here’s hoping we won’t need them,” I said. 

“I’ll drink to that.” He got up, and pulled a long coat over himself. “Lucille went out with the pack already. What do we do if Mrs.K needs to get in and get protected?” I sighed. I’d forgotten about that.

“We could ask Alex.” I sighed, and nodded.

“I’ll do it, yeah.” I walked over to the phone, and dialed for Alex. It rang twice, and he picked up.

“Heya Silv, wassup?” I heard Beethoven bark in the background, recognizable even over the phone.

“Are you at home?”

“Yeah man. What do you need?”

“Can you watch the house tonight? Something took my wards down-”

“Jello or Pudding?”

“Ice cream,” I said, trying to mask my irritation.

“Sorry man, can’t be too careful.”

“Yeah. Anyways, my wards are down, and Mrs.K saw a feaster around.”

“Yeah, heard about that.”

“Yeah. I’m heading out to deal with a revenant, and Lucille won’t be home, so,”

“You need someone there if shit hits the fan. Yeah man, I can watch Mrs.K for yah.”

“Thanks man.”

“‘Course, dude.” There was a pause. “Did you say a revenant?”

“Yeah, long story.”

“Fuck man, I’m just glad I’m not you. I’ll be over in a few.” He hung up. After a few minutes, I heard him knocking on the door. I opened it. He was wearing a tanktop and cargo shorts, with flip flops. His entire body was covered in scars, from his work as an independent hunter. He had Beethoven with him, the ragged Great Dane pouncing on Alphus, who started showering him with attention.

“Thanks for doing this last minute. Mrs.K knows you, so this should be fine.”

“Yeah dude.” He looked past me, at Alphus. “Guns are still in your room, yeah?”

“Yeah. I got a new sig.”

“Oh sick, what model?”

“I got the P229, loaded with .357. Silver, of course.”

“Nice, nice,” Alex looked around. “Where’s Boomstick?”

“Probably hiding from Beethoven,” I said. “Listen, Alphus and I have to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“If you don’t check in in two days, I’m assuming you’re dead.” I knew he wasn’t joking. 

“I understand.” Alphus and I headed out. I glanced up at the night sky. A thick band of storm clouds was rolling in. I sighed.

“That’s foreboding.”

[gaps-between-stories]

Fic Preview

A sneak peek of my OFMD/36 Questions AU.

The crackling of the recording filled the silence that had been suffocating Stede in the cabin of the car for the better part of twenty minutes. The radio signal had cut out around Terrace and he’d just now finally managed to get his iPhone hooked up to the aux cord after a fair bit of swearing, and, in a moment of weakness, bargaining to a higher power he hadn’t spoken to in years. 

When he'd first lost the radio signal, he’d tried the novel idea of sitting in silence with his own thoughts for a whopping total of 7 minutes before he started rummaging through the glove compartment for the aux cord he knew had to be there, dammit. 

The sound of rain falling on the rooftop had once been soothing to him – notoriously he’d fallen asleep in the passenger seat on many a road trip, greeted by plenty of ribbing from Ed when he would eventually wake up, hair somehow tasseled as if he’d slept all night. The number of accidental naps he’d fallen victim to on a rainy Sunday, Ed using his chest as a pillow as they cuddled on the couch, could rival any housecat. 

Back when life was still simple. Deceptively simple. The irony of that statement wasn’t lost on Stede. 

But now, as he sat hunched forward over the steering wheel, downing his fourth cup of coffee this afternoon, eyes straining against the dimly lit backcountry roads even this early in the evening, the rain was maddening. Like, an itch under your skin that you just can’t scratch, the sound of water dripping from somewhere that you can’t locate, broken smoke alarm maddening. 

After his desperate attempt at getting his Apple music working proved to be a more futile effort than getting an FM radio station out here, he’d settled on shuffling through the dozens of recorded voice memos he had saved. 

Anything to break the silence. 

Sighing, he gently turned the volume up as Ed’s laugh came through the car speakers. 

“Alright alright, I’m pretty shit at these things, and you all definitely want me to stop talking so you can get back to drinking. But I just wanted to say good job, crew. I’m proud of you all. Have fun, enjoy yourselves, and I'm gonna go make out with my smokeshow fiance.” 

A chorus of laughs, quite a few vocal groans, and at least one wolf-whistle followed his declaration. Someone, Lucius? shouted about 'getting a room.' 

The company holiday party was always a boozy affair, although Ed managed to make it through his speech with minimal slurring, no less boisterous for all of his efforts.

“Hey you.” Quieter, closer, more familiar. A voice filled with so much love it made Stede nearly burst at the seam. A voice reserved just for him.

“Hi,” recording Stede laughed, breathless 

Stede swallowed the lump forming in his throat, clicking through to the next recording, where he was greeted with his own voice. 

“Reminder to self: ask Lucius to look into the original owners of the Queen Anne's – " 

Click. 

“Can you repeat that?” recording Stede asked, voice clearly smug. 

Ed laughed, a sound Stede would do anything to hear right now. “What are you doing?” He asked, suspicious. 

“I’m just getting this as evidence that you said you were fine with a small wedding – city hall, no guests.” 

“Okay, yeah, fine, I want a small wedding. Although I’m pretty sure we need a witness or something.” 

“Well that’s just small details – oh.” There was a muffled sound of surprise, followed by a pleased laugh pressed between lips, before the recording cut off. 

Click. 

The sound of a waterfall. Their first anniversary, a trip to Snoqualmie. Stede had wanted to see the falls – the Pacific Northwest was still so novel to him then, he'd felt like every time he turned around there was another stunning view of mountains or harbors or evergreen forests. Ed had found his excitement amusing then, humoring him with trips up and down the coast. 

The sound of running water filled the car cabin for another minute before crunching footsteps interrupted the tranquility of it all. 

“Are you recording right now?” Ed called out in the distance.

“Mhm. I just want to remember it all!"  

There was a pause – Stede remembered that Ed had wrapped Stede up in his arms, the two of them watching the waterfall in front of a sunset that should have been painted. 

“Do you ever listen back to any of these?” Closer now, softer. That damn voice again. 

Stede hummed. “Not yet.” 

“Will you?” 

“Maybe when I miss it.” 

Click. 

Stede knew three things to be true: 

Today is July 28th, 2009. 

His name is Stede Bonnet. 

And he had been lying to his husband since the moment he met him.

[sleepsong]

tag game :) i was tagged by @othersheartache (<3) to shuffle my spotify wrapped apple music replay (😔) playlist and post the first 10 songs:

1. should’ve been me - mitski (#67)

2. should have known better - sufjan stevens (#86)

3. blurred view - big thief (#22)

4. union city blue - blondie (#45)

5. change in the weather - the beths (#78)

6. tried to tell you - the weather station (#10)

7. hysterical us - magdalena bay (#60)

8. forwards beckon rebound - adrianne lenker (#39)

9. family tree - ethel cain (#21)

10. don’t swallow the cap - the national (#54)

i’ll tag @a-place-to-burn @steamboatbaby @loust4t @meteortrails if y’all want to do it

[256gb]

couldn't fit this in the tags, so here's how i do it:

i don't ever pick by artist or album—i exclusively use the songs view, sort all songs in my entire library by 'recently added', and do not use shuffle whatsoever. i usually start listening sessions at or near the top of the list and work my way down. doing this for over a decade has made my library almost act like a time machine because i can scroll way down and hear music i was really into during different periods of my life & vividly relive those moments. it actually really helps because i have awful long term memory but somehow i remember exactly where i was, what i was doing, and what emotional state i was in when that song was at the top of the list.

when i want to discover new music, i have a smart playlist that always contains just the most recent 15 songs i've added to my library, and i turn that playlist into a radio station. whatever i really like, i'll add it to my library. it's kinda fun to see the radio station evolve over time, it creates a nice gradient of musical styles/moods that mutates slightly with every addition like a fucked up 12-year long game of music telephone

there are rare exceptions, i'll make the occasional playlist or listen to a new album release (again, no shuffle) but i'm usually picking out of that same recent song view.

(also, not that it matters, but i use apple music. i started with spotify in 2011 and switched to apple music in 2017—just moved my entire library over, preserving the "recently added" order in the process)

I've recently had friends tell me they use spotify/apple music/whatever by just liking songs and hitting shuffle, which is an alien concept to my has-well-over-100-playlists-and-chooses-which-to-play-based-on-mood sensibilities. so now I must know...

[tmarshconnors]

Look Back at the iPod Revolution

By TMC – October 23, 2024

Twenty-three years ago today, the world changed forever, though many of us didn’t realize it at the time. On October 23, 2001, Apple introduced the iPod, a device that promised to put “1,000 songs in your pocket.” And with that, our relationship with music, technology, and even culture itself took a massive leap forward.

Looking back, it's hard to imagine a world without the iPod. For millennials like myself, the iPod became a personal treasure chest of music, freeing us from the limitations of bulky CD players or cassette Walkmans. Before the iPod, managing a music collection was a clunky, physical affair—carrying around CDs or carefully making mixtapes. Then Apple changed the game.

The original iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player, but it was, without question, the most revolutionary. With its sleek design, intuitive scroll wheel, and the ability to store an entire music library on one small device, it redefined how we interacted with music. Suddenly, 1,000 songs, curated to your personal taste, were always at your fingertips.

A Moment of Technological History

The iPod’s launch was a watershed moment for Apple and marked the beginning of the company's ascent to becoming a tech powerhouse. Just a few years before, Apple was struggling, considered by many as a niche company with a relatively small audience. The iPod, however, wasn't just for techies or creatives—it was for everyone.

Steve Jobs famously pitched the iPod as "1,000 songs in your pocket" during the original presentation, and it was genius in its simplicity. The iPod wasn't just about storage capacity; it was about convenience, lifestyle, and bringing joy through music. Apple understood that people didn't just listen to music; they lived it. The ability to carry an entire personal soundtrack wherever you went wasn’t just innovative—it was liberating.

The Evolution of the iPod

The original iPod has since morphed through countless iterations—from the iPod Mini to the iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, and the beloved iPod Touch, which blended the iPhone experience without the phone. But no matter the form, each version maintained the same core promise: music without compromise. Whether you were a casual listener or an audiophile, the iPod changed how we consumed music, transitioning us into the world of digital files and, eventually, streaming.

For someone like me, whose love for photography, history, and technology intersect, the iPod represents more than just a music player. It was a cultural artefact, an expression of personal taste, and a symbol of how technology could seamlessly blend into our everyday lives. It was part of the movement toward personalization and digital independence. You weren't just listening to what radio stations pushed at you; you were curating a soundtrack to your life, selecting what mattered most to you.

In today’s world of streaming services and smartphones, the iPod may feel quaint. Services like Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music have made accessing an endless library of songs nearly instantaneous. But the spirit of the iPod lives on in every playlist we make, every mood-based album we throw on during a morning jog, and every carefully curated collection of favourite tracks we build in a streaming app. The device that once physically fit in our pocket now exists digitally in the cloud, but the idea—the freedom to access music anywhere, anytime—was born with the iPod.

It’s worth taking a moment today to remember just how groundbreaking the iPod was. The first iPod marked the beginning of an era where technology became more personal, more integrated into our everyday experiences. It wasn't just a gadget; it was part of who we were music lovers, explorers, and storytellers.

For me, that first iPod is a memory of discovering music in a whole new way—whether it was playing with friends while listening to the latest tunes or traveling with the perfect soundtrack in my ear. It made music not just portable but personal.

Today, as I sit here with my iPhone 16 Pro, which effortlessly streams millions of songs through Apple Music, I can't help but feel nostalgic for that original iPod. It was a symbol of where we were headed, a hint at the technological revolution we were on the cusp of.

The iPod was more than just “1,000 songs in your pocket.” It was a promise—that the future of technology could be both powerful and deeply personal. And in many ways, Apple fulfilled that promise, shaping the world we live in today.

So, here's to the iPod, the little white box that put the world of music in our hands and set the stage for the future of technology. Though it's no longer with us, its legacy is everywhere—in our pockets, our playlists, and the way we experience the sounds that shape our lives.

TMC

[stringeralong]

Netherlands Tues 27th June - Wed 28th June

Long story short, Spiritbox were on tour and I was working away during the London and nearby UK dates. So I thought it make a little trip out of seeing them.

Day 1

My day started at 3.30 in the morning, violently awoken by my alarm. I had managed to get a few hours in before I had to be up at the literal crack of dawn. I was cursed with a (self-described) nosey Uber driver for the 30min drive, in which he asked if I was ‘old enough to work’, and jokingly offered to drive me all the way to Rotterdam.

I shuffled around security, was rudely ignored and told to keep moving when I tried to ask staff a supposedly inoffensive question (I just wanted to know if I needed to take my toiletries bag out). I breezed through passport control, flashing my Irish passport like it’s an AAA pass. Then I headed straight for coffee.

Iced oat vanilla latte and mozzarella + tomato panini £9 | Station Pantry

Obviously, I was desperately early for my 6.16 train, as I was done eating about 5.20. I sat around for a bit, until they opened the gates and let us board.

Unfortunately I was sat in a four, with three others. I tried to get a nap in, but my opposite neighbour didn’t understand personal space and kept knocking my feet. Mind you, I was very much in my own space, didn’t even dare to cross the invisible line under the table. After enduring about 2 hours of the most aggressive footsie, with several glares but not a SINGLE apology, I managed to move to a duo seat once we had departed Brussels Nord.

At 10.34 local time, so 09.34 GMT, we pulled into Rotterdam Centraal. Now, unlike my usual self, I hadn’t actually planned anything to do before I moved on to Eindhoven. I suppose I could have gone straight there, but I thought I’d give TripAdvisor a chance to prove to me that Rotterdam was worth a quick looksie.

Number 2 on the TEN BEST THINGS TO DO IN ROTTERDAM list? The Zoo. How could I resist? And once I realised they had an Aquarium, I beelined (shark-lined..?) for it right on the opposite side. It was glorious, and honestly I would have been more than happy to pay the entrance fee for the aquarium alone. I spent about 20 mins sat in the water tunnel watching the sharks, fish, and turtles swim around, probably grinning like a giddy child. I have no idea why I adore sharks, I’ve certainly been questioned on it many times, I just do. *shrug*

27.00/ £23.21 | Blijdorp, Rotterdam Zoo

When I decided the sharks were probably sick of seeing my face, I reluctantly moved on. I had a semi leisurely stroll back to the entrance, spending a few moments with some of the animals, such as a very sad looking polar bear amongst the grass, some elephants, rhinos, and of course I tried to communicate with the local magpies. They must only speak Dutch.

I could have easily spent all day there, as many of the reviews suggest you do, but it was passed 12.30 (locally) and my stomach was rumbling. I had already set my heart on some very specific pancakes in Eindhoven, so I sauntered back to Rotterdam central and bought a ticket.

An hour(ish) later, I had arrived, and went straight for Coffee Lab. I had definitely made the right decision as I munched away, watching people run for their trains.

Bacon, cheese + maple syrup pancakes and homemade iced tea €15.30/£13.15 | Coffee Lab

Once I was full, it was just about that time to check in. So, apple maps chatting away in my headphones, I headed to my hostel. I always use my headphones to appear inconspicuous about having to use maps to get around. Most people will look at me and assume I’m listening to music, it helps you blend in and you don’t have to have your phone out to be easily snatched. I don’t expect to become a local, but I don’t want my vibe to be screaming ‘I’m a tourist’. Unfortunately, one downside to this is that people ask me directions because I just look like I know where I’m going. I should really get a badge that says ‘Sorry, I’m English’. Or maybe a hat....

After a roughly 20 min stroll from the station through a shopping area followed by several bars and restaurants, I arrived at Backpackers Bed and Breakfast.

The person at the desk was super nice and informative. They gave me a little map of the building and was even nice enough to waive the towel rental fee which saved me a sweet €4.

I got given a bed in a women’s room of 4. When I got in, the bottom two bunks were taken so I reluctantly took a top. I had to make my own bed, which would have been fine if I hadn’t done it home the day before.

I had a quick shower in the bathrooms, which were all downstairs. After I got ready, I sat in the main area charging my phone for a bit, with a €2.50 beer!

First port of call once my phone was juiced up? Dinner. I wandered back towards the centre and up to De Effenaar, the venue, just so I knew where it was. Then I headed back to a restaurant I had passed for some katsu.

€19.80/£17.02 Chicken Kara Age Katsu with Miso Soup and Seaweed Salad + Bottled water | Takumi Ramen

After I was very very fully, I sauntered back to the venue for about 18.15, with doors being at 19.00, expecting quite a crowd. However there only seemed to be about 20ish people waiting in a line. So, without much else to do, I joined in.

This meant, that when the doors did open and the fans flooded in, I got right up to the barrier.

I made a barrier buddy, who was unfortunately named Isis (her words not mine). The first opening act weren’t quite heavy enough for the vibe and the second opening act were too heavy. But Spiritbox, Spiritbox was perfect.

I walked back to my hostel, a little giddy and snuck into my room to grab my stuff. I had a quick shower because I was ridiculously sweaty. It didn’t take too long for me to fall asleep after that.

Day 2

9 am alarm. I spent a little while shoving everything back into my bag as I had decided that taking it all out was a good idea. I was rushing myself as I was very hungry and I wanted breakfast. I checked out, and returned to CoffeeLab.

Avocado Toast with Bacon + Iced Coffee €16.00/£13.79 | CoffeeLab

Then, I hopped on a bus and headed to Nunen, known as the Van Gogh village.

Return ticket Eindhoven to Nuenen €7.55/£6.50

After a short walk from the bus stop, I arrived at the Van Gogh Village Museum. I can’t seem to find a receipt for how much I paid (there’s no price on my ticket), but in my bank statement I found an £11.75 charge for Cm Global Ticket followed by a 35p Non-Stirling transaction fee. I must have used my main card rather than my Monzo. However the website says tickets are €6.50. I’m guessing I might have paid for two which would be €13.00 and could possible be exchanged by my bank at £11.75…. Whoops.

The museum was great! Fairly small, with not too many actual works (most of the key pieces being in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam), but they have some really creative displays and interactive sections. The audio guides were free, and super informative. The main focus of information was talking about Van Gogh's time in Nunen, where he famously studied 'peasants'.

There was a dark room which taught you about colours and let you play with light which from a technical point of view was very interesting but not necessarily Van Gogh specific.

After, I decided to wander around the village to try and spot some memorable sites. I struggled a little to find a map that highlighted these, or even a list that would help me out. Eventually I found an app called GPSmyCITY which had a map with some points of interest. The app markets itself as a place to find and download walking tours of various cities.

I used it to help me navigate, and eventually I stumbled upon some information points. Some of them played audio, some didn't work.

It seems like I could have followed them in order to create a special route, but I couldn't figure out where to go to get to the next one.

Spotted some familiar looking statues, then caught the bus back to Eindhoven.

Once there, it was time for a spot of lunch.

Ham + cheese toastie and a cola €11.30/£9.74 | Lucifer Coffee Roaster

As I was snacking away, deciding what to do next, I spotted the Phillips Museum on the map. When I’m not exploring the world, I’m a full time lighting technician so I did legally have to go look at light bulbs (we call them lamps….)

€11.00/£9.48 | Phillips Museum

It was quite an interesting museum, it had old advertisement posters, various info about various factories across the world and many old products. Not as many lamps as I hoped for, but still worth a visit. They also had an interactive section (thank you xbox Kinect)

After that, I still had a bit of time to kill so I stopped off for some bubble tea and cake.

Choc Milk Tea + Red Velvet cake €11.00/£9.48 | Moge Tea

Then I got the train back to Rotterdam, hung around a little for Eurostar security to open for my train, hopped on the train and headed home.

Total Cost: £347.40 (approx with some leeway due to exchange rates)

Transport: £168.75

Eurostar London to Rotterdam return rickets: £93.00. I used Pay Pal pay in 3 for this

- Pre-booked Uber to St Pancreas: £41.56

- Rotterdam to Eindhoven train: €22.10/£19

- Bus journeys: €7.55/£6.50

- Eindhoven to Rotterdam Train: €10.09/£8.69

Hostel: €43.50 cash on arrival (approx £37.38)

Concert ticket: €27/£23.20

Activities: €51/£43.81

Food + Drink total: €86.39/£74.24

[luna-eclipse2000]

Baby, it’s cold outside.

Marco Bodt x Reader

“God, why did I think it’d be a good idea to leave my house without a hat? Or a scarf?” I ask myself as I leave the school. “-20° (-4° F) outside with snow and wind… But the forecast is usually wrong because the meteorologist is horrible at their job.”

I rub my hands together to try and warm them up a bit, but they’re already going numb. I sigh but that just causes my teeth to chatter. I decide to tuck my hands under my arms to try and get a bit of warmth back when I hear a car drive up beside me but I don’t look to see who it is because I’m too focused on not becoming a popsicle. “You look really cold.” The person says from their window. “Yeah?” I ask rhetorically. “I wonder why? Maybe it’s because there’s blizzard and I’m in a stupid little coat that I got on sale from Marshall’s.”

Upon realizing how rude I just was, I immediately back peddle. “I’m-I’m sorry. I’m just really cold and trying to preserve my energy in order to make it back to my dorm.”

“I could give you a ride if you’d like?” The person offers. Before I say anything else, I look over to see who’s in the car. “Oh, hey, Marco.” I greet him properly. “That’d be great, thanks.”

I quickly shuffle my way over to the car, open the door, and hop in. Marco turns up the heating and takes his hat off to put on me so my ears warm up faster. “You know, you should prepare for any kind of weather during the winter.” Marco says. “Yeah, I know.” I agree. “I was just in a rush this morning and I knew about the weather but I was already down the hall, and I decided that I’d be fine.”

The radio then starts to play Idina Menzel and Michael Bublè’s version of Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Marco starts to laugh as I pout. “Don’t mock me, radio.”

“Why don’t I come inside with you and make you something warm to drink while you get a million blankets to pile on?” Marco offers once he’s stopped laughing. “Sure,” I agree. “I’d really like that.”

~~~~~

“Here you go.” Marco says as I sit on my small couch. I have a blanket across my lap, as well. “Thank you.” I say as I take the mug. It’s hot chocolate but he decorated the hell out of it. There’s whipped cream, marshmallows and a candy cane. “Holy crap, Marco! How’d you learn to do this?”

He laughs. “I’m the oldest of four. My youngest brother’s just about to turn 10 so I’ve learned how to make things look cool. Hot Chocolate’s kinda my specialty during the winter.”

“Well it looks like it should be in a commercial or something.” I say as I take a sip of my drink. “Thanks.” He replies as he takes a sip of his.

~~~~~

“Well, I think I’m gonna go now.” Marco says as he stands up. “Gotta study for a test next week in a unit I suck in and I still live at home which is 20 minutes away.”

“Oh, ok.” I reply, kinda sad that he has to go. “We should do this more often, I had fun.” Marco tells me. I nod. “Me too. Bye, Marco!”

“Bye, (y/n)!” Marco says and just as he reaches the door, the power goes out. “What the hell?” I ask. “I don’t know,” Marco replies. “I guess so many people had their heating units up so high that it caused a power outage.”

“Oh… that’s not good.” I say. “I think I have a radio in my closet. We could find out how far the blackout went and when the power could be back on.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Marco says.

I get up, head to my room, and start to search my closet for the radio I got a few years ago. “Ok… it was blue with silver…” I mumble the description to myself like it’ll help me find it faster. I move a set of boxes and find the old dusty thing so I pick it up and bring it outside to the living room. “And we pray that it works.”

Marco crosses his fingers as I press the on button and we hear some Christmas music playing. “Yes!” We cheer happily. I press one of the buttons to get to a news station so we can hear what’s going on. “The National Weather Service says that this is one of the worst storms to hit our area since 1953.” The broadcaster says. “The blackout ranges from 54th Street West all the way to Diana Road in width, and from Reiss Drive to Appleby Street in length.”

“Holy crap!” Marco exclaims. “Damn, that’s a big blackout.” I gasp. “The cause of the blackout was a mixture of people cranking up the heat and piles of snow falling on transformers.” The broadcaster says. “We advise everyone to stay inside until the power comes back on as it will be safer then going out on the roads. However, we don’t know yet just how long it will take for the Power Company to fix this.”

“Man, this sucks.” Marco groans. “You don’t wanna stay here?” I ask him. “That’s not it.” Marco tells me. “It’s just that my brothers are gonna be worried because my parents are out of state on business. I’m here. And I don’t wanna intrude on you.”

“Marco, you’re not intruding on me.” I assure him. “Besides, I think I’d prefer to have someone here than be by myself. The snow’s making it kinda dark in here.”

“Do you have any candles?” Marco asks. “We could use them for light.”

“Good idea.” I say. “I should have a few in the closet cupboard. You can go grab those and I’ll find a lighter or matches, or something.”

Marco nods and then goes down the hall. I walk into the kitchen and go through my junk drawer. I find a highlighter, turtle shaped silly band, pens galore, a battery, and finally my lighter. “Got the lighter!” I announce as I re-enter the living room. “I got four candles.” Marco says as he comes in a second later. “I got Ocean Breeze, Caramel Apple, Holly Jolly, and Honey Wildflower. It’s gonna smell interesting in here.”

I laugh as Marco takes the lids off each and I light the wicks.

~~~~~

It’s only been an hour since the power went out and it’s already getting pretty cold in here. I’m currently shivering my ass off as I have four blankets and a coat on. All of a sudden, Marco stands up and walk over to the radio. He clicks through the channels when Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas comes on. He walks back over and offers his hand to me. “Maybe dancing will warm you up a bit.”

I blush a bit and take his hand. I stand up and follow Marco a few steps away from the couch where he then places his hands on my waist and I place mine on his shoulders.

🎵 Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on

Our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Make the Yule-tide gay

From now on

Our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more🎵

“Starting to warm up a bit?” Marco asks. I nod. “My hands are still freezing, though.”

“Don’t you have gloves?” Marco asks. I smile sheepishly at him. “I usually just put them in my pockets.”

“That’s why you didn’t have some earlier?” Marco asks. I nod slowly. He laughs and then grabs my hands. “Here, my youngest brother used to do this all the time.” He then lifts his shirt up a bit and puts my hands under it. I feel him tense up when my cold hands meet his warm body. “And, boom, instant warmth.”

I don’t respond as I’m completely freaking out. “Uh… Are you ok?” Marco asks me. “Is this uncomfortable? I’m sorry, it’s all I could really think of so you’d get warm faster.”

What I mean to say is “I’m perfectly fine. Just wasn’t expecting this.” But what came out of my mouth was “How the hell are you so ripped?”

Now it’s Marco’s turn to blush and gape like a fish. “I’m so sorry!” I apologize. “I have no idea why I said that!”

“I, uh… I-I just go to the gym.” Marco answers. “You can come one day with me, if you want.”

“Me?” I ask. “Working out with you? In workout clothes? Sweating?” Marco raises an eyebrow at my inquires. “Please stop me before I say something I’ll highly regret and then run out into the snow.”

He laughs and then kisses my forehead. “I think it’ll be just fine if you say what you want to.”

“Yes, I’ll join.” I answer in complete. “To workout and definitely not stare at you.”

Marco laughs. “Since I’m pretty sure classes will be cancelled tomorrow, mind if I just stay over? I can make you more hot chocolate when the power comes back.”

I nod quickly. “As long as I can cuddle you and keep my hands under your shirt.”

“Of course.” Marco replies.

[fromthedeskofelizabeththird]

Habanero

You're a good girl, well behaved.

Absolutely not the type to rail random guys in nightclubs.

Until you are.

Fandom: BNHA

Pairing: Polyamorous Erasermic x Reader

Rating: Some references to explicitness towards the end

Trigger Warnings: None in this chapter.

AO3: Here | Want to support me? I have a Kofi

Chapter: 16/16 (all chapters)

You were proud of your home.

You had painted the walls yourself, built cupboards and shelves and painted those too. You’d crocheted your own throw blanket and stuffed every single cushion you owned.

You had made room in one corner for a moses basket and built a wine rack for when you had adult guests over.

It was warm and cosy and you often found yourself dozing off on the couch.

Today, in fact, was such an occasion. You opened your eyes to soft light, snuggled up in the same position as when you returned from work. You had taken off your coat and shoes and set aside your purse, meaning to take a couple of minutes before getting up to make dinner.

Clearly, that had not gone according to plan. You sat up with a wince and rubbed the spots of your back that had grown stiff. How long had you been asleep?

You moved to get up from the chair but that was easier said than done. You were, after all, extremely pregnant and even if your center of gravity wasn’t completely displaced, navigating your swollen belly was getting increasingly difficult.

This was your last week at work before you left for maternity leave and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t glad. Your nesting instincts had hit you hard within the past month or so and you’d reshuffled the furniture more times than you could count.

Nezu had been more than accommodating when he brought staff members into the dorms on site. Your dormitories were more like apartment complexes than the shared halls the students lived in. Your apartment was built to very specific requirements, namely that it was sound proofed and made from two apartments merged into one larger one, with doors connecting them together. There was enough room for Hizashi to do his radio show, for a home office, a bedroom for Eri and, more recently, a nursery.

Eri had a room to the left of yours, specifically chosen for easy access when she had nightmares and needed reassurance. You chose the room on the right of yours for the baby. Eri had offered to share her room, though you got the feeling she didn’t understand much about babies in general, let alone night time feeds and diaper changes.

You could hear three sets of voices coming from the nursery and you waddled towards it, clasping one hand over your belly and the other on your hip for balance.

Hizashi, Shouta and Eri were in the middle of building a crib, Hizashi leaning over the half finished frame, Shouta holding out tools and Eri sitting cross legged in the nursing chair, squinting at an upside down set of instructions.

“Are you sure that’s the right screw?”

“Positive.”

“It’s just that...I need five of them. How many do you have there?”

“One.”

Hizashi was a lot better at DIY projects than Shouta, thanks in part to how much of his time he spent building sound rigs and fixing his equipment. You could have lingered in the doorway forever, just watching them, though your back and ankles were already beginning to protest.

“Having fun?”

Eri gasped in happiness at the sight of you standing there, launching herself out of the nursing chair and reaching for your hand.

“We’re building the baby’s bed,” she said, hopping on the spot as you lowered yourself into the chair. “They’re following my instructions!”

“So I see,” you said. “Looks like you’re being very helpful!”

“We couldn’t do it without ya, Eri,” said Hizashi, before turning back to Shouta. “How many do you have now?”

“ One .”

“That can’t be right.”

Hizashi sat up and shuffled across to Shouta, counting out the screws and other materials.

“One,” he said, turning the screw over in his hand. “Why would they only give us one ?"

“Probably so we’d have to go back and spend more money,” said Shouta.

You sat back in your chair and rubbed your hand over your belly, glancing round at the near complete nursery. Everyone had contributed something; all four of you (and several others) had made your mark on this room.

Hizashi had assembled just about everything, from the changing station to the bookcase to the nursing chair you were currently sitting in. The very same day you told him you were pregnant, he came home with an armful of toys, almost all of which were sound related and certainly far too advanced for a newborn, though he refused to hear it. He’d also bought a music player and specialised headphones so that he could play music or voice recordings through your belly. It had become his favourite thing to do ever since your bump got noticeable, mostly because it almost never failed to make the baby kick.

Eri (under supervision, of course) had painted rainbows, clouds and kitties on the walls, as well as a picture of her and the baby enjoying a basket of apples. She didn’t know much about babies, much less what this one would look like, so her painting looked a little like a potato. She’d been something of a bad influence on Shouta, too, who couldn’t refuse her at the best of times, much less when she was pointing out cute onesies.

Shouta supplied almost all of the stuffed animals in the room, as well as the mobile you planned to hang above the cot. You hadn’t realised just how many baby toys, clothes and equipment were cat themed until Shouta bought almost all of them.

Nemuri’s gift lurked in the corner; an enormous teddy bear with glass eyes and a tartan scarf. It was almost as tall as you were and possibly the most hideous thing you had ever seen, but she and Hizashi had both smiled so widely when she brought it over that you had had little choice but to put it next to the bookshelf.

Your colleagues at UA (with the exception of Shouta and Hizashi for obvious reasons) had gifted you a storybook, with buttons at the side. They had recorded themselves speaking the lines and sometimes, when you wanted a giggle, you pulled it off the shelf and pressed the buttons yourself.

You had overseen everything without picking up quite as many individual items, though in your defense you were contributing the baby.

“That reminds me,” you said aloud without meaning to, “just a second…”

You had done something a little special, something you had been working on for weeks and couldn’t wait to hand over.

You climbed up out of the chair and waddled into the bedroom, coming back with a box you’d gone so far as to wrap with a ribbon.

“What is it, doll?”

“I got the test results back a few weeks ago,” you said with a grin, holding the box out towards them. “I was wondering how to tell you...so I made this.”

Due to your somewhat unique circumstances, you had gone through much of your pregnancy without knowing the identity of the father. You knew it was either Shouta or Hizashi, but couldn’t put that on the birth certificate.

You’d sent samples of your blood and Hizashi and Shouta’s saliva to be tested, though as far as they knew, that was where the story ended.

Both of them eyed the box in your arms, knowing that whatever was inside it would change the course of your futures. One of them was about to become a father, biologically speaking.

Eri didn’t fully understand the situation, but she did understand the concept of presents.

“Can I see?” she cried out.

“Sure, sweetie, why don’t you open it?”

You handed the box to Eri and sat back down in your nursing chair, watching in anticipation as she unfastened the ribbon and lifted the lid.

Maybe it was the hormones, but you’d been thinking about Ego a lot lately. You remembered glasses shattering against the floor, remembered your heart shattering into just as many pieces.

“It’s a onesie,” Eri cried out, dragging the black fabric out of the box.

“Sure is, honeybun,” said Hizashi. “What else is in there?”

It had been years since that night at the bar that changed everything and up until then you hadn’t been the biggest believer in destiny.

“Look,” said Eri, dragging out a small, grey strip of fabric, “it’s a scarf! Oooh, and there’s goggles!”

“That’s right! It’s a hero costume.”

You remembered how long you had shivered inside of a toilet stall, scrubbing away a stranger’s cum. You’d panicked, the reality of what you had done sinking in. You had never been so happy as when you got your next period; you didn’t even complain about the breakout and hellish cramps that came along with it.

You planted a hand on your belly, unable to stroke your son’s hair and so settling for his general vicinity.

Needless to say, you were a believer now.

[malibix]

Quiet Radio & Travel Mugs of Tea || One-Shot | Hisirdoux Casperan x GN!Reader

Summary: After moving to New York to protect Nari from the Order, you find it hard to adjust to a city that never sleeps. Douxie’s solution is a little night drive that’ll take you away from the noise where you can finally get some peace and quiet. 

Word Count: 1480

Warnings: None! 

Douxie awoke to the sound of quiet tapping and movement coming from the kitchen of your shared apartment. His room was dark and the door was closed, but he could faintly see a soft warm glow creeping in under the door's crack.

He took notice that you weren't with him in bed like you usually were, so he got up to investigate. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes and slipping on his house slippers, he made his way into the kitchen to find you shuffling about with a kettle on the stove.

"(Y/N)..? What are you doing up darling? It's 4 in the morning-" his voice was still thick with sleep as he spoke softly to you, as not to wake Archie and Nari on the couch nearby.

You jumped slightly, not realizing he'd come into the room.

"I couldn't sleep, the sound of the city is too loud- it’s taking awhile to get used too," you admitted, pulling your favourite mug from the cupboard. "I didn't wake you did I? Sorry if I did- I was trying to be quiet." You dropped a tea bag into your mug while chuckling softly, "Tea?"

"No no, don't worry. You didn't wake me, I was already kind of up from the noise as well."

It was partially true, partially a lie.. You hadn't been what woke him, he was naturally a light sleeper from all the years on the street in Camelot, and now with always having to be aware of his surroundings to protect Nari, he wasn't much better.

"And yes to tea, please." You nodded, pulling his regular tea from the shelf alongside his favourite mug.

"Yeah, it's certainly nothing like Arcadia, is it?" You asked, turning off the flame on the stove before the kettle had a chance to whistle and wake up the others.

"Hah.. no, not at all. It's going to take awhile getting used to I suppose.."

"Hey, why don't we go on a drive, like we used to?" He offered suddenly, stopping you from pouring the hot water into your cups. Instead, he reached for your travel mugs and tossed the teabags into them instead. "Tea to go," he told you with a smile and a shrug.

"I don't know, it's kind of late and I'm not really in the mood to drive.." You mumbled in your odd state of tiredness. You may not have been able to sleep and were awake because of the noise, but that didn't mean you were aware enough to be driving on the road.

"I'll drive," he told you, smiling softly as he took the kettle from your hands. "So what do you say? I can ask Archie to watch Nari while we're out, and we won’t be gone long. I can take us away from the noise of the city for a while, get us some peace and quiet?" he put the kettle down and made his way over to you, draping himself over your shoulders in an attempt to persuade you.

"Ughh, fine." You chuckled lightly, unable to refuse his request as he seemingly melted into a blob, putting all his weight on you as he leaned. "You wake Archie and I'll get the tea."

"Love you~" he said, giving you a quick kiss on the cheek before going to wake up the familiar.

"Love you too," you smiled at him, rolling your eyes slightly at the wizard and his cute but strange antics.

As promised, you made your teas and screwed the lids onto the travel mugs before going to get one of Douxie's hoodies from your bedroom.

He came back out to see you pulling on your favourite hoodie of his, "Still living in that one, eh?"

"Well it is my favourite," he chuckled, smiling at you in his clothes.

"Though it is starting to lose it's smell, so you should probably take it back for a bit."

"Duly noted."

You exchanged smiles as you handed him his tea. He held the apartment door open for you on your way out, bowing his head with a soft ‘after you.’

You eventually plopped yourselves down in the car, you in the passenger and Douxie behind the wheel just as he'd promised. He started up the car and began making his way out of the city. From the passenger seat, you quietly sipped your tea while flipping through the radio stations to see what odd things were playing at this hour. You had also flipped the seat warmer on. It wasn't a particularly cold night, you just liked being warm and cozy, even in the car.

Eventually you settled on a station that was playing instrumental and acoustic versions of current popular songs, it seemed to fit the feel for tonight's spontaneous night drive. 

The music being without its regular words most of the time left room for you and Douxie to fill the space with your own voices. Douxie sang along softly to the songs that played, while you did a little more humming as you enjoyed hearing his voice. That and you were also tired enough that you didn't want to put forth the energy to formulate the words you knew so well.

You kicked off your shoes and curled your legs up under you and onto the warmth of the seat. 

Douxie smiled sweetly at you as you peered out the window, watching the world around you grow darker and quieter the further you drove from the city. You could still see the dazzling lights of the Big Apple behind you through the side view mirrors, but they were much less bright than actually being there.

The both of you took sips of your tea between humming and singing along with the music.

You drove for a while, as far from the city as you could get in a short amount of time (and still at a safe speed, mind you). Eventually you'd begun nodding off, welcoming the silence in comparison to the noise from the bustling streets of New York.

You pulled up the hood of your jacket to shield your eyes from any remaining light as you curled yourself up further in the heated passenger seat.

When Douxie had noticed that you'd begun nodding off, he turned the volume on the radio down a little bit and started humming instead of singing.

You ended up completely falling asleep at the end of the next song.

Douxie smiled at you, glad that you were finally able to get some rest.

He drove for a little longer before turning around and bringing the both of you back to the city.

The time of day meant less cars on the road and less noise to return to, but the large city never really slept. Lights still shone bright, even at this hour as they lit up billboards for all to see.

Your travel mugs once filled with tea were now empty, so he figured it would be okay to leave them in the car until tomorrow, seeing as he wouldn't have the hands to grab them when he needed them free to carry you back up to your apartment.

Once he’d parked the car, your wizard did his best to not wake you as he pulled you from the warmth of the car and into his arms.

He’d thought you were out cold but you still reached to hold onto him as he carried you from the car to your room. He couldn't help but smile at you, you looked so peaceful while you were asleep.

You were kind of coherent enough to process that you were in and out of sleep and that Douxie was taking you back upstairs but not exactly awake enough to get yourself there.

The hood you’d previously pulled up to shield yourself from the light was still up, he thought you looked quite cute wrapped in his hoodie.

He let Archie know that he was home once he returned to your flat, locking the door and making sure the protection wards were back up before bringing you to your room and tucking you in under the covers of your duvet. He did a quick security sweep of the apartment before crawling into bed next to your sleeping figure.

Douxie wrapped his arms around you and pulled you close. After a bit of driving and a few cups of tea, he was glad that you were finally able to get a good night's sleep. Now he could finally sleep knowing that you were getting rest as well.

You snuggled into the warmth of his touch as he pulled you to his chest, happy to be home.

Inevitably, Archie and Nari would wake the two of you up in a few hours just after sunrise, but until then at least the two of you would get some much needed sleep.