#so that's the energy infused into this photo

[maximura]

[heatherwitch]

Bedridden witch: Seasons edition

I made a series for The Wheel of the Year many years ago but I realize that not everyone follows it and dividing suggestions into the four seasons as well might be more helpful for some!

Spring 🌿

Collect the first rain of the season and keep it in a jar

Drink floral or fruit teas

Burn floral or fruit scented candles

Light a candle or turn on an electric candle.

Open the curtains to let light in. 

Visualize a light cleaning each and every room in your home.

Decorate with dried, fresh or fake flowers.

Spray a cleansing spray throughout your bedroom.

Clean an area in your home, big or small. (It could be as simple as making a pile of trash so it���s easier to move later.)

Bathe yourself (either in the tub or sponge bath style). Infuse some herbs/flowers into the water!

Water your plants and whisper blessings to them.

Plant something new! It can be as simple as a beansprout in a paper cup.

Meditate and imagine yourself out in your favorite area in spring.

Make a terrarium.

Spray floral water in the air and on your bedsheets.

Watch for and welcome the returning birds

Learn about local plants.

Crack open all your windows to let in some fresh air.

Bedridden witch: Garden edition

Summer ☀️

Make sun water/tea

Drink fruit teas, infused water or juices

Burn floral or fruit candles

Decorate with flowers and crystals.

Wake up earlier than usual to enjoy a full day of light.

Try to be awake and witness both the sunrise and sunset.

Decorate your windows with rainbow prisms.

Make flower crowns with fresh, dried or paper flowers.

Make sure sunlight and fresh air can reach you.

Enjoy some fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds.

Decorate with/wear/create things with bright colors:

Decorate a new pot for your plants (painting, sharpies, ribbons, etc.)

If you can, put a bird feeder outside your window or just watch them as they fly by.

Pour an offering of water for the plants (indoors, outside or out the window).

Have a picnic (outside, on the kitchen floor or in bed).

Find a way to incorporate honey into your day (scrubs, food, tea, etc.)

Burn beeswax candles.

Listen to music that just sounds like summertime.

Autumn 🍂

Collect the first rain of the season and keep it in a jar

Drink spiced tea, apple ciders

Infuse berries into water.

Burn spiced, woodsy or autumn scented candles

Eat things like breads, nuts, grapes, pomegranates, pies, apples and root vegetables.

Start a new project like crocheting or knitting. This is also a great time to finish that project you’ve been avoiding.

Wear and decorate and create with browns, golds, dark greens, oranges and yellows.

Decorate your home to make it look more like Autumn (fake or real leaves, acorns, paper cutouts, etc.)

Create a picnic/feast wherever is reasonable, with a little bit of everything.

Pull up a video of leaves falling or a fire crackling.

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spiced-things, pumpkin seeds.

Decorate with small pumpkins, paint them or draw on them if carving is too high-energy.

Create an altar honoring loved ones who have passed on, either a material one or a photo album online.

Pull up a video of a burning fire or light candles.

Turn off all of the lights and sit/lay in darkness.

Visualize your wards and boost your home protection.

Do spirit work/leave offerings for the spirits.

Burn incense/make a spray that smells of spices (cloves, basil, etc.)

Watch spooky/witchy movies.

Winter ❄️

Collect the first snow/make snow water and keep it in a jar

Drink seasonal teas, ciders and hot cocoa

Burn spruce, pine or winter scented candles

Watch gifs/videos of snow, ice forming, fire crackling, etc.

Get/make a small wreath and keep it indoors!

Keep clear quartz and snowflake obsidian around.

Make paper snowflakes! Or find an app/website where you can do a digital one.

Use your heat to draw sigils on frosted windows.

Put a bird feeder outside your window so you get winter visitors!

Get empty glass ornaments and fill them with herbs/pine needles/things that remind you of winter and hang them around.

Get some cute little snow globes. 

Decorate with winter colors! White, blue, silver, grey, dark green, etc.

Create an apple pomander with cloves or dried orange slices.

Decorate with evergreen boughs, holly, pine cones, etc.

Wash your face with snow/cold water.

Make rosehip, peppermint, vanilla, rooibos or spiced tea.

Step outside/open a window to feel the cold air (if you live somewhere warm, do this in the early morning/night).

Handcraft gifts for loved ones or write heartfelt cards/letters to the people you care about.

Put birdseed outside/a bird feeder by your window.

Make a simmer pot, or use this idea to create a scented spray.

Bedridden witch: Winter edition (more ideas in this post!)

You may also like:

Bedridden witch series

Bedridden witch: Wheel of the year edition

Bedridden witch: Elements edition

Bedridden witch: Weather edition

Bedridden witch: Nature edition

Witchcraft for the chronically fatigued

Spoonie witch masterpost

[strawberri-blonde]

02 - Devour Me - Neteyam

02 - eating out : gotta love October for all the horniness it brings out of us!

Photo credits to @woistmeinavocado

Summary: Neteyam gets his ears pierced and you can’t handle yourself

Warning: Smut, Neteyam devours your pussy.

Masterlist

The aroma of the freshly cooked food lingers in the air, playfully teasing your senses. The scent of sizzling meat and herb-infused bread fills the atmosphere with a mouthwatering fragrance. The forest comes alive with the cheerful chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of animals, creating a symphony of nature's melodies. The tranquility of the day momentarily shields you from the bustling village nearby.

You're not one to sit idle, continually seeking ways to ease your restlessness. With the afternoon to yourself, you channel your energy into adding the finishing touches to the tent's interior. Colorful beads adorn the entrance, and baskets filled with flowers and dried fruits are thoughtfully placed around your cozy home.

As you put the final touches on the evening meal, the peaceful ambiance allows you to immerse yourself in the moment fully. So much so that you didn't hear Neteyam's infamous whistle he let out, knowing he was close to home.

As you fluffed up the last fur pillow, a tiny squeal escaped from your lips as you felt a large hand caress the back of your head from your position on the floor. "Someone's been busy." You tilted your head back to see Neteyam towering over you with a huge smile covering his features. "Sorry, my yawne; I didn't mean to scare you."

A matching grin enters your face while Neteyam bends to sit next to you. "Here." You plopped the pillow beside you so he wouldn't sit on the hard surface.

"Thank you, baby." Your hand reached towards his thigh, needing his touch from not seeing him all day. "You really are making this feel like a home." An instant lavender hue flushed your face.

Neteyam let out a giggle, kissing your face everywhere but your lips. "Teyam." You groaned out with a pout, and it made him greedy. He loved how you both couldn't get enough of each other.

"What yawne?" He slowly teased his lips as he kissed the corners of your lips. "Need something?"

Your hand trailed up his thigh to his chest. "Neteyam, don't tease. I did all this work for you."

His fangs nimble on your soft skin before finally, captivating you in a much-needed kiss. Your breathing hitches as he pulls away, and you notice something.

"Oh, Eywa, your ears." Neteyam chuckled at your shocked expression. You continue to blush as you stare at the newly pierced ears of your beloved mate. His ears are now adorned with elegant blue beads, just like yours.

He sees you staring and grins widely, seeming quite proud of his decision to get his ears pierced. You carefully run your finger along his ear to not hurt him, feeling the rough texture of the piercings against your finger as you brush away a strand of hair. "Do you like them?" You kiss his ear gently in response and tell him how beautiful he is. Your emotions run wild, and you cannot contain yourself from embracing him tightly and covering his face with kisses.

"You look so handsome, Nete." Your eyes are still glued to Neteyam's ear, fascinated by the rough texture of the earrings against your finger. You suddenly realize that you smell the fantastic aroma of the food you made for the two of you. You lean away reluctantly and turn around to grab an empty bowl, filling it with all fruit, bread, and roasted fish. Meanwhile, Neteyam is staring at you with an adored look. You blush and hand him a bowl of the delicious meal you've prepared. "Here, Nete." You say, your eyes now trained on him as you wait for his reaction.

"Yawne, that smells delicious. I can't wait to dig in!" Neteyam's voice is a melodic baritone, and a wide, mischievous smile accompanies it. Your eyes are drawn to the tiny beads on his ears, and you can't help but imagine how his face would look wearing a lot of jewelry.

You giggle and kiss him on his soft lips before grabbing yourself a bowl as well. You both moaned as the taste. "It's so good, yawne." He reaches out and takes your hand in his. You smile at each other, and your hearts beat in unison.

You stare at Neteyam lovingly as you hear him compliment your hard work. You blush, feeling silly that you are so obsessed with his earrings. To cover up your embarrassment, you focus on the dinner you have prepared.

The warrior noticed this and laughed, "I'm glad you like them, Y/n. To be honest, I was scared that you would like them?"

You furrowed your eyebrows at the comment. "Why would you say that?"

"I don't know." He gets bashful and says, "I actually want to stretch my lobes, like my mom."

You wipe the corner of your mouth, then lift your intertwined fingers, pressing kisses to his blue skin. You are surprised to hear him ask about stretching his ears. You thought the little studs he has on now looked sweet, but you are open to the idea and think it would make him look even more handsome than he already is.

"Really? I think it would suit you." You offer him a smile and watch him take another bite of the food. You tell Neteyam that he 'looks even more handsome with the piercings in his ears.' The little blue beads highlight the color of his skin and bring out his robust facial features.

Neteyam grins cheekily at you, delighted to hear you say he looks good. He finishes his dinner quickly and leans over to kiss you again. There is something more passionate and intimate to this kiss compared to others you have shared in the past; perhaps it is the new look and style to his ears.

You did like how he looked with them—just seeing them made your insides tingle. You enjoy the new look on your mate and are eager to show him your appreciation.

A moan escaped his lips as you nibbled on his top lip. Hearing his response, you pulled back, mumbling, "So sexy, yawne." You captivated his lips onto yours, crawling into his lap.

Neteyam's hands gripped your thighs almost greedily, but you didn't mind. "Y/n." The warrior groaned, making you break the kiss to his eyes and see the same fire and desire in them.

You can't contain your feelings any longer, and you grab Neteyam in a tight embrace. You kiss him passionately and feel the rush of emotions as your tongues explore each other. Your hands explore every part of his body, caressing and driving him wild with desire.

"I need you, Teyam." Without warning, Neteyam grabbed you around the waist and pushed you onto the soft mat of your home. "Teyam." You squealed out, having him hover over you.

His kisses became hungry, and your insides warmed as you ran your hands along his broad chest and pulled him closer. You can feel his excitement, and his breath is warm against your skin. "If I'd known getting my ears pierced would've made you this insensible, I would've gotten'em sooner, my love."

You couldn't help but admire his handsome face as your eyes darkened. You reached behind him, gently gathering his hair in your hand. Then, you used the twine from your wrist to pull his hair back, revealing those blue beads for you to see. "Well, now that you know," You lean forward and kiss his cheek, jaw, and neck. "Why don't you give me a show and have yourself dessert?"

Your seductive tone had Neteyam chuckling darkly. He then looks at you with a playful grin, "What kind of show do you want to see, my Yawne?"

"You know what I want." The desperation was evident in the air. Your hands clawed at his broad shoulders to show him how much you wanted him, but Neteyam already knew.

His nostrils flared at the delicious scent of your arousal, causing a growl to escape his throat, sensing vibrations through his body. "Well, yawne," you gasp at the sensation of his body on top of yours.

"Teyam." You whined out as he licked a bold line up from your collarbone to your neck, stopping just under your jaw where he stopped to nimble on your skin.

"You still haven't told me what you want."

Your moans echoed through the tent, and your loincloth began to stick to you from your wetness. Your hands grabbed his queue at the base of his skull, edging him to grind against your throbbing heat. "Please eat me, Neteyam. I need to see your new earrings in action. Need to see that pretty face devour this pussy."

"Fuck, my sweet girl." His hand flew towards your touch on his queue, tapping you to let go, and you did so eagerly. Meanwhile, Neteyam’s lips never left your body. His lips felt warm as they applied hot, wet kisses to your skin. His ears flexed, twitching as versions of his name spilled from your gaped mouth. Your legs grew antsy as they needed him to hurry up and get where you needed him the most. “My needy girl.” His large hands pushed back the decorative chest piece made from purple leaves.

“Um, hm.” You nodded your head down against the floor of your shared home; then you felt his thumbs circle your perky dark blue nipples. “Oh my.”

Seeing that your head was thrown back, Neteyam moved his hands towards the waistband of your loincloth, then ever so gently blew a slight breeze on the sensitive bud, sending goosebumps to litter the skin. Then, suddenly, he bites down on your mound, having you jerk your head in his direction. Your pussy throbs in pain from the need, angry that she wasn’t getting any attention.

“That’s right, Y/n don’t be rude.” Your face displayed a bewildered expression, with furrowed brows and wide, searching eyes filled with desperation. Your lips were slightly parted, making them look so kissable. “If you want a show, you must watch sweet girl.”

Without warning, Neteyam shifts the furry pillows you both sat on for dinner. He moves the one you usually sit on under your head, but not without cradling the back of your neck, pulling your queue from under you to prevent you from wiggling on it to the point where you might hurt yourself.

Pressing a longing kiss to your lips, he puts his cushion under your waist, closer to the base of your tail near your butt, to give him better access. After the warrior was confident that you would be comfortable, he lowered himself between your legs, finally giving you what you so depressingly wanted.

His tender kisses trail up and down your thighs, making you mumble, “Such a tease.” A toothy grin took over his features before he flicked his tongue against the cloth fabric, keeping him from the sweet goodness of your heat. “Fuck.” Your breathing got fast and heavy, and your eyes locked down on him as he quickly untangled you from the material feeling you bare to him.

“How did I get so lucky, huh, Y/n?” your hands gripped the pillow behind you as you couldn’t believe the sight. Neteyam’s eyes were so dark, so full of desire, that there was the tiniest bit of fire surrounding his pupils. His lips were swollen from the constant kisses and seeing him with his hair pulled back, which he rarely does. It was too much. Then, let's add those blue beads pierced in his ears. They made him look more mature, and more decorative. They had you swimming in your juices.

“I’m the lucky one.” Animalistic gasps left your mouth as he kissed the junction between your leg and your awaiting folds. He then spits his saliva onto your cunt, making all sorts of aired breaths escape your throat to release in the lust-filled air. “Definitely the lucky one.”

The tip of his tongue barely caressed your velvet lips, like he was holding back to teeter you over the edge, driving you wild. “Tease.” You mumbled, earning the corners of his lips to curl up in a sly grin, but your mate didn’t say anything. Neteyam only continued to flicker his tongue softly against your growing wet need.

Then suddenly, he licks up from your wet opening to your throbbing clit. “Fuck.” You moaned, looking again into his eyes, making the moment even more intense. His tongue sped up slightly, covering you in his salvia. “Teyam, please, kiss me.” His non-existent eyebrows raised, giving you a sinful look.

Without much debate, the warrior shook his head, having his tongue wiggle more into your folds, making you spew out moans. Finally, his soft wet mouth closed around you, sucking on your soft skin, making him groan that sent such vibrations onto your clit. One of your hands left the pillow to reach for the top of his head.

Neteyam didn’t mind having your nimble fingers in his silk braids. Knowing that he was turning you on to the point where you couldn’t contain yourself made him feel more like a man than when he got his Ikran. Or when he killed a Talioang all by his lonesome. None of it made him feel like a warrior more than having you scream out his name.

So, when it came to eating your pussy, Neteyam always took his time to work you out. For every open mouth kiss, he placed on your cunt, his tongue explored more parts of you, finding all the nerve endings that drove you crazy.

Broken moans were the only thing escaping your throat as his large hands slipped for your thighs to slip under you to palm your bottom. “Yeah, grab my ass baby. Yank my tail.” His tongue slipped inside your warm vaginal walls as he palmed your butt so tight you were sure you'd have bruises tomorrow, but you always wore Neteyam’s markings with pride.

The warrior pulled away, making you groan in frustration, but it was quickly replaced with a yelp as you felt his hand grab onto your tail, pulling on it and making you fully submit to him. Your bent legs spread open, allowing the large man to have all the room to devour you completely.

As his hot mouth returned to your cunt, your shared tent filled with your moans. His tongue lapped up your juices, swirled around your entrance teasingly, and slipped it into your swollen walls. “Neteyam.” You moaned as his tongue fucked itself inside of you. Your walls clenched around him from the delicious sensation.

Your hips circled against his damp face, and you couldn’t help but sink your head back into the pillow, barely looking at his performance when you felt his nose nudge your clit. But you mustered through the overwhelming sensation, worried that he might stop if you didn’t look at him, and you couldn’t let that happen.

You had slipped away from the top of his head towards your nipple to squeeze them in your hands, letting out more moans as his tongue slipped out of your cunt to circle your clit.

Neteyam saw this and moved his hands from under you to throw your legs over his broad shoulder to slip his fingers to circle the sensitive buds of your nipples and pinch them between his fingers.

“Fuck, Neteyam, so good, baby. Make me feel as unreal.” Your lower half twitched in pleasure as the warmth in your abdomen began to form.

Your breathing hitched as his mouth swallowed over you entirely. His left hand remained on your breast while the other returned to your ass, giving it a form slap. “EYWA!” you screamed out from the sensation, and his tongue rolled your clit over and over, making juices leak on your home's woven mat, and some ended up on Neteyam’s cushion.

The way Neteyam worshipped your body became too much; your orgasm was approaching. His hand slipped away from your breast, sensing that you were close.

Neteyam’s tongued continued to suck and slurp at your clit. Without warning, the warrior inserted his two fingers into your cunt, where you immediately clenched around them and arched your back.

“Neteyam, I’m so close.” You whimpered as your body was convulsing at the hands and mouth of your mate.

His fingers plunged into you at a steady pace, and his tongue was sending you to your great mother as his face nestled itself into your messy cunt. Your mouth opened, letting out broken moans as your climax finally took over your nerve-endings.

Your body continued to shake in his grasp as the euphoric feeling of your orgasm washed over you. “Tey-” you managed to squeal out before your vision got a little blurry, and your body stopped all its movements, feeling his touch's lasting effects.

Neteyam made sure to lick up all your sweetness before he gently settled the lower half of your body on the mat, then crawled over your tired body, kissing your skin softly before reaching your peaceful features. The future leader of the Omatikaya always loved seeing your face after he’d made you cum. No matter how tired you’d be after the long hours of lovemaking, a silly grin always covered your face.

As his wet lips contacted yours, your hand flew towards his face, tasting yourself on his tongue. As your tongues lazily kissed, you groaned in his mouth, making him pull away to offer you a mischievous grin. “You ready for more yawne?”

You didn’t say anything but grinned back at him, pulling him into a kiss, trailing your hands to trace the tops of his ears, making sure not to touch his freshly pierced skin. “As long as you keep these earrings and your promise to make the gages larger, you can have me every night for as long as we breathe.”

His dark blue eyes glisten in anticipation as he stares into yours. He leans in and presses his lips against yours once more. He pulls away, breathless. "Promise." He whispers seductively, gazing into your eyes, his voice a little breathless. "Every night for as long as we breathe." Your response intrigues him and arouses his desire even more. He leans in and kisses you intensely, his hands sliding along your body. The heat is unbearable, and the passion is electric, making you both so happy that you have each other for life.

Happy Day 2 of Kinktober 2023. Would you be able to give me some read recommendations, or is there a specific day you'd like me to write? Maybe, I can make it happen if I still need to write for that day.

~ Caroline

[t-horn-n]

for haikyuu, can i request a simp for shirabu or goshiki ?

thank youu (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ

— delighted

PAIRING: tsutomu goshiki x reader (gender-neutral)

GENRE: fluff

SUMMARY: request from anon “for haikyuu, can i request a simp for shirabu or goshiki ? thank youu (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ”

NOTE: thank you for your request <33 — also a lil’ canon divergent :D

Despite your initial hesitation, when Goshiki invited you to a watch party for the volleyball nationals in Tokyo (organized by Tendo), you asked him the time and told him you would be there.  It’s not that you don’t like volleyball.  You enjoy watching Goshiki’s games enough, especially considering Shiratorizawa’s general enthusiasm towards its volleyball club.  It’s just that, simply put, you don’t live and breathe volleyball like Goshiki does.  

But Goshiki has a deliciously charming manner of making things seem more fun.  Though you may be biased—just sitting next to the boy makes the dullest of lectures seem interesting—it’s evident to anyone that his energy is infectious, infusing his surroundings with liveliness.  That’s what convinced you to come to this watch party filled with people you really only knew from watching them play volleyball.  Just the promise of sharing a sliver of his sunlight.

You also know that Goshiki isn’t inclined to say things that he doesn’t mean, so when he invites you somewhere, you’re sure that he wants you there.  

Sure enough, he lights up when he sees you enter the common space in the boys dormitory.  Tendo, who is confident that Ushiwaka will show up at some point, and Shirabu are already there as well, sitting on the sofa.  Goshiki’s laptop is on the coffee table already tuned into the competition’s live stream.  He gestures for you to sit next to him on the floor, backs against the foot of the sofa.  Something inflates in your stomach.

“They are just starting opening ceremonies,” he reports.  You can tell he’s excited because of the way his knee shakes.  

“Oh, I’m right on time,” you say.

“Yep.”  He nods.  “The team in orange and black there, next to the ones in red.  They’re from Miyagi.  They beat us in the Spring Preliminaries.” 

“I remember.  I was there with the rest of the school.”  You laugh.

“Ah.  You didn’t see me cry though, right?”

“I did indeed.  I think the yearbook photographer got a photo too,” you tease.

“No,” he whines.

He’s unguardedly easy to be with.  He makes things slow down.  He makes things breathe.

As the matches start, Goshiki goes back and forth with Tendo and Shirabu, exclaiming ‘Did you see that?’ and ‘Wow, that serve was nasty.’  You simply listen to it with a dopey little smile because you just like Goshiki that much.  You like the tangible things such as the way he smells.  It’s not bad in any way—just like a boy, uniquely Goshiki (but you can’t figure out if it's his laundry detergent or what).  And how his thoughts are revealed through his facial expressions.

But you also like the things that you can’t catch a glimpse of.  His passion—for volleyball and his rivalry against Ushiwaka.  And the way he makes you feel like the best version of yourself.  

“That Kageyama guy is just so freaking cool,” Goshiki says.

“You’re cooler,” you assure, bumping his shoulder.

He smiles at you, taking his eyes off his beloved sport.  You are simply delighted to be with him, and you can tell that he’s sort of delighted with you too.  You’d be a fool not to notice.

— m. list

[danicalithegirl]

Unveiling the Depths of Metal: An Exclusive Interview with Eddie Munson of Corroded Coffin

Page 1:

In the dimly lit confines of a tucked-away studio, where the air is thick with the scent of aged leather, cigarettes, and the faint echo of amplified riffs, Stacee Reider finds himself in the presence of Eddie Munson, the enigmatic frontman of Corroded Coffin. Nestled amidst the clamor of their forthcoming album release, Eddie graciously invites Rolling Stone into his world, offering a glimpse into the labyrinthine journey of his band's 13-year tenure in the annals of rock history.

Stacee: Eddie, it's an honor to sit down with you amidst the fervor surrounding Corroded Coffin's latest venture. Reflecting on the past 13 years, what has been the most defining moment in the band's journey thus far?

Eddie Munson: Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here. Without a doubt, our most defining moment was when we first took the stage with Nirvana, back in '91, on the Nevermind  tour. It was a baptism by fire, an electrifying communion between band and audience that solidified our resolve to forge ahead, no matter the odds. To quote Kurt "The energy comes out of us and it goes into the audience and they bounce it back and we just play catch with some vibes". They [Nirvana] have always had this sort of game of catch with their audience, even with Bleach. This tour really passed along that torch to us so to speak. All of those fans, ready to "catch some vibes" got to hear us first and really initiate that gameplay. 

Stacee: Your music often delves into themes of darkness and redemption, resonating deeply with legions of fans worldwide. What fuels this creative fire within Corroded Coffin?

I can see in his hand, as he's thinking of his answer, he's fidgeting with some dice. They appear to be fantasy style, and they look very worn, as if he's had them a long time.

Eddie Munson: For us, music has always been a conduit for exorcising our inner demons, a primal scream amidst the chaos of existence. Whether it's grappling with the shadows of our own psyche, facing our past, or confronting the societal abyss, our music serves as a beacon of catharsis for those who dare to embrace the darkness. In high school, I ran a D&D club called the Hellfire Club. We met once a week and played for hours. I think my love of dark fantasy, as an escape, stems from times like Hellfire Club, and we really try and give people times like that with our music. 

Stacee: Beyond the stage, your personal life has garnered its fair share of intrigue, particularly since you keep it so private. I know you are married to your Highschool Sweetheart, so tell me, how has love influenced your artistic journey?

Before he answers this question, he pulls out another cigarette and lights it, illuminating the studio. He offeres me one, I decline. Then he takes a few drags as he says.

Eddie Munson: Chrissy is my anchor amidst the storm, a guiding light that illuminates even the darkest corners of my soul. Our union has been a source of boundless inspiration, infusing our music with a newfound depth and vulnerability. And our children, Freya and Cathan, they're the heartbeat of our existence, a constant reminder of the legacy we strive to leave behind. Especially coming from Hawkins, in the midst of all that shit in the '80s, we really want to leave behind something positive for our kids. We are really just striving to give them everything we never had and help mold them into better people than we think we are.  

He pulls out his wallet and hands me a folded photo, featuring Chrissy and the kids. I go over it a few times before handing it back to Eddie. He folds it back up and puts it in his wallet, placing it back in his jacket pocket.

Page 2:

Stacee: As you prepare to unleash your latest opus upon the world, what can fans expect from Corroded Coffin's newest offering?

Eddie Munson: With each album, we endeavor to push the boundaries of our sound, to chart new territories within the vast expanse of metal. This latest chapter is no exception; it's a sonic odyssey that traverses the abyss of the human experience, a symphony of darkness and light that beckons the listener to journey deeper into the labyrinth of the soul. It really begs the listener to dig deep down into the inner reaches of themselves and ask those hard and dark questions. I was feeling this when I started the album. Cathan had just turned 2 and Freya was 4. Chrissy and I had just celebrated 8 years married, 14 together, and I guess I was just realizing how fast time moves and whatnot. It seemed like just yesterday we were driving her to college in Chicago in August of '86, and now its 2000. Crazy man. This made me reflect on myself and my journey, and I had a period where I retreated into my music room and felt sad for a while as I sat and thought about these things. I faced some hard truths, some demons, and celebrated my wins, and out came the first few songs off the record. 

Stacee: Finally, Eddie, what does the future hold for Corroded Coffin? Where do you see yourselves in another 13 years?

Eddie Munson: The future is an enigma, a tapestry woven from the threads of our collective destiny. But one thing is certain—we'll continue to march to the beat of our own drum, to defy the constraints of convention and forge ahead on our own terms. As for where we'll be in 13 years? Who knows... perhaps standing atop the mountain peak of our greatest triumph yet, or venturing into uncharted waters in search of new sonic horizons. Only time will tell.

As the interview draws to a close, Eddie Munson offers a glimpse into the soul of Corroded Coffin, a band unbound by the shackles of expectation, steadfast in their commitment to the relentless pursuit of musical transcendence. And as the echoes of their latest masterpiece reverberate through the hallowed halls of rock history, one thing remains abundantly clear—Corroded Coffin's legacy is etched in stone, an indelible testament to the enduring power of metal in all its raw, unbridled glory.

[shell-book-and-candle]

Kitchen Altar

Items needed: wooden cutting board, small cauldron or small cast iron pot, dried bay leaves, potted herbs, wooden spoon, herbal incense/and holder, clear quartz, tiger’s eye and carnelian crystals, a jar full of salt and dried herbs and an orange or red candle.

There is so much magic to be found through cooking and working with many types of food, herbs and spices. Growing up, much of our family time surrounded food and meals. For our family, it was a form of “ritual”. We would gather for many reasons, share a meal and then sit at the table for hours laughing and enjoying each other’s company so for me kitchen witchery was a natural extension of the “magic” that happened around the table.

Pick a small corner of your kitchen where you can set up an altar that will help you to focus when you are in the kitchen preparing food for your loved ones.

Start with a wooden cutting board and in the centre of the altar place a small cauldron, perhaps one that you don’t use or a cast iron small pot of some sort. Place some dried bay leaves into the cauldron to represent protection and success.

Keep a couple of your favourite potted herbs on your altar to represent abundance (basil and mint work well). They will be charged with positive energy as they sit on the altar and add that extra magic to your cooking. A wooden spoon is placed to the left as a connection to our foremothers or caretakers and all they did for their families. Herbal scented Incense is also placed alongside the spoon using an incense holder. Place a piece of clear quartz crystal, tiger’s eye and carnelian to the right of the cauldron. Clear quartz is a stone that can help keep you grounded while you are working your “magic” in the kitchen. The tiger’s eye is a stone for protection and abundance. Carnelian is for creativity. Place a jar nearly full of salt and dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, and basil. You want to be able to shake up the jar so leave some room at the top. These represent protection, wisdom, remembrance, healing, cleansing, strengthening and abundance at the bottom of the cauldron. OR fill it with dried beans, rice and seeds to represent abundance. The other piece to this altar is adding a candle that is either orange or red to represent the “fire” of your cooking. Prior to the start of creating your meal, light the candle and light your incense. Take a couple of minutes just to focus your mind and energy on the act of creating a meal full of love. You can say a little kitchen prayer or a quick chant such as: “I ask the Divine to bless my cooking and help me to infuse it with vitality, love and healing. Protect me as I work and bring me clarity in my endeavours. Thank you and Blessed Be” After you have completed your cooking say thank you to the Divine and make sure that the candle and incense have been extinguished. Depending on your tradition, you may want to take a small portion of your cooked food to use as an offering. You can place your offering outside for the Divine and all it’s creatures.

The scent of food is such a big part of enjoying food and stimulating our senses so that we do enjoy our food that much more. For many cultures, food is an integral part of their lives. It is the time for families to reconnect and share their love and energy with and for each other. The food is infused with a loving energy that is consumed by each member and through this we are connected to each other.

The photo below is an example of a kitchen altar.

[boyeetsworld]

Hounds of Love

m.fushiguro x fem oc (she/her pronouns) jjk fanfic (roughly follows anime storyline) WARNING: ‼️ gore descriptions, violence, nsfw, smut ‼️ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩

No. 3

As the day drew to a close, the sky became a canvas of vibrant hues, painted with the soft strokes of the setting sun. The bustling energy of the day gradually mellowed into a tranquil serenity as the world around began to wind down. Shadows lengthened, casting a gentle veil over the landscape, while the air became infused with a sense of calm.

Emiri led the way following Seven while he trailed the pink-haired boy through Sendai City to a local hospital. The sky was bright hues of red and orange as half of the sun had disappeared. Emiri released Seven then lounged in one of the chairs in the waiting room as Megumi paced in a dark hall. The boy had entered a room and was yet to come out.

“Yuji Itadori,” Megumi stated, which caused Emiri to glance at him.

“You figured out his name,” Emiri chuckled before she continued tauntingly. “Good for you, Megumi!”

He huffed at her comment before she withdrew her attention from him. The two sat silently for an hour until the boy wandered into the waiting room. He conversed softly with the nurse behind the counter as he filled out papers. Emiri pushed herself to a stand as Megumi lingered behind her. The boy slowly turned as he noticed the two staring at him.

“Yuji Itadori,” Megumi repeated with a menacing tone towards the boy.

The boy hummed in confusion as the two neared him.

“I’m Fushiguro from Jujutsu High,” he gestured to the girl next to him. “This is Hara,”

“We’d like to have a word with you,” Emiri kindly stated as she broke her stance.

“Now,” Megumi urged, partially cutting her off.

“Um,” Yuji stuttered at the sudden confrontation. “I’m, uh, in mourning…right now.”

“Who passed away?” Emiri stepped towards the boy in a comforting manner.

“Emiri…” Megumi growled under his breath as she drew the conversation away from the Curse Object. Emiri waved her hand at him urging him to shut his mouth.

“My grandfather,” Yuji stated reluctantly. “But he was more like a father to me.”

“I’m sorry it had to happen at a time like this and…” she continued as the boy looked over at her.  “I understand, but this can’t wait. The cursed object you possess is very dangerous.”

“I need you to hand it over,” Megumi continued with his cold demeanor.

“Cursed object?” Yuji questioned as he gawked at Megumi. 

Megumi reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone. He unlocked it and held up the photo of the cursed object, a small circular object wrapped in cloth and placed in a sliding box. Yuji leaned toward the photo.

“Oh, yeah, that,” he responded casually as he leaned against the couch. “I found that. I didn’t think much of it, but my friends were totally into it. What’s dangerous about it?”

Emiri sighed as she listened to Yuji talk. Megumi sighed as he looked up at the boy.

“Every year there are more than ten thousand unexplained deaths and missing persons in Japan. And most of those are the result of curses.” Megumi informed stoically.

“Curses?!” Yuji spat in disbelief. 

“I don’t care if you believe in them or not, the fact is they exist.” Megumi continued gruffly. 

Emiri watched as Yuji contorted his face in confusion at Megumi.

“Just listen,” she sighed as she neared the boy who had assumed a lying position on the couch. “Large pools of energy form easily in schools, hospitals, and so on. Hardship, regret, shame, these emotions become the source of curses.” 

“That’s why most schools secretly keep a cursed object to serve as a protective talisman.” Megumi offered, only to receive a glare from Emiri. 

“Just like the one you found,” Emiri continued in a welcoming tone in contrast to Megumi’s blunt attitude.

“If it protects us then shouldn’t we be grateful for it?” Yuji questioned only to have Megumi snap at him.

“Let her finish,” Megumi’s words hung in the air as he let Emiri continue.

“The cursed object needs to be incredibly evil to keep lesser evil curses away, but the protection isn’t permanent.” Emiri sighed as Yuji listened intently. “The problem is the seals weaken overtime, then objects serve as a lure to attract and strengthen other curses.”

“The object you found is a dangerous one,” Megumi warned. “Classified as Special Grade. Now hand it over before people start dying.”

Megumi stuck his hand out roughly and Yuji groaned as he stood.

“I told you that I don’t have it anymore,” he reached into his pocket and threw the small box at Megumi’s chest. “Here’s the box.”

Megumi caught the box and slid the lid open. He shuddered at the sight of the empty box, the indent of where the finger used to be. This whole time they had been following a trace left by the object. Yuji turned to leave the group, but Emiri reached out and gripped his shoulder. He winced at her sudden change in demeanor.

“Hold it! Where is it?!” she growled as Yuji pushed her hand off his shoulder.

“Knock it off,” he sighed. “See, my friends were planning to, uhh…”

“To do what?” Megumi asked sternly.

“Well, they were saying let’s open it up to see what’s inside it…tonight.”

Megumi and Emiri both gasped as they backed away from Yuji. He took note of their horrified expression.

“Uh, why? Is that bad?” he questioned.

“It’s much more than bad,” Megumi stated curtly. “You’re friends…are going to die.”

Yuji’s breath quickened at the statement. He stood in a state of panic for a moment, but he looked up at the two sorcerers and declared he would take him to them. Megumi and Emiri followed Yuji from the hospital, through Senai, and back to the school. The sun had set and the city was left in darkness, only with subtly slivers of moonlight.

“Are talismans that easy to open up?” Yuji questioned as he led them across a bridge.

“No, it’s impossible for those without cursed energy,” Megumi informed as he followed Yuji closely.

“Normally,” Emiri huffed between pants. 

“Go right here!” Yuji announced as he took a sharp turn into the trees. “Shortcut!”

“This time the object itself is too strong,” Emiri continued as they shifted directions and the silhouette of the school came into view. “And the seal is ancient, it might as well be plain paper.”

“I still don’t get all this curse stuff,” Yuji sighed.

“Is that the building?” Megumi questioned as they began upstairs. “Where are they?”

“Fourth floor!” Yuji announced as they stopped in front of a gate.

Yuji groaned as he ran into a sort of invisible wall. The building in front of them was crawling with cursed energy, seeping out the windows. The cursed energy had created a sort of barrier of pressure around the building.

“What is this pressure?” Yuji questioned as he looked up.

Megumi and Emiri pushed past him. 

“We’ll handle this,” she stated as she began to climb the gate.

“Oh, no way!” Yuji objected as Megumi followed Emiri. “I’m coming!”

Emiri jumped off the top of the gate and Megumi stopped at the top. He looked back at Yuji with a heartless, gruff tone.

“You’re staying here.”

Megumi launched off the gate and followed Emiri into the dimly lit building. She raced up the stairs a few feet ahead of him. The cursed spirit had already been released, and both of them could feel the energy engulfing them as they proceeded further into the building.

“Emiri!” Megumi called after her.

“The curse had been unleashed,” Emiri informed as she continued her rapid pace up the stairs. “It’s presence is everywhere!”

The determination washed over, Gojo’s words repeating in her mind. She could use her power as she pleased, she could use her power to save Yuji’s friends. As Emiri ran up the stairs she folded her hands together. She folded her fingers, leaving her pointers out as she muttered. A pool of purple murkiness appeared by her side and crept into the air.

“Heavenly Hound…”

Beside her, the body of a dog morphed from the darkness of the shadows. First, its glowing green eyes appeared, then the body. Seven howled as his body formed. Megumi caught up to her as he turned the corner and the dog came into view.

His feet slid on the pavement as a small cursed spirit appeared in front of them. It was a small lump of the curse about five feet long with eyes all over its wormy body. Megumi pushed Emiri to the side as he charged the cursed spirit.

“Out of my way!” Megumi shouted as lunged forward. “Demon Dogs!”

He brought his hands together and they slid past each other, his thumb latching with the nook between his pointer and thumb. Next to him two black puddles melted and formed two dogs. One was white with yellow eyes and the other black with red eyes.

“Eat it, boy!” Megumi ordered and the dogs lunged at the curse.

Emiri stood behind with Seven still loyal at her side. The Shikigami she could create were much different than the ones Megumi could. As a descendant of the Zenin Clan, Meguim had inherited the ten Shikigami technique, meaning she could draw forth ten Shikigami from the shadows. When Emiri first summoned Seven it took everything she had, and much more to turn into a real dog, therefore he only attacked when she ordered. To save his strength Emiri used Seven as her last line of defense.

Emir cracked her knuckles before she focused her energy on his palms, her wrists. She could feel the cursed energy flow through her blood as circular handles formed from her wrists and landed in her palms. Then two long, curved, pitch-black katana blades began to reach out in front of her.

“Where are you hiding those?” Megumi chortled as he looked back at her.

Emiri scoffed at Megumi’s comment as she knew he knew how her cursed energy worked. When Emiri was a child, her father pounded nails into her wrists, and to his surprise, her body healed around them. She then used them to draw power off, to create Cursed Tools. Due to the metal embedded in her, Emiri was able to draw her cursed energy towards the metal and form blades.

Megumi took off with his Demon Dogs as Emiri and Seven followed closely. Seven positioned himself at their rear and stood watch at the end of the hall as they turned the corner. As they progressed down the hall the curses grew in number.

“We’re close!” Emiri announced as she slid around another corner.

Megumi stood next to her as the cursed spirit came into view. It was a large lumpy monster with tank skin and janky arms. Its arms were wrapped around a girl as it gnawed on her arm. The creature growled at the sight of Megumi and Emiri.

“There you are,” Megumi growled as his dogs took a stance beside him.

“It’s trying to swallow her and the cursed object!” Emiri announced.

They watched the Cursed Spirit flung around Yuji’s friends. The girl was in its mouth as it tried to swallow her and a man in its arm was screaming. Before Emiri or Megumi could move the window to the left of the spirit shattered. A figure launched through the window and a flash of pink hair.

“Itadori!” Emiri shouted.

The boy ignored her warning as he spun around the cursed spirit. He twisted before he propelled downward and kicked its eyes. The creature howled in pain as Yuji ripped the girl from its mouth, and then grabbed his male friend. Yuji safely landed in the hallway holding his friends tightly.

“This is a curse?” Yuji groaned. “Not what I was expecting.”

Emiri was quick to move as she drew her katana down and lunged for the Curse. She twisted effortlessly as she sliced straight through the monster's thick body. It groaned as it began to disintegrate with purple smoke. Meguim released his dogs and they began to gnaw on the destroyed body of the cursed spirit.

Megumi neared Yuji as Emiri drew her blades down. She flung them around her head until they rested on her back and she released the handle. She brushed off her uniform as she turned to Megumi and Yuji and Seven bounded to her side.

“I should be asking what you’re doing here…but good job.” Megumi groaned.

“You’re pretty smug, aren’t you,” Yuji scoffed.

“See,” Emiri urged as she stood next to Megumi. “You’re a smug bastard.”

Megumi glared at her as Yuji gawked at the dogs.

“Just out of curiosity, what are those things munching on the curse?” he inquired.

“My Shikigami,” Megumi looked back at the dogs. “Wait, you can see them? Normally a curse can’t be seen. Not unless you're on the verge of death or in special places like this.”

“Yeah, that makes more sense. That one too?” Yuji gestured to the black dog at Emiri’s side.

“Yeah,” she whispered as she slightly raised her arm which released Seven from his position.

Seven was extremely similar to a real dog, he had a menacing stance, a killer jaw, and razor-sharp teeth, but he loved people. Everyone, except Gojo, is what Emiri had discovered. He was well trained enough to only greet people when Emiri directed like a service dog. Seven leaped forward at the movement of her arm. Yuji smiled as he leaned down to pet the dog.

“I’ve never seen weird stuff like this.” Yuji sighed as he rubbed the dog.

“Oh,” Emiri sighed at Yuji’s comment. “But you’re not scared?”

“I was, I mean for a little while there,” Yuji admitted softly. “Then I thought…everybody’s gonna die. I might as well give the people I care about a chance at a proper death,” he reached down and pulled the cursed object from his unconscious friend's fingers. “This it?”

“Yeah,” Emiri nodded. “Ryomen Sukana’s finger.”

“It’s a miracle that something didn’t swallow it.” Megumi sighed as she pushed his hair back.

“Why would anyone eat this?” Yuji asked.

“Don’t be dense,” Megumi urged.

“You’d eat it to gain stronger cursed energy.” Emiri offered. “Now, hand it over.”

“Fine,” Yuji sighed as he reached his hand to give her the finger.

As Emiri reached to take the object from Yuji, Megumi looked up. A ginormous blue hand reached out from the ceiling for Emiri as she smiled at Yuji.

“Emi-”

☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩

Word count: 2,418

[cherrygirlystuff]

Your Guide to Indie Romance Aesthetics

Hey babe! 🌸 Ready to dive into the world of indie romance with a touch of grit and passion? Welcome to Sleaze Seduction, where we’re all about capturing the raw, passionate side of love through mixtapes, polaroid photo diaries, and all those little details that make indie romance so irresistible. Whether you’re swooning over the aesthetics or just looking for some romantic inspiration, I’ve got everything you need to embrace that indie seduction vibe. So grab your favorite mixtape, snap some Polaroids, and let’s get into the romance of the indie sleaze era! 🎶📸

Sleaze Seduction: Embracing Indie Romance with a Gritty Twist 🌟

Indie romance isn’t about perfect, polished love stories—it’s about capturing the messy, passionate, and incredibly real side of romance. It’s about finding beauty in the rough edges and cherishing those moments of raw emotion. Here’s how to infuse your life with the gritty, romantic charm of indie sleaze.

1. Mixtapes: The Heartbeat of Indie Romance 🎶

There’s nothing quite like a mixtape to capture the essence of romance. Whether it’s for a special someone or just for yourself, creating a mixtape is all about curating a collection of songs that tell a story.

Classic Indie Love Songs: Start with tracks that have that raw, passionate edge. Think of songs like “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service or “All I Want” by Kodaline. These tracks are perfect for setting a romantic yet gritty mood.

Personal Touch: Add in songs that have special meaning to you and your partner. Whether it’s a song from your first date or one that reminds you of your favorite memories together, personal touches make your mixtape unique.

Mix It Up: Don’t be afraid to mix genres and tempos. Include a mix of mellow tracks for those intimate moments and upbeat anthems for when you’re feeling the love and energy.

Mixtape Tip: If you’re feeling extra creative, make a physical mixtape using old-school cassette tapes or CDs. It adds a nostalgic touch and shows how much thought you put into it.

2. Polaroid Photo Diaries: Capturing Indie Romance Moments 📸

Polaroid photo diaries are all about freezing those fleeting, beautiful moments of indie romance. Here’s how to create a photo diary that captures the gritty, passionate side of your love story:

Capture Everyday Moments: Don’t just focus on the big events—snap pictures of those everyday moments that make your relationship special. Whether it’s a cozy night in, a spontaneous adventure, or just a quiet moment together, these photos tell a story.

Embrace the Imperfections: Indie romance is all about embracing the imperfections. Don’t worry about perfect lighting or perfectly posed photos. The charm of Polaroids is in their spontaneity and rawness.

Create a Photo Wall: Display your favorite Polaroids on a wall or in a scrapbook. Arrange them in a way that tells a story and captures the essence of your relationship. Add handwritten notes or captions to give each photo a personal touch.

Photo Diary Tip: Use vintage-inspired photo filters or effects to give your Polaroids that authentic indie vibe. It adds a touch of nostalgia and enhances the romantic, gritty aesthetic.

3. Embracing Indie Romance Aesthetics: Adding the Finishing Touches 🌹

To really capture that indie seduction vibe, it’s all about the little details that make your romantic moments feel special and authentic. Here’s how to add those finishing touches to your indie romance:

Handwritten Letters: Nothing says romance like a heartfelt, handwritten letter. Pour your feelings onto paper and add it to your Polaroid photo diary or mixtape. It’s a personal touch that makes your romance feel extra special.

Vintage Decor: Surround yourself with vintage decor that adds to the indie romance aesthetic. Think old records, vintage books, and retro trinkets that add character and charm to your space.

Mood Lighting: Create a romantic atmosphere with mood lighting. Use fairy lights, candles, or old lamps to set a cozy, intimate scene. The right lighting can make any moment feel magical.

Romantic Tip: Plan spontaneous dates or surprise gestures that align with your indie romance aesthetic. Whether it’s a midnight picnic or a surprise mixtape, it’s the little things that make your romance stand out.

Final Thoughts, Gorgeous: Embracing Indie Seduction in Every Moment 🌟

And there you have it—your ultimate guide to capturing the raw, passionate side of indie romance! From mixtapes and Polaroid photo diaries to vintage decor and handwritten letters, Sleaze Seduction is all about embracing the gritty, beautiful moments of love. So go ahead, dive into your indie romance, and let every moment be a celebration of your unique love story.

What’s your favorite way to capture indie romance? Share your mixtapes, Polaroid diaries, or romantic gestures in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re embracing the sleaze seduction vibes! 💕

[destiny-smasher]

After three years of off-and-on development in my spare time (after conceptualizing the characters and concept in the mid 2010's), I finally pushed myself to release my work-in-progress build of the original visual novel I've been creating!

DownRight Fierce by Destiny-Smasher

A visual novel about fighting game gals finding themselves, losing themselves, and finding themselves again.

The slice-of-life shenanigans of visual novels like @brianna-lei's Butterfly Soup and D̷o̸k̷i̸ ̴D̶o̷k̶i̸ ̸L̴i̷t̷e̶r̸a̸t̵u̸r̴e̵ ̴C̵l̶u̴b̷ meet the quirky, power-infused worlds of fighting games like Street Fighter and Rival Schools in this character driven visual novel. Designed to feel like the fully fleshed out backstory of a small fighting game roster, DownRight Fierce will have players riding shotgun with protagonist Nishiko Shimomura as they are shipped off to a private school after acting out one too many times by abusing their latent Street Fighter -esque powers. Nishiko will have to navigate relationships in Windy Pines Academy, a strict boarding school designed to train those who are able to wield Ki-Flow, the ability to manifest one's own soul and spirit energy into physical form.

Make choices that will influence Nishiko's personal growth, from physical attributes to friendships and, if you're lucky, perhaps some sweethearting on the side. The choices you make will alter Nishiko's abilities, affecting how they perform later on in fighting scenes, as well as unlocking or locking dialogue options at various points. Think of this like a TellTale/Life is Strange styled game with a primary narrative but branching side scenes and various alternate moments -- much less flashy presentation but a lot more variables and variation in things that can happen during scenes.

I personally do not think a character's identity or sexuality should inherently be considered a 'spoiler,' but I can respect wanting to discover these characters' identities yourself in-universe. So for now, what I will make clear is that this is a queer, LGBT+ story, featuring characters of various ethnicities and identities.

I created this story concept and its main characters in ~2014, and the release of Butterfly Soup inspired me to start adapting it and rebooting it as a visual novel. I've been working on it sporadically since January 2020, and this is the first public release of my progress so far. As of this build (January 31, 2023) I've managed to edit the Prologue through to much of Chapter 2. I'll leave what I have past that present in this build, and intend to do a follow-up update in February or March to bring things up to the end of Chapter 3 before progressing further into the game's development using feedback I get from this public build.

Thanks for checking the project out, and please let me know what you think of it! I have a lot of work to do but this is a big first step for me and the project has come such a long way since I started it.

(Yes, there is a $ tsundere stat)

(Logo art by Shannon Ehrola, Character sprite art by @sakura-rose12, and smoke photo by Pascal Meier. )

[thewhumpcaretaker]

AYYY look happy Santino!! He is smiling!HE'S HAPPY! Finally seeing him smile after... all the trauma 💀

Okay, so, what do you think? Why is he so happy? What made him smile/laugh? Who or what is he looking at? Did John or someone else do something that made him laugh? Happy Santi ^_^

💙💖💙💖

Hihihihi! I adore this photo, his smile is just the best. Thank you so much for the ask!!!

I hope this fic makes sense, because I was writing it while very brain scrambled on a plane hahaa but I really enjoyed it! Here’s some recovery and healing because he deserves it 💙

Wildflowers

TW: mildly suggestive 🌼🌸🌼🌸🌼🌸

Santino woke up slowly in the late morning. As he watched the sunlight move gradually across the ceiling of the seaside bed-and-breakfast suite where he and John had been staying for the past week, he realized he had slept well for their whole vacation. That was part of its purpose - John had insisted that he take some time off after working himself to exhaustion. So John was always careful not to wake him in the mornings - he let him sleep in even if Dog needed to go outside.

There was a note on the bedside table saying that that was exactly where they’d gone, and a vague memory of being kissed in a half-dream before John headed out.  It made him smile sleepily and hug the pillow next to him, infused with John’s scent, before rising and going to the window. The sun touched his skin as he pushed aside the thin white veils that billowed against him as he unlatched the glass and leaned out. His whole body felt good, clean, massaged (which it was, by John last night) and softened into something languid and kittenlike by almost continuous lovemaking. It was the kind of health in which one feels that they might start glowing. The whole world was a tangle of dancing light that made him squint while his eyes adjusted, and sweetened, cool wind flooded over his face.

There was John, a distant shape moving on a grass covered hillock, with Dog bounding after butterflies a little ways off. For once, he was wearing something other than black: a casual white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a few buttons undone at the top to enjoy the morning air. He bent down, and in a moment, Santino realized he was picking wildflowers. On straightening up, he looked towards the window, and their faces lit with joy at the same time. They were a little too far to call out to each other, but John’s ear-splitting grin was visible even at a distance. He waved, and pointed to the rapidly growing bouquet on his arm, then at Santino, as if to say, “For you!!” His excitement set Santino laughing. God, what an absolutely sweet man…he made a heart with his hands and John made one back. 

He called to Dog and bent down again to scratch behind his ears for a moment before heading back to the building. By the time he got up to the room, Santino was mostly dressed…well, as dressed as he needed to be on vacation. Still no shirt, but that was ideal for making the most of the sunshine. He practically bounced over to John and wrapped his arms around his neck as soon as he came through the door. “Buongiorno amore mio [Good morning my love.]”

“Buongiorno! You’re already full of energy.”

“It’s because I woke up to you looking delicious out on those hills.” His next order of business was to lean down and greet Dog with just as much enthusiasm. He cooed at him and scratched along his sides until he rolled over begging for belly rubs (which, of course, he got.) Before long, they were both sitting at the foot of the bed, just spoiling their favorite puppy with pets. 

Santino looked up at John and admired him. “How is that you’re so irresistible even in the most everyday activities? It’s almost unfair.”

John blushed and made an adorable humming sound deep in his chest. “Well…maybe these will make up for it.” He handed over the bouquet.

Santino lifted them to his face to enjoy the smell of asters, daisies, and some little white wildflowers like baby’s breath. There was even a dandelion. The petals were bent and flecked with soil but it was more sincere, more tender, than any store bought flowers. Just like John meant more to him than any of the influential bachelorettes his family had wanted him to marry. “You didn’t have to do this. This is so sweet…”

“I wanted to surprise you. Are you ready for the day?”

“Yes, but you’re not.” He tucked a yellow flower into John’s hair. “Okay now you’re ready.”

John watched him with an expression that warmed his heart. “If I get a flower in my hair, you get a whole flower crown, my prince.”

“If you start calling me cute names this early, we’ll never get out to breakfast.” He pressed the length of his body against his lover just long enough to tempt them both, before he jumped up and pulled him towards the door by the hand. “Hurry up John, I’m excited to go sailing again!”

“Okay, okay, me too,” John followed him out, laughing. They had agreed last night to try a cute breakfast place near the boardwalk for some famous waffles. “I’m glad. You seem happy.”

“Of course I am, I’m on vacation. I just hope things can stay this way when I go back to work.”

“I had an idea about that,” John said, as they entering a shining blue day. “Maybe we could work on a new schedule together. Something that gives you time to sleep enough and be healthy. This week has reset things, so maybe it’ll be easier. And…maybe we can plan for a date night or something too? More time together.”

“…You want to spend more time with me?” The thought made his heart flutter. Santino still found that hard to believe after being an afterthought for so long. But if John was willing to consider that he mattered, it was only fair that Santino do the same. “Well of course I’d love that. I don’t know…maybe you’re right. I’ll sit down with you and plan something okay? I do want this feeling to last.”

“Good.” The genuine joy in John’s eyes made him bolder. It would be so good for this healing to stay with him… 

“Actually, I want something else too.”

“Anything.” He meant that, too.

“Will you press one of these flowers for me? I want to keep it as a reminder of how much you’ve changed my life for the better.”

“Of course. One for each of us, yeah? You’ve changed me for the better too. So much. I felt like I didn’t deserve anything before I met you, and now…” He swallowed. “It’s too early to get this choked up. Come on, let’s go get waffles.”

Santino had a feeling there would be a lot more good days ahead.

[voraciouskingdom]

Creating a Gratitude Altar: A Path to Abundance and Blessings

In the dance of life, the spirit of gratitude is like a gentle, guiding breeze that nourishes our souls and aligns us with the vibrations of abundance. I invite you to create your own gratitude altar—a sacred space to honor and attract the many blessings life offers.

✨ Step 1: Choose Your Sacred Space ✨

Find a quiet corner in your home that resonates with peace. This space, no matter how small, will become a focal point for your daily gratitude practice. Let it be an area where the natural light can illuminate, or where candles can create a warm glow by moonlight.

✨ Step 2: Select Your Altar Essentials ✨

1. Altar Cloth: Begin with an altar cloth, perhaps in a color that embodies gratitude for you—lush green, vibrant gold, or calming blue. 2. Crystals: Quartz, with its amplifying abilities, is perfect for this space. It clarifies intentions and magnifies gratitude energies. Consider adding citrine for abundance and rose quartz for love. 3. Sacred Symbols: Incorporate items that speak to your soul, such as feathers, seashells, or sacred statues—symbols that connect you to your spiritual essence. 4. Nature's Gifts: Fresh flowers, herbs, or a small plant can serve as a living expression of growth and continual gratitude. 5. Candles: Light plays a significant role in spiritual practices, so include candles to represent the illumination of blessings and your focus on gratitude.

✨ Step 3: Infuse Personal Touches ✨

Personalize your altar with meaningful objects like family photos, gratitude journals, or a special heirloom. These items deepen your connection to the altar's energy, reminding you of the love and blessings you cherish.

✨ Step 4: Set Your Intentions ✨

As you arrange your altar, focus on your intentions. Whisper words of gratitude, acknowledging both the seen and unseen blessings in your life. Thank the Universe for its generosity and open yourself to receiving more.

✨ Step 5: Daily Devotion ✨

Make it a sacred ritual to visit your gratitude altar each day, even if only for a few moments. Light a candle, hold your quartz crystal, and express thanks for three things you’re grateful for. Feel the energy of gratitude flow through you, and visualize it expanding into every aspect of your life.

✨ Closing: Creating a gratitude altar is an act of love and devotion, a space where you can manifest and acknowledge the abundance all around you. Let this be a reflection of your open heart and a beacon for more blessings to come.

🌟 May your gratitude altar be ever vibrant, an extension of the magic within, drawing positivity and prosperity into your life. Blessed be.

🔥❤️‍🔥

[zhongrin]

🎈🧸📷💎🍿🍒 for the ask game!!! u can choose who :)

- sachie (if that's too many, just pick your favs i guess hahahsk)

[ selfship ask game -> ]

SACHIE SWEETIE YOU SPOIL ME HSDLFJSKDJFLKJDSLF <3 <3 <3

super long answer so utc it is shdfksdj

🎈— what is your most precious memory with them?

zhongrin ー when we got married for the first time, millenias ago 💍 meitham ー our reunion when he picked me up at the gate of sumeru city, the first day i decided to move back to sumeru!! wrin ー the night he finally bit the bullet and confessed 💞 jingmei ー the first time i woke up in his bed after spending a night with him renmei ー the first time he's lucid enough as blade to recognize me, after my rebirth and the revelation that we used to be lovers back in the days ;w;

🧸— favourite gifts from each other?

zhongrin ー our marriage ring ᰔᩚ meitham ー for al haitham, a bookmark made from the flowers i gave him on our first anniversary. for me, a custom-made matching guzheng nails & its holder made of clearwater jade wrin ー for wriothesley, it's rinsley; the 'pet' dog gardemek due to be scrapped, which i somehow managed to commission to repair + programmatically override its behaviour into a harmless(well okay maybe not really-) pet dog. for me, it's this promise ring which can be infused with his cryo elemental energy to form a very pretty diamond-like looking stone on its crown; it'll eventually melt away if not properly infused with cryo regularly…. hence it's his promise to always come back (home) to me every day hehe ᰔᩚ jingmei ー a specialized pair of jade abacus disguised as an accessory (for him, an ornate tassel for his guan dao, and for me, it's a jade bracelet) which is interconnected to each other and has a variety of functions ;3 renmei ー for blade, it's a locket with a scent paper of my soap (i don't wear perfumes so yeah). for me, it's the other pair of his earring which i use as a necklace!

📸 — do you have any photos of your f/o? do you use it as your wallpaper?

for my phone, i have custom themes saved for zhongli, jing yuan, and wriothesley (i'm a little picky when it comes to wallpapers haha). though i rarely use them; i mostly have my family as my lock/home screen. my ipad has zhongli as the lock screen, though!

💎 — if you and your f/o were in a fake relationship/marriage, who do you think would lose at falling in love first?

me. i would always fall first. cw. personal rambling-ish. i personally think it's hard to fall in love with me, unless someone really get to know me and gain that trust so i can feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable & open to them (and if i don't seem like this kind of person to your eyes, it's most probably because i don't have any inhibitions being open and honest online, especially due to the anonymity aspect of tumblr). because otherwise, i'm just very normal and boring, sometimes even coming off as cold. and i'm also timid in the way that if someone is too friendly to me, i would just close myself even more. i think i project these traits a lot to my s/i, hence you might notice how 'plain' and/or 'shy' they usually are compared to other people's s/i? but i think it's something i actively project and consciously do, because i don't want to be extraordinary; that's just not who i am, i feel. i just want to be normal and average and broken and still have my f/os love me anyway. i want them to see the smallest, simplest things, and find it endearing/worth loving. unrealistic? maybe. but it's not like they're actually real so who cares lol

🍿 — your perception of them and their perception of you?

i've been contemplating these days… and i have to admit that i have… a high standard when it comes to getting into a serious relationship with someone. especially when it comes to wisdom and maturity. so i'd like to think that all my f/os has a deep understanding of who i am as a person… some of them might even understand me more than i do (zhongli, al haitham, jing yuan). their perception of me is probably just me in my rawest form. i could go in depth about my perception of them but i don't think i can ever have the patience to collate them all into a single post so i'm not going to try hsdkljfksld just know that it wouldn't be 100% canon because obviously personal biases will affect my viewpoint about them.

🍒 — what would your contact names be for each other?

answered here ->

[lorddoughnut-thecuddly]

did up a thaumaturgical bell for an upcoming Pathfinder 2e game :) had a couple of ideas when designing it: I wanted a cage with a censer at the bottom so that I could burn esoterica and let it infuse the air around the bell with supernatural energy, and I wanted some kind of lever to operate the bell with one hand while it's being carried; sort of like a bicycle bell, but it operates a large, slow hammer instead of a rapid clapper. I'm not very experienced at making art, so I mostly traced over several photos from google images, but I think the end result looks pretty cool so I'm happy with it.

[kitchenknickers]

so tonight I wanted to indulge in the vegetable. that was my exact thoughts, and these are the wintery ingredients I grabbed by vibe.

for those with screen readers, first photo is a flat lay shot against a pine bench with cooking tools (tongs and small cleaver) and ingredients.

ingredients

orange peel*, roughly chopped hazelnuts, dijon mustard, freshly squeezed juice of one very small orange, fresh sage & thyme**, blanched kale (destalked after blanching) and one stray broccolini. butter, salt. also pictured is my beverage***

method:

heat oil in pan and for future reference frying hazelnuts doesn’t fucking work fry sage leaves before taking them out and blotting them on a paper towel.

put in kale and swear as you realise you didn’t dry your veg enough after blanching, causing it to spit. make that worse by adding your crushed ginger. turn down heat after a bit.

in a small bowl mix orange juice, mustard and some oil, put butter into the pan to melt and then add the other sauce stuff, make sure veg is coated and pull it out, then pour the sauce over the rest. garnish with chopped hazelnuts which if you were smart you would have toasted before putting oil into your pan. I poured the sauce through a tea strainer to keep any burnt hazelnut skins out of it, and it came out good!

also for the record, lifting a cast iron pan in this fashion just is not within my capabilities. my elbow is not happy at all and I was already in pain today.

*orange peel bits: I hate zesting, takes too much energy, so I use a sharp knife to take off fingernail sized bits of the peel (larger if I’m too tired) and then finely slice it if that’s necessary but sometimes I just leave it as chonks. same with lemon peel. another way I process it is to dry or bake it and then grind it into a powder but I don&5 have any of that on hand rn

**forgot to use the thyme

***a thyme infusion with cinnamon, honey, and lime

[musings-on-wisteria]

Ideas for Charging/Activating Sigils:

Sigils are just so darn flexible. I love them very much. Here’s a bunch of things you can do to them. I’ve only tried about five of these, but I think any of them would work. Obviously some are dependent on certain beliefs such as animism; I just wanted to give a bunch of examples of some of the ways you can fill sigils with power, because they’re just so darn cool and once you stop thinking of these you see opportunities everywhere.

Trace it into the condensation on windows/shower glass/mirrors (mirrors are especially good if you want the sigil to affect you in a casting)

Tape it to your window on the full moon/moon phase corresponding to the sigil

Make a specially designated sigil-charging envelope that you can put your new sigil papers in. This could be decorated and have even more sigils on it specifically for charging.

Put it under your favorite houseplant and ask them to help out.

Place it in the folds of your favorite blanket/item of clothing and imagine it soaking up that good energy.

Place it under a candle and imagine that, as the wax drips down, the energy of the flame drips down to fill your sigil with power.

Use it as a bookmark in a book that exemplifies the intent of your sigil.

Consecrate a special notebook or notepad to collect your sigils in. When you add a new one, it draws upon the collective power of all of your finished sigils.

Similarly, you could enchant a particular pen so that whatever sigil you draw with it is activated or charged.

Whittle it into a stick (not a living tree. it’s bad for them.) that you behold as having the appropriate magical properties.

Sew the sigil into something.

Trace your sigil in the air with a wand while speaking some words of power.

Tape the sigil paper onto an instrument you play and play a song that corresponds to the sigil’s purpose (or just infuses the sigil with the sacred vibrations of music).

Trace the sigil into a sauce with a utensil and eat it. (Or, if it’s a condiment like ketchup, you could squeeze it.)

Place it in the box/bag with your favorite tarot/oracle deck and ask the deck to impart its wisdom upon the sigil.

Draw the sigil on the back of a photo of something the sigil is related to.

Hide the sigil in the background of an art project that follows a similar purpose or theme.

Fold the sigil paper a particular number of times while saying particular words.

Form the sigil on the ground out of dead leaves/sticks/debris you find outside. Allow it to disperse naturally. (This would be really cool on a beach.)

Trace the shape of the sigil in some incense smoke so that it curls around your finger/wand.

Burn the paper. (SAFELY.)

Give it to your favorite stuffie and ask the stuffie to guide your sigil towards its purpose and being activated, perhaps also watching over the manifestation itself.

Trace the sigil onto your skin using makeup/lotion/moonwater etc

Just cum on the dang thing. (Masturbation: a classic.)

[mixelation]

vagueposting but i link to the post pissing me off and quote it. so not vagueposting at all but the blog has a massive following so it's not like. bullying

there is A Post i keep seeing, despite my best efforts to scrub OP from my dash, and it's specifically this version

reasons this post annoys the bejeebus out of me:

This is not a dunk on fandom—love the energy!—but I dream of the things we all could accomplish if we devoted some of that love and passion to the living creatures of planet Earth.

This is absolutely a dunk on fandom. You have literally structured your post around calling out "fandom" for not spending energy on something you think is more worthwhile. "Oh, no, OP meant in addition to fandom activities--" Nope! Maybe that's what they wanted to say, but they did not frame their post this way. The singled out fandom, played the "not to mean but--" card completely straight, and then somehow laid their environmental anxieties at the feet of fandom. They genuinely sound like one of those PTA moms who gives themselves anxiety over what innocuous things other people's kids do in their free time, which do not affect them at all.

[...]

Let me tell you a secret. Talk to gardeners and ecologists from your parents' and grandparents' generation, and you will recognize the same kind of people [as artists], passionate, socially awkward and probably some flavor of neurodivergent, except their blorbos are lichens, salamanders, mushrooms, bats, turtles, and birds.

These people were the ones that taught us how important those creatures were in the first place. That learned how to study them and wrote down what they observed.

Here's a neat little rhetorical device where OP isolates people "from your parents' and grandparents' generation" as separate but still accessible entities. This magical mood of loving nature is so close to you, but you've been isolated! Forgotten the old ways! These magic old people infused you with love for nature, and learned how to.... study them and write down what they saw...? No one was studying ecology or studiously improving gardening methods before your grandparents. There are no gen Z ecologists. There are no magic nature-loving people who also do fandom. Nuh-uh. It's just these magical older generation gardeners with all this secret knowledge.

Also, I never talk about (one part of) this, but I am a neurodivergent scientist running a fandom blog, and I do think claiming ecologists/gardeners are all "some flavor of neurodivergent" is a super weird take. First, ecologists (and scientists at large) are diverse people, not some cute stereotype in your head. Second, don't diagnose strangers, jfc. Third, "some flavor of neurodivergent" does not automatically make someone your friend or your magical relatable nature guide who wants to infodump all their cool nature facts like a trained dog.

IME ecologists and other people working in conservation ARE hype to tell you about their research and work, but I think linking this trend of enthusiasm to "oh, probably your local cute neurodivergent person--" is harmful in more ways than one to, like, everyone involved.

Here is something important: People cannot care about saving what they haven't even heard of.

This is true, or at least dogma I've heard actual conservationists say. It also has nothing to do with "fandom."

When I first started researching plants, I was shocked and horrified to find the internet almost empty of informative resources. No pictures, no paragraphs written by knowledgeable people, no cheat sheets, no diagrams.

There is not a single photo of a couple-months-old American Sycamore sapling anywhere on Google. Not one.

This is not true. There are in fact many plant identification websites, along with insect, spider, bird, mushroom, etc websites, often run by government organizations, botanical gardens, plant nurseries and nature enthusiasts. They often look like they were designed in the early 2000s and never updated, and there's not a really good umbrella website (except maybe iNaturalist?), but these resources definitely exist. If you google "Platanus occidentalis seedling" or "Platanus occidentalis sapling," you can indeed find the photos OP claims do not exist (examples: x, x). This is the piece of the post that pisses me off the most, because by claiming things literally don't exist on the internet, you actively discourage people form seeking them out.

Side note: I actually blocked OP over a different set of posts where they blogged at length and with extreme performative concern over not being able to find a specific type of study, which was a study design so common anyone who's spent more than thirty seconds figuring out google scholar could have found one. Posts like this are not actually helpful for general science education and instead just upset people while simultaneously misinforming them and discouraging them from doing their own searches.

When I started doing educational events at the place I volunteer, I had to write stat blocks and handouts about my trees MYSELF. From scratch.

So does the information literally not exist, or did you compile existing info into a streamlined form to fit your purposes....? How did you learn the information? Did one of the magical old people tell you?

Everyone I've talked to has said the same thing—I would like to plant native species and create a place for wildlife, but there isn't any information.

Don't let people tell you that you can't do anything. We already have scientists. We need artists. Bloggers. Enthusiasts. Hobbyists. Shitposters. We need love, passion, and obsession.

These things exist. These types of spaces exist in real life and all over the internet. Why are you writing like they are a dying breed? Reddit might have its problems, but there are tons of subreddits filled with enthusiastic people who will help you figure out a native plant garden. There is almost definitely at least one desperate conservation group who has this information available for your area (try googling your region and "native plant" - example: "bay area native plant" brings up the California Native Plant Society). You will have to spend some time reading, but I promise the information is there if you spend as long on google as you do making posts like this. You are harming these groups by writing as if they don't exist or are barely functioning due to lack of community support.

We need people whose talents are in editing, photoshopping, shitposting and meme-making, because the internet is where the conversations of the world happen, and we need to be talking about the living things of our planet that are in peril. Their beauty. Their importance. I'm completely dead fucking serious here.

I do agree with this point. Scientists are trained to make graphs, but they're not trained to make graphic design, if you know what I mean.

However, OP's goal is......

Do y'all have any idea how powerful a force your enthusiasm is?? To save the world, we need people who are like that, but about niche bees.

Imagine the most feral and unhinged of freaky fandom folk.

Now imagine someone who is Like That about prairie grasses.

To... have "fandom folk" redirect their energy at.... plants and bees? The subsequent blogging indicates that OP simply wants more blogs that post photos and art of plants and fungi. Okay, cool. What does this have to do with fandom? Do you know that fandom is a hobby for most people, and they go off and do other things in their life that might not be apparent to you, a stranger on the internet? Do you know how many of these magic ecologists and conservationists spend all day doing the work you want to see, and then go goof off in fandom to relax? Do you know that you do not have the right to control or criticize people's harmless hobbies, which do not affect you?

Someone else reblogged and added this comment:

Unfortunately fandom is mostly character analysis, and plants have no character to analyze so this will never happen

Also, the most helpful thing for them to do to save the planet is to donate money to those already doing it, not clogging up the system with terribly thought out newbie orgs

OP decided to reply to this comment more than once, jumping on the idea that "plants have no character" as ridiculous and then making fun of the idea of donating money. I want to emphasize that OP reblogged this person twice, which solicited their many followers to jump on their wording and yell about making plants blorbos, rather than think about any of OP's supposed points about conservation or gardening or environmentalism.

This person, apparently: the only form of doing good in the world that exists is donating money to a charitable organization. There is no such thing as work or outreach or education only money

In the ideal world, people would have dedicated jobs for the things described above. There are people who make a living off of doing scientific illustrations, and I would love for there to be more paid positions where artists and trained educators work with scientists on outreach. Established organizations do need volunteers, but they also need money so they can hire trained professionals to do the things OP is calling on fandom for.

Anyway, as a scientist and a fandom blog, here's this:

What you do with your spare time is up to you. If it's posting weird headcanons at 2 AM, whatever. You do you. You do not have to direct energy at saving the world or whatever.

If you're interested in ~touching grass~, I recommend googling for state/national parks in your area, as they're easy to identify and often put on cool events. You can also google for specific societies or hobbies, or places like botanical gardens and nurseries. Hobbyist mycologists are wild people, for example. These orgs often have volunteer days if you don't have a lot of time to commit.

Are you an artist, graphic designer, or illustrator? You may be surprised how many groups would love to have you design a pamphlet or logo! They will generally give your the information they want people to know and not just have you put together your own information unless you volunteer to do so (source: anecdata from scientists I know who also happen to be talented artists).

Memes are cool, but if you're trying to use them to ~spread information~, please do your best to fact check and then also provide citations. If you make a viral meme of bad information I will be forced to write a vent post about it. :P