#they have so many dinners and lunches together its not funny

[pizzaboat]

Chakotay to Janeway when she asks about what they are: "Some lines shouldn't be crossed."

Like what? Proposing? Marriage? A certificate? Because you've done everything else at one point or another...

[futuristicpenguinwizard]

Can I have some wimp of one of your Lucemond’s fic?

Aemond was severely sick. All the maesters that saw his condition said the same thing. 'The boy is with the flower sickness' which Aemond found to be another name for hormonal problems. But he didn't know why it was so bad, or why it hurted so much. He was five days straight in his bed, he couldn't even get up due to sickness. And on the seventh day it was when they started to think that it might not be a simple sickness condition. What could have caused such a thing? Nobody knew. Queen Alicent refused to let anyone but Aemond's maesters and personal servants into the chamber. She refused to let anyone see him. On the eleventh day in confinement, the whispers began, saying that Aemond had some kind of illness, an illness that can be passed from person to person and therefore the queen would not let anyone, not even her own children, into Aemond's room. And over time, when the servants began to hear the sound of ghostly steps next to the young prince's chambers, up and down the halls, always after lunch and before dinner. Many thought that perhaps the prince had an illness brought on by one of the ghosts of Red keep, but the truth was much simpler than that, Aemond received regular visits from his nephew, Lucerys. 

On that particular afternoon, the steps were tighter, faster, as if someone was in a big hurry. And indeed, Lucerys was in a hurry that day. He wouldn't stay for lunch, he would have to go traveling with his grandsire, Corlys. He was willing to see Aemond before the day after tomorrow, which was when he would finally return. Aemond heard the soft knocks of the wall. The secret knocks between him and Lucerys. He'd be lying if he said the highlight of his day wasn't waiting for Lucerys. He didn't have much to do while confined. Aemond rose from his bed and walked barefoot to where the passageway's door was. The omega then pulled up a chair, a heavy chair that made a squeaky noise when dragged across the floor. The chair stopped along with its feet in front of a wall sconce, he made a point to climb carefully onto the chair and when he stabilized himself in the chair that was shaking from the unevenness of the floor, he pulled the sconce with both hands. 

"Aemond." Lucerys's cheerful voice was quickly present in the chamber as soon as the door was opened.

"Luke, what are you doing here?" Aemond carefully climbed down from his chair. He broke away immediately in a short laugh when he saw Lucerys' smile, who was missing one of his front teeth. Aemond found it funny, especially when he whistled through the hole accidentally.

"I came to see you." Lucerys said "I brought you lemon pie." Aemond looked down at the plate in his nephew's hand. Aemond was confined within the walls of not only his room, but also of the castle, his own walls. He was a stranger to everyone, to himself, but somehow he found comfort in Lucerys, from his jokes and his small gestures. Aemond knew his mother disliked him spending too much time with Lucerys, but he felt very close to his nephew. He felt like he belonged somewhere when they talked, when they spent time together.

"We can't be alone in the room, I'm still in my nightgown."  Aemond said, taking the plate from Lucerys' hand with an almost imperceptible smile. "Give me the fork." He extended his right hand towards the boy who was just watching him carefully. Lucerys with no second thoughts gave him the fork "Thank you." Aemond walked to the couch in his room carefully, staggering a little, due to dizziness. 

"Are you alright?" Lucerys asked. It was obvious that Aemond wasn't well, but nobody told Luke how his uncle was, if he was fine, if he was eating right. People just said Aemond couldn't play with him and Arrax, which made Lucerys sad, not only because he wanted to be close to Aemond, but also because he knew that Aemond liked to be close to Arrax, he knew the boy fantasized about having a dragon, that none of his eggs had hatched so he blamed himself. Lucerys hated to see Aemond sad, maybe that was the worst part of being friends with his uncle. Aemond always carried guilt with him, he felt like he was not enough, and even Lucerys being young he understood that, and that made him as much as sad as Aemond.

"No." Aemond was simple. "My mother said I'm sick with a terrible disease." For a few seconds, Lucerys was afraid this meant the imminent death of the person he considered to be more than his best friend.

[ctrl-alt-cel]

top ten puppyshipping fics?

so thrilled about this ask...unfortunately i cant give you a list of puppyshipping top 10 without taking like 3 months to reread every joukai fic ive ever loved, but i can give you a handful that ive enjoyed recently!!

Second Chance Christmas by Elexcia (30k)

ex-husbands joey and kaiba are forced to spend the holidays together after 3 years of co-parenting and scrupulously avoiding each other. (atticus and alexis are their kids and its the cutest thing ever!!!!) theres a ton of adorable family shenanigans & how much joey and kaiba work together to ensure atticus and alexis have happy childhoods free from their own personal baggage, mixed with the most heartwrenching late-night conversations between joey and kaiba bc despite everything, they still love each other, but they remember the pain it brought them and don't know if they can endure that again. the emotions and uncertainties are so raw oftentimes i will remember a quote from this fic and my heart will ache all over again its so fcking good!!! its been on my mind ever since i read it!!!

Meeting upon the threshold by Alecto (2.6k)

"kaiba has always been his own worst enemy" -- dsod!kaiba's dimension hopping lands him in an alternate timeline and face-to-face with a version of himself he doesn't recognize. this will always be the quintessential puppyshipping fic to me omg.. the amount of characterization covered in the brief interactions the two kaibas have is spectacular, and its so cool seeing just how different dsod!kaiba's dimension is compared to a dimension where kaiba chooses jounouchi instead. hell yeah

Double Date by thegraeyone (7.2k)

GOD this fic is so funny. kaiba tries so hard to have one normal, business-related work dinner with pegasus, but pegasus is more interested in having a double date between kaiba and his boyfriend joey + pegasus with his boyfriend bandit keith, and like, what else can kaiba do? for the sake of his company, he needs to play along with the most disasterous dinner date of his life if he wants pegasus to sign a damn contract already..!!!! the comedic potential for this specific set of characters makes me lose my mind & theres so many sweet moments within the fic too. i love it so much

Most Thrilling by Alecto (1.8k)

another funny fic! a cute moment with joey visiting his boyfriend kaiba during a lunch break, and silly conversations on how kaiba really does play to win. i love the brand of slight unhinged-ness kaiba has here in regards to jou omg... kaiba is intense when it comes to everything, of course that would include his dating life😭 & i adore how he manages to come across as infuriatingly romantic in his own type of way

The Weight of Water by phant0m (2.2k)

a gentle character piece, jounouchi has just moved out from the apartment he shares with his father, and for all the newfound freedom it should entail, he feels guilty about it more than anything. thankfully his boyfriend kaiba is there to stand by him. it's a kind look into the more somber parts of jou's character and i love the scene it sets :( oh my god jou and kaiba love each other so much..!!! *dies*

Shards by jirluven (2.9k)

more hurt/comfort >:) jounouchi flinches. kaiba isn't supposed to know what it means, its one of the unbroachable topics of their close yet purposely ambiguous relationship, but they both know each other far too well for that. i really enjoy how kaiba's perspective is written, with how he's most comfortable when he's logic-ing things out and surrounded by things he can easily categorize, but hes long given up on trying to categorize jounouchi, and its most evident when pushing himself into the unfamiliar territory of tactfully trying to comfort someone he cares about

Debt to Society by Elexcia (16k)

tech acquisitions lawyer seto kaiba is sentenced to 200 hours of community service after a barfight with rival lawyer & long-time nuisance ziegfried von schroder. to meet those hours, he's assigned to represent children in court as their legal advocate with social worker joey wheeler acting as his supervisor >:) (also featuring judge yugi & the doma arc kids!!) i think this setup is genius omg. with kaiba acting as a protector for underrepresented and vulnerable kids, of course his own personal (and messy) feelings are going to get involved whether he likes it or not!!! plus i love fics where jou and kaiba are colleagues working towards the same goal and moments where kaiba has to trust in and respect joey's skills. and i cant lie. seeing a worldly joey who's good with kids is an absolute treat

Lapse by AndroideQL (4.2k)

blossoming workplace romance!! jou is kaiba's assistant (yes, everyone is surprised about this outcome too) jou & kaiba are undoubtedly attracted to each other, but theres a couple of (important!!) things about it that theyre not entirely on the same page about. the banter and familiarity jou and kaiba have with each other in this fic is sooo charmingly affectionate, and there are several exchanges that make me laugh every single time. its a refreshing and cute fic that has me hopeful knowing that no matter what communication issues they get up to, they'll eventually get their shit straight

Small and Insignificant Things by Lafae (1.6k)

one more for the office romance train >:) joey, kaiba, and the conundrum of getting a good picture for your photo ID. short and sweet boyfriend shennanigans, i love how joey & kaiba play off of each other during these mundane moments between their hectic schedules and i feel like it perfectly captures the excitement of a fresh relationship and fondly discovering the more trivial details about your partner

Working My Way Back to You by SerenaJones (10k)

during an argument between jou and kaiba, jou angrily states that he wishes they never met. kaiba soon finds himself in a universe where they never did, and meets a rougher, more abrasive jounouchi who never quit his gang who just may be the key to his way back. the worldbuilding in this fic is super cool and extensively fleshed out! its so fascinating to experience how different the cast of yugioh and domino city itself would have become if canon had played out differently, and the interactions between kaiba and a jounouchi who isn't his jounouchi but is just charming is so much fun

Orpheus and Eurydice by saiikavon (3.4k)

post-dsod joey dies while chasing kaiba into the afterlife, and by the title, you can probably imagine what kaiba has to do to get him back. very fun kaiba characterization/study here, with how quick and confident he is to challenge death itself and rebuff anything that gets in his way. and! a bit of spoilers but i love when jou gets to be a little mean (lovingly!!!!) to kaiba hehehe

[1000night]

Chubby Steve Rogers

Okay, so I think the habit for run might not only for Steve to remain his health, but also shape his body in the best situation.

I mean if the serum would slow the metabolism, then he might need have the regular habits or those muscles would became fat like our dear Bucky💕💕💕

So the assumption is about what if Steve retired and he doesn't have his everyday running routine, and he became chubby? Maybe he and Bucky thought their serum would resolve everything but nah😖😖😖

Bucky is aware that so he start join the missions with Sam. While Steve was like "Nah, I'll past. I am too old to move. "

So when he fell in love a beautiful lady, it's doesn't matter what your appearance is, you're beautiful inside out and he knew you would be the one for him.

But he suddenly back to the small guy in Brooklyn before he accepted the serum, different struggles, but the same consequence.

Now he start worried that you won't accept his new not so attractive body.

I mean yeah he know he should be start train himself again to back to the perfect statement.

But he's too tired to do that. He's devoted too many things for this world, and he still don't convinced that someone would accept his true form.

Though he became chubby, but he could feel those familiar self-doubt and dark mist waved to him.

And he felt relief some how because he know the magic of the serum is lose its power and disguise.

He might wouldn't be the perfect Captain America anymore, but now he could be Steve Rogers, just Steve.

So, when you approached him and asked him for having lunch together sometimes, he absolutely so shocked.

The lunch was amazing because both of you enjoy your food, and you both changed the food you were dislike. It's a win-win you could say.

Soon or later, the lunch date became lunch and dinner date.

And he love you more and more when you spend more time with him. You are so funny and adorable and passionate when you talk about your interest.

When you start sleepover in each other's house. He noticed you are fond of his soft belly, you would rub your face and snuggle with his belly.

He always startles when you hug his waist or kiss his belly.

He couldn't hold back the moans and became hard when your lips touch his skin.

"I adore your soft belly, Stevie, your soul, your face and your body are so perfect and beautiful to me. I would spend my life to worship them, make them glow. "

At the moment, Steve knew he couldn't let you go.

Special thanks to @lovebittenbyevans , she encouraged me to write so😘😘💕💕💕

[likelightinglass]

10 Lines Tagging Game

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway!

Thank you for the tag @givereadersahug ! My last 10 fics first lines game, starting with the oldest and going up to most recent. I cheated because it's really first paragraphs, not first lines. It's so funny to me how wildly different some of these are from each other in tone and rating and everything.

1. And What Do We Think We Might See? (G, 771, Snape & Sinistra, platonic)

It’s a little past three in the morning, and Severus hasn’t slept in weeks.

Not properly anyway, not this year. He might be Headmaster of this school but he’s never felt quite so out of control. He appears to run a tight ship, of course, keeping the students as safe as possible while somehow giving the impression that he revels in his colleagues’ and pupils' estimation of him, that he is a traitor, monster, murderer. Playing both sides and trying to stay afloat as he buys the boy who lived more time to run Dumbledore’s errands.

2. Snake as a Second Language (G, 4k, Snarry but Ron Centric)

Ron had a secret.

A deep, dark secret he knew never to share, not with his Gryffindor parents or Gryffindor siblings, not with his Gryffindor best friends, and certainly not with anyone at school, surrounded by all those slimy Slytherins.

And that was that Ronald Bilius Weasley loved snakes.

3. Once Upon a Time (G, 1k, Snarry)

Harry's gaze swept over the now neat and tidy kitchen, appraising its cleanliness. This room was his domain ever since he and Severus had moved in together, and despite his haphazard approach to most chores, tidying up after meals was ingrained in him since his childhood at the Dursleys.

But all traces of "breakfast for dinner" were gone, leftover biscuits were packed away for tomorrow and he was ready to go upstairs and check on the kids. Ron and Hermione were away for the weekend and Teddy was delighted that Rose was over for an extended sleepover.

4. In which Severus is stressed and needs Daddy to treat him like a dumb little cumdump. We're both gay and obsessed with tender, intimate kink; moved, we wrote this fanfic (E, 18k, Snarry)

Severus awoke that morning with a crick in his back, and a grouchy demeanour. It was Saturday, which meant all of the demands of a weekday, minus the promise of structure, of a clear end to the work to be done.

5. Best Friends (G, 686, Lily & Severus)

Severus had finally found a nice, quiet place to properly sulk. It shouldn't have been nearly this difficult, he thought with a scowl, particularly in a castle that was so enormous. He was always surrounded by people now: dormmates, students, teachers. Even ghosts!

6. Obedience Lessons (E, 7k, Snarry)

Severus shifted in his seat, sweat beading on his forehead as he took another deep breath, attempting to steady himself. He was uncomfortably warm all over, his clothes seemed stifling and itchy and it was all he could do not to rend his robes in two and fling them away from his overheated body.

7. Waiting Games (E, 2k, Snarry)

Harry stared into the refrigerator, mulling over whether a ham sandwich or leftover beef lo mein sounded better for lunch. Severus hated it when he let all the cold out while deciding on his options, but Severus was not here at the moment to express his displeasure at the bad habit, so Harry took as long as he wanted.

8. More Than Dark (E, 28k/WiP, Snarry)

Many years later, when the cold and dark and misery of Azkaban had been replaced with warmth and light and love, Severus Snape would think back on the coldest night in his first year in prison, and would decide that was when he'd first started to break.

9. An auror, a professor, and a potioneer walk into a bar. (M, 4k, Severus/Harry/Tonks

An auror, a professor, and a potioneer are celebrating at a pub.

There's a practiced ease to the way the three of them are sitting at their regular table shoved into the corner of the Three Broomsticks. The Auror is laughing at her own joke, body tilted towards the other two and head close as if sharing a secret. The Professor has one leg twisted around the Potioneer's underneath the table and the other propped up against the Auror's chair. The Potioneer is trying hard not to smile at them both and he's not succeeding.

10. This Mirrored Perspective (E, 7k, Severus/Harry/Tonks but technically Solo Severus lol)

He's had the fantasy for a long time, almost since he discovered wanking. Once he realized that rubbing his hard cock felt so good, since that first surprise of orgasm washed over him with a gasp, that dizzying rush of endorphins, it had been there, in the back of his mind.

That nagging sense that he didn't deserve it.

Tagging @bleedcolor @perverse-idyll @danpuff-ao3 @liladiurne @perfackles @ripeteeth @anti-bright-places @mia-ugly and anyone else who wants to do it!

[iviarellereads]

Gideon the Ninth, Chapter 15

(Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For detail on The Locked Tomb coverage and the index, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Fifth House icon) In which we take a short break from the book you thought you were reading.

Gideon muses aloud that she'd do much better with a longsword. Harrow says the point is moot, as she doesn't have a longsword with her(1) and besides, Harrow never liked that sword, she always felt like it was judging her.(2) The pair are resting in their chambers, and eating some bread by way of lunch.

Gideon still isn't clear on how the challenge is meant to work, so Harrow explains necromantic theorems, and how the construct is animated by many of them all woven and working together. To destroy it, she must unpick the tapestry of that weaving(3), and to do that at the distance to control the panel, she needs to do it through Gideon's eyes.

The discussion is prevented from going into insults by a knock at the door. By the time they carefully open it, the "two semiterrified teenagers" are audibly just around the corner, but they left behind an envelope, real paper in a creamy brown.(4) Harrow demands that Gideon give it to her in case it's a trap, but Gideon ignores her and withdraws a piece of flimsy, presumably because "who barring the Emperor would use real paper for a letter", and reads its message aloud. It's a formal invitation to a dinner to celebrate Lady Abigail Pent and Sir Magnus Quinn's eleventh wedding anniversary. Underneath, in handwriting, is a note from Magnus not to be afraid of the phrasing, Abigail loves to go all out but it's not a "serious function" and they'd be all chuffed to see the Ninth attend. Magnus is even making dessert, and he cooks better than he duels.

Gideon wants badly to go, and argues that if the Ninth should appear traditional, accepting a formal invitation is expected behaviour. Harrow counters that this delays completing the trial and give others an advantage. Gideon promises to be very good and very quiet and very Ninth. Harrow calls her a hog, but Gideon knows that means yes. The atmosphere is strangely relaxed, and she's never known Harrow to be so soft, to go so long without attacking Gideon's vulnerabilities.(5) Still, everything's coming up Harrowhark(6) right now, probably when the victories stop coming she'll find an angle, find a shackle to close on Gideon.

Still, it's funny to see Harrow fussing about making the best impression, finding her very best clothes, and repainting her face twice to get it perfect. Gideon is amused and curious to realize that Harrow is scared. Gideon can't figure out why, and assumes it's because Harrow is being "denied her dark necromantic needs down past the access hatch."(7)

Still, they both arrive promptly, and Magnus finds a way to compliment even the sight of "Drearburh clergy on the loose" as the narration describes it. Harrow offers blessings and congratulations on the anniversary, and Magnus shows them into the dining room off the atrium, done up a little extra special with place cards by each plate. Magnus guides them into the kitchen nearby where Abigail is cooking. She has much the same manner as Magnus, but shakes Gideon's hand and looks her straight in the eye (sunglasses). Her pleasantries with a "po-faced"(8) Harrow are interrupted by the "wretched teens", wearing about a million earrings each. The Ninth go back into the hall.

Teacher chats with them, making conversation about the event and suggesting that surely the Ninth must be excited, when they live so plainly. Harrow says the Ninth prefer to live simply.(9) Teacher moves on to gossip, until the Third and Sixth houses arrive at the same time, "sizing each other up like prize fighters."

At this, it's time for the main event, and Harrow is devastated to realize she and Gideon have been separated in their dinner seating. Gideon is placed between Palamedes and Jeannemary, opposite Dulcinea who keeps blowing her kisses. Harrow is placed near the mayonnaise uncle, Naberius Tern and Ianthe who are conducting silent conversations with their faces, and Protesilaus Ebdoma.

Magnus taps his glass and starts a bit of a speech, about how this is the first time in a very long time that the Houses have been brought together, and they should look at their similarities instead of their differences. To illustrate, he makes one of the most dad jokes of all time. Coronabeth laughs intensely at this, and supper begins. Abigail directs the skeletons to fill the plates with rice boiled in onion broth, with chopped nuts and fruits, hot and spicy and good, and Gideon's meal requirements were complete at "hot".

After a skeleton refills her plate, she tunes into the conversations around her, catching snippets from everyone, such as Palamedes explaining that Scholar marks the specialist, and Warden the duty, which is why Warden is the higher rank. Dulcinea, more interestingly, asks Abigail to "explain your work, just so long as you pretend I am five and go from there."(10) Abigail explains that her work is on the period after the Resurrection but before sovereignty and the Cohort, particularly the history of the Lyctors though sources are incredibly sparse. She thinks she might have found encrypted communications, but Gideon knows a boring conversation when she hears one, and chooses not to.(11)

Ianthe and the mayonnaise uncle are discussing the circumstances of Ianthe and Corona's birth, and how Corona's going first almost killed Ianthe, so that she had to be born by surgical means. Naberius steps in to defend Corona, and Ianthe goes off on him for interrupting. He backs off, but Gideon can't follow what happens next, because Jeannemary tugs gently at the arm of her robe and says she has a weird question to ask: how big are Gideon's biceps? It takes far too long after Gideon starts flexing for the whims of the teenaged girl that the second course is served: confections of cream, fruit, and sugar, surely Magnus's dessert. Indeed, the man is a much better cook than duelist, and is so amused at Gideon's enjoyment that he pushes her fourth serving to her directly. Since she came to Canaan House is the first time in Gideon's life that she's enjoyed eating and not done it just so Aiglamene wouldn't kick her ass, and this tops it all.

After dinner there's the hot grassy tea, and almost everyone stands to allow the skeletons to clear the table. Dulcinea touches Gideon's hand gently from a chair, and asks if Gideon's biceps are huge, or enormous? Gideon makes a rude gesture, and Dulcinea laughs and invites Gideon to crouch near her to talk more. Dulcinea says the dinner was useful, and gestures at the teens, Jeannemary being insecure about the size of her biceps after seeing Gideon's, and Isaac assuring her that they're fine, it's not a competition.

Dulcinea murmured, "Oh, Gideon the Ninth, the Houses are arranged so badly ... full of suspicion after a whole myriad of peacable years. What do they compete for? The Emperor's favour? What does that look like? What can they want? It's not as though they haven't all gotten fat off our Cohort prizes ... mostly. I have been thinking about all that, lately, and the only conclusion I can come to is..."(12)

She trails off, and they're both silent for quite some time until Palamedes offers Dulcinea a cup of tea. She says, "Thank you awfully, Master Warden," and he looks at her strangely. It's intense, and evaluating, not exactly smoldering but full of focused curiosity. He says he's ever at her service, bows, and turns tail. Gideon thinks this is a very strange development, but probably his obsession with medical science means chronic illness is "as appealing as a pair of tight shorts," or something.

Gideon watches Dulcinea until she catches on that she never finished her thought, but before she can continue, she spots Harrow. When Gideon looks, Harrow gestures with her chin that Gideon should join her. They don't even get to say goodbye, which makes Gideon sad, as she had a good time. Harrow says they don't have much time, because she heard Abigail ask the "faithless Eighth prig" if he knew about the access to the lower floors, and he said yes. So they're both officially competitors, and that means Harrow needs to get back to work to keep ahead.(13)

=====

(1) So Harrow hasn't poked into Gideon's trunk enough to find it. Fascinating. (2) That's an awfully strange thing to say about an inanimate sword, don't'cha think? (3) The massive Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan) and Circle of Magic (Tamora Pierce) vibes off this for me. I'm sure weaving and magic are interleaved in other titles and media, but these two have been on the brain a lot lately. (4) Truly the height of luxury, all this Real Paper in use here. (5) Funny how this doesn't make her quite as suspicious anymore that Harrow's planning something truly heinous. (6) Everything's coming up Milhouse! Take a sip (preferably of water) for the meme drop. (7) I think there's another factor Gideon's upbringing prevents her from seeing. Harrow wants to go and see what the other Houses are like in person, wants to be able to almost pretend she's normal, wants to partake of the absolute drama of it all. She just has no idea how. (8) Po-faced - serious and giving nothing away, possibly related to poker-face. (9) That doesn't bode well for any of this. (10) ELI5, not exactly a meme per se, but it checks out as an internet reference. (11) Gideon, no! I'm interested in this! Go back! (12) Something about this doesn't quite fit with how she's presented herself so far, does it? Interesting to see her being more serious, she must have been using the time between teasing Gideon to consider for what purpose they were called, really. (13) Do you think Harrow will ever remember that all eight of them would be welcomed as Lyctors, according to the invitation? Or is she just assuming that it was a lie, and she needs to be an overachiever and valued more than the others to be worthy? I can see why some people don't vibe with her, but if you give her some credit, she's far more relatable than you expect at first glance.

[travelnew]

"The best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end" 2/2

Our SPITI travel circuit: Mumbai > Chandigarh > Narkanda > Sangla > Tabo > Pin valley > Rangrik > Langza > Komic > Hikkim > Kaza > Chandratal > Manali > Delhi > Mumbai, was for 14 days from 22.08.2024 to 04.09.2024 with Terraveller.

...continued from Part 1 of our jeep safari with stargazing to Spiti, mentioned at the end of this post.

DAY 5 PIN VALLEY to RANGRIK (near Kaza) 28.08.2024:

We reached Rangrik. It was near and ahead of Kaza, but it had peace and was not crowded like Kaza. We stayed at Hotel Norling-inn for 2 nights and used to have buffer dinner and breakfast here.

One of techies in the group created this sticker of our friend and we all had fun pulling her leg. She took it sportingly.

At night, social games were played in the rooms and everyone stayed awake to participate. It was a game of verbal accusation based on suspicion, defense based on circumstances and so-called enemity between friends. Haha.

DAY 6 RANGRIK - LANGZA - KOMIC - HIKKIM - KAZA - RANGRIK on 29.08.2024.

We had our breakfast at Rangrik and drove to the sitting Buddha of Langza.

We broke into a jig to a local song being played by our driver in the vehicle at Langza.

And we drove to the world's highest restaurant at 15,049 feet at Komic to have lunch.

After the highest lunch, it was time to connect with family and friends. We drove to the world's highest post office at Hikkim.

It was mandatory to refuel at the world's highest petrol pump in Kaza.

There was a HUGE surprise at Kaza for all of us. Tosh bhai, founder of Terraveller had sponspored a dinner treat for all of us at the luxurious restaurant, The Himalayan Cafe. This cafe provided books and board games along with delicious dishes.

As usual we played our social games by assembling together in one of the hotel rooms. Whosever room was occupied for the game, couldn't sleep till everyone decided to stop the game and retire by midnight.

DAY 7 RANGRIK to CHANDRATAL on 30.08.2024.

After our breakfast at Norling Inn hotel, we started our journey to the highest point of the jeep safari, Lake Chandratal.

Our lunch was at Losar around mid day. The locals of Losar welcome the tourists sweetly by saying, "hello Sir, Losar". It was quite funny. Cafe Samsong was our lunch point.

We crossed the camping site of Chandratal at least 3 kms before the lake around 3:10 pm.

I was happy that we were in time. Kudos to Tosh bhai, founder of Terraveller that he got us here in time. We had ample time to explore the lake.

And we completed the circumabulation of Chandratal lake, watched the sunset to return to our camp site, Spiti Expedition UC Camps in the twilight. We had a small stargazing session here, post dinner. We wrapped ourselves in our woollens in the cold and windy darkness of Chandratal.

By the time we returned after stargazing, some had already retired in the warm and cozy tents.

DAY 8 CHANDRATAL to MANALI on 31.08.2024.

We had a good breakfast at Chandratal camp site and left for Manali. The road is long and arduous. Bhavik bhai, who was less fortunate to get the last seat in the vehicle (we had rotation system and everyone got every good and less good seats in the tempo traveller vehicle) must have had a trip of his lifetime. आत्मा परमात्मा एक हो गया.

The roads and the weather is such that you get hungry quickly. We had stopped at Chacha Chachi Chandra Dhaba. The elderly couple who own the dhaba also are super heroes, who have played crucial part in saving lives of many tourists stranded in the mountains.

We crossed the 9 km Atal Tunnel in 10 minutes. A journey that used to take couple of hours, that may extend even more due to traffic or natural calamities, was now reduced to minutes!

Lahual welcomed us with its green velvety mountains and we had a tea break at Dorni dhaba. We washed ourselves with the cool waters of a naerby stream here.

We had lunch at 3 pm, after crosiing the Atal tunnel, but before reaching Manali.

Our Manali hotel - Snow Peak resorts and cottages was luxurious and those who had booked the shorter trip, checked out. The rest of us checked in.

Me and my friend were enthusiatic about exploring Manali on foot as soon as possible and we ventured out within 15 minutes of check-in, around 5 pm. We covered Hidimba temple, Ghatotkach temple, Khatu Shyam temple and Manu temple on foot. The darshan at each of these places was divine.

We were hungry after a walk to these temples, nestled in the hills of Manali and had momos at Green forest cafe behind Hidimba temple in Manali.

We were happy that we had one more night in Manali.

DAY 9 MANALI on 01.09.2024.

Today was trip to the left bank of Manali, Naggar-side. The breakfast at our luxurious hotel was quite sumptuous and varied.

I really don't remember what we had at the restaurant of Naggar Palace. Basically trout was on everybody's mind, but there was some film shooting going on and the restaurant couldn't serve it.

BY the time we reached Manali, I was famished and was feeling weak. I had tea with biscuit at the Manali bus stand. Tosh took us to Manali sweets, a restaurant famous for its tea and snacks. We had chole-samosa, jalebi and tea here.

It turned out to be an appetizer for the famished soul. Tosh suggested Super Bake restaurant on the Mall road and described that slice pizza would be available here. It wasn't.

Some of our friends had paid a visit to their local friends in Manali and they prepared Siddu, which is a local dish. It is bread with either sweet or savoury filling. Our friends got siddu for all of us, those who missed this local delicacy.

I still repent what followed after the gluttony of these cakes. I was bloated and we tried pan, which didn't help. FInally we decided to walk slowly to the hotel, even if it meant an uphill climb. For the next two hours we walked very slowly, halting for almost 45 minutes at the Hidimba temple. I swore not to overeat again.

I thought I had retired until my friends pulled a successful ghost prank on me.

DAY 10 MANALI to MANDI on 02.09.2024.

This was going to be the second last day of our tour. We all decided to go slow and soak in the most of the trip, now that it was about to end. We had a slow breakfast at the Manali hotel and as usual, it was sumptuous. We were going to Parashar lake and it is quite far. It took almost 6 hours to reach. En route, we stopped at a resort named Heavenly Forest for lunch. The steaming hot rice with dal and a dollop of butter was delicious. It was raining outside as we relished this lunch.

We returned after sightseeing Parashar lake and were dropped at Mandi bus stand, as our bus to New Delhi was to be boarded. A couple had flight the next day and were dropped at the hotel at Mandi.

The rest of the friends had extended plans to stay in Manali and they returned and reached Manali around 2 am.

DAY 11 MANDI on 03.09.2024.

Though I was not for the stay in the Mandi hotel, my friends were gracious to share the photos of their breakfast.

That ends my trip, as we reached Mumbai from New Delhi. I relived my experience while writing this post. Hope you all enjoyed reading it.

Photo credits:

I have used photos graciously shared by my foodie friends, who also clicked good photos of places we stayed at. They allowed me to use their photos for this blog post. Those who contributed pictures are:

ND, DrPS, DrHS, DrKG, PN, SM & Terraveller, with whom we all had gone. (If I have missed anyone whose photos I have used and credits are not mentioned, it is unintentional & you may please bring to my attention. I will mention).

Part 1 of the SPITI JEEP SAFARI-STARGAZING trip is here.

[dadjokestop]

Ah, the classic jokes dad loves to tell. You know the ones: groan-worthy, but somehow still hilarious. Whether your dad pulls out these one-liners at the dinner table, during a car ride, or while fixing something around the house, there’s no denying that dad jokes are a whole category of humor in themselves. Today, we're diving into 30 of the finest jokes dad might have up his sleeve—so buckle up, because this article is full of knee-slappers that only a dad could love. Dad jokes are perfect for every occasion, and if you’ve got a father figure in your life, you’ve probably heard a few of these before. But don’t worry—there’s always room for more! Why Dad Jokes Are Comedy Gold Let’s face it: jokes dad tells are legendary. Sure, they make you roll your eyes, but that’s part of their charm. They’re usually simple, pun-heavy, and rely on wordplay, making them universally funny. Dads have a knack for delivering these jokes with impeccable timing, turning even the dullest moments into bursts of laughter (or groans). What makes jokes dad tells so unique? It’s their predictability, yet they never fail to amuse. Whether you love them or hate them, you’ve got to admit: they’re always memorable. And now, it’s time to dive into 30 of the best dad jokes that are bound to make you chuckle… or cringe (in the best way possible). The Best Jokes Dad Will Ever Tell Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field! What did the ocean say to the shore? Nothing, it just waved. Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts! What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta! How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together. Why don’t eggs tell jokes? They’d crack each other up! What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot! Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired! How does a dad organize a space party? He planet! What did the grape do when it got stepped on? Nothing, it just let out a little wine. How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? Ten-tickles! Why don’t you ever see elephants hiding in trees? Because they’re so good at it! What do you call cheese that isn't yours? Nacho cheese! Why can’t you give Elsa a balloon? Because she’ll let it go! How does the moon cut his hair? Eclipse it! What did one plate say to the other? Lunch is on me. Why did the golfer bring extra pants? In case he got a hole in one! What’s brown and sticky? A stick! Why are elevator jokes so good? They work on so many levels. Why did the math book look sad? It had too many problems. Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon? Great food, no atmosphere. What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? Supplies! How do cows stay up to date? They read the moos-paper! What do you call a snowman with a six-pack? An abdominal snowman. Why can’t your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it’d be a foot! Why do seagulls fly over the ocean? Because if they flew over the bay, they’d be bagels! How do you find Will Smith in the snow? You look for fresh prints! Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing! Why did the dad bring a ladder to the bar? Because he heard the drinks were on the house! What’s Forrest Gump’s password? 1forest1. The Timelessness of Dad Jokes There’s something timeless about jokes dad shares with us. They span across generations, passed down from one father to the next, ensuring that every family gets their fill of pun-filled humor. These jokes are light, easy, and, most importantly, fun for everyone. Whether you’re five or fifty, you can’t escape the allure of a good dad joke! Next time your dad drops a classic pun, don’t be surprised if you can’t help but laugh—just a little. He’s probably been working on that delivery for years. Wrapping Up with Jokes Dad Loves

There you have it—30 jokes dad would proudly tell again and again, whether anyone’s listening or not! Dad jokes might be cheesy, but that’s exactly what makes them so lovable. From silly puns to cringe-worthy wordplay, they’re a guaranteed way to get at least a smile (or an eye-roll). So, the next time your dad whips out one of these gems, go ahead and give him a chuckle—he’s earned it! Because in the end, jokes dad tells are more than just jokes; they’re a way to share a little joy and connect with the people we love.

[elliemyun]

Monday, 5/8

SLEEP: 4.5 hours ( 4:30 AM - 9:00 AM)

MEALS:

Lunch: brown sugar shaken espresso, croissant

Dinner: kimchi carbonara macaroni, garlic bread

REFLECTION:

today's shoutout will be TRINIDADDYYYYY @trinityho0516🤤 T. HO is someone i havent really gotten close to until recently n i hope to get closer! she is so energetic at all times somehow & very funny. we have a 98% music taste match n OUR BLEND IS SO GOOD. after sleeping very late, i woke up and thought to myself -- why am i doing all of this 🧐the fatigue is becoming painful and all i want to do is sleep for a really long time on the beach with friends 🏖️ but its ok because i love all my pbros and all the friends im making & the time we're spending together 🫶⭐️so many memories. anyways😂i woke up & expressed my desire to cry to ash and nikki. we planned a group crying session for after our monday mtg today because we are on our last straws [but only @nikkichen04 ended up crying through (1) eyeball ] i went to starbucks to get my fav drink and do some work in the anderson area. i visited kerckhoff to see my friends & went to chem. the whole day i had a severe headache, tummy ache, and sense of impending doom. there is too much on my plate & i feel very bad that i'm accidentally ghosting many of the people i care about and not able to see them much :,( i took a quiz then went to my room to work. i did dance practice + made an orange passion/sprite mocktail for ethan then went to a club meeting. we got kimchi carbonara pasta n it was quite buss & i spent time with ethan. i lub ethan he is so fun to talk to. then i studied in hedrick summit lounge with brandon and nikki. nikki is so funny. my head is throbbing. i need to sleep.

TIME STAMP: 11:56 PM

[madame-wilsonn]

Cold hands, warm heart

MASTERLIST

Summary: you’re outside, it’s winter and you’re cold but thankfully, your knight in shining armor black leathery gloves is here!

A/N: this is loosely inspired by my own experience in the cold…except I didn’t have Tommy. I am also strangely in love with people’s hands especially when they wear gloves so I decided to mix these two ideas together and write something about it! Enjoy!! 🤍✨

Warning: idk…winter? cold weather? fluff?

You sighed, rubbing your hands together. You couldn’t feel your fingers anymore, your skin was burning due to the frosty weather, your feet numb as you made your way through the crisp land. Winter had finally arrived, the first snow of the season shrouding the country in its sparkling, silvery coat in the early hours of the morning.

At the sight of the white scenery, you had begged Tommy to come with you on a walk, your voice filled with such a pure, innocent enthusiasm he couldn’t even think about refusing.

You waited until after lunch when the sun was higher in the sky, the temperature slightly warmer than it was in the morning to put on your wool coat, your scarf, a hat for your ears but in your precipitation, you happened to forget about your gloves.

It was fine at first, you felt like a child all over again, enjoying the somehow sweet breeze brushing against your face. Fond memories of you tracing angels in the ground, making snowmen and having snowball fights with your cousins rushing through your mind. Tommy couldn’t help smiling as well, he loved seeing you so carefree and relaxed.

You walked on the mansion’s grounds, talking about your day and the upcoming family dinner you wanted to plan as Ada was coming back from Boston.

However, you quickly realized that you were beginning to not feel your fingers anymore, no matter how many time you tried to warm them up by blowing on them. And the further you went from the house, the less you could feel any of your limbs.

But you insisted to go out so you chose to stay quiet, try to focus on something else than the arctic cold gnawing at your feet, your hands, your ears, your-

“Everything alright, love?” Tommy’s hand came to rest against your back as he noticed you becoming more and more silent.

You hummed in agreement but slowly leaned into his body, the warmth emanating from him welcoming you into the softest embrace. You couldn’t resist it, it was so cold, too cold for someone as delicate as you and he…oh he was like a nice fireplace smelling like very expensive cologne with a hint of tobacco.

Your husband sighed when he noticed your bare hands.

“Where are your gloves?”

You hid your face in the crook of his neck and whispered you left them home.

“How can you forget your gloves, eh? You have at least ten different pairs!”

“I know, I know, I am so…so stupid” you replied absentmindedly as you found some extra warmth in his heavy winter coat, your hands sliding around his waist. It was funny how his voice seemed far, far away in the pleasant envelope of his coat.

Tommy sighed again, grabbing you by your shoulders. You pouted, the cold hitting your body again and before you could tell him he didn’t have to be so mean just because you forgot about your gloves, you felt a soft fabric around your hands. Looking down, you saw his black leather gloves, shielding your delicate fingers from the cold.

You smiled, your heart growing twice its size for your sweet husband. Sometimes you really wondered how you managed to get so lucky. You leaned in again, and put your lips against his cheek, silently thanking him for his thoughtfulness.

“I love you, Tom” you said in a honeyed voice, close to his ear.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too. Now, come on, let’s get you home. I’ll run you a bath.”

You were beaming at him, taking his hand and kissing his knuckles.

“Will you be joining me?”

He brought you closer, kissing your temple.

“If I ever say no to that question, I want you to use my revolver against me and shoot me with it, alright?” he replied with a smirk.

You giggled as the both of you made your way through the snow back to Arrow house, your head resting against Tommy’s shoulder. Forgetting your gloves didn’t sound so bad now, did it?

[zu-is-here]

So it was quite the trip! I'm not going to go though the whole thing here though, as it would take a while, but I tell ya, this was amazing.

London was such a great day! I was the only one from the UK on the tour so it was alot of fun trying to explain British slang to people XD not to mention scone politics.

As you know, I met Blue in France! Oh my goodness I was so awkward XD it's almost sad tbh. I almost missed them! With no data I didn't see there message and it was lucky that I got back to the hotel in time to see them! Such an amazing person and a amazing hug!

Not to mention French bread was yummyyyyy

In Switzerland we went to the highest railway station in all of Europe. Unfortunately for us, there was no view due to a white out. But we got to go inside an icecave! I also tried fondu!!

Italy had the best food I have to say. Most of what I had there was very very yummy yummy. I had some very nice aperol spirits while there, did you know it was invented in Venice?

In Rome I was a few feet away from a team member who was Unfortunately pick pocketed. We didn't see anything and tbh it put as all on edge.

This gelato thoughhh

In Venice the city was over run with pidgins, because they are considered important there.

Tried bruschetta

After Italy everyone was getting tired, all looking forward to being home and getting to have lay ins

But I'll say that I enjoyed our afternoon in the rhine valley. The river cruise we did was a nice break from all the rushing around. I also brought a very nice hand made beer Stine as token.

The last country we stayed in was Holland. Did you know that uh.... leaves are legal to smoke there? Well some.of my tour mates had fun I heard. I stuck to the cheese, but did get alittle drunk at the final dinner we all had together haha not my fault they had a cocktail menu XD

On the last day we stopped off for lunch in Belgium, did you know they invented French frys? And honestly they went down and treat! With some Belgium waffles.

All together it was amazing. I wish I had more time to tell you everything. But yeah, that'd me!

How was yours?

Sorry I didn't answer right away! (ówò) I wasn't prepared as well as you xp

I'm so happy to hear you had such a great time on your trip! \(//∇//)\☆ So it started from London but all the tourists except for you were not from UK?? :0 And do you have funny moments to share? (*ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

Oh!! Lucky you to meet each other in real life after all! (´⌣`ʃƪ) She said she was so excited to see you and your drawings too! <3 Even if it wasn't much, it's so good to hear that you two had a nice time together╰(*´︶`*)╯

So many amazing places and OMG— so much yummy food! (⁎⁍̴̀﹃ ⁍̴́⁎)♡ Fondu looks really interesting *^* (As for aperol spritz, I didn't even know about its existing, shame on me (≧∀≦)) Such tasty photos— stop teasing me! XD <3

Oh my god!.. ∑(ﾟДﾟ) What was that?? Did they tell the police? It reminded me of how my friend's bag with documents was stolen when we were on a beach in France, they had to drive to the consulate to be given a document to go back to Russia ("ó3ò)

Pidgins?? Who are they? ( ・∇・) True, the journey takes a lot of energy, but so many impressions and emotions are worth it! ☆ And such beautiful souvenirs are a nice addition to that *w*

Guess the Holland government is smart enough not to remove the fallen leaves! ;D You did deserve a good rest <3 OH I didn't even know this about French fries! (°▽°) The Belgium waffles look delicccious ˚✧₊⁎

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and photos with me! (〃ω〃) You look wonderful against the backdrop of these picturesque landscapes *^*

***

It is hard to tell about everything that happened in these two weeks (especially about going through all the circles of hell because of the wrong tan xd) but the main thing is that I had a great time with my family <3

Here's a couple of interesting moments that happened on my way though! :D

At the airport, they stopped me because of "a suspicious thing" in my backpack and asked "What are these packages at the bottom?" And I froze cause I was carrying medicines (at the request) and was frightened that it may be illegal, but they pulled out... a pack of buckwheat. (Buckwheat is expensive abroad so I brought it from Russia) At that moment I forgot the word in English and said "this is Russian rice" >:D

At another airport where I was spending the night, I lay down on one of the seats vacated by a couple, but when I woke up, I saw them sitting next to me, on one seat, cuddling together. I jumped up and apologized for taking one of their places but they were so sweet and kind and open-hearted to me with "You slept so sweetly, we didn't want to wake you up",,, (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)♡ (Just made a quick sketch of them from memory cause I wanted to capture this precious couple in Love (ㅅ´ ˘ `) Maybe I'll finish it soon,,, ♪)

UPD:

@help-im-a-gay-fish

Woah! (≧∀≦)☆ To be honest, I've heard a lot of accents but I would never differ them (x3x)

OMG XD No idea why but it reminded me of Killer, that's what everyone would do to him :'D

Oh I didn't even know this word! (°▽°) A british one?

You almost what?! ∑(ﾟДﾟ)

PFFF— witchcraft! XD

Awww this is actually such a cute tradition! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) If it's a kiss on a cheek, right? :D

Hope so! <3

Sounds interesting *w*

Only 10! (´；Д；`) I mean, I feel so sorry for him but a child embarking on a criminal path from such an early age... It is a way to survive for many yet what a human will she grow up...

Ah pigeons! XD

OHHH so that's it! (≧∀≦) I can fee them :'D

ヾ(≧∪≦*)ノ〃♡

You don't know buckwheat?? (O_O) (I can't add more images but this is mb the main thing Russians cook & love! >:D You can eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, with milk, sugar, fish, vegetables, meat— worth trying in short xd)

For real! (〃ω〃)

Yesss ˚✧₊⁎ I couldn't leave without trying paella with seafood & salted jacket potatoes in sauses & goat cheese with jamon & of course yummy pizzasss! (*´﹃｀*)

[multifandoms27-blog]

:0 Your hcs for ling give me life! There's basically nothing out there for him.

Could I request ling yao x reader where the reader has insomnia but is able to sleep easily around Ling. (Bonus if you add in reader being a sleep hugger lol)

OMG OMG YES YES YES I RELATE SO MUCH <33 INSOMNIA GANG RISE UP and awww thank you, anon!!!!

~*~*~*

Content: Gender neutral reader, since anon never specified. Although I refer to reader in the second person anyway, so y'all good :3

Warnings: Uhhh nothing

Notes: Forgive me for all the off-track domestic rambles I went on, I just got back from a long weekend at my boyfriend's place and him and his family are giving me all the love I missed out on as a kid. I love all of them and would do anything to protect them <3

~*~*~*

MMMM insomniacs rise up (me, lol)

Ling from the very beginning of your relationship (and even before tbh) that you'd be up all hours of the night for days on end sometimes

He did worry, but the only response you'd give him was "insomnia"

This man doesn't know boundaries, so he's gonna pry into why you have insomnia

If you tell him its some like, psychological or trauma-induced reason, he wont go further unless you tell him or invite him to ask questions

However, if it's genetic, there's really not much else he can pry about lol

Ling has a bad habit of getting you little plushies and piling them up on your bed, making you send pictures of the plushie collection he's gotten you so he can gush over how cute they are

The first time he comes over, the man bursts into your bedroom (ofc) and with his arms open, yells, "Plush-babies! Daddy's home!"

Speaking of the first time he came over, that was actually the best sleep you had ever gotten

You both were watching a movie, Ling had passed out an hour ago and you were left to your own devices as you laid on his chest

Eventually, your eyelids became heavy and you were knocked out for wayyy more hours than you usually are

You woke up to Ling moving around and the smell of (lunch food) cooking in the air

Ling snickered and kissed you on the cheek. "You slept like a little baby. You even drooled on me a little, see?"

And of course, the darker patch on his shirt was prevalent. You blushed in embarassment "Ling, I- I'm so sorry, I-"

"No, no hun! That just means you slept real good last night."

Ling then spent many, many nights at your house after that

Ling loves coming over after work, showering, then either you or him making dinner, then settling down to bed, having light pillow talk then falling asleep

Ling's never had trouble sleeping; we all know he's the classic "bottomless pit" anime character, and those characters always sleep soundly (and snore loudly) so he'll always fall asleep before you

Your little plush babies will be pushed against the wall, Ling's back or side to them, you either pressed into his chest or his side with his arm over you no matter what

The more you sleep with him (SFW UNDERTONES-) the more sleep habits you develop

One that Ling notices the most, is waking up to you clinging to him for dear life

He's usually awake before you, so he snaps a couple pictures of you sleeping on him, or next to him, while making a funny face if he is in the shot

He'll even tease you about it at the worst times

"I'm gonna get a drink," Ling stands from Ed's couch, then crouches in front of (Y/n). "Come on."

"...Ling, what are you doing?"

"I just figured you'd wanna cling to me? You seem tired."

"Ling-" You blush.

"What?" He grins innocently. "You seem to want to cling to me when we sleep together, so I just figured-"

"LING!"

Ling totally sends those pictures of you to Lan Fan btw (THEY'RE BESTIES OKAY)

Lan Fan knows every bit of your relationship (except for like, the more intimate parts if you know what I mean) and whenever he comes home from your place, she's already got the snacks propped up and goes "Well???" and they squeal as he gushes about you it's so cute lol <3

Ling once woke from a nightmare, in which he relived Fu dying once more, and he could feel your arms tighten even more around him as he jolted awake

He looked down, thinking you were awake, but was grateful that he found you sound asleep against him

He put his hand in your hair and kissed your forehead before snuggling further into your grip and falling asleep once more

Even his parents love you

When he brought you to his home and introduced you to his father, mother, and 49 other step-mothers and all of their children, you figured all the noise would keep you awake all night

Normally, this was usual for you, but you were once again with Ling

When his father walked into your guest bedroom, he was surprised to see Ling next to you, three of your favorite plushies around you two as you sleep soundly in Ling's side. Ling looked up, motioned for his father to keep quiet, and waved hello

Let's say, even the King of Xing thought your tight grip on his son was cute

[double-hoe-seven]

AFC Richmond as boyfriends

Here’s a lil headcanon collection of our favorite himbos as boyfriends.

I did it again for the staff (: AFC Richmond Staff as partners

A/N: Definitely didn’t put everyone but these were my top ones and it’s 2 AM so imma leave it here.

Sam Obisanya

The absolute sweetest man you have ever met

Such a softie, very concerned about making sure you’re happy and comfortable with whatever choices you make together.

He always picks the most random times to surprise you with things; showing up at your work randomly for lunch or with coffee/tea, random little souvenirs from his away games.

He’s always putting himself second and sometimes you have to remind him “hey, babe, you can do things for yourself, you deserve nice things too.”

Just, compliments galore with him. He’ll always find a way to compliment you on something.

The most cuddly person ever, he loves public affection (hand holding, piggy backing, hugging, kissing if it’s not raunchy, etc), he really just likes showing you off because he feels like the luckiest man in the world to have you.

He takes his time with your relationship, letting it bloom and grow at it’s own pace.

There aren’t many fights between you, hardly ever, the last “fight” you had was because you couldn’t unanimously decide which dog to rescue. The solution? You adopted both, now you share a one-eyed Jack Russell Terrier named Starro and a three legged German Shepherd puppy named Harry (Pawter. He was so proud at his pun when he showed you the then 3-month old puppy.)

Again, just the sweetest, more romantic man you’ve ever met and ever will meet.

thesexisgoodtoo. hesaverygentleandgivinglover

Isaac McAdoo

Man’s stubborn.

I mean it, he is as stubborn as a mule.

I’M DEAD SERIOUS, he once pouted for 5 days when you accidentally ate the last Rolo in the flat.

But he’s also romantic in a sort of rugged way?

He won’t go shopping with you but he knows what colors look best on you, he knows what styles look good on you, and he has your sizes and shades memorized.

Bear.

Mr. sometimes-crank-teddy-bear over here.

He’ll say he doesn’t want something but he will eat half of your food if given the chance. If you step away from your food to get a drink or something, there will be a good part mission when you get back.

Its a tradition to go on a date the morning of a game, and snuggle up with a movie after the game.

You have had more than a few drunk texts from him, all of them equally funny and full of sexual innuendos.

You don’t address his Rolo addiction. It could be something much worse anyway.

Richard Montlaur

So many visits to the goat farm he was raised on!

He really has to drag you back to London after visiting his parents because you don’t want to leave all the precious goats (and you and his parents get along famously).

You spend alternating holidays with each others families (except for Bastille day, you always spend that either together or with his family.)

There are always roses in your shared flat.

It’s a constant battle over his facial hair.

He has a grudge against the way the English make French pastries.

He has a habit of falling asleep on the couch or in uncomfortable positions and then wondering why his back or neck hurts.

Little spoon.

He’s teaching you French.

This man is a smooth operator, master at flirtation and romance. He’s good at planning romantic dates and outtings.

Dani Rojas

You 100% believe his mom when she says he was born caffeinated.

One of your first dates was a Mumford and Sons concert which was an interesting experience.

Soft boi hours with him. He’s a lil puppy dog.

Does this man ever sleep? Rarely.

He rises with the son and wants to get the day started immediately but he’s mostly letting you sleep in now.

He LOVES trying new things, exploring new places, generally having new experiences.

His absolute favorite thing to do when he’s not training is playing football (or any game, really) with the kids in your neighborhood. They all love him.

He’s a sweet boyfriend, not as sweet as Sam but he’s a close second.

You alternate who plans date night. You split the chores 50/50 but divvy it up if one of you is sick or has more work to do.

There’s so much alcohol in your flat its unreal.

You usually go to sleep before him but he has a bad habit of throwing himself into bed and partially waking you.

He makes the best breakfast most mornings.

And don’t forget the trips back home to visit his family in Guadalajara.

After a long day of training, he loves just laying down with his head on your lap while you run your fingers through his hair.

Jamie Tartt (Season 1)

FUCK NO

Jamie Tartt (Season 2)

On your first date you got drunk and bonded over shitty fathers.

Not that either of you really remembered the next day, you were both too hungover to immediately recall the night.

His love language is kind words.

At the start he needed a lot of reassuring that you did care about him for who he was, warts and all.

He’s slightly awkward when it comes to romantic gestures so most of the date planning falls on you don’t mind.

He still has some high maintenance behavior but he’s working on it and you’re proud of how far he’s come from the prick he used to be.

Your fights are usually over petty shit like where to eat for dinner or what movie to go see.

He will not hesitate to buy your feminine products for you. He knows your preferred brands and sizes and what treats you like when its that time.

He’s good at those rigged carnival games, the many little stuffed animals in your closet can attest to that.

He talks in his sleep. It’s all nonsense.

He has a soft spot for the neighbor’s cat (and cats in general).

Roy Kent

Rugged.

He’s great to snuggle up to.

The man is honest to boot. He doesn’t sugar coat anything at all.

10/10 times he will go down on you if asked. He’s a giver.

He is the heaviest sleeper in the world. You don’t know why he bothers setting alarms.

Phoebe has a room at your flat and spends so much time with you both.

Many nights have been spent reading different books on the couch together.

He has to clean the drains since 75% of it is his.

Fuck is a very versatile word in your home, used daily.

Not the most romantic man alive but he has his moments.

Date nights are usually relaxed and proper but sometimes you can make the old man have a little fun.

He growls at least a dozen times a day, it’s his main response.

Jan Maas

My beloved

My sweet, beloved Jan who can’t/won’t use a filter to save his life.

He’s blunt in everything and sometimes it makes you want to slap him.

Jan is still getting used to English ways and mannerisms.

He has good intentions but sometimes needs a little help with wording.

He likes going on Aquarium dates.

The more tired he is, the clingier he is and it’s too cute.

Once after a game he plopped onto the couch next to you and basically tried to curl up in your lap.

He can make amazing pancakes.

Thats it though.

You’ll do most of the cooking if you value living in a flat that’s not on fire.

He’s a sweetheart though.

Mostly good intentions though.

Doesn’t mind nudity and had to quickly be reined in by the team. Not at home though.

At home he can easily be found lounging in boxers and a t-shirt while he sips coffee.

He knows what he’s doing.

Tag Team: @bdffkierenwalker​

[yengyangyo]

berry | k.s.w

pairings: kim sunwoo x female reader

genre: college au, friends to lovers

summary: you are in denial that you have a crush on your own friend, kim sunwoo until he made you confess your feelings.

word count: 1.9k

note: i wrote this on sunwoo's birthday. its quite late to post it cs i kept on postponing it sksksk but yea this was inspired by sunwoo's berry. enjoy reading! xo

-

you had sunwoo on your mind for days that you are lacking of sleep. it doesnt sit quite right for you to have this 'romantic' feelings for your bestfriend. meanwhile, sunwoo is not helping you to clear up your mind at all. he's just always there beside you no matter what.

he'd wait at the bus stop just to go to class together with you in the morning even when you're running late. lunch time together is a must unless one of you had other plans. both of you are just stuck together anywhere you go.

so for once, you thought it'd be a good plan to avoid him today. you woke up early that morning to get to class and you texted sunwoo that you had a discussion with your groupmates. this went on for a few days, you were making excuses everyday but sunwoo believed you.

until he couldnt take it anymore.

you felt your phone vibrating in your pocket and you saw sunwoo on the caller id. you were hesitating to pick it up until you felt someone grabbing your wrist from the back, turning you around.

"found ya!"

sunwoo appeared in front of you with the brightest smile. you couldn't help but to feel happy and welcomed by him that you started smiling unknowingly. you get back to your senses seconds later and avoided his eyes.

sunwoo knew something was wrong when he saw your expression fell. he glanced at your phone that kept ringing. he ended the call and your phone went off too.

"why arent you answering my calls? are you still busy?"

you couldnt stand seeing sunwoo looking all gloomy and upset. you felt bad for ignoring him so you tried making up excuses again.

"oh yea i was about to pick it up. sorry,"

sunwoo pouted and wrapped his arm around your shoulders. he's using his favourite perfume again today, you noticed. that scent happened to be your fav of him too. you felt weak and wanting to crawl into a hole or something.

"im craving chicken today. how about chicken and beer for dinner tonight?"

sunwoo turned his head at you, waiting for an answer. you looked up at him and his face was only inches away from you. you looked away, flustered. he had always been this way but only now you noticed how you felt about him which made it more awkward to be this close to him.

"i dont know, sunwoo. i'll have to check with my groupmates," you said, pretending to check your phone for your nonexistent messages.

"its friday come on. i havent hang out with you for days already," sunwoo whined and that made you laugh.

"alright but i get to choose where to eat,"

-

you chose the chicken restaurant near your neighbourhood where you both are regular customers there. the place was crowded with youngsters like the both of you, drunken with beer and chicken.

you were also getting tipsy from drinking. the first 30 minutes of the dinner went normal. asking how each other had been doing with the college life.

sunwoo sighed and rested his chin on his right palm. his eyes falters on you, searching for something. you looked away, feeling a bit burdened and transparent, because sunwoo knew you werent acting yourself these days.

"hey," he called you but you didnt answer and still avoiding the eye contact.

"hey look at me,"

you were startled at the warmth on both of your cheeks. sunwoo was cupping your cheeks to make you look at him straight in the eyes. you didnt know if this warmth was from his hand or from you blushing.

"what's wrong?" he asked. now his hand moved to yours, holding it tight. "you're avoiding me these days. do you think i didnt notice?"

silence fell between you two, just staring at each other. the guilt creeping up inside you and you didn't know where to start.

its the smallest gesture from him that create butterflies in your stomach.

that one time he opened the water bottle for you when he saw you struggling and saying that you're such a baby. his laughter filled the room when you frowned at the remark. you know how much he loves annoying you and in the end he always made you laugh too.

on rainy days, he'd always share the umbrella with you and keeping you close to him so you wouldnt get drenched. sometimes he'd gently rub your arm so you wouldn't get too cold.

sometimes he'd call you names like how boyfriend and girlfriend do, jokingly. though, you somewhat enjoyed it and played along. pretending to cringe but actually was flattered by him.

at this moment, your hand in his, eyes boring into each other, you just want to scream at him how much you love him.

you smiled in defeat and pulled back your hand.

"there were just so many thoughts going on my mind lately, sunwoo. im so sorry,"

he didn't question you any further and he nodded his head.

"whatever it is youre thinking, i just want you to know i'm always here for you,"

you smiled, this time sincerely at him.

"you always are sunwoo. i appreciate that,"

he smirked, "after all, i am the best that you got,"

you rolled your eyes and gave him your disgusted face.

"so are you gonna tell me what's bugging you?"

"i think i like someone. he's just always running round in my mind these days,"

you didnt know where the courage came from to blurt out that out of your mouth. sunwoo who was halfway shoving a piece of chicken in his mouth, stopped. he put it down and looked at you, doubting himself if he heard that right.

"i couldnt stop thinking about him. that pretty much explains that i like him right? or is it just my mind playing games with me?"

you swore you saw his face fell for a second but he went back to the usual sunwoo after that.

"does he know about your feelings?"

you shrugged, "nah. im still trying to find out what i really feel about him. should i tell him?"

sunwoo didnt say anything and chugged down his beer until its empty.

"yea why not," he answered simply. "he must be really lucky to have you,"

you laughed, "i havent done anything yet. there's a possibility that he'd reject me too anyway,"

its funny how you talk about this like its some stranger to sunwoo when you are talking about him. you felt light hearted a bit after letting that out.

"who'd reject you?" sunwoo said while playing with that piece of chicken, not looking at you anymore. "you're pretty and fun,"

you raised an eyebrow, wondering if you heard that right. he was still poking the chicken with his fork, eyes hazy and lips pouting.

"so you're not gonna tell me who is this guy you have a crush on?"

"you'll find out soon,"

-

sunwoo offered to walk you home though you kindly told him he didn't have to. he insisted and now you are walking beside him. he was suddenly quiet after the conversation you had with him.

"is that why you're avoiding me? because you have a crush on this guy?"

he asked, hands in his pockets, eyes looking forward. you looked at him, feeling a bit weirded out by his cold tone.

"no... okay maybe? i dont know. i just needed some time to myself,"

sunwoo fell quiet again for the rest of the walk home. when you reached the front gate of your house, you looked back at sunwoo. he looked like he was upset. you walked up to him and pat his side.

"hey thanks for walking me home. i'll tell you everything when i'm ready okay?"

sunwoo didnt say anything and you turned around to get out of that awkward moment.

"no i'll tell you everything right now okay? hear me out,"

you stopped in your tracks and facing him in confusion. he was pacing around, his hands are restless in his pockets.

"before you confess to him i guess i have to make a move on you first," sunwoo said, this time he raised his voice. "this is why people are saying we should always tell what we feel before we regret it and i dont want to regret it but i think im too late,"

you are worried at him. he looked like he was about to break down right in front of you. you wanted to comfort him but you didnt get what he's trying to say.

"sunwoo, i dont understand. what is it?"

sunwoo stopped pacing around and stopped directly in front of you. you swore you saw his eyes tearing up and you wanted to cry too. you thought, the alcohol has made both of you emotional.

"i like you,"

you both felt like the world is weighing down. it was as if the time has stopped for you two. you were staring at each other in disbelief.

"i know you like someone else and i shouldve told you sooner. i kept on putting back my feelings behind," sunwoo halted, gasping for air. "im too late now but i have to tell you this,"

"sunwoo-"

"i dont care who he is. but i want you to know that you deserve of love. you kept on telling yourself you dont deserve anyone. you know how badly i want to tell you that im here? i want to love you," sunwoo was practically shouting at this point. he sighed, "shit im already am in love with you,"

at those words, your tears came streaming down like crazy. you've never seen him cry but tonight he looked beautiful even when he's crying. you lurched forward and wrapped your arms around him. he buried his face in your neck and you felt his warm tears on your skin.

"im sorry. i just wanted to let that out after keeping it for so long. this is the worst timing huh?" he murmured under his breath.

you shook your head and laughed. you let go of the hug first and cupped his face in your hands. teary eyes staring at each other.

"sunwoo its you,"

"what?"

"i love you too,"

you closed the distance between the two of you, kissing him for the first time. that caught him off guard but then smiled in the kiss. it was sloppy but sunwoo is for sure leading you well at this. you both craved for this for a long time already. you were still crying of relief and touched by his confession.

"you should've told me before i start crying like an idiot," sunwoo looked down at you, smiling with his swollen eyes.

you laughed at him and you snuggled more into his embrace not wanting to let go too soon. you realized how much you miss him after those dreading days of ignoring him. he rested his chin on your head while gently patting you.

"im sorry ive been ignoring and denying my feelings for you,"

"its okay. thank god we actually like each other though," you both laughed at the same time and you havent felt this happy and giddy before.

"so i can actually call you my baby now?" sunwoo asked smirking at you playfully, knowing how much you hated it before.

"that's still cringy but sure, babe,"

[studiobeebo]

IM SO GLAD I COULD CONVINCE U BC ITS FANTASTIC AND I HOPE MORE PPL GET INTO IT! and im literally the biggest slut for aquariums so ty ty and hope u enjoy 🤙🏽 @alibrick1

♡ Aquarium Date ♡

Soshiro Hoshina x Unspecified Gender! Reader

as always if y’all enjoy this please remember that reblogs are greatly appreciated!!

“What’s so funny?” You huffed, giddiness at the sight of the incredible creature in the tank in front of you quickly turning to suspicion upon turning away to look for where your boyfriend could have wandered off to, only to find him standing a few feet behind you, laughing.

“Nothin’.” He chuckled, a smile still on his face as he closed the distance between the two of you, though now his eyes were on the large whale shark that passed by behind you, which was arguably where his attention should have been considering the two of you didn’t go to the aquarium just stare at each other, but he couldn’t help his focus shifting to you more often than not.

Things at the base had been a bit hectic to say the least and being the vice captain, that chaos naturally landed right in his lap and he was expected to take a large part in getting things under control. That combined with the fact that you hadn’t exactly gotten off easy yourself meant that the two of you had been seeing very little of one another, which was generally expected due to your jobs and the fact that he was never really ‘off duty’ due to his position, but you’d barely had time to do anything aside from maybe eat lunch together and even that had become rare.

To be honest, he was arguably more put off by your lack of time together than you were, yet it was you who ended up finally requesting to get a weekend off with him.

While you decided to shoot high by asking your captain if her vice captain could be included in your time off, you were expecting her to draw the line at him considering the amount of work that had to be done, but to your surprise she agreed. It was something about how she knew good performance stemmed from a well rested mind, but all you heard was ‘you get a weekend off with your boyfriend’ and you were practically running down the hall ordering shinkansen tickets to Osaka and texting Soshiro simultaneously. He didn’t believe it at first, but he was more than happy to agree so here you were, at the Kaiyukan aquarium on a well deserved weekend off.

He himself was pretty impartial to aquariums and zoos, he dealt with insane creatures damn near everyday so there was never really anything about the attractions that really drew his attention. You, on the other hand, were someone who had become very good at drawing his attention and he’d caught himself staring a good handful of times throughout your day.

It was partially because of your looks, especially since you had gone all out considering the fact that you rarely got to do so, but mostly because this was the first time he had seen you looking excited and happy in a while. Usually when you saw one another, you were both exhausted and just about out of any energy you could muster, so seeing you looking into the various fish filled tanks with a wide smile playing on your lips and an extra pep in your step was more than enough to give him reason to stare.

He only laughed because he couldn’t believe himself for being so romantically cringey, plus it was funny seeing you practically smash your face against the glass to get a better look at the gentle giant that swam by every once in a while, but he was quick to act like he definitely-totally-100% wasn’t laughing at you.

“ ‘Nothin’ “, you mocked while gently elbowing him in the ribs before leaning into his side as he feigned dramatic pain. “You’re a shit liar, I can always tell when you’re laughing at me.”

“I don’t know what you mean.~” He hummed, this time letting out an actual ‘ow’ upon receiving a kick to his foot as he wrapped an arm around your waist. “Just in a good mood ‘s all.”

You hummed, shifting your eyes to look at him before looking back at the display before you. You liked to act like you didn’t care in retaliation to the amount of teasing you received from him, but you really did want him to have a fun weekend to relax a bit. You had been a tad bit worried that he might have wanted to spend his small slice of free time having time for himself, not that you would blame him, so you were relieved to see the lack of tense body language that you had been seeing in him as of late and a genuine smile on his face.

“In a good enough mood to buy me dinner?” You challenged with a raised brow, not wanting to dwell on being mushy for long as he let out a laugh of his own while giving a gentle squeeze to your waist.

“You’re not very good at being persuasive.”

“What do you want me to do, pose?”

“God no, that would be embarrassing and then I’d have to act like I don’t know who you are.”

You rolled your eyes and let out a faux huffy “Fine then.”, though when you went to pull away from him he was quick to tighten his grip, reflexes as fast as ever as he pulled you closer and muttered a resigned “Fine, fine.” against your skin while pressing a playful kiss on your temple.

“Gross, people are gonna think we’re dating or something.” You teased, this time actually wiggling out of his grasp to get a move on as your hunger began to creep up on you at the mention of dinner.

He simply smiled, moving to follow after you as he had done so many times before and would probably end up doing until the day he died.

“Yeah, well-“ He started, lacing his fingers with yours as he caught up. “Guess we’ll just have to tell them I got lucky.”

[one-sad-human]

•Worth It• Duff Mckagan

Pairing: Velvet Revolver era! Duff Mckagan x Younger! Reader

Requested? Nope!

Theme: Little bit of everything/???

Warnings: Language, panic attacks, anxiety references, drug references

Word Count: 3k

A/N: Fic 2 of 2! This is the longest fic yet! Took a different approach to writing this one, hopefully it payed off. Let me know if you guys liked it or if I wasted my time with this one lol.

     You had met Duff in a coffee shop in LA. It was crowded and you were lucky enough to snag a chair before the lunch rush. Duff wasn't, and asked you if he could sit at your table.

     You grew up with Guns n Roses, bought his solo album the day it came out when you were just 15, and now listened to Velvet Revolver faithfully. To see your idol, your celebrity crush stand right in front of you holding a cup of coffee and a scone sent you for a loop.

     "Of course," you had said, starry eyed. You were only hoping he was as kind as the interviews made him out to be. Maybe have a conversation with you and be polite for a while before leaving and never seeing each you again. That would be good enough.

     It didn't end with a coffee, it had just begun. He asked for your number, and you stared at him for a moment thinking you had imagined it. That was until he tilted his head a little and looked at you with a nervous expression. He backtracked and you immediately stopped him.

     "No! I mean— yes! Yes, you can absolutely have my number." You scrambled for a pen and paper and ended up scratching your number on a receipt from the record store. You shook so hard you could barely get the numbers down.

     Out of all the record store receipts you've stuffed into your bag, the one you gave Duff Mckagan had to be the one for when you bought Velvet Revolver's 'Contraband.' He didn't say anything, just smiled and promised to call.

     You honestly didn't think he would've. You played it off as just him trying to be nice. It didn't stop you from answering every call you got for the next three days, however, even if you recognized the number as the tax collector you'd normally never answer.

     But then he called.

     "I tried calling sooner, but I kept calling the wrong number. You don't have the most eligible handwriting," he had told you. You laughed but really, you were in shock.

     You set up a date at the fancy restaurant downtown that always intimidated you. You didn't say anything though, even though you knew you wouldn't want any of the overpriced food and you'd end up eating something you couldn't pronounce and was two portions too small. Maybe even hit up a fast food joint afterwards.

     When the day finally came, you couldn't even figure out what to wear. You couldn't tell if you looked underdressed or like you were trying too hard. Did the clothes even fit the right way? What would Duff think? Would he even care?

     All questions were answered when you left your house. Duff was leaning against his slick car parked in your driveway, a button up that was barely buttoned and dress pants with boots. He stared at you and you wanted a hole in the ground to shallow you up until he smiles.

     "You look gorgeous," he said. You blushed and grinned, thanking him before saying that he looked great too. He drove you to the restaurant and on the way, you talked about music.

     You shared some of your favorites, he adored how well rounded you were. You liked pretty much everything from punk rock to the mellowest of mellow. Duff mentioned some of his favorites, some you made sure to remember the names of so you can check them out.

     When the ride was over and you finally got to the restaurant, your previous fears came back. Duff reassured you looked better than 90% of the people there and you knew it wasn't true but it made you feel better anyway.

     Your eyes widened to the size of saucers when you saw the prices of the food. You knew it'd be pricey but you thought there'd be more options that stayed within two digit numbers.

     Duff saw your panicked expression and said not to worry, he'd pay. It didn't settle your nerves enough and when the waiter came, you ordered the cheapest and simplest thing you could find.

     "Chicken noodle soup?" He teased. You shyly looked down and shrugged. "This isn't your scene, is it?"

     "Not exactly, no."

     "Want me to be completely honest with you?" You nodded. "It's not mine either."

     That's all it took for you and Duff to scramble sheepishly out of the restaurant. You both shared a laugh in the car and went to Burger King. It was much more your speed and, as you'd find out that night, Duff's too. You suppose all the money he's had since such a young age didn't completely change his ways. He was like a kid trapped in a 40 year old man's body.

     You'd thought at first the age gap would feel strange, after all, you were 15 years younger than him. But after that night, it was barely noticeable. Funny looks from strangers every once in a while was nothing.

     By the second date, Duff was already aware fancy spots weren't your forte. He told you it was a surprise and to wear something cozy, as LA nights got chilly.

     He packed a picnic basket and drove you out to the most beautiful flower field you had ever seen at sunset. It was secluded and high up, giving a perfect view of the city skyline. After gawking and taking in the sights for a few moments, you regained your ability to speak.

     "It's gorgeous. Pretty far from the city, did you take me here to kill me?" You joked. He laughed and rolled his eyes. His lighthearted laugh sent sparks straight to your heart, and you decided that it was your favorite sound.

     You unfolded the blanket Duff brought and you both sat down. You ate the sandwiches and sliced fruit Duff packed and talked. You talked about everything, from your family to fears and insecurities.

You told him how you suffer from nightmares. Flashbacks from your broken childhood coming back to bite you in your sleep. Duff shared how he's suffered from panic attacks since he was a teenager. You felt you knew each other for years.

Neither of you felt weird for sharing and neither made the other insecure. You were completely open and honest with each other. It was strange, you've never connected to quickly and effortlessly with someone before. Sure, you've had men in your life, but never had you clicked with someone so fast, never had you fit with someone so perfectly.

Hours passed and it felt like minutes. Only did you realize how late and how exhausted you were when you saw most of the city buildings light have gone off for the night. The city that didn't sleep was dark.

"I should get you home," Duff said to you.

"Will you stay the night?" You felt a little silly for asking. Were things going too fast? Would he even want to stay over?

He agreed, and that's how your first night together went. You both stayed up even later and had more lighthearted conversations, unlike the ones that partook at the field. Like how one of Duff's first jobs was at a bakery and could bake a mean cake and how you can't cook to save your life.

You ended up waking up without remembering falling asleep. You're head was placed comfortably on Duff's lap while his head was lolled back against the couch cushion. He looked so serene and peaceful you couldn't help but smile at the sight.

You made toast and somewhat successfully cooked some eggs and bacon. It might have been the first breakfast in years that didn't end with the smoke alarm going off.

Duff eventually wandered into the kitchen and you both ate. By the time he left, another date was already set up. He was like a drug an you were already hooked.

Months later and the addiction still wasn't kicked. You didn't want to, and Duff didn't seem to want you to quit either. You both soaked each other up like the sun on a warm day.

You had almost weekly dates and you stayed over each other's houses almost every other day. Duff did have his kids some days, though, so some days dates were cut short or Grace and Mae slept over his house and you wouldn't see each other.

You were always understanding, his kids came first and you'd never blame or get upset about it. It's something Duff admires about you, your never ending understanding and empathy for him.

One of those days where Duff stayed over at your house started normal. He cooked dinner and you washed the dishes, and then you put on an old Ramones concert you had on DVD.

You were laying on his chest, his fingers running through your hair when all of a sudden, he tensed up. He quickly stood and excused himself to the bathroom. You frowned but before you could think much of it, you heard a loud bang and something clatter to the ground.

You jumped up and rushed to the bathroom. You swung open the door because you were perfectly aware the lock hasn't worked since you moved in.

Duff was sitting on the floor, a pill bottle laying on its side not far from him. You quickly spot the name of the medication and identified it as your anti-anxiety pills. You shoved them aside and sat next to Duff.

He was sweating bullets and his skin felt cold and clammy, his breaths were labored and heartbeat was loud and pounding erratically. You coax him gently to take deep breaths, holding onto his hand tightly and talking quietly.

"I'm sorry, they come on randomly sometimes," he apologized after he'd called down, but you quickly shushed him. You reminded him of just how many nightmares he'd comforted you for and he stops feeling so bad about it.

     It was always a true partnership with Duff. Never had you felt you gave or took too much, it was always equal. Always a two way street, with everything.

That wasn't the last panic attack you had to help him come down from. Later down the line you've gotten better at calming him down and learning his triggers, even though sometimes they really do come on suddenly without reason.

A year into the relationship was when you met Grace and Mae. They were young and didn't completely understand why their parents weren't together anymore, so it took them a while to warm up to you. Luckily, they eventually came around.

Duff and Susan met up regularly to discuss their kids and co-parent properly. And while you had all the reason to be jealous of your boyfriend with his ex wife, you never did. You had complete confidence in him, he was honest and loyal and you doubted he'd ever hurt you purposely.

That's why it destroyed you when he left you. Tears were shed from both parties as he gave his reasons for breaking up with you. His insecurities he tried his best to bury had come to light and nothing could change his mind.

You thought you were completely honest with each other, but you suppose his doubt in his relationship with you was the one thing he kept secret. He had somehow convinced himself you'd be better without him, between the constant touring and the baggage that came with him and his kids, he finally buckled under the weight and stress.

You had tried to convince him that he was worth it, but if Duff is one thing it's stubborn. The best relationship you'd ever have and the best year of your life went down the drain within the matter of one conversation.

You were down in the dumps for days. You barely left your bed and didn't ever leave your house. You were in a depression and couldn't get out. A few of your friends eventually found out what had happened and broke into your house and shoved you into the shower before taking you to your favorite Chinese restaurant.

You felt like a disaster. Your hair was ratted despite the shower and you refused to put real clothes on, instead wearing sweatpants and a shirt Duff had left behind. You were a mess.

The hole in the wall restaurant was never busy but always had the best food. You were almost happy your friends dragged you out of your home until you saw Duff sitting at a table, eating egg rolls and lo mein.

You've came here together all the time. The high sodium in the food always made him sick to his stomach and you'd always end up giving him nausea remedies and tea. He never changed his order though.

You locked eyes with him for a while. Dark bags were under his eyes and he looked more pale than usual. He looked as terrible as you felt. You weren't sure if you were spitefully glad he felt awful or if the despair on his face just made your heart break further.

When you couldn't take his intense jade stare anymore, you looked up at the menu. The next time you looked back he was gone, you weren't sure if he was really there at all or if you were finally losing your mind for good.

     Another week crawled by. You got better enough to continue working. You had to pick up extra time for calling out for a few days after the breakup. You wouldn't say things were going well, but you weren't crying in bed every day all day anymore.

     You had constant dreams about him. Some were nice, ones where he didn't leave and you were together, holding each other tightly. Most were nightmares, flashbacks of when he left. You didn't have him to comfort you anymore when you woke up soaked in sweat and tears, and that might've been the worst.

     Another week went by, and you were starting to get back into the swing of things. You still thought about him, even silly little things reminded you of him. Like when you would catch a sniff of freshly baked sweets like he'd bake you or certain songs playing on the radio. It also didn't help that you ran into people wearing Guns n Roses shirts on the daily.

     You also refused to get rid of anything he'd left behind. Tee shirts, guitar picks he left from when he'd play for you, or CDs from bands he introduced you to. Reminders of what you lost were scattered around your home but you couldn't bring yourself to do anything about it.

     Suddenly, it's been a month. You weren't over him, but you had a feeling you'd never be completely. He was something special, you can't forget things as special as your relationship with Duff.

     His items still weren't thrown out or returned, instead all packed in a box sitting in your closet. But you'd be lying if you said you would never reach into the box to grab a shirt to sleep in or a CD to listen to when you needed a reminder of the good times. You were making progress though.

     You decided to leave your house one evening. You were feeling especially terrible and wanted to take a walk to clear your head. You went to the coffee shop you had first met Duff in. Maybe it was a mistake to go and get a flood of memories but you couldn't stop yourself.

     You sat in a seat near the window and people watched, taking occasional sips of your drink. It was quiet except from the talk of the workers and the hum of the overhead speakers.

     There was a sudden squeak of a chair of hardwood floors and it broke you out of your daze. You snapped your gaze up to meet the very familiar green eyes you've been trying to forget.

     "Can we talk?" He asked, and you couldn't say 'no.' Duff sat across from you and started off by apologizing.

     He said he wanted to talk to you sooner, but was too afraid you wouldn't want anything to do with him. You rolled your eyes at that, if only he knew just how much you missed him.

     He then started from the beginning and explained why he made the decision to leave you. As it turns out, it was mostly because of stress. His bandmate Scott was having problems with drugs and the flashbacks from his GnR days frightened him. He was worried he would end up relapsing and he didn't want to drag you down with him.

     Combine that with all the troubles that came with dating a single father, and he couldn't take it anymore. He felt too guilty.

     It all seemed like ridiculous reasons to you. Even if he had made the mistake of falling off the wagon, you still would've stuck with him. And you didn't mind his kids at all, after nearly a year of knowing them and you were very close to them.

     "I love you, Duff. I wouldn't have left you over that, I'd help you through anything. And I love Grace and Mae, too," you told him.

     "I know, but I didn't want you to have to deal with all that baggage." You frowned at that. You reached your hand across the table and grasped his, squeezing it tenderly.

     "You're worth it."

     After that day, you and Duff started seeing each other again. It wasn't the same as before, but maybe even better.

     You were more transparent with each other. If one had a worry or problem, you'd go to the other. You talked everything through with him and he did the same. Even if it seemed insignificant, talking everything through never failed to make it better.

    You were happier and healthier than ever before. Sure, there were a roadblock or two, but they only made the relationship even stronger, and you wouldn't have changed a thing about it.