#some seashells & bad handwriting..

[diabolicjoy]

writing letters again :)

[elysians-adventures]

My Muse

Chapter 2: 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬

➺ Confusion fills the both of you in different forms.

Elliott has met the new farmer, and quickly becomes infatuated. He attempts to keep his focus on his writing-- and fails, over and over, rather becoming a lovesick poet.

Pairing: Elliott x Farmer!Fem!Reader

➺ previous chapter masterpost next chapter

The morning doves squawked their song, rising you from your deep slumber. You had an odd dream that night, involving parsnips, letters and some sort of… what was it again? You shook your head, deciding to cast the thought away. It left you a little shaken up– yet you couldn’t understand why you dreaded the letters aspect out of all. Sliding the thin blanket away from your body, you put on your slippers. Clack. A sharp sound sounded outside, like a letterbox being closed. You peeked your head through the misted windows, seeing some paper peeking through the hole in the box. Whoever delivered it must have done a terrible job, folding most of the letters– giving them dog-eared looks. 

 

Gradually, you finished your morning routine, having brushed your teeth, dressed appropriately for farm-work and steeled yourself for the gruelling hours you were about to endure. Noticing the parsnip seeds on the table at your left, you pocketed them and exited the door. You decided to make a mental list of what you had to do for the day: plant the parsnips, meet the other villagers, check out the deeper parts of the farm, check out your letters and… you almost forgot. You took out the seashell in your pocket, looking at the small engravings in it. You had to return this to Elliott– remember?

Taking your hoe, you began. Heave– ho, heave– ho. 

Either breakfast didn’t give you enough energy, or you were extremely unathletic. Each time you hoed the ground you felt a small chunk of you being ripped away, leaving you absolutely exhausted at the end of it. To be fair, it wasn’t only hoeing you did, but also chopping down the trees that seemed to infestate your farm like pests.  

 

You wiped the sweat from your face, breathing heavily. Sowing was much easier, barely taking a swipe to finish all your seeds. Planting parsnips, done. You may have forgotten an important piece of the process, yet you didn’t notice yet.

 

Now for the next job in question would be�� checking out the letters, right? It was right there on your farm, it wouldn’t make sense not to since you were already here. You opened the box, a flurry of paper spewing out. The previous critique of the postman being bad was gone, rather feeling pity for him having hauled all of this so far. Most were from your parents and old friends from Zuzu, congratulating you for moving and wishing you luck. Some with small specks of change and food here and there. Though, a few were from villagers, piquing your interest.

 

 

From Robin,

 

Hey there, Y/N! I’m the carpenter for this town. We already got introduced when you first got off the bus, but I wanted to remind you about me… annnd to encourage you to come to my shop sometime! 50% Off for the first time!

 

 

You smiled, switching to the next letter.

 

 

Ahoy farmer, me and your grandfather were buds a while ago. Come to the beach and I’ll teach you some tips on how to fish. It’s the best sustainable way to eat meat here in the valley. I’ll even share some stories about me and your pops when we were young.

 

Willy.

 

 

Each villager had their very own writing styles, though it seemed all of them shared the mutual feeling of wanting to meet you. There was one last letter from someone, marked with a cross on the envelope. The rest of the letters being maps for the village and a small guide.

In scrawly handwriting, it was written:

 

 

Your eyes are a prison I never wish to escape from,

Nor accept rescue. You are like the sun;

I wish to for you to shine forevermore, 

Even if in my mind it will be.

But even the sun does not compare to your beauty,

Even with its light it does not hold a candle to your eyes.

 

 

You stared at the words for a few moments. Confused. Surprised. Perplexed. Any of these words wouldn’t begin to describe how you felt. The letter wasn’t signed, and it seemed like it was crumpled before, being straightened out and folded neatly to send to you. You could see how hard the pen was pressed against the paper, making obvious markings. 

 

You blinked slowly, before pocketing the letters, still startled. How were you meant to react? Sure, you felt complimented, but you hadn’t even met anyone in town… hold up… it couldn’t be? He did say he was a writer, and this is a poem, but it felt like the coincidence was too great. Surely after only a day of not even ‘knowing’ each other, he couldn’t be enamoured?

 

The song of the birds softened, letting you listen to your thoughts. There was no way, literally. Only a crazy person would fall so hard so easily… thus, you decided to stop thinking about it. Maybe it was someone from Zuzu, having met a few weirdos in your time there.  No, it was definitely someone from Zuzu. At least, that's what you managed to convince yourself. Guilt littered your heart, being suspicious of Elliott felt bad. You had just met him.

 

Okay… you needed to get back on track, what was next? Right, you should return the seashell before anything else, since he was on your mind now. It looked important, and for all you know he could be panicking for it. 

 

You slipped off your boots coated in mud, and decided to wear the farmer attire for the rest of the day, making your way to the beach. During your trip, you had met a few more faces: namely Haley, Harvey and a small kind grandma called Evelyn. Each personality was a stark contrast to each other: Haley having called your clothes ‘dirty’ and ‘unfashionable’; Harvey stressing the need for medical care; and Evelyn simply commenting on how ‘hardworking’ you looked in your denim overalls. By the time you stepped on the sand, a smile coated your features.

 

Your eyes noticed a ginger-haired man wafting through the sand, picking up seashells and tossing them after examining them for a brief period. It seemed your doubts were right.

“Hey, Elliott!” You waved at him from a distance, though your voice seemed to stop the man in his tracks.

 

You couldn’t have found out already, surely? His thoughts were a sudden wreck, already in a mess due to losing his belonging. He stopped in his tracks, slowly raising his eyes to meet yours. You held a look of utter innocence and obliviousness. His doubts seemed to wash away like seafoam… talking of seafoam, his feet were getting wet– water seeping through his shoe. 

 

“Y/N,” he said, shakily– silently as if admiring you, before clearing his throat and repeating it louder for you to hear: “Y/N.” 

You walked towards him, palm outstretched with the clam in-hand. He bore a look of amazement, taking it gently from your hand. The man couldn’t believe you had found it, and nevertheless, returned it. Elliott worried Vincent or Jas mistook it for a normal shell, yet it seemed as if fate brought you two together.

 

“What’s with all the little drawings carved on it?” You asked, still smiling, happy that he looked so grateful.

“Ar… Urm…” He stumbled on his words, putting the object in his pocket and closing it tightly. Never again… “It’s a gift from Leah, my first friend in Pelican Town. She picked up this shell from the tidepools down there, and painstakingly carved out each drawing by hand. I couldn’t bear to lose my lucky charm, thank you, Y/N.”

 

The absolute show of gratitude almost caught you off guard, Elliott cupping his heart to show his utter appreciation for your attention. ‘ My muse is observant, best not to let my heart take me again and deliver one of those poems lest she figures it out… ’ He sighed, his thoughts bothering him. Why on earth had he trekked out in the early hours of the morning to show you his lovesick work? After he came back, a sense of guilt overtook him like nothing else, yet it was too late. 

Perhaps he was too forward… at least he complimented himself for not signing the letter.

 

“That’s so cool! They’re so tiny, that must’ve taken a lot of time,” you commented, now staring him directly in the eye. The man’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted, now focusing once on you. His mind ran wild with ideas simply standing by you, all to fuel his novel. He couldn’t let such a source of inspiration go. He had written more last night than he had in the past months, even though it was unrelated to the book.

 

“Yes, she actually gives me some art every once or so, in exchange for a sneak peek at my book…” He trailed off, adding quietly at the end: “not that I work on it these days…” The fact you were interested was bewildering to him, barely able to speak such things with others. They all shook him off, so he rather chose to be a listener than a speaker. In fact, his previously honeyed words stopped short at your sight, barely able to hold a conversation now. What have you done to him? You must be a witch, in his eyes, to make him so longing. 

 

He could not yet describe this as love, rather a lust to continue his long-lost passion by using you. That’s why he felt guilty. All these thoughts crossed his mind a split second before you responded, still joyous and unaware.

 

“Oh! You told me you were a writer, but I didn’t know you were writing a book…” You stopped short, wondering if that sentence made you sound stupid or ignorant to what writers do, “What’s it about?”

 

Elliott took a breath, ‘ compose yourself ’, “It’s a secret,” he winked, a smile creeping up his face once more.

 

“Agh, c’mon man. Can’t you spill?” You asked, pouting slightly in disappointment. Taking a slight glance at the sky, you remembered your list. And how little time you had to complete it. 

You went through it again in your head: meet villagers, clean your farm– you forgot to water your parsnips! You weren’t confident that they would die, after all they were seeds, but you weren’t going to mess up on your first harvest. 

Before letting him respond, you started to back away slightly, “Elliott, I forgot something important! Just– tell me about it through the mail or something, okay? Or, I’ll come by later!” 

 

You began jogging on the spot, waiting for a nod of acknowledgment from the man. When received, you began dashing back to the bridge, a fog of sand trailing your steps. 

 

Elliott was left there, slightly amused by your sudden disappearance and slightly disheartened. He was about to tell you, yet it seemed there was something more important in your mind. You had only came to give him back his belongings, so why was he so irritated? ‘ Something more important than me? ’ He couldn’t stop thoughts of envy, he had met you so shortly and yet he was thinking like this. 

 

Was it the practical human isolation? He hadn’t talked to anyone in a week. Or was it…? The ginger-haired man shook his head violently. He gripped his wrist in shame, trailing back to the cabin. The sound of his shoes and stones coming together resonated through his mind, deciding to focus on his environment for now. If he thought about you now, god forbid, he might do the same as last night. His eyes were still heavy and wrist was still tired. Yet, he couldn’t stop reciting in his mind, no matter how hard he tried. 

 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

[lucero-is-here]

Ladies, gentlemen and folks, it’s headcanon time! And presenting Zoe Kusama!

Requested by:

Again the other three will be done later on! But let’s get to it! (I don’t know the most about Zoe but anyways~)

- she likes tea. She drinks tea a lot, and mainly drinks green tea.

- high heeled boots. She likes heels, and she likes boots. So why not both?

- slender and soft hands- her hands are just really really nice…

- warm hands. Her hands are always warm, and it’s nice holding them, especially on cold days.

- very steady and gentle hands. She can keep her hand quite steady it’s miraculous- and she’s always so gentle- she’ll give you a pat on the shoulder, and she’s so gentle it’s like really comforting and everything.

- she is literally the sweetest person- she is really nice to everyone (she tries to be nice), and a lot of people really like her!

- she likes all animals! Even the animals that look really weird- she tries her best to like them and believes that all animals are lovely and sweet.

- she does embroidery in her free time. She has a lot of fun doing it, and sometimes add little embroidery designs to her bags/outfits for fun! She thinks they always look really pretty and it makes her so so happy.

- she can cook. She makes pretty good food too.

- she really likes flowers. She thinks they are really pretty. At her apartment, she has a flower pot where she grows some daisies, and they look absolutely gorgeous.

- she reads a lot in her free time. Books are her best friend in a way, because she’s usually reading when you see her.

- she does origami in her freetime sometimes. She makes these really complicated origami creations, and gives them to her significant others. They always look so pretty, she even made origami seashells once though they were a little complicated- she has a lot of origami creations-

- she has a jar of paper stars in her room. She made all of those paper stars and filled a jar with them. They look so pretty too.

- she gave Jones a bottle of paper stars once as a present. She said he was as bright as stars, and he deserved to have stars with him all the time. He cried after that.

- she is a bit sensitive- she cries easily and feels a little bad about it. She cries when she’s too happy- but she also gets really happy easily too-

- good temper. She’s really patient and can keep her composure for a good amount of time.

- she can play the piano. She plays those really sweet, and calming songs and Jones loves to watch her play the piano.

- she’s bisexual

- she gets cold easily. She brings a jacket or a scarf with her, so she won’t get cold.

- she has really really neat handwriting. Her handwriting isn’t cursive or anything though. But her handwriting is so neat and nice to look at-

- she writes little messages to her friends on paper and gives these little messages to them when they feel sad and it’s the sweetest thing ever-

- decent spice tolerance, can handle some spice but not too much spice.

- she makes Jones watch Bluey with her, and they just sit there on the sofa watching a show for kids while eating popcorn. And then they see those really heartfelt moments- and Zoe starts getting teary and Jones also gets teary cause Zoe is getting teary and they cry together and are now wondering how a kids show is this good-

- Zoe has these wooden toys from a childhood she still keeps. She occasionally takes them out and plays with them like she did as a kid. She likes how pretty they look and wish they still made toys like this.

- she has baths sometimes- and she brings this tiny rubber ducky with her she named Jones for fun- she finds it so adorable-

- her hair gets tangled sometimes- brushing out the tangles can be painful at times for her :,)

That’s all- if I think of more a part 2 will be posted.

[moni-harmonia]

Things that we’ve learned about Kaeya and Diluc from HS

Kaeya and Diluc write letters to each other

Kaeya thought Diluc wouldn’t reply to his letters but Diluc actually does

They call each other K and D in the letters (which is kinda cute?)

They’re always looking out for each other. They show that they really care, they really care a lot

Kaeya informed Diluc about everything while he was away, and celebrated when they finally got their revenge on the man who sullied their father’s death

Diluc wants to act solo but he knows there might be times when they have to join forces and doesn’t mind

Diluc has so many of Kaeya’s letters around his house that he has kept

Also, Kaeya has really good handwriting

Kaeya’s eye was wounded when he fought Diluc, but he was not blinded. He wanted to pretend that he was, but Diluc knows the truth

Meaning that Kaeya can perfectly see with his right eye and he wears the eyepatch for another reason

Kaeya doesn’t blame Diluc for the fight, he knows that it was bad timing

Kaeya’s family, the Alberich Clan, were not the original rulers of Khaenri’ah but they took over. Which means that Kaeya is really a prince in a way

His family wanted to revive Khaenri’ah but couldn’t. They still want to continue with their plans (They might be allies with the Abyss Order then?)

Kaeya only has a small paper that talks about his clan that he saved when his birth father tried to eliminate all evidence

Kaeya’s melancholic when he thinks about his Clan and his birth father

Kaeya misses the Winery and goes there frequently, he spent a few days there while Diluc was still away. Kaeya stayed in his old bedroom and all the staff is happy with him

Kaeya has kept some of the seashells they found when they were kids (I’m crying at this)

[mayswift]

newsies headcanons for my favorite characters😁

jack

-always putting random stuff in his mouth. like chewing on paintbrushes and pencils. he reminds me of my friend that will literally pick up seashells and bite into them.

-literally cannot flirt. like he CAN flirt but if it’s someone he actually has feelings for he’s just a stuttering blushing mess.

-i feel like he’s an extremely picky eater. like in modern day he would be those people who order chicken tenders everywhere they go😭

-big gift giver. he loves making paintings and drawings for people and around holidays and birthdays he would try to sell extra to be able to afford a real gift.

-he’s literally so clueless. like he’s constantly having to be like “huh” and just always has this confused look on his face😭

davey

-IM WAY TOO EXCITED TO WRITE THESE

-constantly reading. like he will read anything he can get his hands on.

-les is his wingman idc what anyone else says

-idk what instrument but he definitely plays an instrument. i’m thinking violin or piano maybe?

-i feel like everyone thinks of him as being like nice and shy and stuff but he’s actually so much more?? like he would literally beat people up if they came near his friends or family and he’s actually like so so smart.

-SMART WITH NO COMMON SENSE.

-and also horrible at math

race

-this man cannot sit still. like he’s always rocking back and forth on his feet or playing with his hands or kicking around a rock or something.

-this one is more livesies race but i think he’s like augustus waters how he always has a cigarette in his mouth but he never lights it.

-this is a common one but him always leaning on people or holding on to them

-SURPRISE HUGS ALL THE TIME.

-literally zones out all the time. like someone could be talking to him and he’ll be like sorry what??

skittery

-“glum and dumb” but not like actually. like he has a great sense of humor and stuff hes just a bit moody yk?

-so common but will literally do anything for tumbler. i am the biggest sucker for anything abt skittery and tumbler.

-i feel like he flirts to sell papers but he literally doesn’t mean it like he can and will flirt with anyone he sees to sell papers but has no interest in any of them.

-one day one of the other newsies sees him doing this AND WILL NOT STOP TEASING HIM AND HE GETS SO EMBARRASSED.

-has like some of the worst handwriting ever bc he literally does not give a shit.

spot

-i feel like even though he seems rlly scary he’s actually like?? super nice??

-also 92sies and livesies spot are completely different people in my mind.

-i feel like around other people hes super confident and like sure of himself but when he’s alone he’d actually get really like insecure and deal with sm more than it seems.

-once again this is kind of common but he loves his newsies. might not admit it but especially the younger ones he will do sm to take care of them and make sure they’re okay.

elmer

-ik it’s so common that he’s like the happy smily newsie all the time and i feel like he’s one of those people who just kind of forget about any bad feelings by being happy all the time. like he constantly sees the best in everyone and everything.

-can and will fall asleep anywhere. on a table? on a bench? on top of someone else? on the FLOOR?! sound asleep.

-this is a common hc and possibly canon(?) but POLISH ELMER. bc twins.

-I JUST LOVE THE IDEA OF ELMER PARTICIPATING IN LIKE POLISH TRADITIONS ESPECIALLY ON CHRISTMAS AND STUFF and sharing it with the other newsies and just aghhhh

[sunnyoldbear]

I’m no artist but all I think about is Luca so here are my headcanons for them when they’re older!

Luca:

As I said in a previous post, he gets a bit thicker as he grows since his whole family is on the thicker side and he’s very skinny.

His tail gets longer as he gets older and he’s like a little kitty with it. When he’s in the water, he sleeps on his stomach with it curled completely around him. He also wraps his tail around Alberto and Giulia at times if there’s ever a time where it’s raining or something when they’re in the surface.

He’s the shortest of the trio and he hates that with every fiber of his being. Neither of them let him forget it.

He loves space more than the movie lets on, and that’s saying something. He has read almost every book he can find on it and he rambles about it every day.

He is still pretty clumsy and his arms always have a few bruises or scrapes on them. He likes putting colorful bandaids on his cuts because he likes the colors.

He loves helping Giulia’s mom with painting! Not just modeling for her, but just painting with her or learning. It reminds him of Alberto. He’s not… good at it, but he loves it.

Oh he loves dogs. He’s still a little scared of cats after Machiavelli, but Nerone is his baby and he would do anything for that little pup.

Has a massive sweet tooth!

As expected, he loves learning about Vespas and how they work and everything. He does his research and writes letters to Alberto about the best books to read about Vespas to ensure they buy or make the very best one.

He’s always moving, just can’t sit still. He’s always bouncing his knee or kicking his legs or drumming his fingers. He just can’t help it. (He’s neurodivergent yes, but this is the 50s so…)

Still has very fishy sayings that no one but him, his family, and Alberto understand.

Can ramble for hours about the sea and how he can relate it to space. He still loves water and tends to list the names of his goatfish under his breath when he’s stressed to calm himself down. He still misses wrangling them, but he is so happy that he’s free.

Spends hours working on his handwriting because he doesn’t like how messy it is. He wants it to be perfect.

He’s very self conscious about most human things he does. The only thing he isn’t self conscious about is his swimming abilities, but he hides it pretty well. He’s most self conscious about his intelligence, or lack thereof. He’s meant to be at Giulia’s level of intelligence but since he was raised in the ocean, he knows next to nothing and so he has to work extra hard to get good grades. He stresses a lot about it and sobs if he gets a bad grade.

He’s a surprisingly good cook. It just relaxes him.

He loves flowers and learned how to make flower crowns.

He also loves collecting seashells he finds because it reminds him of home.

Like many agree, he is terrified of bugs, but he could never hurt one.

He’s very emotional, but that’s canon so.

His letters to Alberto are typically very long and full of emotions and things about his day, as well as random things. He doesn’t mind Alberto’s shorter letters, and he saves them in a box under his bed.

Every time he sees Alberto again he practically tackles him in a hug. The first time, both of them fell straight to the floor and were bruised for days.

He loves stuffed animals. Since it’s not “manly” to keep them, he gets them “for Giulia” and then puts them on his bed. (Modern day, he wouldn’t give a damn and just get them for himself)

Gets flustered super easily, as we see in canon. Be it an innocent romantic comment or a nice compliment, he goes super red and embarrassed, stumbling over his words.

Still says “silenzio Bruno” before he does anything he’s nervous to. Some kids at school are confused about it but he’s more confused at their confusion. How do they not know what a Bruno is? Isn’t it a human thing?

Loves to annotate his books. Associates certain books/book quotes with the people he loves and will give them those books or repeat the quote to them.

Though Genova is much more accepting than Portorosso, he is still bullied pretty badly when Giulia isn’t around, and sometimes even when she is. He pretends nothing happens or that it doesn’t bother him, but it does. It bothers him so, so much. Alberto can see right through him with ease and is there to remind him that everything is okay and he’s still loved. It helps, but not as much as Alberto thinks it does.

Even with the bullying, Luca loves school so, so much. That being said, he loves summer and being in Portorosso more.

Does that “look me in the eyes. You know I love you right?” thing he and his mother do to everyone he loves.

Alberto:

There is nothing he loves more than harassing Giulia. Being her brother, he loves to tease her, but will fight anyone who does the same.

Once decked Ercole. Got in trouble but Massimo secretly gave him a high five.

Cleaned up the island and erased the tallies he made for his father. He put some of Giulia’s fairy lights in there and has a few extra pillows, books in every corner and drawings all across the tower. He still has a lot of his human artifacts, but most of them are gone since he needs money for a Vespa.

His new tally board has “Reunion” scrawled at the top and its for waiting for his sister and best friend to return home.

Loves being a lifeguard.

Is super close to Machiavelli now and even adopted a stray to be his friend. Or uh… more than a friend, considering the big litter the cat soon fathered.

Alberto named all the kittens after fish.

He always draws things for Luca and eagerly waits his arrival.

Also has a massive sweet tooth, bigger than Luca’s.

Stores Luca’s letters away under his bed.

He and Massimo made Giulia’s hideout a proper treehouse and it’s now a study spot.

Has tons of books about Vespas. Massimo taught him to read and write.

He’s more self confident about his “human expertise” since he does it his own way.

One of the messiest eaters I swear to god-

Doesn’t care much about space, but he’ll listen to Luca ramble about it for hours without complaint.

Doesn’t really have anything he’s super interested in other than Vespas like how Luca likes space, but I might change my mind about that.

Loves watermelon!

His recklessness causes him to have as many bruises and scrapes as Luca’s clumsiness does, but he doesn’t care about putting bandaids on.

Alberto’s letters are pretty short but great!

Definitely bottles things up until he can’t anymore but he’s trying to get better.

Part of him feels guilty about catching and eating fish, but it’s hinted seamonsters eat fish so I’m accepting that as canon and saying he feels slightly less guilty about it. Definitely enjoys pasta more.

Loves the snow, especially when it means snowball fights. (Definitely throws them as hard as he can at Ercole. Son of a bitch deserves it.)

Oh yeah, he swears now. He’s heard a few swears around while making deliveries around the year and catches on. He makes a few of his own, too.

He just makes up words of his own as well as phrases. He doesn’t just convince Luca to say them. He convinces Massimo & Giulia as well as Luca’s fam. It’s a big, fun inside joke.

Loves turning into a sea monster and acting silly to make the kids around town smile.

Honestly he just loves being a sea monster. It’s great to be him. He feels free. It’s not as good a feeling as being on a Vespa, but it’s something.

He stares longingly at every Vespa he sees.

He probably named that girl cat Vespa or some variation of now that I think of it.

Giulia:

I see a lot of headcanons of her with glasses and I gotta say I love it! So, glasses Giulia!!!

Tallest of the three! Alberto hates her for it but she loves it.

She actually takes after her father more than she does her mother, contrary to popular belief.

Though she loves space, after her meeting with the boys, she’s thinking of marine biology. She stays up late every night researching everything aquatic. She constantly asks the boys about sea things and visits in that diver suit whenever she can.

She bullies Alberto as often as he bullies her. Their play fights look so aggressive that people think they’re actually trying to kill each other.

She’s constantly torn between chopping off all her hair or letting it grow out. She settles on leaving it medium length and tie it up.

A very yellow person! It’s everywhere. She loves it so much! The color of happiness, baby.

She’s the first to call Alberto part of the family, saying in a letter that her school wants to meet her brother. She got a letter from Massimo saying Alberto sobbed upon reading it.

Loves to paint with her mom but thinks bike riding is better. She loves that bike.

Harasses Alberto to put a sidecar on his Vespa for her. (Inspired by a drawing by aishimation on Instagram!)

Though she adore her mother, she’s a daddy’s girl and loves him so much.

Can and will punch anyone who calls her brother and her best friend a monster straight in the jaw

Hates her school uniform

Will also pour water all over Alberto just to piss him off

Summertime? I think you mean “training for the Portorosso Cup and also attack Alberto and Luca with a hose for a few months”

She loves to dance

Wants to get tattoos when she’s older

Very much a feminist and doesn’t care how much trouble she gets in for voicing what she knows is right

---

More on the way probably. These dumb gay Italian fish and their ginger friend is all I think about dhdhjdhdvdh

[melancholic-pigeon]

Too Short For Ao3 Fic #3? 4?

SO this is the extended edition of the bonus wip I did with Sally's birthday. The overall fic it belongs to is Extremely Smutty, so I went in and revised out the brief references and I'm posting the family-centric g-rated stuff for anyone who wants that but not the smut! Cough.

Also, I felt bad about missing WIP Wednesday again. Lolsob.

Percy rouses at around eleven PM to a sketch of himself on Jason's pillow. There's a note on the other side. 

I wanted to wake you up to say goodbye, but you looked so comfy I didn't have the heart to. your mom's presents are in the bag by my desk. say hi to everyone for me. I'll call tomorrow anyway.

love you to the moon and back.

-J. ❤

Complete with a little red heart. He doesn't even care that the doodle of him next to it, burritoed in a pile of blankets, includes a little spot of drool— he can tell by the rest of his cartoony, ballpoint features that Jason put it in because he thinks it's cute.

(And by the fact that he's said so, several times.)

Percy gathers up his junk. The cornflower blue sweatshirt he steals goes halfway down his fingers. He's come to accept that at six foot three and counting, Jason is the taller of them and always will be— barring some sort of horrible wood-chipper accident or curse from a grumpy deity. 

Fortunately, there's something about looking up to meet someone's eyes that Percy finds incredibly attractive. He has since Annabeth outgrew him for the first time in eighth grade. 

He heads out in his own jeans and the boxers he packed and the sweatshirt that smells like cinnamon. Once he boards the train, he stands with his arm around a pole and the other holding the bag against his chest, and tries to stay casual and keep the grin off his face.

It's almost midnight when he gets home. His mom, of course, is still awake, so he heads into the living room to greet her.

"My other half says hello."

There's a pile of presents on the coffee table. He puts the bag with the rest of them and sits down, kissing her cheek.

"He didn't have to get me anything." She closes her book and eyes the bag with a fond sigh. "How is he?" 

Percy's the same way she is, always happy to do favors and give gifts, but feeling pretty awkward about receiving them. Jason's even worse, the three of them in an ongoing and circular competition to never let any of it go reciprocated. 

"Working too hard, as always. Pulling As and winning games and barely sleeping to do it. His stepmother's up his ass and his father's a bully, so, you know, news at eleven." He leans his head onto her shoulder. "That's why he gives you stuff. He's trying to show you how much he appreciates you." 

She sighs, and Percy knows it's because she's just as frustrated by the whole thing as he is. 

"He knows I appreciate him too, I hope." 

"Without a doubt." Percy smiles at her, watching as she goes a little pink and smiles back. "You have a talent for making him feel appreciated." 

"He treats my baby like a prince," she says softly. "That's why I appreciate him so much in the first place. How could I do anything else?"

Percy turns his face into her shirt collar, another futile attempt to hide his goofy expression, 

"He really does, doesn't he?"

Holding doors, pulling out chairs, offering an arm on unsteady streets. Jason's never laid his coat over a puddle, but Percy's pretty sure he would, if the option presented itself. 

His mom starts playing with his hair, her fingers light and familiar.

"I'm just happy you're happy, sweetheart."

He knows that feeling too. 

Half asleep from the petting, Percy lets himself be a little babyish. It's after midnight now, which means it's her birthday, and he knows that sometimes she misses when he was Estelle's age and little enough to curl up in her lap. He's way too big for that now, obviously, but he can still slide down the couch and rest his head there. 

"You too, Mama." 

She looks at him, her eyes misty with emotion and almost green in the light.

She's smiling, too. 

She smiles a lot, these days.

—

In the morning, Paul makes coffee while Estelle helps unwrap the avalanche of presents. She's at the age where ripping paper makes her squeal with hysterical laughter, which worms its way into Percy's heart and melts it into pudding. 

Several of them are from Percy's friends, including a handbound book of original recipes from Leo, a lovely silver bracelet inset with mother-of-pearl that Beckendorf made himself, and a huge sheathed knife with a matching decorative handle from Clarisse. The last one makes his mom snort as she gets up to put it on the bookshelf, out of reach of curious toddler hands. 

"Decorative. Sure." 

"I bet she'd teach you how to use it if you asked." 

"I know how to use a bowie knife, dear. Your father and I used to catch and cook our own fish when we went camping."

"Which reminds me, he still hasn't taken me out," Paul cuts in, frowning. "I've been saving up dad jokes and embarrassing stories for four years."

"I'll bug him about it the next time we talk," Percy promises. "It's probably the ADHD." 

"Do you want me to bug you about bugging him?" 

"If you haven't set something up by blueback season, yeah." 

Percy and Paul went in on a pound of jasmine tea, which his mom reaches for next. She immediately asks for a cup— it's one of two days out of the entire year where she lets other people wait on her, for a change, and even that took a lot of cajoling. 

Paul makes the tea, since Percy usually scalds the leaves and it turns out tasting like grass. She probably wouldn't complain anyway, but it's her birthday, and she deserves to have the best tea that can be made in their kitchen. 

"Is the last bag from Jason?" Paul sets the mug on a coaster in the middle of the coffee table, and Percy scoops the baby into his lap so she doesn't try to grab it. She mashes her tiny hand against his cheek.

"And Thalia. I'm not sure if they went in on stuff or he just packed them both in one bag to make it easy." 

Either is a possibility. He watches as his mom reaches in and pulls out a large wrapped frame, Thalia's spiky handwriting answering the question. 

Whatever's inside, it makes her shut her eyes and exhale deeply through her nose. 

"Please pass on that I am absolutely furious."

She turns the frame around. An autographed vinyl EP of Sign O' the Times by Prince— one of the albums Percy grew up on, though she skipped a number of the songs when he was little. Thalia must have spent a fortune on it. 

"That woman is incredible," Paul breathes, lightly touching the glass. "How does she get this stuff?" 

"See!"

"She has friends in high places." Percy grins as Estelle reaches for the album, and holds her over the glass so she can touch it too. "She's also really good at barter chains."

His mother shakes her head, but he can tell how delighted she is— the two of them have spent hours animatedly talking about music, Thalia hanging on every word and groaning with jealousy over the concerts his mom went to in the eighties. 

"I know exactly where I'm going to put it." 

Thalia got her a turntable for her fortieth birthday last year, as well as a full set of replacements for every worn-out record in their collection— and had the originals framed too, since they had sentimental value. They're currently occupying the better part of two walls of his mom's study. 

There's a blank spot by her bookshelf, right underneath the first copy, that the autographed album will fit into perfectly. Percy grins. 

"I'll hang it up for you later."

She doesn't argue. There's only Jason's left, his careful print written out across the same paper Thalia used. The crinkling draws Estelle's attention, and she gleefully reaches over to help tear it off.

Their mom gasps at what's inside and puts a hand to her mouth, her eyes going bright.

It's a watercolor portrait of Percy and Estelle, laughing by the shoreline. She's dressed in a little bucket hat, a ruffled swimsuit patterned to look like a clownfish and the coolest shades in the world— sparkly blue frames shaped like seashells that he kind of wishes he could get in his size. He's in a wetsuit, having spent the morning surfing, and he's holding onto her hands so she can jump at the waves. In the distant background is the Montauk lighthouse.

It's beautifully done, like everything else Jason's ever put to paper, but Percy's never choked up like this over one of them.

"You remember that, Beluga? That was on my birthday, when you came and visited me and Jason at the beach."

"Beach?" she asks, expectant. Paul bursts into laughter, sounding as rough-voiced as Percy feels.

"You're your mother's daughter, sweet pea."

"Beach!" Estelle insists. Percy noses her pudgy cheek.

"It's too cold to swim, baby." His mom's eyes are sparkling, still a little teary. He can see Estelle in the smile on her face. "But we could go for a walk and visit." 

"Brunch first." Paul kisses her— Percy averts his eyes, wrinkling his nose at his sister to make her giggle again— and gets up, heading back into the kitchen. 

It's a lovely way to spend a late morning. Pale blue araucana eggs courtesy of Grover's new hens, a blueberry coffee cake from Nico by a fantastic hole in the wall in Hell's Kitchen, Paul's signature home fries made with blue potatoes and seasoned to perfection; all of it delicious.

Jason calls while Percy's doing the dishes. After his deep, resonant performance of the happy birthday song, the five of them chat on speakerphone for a little while, though he has to excuse himself pretty quickly to keep banging through his reading. 

"Maybe next year," Percy sighs. His mom puts her hand on his hip, then crouches down to help Estelle with her light-up sneakers. 

"He's always welcome for a rain check."

"He's always welcome, period," Paul adds. For the second time, Percy gets dangerously close to sniffling. 

Montauk is a little far for a day trip, so they head to Brighton Beach instead. Estelle's shrimpy legs get tuckered out more quickly than the grownups' do, so Percy ends up carrying her on his hip, snuggled into his jacket to block the chilly breeze. She points at seagulls, shouting triumphantly every time. 

"More bird!"

"That's right. A whole flock of 'em."

They watch for a while as the gulls fight over a discarded pizza crust. Then Percy feels an arm around his back and a head against his shoulder.

"I don't know how I got so lucky," his mother murmurs, barely audible over the rushing of the waves.

Percy's eyes sting. 

For most of his life, her birthdays had been spent without fanfare. He was rarely actually there for them anyway, and Gabe complained so much it was easier to just ignore the day and focus on survival instead. 

She'd been triaging like that since before she even met his dad, keeping herself afloat when nobody seemed to care if she drowned. It would have been easy to lie down and give up. Percy's pretty sure he would have, in her place. 

He turns to hug her with the obligatory proclamation of a Stella Sandwich. He catches Paul's eye over her shoulder, and gets a wide, sentimental grin in response. 

"Luck's got nothing to do with it," Percy tells her, leaning his cheek against the top of her head while his sister wriggles with delight between them. 

"Listen to our son," Paul adds. "He's very wise, as you raised him to be. This is all on you, honey." 

Within moments, she's surrounded by her whole family on all sides, and Percy has another arm around his back, and he's getting a little choked up over it all. 

When she first started dating Paul, back when Percy was still in middle school, she'd spent weeks all aflutter. It was the happiest he'd ever seen her at the time. They'd sit outside and work on her car together, and she'd slip into song like a grease-stained fairytale princess without even thinking about it. 

Seeing them interact is like cool water on a burn, Paul's devoted kindness soothing a lifetime of sitting back and watching people treat her like dirt. He worships her, just like she deserves and long overdue.

"I love you," she says, tearful and muffled in someone's shoulder. "All of you, more than anything." 

"Love Mama," Estelle replies, and that's it— Percy's blubbering.

It'll never undo the damage, but it's about time she got a chance to heal and thrive. 

-here in our bed, chapter 7, ~6200 words

[descendantofthesparrow]

Encore - Harry Hook x reader -  Part 17 - bday present for myself~

Harry cursed to himself, the island he was going to use to propose to (y/n) on was some sanctuary for an endangered species and the wildlife preserves didn’t want humans on the island. So he would have to figure out something else for his propos…wait…her birthday was next week! And he had been wanting to do a surprise party for her, and Gil had suggested a scavenger hunt for her to do to keep her busy.

He already had the ring, permission to marry her from her aunt, and the knowing that if he asked, she would say yes…

All he had to do was add one more thing.

=

You sighed, setting down the heavy crate, wiping sweat from your neck as you stood. “gods, why does it gotta be so warm today” you groaned, undoing the colling towel from your belt and tossing it on your face “aahhhh that’s the good stuff~”

“(y/n) what are you doing?” you took off the towel and tossed it around your neck, sighing as the heat on your neck finally decreased.

“cooling down, it's like 95 out here” you complained, turning to look at Bonnie, who was holding two cold waterbottles “oohhhh fuckin-thank you!” she snorted and tossed one to you, you caught It in mid-air and cracked it open, gulping down the cold drink.

“slow down girl” Bonnie chuckled, cracking opening her bottle and starting to drink “oh, happy birthday by the way” you burped and grinned at her.

“Thanks, Bonnie,” you blinked in surprise as she handed you a note. “oh, thank-“

“yeah yeah, see you later girl” Bonnie trotted off deck, soon walking out of sight. You shrugged and tore open the paper.

It was Harry's handwriting.

-hello my bonnie lass~ today is your birthday and I wanted to celebrate it by giving you a scavenger hunt to your party today

It will be from the isle to Auradon, no stone left unturned.

Now go to the place, where our first meeting occurred.

You pursed your lips, tilting your head, where you first met huh? Well, that would be on the isle. You closed the note and stuffed it in your pocket, heading to your cabin for a moment to change your clothes, grab your bag, and your motorbike keys.

=

You looked around the slightly collapsed building, where you had originally met harry, after the chase between the gaston twins and you.

“oh,” you gasped, kneeling next to a large chunk of building and pulling out an envelope beneath it. Standing up you leaned against the wall and opened the note, a small bracelet falling out with it, golden painted seashells and opals danced across the metal, you slipped it on and read the note.

-you found it lass, now in the spot where the stars shine bright, the place I realized my heart was yours that night.

You groaned slightly, a smile on your face, he was being cheesy with these hints, but his rhyming wasn’t bad.

But you knew exactly where he was talking about, the hiding spot.

=

You took off your shoes, walking along the shore of the small inlet. You took a deep breath, the air much cleaner than the first time you had been here.

You spotted the white envelope holding the next clue, you trotted over and pulled it out, smiling at the long thin box underneath it. You pulled the box and opened it, clicking your tongue and tilting your head.

A new golden chain for your ruby necklace. You closed the box and slipped it into your bag, opening the note you laughed at the twin's messy handwriting.

-hi aunt (y/n)! harry let us write this note! -skipper

-so the next clue is “where you joined the crew”-sterling

“that’s an easy one” you snorted, but you couldn’t give them crap, they were only 12. So you walked the short distance from the hidden beach to the chip shop, nodding to the patrons as you entered.

“Hey (y/n) Hook left this for ya” Cook handed you the letter and a small bag, you grinned and nodded. “happy birthday by the way”

“Thanks, cook, see you later” you walked out of the shop and leaned on the docks outside. Opening the bag you snorted at the new leather gloves inside, small painted designs on the leather.

“such a dork” you whispered, taking out the note and grinning at it.

-another job well done my love, now for the place were we spar, and we “hit” it off

You groaned and rubbed your forehead, you remembered that…your head still hurt after that day.

=

You stepped onto the old lost revenge, even with Umas magic, it had been unable to sail again, so now it was used as an isle home for the crew. Desiree grinned, holding up the note and another small bag.

“hey, commander~ happy birthday!”

“Thanks, Desiree” you chirped, grabbing the note and bag from her “you can go ahead and do what you’re supposed to do after you give me this”

“Thanks, girl, see you later!” she hopped off the rails and walked off the ship, going through the tunnel to the bridge.

You opened the bag to see a scarlet headband with silver hook embroidered into the side, you slipped it on and opened the note.

-hope Desiree didn’t just leave the present unattended for you to find but! This next clue is just across the border, when I got to hold you in my arms once again.

Alright, to the bridge it is.

=

You stepped across where the magic barrier used to be, looking to your left, seeing a small stone holding down a note.

You walked over and picked it up, seeing no mini present. Opening it up you smiled.

-sorry love no present with this one, too risky for someone to take it, but this next one will be where we walked into Auradon together for the first time

Alright then, so just the other side of the bridge. Turning around you walked back to your motorbike and swung your leg over the seat and started the engine. You quickly strapped your helmet on and drove to the other side of the bridge.

=

You tilted your head at Evie, who smiled and waved at you, holding out a note “hey (y/n)! happy birthday! Here you go!” you dismounted your bike and met her halfway, nodding at her.

“Thanks, Evie, see you later” she nodded and ran off, presumably to your “surprise” party. Opening the note you chuckled.

-astute as always love (though im not really making these hard am I?) but the next is where I learned I wouldn’t be ripped from your arms for the second time

The courtyard of Bens castle, where you and Harry had gotten the keys from Persephone. You got back on your bike and rode off through the bridge gate to Auradon, making the 15 minute trip to bens castle.

“hey beasty boy!” you called, waving to the king who was just exiting his castle “you probably got something for me don’t cha?”

He shrugged “maybe? Dunno- ow” you punched his shoulder and held out your hand “okay okay here, I’ll see you later (y/n)” he handed you the next note and walked off, but you didn’t bother to pay attention where.

You ripped open the envelope, once more smiling at Harry's handwriting.

-Final clue my love, where we stepped through to our new life

That one made you think for a moment before it hit you. The door, the very first door you and harry stepped through to get to your world.

But you don’t remember a room behind it? Which it probably did but who knows. Good news was the door was in Bens castle so you unlipped your helmet and hung it off one of the handles, walking through the gates and making your way through the castle.

You stood in front of the door, looking at the small note taped to it.

-happy birthday (y/n)

You took a breath and opened the door, laughing as the room burst with streamers and confetti.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”

The entire crew, the core four, Ben, Jane, Lonnie, even Audrey was there, blowing horns and throwing confetti in the air, screaming in your face.

“guys!” you whipped a stray tear from your cheek “awwww…ive never been thrown a surprise party before!”

“Really?” Jane gasped “why not?!”

You shrugged, “dunno, guys people from my world aren’t as amazing as you guys”

“aw thanks” Evie sniffed, smiling at something behind you. You rose your brow at her and turned around, gasping and stumbling back.

“H-Harry?! Wha-“ Harry stood infront of you, a clean dark red suit fitted on his body, his hair combed back yet still in that wild style you loved, his eyeliner clean.

“(y/n), yeh have been the light of meh life for the past two years, since yeh fell into my life. Yeh have saved me from becoming a dark bitter person hell-bent on revenge, yeh have saved me from my da, yeh have protected meh family” oh gods you were already crying “and eh have both given and helped meh love, and I want to spend the rest of meh life with yeh, and love yeh for the rest of meh life, so” he kneeled on one knee, taking out a red velvet box from his pocket and opening it, revealing his mothers red ruby ring, in a brand new golden band with small bits of sea glass running down the sides “will you marry me-“ you fell to your knees, tears streaming down your face, unable to talk.

You let out incomprehensible babbles and nodded, leaping into Harry's arms and wrapping your arms around his neck “Im guessing it’s a yes” Harry chuckled, pulling you back and smiling, tears brimming in his eyes.

“yes” you croaked “yes I will marry you, you giant dork” Harry laughed but you shut him up quickly, pressing your lips to his.

Harry hummed into the kiss, lifting you slightly and tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

“Alright alright” Carlos chuckled, walking over and patting Harry's shoulder “wed rather not see you two do it right in front of us please”

Harry separated from you and glared at Carlos “shut it up, let me enjoy this” he muttered, smiling at you and helping you stand, sliding the ruby ring onto your ring finger.

He kissed you again, bringing up your hand and kissing it “happy birthday my love”

“I love you Harry” you whispered, still whipping away your tears.

“I love you too (y/n)”

--end of part 17--

permtaglist

@queer-cosette​

@sephiralorange​

@lunanight2012​

@daughter-of-the-stars11​

@musicarose​

@random-thoughts-003​

@rintheemolion​

@amorathegamingkitsune​

[musicalmontgomery]

Letters

Word Count: 2.4k

Warnings: angst, swearing, brief mentions of billy’s abuse 

Pairing: billy hargrove x reader

on the day Billy Hargrove leaves his small town of Coastalside, California for Hawkins, he makes fast friends with y/n, promising to write her while he’s away

loosely based on ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ by Dixie Chicks // there will be more parts!

The bell on the diner door rang as the newest customer entered into the french fry aroma of the mom and pop restaurant. You kept up with your sidework, polishing the cutlery and folding it into napkins while the patron got sat into one of the red and yellow leather booths.

The day dragged on just like every other as the minute hand schlepped around the seashell clock hanging above the bar. This was only supposed to be a summer job, taking orders and serving burgers for the locals while the tourists stuck to the patios along the beach. But here you were as September was coming to its close, still trying to get the water stains from the damn dishwasher out of these knives.

After allowing the customer a moment with the menu, you finally turned around to see him sitting there. In all his glowing glory, was Billy Hargrove. The king of Coastalside, California. Grabbing your pad and pen, you sauntered over to the small booth he sat in. For the first time in all the time you’d seen him around town, he looked small. The tall seat towered over him and it reminded you of a child pretending to be a grown-up.

“Good morning, can I get you started off with something to drink?” You politely asked, carefully avoiding eye contact.

“Just, uh, a-a coffee please,” Billy stumbled. You looked up from your pad where you had scribbled ‘coffee’ in loopy handwriting. A single bead of sweat on his upper lip could have easily been attributed to the sweltering Californian heat that lasted into late fall, but the anxiety written on his face told another story.

“Yeah, no problem. Any food or just the coffee for now?” Your eyes finally meeting his, you felt your heart break a little. The once bright blue that shone like the sun in the sky seemed a muted tone as they watered.

You gave a little smile as he took a moment to collect himself to spit out any words.

“Just the coffee, thanks. But hey, can I ask you something?” His eyes still boring into yours pleaded for you. You gave him a quick nod and smiled a little bigger. “Would you mind sitting down for a while? I could use someone to talk to, and you look like a good listener.”

You softly laughed, wondering where in yourself he saw that. You’d only gone to the same small schools together all your lives, but now, he sees it. Nonetheless, you accepted the compliment.

“Thanks. I actually have some extra work to finish up, but I’m off in an hour if you’re not in a hurry. I know somewhere we can go.” You tugged on the bow holding your ponytail, tightening it.

His face lightening up, he finally gave you a smile and took you up on the offer.

For the next hour, Billy waited patiently and watched as you finished up the polishing and served your other tables. Every time your eyes caught each other’s, you could see him delicately smile, and his tense shoulders visibly dropped as he seemed to remember how to breathe again.

Wondering why he seemed so distressed, you recalled hearing around the hallways that the king of Coastalside was leaving his kingdom. You hadn’t heard where exactly, but you knew it was somewhere in the Midwest. No matter where, there was surely no ocean for a nearly professional surfer like him. The demeanour suddenly made sense and you really felt for him.

Finally, noon hit and your shift was over. You gave Billy a nod as you disappeared into the back to discard your apron in favour of your purse. When you got back to his table, he was pulling out his wallet for the three coffees he’d consumed in the hour he waited for you.

“Don’t worry about that,” denying the cash he was trying to hand you. “It’s on the house.”

“Thanks. Where to?” You and Billy headed out the door, the bell ringing out behind you.

“The pier? It’ll be too hot for the tourists today, so we should be relatively alone.”

True to your assumptions, the pier and beach were nearly entirely vacated save for a few locals and truly brave visitors. The ride over was quiet but comfortable. You’d always wondered what it would be like to be one of the girls in Billy’s Camaro only to be moderately disappointed. There was less of a magical excitement than you imagined you’d feel, but you were also not riding around in the same pretext they did.

The two of you walked along the wooden boards, neither saying a word until you reached the end and sat on a bench there. The brilliant noon sun hung right above you, making you glad you’d carried your sunglasses along today. Billy, too, wore his you realized as turned over to look at. As if on a cue, a small tear gentled rolled out from underneath the shades.

“I’m sorry. This was dumb, I don’t know why I asked you here.” His voice cracked, and his shoulders shook. Your hands quickly reached up to his cheeks to wipe away the quickly fleeting stream of saltwater.

“No, no. Don’t apologize.” You didn’t know what to say or how to help him here. Though you’d known Billy most of your life, it was only distantly. You wanted just to make everything better, but you didn’t know how.

After a minute or two of just sobbing and weeping, Billy’s tears came to slow and eventually stop.

“I’m leaving today.” Finally, he broke the silence.

Still not knowing what to say, you offered a simple “I know.”

“I’m leaving my entire life here to go off to hell. Hawkins the Hellhole, Indiana in the county of Bum-Fuck-Nowhere. I’m gonna die out there, Y/N. There’s no way I can survive that long away from all of this.” He held his hands up as he turned around to the town behind you, gesturing at everything it was and stood for.

“What are you gonna miss most? Maybe it’ll help to talk about it and figure out how to get a sense of that out there.” You were just talking out of your ass now, unsure of what you were even saying.

“The waves and surfing. I was so close to a sponsorship too. By the end of the season, it would have been mine. I’m gonna miss the people. My neighbours, the Watsons, real sweethearts. They brought over a cake that Mrs. Watson made for me a couple of days ago. It was a birthday/going-away thing-“ He was quickly cut off by your interruption.

“It was your birthday?!” You asked incredulously.

“Yeah, I just turned 18 the other day,” he said shyly.

“Happy belated birthday! Okay, carry on.”

Billy laughed and continued on with his list.

“I’m gonna miss making fun of the tourists. Miss driving the Camaro on the rocky coastline. Miss the salty air. But one thing I sure as hell am not missing is Stella’s Diner. Those chunks of charcoal you guys call burgers are awful!” He laughed, sniffling slightly. “It has its redeeming qualities, though. The coffee, the fries, you.”

Holding a hand to your chest over your heart, you smiled as he looked down at you.

“God! I’m 18 years old! I’m old enough to go off to war and get shot, but I can’t even decide where I want to be.” Billy frustratedly ran his hands through his hair, combing through the mullet of thick curls.

“Indiana won’t be as bad as a warzone, at least,” you said, trying to find a positive in this.

“Indiana is a warzone for me! You don’t know what my dad is like.” You’d seen the black eyes, the cuts. The Billy you knew didn’t fight and the injuries finally made sense.

“You’re gonna be okay, soldier.” Billy chuckled at the nickname.

Resting his back on the bench again, you looked at him in silence. His signature half-buttoned shirt exposed the glowing tan on his muscular chest. Tensed from experience but relaxed in this moment, he looked comfortable to just be here.

“I don’t have anyone out there, Y/N. Susan and Max don’t give a shit, Dad is an ass, Mom is long gone. Don’t really have anyone back here now. It’s just me.”

“You got me.” You reached your hand over to his and held it.

“Yeah. Can I send you letters, maybe? I’ve got no one else to send ‘em to.”

Your heart swelled at the sentiment. You’d never pegged Billy to be an old fashioned, letter-writing romantic.

You told him you’d love that and pulled your notepad and pen from work, his order still on the top page. Below where you had written ‘coffee’ earlier, you scrawled your home address that he could send to. You tore the page off, and he tucked it into his wallet for safe-keeping.

The two of you sat and stared at the ocean, outstretched before you for a while. Billy soaked it all in, fearing it may be the last chance to see it before he leaves. The quiet between you, while mostly comfortable, was missing something.

You reached up to the back of your neck and gripped the clasp of your necklace, undoing it. You brought it into his hands, folding them around it.

“You got me here. I’ll be there with you, even when you can’t write.”

His eyes buried behind his sunglasses blurred with tears again as he opened his hands to see the necklace. A simple silver chain held a delicate pendant of the Virgin Mary. Ever so carefully, he placed it around his own neck. Thumbing the pendant, he looked back to you.

He was unable to get words out, but you could see how appreciative he was for this gift.

With one last good glance at the vast expanse of water before him, he began to get up.

“It’s time for me to ship out. I’ll drive you home.”

With a town as small as Coastalside, it only took a few minutes to get from the pier to your house. It wasn’t nearly enough time with him. As he parked the Camaro, you turned into him and softly smiled. One of Billy’s hands came off the steering wheel to gently grasp the side of your face. Pulling you into himself, your lips collided like waves crashing at the shore. The sheer intensity lit a fire in your ribs, and you sighed into the feeling. Like a delicate dance, your mouth moved with his in a choreography you didn’t know you knew. As your lungs burned for air, you separated from him but he maintained his soft grip on your jaw.

“I can’t believe I waited this long to do that,” Billy gasped through his swollen lips. “And now, I have to go.”

You pressed your lips together as if to permanently seal the feeling of his into them. Once both of your breaths were caught, moments soaked in, excitement inside you dying down, you reached for your door handle. He returned his hand to the wheel.

Now exited from the vehicle, you smiled down at him in the driver’s seat.

“See ya, soldier.” You called his new nickname while closing your passenger door. Without looking back, for fear of crying if you had to see him again, you walked inside. Once you shut the door, you leaned against it, the sobs finally making their way out. Years of loving him longingly and you finally had your chance. Only to have it ripped away by fate. Your heart ached for what could have been, what you only got a taste of as you carried yourself to your bedroom.

-

The first letter came a few weeks later.

Dear Y/N,

I was right about it being ‘Hawkins the Hellhole.’ The town is bigger than Coastalside, but somehow there’s still nothing to do for fun. It’s so cold here and it’s only October. The lake is just a puddle of brown sludge and it has nothing on my crystal blue ocean. I miss it.

I miss you. I know I should have told you a long time ago, but I’ve really liked you for years. I was a jerk of kid, I know. Even more of an ass when we grew up. An arrogant little shit. But you still showed me kindness. Like you knew something about me that I didn’t know about myself. I hope that’s how you feel anyway. I don’t know if I love you. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that. But I think this might be it.

Write me soon. Your Virgin Mary and I are looking forward to hearing from you, no matter if you feel the same way or not.

Lovingly,

Your soldier, Billy

You laid in bed, reading and re-reading the letter for hours. It was as if your mind was unable to process the words he had very clearly laid out for you.

“I think this might be it.” No way. No way was the king of Coastalside thinking this might be love that he was feeling for you. It all felt too surreal.

“Hey, hon,” your mother leaned against the frame of your open door. “You gonna be joining us for dinner?”

Without looking up from the page, you replied with a simple “no.”

“Who’s the letter from?” she asked.

“Billy,” your eyes continued to keep their focus on the sheet of paper.

“Hargrove? I heard he moved away.” Of course, she did. Coastalside was so small that everyone knew. “I didn’t know you were that close.”

“We weren’t really until he left.”

“Maybe it’s better that he did, you know? He was such a rough kid, and you don’t get mixed up in that. I think this is a good chance to cut your losses and you’re so young. There’ll be more guys.”

Saying nothing, you dropped the paper onto your nightstand and rolled over to face away from her. She took the hint and left, closing the door on her way out.

‘She’s wrong,’ you thought. Billy is so much more than she thinks he is. He was sweet and kind. When he wanted to be, anyway. Other times, he was an ass who beat up anyone who looked at him the wrong way.

No matter what her mother thought, you knew in your heart that you felt the same way as he confessed in his letter.

You refolded the letter and tucked it back into its envelope. You pulled a fresh sheet out of your desk drawer and wrote.

[libraford]

ALL THE ROSE PROFILES (so far) 

Tag yourself at your own risk, there’s a lot of them. 

First photo: Coffee Break (brown, top) and Cherry Brandy (amber-pink, bottom)

Second photo:  Jade (green), Sonrisa (yellow on top), Pink Mondial (pink), Tara (yellow-green on right), Tibet (white), blueberry (purple), Neena (orange red)

Third photo:  Nina (light pink), Carpe Diem (peach)

Fourth photo: Iguana (coral, bottom left), Brighton (yellow), Ocean Song(lavendar), Black Magic (dark red), Atomic (red tipped yellow, bottom right.)

Fifth photo:  Tycoon (yellow orange) and Tiffany (peach) roses 

Sixth photo:  Shogun (purple) Brave (deep magenta) Amnesia (purple gray) and Tabasco (pink tip yellow)

Cherry Brandy is an ART MOM, even if they’re not a mom and even if they’re not related to you- if you call them ‘mom’ they will respond. Folk art, goes to craft shows and sells painted chairs. Buys way more art than they sell. Too many necklaces and rings, many layers of clothes. Stylish yet comfy. Coffee Break is Farmer’s Market Dad, despite being no one’s father and also bearing no relation to you. If there is a space in their home that has room for a bookshelf, there is a bookshelf there and by golly- there are books. The occasional cigar. It’s uncertain whether they were in the Navy, but the stories they tell certainly would imply it. Blazers and loafers.

Jade- Is all about the chill. Listens to vaporwave and trance music. Has been to at least one silent disco and would definitely go back if they could remember where it was. Manages to both never sleep and also sleep all the time. Can never find them when you need them. Sonrisa- Calls you ‘sweet pea’ and means it. Lemonade, jean shorts, and a toolbox. Knows how to carry a tune and give your truck a tune-up. Sneaks out at night even though they don’t have a curfew, no one knows where they go. Pink Mondial- is going to have the fairytale wedding that they imagined when they were six, despite not having a significant other yet. Still waiting for 'the one.’ Attempted online dating at one point but got a little freaked out by it. Prefers cake over ice cream. Tara- The party don’t start til they walk in! A real night-owl. Neon signs and headlights, cover charges and cutting in line. Always hungry, trying to fill a void. Doesn’t remember what daylight looks like. Sarcastic sense of humor to cover up low self-esteem. Tibet- T I R E D. So tired. Please just let them sleep. They are tired. Makes jokes that they don’t realize that are morbid until they tell it to the wrong person and then they feel bad about it for the next four years. Curious about death and dying, but not in a goth way- more in a science and philosophy way. But still… just… so… tired. Go to bed, Tibet. Blueberry- Will never graduate from their Emo Phase. If it’s black with a neon accent, they will buy it, wear it, and when the thing is worn into torn rags they will sew it into something else. Tries really hard to be edgy but comes off as… trying REALLY hard to be edgy. Resurrects memes from the early 2000’s as a coping mechanism. Striped socks. Invader Zim. Made you a cookie, but they eated it. Neena- The kind of artist that other artists HATE. Uses unconventional materials- melted crayons, tar paper, house paint, scrap metal. Has an entire shed dedicated to the accumulation of this stuff and even actually uses it. Knows how to weld. If you’ve got some junk you want gone, they’ll make something out of it and what’s worse? They’ll sell it for a dollar with a smug smile on their face. Youtube personality.

Nina- Shy. A popular person, but they have no idea why. Everyone wants them to become a model or actor but they get stage fright too easily and aren’t likely to change that about themselves. Prefers numbers to people, but can be coerced out to social places provided it isn’t too loud there. Carpe Diem- Just let them be a mermaid. It’s all they want. They wanted to be a marine biologist because they thought it meant they could swim with dolphins but it turns out you have to memorize a bunch of names. Hair goes down to their butt and proud of it. Flower crowns. Seashells in their jewelry. Saw Aquaman four times in theaters.

Iguana is a Crafter with a capital C. If there’s a Pinterest tutorial on it, they’ve tried to make it at least once (to the result of many failures.) Their business model is ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ There is glitter. Everywhere. Their house is a mess and there’s nothing that can stop it from getting bigger. Fabric hoarder. Tends to say things like 'I’ll use it in /something/.’ Brighton used to play the flute in high school, but the competitive nature of music school has burned them out on instruments that aren’t fun. Now plays the ukelele on Youtube. Sundresses, short hair, winged eyeliner. Attempted unicycle. Has had many, many different jobs. None of them stuck. Emotional support extrovert. Ocean Song is The Sad Friend. Gets their hopes up easy and just as easily gets their feelings hurt. Just wants to stay at home and curl up in a blanket for the next century but /noooooo./ Listens to binaural beats and ASMR videos. Forgets to eat. Often. Needs someone to check on them. Black Magic is Old School Goth. Remembers when Hot Topic wasn’t a thing and is kind of glad it’s not 'the goth store’ anymore because it kind of wasn’t goth enough for them anyway (but they still shopped there. Has at least two keychains from The Old Days). Coffee. Unabashedly Bad Poetry. Despite all this? Probably the most genuinely optimistic people you’ve ever met. Atomic has spent more than one summer working for a traveling circus. Has tattoos they don’t remember getting but figures 'it’s all good.’ Rides a motorcycle and keeps a journal of their travels across the states- but it’s mostly a record of places where they’ve seen cool dogs. Tells excellent stories- who gives a crap if they’re true or not? Has been craving venison for like four years now.

Tycoon is TOTALLY RAD and knows all the best spots for surfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking. Drinks like four Monsters a day, but won’t touch alcohol after that one night they played Thumper and got too messed up over it and they swear they’re clean now. Misses Ska. Tiffany has a really, really, really strong urge to find a spot on the beach, set up an umbrella and blanket, and spend the rest of their life reading trashy romance novels there. Has at least one piece of art that says ‘live laugh love’ and it’s probably in their living room. Breakfast consists of coffee and biscotti.

Shogun is a hopeless romantic that handwrites all their letters. She loves wine a little too much, and sings ‘Total Eclipse if the Heart’ at karaoke. Brave is a woman working her way to the top of the corporate ladder and specifically asks for every Wednesday off- not because she has a prior engagement on that day but just to make herself seem like a desireable candidate by appearing to have other commitments. She spends this day at a Mexican restaurant eating bottomless tortilla chips and salsa. Amnesia has a finely-curated Instagram with a penchant for beautifully ugly things, such as graffiti or rusting structures. They carry a camera with them everywhere and think of themselves as an observer of humanity rather than a participant. Tabasco has driven the entire length of the US twice and would do it again in a heartbeat if someone told them there was a burger joint they just had to try. Unironically idolizes Guy Fieri.

[likeshipsonthesea]

For the fanfiction ask: 11 - 23 - 47*. *Title is "Rosebuds and Pine Cones"

Thanks for the ask! From this list

11. Have you ever amended a story due to criticisms you’ve received after posting it?

Yes, actually, once, but not for CP! It was an admittedly bad story with a strange plot I didn’t use well and when I first posted it I had a lot of people in the comments lashing out about the main character’s behavior, so I pulled it, rewrote/reworked it, and posted it again, and people liked it a lot better. Granted, I was pretty young at the time, a poor writer, and not that confident in my abilities, so I think that’s the only reason I redid it. :/

23. Do you prefer listening to music when you’re writing or do you need silence?

This question is tricky (and frustrating) because I used to always write with music on, or even while watching something in the background, because the way my mind works is that I need something to distract one part of it so I can focus wholly on what I’m doing. I do this with reading and schoolwork a lot.

HOWEVER since I was re-diagnosed with ADHD and started medication, I cannot do that because now my brain is accustomed to a certain amount of focus, I guess?? and it’s totally rebelled on me, so not only can I not listen to music while I write, but because I can’t, I get very easily bored/distracted and it takes FOREVER for me to write something unless I’m in hyper-focus mode. Unfortunately, I have not yet learned how to switch that on at whim :((

47. Here’s a fic title - “Rosebuds and Pine Cones” What would this story be about? 

Ah, okay, so all of my fic titles typically have very little to do with the actual fic, but for the sake of this exercise I will ignore that.

A part of me just wants to apply this title to my teased witch!Nursey and gardener!Dex au and waffle about that for a bit, but that feels like cheating, so instead I’m gonna make this a roadtrip!AU where Nursey and Dex want to visit Chowder and Farmer in Cali but Nursey has a Thing about flying so he drags Dex into a road trip, promises to split the gas bill and let Dex drive as much as he wants, and Dex agrees for reasons everyone but the two idiots themselves understands

Of course, it can’t just be driving for the sake of driving, if they’re going to road trip they’re going to actually do it, so Nursey plans out oodles of touristy and cool things to do along the path that Dex picks (which, surprisingly, has more back roads than one would think Dex would allow, but truth is the boy is a sucker for the scenic route) and so they stop frequently, at giant versions of things that were just fine at regular size and natural wonders that dex pretends he doesn’t appreciate while nursey sighs and scribbles lines of poetry across his own hands (having left his notebook in the car, every time)

and of course it’s interspersed with cheap motels (maybe there’s a just-one-bed type situation, who knows) and pleasant bickering over who gets to pick the music and maybe they settle on the radio (randomness means no one wins and everyone wins at the same time) and every time they go out of range they flip to another thing, so it shifts from oldies to rap to classical for a short span of time in kansas and country that nursey weirdly knows all the words to (suss)

and maybe something happens along the way, like dex gets a call confirming that he got a job in new york city after the break and he debates telling nursey about it and then nursey finds out on his own and feels betrayed and they don’t talk at all for the final stretch of the trip and then they’re in cali with farmer and c and nursey begs off, needing some space, and starts to unpack

and maybe he’s reeling and needs to get out of his own head so he pulls out one of the many books he brought along, thinking he could read them in the car but he never got around to it because dex was there and smiling and laughing and-- and fuck was it always a lie? was he just pretending to make the best of it? he didn’t want to be in the same city as nursey, even one as big and easy to disappear into as nyc, and nursey, he thought, he thought that maybe being outside of samwell would make it easier, they’d be farther away from the explosive people they arrived as, but no, no apparently dex doesn’t want that, doesn’t want to be friends, doesn’t want nur--

nursey opens the book in his hand, angry and careless, and what comes fluttering out is a pressed flower. recently pressed, not yet dry, but carefully done so the petals are splayed out, and a note tumbles out with it. Hocking Hills, Ohio. Nursey tried to push me into a pond and then fell in. Complained all the way to the hotel.

nursey stares at the delicate little flower, dex’s precise handwriting. he grabs for another book, flipping through pages, finds another flower, this one from colorado. he keeps searching-- there isn’t a flower in every one, but there are a lot of them, each with a note describing some ridiculous thing nursey did, and if it weren’t for the flowers-- for the fact that dex obviously wanted to remember these things, remember them with something pretty and breakable to go along with it-- nursey would be embarrassed, but instead he’s just-- touched.

and dex comes home to find nursey sitting in the middle of all his books, open to the page dex pressed flowers into, and dex flushes deep and red and tries to play it off and then nursey grabs his own bag and starts pulling pinecones and rocks and seashells and all this stuff out of it and explains, haltingly and sneezing (there’s a generous amount of pollen in there, yikes), that he wanted to remember it too

and there’s probably confessions and kissing and blah blah blah boring parts, long story short they’re both ridiculous horders and their nyc apartment is decorated in natural souvenirs from all across the counter and, basically, it’s disgusting.

.. the end.

[ariela-of-aedyr]

Character Profile

I did one of these for Ariela a while ago, and thought that Watcher Wednesday was probably a great time to do one for Aubrey too! So, here goes:

Aubrey Stargrove

APPEARANCE:

Brown fur with white facial markings, deep amber eyes. Thick black wavy hair, that she usually wears down, or tied back into a low ponytail.

PACK ITEMS:

A travel journal, sketchbook and charcoals, health potions, a whetstone, a small sewing kit for clothing repairs, spare boots, a spyglass, and a holy symbol of Wael.

HANDWRITING/SIGNATURE:

Small, illegible cursive handwriting. Her real signature is surrounded by stars, and the ‘o’ in stargrove is a stylised eye, but she has a tendency to sign a different name every time.

APPROVAL

APPROVES:

- Approves of people with a sense of humour, and is especially enthusiastic about pranks.

- Approves of people with a natural curiosity, who want to learn more about the world around them.

- Approves of passionate people, regardless of their passions.

- Approves of people who live their life the way they want to, and don’t spend too much time worrying about the future.

DISAPPROVES:

- Disapproves of those who don’t speak their mind, or who are otherwise reserved.

- Disapproves of narrow-mindedness, and people who judge others, or lack a sense of humour.

ROMANCING AUBREY:

Can be romanced by any gender, with no particular preference. Tends to prefer casual relationships, but isn’t opposed to the idea of something with a stronger commitment, with the right person. Is particularly attracted to someone who loves life and likes to have fun.

GIFTS:

- Seashells, Pretty Rocks, or other Interesting Trinkets

- Practical Boots or Cloaks

- Maps

DIALOGUE

ENTERING COMBAT:

“I won’t hesitate to defend myself!”

“You want a fight? Then let’s fight!”

“Everyone, behind me!”

EXITING COMBAT:

“Who needs healing?”

“They really shouldn’t have started that.”

“Wonder if they had anything good on them?”

DEATH:

“Is this... Wael’s will?”

“I’m out of healing!”

“I think this might be bad.”

QUARTERS INVITATIONS:

“Want to spend some time together? Maybe later, in my room?”

“If you’re looking for a fun night, just let me know, I’m your girl!”

QUARTERS REJECTIONS:

“Sorry but I’m pretty busy. Have prayers and stuff to do.”

“I just don’t think we’re a good match. But I hope you find someone who is.”

[kaosketches]

I’ll start off with sketches I did when imagining this pirate AU idea, although Ellie is the main protagonist of this page in particular.

(Also, ignore obvious super-deformed blobs up there in the top of the page, one being Santiago, with his wavy hair, earrings, and glasses; and the other being an unknown character with obvious stubble and sunglasses that I’m still defining his design... and my handwriting in Spanish, I suppose?)

When thinking of the au in general, all I could think of at first is pirates and thieves wearing lots of leather, in some way or another, lol.

Ellie in particular was going to get a more “mainstream” outfit, but decided to go with this: a long leather jacket that is worn-out, a piece of cloth around her waist, and under all of this, she would be wearing a blouse, pants, and long-thigh leather boots with some heel to make her a little taller.

She wears jewelry in general: a pair of earrings that are more complementary than identical, rings in both of her hands and necklaces. She wears three: beads, a seashell, and a wind rose-kind of compass (I don’t put it expicitly here, but I refer to it as “a family jewel”).

Compared to her main universe design, she wears long hair up her shoulders (not a bob, and more wavy and fluffy). She also has a scar on her face, as I kinda wanted to make her “tough” but didn’t want to reccur to an eyepatch (although I considered it, hence why her bangs, at least here, cover her left eye).

Her weapons of preference are an old sword and pistols, I think (and funnily enough, I was thinking of her using cannonballs as if they were volleyballs, who knows, I might adapt this later on, lol).

Some more elements in this sketch page: I incorporated the initial sketches for Riley’s look, and I started, obviously, with his head, which also led me to define this version of their characters as a little bit more older than their original counterparts. Lol. (also, I’m pretty bad with scale sometimes, so my sketches turn up a little messy). I want to spotlight them on his own piece of page, though, but what I REALLY want to highlight here is that I wanted him to be a werewolf in this au, because, of course. Either he is the only werewolf in his crew (and mostly part of the reason they succeed and/are considered a menace) or his entire crew can also transform into them (with few exceptions). Still defining if he transforms into full beast, something more in-between, or more anthromorphic.

(That’s also why I sketched his left hand while thinking about him using rings on his hands or nah).

There’s also this (cut by my phone camera, because of another unrelated thing) sketch I did when thinking in what to do with them:

More or less the basics of how they might look against each other in general.

Riley’s thief design

[leigh-kelly]

But I Can Dream, Can’t I?

[seventeen-scenarios-blog]

[SURPRISE] Beaches and Dates (G)

Word count: 1,091 Genre: FLOOF Warnings: None!

A/N: Hello hello admin Wooed! First of all happy birthday (congrats on being the first one among us to turn 20) and I ‘m sorry this drabble was slightly rushed but I hope it brings you happiness and joy! Wheeee~~

-seokminned 😶

You and Wonwoo always enjoyed a little quiet time, this was not surprising since reading was an activity the two of you liked to do in common. So with a free day coming up, Wonwoo promised to bring you to the countryside for some healing.

When the day came, you already found your boyfriend standing at your doorstep in the early hours of the morning - 6am to be exact.

‘This is very unlike you Jeon Wonwoo.’ You thought, but nonetheless, you couldn’t hide the smile which made its way to the corners of your face.

He greeted you by placing a kiss on your forehead, just like how he always did. Grabbing your backpack from you, he took your hand and the two of you made your way outside, with the subtle autumn breeze lingering in the air.

“You’re driving?” You asked, your tone coming out slightly shocked.

“Yeah, I wanted to make this road trip special.”

“Will we be safe.”

“Yes I promise we will make it out alive.”

Wonwoo had been super excited when the two of you came up with the idea of a day trip. He began talking about the beautiful scenery, the fresh air, the delicious food, there was a never ending list of things he wanted to do. And although you were more than happy to let him plan the trip however he wanted (it meant less researching for you), you had some things you had on your own bucket list that you wanted to cross out.

The ride there had a strange combination of moods. One moment you and Wonwoo were head-banging to the latest hip hop tracks dropped by some of your favourite rappers, and the next the two of you were belting out to sorrowful ballads, and the next moment, you were fast asleep beside him.

Wonwoo turned his head slightly to catch a glimpse of you.

What a beauty.

You stirred at the sound of your alarm. It was once again, another school day. Not that you didn’t like what your were studying, just that sometimes, your many commitments got a little rowdy and out of hand. And today was one of those times. Back-to-back classes in the morning, dance practice in the afternoon, and a council meeting which would probably end up stretching to 3am once again (since none of your seniors seem to acknowledge the word ‘sleep’ in their dictionary).

Reaching out to grab your phone from the side table, you discovered a pleasant surprise. Next to your phone was a bottle of green tea, your favourite brand too. Also there was a post-it which had an awfully familiar handwriting scribbled on it - Wonwoo.

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise” The post-it read.

It was a quote taken from one of your favourite literature reads - Les Misérables. Anyone who hung around you would have definitely seen you bursting out into the melody of “One Day More” or when you were feeling more energetic, you would drag whoever was standing within your vicinity to join you to act out the scene in the musical.

And Wonwoo was often one of those people you roped into your playful antics.

On your way to your class, you dropped your boyfriend a text, asking him why the sudden reference to your favourite musical, and the response he gave left you feeling warm and toasty throughout the rest of the day.

“The other day when you were skyping me, you looked thoroughly worn out from school. How could I not step in to help right? Even though the green tea isn’t a lot, but I hope it helps. Also, what about a date this Saturday? Let’s go somewhere away from civilisation for a bit.”

“We’re here.” Wonwoo announced, snapping you out from your slumber. You sat up and took in your surroundings, tall palm trees that towered over you, little shops here and there, the scent of freshly baked bread, sand.

He brought you to the beach.

Beaches, also known as your ideal spot to have a date, was a place that held many happy memories. Barbecue parties, collecting seashells and putting them on your shelves for display, building sandcastles, knocking over someone else’s sandcastles, it was all happy things.

And now you were going to have a date at one of your favourite places in the world with your favourite person. Perfect.

“Does it make your heart flutter, taking a stroll at the beach with your boyfriend?” Wonwoo asked, slipping his hand into yours.

You didn’t say anything in response, but the thousand watt smile and bright red cheeks gave you away. You were a complete sucker for these kind of things, and Wonwoo seems to know each and every one of your soft spots.

The early morning set a good atmosphere for a silent stroll, with both of you taking in the sights and making small talk once in a while.

“You know, even though I don’t like seafood, I really wanna try fishing one day.”

“Are you hinting at our next date?”

“Maybe.”

The little random conversations the two of you slipped into the silence made the stroll much more pleasant. Despite being introverts and somewhat socially awkward, both of you managed to bond really well and at a quick pace too.

Fate is what Wonwoo likes to call it.

“Has school been an ass to you lately?” Your boyfriend asked.

“Tell me about it.” You groaned. “They stuck a sign on the toilet door telling us to get at least 8 hours of sleep if we didn’t want eyebags and dark eye circles. Joke of the century.”

Wonwoo broke out into a laugh, his nose scrunch (or the 8th wonder of the world, as you would like to call it) making its appearance. It made your heart skip a beat and suddenly, school didn’t seem so bad afterall.

The rest of the day involved doing things that you did during your childhood. Wonwoo challenged you to a sandcastle building competition, and after concluding that yours turned out way better, you forced him to give you a piggyback ride for ten minutes.

As sunset came, the two of you made yourselves comfortable on a nearby bench. You resting your head on Wonwoo’s shoulder while he casually rested his arm across your shoulder.

“Thank you for today Wonwoo, it was beautiful.”

“It’ll be even more beautiful when we come back after we’re married.”

“I don’t know who taught you how to say that, but that was smooth.”

[hangonimevolving]

Happiness begins at home

Greetings earthlings!  Well, we are in a wiiiiiiild time in history, aren’t we.  And not in a good way.  Everywhere you turn, there’s just bad, bad news.  Covid deaths in the United States are sky-high.  There is zero justice for innocent black people, as evidenced by the moral failures of the whole Breonna Taylor legal proceeding.  The two presidential candidates essentially had a back-alley pissing contest on national TV, and subjected us all to watching it for 90 minutes.  California’s on fire, and the Gulf Coast is water-logged.  Its rough out there.

I am just as pained, frustrated, heartsick, and angered as anyone else out there to find us in this place.  So, please don’t mistake what’s to follow now as evidence of anything to the contrary.

But - - human beings are creatures, just like frogs and snails and elephants and amoebae and whatever else.  Like all creatures, we are in the business of surviving, adapting, persevering, and ensuring the genetic continuity of the line by finding ways to bring up the young safely to adulthood.  So.... I suppose you could say that my mindfulness practice through all the noise and the chaos, has been to focus on that biologically-ingrained task.

In so doing, I have unexpectedly found a lot of contentment and fulfillment.  Ha!  Contentment and fulfillment, by spending 24/7 for months on end with my BATSHIT CRAZY little boys, with their bottomless reserves of energy, their tornado-like attributes of leaving every surface they touch in total mess and disaster, and their general fart/poop/butt-centric sense of humor..... but yup.  This is where we find ourselves.  We are happy here.

Of course, its not just time spent with them that is the reason for contentment.  It is QUALITY time spent, doing productive and engaging things.  HOMESCHOOLING IS SAVING US.  I swear it.  I may not always swear it.  But I do right this second, today.  We are finding new and interesting ways to relate to each other, because we are engaging in this journey together to learn and focus, and build each other up.  It is totally reciprocal and mutual; its almost like just as much as I am working hard on dialing down the words and actions that could be perceived as critical, negative, discouraging, etc. in the interest of helping them master new skills and hone their knowledge, they also seem to have this uncanny way of reining in the whining, back-talking, and resistance when I’m teaching, and dosing me out with sudden shows of gratitude, affirmations, and love at the precise moments where I’m unsure if they’re really enjoying this homeschool thing as much as I am.  Its been frighteningly awesome.  

Anyway.  Sigh.  We’re enjoying our little schoolhouse at home.  And now, time for pictures!

Dey, my little kindergarten reader!  He’s doing so well with reading, very proud of him!

A fan favorite, in our daily schedule: Handwriting Time.  We spend about 15-20 minutes everyday working on handwriting in both print and cursive.  For some reason, this is EVERYONE’s most anticipated “class” of the day.

Science Time - making wind socks, weather vanes, and doing a special lab practical on the relationship of plants and water, by observing how a leaf takes up water with blue food dye in it.

Math!  We do a LOOOOT of math worksheets with working out problems and memorizing addition facts... but we try to do hands-on things too, like learning geometry, patterning, and fractions with both shape blocks (parts of a whole, like 6 triangles fitting into a hexagon), and with water and measuring cups.

Oh, and since it takes a village to raise a child - sometimes the “village” helps us out via FaceTime to do a lesson on graphing data.

History Time:  another fan favorite.  I chronicled our early units on prehistoric humans and Ancient Egypt.  Recent weeks have taken us through ancient Mediterranean cultures, like Greece and Rome, where two little senators gave delightful oratories in their crisp white togas and olive wreaths.... before mysteriously transforming into fierce Vikings, with their classic helmets and sheep-wool fabrics woven on traditional Scandinavian looms.

Last, but not the least important, thing to mention: Field trips.  Over Labor Day weekend, a WONDERFULLY relaxing and private getaway to a vacation rental cottage in Sanibel Island, Florida, where we had a beach almost entirely to ourselves, and spent our days collecting some of the best seashells we have ever found, EVAH.  It was phenomenal.  I will certainly be sharing more/better photos of our shells themselves soon, b/c we carted home literal bucketsful (which is allowed, and not illegal).  But for now, I was so relaxed on this trip that these are the only two pictures I have on my personal phone (Dr. Spouse was lead photographer on this trip).  So these are what I’ll share.

I promise to be back soon with more, and hopefully get into a rhythm with posting!