#sitting down to actually focus on my thoughts made a huge difference!

[oldsoul007]

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joel miller x famous!reader

summary: A famous pop star and a reserved contractor find an unexpected connection when their paths cross at a concert, leading to a complicated and intense relationship despite their vastly different worlds.

a/n: 20 year age gap, suggestive scenes, kissing, fluff, teen Sarah, please request!!

joel miller masterlist

I was still coming down from the high of the show, the pulse of the bass lingering in my veins as I sat in my dressing room. My legs were stretched out over the couch, my body buzzing with exhaustion in the best way. Another sold-out night. Another crowd screaming my lyrics back at me.

Someone knocked, and my manager popped her head in.

“Your meet-and-greet winner is here—Sarah Miller.”

“Send her in,” I said, smiling.

The door swung open, and in walked a teenage girl, clutching a crinkled tour poster with wide, almost disbelieving eyes. I’d seen that look before—pure, unfiltered excitement, the kind that made all the work worth it.

But what I hadn’t seen before—what I wasn’t expecting—was the man following her.

Older. Tall. Broad shoulders filling the doorway, a flannel stretched over his chest, sleeves rolled up his forearms. His hair was dark but streaked with gray, and the scruff along his jaw was salt-and-pepper. He wasn’t moving like he was part of this world—he lingered, arms crossed, scanning the room with wary eyes like he wasn’t sure if he’d just stepped into a trap.

I was used to seeing dads at my shows, usually half-asleep or scrolling on their phones, counting down the minutes until they could leave. But this guy?

Something about him felt different.

Sarah, completely unaware of the shift in my focus, let out a sharp breath. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “I can’t believe I’m here.”

I grinned, forcing myself to drag my attention away from the man hovering behind her.

“Believe it, babe. You made it.” I patted the couch beside me. “Come sit. Let’s take some pictures.”

Sarah practically collapsed onto the seat, still clutching her poster like it might disappear if she let go. “You were amazing. Like, I love your albums, but live? Insane. And the outfits? Oh my God.”

“Thank you!” I laughed, flicking my hair over my shoulder. “Gotta give the people a show.”

I felt it then—that weight of a gaze pressing into me. Not from Sarah.

From him.

I glanced up, catching him watching me. Not in a creepy way. Not in a casual way, either. It was assessing, lingering, like he wasn’t expecting this from me. Like I wasn’t what he thought I’d be.

Sarah rolled her eyes dramatically. “That’s my dad Joel. He insisted on coming. Thought I’d get kidnapped or something.”

“Smart,” I murmured, turning my gaze back to him.

His eyes flicked to mine, and for a second, the room felt smaller.

“You didn’t have to stay back here,” I said, tilting my head. “Most parents just drop their kids off and wait outside.”

His jaw twitched, like he was debating if it was worth answering.

“Didn’t feel right leaving her alone,” he said finally. His voice was deep, rough—like gravel warmed by the sun.

I studied him, smirking a little. “Didn’t seem like you hated the show.”

Something flickered in his eyes—like he hadn’t expected me to notice him in the crowd, let alone call him out on it.

Sarah gasped dramatically. “Wait. Did you actually like it?” She turned to him, eyes wide. “Oh my God, Dad, are you a fan now?”

Joel—Joel. I liked the name—exhaled through his nose, shifting his weight. “Let’s not get carried away.”

I laughed. I liked this. The push and pull of it. He was clearly out of his element, but he wasn’t running from it either.

Sarah turned back to me, still buzzing. “He literally never listens to anything but old music. Like, dad music. So this is, like, a huge deal.”

I arched a brow at him. “Old music, huh? Let me guess—Springsteen? Tom Petty?”

Joel just stared at me. “Nothin’ wrong with Petty.”

I grinned. “Didn’t say there was.”

He held my gaze for a beat too long, something unreadable flickering in his expression before he looked away.

Sarah didn’t seem to notice any of it, too busy gushing about her favorite songs. I signed her poster, took a few selfies, and listened as she told me about how she and her best friend had waited all night to get tickets.

Eventually, my manager cleared her throat—a signal that it was time to wrap things up.

Sarah pouted but nodded, clutching her signed poster like a lifeline. “Thank you so much. This was, like, the best night of my life.”

“Anytime, babe,” I said, giving her a wink.

Then my eyes flickered back to Joel.

He lingered a half-second longer than he needed to, that same unreadable expression on his face. Like he wasn’t sure what the hell just happened here.

I smirked.

“See you around, Joel.”

His throat bobbed. His hands flexed at his sides. But he didn’t say anything—just gave me one last look before following Sarah out the door.

I watched them go, my body still humming—not just from the show, but from him.

Something told me this wasn’t the last time I’d be seeing Joel Miller.

—

I woke up to a pounding headache, the kind that made me instantly regret every single tequila shot from the night before. The afterparty had been a blur—flashing lights, too many hands grabbing mine, bodies pressed close, music so loud I could still feel the bass vibrating in my bones.

I groaned, rolling over in bed, burying my face in the pillows. My mouth was dry. My limbs ached. And judging by the way my phone was blowing up on the nightstand, I’d missed something important.

I squinted at the screen, ignoring the dozens of notifications, and instead focused on the text from my assistant:

“Contractors are at the house today. They need you to sign off on finishes. Be there by noon.”

I groaned again, rubbing my face. Noon? That might as well have been dawn.

But I couldn’t push it off any longer. The house was almost done, and I wanted to make sure every little detail was perfect before I moved in. So I forced myself out of bed, took the longest shower of my life, and threw on a pair of oversized sunglasses to hide the absolute disaster happening on my face.

By the time I pulled up to the house, it was already hot, the kind of Texas heat that made the air shimmer off the pavement. My head was still pounding as I stepped out of the car, tugging my hoodie up over my messy hair.

Then I saw them.

Two men on the porch, deep in conversation. One was younger, dark-haired, grinning as he gestured toward the house. The other…

Oh.

I froze.

It was him.

Joel.

He was standing there, arms crossed, that same unreadable expression on his face as he listened to the other guy talk. He looked just as solid as he had last night, except now he wasn’t in a dimly lit dressing room—he was in daylight, in his element, wearing a dark t-shirt that clung to the broad planes of his chest, work-worn jeans slung low on his hips. His sleeves were pushed up, revealing forearms dusted with hair, veins prominent beneath tanned skin.

Fuck.

I was hungover. I was in no shape for this kind of thing.

But he turned, catching sight of me, and for a second, I swore I saw something flicker in his expression. Recognition. Amusement. Maybe even something else.

The younger guy—who I was now guessing was his brother—looked between us, raising an eyebrow. “Well, damn. You’re the client?”

I pushed my sunglasses up, smirking. “Surprised?”

Joel exhaled through his nose, something like a chuckle under his breath. He shook his head slightly, looking down before glancing back up at me. “Didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

I stepped closer, my headache momentarily forgotten. “Yeah? You’re not exactly my usual demographic either.”

Joel’s jaw ticked. He shifted his weight, hands resting on his hips. “That what you call it?”

I let my eyes flicker over him—just briefly, just enough for him to feel it. “You tell me.”

His throat bobbed, but he didn’t answer.

His brother, though, was eating this up. He let out a low whistle, grinning between us. “Alright, what am I missin’ here?”

I smirked. “Your brother was at my show last night.”

The younger man lit up. “Oh, no shit.” He turned to Joel, grinning. “Man, you didn’t tell me you were a fan.”

Joel exhaled sharply. “Jesus Christ.”

I laughed, biting my lip, watching the way his jaw clenched. He wasn’t flustered, not exactly. But he was… affected. And I liked that.

“Tommy,” Joel muttered, clearly done with this conversation. “Go check the tile in the kitchen.”

Tommy—who now had a name—was still grinning as he backed away. “Oh, I’ll check the tile, alright.”

When he was gone, I turned back to Joel, crossing my arms.

“So. You do this for a living?”

Joel nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. Been doin’ contracting work a long time.”

I let my gaze drift around the house, imagining him working here—his hands on the walls, the floors, every little detail touched by him.

“Guess that means you’ll be around for a while.”

Joel met my eyes, something heavy in his gaze. “Looks that way.”

The air felt thick, the heat between us stretching, pulling, tightening.

I smirked. “Good.”

Then I turned and walked inside, knowing full well he was watching me go.

—

I stepped into the house, my heels clicking on the polished floors, the cool air inside a welcome relief from the heat outside. Joel followed me, his footsteps steady and even behind me, but it was his presence that made the room feel smaller. He was still there, lingering just at the edge of my periphery as I looked around the space.

“So, what do you think?” I asked, motioning to the wide open spaces, the unfinished but impressive features—high ceilings, sleek lines, all of it still a work in progress.

Joel took a slow turn, eyes scanning the room. “It’s big,” he said. “I mean, damn. You’re gonna need a lotta furniture to fill this place.”

I chuckled, shrugging. “I’ll figure it out.” I didn’t mind the emptiness. I liked the potential of it. The house was a blank slate, just like the life I’d started to build here.

“Texas sure knows how to do things big,” he muttered under his breath, walking over to inspect the kitchen island.

I caught the slight surprise in his voice, and it made me pause. “You surprised?”

He turned to face me, his brows raised slightly. “Guess I didn’t expect someone like you to be from here.”

I tilted my head, genuinely curious now. “Someone like me?”

He shrugged, his eyes flickering to mine before he looked back down at the stone countertop, his hands moving slowly over the surface. “I dunno. You’re, uh… different. Thought people from Texas were more…” He trailed off, not quite sure how to finish the thought.

“More what?” I prodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

He rubbed his jaw, clearly trying to avoid saying something that might come out wrong. “I dunno. More country, maybe. More… traditional.”

I raised an eyebrow, amused. “You think I’m not ‘traditional’?”

Joel shifted uncomfortably. “No, it’s not that.” He looked like he was realizing how much trouble he’d gotten himself into with his words. “I’m just sayin’, Texas is a big place. People think it’s all rodeos and oil rigs and cowboy hats.”

I laughed, walking over to a window that looked out over the land. The sunlight was softer now, casting a warm glow on the fields beyond. The house felt like a fortress here, its high walls keeping out everything I didn’t want. But in Texas, even the wide-open spaces felt like they were mine.

“Well, I grew up here,” I said, looking out at the view, my voice softening a little. “I didn’t think I could build a house anywhere else. Texas is home.”

Joel stayed silent for a moment, the weight of my words hanging in the air. Then, when he spoke again, his voice was quieter. “I get that. Texas has a way of sticking with you, doesn’t it?”

I nodded, turning to face him. “Yeah. You can take the girl out of Texas, but…” I let the sentence hang, a half-smile on my lips.

He met my gaze then, something almost reflective in his eyes. “But you can’t take Texas out of the girl.”

I let out a soft laugh, relieved that he understood. That we didn’t need to say everything. I’d always known that about Texas—that it was big, that it was loud, but also that it was home in a way I couldn’t explain to anyone who didn’t feel the same pull.

“So, where are you from?” I asked, stepping closer to him, wanting to shift the conversation away from the weight of what I’d said.

He paused, looking down for a second, like he wasn’t sure if he should say. Finally, he met my eyes, his expression shifting to something more grounded. “Came from a small town outside Austin. Grew up on a farm, learned the trade from my old man.”

I smiled. “Sounds like a different world than this.”

“It was,” he agreed. His gaze drifted toward the large windows, his tone thoughtful. “But Texas has a way of making you feel like you belong, no matter where you come from.”

There was something in his voice, something that made me pause. He wasn’t just talking about the land anymore. He was talking about Texas—and maybe even about himself, too.

For a second, the tension between us shifted. It wasn’t just about the house, or the project we were both now a part of—it was about something deeper. Something about us both finding our places, making a home.

I broke the silence, clearing my throat. “Guess that’s what makes it so special. Doesn’t matter how far you go, you always find your way back.”

Joel looked at me, his expression unreadable, but there was something lingering there. Something unsaid. He cleared his throat. “Guess you’re right.”

I smiled, the weight of the moment fading into something lighter, easier.

But as we stood there, looking at each other in the stillness of that unfinished house, I knew one thing for sure—Texas wasn’t just a place. It was a feeling. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave it behind. Not now. Not ever.

—

The days passed in a blur of emails, meetings, and decisions about finishes and fixtures, but my mind kept wandering back to that house. The house that was almost finished, but not quite. Every day, I’d get updates from my manager or the construction crew about progress, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the two men working on it.

Joel and his brother, Tommy.

They were good at what they did—no surprise there.

Every time I visited, I saw them in action, meticulously working on the smallest details. Joel was particularly focused, his movements efficient but thoughtful, like he took pride in making everything just right.

I found myself going there more often than I needed to, and I could feel it—something shifting in the air between Joel and me. It wasn’t obvious, but it was there—the lingering glances, the moments where we found ourselves alone, if only for a few seconds, before either Tommy or one of the other workers came around the corner.

I’d always been good at reading people, and Joel didn’t seem like the type to show much of his cards. But there were times when our eyes met across a room, a long, drawn-out moment where neither of us looked away.

Once, I was standing by the kitchen, debating whether the granite countertops I’d chosen would clash with the cabinets. Joel had been in the other room, but when I glanced over, there he was—watching me. Not just looking, but studying me. The way his gaze lingered made my heart skip a beat, even though I was trying to act like I didn’t notice.

I forced myself to focus on the materials. “What do you think about the backsplash?” I asked, knowing I needed to fill the silence.

Joel shifted, scratching the back of his neck before walking over, his boots thudding softly against the floor. “The tile’s fine,” he said, his voice low. “But I’d go with something a little more subdued. You don’t need to compete with the countertops.”

I nodded, stepping back to look at it through his eyes. “Subdued. Got it.”

I could feel him so close now, his body just a breath away, the heat from him lingering in the space between us. But before I could respond, Tommy rounded the corner, grinning. “You two makin’ progress in here, or just talkin’ shop?”

I shot Tommy a playful smile, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Joel was still standing a little too close, like he didn’t want to walk away. I ignored it, focusing on Tommy instead, but there was no denying the tension simmering beneath the surface.

The next few days felt like that—little moments.

I’d walk through the house, discussing where I wanted certain pieces, and Joel would be there, eyes on me just a little too long. I’d catch his gaze in the reflection of a window, or he’d be watching me from across the room when I wasn’t looking, and when I did catch him, he’d quickly look away.

Tommy, oblivious to the energy between us, was always there too, cracking jokes and making the work feel light. It was clear that he and Joel were close, and I appreciated that—his easygoing attitude balanced Joel’s more serious demeanor.

But still, there were those moments when it was just Joel and me, alone.

Like the time I walked into the garage, planning to check on the paint job in the hallway. Joel had been working on some cabinetry, and when he saw me enter, he set down his tools and wiped his hands on a rag. “Hey,” he said, his voice gravelly, like he hadn’t been talking much today.

“Hey,” I said, trying to act casual, but the moment stretched longer than it should have. I could feel the distance between us closing. He was so close now that I could smell the faint scent of wood and sawdust on his skin, and I couldn’t help but notice how good he looked. It was the kind of ruggedness that worked on him—like he didn’t have to try, but still somehow looked effortlessly put together.

“I was thinking about the flooring,” I started, trying to steer the conversation to something safe as my heart raced in my chest. But the words felt stupid in my mouth when his eyes were on me like that. Like they were seeing right through me.

“Flooring’s good,” he said, leaning against the workbench. He crossed his arms, and his gaze dipped just slightly before meeting my eyes again. “You just need to decide what you want the most. It’s your house.”

His words felt more like a challenge than advice.

I took a slow breath, swallowing hard. “I know. I just… want it to be perfect.”

Joel’s expression softened. “It will be.” He stepped forward then, closer than he had before. So close I could feel his presence in a way that was more than physical. “You’ve got a good eye. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with anything you choose.”

I could feel my pulse quicken at the way he was looking at me, the weight of the moment too intense for me to shake off. There was an invisible line between us now, a line I wasn’t sure if I should cross, but I couldn’t look away.

Just as the air thickened, the sound of Tommy’s voice came from the other room. “Yo, Joel! We need your help with these measurements.”

Joel exhaled, breaking the spell. He stepped back, his gaze still lingering on mine for just a moment longer before he turned and walked toward the doorway.

“Guess I better get to work,” he said, his voice quieter than before, like it had been touched by something.

I stood there for a beat, trying to compose myself, but my heart was still pounding in my chest. I couldn’t deny it anymore.

The tension between us was undeniable, and I wasn’t sure how much longer we could ignore it.

—

Joel was kneeling by the baseboards, smoothing out the last coat of sealant with practiced precision. The steady scrape of the tool against the wood filled the quiet space, but his attention kept flicking toward me as I sat cross-legged on the floor nearby, flipping through fabric samples for the living room.

“You know,” he said, finally breaking the silence, “I still don’t get it.”

I looked up. “Get what?”

He rested his forearm on his knee, tool still in hand, and nodded toward me. “All this.” He gestured vaguely around the room, but I knew he didn’t mean the house. “You’ve got people screaming your name, selling out arenas… but here you are, sitting on the floor, stressin’ over couch cushions.”

I laughed softly and set the samples down. “Yeah, well… those arenas don’t exactly help me figure out if sage green’s gonna make me regret all my life choices.”

He huffed a quiet laugh, but his eyes didn’t leave mine. “Still. Must be kinda… wild. All that attention.”

I leaned back on my hands, glancing toward the window where the late afternoon sun poured in, warm and golden. “Yeah. It is. It still doesn’t feel real most days.”

His brow furrowed slightly, like he was trying to understand. “What part?”

“All of it.” I shrugged, feeling the familiar wave of disbelief wash over me. “I mean, I was just a kid with a guitar writing sad songs in my bedroom. And now… there are people who know those songs. Who sing ‘em back to me. Who care enough to show up.” I shook my head with a small, disbelieving smile. “It’s insane.”

Joel was quiet for a moment. “You ever get used to it?”

“Not really.” I met his gaze again. “And honestly, I don’t think I want to. I don’t ever wanna stand on stage and not feel completely floored by the fact that people gave me a night of their lives. You know?”

He nodded slowly, his eyes softening. “Yeah. I get that.”

“Like… I’m just grateful, you know? For all of it. The chaos, the weirdness, the fact that I can make music and it actually… matters to someone. It could all go away tomorrow, and I’d still feel lucky that it happened at all.”

His mouth quirked into a faint smile. “Yeah, well… reckon that attitude’s why they show up in the first place.”

My cheeks warmed, and I ducked my head with a laugh. “Okay, stop, you’re gonna make me weird about it.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he went back to the baseboards. “Just callin’ it like I see it, superstar.”

“Superstar,” I repeated with a groan. “God, don’t let Sarah hear you say that.”

“Oh, too late,” he said, smirking. “She already thinks you hung the moon.”

I smiled at that. “Yeah, well… don’t tell her, but I think she might be cooler than me.”

He didn’t look up, but his voice softened. “Yeah. She’s got pretty good taste, though.”

And just like that, the air shifted—just a little. And I couldn’t help but wonder if he realized he was included in that.

—

The clock on the wall read 9:42 p.m., and Joel Miller was still here. I could hear the faint scrape of a utility knife coming from the other side of the room, followed by a frustrated sigh.

I padded down the hall, leaning against the doorway to find him crouched near the kitchen island, squinting at something on the floor. His flannel sleeves were rolled up, forearms dusted with sawdust, hair slightly disheveled from the long day.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

Joel exhaled through his nose and sat back on his heels, turning to look at me. “Yeah, just… missin’ a piece I need to finish this trim.” He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it even messier than before. “I’ll go grab it from the hardware store real quick. Be outta your hair after that.”

I smiled, crossing my arms. “Yeah, you better. Don’t you have a daughter to get home to?”

He huffed a laugh, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yeah, yeah. Sarah’ll be fine. She’s probably still on the phone with her friend complainin’ about algebra.”

“Smart girl.” I hesitated for a second before straightening. “You mind if I tag along?”

His eyebrows lifted slightly. “To the hardware store?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “I’ve been cooped up here all day. A quick trip sounds nice. Plus… I’ve never been to a hardware store this late. Kinda curious what kind of characters we’ll run into.”

He chuckled under his breath. “All right, suit yourself. Just don’t blame me when it’s not as exciting as you’re imaginin’.”

The hardware store was exactly as I’d pictured it—rows of tools, pipes, paint cans, and that faint metallic smell that reminded me of childhood. My dad used to drag me to places like this on weekends, letting me pick out paint colors for walls that never actually got painted.

Joel walked ahead of me, eyes scanning the aisles like he’d been born here. I followed, occasionally stopping to run my fingers along unfamiliar tools.

“What’s this?” I held up something that looked like a cross between scissors and a medieval torture devil.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Tin snips.”

“Ah.” I turned them in my hand. “For… snipping tin, I assume?”

“Smart girl.”

I gave him a mock glare. “Watch it, Miller.”

He smirked and kept walking, turning into the next aisle. I followed, catching up just as he crouched down to grab a small package from the bottom shelf.

“There she is,” he muttered, holding it up.

“Thrilling.” I clapped my hands together. “That was… what, a seven out of ten on the adventure scale?”

He chuckled. “More like a two.”

“Well, maybe next time we’ll hit up the plumbing section. Really go wild.”

His eyes met mine, and we both broke into laughter. I felt the warmth of it spread through me, the ease of being around him so simple and effortless. I didn’t notice the kid with the phone a few aisles over, or the faint click of a camera shutter.

Joel’s pov

I had barely managed to get some sleep after the late-night trip to the hardware store with y/n. The drive had been strange, in the best way possible. It was the kind of moment where everything felt familiar and carefree, yet I couldn’t shake the weight of the unspoken tension between us. The way she looked at me last night—so open, so real—made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something I wasn’t sure I was ready for. But I couldn’t ignore the way she made me feel, how easy it was to be around her.

This morning, I had to snap myself out of those thoughts. The quiet of the house was a bit too loud as I stepped into the kitchen, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Sarah was still asleep in her room, thank God. I had a few hours to get myself together before the day really started.

That’s when I heard her.

“DAD!” Sarah’s voice rang out from the living room, startling me. I rubbed my face and made my way down the hall, already bracing myself for whatever was coming.

When I reached the living room, Sarah was standing there, phone in hand, eyes wide with excitement. She was practically bouncing on her heels, her face flushed with energy. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I knew I wasn’t going to like it.

“Look what I found!” she exclaimed, holding up her phone, the screen pointing directly at me. I squinted at it, immediately regretting the choice.

There was a picture of y/n and me from last night at the hardware store. It was a candid shot—y/n had been laughing, her head thrown back, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. I was standing close to her, my face right beside hers, both of us sharing a moment that, to anyone else, probably looked… well, too intimate. Like we were more than we were.

I could feel my heart rate picking up, my stomach knotting. This wasn’t how I wanted Sarah to see this. I wasn’t ready to explain anything yet, least of all to her. I didn’t want to complicate things between me and Lauren, but now… now it was out in the open, whether I was ready or not.

Sarah’s eyes were wide with excitement, but there was a hint of curiosity too, like she was waiting for me to say something.

“Dad, is that you and… y/n?” she asked, her voice laced with both excitement and surprise. “You guys look like you’re having so much fun. What’s going on? Were you two hanging out last night?”

I felt the heat rising in my face, and I could tell that I was doing my best to hide the anxiety gnawing at me. This was not the conversation I’d planned on having today.

“It’s not what you think, Sarah,” I said, my voice low, trying to keep it casual, trying to keep things under control. “We were just getting somethings for her house. It’s no big deal.”

Her expression didn’t change. She wasn’t buying it. “No big deal?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Dad, you’re literally standing there, like, super close to her. You two look like you’re having the best time. What’s going on? Are you two, like, friends or—”

“Sarah,” I cut her off, trying not to sound too defensive. “I know how it looks, but I swear it’s just a friendly moment. We were just… talking. That’s all.”

But she wasn’t convinced. “Talking? Dad, I’ve never seen you look at someone like that before.”

The weight of her words hit me harder than I expected. I wasn’t sure why it stung so much, but it did. Sarah wasn’t wrong. There was something between me and y/n. I wasn’t blind to it. But this? This was complicated.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to collect my thoughts. “It’s nothing to worry about,” I said, my voice steady, but the truth was that I wasn’t even sure if I believed myself. “She’s just… she’s a friend, Sarah. That’s it.”

But the way she was looking at me told me she wasn’t buying it, not for a second. “Dad, you’re really bad at lying,” she said with a laugh, but there was a sharpness in her tone. “I’m just saying, you’re looking at her like… like you really like her. You should be honest with me.”

It wasn’t the words, but the tone—the way she said it, like she saw right through me—that made me feel exposed. I had always prided myself on being able to manage my emotions, to keep my thoughts locked up tight. But with Sarah, with y/n… it was becoming harder and harder to hide what I felt.

I sighed, trying to soften the tension. “Look, Sarah… I don’t want to get into this right now, okay? Just trust me when I say that nothing’s going on. I care about you, and that’s my focus right now.”

She seemed to consider my words for a moment before giving me a knowing look. “Fine, but just so you know, Dad…” She smirked. “I think you really like her.”

My stomach twisted at her words, but I tried to push the feeling down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice a little too forceful, but I wasn’t ready to dive deeper into this yet.

Sarah looked at me, her eyes narrowing just slightly. She wasn’t giving up that easily, but thankfully, she dropped the subject. “Whatever, Dad. But if you do start liking her for real, you better tell me first. Got it?”

“Got it,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile, though I wasn’t sure if I was reassuring myself or her.

She shrugged and walked off, heading back to her room with the picture still in her hand. My heart was still pounding in my chest. It wasn’t just the photo that had me rattled—it was the truth that I wasn’t sure how to confront yet.

Was I starting to like y/n? The answer was obvious. And yet, as I stood there in the silence of the house, I couldn’t figure out if I was ready to admit it, especially not to Sarah.

The question lingered, unanswered, in my mind. But one thing was clear: this was just the beginning. And it wasn’t going to be easy to figure out where it would go from here.

—

Joel was different the next time I saw him.

He showed up like usual—punctual, focused, still dressed in that same worn flannel and faded jeans. But the easy warmth that usually hung between us was gone. The quiet jokes, the teasing smiles, the way his eyes would linger just a second longer than necessary—none of it showed up today.

He barely looked at me.

I tried to ignore it at first. Thought maybe he was just tired or preoccupied with work. He and Tommy had been running around nonstop to finish the details on the house. But when I brought him a coffee mid-morning and he mumbled a polite “thanks” without even glancing up, my stomach twisted.

Something was wrong. And whatever it was, it had to do with me.

I hovered in the doorway while he knelt by the fireplace, adjusting the custom mantel we’d argued about for a full twenty minutes last week. “Okay,” I finally said, gripping the edge of the doorframe. “What’s going on?”

Joel didn’t answer right away. He kept working like I hadn’t spoken at all. I watched the muscle in his jaw tighten as he used his level to check the alignment.

“Joel.” My voice softened. “Talk to me.”

He sighed through his nose, set down the tool, and wiped his hands on his jeans before finally turning toward me. His face was unreadable. “Did you see the picture?”

The picture.

My chest tightened. “What picture?”

His eyes flicked toward mine like he didn’t believe me. “The one from the hardware store.” His voice was low, careful. “The one that ended up all over the damn internet.”

The words hit me like cold water. “Wait. What?”

“You really didn’t see it?”

“No.” My heart started to race. “Joel, I don’t go looking for that stuff. What—what picture are you talking about?”

He rubbed a hand over his face and pulled out his phone. After a few swipes, he turned the screen toward me.

There it was. The photo. Us, standing in that stupid hardware store aisle, laughing like we didn’t have a care in the world. From this angle, it did look… cozy. Familiar. Like we were something we weren’t.

God.

I felt my stomach drop through the floor. “Shit. I—Joel, I had no idea.”

He lowered the phone, his jaw tight. “Yeah, well… Sarah found it this morning.”

I blinked. “Sarah?”

He gave a short nod, eyes hard. “She came runnin’ downstairs with her phone, askin’ me if I was ‘dating a pop star.’ Thought it was funny.” His mouth twisted like the word tasted bitter. “Didn’t feel so funny to me.”

The guilt hit me hard and fast. I took a step toward him. “Joel, I’m so sorry. I swear, I didn’t know someone took that picture. I didn’t mean for it to—”

“I know you didn’t,” he cut in. His tone was sharp but tired. “But it happened anyway, didn’t it?”

The truth of it settled like a stone in my chest. He was right. Intentions didn’t erase the fact that his life—his daughter’s life—had just been yanked into my world without warning. Without permission.

“Look,” I said, voice cracking slightly. “I can call my manager. Get them to reach out, try to take it down.”

He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Once it’s out there, it’s out there.”

The silence that followed was thick and suffocating.

I wrapped my arms around myself and swallowed against the lump in my throat. “Joel… I’m really, really sorry.”

He stood there for a long moment, eyes dropping to the floor like he was weighing something.

“I know you are,” he said finally. “But I can’t let Sarah get caught up in all this. I just… I can’t.”

His voice was low, almost gentle, but it still hit like a gut punch.

Because “all this” was me.

And no matter how much I cared about him—how much I liked him, admired him, wanted to be around him—this was the part I could never change. The part I hated. The part where my life bled into someone else’s without permission. Where someone like Joel Miller—normal, grounded, fiercely protective of his daughter—would look at me and realize that whatever this had been?

It wasn’t worth it.

I gave a small nod and forced a weak smile. “Yeah. I get it.”

Joel didn’t say anything else. He just gave a tight nod, turned back to the fireplace, and got back to work.

And I stood there for a few more seconds before heading upstairs, heart heavy, throat burning.

I didn’t cry.

But God, I wanted to.

The next few days passed in a blur.

Joel came and went with Tommy to finish the last of the work on the house, but things between us were different now—strained, distant. He didn’t avoid me completely, but he didn’t go out of his way to talk to me either. No more lingering conversations about the best gas station snacks. No more teasing glances when I asked dumb questions about tools. Just quick, professional exchanges about the house.

It shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did.

I tried to stay busy. Studio calls, interviews, brand meetings—they all demanded my attention, and I gave it to them. I smiled, answered questions about upcoming music, joked about how I was “just a Texas girl at heart.” But the whole time, the memory of that picture, of Sarah’s name on Joel’s lips, sat heavy in my chest.

It was an accident. I hadn’t asked for it. And yet, somehow, I still felt like I’d broken something.

By the fourth day, I’d had enough.

That evening, just after the sun dipped below the horizon, I heard the familiar rumble of Joel’s truck out front. I didn’t overthink it. I walked downstairs, pulled open the front door before he could reach it, and stepped outside.

Joel stopped short on the porch, toolbox in hand. His eyes flicked to mine, guarded as ever. “Evenin’.”

“Hey.” I crossed my arms, ignoring the way my heart jumped just from standing this close to him. “You got a minute?”

He hesitated. “Kinda gotta finish the bathroom grout—”

“It can wait.”

His brows lifted slightly at the sharpness in my voice. He set the toolbox down with a sigh. “All right.”

I leaned against the porch railing and took a breath. “Look… I’m sorry about that picture. I know it put you in a bad spot with Sarah, and I swear I didn’t know it was being taken. But I can’t keep pretending everything’s fine when you’ve barely looked at me all week.”

Joel shifted his weight, rubbing the back of his neck. “I ain’t been avoidin’ you.”

“Yeah, you have.” I tilted my head. “You’ve been avoiding me since the picture thing. And I get it—it sucks. You didn’t ask to get dragged into all that. But I thought we were at least friends.”

He exhaled heavily and looked down at the porch. “We are.”

“Then act like it.” I gestured toward the front door. “I feel like you’ve been treating me like I’m radioactive or something.”

His mouth twitched, not quite a smile. “Ain’t you, like, a global sensation or whatever? Radioactive sounds about right.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Seriously?”

He finally met my eyes. There was something softer there now, something that chipped away at the tension. “I dunno, y/n,” he said after a moment. “I guess I just… got caught off guard by all of it.”

“The picture?”

He shook his head slowly. “Nah. More like… what it stirred up.”

I froze. “What does that mean?”

He dragged a hand down his face, clearly frustrated. “I mean… I spend most of my time tryin’ to keep life simple. Easy. Predictable. And then I meet you, and suddenly there’s a picture of us floatin’ around the internet, and Sarah’s gigglin’ about it, and Tommy’s givin’ me shit every day about how I ‘can’t handle all that.’” He let out a humorless laugh. “And the worst part is, he’s probably right.”

My heart stuttered. “Why?”

Joel’s eyes caught mine, steady and unguarded for the first time in days. “Because I’ve been in denial about this whole thing since the minute I saw you onstage.”

My breath caught.

There it was. No dancing around it this time. No quiet looks or lingering glances. He’d said it out loud.

“You’ve been… what?” I asked, voice unsteady.

He gave a small shake of his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Pretendin’ it don’t mean anything,” he said softly. “That you’re just some client and I’m just here to finish a job. But I’m lyin’ to myself.”

The air between us thickened. I gripped the railing so tightly my knuckles ached. “Joel…”

“I know,” he said, cutting me off. His voice was rough. “It’s complicated. Sarah, my job… your life, your whole… world.” He huffed out a breath and glanced at me. “I just… needed you to know I ain’t avoidin’ you because I don’t care. I’m avoidin’ you ‘cause I care more than I should.”

The confession knocked the air out of me.

I could’ve kissed him then. Could’ve stepped forward and closed the gap, erased every last inch of distance. But instead, I smiled softly and reached out, brushing my fingers lightly over his forearm. “You think too much, Miller.”

Joel let out a low chuckle and shook his head. “You don’t think enough.”

“Maybe.” I squeezed his arm once before dropping my hand. “But I’m not scared of complicated.”

It was one of those rare moments-those fleeting ones where everything felt like it was shifting into place.

The house was still a mess, not completely finished, but it felt intimate, in its own way. The lights were dimmed, casting a soft glow over the room, and for some reason, everything else seemed to fade away.

The music playing softly from a Bluetooth speaker in the corner was barely audible. It was just us, in this moment, and the world outside didn't matter.

Joel's eyes were on me, steady and intense, like he was studying every inch of my face. There was something in the way he looked at me-something that had been building for weeks, simmering beneath the surface.

I stepped closer, drawn to him. Every part of me wanted to bridge the distance between us, to finally give in to whatever this was, this magnetic pull that had been growing since the moment we met.

"You know," I started, my voice softer than usual,"I'm really glad you're working on my house. It feels... different when you're here."

His gaze flickered down to my lips for a fraction of a second, and that was enough. My heart skipped a beat.

"Yeah?" he said, his voice low, his usual confidence faltering slightly. "I'm glad to be here, too."

I could feel the tension in the air, thick and tangible now. We were standing close, too close, but neither of us was stepping away. I could hear my own breathing, shallow and quick, as if my body was already betraying me, telling me what I already knew.

I could feel the heat from his body, the warmth of his breath, and I knew-we both knew-that something was about to happen.

I took another step forward, my fingers brushing lightly against his arm. He didn't pull away. Instead, he reached up, his hand hovering near my face, like he wasn't sure if he should touch me.

"You're so..." he started, but his words trailed off.

I didn't need him to finish. I could feel it-the pull, the magnetism. I leaned in just a little bit more, my lips barely brushing against his ear as I whispered, "I've wanted this for a while Joel."

The words hung in the air between us, thick and heavy. For a second, I thought I saw his resolve crack. His eyes softened, the sharpness from before blurring into something warmer, something more vulnerable.

He stepped in closer, his breath on my neck sending a shiver through me. His lips were inches away from mine, and I could feel the moment hanging on a thread.

Then, just as our lips were about to meet, the door slammed open.

"Hey, Joel! I need your-" Tommy's voice came booming from the hallway, interrupting everything.

I froze, and so did Joel. His eyes darted away from me, that familiar guarded expression slipping back into place.

He stepped back, like he was trying to pull himself together, but I could see the way his hands were trembling slightly, betraying the tension that had been building between us.

Tommy appeared in the doorway, blissfully unaware of the moment he'd just interrupted. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to... well, yeah, just—" He cleared his throat, clearly sensing the awkward energy. "I need your help with something in the garage."

Joel let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping.

He looked at me, and for a split second, I could have sworn I saw regret in his eyes-like he was frustrated, too.

"Alright, Tommy. Just give me a minute," Joel muttered, walking past me without another word.

I stayed where I was, my body still buzzing from what had almost happened. The connection between us hadn't dissipated-it lingered, humming between us like an electric current.

Tommy was already halfway down the hall before Joel caught up with him, offering me a brief, almost apologetic glance.

I stood there in the dim light of the living room, my heart racing. I didn't know if I was more frustrated or relieved.

But deep down, I knew one thing for sure: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

—

The next day, the air felt thick with tension, like something had shifted between us and I wasn't sure how to navigate it. I hadn't heard from Joel since last night, but I couldn't stop thinking about that almost-kiss. The way everything felt in that moment-like we were so close to crossing a line that neither of us fully understood. It lingered in my mind, that charged silence, the unspoken words that seemed to hover in the air between us.

I'd tried to go about my day, tried to keep myself busy with meetings and interviews, but all I could think about was Joel. The warmth of his touch, the way his eyes had looked at me as he'd almost kissed me-like he wanted to but couldn't let himself. It was maddening.

Finally, after hours of pretending like everything was normal, Joel showed up at the house. He was here to do some more work with Tommy, but I could tell from the moment he walked through the door that something was different between us.

There was a heaviness to his steps, a tightness in his jaw that made the air feel suffocating.

I was in the living room when he came in, and I knew this was it-the moment where we would either pretend it hadn't happened or face the truth of what had been building between us for so long.

He cleared his throat, a little awkwardly, as he stopped just inside the door.

"Hey," he said, his voice lower than usual, like he wasn't sure how to start. "I... I wanted to talk about last night."

I glanced up from where l'd been sitting, my heart instantly picking up pace. "Yeah?" | tried to keep my voice casual, but there was no hiding the fact that I was still processing everything that had happened.

Joel ran a hand through his hair, clearly uneasy.

"Look, I... I just want to say that what happened-what almost happened-was a mistake. I don't want you to think I'm some kind of... I don't know, some guy who takes advantage of situations like that."

My chest tightened, and I stood up from the couch, crossing the room to face him. "Joel, it wasn't a mistake," I said softly, but firmly. "You don't have to apologize for it."

He looked at me, his brows furrowing, like he was trying to figure out if I was being serious. "Y/n, it was a mistake," he repeated, his voice a little more strained now. "I mean. you're... you're so young, and I'm-"

I cut him off, not wanting to hear him talk down to himself like that. "I'm not a kid, Joel," I said, the words coming out sharper than I meant. "And I don't need you to protect me from myself."

He looked taken aback, clearly not expecting my response, but there was something else in his eyes-something softening, something that told me he wasn't as sure about his apology as he was trying to make it seem.

"I just didn't want you to think I-" he started again, but I took a step closer, interrupting him once more.

"No, Joel. I've been in this world, l've dealt with a lot more than people think. And you..." I paused, looking up at him, feeling the weight of everything that had been building between us.

"You're not just some guy l've been casually seeing. There's something here. I feel it, and I know you do too."

His eyes softened at my words, and for the first time, I could see the walls he'd been building around himself start to crack. He let out a deep breath, his hands running over his face as if he was trying to come to terms with the fact that he couldn't deny what was happening between us anymore.

"Y/n..." He stopped, the words catching in his throat. "I don't know what this is, but I'm trying to figure it out."

"Me too," I whispered, finally closing the last bit of distance between us. "But maybe we don't need to figure everything out right now. Maybe we just need to stop pretending that this isn't happening."

I reached out, my fingers brushing lightly against his chest, and I felt him freeze under my touch. His eyes were locked on mine, and for a long moment, we both just stood there, both of us breathing a little too quickly, both of us waiting for the other to make a move.

Then, finally, Joel spoke in a low voice that made my heart skip. "Are you sure about this?"

I didn't answer with words. Instead, I leaned up slowly, giving him every chance to pull away if he wanted to, but he didn't. And when our lips met, it was like everything fell into place.

It wasn't a slow, tentative kiss this time. It was desperate, passionate-an unspoken release of all the tension that had been building between us for so long. His hands were at my waist, pulling me against him as if he couldn't get close enough.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, feeling the way his body tensed beneath mine, the way he was finally giving in to something he had been holding back for so long.

I could feel the heat between us, the raw energy that pulsed through every touch, every kiss. It was like nothing else mattered in that moment-no fears, no regrets, no questions about what this would mean. There was only him, only us, caught in the rush of something real.

Our lips moved together, urgent and hungry, as if we were both finally acknowledging the truth we'd been dancing around. The kiss deepened, becoming more frantic, our bodies pressing closer together, craving the connection we'd been denying.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless, our chests rising and falling as we tried to catch our breath. I could see the same question in his eyes-the same look of wonder and disbelief, like neither of us could believe what had just happened.

But I didn't need words this time. I didn't need him to apologize again, or explain himself. I just needed him to know that it wasn't a mistake, and that I wasn't backing away from this.

I stepped back slightly, my fingers still tracing his jaw, and I looked up at him, my voice low. "It wasn't a mistake, Joel. It never was."

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw him smile-genuinely. It wasn't forced, or awkward, or hesitant. It was real.

And in that smile, I knew. This wasn't over. This was only the beginning.

—

We spent hours together in the quiet of my house. The sound of my music barely registering in the background as we talked, laughed, and touched. There were no real words for the way we fit together—how perfectly we seemed to complete each other. And the way we kissed—God, the way he kissed me—it was like he was marking me as his own, like every kiss was a promise.

One night, after a long day of working on my house, Joel and I found ourselves alone in my bedroom, the door cracked open just enough for the light from the hallway to seep in. He was standing by the window, watching the last slivers of sunlight fade behind the trees. I couldn’t help myself—I walked up to him, standing just behind him, letting my hands brush over his shoulders.

Without turning, he murmured, “You’re always so quiet around me.” His voice was low, almost a growl. He tilted his head slightly, just enough for his lips to graze the side of my neck. “What’s goin’ on in that head of yours?”

I closed my eyes, leaning into him. “You know what’s going on,” I whispered back. I slid my arms around his waist, my chest pressing against his back. The warmth of his body, the scent of his cologne mixing with the musk of sweat, was intoxicating. He turned around then, his eyes darker than before, as if he were trying to fight back something deeper inside him.

Joel was always so controlled—always careful with his emotions, with what he let slip. But I knew it was different with me.

His hand cupped my face, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek as if memorizing every inch of me. “You’re makin’ it hard to breathe, darlin’.”

“You make me forget to breathe,” I admitted, my fingers brushing against his chest. I leaned in, the distance between us practically nonexistent. “Don’t fight this. Don’t fight us.”

His lips met mine, urgent and hungry. There was no hesitation this time, no distance between us. The kiss was full of need—years of repressed emotions finally crashing together in one fluid motion. His hands were on me, under me, pulling me closer, as if he couldn’t get enough. My hands found his hair, tangled in the strands as I deepened the kiss, needing to feel him closer. The energy between us was electric, an unspoken connection that neither of us could deny anymore.

We stumbled back toward the bed, not breaking apart for a second. I couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on anything other than the way his lips moved with mine, the way his body pressed against me. The yearning, the hunger—it was all too much and not enough all at once.

He pulled back for a breath, his chest rising and falling in quick succession. “You sure about this, Lauren?” His voice was rough, like he was fighting against a tide pulling him under.

I nodded, pulling him back toward me, my hands gripping his shirt, desperate for him. “I’m sure. God, Joel, I’m so sure.”

And then there was nothing but us, lost in the pull of one another. Nothing else mattered. Not the noise of the world outside, not the worries that had plagued us both. In that moment, all we had was the now, and it felt like the most powerful thing we could ever give each other.

The night blurred by in a haze of soft whispers, heated touches, and frantic kisses. We explored each other like we had all the time in the world, but both of us knew we were racing against something unspoken. The desire was overwhelming, and every inch of his skin against mine made me ache for more.

When we finally lay in bed together, tangled in the sheets, the silence felt heavier than the night before. I turned to him, running my fingers over his chest, tracing the faint outline of a scar near his ribs.

Joel’s eyes were still dark, a fire burning in them, and his hand rested on my back, his thumb rubbing slow circles. He glanced down at me, his lips curling into that familiar lopsided grin. “You were right, darlin’,” he said softly, his voice husky. “We do get better with practice.”

I smiled, my heart still racing from the intensity of what we had shared. “I’ll take your word for it.”

But deep down, I knew one thing: this was just the beginning. There would be more. So much more between us. And even though it was complicated, even though we were still figuring it all out, I wouldn’t change a thing.

We were finally where we were meant to be.

—

Sneaking around with Joel was a dangerous game.

Not because we were doing anything illegal—but because every glance, every brush of his hand against mine when no one was looking, every stolen moment made me want more. And when it came to Joel, more was a slippery slope I was already tumbling down headfirst.

It started small.

The first time, we were in my kitchen. Tommy was in the living room talking on the phone with some supplier, and I was pretending to organize my spice cabinet while Joel installed a new light fixture above the island. I didn’t need to be in there. I could’ve left and let them work. But when Joel was around, leaving didn’t feel like an option.

He was on the ladder, arms raised as he adjusted the fixture, his shirt riding up just enough to show a strip of tan skin. I didn’t realize I was staring until his voice snapped me out of it.

“See somethin’ you like?” he murmured without looking down.

Heat shot through me. “Yeah. My new light fixture.”

Joel’s shoulders shook with a quiet laugh. He climbed down, stepping close enough that I caught that familiar mix of cedar and sawdust clinging to his skin. “Sure it is.”

Tommy’s voice carried from the other room—loud, oblivious.

Joel’s eyes flicked toward the doorway, then back to me. His hand brushed against mine on the counter. He didn’t grab it. Didn’t lace his fingers with mine. Just… touched. A whisper of contact that sent a shiver down my spine.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. “Careful, Miller. Tommy’s right there.”

Joel’s thumb grazed mine. “Don’t tempt me, sweetheart.”

And just like that, the light fixture was the least interesting thing in the kitchen.

The next time, we weren’t quite as subtle.

It was late, and Joel was helping me move some furniture in the upstairs guest room. Sarah had just gone to a sleepover, and Tommy had headed home for the night, leaving us blissfully alone for the first time in days.

We’d started with actual work—really, we had. The guest bed was heavy, and the dresser was wedged at an impossible angle against the wall. But somewhere between Joel teasing me about my lack of upper body strength and me calling him “old man” one too many times, things shifted.

I was standing against the wall, still laughing from some joke he’d made, when he caged me in with his arms.

“Still think I’m old, huh?” he asked, voice low.

I swallowed hard. “Well, you did complain about your back twice today.”

His lips twitched. “You’re pushin’ your luck, darlin’.”

“I like pushing it.”

Joel’s eyes darkened. He leaned down and kissed me—slow, deep, his hand slipping beneath my T-shirt to rest against the small of my back. I melted into him immediately, fingers tangling in his hair as he pressed me harder against the wall.

The kiss turned messy fast. He groaned when I nipped his bottom lip, and I gasped when he responded by gripping my hips and dragging me closer. It was the kind of kiss that promised more, the kind that made me forget that the guest room window was cracked open and that sound carried.

The slam of a car door outside brought us crashing back to reality.

We broke apart, breathing hard. Joel wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gave me a lopsided, regretful grin. “Guess we should get back to work.”

“Yeah,” I panted. “Totally.”

Spoiler: we didn’t move the dresser for another twenty minutes.

Sneaking around with Joel meant stolen phone calls late at night, when Sarah was asleep and his house was quiet.

It meant me dragging him into my music room one afternoon, away from Tommy’s curious eyes, just to kiss him breathless on the worn-out couch.

It was ridiculous. It was fun. It was dangerous.

And neither of us could stop.

—

One afternoon, Tommy caught us almost-red-handed.

I was sitting on the kitchen counter, legs dangling, Joel standing between my knees with his hands on my thighs. We weren’t kissing—not yet—but we were definitely standing too close to be discussing drywall.

“You’re gonna get me in trouble,” Joel muttered.

“You love it.”

He grinned and squeezed my leg. “I do not.”

Before I could argue, the front door creaked open.

“Joel? You still here?” Tommy’s voice echoed from the entryway.

Joel jumped back so fast I nearly fell off the counter. I caught myself just in time, schooling my face into what I hoped was an innocent expression.

Tommy stepped into the kitchen, eyes flicking from me to Joel. His brows lifted. “Interrupt somethin’?”

“Nope,” Joel said quickly. “Just—uh—talkin’ about the backsplash.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

Tommy didn’t buy it for a second. He smirked and shook his head. “Yeah, all right. You keep tellin’ yourself that.”

Joel turned bright red. I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the day.

Sneaking around wasn’t sustainable. We knew that.

But every time I caught Joel looking at me across the room when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, every time his hand brushed mine on purpose, every time we kissed like we didn’t care who saw…

I knew one thing for certain.

When we finally stopped sneaking, the fallout was going to be worth it.

It had been a slow, steady build-up—every stolen glance, every touch, every quiet moment. But in the heat of the moment, I didn’t realize how obvious we were being until Tommy walked into the living room and caught us.

We were standing by the couch, Joel’s hands tangled in my hair, his lips pressed against mine with a desperation neither of us was trying to hide anymore. It was like the world outside that room ceased to exist—until it didn’t.

Tommy’s voice broke through the air like a cold slap. “Well, this is… something.”

Joel pulled away instantly, eyes wide, and his hand shot up as if to ward off the inevitable. “Tommy, wait—”

But it was too late. Tommy was already leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smug grin on his face. He raised an eyebrow, looking from Joel to me and back again. “I’m just gonna go ahead and assume this isn’t the first time this has happened.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but Tommy cut me off, his grin widening. “Y’know, I’ve been tryin’ to avoid this. But now that it’s right in front of me—” He looked down at his shoes with exaggerated thoughtfulness. “I gotta admit… I owe Sarah so much money.”

Joel froze, his face going red. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

Tommy uncrossed his arms and looked at Joel with amusement. “Sarah. She bet me you two were already messin’ around.”

Joel’s jaw dropped, and I felt my face burn. “No way,” he muttered. “She—she bet you? Seriously?”

“Yep. She’s been on my case about it for weeks. Figured I owed her that money anyway, so I’m glad to be rid of it.” Tommy’s tone was casual, but there was a hint of something else there—a mix of mischief and, maybe, a little concern.

I looked at Joel, trying to process what was happening. “So, she knew?”

“Of course she knew. She’s not as oblivious as you two seem to think,” Tommy teased, before his expression shifted to something a little more serious. “But… y’all didn’t want her to know, right?”

Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair, looking like he was suddenly about to burst from the pressure. “Not yet,” he said, voice low. “We’re still trying to figure this out. I haven’t even had the chance to take her out on a real date, man. Everything’s… messy.”

Tommy raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe. “Yeah? Messy, huh? You two sure look like you’ve got everything figured out.”

“Not exactly,” Joel muttered, rubbing his face in frustration. “But we’re not ready to deal with it. Not yet.” He met Tommy’s gaze, tone more serious now. “Can you keep it quiet? Just until we figure out what the hell this is?”

Tommy paused, then grinned. “I can keep quiet. But this is gonna be fun to watch.” He held up his hands, like he was surrendering. “No promises, though. I’m still Team Sarah on this one.”

Joel shot him a look that could’ve frozen water. “You better not say anything to her, Tommy. I’m serious.”

Tommy held up his hands in mock surrender, laughing. “I won’t. For now, anyway.” He pushed off the doorframe and gave us a knowing smile. “But, you two better figure it out quick, because Sarah’s gonna want to know why her dad is sneaking around with her favorite pop star.”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Joel grumbled, clearly still uneasy, but Tommy had already turned and left, muttering something under his breath about needing a beer.

I turned back to Joel, heart still racing from the confrontation. “So… this is really happening, huh?”

Joel ran a hand over his face again. “I guess so. But we gotta take it slow, y/n. We owe it to Sarah… and to ourselves.” He stepped toward me, his expression softening. “Let’s not rush into this. I can’t promise I’ll be perfect, but I can promise I’m not running away.”

I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “We’ll figure it out. No pressure.”

Joel’s lips curved into a small, tentative smile. “Good. I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Me neither.”

The tension in the air had shifted, but it wasn’t over. Not yet. We had a lot of questions left unanswered. But for the first time, I felt like maybe we were on the same page.

We still had a long way to go—but at least we were taking the first step together.

—

Being with Joel felt different than I expected—easier in some ways, harder in others. It wasn’t like the whirlwind relationships I’d had before, the ones that burned hot and fast before fizzling out. Joel was steady, deliberate. The kind of man who made sure things were built to last.

Once we stopped pretending we didn’t want this, everything changed. He was still his gruff, no-nonsense self, but now his touch lingered when he brushed past me. Now his eyes softened when they met mine across a room. Now he kissed me slow and deep when no one was watching and sometimes even when they were.

But being with Joel also meant being with Sarah and Tommy.

Sarah, of course, was ecstatic. The morning after we finally made things official, she nearly tackled me in the kitchen, eyes bright with excitement.

“I knew it,” she practically yelled, grinning. “I mean, I bet on it, so I really knew it.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Bet on it?”

Sarah’s grin widened, and that’s when Tommy strolled in, smirking.

“Don’t tell her, Sarah,” he said, pouring himself coffee. “I ain’t got the cash yet.”

Joel groaned from where he stood by the fridge. “Y’all gambled on my love life?”

“More like invested,” Tommy shot back, winking at me.

Sarah wiggled her eyebrows. “So, do I win the pot, or…?”

I laughed, but Joel just shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face like he was seriously reconsidering his life choices.

Being with Joel meant stolen moments in between my hectic schedule. It meant late-night dinners when I got home from rehearsals, sitting on the kitchen counter while he cooked something simple, rolling his eyes when I tried to help. It meant quiet mornings, wrapped in his arms, pressing sleepy kisses against his jaw before slipping out of bed to get ready for the day.

It also meant dealing with the outside world.

We had kept things quiet for a while, but people caught on fast. A blurry picture here, a leaked story there, and suddenly, headlines were calling me the pop star dating a Texas contractor, which was ridiculous and not even remotely close to who Joel actually was.

I expected him to hate it, but surprisingly, he handled it well.

“Ignore it,” I told him one night, lying on the couch with my head in his lap as he scrolled through his phone.

“Didn’t say nothin’,” he murmured, but his jaw was tight.

I reached up, running my fingers along his beard. “If it really bothers you—”

“It doesn’t,” he said, looking down at me, expression softening. “Long as we’re good, I don’t give a damn what anyone else says.”

And we were good. Better than good.

One night, after a show, I came backstage to find Joel leaning against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for me.

“Took you long enough,” he said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re just mad ‘cause Tommy and Sarah dragged you here early.”

“They did,” he admitted, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. His voice lowered as he murmured, “Worth it, though.”

I smiled, reaching up to fix the collar of his shirt. “Yeah?”

Joel didn’t answer with words. He just pulled me in, his lips brushing against mine—slow, steady, full of promise.

It was still surreal sometimes, having this life—the fame, the lights, the chaos—and him all at once. But as long as I had Joel, I had something real. Something worth holding onto.

[mrs-gauche]

So, I *think* I've calmed down enough to form coherent sentences about this trailer now, after watching this about a gazillion times. 😂 There is just SO much in this and I still can't believe it's all real.. I feel like people have already dissected every single frame anyway, so here are just my poor two cents (that's a lie, it's an essay lol), I'm sure 90% of this has probably already been said lol, but I just had to write my thoughts down, so there you go. 🫠

But first, can I just ask you guys this.. Does anyone else feel SO friggin overwhelmed every time something huge like this drops? 😂😭 Like, I LOVE the collective excitement and freaking out over all this with the fandom together in real time, and maybe it's because I'm not a native English speaker, but I'm watching the trailer live and within like fifteen minutes there are already a bazillion notifications, messages, people have already made hundreds of theory posts, edits, fanart and shitposts, meanwhile I'm sitting here still looking at the FIRST FRAME and trying to process what I'm even looking at. lmaoo Like, it takes me SO long to take it fully in, calm down and look at ALL of it in detail, while I go radio silent for like two hours, making people think I just died watching the trailer, I guess. lmaooo So.. sorry if it takes me forever until I even go on here and look at everything you guys are posting. 💀 <3

Anyway, so first of all, I'd like to just generally say... Everything about this blew. me. away.

Look. After like 20 years of watching BioWare's entire animation catalogue of the same 25 movements in every cutscene, that it would make you jump every time a character but even slightly moved differently than everyone else, we're now getting a game that is SO INCREDIBLY CINEMATIC, SO SMOOTH, unlike any BioWare game before. A game where everyone just moves and expresses emotions like their own person, making everything a hundred times more immersive and impactful!!

Not only that but there's a BioWare game now with PHENOMENAL LOOKING HAIR and REALISTIC HAIR PHYSICS. Guys, do you understand this is HISTORY??? lmao We've been asking for this for YEARS and it's happening!! 😭

And the cinematography? THE CINEMATOGRAPHY?? Just looking at that very FIRST LOCATION SHOT alone. The camerawork, the composition, the fluidity of movement, the shift of focus, the lighting, the use of MoCap, the facial expressions... As someone who spent a *LOT* of time using the flycam to make cinematic gifsets of DAI, where - with all respect to the devs - 90% of the camerawork basically consisted of "zoom in/zoom out"... this. blew. my. fucking mind.

Like, they did it. They mastered the Frostbite engine on all fronts. And it truly hurts my heart seeing people compare this to Fortnite or whatever, when in my opinion this time they actually managed to find a perfect mix between stylized and realism, in favor of making the characters even more expressive and this coupled with the use of MoCap and the incredible cinematography will make these emotional scenes hit SO hard and.. ugh, I just love it so much. 🥹❤️❤️

With this being said, let's dive into it!

Okay, so I know this is super random, but it was literally the first thing I noticed about this trailer. lol Did you noticed that it said "BioWare" *before* "Electronic Arts" in the beginning, unlike that first... controversial reveal trailer, where it was the other way around? 😂 Not reading anything into this of course (or do I? lol), but.. Idk, I thought it was.. interesting. 👀

So we start off with the first of many amazing tracking shots, with the camera orbiting around Rook in this place devoid of color or life. The note at the bottom made me chuckle "Game engine footage with some costum camera angles", I was like "Oh, so they used the flycam to make this?". lol So some shots of these will look different in the final version (what kind of spoilers are they hiding?? 👀👀).

I do hope that next shot DOES end up in the game though, because holy SHIT, that FIRST wide shot already blew. me. away.

Look at the COMPOSITION of this.

Actually, you could probably take every single location/wide shot of this trailer and hang it on your wall. lol But seriously, the way this place just looks... dead. It makes me think of "void" rather than Fade.. like an ancient graveyard. The raw Fade looks generally creepy, but this is haunting even for that. There's no life, no color, no motion. It's all broken and crumbled. Almost like it reflects Solas' feelings. People are speculating if this place might change depending on Solas' state of mind.. This is the Fade after all, but Solas is here physically and this being the place that was supposed to be the new prison for the gods.. It's probably different from the rest of it.

We also see all seven statues of the pantheon from the ritual site again. Solas "I have the high ground", *literally* talking down to Rook, while standing on two separate cliffs (how did Rook even get there, I wonder? lol), like there is quite literally a rift between them (for now..!) and Solas is keeping a distance, as always. We still don't know how that connection between the two even works, I assume Rook can only contact him while asleep? But to think that this is the place where he is trapped now, where he is even more isolated than ever before, is making me so emotional. ;-;

I love how it's just black and white though. It gives the scene a destinct atmosphere that might be important, if this is where we get to see Solas doing a lot of introspection. In the art of filmmaking, the absence of color is often used to force the audience to focus on the contrast, textures, and tones present in the image, which can evoke a deep sense of emotion.

And speaking of emotions...

"You have no idea what you have done."

We had already heard that line before, but something about that booming, echoing effect they used on his voice sent a shiver down my spine!

"The blighted elven gods walk free. And all because you disrupted my ritual."

To me, he *sounds* much more frustrated here than he *looks* when saying that. lol He looks incredibly worried though, and just so tired. A moment ago, he was SO close to achieving his goal after hundreds of years of preparation and then he failed again... and now there is this completely clueless stranger who got him in this situation, but who he has to rely on now to stop these gods, when he's unable to trust anyone, and yet he can't even yell at them too much, because he *needs* them. He must be so exhausted.

And yes, it is kinda funny how they put "elven gods" in quotation marks. lol

Thank god he still has his freckles though. ❤️ We're actually seeing a lot more texture on his face here than in the gameplay showcase. And yes, not only did he get his eyebrows microbladed but apparently he's also sporting eyeliner and lipstick now. 😌✨✨ The only downside to the lack of colors here is that his super purple eyes are not poppin' anymore. lol

"You battle against gods. They will not rest until you are on your knees. Fearful. Cowering. Helpless in the face of such power."

I love how they play this line so early on in the trailer, that it makes you go "WAIT... IS THAT- NO WAY" and not until the end do we get the confirmation with the most amazing entrance ever.

We then get a shot of what I think has to be Treviso in flames and Ghilan'nain symbolically coiling her tentacles around a crow statue's head, as she's probably about to take over the city. 👀 *falls on my knees the second I meet her in the game* lol

Then there's the shot of this horrifying Blight.. lump.. growth thing that has completely devoured an elf (and several other bodies it seems) with a hair style that has everyone wondering if this could be Felassan! 🥺🥺🥺 As much as I would LOVE for Felassan to make an appearance.. I kinda hope this *isn't* him.. because good god, whatever happened to this persom here must be pretty traumatizing (are they even still alive?) and also, how do we get them out of there? lol Either way, seeing as there are Harding, Bellara and Neve accompanying Rook here, this might be earlier in the game (and this is them dicovering that the Blight is already spreading rapidly?) and yet it already shows us that this Blight is on a whole other level than anything we've seen before, and it's taking every living thing.

Then we see another snowy place (or might this be within the same area?) that's also in huge parts taken over by the Blight. You can also see a dead(?) dragon lying on the ground at the bottom right corner? 🥺

Then Elgar'nan literally pops up right next to Ghilan'nain, and btw, I love how I can't even tell where her body begins or where it ends in this shot. lmao What ARE you, Ghili?? 💀

It looks to me like maybe she was struck by a bolt/spear from a ballista or something? The Grey Wardens tried to take her out maybe? Looks like the power of Elgar'nan's mere presence blows the Wardens away then lol, like they're just insects to him.. and in the blast we can see a person that looks like Evka?? <3333 (please don't die here though 😭)

Then we're getting a first glimpse of a dragon that shows up multiple times in this trailer. Also, to me, it looks so much like the dragon from the Golden City vinyl cover, which has me like 👀👀👀👀

Next there are a few scenes from the prologue we've already seen in the gameplay showcase, but it's coupled with new lines from Varric, that have me super worried. :(

"Rook, you've got this. I've seen your work. You're clever, adaptable. And you don't know when to quit.

My first reaction to this was "Oh god no, that sounds so much like a "passing the torch" kind of dialogue to me" as in Varric either dies (PLEASE NO but it IS super suspicious how he's not seen or mentioned in any other scene so far) or retires his role as the leader of this group and hands it over to Rook. And he just sounds... weary. 🥺 I wonder what he means by "your work" though? Is he talking about things Rook has done before Varric recruited them? Or is it maybe later down the line, after Rook has already proven themselves to be a great leader? 🤔

Then we get another shot of that one dragon and our first look at Harding with the bruised face (whoever did this, come fight me!) and some poor person tangled in.. something, I'm not sure. lol

Then there's a super quick shot of the floating building in Minrathous, followed by Rook opening a gate Aragorn style, which leads me to believe that this is actually somethere IN that floating building maybe?

But the fact that Rook and everyone else seems to be wearing casual clothes in the following shots, plus the architecture in the background has me wondering if they might be at the Lighthouse actually? 👀

Especially because in the very next shot we see Rook, Bellara, Neve and Harding all in casual clothes again in front of a giant eluvian and I wonder if that's the mirror that we've read about in the Game Informer article. The special eluvian at the Lighthouse that can take you anywhere? :o

Speaking of the Game Informer article, it also told us that Rook, Harding and Neve went back to the ritual site after what happened in the beginning, which is probably what we're seeing here!

"You want allies to go after the elven gods. I've got places to look."

Well, good thing we have a clever detective on the team that apparently knows people who would willingly fight some gods. lol Notice how Harding's face is still injured in this scene. 👀 So I assume whatever happened to her must've happened at the ritual site? Btw, I love how the trailer makes it look like they're all in casual clothes and the second they're stepping through the eluvian, they're in full gear? 😂 (I'm sure those two scenes take place at different times though.) It's crazy how much different the Arlathan Forest looks now, without the cataclysmic storm and all. I love the lighting, the colors and the soft rain! :3

Then we get another gorgeous location shot to hang on the wall. <3 My guess here is definitely Anderfels, given the landscape and those "pillar ring" things we've seen before (I still have no idea what those are, the funniest guess is still griffon training flight path 😂 But something tells me those things will be important.).

"I'll be damned! A griffon!"

Davrin and Assan!! <33333 And the dialogue makes it sound like this might be the first time they meet each other?? 🥹🥹 Followed by a scene of Davrin taking care of business and what might be the return of children in DA?? 😭 Seeing that little girl made me so happy, because that was actually one of the few things on my wishlist for DA4, because I always felt like children make the world feel SO much more real and immersive and besides Kieran, children were completely absent in DAI.

Am I trippin or does it look like this child is smiling here, while running away from a horde of darkspawn?? 😶 Kids in the Anderfels are build different, I guess. lol

"In war, victory."

CHILLS!!

Then we see Assan again, who is pinning down a.. thing I can't identify. lol I'm very curious about all those cages in the background though.. 🤔

We then get one of the shots that made me freak out the most, because it's a flippin *underwater* shot of elven ruins??? 😱😱

We know it's elven because if you look very very closely, you can see a Halla statue in the distance, to the left side. I'm immediately reminded of the stories about Arlathan having sunken to the ocean floor! There's also still all that mention of Ghilan'nain's grey "goop" that smells like the ocean and another shot later on of a dragon (Elgar'nan?) emerging from the ocean! 👀👀👀

And aside from all that, it's just such a sick level design!! 😍 What do these ruins look like if you enter them in the game? How do we get there?? There's an eluvian in the middle of the ocean on the newest map that's included in the Collector's Edition! 👀👀 If that one flippin theory of mine actually turns out to be true and there are somehow two parts of Arlathan, one on the ocean floor and another in the center of the Fade/the Black City, I'll do a triple backflip. lmaoo

Then Lucanis jumps in with some incredibly smooth fighting moves against the Venatori... and PURPLE WINGS!! So we were right with our speculation about the reveal trailer! Why does he have them? Is it some connection to a pride demon that revived him? 😂 I don't know, but it looks SO cool!! And after showing off, we hear his first line "I'm ready" with that sweet sweet accent, which is just the cherry on top!! <333

What the heck is up with the sky in this one?? My first thought was the Lighthouse?? 😍😍 Because if you look closely, there are a few wolf head ornaments on the walls? 👀 And this could be in the Crossroads and just like a real Lighthouse, there's a light on the top..? 🥹

Then there's Bellara using some magical device, that looks super similar to the things that were next to the big eluvian in that other scene!

Which makes me think that this might be where we help Bellara find this artifact in order to get the eluvian at the Lighthouse to work properly (since it doesn't seem to work right without Solas, according to the Game Informer article).

"I've never seen this before. There's something kind of exciting about it!"

Not gonna lie, that line and that weird looking device gave me Peebee flashbacks from Andromeda, which I honestly wasn't the biggest fan of. 😂 But Ghil Dirthalen (member of the community council) responded to me a few weeks back on twitter and confirmed that Bellara is nothing like Peebee at all. lol So that's a relief. 😂 I'm really looking forward to learn more about her and every time I see her magical gauntlet, I'm reminded that we're *definitely* not in Ferelden anymore. lol

Anyway, we then get a few shots of the Deep Roads?? Kal-Sharok??? 👀👀 And of course, there's Harding's big reveal of her new magical powers! The animation on this looks sooo amazing!!

Like many suspect, the Titans' awakening might have something to do with this! I totally agree with what Ghil Dirthalen said on twitter recently and, rather than this being Harding having Solas' petrification powers, it's actually Solas who has the powers of the Titans/stone sense/whatever Sandal did to those ogres back then lol. (I need Sandal to return and be her "teacher" or something 🙏❤️) We know of Solas' orb, which was likely created by obtaining the heart of a Titan. And if the Titans are connected to the Forgotten Ones, Fen'Harel was once considered their ally in Dalish legends. 👀

Also, if you look closely, you can see that the moment her powers are triggered, we see the blue glowy effect all over her body, like glowy lyrium veins almost?

And that in turn could hint at something in connection to her blood? So that big injury we see on her (which is still visible in this scene btw!) was maybe the moment her blood came in contact with something that awakened these powers? (We need Valta back to explain! lol)

"What is happening to me?"

That delivery gave me chills again... She is frightened. Ali Hillis is so good. 🥺🥺🥺

Next up is the Grand Necropolis and people have already pointed out that the ceiling we see at that entrance hall or something looks like a GIANT rip cage?? 💀 (What kind of creature would be THIS big???)

First look of Emmrich in-game!!! And he's wearing a fancy new outfit!! And I paused at the perfect moment to catch Rook already falling in love with him, clearly. lmao

There are two characters next to the gate that could be anybody, really. Myrna from Tevinter Nights or Joanna from the short story "The Flame Eternal"? The guy on the right is actually giving me Executor vibes?? 👀👀👀

Then there's Giant Skeleton Monster (Manfred's mom?), and don't even ask me what this could possibly be. 😂 I just hope we don't have to fight THAT (we totally will 💀). I got flashbacks of the Human Reaper endboss in ME2. 😭😭

"Let the Fade draw close!"

There's something kinda... posh about the way he says this? 😂 Like, he's not really intimidated by Giant Skeleton Monster and it's just another Tuesday in the Grand Necropolis and Professor Volkarin is just doing his every day job. lol

Then there are two shots of what I think is somewhere in the Anderfels but snowy again, like that area in the beginning where Elgar'nan and Ghili showed up? And a destroyed watchtower that is occupied by the Wardens. Then we get a *third* and final shot of this beauty again.

"Draw the dragon out into the open. Then attack."

I assume that's Taash?? Sadly, that shot of her drawing her weapon is all we got from her in this trailer, but she looks awesome!! <333 We're gonna be Lord of Fortune buddies, even though we might disagree on the matter of dragon hunting lol (look, I don't want to *fight* dragons, I want to be *friends* with them 🫠😂❤️ I want to see them live their best lifes.. for the most part (I get to the Elgar'nan dragon and the blighted "twin dragons" in a second lol))

We see the docks of Minrathous for a split second and then a first glimpse at a romance scene between Rook and Neve? 👀 At the Lighthouse maybe?

"You and me Rook. Maybe that's what scares me."

What does she mean by that exactly? Does Neve have commitment issues? lol Or is this more like a "We're a dangerous match, Rook. We'll be too powerful of a couple. Like Bonnie and Clyde." kinda statement? 😂

And THEN... Well, then we get probably THE most badass looking introduction/entrance of any character in DA yet. lol And YES, I freaked out SO hard.

SHE'S BACK. Returning like the QUEEN that she is. 🙏 And of course, she has to come down a flight of "stairs" again. lol (And no, Claudia Black did not lie, she just wasn't contacted at the time. 😁) Gosh, that transformation is so SMOOTH. I could watch that forever, it's so darn beautiful. 😍 Again, the way this is done, cinematically.. just *chef's kiss*.

In retrospect, it seems almost like a given that she would be back because.. well, everything about the way DAI ended. lol Flemeth wanted her to inherit her "godhood", and she looks more than ever like her mother now. Remember the designer notes on that last scene in DAI.

Flemeth intends to let Solas have the power, so long as she can pass the essence of her godhood onto Morrigan, a gift Flemeth had always planned for her daughter yet one Morrigan misunderstood as hostile possession.

So, what exactly is she now? Did she receive whatever Flemeth sent through the eluvian at the end of DAI? Does she carry Mythal now?? If so, does Solas know (I NEED a conversation between those two technically "half-siblings", because Flemeth/Mythal is both their "Mother"? 😂)?? Remember when I said that this one dragon that appears multiple times here reminds me a lot of the dragon on the vinyl cover with the Golden City, which is very likely Mythal? So my very first thought was that the dragon is actually Morrigan?? lol Just throwing that out there.

It seems to me that she is with the Dalish/Veil Jumpers in the Arlathan Forest now? (Btw, if you look closely, you can see elven mosaics in COLOR in the background? :O)

"These are the times in which legends are born or slain."

That line goes so HARD aHhhh. Also, speaking of slain, that new outfit is slaying too. <33 Her return also means that the Well decision and potential consequences are back on the table, which will definitely keep me up at night again. 💀

That moment right there. She is everthing. ❤️❤️❤️ I wonder if we're gonna see Kieran again?? 🥺🥺

We then get the most impressive tracking shot and choreography of what I think is Teia and Viago fighting some Venatori?? <333333 Like, seriously, the way the camera is following his movements in this shot without a single cut, makes me think of something like flippin Games of Thrones' Battle of the Bastards. 😱 And those hair physics on Teia as she's swinging around?? Absolutely amazing.

Followed by Lucanis and.. is that Zara Renata (the character with the best name ever lol)?? Fighting over an ominous glowing staff. lol We know these two still had unfinished business with each other after the Wigmaker Job in TN.

Then we get our first in-game look of my man MANFRED (🎉🎉🎉🎉), proving yet again to be the most fashionable character in the whole game, using his pelvis effectively. lol I love him so much.

Then there's another terrifying shot of Giant Skeleton Monster, which almost looks like it's in command over the crowd of people here, like they're possessed or something? Uhg.. As if this thing wasn't scary enough. 💀

"Our gods are back. Our gods! How do we stand up against that?"

Again, CHILLLLS!! Chills all over. It's gonna be so interesting to hear what the Dalish, Bellara or Davrin think about all these revelations!

Then we see the Wardens again, confronting one of the super duper blighted "twin dragons" we see at the end (more on that later).

We see Neve using a barrier or something against a guy who wears the same armor as her, so maybe the Shadow Dragons are corrupted, too?

Then we see Rook dramatically tossing a sword on a table at Weisshaupt? And holy moly, Davrin in that new armor here looks FINE. 😍

Back in Treviso, we see a cool finishing move from Rook, obliterating a poor Venatori guy. That bow on Rook's back though (I need it)! :O

"I believe in all of us. So let's get it done."

That little pep talk from Rook certainly worked for me. lol Like, whatever it is we're doing here, I'm so pumped, let's gooooo!

Then we get literally a millisecond of a frame, where you can see Ghili lying on the floor.. with the lyrium dagger stuck IN HER CHEST??

EXCUSE ME?? They wouldn't just spoil her death like that, right?? lmao Also, that adds another billion questions about this damn flippin dagger and at this point the list of questions is getting so long that I've completely given up speculating. 😂💀 We see how Rook tries to retrieve(?) the dagger but the power it emanates pushes them back?? What the heeellll.

And then I died. No, really. lmaoo

What can I say.

I cried. I screamed. My soul left my body. It happened. We FINALLY saw him. The Dreaded Wolf, He Who Hunts Alone, Roamer of the Beyond, God of Rebellion. The one everyone's been talking about since flippin 2009. And by GOD, he lives up to his NAME.

He's dreadful, he's horrifying. He's a monster, a nightmare. He's perfect. And just like Solas, he's just a Little Guy and bald. 😭😭😭

...At least in comparison to this dragon!! Look at that friggin SIZE DIFFERENCE. Someone measured the size by comparing them to Rook, who we see for a split second before Fenny leaps in. So, make no mistake, Fen'Harel IS the size of a high dragon, like he was described in Tevinter Nights... It's just that this blighted dragon is HUMONGOUS. lol That dragon, let's call him Elgar'nan, because we all KNOW, right?? Who else could it POSSIBLY be?? He's got the horns, he's the dragon on the vinyl cover with the Blighted Black City, he's ENORMOUS!! I've been saying this forever. Fen'Harel vs Elgar'nan, Battle of Gods was all I ever wished to see and FUCK, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WISH CAME TRUE. 😭😭😭

And look WHERE they are fighting!! It's Minrathous, you can clearly see the floating building in the background!! Which means the Dread Wolf is OUT. He's no longer trapped, or in the Fade. Remember Sandal's prophecy "When he rises, everyone will see". And he HAS RISEN. lmao And look at the lighting!! It's the same dim, gloomy RED we've seen at the end of the reveal trailer with the eclipse. "AN ECLIPSE AS FEN'HAREL STIRRED". IT'S HAPPENING. Remember the 2020 teaser MURAL.

Is this the Black City or is it the floating building?? Either way, it's BLIGHTED. In the trailer, Minrathous has clearly been completely taken over by the Blight. "All the world will soon share the peace and comfort of my reign", that's what Elgar'nan said at the end of the 2023 teaser, and what better way to take over the world than to start with the biggest capital in Thedas, a nation which built their own empire over the ruins of Elvhenan, ruled by the most powerful mages!

And I am SO scared. You can see Elgar'nan snapping Fenny. The dragon is blighted, and maybe so is Fen'Harel. He's also clearly been through so much. "The Wolf chews his leg off to escape the trap.", is what Cole said in Trespasser. I don't think he always looked like that. In the murals and the 2022 cinematic, he has a lot more fur. And I can't help but think about the devs saying that Solas wasn't always bald either. lmao How are they connected.. are they one and the same.. are they bound to each other.. we still don't know. But I'm SO. F*CKING EXCITED. TO FIND OUT.

Those few seconds of this scene were breathtaking and whoever made this trailer knew exactly what they were doing, because the editing is so perfect as Fen'Harel charges at Elgar'nan in slow-motion and the music cuts out completely while that beautiful wolf howl can be heard and you can almost HEAR everyone's jaw dropping on the floor. lmao THAT's. how. you. do it. *standing ovation* *sobbing*

Okay. Breathe. Moving on. We gotta get to the end. lol

The very next shot is SO funny to me, because we literally just got to see Elgar'nan, the biggest flippin dragon we've ever seen in DA and it's followed by a shot in which Elgar'nan looks SO tiny next to Ghilan'nain. lmaooo

His ego doesn't allow to appear small though, I guess, so he f*cking levitates to top her in height. lmao These two ancient clowns are already killing me.

What's interesting though is that this is the exact same angle from which we left off in the gameplay showcase. And Solas is nowhere to be seen, so... did he literally just "poof" away right there into that Fade prison?? lmao

We get a quick montage of all the lovely monsters we will face. Like I mentioned, there's the Elgar'nan dragon taking a swim in the ocean, I guess? (I hope he drowns. lol) And a shot of what I think is Irelin (from TN and The Missing) doing.. something with some magical device. Someone fighting a magical "automaton" in the Arlathan Forest. lol Harding doing her THING again, acting like Toph from Avatar, literally bending the flippin earth, like a true Child of the Stone!!

And right before the end, there's one of my personal favorite shots, Rook basically bitch slapping a Pride demon into full K.O.?? lmao

The trailer ends with a final beautiful shot of Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire. lol No, seriously. A SUPER blighted pair of angry dragons, seemingly at the same snowy place that Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain popped up earlier in the trailer. 👀👀👀

So, they might have something to do with this? There was a dead dragon lying on the ground in an earlier shot, so maybe the elven gods revived them? If I see Blue and Red, I'm of course immediately reminded of lyrium.. whatever that means. Or, given that they seem to be attacking Grey Wardens in this place... maybe we are looking at an altered form of Archdemons?? Or something similar to Corypheus' dragon? 👀 There is an interesting theory floating around that Ghilan'nain might look like *that* because she somehow merged with her lover Andruil. As I mentioned in the beginning, Ghilan'nain seemed to have been struck by a spear or something.. and in this shot, you can see that the red dragon is pulling a spear out of its body! Sooo... maybe that actually IS her?? And she somehow transformed into two different blighted dragons, representing herself and Andruil??? The tinfoil hat is strong with this one. lol

ANYWAY. The release date is revealed to be 31st of October, making this the best Halloween of all time!! Not only is it perfect because of its origin, Samhain, the thinning of the Veil between the living and spirits.. But also because we all get a chance to dress up as Manfred, walk into the store, buy the game and then go Trick or Treat (but mostly trick) in the name of Fen'Harel, the Trickster God. 😂😂💜💜💜

And that's it!! Now we only have to wait two months before we can all lose our collective shi— NO WAIT, OF COURSE WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

WHAT THE HELL

IS THIS

EXCUSE ME, how do you throw this in there in the background at the very last second, HELLO??? A rocky object, split in half. HUH, WHERE HAVE WE SEEN THAT BEFORE.

Oh, you sneaky sneaky people. The mural depicting a Titan's death.... Remember the description of this place in DAI's files.

"A final eluvian is situated in a beautiful bolt-hole where Solas has painted murals. Fen'Harel was here and wanted to make sure nobody ever found what the other gods were doing. This place was the breaking point for him that turned him against the gods."

Whatever this is... I think it might be the very reason why all of this is even happening. The Evanuris mined the Titans' blood and "something else" before they collapsed and sealed the Deep Roads with stone and magic.

"Terror, heart-pounding, ice-cold, as the last of the spells is cast."

"What the Evanuris in their greed could unleash would end us all. Let this place be forgotten. Let no one wake its anger. The People must rise before their false gods destroy them all."

I'll leave it at that. I'm so so so flippin excited. I want to thank all the devs involved, I'm so full of joy and can't wait to finally return back to Thedas in October. 🥹🥹🥹 (And if anyone wants to get me that "Rook's coffer" collectibles thing for my birthday two days after release, my address is— naah just kidding!! ..or AM I?? 👀😂😂)!! 💜💜💜💜💜

[caffedrine]

Keith Howell Sequel 02 - Fan Translation

If you trust me to know what I'm doing, then we have both made a huge mistake. I cannot guarantee accuracy for this fan translation, or even grammatical correctness.

Please support Cybird and pick up this event when it makes it to the English Server

Nervousness hastened the passage of time, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that the day of departure arrived in what felt like just two days.

Kougyoku is an island nation. Since a ship is necessary for entry, we first headed to the port by carriage...

Emma: “Keith... no, that’s not right.”

Alter!Keith: “Hmm?”

Emma: “We were supposed to read a book together, right?”

Alter!Keith: “I’d rather do this than read happily together.”

Emma: “Mmm...”

After being poked at the lips with his fingertips, I received yet another kiss.

Just moments ago, I had been reading a book with the gentle Nice!Keith, but now I was being sweetly teased by the mischievous Alter!Keith sitting on his lap.

Alter!Keith: “You enjoy kissing me, don’t you?”

Emma: “That way of asking is unfair, it’s underhanded and mean!”

Alter!Keith: “Because I am the mean Prince Keith, right?”

Alter!Keith: “Come on, this is fine, right? Just a bit ago, you were happily reading with him, now you should focus on me.”

Our foreheads bumped lightly together, and I shivered slightly at the warm breath that touched my lips. My heart began to sway at the gaze filled with a different kind of coldness and innocence unlike that of the gentle Keith.

(This isn’t forceful; it’s more like a playful request, which makes it even more unfair. But if I get swept away any further...)

Alter!Keith: “Emma.”

(Ah...!)

Just as I thought, he buried his face in the crook of my neck. To do such a cute action with that big body is unfair...

Emma: “...Just a little bit longer, okay?”

Alter!Keith: “You really are naive, aren’t you?”

Emma: “Let’s pretend that didn’t happen—nngh!”

Alter!Keith: “Naive and cute, I meant to say.”

(He’s still saying ‘naïve’!)

A kiss that was merely touching turned into a deep one as our tongues entwined. With my ears playfully covered, the sound of water echoed in my head, further amplifying the pleasure.

(My head is spinning...)

I finally thumped my chest as if pleading for release, and I was freed at last. The last light kiss that conveyed reluctance lingered the sweetest on my heart.

(Ah...)

Leaning against his sturdy body, Alter!Keith began to stroke my back. His large hand moved to my arm and took my hand in a gentle, enveloping manner. My gaze fell to his palm, and I felt a little overwhelmed.

(I take care of my hands meticulously, but they still don’t heal beautifully...)

From the work of an herbalist and practicing archery, my skin was rough in some places, with faint redness. They weren’t hands that could be called pretty. I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but he wouldn’t let go.

His fingers gently massaged and rubbed, touching me in a way that showed care, making me feel embarrassed.

Emma: “...It would make me happy if you wouldn’t look at them so much.”

Alter!Keith: “I actually like this hand of yours, so asking me not to look is quite mean of you.”

His lips brushed against my palm again.

As the fiancée of the future king, the abilities required of me are various and high. Additionally, I am from a foreign country.

If I don't earn the trust of the citizens more than anyone else, there is certainly a possibility of becoming a burden to Keith in the future. I have been fully committed to my work and lessons until now.

(Because I want to stand proudly and confidently next to Keith...)

That’s why my heart heated up uncontrollably at his words and kisses that acknowledged my efforts.

Alter!Keith: “...”

Emma: “Keith?”

His thoughtful expression was only momentary, as he soon wore a smile on his lips again.

Alter!Keith: “You heard it from him, but Kougyoku is not a country to let your guard down. Don’t stray far from my side.”

Alter!Keith: “And don’t do anything reckless, okay?”

Emma: “...Yes.”

I was effortlessly lifted and seated beside Alter!Keith. His arm, which I thought would release me, instead embraced my waist, intertwining our fingers.

(...I feel like I've become accustomed to feeling his body heat whenever I’m with the mischievous Alter!Keith.)

Our bodies were tightly pressed against each other, and even the slightest movement would tighten his embrace.

It felt as if he was confirming something, urging me not to go anywhere.

Alter!Keith: “...Emma.”

With a jolt, memories rushed back and made my heart stir.

(…I should be happy, but...)

The pleasant rocking of the carriage and Keith’s warmth lured me into an irresistible drowsiness. My eyelids slowly began to lower— Just as my consciousness began to fade, I thought I heard Keith’s voice.

Alter!Keith: “...”

Alter!Keith: “You don't seem like you’d wake up even after being teased... Just do it only when I'm beside you.”

He brushed Emma's bangs with the back of his fingers and kissed her exposed forehead. She showed no signs of waking from her dreams.

His hands, encased in white gloves, opened the door of the box attached to the carriage. A notebook, a quill pen, and a small bottle of ink came into view, and a sigh escaped from Alter!Keith's lips.

Alter!Keith: “...This method is still so tedious.”

The sound of the quill pen gliding across the paper echoed quietly in the still carriage.

Later

Just like Rhodolite, where roses bloom year-round, Kougyoku is a land where cherry blossoms bloom all year. The country was wrapped in a soft pink hue, a beauty that exceeded my imagination many times over.

Using Keith’s outstretched hand, I got out of the carriage.

The city that welcomed us was full of vitality, and the cheerful expressions of the passersby naturally lifted the corners of my lips.

(Wow...!)

I was pulled closer by the waist as several children ran energetically past us.

(It was almost a collision.)

Emma: “Thank you.”

Keith: “...Uh, you’re welcome.”

(Huh?)

Seeing Keith wear a somewhat dazed expression made worry swell up within me.

Emma: “Are you feeling unwell?”

(Maybe he’s tired from the long journey.)

Then Keith shook his head anxiously, throwing my concern away with a lively gesture.

Keith: “No, not at all! If anything, I might be too energetic!”

Keith: “Right now, I’m confident that I could recite all the herbs from the herbarium while doing a handstand with one hand.”

(I kind of want to see that just a little.)

Keith: “I apologize for making you worry. And thank you.”

Keith: “Actually, my vision is a bit blurred from the brightness outside. But I really am all right now.”

Keith: “I won’t miss your cute figure getting all excited about being in Kougyoku for the first time.”

Emma: “Um, I’m glad to hear that you’re feeling fine.”

(A little concerning, but it seems he really isn’t ill. That’s a relief...)

Suddenly, Keith coughed lightly and brought his hands together.

Keith: “Well then, here’s a question for you, Emma.”

Emma: “! Yes, what is it?”

Keith: “How many islands make up Kougyoku?”

Emma: “There are four islands.”

Keith: “Correct. Currently, the three islands surrounding the central island are governed by their respective factions.”

Keith: “Now, for the next question. What is the name of the king who’s island we’re on?”

Emma: “King Kuga.”

Master Keith clapped lightly in front of his chest, signaling that I had answered correctly.

(I had heard that he had distanced himself from the royal family to build his own camp,)

(Before I investigated the situation in Kougyoku, I had assumed that Kagari was the king.)

Keith: “By the way, this town is particularly prosperous in Kougyoku, and there are many tourists.”

Keith: “This is my first time here as well.”

Emma: “Is that so! I’m so happy to have my first experience in Kougyoku together with you, Keith.”

Keith: “Really? Me too... I’m so glad.”

With a gentle smile that filled the area like bursts of colorful flowers, Keith brightened my mood.

(Ah, this is...)

Keith: “Is it okay if we take a little walk around the town? I feel like I’m a bit nervous about the Kougyoku diplomacy after such a long time.”

(Though he said that, it was really for my sake.)

(I’m sure that the suggestion to read a book together, as well as choosing the route to see the beautiful scenery, was all part of it...)

As various memories from our time traveling came to mind, I couldn’t help but let my cheeks soften.

(The mischievous Alter!Keith really spoiled me in so many ways to ease my tension...)

(With your consideration, I feel like I might lose my original form someday.)

Then, we took a short time to stroll around the city.

(Hmm...?)

I noticed this when we were about to head back to the carriage.

Child: “Hey? Where is it?”

(Could he be lost something...?)

In the crowd, a boy was looking around anxiously, searching for something. I couldn't see any adult who seemed to be his parent; he might have wandered off.

Seeing the growing anxiety on his face, I couldn’t stand by idly and took a step forward the moment—

Child: “—!”

(Huh...?)

The outstretched arms pulled the boy into a back alley.

(No way, a kidnapping...!)

Keith: “Emma!?”

He dashed forward, rushing into the dimly lit, winding alley to chase after them.

(I can’t hear any footsteps... Did he hide somewhere?)

I didn’t stop my feet, continuing deeper into the alley, turning corners—

(Eh—)

I stopped breathing at the scene before me.

The kidnapped boy was slumped against the wall, unconscious, while a man was collapsed beside him, bleeding.

And another man, with fiery red hair, stood there.

(Was this person the one who stopped the kidnapping...?)

However, sight of the blood heightened my caution—

The unreadable green eyes faced me, and my heart raced violently.

??? “You are...”

??? “Oh, it seems you arrived today.”

The red-haired man reacted to something, looking behind me.

??? “Is he with you?”

(That guy?)

Keith: “Emma! Over here!”

Hearing Keith’s voice slightly eased the tension in my body.

??? “Perfect timing. Let’s have a brief greeting here.”

Emma: “Um... are you an acquaintance of Master Keith?”

??? “If you ask whether we’re acquaintances, then yes, we are.”

Keith: “Emma, are you okay—!?”

A metallic sound reached my ears.

(Huh...?)

Before I knew it, the red-haired man had drawn the sword he had hanging at his waist and kicked off the wall.

He easily jumped over me and, without hesitation, swung the sword down toward Master Keith.

Despite the sudden attack, Master Keith quickly used his sword to block it—his golden eyes widened in shock.

Keith: “K-Kagari!?”

(Kagari...)

(Is this the second prince of Kougyoku, Kagari Amagase!?)

My mouth opened in surprise at the unexpected encounter. Meanwhile, Kagari's assault did not cease.

Even with a confused expression, Keith attacked back, and a fierce sword fight ensued. The alley transformed into a duel arena, and I could only stand there in shock, watching the two engage in battle.

(Kagari is feared as the Yasha, and it was said that if encountered on the battlefield, one would not survive.)

(Being able to fight evenly against such an opponent... Keith is amazing... but it’s not the time to be impressed.)

(I heard Keith say they were friends, but why is Kagari attacking Keith?)

(Is this a common greeting in Kougyoku...?)

(Whatever the case, what I need to do now is...)

I rushed over to the unconscious boy.

(Thank goodness, it seems he isn't injured anywhere.)

(Looking at the man over here... he’s bleeding, but it's not too serious.)

The depth of the wound suggested that he hadn't intended to take a life.

I took out some linen and outdoor medicine from my pouch to provide first aid.

Meanwhile, the fierce battle continued...

Kagari: “Your movements have become faster now that you’ve stopped making unnecessary ones. Good growth.”

Keith: “Emma is here... please sheathe your sword for a moment!”

Kagari: “That depends on your abilities. Do your best.”

Kagari kicked off the wall and leapt high, executing a kick aimed at Keith’s face.

Keith: “Kagari, can you please...”

Keith blocked the kick with his arm, and to my shock, he grabbed that leg with one hand...

Keith: “Just stop!!”

(He threw him...!)

Although he was thrown aside, Kagari gracefully corrected his posture mid-air and landed quietly.

Then, he nodded with a look of satisfaction.

Kagari: “That was a good throw. As fierce as ever, not matching your looks.”

Kagari: “You pass. Let’s call it a day for greetings.”

Keith: “Finally... it’s over.”

(Thank goodness...)

As Kagari skillfully twirled the sword and sheathed it, the tense atmosphere eased.

Following suit, Keith sheathed his sword and hurried over to me, checking my cheeks and arms with gentle touches.

Keith: “Emma, are you okay? Is there anywhere that hurts? Any injuries?”

Emma: “I’m fine. I’m sorry for running off without saying anything.”

At my words, Keith visibly relaxed and gently stroked my head.

Keith: “Don’t worry about it. As long as you’re alright, that’s what matters.”

Keith: “Besides... If I saw a child being taken away, I would also instinctively chase after them.”

Kagari: “Children are more valuable than adults. Depending on how they are raised, they can become good assets.”

Keith: “Kagari...”

Kagari: “It’s not unusual in Kougyoku. There’s no need to hide it.”

Kagari: “Still, I’ve witnessed a disturbing scene right after arriving.”

Suddenly, a man who seemed to be Kagari’s subordinate appeared silently. After bowing once, he effortlessly picked up the child and the injured man, silently leaving.

Emma: “Thank you for your help.”

Kagari: “...You’re welcome. I just did the usual.”

(The usual... I wonder if Kagari routinely inspects the city.)

Keith: “Emma, even though our schedule has gone haywire, this is Prince Kagari, he is the one who sent us the invitation.”

(Right, greeting time!)

Keith: “Kagari, this is Emma, my fiancée.”

I straightened my posture and looked up at Kagari again.

Emma: “I apologize for the late introduction. I’m Emma.”

Kagari: “......Nice to meet you, I’m Kagari Amagase. Welcome to Kougyoku.”

Kagari: “......”

Emma: “......”

(I’m being stared at intensely.)

Which option will you choose?

Continue looking at Kagari.

Seek help from Keith.

Casually avert your gaze.

I inadvertently glanced toward Keith, and he stepped forward, positioning himself to hide me behind his back.

(I can’t see Kagari now.)

Kagari: “When you appear right in front of me, there’s an overwhelming pressure. It’s like hitting a wall.”

Keith: “That’s my only trademark, being unnecessarily big.”

Kagari: “There are more than just that—like that fluffy hair of yours and that seemingly weak face.”

With that, Kagari began to move his body left and right, trying to catch a glimpse of me hiding.

Every time he did this, Keith would move side to side as well, obstructing him, and a peculiar game quietly began.

(It’s a huge contrast from the fierce battle they were having just moments ago.)

Kagari: “You're in the way, Keith.”

Keith: “You're looking too much, Kagari.”

Kagari: “Do I need to pay a fee to view her?”

Keith: “No man likes to have his fiancée stared at by another man.”

Kagari: “Is it okay if it’s not a man?”

Keith: “...It depends on the time and situation.”

Kagari: “I see, you’re a troublesome one. ...Well, calling you here was worth it.”

Kagari: “More importantly, you’re dressed more formally than usual. What’s up with that?”

His green eyes examined Keith’s outfit from bottom to top.

Keith: “I had a new one tailored for diplomacy.”

Kagari: “It suits you. Don’t you agree?”

Suddenly being questioned like that took me by surprise, and despite it, I nodded enthusiastically multiple times.

Emma: “Yes, it looks really cool!”

I had already said it dozens of times.

Yet, Master dropped his eyelids as if it were the first time he had heard it.

Keith: “Emma, you look amazing in that dress too.”

Keith: “It’s elegant and cute, and I really like how the colors and the embroidery on the sleeves match.”

Keith: “Your hair is loosely gathered, and having you look at me like this is still something I’m not used to; my heart races continuously.”

(I’ve heard it dozens of times already, but it still makes me so happy...)

Kagari: “It’s better not to look for your own sake.”

Keith: “I can’t help it. I want to see, so I’ll look at her.”

Kagari: “Okay then. I don’t quite understand that feeling, but it’s good that you’re safe.”

(I had imagined him as someone fearsome since he is called Yasha.)

There is an aura of approachability despite his unreadable expression and eyes, and the conversation between the two continues.

It seemed as though trust towards Kagari was leaking through Keith's gaze, which made my lips naturally curl into a smile.

(I feel like their movements during the earlier fight reflected an understanding of each other's fighting styles.)

(And the atmosphere is even somewhat amicable. Could it be that they are closer than I thought?)

(Speaking of which... why was I stared at so intensely by Kagari?)

Kagari: “Are you heading to the castle now?”

Keith: “Yeah. Kagari, are you in the middle of an inspection?”

Kagari: “I just finished. I’ll guide you from here.”

Keith: “Thank you.”

Keith: “Well then, Emma, shall we head back to the carriage?”

Emma: “Yes.”

I placed my hand in his large hand.

As we turned our backs to Kagari and headed back to the bustling main street, suddenly—

Kagari: “...”

(Huh, what...?)

A shiver ran through me, electrifying my whole body.

It felt as if something sharp was being pointed at me from behind, and the uncontrollable fear made my lips tremble.

When I realized that the killing intent was directed solely at me, I was pulled tightly to Keith’s shoulder, as if to be protected.

(Ah, what...?)

(Hey! Look who came out to play!)

Alter!Keith: “You... stop messing around.”

Kagari: “I’m surprised. You really are still here.”

(Why did it suddenly turn into  Alter!Keith?)

(And what do Kagari's words mean right now...?)

Alter!Keith had drawn his sword from its sheath, pointing it at Kagari's throat.

The intimidation was vividly reflected in his golden eyes, and it felt as if he could slit Kagari's throat at any moment.

In the tense atmosphere, where I had forgotten to breathe—Kagari gazed at me quietly.

Kagari: “I didn’t expect someone as weak as you to tame another beast.”

Kagari: “—How distorted.”

Normal Story: “It’s okay even if you hate me.”

Even though I was in the comforting arms that always gave me peace, the turmoil in my chest wouldn’t settle down.

And it wasn’t just in this moment.

Kagari: “It’s just a little prank. Don’t be so angry.”

The unleashed killing intent snapped back, and I remembered how to breathe again.

However, the anger emanating from Keith didn’t subside; rather, Kagari's words seemed to stoke the fire.

Alter!Keith: “Don’t you understand that your killing intent can make someone faint?”

Kagari: “I’m better at holding back than you.”

Kagari: “Shall I teach you? I’m used to being a teacher.”

Alter!Keith: “I’m not your student.”

As taunts piled upon taunts, Alter!Keith’s anger prickled my skin. With Alter!Keith showing a beast-like intimidation, I realized I was gripping his clothing.

Emma: “Keith, it’s okay.”

Emma: “I’m sorry, I was overly afraid.”

Alter!Keith: “Emma...”

Finally, our eyes met, and I felt a sense of relief just from that. The anger faded from his golden eyes as he furrowed his brow momentarily before sheathing his sword.

Alter!Keith: “There’s no need for you to apologize. It’s okay to be scared. It’s natural to feel fear.”

Kagari: “...I see.”

The green eyes that were curiously watching Keith turned toward me.

Suddenly, a large hand stretched out from behind, blocking my view and hiding Kagari’s face as if to cover everything. To keep it at a distance.

Kagari: “It’s rare for someone to display their emotions so blatantly just from a bit of killing intent.”

Kagari: “It seems you have a strong fondness for her.”

Alter!Keith: “Yeah. So could you please not involve Emma in your poorly conceived pranks?”

Kagari: “Then let’s think of something more tasteful.”

Alter!Keith: “Do not involve Emma at all from now on.”

Kagari: “You’re being aloof, especially for someone I haven’t seen in a while. You’ve had plenty of these types of pranks before.”

Kagari: “Ah, being distant was always your style, wasn’t it?”

Alter!Keith: “Damn... why is he friends with someone like that.”

He let out a deep sigh of frustration.

(I might be seeing for the first time how he shows his true self without dressing it up in front of anyone but Liam.)

(Although not as gentle as Keith, it seems the Alter!Keith also lets his guard down around Kagari.)

(...From Kagari’s tone, it seems that this isn’t the first time he’s been pranked.)

(So that anger was something that surged up in the heat of the moment...)

“A little killing intent and you’re that easy to read?” The words Kagari had spoken earlier began to swirl in my mind. It's rare for the Alter! Keith to openly display such anger, enough to draw his sword.

He always hid it behind a smile, suppressing others with the air he exuded.

(...It’s happening again. My heart feels uneasy.)

Whenever I’m with Alter!Keith, I’ve become accustomed to feeling his body heat. His eyes, directed toward anyone approaching me, have begun to flash with caution.

I wonder when that started. When did I start to feel unease brushing against my heart, despite my happiness...

Recollecting my memories, the first thing that left a mark in my heart was—

~Flashback~

(Hm... where is this...?)

My blurred vision became clear with a blink. I didn't know why I was lying on the bed.

(Is it already evening? I was sure I entered the nearby forest for herb gathering with Yuel in the morning...)

Alter!Keith: “You’re awake later than I expected.”

When I turned my face toward the voice, I saw Keith sitting in a chair right next to me.

As our eyes met, a soft sigh escaped his lips.

The fleeting expression of worry on his face reminded me of the memories...

(That’s right. I instinctively helped the herbalist who almost slipped and fell...)

Feeling an odd sensation, I touched my head and found that it was wrapped in bandages. I must have hit my head when I fell and lost consciousness right then and there.

(I’ve caused so many people worry and trouble...)

Alter!Keith, seated at the edge of the bed, looked down at me with a mixture of exasperation and slight anger.

Alter!Keith: “According to the doctor, despite appearances, the injuries aren’t that serious.”

Alter!Keith: “You have scrapes on your head, arm, and leg. Your left ankle has a mild sprain.”

His hand awkwardly touched each place where the bandages were wrapped.

Alter!Keith: “Does it hurt anywhere?”

Emma: “No.”

Alter!Keith: “Water?”

Emma: “...I’ll drink some.”

Carefully lifting my body so as not to aggravate my injuries, I brought the glass to my lips.

The coldness of the water as it slid down my throat felt nice, and I felt my consciousness becoming clearer than before.

After placing the empty glass on the side table, Master Keith gently combed through my tousled hair.

Emma: “I’m sorry for making you worry.”

Alter!Keith: “...It’s fine since you’re safe. But you were just lucky this time.”

Alter!Keith: “According to Yuel, you fell from quite a height, and it’s a miracle you came away with only minor injuries.”

Emma: “Yes...”

Emma: “Oh, is the person who almost fell okay?”

At that moment, the air grew a little heavy.

After furrowing his brow, Alter!Keith sighed softly.

Alter!Keith: “...He’s fine. Thanks to you, he didn’t get a scratch.”

Emma: “I see... that’s good to hear.”

Alter!Keith: “No, it’s not good.”

(...?)

Just as I felt his hand touch my shoulder, my familiar ceiling and Alter!Keith’s face filled my vision.

His large body looming over me felt like a cage.

Alter!Keith: “That guy entered a restricted area without following orders, right?”

Alter!Keith: “And he almost fell after slipping, and came back unscathed thanks to you.”

Alter!Keith: “Do you think I would feel lucky to have such a nice Emma around?”

The quiet anger and frustration in his voice tightened my chest with regret.

(At that time, I was the only one in a position to help.)

(If I encountered a similar situation, I...)

All I could do was think and hope that such a situation would never arise.

Alter!Keith: “You're not allowed to go out alone until your injuries heal. I’ll stick by you and take care of you.”

Emma: “Eh, but—”

Alter!Keith: “If you're truly feeling sorry for making me worry, you’ll listen to me, right?”

(When he puts it that way, I can’t say anything.)

Emma: “...Yes.”

Alter!Keith: “And also...”

He grabbed my wrist, as if pinning me to the sheets. It didn’t hurt, but I didn’t move an inch.

Alter!Keith: “I know you're ridiculously kind. But don’t jump into danger for the sake of others.”

Alter!Keith: “If you get hurt again... let’s see, maybe locking you in your room wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

(Huh...?)

Alter!Keith: “At first, it might be boring, but repeating it would turn it into an ordinary daily routine.”

Alter!Keith: “I...”

After a moment of silence, a small laugh escaped from Master Keith's lips.

His expression as he looked down was different from moments ago, as if he were putting on his usual demeanor.

Alter!Keith: “...Just kidding, don’t take me seriously.”

(Really...?)

To call it a joke seemed strange, as his expression and tone were too calm... It felt as if a part of his words were drawn directly from his heart.

Alter!Keith: “That was... a little punishment for you, who worries about others even when you're injured.”

Alter!Keith: “Well, if you pull something like this again, the joke might just become serious, okay?”

His wavering eyes exhibited a dimness, appearing to suppress emotion.

(It seems like he’s worrying... but it’s more than that.)

Alter!Keith: “Emma...”

(Ah...!)

Our foreheads pressed together, and our gazes met.

Alter!Keith: “Did I scare you too much?”

Emma: “...No.”

Emma: “I feel so sorry for making you worry so much, and for having you take care of me starting tomorrow.”

Emma: “My heart is full of remorse...”

(Even if I practice archery or work to strengthen my body, it’s meaningless if I cause worry...)

Alter!Keith: “Then do you want to be punished?”

Emma: “Punished?”

Alter!Keith: “Yeah. A punishment for making me worry.”

Emma: “If it's something I can endure, I’d like to take it for as long as possible.”

Alter!Keith: “Make me feel like ‘it's all okay’ again, will you?”

How to do that... the gaze directed toward my lips taught me.

(This is less of a punishment and more about comforting me.)

(He’s mischievous, but he’s incredibly kind at times like this.)

To receive my "punishment," I wrapped my arms around Keith's neck and pulled him closer.

And then, I pressed my lips against his.

Alter!Keith: “Just one time?”

Emma: “As long as it takes for you to feel ‘it’s all okay.’”

(The more I like him, the more I feel like I can’t convey the words in my heart properly.)

Because I like him, I want to know everything, and I want to be by his side.

At the same time, I hesitate, fearing that these feelings might corner him.

Caught between these two extreme feelings, anxiety nested in my heart.

Have I always been this clumsy?

Alter!Keith: “Emma.”

Emma: “Y-yes?”

His calling my name pulled me back to reality.

Kagari had already passed us and had turned his back.

Emma: “I’m sorry, I was lost in thought.”

Alter!Keith: “Well then, I’ll carry you to the carriage. It’d be a problem if you fell.”

Emma: “Thank you. But I’m okay now, so I’ll just accept the sentiment.”

Alter!Keith: “Hmm? That’s too bad.”

Alter!Keith: “Then, take me to the carriage so I don’t space out and fall, okay?”

The hand intertwined with mine tugged gently, pulling my body closer.

The joined hands were strong and didn’t budge an inch.

Emma: “Understood. But don’t stray away, okay?”

In his narrowed golden eyes, relief spread in my heart more than affection.

Alter!Keith: “....”

[witchy667]

TDLR- My first awakening with my wolf when I was about 9 years old.

(TW for mentions of intense Christianity and some swearing)

So I don’t know when exactly I started feeling so connected to wolves. I partially think that it’s because I’ve always been animalistic/wolfish. So there wasn’t much of a “separation” when I was young cause that’s just who I was if that makes sense. I never thought my behavior to be odd cause I just did it. I had a lack of self control with impulses and instincts as a child. That plus my wolf tendencies and natural chemical imbalance made me seem a bit concerning I guess. I started collecting stuff and making art for wolves starting at age 6. I actually taught myself how to draw because I loved wolves so much. Learned just so I could draw wolves. So by age 9, I had a good collection of wolf affiliated items. I kept them in my windowsill. Had a mask I made by hand, a tail, snowglobes, stuffed animals: you name it. Around the age of 8 to 9 I was also looking into witchcraft to figure out a spell to change me physically into a werewolf. I would memorize different spells so I didn’t even have to read it off the paper while under the moonlight of the full moon at 12 AM. So I could focus fully and send my energy. I tried this multiple times. Being a kid, not knowing that the Internet had history my dad and stepmom found out. They thought that I was possibly possessed and was worshiping the wolves as a false God or idol.

They first forced me so sit down and watch quite a few possessions along with exorcisms after they “found out”. After that semi traumatic experience they forced me to get rid of all of my wolf stuff. Legit sold everything then made me physically destroy and rip up my art. I remember vividly ripping up a mask I worked on for months that got me attention in an art show. I was bawling and so angry but I’d rather me destroy it than them. I still regret that to this day, but what choice did I have? After that my dad and step mom no longer allowed me to behave “wolfish”. No more walking on my tiptoes, no more wearing a tail, no more rough housing, no more running on all fours in any regard, no more wolf books, somehow I was blessed they didn’t take my forest privileges away completely. They deadass even took my door OFF its hinges. For like a year straight. 🥲🙏 So it’s started being a huge fight to be my full self. But I never gave up regardless of their restrictions.

(Now to the awakening, lol. Sorry it’s so long, context was just needed to understand fully this next part)

One day my dad and step mom when on an out of town trip for a few days. (I was 9 at this time) So they hired our baby sitter Jenna to watch us. She decided to take us to the zoo to do something fun. (This was in upstate NY so it was a big zoo with lots of people, NOT NYC though!! lol) We got to the zoo and walked around for a while, obviously I only cared about the wolves. But I think Jenna knew that so she wanted to look at the wolves last. We make it through a majority of the zoo and I see the wolf cage. I’m immediately excited, I noticed right away as we were approaching that there was hella people and kids around the cage howling to get the wolves attention and to come close. I also noticed the wolves on the side of their enclosure eating, I don’t remember what it was expect it being red meat. So I knew that the wolves didn’t care as they were being fed the one or two times they could be in the day. Lastly, I somehow knew in my soul; in my bones; that if I stepped up to the cage it wouldn’t matter. They would come.

Then the world kind of drowned out. I didn’t really comprehend or see all the humans around me or even notice/care about my babysitter or brother’s presence. It was like I moved without thinking and just did what my instincts told me without thinking about it as I do it. I walked up to the cage and tilted my head back and just howled with my whole being. I shit you not both wolves stop eating and came over and sat right in front of me and stared at me. I opened my eyes and see them and I almost started crying. I noticed all of the strangers staring at me in disbelief along with my brother and Jenna. I felt in that moment that I am a wolf and no matter what they take from me they can never take me from me. They can never take the wolf away because I am a wolf.

So when my parents came back from their trip and my babysitter told them about the experience, it was so validating because after everything that they tried to do to break the connection it still didn’t work. And it just helped me know that no one can take it away. And it was the biggest fuck you and the wolves are with me. And I’ll cherish that memory forever.

Sorry for the super long wall of text I just really wanted to express this here because I thought it could potentially be relatable in some aspects. Along with this is definitely a part of my wolf journey.

[zopharooni]

"Ombros"

A DMAU story, part 1/4 (next part)

Ombros.

My home.

The beauty of this land is something none of the others can compare to. The beautiful temperate rainforest, backed by the glorious mountains, with comforting clouds constantly raining down. Sure, the grey tones might not be for everyone, but the inhabitants here love it.

I am currently on the hunt for some wild crops to add to our dinner tonight. Carrots and potatoes to go with whatever hearty meat meal Spike is able to hunt. It's not like I can't hunt for meat, but it's nice to be able to just stroll through the forest and enjoy myself, not having to focus on the hunt. Gideon loves his meats while Cliff loves his plants. Despite how different they are, they are perfect for each other.

Spike and I never actually met our parents. They abandoned us by the lakeside, unable to take the responsibilities of two children. Thankfully, Gideon and Cliff found us. I am forever grateful that they were there, and they are the best dads I could ask for.

Spike and I are deer. We look very similar, but Spike is bigger, has antlers, and blue eyes as opposed to my green eyes.

Cliff is a mountain goat, native to Ombros. He has black fur, with red highlights around the edges of his hair and beard. He's big, tough, and muscular, but honestly, he's just a big teddy bear. He couldn't hurt a fly. He did teach Spike how to use the bow, though! I didn't really care to learn about it, I liked the long stabby-slashy-choppy weapons more.

Gideon is a fennec fox, with really cool purple fur. His ears are huge! They're adorable! He's still pretty muscular, but on the more lean side. He's usually the one that talks to passers by and will never let anybody walk over him. He's also the one who taught me and Spike to fight with weapons!

My train of thought is briefly interrupted as the sound of rolling thunder fills the air. Guess I gotta hurry, we might have a bad storm tonight. Here in Ombros, it's almost always raining. The plants here have adapted to it, with tall trees, dense undergrowth, and most plants having massive roots to intake the falling water. Any rain not absorbed by the plants and soil, runs off down into the lakes. Great, beautiful bodies of water. I often sit by the lake side just enjoying the view. Wherever there isn't rainforest or lakes, is smooth rock, with small veins feeding the water back down to the lakes.

Wading through leaves slightly quicker, I spot a large cluster of my targets. I begin pulling on the deep, slightly faded green of the leaves, revealing the ombrosian carrots. Here, they grow as a more amethyst colour, which I hear is different from outside the lands of the old faith. I spot some large leaves that only grow from potatoes, and pull them up as well. Their pastel brownish hue matches well with the grey colours here. I also suddenly see a glint in one of the bushes off to the side. An iridescent crystal! Sometimes colloquially called "Ombrosia", you can sometimes find crystals like these around the place, and nobody really knows where they come from. Some say they fall from the skies during storms, some say they grow to the size of a person. They are rumoured to have a variety of uses, from good luck, to healing, to even being able to cast magic spells. Regardless, I place all of the goodies into my rucksack, and begin treading back towards home.

Home. Gideon and Cliff made a nice cabin for us a decade ago, and it's perfect. Comfortable and Cosy in all the best ways, staying warm and dry. My mind lingers on them. My dads. I can never not be grateful for all they do. Their life is our family, and they would do anything and everything if it meant we were happy. One day Spike had mentioned that he wanted to be a boy. So they lost a daughter, but gained a son, and I got a brother. They didn't question a thing, they just wanted to support him. Spike! I hope he's okay! The storm can make the hunt much harder, but he's older than me, and can likely handle himself much easier.

I finally make it back to our cabin. I open the door and am immediately greeted by the smell of cooking dinner. I see Spike's bow and quiver hanging by the door, so I know he made it back safe.

"Gid! Cliff! I made it back, with a great haul to show for it!" I yell into the kitchen.

"Oh good! Get your butt over here and start helping with dinner then!" Cliff's voice echoes.

I get into the kitchen and immediately start cleaning my haul of vegetables. Cliff is assembling dishes of vegetables while Gideon is searing various meats to add to them. Spike is slightly off to the side, butchering his Bounty from the day.

Dinner is going to be awesome tonight!

[candycandy00]

Actually speaking of, do u have any writing tips?? I might start writing fanfics when I'm bored idk

Sure, I can give some writing tips! Just keep in mind that these are tips that work for me. What works for one person might not work for another. 

My first general tip is one I hated hearing when I was younger: read a lot! Read the sort of stuff you want to write, but also other stuff as well. There’s literally nothing that will help you write more than reading. The tip I was always given as a teenager was “to be a good writer, you must first be a good reader”. I thought this was bullshit lol. I only read comics and manga. I rarely ever read actual books. But an online friend gave me the same advice, and encouraged me to read more. I did, and actually enjoyed it, and it’s made a huge difference in my writing. Now I consider myself an avid reader.  

Secondly, decide on a writing method that works best for you. For me personally, that’s writing in the Notes app on my phone. When I used to write on my laptop, I struggled to find time to actually sit down and write. But once I switched to doing it on my phone, my output increased dramatically. Maybe the opposite is true for you, but it’s important to try different methods and find what works for you. I know people who hand write their stories and type them up later. So any method is valid. 

Now these are a bit more personalized to me but they might be helpful to others:

If you’re writing anything longer than a short one shot, have a plan in mind for where the story is going. It doesn’t have to be a detailed outline, you don’t even have to write it down. But have a general idea of the main story beats before you begin, so you know what you’re working toward. Even if it’s just a smutty one shot, it’s a good idea to know the main things you want to include and the general vibe of the story and what the ending will be like. You can of course change this as you go if you need to. 

For smut in particular, I like to focus on the emotions of the characters, not just the physical sensations. For me, this just makes the smut more interesting and stimulating. 

For dialogue, don’t get too hung up on sounding like a “real conversation”. People who tell you to listen to real conversations to help with dialogue are crazy. Real conversations are a mess! People start and stop sentences out of nowhere, say the wrong words and correct themselves, lose their train of thought, etc. They would not be fun at all to read! Instead, you want to give the illusion of a real conversation. You write it out in a way that sounds interesting and serves the plot and is fun to read, but make it seem natural. Don’t forget to use contractions! I see a lot of beginning writers forgetting to use contractions in their dialogue. Unless it’s a character who speaks very formally, use them! 

Now this is probably the most important one, especially for writing fanfiction (but it applies to all writing): make some writing friends! Make friends with other writers here on tumblr who are writing in your fandom. Having a buddy to bounce ideas off of and just talk about your stories with is so so helpful. It keeps you motivated and excited to write, and you can inspire each other. And luckily it’s super easy to make friends with fanfic writers on here. The vast majority of them are very sweet and happy to talk to you. Literally just message them saying you enjoy their work and would like to be friends. Anyone who has a negative reaction to that isn’t worth having as a friend anyway. 

I hope these help! 

[bloomskullberry]

Ok you know what i just gotta write out my feelings on the new Miraculous movie. I have both good and bad things to say. I will be rewatching it cause i was pretty biased (we'll get to that) and maybe reposting this with my new thoughts afterwards cause this is a lot.

THUS: READ MORE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION and understand that most of this is based on personal perception, preferences, and an element of nostalgia/frustration (ive been watching this show since season one, would not have made it this far if I didnt have FEELINGS about Miraculous). but take everything with a sprinkle of salt.

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS ABOUT THE NEW MIRACULOUS MOVIE UNDER THE CUT

1. Pacing felt like the biggest issue. A lot of stuff was happening, and a lot of big moments were happening, but there was nothing inbetween that made them feel like they flowed into eachother, and a lot of the character/relationship "development" relied on the viewers previous knowledge of the show, even tho its pretty clear the movie was doing stuff very differently in terms of characters and relationships. Do i understand this is a 1hr 40min movie trying to encapsulate the slowburn romance and 5 seasons worth of content in a way that caters to the fans of said 5 seasons? Yes, its a huge ask for what is essentially 5 episodes (average 20 mins long). Especially with the amount of exposition the concept of Miraculous requires. Is it still disappointing, considering the movie left out information because of its audience and still rushed through important stuff to just get to the "juicy" moments? Yeah

2. Visuals were lovely, as was the music and specific moments. Honestly if the pacing wasnt such an issue and everything was developed more, the Ladybug and Ladynoir songs (maybe even the Hawkmoth one too) would be really enjoyable as a way to progress stuff and show development. Im also a sucker for dramatic visuals during musical numbers to help emphasize the feelings/emotions of the characters, and it really showcases the potential benefits the animation could add to the show as a medium

3. I actually really liked movie!Marinette (partly cause she wasnt a stalker and creep about her crush on Adrien) qnd because she had a much more sarcastic and bantering attitude, even outside of the costume, which made Ladybug an alter ego more than a complete other person (which is a slight issue ive had with the show). The scene of her growing into her civilian persona and becomign more confident actually made me really happy, especially her standing up to Chloe

4. Movie!Chat Noir kinda pissed me off ngl, and felt very disconnected from movie!Adrien (or at least how he was shown). People have said movie!Adrien is much more depressed/isolated and acts appropriately as to his home life (and dont get me wrong, i loved his scene where he stood up to Gabriel), but i think thats why his relationship with Ladybug and complete 180 as Chat Noir feels so off to me? Like his almost "meanness" with Ladybug at first from being super cocky and then doesnt even apologize for his treatment of her even after he falls for her just throws me off (tbf ive always been biased against the "cocky assholes falling for people who put them in their place" trope, so this might just be a me thing). Idk, it just doesnt sit right with me

4b. Anyone else notice Adrien didnt even get chosen for being kind? Plagg just appeared in his bedroom? Like Marinette almost got ran over from saving Master Fu and then Adrien is just like Yo A Cool Ring. Idk, its funny but that felt weird to me

5. The stupid freaking montage. Yall cannot even imagine how much I hate the montage. If they had replaced the montage with one scene and maybe cut down the magician and mime fight to add another scene in to focus on marinette + adrien friendship and then adrien personal life development or chat noir + ladybug bonding/respect for EACH OTHER i think it would have elevated the movie to new heights. The montage essentially was the movie pressing fast forward x3 on any development of characters. Its because of montages like these that make me appreciate filler or fun episodes in any show, because when you just stick a montage in then you feel like youre watching coworkers kiss when the movie is trying to convince you theyre starcrossed ride or die lovers. Made me feel like i watched the origins episode and then the season 5 finale with just the stormy weather 2 episode inbetween. Hate it.

6. Movie!Tikki has personality and movie!Plagg is a fart machine. I think its clear theres a favorite. Feels like it reflects the focus on Marinette and lack thereof on Adrien as a character present in both the show and the movie. Hardly a new observation, just food for thought.

7. ¿¿¿¿¿¿movie!Hawkmoth/Gabriel???? That basically sums up how I feel about him but to explain theres just very little done with him i feel. Plus it seems like all his Hawkmothing around actually takes a toll on his wellbeing, which is really cool and interesting, but it just comes out of nowhere afTER THE STUPID MONTAGE. Like id love to see the kind of degradation of his health, mental physical and emotional, as he works to revive Emilie, cause you cant tell me thay wouldnt make stuff a lot more interesting (i know he got catacylsmed but the show just treated it as an outfit change and checking his arm like a clock until the season finale, so it doesnt really count for me), but mans just shows up looking like a wreck and fights with Adrien

7b. Also i was pretty confused about how him breaking/rejecting his akuma at the end of the movie worked, and him just having all the powers ever while akumatized?? But that's just me being picky at a superhero show where magic animal jewelry exists

8. Movie!Chloe and movie!Sabrina felt more real in a way? Like Chloe was just stuck up and self centered, not actively making everyones life hell, and Sabrina didnt just blindly follow her along (i ADORED when she let Marinette escape and when she shrugged at her during the ball, you go girl you have that personality and self-consciousness the show never allowed you to have until the last moment), it was more a reluctant follower ignoring a friend's red flags ya know? Movie!Chloe wasnt the mayors daughter who had control over every adult in Paris and would literally become a dictator if elected. She was just freaking out at Marinette for "ruining" her sweater. Shes still a bully/mean kid, but shes dialed back, which i think makes her much better.

9. Alya and Nino were just kind of chilling, i dont have any feelings about their characters except how terrible Nino is at advice, and Alya was set up as a good friend throughout the movie, so i appreciate her supportiveness of Marinette. Tom and Sabine were set up to do more/be more important in the movie (I was so sure Tom was gonna be akumatized at the fair, but nope), but were kind of dropped halfway? Like Tom was set up as the overprotective and loving kinda helicopter father who would go all the way to the fair in disguise to watch over Marinette, and then he was just never mentioned again after Marinette felt embarrassed by him at said fair. Wasted opportunity and time for a movie with so much issue in pacing

10. I saw buggachat say this movie felt like an animated fanfiction of MLB and I have to say i completely agree. I dont mean that in a bad way, i love fanfiction with all my heart and you can clearly see that the movie and a lot of fanfiction fixes the issues many fans have with the show. But the thing is, this is a full movie, not a collection of one-shot specific scene rewrites. Thus, for it to be successful in "rewriting" or creating an alternate version of MLB, it has to include those in-between moments, not just the juicy identity reveal, or the "my heart belongs to another " moment, or even the "Gabriel actually cares about his son" moment. Is the movie good at those moments? Goodness yes. It definitely has its humor, its enjoyment that you can tell is a gift to the fans. But as a movie, a whole animated film, it disappoints.

10b. I mean for goodness sake they didnt even mention that Catacylsm was a thing until it was used, and Lucky Charm wasnt utilzed at all, just the fixing power (that might just be a genuine change they made so Ladybug wasnt too unbalanced with Chat Noir tho)

OK IM DONE, phew. Those are my major thoughts from the day after watching the movie, and im going to watch it again more carefully later. Ill not to be so personally biased and to just enjoy it. Who knows, maybe ill think differently afterwards.

Definitely gonna listen to the songs again, and definitely gonna burst out laughing at Careless Whisper tho

[rainbows-caught-on-film]

can i just say- youre such a bright and vibrant person and i love seeing you on my dash or in my dms. i know im not the most fantastic conversationalist but your vibes are immaculate and i love watching you enjoy life so much and be so unapologetically yourself. youre so cool and i aspire to reach your level of confident and unbothered. you look like youre having fun ✨️

Aww, thank you!! I really appreciate this <3. I'm trying my best to keep myself positive and confident, and lift myself up, and the effort is paying off. I actually have been journaling, both about my trauma and general self discovery stuff, and reading a self help book called "everything is figureoutable" for a while now, and I think that's taught me a lot of methods that i've been able to use as tools. Maybe that'd help you too?

Right now my focus is on getting to know myself, so I've been exposing myself to lots of different things and taking notes on how they effect me, and what thoughts it brings to mind. I have a checklist of self discovery goals I want to meet: things like "Engage with philosophy (aka watch a lot of philosophy videos and video essays) to Identify three broad principles I believe in (step two: apply to politics, so I can understand where I sit on issues like economics, government, etc)" and "Identify my greatest fears (step two: search for common threads or "themes" between fears)". Every time I write something down or check something off, I feel more comfortable in my own skin (metaphorically and literally) and more like I know who I am and what I want.

Ofc truama journaling helps too, lol. Instead of just writing down what happened to me I've been writing down the negative beliefs that it left me with, crossing them out, and arguing against them (the book told me to do this, actually!). It's given me HUGE improvements in healing and recovery!!! Like, it's crazy how fast this is working for me- of course not everything works the same for everyone, and healing isn't linear- but still like. damn!!

And...like, I AM having fun. I wasn't at first but doing this work on myself has made me ABLE to have fun in a way I couldn't before. It's something to appreciate and look forward to, feeling myself get happier and just, enjoying things more.

Thank you again SO much for the ask it's soososososooso sweet, really!! 🩵

[tameblog]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[ramestoryworld]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[alexha2210]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[angusstory]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[tumibaba]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[romaleen]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[monaleen101]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link

[iamownerofme]

Hi GPODers! While most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are counting down the days until spring finally arrives next month, our neighbors to the south are starting to say goodbye to summer. As many of us look out to snow and ice, we head Down Under to visit Gabrielle Sheppard in Dondingalong, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the eastern coast (about half way between Sydney and Brisbane) Gabrielle’s lush landscape is a beautiful taste of what gardening in the Southern Hemisphere looks like right now. My garden is situated on the mid north coast west of Kempsey, in Dondingalong on 3 acres. I’ve lived here my whole life and started gardening from a young age with my mother as a little girl. I have various plants in my garden and have recently planted over 20 different varieties of trees, shrubs and succulents. I also planted a Japenese maple tree earlier this year as our first daughter’s middle name is Maple and the name of the tree holds a special place in my heart. I thought how beautiful the leaves will look on it when the seasons change. I just  think they are so beautiful, so of course it had to come home with me. I have also planted magnolias, flame trees (Brachychiton acerifolius, Zones 9–11), blue cypress pine (Callitris columellaris, Zones 9–12) and lavender to attract plenty of bees not to mention plenty of others. I have a lot of different coloured pigfaces (Carpobrotus glaucescens, Zones 8–11) that always put a smile on my face when I go out into the garden and they have opened up and show their beautiful vibrant colour inside them. A big statement piece to the garden is the cycad that has been planted for 30 + years. It is massive and simply tells it own story. A few months ago I had an image of making my own arch, so I decided to make the image become a reality and made my own arch in the garden and painted it. I’ve now planted two climbing pandorea plants (Pandorea jasminoides, Zones 9–11) that I hope that one day they climb over the arch. Personally, I get satisfaction from sitting back, looking at the garden and what I have accomplished, and saying “I did that” at the end of the day. Gardening means so much to me—it’s calming, relaxing, and truly enjoyable. When I’m in the garden, I forget my worries and focus on my plants. I hope you get inspiration to go our into your garden more after seeing mine. Regards, Gabrielle It’s easy to see that Gabrielle has been hard at work! While the garden is already lush and green with thick plantings in border beds, many of the new trees that were planted are mulched, staked and ready for years of growth. This open expanse will eventually become way more shady and private (although it doesn’t look like Gabrielle needs to worry about peeping neighbors). Throughout Gabrielle’s landscape are various statues that add elegance, art, and personality to the garden. Some also provide the opportunity for more planting, like this bird bath and its colorful collection of succulents. Around the base of the bird bath a small collection of gaura adds some more color. Another statue becomes a focal point, and even gets a vine for a scarf. I’m assuming this is the cycad that Gabrielle mentioned in her intro is over 30 years old! Often mistaken for palms, cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and have a fascinating history that predates homosapiens. Cycads were once found in abundance across the globe, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are now extremely rare in the wild, but in the garden they make a huge statement while reminding us of the evolution of our planet. The reality Gabrielle created from her arch vision! On both sides you can see the young pandorea plants in position to cover the arch. Also known as ‘Bower vine’, pandorea is a woody, evergreen climber with stunning trumpet-shaped flowers. A swinging bench to sit and enjoy the garden will become even lovelier when the new plantings grow in around it! One last statue on an ornate pillar and surrounded by lush greenery. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos of your garden with us, Gabrielle! It always eye-opening to see what grows on the opposite end of the world, from the familiar to the never-been-seen-before.   Have a garden you’d like to share? Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit! To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden. Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening! Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here. Fine Gardening Recommended Products Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. Featuring gorgeous photography and advice for landscapers, Planting in a Post-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is dedicated to the idea of a new nature—a hybrid of both the wild and the cultivated—that can nourish in our cities and suburbs. Niteangel Natural Wooden Insect Hotel, Garden Insect House for Ladybugs, lacewings, Butterfly, Bee, Bug Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. The insect nest box provide a safe environment where garden creatures can shelter, hibernate and lay their eggs, the insect house can also keep insects from entering your warm room. The insect hotel makes it easy to find and observe fascinating creatures. the butterfly, bees and ladybugs can use this product as habitat. Dry wood and Bamboo can be home to many insects such as ladybirds and lacewings which eat aphids and help keep your plants pest-free. the insect hotel improve the growth of plants in your yard by attracting beneficial insects. The iron design on the top can keep the insect house from rainwater. Let the insect house have a longer useful life and make the insects more comfortable. If you only have a balcony or yard, the hanging garden shelter is ideal as it provides a choice of suitable habitats in a small area. Source link