#the home apothecary full collection

[obsidiannebula]

How to Spot AI-Generated Reference Texts

This morning I celebrated a lovely Christmas with my family. My 3 year old was ecstatic, I made my brother tear up, it was a good time. But I received something that at first, seemed like the kind of thing I would very much like to own... until I started actually looking through it. I quickly realized that this book is unmistakably AI-generated slop and should not be used or trusted as an actual reference guide. Having not been written by an actual expert in the field or even compiled by an actual researcher citing sources and synthesizing information, these books are at best three hundred pages of reading the first couple of sentences of a search result for each topic, and at worst full of dangerous misinformation that can get people killed, as with the rise of AI-generated mushroom foraging books. These are in no way reliable reference guides for anything, but especially for anything with potential health risks like ingesting plants and their compounds.

So today I'm going to try and get some good use out of this book I now own by using it to demonstrate how to spot AI-generated scam books.

The first red flags jump out at us right from the cover. This is "The Home Apothecary Full Collection: Your In-Depth Holistic Guide with Natural Herbal Remedies for Long-Lasting Wellness and Optimal Health." Yeesh, what a mouthful. A soulless, artless mouthful, I must add. But hey, maybe this author is a very clinical or verbose type. Except a quick search for the author's name, Megan Morren, quickly makes it clear that this is not a real person. There is one bare-bones Facebook profile for a Megan Morren, and no social media beyond that. No LinkedIn or Pinterest or mentions in an article, nothing. Every other result shows her books: this one, and two others nearly identical to it, with slightly different names but the same "1500+ Remedies/Extra Content" claim in the same corner, utilizing the same fonts and each with a very similar AI-generated background.

That's right, we've got a pretty bog-standard AI-generated image for the cover of this book, showcasing a variety of vaguely herbal plants and jars as well as several nonsensical non-objects.

Okay, so the cover was definitely made by AI, but maybe this author is writing under a pseudonym and visually just not very creative. Let's open it up and took a look at...

Oooookay so that's how we're getting the "40 books in one" claim touted on the cover. What most people would call a chapter is here billed as an entire book, with each subtopic considered its own chapter. There's not more than two or three "chapters" per "book" and most of the chapters are only one or two pages long, which is some James Patterson-ass shit. At least if Patterson had written this book there'd be a little character to the narration and an attempt at wit, but as we'll soon see, the actual writing is... wanting, to say the least.

Obviously the first observation here is that formatting is for the BIRDS. No paragraph breaks or indents, and the paragraphs are all of roughly similar length. Furthermore, the writing reads like a copy/pasted Wikipedia page. Scratch that, I went ahead and typed "history of herbal healing" into a search engine and found the actual Wikipedia page for "History of herbalism," which actually does provide more detail on the topic as well as FIFTY-FOUR ACTUAL SOURCES and some recommended further reading, making it vastly superior to this slop. Because there's not a single source cited in this entire book, nor is there an author bio here or online that remotely suggests that the author might have some experience and expertise from which they are drawing to write or even fact-check this book.

On top of that, there is truly no authorial voice whatsoever. Even if you wanted to be very academic about it and avoid using first-person in your reference book, there should at least be some synthesizing of sources and information, expanding on the ideas presented and combining them to draw new conclusions or illustrate points. But everything here is incredibly surface-level, like someone copied the first sentence or three from the first Google result and stuck it there and then moved on to the next bullet point in the outline.

Seriously, this whole book is just page after page of walls of text. It's a nightmare to try to read if you have any sort of reading-impairing disorder like dyslexia or ADHD, and it's also just kind of ugly. And in a book supposedly about herbalism, there is not a single image or diagram. That's wild to me. There is nothing in here to aid with plant identification or demonstrate the tincturing or decocting processes or anything. I've never read an herbalism book without a single picture or diagram. Granted, I've only read a handful, but still, it seems very strange to me. And god did these endless blocks of text need SOMETHING to break them up.

Also these introductory paragraphs just scream "obligatory" to me. They're all a single paragraph of approximately the same length, providing a perfunctory and colorless overview of the subject matter. I mean, seriously? We're starting off "uplifting herbs for depression" with "Depression affects millions globally. It is characterized by x and y. While it is conventional treated with medication and therapy, there are also some herbs that can improve mood." It's so bland and robotic and uninformative. I think most fifth graders could write a better introductory paragraph, as long as we didn't penalize them for spelling or grammar.

I'd really like to get back to spending the holiday with family, so I'm going to leave it at that. It's just so frustrating to see books like this pushing legitimate texts written by real people with real expertise or at least personality out of bookshelves and searches, propagating useless or even dangerous information in place of sharing real knowledge and traditions. I had to rant a little bit and get it off my chest.I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and all the best for 2025. Everyone, that is, except "Megan Morren." Whoever you really are, I hope you step on Legos every day for the rest of your life. It's the least you deserve for publishing trash like this.

[moonlight-prose]

HUGH JACKMAN CHARACTERS MASTERLIST✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

note: below is the extensive list of fics i've written for hugh jackman characters. logan might wind up with his own masterlist later one, but for now he can be found here.

Under no circumstances may you steal my work, say it’s yours, or post it somewhere else. The writings I put on here are mine unless stated otherwise.

smut =🔥| angst =💫 | fluff =🌙

LOGAN HOWLETT ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Right Where You Left Me | 18+🔥| ONGOING SERIES

summary: logan was familiar with death. he understood why it happened, what could cause it to occur, and finally how to accept it. so when his family - the people he cared for most - died…he thought he could handle it. only you didn’t die. you left. now he’s found himself in a new universe with a person who wears your face, yet doesn’t hold your memories.

Heart Made of Glass |💫

summary: you couldn’t control when they could come. the waves of nothingness - of battling with your body and mind in the hopes it would cause a shift. you wanted to control it. he simply wanted to help.

The Grave of Lust | 18+🔥| Old Man!Logan

summary: when his body doesn’t work as it used to and the weary bones that poison his soul begin to ache, you take the lead in a dance you know well. OR giving old man logan sloppy head that he’ll think about in the grave and after.

Sweetness of the Damned | 18+🔥| Old Man!Logan

summary: when night falls and wine overflows in glasses of crystal, logan finds his home in between your thighs.

Slow | 18+🔥| Old Man!Logan

summary: time spent after long days outside is slow. languid in a way only he can give you.

Taste Me on Your Tongue | 18+🔥

summary: the taste of him became an addiction you couldn’t ignore. especially when he was adamant on sharing it in multiple ways.

old man logan thoughts & musings | 18+🔥| pt.2 | pt.3

summary: thoughts about this old man and how much he's feral for you.

hunger | 18+🔥

summary: things are set into motion the second logan opens your drawer. suddenly you find yourself the center of a show with only one audience member.

speak of her over my grave and watch how she brings me back to life | 18+🔥

summary: he knew he loved you when your words begin to piece his heart back together. he knew he loved you when he flourishes at your praise. he knew he loved you when nothing in this world could matter but the sound of your voice telling him you love him too.

Pick Your Poison | 18+🔥| ONGOING SERIES

summary: death meant nothing to someone steeped in it. a shovel remained propped next to your front door, a bag of grave dirt hung on a hook, and a collection of poison was stuffed in your cabinets. only when you arise in the vicinity of a lumberjack named logan, you’re in for a rude awakening.

A Case of You | 18+🔥| old man!logan howlett x f!reader x joel miller | UPCOMING SERIES

summary: life in jackson was quiet. serenity in a bottle that’d been poured out along the side of a mountain. a haven to finally grasp some parts of life that you thought were lost forever. you had your apothecary shop, your home, but still some piece of your heart was missing. until you meet your neighbors and come across the full picture of your future you didn’t have before.

have a cigar | 18+🔥

summary: everyone knows who you belong to. if the jacket you wore that left you drowning in the soft leather wasn’t indication enough, then the claws attached to your guard dog certainly was.

Don't Mind Me |🌙

summary: you refused to admit that you were smitten with the man who melted your otherwise intelligent mind. you were however…horrible with subtlety. luckily the same could be said for him.

Wondering Why | 18+🔥| cowboy!old man logan

summary: loving logan howlett felt like loving a ghost. he returned when the moon hung low in the sky and his time gave way for freedom. but when you needed him most, he arrived on your doorstep with the promise of giving you exactly what you want.

dreams unwind, love's a state of mind | 18+🔥| dofp!logan

summary: they told him to change the future, to right the wrongs that the world caused. but he didn’t do it for them. he did it for the chance to see his lover one more time. even if he shared a different history than them.

Dust to Dust | 18+🔥| old man!logan

summary: when the days are long and he’s grown weary of everything, he knows he can find his peace in your body. that is until he brings a whole new understanding to the belt buckle that sits proudly on his waist.

nameless as a river undiscovered underground | 18+🔥

summary: his leather jacket remained a tie between your love and his. the weight of it, the smell of your intertwined scents, all revolved around a relationship he never thought would happen.

#logan thoughts & musings

EDDIE ALDEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

love is here to stay | 18+🔥

summary: mornings where the summer heat was unbearable and energy was nowhere to be found, made getting up a difficult task. add a sleepy eddie and a multitude of kisses and suddenly it became near impossible.

Hopelessly Devoted to You | UPCOMING

summary: being friends with eddie alden came with challenges. you'd known him since you were eleven and he was twelve and the funniest thing to do was push you down. yet now you're older and suddenly you see him as someone else.

DROVER ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Never Lovelier | 18+🔥| UPCOMING

summary: a day spent working with horses in the hot sun left him hungry for your affection. for the soft touch of your love. OR drover uses his whip for romantic interests.

LEOPOLD ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

UNTITLED FALL THEMED FIC

GABRIEL VAN HELSING ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

bound in the strands of permanence | 18+🔥

summary: he walked with monsters in the night, claiming their lives for a vendetta placed upon him by the church. but he found peace in daylight with the touch of your healing hands.

Amor Vincint Omnia | 18+🔥| UPCOMING SERIES

©moonlight-prose do not feed my work into ai, do not steal my work, if you are a minor, spam like my fics, or are a blank blog you will be blocked.

[twizzie-lairs]

My Darling, My Honey

Alastor X Fem!Reader (Part 3)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Quick Notes:

This is when both reader/you and Alastor are both alive. (... we'll probably end up in hell later on btw so stay tuned...)

Reader is an artist/painter.

Part 3:

Shutting the door to your house, you slide down to the floor, back against the door. Your hands come up to your chest, clutching the fabric of your shirt, heart racing.

Looking around the room, you felt suffocated. Every inch of the wall had some reminder of your husband, paintings, photographs, newspaper clippings of every accomplishment and accolade of his. It made you want to tear your hair out.

A silent scream leaves your throat as tears run down your face. Silent crying was something you've mastered after all these years..

But never have you cried and broken down like this, with something giving you a glimmer of hope. That something was Alastor, he made you feel appreciated, you felt free when you were with him, like all your worries were washed away and you were helplessly in love.

With the realization that you were in love, your hands fell to the ground with a quiet thud. For too long had you suffered the control, the physical and mental abuse at the hands of your husband and your family that only saw you as a pawn- a means to an end for them.

The tears dried up as you sat there silently for hours till the sun rose, feeling like an empty husk of a human. It took you a long time before you could collect yourself.

Though you felt so weak, you had to go out and do some errands. Having to keep up the image of perfect housewife, after all.

With a vacant and empty look in your eyes, you left the house, barely presentable.

You didn't even know what you were going out for, but you'd find something, anything.

During your walk around town, looking for something to buy so you wouldn't go home empty-handed, an odd feeling and urge came over you to take a route home that you've never taken before.

The way you took this time was full of twists and turns, leading to many shady backstreets and alleyways.

One sign reading "Arabella's Apothecary" caught your eye, prompting you to enter.

The door opens with a chime, the shopkeeper giving you a smug smile, "Welcome in dear, how can I help ya this fine morn'?" You nervously tell her that you were just looking around.

The shopkeeper, who you found out was indeed Arabella, like the sign outside indicated, "You know, people don't just come in here for nothin'... Hun, I think we both know you're looking for a key to freedom."

Arabella's words shook you to your core, "A... key? T-to freedom?" You laugh nervously, wondering if this woman was a witch. But then it came to you, maybe you did need... something.

She laughed at your face, "Bwahaha, I can read you like an open book! I'm no witch, I just deal in... specialty medicines, you might say."

After a short conversation with Arabella, you find yourself in possession of some arsenic. This little powder was your freedom, and you thank your lucky stars that fate guided to this back alley hidden apothecary shop.

During the week of your husband's absence, you didn't visit Mimzy's bar at all, actually. You were planning your husband's demise. You had to be methodical, careful, every single minute detail needed to have a plan and a backup plan- including your escape and how you would remove yourself from suspicion of being involved in your husband's death.

When your husband opened the door, announcing his return, you felt a pit form in your stomach. The bile rose in the back of your throat at the thought of freedom being so close and yet so far.

According to your plan, your husband would be dead in the next couple of weeks. It would be hell to not visit Mimzy's bar in hopes of seeing Alastor again, but if everything went according to plan, you'd be free of your shackles. So two weeks, give or take a few days, was nothing compared to the near decade of pain you've had to endure.

There were a few close calls during this time, but your husband was just diagnosed with food poisoning each time until he was found dead at his desk at the office he worked at.

You had slowly poisoned him slowly and consistently enough to evade suspicion. You knew this much when the police came knocking on your door informing you that your husband was found dead. The gates holding back the flood were unlocked, and you crumpled to the floor crying. The police tried to console you, but little did they know that you secretly crying from being overjoyed at the news.

At the funeral, your family and in-laws looked at you with distaste and all they did was tell you to get out of their faces, telling you what a disappointment you were for failing as a wife to keep your husband happy and healthy.

That was all you needed to hear. You turned away from them and left town, not bothering to stop by your home. You left only with the clothes on your body, making your way to Mimzy's bar. If anyone was able to help you, it would be Mimzy, your only true friend in the world.

You get to Mimzy's bar a bit too early, sometime in the evening, as usually the bar only opens late at night. So Mimzy was prepared to ward off any suspicious people that could get the bar/speakeasy in trouble, but she rushed up to you immediately, fawning over you, seeing you in all-black funeral attire with puffy eyes, " (Y/N)! Darlin'!! What happened to you??"

Mimzy ushers you into her office, gives you a warm cup of tea and a blanket as she barrages you with more questions. You smile weakly at her and make her promise not to tell a soul, and she pinky promised that she would take your secrets to the grave. And she kindly offered for you to stay with her as long as you needed.

You took Mimzy up on her offer, but you offered to help out at the bar for as long as you did. It was the only way you would accept her generosity.

-> Part 4

[sylverra]

Yule Sale Shop Update!

Here's what's new this week:

Dragon blood jasper points

Amethyst with smoky quartz spheres

3" Fluorite slab

Herkimer diamonds with petroleum inclusions

Grape agate worry stones

3" Black tourmaline point

Bronze talons sphere stand

Obsidian scrying mirror

> See all our newest additions here <

Grab a coupon code below to save on your orders thru December 27th!

YULE10 - 10% off, no minimum YULE20 - 20% off $30+ YULE25 - 25% off $45+ YULE30 - 30% off $60+ YULE35 - 35% off $75+

These codes are good for all items in the Crystals, Jewelry and Home Decor collections and exclude Apothecary items.

Need something extra to bump you up to the next coupon? Check out our Under $15 and Under $5 collections!

Happy Yule, and happy shopping! ✨🎄

Browse the full catalog → See this week's secret discount item →

[queenpiranhadon]

A/N: Augh I loved writing this so much help- I think the new Damsel movie affected me too much 😭 Biggest thanks to @cashmoneyyysstuff for beta reading this she’s a QUEEN Here's the masterlist!

Warning(s): Light cursing, reader is the daughter of Aizawa, Shinso and Eri are biological siblings, Shinso is a year younger than reader, reader is 20 years old, f!reader, reader's mother is dead, medieval fantasy setting, reader's childhood friend is Kirishima, but you're also close friends with Deku and Ururaka, mentions of perverted actions (not done by a name character though, reader's nickname is Cactus, slight spoilers of the actual show/manga, reader is shorter than Kirishima and Shinso, some mentions of IzuOcha.

Pairing(s): Katsuki Bakugou x reader, Izuku Midoriya x Ochako Uraraka

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ: A Pot of Stew

Ssssss.... 

The crackle of the fireplace is all you really hear as you flit around through your home, grabbing the big stew pot from the wooden cabinet. The house was quiet, which was surprising, considering you lived with three other people.  

Your father was out with his friend, hoping to catch some fish before the harsh winter would freeze over the lakes. You had sent your brother out earlier to fetch some tomatoes from the market, as the small garden you maintained only produced lettuce, potatoes, onions, and strawberries when they were in season. Hopefully the tomatoes your brother brought back could have seeds that you could save to plant in the spring.  

Your sister was most likely out at Chiyo’s home, the old woman ran the local apothecary was sweet enough to allow the small girl to aid her in crushing herbs and spices to create the medicines that lined her shelves.  

Walking outside, you grab the big bucket by the door, making your way to the home of the Kirishimas, who had a well they let you use to fetch water.  

You mentally groan, knowing that carrying a bucket of water would be a bitch to carry back home. Hopefully you could bug your red-haired friend to aid you in carrying it home if he was around.  

He wasn’t there unfortunately, hooking the bucket to the rope before sending it down to collect water. Once if was full, you pulled the rope that you were holding onto with all your strength, allowing the pulley system to bear most of the weight. 

Deadpanning, you know most of the water that spills out will end on you, sighing in defeat with the resignation that complaining will get you nowhere. You had a family to feed.  

Rolling up the sleeves of your white blouse, you grab the bucket’s handle with both hands, almost dropping it from the sheer weight of it, lamenting the cold sting of the water against your skin as it seeps through your leggings.  

It was almost comical, the way your face was scrunched in concentration as you made your way home, watching your step from the occasional loose pebble so you wouldn’t trip. Your muscles ached, but it was nothing you couldn’t handle, considering how much worse you’d been through when it came to other tasks that required similar feats. It was another perk of being the oldest child, though you were only a year older than your brother, yet you wouldn’t have it any other way. Your family meant the world to you, and you would do everything in your power to protect them. 

Reaching the steps leading up to the door of your home, you set the bucket down finally, your arms practically singing in relief, only for you to pick it up again after turning the doorknob and closing the door shut with your boot-clad foot.  

Making your way to the stew pot that was currently sitting over the fire, you fill it with the water you fetched, letting it boil while you prepared the vegetables you needed.  

Busying yourself with chopping the ingredients you already had, you took the sprigs of cilantro you saved from a few days ago and sliced them so they were thin enough. As you worked your way through the small pile, the door opened to reveal a familiar tuft of purple hair.  

“Hey Toshi!” you call out, waving from the kitchen to signal your presence.  

Your brother takes notice, entering the room and setting the sack of tomatoes on the counter before making his way over to you, ruffling your hair in affection before raising an eyebrow.  

“How much stew are you making?” he asks suspiciously “The four of us aren’t going to be able to eat all of that in time before it tastes bad.” 

You snort, rolling your eyes. “You underestimate Eri’s appetite. Plus, Ejiro, Ochako and Izuku are coming over to join us. I’m making enough for each of our families.” 

Hitoshi chuckles in response, walking over to the makeshift pantry you made a few months ago, grabbing a loaf of bread. “Y/N, you would feed the entire village if you could. Actually, you could, but we wouldn’t let you.” he rolls his eyes playfully and you send him a halfhearted glare.  

“It’s called being nice, Mr. Hitoshi Aizawa, a concept foreign to your cold heart.” you say, placing the back of your hand on your forehead dramatically.  

He groans, taking the knife from you to slice the bread, while you move to take the tomatoes. “Ugh stop, you sound like Toshinori.” he gripes, punching your shoulder in annoyance. 

A giggle bursts out of your lips at that, abandoning the tomatoes you were washing in the basket to strike a pose, letting out an “I AM HERE!” in the best Toshinori Yagi impression you could.  

They used to call him All Might, a war hero who was known for bringing your home country countless victories, the wars he entered had casualty numbers so low that you wondered if he was blessed by the gods. Blessed in the past tense though, as after a critical injury in a recent war, he was deemed unable to fight and left the army with an honorable discharge, growing into the old man he was today, running a stand at the marketplace where he sold quality vegetables from his extensive garden. 

You must’ve looked ridiculous as you posed however, because your brother cackles, throwing his head back and smiling so wide his face must’ve hurt. You laugh too, happiness bubbling in your chest from seeing him so happy as well. You chuck an unwashed tomato at him, knowing he’d catch it, and reprimand him.  

“Okay now get back to work you rodent, we’re feeding a group of seven tonight.” you tease, sticking out your tongue and he tosses the tomato back to you, returning to slicing the bread.  

You both spent the next hour or so like that, trading banter and occasionally fighting, but managing to be productive as you finish cutting all your vegetables, throwing them into the stew pot, creating a lovely aroma that makes your stomach growl in hunger.  

You hear a knock at the door, Hitoshi opting to answer it. It was Chiyo, returning Eri home for the day, the girl in question had a bright smile on her face, and a few bottles of unknown liquids in her hands that were sure to join the others in the washroom’s medicine cabinet. 

“Toshi!!” she squeals, and you smile, hearing a small uff! escape the purplenette’s lips, knowing that Eri most likely hugged him around his legs, the only part of him she could really reach at the moment. Sometimes it was infuriating how much taller he was than you. 

Your brother thanks Chiyo, and the old lady leaves with the promise of fresh baked goods during her next visit. 

“Where’s Y/N??” Eri asks excitedly, and you want to snort at her random burst of hyperness.  

“M’over here banana.” you call from where you sat in front of the fireplace, and Eri trudges over with an annoyed look over her face.  

“I told you not to call me that!” she whines, huffing as she sits down next to you, trying to look into the pot to see what you were making.  

“Careful- it’s hot.” You warn, gently pushing her away. “Plus you love bananas!” 

Your little sister makes a face plopping down to lie on the floor with a grumpy expression. “I hate bananas.” she grumbles, stretching her limbs out to take up as much of the floor as she could. 

You quirk up an eyebrow “Are you sure? You sure look like one.” you say gathering her hair once she sits up and holding it high above her head to resemble the elongated shape of a banana fruit. 

She splutters, and you snort releasing her hair, so it falls straight into her face, and returning your attention to the stew, stirring it and taking the wooden spoon you had out, gathering some of the liquid before bringing it to your lips, tasting it briefly.  

“Toshi!” you call from where you sat. “Can you bring me some paprika?”  

You hear a Yeah whatever come from the hallway, and you return your attention back to your sulking sister.  

“Y’know for someone so nice, you’re really mean.” she pouts, and you smile in a half hearted apology, fixing her hair.  

“Eri, my job as your sister, as well as Toshi’s as your brother, is to be mean to you because we love you so much. If we were nice to you all the time, wouldn’t we be boring?” you ask. 

“Hmm... I guess. Is Izuku coming over today?” she asks, laying her head on your lap looking up at you with impossibly huge sparkling red puppy eyes.  

You laugh, flicking her nose lightly. Izuku was her favorite out of your friends, probably because he worked in the markets, for Toshinori no less, and he brought her apples every day. 

“Yes, Izuku’s coming over for dinner tonight, so go wash up and be on your best behavior.” you say warningly, and she nods, jumping up excitedly and rushing to your shared room.  

Hitoshi enters the living room at that moment, sprinkling the paprika into the stew until you told him to stop, stirring lightly before tasting and grinning in satisfaction.  

Handing him the spoon, Hitoshi has a taste of his own, his eyes lighting up as the flavors hit his tastebuds.  

“Damn.” is all he says, and you punch his leg, happy that he likes it, but scolding him for his language.  

“Eri’s in the other room idiot, go change and I’ll get dinner served before they get here.” you order, shooing him out and you grab a damp towel from the kitchen to carry the pot into the room, setting it on the countertop and placing aforementioned towel on top so it stays warm. Putting out the fire in the living room, you open a cabinet, grabbing a large plate and exactly seven bowls and spoons. Setting the dishes around the large wooden dining table, you spoon equal amounts of stew into each of the bowls, the aroma even stronger now, and you give Eri extra because you know she’ll ask you for more later. 

You brought out the wooden carved drinking cups that you had, a gift from your late mother, setting them around the table and filling them with some of the remaining water from the well. Putting the plate in the middle of the table, you set the bread Hitoshi cut from earlier along with some goat cheese gifted to you by Izuku the previous day.  

Wiping your hands on your apron, you sigh, about to call for your siblings before you hear a knock at the door, revealing a smiling Ejiro Kirishima.  

“Hey Eji!” you beam, wrapping your arms around your lifelong friend, who reciprocates the action and spins you around before setting you down, welcoming himself in- he'd been to your home so frequently certain mannerisms weren’t needed anymore.  

“Hey Cactus!” he smiles back, and you roll your eyes at the nickname.  

Ejiro insisted that your kindness was always a facade and that you were a fiery beast that even hell was afraid of in secret, and the redhead had given you the nickname once seeing you scold man around your age for trying to look up Ochako’s skirt. You insisted you weren’t usually like this, but the nickname stuck, a term of endearment used only by your closest friends.  

You smack his forearm, and roll your eyes, still smiling however, leading him to the dining room before calling out for your siblings.    

Eri bounds in, only to be swept up in Ejiro’s arms, giggling as he spins her around to simulate flight.  

He sets her down and she jumps up, “Again, again!” she chants.  

He groans, feigning pain. “But you’re so heavy!” He says, pretending to faint in your direction, and you roll your eyes and push him off, laughing. “I think you got bigger since the last time I saw you.” 

Eri giggles, putting her hands on her hips. “I saw you this morning silly! That was only...” she counts on her fingers. “47 hours ago!”  

You want to laugh, knowing that it was only about 13 hours since she last saw the red haired male, but Ejiro only groans even more.  

“Exactly! You grew so much from then! You might become even taller than your sister.” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.  

Eri giggles, and Hitoshi joins you three in the living room, stealing a piece of cheese from the table and popping it in his mouth.  

"I'm not short!" You grumble, crossing your arms. "You and Hitoshi are just stupidly tall."

You hear another knock on the door, leaving Ejiro and your siblings to their devices as you answer it. Opening the door, you’re met with Izuku, accompanied by Ochako, both giving you a hug as you let them in, exchanging their signature greetings.  

“Hey Cactus!” they both chirp in unison and you snort, ruffling Izuku’s hair and squeezing Ochako’s shoulder.  

“Hey you two!” you say, smiling knowingly. Ever since the two of them became a couple, they were practically joined at the hip.  

You make your way to the dining room, where Ejiro is seen with Eri on his shoulders, the latter playing with former’s hair while he talks to your brother.  

Eri’s eyes light up, practically launching herself off the poor red head- thankfully Izuku catches her, producing another apple from his satchel.  

You groan, knowing that if Eri ate too many she would grow to get sick of them, but you let her be, knowing that she was happy.  

You all sit down to eat, Shinso on one side of you and Eri on the other. Ejiro sat next to your brother and Izuku sat next to Eri with his girlfriend on his other side.  

Catching up with your friends, and eating the food you made, your eyes couldn’t help but wander to the empty seat at the head of the table, where your father sat.  

He still hadn’t returned from his fishing trip.  

You knew he was more than capable of taking care of himself, yet you couldn’t help but worry. Your father, Shota Aizawa sustained a terrible injury in a war a few years ago, forcing him to amputate his own leg in order to prevent the toxins from a poison covered arrow from reaching his neural system. It was the same year your mother had died, leaving you, a grieving ten-year-old you to take care of your father as well as a nine-year-old Hitoshi and a newborn Eri. You were forced to grow up fast in those times, a dark patch for your family, yet it became a big part of who you were today.  

Which included your boundless paranoia, thinking the worst as the time ticked by, with no sight of your father.  

Hitoshi takes notice, sending you a worried glance, opening his mouth to say something before the door swings open. 

It was your father, relief flooding through you before you took in his haggard state. He looks tired, more tired than usual. Your father always looked tired, but never weary.  

His eyes scan the room, frantically looking around, before the settle on you.  

“I have bad news.” 

Taglist: @andysdrafts @starieq @nemisimp @missa-archdevilme @coquettefoxxy

@032loe @icedemon1314 @fta1ask4 @iam-thevillain-of-thisstory @cuppalevi

@touyasprettydoll @slayfics @yeehawgiddyup13 @notjustanotherextra @frvv

@naoyasbby @sweetblueworm @isentsworld @bkgpackets @moonnm

@bkgrl @satoruyes @eyesforbkg @juicyfingers @aejabba

@noodleryworld @yui-aya @ashiblossom @rv19 @wheezdostuff

@yannvi @liluvtojineteyam @ah-mya @surprisemodafakas @kksmush

@sagejin @cax-per @kit-katsukii

[foreverdolly]

ೃ࿔FOREVERDOLLY'S DRABBLES

this is my full collection of drabbles! requests are currently closed, but will be reopened shortly. make sure, if you haven't, to check out my main masterlist for my full length series and oneshots!

→ 【austin butler drabbles】

✤ VICTORIA'S SECRET (BOYFRIEND!AUSTIN X READER)

going to victoria's secret with your boyfriend. . . what could go wrong?

total word count: 701

✤ HERSHEY KISSES (HUSBAND!AUSTIN X WIFE!READER)

you take it upon yourself to tease austin at a family dinner. the two of you decide to take it a bit farther than you had initially intended.

total word count: 784

✤ NEW HAIRCUT (LONG HAIRED! AUSTIN X SHORT HAIR! READER)

you're nervous for austin to see your new haircut, especially since he's never seen it so short.

total word count: 991

✤ TOXIC (TOXIC BOYFRIEND! AUSTIN X READER)

you and austin decide to go out to one of your local dives one night to enjoy each other's company. he sees you talking to a man that you know through your line of work and decides to play the role of a "possessive boyfriend" a little too well.

total word count: 1.7k

✤ LOVE BUG (AUSTIN X INJURED!READER)

you've recently broken your leg at a red carpet event (see this fic for reference), but life goes on. austin and you have always been fond of rough housing. he lets you win every time, which is part of the fun. this time, however, he hits your bad ankle a little too hard and nearly worries himself sick about your condition.

total word count: 924

✤ GHOST OF YOU (AUSTIN X GRIEVING!READER)

losing your husband austin has left an irreparable hole in your heart.

total word count: 860

✤ MORBID, GRIM AND DOCTOR BUTLER (VICTORIAN DOCTOR!AUSTIN X ASSISTANT!READER)

"adventure waits for no one. not even the dead. you may tell me all of your concerns when i return." that was the letter that was nailed to the front door of doctor butler's apothecary. no one, not even in high society, has seen or heard anything from him and his assistant since. word breaks out at a tea party, however, that he's in new york. . . marrying you, his assistant.

total word count: 1.3k

✤ PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS (DAD! AUSTIN X MOM! READER)

the two of you may be separated, but the two of you are the best parents that your daughter could ever ask for. there's only one problem though. . . austin is still madly in love with you and wants to try again.

total word count: 1.1k

→ 【elvis presley drabbles】

✤ PEANUT BUTTER (DAD! ELVIS X MOM! READER)

stay at home sweater-dad elvis making a peanut butter and banana sandwich for his baby girl and little boy while you're laid up sick in bed.

total word count: 1.1k

✤ GOLD HEART (DAD! ELVIS X MOM! READER)

whilst out as a family, elvis sees a homeless man in need and decides that everybody deserves a second chance in life. your husband, being the sweet man that he is, invites him over to eat lunch with you and your son.

total word count: 1.7k

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Alright, real full hc ask & this time it's full of angst >:D

So, one night MC has a really bad nightmare where the M6 die horribly, and wake up from it in a panic that only increases when they realize their beloved is not in the bed with them.

Turns out the M6 are just in the next room over getting a drink or something, & have to rush back to the bedroom to comfort MC

The Arcana HCs: M6 when MC has a nightmare of them dying

~ @themushroomgoesyeet here are your headcanons, friend, thanks for the lovely ask! ~

CW for descriptions of loss, grief, and panic. more notes at the end regarding the content of MC's nightmare

-- to set the scene --

It's dark. Dust and smoke settle in your lungs as you stumble through the streets of Vesuvia, trying to get through the press of bodies making a hurried trek towards the docks. You just want to get to your shop, you just want to see the lantern and your beloved's face in the window, you just want to be -

Home.

Your body goes still, cold as the grave as your blood sinks into your feet. Home is gone, the splintered apothecary's sign creaking as it swings from the chunk of rubble on the sidewalk. You stumble forward into the charred pile of wood and stone, searching for a sign, a scrap, anything, to tell you that something has survived. That someone has survived. It's hard to recognize it at first, coated with the same grey dust and poking lifelessly out of the rubble, but as you crouch for a better look, there no mistaking the thing you've lovingly grabbed a thousand times.

It's their hand.

You jolt awake when your voice chokes on a scream. The room's gone dark, the bed you're lying in is missing a body, and the pillow by your head has gone cold. You're not sure what comes out first - the panicked sob from the horror of losing them, or the fearful cry of their name as your nightmare seems to come true.

Julian

He's going to feel bad about this for weeks - he'd stayed up researching in his medical textbooks waaay past when he'd promised to come to bed

He thought he heard you call his name, and, surprised at how late you're awake, he came upstairs to see if you needed anything

As soon as he gets close enough to hear you panicking, he's bursting into the room so he can pull you into his arms

He's asking what happened right away. He's not going anywhere or trying to move you until you can talk to him

He's also going to ask you what the dream was about, if all you can say at first is "nightmare." He's learned the importance of voicing your fears and he doesn't want to leave you alone in that story

The best active listener. Brushes your hair out of your eyes, sighs and winces with every horrific detail you share, and murmurs empathetic responses to each description of loss

Ultimately ends up talking through your fears with you. He knows you've had to watch him die before, he understands why reliving it would be so traumatic, and he wants to help you process it

He'll guide your hand to his pulse point and breathe in time with you, reminding you with every exhale that he's alive and well

Asra

They'd fallen asleep next to you earlier, but they'd also told you before bed that there would be a celestial event tonight that they didn't want to miss. They're stargazing on the rooftop

He's jolted out of his reverie by a sudden, sharp tug on his bond with you. He can feel your magic scrambling for any sign of his presence and the underlying panic and fear

They don't hesitate, they're running down into the house and sprinting for your room as fast as they can to make sure you're ok

As soon as he spots you, he's putting himself where you can see him and asking if it's okay to hold you. He's quick to check you over for any injuries while he asks you what's wrong

Once they know it was a bad dream, they're taking you by the hand and collecting pillows and blankets to take to the roof. They've already got tea and snacks up there from their stargazing session

He buries you in a pillow pile with him under the night sky, where there's nothing to see but the stars and each other, and pulls your hand to his heartbeat while he tangles all your limbs together

They remember what it was like to lose you, and the comfort they craved from you as they grieved. It's oddly cathartic to give you what they needed and stay with you as you go back to sleep

Nadia

Her insomnia was acting up again, so rather than idle away time in the dark, she went across the hall to her office to get some work done. There's always a stack of proposals waiting her approval ...

She had a hard time hearing you from two rooms away, but you sounded so urgent she put her teacup down immediately and hurried over to investigate

You can imagine how her heart wrenched when she saw you sitting up in her bed, wearing the same expression she used to feel when she was trapped in a coma full of nightmares

To say that she's beyond sympathetic is an understatement. She's climbing in bed next to you and pulling you into her lap right away

She'll hold you until you calm down, and then invite you to come sit with her in her warmly-lit office and share her tea

If you want to talk and process what you dreamed about, she'll listen closely and come up with ways to help you feel safer

If you want to focus on something else, she'll pull out her favorite book of Prakran poetry and read you her favorite verses

And if you're too tired to think and just want to sleep in peace, she'll lay you down on her sofa with your head in her lap, gently petting your head to the sound of her quill on the parchment

Muriel

He'd woken up because he was thirsty

Normally, you keep a jug in the hut filled with drinking water, but it hadn't been replenished before bed so he went out into the clearing to draw some more from the spring

When he came back inside to see you huddled and sobbing in the furs, his first instinct was to look wildly around the room for any signs of danger and violence while he reached for his staff

Once you spot him and show relief, he gets a better idea of what's happened and joins you on the bed while he quietly asks if you're okay (you're obviously not, but it's the best he comes up with)

He knows what horrific nightmares are like. He's not going to let you hide away and work it out by yourself

As soon as he knows it'll help, he's holding you as closely and firmly as you need him to

He'll settle against the wall by the bed, wrapping both of you in the weight of the furs while Inanna lies across your feet

And then he'll tell you in a low, rumbling murmur about all the good things you have around you, replacing each bleak image with your warm, safe reality. You have the soft clothes on your back, the sound of Inanna's panting, and the brush of his lips on your face

Portia

She woke up annoyed because Pepi felt the need to sit on her face and screech into her ear until she refilled her food bowl (in classic cat fashion, said food bowl wasn't even completely empty)

She was too sleepy and distracted with her task to hear you, and didn't know what had happened until she walked back into the bedroom and saw your state. Once she did, she was wide awake

Immediately turns on all the lights to make it easier to stay present and asks you whats wrong

A nightmare? She doesn't get many of those, but from the look on your face, it must have been horrific. You need a change of scenery and lots of tender loving care before she goes back to sleep

She'll set you both up in front of the fire in the living room, carding her fingers through your hair and bathing your face while you calm down enough to tell her more

Once you've told her everything, she's finding you both a distraction. She's making hot chocolate while you read aloud

She doesn't want you to have to go back to sleep in the same spot where you panicked, so she sets up a pile of blankets in front of the fire and snuggles up with you before falling back asleep

Pepi feels so bad she brings you her catnip toy to help you relax

Lucio

He had to use the bathroom

Which, at the particular inn you're staying at, involves him leaving the rented room and walking down the hallway because he doesn't like the lingering smell of using the chamber pot by the bed

When he walks back in to the sight and sound of you panicking, he starts panicking too. If it could scare you, it must be horrifying

The sound of him panicking is enough to ground you in the present, and he's never one to resist you yanking him into bed

Nor is he one to resist you holding him close. Squeeze him as tight as you need to, MC, he'll squeeze you right back with no complaints. Though he's still worried and confused

Pesters you until you tell him about your nightmare - which, after the warzones he's participated in, isn't hard for him to imagine. He's a little shaken up too by the time you finish

Spends the next several hours telling you why what you saw isn't going to happen. You're the best magician there is, MC, and he's the best fighter, and together you're too strong to die (again)

He'll offer to keep watch, if it'll make you feel safe enough to sleep again, though he'd rather doze off together

Holds your hand every night for the next few weeks

A/N: if the content of MC's nightmare sounds familiar to you, that's because it's a fraction of the horrific reality that thousands (if not millions) of people have been suffering through in Gaza since early October. I haven't been sure how to carry my real-life concerns into a space as relatively insignificant as a headcanon blog, but here we are.

[argisthebulwark]

Time Moves Slow - Farkas

sfw, gn reader Summary: After returning from Sovngarde the Dragonborn finds that a handful of hours for them has been years for those in Tamriel and reunites with their loved one. Others Linked: Vilkas, Brynjolf, Teldryn, Miraak, Cicero

Full of adrenaline and excitement you hustled through the Whiterun plains. Your pack pounded against your lower back but every step brought you closer to Farkas. It was a tad surprising to return to no fanfare. A city guard nodded when you approached the gate but said nothing. The flowers you'd planted only a few weeks ago were nearly dead and Breezehome's paint was faded. It was odd to stand in front of your own home and not recognize it. Dark curtains covered most windows and a workbench boasted some unfinished leather project. Your key stuck in the unforgiving lock. Dread settled into your stomach upon entering your home. The furniture was new, herbs hanging from the rafters and weapons littered on every surface. Dishes were piled messily into a sink you'd cleaned only the day before. Peeking into your apothecary room revealed nothing more than more clutter - armor and weapons stacked into chests you'd never seen before. Your alchemy table bore a lifetime's worth of dust and the shelves surrounding it were devastatingly bare. Something was very wrong. Your footsteps echoed around the strange house when you hurried upstairs. Lydia's room was long empty, bedroll collecting dust in the corner of the empty chamber. Blood roared in your ears when you stared at the state of your bed chambers. Unfamiliar blankets were strewn haphazardly across the bed. Pillows were stacked on one side, the other barren. Farkas' slippers stuck out near his bedside table. A sheet was draped over the case bearing your Amulets of Mara and your wardrobe had been shoved far out of place. Terror chilled your blood when you approached the bed you'd slept in the night before. Something had gone very wrong. Your fingers dragged over the strange blankets as you tried to work out what it could be - had your presence in Sovngarde triggered some reaction in your absence? Your books were gone. Your clothes folded and forgotten in an old trunk. Your leather armor hidden under heaps of heavy metal. Every bit of you seemed to be hidden and shoved away. There was no proof of your existence yet you'd only left a day before. Head spinning, you sat down on the bed. Nothing made sense. Your home was no longer your home. Had you somehow returned to the wrong time? You'd hardly given any thought to your return, planning only for Alduin's demise. "What the -" A voice cut through your thoughts and brought a new bout of anxiety. Strained ears heard the door shut and heavy footfalls through the house. Was this even your home? If you'd returned to the wrong time perhaps Farkas had sold the house. You could be trespassing. "Hello?" A deep voice rumbled up the stairs. "I know someone's been in here. There's nothing much worth stealing, might as well come out." Farkas. That's his voice. Scrambling across the bedroom all anxiety was forgotten at the thought of seeing him. He'd make it alright. He'd explain everything. Your boots scraped over the wooden floor when you panted atop of the stairs, eyes narrowing to spot him through the dim light. A scar his brow. His hair was lighter, tied back from his face in a way you'd never seen before. He shrugged an immense sword off his shoulder and left it on the new couch. When he finally looked up his eyes held dark circles, his familiar smile gone. "Farkas." You breathed his name and his face tightened. "What happened?" "Say that again." He gulped, taking one unsure step. "Say what?" "Say my name." "Farkas." You'd say his name a thousand times. A grin broke out over his face and you launched down the stairs. Everything was so uncertain but he's there to catch you, drawing you into an embrace that hadn't changed. Farkas' strong arms crushed you to his body, tears soaking into his tunic when he finally spoke your name. "I thought you were gone." He mumbled between heavy sobs, clutching you as if you were bound to disappear. "I thought I lost you."

[arataka-reigen]

HIIII gio!!!! i finally got the time to watch anime and i hv been curretnyl rewatching my fav anime, which are mostly shounen. id love to get so recs on shoujo anime bc i want to get in to it!!! xoxo

Honestly, shoujo is as vast as it can be... so i'm going to recommend a few very different things because idk which genre you're looking for

Natsume Yuujinchou (my all-time favorite) - slice of life, supernatural, iyashikei - It is about an orphan boy who can see yokai and gets adopted by a family in the town his grandmother used to live in. He inherits his grandmother's "Book of Friends," a book full of the names of the yokai his grandmother defeated. This anime deals with loneliness, belonging, learning to trust others again, love, and hope.

Akatsuki no Yona - fanatsy, action, romance - Yona is a naive and sheltered little princess living a perfect life alongside her childhood friends until one day her father gets murdered by the friend she was in love with. She is forced to flee the palace and face the world, collecting allies in her quest to come home and get her throne back. Also she is fucking badass.

Kamisama Hajimemashita - fantasy, romance - Nanami has just recently become homeless after her father's gambling leaves them bankrupt. Wandering through the streets, she finds and rescues a man who promises to give her a home. When she gets to her new home, she realizes it is a shrine, and the man was actually a god who tricked her into becoming a new god and taking over his duties as god. Trying to leave, she gets trapped by his familiar, Tomoe, and is now bound to her divine duties while simultaneously having to learn how to deal with Tomoe.

Akagami no Shirayukihime - fantasy, romance - Shirayuki is an apothecary on the run from becoming a concubine. She gets rescued by a prince and his two aids in the woods, and to repay her debt to them, she becomes an apothecary in the castle.

Yubisaki to Renren - adult cast, romance - we follow Yuki, a hearing impaired university student, as she broadens her horizons meeting new friends and falling in love

Ikoku Nikki - drama, josei (josei is like the adult version of shoujo, dealing with more heavy topics and targeted to an older audience) - this one hasnt aired yet, but it is from a manga I really love. Asa is a teenager who just lost her parents and now has to live with her aunt, Makio. Her aunt has always hated her mother so the two of them had never properly met before the funeral. Now they have to learn to live together while navigating through grief and loss.

Going by this short list you can already tell my favorite genre is fantasy, specially historical fantasy or yokai/gods stuff

And here are some of the classic romance shoujo that I feel like everyone from the 90s or 2000s have watched/heard about: Toradora, Ouran High School Host Club, Kimi ni Todoke, Kaichou wa Maid-sama, Fruits Basket, Ao Haru Ride

[beauregardlionett]

Queens of Queens - ch. 5

AO3 Link

Perhaps Fjord was impulsive, or maybe he was just painfully curious. Either way, he had a rare Monday off from work, which always led to strange decisions.

He lived a decent way from The Moon and Mirror, so travelling to that part of town could hardly be explained away as unintentional. Fjord’s feet carried him down the main drag of Jackson Heights, moving at a steady pace to breeze past the bar and continue on his way, steps only somewhat aimless.

From what Fjord remembered, Caduceus had said that his shop was nearby, and it seemed he meant within walking distance. So Fjord kept a keen eye out, scanning shop fronts and street signs, peering down various side streets and walking with a little more care than he had before. But the shop did not present itself easily.

He must have looked as lost as he felt, because a stout, older woman eventually stopped him with narrowed eyes and asked if he needed help. When Fjord told her he was looking for an apothecary of sorts, her face softened. Pointing him back a block and down a side street, Fjord heard all about the ‘kindest store owner he would ever meet’.

Sure enough, after they parted ways and Fjord thanked her for her help, he found the shop.

A wooden plaque hung outside a light wood door, painted with intricate designs of leaves, vines, flowers and gems. It dubbed the store The Blooming Grove. There was a window beside the door that appeared to encompass the entire front wall of the store. However, gossamer curtains of light, iridescent fabric obscured the interior at the moment. When Fjord tried the door handle, it was unlocked.

As he walked in, chimes above the inside doorway rung merrily, announcing his presence.

Caduceus looked up from where he stood behind the long counter against one wall. Behind him were carefully organized jars of varying sizes, filled with numerous herbs and dried flowers. A pale green teapot sat on the closest end of the counter toward Fjord, steam curling from the spout. The small sign beside it read free tea and listed the daily blend. The register was at the furthest end, a stick of incense burning beside it and filling the room with a smoky musk.

“Oh,” Caduceus said as he brightened, drawing Fjord’s attention again. “Mr. Fjord, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

“You remember me,” Fjord said, surprised, as he closed the door and took a few hesitant steps further into the shop.

“Of course,” Caduceus drawled, eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. “I tend to remember Molly’s friends rather easily.”

“Oh, I’m not—” Fjord cut himself off. “I don’t know Molly that well.”

“Regardless,” Caduceus said with an aimless wave of his hand. “What can I do for you? Would you like some tea, or are you here to browse the shop?”

There was no shortage of things to peruse. A haphazard and unusual collection of shelving lined the edges of the tiny store. It wasn’t very wide, more long than anything, and the counter seemed to take up most of the floor space. But despite the size, Caduceus had somehow packed the store full of items to ogle over. Gemstones sparkled in the dim light, scattered in variety about the shelves in bowls and tiny trays. Different brands of tarot cards and tinctures shared another shelf, while wooden carvings of old deity symbols decorated one wall. A rack of what appeared to be handmade jewelry hung above a vanity spread of essential oils and homemade soaps.

Against the back wall of the store, built beside the door that read ‘employees only’, was a display case of flowers. Vivacious, colorful, and teeming with life, ready to be plucked from their baskets and arranged. There were even a few pots lined up on the bottom two shelves, plants to be purchased to take home and join a garden.

“To be quite honest with you,” Fjord said slowly, as he took it all in. “I’m not sure. I think I was just…curious.”

Caduceus spread his hands wide, grin still in place.

“Feel free to look around, then,” he drawled. “There’s something here for everyone, even if you don’t know it yet.”

Fjord raised an eyebrow at that, but decided it couldn’t hurt to peruse. He bypassed the tinctures and soaps entirely, more interested by the assorted gemstones scattered about the shop. Each tiny collection had a sign of stiff paper propped up among the gems, labeling which stone was which and sporting a quick description of ‘magical properties’. Fjord didn’t care to read each one, instead scanning over the gems themselves and picking up the ones that caught his eye.

In one bowl, a large cluster of purple stones drew his attention. Fjord plucked one from the top, holding the stone up and turning it, watching the way it sparkled faintly.

“Oh, that’s a good one for you,” Caduceus’ voice said at Fjord’s shoulder, startling him.

“What do you mean?” Fjord managed around his heart in his throat.

“That’s amethyst,” Caduceus explained, smiling like he hadn’t just made Fjord curse loudly. “It’s a good stone for all kinds of healing and mental focus. Keeping that around usually helps lift people's moods, too.”

“A stone can do that?” Fjord asked, not bothering to mask the skepticism in his tone.

“It can if you have enough faith in it,” Caduceus said as he walked back to the register.

Before Fjord could ponder over Caduceus and his cryptic words for too long, the chimes above the door rang.

Sucking in a sharp breath, Fjord recognized the woman Beau had identified as Yasha from the bar. She was now sporting a black eye, bruised cheekbone, and a nasty-looking split lip. The bruises were still a dark purple toward the center, but the edges were already tinged with fading yellow—not new, but still nowhere near finished healing. There was a part of Fjord that doubted she had gotten those from bouncing at the bar.

“Oh dear,” Caduceus said with simple intonation. “Those look rather nasty, don’t they?”

Yasha gave a minute wince and shut the door carefully behind her. Mismatched eyes tracked to Fjord, the lift of her eyebrows giving away that she recognized him. He nodded her way, turning back to the gems on the shelf in a thin veneer of privacy.

“I’m assuming you’re here for more balm?” Caduceus’ easy timbre carried throughout the store.

“If you don’t mind,” Yasha said, her voice low and timid. “Molly used the last of it a couple of weeks ago.”

“Oh, right,” Caduceus replied, his voice muffled like he was digging through something behind the counter. “I remember that. Do they need more lavender, by the way? I gave them some a few weeks ago, but I can never tell how fast they are going to go through it.”

“It probably wouldn’t hurt,” Yasha sighed. “You know how they are.”

Fjord couldn’t resist peeking over his shoulder at the pair, their conversation meaning little to him. Yasha was leaning against the counter, elbows supporting her weight, as she watched Caduceus rummage through a box behind the register. He eventually straightened up, placing a tiny container between himself and Yasha before turning to grab one of the herbal jars from the shelf.

“This is Mr. Fjord, by the way,” Caduceus said without looking, already measuring out some dried purple flowers on a scale. Yasha’s gaze flicked over her shoulder to Fjord, giving him a once over the way she had all those nights ago.

“Nice to have a name for the face,” Yasha murmured, prompting Caduceus to grin over his shoulder at them.

“Oh, so you’ve met! I should have guessed, since Mr. Fjord’s been by the bar before. Molly seemed to take a liking to him, but I couldn’t be certain the two of you had been acquainted.”

“Something like that,” Fjord muttered as he approached the pair, gems forgotten. He stuck out a hand to Yasha, smiling amicably in his usual charming fashion. “Good to properly meet you, Yasha.”

“Likewise,” Yasha said after a long moment of scrutiny, taking Fjord’s hand in her firm grasp. The movement let Fjord catch sight of the bandages wrapped with snug precision around her knuckles. If he had to take a guess, Fjord would put money down on Yasha’s knuckles reflecting the state of her face.

Caduceus saved them from having to fumble any further attempts at conversation. He placed a small cloth bag filled with lavender on the counter beside the other container. He produced a tincture from below as well—the bottle labeled as lavender, too.

“Anything else?” Caduceus asked, putting the lavender jar back up on the shelf. When she shook her head, he smiled.

“What do I owe you?”

“Friends and family discount,” Caduceus said, and the look Yasha gave him told Fjord they had had this conversation before. There must have been something in Yasha’s expression that Fjord missed, because Caduceus caved with a fond sigh a few seconds later. “Fine, half price.”

Yasha dug out the required amount from her jacket pocket and handed it over.

“Oh, by the way,” Caduceus said as he put the money into the register. “I added in some poppy with the lemon balm. Didn’t do too much for the smell, but let me know if it helps with anything.”

“Sure,” Yasha agreed, gathering up her items and turning to go. “Good to meet you again, Fjord.”

“Same to you,” Fjord called as she breezed out of the store to the cheerful chimes.

“So, would you like that amethyst you’ve been holding on to?” Caduceus’ voice pulled Fjord back.

“Oh,” Fjord looked down at the stone in his hand, having completely forgotten he still had it. He didn’t buy into this magic healing stuff Caduceus had mentioned, but it was rather nice to have something to fiddle with, to keep his hands busy.

“Sure, yeah.”

Caduceus pulled a small cloth bag from beneath the counter and set about packing the stone away. He gestured to the shelf behind him with a grin once he had tied off the bag.

“Would you like to try any of these while you’re here?”

He went to refuse, thinking himself uninterested. But he paused, the weight of a sleepless night tugging back his inhibitions and presenting the more curious, if not desperate, side of Fjord.

“Do you have anything that helps with restless sleep?”

Caduceus said nothing, merely moved to grab a couple of jars from the shelf, his long arms stretching with ease to the uppermost height. Unlike his actions with Yasha’s purchase, Caduceus set the jars before Fjord on the counter with a smile. He pointed to one filled with dried flower buds that bore a musky yellow color.

“This is chamomile,” Caduceus explained. “Great herb for stress and nerves, and it has a lovely, light flavor to it when brewed.”

He pointed to another jar, this one Fjord recognized because Caduceus had just used it for Yasha. The flowers were much smaller than the chamomile, most a pale purple and scarcely the length of a fingernail.

“Lavender, also a rather mild flavor, so long as you don’t use too much. Perfect for promoting peace and restful sleep. I recommend a tea blend of it with the chamomile. Steep it for about three to five minutes and you should find sleep a much easier thing to tackle.”

“What about that jar?” Fjord asked, nodding toward the third that Caduceus had pulled down. Inside it were what appeared to be miniscule, deep crimson colored bits of flower. Fjord had absolutely no idea what they could be, and since most of the jars lacked labels, he couldn’t even guess.

“Ah, these are rose hips,” Caduceus said. “They won’t help with sleep, but they’ve got a good flavor and they turn your tea pink. I don’t have to add them if you don’t want them.”

Fjord blinked at Caduceus, wondering when he would ever get used to Caduceus’ casual, strange train of thought. Casting that aside for another time, Fjord shook his head and gestured to the other jars with a wave of his hand.

“Just the lavender and chamomile for now, please.”

After Fjord had paid for and gathered up his tea and gemstone, Caduceus set about putting the herbal jars back upon the shelf. He glanced over his shoulder to Fjord and smiled genially.

“I’m glad you stopped by, Mr. Fjord. I hope the tea helps.”

“Thank you,” Fjord nodded, eyes flicking down to his bag. “I’ll let you know once I try it.”

“I suppose that means I’ll be seeing you around,” Caduceus hummed as he dusted his hands off on his sweater. “Have a good one until then.”

“You too,” Fjord waved, ducking from the shop to the merry cadence of the shop’s chimes.

As he walked down the sidewalk, absently heading for his bus stop, Fjord contemplated the purchase in his hand. He was unsure what brought him to The Blooming Grove today aside from natural curiosity, but he wasn’t unhappy with the way events unfolded. It was strange to see Yasha again, and he wouldn’t deny his curiosity about her current state—but it was all a mere coincidence.

Fjord had little reason to return to The Moon and Mirror or to Caduceus’ shop. The chances of seeing these people again were slim, he was certain of it.

--

When Yasha walked into the bar, two of the tables near the front window were occupied. About average for a Monday after lunch, so she continued further in without giving them much thought.

Her bruises smarted every time she moved, and every blink made her face feel like it was throbbing in time with her heartbeat. But Yasha had definitely suffered worse. Besides, now that she had more of that near magical herbal balm from Caduceus’ shop, Yasha knew her aches and pains would be gone in a matter of days.

Molly stood behind the bar as Yasha approached, offering her a distracted wave as they listened with rapt attention to Veth. She paced the length of the bench as she spoke, hands darting with inhuman speed to scoop up bottles and syrups and glasses. Whatever she was mixing, Veth seemed confident enough to chat throughout the entire process.

“So that’s when the police started chasing us. We were kids, so they probably would have gone easy on us, but we were faster and they never saw our faces. But anyway, after that—oh my gods, what happened to your face?”

Veth interrupted her own story as she turned to Molly and spotted Yasha over their shoulder. Yasha winced minutely at the shrill worry in Veth’s tone, the drink she had been mixing forgotten. Molly twisted around to face Yasha, a violet eyebrow cocking her way, as they offered no help.

“Just a scuffle,” Yasha murmured, producing the two lavender products from her bag. She held them out to Molly without fanfare, and they took them as such.

“Here?” Veth pressed, leaning her little hands onto the countertop, eyes wide and concerned.

“Ah…um, no.” Yasha had never been a good liar, finding it far easier to stick to the truth. But this truth was not something easily shared. “Somewhere else, but it’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” Veth asked, incredulous. “Your face is covered in bruises! You look like you’ve been mauled!”

Molly was grinning now, their amusement with Yasha’s fidgeting overriding any concern they might have possessed. She was definitely going to be hiding all of their favorite blankets later tonight in retaliation.

“I’m okay, Veth,” Yasha tried again, hoping she might slip away upstairs and avoid this all together.

“Absolutely not,” Veth insisted, motioning for Yasha to come behind the bar. “Get over here, right now.”

Molly wasn’t even trying to hide their smile anymore, clearly delighted to have found an ally in their never-ending attempts at looking after Yasha. They instead gestured for Yasha to hurry, far too cheerful.

“You heard the woman, Yash,” Molly said, eyes bright. “Get on over there.”

With shuffling steps, and a frown that was definitely not a pout, Yasha moved behind the bar and sat beside Veth on her bench. She passed over the jar of balm from her bag and turned so that she faced Veth, legs straddling the bench.

“I have a five-year-old,” Veth said as she opened the jar and scooped two fingers through the aromatic balm. “So if it makes you feel any better, you never stood a chance.”

Molly crowed with laughter at Yasha’s definite pout and stretched around Veth to pat Yasha’s head.

“What is your kid’s name?” Yasha asked as Veth carefully rubbed the balm over the long bruise on Yasha’s cheek. The tension unwound from Yasha’s shoulders as Caduceus’ product seemed to sap the pain from her skin near instantaneously.

“Luc,” Veth said after a moment, her voice quiet. “He’s a brilliant boy, just like his father.”

“I know you worry,” Molly piped up, leaning on their elbows as they watched Veth treat Yasha. “But you’re more than welcome to bring him here if your husband has to work. I’m sure we can keep him entertained.”

“Most of the time it isn’t an issue,” Veth said, moving to Yasha’s other cheek, brow furrowed in concentration. “He has school, and after-care is available, and on weekends Yeza doesn’t work. But the summer might be a problem. My husband does a lot of his research when the university doesn’t have regular classes, and if I’m here…”

Veth sighed as she leaned back to observe where else she might apply balm to Yasha’s bruises.

“We can watch him,” Yasha murmured, smiling when Veth blinked at her. “I love kids.”

“Summer is a long way off,” Veth said, screwing the lid back onto the balm and handing it to Yasha. “I’d like to introduce Luc to everyone before I make that decision.”

“Of course,” Molly said graciously, their tail waving behind them in lazy spirals. “We’d love to meet the little lad.”

Yasha nodded her agreement when Veth looked between the two of them, eyes hesitant and a tad critical. She had no parental experience herself, so Yasha couldn’t pretend to understand all the emotions warring inside Veth. But she smiled as much as she could with her bruises and hoped it was enough.

“I’ll find a day sometime soon to bring him by,” Veth said at length. “He’s been curious to see where I work, anyway.”

“Wonderful!” Molly clapped their hands together, beaming. “Just let us know and we would be more than happy to host!”

Yasha nodded and tucked the jar of balm back into her bag, offering Veth a quiet, “thanks.”

Veth nodded back to her as Molly stole Veth’s attention once more.

“Now, Mrs. Veth,” Molly said as they leaned their weight back onto the bar, eyes gleaming. “Why don’t you finish that story and drink of yours? I’m very curious to see how both turn out.”

--

Fjord had never been one for worldly possessions. Growing up in an orphanage didn’t lend to owning much, and his adoptive father worked on a deep sea fishing vessel for most of Fjord’s childhood. No portion of Fjord’s life saw frivolous shopping and ownership. He was fine with it, because it made moving and cleaning that much easier.

His roommate, Caleb, seemed to live similarly. The only thing he owned in excess, it seemed, were books. Even then, several of them were on loan from the library. Their apartment was a revolving door of borrowed novels tucked into Caleb’s bag, under his arm, or stacked atop one another precariously. Fjord never minded the books, because Caleb kept them out of the way and returned them promptly.

Overall, their collective spread created a Spartan apartment. They each owned a bed with an unremarkable duvet, a closet each full of meager options, and a desk of their own. The only variable between their rooms was Caleb’s stocked bookshelf. The living room had a sofa and coffee table—no television or extra seating, as they rarely ever saw guests. No houseplants to speak of, or knickknacks on the windowsills. The only reason they owned curtains was because they came with the apartment, since the previous occupant left them behind.

It was Wednesday—grocery day for them—so the cupboards were bare and the fridge empty, save for some yogurt that they likely should have chucked a month ago.

Sprawled across the sofa, Fjord had his textbook propped on his stomach and his knees. He was reading, but he only processed about half of the words. His stomach grumbled beneath the biting edge of his text, making it hard to focus. He could go to the store by himself, but Caleb was extremely particular about certain things he bought. It just saved them time and money to go together and get it over with.

Now, if only Caleb would emerge from his room, they could actually get going.

As if summoned by the thought, Caleb’s door creaked open, spilling out his sleepy, stumbling figure. Fjord shut his textbook and sat up, placing it on the coffee table. Caleb yawned behind one hand as he wound a faded blue scarf ‘round his neck, his tattered coat already in place. Fjord grabbed his jacket off the arm of the couch and stood to meet his roommate as they left.

Not that they never spoke, but this part of their routine no longer needed dialogue. Fjord never worked Wednesdays and neither of them had class until the afternoon, so this routine was long engrained into their relationship.

The store was within walking distance of their apartment, so they took a stroll down the sidewalk, shoulder to shoulder. Caleb yawned again and burrowed his nose into the folds of his scarf. Late November’s wind had a biting chill to it, merciless and ripping. Today was not windy, but the cold lingered anyway.

As they stood at a crosswalk, waiting for a break in traffic, a voice called out to them.

“Fjord! Hey, Fjord!” Twisting at the sound of his name, Fjord glanced over his shoulder. Hanging off the door handle of a café they had passed, he spotted a familiar blue Tiefling. She waved her arm over her head with an enthusiasm that made Fjord worried about the integrity of her shoulder. Her grin was wide and beaming, something familiar.

“Oh,” Fjord remembered after a moment. “Uh, Jester, right? Hello again.”

“That’s me!” Jester chirped as Fjord walked back down the sidewalk toward her. He could see Caleb trailing hesitantly along behind him in his periphery, so Fjord gestured to him as they stood in front of Jester.

“This is my roommate, Caleb,” Fjord said before looking at Caleb. “This is Jester. I met her a few nights ago on my way home from work.”

Jester stuck her hand out, still grinning even in the face of Caleb’s blank stare and heavy silence. He flicked a look at her outstretched hand and made no move to take his hands from his coat pockets. Fjord suppressed the urge to bodily cringe.

“Hello,” Caleb said, accent thick despite the low volume of his voice.

“Pleased to meet you,” Jester drawled sweetly as she shook her hand up and down in the air in front of Caleb. “You guys should come in for some pastries! My friend just made a huge batch of cupcakes and muffins.”

“Oh,” Fjord said, glancing at Caleb for a cue and unsurprised to find his face still blank. “We were just heading to the store. Maybe—”

“That’s perfect, then!” Jester squealed, reaching out to snag at Fjord’s elbow, jumping in place. “My Mama always said you’re never supposed to shop on an empty stomach. So you have to come in and try some of Reani’s cupcakes before you go! It’ll be super quick—so fast it will almost be like you never stopped. I can make you cocoa, too! Or any drink you want!”

Fjord paused, finally taking in the frilly pink apron Jester had tied over her clothes. The name of the café was embroidered in pale yellow, denoting the shop as Halo’s Haven.

“I thought you were an artist?” Fjord said, the statement sounding more like a question with his confusion.

Jester glanced down at her apron and laughed, a bubbling giggle. “I am, silly. I work here too. Not all the time, of course. Mostly when Reani is short staffed. But come on, come have a snack before you leave. We can all talk and get to know each other!” Jester glanced at Caleb and grinned even harder at him. She looked like she was trying to smile enough for the both of them.

“It’ll be fun!”

With Caleb remaining silent, Fjord decided it couldn’t hurt to stop for a snack. Plus, Caleb left Fjord to carry this interaction, so he figured payback through mildly forced conversation worked out.

“Sure, why not?” Fjord said, smiling at Jester. “Caleb’s got a sweet tooth, after all.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Caleb, greeted with flustered confusion and a furrowed brow.

“What?” Caleb muttered right before Jester squealed and snagged Caleb by the hand. She towed him through the front door of the pastry shop with surprising strength, Fjord strolling in behind them. The interior of the shop was bright and homey, and the scent of warm sugar permeated the air. The walls and floors of the shop were a pristine white, accented sweetly with pale pink and charming yellow. Splashes of green brightened everything, thrown in where potted plants hung from the ceiling, lined the windows, and decorated each table.

“Reani!” Jester crowed as she pulled Caleb toward the display case. “I brought friends!”

Thankfully, the shop was mostly empty, so Jester’s voice carried easily without disturbing anyone. Fjord came up beside her and Caleb just as another figure came bursting from the back.

A tumble of silver-white hair spilled over one shoulder as a short woman with bright eyes and an even brighter smile rocketed to the counter. Fjord could see how she and Jester got along.

“Oh, hello!” Reani chirped. “It’s so nice to meet you! Welcome to Halo’s Haven, I’m Reani!”

“This is Fjord,” Jester spoke up before he could. “He’s the one I told you about, from the other night. And this is Cay-leb.”

Fjord smirked at the exaggerated pronunciation of his roommate’s name as he reached over the counter to shake Reani’s hand.

“Nice to meet you,” he said casually. “Jester told us y’all make some pretty good treats in here.”

“We make the best, actually,” Reani boasted with a sharp smile, eyes sparkling. “Especially cupcakes.”

“What do you want to eat, Cay-leb?” Jester asked, clinging to his arm and staring up at Caleb with eager eyes. Fjord suppressed a snicker at the flustered, nervous look on his face, turning his attention to the display case so he wouldn’t outright laugh at Caleb’s fumbling.

“Whichever one you recommend is fine,” Caleb said eventually, much to Jester’s delight. While Jester flung herself around the counter to pull out a cupcake for Caleb, Fjord asked Reani for a coffee to go. Caleb slid closer to Fjord’s shoulder, arms folded tight to his chest. His ears were faintly pink as he buried his nose into his scarf again, staring down at the floor. Fjord felt a little bad for dragging Caleb into this when he knew his roommate was a recluse.

“Hey,” Fjord murmured while the girls worked. “Are you okay? I’m sorry if this is a lot.”

Caleb flicked a look up at him, blinking in surprise. He was silent for a long enough moment that Fjord wondered if he was ever going to answer.

“Ah,” Caleb finally said. “It is…fine. I am not used to such…boisterous company, is all.”

Fjord made a noise of agreement as Reani and Jester came back to the counter with their things. Ignoring Caleb’s quiet protest, Fjord paid for both of them while he chatted politely with the pair of bubbly girls.

“You guys should totally come by again sometime!” Jester said.

“We’ll do our best,” Fjord promised. “We both have school and work most days, but it’s pretty nice here.”

Reani beamed at the compliment, bouncing on her toes as Jester hugged Reani’s arm tightly.

“It was nice to meet you Reani, and good to see you again, Jester,” Fjord said, smiling at them. “But we’ve still got a store run to complete. We’ll see you around?”

“Totally!” Reani and Jester said at the same time. Both of them stood at the door and waved to Fjord and Caleb as they walked off down the sidewalk together.

Fjord peered at Caleb and found his ears were still pink as he stared down at the cupcake in his hands. Grinning, Fjord took a leisurely sip of his coffee before speaking up.

“They were both pretty nice,” Fjord commented. Caleb made a noise of acknowledgement to the comment as he worked on peeling away the lining of his cupcake.

“And cute,” Fjord said after another sip of coffee.

Caleb shoved half the cupcake in his mouth as his cheeks flushed pink, making Fjord choke on both his laughter and his coffee. Caleb’s lips quirked up in a smile as he wiped at the frosting on his nose and Fjord realized he hadn’t seen Caleb smile before. It looked good on him—happiness, that is.

Maybe they would stop by Halo’s Haven more often after all.

[desertmountainapothecary]

Tidepools of La Jolla, California – Nursery of The Pacific Ocean Marine Life - Torrey Pines, California – San Diego Pacific Ocean Beach Adventure

To the north and east of the beach Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve is one of the last remaining salt marsh areas and waterfowl refuges in southern California. The marsh, coves, and tidepools are rich in sea life: limpets, shore crabs and hermit crabs, mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, and many species of snails and cast-off shells.

This is the perfect place to watch the annual gray whale migration. All year round, you can see Seals, dolphins, porpoises, and sea lions in the ocean. About two hundred species of birds are protected at the reserve, including migratory ones.

Year round Resident shore birds include brown and American white pelicans, black-bellied and snowy plovers, American avocets, western sandpipers, willets, whimbrels, sanderlings, great egrets, and longbilled curlews. Occasionally, visitors may see gray foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and mule deer. Reptile residents include rattlesnakes and various other snakes and species of lizards, including the endangered horned lizard.

The Torrey Pines 2,000-acre reserve contains about 300 endangered and protected species of native plants. These vanishing habitats are home to sand verbena and beach primrose on the beach, as well as California sagebrush, California buckwheat, black sage, and coastal barrel cactus. On the cliffs other high elevations there are many chaparral plants, including chamise, manzanita, ceanothus, California scrub oak, toyon, and mountain mahogany. Many of these scrub plants in particular provide the refreshing herbal fragrance that mixes so incredibly with the ocean breeze.

Before this area was colonized by Spain, the Kumeyaay tribes migrated lived here, and migrated between here, the deserts, and the mountains throughout the seasons. The land was bountiful, and the Kumeyaay would have fished, hunted, collected crustaceans, and gathered seeds, fruit, roots, to create probably a very healthy and tasty diet. The Kumeyaay have left an indelible archaeological and cultural legacy here in San Diego county and they continue to be a strong tribal nation today both here and south of the border in Baja Norte state.

The water is usually so clean and clear here, and because of the lack of shoreline development, and the underwater marine reserve, this constantly ranks as one of the 3 cleanest beaches in SoCal. This is a wonderful rare instance of extremely valuable real estate, both being a wildlife refuge and habitat, and a beautiful escape from civilization for people to enjoy for the most part in harmony.

It’s been an incredible day on the coast here in Torrey Pines and La Jolla, and I’m so glad that we were able to explore my favorite beach together. You can enjoy my series: Torrey Pines – La Jolla, California – San Diego Pacific Ocean Beach Adventure, full length, 3 glorious days on the North County coast, and experience all of the different moods and landscapes from the ever-changing interplay between the coastal inversion and sunlight.

Full Length Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLyySza85jA

Thank you so much for joining me for this adventure in my favorite beach town on the west coast, the gem of the San Diego coastline, La Jolla, California. It means the world to me to be able to share my treasured slice of heaven in the summer heat with you, and thank you so much for watching, upvoting, commenting, and subscribing.

All the best,

William Z. Brennan & Desert Mountain Apothecary

Please Enjoy Anza Borrego Desert Wildflower Superbloom – We had the most incredible wildflower superbloom in the California Desert this past year, join me from the beginning of the cold winter through the waves of dazzling blooms to the hot end of the season.

Web: https://desertmountainapothecary.com/

Medium: https://desertmountainapothecary.medium.com/

Mastodon: https://mindly.social/@DesertMountainApothecary

Spoutible: https://spoutible.com/DesertMountainApothecary

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/desertmountainapothecary/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/desertmtnapothecary/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/desertmountainapothecary

Please Enjoy More Videos!

Supreme Superbloom! Anza Borrego Desert Spring Wildflowers! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGDPHEmN3v8

Grateful Desert Ocotillos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bstybc3XcAk

Coyote Canyon Offroad Adventure! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQYPvqj2ouU

Julian & Santa Ysabel, CA Epic San Diego Backcountry Road Trip- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Z_o0S4Hpg

Bellport in Spring - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J9hzsFhS-k

Santa Ysabel Preserve – Backcountry Hiking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XLrSJMLXUw

[beaft]

a random OC ask for you (for chanterelle): what is your OC's favorite memory?

also: if they were dropped in a random city for a day with a pouch full of gold/relevant currency and no obligations whatsoever, what would they be doing?

oh what a nice treat! i love to receive random OC asks <3 thank you!

favourite memory... i think maybe one time his elder sister took him out of the city on a little daytrip to explore the underdark - or at least, some of the less everything's-trying-to-kill-you bits of it - and he brought along a sketchbook and a bag in which to collect Interesting Things, and had filled them both by the time they got home, and for weeks afterwards he had dreams about glowing flowers and clouds of spores and the weird, bioluminescent creatures that kept appearing and disappearing out of the corner of his eye. he nearly got eaten by a hook horror at one point. it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him.

(i think most of his memories of his sisters are happy, actually - he was the youngest one and the only boy, so they made a big fuss of him until their mother discouraged it.)

for the second ask: he's not much of a city person, but i imagine he'd either make a bee-line for the nearest library or he'd find an apothecary and bother the owner with questions about where did you find this, what does that do, what happens if you mix x with y, and so on, cheerfully oblivious to the queue building up behind him. and after that he would head for the food market and go absolutely nuts in the confectionary department. the idea of "free samples" is a novel one; he's amazed to discover that these stallholders are just giving food away for free, and doesn't realise you're meant to just eat one or two, as opposed to the whole tray.

[thatwitchjen]

Sea Witch.

Hag.

Drowned Maiden.

Siren.

Mermaid.

Wind Broker.

Cliff Walker.

The Sea Witch is drawn to water, the calming force and the chaotic energy. 🌊

The pull of the moon is her curse but the vastness of the sea is her freedom. 🌕

The crisp scent of Sea Witch Whipped Body Butter evokes images of haunting saltwater carved cliffs along the lonely shores that the sea witch calls home. Open a jar and call yourself home.

Inside every jar, created by Apothecary Goods and carried by That Witch Beauty Line, you will find the highest quality shea butter, aloe vera, ylang ylang, beeswax, tea tree oil, chamomile, ashwaganda, rose hip oil, carrot seed oil and clary sage. In addition you will find one of the following crystals: clear quartz, amethyst, map jasper or amazonite, cleansed and charged by the full moon.

That Witch Body Butters are a cure all for the body and senses. Heal dry skin, raise your vibration with the cleanest scents, revel in the aromatherapy as your skin begins to heal, meditate on the healing properties as you transport yourself to the world of the Sea Witch. Turn up your magic.

Link in Bio

Purchase. Indulge. Leave a Review.

https://apothecarygoods.com/products/which-witch-whipped-body-butters-collection?_pos=2&_psq=sea+w&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=44462876492080

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jennifer (@thedownhillrun)

[hondakiku]

How are you today? Have you done anything fun lately? Also what fandoms are you in? -🪽

I'm doing just fine, thank you. Just hanging around at home for the day.

The fandom question is a bit overwhelming because if you look at my blog you'll see that I actually dabble in a lot of things, especially when it comes to animated series, and not particularly just anime as I like cartoons, too.

Obviously I like hetalia, that's my namesake, it's my oldest fandom and I like the community.

I'm a pretty big fan of anime and shonen series especially. I like jujutsu kaisen, bungo stray dogs, trigun stampede, full-metal alchemist, death note, kaiju no. 8, windbreaker, demon slayer, the apothecary diaries, etc. etc. but also series like ouran high school host club and fruits basket. I actually watch TONS of different anime. If you wanna know if i've watched something specific, ask me.

I'm also a fan of things like arcane, scott pilgrim, hazbin hotel and helluva boss, the amazing digital circus etc. etc. I used to be a big steven universe, phineas and ferb and gravity falls fan, and I still will reblog those occasionally. I also used to be a huge pokémon fan— Uhhh,,, I probably forgot a bunch of stuff but the point is I like lots of things and I keep slowly collecting more.

[sylverra]

Sylverra Crystals Yule Sale 2024

It's that time again, and we've made a handful of coupons to help you save on your holiday shopping!

YULE10 - 10% off, no minimum YULE20 - 20% off $30+ YULE25 - 25% off $45+ YULE30 - 30% off $60+ YULE35 - 35% off $75+

These codes are good for all items in the Crystals, Jewelry and Home Decor collections and exclude Apothecary items.

Need something extra to bump you up to the next coupon? Check out our Under $15 and Under $5 collections!

Happy Yule, and happy shopping! ✨🎄

❄️ Browse the full catalog → 🎁 Shop by category →

All codes expire 12/27/24 at 11:59 pm ET. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Free shipping applies to US orders with a total of $50+ after discount.

[victorluvsalice]

-->And got up to Apothecary skill level 2, allowing them to make their first bags of gummies! :D Deodorant and spirit-lifter gummies, to be precise! Making the deodorant gummies was pretty easy, but they needed a little help from Victor to make the spirit-lifter ones -- specifically, they needed his Copypasto skills to copy their recently-caught fireflies so they had enough to make the gummies. *nods, grinning* Spell. OP.

-->With fireflies copied, the last push to fill up the shelves was on -- Alice, feeling the hunger, got sent out to transform and go for a hunt -- she brought back a few extra plates of meat, which got put straight into the meat display. Really nice when you can hunt your own, huh? Victor, meanwhile, made a few more perfumes, in Energized and Happy scents, while Smiler helped the returned Alice make a few more boxes of stuff -- green beans and blueberry jam, mostly. Victor also went upstairs to do a little final Copypastoing on what was already there -- left the shelves looking nice and full, but him looking rather, uh, SHOCKING. XD Both Smiler and Alice were very concerned when he came down crackling away like that. XD (No, seriously, Sims who see a dangerously overcharged spellcaster legit get a Scared moodlet. I guess they don't want to get caught in the blast radius should things go bad!) At least he got another talent point out of the deal -- I promptly spent it on the Mix Master talent, which makes his potions more potent and taste better. I mean, if potion-making is now going to be a regular part of his routine, we want the best-tasting ones we can get!

-->That being said, I too was a little concerned about Victor's overcharged state, and it was starting to get late, so once Smiler finished up their final gummies, they all headed home. Victor went straight upstairs to bed, with Alice joining him after a little time spent entertaining Surprise with the laser pointer. Smiler, for their part, updated their frog collection with their new frogs, then went and retrieved poor Elmer and Bugs from the greenhouse (as I had accidentally left them on all day -- good thing they're good-quality bots and take a while to wear down!) before heading into the barn to make some more chatterbots (observed by Shadow and Kelly). Overall, a very good, very productive day for the trio! I think this store is finally starting to reach the "can actually be OPENED" stage at last.

NEXT time, though, we ignore the store in favor of something else important -- namely, a party! Because Growing Together added a new party type that comes with a reward that I REALLY wanted to get my hands on...see you then!