#v; a day in the life

[blueheartedmayor]

Christmas was no different to any other formal event the Brooks family hosted. The Eve was another familiar, unnecessary party that the twins were forced to attend. Damien spent a long evening rehashing the same topics on business, law, politics, and financial investments with numerous uncles and cousins who were already turning out as bleak and inconsiderate as their parents.

He didn't belong here.

It was easier to hide from it all when he was a child. He was expected to partake in similar conversations about investments, whether he was six or twenty-six. He was born with impossible expectations on his shoulders and the inability to leave and make his own choices in life, bar running for mayor.

How was this supposed to be a season of family and goodwill when it was literally business as usual? Damien had been in conversations with co-workers in City Hall about their plans. They were simple, but fun. Board games with family, watching children opening presents, visiting friends. Simple, ordinary things, and not the farce that Damien could only dismiss himself from at 2 in the morning.

Christmas Day would be business as usual for the Brooks dynasty. It was not a national holiday. There would be people of other faiths and cultures who would be keen to get a move on. Damien never really understood the fuss surrounding the 25th because he never saw it first-hand. Even now, as an adult who could do what he wanted since City Hall was closed, Damien found himself at a loss. His friend from University was out of town. William was visiting his own family. Celine and Mark would be together. The group already had their small exchange of presents the week before, so the pressure to find time to meet was removed.

Instead, Damien would light a fire in the empty Mayoral residence (he gave the staff the weekend off) and read a book. It wouldn't be anything special, but it would be a break, at least.

-

At some point, he had fallen asleep while reading, as a loud knock at the door startled him awake. The fire had reduced to embers, and the sun had dipped below the buildings across the street. As he attempted to gather his bearings and adjust to the world of the waking, the banging repeated.

"Damien? Don't pretend you're asleep. I could see you snoring in there!" Though muffled, it was impossible to miss the Colonel's booming voice. Damien stumbled out of the chair and hurried to unlock the door. There, along with the Colonel, were Mark and Celine, wrapped up to protect themselves from the cold.

"You told me you all had plans today. What are you all doing here?"

"Well, we did have plans. But like the best things in life, good plans often don't work out. For instance," Mark lightly elbowed William, "This oaf decided to not stay the night with his family -"

"Because they were going to stay with my brother, and you know how small his house is for everyone!" William's counter was overruled with another jab to his side by Mark.

"So we thought, well, it wouldn't be the same if you weren't with us."

"I would have been happy to let you two enjoy -"

"Damien, if the next words out of your mouth are 'Christmas without me', I will shove my scarf in your mouth." Celine was already pulling off her scarf to back up this threat. When Damien quickly closed his mouth, she gave her brother a smug look. "Then it's settled. We're going to make hot chocolates and play those games we'd play as kids. Grab your coat."

"Already ahead of you!" Somehow, William had slipped past the group, fetched Damien's coat, keys, and cane, and had slammed the door behind them. "My nieces showed me this swell game where you draw these squares on the ground outside -"

As the group hurried away from the Mayoral Residence, Damien could already feel the melancholy lift from his shoulders. This was what the Holidays were about, right? The chance to spend time with the people who mattered the most in the world, even if it wasn't in a 'traditional' way.

[sualne]

sleeping & chatting

[kagooleo]

even the biggest beasts need a little love and care when they've evolved (watch your head!)

[ozziyo]

valkyrie on a rare good day

[crualex-de-vil]

V doesn't stand a chance against those bedroom eyes 😍

[jkvjimin]

TAEHYUNG + 🌈 colors (cr. namuspromised, jung-kook)

happy birthday, kelli! @heybaetae 💕

[leisi-lilacdreams]

ephemeral flowers

alt without shadows under cut

since the shadows ate all my pretty lineart, here it is without them

i looked at so many yukata references to get the sleeves and obis right @~@;;

you could say i'm an expert now jkjkjk

[nightwonder7]

NortAlice Week - Day 6: Death/Life

The only thing that matters is that you'll get out of here alive.

[lightningtitties]

“i thought about you every moment.” “there wasn’t a moment i wasn’t thinking about you.” “where are you going?” “wherever you’re going.” “you make me better” “you’re my tether, my anchor” “you don’t have to listen in to get my thoughts, i’ll always share them with you. you can just ask” “can i kiss you?”

[thechy-fychannel]

y'all ever think abt how it was julie having the affair and it is even said multiple times that she was the one who left him, yet wilson was still the one who left their home and moved in with house. like. he couldn't bear to stay in their home alone. he immediately ran to house and stayed on his couch for weeks. suffered through his pranks and his laziness and his manipulation. telling him he wants him gone while sabotaging his attempts to leave. and he only left once he got a girlfriend again.

[blueheartedmayor]

5. a good morning hug

‘good morning, Damien!’ Oliver signed happily, a smile wide on his face.

(and a hug for the mun too! happy new year!)

For When You Need a Hug (Accepting across the blogs, but will be slow!)

-

The first day back after any form of work break was always considered a culture shock to anyone. It was easier to envision a world where one didn't have to go back to work. A life of luxury sounded grand in the long-term.

But the world needed to keep spinning. Some jobs were vital, such as the mayor who would make sure that schemes to help those who had been affected by public service buildings being closed were helped as early as possible. Damien had goals for the new year, after all, and he wanted those in the city to benefit from ideas that seemed so obvious that it was a surprise that no one had considered them before.

Seeing Oliver after a break away was a further pep in his step. When the attorney stepped into his office, Damien was up on his feet, crossing the office, and pulling his friend into a quick, yet firm, hug. Nothing like the bear-hugs the Colonel would give to those he was comfortable with, but clearly a consequence of being in the soldier's company over the break.

"Good morning to you as well, old friend. And a happy new year to you too. I hope it was a good break for you? We must take time to catch up on it all when you have a free moment."

[edorazzi]

More Thunderbirds Are Go! With an idea I couldn't shake; Kayo being the only one qualified to escort Penny to society events and "discourage" potential suitors (while shamelessly stealing Gordon's girl)! 🌸🗡️

The boys are all cute but Scott will have half a drink then idly drop some unhinged traumatic experience into polite conversation; Virgil will start lowkey stalking the unvaccinated guests; John hasn't come out of hiding since the Charity Auction Incident™; Gordon will free the buffet crabs into the ocean before showing off "cool" x-rays from the time he broke every bone in his body; and Alan will eat too many desserts, feel ill, then end up hiding under the table to play video games. Kayo is Penny's only hope of preserving any dignity! 😮‍💨

[sainz100]

☀️❤️🎵 Kyle (i found you) by Fred again.. | 📸

[bevsi]

first few chapters of Heartstrings in progress 😚 I’ve been posting previews every day on patreon

[lunarharp]

shirahama-sensei reminded me she has a thing for the teacher from pokemon s/v so i randomly went off on an au where qifrey is the professor. etc

[tangledinink]

For the Swanatello fam: what does everyone miss most about Donnie during his lake-induced absences?

for donnie, leo will gladly give every scrap of patience and grace and gentleness he has. he doesn't mind explaining things. he doesn't mind telling his brother the same things over and over. he doesn't mind it when donnie forgets or doesn't understand or needs his help to remember or process things.

but he misses the banter. the back-and-forth. the stupid fights and pranks and 'you said's' and 'i told you so's.' and, perhaps a bit selfishly, he misses when he didn't always feel like he had to be the bigger person for him. he misses when he still had the space to be childish and immature and petty towards his twin, and it wouldn't hurt either of them the way it tends to now.

[ swanatello ]