#the set was 3.50€

[haliendal]

As a gardener currently working in a family-owned garden center:

Picking up shit from the ground is fine. We would have to throw it in the trash otherwise, because employee-time + pot, soil, water, fertiliser would not be financially worth it for most plants. So even if we would like to save the plant, if we would do so, the garden center likely wouldn’t be able to stay in business and compete with the big companies. Or it would have to decrease the number of employees and our loan. None of us like it, but unfortunately that’s how it is. So even though it’s a bit meh, if picking up the succulent means you won’t buy the original plant and raise the succulent instead, even though the store loses money, it’s still fine. Props to you for the effort to raise it. And if you buy the original plant also we will love you forever :)

However. If you fucking break a plant on purpose. A plant we put time and effort in. And with that damage it so it either won’t get sold or gives the store a reputation for mediocre plants. If you threaten our livelihood just so you don’t have to buy a plant (a luxury product). It’s on fucking sight.

[shirecorn]

Holy shit things costs money? Why did nobody tell me this.

[airenyah]

crisis averted, i got my things and now i'm all set for the first rehearsal on monday!!​

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Who doesn't love a perfectly preserved time capsule? This 1968 beauty in Rockford, IL is like stepping back in time. 4bds, 4ba, $450K.

The small entrance has tiled flooring to protect the carpet that runs all through the house.

Why is it always green? This was a dramatic home when it was new- stone fireplace, sunken living room, and wrought iron railings were the height of fashion.

The living area is huge. Note the large stone bench matching the fireplace and the cornice boards that discreetly hide the unsightly curtain rods.

The fireplace stone continues and has a huge mirror. In the corner is shelving and 2 steps up to the dining room.

The dining room has dated curtains that the buyer will inherit. I love the kitty-corner table. That was a common placement in mid-century style.

Next comes the kitchen. Actually, they must've updated it b/c I don't think that 2-tone cabinets were a thing yet. But, the ditzy, small, busy print of the wallpaper with matching shades was definitely the style. Note the original avocado dishwasher and dust shelving above the upper cabinetry, that was later replaced by soffits.

Wait a minute, I'm seeing props here- there's a new dishwasher and new ovens, but they kept the old avocado ones. I wonder if they work or, if it's just nostalgia. There are also 2 cooktops. Wow, they really preserved everything.

Look at the green glass.

Large laundry room off the kitchen.

Oh, look, an avocado washer/dryer set. This is amazing. And, look at the old sink. I hope someone who loves it, buys it, b/c it was so lovingly cared for.

Nice large everyday dining area has a pony wall separating the family room. So much green everywhere. I wonder if this set came that way or if they painted it.

Another stone fireplace flanked by shelving. Knotty pine walls, and folding shutter doors- all fashions of the past. I can't believe that they have the Colonial furniture that was so popular at the time. Even though it was all the rage, you don't see it around anymore. According to the listing, there is going to be an estate sale, so this furniture will be available.

The primary bedroom is pretty big. Geez, there's carpeting everywhere and some of it is looking gnarly.

It has an en-suite, which is unusual. Look at that fancy cabinet. Green laminate counter, too.

This bedroom is also pretty big. Look at the consummate girl's white bedroom furniture of the mid-century.

The den has a big old map probably with countries that don' t even exist anymore.

More bedrooms on the 2nd fl.

Oh, look at that! A hope chest! They were popular for a teenage girl to receive as a gift. Then, she would put in blankets, etc., in the hopes of one day getting married and using them. I can't get over the historic furniture in this place.

And, then they've got a big family room up here. Wow, this house has so much furniture and tchotchkes.

Winter? No problem. Just set the lawn furniture up in the basement.

There's also a finished part of the basement. This is a craft room, and there is also a canning room.

Look at the antique freezer on the right. This place is a museum.

This part of the basement isn't finished even though it has a brick fireplace. No matter, they still used it as a family room, anyway.

According to the listing, this is a 2 car garage, called a "cottage garage," b/c I guess it looks like a residence.

This cool log cabin on the property is used as a playhouse, according to the listing.

Yeah, but look at it, it's really a residence.

There's a lot of land, 3.50 acres.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6151-Newburg-Rd-Rockford-IL-61108/5537324_zpid/

[ladybugtrait]

(preview) Cloudmilk Drop

A brand new combo is here — and it’s sweet like sugar!

Introducing the Cloudmilk Skin, paired with the Lacy Lemon lingerie set, and an exclusive new character styled in soft pastel tones.

Currently available only for:

SuperVIP ( FULL SET)

Ladybug (SKIN + CHARACTER)

The skin will unlock for Ladybird (3.50€) members on Saturday, but the lingerie and the character stay exclusive to higher tiers!

If you’d like to access it now, consider joining to support my work

Thank you for following — and stay tuned for more upcoming drops!

💫 Download 💫 (SUPERVIP)

💫 Download 💫 (LADYBUG)

LADYBIRD COMING SOON....

[capricorn-writes1]

I wanna see Spending Rainy Days Together with Daichi, Sugawara, Kita and then Osamu! (Part 2)

Daichi Sawamura, Sugawara Koushi, Kita Shinsuke and Osamu Miya Spending Rainy Days with S/O

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Hello, there Anon. I try my best to make the portrayal of their character based on their personality and I would like to apologize for replying the ask late because I had a horrible carpal tunnel syndrome on my right hand, depression, and I had to focus on finding jobs as well as theraphy. Thankfully, I graduated in July from my university and able to get a quick 6 months of Internship before leaving to find new job.

Gender: Neutral Warning: Mention of food.

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DAICHI SAWAMURA - KARASUNO CAPTAIN

Daichi brews warm coffee as rain taps the window, creating a calm atmosphere. You sit together, sipping drinks and enjoying the peacefulness of the moment (indoor).

You both try making simple crafts, laughing when the results are messier than expected. Daichi focuses hard, his tongue poking out in concentration. Even if the crafts turn out clumsy, he treasures them as memories (indoor).

The competitive side of Daichi comes out during board games, but he’s a gracious loser. He teases you about your strategies, but always smiles when you win (indoor).

At outside, You walk under one umbrella, shoulders brushing, talking about anything and everything. Occasionally, he tilts it your way when the wind shifts, protecting you from stray raindrops (outdoor).

The two of you would stop by a small food stall, drawn by the delicious smell. He buys warm snacks and insists on feeding you the first bite (outdoor).

Rainy nights make Daichi a little more thoughtful than usual. He shares stories from his childhood, his dreams, and even his insecurities. Holding your hand, he encourages you to open up too, promising he’ll always listen (outdoor).

After a chilly day, he suggests a warm shower to shake off the cold. If comfortable, he gently washes your hair, his touch careful and soothing. Afterward, he hands you a towel and laughs when your hair sticks up. (After outside)

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The rain came down hard, a steady droplets tapping against the windows, blurring the view of the outside world. The plan to visit temple was thrown away because of the rain, leaving Daichi and (Y/N) stranded indoors. (Y/N) could not help but sigh as she/he/they see the rain still pouring down. "Looks like it's just us and the rain today," (Y/N) murmur. "It's okay (Y/N), at least we're not trapped in bus stop," Daichi closes the blinds.

Daichi moved to the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves as his eyes focus on the coffee beans inside the bag, selecting (Y/N)'s favorite, while (Y/N) took a seat at the counter, watching him with her/his/their (E/C) eyes. The familiar, rich aroma of brewing coffee began to fill the space, mingling with the scent of rain-soaked earth outside. Daichi worked in comfortable silence, occasionally glancing up at the machine until the button changes into green color. "I'm sure rainy days aren't so bad. We can have indoor date," he said.

Settling onto the couch with their drinks in hand, they sipped in comfortable silence, listening to the rain pattering against the glass. As Daichi took another sip, a thought crossed his mind, and he glanced at (Y/N) with a small yet bright glint in his eyes. "Hey, what if we make a scrapbook together?" he suggested, setting his mug down with a soft thud. "We have so many pictures from our trips and random moments. Might as well do something creative while we’re stuck inside," he shrugs.

(Y/N)’s eyes lit up at the idea, the thought of capturing their memories together sounds exciting rather than just spending money on pricey cakes or anything else they could have planned in the temple feeding the deer only a few seconds and buying those $1.50 or $3.50 cookies for deer and it would be gone in a sec. "That actually sounds really fun!" she/he/they agreed, setting your drink aside and eagerly standing up.

Daichi grinned at their enthusiasm before heading over to grab an old notebook, scissors, tape, and a box filled with printed photos they had collected over time. They spread everything out on the coffee table, the flickering lamp casting warm shadows over their work area. Flipping through the pictures, (Y/N) laughed as they held up a particularly goofy one of Daichi mid-sneeze. "I think that one should be put aw-" Daichi cheeks flushes in red. "We have to put this in," (Y/N) cuts him off, snickering. "Absolutely not," Daichi groaned, attempting to snatch the picture away

Nevertheless, (Y/N) was faster, quickly taping it onto the first page with a victorious grin and Daichi sighs, not knowing if he should be amused or annoyed with (Y/N) antics. They continued sorting through their memories, sticking Polaroids onto the pages, scribbling little notes beside each one. "Remember this?" Daichi murmured, pointing at a photo of them under a canopy of cherry blossom trees.

(Y/N) smiled softly, tracing the edges of the picture before writing underneath it: A day that felt like a dream. It was a picture when their share the first kiss, where their lips touched together. Their hands held together with a glove as they were surrounded by the falling pink leaves. "It was our first kiss and when you asked me out,"(Y/N) muttered but loud enough for him. "Yeah....and I will always cherish this photo forever," Daichi sticks the picture, next to the one where he had a goofy sneeze picture.

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SUGAWARA KOUSHI - KARASUNO VICE CAPTAIN

Sugawara would set up a blanket fort with fairy lights to make the room extra cozy. He picks classic romance and comedy films but secretly enjoys the cheesy ones the most. Halfway through, he sneaks an arm around you, pulling you closer (indoor).

If you're not in a mood to watch movie, he grabs a couple of books, offering you one as he nestles beside you under a blanket. Occasionally, he reads out loud, his voice gentle and soothing (indoor).

The kitchen fills with the sweet scent of cookies as you and Suga experiment with different flavors. He insists on decorating them together but ends up eating half of the icing. When you scold him, he just grins, placing a tiny frosting dot on your nose (indoor).

He puts on a soft playlist, letting the music mix with the sound of the rain. You sway together slowly, lost in the melody and each other’s arms. His forehead rests gently against yours (indoor).

He offers to share his umbrella, holding it carefully to shield you from the rain. Your hands brush as you walk, his fingers eventually finding yours. "I like rainy days better when you're here," he murmurs (outdoor).

If you don't like indoor date. he two of you find a small, hidden café, sipping on warm drinks by the window. Suga watches the raindrops race down the glass, making small bets on which one will win (outdoor)

Or the two of you ducking the rain into a cozy bookstore, you both browse the shelves, occasionally reading funny excerpts. He picks out a book he thinks you’ll love and insists on buying it for you. "Now, every time you read it, you’ll think of me," he smirks (outdoor).

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The rain poured relentlessly, tapping against the windows like an eager guest refused entry. (Y/N) sighed, resting their chin on the palm of their hand as they stared at the gloomy sky. The day was supposed to be spent on a cafe date or those Ghibli museum. However, the weather had other plans and it doesn't stop a certain guy with grey hair.

Behind (Y/N), Sugawara’s footsteps echoed in the kitchen, his light humming filling the quiet room. He paused, glancing over his shoulder with a spark in his eyes. "Well," he said, his grin as bright as the sun. "If we can’t admire art, how about we create something instead?" He suggested.

Before (Y/N) could respond, Suga was already rummaging through the kitchen cabinets, pulling out bags of flour, cocoa, and sugar with a kind of excitement that made it impossible not to smile. "Baking," he declared, holding up the cocoa powder like a trophy. "Soft chocolate cookies… and maybe some red velvet ones too?" His enthusiasm was contagious.

‿︵‿︵＼ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ／︵‿︵‿Timeskip

The kitchen soon filled with laughter and the comforting aroma of melting chocolate and warm sugar. Suga worked with focused energy, carefully measuring ingredients and sneaking small, playful glances at (Y/N). Whenever their fingers brushed while reaching for the same bowl, he smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners.

As he was whisking the batter, his tongue peeking out in concentration, while (Y/N) shaped the dough. The two of you working in perfect rhythm. It was messy, with a dusting of flour on the counter and smudges of cocoa on both of your cheeks but as the cookies baked in the oven, (Y/N) noticed something odd. The icing you had prepared to decorate the cookies was disappearing, far faster than it should have.

Narrowing your eyes, you turned to find Sugawara, lips suspiciously glossy with chocolate cream. He froze, mid-step, eyes wide like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Suga, have you been eating the icing?" (Y/N) scolded, crossing your arms. "No....Okay fine, it was me," he admits, dipping his finger into the remaining frosting and tapped a tiny dot onto (Y/N)'s nose.

The unexpected action made (Y/N) blink in surprise before laughter bubbled from your lips. "You’re impossible," (Y/N) sighed, though your giggles betrayed the mock frustration. Reaching for the vanilla cream, you retaliated, smearing a dab on Sugawara’s cheek. He gasped dramatically, clutching his heart like he’d been wounded, only for the two of you both to burst into uncontrollable laughter.

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KITA SHINSUKE - INARIZAKI CAPTAIN

On a slow rainy day, the two of you would curl up on the couch, draped under thick blanket. Each of you is lost in your own book, but every now and then, one of you reads a beautiful line out loud, sharing the romantic lines from the book (indoor).

Kita invites you to help tend his indoor plants, carefully re-potting and trimming leaves. His hands are steady and sure, treating every plant like a treasure. As he explains their care routine , you would listen to him and it was surprisingly giving so much comfort (indoor).

Sometimes, he surprises you by pulling out crafting supplies—paper, pens, and little trinkets. "It doesn’t have to be perfect and it can be just meaningful," he says. Together, you spend the afternoon making simple handmade cards (indoor).

Kita enjoys moments of stillness. He plays on a soft music with his guitar, the gentle strumming of guitar blending with the steady fall of the rain. You rest against his shoulder, the calmness of the moment settling over you (indoor).

Outdoor dates, you and him would find shelter in a small, local flower shop. Kita quietly examines each plant, running his fingers over soft petals, his expression thoughtful (outdoor).

You wander through an open-air market, umbrellas shielding you from the downpour. The air smells of wet earth and warm street food, and Kita buys roasted sweet potatoes, handing one to you with a quiet smile (outdoor).

He guides you to a small, local shrine. The rain adds a serenity to the place, and you watch him as he steps forward, bowing his head in quiet prayer with you. Where there are still a time, the two of you would feed the nearest deer with the biscuits for the deer (outdoor).

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The rain started falling lightly just as you stepped outside. It wasn’t heavy, just a soft drizzle that made the air smell fresh and earthy. Both you and Kita had worn raincoats, but, of course, he still carried an umbrella—always prepared, just in case. The soft patter of rain on the umbrella and the ground became a calm background sound as you walked together, enjoying the quiet moment even with the rain.

Soon, you came across a small flower shop tucked between two buildings. The door was open, letting out the sweet scent of flowers. Curious, you both stepped inside, escaping the drizzle. Kita walked slowly, his eyes scanning the plants as he ran his fingers gently over the petals. He moved carefully, like he appreciated every little detail.

His gaze settled on a small pot of peace lilies, their white petals delicate and pure, standing tall against the dark green leaves. Something about them reminded him of you; calm, gentle, and quietly strong. He stepped toward the counter, holding the pot carefully as if it were something precious. The woman behind the register offered a warm smile, her hands ready to wrap the plant. "I’d like to buy this," Kita said softly, his eyes flicking to you for a moment before returning to the cashier. The woman’s smile grew, and she nodded. "That’ll be 3,000 yen," she replied.

Kita didn’t hesitate, reaching into his wallet. As he paid, there was a softness in his eyes, to him, it wasn’t just a plant. It was a small, thoughtful way to show how much you meant to him. He turned to you after, holding the plant out. “It reminded me of you,” he said quietly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

You took the plant carefully, your fingers brushing against his for a moment. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it meant something special. After leaving the shop, you both wandered through the local market. The rain hadn’t stopped, but it didn’t seem to bother either of you. The smell of roasted sweet potatoes and grilled snacks filled the air, and Kita’s sharp eyes landed on a food stall. Without needing to ask, he walked over and bought a freshly roasted sweet potato. "Good afternoon, sir. How much is the sweet potato for one?" He asks the seller. "¥250 for one," The seller said. "I would like to buy two, for me and my girlfriend/boyfriend," he hands out a few cash and coins. "Thank you, sir. For buying our sweet potato," the seller smiles.

The sweet potatoes were steaming and smelled amazing. Kita handed one of them, before leading you to a nearby park bench, sheltered from the rain. Sitting together, you took a bite, the warmth of the sweet potato comforting against the cool air. It tasted sweet and soft, and for a moment, the cold didn’t seem to matter.

You glanced at Kita, who ate quietly, his expression calm but content. He had thought of everything—making sure the day still felt special even with the rain. “Thank you for the date, Kita-san,” you said softly. Even though the weather hadn’t been perfect, he had made it feel like it was

He hadn’t canceled, hadn’t made excuses. Instead, he turned the rainy day into something warm and simple. Kita looked at you, his soft smile still there. “It was no problem,” he said gently. And maybe, for him, it really wasn’t. It wasn’t about where you were or what you did but it was about being together, making even a rainy day feel calm, sweet, and unforgettable.

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OSAMU MIYA - INARIZAKI WING SPIKER

He gets adventurous in the kitchen, suggesting you try baking something together. When the batter ends up more on the counter than in the bowl, he just laughs. "Cooking's messy sometimes....but it’s more fun that way," he shrugs (indoor).

Osamu suggests making homemade rice balls, guiding you with patience as you shape them. He chuckles when your first attempt looks less than perfect. "It's okay, it's still looks good," he helps fixing it (indoor).

Osamu lays out a soft blanket, arranging simple snacks and drinks. The rain becomes background music as you both enjoy your little picnic. "Not bad for a rainy day, huh?" he murmurs, brushing his fingers against yours (indoor).

You curl up on the couch, binge-watching cooking shows and critiquing every dish like pros. Osamu occasionally jots down ideas, inspired by the fancy plating. "Next date, I'll make us something better," he promises with a smirk (indoor).

When cravings hit, he insists on running to the store, dragging you along. The streets are quiet, the rain light as you rush under an umbrella. "We’re so dumb," you laugh, but he just grins, holding up a pack of instant curry (outdoor).

When the rain gets heavier, so you both duck into a tiny ramen shop, the air filled with the scent of broth and spices. Osamu orders for you, knowing exactly what you like, then watches as you take the first sip. "Good, right?" he grins, eyes twinkling as he slurps his own bowl (outdoor).

Even with the drizzle, Osamu insists on hitting up food stalls, saying the rain makes hot street food taste better. You both huddle under the umbrella, sharing warm skewers and onigiri. When you laugh about the mess. He grins and wipes your cheek with his thumb, teasing, "Can’t take ya anywhere." (Outdoor)

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The afternoon had started warm, with soft golden light filtering through the city streets. You and Osamu strolled side by side, hands brushing occasionally, lost in easy conversation. It wasn’t meant to be anything grand, just a simple day together, walking, laughing, enjoying the city. But the weather had its own plans.

Dark clouds crept across the sky like shadows, and before either of you could react. Rain came in sheets, drenching the streets and soaking you both within seconds. You gasped, laughter bubbling up as Osamu grabbed your hand. "Come on, this way!" he said, half-laughing, half-shouting over the downpour.

His fingers were warm as he tugs you along. The two of you darted through the rain. Shoes splashed through puddles, clothes clung damp against skin, but there was nothing to do but run and find shelter. Turning a sharp corner, you spotted a small ramen stall tucked beneath an awning, its warm lights glowing like a beacon through the storm. Without a word, you both sprinted toward it, sliding into the safety of the overhang.

The aroma hit instantly: rich, savory broth along with the smell of sizzling pork. The warmth of the stall seeped into your chilled skin as you caught your breath, leaning against Osamu’s shoulder. The old man behind the counter, chuckled softly at the sight of you both. "Caught in the rain, huh?" he said, voice raspy but welcoming. You and Osamu shared a sheepish glance, nodding. The old man’s smile deepened, "Well, there’s no better cure than hot ramen. Sit. I’ll make you my special tonkotsu, with extra chashu pork."

You didn’t hesitate. Slipping onto the small wooden bench, you shivered as Osamu shook off his jacket, draping it over your shoulders with a simple, "Don’t catch a cold." You quietly smile, warmed more by the gesture than the jacket itself. A moment later, the old man set two steaming bowls before you, the broth rich and milky, slices of tender pork floating on top. The scent was intoxicating, a comforting blend of warmth and spice that made your stomach growl.

Osamu’s eyes lit up as he took his chopsticks in hand. "Now this, this is the real deal," he said, leaning forward. The warmth of the broth melting through the chill of the rain. The world outside faded, softened by the mist and the shelter of the awning.

Both you and Osamu huddled close, shoulders pressed together, the shared umbrella now resting beside you, forgotten. The old man poured hot tea into tiny cups, setting them on the counter. Osamu’s hand brushed against yours as you reached for the cup, his touch lingering for a heartbeat longer than necessary. He glanced at you, that familiar, half-crooked grin on his face. "Rain date ain’t so bad, as long as I’ve got ya," he murmured.

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[chronicreativity]

masterlist of places to submit creative writing

it's intimidating thinking about submitting your precious work to judgement, but all the rejections are worth it when you finally get that one glowing acceptance email that puts your anxieties and impostor syndrome to bed. but where do you submit? it can be incredibly overwhelming trying to find the right sites/journals/zines to submit to so i thought i'd create a little collection of places i have found to submit to and i will update it whenever i find new discoveries.

PROSE ONLY

The Fiction Desk

They consider stories between 1k words and 10k words, paying 25 GBP per thousand words for stories they publish and contributors receive two complimentary paperback copies of the anthology. (A submission fee of 5 GBP for stories which sucks)

Extra Teeth

Works of fiction and creative nonfiction between 800 and 4,000 words receive a 140 GBP payment upon publication in the magazine as well as two copies that feature your work. If your work is selected to published online, you get 100 GBP instead. A Scottish based publication that also offers mentorships to budding writers. (Free)

Clarkesworld

Fantasy and sci-fi magazine accepting submissions of fiction from 1k to 22k words, paying 14 cent per word. Make sure you read their submissions page carefully, it gives you a good idea of what they're looking for and what will get you one of those disheartening rejection emails. (Free)

Granta

Open to unsolicited submissions of fiction and non-fiction. Unfortunately they do charge a 3.50 GBP fee for prose submissions, but they do offer 200 free submissions during every opening period (1 March - 31 March, 1 June - 30 June, 1 September - 30 September, 1 December - 31 December) to low income authors. No set minimum or maximum length, but most accepted works fall within 3,000 and 6,000 words.

Indie Bites

A fantasy short fiction publisher looking for clever hooks, strong characters and interesting takes on their issues' themes. Submissions should be no longer than 7,500 words. You get an honorarium of 5 GBP for each piece of yours that they publish - it's not much, but yay money! (Free)

Big Fiction

Novella publishers (7,500-20,000 words) looking for self-contained works of fiction that play with things like the linearity of narratives, perspective, structure and language. (Free)

Strange Horizons

Employing a broad definition of speculative fiction, they offer 10 cents a word for spec fiction up to 10,000 words but preferably around 5,000. (Free)

Fantasy and Science Fiction

They publish fiction up to 25,000 words in length, offering 8-12 cents per word upon publishing. (Free)

Fictive Dream

Short stories from 500 words to 2,500. They want writing with a contemporary feel that explores the human condition. (Free)

POETRY AND PROSE

eunoia review

Up to 10 poems in a single attachment, up to 15,000 words of fiction and creative non-fiction (can be multiple submissions amounting to that or a single piece). It's free to submit to, and they respond in 24 hours (I can vouch for that).

Confingo Magazine

Stories up to 5,000 words of any genre and poems (a max of three) up to 50 lines. Free to submit to and offer a 30 GBP payment to authors whose work is accepted.

Grain Magazine

Another Canadian based publication also supportive of marginalised identities. They accept poems (max. of six pages), fiction (max. of 3,500 words) or three flash fiction works that total 3.5k, literary nonfiction (3,500 words) and queries for works of other forms. All contributors are paid 50 CAD per page to a max of 250. Authors outside of Canada will need to pay a 5 CAD reading fee but they do offer a limited number of fee waivers if this impacts your ability to submit.

BTWN

An up-and-coming lit mag looking for diverse works that play with genres, breaks the rules and is a little weird. They want what typical lit mags reject. Stories up to 7,000 words, non-fiction up to 7,000 words and up to 4 poems totalling no more than 10 pages, hybrid work, comics/graphics up to 5 pages, original periodicals up to 14,000 words of prose or 20 pages of poetry. (Free)

Gutter

Accepting submission in spring and autumn work that challenges, re-imagines or undermines the status quo and pushes at the boundaries of form and function. If your contribution is chosen, you get 30 GBP for your work as well as a complimentary copy of the issue. Up to three poems (no more than 100 lines), fiction and essays (up to 2,500 words)

Whisk(e)y Tit

This one's worth checking out just for their logo. They're looking for fiction whether it's short stories, flash fiction or novel excerpts up to 7,000 words, up to 5 poems, up to 7,000 word essays, screenplays and stage plays (can be full works or excerpts up to 20 pages). (Free)

FOR QUEER AND MARGINALISED WRITERS

Plenitude magazine

A queer-focused Canadian literary magazine accepting poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. They define queer literature as create by queer people. (Free)

Lavender Review

Poetry written by and for lesbians. An annual Sappho's Prize in Poetry takes place every October. (Free)

AC|DC

"A journal for the bent", always open for submissions from queer writers of all experience levels. They lean towards dark and raw writing but are open to everything as long as it's not over 3,000 words. (Free)

Sinister Wisdom

A literary and art journal for lesbians of every background. They accept poetry (up to 5), two short stories or essays OR one longer piece (not exceeding 5,000 words), as well as book reviews (these must be pitched before they are submitted, (Free)

Queerlings

Open annually from Jan 1st to March 31st they publish short stories of any genre (up to 2,000 words), flash fiction/hybrid work (500 words), poetry (up to 3 poems per submission with a 20 line maximum on each) and creative non-fiction (2,000 words) written by queer writers. (Free)

underdog lit mag

Based in the UK, they focus on amplifying emerging and underrepresented writers. If you're female, POC, LGBTQ+, working-class or all of the above with a story of 100-3,500 words that fits their flavour of the month (the last flavour was Magical Realism) send it their way! (Free)

fourteen poems

London-based poetry publishers looking for the most exciting queer poets. You can send up to five emails to them within their deadlines and you get 25 GBP for every poem published.

Froglifter Journal

A press publishing the most dynamic and urgent queer writing. Poets send in 3 to 5 poems (max. 5 pages), writers send in up to 7,500 words of fiction or non-fiction or three flash fiction pieces, and cross-genre creators send in up to 20 pages within the submission windows March 1 to May 1 and September 1 to November 1. (Free)

OTHER SOURCES

Short Stories: X | X | X

Poetry: X

[stavroguine]

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀 (3.50 €)

ㅤㅤ┍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ · · · ·

ㅤㅤㅤㅤPERSONALIZATION : ★★★★★

ㅤㅤㅤㅤDIFFICULTY : ★★☆☆☆

ㅤㅤ · · · · ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯┛

This is my last template. In view of the situation in occupied Palestine and the exactions committed by the Google company, I've decided to stop producing templates for RPGs. Indeed, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud signed a $1.22 billion contract to provide cloud technology to the Israeli government and military. By supporting Israeli apartheid with vital technologies, Amazon and Google are directly implicated in its entire system of oppression, including its unfolding genocide in Gaza. (Sources: https://bdsmovement.net/Act-Now-Against-These-Companies-Profiting-From-Genocide) To put an end to my use of this account as a template provider, I've decided to do one last GDOC (this time, for a fee) to donate all the funds raised to kitchens set up by refugee families in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. Naturally, I'll be giving you regular updates on these donations in order to keep transparency on purchases. The price is set at 3.50 €. For those who can't afford a paid google doc, all my other templates are free and can be found at the end of this post. Thank you for your reading With love, Stavroguine.

ㅤㅤ 𝑨𝑩𝑶𝑼𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑼𝑺𝑬 ;

ㅤㅤ┍⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ · · · ·

ㅤㅤㅤㅤGO TO FILE

ㅤㅤㅤㅤAND THEN, SELECT “MAKE A COPY”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤDON’T REMOVE THE CREDITS.

ㅤㅤ · · · · ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯┛

ㅤㅤ 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘&𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗦 are appreciated.

MY PRESENTATION AND MY OTHER TEMPLATES :

Thank you for your support and kindness during this short year <3

[sleepytoycollection]

Just a couple of the outfits from the Strawberry Shortcake sets. At $3.50 a pack, I can't complain about quality too much, but you can definitely tell where corners were cut.

Most of the pieces are good! Decent fabric and decently sewn together. Then you'll have a piece like this skirt, which is unhemmed and thin as paper.

But these are actually pretty nice overall. Better than most Barbie FP's nowadays. The denim is an actual denim, and the knit has a nice feel. I'll probably do a little sewing touch ups to a few bits, but again, for this price point I don't really mind.

I'll probably take more pics as I choose dolls to wear them instead of just grabbing the first doll I saw to try them lol.

[mutt-cunt]

the full photo set is about to be posted on my fansli(which is 50% off -only $3.50- until the end of March!)

[kt-splits]

THIS SPECIFIC DOUJIN SHOP IS CLOSED. ESTIMATED JUNE REOPENING.

Doujin Danganronpa Matryoshka badges and stands.

This is an older doujin set

Some stand and badge sets are sold out. However it is possible to obtain some characters if a whole stand or badge set has enough claims to be purchased.

SOLD OUT

THH Stand set C and fullset

THH badge set B, C and fullset

SDR2 stand fullset.

SDR2 badge set A, B and fullset

V3 badge set C

V3 stand set C

PRICING

Badges $3.50 ea ($6 for dedicated sets)

Stands $5.00 ea ($10 for dedicated sets)

DM to reserve!

Please reblog!

[pillowfort-social]

Changes to Upcoming Funding Goals and Pillowfort Premium

Hi Pillowfolks. We hope you are doing well. We have a couple of updates to share with the community as we head into the last quarter of 2024. 2024 Funding Update Here is a look at our revenue in 2024 so far as of 9/27/24. This total is based on all settled transactions. 

January 2024: 4,078.58 February 2024: 5,586.22 March 2024: 5,627.57 April 2024: 5,515.81 May 2024: 5,281.50 June 2024: 5,536.35 July 2024: 5,059.35 August 2024: 5,997.42

Thanks to your support and fundraising, we have met our funding every month in 2024 except January. 

-

Monthly Funding Goal Increase Beginning Oct 1, 2024 our monthly funding goal will increase from $5,000USD to $7,000USD.  We’ve added another member to our development team over the summer and so our budget is being increased to reflect that. Having another developer on board will greatly help us get site updates out faster!

Due to the increase in hours and additional staffing, if we hit our $5,000 goal for September we have enough funding to remain online until at least January 2025. This time-frame is different from what we had stated previously (February 2025). We want to account for extra hours worked in August and September as well as the additional hours we are planning to work into the remainder of 2024. We understand that there may be concerns regarding the amount of increase from our previous monthly funding goals. This is the highest goal we have set thus far, but we would not set this goal if we did not believe we could make it. Our community has continued to rally for us and that gives us hope we can meet our goals. We want to remain cautiously optimistic that we will remain online past January 2025, especially as we are still aiming to release the PWA before the end of the year which will hopefully bring in more users.

We are also aiming to have Paid Post Promotions ready after the PWA release which will provide another source of revenue for the site. -

Pillowfort Premium Increase To help us meet our new funding goal we will be (slightly!) increasing our Pillowfort Premium Subscription Fee. We are still shocked that we are being encouraged by our Community to increase them. Earlier in the year we did a survey with the community to get a gauge on Pillowfort Premium Pricing. While the survey results did not provide us with conclusive results on a specific price for each feature, what it did conclude is that 1) our community wants us to remain an a-la-carte service and 2) there is a demand to increase prices. The following prices will go into effect December 1, 2024: Upload Limit Increase: $2.49 to $3.50 Multiple Avatars:  $1.99 to $2.50 Avatar Frames: $1.49 to $1.50

The new price adjustments take into consideration the survey results (while not conclusive, the results did at least show us a range of price increase the community is comfortable with) and the fact that our highest site expenses relate to data. We ultimately decided to keep the price of Avatar Frames the same for now because we feel that the pricing of Avatar Frames will  encourage more users to subscribe to Pillowfort Premium in the future. If 7,000 registered users decided to subscribe to Premium Avatar Frames monthly we would be able to exceed our new monthly goal.  -

Tiered Upload Limit Pricing Interest Check We would like more feedback regarding the suggestion of introducing tiered pricing on upload limits. For those unaware:The idea expressed suggested a Pillowfort Premium feature which gives the ability to select different uploading limits at different prices.

Theoretical examples of options that could be offered would be: 

4MB 6MB 10MB

Before we explore the option further we want to get an interest check from the community regarding tiered upload limits. Is this something you would use? If yes, how high of an upload limit would you subscribe to and what price would encourage you to subscribe if tiered upload limits were available? Let us know in the comment section below. -

As always, thank you so much for you continued support. Let us know if you have any questions and we will do our best to answer.

[copperbadge]

Every time, you guys. Every time I look into alternatives to Lulu.com for self-publishing I come up with “Wow Lulu really is the best of a bad set of options, huh?” 

Recently, Draft2Digital bought Smashwords in order to bring a print book company under their aegis; they’d formerly only done ebooks. I thought I might investigate them as an alternative to Lulu, which I’ve used for about twelve years now. For ebooks I would venture D2D is probably top of the line. For print books they are....not. 

I’m writing this out half so other folks can see it but half so that in the future I can look this up and remind myself of why I’m still with Lulu. 

TLDR: Not only does Draft2Digital want 60% of my print book royalties where Lulu takes 0%, and $30 for a proof that costs me $11 at Lulu, but I also appear to have solved the problem of why Lulu was making me price my books so goddamn artificially high. Which is like. Honestly the best anti-anxiety drug I’ve experienced this week. 

Basically there are a number of elements that go into self-publishing with a print-on-demand service. For some publishers, there’s a “setup fee” which doesn’t really set anything up, it’s just there to be a fee, everything is done by computer on the back end. Traditionally, Lulu has not charged a setup fee. Smashwords used to charge $50, but Draft2Digital currently waives it. I was heartened by that because the setup fee was keeping me from migrating, since I can afford $50 but I balk at knowing I’m paying them $50 for nothing. 

Next is the cost of printing -- what it costs the company in paper, ink, machinery, labor, etc, to just make a book with no profit. Lulu’s price calculus isn’t super clear and I’ve never bothered looking at what the breakdown is, because they’re pretty up-front -- they tell you in the process of setting the book up how much it’ll cost. In this case, a 140-page 6x9 trade paperback, no frills, which is how all my books are printed, is $5. Draft2Digital doesn’t tell you the flat price anywhere but they do offer the breakdown information; it costs $1.22 flat plus $0.0133 per page. So, for a 140 page book, the at-cost is $3.08. So far so good. 

Now, if you’re going to sell through Lulu, the “at cost” is the minimum price. You won’t make any money but you CAN charge just $5 for a $5 book. Any pricing above that is your cut. So -- let’s price this 140 page trade paperback at $13-$15. That’s a bit high to be honest but let’s just see. At Lulu, your take is roughly $6-$8 based on those prices, because you’re just dropping out the cost of printing from the retail price. 

At Draft2Digital, the same 140-page trade paperback, which remember is quoted as costing roughly $1.20 less to print than Lulu charges, gets you $2.75-$3.50 in royalties per book.

....wait, what? 

So now we need to sidetrack a little but I promise it’s for a reason. One of the motivations for looking into a change to Draft2Digital is that I didn’t like that Lulu was setting higher “minimum prices” than I was accustomed to -- they would tell me the book only cost $5 to print but require me to sell it for $12 or similar, and I couldn’t work out why. I’m an idiot but the penny did finally drop: it’s because when you distribute them outside of Lulu (say, on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or similar) your royalties drop like a stone. $7 in royalties purchased through Lulu comes out to like twenty-five cents purchased through Amazon. So Lulu forces you to price the book at a point where you even GET royalties and don’t end up weirdly owing Amazon money. The “global distribution” is what’s driving that minimum up. 

So in price-quoting a competitor I actually solved the problem with Lulu. 

Which is good, because the fun doesn’t stop there. If you want a proof copy of a book from Lulu, it’s the at-cost of the book, plus tax, plus postage. Buying a proof copy of this book from Lulu would cost me $11. Lulu makes you order a new proof copy every time you make a change, which is shady, but usually I only need to make 1-2 changes across the life of a book, so at most the cost will probably be $35 and for that I’ll get three copies of the book. Draft2Digital doesn’t give you an option. If you want a proof pre-publication, it’s $30 flat. If you want to publish and then buy a copy you can, but you can only make one change to the book every 90 days once it’s published. If you want to make more than one change, it’s $25 every time you upload a new version of the manuscript within that 90 day period.

So Draft2Digital’s books cost less to print but they take a massive cut of your royalties out of the retail cost of the book. If the book costs $3 to print, and I price it at $15, that’s $12 in profit on the book. Of that $12, however, I only receive $4. Draft2Digital literally wants 2/3 of my royalties per book. They want $20 more than Lulu to send me a proof copy. If I need to correct the proof, the correction is free, but I’m assuming the second proof will also cost me $30. Any changes after that, within 90 days, will cost $25 plus $30 for a new proof.

Which means my upfront costs at Lulu are about $35 per published book; to do the same thing at Draft2Digital is between $60 and $105 depending on whether I need to make changes after the second proof copy. And even after that, my royalties at Lulu are just about twice what they would be at Draft2Digital per purchase. 

So, well, Lulu it is. And the problem I was having with Lulu is solved if I decide to just retail through Lulu rather than selling globally. Which...selling globally has done two things that I’m aware of:

1. Fucked up my author page so badly on Amazon that one of my books is still attributed to Kathleen Starbuck, and one of her books is for sale on my author page. 

2. Raised the minimum price I’m allowed to set my books at by like, 40%. 

So I think probably what’s going to happen is going forward my books will be for sale only on Lulu. I can still assign them ISBNs and they still will ship worldwide, and the prices will fall significantly. My deepest apologies to those of you who have paid an artificially inflated price for the last few books; I’m going to fix that going forward, I’m going to go in and try to fix it retroactively in the books that are already on Lulu, and if it’s any consolation at least the cash came to me, and TWO THIRDS OF IT didn’t go to Lulu. 

It’s gonna take me a little time, untangling Lulu’s relationship to other retailers is tricky, but eventually the Shivadh Omnibus and Twelve Points should come down significantly in price, and there ought to be a dollar or two drop for the older books as well. 

This is why it always pays to do the math, even if like me you are dreadful at it. 

[steviewashere]

Hi possible prompt for your ask box celebration (congrats on 330 btw!!)

Eddie is one of those street poets w/ a typewriter that will write people on the street a poem abt anything they ask for, in exchange for tips or like $5

& Steve walks by & asks for a poem & Eddie is immediately like 😍😍😍

& then maybe Eddie flirts outrageously through the poem, or he tries so hard to keep it #professional but he’s so goo-goo over this (Adonis of a man) guy that he fails miserably, or whatever direction you would want to take it

anyway Steddie meetcute street poetry 🥰🥰🥰

This was such a fun prompt. And before we get anywhere with this, I did have to write a little poem here and it does sort of suck. Apologies in advance for it. Steve Harrington is usually not my main muse, lol. But I still enjoyed this <3

Tags: Alternate Universe - No Upside Down, Alternate Universe - No Supernatural, Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Meet-Cute, Set in New York, Strangers to Lovers, Mild Angst, Fluff, Steve Harrington Has Self Esteem Issues, Brief Mentions of Car Accidents, Poet Eddie Munson, Muse Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington's Friendship, Eddie Munson Calls Steve Harrington Sunshine

Also on AO3 (because this one got long)

📝————————📝 Eddie Munson doesn’t sell drugs anymore. Nope. He’s a refined, renewed, reorganized man. That being said, he still needed to make money somehow. It wasn’t enough to do just mechanic work on the weekdays; something had to happen over the weekends, else he wouldn’t make it for his bills.

So he picks up a few new hobbies. Cycling, because that was the cheapest way for him to get around—he’s not particularly good at that one, but he still tries anyway. Photography, because his neighbor was selling his older cameras and the opportunity just couldn’t pass by. Then, there was his new found little business/career/dilly-dally.

Poetry.

On weekends, Eddie Munson, the guy who can’t afford to go to jail because of some rat-faced little tell-all not liking his product, writes poetry for a bit of extra cash. He sets up in Central Park with a little collapsable table and a few stools, a heavy as shit typewriter that his uncle off-loaded onto him, and enough paper to whoever is buying. There’s a tip jar dutifully set up by his feet. And the pay rate is whatever people can afford or want to afford.

One time, he wrote poems for a group of six giggly, drunk girls coming back from brunch mimosas—they gave him $30 each. Another, a little old man who had just beat a group of preteens at basketball—he could only afford the $3.50 that was rattling around in his shorts. Sometimes kids would come up and ask about getting a poem about their mom or their puppy or the little daisy they had just picked—they got theirs for free (they need to save their money for ice cream. And, also, he’s not going to get in trouble for a kid choosing to spend their lunch money. No sir-ee).

The weekends could be dry, though. They could get boring. But the sun hits him nice. And he usually sees a few beautiful pooches. And, well, he gets to work on his craft. A passion of his that he held onto since being a little kid. And people appreciate him for it, which is…nice to put it in simple terms.

This Saturday, though, is a rather dry day for customers. It’s overcast. There are less people out, though Central Park is never completely empty. And his tip jar is basically just flies and dust.

Until, fortunately, a man approaches him. He seems timid, a bit shy, even if his smile is all charm. His hair is swooped over and curling at his shoulders, brunette with blonde highlights. The man’s skin is tanned from the most recent summer, not quite fading into this early fall. Dotted with moles, poking out from the collar of his polo and the sleeves, down to his wrists, a few on his face. He has a gorgeous nose: greatly geometric and centered between all his features, sun kissed on the tip, a little crooked on the bridge—aquiline. His lips are a soft pink, a bit pouty, stretching wonderfully around his straight, white teeth. And his eyes are a tad downturned, hooded, shiny with excitement; hazel, but leaning more towards a light shade of brown, fanned by long, dark eyelashes, and squinting with his smile. He’s tall—probably around Eddie’s height, 5’11”. Pretty fit—his arms are toned and his hands are large and he’s broad on the shoulders, but he’s not bean pole thin like Eddie is, just a little chunkier. And, Eddie’ll never admit this out loud, but the dude’s got a great ass, perfectly squeezed in by a pair of Levi’s—light wash, edging on skinny, but not entirely form-fitting. His polo is a darling yellow ochre; rich and warm and perfect to his skin tone.

He doesn’t know what kind of poem he’ll write for this guy, but fuck him, he just wants to wax on and on about this literal slice of heaven that’s standing over him. Smiling. Hands clasped together in front of him. His bright, sunshine eyes. And…yeah, that’s a word to describe this guy.

Sunshine.

“Um—hey, you’re the guy that does the little typewriter poems, right?” The guy asks, his knuckles turning white as he squeezes his hands tighter together. He shifts from one foot to the other, a quick nervous tic that you’d miss if you weren’t looking at him. And now that he’s stepped closer to the makeshift “booth”, Eddie can smell him. There’s a rich earthy undertone to him—the bark of freshly wet pine trees, a drop or two of eucalyptus, and there’s a touch of citrus to him, too; orange or vanilla-lemon, it’s hard to tell.

Eddie wants to stick his nose in the crook of this guy’s neck. Wants to suckle on his skin. Lick a stripe from the underside of his jaw, down to his ankles, and back up all over his face.

But he just smiles, soft and pulling, and blinks up at him. “Yeah, that’s me,” he states softly. “Want me to write you one? It costs however much you’d like to pay.”

“However much?” His face goes a little complicated. The biggest, Muppet-esque frown Eddie’s ever seen, the pinch of his eyebrows, and a tilt to his head. He’s gauging the near empty tip jar, from where his eyes seem to trail. “Isn’t that a bad rule for business?”

Eddie shrugs. “I dunno. I know nothing about business. But…It’s kept me afloat most of the time, so it’s not terrible.”

The guy makes a short grunt of assessment. “Hm, okay,” he murmurs, “do I pay you now or after?”

“After.”

“Okay,” he murmurs again. Even his voice is doing things to Eddie. It’s all deep at the base of his throat. A little raspy as if he smokes cigarettes; probably does based on the curl of stale smoke Eddie smells from him as he settles into a stool. “I know that you usually do whatever prompt the customer gives, but I’m sort of…I’m pea for brains, so I can’t really think of anything. Is it okay if…Can you just pick something?”

Eddie tilts his head and looks off of the guy’s shoulder. Miffed at how downtrodden this stranger is on himself. He gazes back and asks, “Can I write about you?”

His eyes widen and he jolts in his seat just a fracture. “I mean, sure. If that’s really the muse you want to go with.” And then he gives a self-deprecating chuckle. Eddie kind of wants to shake him by the shoulders and scream to the whole fucking galaxy about how beautiful he is. But he restrains. “Nothing about the scars on the backs of my arms, though, please,” guy adds a moment later, so quiet that Eddie almost misses it. “It’s from a bad car accident and I—I’m just now getting back into the swing of wearing short sleeves.”

Nodding, Eddie says, “You got it. And hey—“ He takes the sleeve of his t-shirt and rolls it up. The shirt’s from an old club in high school, the Hellfire Club. Quarter sleeves to his elbows. But right above the crease of his left elbow is a long, scraggly, winding scar that creeps from the base of his neck. He even points to the side of his face, at the large swatch of scarring on his jaw. How Mr. Beautiful Stranger didn’t notice it, Eddie’s unsure. “—I understand,” he states gently. “Also from a bad wreck. It happens to the best of us,” he tries to joke.

And even his laughter melts Eddie. High pitched and unrestrained, giggles coming straight from his heart. “Yeah, okay,” he sighs. “Sure, I’ll be your muse.”

Eddie sets up his typewriter, at the start of the paper, two fingers down, not indented. “Do you care if I use your name as the title?”

“Steve,” he softly says, “and yours?”

The corners of Eddie’s mouth curl upwards lightly, just a little thing. “I’m Eddie. Some people around here will call me Ed, but you call me whatever you want.”

Steve hums. “How about Eds? Actually…Unless that’s—That might be stupid, never mind.”

Barreling, Eddie just asks, “How ‘bout I call you Stevie?” He grins with it. “We can be Eds and Stevie, the unlikely duo.”

Another little fit of giggles, Eddie’s never felt so full. “Okay, Eds and Stevie, The Unlikely Duo. Thanks for not making me feel dumb.”

“You’re only dumb if you’re a bigot. And, I could be wrong, but every aspect of you does not spell bigot. You seem like a nice guy, all things considered.”

Instead of a verbal response, all Eddie receives is a slow lull of silence. But when he looks up, Steve is staring right back. A soft, pleased smile on his face. Cheeks flushed. It’s like he’s bursting at the seams with the approval. Maybe he is, Eddie considers, maybe nobody’s ever told him that. And that thought gets shut down almost as fast as it formed, makes Eddie’s chest hurt just a little too much to work through.

“So, Steve, what’s got you out here this morning?” He works better with conversation, so hopefully Steve will give him this.

“Oh,” Steve softly exclaims as if he wasn’t expecting Eddie to talk to him. Or to acknowledge him. Or to even exist with him past this poem. “I come out here and feed birds on Saturday mornings. Technically, I don’t think I’m supposed to, but nobody’s stopped me. Just ran out of seed and was sort of wandering around and remembered that you were here. I’ve never had interest in coming over here, but I’ve seen you, so it was just what my best friend told me that drew me over.”

“Mm, word from mouth. All good things, I can only hope.”

Steve snorts. “Yeah, amazing things, actually. She said you were really nice to her. She had come home from brunch with a few of her friends and they were tipsy.” He sighs, chuckling through it. “It was noon on a Saturday when she came back to our apartment. And I could smell the alcohol on her. Think I was…I had been sleeping—I’m a heavy sleeper and I’m chronically fatigued all the time, so I tend to sleep in late. But she came into my room, shook my shoulder, and was a crying mess when I finally saw her. Asked her what was wrong. She just blubbered on and on about how a really nice guy wrote something really nice for her about her little friendship. And I just…I don’t know. I wanna read something that makes me feel better about the world and maybe also reduces me to tears.”

Eddie stops where he’d been softly clacking away on his typewriter. He tends to type loud, but something about Steve makes him stop and appreciate even the air around him. Something about him just soothes Eddie. Also, the fact that he rambles is cute. He’s good at silences. And he’s good at just talking.

“Well, I can’t promise that it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever read,” Eddie slowly states. “I can try, though. I can try to write something beautiful.”

“You’re writing about me, so I’m not expecting it to be beautiful,” Steve quickly says. He backtracks though, stopped in his seat and wide-eyed. His mouth is agape and his cheeks are completely red now. “Forget I said that. That’s—I struggle a lot with that and I promised my best friend that I’d stop being so hard on myself, but it just is…automatic.”

As nonchalant as possible, Eddie begins to type again. He confesses more towards his paper, trying to avoid the eye contact, “You are beautiful, so this’ll come easy.” And then he’s met with that same slow lull of silence. The romantic kind of silence that Steve seems entirely attracted to. And, yeah actually, Eddie kind of appreciates it. The curve of the silence and the warmth of its face, the plushness of its lips in the ways it kisses the both of them. If Steve is so inclined to sit in this silence after admittances like that, maybe Eddie can learn to love them. If Steve wants more than just this poem.

He’s at the final stanza when Steve begins to speak again.

“Have you ever written about yourself?”

“Mmm, no,” Eddie murmurs, typing away, “no I don’t think I have.”

Steve takes a grand breath. “Y’know, if you like writing about the beauty in things, you should write about yourself, too.” He’s fiddling with his hands, focus elsewhere, when Eddie is openly staring at him again.

“Yeah?” Eddie asks. Steve nods carefully, eyes shiny with nerves now. He’s chewing on the inside of his right cheek. Eyes darting back and forth and back and forth. “You think I’m beautiful?” He meekly questions.

“Yeah, I think so. You’ve got these…huge brown eyes that pull me in and they’re sort of soft on your face, kind of like a deer, maybe a baby cow? I love those two, so don’t be insulted. And…You’re always sitting in the sun, but you’re still sort of pale and it makes it easier to see all the little freckles you’ve got. And—I, for one—love freckles. I think that your hair is just wonderful. And I—I don’t know, I’ve seen you around. Maybe I’ve thought about you a little too much.” His smile is sheepish and cute. Absolutely adorable.

Eddie grins. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re hitting on me.” He works the paper out of the typewriter, smooths the fine wrinkles at the bottom of the sheet, and then looks his writing over.

Steve gains a manly kind of confidence to him now. He leans forward, just a hair away from seeing what Eddie wrote, and talks low and smooth. “And if I was?”

He glances up, warming on the face. “I’d say that I like it and…y’know, if my poem doesn’t suck, I know a good cafe around here. Only if this is good and only if you’re interested.”

“Show me what you got, Eds. I’ll probably take you up on that lunch offer after.”

In the short few years Eddie’s been doing this, he’s never been nervous to present his work. But he hands the paper over, hands shaking and palms sweating. And waits, with bated breath, as Steve reads it over:

————— There is a glow to him. A cast of light that brightens the world as I know it. From just one glance of his smile—all pearl and pink and new I could tell there was something special to him.

He’s sunshine, I believe.  The very ball of light, the all encompassing warmth of a celestial body, the very thing that continues to sustain. There is love through him, within everything he does.

Just one look at him and I’m refreshed. Even with very little, even with just appearances alone. May he know the way I was drawn in—maybe that makes me Icarus. To want to know something so much, you’re ready for everything that comes with it; Even the chance to burn up, even the chance to merge with it, even the chance to only see it once.

May he know that before I knew his name, I knew his smile. Before I knew his name, I knew his trepidation. Before I knew his name, I knew his warmth.

It’s not enough, to say he’s gorgeous. That’s not a strong enough word. But he is. Oh, how he is.

He’s painted my world golden— I see sunlight with him.

May he know that I’ll carry his light in my chest, May he know that I selfishly want more. ————— Finally, Steve’s attention goes back to Eddie’s face directly.

“I tried,” Eddie says, “it got away from me, though. And I…I didn’t write exactly how you’re beautiful. But there’s something about you—Something so out of this world, beyond what anybody could ever possibly comprehend. You seem like somebody worth knowing, worth being around.” He swallows hefty when Steve continues to just stare. His face is completely unreadable. “You approached my table and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you. Just sucked me right in, every part of you. Sorry if this…If this wasn’t what you were looking for.”

Though, when Eddie is only met with that silence from earlier, he takes the opportunity to stare a little longer. At the high flush of Steve’s cheeks. The fine sheen of his eyes. There’s a little pinch between his eyebrows and a twist to his mouth.

“My best friend,” Steve wetly murmurs, “she always tells me that I’m the light of her world. And I—“ He sighs, the sound a lot choked and stuttering. “—I don’t know. I’ve never been able to believe her. I always just thought she was biased or something.” He looks down at the paper again, his thumbs running along the margins reverently. Steve sniffles. “I used to not be a very good person. Used to say things just because I heard them, because I knew they were bad. And it took…God, it took so long to relearn everything. To find myself, to figure out who I was outside of my bigoted family. Even then, I always thought I was just…” He shrugs. “I thought that I was destined for a lifetime of loneliness or something because nobody wanted to be around me. Because they thought I was one way, when I was really the other. Or they could only see me as I was, not who I am.”

Steve looks up to Eddie again. There are tear streaks down his cheeks. Wet and glistening in the little bit of light breaking through the clouds. With the sunlight on him, he’s even brighter than Eddie anticipated. It’s sort of unfair, too, how beautiful he is even when he cries.

“Thank you for this, Eds,” Steve quietly says, “you have no idea how much this means to me.”

“You wanted to feel better about your world. I wanted to show you something that’s changed mine, I suppose.” Eddie sits slumped in his stool, hands between his knees, pulling and twisting at his rings. He chews on his bottom lip. “And I meant what I said earlier, Stevie. You seem like a really nice guy. A good guy.”

Slowly, and oh so gently, Steve places a tentative hand to Eddie’s left forearm. His gaze has softened, sweetened. He’s smiling this small, appreciative, pleased thing. And Eddie can already feel the sun burn developing. “You are, too. Really, Eds. You have no idea what your art does for the world, who you’re helping.” His thumb absentmindedly is stroking over Eddie’s skin. Hand heavy and warm and firm, comforting. Grounding. Sustaining Eddie. “If you meant the other thing you said earlier, I’d like to get something with you at that cafe. I’d like to get to know you.”

“Stevie, you’d be doing me an honor. Just let me pack up here, yeah?” He pulls away, hesitantly, unfortunately. And he begins to collapse all his equipment. Putting the typewriter in its case. The stools folded neatly under his arm.

“Oh, let me pay you first before you put—“

“Don’t worry about that. I’m getting a nice lunch date and a beautiful guy out of this, I don’t need the money.”

Steve grunts. He pops a hip out, crosses his arms over his chest with the poem still carefully held in his grip, and pouts. Eddie kind of likes that he’s a bit bitchy, too. Good guys can have fun, too. “Fine,” Steve huffs. “Let me pay for the lunch, though. My treat.”

Eddie gently rolls his eyes and smirks. “You’ve got a little spice to you, sunshine. I like that. Burn me up and maybe I’ll write more about you.”

“Keep it in your pants, Eds. We haven’t even left the park.”

“No promises.”

📝————————📝 Thank you again for this prompt, it was a lot of fun <33

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Well, here's another Airbnb for sale. This is an Italian villa style home built in 1882 in Denison, TX. 5bds, 4ba, 6,782 sq ft, $1.7m. It's decor is a little over-the-top.

The home has several sitting rooms. This one has sliding doors that close for privacy and it also has a door to the terrace.

Look at this huge sunny dining/sitting room with 2 giant murals on the ceiling. This room has doors on both sides accessing terraces on both sides of the house.

There's also a smaller sitting room with a single ceiling mural. The woodwork was done by master German carpenters and Bavarian wood carvers. The chandeliers are exquisite.

Attractive blue home office/study. The home does have incredible wood work and lots of stained glass inside and out. The fireplaces are beautifully carved, as well.

The primary bedroom is off the study and features another ceiling mural. The chandelier in this room looks castle-like and is most likely architectural salvage from a church. Through a large open doorway with pocket doors there's an ensuite.

I don't think that this was originally a bath. It has a mural on the ceiling w/a matching chandelier. I like the red tub, but it's unfortunate that it's blocking the fireplace.

The kitchen is very large and has a ceiling mural, too. The matching light fixtures definitely came from a church.

Have you ever seen a kitchen this big? It fits a dining table for 10 with room to spare. It also features stairs to the 2nd level, doors to the terrace, and stained glass windows.

In this sitting room the furniture is most definitely architectural salvage from a church.

This bedroom suite has a sitting room.

And a matching bedroom.

Off the bedroom there's an ensuite. They love red tubs. This bath looks so much like the other one.

Here's another very large bedroom.

I like the vintage closet in this bath.

A renovated shower room in the hall features a double shower.

This area of the home has its own kitchen and makes me wonder if the Airbnb rental doesn't include the main part of the house.

These newer bedrooms are definitely set up for an Airbnb.

They even provide a laundry area with an ironing board.

The grounds are pretty nice and include a patio with a pool and hot tub.

There's also a water feature with 2 fountains.

3.50 acre lot

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/310-Ball-Park-Loop-Denison-TX-75020/447796222_zpid/

[bekkathyst]

Clearance Sale (Feb 15th, ‘25) Item #13

Original Price: $3.50 each

NOW $8 for 3 pieces

Approx 0.5” - 1” high quality labradorite pebbles in sets of three.

Only 30 sets available

To claim items and order, please read and follow the system I have set up. You can read the rules here!