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alchemania · 1 year ago

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Drowning.

(Emotions are overwhelming, sometimes too hard to traverse alone. Thankfully, she doesn't have to.)

“I'm accusing you of not being the Hydro Archon at all.”

Those words freeze her where she stands, and whispers fly throughout the courtroom, like vultures searching for a carcass. Wait, no. Nonononono. This could not be happening. No one was supposed to discover her, she had to fulfill the prophecy or everybody would die and all of this would be for nothing and– the glares from all around and the distrust freeze her in her tracks, and Furina can't breathe, breath catching in her throat so hard she chokes. “Wait! Wait!” she cried, shaking her head frantically. “Don't listen to what he's saying! I- I am the Hydro Archon I swear! I'm real! I'M REAL!!”

She had to be. She could be nothing else, or all was lost, all was for naught. She could not allow that to happen she WOULD NOT allow it to happen. There had to be a way, there must be some way…the water! Yes! She's moving her hands rapidly as she talks now, attempting to get away from the spider's web that entangled her further and further. Put your hand in the water, Furina, they said, and she did, she did, deadly determined to keep up the facade, to live out the role. But that was ultimately what undid her- the water, diluted as it was, would not kill her, but she exhibited the same symptoms as the diver boy- Freminet, was his name (he would be dead soon as well oh god. Oh god. And she knew he had only wanted to help, they all did, but they did not know that in doing so, they'd doomed themselves..)

“On the charges of impersonating the Hydro Archon, Furina-”

“No! No!” she screamed, tears flowing like a river. “Stop! STOP!!! You don't understand, none of you understand please Neuvillette LISTEN TO ME -” There was so much pain in his eyes, she noticed, so much turmoil. But he uttered the damning words, regardless.

“..is guilty.”

Guilty.

That verdict stopped her heart, and Furina stumbled back and crumpled into her chair, looking like one dead. At the eleventh hour, she'd stumbled. Five hundred years of lies and guilt all for them, all to save them, down the drain. It was for nothing. SHE was for nothing. What was the point of it all..?

“All this time, she lied to us?! But why?”

To save you, I had no other choice. But it doesn't matter now, anyway. The flood is going to come.

All of a sudden, a terrible shaking rocked the entire courthouse, and an otherworldly being, resembling some sort of whale, seemed to swim through the building, sucking in horrified onlookers. People screamed and pushed each other in a mad dash to the exit, and somehow, Furina felt her legs carrying her as well, running outside along with the crowd. Her worst fears were already coming into being - the unforgiving waves were rising higher and higher, and folks were scrambling - to rooftops, to the trees, wherever they could go to get away. Furina watched numbly, being unforgivingly bumped into and shoved aside as her people fled for any hope of safety.

It was gut wrenching, also seeing humanity shine through in these moments - someone helping an older lady through the streets so she didn't fall, a little boy picking up a frightened cat so it wouldn't be run over and tearing through the streets like the angels themselves guided his footsteps. But it would not be enough. Even so, she ran, splashing up puddles as her heels made contact with the ground again and again and again and again. “Get to higher ground!” Furina screamed, helping a young lady onto a rooftop. “Don't stop moving!”

The hands of disaster would not be held back, though, and as the people climbed higher and higher, some of them began to slip and fall- wives screamed and cried for their husbands, parents for their children, children for their parents, friends for their companions, and she could do nothing but watch it all happen, hopes and dreams dissolving just like her entire nation. “No, no no!!! Please! Stop!”

“Help us!!” People screamed, and she could not. There was nothing she could do. She was helpless, her hands were tied, and all she could do was watch. Lyney and Lynette held Freminet near to them as the waters rose, heads bowed in solemn acceptance of what was to come, and the boy sobbed, dreading the inevitable.

“It's alright,” Lyney comforted. “It's alright. You're gonna see your mother soon, you'll be together again, and we'll see our parents too- and - and we'll never be apart anymore. It'll all be okay.”

“I don't want to die!” Freminet wailed, and Lynette shook like a leaf, fear taking hold.

“.. I don't either. But, we'll embrace it hand in hand, okay??”

“Mhm.”

“I love you guys.”

“I love you too.”

The waters consumed them soon, and Furina couldn't breathe. They were gone. They were gone.

The next thing she knows, she's atop the highest building in Fontaine, and the waters lap at her feet, a silent but deadly testimony to all that had happened. She was all alone now…. everyone was dead and it- it was all her fault. Hollowly, Furina looked to the water, sobbing and crumpling to her knees. The water had changed - it was just normal seawater now, and she found herself frantically pawing in it, inconsolable. “Give them back! Give them back to me!!! I'll do anything I swear - I'll take their place, I - please!!! They didn't do anything wrong it's not their fault it's mine! IT'S MINE!!!!!"

Her reflection changed, and Focalors stared back. Furina yelped, scuttling back like a surprised crab, and sniffled. “Furina. Come here,” she called, and there was no anger in her voice, only sorrow. When the girl approached, the goddess looked ready to weep. “What have you done?” she breathed, horror marring her face.

“I- I didn't mean to, they- they found me out,” she stammered, “I-”

“You were so close,” Focalors mourned. “But it was all for nothing.”

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,” Furina wailed, and the goddess sighed. “Please, I'll do anything - I don't care what happens to me -"

“There is nothing more you can do. You failed the task that you were given, and all is lost. I see now it was a mistake to trust in you.”

Furina's pupils shrank about three sizes, and she choked on air, shaking like a leaf. “I'm - a mistake?”

“Yes, Furina. You are a mistake. But it's alright, because I created you, and so the blame falls to me.”

“I- you - I had to suffer all this time, for nothing,” she wept, anger weaving its way into her veins, “You have no idea what I've been through! You don't - you could never know! It's your fault I had to go through all this! How- how dare you call me a mistake!!” Breaths ragged, Furina splashed the water furiously, again and again and again. “I'm NOT a mistake I'm NOT! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK!! You said I was special!! You created me because you wanted me to live the way you couldn't!!! You created me because you BELIEVED in me!! WAS THAT A LIE, FOCALORS?! WAS ANYTHING REAL!?”

The reflection changed back to herself, and Furina was left alone with no answers. A beat passed, and the girl yanked off her hat and threw it into the water as hard as she could, screeching. Off came her coat, and her gloves, and she hurled them into the waves as well, screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. And Furina cried. She cried for all her people, and for all the pain she'd been shouldering, she cried for the pointlessness of it all, she cried because she was angry, she cried because she was tired, she cried because she was sad. And when she could cry no more, she hollowly stared at the waves, the waves that had doomed so many unfairly to a watery end. If she had just held on a little longer, if she had just kept up the act for a while more…..all would have been well. If she had been stronger, then..maybe..maybe-

“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”

Someone was calling her, and she curled into herself, wrapping her arms around her person.

“Furina,” the voice called again, and she looked up with red rimmed eyes to the heavens, chest heaving.

“No, not up there. Listen. Wake up. You have to wake up.”

“..what are you talking about..? The prophecy-- it's already come to pass it doesn't matter anymore -"

“Furina.”

She looked to the water again, and Tetsuya's face replaced her reflection, to her shock. “Wake up,” he commanded. “Wake up!” The image then sprang from the water, stopping her heart from fear as it grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Wake up!!”

Furina screamed raggedly, nearly tumbling out of bed, and Wanderer was right there, grabbing her face in both his hands. “Hey, hey!! It's alright! It's alright!”

“They're all gone,” the girl wailed, inconsolable, and he stared in bewilderment, face twisting almost comically in confusion.

“..huh?”

“Everyone- I failed, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry please please you have to help me please - there has to be something we can do-” she can barely breathe around her sobs, and Wanderer shakes his head, slowly.

“No. No you didn't, Furina, listen. It was a dream. You were having a nightmare of what could have been.”

“Everyone is-”

“Alive, yes.”

“I'm not- a mistake?”

“....uh, excuse me?” Tetsuya asked after a beat of disbelief, expression darkening like a storm cloud had taken residence. “No…Who the hell told you that?”

“She- she said -”

“She's wrong, whoever she is,” he interrupted, and Furina sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Furina. I need you to breathe.” He took her hand then and squeezed, frowning. “Come on. In through your nose, out through your mouth.” The girl coughed harshly, sucking in irregular breaths, and after a moment of hesitation, Wanderer took Furina's hand and placed it on top of his stomach, breathing calmly. “Can you follow that?”

“M- mhm,” she managed, taking in a shaky but steadier breath, and the rise and fall of Tetsuya's abdomen guided her through the motions, slowly steadying.

“Good, good,” he nodded, as her breathing evened out. “..do you need anything?”

“Can- can you h- hold me?? Please?”

“Ah- alright,” he relented, and Furina leaned on his shoulder, sniffling roughly. “..do you want to talk about it.”

“..no…”

“Okay. Then we'll just sit here.”

And they did just that, silence only broken by the girl's quiet sobs.

“..what if everything went wrong??”

“The important thing is that it didn't. What you need to focus on right now is what you're going to do now that everything is over. It wasn't all for nothing.” He glared at her, then, but she could tell his anger was not with her. “And even if everything had gone to hell, you would not have been for nothing. Don't you let anyone tell you otherwise, not even yourself.”

“..okay..okay. .. Tetsuya?”

“Mm.”

“... I don't think I'm okay.”

He gave a bitter, hearty laugh at that. “I don't think anyone expects you to be, Furina.”

“M’sorry if-”

“If what? You were a bother? You woke me up? If I didn't care, I wouldn't be here,” Tetsuya asserted, holding her closer. “Don't you remember what you said? Emotions are a burden, never the person who carries them. And when you care about people, you carry them too.”

“You remember what I said…?”

“I remember many things. More than I would like to. Important thing is, you're not okay right now, and quite frankly I'm terrible at comfort and all that. But I can promise I can kill whatever gives you hell. I'll be here when you need me, and if you wanna cry, well. To hell with it. After everything you've been through, I think you kinda earned it.”

“Okay. Thank you…”

"Mm.”

“... I wish I could hear her.”

“What?”

“Focalors. She's not here anymore, but I wish- she could've told me she was proud of me. That I did good. That - I was strong, and. . I did my best.”

“Well, I'm not her. But I think you did a hell of a job,” Wanderer muttered. “Sometimes you have to be your own closure and accept that the people you need most will not be by your side. I would know. And- if nobody else, you tell yourself.”

“I.. I did good,” Furina whispered, tears falling fast, and Tetsuya nodded, rubbing her shoulder to soothe. “It hurt a lot.”

“It did, but the worst of it is over. And you are going to get better.”

“I'm gonna get better. I'm gonna heal.”

“And you're not gonna put yourself down when you have setbacks.”

“. .I'll try.”

“Sometimes that's all you can do.”

“Mhm.” She looked up then, eyes misty. “Hey.”

“What.”

“I love you,” Furina smiled wetly, and Tetsuya blinked twice, eyes also a little glossy.

"..uh huh," he mumbled. "Love you too.”

“..What?????”

“I'm not going to say it again,” he huffed, looking fit to blush, and she squeezed him hard, laughing delightedly.

“You love me, you love me!!!”

"Yeah, yeah, you wormed your way into my heart and I can't find it in me to kick you out. Is that you want me to say??"

"Yes," she grinned, and Tetsuya sucked his teeth.

"I'm in your corner. That's the best you're gonna get right now."

She leaned her head back on his shoulder, and Wanderer sighed, looking affectionately weary. "Geez...... I'm getting soft."

"Is that bad?"

"..well. Not as much as I thought it would be."

Sometimes, life was still hell. But at least she had someone to walk through the fire with her now.

#furina #wanderer #genshin impact #oh baby oh BABY #i think so much about what furina has been through and no way she does NOT have nightmares #just. constantly overthinks about what could have been better and everything that went wrong and tears herself up #it is A LOT #thankfully wanderer is here to help wahoo #as you already know i really like these two i hope they meet i hope they hug i hope they get to heal #it's so funny furina has already been through so much and im here like MORE ANGST MORE ANGST #originally i was gonna have her nightmare be even darker but i was like nawwww.....lemme not do that...#but anyway!! i hope you enjoy this i am actually proud of this ome #I ALMOST FORGOT TO TAG AGAIN LORD HELP ME. SORRY ABOUT THAT

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halfwitsclub · 6 years ago

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Heavenly chanting echoing in the rafters; Fish... of... the... Day! Who will be our guide to help drag our way through the inner ruins of Monday? Oh it’s Wahoo, Acanthocybium solandri.

Don’t be fooled like we were by the Wahoo’s excitement-filled name. They in fact are known among the sub-tropical angling community for their reserved and solemn natures. Thankfully these traits have not dissolved Wahoo’s personality into cynicism or miserliness. Rather, Wahoo’s are frequently found to be peaceful and introspective in character, preferring a gentle evening and a simple squid supper to any hyperactive frivolity.

Indeed, this tendency to quietude has produced in the Wahoo a wonderfully tempered wisdom. Many an angler in need of timely advice has found the sage Wahoo’s even temper and moderate words a calming force amid the frequent squalls of oceanic living.

Other scombrids often dismiss the Wahoo as grim or dour. Indeed one could be forgiven for wondering what business the light-hearted fools of the Halfwits Club could have here.

But we remind that judgement is a reflective light, and the known shape of friendship’s bounds need not count the full sum of two spirits converging.

We sent Wahoo a request for some short story or other we could use on our blog. We promptly received a letter, written in a tidy script. It read:

Dear Halfwits,

My aunt in law, a lancetfish from the open ocean, told an interesting story recently. She was passing by and thought we could share a little something non-caffeinated together. As I prepared us a wakame infusion she related her story. She had floated in the water column all day waiting for a tunicate or some other morsel to float by. The wait seemed a long one that day and she found a growing restlessness accompanying her hunger. Some sprat did indeed wander by, but bumbled and circled for what seemed an age outside her reach. She beaded her attention on it and when finally the sprat came close, she struck and was sure not to miss. Ravenous in her hunger, she consumed the fish in a second and it was gone. But the little bones stuck in her throat and great discomfort followed. It was a full day until she was back to normal. My aunt, she said ‘cook even the small fish with care’. I thought that wonderful. My aunt is a good woman to conclude such a thing from her experience. We sat for tea mostly in silence but we were comfortable I believe, glad simply for the company. I hope this finds you well Halfwits,

Your friend,

Wahoo

Thank you again Wahoo for your lovely letter. We hope you like the red balloons we sent, and hope you change your mind about attending our spring jamboree– it will be fun! But we completely understand if you can’t make it. You are welcome anytime!

And we hope Reader you find as we did some solace for Monday in Wahoo’s words. May you find shelter from the squalls; our door is open to you too.

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phoenixsavant · 7 years ago

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Manifest Destiny Chapter 2 : Convergence

You have a first date with the real Saeyoung.

Co-written with @moonfireflight

(Chapter 1 here)

“After the branch?” Saeyoung asked, smiling slowly. “I guess it is kind of a branch at this point.” He grinned at you. “So, did I get enough hearts to get the good ending?”

His grin was contagious, and took over your expression swiftly. “I’m not sure. There’s usually three branches to a path, right? Day four, day 7, and day 10?”

“You’re kidding. So is this only day four?”

You laughed at his mock frustration. “What, did you want to spend all your hourglasses and buy out the entire route at one time?”

Sliding quickly to a serious expression, Saeyoung replied, “Not at all. I want to enjoy every day and wait to see what happens.”

You blushed and looked away for a moment. Those eyes were just too intense. Your own wish to find out what would come next was just as intense. Your mind was quickly catching up to accept that the red-head sitting on your couch with you was not a figment of your imagination. Your hand still rested over his, and he’d made no move to withdraw from your touch. The places where your skin touched felt like they’d been chased by lightning, prickly, warm, and full of anticipation.

“I should probably go soon, so you can take care of your groceries and stuff. I…” He suddenly looked uncertain and bit the corner of his lip. “I came over to introduce myself, but also, I hoped that you might like to go out with me sometime. On a date, I mean.”

He hoped he didn’t look too eager, but he also didn’t want to let the opportunity pass. Especially now that he’d seen her in person. This was a girl that other men would be after. If he waited, he could lose his chance.

You tried to keep your smile demure, but you were sure you were beaming. “I would like that, yeah.”

***

It had been a long day. Even though you could call each other through the game, the two of you exchanged phone numbers and made vague plans for a date this weekend. You stared at the entry in your phone. “Saeyoung Choi.” You read the name and numbers again, memorizing them.

Neither of you were sure what to do as he was leaving for the night. You’d only just met, but you felt like you’d known him a lot longer. What the hell is the protocol for meeting your game, uh, crush, in real life?

Saeyoung had hesitated for a moment and then darted in to kiss your cheek, blushing as he pulled away. He didn’t want to kiss your cheek, but he felt so nervous being face to face with you at last, he wasn’t willing to try for more, yet. He grinned as he saw you blushing, too.

Closing the door behind him, you leaned your back into the frame and stared into space trying to process what had just happened. The guy you thought was part of a game showed up at your door, you fainted on him in a very literal sense, and now you were going to have a date with him! What world had you fallen into? This doesn’t happen, right?

You smiled, pushing away from the wall and wandering into your kitchen. “Saeyoung Choi,” you whispered to yourself, testing the name on your tongue. Your fingers rose to where he had kissed your cheek and you felt your face grow warm again.

While getting ready for bed, you found yourself in a bit of a daze, still thinking about the strange turn your life had taken. You were just about to silence your phone for the night when it dinged to indicate you’d received a new text, and then another.

“Thanks for giving me a chance.”

“Maybe we’ll meet again tonight in the world of dreams! ^^”

His cute message made you blush yet again. He really had a knack for making you do that. You thought about how reply. This was much harder when you didn’t preset options to choose from. After a moment, you decided to take a little bit of a risk and tapped out a message to him.

“Dreams would be wonderful, but…

I’m looking forward to seeing you in the real world again.”

Normally you weren’t this forward, but you couldn’t help yourself. Nervous energy percolated through you, erupting in giggles as you kicked your feet under the covers. That date had better happen.

Saeyoung called you the afternoon following his appearance at your door. You tried, but failed, at not feeling like an excited teenager when you saw his name appear on your phone. Hoping he wouldn’t hear all of the excitement, you answered, “Hey! How’s it going?” You cringed. Why did you choose such a lame greeting?

****

Saeyoung grinned. He could almost hear the girl on the other end of the call trying to play it cool and failing. He wondered if he could fluster her more. That might be amusing, but moreso in person. He filed the idea under, “things to test in great detail at the earliest possible convenience” and responded, “Hi! I’m good, how about you?”

****

You exhaled in relief. Alright, he wasn’t going to say anything about it, you could do this. It’s just a phone call, right? A phone call with a guy who was imaginary less than 24 hours ago, but still, just a phone call. “Not bad. What have you been up to today?”

“Eh, hacking the pentagon again, distributing Microsoft’s codes for Office, nothing big.” Saeyoung chuckled softly.

“Again?” you gulped.

“Well, they pay me to, so…”

“Oh, uh..”

****

Saeyoung waited a moment and then laughed. “I’m kidding! I’m kidding! I am still at work, but it’s nothing so thrilling. I wanted to ask you about that date thing we talked about.” He stopped and pulled the phone away from his ear, glancing at his reflection on the screen. “Date thing? Really dude?” He shook his head and returned to the call. “I just wanted to know if you’d really like to, go out with me, I mean. Now that you’ve had time to think about it, that is.” He rolled his eyes at himself. This was not smooth. This was not half so composed as his training had taught him to be.

****

“Did you have an idea?” you asked, your excitement transmitting through the airwaves before you could stop it. “He meant it! We’re going to have a date!”

****

“How would you feel about a hike and a picnic?” he asked, almost rushing his words. He hadn’t ever asked anyone out before. This shouldn’t be so difficult though!

****

“Oh! I haven’t been hiking in a really long time. I used to like it though.” You paused, trying to remember the last time you’d been hiking. At least six years had passed, but you still recalled the rustling of the trees, the cool breezes, and the clean air. It was peaceful in the forest, quiet and calm. It sounded like an invitation to heaven. “Why don’t we? When did you want to go?” you asked.

****

“Uh, well, are you busy on Saturday?” Saeyoung asked, relieved that he’d thought that far ahead before calling.

****

“I am now!” you thought to yourself with a wide grin. “I don’t have anything that has to be done, no. Do you want me to meet you somewhere?”

****

“Why don’t I just pick you up? I can be there at 8, we’ll be able to get some hiking in before it gets too warm out.”

****

You cringed at being ready to go by 8 in the morning on a day off, but this wasn’t getting ready for work. This was getting ready to spend time with Saeyoung! You agreed readily. The rest of the call was brief, idle chat about your days, before work called him away and you said goodbye.

You squealed, clutching your phone tightly as you bounced off the couch and danced in a little circle. You had a date! Not just a date, but a date with Saeyoung! You were still grappling with the fact that he was a real person, and here you were, going on a date with him!

*****

Saeyoung took a deep breath, clutching his phone to his chest. “I did it! I got a date with her!” He exclaimed to the empty room. His initial nervousness turned into joy, and he jumped up out of his chair, accidentally flinging it back into his desk, sending a few empty soda cans clattering to the floor. He jumped up, pumping his fist in the air with a “WAHOO!”. After a moment, he blushed, hoping no one else in the building had heard his sudden outburst. He sat back down and collected himself so he could focus on work again. Instead of slouching and staring at the monotonous lines of code, he hummed a tune and tapped his foot, happy and nervous. Striking the enter key, he spun his chair in a full rotation. Spinny chairs really were a job perk, especially in moments like these.

*****

Saturday morning you beat the alarm out of bed. Shaking your head, you turned it off, thinking about how nice it would be if you could wake up so energized every day! Today, today wasn’t just another day though. Today was your date. Your cheeks hurt from the smile that would not fade from your face, but you didn’t care. Showering quickly, you stepped out and wrapped your hair in a towel. You had picked out an outfit yesterday, but you found yourself digging through your closet again now that it was time to get dressed. Blue, or green, red or yellow? You could not bring yourself to decide which shirt to wear!

You wanted to look nice, but you didn’t want to wear your best clothes for hiking, either. Jeans were a must. Hiking in shorts was asking for a fight with something spiky. Thankfully, you had the perfect pair of jeans. They curved over your hips and gently outlined your thighs, and you knew they made your ass look amazing.

Whatever shirt you wore had to look good with your hiking boots, which you had recovered from the darker recesses of your closet and brushed up a bit so they didn’t look quite as neglected as they had been. The leather was a medium brown with darker brown accents. That ruled out wearing black. You tugged at your lower lip, as you flipped through the hangers in your closet. No black shirts still left the entire rainbow to choose from. It was not exactly helpful. Then you saw it.

Hiding between a t-shirt from a concert and an oversized sweatshirt was a red gingham blouse. The off-the-shoulder folds, imitating a half-unbuttoned dress shirt, were held up by simple straps. The body was loose, breathable, and would tuck into your jeans without trouble. You could show off your shoulders, look cute, and still be able to move properly while hiking. It was perfect!

You were finishing the last button before the suddenly emptied hanger stopped swinging. Adjusting the straps, you grinned at your reflection. This was easily a look that fell into the “classic” and “very cute” ranges, and always a safe bet when dressing to be with someone whose tastes you hadn’t learned yet. You thought about a necklace or choker but decided to keep the accessories at a minimum. This was hiking. Things tended to go missing as if there were sprites in the forest who simply took all the shiny things they could as tribute for allowing humans to pass.

After tying the long laces of the hiking boots, you brushed your hair and pulled it up into a half-ponytail. Thinking again, you pulled out your hair tie and switched to a regular ponytail. Your neck and shoulders were now completely exposed. Biting your lower lip, you traced a line from below your ear to your collarbone. Would he like this, you wondered? With a soft sigh, you saw that your watch was telling you that you were over an hour early in getting ready. “Excited much?” you asked your reflection, before flipping off the light and heading to the kitchen. With this much time free, you should probably find something to eat.

*****

Saeyoung found himself pacing around his house, unable to sit still, or even sit at all. He didn’t need to leave for at least an hour, but he was already dressed and ready to go. He’d picked up the same can of Dr. Pepper four times out of habit, flicking at the tab, narrowly resisting the urge to open it. He’d been up for almost an hour and had only had two so far. Being too hyper for their date would be bad. No more caffeine, you can do this.

He’d spent far too long debating what to wear. He started with the outfit he frequently wore at home - the same one he’d patterned his in-game avatar after. However, he wanted to show her other sides of himself. She probably assumed he was just a computer nerd who sat behind a glowing screen all day. Normally he’d be more than OK with that, preferring to hide how fit he was so that people would underestimate him. However, that was the opposite of what he was going for today.

He eventually went with a dark gold, short sleeved shirt, a bit tighter than he was usually comfortable with, showing off his muscles without being gratuitous about it. His jeans fit like gloves down to the top of his thighs, where they tapered slightly out before falling in a straight line to cover the top of his tennis shoes. He had thought about boots, but the boots he wore when he had to work in the field weren’t exactly fashion statements. The only other shoes he had were dress shoes and that would never do for a hike, so, tennis shoes it was. At least they were nice, he shrugged to himself. When he looked in the mirror to fix his hair, however, he found he’d encountered his greatest challenge of the morning.

He stared at his reflection for a few moments, fiddling with the red fringe that was threatening to cover his eyes. There was no time to get professional help on this case, and imagining the aftermath if he tried to cut it himself made him cringe. He could part it, but that would probably last until the first gust of wind or stray branch met him. He would just hold onto the hope that the crimson disaster on his head was part of his apparent charm.

After several more minutes of pacing and fidgeting with his phone, reading her messages over again, he headed to his garage. He needed to calm his nerves and driving was always the best cure when he was feeling like this. He plotted out a very scenic route that would get him to her apartment at 8am on the dot, but also give him some relaxing time with his favorite car. He settled into the familiar bucket seat with a contented sigh. The purr of the engine energized him. He was ready. It was going to be a very good day, he was sure of it.

***

Even though you were already staring at your phone intently, the message that popped in at exactly 8am almost made you jump off of the couch.

“Your chariot awaits, madame!”

The nervousness you’d nearly finished quelling was back in full force. You waged an epic battle with auto-correct before finally replying.

“I’ll be right there!”

You grabbed the small, tan, mailbag style purse that had room for your phone and your wallet, but not much more. It was perfect, you thought, for keeping things secured while not weighing you down. You checked your reflection one final time before grabbing your keys and opening the door.

When you stepped outside, you looked out to the parking lot and saw Saeyoung waiting in a cherry red convertible with the top down. You gulped. “Oh god,” you thought to yourself, “He’s still hot.” You waved before locking your door and slid the keys into your bag as you approached the car. You took very slow, deliberate breaths, determined to keep your cool and not act like a complete idiot on sight. It wasn’t easy though, with the way the wind moved his hair, the layers glistening in the sun as they shifted.

****

Saeyoung saw her step out of her apartment and his breath caught. Her bare shoulders were smooth and beautiful. She had dressed for hiking, which was a relief. Not every girl understood how to do that. He couldn’t take his eyes off the line of her neck, the gradual slope of her collarbone, the… She waved and his hand rose reflexively, mirroring the gesture.

“Easy there, buddy. It’s just a date,” he mumbled to himself as she approached. Realizing that she was walking toward the car, he hopped out and hurried around to open the door on the passenger side for her.

****

“Good morning!” you beamed at him as he opened your door. You knew that you were beaming. You also knew you couldn’t help that you were. Maybe if you just went with it, you could avoid looking like a dork. Your breath felt so tight though. The instant his eyes met yours, you were certain you were going to faint again.

****

“Good morning!” he responded with a broad smile. “You look great,” he said. “Perfect for hiking!” Inside his mind he thought “That was not the way to compliment her.”

****

As you slid into the car, you tilted your head, looking to be sure you didn’t overshoot the seat. No need to be a clutz. “Thank you,” you replied, looking up at him. “I haven’t been in forever.”

****

He noticed that right above her collarbone, her pulse jumped rapidly beneath her skin. She looked calm, but her heart was racing. On the one hand, he wanted to reach out and touch that leaping spot. On the other, he was just relieved that she was clearly nervous as well. Not being the only one who was excited and nervous this morning was something he could work with.

****

Conversation flowed much easier between the two of you once you got on the road. You were happy that you decided to put your hair up in a ponytail. You hadn’t ridden in a convertible before, and while they looked luxurious, you understood why women wore scarves in them. The wind felt wonderful, but would have made a mess of your hair.

You were also impressed by his skill at the wheel. He seemed to navigate traffic effortlessly and he looked like he was truly at home in the driver’s seat. Before long, you’d realized you were doing most of the talking. He prompted you with questions about your life, your hobbies, and your work, responding with interest and the occasional joke. You weren’t used to someone taking such interest in the mundanities of your life, and it was nice. While sometimes it was hard to hear each other over the rushing wind and the hum of the engine, he still kept you smiling the whole way.

“We’re here,” Saeyoung announced, slowing the car. The steep incline of the mountain road had smoothed as he drove into a valley. The shoulder of the road grew wide again and he eased to a stop where the road gave way to grass. Putting up the top before leaving the car, he rounded the front and opened your door for you. Once the car was locked, he retrieved a cooler from the trunk, grinning.

“One picnic, as promised!”

“Oh good!” you teased. “I hoped we weren’t going to have to scavenge for nuts and berries!”

“Well, if you prefer those, I could help you.” He patted the side of the cooler. “I’m eating what’s in here, though.”

You laughed a little at his comment, earning a grin and a wink from him. Saeyoung took your hand as he led you away from the car. The cooler had a handy strap, allowing him to carry it across his body and keep his hands free. He had said it would be off-trail hiking, but you hadn’t thought he meant away from a park or any other starting point. The hiking boots were, indeed, a good choice!

“I like to come out here when I can,” Saeyoung was explaining as he led the way into the tall trees. “There’s rarely anyone else around. The main parts of the parks are always so crowded and noisy. This way, we don’t have to deal with other people. We might see the deer, too. They don’t go around the busy places, either.”

“Deer? You mean, real, wild deer?” You couldn’t remember seeing deer before.

“Mhm,” he nodded, smiling back at you. “There’s a little herd that shows up sometimes where we’re going to have our picnic.”

“Oh wow! That would be amazing! I hope they show up!” you exclaimed.

“We’ll have to be quiet, if they’re going to, though. I’ll tell you when we have to start watching for them.”

You walked with him, asking questions about his experiences hiking and camping. It turned out that he hadn’t hiked much until he went to college. Chicago was better for swimming and small scale attempts at surfing on Lake Michigan, than it was for camping and hiking. The college he attended in New York was near a popular park and his dorm mate convinced him to go along. He went often with a group from school after that, and admitted to having had daydreams of moving into a forest on more than one instance.

You noted, as the walk continued, that he was deliberately taking routes that while sometimes wound more, had more level ground. He was taking it easy on you. It made you smirk a little to yourself because you were reasonably certain that you could keep up with him. None of the terrain you’d covered was harsh. The ground slanted gently, with intermittent spaces where it was only marginally steeper than the rest of the walk had been. You couldn’t take offense though. It was sweet that he was being so considerate.

The trees didn’t part or thin, so much as they stopped. Beyond them, you stepped, blinking, into the sunlight with Saeyoung. Your eyes adjusted rapidly to a wide, grassy bank that ran along a clear stream. The water churned and bubbled over larger rocks that were worn smooth by the constant flow. On the far bank, a fallen tree lay, the submerged end forcing the water to flow over and around it in glittering ribbons. The deeper places, where the water ran more smoothly, revealed the clarity of the stream, allowing you to see to the bottom of the streambed.

“Oh! Saeyoung! It’s beautiful!” you gasped.

****

Saeyoung watched her face as he led her out of the trees. He’d been here so many times, but always alone. He had never brought anyone to this place of quiet reflection. Mostly, he came here to do what his brother called “moping,” when he became depressed or dissatisfied with life. She didn’t know that, of course, but he couldn’t think of any place he’d rather have brought her. From the instant he set eyes on her, he wanted to bring her here, to his own little sanctuary. She didn’t have to know what it meant to him just now. He knew, and that was enough.

When her face lit up, he knew he’d been right. She could see and appreciate the beauty of this scene. She looked enraptured as she surveyed the stream. He was entranced by the beauty of her, standing there beside him, completely immersed in his little slice of heaven. Had she always been what was missing when he came here before? Was it because she wasn’t with him that he sometimes left feeling dissatisfied and uneasy?

She turned to face him and he couldn’t look away. The sun brightened her eyes and struck someplace deep inside him. He wanted, in that exact moment, to put his arms around her and never let her be anywhere but at his side.

****

You had started to ask how Saeyoung had found this place, but the look in his eyes stole your words. You felt your face flush, and looked away quickly. If you’d suddenly found yourself standing naked before him, you’d have felt less surprised at the nameless something you sensed in the way he watched you.

****

The moment broken, he said, “I’m glad you like it. I thought this would be a good place for the picnic, and to give you a break from the hiking.”

You noticed that he sounded suddenly more shy than he had only a few minutes ago, and wondered why. Looking back up at him, you saw his golden brown eyes fixed on the stream before you. “It’s perfect! I don’t really need a break, but does that stream feel as good on bare feet as I think it does?” you asked.

He laughed, leading the way again, still holding your hand. “Even better than you think it does!” he declared.

Dropping the cooler at the side of the stream, Saeyoung began to shed his shoes and you followed his example. With your pant legs rolled up, you tested the water with your toes. It was frigid! You were relatively certain you’d had ice water that was less cold! With a squeak, you danced back to the safety of the bank.

Saeyoung was already standing in the stream, water pouring over his exposed ankles. He looked at you in surprise. “You didn’t want to come in?” he asked, confused.

“It’s COLD!” you exclaimed.

“It’s a stream, in the mountains,” he explained, sticking his tongue out at you.

“I didn’t know it was going to be so cold though,” you pouted a little.

“Just come on in,” he urged you, grinning in amusement. “It’s not as bad as it feels. I bet your feet are just warm from the hike down here.”

You watched as he kicked a foot playfully, casting droplets of water into the air. Chewing your lip you approached the stream again. Cold feet were miserable, but you weren’t about to be outdone. With a sharp breath, you stepped into the stream. Saeyoung held his hand out to you again, and as if it were the most natural thing in the world, you took it, allowing him to steady you as you found your footing.

Thankfully, the cold ceased to be as sharp as it had been during your initial test. The steady flow of the stream was soothing and energizing at the same time. You watched as Saeyoung wiggled his toes under the surface of the stream like a boy in a mud puddle. It was adorable, endearing, and a little unexpected. You weren’t sure when, but you stepped closer to him, your arm pressing against his.

The warmth of his skin contrasted with the cold water of the stream. It felt so comfortable, so natural to be there with him. You felt your head drift toward his shoulder, wanting to lean into him more fully. He tensed, and you wondered if perhaps he wasn’t so sure about you yet. As you stood, you considered going back to the banks.

****

“Why did I do that?” Saeyoung asked himself. She had tried to rest her head on his shoulder and he froze. He’d watched her step into the water, raptly observing the way the water parted to allow her to come and stand with him. She’d taken his hand so easily, without any hesitation. He was kicking himself for ruining the moment when he looked down and saw their fingers still entwined. A soft smile turned his lips up at the edges. Okay, maybe it wasn’t ruined entirely.

****

“Hungry?” he asked.

“I suppose I could eat a little,” you replied, looking up at him. “We should probably leave the water too, before our toes turn blue.”

“My toes aren’t blue,” Saeyoung laughed. “See?” He kicked a foot up out of the water, splashing your leg.

“Oh! Hey now!” you squealed, dancing away. The instant you could, you turned and scooped water back at him. He’d gotten your leg with a few drops of water. You were not so merciful. You sloshed as much as you could at him.

****

“What!?” Saeyoung called, startled as his pant leg was suddenly wet enough to cling to the side of his calf. Looking up, he saw his date laughing and hopping up onto the bank of the stream. She’d made a critical error though. She was still holding his hand. Saeyoung’s fingers tightened and he pulled her back into the water. An arm shot out to keep her from falling completely into the stream, but he wasn’t going to go unavenged. As she kicked and squealed, he allowed her antics to get her pants as wet as she’d gotten his. The flip side was, his became more soaked the more she kicked.

****

You squirmed, laughing, until you freed yourself. You knew your pants had gotten wet, but hadn’t realized that you’d managed to get Saeyoung’s as well. The two of you made your way out of the stream, laughing. It was worth it. You loved his laugh. It came up from deep in his chest, bubbling forth and spilling out to surround you. You decided to make him laugh as often as possible, just to hear it again.

Once on the shore, he opened the cooler, unfolding a large tablecloth from the top. Hidden within were containers with grapes, sliced apples, cubes of cheese, and crackers. He pulled out a bottle of water and one of a yellow drink, offering both.

“Water or lemonade?” he asked with a slight tilt to his head.

“Ooh! Lemonade sounds wonderful!” You took the bottle and unscrewed the lid, hearing a slight hiss as you did. Looking over at Saeyoung with a questioning expression, you paused.

“It’s fizzy, like a soft drink,” he grinned proudly. “I made it myself.”

Curious, you opened the bottle and tasted the contents. The tartness of the lemonade danced across your tongue as the carbonation fizzed against your palate. It was a new experience, having lemonade that acted like a soft drink, but it was good!

“You like it?” he asked, watching your taste test with interest.

Nodding, you replied, “It’s really good. I wouldn’t have thought of making it this way. What was the inspiration?”

Saeyoung laughed softly. “I wish I had a great story, but I was bored and experimenting.”

“Well,” you grinned, “here’s to experimenting!”

As you shared the meal, you each kept your legs out in the sun, drying your pants in the warm morning light. Saeyoung laid back, an arm crooked under his head, listening to you tell of family picnics. You were glad he wasn’t watching you when you began to reach forward to play with his hair. You yanked the wayward appendage back and flopped down on your back, folding your hands over yourself.

****

Saeyoung saw her hand reach forward and then yank back from the corner of his eye. Why had she stopped? he wondered. When she laid down he caught the faint color in her face and grinned. She was still uneasy, but that was alright. He was too.

****

You asked about his past, wanting to know more about this red headed surprise who had turned your world on end. At first, his responses were slow, almost hesitant. With a little prying though, you got him talking more about his family and his life before you. He had always been a bit of a prankster, it turned out, and he had you laughing hard enough to pull tears from your eyes as he recounted some of his more audacious stunts.

You realized that you were holding his hand again, as he spoke. When had that happened? It was as if you each were suffering from hands that were determined to remain together and notify their owners of the fact later.

It wasn’t until he turned on his side, looking at you quietly, that you started to feel that shy sense of needing to hide again. There was nowhere to hide though. There was this open space, the quiet of the forest, the warmth of the sun seeping through your exposed skin, and his eyes with their gentleness and questions unasked.

Suddenly he put his finger over his lips, cautioning you to be quiet. Nodding toward the stream, he signaled you to look. You sat up slowly, and skirting the edge of the trees you saw a doe and fawn looking nervously toward the stream. She didn’t let her young one pass her, clearly unwilling to approach while humans were so close. Their movements were so graceful and beautiful though, you covered your mouth to avoid gasping and frightening them away.

Saeyoung tapped your shoulder. He had already packed the picnic back up and motioned toward the trees. You stood slowly, backing away while he shoved the cloth back into the cooler. Together, you walked into the trees, turning to see the doe approaching the stream carefully as the fawn danced along behind her.

****

When she looked at him, Saeyoung thought he might not breathe again. Her eyes were full of wonder, having seen the deer. Her smile was wider than any he’d seen all day. Every aspect of her relayed excitement that could break free in an instant. Had he thought her stunning when she saw the stream? If so, she was now entrancing, a forest spirit come to greet him.

He looked away sharply, kicking himself for staring like that. Moving quickly, he headed back uphill toward the car.

“We should head back,” he called to her. “Keep up though, I …” He cut himself off. He had almost said, “I don’t want to lose you again.”

****

You were a little startled at how brusquely he spoke, but he didn’t seem angry. Confused, you followed him. Aside from this one moment, this entire date had been pure magic so far. Saeyoung was smart, funny, strong - you’d noted that well when he was holding you in the stream - and attentive. You felt a little odd, not holding his hand, and that startled you. How could you feel odd about not holding his hand so quickly?

You knew the answer. Whether you’d met because of the game or not, you were crazy about him. Spending time with him in person only made the way you felt grow stronger. You didn’t want to go back to the car, truthfully. You wanted to spend the rest of the day with him, and maybe the next several days.

An idea had been brewing incessantly in your mind as you trailed along behind him. You were afraid it might be too silly, but you couldn’t help yourself any longer. You shushed the part of your mind that accused you have having ulterior motives. Maybe you’d just wanted to hear him laugh again, or to play around a bit more before you left this beautiful place. Either way, the idea wouldn’t leave you be. Besides, you weren’t worried about getting lost as you could see his car and the road off in the distance. Breaking into a jog, you closed the few steps to catch up with Saeyoung.

You tapped him on the shoulder and blurted, “tag, you’re it!” and dashed past him before glancing over your shoulder to see if he was following. He wore a look of surprise and amusement, but was already starting to pick up speed.

“Are you going to let me catch you that easily?” he taunted, rapidly shrinking the distance between you. You took the bait and started running through the forest at full tilt while laughing wildly. In all honesty, you didn’t think you’d mind at all if he caught you, but decided to give him a challenge.

“Catch me if you can,” you shouted, while deftly winding between the trees. From the sound of his boots crunching on the pine needle carpet of the forest, he was still gaining on you. Your heart was pounding and not just from the physical exertion.

He returned your challenge. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry.” The teasing tone of his voice made you shiver. Your mind was racing, imagination running wild. This game was far more exhilarating than you’d expected. A thud behind you told you he’d let go of the cooler, showing how serious he was about catching up to you. He was getting even closer, and would catch you any second. You ducked behind a tree, bracing your hand on the trunk as you spun to change direction and dodge the steps you heard right behind you.

Just a few steps later you were halted in your tracks by strong arms wrapping around your waist from behind, nearly lifting you off your feet. Laughter filled the forest from both of you, then trailed off as you both realized the position you were in. He hadn’t let go of you yet, and you were acutely aware of the hard planes of his chest pressing against your back and his breath tickling at your ear.

****

His arms were finally around her. Saeyoung breathed in the scent of her hair as if it were oxygen. He’d wanted to hold her like this all day, he only lacked the certainty to do so. And now, now she was his prize, chased and caught. His heart raced, pounding hard against his breastbone. It wasn’t the running that made it speed so wildly.

He was going to hold her like this forever. There had never been anyone he’d met that made him feel this way. He was captivated by everything about her. He couldn’t help himself. His head began to move, his lips reaching toward the exposed shoulder before him. Catching himself, he let her go and stepped back uncertainly.

****

After a few tantalizing moments, he suddenly let go and stepped away, as if afraid he’d overstepped. You turned, grinning at how flustered he looked. His hair was a mess, and a blush that almost matched it tinted his cheeks. However, the dark look in his eyes, his slightly parted lips, his chest heaving with heavy breaths, all told another story. Neither of you were ready for the moment to end.

You took a confident step forward and placed your hands on his chest, gazing up into his shining golden eyes. Being this close to him was intoxicating. This was the first time you’d noticed the subtle cologne he was wearing, and it blended perfectly with the scent of pine that lingered on him. The dappled sunlight that made it through the trees played along his hair, making it shine. His striped glasses had slid down his nose a little from running through the woods. He was so handsome and endearing, you couldn’t take it.

You smiled up at him shyly, leaning towards him ever so slightly, hoping he’d understand your invitation. He seemed startled at first, but slowly his hands drifted up to your arms, bringing you even closer together. You could hardly breathe, feeling like you were at the edge of a cliff.

At last, his lips brushed against yours, warm and sweet. As gentle as it was, it was utterly electrifying. You felt like a circuit was finally completed. The quiet sounds of the forest faded away entirely, as all you could hear was your heartbeat and the two of you breathing. His movements were halting, as if he was still afraid to scare you away, making your heart ache, and leaving you desperately wanting more of him.

That wouldn’t do. You decided that needed to know how you felt about him without a doubt. You let your arms wrap around his body, fingers dancing along the muscles of his back, holding him close to you and deepening the kiss. Saeyoung’s nervousness melted away at last, and he returned your embrace, one hand finding its way to the nape of your neck, slender fingers gripping at you to keep you in place. Not that you would have wanted to escape this. When his tongue teased at your lips, you opened yourself to him, moaning into his mouth. This kiss, the emotions and desire coursing through you, were so much more than you’d hoped for and put even your overactive imagination to shame.

****

Saeyoung thought he might melt right on the spot. Her lips were as warm, soft, and inviting as they promised to be. He had meant only a small kiss, not wanting to press for more, but she’d so clearly responded and asked for more. With her willingness expressed, he felt as if someone had unchained his heart and mind. He wanted to devour her with both, to be devoured by hers.

****

He suddenly broke the kiss, smirking at you, eyes full of lust. Still locked in an embrace, he stepped forward, urging you backwards until you gasped as your back made contact with a large tree. He fell upon you again instantly, one hand on the bark next to your head. His other hand came to rest on your bare shoulder, thumb tracing circles along your collarbone. You were glad you’d chosen this shirt, finding you very much enjoyed being so exposed before him. The bark of the tree scraped against the back of your shoulder as his lips wandered over yours before finding the underside of your jaw.

Your breath came in heavy gasps and you clung to his shoulders, pulling him more tightly against your body as you fought to find some way to keep your head. When his teeth grazed against your neck, your fingers curled tightly, digging into his shirt. It was the last physical sensation you could differentiate as fire erupted through your veins and you whimpered beneath his overwhelming presence.

****

Saeyoung was fighting for control he didn’t want to keep. When she whimpered, he nearly lost all hope of it. His teeth found the tenderness of her shoulder and closed forcefully. His mind filled with images of her clothing cast aside so he could feel her body against his. His hand pressed against the trunk of the tree, letting the edges bite into his palm and keep him sane despite the complete absence of sanity that he felt beside her.

****

You pulled your grip free of his shirt and reached down, tracing your fingers beneath the fabric and up to his chest. You felt the rumbling inside him as he groaned and turned to take his lip between your teeth before sucking softly on it.

A single, horrible, eruption of noise shattered the forest. Saeyoung jumped back, pivoting sharply on one foot and looking around, frantic. His arm was held out before you protectively.

From your hazed mind, it took a moment to realize what it was. A truck passing by on the road had laid on the airhorn. You didn’t know why, you and Saeyoung were still far enough in the trees to be hidden. It was the most horrible timing possible, though. The intoxicating moment had been crushed under the weight of the abrupt blast.

Saeyoung turned back to you and your face felt like it was going to turn a very bright, permanent shade of red. He blushed as well and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I, uh, I guess we should get back to the car,” he said.

You weren’t wanting to go back to the car, but the moment was gone. You reached forward though, and took his hand in yours. “If you want,” you smiled, leaning against him.

Saeyoung gulped audibly and turned, not letting go of you, leading you back up to the car.

#mystic messenger #mystic messenger 707 #mystic messenger saeyoung #mysme #mysme 707 #mysme saeyoung #mm #mm 707 #mm saeyoung #fanfic #manifest destiny series #game-to-life #writing collab

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fashiontrendin-blog · 7 years ago

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Food, Coffee, More Coffee: Inside the Spending Habits of a Working Student

http://fashion-trendin.com/food-coffee-more-coffee-inside-the-spending-habits-of-a-working-student/

Food, Coffee, More Coffee: Inside the Spending Habits of a Working Student

I don’t think my spending habits are too bad, but I do have my slip-ups. This year, I’ve been pretty good at keeping my spending in check, but we’ll see how that progresses/devolves as the holidays draw closer. I do know that, day to day, most of my money goes to food and coffee. Although I often eat at home — I love making breakfast and try to have either lunch or dinner at home every day too — it still has a way of adding up.

Also, I guess I should mention that I work at Man Repeller AND am finishing up my BFA at the School of Visual Arts, which means I require a good amount of coffee just to keep me alive and kickin’. It also means I’m trying to balance a budget that accommodates both work and school. On most Thursdays and Fridays, I’m home finishing up assignments, cleaning and generally relaxing (which helps me save), but this week was different, and my budget took a hit as a result. You’ll see what I mean. With that, here’s what I spent my money on this week.

Today, my friend Maria and I are taking a day trip to Storm King Art Center, wahoo! Before I leave, I run downstairs and redeem my free, medium-sized beverage from Think Coffee thanks to my loyalty points. (Funny story: My loyalty account is for some reason linked to my cousin’s phone number, so she gets all my receipts. Hi Jaime! She likes knowing how my week is going. Large coffees = rough week.)

There’s only one food option at Storm King so I get an above-average vegetarian chili and a decent chocolate chip cookie. After our shenanigans upstate, we part ways and I come home and make pasta for dinner because wowee, I am so hungry. At 9:45 p.m. I run (okay, fine, walk) to CVS and buy Tide Pods because I already committed to doing my laundry and, surprise!, had no detergent left.

I usually walk to work, but this morning I wake up late and can’t figure out what to wear (UGH) so I have to take the subway. I put $20 on my Metrocard for this trip plus future use. I study photography and primarily use film for my personal work, so I drop off a roll of film that I took yesterday at Storm King. Thankfully, I save a couple of dollars by just getting it processed and scanning it myself at school. My buddies at Two Hands bless my wallet and give me a discount on my coffee and don’t charge me for my 3 p.m. orange juice. I get home from work pretty late so I spend the rest of my night watching YouTube videos and eating leftover pasta. SO fun.

Another exciting day at work! Pretty sure I was still tired from my day trip to Storm King and finishing up all the props for the MR GIFT GUIDE (!!!!) so I had two coffees today. This is why I am good friends with the people at Two Hands: a minimum of two visits a day builds a strong relationship. Then, Madi tricks me into getting lunch with her at Sweetgreen, but then bails to By Chloe, so I am stuck eating yet another Harvest Bowl alone (add avocado, no cheese, swap almonds for pecans, tysm). After work, I have one too many alcoholic beverages and plenty of mini snacks at the MR Ralph Lauren event. I mistakenly think that means I’m set on dinner but, 30 minutes after, when I start scanning film at school, I feel hungry again.

When I finally get home, I whip up a gourmet meal (toast and butter) for dinner and then realize that I left MY ONLY USB CABLE in the office and so, while my phone is slowly dying , I decide to get one on Amazon. (Another funny story: I thought, “Hey, maybe I should buy an extra USB cable” while walking past the Apple store that evening on the way back from the event but didn’t buy it!)

Today the water is out on Mott St. (where the MR office is located) and so my beloved Two Hands is closed (honestly they just need to #sponsor me at this point), so I get a coffee from Cafe Grumpy instead. Good thing I have a loyalty card going there too! I also get more film processed, woohoo! I decide to go to Maman for lunch today because I just really need a sandwich. Then, Emily and I stay pretty late at work finishing up the gift guide but I still manage to make yet another bowl of pasta for dinner when I get home (I’m having a phase).

TWO HANDS IS STILL CLOSED BECAUSE THE WATER IS STILL OUT! Cafe Grumpy it is. I usually don’t work on Thursdays but we had to finish wrapping up the final gift guide shoot. I make it back home in time for some lunch before class so I whip myself up some eggs on toast and then head to school. I spend three hours talking about photographs with my thesis class and then have a nice dinner with my friends at Goemon Curry! (PSA: they have cutlery that looks like little rakes and shovels.) I head back to work for a little bit after that to finish up random bits and bobs and then come home and sleep like a baby for the next couple of hours….

….Before I wake up late for a shoot happening this morning, ACK! I didn’t have time for breakfast so I run to Irving Farm to redeem my free coffee and get a croissant. I didn’t have time for lunch before going to class so I grab a brownie and another coffee during break so my stomach stops making weird noises in class. Usually I don’t do anything on Fridays because I prefer to chill at home and eat MORE pasta but tonight is different because it’s my friend Margo’s birthday and we celebrate with beers! A friend and I have a pre-celebration dinner at Big Daddy’s which includes a very delicious veggie burger and sweet potato tots. 10/10 would recommend.

HAPPY SATURDAY! I spend the first half of the day at home cleaning my apartment and having lunch before going to Chillhouse for a manicure. Before heading in I wander around Soho and am, of course, hankering for a snack and so I, of course, go to Two Hands, because I gotta stay loyal. This is actually the first manicure I’ve ever gotten in New York since moving here 3.5 years ago. It was a very long and stressful week so I decided to treat myself to some pretty nails since I don’t think I will have to paint anything in awhile (fingers crossed) (don’t look at me Emily).

While in the area, I pop over to Top Hat and buy some presents for friends and myself because Christmas is near! And you know who likes gifts? Me. Also my friends! But mostly me. On my way home I make more exciting purchases at the supermarket. Grocery haul you say? NO PROBLEMO! I got bananas, sparkling water, pasta sauce, pasta and a bottle of blood orange juice and kombucha.

BAM! DONE! Money spent! Honestly this week has just been a documentation of how many times I go to Two Hands in a week and also how much coffee I consume, which isn’t usually this much, I promise. I actually don’t feel that bad about the money I spent because I had a great week and I did a couple of special things like go to Storm King and get a manicure, but I do want to keep working on my spending habits.

For now I’m just gonna sit back, relax, and wait for my mother to make a comment about how much caffeine I drink.

Photo by Louisiana Mei Gelpi.

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