#thread || tea leaf gaming

[sumerananubis]

Liyue, as ever, was vastly different from Sumeru. Though Chenyu valley was probably the closest in climate to the great rainforest. Perhaps... calmer though, but Cyno was quite happy to just pass that off as "adepti shenanigans" and let it be than to comment on it. It wasn't a natural calmness, to his desert honed senses. But whatever.

"I've tried most of the teas from Sumeru," Cyno hummed in reply to his travelling companion. "If I don't leaf the known, then I'd run out of new flavours to try and that would be a tearavesty. And please, it's just Cyno at the moment."

Heh. Plus it was an excuse to not be the General Mahamatra for a length of time.

"But what of your own tea tastes, Ms Chiori?" he asked.

tea leaf gaming

[dailhia]

what if you dropped a 🍵 + a question in the ask and dahlia reads your muses tea leaf fortune <3

[crafts-by-az]

so, it has been,,,,,, a month

but lucky for everyone that means you get a very large progress post!! with tons of fun things.

this post includes a grand total of 11 projects. started crocheting about a month ago so these range from like,, 4 weeks old to very very brand new. but I'm fairly proud of them

all the projects will have pattern links, & all of them are free !!

most of these are for my best friend's present box. making him happy is genuinely my main source of motivation. I really hope he likes them, I'm writing this post before I drive to the post office. I'll keep it drafted until it arrives though :)

without further ado, crochet projects !!

1. Finished hat from last post!! It's for my mom & it actually fits??? The first attempt I made was extremely wonky but this one is an actual functional hat, go me (pattern)

2. Earbud organizers, & the bigger one's for a decently sized phone cord. (pattern)

3. A daisy bookmark!! One of the first things I blocked with my new fancy steamer. A bit thick but still pretty (pattern)

4. My absolute pride & joy, the trans dinosaur. I'm so so proud of him. The pattern was pretty easy too?? One of the most rewarding things I finished (pattern)

5. A market bag, made with some discount yarn I got forever ago. It's very stretchy but also much prettier than I thought it would be (pattern)

6. Alright alright so. Little guy on the right has a pattern, but the helmet/mask on the left does not. I just,, made it?? It's modeled after Ghost from Call of Duty bc it's my best friend's favorite game. So it's a little ghost. With a mask!! I'm the most pleased about this bc it was my first time bullshitting a project until it looked right (pattern for ghost)

7. Four leaf clover coaster!! Quite pretty, also blocked with my steamer. Made for my best friend bc he's my lucky charm <3 (pattern)

8. A daisy coaster, of which I now have 2 for my room. Once I figured it out it only took me about 45 min to make so that's quite fun (pattern)

9. A boba tea snail, though his boba pearls aren't attached bc I sadly forgot to bring a needle & thread to college today. I'm gonna make my best friend do it himself :) (pattern)

10. And last but not least, about half of February for the mental health blanket I'm making!! Each month will have a square, starting in February bc I didn't learn how to crochet until mid January. I quite like the pattern, it's relaxing (pattern)

[mabeobhqs]

Mabeob event: THE INEO FESTIVAL!!

with the rain finally subsiding and the sun warming the sands of mabeob, it's time to formally welcome spring with the local ineo festival! the locals celebrate the mermaid of mabeob, the local community, and the bounty they have been given the year before. the streets will be lit and filled with activities for all ages.

the attraction that always gains the most interest is the section that celebrates mabeob magic. even if you don't really believe in magic, it'll still be a fun time. palm and tea leaf readings, fortunes, and blessings are all given to anyone who wants them, free of charge. whether you want to know if you'll find the love of your life this year, have a charm blessed for good health or a flourishing love life, or know who you were in a past life-- all of that and more will be available.

you can't forget the food and snacks available. who can have a good time on an empty stomach, hm? a delicacy of mabeob is the beautiful raindrop cakes filled with cherry blossoms and topped with brown sugar and honey. these treats are almost too beautiful to eat but you have to make sure you grab one! be sure to also grab a watermelon punch or omija-cha fresh from mabeob's own ingredients. if none of those interest you, there's sure to be a street vendor offering something that will tempt your palette.

we can't forget the games. for the children, bring them by the duck pond to fish out a duck-- everyone is a winner at this game! figure yourself for a marksman? we have knock down the bottles for a prize and darts where each balloon holds a wonderful surprise inside. want something less competitive and more fun? try out rope bridge and see if you can make it all the way across. whether it's for fun or for glory, we have a game for you!

at the end of the night, as the celebration is coming to a close everyone will be handed a flower lantern to write a wish within that they hope to come true this year. before you leave for the night, make sure you launch your lantern off the pier so the mermaid can see your heart's wish and grant it for you!

ooc: A small event for our dear members to have fun! The event will last one day ic but ooc will be a whole week ending next week (may 15th) with the flower lanterns. if you wish for your muse to participate in a stall on the festival feel free to do so! You are also free to stop or keep going with your current threads while doing event ones! If you have any questions please message the main!

[jeysbvck]

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea? (Shan, you’re my token brit friend, I must ask the question about the gross leaf water lol. I KID. PLEASE KNOW I LOVE YOU.) 

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad? 

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of? 

hiii rach!! 🥰

☕ tea: how do you take your tea? - i LOVE that im ur token british friend🤭 but im also a terrible brit bc i don't really like tea! (if i have it, it's just to dunk some biscuits in🤭) but if i do have it, i'll take it with a bit of milk & lots of sugar!😭

🥛 milk: what is a food you find comforting when you are sad? - ooh, any kind of stew yano, it's just so hot and comforting, especially with some bread! my partner makes me it when im having a really hard time😂

🧵 thread: what is a recent creative project that you are proud of? honestly, one of my wwe fics! im really proud of them bc it's been such a hard year of not being able to write, & ive been able to write 2 (3 but one isn't posted just yet) fics thanks to wwe has been incredible to me!!

ask game!!

[fizzingwizard]

Doing this ask game by myself! To keep procrastinating! 😇

🌿 Herb: What is a scent you find relaxing?

Cinnamon, damp earth, ocean

🌱 Seedling: What is something you want to begin learning?

Almost everything...! But more realistically, if I could pick just one thing to begin learning, I think it'd be making miniatures.

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad? 

Either mac and cheese or grilled cheese. Definitely my comfort foods since childhood. Here it's hard because I can't easily find the cheeses I prefer and they're often expensive if I do.

🍯 Honey: What is one thing you like about yourself?

Ridiculously optimistic. I don't look like I am but it's true, and it's something which has buoyed me through a lot. Despite that, it's never been under too strenuous a test, so I sometimes get stressed out imagining what could finally break it.

🍄 Mushroom: What is a quote you find comfort in?

I've been collecting quotes since I was preteen. I have extensive collection which would be way longer if I hadn't lost a bunch of documents on an old computer. It's impossible to pick just one favorite quote, but one I really liked recently is:

“Nothing in nature is as simple as it sometimes seems when reduced to words.” - Hal Borland, The Enduring Pattern

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea?

Green tea, barley tea, oolong: as is Earl grey: a little sugar, rarely milk

🐄 Cow: What is one other tumblr blog you really appreciate?

I guess I've spent so much time enjoying wanderthewood that I must mention it.

🌳 Tree: What is one thing in your future you are looking foward towards? 

Honestly, I'm more just crossing my fingers that the things I'm looking forward to I will actually make happen.

🍑 Peach: What is a color that makes you smile? 

Blue-green, specifically the sea at the beaches in Okinawa

🌻 Sunflower: What is one thing that brightened your day today?

A surprise run-in with Etta Jones "Till There Was You"

🐓 Chicken: What is a comfort movie/show for you?

Gilmore Girls and BBC Pride and Prejudice. Movies - almost anything Ghibli.

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?

Finishing several fanfics, a thing I never accomplished when I was younger. Half because of laziness, half because I simply didn't want the fun to end. But finishing it is great. Now I just need to wrap up Fox so I can move on <3

🐈 Cat: Do you have any pets? Are there some pets you really want?

No, had several growing up though. I want a cat or a small dog.

🍅 Tomato: Have you ever gardened, and if so, what is your favorite thing to grow?

Not really. I helped my mom with her garden... when she pleaded with me ^^' Now I wish I'd had more of an interest as a kid. I don't even know how feasible it is, but I'd like to grow my own green peas and blueberries, because they're so difficult to find/expensive where I am now.

🍃 Leaf: What is a plant you find beautiful?

Recently obsessed with lantana flowers. Old time favs: cosmos and forget-me-nots. Special mention: Japanese lantern flower

🐝 Bee: What is a video game that you find comforting?

Sims, I guess, because I don't play any other game. It is comforting when it isn't super buggy.

🍞 Bread: Do you know how to bake bread? If so, what is something you’ve baked recently?

Nope

🐇 Bunny: What’s a song that you really like?

"Flame" - Luli Lee

🌲  Pine: Do you prefer the cold, or the heat?

Heat. I get cold really easily, that's the problem. I used to not notice heat at all. But here it's so humid in the summer that I've begun to dread the summers, which are so long here... Right now it's the perfect temperature, but it will probably only stay that way for another week or two...

🧶 Yarn: Knitting or Crocheting?

Crochet

🐑 Sheep: What is a comfort item you own?

This little bear I bought five years ago and just keep next to my futon all the time. Actually, he's in need of a dusting... And he has no tag so I don't even know what brand he is

🍓 Strawberry: Do you own any pink clothing?

A pink sweater. And socks.

🥞 Pancake: What is your favorite breakfast food?

Impossible to pick!! Sunny-side-up eggs, waffles, french toast, buttermilk pancakes, oatmeal, cream of wheat, bagels... breakfast food is my favorite kind

⛰️ Mountains: Would you rather live in the mountains, city, beach, or the forest?

Aesthetically, a cabin in the woods. Realistically I'm too average to for that secluded lifestyle. I gotta be in or near the city. If I didn't have to work, it'd be another story though.

🧸 Teddy Bear: Do you ever want to raise kids someday?

Yes, always wanted, sometimes figure I became a preschool teacher to fill the void... lol

🕯️ Candle: What is something you can’t go to bed without?

Nothing? I'd say a bed, but actually when I moved I didn't have a futon so I just slept on the floor for a week haha

[firesidecottage]

Gentle Cottagecore Emoji Asks

🌿 Herb: What is a scent you find relaxing? 

🌱 Seedling: What is something you want to begin learning? 

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad? 

🍯 Honey: What is one thing you like about yourself?

🍄 Mushroom: What is a quote you find comfort in?

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea?

🐄 Cow: What is one other tumblr blog you really appreciate? 

🌳 Tree: What is one thing in your future you are looking foward towards? 

🍑 Peach: What is a color that makes you smile? 

🌻 Sunflower: What is one thing that brightened your day today? 

🐓 Chicken: What is a comfort movie/show for you?

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of? 

🐈 Cat: Do you have any pets? Are there some pets you really want? 

🍅 Tomato: Have you ever gardened, and if so, what is your favorite thing to grow? 

🍃 Leaf: What is a plant you find beautiful? 

🐝 Bee: What is a video game that you find comforting? 

🍞 Bread: Do you know how to bake bread? If so, what is something you’ve baked recently?

🐇 Bunny: What’s a song that you really like? 

🌲  Pine: Do you prefer the cold, or the heat?

🧶 Yarn: Knitting or Crocheting?

🐑 Sheep: What is a comfort item you own? 

🍓 Strawberry: Do you own any pink clothing?

🥞 Pancake: What is your favorite breakfast food? 

⛰️ Mountains: Would you rather live in the mountains, city, beach, or the forest? 

🧸 Teddy Bear: Do you ever want to raise kids someday? 

🕯️ Candle: What is something you can’t go to bed without? 

[thesomewhatliterateaxolotl]

@thelocalmuffin requested a hug between Kazuma and Iris, #37 or without a motive! Beware of spoilers, including for the second game

Also, sorry about the snail pace with which I've been getting to these prompts :( Trying to be a more responsible adult and it's going chaotically

The snowfall that’s turned London to a blur all week finally abates, leaving the sky looking rather dreary. Clouds hang low over the city, over the piles of snow and the two snowmen Iris made with Hurley yesterday.

Iris pushes him out the door “to get some thread.” It’s based on a complete lie, of course (there are more than a few spools left), which her father sees straight through. 

Still, with a quick bow and a smile, Hurley takes his leave. The shop is a good forty-minute omnibus ride away, and he’ll be sure to get distracted by whatever oddities catch his eye there.

Satisfied, Iris pulls on her warmest coat, then her favourite scarf: a light pink one adorned with hearts at the ends. She steps out into the chilly morning air.

It’s 6 January, and Iris Sholmes has a mission.

*

“You want my help?”

“Mm-hm!” Iris says, smoke gun in hand.

The Sholmes kitchen is small, like his, but so different in every other way. Where his kitchen has scarcely the essentials, theirs is stocked with pots and pans of numerous sizes, hanging dried herbs, and tea sets in Iris’ signature pink. It isn’t empty and bare like his flat, which he still hasn’t fully settled into, nor is it pretentious like the places he has seen on the posh side of London.

Iris, that eccentric little girl, tugs at his coat.

It’s been years, yet all the same he can’t help but see a younger Susato tugging at his sleeve, urging him to help her make sweets. It would end in disaster every time, but Susato’s grown into an expert now.

Kazuma crosses his arms over his chest, cautiously watching Iris put her smoke gun away. “Fine, but mind you, I’m not exactly on Miss Mikotoba’s level. And I’ve been told I’m not the most serene chef in existence.”

“Oh, don’t worry!” Iris says cheerfully. “This kitchen has blown up before, so whatever happens, it’s nothing we haven’t dealt with at some point.”

“What?!”

“Well, we all got out before anyone could get hurt. But the landlady charged Daddy so much for the property damage…” Iris gives a shrug. She hands him first an apron, then a leaf of paper. “Anyways, this is the recipe we’re going to use.”

On the paper is a sketch of some kind of western cake, a recipe handwritten beneath it in cursive. “Red…velvet?”

Iris beams. “I invented this one! The red colour is caused by a chemical reaction between the baking soda and baking powder, which are alkaline, and the cocoa, vinegar, and buttermilk, which are acidic.” She pauses to pull her metal goggles over her eyes (Ryuunosuke has a pair, too, Kazuma recalls). “His favourite is strawberry, but they’re out of season. And he likes any flavour, really!”

“Have you ever had western-style cake, Kazzie?” the girl hums, setting out two round pans and a few mixing bowls. 

(Kazzie?)

Kazuma isn’t sure how to feel about the nickname, but it’s so casual, so familiar, the way Iris says it. Like she doesn’t have a single doubt in her mind that Kazuma is her friend.

Iris studies him, eyes wide. She opens her mouth to apologise, perhaps thinking he doesn’t like the name—but then Kazuma’s laugh rings out. “I haven’t. Not a real one, that is. I tried to make a cake myself once, and it was disgraceful! No one but Ryuunosuke ate it willingly.”

“Oh!” The concern on Iris’ face turns to a grin. “That sounds like Runo!”

*

The process is arduous. Time and time again, Kazuma finds himself slamming a hand on the counter in frustration as if it were his desk in court. And the frosting tests his patience like nothing else.

“I ruined it!”

“Wait! You don’t have to start all over, just add more sugar…”

But after what feels like an eternity, the tiers of cake are arranged in a pretty tower, with a layer of frosting in the middle and another coating the outside. Kazuma can’t help a beam of pride at the cake’s presentation; as it happens, the gear and flower motifs Iris asked him to pipe onto the cake have turned out remarkably well. Iris is clapping her hands in delight, and that’s the most rewarding part.

“I can’t wait for you to try it at dinner.”

Then, it hits him. He hasn’t been helping with this cake to just go home right after—that wouldn’t be proper etiquette. He’ll be dining with Mr. Sholmes and Iris. He’s been invited before, but shrugged it off each time to bury himself in work.

His train of thought is interrupted by a sudden flurry of pink as Iris jumps up to hug him. 

“Wha—” 

“—Oh, I just felt like giving you a hug!” Iris’ voice is muffled, and Kazuma thinks he almost hears a sniffle. “You’re so silly, but I like you.”

Kazuma doesn’t know what to say to that.

But the way Iris crushes him with her hug—it kindles a sense of comfort he hasn’t felt since stepping foot on the rainy shore at Dover. Not under the high ceiling of the prosecutor’s office, not in the court of law he thought himself made for. Certainly not in his hollow flat that suffices for a home.

He’ll stay for dinner, he decides, and feel welcome as he sings with Iris and helps her light all thirty-five candles. He’ll watch a bit awkwardly as Iris brings her present, remembering that he has none to offer. But Iris will hug him again before he goes home, and Mr. Sholmes will tell him to come back whenever he likes.

That's exactly what they do. They don’t push him, but he tells them he will, a slight smile on his face.

[literaticat]

Does an author-illustrator “portfolio” need to feature illustrations that were published in day journals/magazines and stuff like that or can they just be original works of art that they created and included on a website? (i.e. Does the portfolio have to be anything beyond samples of how that illustrator’s work looks or is prior illustration pub credits necessary?)

Your portfolio certainly CAN include published images, but it doesn't need to. (After all -- lots of people don't HAVE published images!)

I wrote a long-ago post on the old blog about what to include in a children's book illustration portfolio but I'm going to re-post it here so that I can include it in the FAQ.

Q: WHAT makes a good portfolio for an aspiring children's book illustrator?

First of all, you should be showcasing the type of work you want to do. If you WANT to draw darling baby board books, but your entire portfolio is dark horror imagery -- there's a disconnect. You are never going to get that board book gig. I know this sounds obvious, but I see folks all the time who are SAYING "oh I want to do graphic novels" (or whatever) but there is no paneled work or anything in a graphic novel style on their website! This is a showcase of your work so that people can potentially PAY YOU to do it. So show off! Lean into your strengths and interests and the kind of work you want to do in both style and content.

Remember, there is a big difference between picture book illustration work and editorial work. You are not drawing posters or advertisements or abstract expressionism or whatever over here, you are trying to tell a story over 32 or more pages. It has to be attractive and have a sense of whimsy, sure, but it also has to be kid-friendly and coherent. With that in mind, you should make sure your children's illustration portfolio includes the following: * Children - Kids playing, kids fighting, kids mad, kids glad, cute kids, silly kids, bashful kids, wistful kids, whatever. Kids being as kid-like as possible. IF you can't draw good kids, you are probably in the wrong line of work. * Animals - Bunnies, bears, moles, frogs, cats and dogs are often the subjects of children's books. You might consider small spot illustrations of a number of different creatures, or a larger scene with several included. If I were making a portfolio, I'd do some animals in a "natural" way (deer in a field), and some in a "personified" way (ie, a badger going to school, or a porcupine drinking tea.)   ETA: Yes, you can also include fantasy animals / monsters or similar, if that suits your style. I am not suggesting that everyone try and draw like Wind in the Willows. :-)

* Movement - Dancing, swinging, playground games - nothing is worse than "static" looking pictures. Even a simple portrait should have some movement - a leaf skittering by, a swing in the hair, gleam in the eye and sass in the way the subject is posed. You get the idea. * B&W sketches as well as color paintings, because you might be able to do B&W interior art for chapter books in addition to picture books. * Character Transitions In other words, multiple images that are part of a set with the same character doing different things. * Actual Spreads If you haven't actually illustrated any children's books, you might consider doing a scene or two from a famous old fairy tale, so people can see how you think about telling the story visually over several spreads. If you are into graphic novels, some paneled pages would be nice.. Again, a picture book isn't just 32 snapshots of random pretty images. Art directors and editors need to be able to tell that you can tell a whole story with no words, and follow a character and narrative thread through from the beginning of a book to the end.

[thornyrose463]

Gentle Cottagecore Emoji Asks

I saw this on the page @firesidecottage and thought it looked fun.

🌿 Herb: What is a scent you find relaxing? 

Lavender 

🌱 Seedling: What is something you want to begin learning? 

I can’t think of anything right now 

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad? 

A homemade chocolate chip cookie 

🍯 Honey: What is one thing you like about yourself? 

My blue eyes 

🍄 Mushroom: What is a quote you find comfort in?

“Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”

— Oprah Winfrey

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea?

With milk and sugar 

🐄 Cow: What is one other tumblr blog you really appreciate? 

@heliads is a talented writer and one of the kindest people I’ve met on this website  

🌳 Tree: What is one thing in your future you are looking forward to? 

I don’t know what my future holds 

🍑 Peach: What is a colour that makes you smile? 

Yellow 

🌻 Sunflower: What is one thing that brightened your day today? 

Discovering the YouTube channel OwlKitty and watching their video Dirty Dancing — with my cat

🐓 Chicken: What is a comfort movie/show for you?

A comfort movie for me is The Princess Bride

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of? 

My Cobra Kai story Johnny’s Daughter 

��� Cat: Do you have any pets? Are there some pets you really want? 

I don’t have any pets. I would like to have a dog someday. 

🍅 Tomato: Have you ever gardened, and if so, what is your favourite thing to grow? 

I have never gardened 

🍃 Leaf: What is a plant you find beautiful? 

Cherry blossom 

🐝 Bee: What is a video game that you find comforting? 

I don’t play video games 

🍞 Bread: Do you know how to bake? If so, what is something you’ve baked recently?

I don’t know how to bake 

🐇 Bunny: What’s a song that you really like? 

Livin’ on a Prayer by Bon Jovi

🌲  Pine: Do you prefer the cold or the heat?

I don’t have a preference 

🧶 Yarn: Knitting or crocheting?

I can’t say, because I haven’t done either of those things 

🐑 Sheep: What is a comfort item you own? 

A fleece blanket 

🍓 Strawberry: Do you own any pink clothing?

No 

🥞 Pancake: What is your favourite breakfast food? 

I don’t have a favourite breakfast food

⛰️ Mountains: Would you rather live in the mountains, in the city, on the beach, or in the forest? 

On the beach 

🧸 Teddy bear: Do you ever want to raise kids someday? 

I don’t know yet 

🕯️ Candle: What is something you can’t go to bed without? 

My cell phone, because I use it as an alarm 

Tagging: @miyagifangkai and @hairrington 

[laughingmagi]

———  BASICS  !

(PEN)NAME:   Iggy

PRONOUNS:  they/them

ZODIAC  SIGN:  virgo

SINGLE / TAKEN:  single

———  THREE  FACTS  !

i’m a mostly femme presenting enby, partially due to being pretty ambiguous to gender binary overall, and the rest is just that a like putting on makeup and frocks. I fully believe I would feel the same way if I were amab.

i’ve never beat a Pokemon game, which is only on my mind because I just started playing HeartGold (on an emulator shhhhhhhh, I like older video games but the industry is really allergic to preservation).

I started drinking tea instead of coffee over the past year, loose leaf only. I have two tea pots, one a basic bitch glass one, the other a small ceramic pot with an owl painted on it.

———  EXPERIENCE  !

PLATFORMS USED:  tumblr and Discord. Used to RP on Skype, too, and maaaaaany moons ago I played tabletop Vampire: The Masquerade. With dice and everything.

HOW LONG?  Been RPing on tumblr since 2013, baybee.

———  MUSE  PREFERENCE  !

GENDER:  Ehhhh....The scales might tip a little closer to male characters, but I’m fine with females.

LEAST FAVOURITE FACE(S): Okay, so this is prolly gonna come off as fiddly and particular, but I don’t have so much an issue with a single face claim, but more the issue of how ones with iconic roles are used. For example, say you want to use Harrison Ford as a face claim. Great, brilliant, he’s got a great face, he contributed to my sexual awakening. When you’re choosing icons, maybe don’t use caps from Star Wars or Indiana Jones, because frankly, you can tell me you chose him for your character, regardless or if they’re OC or canon, and I see Han Solo in your reply, it’s going to pull me out of it, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t call it a dealbreaker, but it just irritates me.

MULTI OR SINGLE: I do it all baby, but I’ll admit the activity is a bit slow on my multi.

———  FLUFF  /  ANGST  /  SMUT  !  ♡    

FLUFF: Big fan, can’t get enough.

ANGST:  i like it but I prefer it with a partner I’m in open communication with, I’ve found that otherwise it becomes tragic back story Olympics and I just find that exhausting.

SMUT:  i’ll write it with the right partner, you know if we hit it off. I will not write it with someone I have not talked to out of character. I tend to write it mostly on Discord because tumblr’s cuts don’t thread proper anymore. It’s fucking broken and the don’t seem willing or able to fix it. Now I’ll thread it without a cut but I do sometimes feel a bit guilty because I know people don’t always want to see it regardless of how well it’s written. Blame the years and years of slut shaming nonsense that I’ve experienced as an erotica writer in fandom. oh you lot wanna read it but god forbid you respect the person that writes it, no I’m not bitter.

PLOT  /  MEMES: Bit of both?

stolen from: @mystictricks

tagging: steal from me~

[nonsimsical]

All the Gentle Cottagecore Emoji Asks for Theooooo

Thank you, Karlita! Sorry it took me so long to finish these! I forgot I saved them in my drafts! Lmao

🌿 Herb: What is a scent you find relaxing?

"..Lavender and Chamomile!"

🌱 Seedling: What is something you want to begin learning?

"..I honestly don't know, lol. I'm still figuring that out."

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad?

"..Something baking! My Mom was always baking something! Reminds me of home."

🍯 Honey: What is one thing you like about yourself?

"..I don't know... I mean, I'm pretty funny. I'm also creative/imaginative."

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea?

"..Depends on the weather! And if I'm drinking tea alone or with my Mom, lol."

🌳 Tree: What is one thing in your future you are looking foward towards?

"..Mmm.... starting a family with Monty! I sometimes dream about us having a baby, or dream about being pregnant."

🍑 Peach: What is a color that makes you smile?

"..I always smile when I see the top of Monty's head bobbing through a crowd. Being a ginger has its perks!"

🌻 Sunflower: What is one thing that brightened your day today?

"..I haven't been feeling so great recently. Monty called to check on me, which always makes my day, but later surprised me by bringing my Mom's homemade chicken noodle soup. He even carried me downstairs so I could rest on the couch and watch TV if I wanted and be closer to the kitchen, lol."

🐓 Chicken: What is a comfort movie/show for you?

"...Oh, hmm.. I guess Pollyanna. My Mom showed it to me and my sister when we were little and it also reminds me of those precious moments all three of us snuggled up on the couch, watching it together."

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?

"..Oh geeze, that'd be the house Monty and I bought. Ripping out carpet, finding original hardwood flooring underneath so trying to get those spruced up and peeling wallpaper off the walls. There has to be up to 14 layers counted now just in the kitchen alone. I shudder to think what the living room and downstairs bathroom are going to look like."

🐈 Cat: Do you have any pets? Are there some pets you really want?

"..We have a dog. A boxer, named Bear. He's the sweetest when he isn't eating my shoes."

🍅 Tomato: Have you ever gardened, and if so, what is your favorite thing to grow?

"..Yes! We don't have much of a yard to start our own garden here, but growing up my Mom ALWAYS had a garden for as long as I can remember anyways. I still go over and help her with it whenever I can."

🍃 Leaf: What is a plant you find beautiful?

"..Idk about a specific plant, but I have always loved Weeping Willows."

🐝 Bee: What is a video game that you find comforting?

"..I don't play video games. Monty is far too competitive, and I learned my lesson when I got smacked in the head with a controller, so I just stick to reading books."

🍞 Bread: Do you know how to bake bread? If so, what is something you’ve baked recently?

"..I do, actually. It's one of my favorite things to make/bake. It can be time consuming and if you do it right, you can lose yourself in the process of making it. And also take out some aggression/anger when beating the dough!" *laughs*

🐇 Bunny: What’s a song that you really like?

"..Oh no, too many just starting playing in my head! I don't think I could choose only one let alone THINK of just one."

🌲  Pine: Do you prefer the cold, or the heat?

"..The cold, definitely."

🧶 Yarn: Knitting or Crocheting?

"..Neither! I have tried everything, but can only crochet a chain! It's insulting."

🐑 Sheep: What is a comfort item you own?

"..My favorite blanket that my Dad bought me the first time my sister and I visited him in Japan. It's still so so soft after all these years. I literally take it everywhere with me. College, road trips, overnight visits."

🍓 Strawberry: Do you own any pink clothing?

"..I do, yes."

🥞 Pancake: What is your favorite breakfast food?

"..My favorite breakfast food... Banana Pancakes with Nutella."

⛰️ Mountains: Would you rather live in the mountains, city, beach, or the forest?

"..Small coastal town! Also known as Rosewood Park!"

🧸 Teddy Bear: Do you ever want to raise kids someday?

"..Yes! It's something Monty and I have always agreed on and talked about."

🕯️ Candle: What is something you can’t go to bed without?

"..Monty."

[the-iron-orchid]

36 (face-sitting) for Jinana & Turel?

(weeks later) OK, so this one may have... gotten away from me a little....

Title: Without Words

Pairing: Jinana/Turel, ~2460 words

Warnings: Bodyworship, facesitting, mild domination, mild biting, masturbation

Synopsis: A foraging trip for Jinana becomes an alfresco tryst with Turel.

Notes: A follow-up to The Sound of Distant Thunder.

🔞🍋18+ Only! Minors DNI 🍋🔞

Jinana has been finding more time to be in the forests around Vesuvia of late, wildcrafting herbs for the shop and goods for the kitchen. This time of year, one may find king boletes, hen-of-the-woods, and even chanterelles amid the trees and mosses, and pine nuts abound.

Of course, there is another reason s/he has been making the time to explore the wilds, often with Anjali in tow (when the sky does not promise rain). S/he never quite knows where or when, but sometimes s/he will encounter the peculiar giant of a man s/he once found amid the falling rain, sitting silent and still as a stone.

Turel is a craftsman, a maker of things, his huge hands capable of finer and more delicate work than one might expect; Jinana knows just how delicate and fine that touch can be. S/he isn’t quite certain how to define what is between them - it is something born of the strange magic of being in wild places, and the way two people can sometimes read one another’s unconscious cues. Very often they will go with less than a handful of words exchanged, but communicating all the same.

There is something about him that is so soothing to hir, his energy a deep and steady current, in such contrast to the restless, chaotic energy that crackles through hir being. But when they are together, it’s as if hir own energy slows its pace to match his - the way a heartbeat might, or breathing.

Today it is cool and misty, and Jinana draws hir shawl more closely about hirself as s/he casts hir glance over the trees, looking for distinctive fungal formations. Ah, there… a mass of delicately frilled shapes clustered at the base of a tree. S/he slips hir gathering knife from hir pocket and bends down to harvest the fruiting body of the mushrooms.

When s/he rises again, s/he is only mildly surprised to find that s/he is being watched with silent interest. Jinana smiles and offers some of the bounty s/he’s just gathered; there’s plenty about. But Turel declines with a gesture and a small smile; instead, he beckons hir to follow. Intrigued, s/he does.

It’s a fine walk; they cross a couple of small streams, and Jinana mentally marks the location of a few persimmon trees. Right now their fruit will be astringent, but as fall deepens they will sweeten. They come to a part of the forest where firs congregate, and Jinana gathers some of the fragrant needles for teas and bath herbs.

Turel hunkers down at the base of a stand of trees, indicating little cleared spots in the leaf litter, probably the work of animals. Jinana, too, peers down at this. Summoning hir mage hand spell, s/he pushes the debris aside with a gesture. Beneath, s/he can just see three paler objects poking out of the dirt. Curious, s/he uses the same magical force to dig them out.

They are small white truffles, growing amid the roots of the trees, a true treasure of the forest. Jinana indicates with a tap to hir lips and a small wink that s/he will preserve this secret.

They spend some time in companionable silence, absorbed in the hunt for the elusive fungi. S/he takes only as much as s/he and Heron will be able to use; the delicious life-span of a truffle is finite, after all.

With the bounty secured in hir gathering basket, Jinana takes a moment to sit back against the trunk of a tree, watching ants trailing their way across the roots. S/he had almost forgotten how soothing and restorative it could be just to sit quietly in nature; humankind has tried so hard to distance itself from such things. Spending these brief times with Turel has re-taught hir the lesson that even a magician - perhaps especially a magician - is at their best when they take a moment to reconnect with the natural world.

Closing hir eyes, s/he reaches out with hir othersense, feeling the life that surrounds hir. The tree at hir back, hundreds of years old but thrumming with vigor, sharing its strength with its fellows through some mysterious web of connection. The ants’ nest below the ground, seething with activity and purpose. Squirrels, birds, insects… it is a vast jeweled net of living things, each with their own energy.

And s/he feels Turel’s energy, familiar to hir now, at once entirely harmonious and very different to that which surrounds them. S/he has not asked, but s/he suspects that, like the tree, he is a being of centuries, and perhaps more. Human, and perhaps not human… but human enough.

It is his energy which announces his approach, for his step is very light for one of such size. He seats himself next to hir, and Jinana leans lightly against his side, letting the contact ground hir in every way. S/he fancies that s/he can feel the wild magic that swirls and leaps within hir coming to rest, settling like water in a bottle. 

They stay like this for a time, a sort of meditation. When s/he opens hir eyes again, s/he feels calm, refreshed, even invigorated. S/he sees that while hir senses were elsewhere, a large mantis has taken up a position on Turel’s knee; seeing hir move, it spreads its wings in a defensive posture. The absurdity of it makes hir laugh, and this proves too much; the insect takes sudden flight.

It feels good to laugh. It feels good to be out of the city, in the greenness and the mist, away from it all. It feels good to be right here, in this moment, resting against the calming solidity of Turel’s body. He seems somehow more solid, more real than anything else, in a way that Jinana cannot explain.

Turel’s quiet answering chuckle is less a thing heard than a thing felt. Moving with a certain deliberation, he lifts one hand, gently running the backs of his fingers along hir jawline. The gesture is a question, one that Jinana answers by rising to hir feet, standing before him. S/he reaches out and tips his chin upward, bending down slightly to place a kiss upon his lips - he is so large that were he to kneel, still he would tower over hir. It is only when he is seated like this that s/he can reach him at all.

It is because of this difference, and because of Jinana’s own inclinations, that he yields to hir in these things. Jinana knows perfectly well that this is but a thing permitted, because it suits him to do so. But there is something thrilling in feeling such strength held in check, in commanding that strength for hir pleasure, however temporarily.

S/he runs hir fingers along Turel’s jawline as s/he pulls away, then grins and makes a particular gesture, speaking the words of magic under hir breath. S/he rises easily from the ground, levitating hirself to where s/he can be seated upon a nearby branch, more than hir own height off the ground. Smiling, s/he beckons with one hand.

Turel rising from a seated position is a sight in itself; it almost seems as if he will never stop rising, until finally his full height is reached. He steps over to where Jinana reaches hir hand out to him, palm-up. He takes the hand in his, where it immediately seems lost. He presses his lips to the flower of henna on hir palm, looking very slightly up at hir with amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes.

Jinana laughs in return, the sound becoming a sigh as he places a kiss on the inside of hir wrist. His eyes on hir are unblinking as he works his way up hir arm in a slow, steady trail of kisses and caresses. S/he has become accustomed to this unwavering gaze, the way he regards all things. S/he loves watching the way those eyes change with desire, their darkness deepening.

Turel reaches hir shoulder, the side of hir neck, and as he draws back to choose the next part of hir that he will give his attention to, Jinana leans forward to kiss him again. S/he parts hir lips, feeling him answer the deepening of the kiss with tremendous gentleness... but no lack of heat.

When s/he releases him once more, he continues his journey down the other arm, ending at the matching henna-traced flower in hir other palm. He then begins anew at the henna that graces the top of one foot, hir ankle, traveling up hir leg, his hands pushing up the fabric of hir skirt before him. Teasingly, Jinana keeps hir thighs pressed together; s/he knows what he wants, and he knows the game they are playing.

Only when Turel has made his way back down the other side does Jinana relax the tension in hir legs, allowing them to part. His huge hands skim up hir thighs, over hir hips in the bunched-up fabric of hir skirt. They come to rest at hir waist, long fingers wrapping around hir ribcage. It isn’t hard to feel the strength in those hands, and s/he gives a small shiver of delight.

“Lie down,” she tells him. To hir surprise, he brings hir with him, lifting hir effortlessly from the branch. Cheeky. But he lies down on his back on the mossy forest floor, and places Jinana so that s/he straddles his chest, his hands moving lightly over hir legs. S/he leans in once more, savoring a long, unhurried kiss. Then she lifts hirself up, bunching the skirt around hir hips and waist as s/he kneels over him, slowly bringing hirself within reach of his waiting mouth.

Turel’s lips are full and soft; his tongue is like an instrument of divinity. He explores hir differently with every caress, seeking out every source of pleasure. Jinana tucks hir skirt into place so s/he can thread hir fingers between his locs, hir hips starting to move of their own volition.

S/he tips hir head back, moaning softly; he needs no further encouragement, no verbal cues. His lips and wonderful tongue move with hir, giving more when the movements of her body demand it, backing off when s/he lifts herself away, drawing it out a little.

But it feels so good that s/he sees no reason to deny hirself for long, and the difference in their sizes frees hir to grind hirself against his face with abandon, moaning aloud with pleasure. His soft answering sounds are so deep that s/he feels them resonate through hir body, and this, too, adds to the sensation. S/he has no idea exactly what it is that he is doing with his tongue, only that it feels incredible. S/he grips the long locs of his head, lost to both moderation and reason as she feels hirself rising and rising, a split second of weightlessness… and then the great breakers of orgasm roll over hir, drowning hir in pleasure. S/he can hear hir own voice crying out, startling some small creature that dashes away through the underbrush.

But that isn’t the end of it; Turel is both patient, and very clever. His hands rest on hir hips, encouraging hir to stay, to take hir pleasure from him again… and again. When Jinana is finally released from the grip of ecstasy for the third time, she can feel hir legs trembling almost uselessly to either side of his head, barely able to hold hir up. After giving a final few kisses to the tender skin of the insides of hir thighs, Turel assists hir to rise.

Jinana laughs at the wobbliness of hir own legs as s/he untucks hir skirt, letting it fall to cover hir once more. S/he seats hirself on the soft moss, urging Turel to rest his head in hir lap. S/he bends down to kiss him once again, upside-down; the sutras of the art of love say that the greatest pleasure of the kiss is when both may kiss the fullness of the lower lip. Jinana cannot resist sinking hir teeth into the plumpness of his lower lip, just a little, before raising hir head again.

Of course, he has been holding his own desire in check, while s/he rode him to hir satisfaction. S/he thinks that s/he would very much like to see him bound in silken ropes, to leisurely play the games of endurance that s/he favors... but alas, the wilds are not ideal for such things. Still, there are other diversions to be had.

“Touch yourself for me,” she murmurs with a smile, arranging the locs around his face with gentle fingers. “I want to see.”

S/he is fairly certain there is nothing s/he could say or ask for that would shock Turel. He gives hir the impression of being… not jaded or weary, but well-experienced, one who has seen it all and still finds wonder in the world.

It’s a lesson s/he could stand to learn.

Jinana bends once more to visit soft kisses to his cheeks and forehead, sharper kisses to his lips and chin, as he eases himself from his clothing to hir view. S/he runs hir hands over his chest, amused by how tiny they appear upon him, feeling the very slight raising of the skin over the tattoos beneath hir fingertips.

S/he continues to visit kisses and caresses as he strokes himself, his eyes finally sliding closed to shut himself in with the sensations. Jinana places kisses here, too, with exquisite lightness, feeling the faint trembling of each shuttered lid under hir lips.

He is quiet in this, too, as in all things. His body moves gently against the ground beneath him, cushioned by the thick moss. Jinana watches, fascinated, a part of hir taking note of what causes him to sigh, to move a little faster (though, as in all things, he is unhurried in this too).

The sounds he makes are quiet, but Jinana feels them transmit themselves through hir thighs, through the very ground. S/he watches his face change with his pleasure, until climax crests through his body, too, shuddering beneath hir hands.

Jinana continues to cradle his head in hir lap as he relaxes, still gifting him those little gestures of affection, because it pleases hir to do so. And when Turel’s eyes open again, s/he smiles down at him.

There is no need for words.

[daffodil-studies]

Originally from @firesidecottage

These are really fun!

🌿 Herb: What is a scent you find relaxing? Lavender, laundry detergent.

🌱 Seedling: What is something you want to begin learning? I want to begin learning to play an 🎻

🥛 Milk: What is a food you find comforting when you are sad? Pastaaaa - creamy, cheesy, spicy

🍯 Honey: What is one thing you like about yourself? Physically: i like my eyes, mentally: maybe how I can tell what I need - I feel connected mentally to how I am feeling and what I am needing.

🍄 Mushroom: What is a quote you find comfort in? “It seems impossible until it is done.” - Nelson Mandela

☕ Tea: How do you take your tea? With honey or sugar, and creamer or milk

🐄 Cow: What is one other tumblr blog you really appreciate? ALL OF THEM ✨🎊

🌳 Tree: What is one thing in your future you are looking foward towards? My last semester of college. I see that as a period of growth and happiness for myself.

🍑 Peach: What is a color that makes you smile? Probably a faded grey blue or maybe any kind pastel.

🌻 Sunflower: What is one thing that brightened your day today? When I found out that I got a 94% on my fraud final.

🐓 Chicken: What is a comfort movie/show for you? Definitely Parks and Rec.

🧵 Thread: What is a recent creative project that you are proud of? Nothing recent, but I’m proud of a painting I did for Women’s history month back in March.

🐈 Cat: Do you have any pets? Are there some pets you really want? I don’t have any, but I would really love a bird or a cat.

🍅 Tomato: Have you ever gardened, and if so, what is your favorite thing to grow? I had an herb garden when I was little. My favorite thing to grow was Thyme.

🍃 Leaf: What is a plant you find beautiful? Butterfly bushes. They smell amazing, have beautiful flowers, and they attract butterflies.

🐝 Bee: What is a video game that you find comforting? Mario cart lol

🍞 Bread: Do you know how to bake bread? If so, what is something you’ve baked recently? I don’t know how to bake bread but I did bake banana bread recently.

🐇 Bunny: What’s a song that you really like? I really like Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root  

🌲  Pine: Do you prefer the cold, or the heat? The HEAT babyyyyy 🔥🔥

🧶 Yarn: Knitting or Crocheting? Neither lol

🐑 Sheep: What is a comfort item you own? Probably pictures or an old harmonica.

🍓 Strawberry: Do you own any pink clothing? I believe so unfortunately.

🥞 Pancake: What is your favorite breakfast food? Avocado toast, BLTs, over easy eggs, slow scrambled eggs. Chip beef is top tier. Anything salty, fatty, and with flavor is what I’m here for.

⛰️ Mountains: Would you rather live in the mountains, city, beach, or the forest? The beach or mountains.

🧸 Teddy Bear: Do you ever want to raise kids someday? Of course❤️

🕯️ Candle: What is something you can’t go to bed without? Probably more than 1 pillow and a god distance from my phone and I.

I’m tagging @studytommorow @studygoats-blog @studyinginagony and @kolour-kween

Much love and good luck with finals🌸🌼✨💕

[yourillusoryenvy]

Favorites Fall Activities - Phantom Troupe

What does the troupe enjoy doing during the fall? And what I mean by this is what NORMAL activities do they enjoy? Let’s take a look!

Chrollo: will get cozy with the latest book he stole from a nearby bookstore and read all day. He doesn’t care much for fall season, but seeing his fellow troupe members enjoying it is nice. He will sit comfortably against a large window -- with his book, a warm blanket and a hot drink -- so he can enjoy both the warmth of the sunlight and the view of the foliage while reading. He will stay there for hours, until it is too dark to continue.

Nobunaga: relishes drinking apple cider. He will tour the apple cider mills in the area, always searching for the strongest one. Doing it alone is not so fun, so of course he will bring Uvogin with him. And don’t you dare thinking that they are just having a small glass to taste. Hell no! These two are downing bottles at each stop.  The pair has turned their apple cider tasting in a drinking contest and by the end of the day both of them are so drunk that Pakunoda needs to come pick them up. 

Feitan: fall = Halloween = “scary” (well what most people consider scary anyway). This is the best time for Fei to binge-watch any sort of true crime shows/documentaries. He watches them, analyzing every elements, often reaching the correct conclusion before the identity of the killer is even revealed. “He no good” he can be heard muttering to himself when the killer is caught.

Machi: she will be using the colder rainier fall days as an opportunity to sit inside and knit. The repetitive mouvement makes her calm. She always had an affinity with threads and was amazed at what something so simple could do: save people lives, fix torn fabric, and simply make clothes. She can knit basically anything but lately she has been enjoying working with thick yarn and making large blankets. She might sit by herself with some music in the background, or in the kitchen to talk with Paku, or in the living room with Fei as he watches is true crime docu-series. 

Hisoka: fall, spring, summer or winter, Hisoka is only interested in one thing: finding a strong opponent. So just like every other season is fall activity is trying to find that person that will give him a good fight. After a long day, he will wander around the streets looking at people’s Halloween decoration, occasionally using the carved pumpkins as target practice. His guilty pleasure though is jumping in a pile of leafs. This was one of his favorite thing to do as a kid and it hasn’t change one bit.  When he sees a big pile of dry leafs he will stop and look around. Once he is sure no one is watching he will jump in; and then he will get up and leave like nothing happened, but he will be wearing a softer smile than usual on his face.  Warning: he is ashamed of how much he enjoys such a childish activity, so he will kill anyone catching him doing it. Do NOT try to spy on him to catch a glimpse of this playful Hisoka. You won’t live long enough to tell anyone anyway.

Phinks: is a simple guy. He loves going out for hikes. Meteor City far from offer beautiful landscape and fall foliage, and Phinks just fell in love with the beauty of raw nature the first time he saw it. He will just pretext going on a run, but in reality he will find a forest/national park near by and go on a hike. He doesn’t fear stepping outside of the hiking paths and will often do so just to find himself completely alone with nature. If he has extra time he might actually settle in for a night or two.

Shalark: L.O.V.E.S corn maze. Don’t ask me why, he just does. He will be dragging every single one of his fellow troupe member in one. Shizuku actually it. With her memory, she ends up passing the same spot dozens of time. She is just terrible at it, so when Shal’ does drag her in one he makes sure to not leave her alone. There is something strangely soothing about being surrounded by nature in this unique way. It has become a game to him and he will time how long it takes him to get out. If he feels particularly bored he will just give wrong directions to people, forcing to be lost in there a bit longer.

Franklin: when he is not indulging his fellow troupe members by participating in their favorite activities, he will be enjoying fall foods. Fall food is one of his favorite, specifically snacks. Roasted pumpkin seeds, popcorn, and any sort of nut mix are some of his favorites. If he has the opportunity to be camping or somehow finds himself around a bonfire roasted marshmallows are his go-to. 

Shizuku: Fall drinks, especially hot ones. From hot chocolate to pumpkin spice latte she will try every single one (actually several time because she often forget what she has already tried) and absolutely LOVES it. It doesn’t matter if she is drinking a hot chocolate while siting under a Machi-made blanket and watching a true crime docu-series with Fei, or she is sipping on tea watching Paku bake, or even tagging along on one of Phinks’ hike with her pumpkin spice latte. Give the girl a nice warm drink and she will be happy.   

Pakunoda: really enjoys baking all sort of pies. Pumpkin or apple pies are a must at this time of the year. She will faint annoyance when someone come steal a slice, but she secretly love baking for her friends and makes sure everyone get a piece of it.  She will definitely make more once everything has been eaten. While she doesn’t mind cooking by herself, she prefers to have someone keeping her company in the kitchen, not helping just someone there to talk to.

Bonolenov: is very versatile and can find enjoyment in any activity. He will most often just tag along with different people depending on his mood of the day. Fall used to be an harvesting season for his tribe, it was the time of the year during which everyone would start building reserves of food in preparation for the winter. If he is to do something by himself, he will used some of the skills he learn from his youth and go collect some various in-season food: apples, mushrooms, squash etc.. . He will come back with a ton, and give it to Paku who will find new recipe to use the ingredients in.

Uvo: Fall is football season and he is a big sports fan. He loves the pre/post game party so.. tailgating. Of course, this year his tailgating plans took a hit because of Covid. When things are not so crazy in the world, he will just convince whoever has the nicest tailgate setting to give up their spot to  him. Strangely no-one dare say no to this 8 foot tall mountain of a man.  At the game, give him one too many drinks and his favorite team loosing and you are in for a show. Uvo runs on the field and destroying (literally and figuratively) the team he doesn’t like. 

Kortopi: likes to carve pumpkin. Actually, he is one of the member that decorate the most on Halloween but more on that later, and carving pumpkin is part of it.  With his nen-ability he only needs is to find one good pumpkin. He will then copy it, and carve the copy. This way if he is unhappy with it he will simply make a new copy. He will attempts some basic carvings as well as more intricate ones when he has time. Kortopi is really patient and doesn’t mind spending a few hours carving something. And yes, of course he carves a 12 legs spider in a pumpkin every year. (Bonus: after emptying the pumpkin he gives the seeds to Paku, for her to season and roast!)

[its-sasuke]

💜 - Our muses meet again despite having known that a real chance of them never meeting again (no matter how they would wish otherwise) existed since their previous meeting.

-@katsaguri-kase-rp (if you want. If not, no pressure.)

(We're doing Blank Period for this one! Don't feel like you have to match length or anything. I'm still figuring out Sasuke, so I'm adding extra backstory for myself to noodle through)

Sleep tonight was stolen from Sasuke by old regrets that wouldn't keep quiet. Unfortunately, it is a usual occurrence. There are many regrets to remember.

He walks down the street of this modest-sized town in the middle of nowhere, hoping for a tea shop to be open. This late, it was unlikely, and finally, he relents walking into the quietest bar he can find. He doesn't particularly enjoy alcohol. He doesn't like being out of control, but he can only take the raw pain of shame for so long.

In the darkest corner of the bar, with the best vantage point to watch the other patron's unnoticed, Sasuke orders warm sake.

As he drinks, something tingled at the edges of his sense, crackling like lightning that was familiar. A memory came to him, sealed away perfectly thanks to his Sharingan.

As much as Orochimaru tried to change this fact, Sasuke didn't enjoy killing for the sake of it. Really he disdained it. His clan was killed on a whim, so Sasuke didn't consider taking lives a trivial matter at all. Even as a shinobi himself.

Orochimaru seemed to find this a weakness in Sasuke. Like all weaknesses, Orochimaru did his best to cut them out of Sasuke. Sasuke knew he'd had agreed to such sharpening, unpleasant as it was, but where the men disagreed on what weakness was, Sasuke wasn't afraid to refuse participation.

So Sasuke wasn't surprised the day he'd been summoned to Orochimaru's throne room, and a servant dragged a Leaf Anbu team in front of him. Orochimaru's grin was feline as he'd ordered Sasuke to prove his loyalty and kill them.

"This is a waste of time," Sasuke had said, recognizing one of Orochimaru's useless games, and turned back to set off for the training field.

"Foolish child," Orochimaru had snapped. Sasuke had paused, anger at being condescended to turning his eyes Sharingan red.

"Don't speak to Lord Orochimaru with such disrespect," Kabuto slithered from the shadows on the right hand of the thrown. "As if your time is more valuable than his."

"Tsh," Sasuke thought it was.

"Enough," Orochimaru rose from his throne and moved behind one of the Anbu. One hadn't moved since being dragged in. Sasuke suspected he was already dead.

"You're weak for your old comrades, Sasuke-kun" The term of endearment sent a chill over Sasuke's skin. "You think you can kill Itachi when you can't even take the life of a shinobi that means nothing to you."

"The two have nothing to do with one another," Sasuke answered quickly. Orochimaru had no idea what he was saying. Sasuke would take great pleasure in killing Itachi when the time came and he was justified in doing so. These Anub were nothing to him.

Orochimaru laughed as his tongue rolled from his mouth, stretching impossibly long to curl around the long, blonde braid of the kunoichi at his feet. He yanked upward, dragging the woman to her feet. They both let out a gasp, Orochimaru's tongue retracting faster than a snake into his mouth, his hand reaching out to grab the woman around her throat.

"Tssss," Orochimaru looked at his new toy with interest, red blood staining his tongue, his teeth, "This one bites."

Sasuke felt recognition hit him - the strawberry blond hair, the senbon in her braid, her tattooed flesh. He knew the Anbu Kunoichi - it was Kase. Kase was one of the more interesting girls from the academy, though that wasn't saying much. Her jutsu had been remarkable, and Sasuke had respected her grit in training - another lightning user too.

"You know her," Kabuto said, not a question but a particular curiosity threading between his words. Sasuke schooled his face, annoyed at letting his reaction show.

This Orochimaru found amusing, it seemed. He reached up and removed her bloodied mask, revealing green eyes lacking all the usual mischief and energy. Instead, they were dull and pleading for help.

Sasuke didn't move from his spot. If he attempted to save her, he'd pay for it later somehow. Orochimaru would make sure of it. Killing her himself, though, he saw no reason for it. In the scheme of things, her life didn't much matter. She had nothing to give him in his quest for vengeance. As blood trailed down Kase's chin, he knew it was just a matter of time for her anyway.

"Do what you will with her," Sasuke said, the twinge of regret buried deep inside of him. He met her eyes one last time, knowing he'd never see them filled with life again. A waste to see such a talented shinobi die needlessly. "It's no concern of mine."

Sasuke downs his drink one go. Orochimaru had been right about one thing - he'd been a foolish child - so self-centered he'd felt above saving Kase's life then. Above ending her suffering humanly. He didn't stay to see what became of her - if Orochimaru had taken his time with killing her, or if she'd become one of Kabuto's inhumane experiments.

The sake churns in his stomach, self-loathing making him sick. This had been a mistake. He needs to go train, to burn off this restlessness. He needs to feel the pain of spent muscles in his body.

Leaving enough money to cover his drink on the table, he hurries to the door. He could hold his liquor worst of all his teammates, and it showed. His limbs tingle lightly and his head feels a little airy. As he makes his way toward the exit, a door opens, and a woman darts out from the restrooms to his left. He almost runs into her - she is unusually fast and he is a touch slower than usual. About to apologize, his eyes meet hers. He freezes, his mind going blank.

He's seeing things - so sure that his Sharingan spins to the forefront. The greens of her eyes brightened with the action, still very much full of life.

His brows pull in, skeptical, relieved, confused.

"Kase?"