#the swamp sauna

[doomspaniels]

Mmmm, lunch! Tristan and Guinevere are getting half their food in puzzles most days, because outdoors Florida in July is disgusting. Indoor fun is the way to go! And it does seem to be fun: they get a snack, they get to solve a puzzle that's challenging enough to take time even though they know exactly how to open all the little pockets, and they wag! wag! wag! the whole time.

[doomspaniels]

Inventing the Alfresco Sauna which is just going outside and dumping a bucket of water over your head

Inventing the Dry Sauna which is just me sitting in a small room with the heater on full blast

[hometoursandotherstuff]

We got a winner. This amazing home has a sale pending, and I envy the people who bought this crazy place. It was built in 1980 in Fruitland, FL. It only has 2bds, 4ba, but it's such a large property. Pending sale for $1.3M.

The decor really runs the gamut from provincial/beachy.

To a dated kitchen.

The bedrooms have doors to the sun room.

And, they're pretty large.

Interesting bath with stone wall and bright blue sinks.

This is the sun room that the bedrooms open to.

Then down the spiral stairs, there's a swashbuckling pool room with swinging pirates.

And, the pool room is open to this room with a large screen and a stone fireplace.

If you don't feel like climbing stairs, there are these lifts around the outside of the house. Below is the round saltwater pool with a statue in the middle.

Here's a rooftop pergola.

There's a mural on that far wall, plus stone walls and chains. I don't know what that is.

There's a sauna, too.

Here' s interesting room.

It's a large office.

And, this is an art studio.

Look at the big lily pad pond.

Colorful screened pavilion.

The main attraction is really outside. There are these, what they call, "swamp shacks" dotting the property. This one has a canon out front.

The 13.77 acre property is like a little village. There's also a chicken coop on the property b/c it's zoned for livestock.

It's a huge property.

It looks nice lit up at night- here's another swamp shack. There's supposed to be an outhouse somewhere, for the swamp shacks.

This is quite a fun property.

At night with the front lit up, it looks like a little lighthouse.

Looks like an amusement park from up here.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8873-NE-90th-Trl-Fruitland-Park-FL-34731/52944910_zpid/

[wishfulsketching]

Some Bjarni (and one Igni, sorry darling, I'll draw you more soon!) and his friends. There is the innkeeper Edda, the one running the baths/sauna, Geirr the shy swamp troll and finally, the super chatty and gossipy dragon. (and a mystery lady)

[diazsdimples]

James' Fic Masterlist!

It was time for an update

A Snapshot In Time (General, 2.2k | Bucktommy)

When Buck and Tommy adopted their children, they didn’t exactly think about the logistics of taking a family photo. But now that their family is complete, Buck had decided that it was time to update the family photo from 3 years ago. And now, his child-wrangling skills are being put to the test. Naturally, the day that they have the photoshoot booked is a bit of a nightmare.

The heat of the moment (Explicit, 9.9k | Buddie)

Tired and frustrated after a long shift, Buck and Eddie take an impromptu trip to the sauna. Only problem is, it's a nude sauna, which Buck didn't notice when he booked them in. Thankfully the boys handle the slip up gracefully, and possibly break a few public sex laws in the process.

We built this family together (General, 6.9k | Buddietommy)

Evan Buckley knows he is one of the luckiest men alive. It’s taken him a long time to get to this point. After years of feeling as though he was stumbling through life, just barely managing to keep up with any blows the universe aimed at him, he finally feels confident about knowing exactly what his place in the world is. He is a firefighter. He is a partner. He is a father. And today, a mild day in the middle of June, he gets to celebrate being the latter. OR Buck, Eddie, and Tommy celebrate their first Father's Day with their babies.

How can this be wrong? (Explicit, 3.8k | Bucktommy)

A 7x09 coda where Tommy feels insecure about his place in Buck's life after the run in with Gerrard, and Buck fucks him in a supply closet to remind him about it.

Sweet child of mine (General, 3.4k | Bucktommy)

Buck and Tommy bring their daughter home from the hospital and enjoy their first few hours alone with a newborn baby. That's it. That's the fic.

For the rest of my life (for the rest of yours) (General, 10.6k | Buddie)

“Hey Buck! Are you doing anything today?” Christopher’s voice is a little tinny through his phone’s speaker, cracking a little. Buck hums, pretending to think. “Hmmmm, my diary looks pretty booked. Says right here that I’ve got to watch three episodes of crappy reality tv and then eat loads of fried chicken. I’m swamped.” “Buck,” Christopher says flatly and Buck laughs, loud and ringing through the loft. “I’m only kidding. What’s up, kid?” “The baby hippo has finally born at the zoo and we have to go see her! Can you come over today, please?” OR Buck, Eddie and Christopher go to the zoo to see the baby hippo and Eddie gets all up in his feels about it.

You've got me whipped (Explicit, 10.8k | Buddie)

“Make me,” Buck whispers, and although the words might sound like a challenge, Eddie can so clearly hear what Buck isn’t saying. The implicit make me, because I can’t make myself, and then, Eddie gets it. Buck needs him to be in control right now, to make Buck surrender himself to Eddie’s mercy so Buck doesn’t have to do anything, to feel anything more than he already is. Eddie reaches out a hand and runs it up Buck’s jaw, noting with satisfaction the way Buck shudders and leans into his touch. He traces his fingertips over Buck’s cheekbones, runs the pad of his thumb over Buck’s birthmark, before bringing his hand to rest in Buck’s blond curls. He curls his fist, pulling lightly on the strands of hair that slip between his fingers, then leans forward so his lips are brushing Buck’s ear as he exerts a minute amount of pressure to the top of Buck’s head. “I said,” he whispers into Buck’s ear, “on your knees.” OR Buck has a bad call and acts out afterwards in front of their colleagues, and Eddie punishes him when they get home.

In a drought I'll give you water (Explicit, 8.2k | Buddie)

Eddie’s hanging out the washing when he notices it. Just for the record, it’s not like he regularly inspects Buck’s underwear, thank you very much, but he’d felt something tacky on the inside of the flimsy fabric when he’d been about to peg it up, and had investigated like any sane person would do. Eddie’s initial thought is “fucking washing machine, can’t even wash out the laundry powder”, mostly because there’s a white residue under where his thumb was placed moments earlier and there’s been occasions when their black shirts have had clumps of laundry powder still on them despite the tossing about they’ve received in the washer. Or Eddie finds come on Buck's underwear and panics

Kilty Pleasures (Explicit, 8k | Buddie)

“What the hell are these?” Eddie asks with a quirked eyebrow, poking suspiciously at the tartan with his forefinger. Buck flops himself into the chair beside Eddie and steals a sip from his coffee cup. “Kilts!” he says with a grin and he drags one off the table and holds it up to show Eddie. It’s long, and dark, and made out of what looks suspiciously like faux leather, and almost certainly purchased from a sex shop. “I thought we could wear them to the festival tomorrow!” If Buck had a tail, it would be wagging so hard right now. Or Buck and Eddie discover they have kilt kinks.

Play me like a fiddle (Explicit, 34.3k | Buddie)

Eddie plays the French Horn for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is told about the wonderful new cello soloist playing with them for this concert. He sounds like a pretentious asshole and Eddie vows not to like him. In walks Evan Buckley, cellist from New York and soloist for this concert. Eddie quickly realises he's in trouble as the man immediately casts a spell on him, turning Eddie into a blushing mess. Can he put aside his feelings for Buck long enough to remain a professional and get through this week without making any poor decisions? (Spoiler Alert: he cannot)

Buck's Baby (By Accident) (General, 119k | Buddie)

Buck's life is turned upside down when a newborn baby is placed on his doorstep, with allegations that it is his child. Buck quickly steps into his new role of "dad", with the help from his family and friends. Follow Buck, Aidan, Eddie and Christopher as they navigate new babies, blossoming relationships, illnesses, injuries and making their own little family.

Fucking Finally (Finally Fucking) (Explicit, 3.9k | Buddie)

“God you look so hot” Eddie growled as he took in Buck’s appearance, his hair messy from Eddie’s hands, his hips swollen from the force of their kiss and the bulge in his pants as plain as day as his erection strained against the fabric. Buck’s eyes raked up and down Eddie, finding his boyfriend in a similar state of arousal. “Not too bad yourself, Mr. Diaz” he smirked, wrapping a hand around Eddie’s waist and pulling them together once again, capturing him in another brain-melting kiss. They were interrupted by the comical “ding” of the elevator as it reached their floor and Eddie wasted no time pulling Buck out, dragging him down the hallway to their room. OR Buck and Eddie stay at a hotel after their first date and finally get some time to themselves without crying kids

Burning With Need (Explicit, 3.8k | Buddie)

“Buck, what is going on?” he asked, sitting upright. “You’re fidgeting so much”. Buck looked up quickly, peering at Eddie through one open eye. “Nothing, nothing I’m fine” he replied, his cheeks flushing slightly. “That’s a lie and we both know it” Eddie rolled his eyes and reached over to prod the skin where Buck’s hand had been resting, eliciting a hiss from the younger man. “Okay, fine, I’m busting. I gotta pee so bad”. Buck’s words ignited a fire inside Eddie that he’d almost forgotten about. Or Eddie remembers he has a piss kink and Buck's desperation on a hike is a test of his control

In sickness and in health (but mostly in sickness) (General, 3.7k | Buddie)

Eddie wakes up with a bad case of the flu and Buck is there to nurse him back to health. Buck realises he might be falling for Eddie.

First Words (General, 2k | Buddie)

Buck and Eddie's 10 month old daughter says her first words. Her dads are over the moon. Cue domestic fluff

[a-roguish-gambit]

Dragon Gambit thoughts

So a lot of reptiles need specific environments for proper shedding otherwise they get stuff like stuck shed which is irritating at the best of times and can potentially cause gangrene at the worst, and dragons aren't much different.

Gambit being from the hot and humid bayous of Louisiana especially has difficulty with this because he needs a very specific set of parameters for a good shed or it will be hell for him.

So there are two options rogue can take to help him :

1.set up the most luxurious bath: Water just at 85° F, a sauna stove with perfumed water of pine, lavander, mint, and sorrel extract; bath salts, made with minerals from Appalachia mountain range and Caribbean sea salt; special mud scrub over his whole body plus face mask; organic water herbs floating in the water and sleeping in it for at least 20 minutes; special protein powder natural pine tar soap; and natural plant loofa for scrubbing.

2. Take him to a southern swamp and let him roll in the muddy, mosquito infested water like a pig and let him scratch himself against a moldy log.

Its expensive but she always chooses the fancy bath

[naturalswimmingspirit]

saunawave

Stay calm at @kammikyla above and below water.

The amazing Kammikylä is located at Lake Nummijärvi in the Ruuhineva area of Kauhajoki. In Kammikylä, you will find the Turvekammi sauna, a smoke sauna and Julumetun sali hall. Nickname: Swamp Sauna

Kammikylä springs from the imaginative desire of one respectaful man Erkki Kalliomäki. Built by volunteers. The ground is open to everyone for free, however if you like to enjoy the steam of one of the saunas, contact Erkki and his son Matti.

The peat water is full of nutrient, it makes the cold plunge more nourishing for your skin.

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S2 Ep 7

One more half left to go!

Previously on TGCF…

-He’s squeezing his fist tight 

-Honey, the reason he’s not demanding requital cause he knows you never meant to cut him with E Ming

-What’s wrong is both man and sword are still upset for that mistake

-E Ming: No let him pet me!

Hua Cheng: Leave it!  It’s fine

E Ming: No I’m not! *sobs more*

-*Hua Cheng smacks E Ming*

E Ming: OWWWIIIEE!

-Hey that’s sentient mystical weapon abuse! I’m filing!

-Hua Cheng:Because it’s always crying!

E Ming: Because you don’t want to be vulnerable in front of him!

Hua Cheng: Useless

E Ming: NO I’M NOT!  

-See, there’s the sensory overload I was talking about to me that would be pain in your ears

-He still has the dice!

-That explains a lot

-“Hello Again” HAAAAAAAAAH

-“Oh come on Hua Cheng, teleport into Heaven.  *Tosses out soggy carrot* Sweep him off his feet, carry him off in style.” - Little John, Robin Hood (1973)

-And then the brain cell starts getting tossed around like a volleyball

-Well you know as they say, Heaven’s got a lotta stuff, a pair of dice ain’t one of them.  Also, pair of dice = Paradise, props.

-It’s the transmutation technique from the Fullmetal Alchemist series

-And then Feng Xin literally just went, ‘YOINK!’

-It’s a four!

-In they go

-There go the eardrums

-Could’ve told ‘em that earlier Qingxuan

-And four is the Chinese number for ‘Death’

-When you accidentally stumble into the opposite gender’s gym locker in junior to high during a tournament

-Not in the sauna!

-Try a badger mole’s tunnel

-Still could’ve told ‘em that earlier

-Now Mu Qing rolled a four

-That hair flip Mu Qing just did

-What are you doin in my swamp?!

-Gator boys!

-That lizard just blasted off

-Hadouken

-They’re just tossing swamp water at each other, that’s mature

-And even the gator people got scared

-Literally all the junior officials sneaking into the telepathic matrix:  FIGHT!  FIGHT!  FIGHT!  FIGHT

-Also:

NAN YANG!  NAN YANG!  NAN YANG!

XUAN ZHEN!  XUAN ZHEN!  XUAN ZHEN!

-And every other official just started another betting pool

-Qingxuan’s the only sane god in this pickle

-Just imagine the Gaang rolling the dice

-Yeah that’s pretty

-A water droplet

-Hey no interrupting!

-The same dark sword

-He does

-His huge ass goddang sword

-Round 2!

-A sword fight that could have the energy of Sokka vs. Piandao

-Hua Cheng gasped!

-The wind

-“Forget the forgotten” what Jun Wu told him in Ep 1

-His eyes glowed

-Ruoye just evilly grinned

-A.  Yeah I was wrong on the fight comparison with the sword duel in Atla book 3

B.  THAT’S IT!!!

-He spared your life be grateful 

-“All’s fair in love and war.”  Was that one of Sun Tzu’s teachings?

-Like the Crimson Rain Sought Flower

-“The perfect being you crafted in your mind is only just that.”  Well that’s a good lesson because in reality nobody’s actually perfect.

-“I never was that person.  Believing I was will only disappoint you.” That last sentence is also great advice for how we revere certain famous people.

-That old conflict and prejudice

-Scapegoats are never good

-Thank you Mengyou

-Another genocide prevented

-Mengyou wants to move forward instead of staying in the past

-It’s official, Mengyou is the MVP of Season 2

-Power is also knowledge aside from duty.

-He smiled as Fang Xin

-Thank you Fang Xin and Mengyou

-He was a good ruler

-He lied!

-Why did he kill the previous king and queen of Yong’An

-Literally any of my TGCF OCs witnessing Xie Lian laughing and then crying: Is he ok?

Also I heard about Xie Lian being indecisive on laughing or crying and another TGCF OC will be like: Laugh or Cry?  Just pick one!

-Hua Cheng knows he is not ok

-It’s like a Matryoshka doll and a punching dummy had a small ancient Chinese uptight baby

-That 3D dice toss and teleportation

-A cave

-He took his sword

-There’s no where to hide

-The orcs from Tolkien’s fantasy novels

-He doesn’t have the will to fight

-Smurfs

-Ghost disguise Hua Cheng and Xie Lian are instant sketching inspiration!

-They look awesome!

-Qi Rong mention

-In other words, Qi Rong sticks a blue candle on all his ghost goons and calls it a day

-Dumb as a sack of stones

-He’s got fangs!

-Who’s he gonna meet?

5 episodes left! 2 more acts left in chapter 1 of The Scrap Immortal and the Avatar

[myrskytuuli]

While looking for an official translation of the epigraph of the 6th chapter (Aino Kallas, Wolf’s Bride), I've found not one, not two, but three werewolf-fucking novels of the same name, and four more that were almost the same, but described the wolf with an adjective. Seven in total. I just wanted you to know that.

But the translation of that book was not one of them, so I was curious, what's it about?

Oh damn, did quick googling and it would seem that that novel doesn't have a russian translation. The English translation seems to be available in this extremely insufferable website

But to summarise: It's a Gothic story written by Finnish author Aino Kallas in 1928. The story takes place in mediaval and magical Estonia during the 1600s. The main character is a young woman named Aalo, who in the start of the story marries a forest ranger called Priidik. Aalo is extremely beautiful and kind and also a werewolf.

Lycantrophy in this story follows the medieval rules, which means that Aalo has a hidden wolf-pelt she keeps as a secret and whenever she wants, she takes off her human clothes and dons the wolf-skin to turn into a werewolf. The problem here is scheduling, because she is a wife and a mother to a young child, and she is trying to balance out her duties as a wife with her desire to run around the forest as a wolf, running free, hunting and devouring wantonly.

Priidik eventually ctaches on to the fact that his wife doesn't stay in their bed during the nights. Aalo tries to explain the overwhelming need she has to run around the forest as a wolf from time to time, but claims that despite this she still loves her husband. Priidik cannot accept a compromise where his wife would also turn into wolf sometimes and threathens Aalo with a gun. Aalo escapes into the forest, turning into wolf full-time. The rest of the village finds out that Priidik's wife has therefore chosen a life as a the wolf's bride over her human husband.

The men of the village try again and again to hunt and kill Aalo, but she is too fast and cunning to be caught.

Some time later, during the winter, Aalo comes back to her old house at night, to check up and nurse her child. When Priidik doesn't try and kill her, she is also happy to see him and they make love. But in the morning, Aalo is again gone and Priidik isn't sure if Aalo actually visited or if he dreamed up the whole thing.

He finds out that it wasn't a dream 9 months later, when Aalo appears again, in need of a midwife. A midwife is called and Aalo is taken to the family sauna, where she gives birth to a baby. The entire village has by now heard that the werewolf is back and gathered around the sauna, calling for the death for the wolf's bride. Aalo begs her husband to tell the people around that he is the father of this baby and to protect her.

But doubt and jealousy take over Priidik, who is afraid that the baby is not of his seed, and who is bitter that his bride ran into the woods to live with the wolves. He calls out to the crowd outside that the wolf's bride has given birth to a wolf's cub and that he renounces them both.

The frantic crowd of people set the sauna on fire, burning both Aalo and her newborn baby inside. The werewolf has been sent to hell to her master.

But Priidik never gets to sleep a good night's sleep again, haunted by a wolf he swears is following him around, which he is sure is the ghost of his werewolf wife. With a silver bullet he finally kills the ghostly wolf, and prays that it means that his wife's soul has finally been saved, and even more importantly that his soul has been saved from its guilt too.

The moral of the story is that if you have a hot werewolf wife, you should let her frolic at the swamps, instead of being a massive piece of shit.

[sadist1224]

Skyrim AU.

Description: After the battle with the dragon in the swamps, you rest in one of your escape rooms with Gas and a Ghost. You have to look after guys a little bit.

Number of words: yes, the dick knows, but it is read in about 6-8 minutes.

You don't have to understand the lora Skyrim device to read this.

Translation into English through a translator

In fact, you have just returned to Mirwatch. Ghost, exhausted and tired, throws off his armor as soon as he steps into the territory of the tower. Kyle is grumbling somewhere behind you about manners, but you're honestly on Simon's side right now. Killing a dragon is never easy. And it's even worse if the skirmish takes place in a swamp. Damn Morph. You hate swamps. And Ghost hates it too.

But unfortunately, absorbing the dragon soul is above your comfort.

It seems that Kyle is the only one who wins. Of course, a magician doesn't need to jump from hummock to hummock to catch up with a damn flying reptile and stab it with a sword. Fortunately for you, Ghost took the brunt of the attack, so you mostly used only the bow. The main thing is that the job is done.

Mirwatch was cozy. At some point, Kyle insisted that your team needed a base in the Morfal area, and although Price was unhappy with the costs, he agreed with the magician's proposal. Kyle found the tower himself, as he admitted, by accident. Expenses were spent on its improvement, and the end result was beyond praise. Two floors: the first is a household, the second is a laboratory. And as much as you love the Lake Estate in Falkreath, you should at least admit to yourself that Kyle did a good job.

You were brought back to the world by a rude grunt from the sleeping area, where Ghost was throwing off his dirty armor.

"I'll help him." You nod towards the grumbling man and Kyle nods back at you.

"Yeah, I'll be upstairs."

In sync with the retreating footsteps of the Gas, you approach Simon's bed.

"Problems?" - the nearest wall serves as a support for you while your gaze slides over the familiar scar on the man's back. He's sweating, a purple bruise blooms under his shoulder from a dragon strike, and Ghost hisses as he takes off his shirt.

"I need to go to the sauna." - the man glances over his shoulder without turning completely. His Daedric helmet rested on the bedside table while a black bandit mask handkerchief covered his nose and mouth.

"Yeah. I'll dial it. - you wave your hand, heading for the descent to the basement. "Come as soon as you're ready."

The man does not keep himself waiting. In fact, it appears almost a minute later, but you have enough time to quickly heat up the water with a flame spell.

By the time you take off your light armor and roll up your sleeves, Simon will already be sitting chest-deep in the water, legs wide apart.

It's not the first time you've seen him naked, but something gives you goosebumps every time. It's nice. Touching him, running my fingers over his scars, burrowing into his blond curls. But nothing gives you pleasure like an invisible feeling of trust on his part.

"You seemed to want to help." His grin is kind and teasing. It seems like you've been admiring him for too long.

"Don't push yourself," you smile, grabbing a clean little towel from the shelf and sitting on the edge of the tub, next to him.

There are several signed jars of soap and powders on the table next to you. Another advantage of Kyle's alchemy. You don't know much about it yourself, but Gas floats like a fish in this craft, so your team doesn't have to worry about hygiene products.

"Not lavender."

"Then the mountain flower?"

With a light movement, you run a rag over his arm, rising up to his shoulder, lightly massaging the tense muscles, and then smoothly move to his chest and abs, receiving a barely audible relaxed moan as a reward.

"Is it nice?" - you can't help but smile contentedly while Ghost changes position.

"Be careful. I can get used to it."

"Well, then you'll have to fight with Soap. - you run a rag along his spine, gently skirting the wounded place. "I won't wash you two at the same time."

Ghost quacks amusingly in response, relaxing his shoulders and plunging into the water a little more.

"Help with the hair? When you're done with his back, you put the rag aside and reach for the nearest bottle of liquid soap with your other hand.

In response, the man only lowers his head to you to make it more convenient. His hair has darkened from the water and foam, while you gently massage the back of his head and gently pull his strands, achieving another deeper moan.

"Don't tease me." - he growls warningly, but there is not a drop of aggression in his tone. You're chuckling softly.

"You're too tired, Ghost." - the lightness of your tone makes him turn and look defiantly into your face. You would have loved to fight with him a little more, but you were tired today too, and you had a few more things to do before going to bed.

"I'm going to put away your armor. - you get up from the edge of the tub, stretching your back and stretching your legs. - Go ahead yourself."

"Don't bother. You don't have to."

But you just smile at him, waving your hand again as you walk towards the stairs. At the very least, you need to collect the scattered parts and take them to his bed.

Already upstairs, you pick up his boots from the floor and cast a piteous glance at the ebony armor. The deep black color of the metal was stained with mud, grass and blood. We need to clean this before it dries up. After all, you can look after your hero, right?

In order not to waste time, you pick up the armor and go back to the stairs, only to the second floor, to Kyle, finding the magician at the alchemy counter.

"Can you create a liquid that cleans metal in one fell swoop, huh?" - you wink at the guy, attracting his attention, and put the armor on the bench.

"Sorry, I haven't reached that level of skill yet." He replies with a grin, nodding towards the bucket of water.

He himself had already changed into more casual clothes, and his robe, clean and fresh after cleansing magic, was hanging on one of the mannequins.

You exchange a few more words, and then focus on your business. You're cleaning armor, Kyle's experimenting with the nirn root. You finish before him, setting aside the bucket and brush. Your fatigue is already making itself felt: your eyes are tingling unpleasantly, and your legs are slowly becoming wadded up.

You approach Gaz from behind, easily hugging his waist and snuggling up to his back.

"It's going to be cold tonight. - he says softly, stroking your hand. - You can lie down with me if you want."

You whimper softly, leaving a light kiss on his cheek, and walk away, taking the armor with you.

Ghost is already asleep. His bed is right next to Kyle's, so you carefully place the armor next to the nearest mannequin, kiss Ghost on the forehead and go to bed yourself.

Tomorrow you have to walk to Solitude.

[sysirauta]

Nothing in the queue for this, so throwing this at your direction again. I strongly prefer character based questions, be them more or less specific. Can be art related as well. Or you can ask me, no question made in good spirit or with sense of humor is wrong.

Asks open for characters and/or about characters. Things like these help to build characters nevertheless. Can be specific or more open questions I don't really mind.

[sabakos]

There's no way that Natsu Dragneel doesn't smell fucking terrible. To begin with, fire magic in general has to make it's practitioners just absolutely reek, since it's putting their body in the equivalent of a sauna mixed with burning sulfur. Couple this with the fact that he's an orphan raised by a dragon unfamiliar with human hygienic practices, and that his best friends are a cat and a girl with her head too far up her own ass to smell anything other than her own shit, and it's not likely he's even aware that it's a problem. There's probably a reason that he "decided" to live in a cottage in the middle of the woods far away from everyone else, and the baths he takes(?) in the river probably aren't helping much if any. By the end of an arc the dude probably smells like he lost a fight with swamp-assed burnt rotten egg.

[imperatorrrrr]

Nico realizing Nolan unfollowed him and talking to Jack about it

"Need help with hashtags for your Facebook post, Schao?"

"What?"

Nico and Rino had come over for dinner after their sauna session earlier in the day and now dinner's over and Jim and Rino are sitting in the living room together drinking beers talking about whatever hockey Dads talk about, and Luke's fucked off to his room to talk to his boys because World Juniors is starting soon, while Jack rinses the dishes and Nico puts them in the dishwasher.

But Nico isn't putting the dishes in the dishwasher. Nico has been fiddling around with his phone for a while now, not paying attention to anything.

"You've been staring at your phone all confused? Finding more baseball players to follow?"

Okay, so maybe Jack feels a type of way about Nico getting practically naked in a sauna with some random professional baseball players.

"Jack, what?"

Nico had a big day with his Dad today. Not only did he strip down to his underwear and sit in a sauna with his father and some baseball guys, he also got his haircut. He has yet to look up from his phone, and there are strands of his hair falling down the side of his face, not as long as before, but still framing his face perfectly.

Jack huffs. Puts the dish he just rinsed into the dishwasher himself and turns the faucet off. He directs Nico away from the counter and closer to the island where the stools are and sits Nico down. Nico lets all this happen while still staring down at his phone.

"Nico."

Jack flicks him on the forehead and Nico finally looks up.

Good.

"What's going on?"

Nico sighs, puts his phone face down on the counter and runs his hand through his freshly cut hair, strands falling every which way in his wake.

"Nols unfollowed me."

Nico's face is all scrunched up like it gets when he can't find the right English preposition when he's answering media questions.

"Who's Nols...?" Is this another baseball player?! How many baseball players does Nico know and why does Nico know so many of them and where are they coming from?

"Patty. Nolan Patrick."

Oh shit. That may be worse than another baseball guy. Nope, that's definitely worse.

Nico doesn't talk to Jack about Nolan Patrick. Nico doesn't talk to anyone about Nolan Patrick. Jack thinks maybe Jesper might have that honor, but even he's not one hundred percent sure about that.

Jack's emotionally intelligent. Jack can do this. Jack can wade through the Nolan Patrick swamp of history.

"Are you...okay?"

Great. Slam dunk. Touchdown. Home run. Ugh baseball again.

"Yeah, its just...weird." Nico looks at his phone like he expects it to provide an answer as to why Nolan Patrick has unfollowed him. Jack also looks at Nico's phone hoping for the same.

"I mean we haven't talked in a bit. He reached out when I wasn't playing last month to check in."

Jack doesn't think Nico's upset about it. Nico's confused.

"I don't think I did anything?"

"Of course you didn't do anything!" Okay, so Jack doesn't know if Nico didn't do anything, but Jack is going to side with Nico ninety nine percent of time, no question. Plus, its Nico. He rarely does anything wrong. He doesn't make mistakes on the ice and he doesn't really make mistakes off the ice either.

Jack takes a step closer, putting his hand on Nico's shoulder and squeezing, trying to radiate support gearing up to say something to comfort Nico...

"What's our ice cream situation?" So Luke's chat with his boys is over.

Nico, presented with a task, especially a task that involves doing something for a teammate, especially for a teammate thats a rookie, and especially for a rookie thats a Hughes, is ready for this call to action and this distraction, "I have some good variety at mine."

Nico gets off the stool, grabs his phone and pockets it, and beckons Luke to follow him, which Luke does happily.

And Jack is left alone in the kitchen with the dishes that still need rinsing and thinks about how ice cream is supposed to be the go to solution for a break up.

[torillatavataan]

I love your blog, it's such a brilliant advertisement for Finland (even if it's unintentional, which it probably is, haha). Perfect mix of memes and sheer beauty that Finnish land has to offer. I've never been abroad, but I will make Finland my first destination once I have the finances and the time, I'm sold!

If you don't mind sharing, what are your favorite Finnish traditions (or even smaller cultural quirks)? I've snooped around a bit, but no online article beats the word of a true Finn here :D

Oh!! And, what is Vaasa like? Did you personally find it impressive or worthwhile; would you recommend a trip to it to a foreigner?

Thank you so much! I'm happy to know you enjoy my blog. :)

Welcome to Finland, whenever you are able to make that trip. I hope you have a wonderful time here! And please feel free to ask anything while planning your trip, too.

One of my favourite Finnish traditions is sauna. It's so relaxing. I love the feeling of warm air coming down from the ceiling after you throw water onto the stove. And I like the folklore related to sauna: how sauna has a guardian spirit (henki, though people more commonly talk about tonttu these days) whom you should respect or it could burn down the sauna or skin you in vengence. I also like the idea of sauna being an equal place. Titles and hierarchy do not exist in sauna.

I also love the Midsummer bonfires. There's something magical about watching one burn by the water late in the evening while the sun is still up, but the air and water are calm like at night. That is if the weather is good, anyway. ^^; It's 50-50 whether it rains or not on Midsummer's Eve.

Oh and especially as a child I liked Easter, because children dress up as Easter witches and wish good health to people with decorated willow branches in exchange for chocolate eggs. But these witches are colourful. Colourful skirts and scarves, no black pointy hats (traditionally, but modern parents more and more dress their kids as Halloween witches...I do not approve), and they carry a copper coffee pot. Boys can dress up as witches, too, though for some reason these days this is getting rare and you see a lot of boys dressed up as black cats or bunnies. This part is not done everywhere in Finland, but on the Eve of Easter, kids sleep with their hats on the bed, and during the night the Easter Rooster (traditionally we have a rooster, not a bunny, but the bunny is taking over) will leave some chocolate eggs there.

And as a kid I liked May Day, too, because kids especially dress up in fancy dresses, there's balloons and streamers, and munkki (type of doughnut with cardamom) and sima. It's just one big party.

I'm interested in learning more about old Finnish traditions like kekri and being part of reviving them. :)

As for a cultural quirk... Hmm. Well, we have a lot of weird and funny sports like wife carrying, air guitar playing, mobile/rubber boot throwing, swamp football, and hobby horse racing. :D And I guess our tax records being public and a source of many tabloid headlines is pretty weird, too. And we are notoriously quiet. For us, respecting the personal space and time of other people is important and a sign of respect. So we don't usually chat with random strangers without a reason. But worry not! If you need help, your average Finn will make it their personal mission to help you if you just ask for help.

Unfortunately, the last time I was in Vaasa I was probably less than ten years old, so I can't say anything about it. :/ Followers, please help!

But personally, I'm always advocating for the beauty of Eastern Finland. ;) Anywhere on Lake Saimaa is amazing.

[bone-evidence]

YESSSSSSSSSSS YOU ARE CORRECT CONNIE AND DRAGO HAVE MY WHOLE HEART

What has been your favourite part of cta to write so far?

Probably a lot of people's fave part to read: the Balkans' visiting the estate in ch 7. Connie and Drago just had such an effect on the group dynamic that rounded things out, interrupted a lot of the usual, strenuous power struggle between everyone. Also, Tolys getting in Gil's space and stealing his cigarettes while he's playing cards, specifically a fave for them.

My other favorite hasnt been posted in full yet, but Tolys carrying Gil to bed in ch 9.

[telestoapologist]

Everyone in the Felwinter's Peak sauna claps and cheers as the witness bong water hisses on the pile of flaming hammers piled in the middle. I discreetly offer u a hit from a vape juiced with secretions from the hive toads that live in Rhulk's swamp-ass front yard

oh right on, thanks brother. you know i don't usually smoke, but it's fine. i'm sure nothing bad's gonna hap