#we can visit each others little homemade houses....

[naivety]

what if we were little humans in a quaint fantasy survival crafting world called palia.... and we were both friends.... haha jk. unless..? 😳

[hokusu]

Post-war bread hero Hawks who just goes around delivering bread because his house arrested boyfriend at home doesn't have anything to do but to keep on kneading. Dough after dough, into the oven they go. Fresh batches steam up the house and the smell of sweet and savory fill up the air.  

Something about missing the use of heat at his fingertips that gets him going. Something about giving him something to do and taking out any of his lasting anger on each piece of dough like his own little punching bag, that is oddly therapeutic. 

So Hawks let's him be, buys him all the trays and bowls and fancy mixers that he wants and Dabi keeps on baking. Fingertips dusted with flour, scoring knife in his hands and a crease of his forehead as he focuses on the bundle of dough before him. The patterns are beautiful and Hawks had never known the kind of time and skill it took to bake bread with such love. 

Hawks thinks he falls in love again in his own home, just from watching Dabi in this piece of time. Stuck in his house with nothing but time and bread in his hands. Away from the war. Away from anyone who can hurt him. 

Hawks kisses him and Dabi returns it feverently but shushes him away gently not even a moment longer, the ding of the oven signaling his loaf is done. Hawks hides a pout but otherwise steps back to watch from afar. 

But there are bread lined on every shelf of their house now and their counters are full, their fridge overwhelemed. As much as he loves every piece of bread that Dabi dishes out, he can't possibly eat all of them. 

Can't stand the thought of letting them waste away either. 

So he starts giving them out. 

And the public has no idea where these bread come from. Or why post-war Hawks seems to have them everyday. Rain or shine. 

Only that if they're lucky enough to catch Hawks on the odd hours on the streets, he passes them out from a little weaved basket until they're all gone.

Some days they're all the same kind, uniformed shapes of soft warm bread. Other days, they come in an array of sweet and savory fillings. Sometimes he'll be seen feeding the less fortunate from the streets and take a visit to the local orphanage, sometimes he'll feed some strays. But always, they're fresh. Homemade. Generous and delicious. 

It kind of becomes it's own branding. 

Hawks' bread. 

When Dabi finally steps back into the public, the world still asking the question – How can we trust him on our streets? How do we know he's changed? 

Hawks shrugs, an arm thrown around Dabi as he reveals with another basket, cloth pulled back to let the enticing smell out. "Well I don't know, you trust him enough to eat his bread, so if he wanted to kill you he already would have."

And... it's a mystery until it isn't. It's not Hawks with too much time on his hands to bake bread in post-war, it's Dabi.

Those are Dabi's bread. 

The same ones the whole city has had to try by now. 

They have no arguments there. Not even the most doubtful can find it in them to say anything when their stomach still turns fondly thinking of another bite of those bread. The same ones Hawks shakes before them with a knowing smile. 

They shut up quickly and get in line. 

Dabi stares and Hawks looks particularly smug as he hands Dabi's precious bread. 

He's not sure if Hawks is a genius who planned this all along or if his little bird just got lucky, but he does know only Hawks, ex-double spy with a lifetime of deception, could have pulled off his return to society this cleverly. 

[letsgetrowdy43]

What to expect when you're expecting ☆—

Finally got around to writing how our faves, Honey and Quinner handled their first-ever expectancy with Warren Hughes, ft. their wedding

warnings: mentions of pregnancy/birth, sickness, swearing, lmk anything else

Au Masterlist!!

“Close your eyes, Jack, please don't ruin the surprise,” the girl laughed as she placed her hand over his eyes which he refused to keep shut, her other hand swatting him in the shoulder as Ellen scolded her middle child.

Quinn and Honey quietly walked around the living room to retrieve the Christmas presents they hid from the entire Hughes family. Tiny shadow boxes for the Hughes and one for each of Honeys family who they would be visiting later in the day. Little displays of sonograms paired with baby onesies, sat perfectly behind a layer of glass, Honey grinned as she placed one on the boy's laps and a shared one for Jimmy and Ellen. A tiny Michigan onesie paired with a sonogram for Luke, a Devils for Jack, and one that said “the newest member of team Hughes” on it for Jim and Ellen

It was perfect.

“I’m so excited,” Ellen said as she felt the cool glass of her gift, secretly hoping for something homemade from the couple, loving the more thought-out gifts compared to anything else.

Luke let out a sigh as he awaited being allowed to simply open his eyes, “can we look now?” the built-up suspense was beginning to kill him. Quinn shook his head with a laugh, “You can now,” taking a deep breath as he took his spot next to Honey on the carpet. Intertwining their fingers as she leaned her head against his shoulder, he placed a kiss on the crown of her head as all of the remaining Hughes family members let out gasps.

“You’re kidding!” Ellen it for a moment longer before putting the gift in Jim’s lap and hopping out of her spot on the couch and hugging the two of them.

Tears in her eyes as she swayed them back and forth, “I’m crying, my babies,” she wiped her tears and pulled away to look Honey in the eyes, “Are you showing?”

Honey shrugged as she uncovered the slight bump, “I’m only about five weeks, which is kinda early to announce it to you guys but I just couldn't wait, I kinda just look bloated,” she joked as she looked back to Jack who had tears in his eyes.

Luke’s jaw was dropped and Jack was extremely emotional as the couple turned their attention to them. “We’re gonna be uncles,” Luke said with a growing smile as he got up and hugged Honey, “holy shit you guys are gonna have a baby” "yeah we are," Quinn mumbled as a teary-eyed Jack lunged forward to hug his older brother.

"I thought I was gonna have the best gifts this year," he joked as Honey let out a laugh, the boy turning to her and diving at her and capturing her in a hug, "this is the best present ever!"

☆☆☆☆

"Honey, are you two sure you want to have the wedding before you have the baby? No one is forcing you to get married before," her mom said as she looked at the template for the invitation in her email. Honey let out a sigh as she sat bundled up in a blanket on the couch, Quinn was out on a roadie as she was tucked away in the house trying to get started with the planning on their wedding, "I just really want to marry him, mom, it was happening soon with or without the baby," she huffed and shut the laptop.

This had been a topic of conversation with not only her mother, but her father, and a few of her work friends. Seemingly the most tiring conversation she'd ever had, seeing as everyone believed the two only wanted to get married because of the baby, which was not the case. Honey and Quinn already knew that their end game was marriage, it was something they both dreamt about in the near future, already having it planned out months before the proposal or the baby.

"I know honey, you guys are in love, I just don't want you to stress yourself out and something happen to you or the baby," she said softly, trying to reason with her daughter who had been contrary as of late and filled with pregnancy hormones. "I know," she took a sip of her tea, "I just feel like we've been having this conversation for weeks and I haven't changed my thoughts on it, and I'm not stressed, I've looked into a planner to help me with everything, and Quinn is just a dream, per usual." "well as long as you have it under control, I can't wait to see you walk down the aisle,” her mom said in a gentle tone as she settled in bed next to Honey’s father.

“Speaking of walking down the aisle, I really want you and Ellen here when I try on my dress, I’ll pay for your ticket, I really want my mom there to help me pick out the dress for the big day,” honey smiled as she listened to the excited squeal her mom let out on the other end.

“Of course, I’ll be there sweetheart whenever you need me there, I’ll be on the first flight out,” she said contently

☆☆☆☆

Quinn grinned as he watched Honey unpack her grandmother's vintage jewellery, a smile on her face as she looked up and Quinn as she picked up her rehearsal dinner dress and laid it out on the hotel bed, "we are gonna be husband and wife in less than twenty-four hours" "I know, I'm so excited," he smiled as he propped himself up on his elbow, his hand motioning for her to lean down so he could press a kiss to her lips.

"you getting cold feet yet?" she questioned with a smirk as she pulled away from his lips, smiling at the way he chased her for another kiss. "I could never, maybe a little nervous, but not because I'm marrying you, that's all I've ever wanted," he confessed with a nervous laugh as she flushed at the response, his arms wrapping around her waist to pull her onto the bed, laid right on top of him. "Good"

"Have you picked a best man yet?" Honey asked as he peppered kisses on her cheek, "You've been putting it off." "Well since we've decided to name our firstborn after Luke I think it's only appropriate to make Jack the best man, plus Luke didn't write a speech for the reception and Jack did so I think he should be rewarded for that," he said halting the soft kisses to look at her jaw as he held her face in his hands just staring at her for a second, taking in that last few alone moments they were gonna have before their week-long honeymoon in Italy before they headed back to Michigan for the start of off-season training and getting ready for the arrival of their baby boy.

"I can't wait for tomorrow, Mrs Hughes." A wide grin danced on her lips as she collapsed next to him on the bed, "I think I just swooned" she whispered as she placed a kiss on his shoulder, his hand finding comfort on her now-showing stomach.

☆☆☆☆

“Quinn is going to bawl his eyes out when he sees you,” Ellen said with tears in her eyes as she straightened the flower crown that sat on top of Honey's head, “my only daughter,” she said, trying to hold back the tears that were bound to fall. “Thank you, Ellen, for everything,” Honey whispered with a smile, choking back tears as she hugged her mother-in-law.

The bride pulled away, fanning her face as she tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill, “have you seen Quinn this morning?” “He’s been itching to see you all morning” she laughed as she fixed the vintage necklace that hung from the bride's neck, a smile on her lips as she looked up at the blue earrings that hung from her ears, Hughes family heirlooms.

Honey smiled warmly, as she thought about how nervous Quinn must be, knowing how much he hates photos and public speaking. Wondering if he had as equally a rough sleep as her without her occupying her side of the mattress.

“I miss him” “Girl it’s been twelve hours, you will see him soon,” one of Honey’s cousins spoke from behind her as Ellen smiled from ear to ear. “I should go make sure my other two sons are being behaved,” Elle said as she squeezed Honey’s hand and went to find Luke, Jack, and Jim.

The conversations in the room grew louder and louder as the anticipation for the big moment grew, with every second Honey’s nerves seemed to triple.

“I’m gonna get some air,” the bride mumbled to her mom and wedding planner. “I’ll escort you outside,” Sheila, her planner offered with a smile as her mom rubbed her back. “No no, I’m just nauseous, probably just the baby,” she said pointing at her stomach as she excused herself into the hall trying to find the nearest exit to the vineyard to get some air.

The backs of her hands pressed against her cheeks, flushed with nerves as she stumbled upon a man sitting on a bench with his head in his hands. “You sure you’re not getting cold feet?” Honey asked with a smile as Quinn looked up at her, lost for words as she shuffled forward and took a seat next to him. “I’m uh- you look, god I can’t even explain how beautiful you look” he finally looked her in the eyes, his face flushed shyly. “You look very handsome as well,” she mumbled as her hands reached forward and straightened the tie on his neck, then racked her fingers through his hair to return it to his previously styled look.

Quinn's eyes bounced around her face as examined the way the dress sat perfectly on her silhouette, accentuating her bust and waist, all while perfectly concealing her baby bump. Hair falling just perfectly past her shoulders, the flower crown on her head making her eyes look warm and soft. “Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” He asked as he reached out for her hand, her head leaning against his shoulder as they watched their guests starting to arrive. She shrugged, “Probably, but I don’t care, I needed this,” Honey whispered as she lifted his hand up to kiss his knuckles, her other hand resting on her stomach as she took a deep breath.

"You have trouble sleeping last night?" she asked as she looked up at him. Quinn laughed and nodded, Honey's stomach did flips as she drank in his laugh, "I was so anxious all night, not to mention Trevor and Jack's loud snoring throughout the night."

“You're about to be my wife,” he grinned, as he stared up at the sun peaking through the leaves of the trees. "I know, I can't wait," she said with a quiet squeal before she looked at the watch on Quinn's wrist, "I should probably get back for pictures," she said quietly as Quinn nodded and stood up with her. "See you in an hour, Mrs. Hughes," he said with a smile as she flushed and headed back inside the venue.

☆☆☆☆ "Quinn," she gasped and tensed up, her hand trying to find him, "he's kicking me!" she squealed quietly, pushing his shoulder, attempting to wake him up.

The two of them had gotten back from their trip to Italy, beautifully tanned and very jetlagged, excited to get back to Michigan to start getting ready for their baby boy.

Quinn tired rolled over, his hands raking through his curls as he nuzzled his face into her cheek, “what’s wrong?” Honey rolled her eyes and took ahold of his hand, placing it on her lower stomach, Quinn fully awoke in seconds, his eyes widened as he looked up from the bump to the exasperated smile dancing on his wife's lips.

"He's kicking," he said in a state of shock as the baby finally settled, "he's so perfect already," he sigh and laid back down on his pillow, still facing Honey as she yawned. "I'm so excited to meet him," Honey mumbled as she felt Quinn's lips press against her shoulder, a soft smile on her lips as Quinn wrapped an arm around her torso. A short hum of the agreement left Quinn's mouth as he snuggled into her side, she finally settled down, her hand intertwined with the one he draped over her mid-drift as she closed her eyes and let sleep take over.

☆☆☆☆

Ellen squealed as she shorted through the array of baby clothes that were currently taking up the entire guest bedroom closet, tiny gender-neutral outfits (I like the idea that Honey and Quinn keep the baby's gender between themselves, kinda like a little intimate secret all to themselves), muted orange and yellow onesies laid out of the bed. Honey and Ellen began to pack her hospital bag for the approaching day, only three weeks away, and soon a new Hughes baby would be welcomed into the world.

"You getting excited?" Ellen asked as she sorted through all of the gifts from the baby shower, bags of baby blankets, diapers, soothers, and so many other baby essentials. Honey smiled as she began folding and organizing all of the baby's outfits, "I'm so excited, but I'm so scared at the same time," she said in a soft tone as Ellen stopped in her tracks. the older woman sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her, "I'm all ears if you want to talk it through, I've been through this three times now so I can walk you through all of it," she said as she encouragingly rubbed her daughter-inlaws shoulder. Honey sighed, "I'm fine with birth, I'm just so scared of the after, I sometimes feel incapable to take care of myself so I'm just scared to let him down."

Ellen shook her head, and smiled, "All new moms feel like that, you're going in blind, so it's totally normal to be intimidated" she said hugging the young woman, "but I promise you I will be here whenever you need me, I'm just a plane away, and I mean whenever."

Honey's eyes began to water as she hugged her mother-in-law back, "Thank you, Ellen, for the support, and the love over the years." "hun, you've been my family for nearly ten years, I will always be in your corner," Ellen said, tears now in her eyes as she pressed a kiss to her daughter's cheek, "you have any problem at all, even if it's regarding my son, call me and I will handle it."

☆☆☆☆

Quinn and Honey were out to breakfast the morning of August 29th, and the entire day from that breakfast and well into the afternoon felt off. Breakfast ended abruptly when Honey began to get angsty, that strong nesting instinct that the doctors had warned about was now in full swing, needing to be as close to home as possible at all times just in case. A strong need for everything to be clean and prepared for the moment the baby came, she felt off at all times. Tired and nauseous as her due date snuck up on her.

It was just after dinner when her water broke, Honey had opted out of laying in bed to sit back and admire Quinn while he trained with his brothers in their garage. "Fuck," she gasped as she stood up and one of the first contractions hit, "Quinn, we need to go," she said looking down at her maternity overalls. Quinn, Jack, and Luke all looked up confused before seeing the fear that rested behind her eyes, followed by a hiss of pain as she sat back down, doing breathing exercises as she waited for this contraction to pass.

"shit, shit, okay" Quinn walked over to her and lowered himself to be face-to-face with her, "can I help walk you to the car?" he asked as his hands held her face in them. "yes please" she cried as she squeezed his wrist. "Jack you go get me the keys and the go bag which is in the entrance closet," Quinn demanded, watching as Jack went from shocked to running in the direction of the house, "Luke call Mom and Dad, and Hun's parents," Luke nodded and immediately had the phone up to his ear.

"Are you ready for this pretty girl?" he said brushing the hair out of her face. Honey nodded slowly as her eyes squinted, wincing in pain. "Then let's go have this baby"

☆☆☆☆

Warren was born early the next morning, after nearly twelve hours of intense labour, Quinn nearly passing out from anxiety, and many other bumps in the road that the nurses kept referring to as the 'miracles of birth'.

"He's here!" the Doctor announced as she wiped the little boy off and placed him right onto Honey's chest, tears rolling down her face as she examined her little boy's face. She looked up at Quinn with tears in her eyes, "we did it!" she whispered as her thumb ran over the soft skin of the baby's back. "That was all you Hun, I was just here holding your hand," Quinn said with tears in his eyes as he leaned down and placed a kiss on his wife's lips, tasting the saltiness of her tears as he pulled away to look adoringly at his son and wife. "You almost passed out," the young woman smirked, mockingly, as Quinn laughed and wiped his tears away.

Quinn silently sobbed the moment the nurse suggested that Quinn did skin-on-skin with the infant, barely able to wrap his mind around the idea that this little baby was his. a product of his love for his wife and a new direction in his life. "you okay love?" Honey asked as she watched the boy silently cry, exhaustion filling her voice as she looked over to her husband and baby. "yeah I'm okay," he assured before going silent once again.

Jack and Luke were the final immediate family members to come into the delivery room after the birth, smiles on their faces and bouquet of flowers in their hands as they knocked on the door. "Wash your hands." was the first thing that left Quinn's mouth as he opened the door for his brothers. Happy smiles took over their faces as she saw Honey holding the little bundle in her arms.

"Sooo what's their name?" Jack grinned as he was motioned to sit on the recliner next to the bed, tears filling his eyes as Quinn placed the small baby in his arms. "Meet Warren Haye Hughes, our first son" Honey smiled as she looked over to a shocked Luke, his face going from some form of shy into a dropped jaw as he leaned forward and hugged his sister-in-law. Luke pulled still in shock, "you're serious?" he questioned while turning to his oldest brother and pulling him into a tighter hug. "never been more serious in my life Moosey," Quinn said in tears, this new fatherhood thing had made him extremely soft in the past three hours.

No one paid attention to Jack as he mumbled quiet promises to the baby, tears rolling down his cheeks as the baby's hand reached out and took hold of the tip of his finger.

"My turn?" Luke said with a grin as he looked between the new parents for some sort of confirmation. Jack looked up with furrowed brows, "I just got to meet him though" Quinn tapped Jack on the shoulder, "I want to talk to you in the hall, so hand him over and you can hold him when we get back," Quinn motioned towards the door, looking over to Honey who smiled at him with rosy cheeks. "Okay"

Jack followed his older brother into the hallway, a confused expression on his face as Quinn shut the door behind him, "congrats by the way, I'm proud of you," Jack said lowly, being careful not to disrupt any of the hospital staff or sleeping people waiting for their family members. "Thanks," Quinn said with a grin.

"Honey and I have been discussing godparents for a while and the first name we both decided on was you, we want you to be Warren's godfather" Quinn barely got to finish his little speech before Jack pulled him into a bone-crushing hug. "Holy shit Quinn, of course," he said as Quinn hugged him back, "I will do everything possible to make sure he's always safe and loved" The tears began to start up again as he finally pulled away from his big brother's hold.

"I can't believe you're a dad," Jack said as he readjusted his hat and patted his brother on the back. "I know," he mumbled as he opened the door to see his wife and little brother laughing as they admired the baby, "it's fucking surreal."

-

-

-

[where-the-giants-are]

Big Brother Beast Protection (Older Brothers / Monsterfication / G/t / SFW)

(This was initially posted on my patreon. If you want to support, feel free to at the link at the bottom, just be aware the material on the page is not always appropriate)

—————

“Trick or treat!”

The chorus of children’s voices grew louder across the street as a trio of brothers approached the house of Old Woman Jolene. Watching the other group of kids leave before them, the two elder brothers, James and Marcus, couldn’t help but glance at each other with a hint of nostalgia. This was the same house they had visited every Halloween since they could remember, the one with the homemade cookies and the stories Miss Jolene would ramble on about. Though the older brothers were too old to be trick-or-treating, dressed in simple graphic t-shirts and jeans. They were only back in town on break from their studies, though the older brothers couldn’t say no when they’re little brother Timmy wanted to go.

Old Woman Jolene’s house remained unchanged over the years, a beacon of familiarity amidst the ever-evolving street. Its once vibrant paint had faded into a comforting pastel, the garden that surrounded it had grown wild with age, though it remained a charming spectacle of ghosts, goblins, and glowing pumpkins. Walking up to the porch, the creaking of the wooden boards beneath their feet seemed to echo the anticipation in Timmy’s eyes. The skeleton costume boy practically vibrated as James and Marcus made sure he didn’t fall over, holding onto their little brother’s hands.

“Trick or treat!” Timmy’s voice muffled by his skull mask, holding his pumpkin shaped pale to Miss Jolene.

“Oh, what a sweet skeleton.” Old Woman Jolene said with a smile from where she stood in her doorway. The old lady’s spectacles sparkling as she took in the costumed boy, handing over a small bag filled with the homemade treats the neighbourhood talked about throughout the year.

“What do we say Timmy?” James guided, crouching down and watching the younger brother bounce on the balls of his feet as he looked into his bag.

“Thank you, Old Lady Jolene,” Timmy said, the young boy unaware of the startled cough both James and Marcus let out at their brother’s lack of filter. Though Marcus coughed to hide a laugh that forced out of him, James was more shocked before turning back to Miss Jolene.

“I’m so sorry Miss Jolene,” The flushed James said, his apologies cut off as Jolene laughed and shook her head.

“Oh it’s okay. I know the nicknames the kids give me. In fact, I remember when you two were kids and whispered how I had to be a witch,” the older woman said, almost cackling when the college aged students blushed at the comment, “besides, I am an old lady.”

“Are you a witch?” Timmy asked, much to James’ chagrin and Markus’ amusement. Old Woman Jolene didn’t seem upset at all, smiling sweetly at the young boy.

“Oh I’m not some scary monster. Just an old lady who makes good cookies and tea, you should ask my bridge partners,” Jolene said, giving a cheeky wink at Timmy before looking back to Markus and James. “And what have you boys been up to? Haven’t seen you both for months.”

“Just back from college. Ma and Pa had to go to some party so we got saddled with babysitting,” Marcus said, laughing when Timmy turned at him, claiming he was a big boy now, “You're still our baby brother.”

“So sweet you two help keep your brother safe,” Jolene smiled, leaving Marcus and Timmy to keep talking as she turned to James. “With how times are, it's always best to be safe than sorry.”

“Yeah, never realised before just how dangerous the street can be at night.” James said, wincing a bit when he recalled the speeding cars the brothers saw earlier, all the more reason the older brothers kept a close watch on Timmy.

“Well, you and Marcus deserve a reward for your hard work,” Jolene said before, turning briefly to grab something from within the open doorway. Pulling her hand back, she presented it to James. Resting in her palm were two perfectly crafted sugar cookies, the treats expertly decorated and carved to look like monsters from a kids story book. “Just for you two strong boys.”

James took the cookies, smiling gratefully. “Thanks, Miss Jolene. These will help keep us going,” He said, passing one to Marcus who took it with a grin and his own thanks.

“You’re welcome. Remember to watch out for each other and enjoy the night,” she said, her eyes lingering on the older brothers for a moment before she turned back to Timmy, “And you make sure to have fun little one.”

“Okay, thank you.” Timmy said, a smile clearly heard in his voice. He turned towards his brothers, “Can we go to another house now?”

“Sure thing you little gremlin.” Marcus laughed, helping Timmy down as the two made their way off. “Thanks again Jolene,” Marcus called back, taking a bit of the gifted cookie.

“Thank you Miss Jolene, have a good night.” James said, following after his brothers as he waved back to the elderly staple of the neighbourhood. Taking his own bite of the cookie, a purple horned demon like monster, James couldn’t help but let out a relaxed breath through his nose. The familiar taste of citrus and almond reminded the college student of the cookies he would always get from the old woman, though the nostalgic taste had something different. Not enough to completely change his memory, but just a slight nagging of a difference. Shaking his head, James moved to catch up with his brothers.

The street grew quieter as the trio walked on, moving apart from the clustered groups of trick-or-treaters, the siblings walking at a comfortable pace as Timmy chatted away about the treats he was getting, occasionally saying he might share some with the older brothers. Marcus took the lead, his taller height making it easy to spot any potential dangers on their path. James himself brought up the rear of the group, his eyes always looking over the little skeleton that was his brother. Going along the pavement, James and Marcus didn’t notice the slight changes occurring over their bodies, even as the occasional passerby did a double take at the older brother’s forms, though writing it off as some impressive costumes.

Coming up the next house, Marcus paused as he felt something off. It was like he did a full body stretch, his clothes feeling tighter than usual as he shifted in his too tight shoes. Glancing down at his arms, Markus saw his sleeves now pulled back over his enlarged biceps, which had bulged significantly with new size as the oddly longer limbs seemed to be sprouting new hairs. Turning over to his brothers, Markus glanced over the oblivious Timmy before looking at James. The twin brother was also looking back at him with wide eyes, seeming to have experienced his own change with his lanky body thickened out more, his graphic shirt and jeans tightened over his thickening limbs and torso. Whilst both brother’s bodies were changing to grow larger, Markus’ body seemed to be sprouting dark hair whilst James’ had spreading patches of scales across his exposed limbs. Their mouths open in shock showed their teeth had begun to sharpen, James’ taking on a fang like look, whilst Markus’ pushed out from his bottom lip like the beginning of tusks.

“Come on,” The mentally panicking brothers were pulled from their thoughts. The transforming brothers looked down, noticing how they had gotten taller too as Timmy called out and tugged on their trousers. The young boy seemed unaware of the transformation that occurred to his brothers. “Can we go to the door now?”

“O-oh,” James smiled, wincing with how forced it felt and how deep his voice sounded as he crouched down. Still towering over as his broadened body stretched his shirt more, feeling two slight bumps sprouting along his upper back. The seat of his pants audible creaking against his thickened form. “Why don’t you try going up to the door by yourself?”

“Really?” Timmy’s eyes sparkled behind his mask in excitement before turning to Markus. The other brother’s broadened form looked even larger compared to Timmy, with his furry form growing out as his stretched shirt showed along with the layer of muscles and fat, but two growing mounds coming out under his arms.

“Y-Yeah, we’ll be right over here and keep an eye out,” Markus said, his own voice cracking a bit with the deepening tone. Coughing into a now clawed fist as he tried to clear his throat. “And if you get scared, just come right back to us, okay?”

Timmy nodded eagerly, practically bouncing before he rushed off along the path to the front door, leaving his transforming brothers behind.

“And no pushing!” James called out, visibly wincing at his louder and deep voice as a few passing groups side-eyed him before they kept on going. Though the people around them didn’t seem so shocked by the towering juggernaut beasts, James waited till he made sure Timmy was talking with some other kids before focusing back on Markus. “What the Fuck is happening?!”

“I-I don’t know!” Markus replied, his eyes wide with shock as he felt his body expand, the heavy limbs both tired like he just did an intense workout, and yet filled with untold energy. Mark bit back a grunt as the changes seemed to accelerate, the mounds pushing out from his thickening lats tore through his tightened shirt, growing into an additional set of arms. The new limbs mirrored his muscular upper arms, all four were covered in thick, brown fur that matched the spreading patches across his body. Markus blinked as his vision briefly seemed to double, feeling as a second set of eyes began to form just above his cheeks. A glance downwards showing his shirt was gone, leaving the fur covered mass of his chest and rounded gut on display, his lower half out of sight, though he knew his now hand-like feet had torn through the sneakers he wore. Looking back up to James, Markus saw that whilst his transformation took him into a mutated King Kong look, James had gone a seeming draconic appearance.

James’s body looked like a mix of a powerlifter and something straight out of a fantasy novel. The patches of scales had spread across his entire body, a mix of green hues that glistened under the street lights. James' jeans had torn along the back as the itch of his tailbone was the only signal he got before the enlarged tail burst through the fabric. The new limb whipped back and forth behind him, knocking over some garden decorations whilst passersby walked around the limb. James’ shoes tore open with a loud screech as his clawed feet stretched out, carving into the concrete that cracked under their immense weight.. His ragged shirt fluttering off his impressive torso, exposing his impressive form as two powerful wings emerged from his back, stretching out wide with a mighty flap that almost took out some laughing teens. Two bumps began to sprout from the dragon-like James’ temples, growing into small horns, curving upwards slightly along with smaller ones popping along his squaring jaw to give a beard-like effect, only adding to the beastly look of his new form.

The brothers stared at each other, their eyes wide with shock and confusion as though in a matter of minutes they had become veritable monsters, their clothing now in tatters around them save for shorts neither brother remembered purchasing, let alone putting on. Yet, even as the muscular beast men stood tall, most adults in the neighbourhood barely coming up to their stomachs, no one was shocked at the sight of the large monsters.

“Mr Lancer was giving out large chocolate bars,” Timmy called out as he rushed back to his brothers, too busy rummaging through his treat bag to notice his brothers had transformed into creatures that had stepped out of a blockbuster movie. Timmy’s light voice was the only sound that pierced the awkward silence that had descended upon James and Markus. The two enlarged brothers looked around, noticing how no one was screaming nor running at the sight of the monstrous college students. Instead, they were met with polite smiles and the occasional grumble for taking up space on the pavement. The transformation had gone unnoticed by everyone except the transformed brothers themselves. Both beastly brother’s had to lean to look over their barrel-like chests and stomachs to see Timmy looking back up at them. The already small boy was now barely clearing his older brother’s shins, “Can we go to another house?”

“Uh, sure. Yeah, sure Timmy,” Marcus managed to reply, his voice now a deep, guttural rumble, his additional arms awkwardly resting by his sides. Looking over, he watched James take a tentative step, his clawed toes digging into the sidewalk with a dull thud whilst his tail swished nervously behind him. Seeing the usually composed James flinch from his own heavy step, especially since Markus himself wasn’t comfortable walking with Timmy out of sight , Markus crouched down low to get closer to Timmy. “How about I carry you for the last few houses, okay?”

“But I’m not a baby. I can keep walking.” Timmy said, the same thing he’d always say whenever the older siblings offer to carry him. Though the want of the little brother’s independence was outweighed heavily with Markus’ and James’ worry of accidentally stepping on him.

“W-Well, don’t you want to see over the trees?” James suggested, coughing as his deep voice came with a slight crack, the taste of smoke just lingering in the back of his throat. “And besides, if we carry you, we can get to more houses faster.”

“Really?” Timmy looked up at the monstrous behemoths that were his brothers, earning nods before the youngest brother seemed to think it over. Of course, James and Markus already knew Timmy’s decision since their brother always played up thinking things over. “Okay.”

“Alright then little guy, now - Whoa, hold on!” Markus began to say, initially trying to figure out the best way to grab his younger brother as he and James didn’t want to risk testing their new strength. Only for the caution and plan to be thrown out as Timmy jumped and grabbed onto one of Markus’ lower hands. The multiarmed brother wincing at the pull of his fur before he helped Timmy up into his palm. Standing back to his full height, Markus sighed, he and James watched as Timmy took his seat within Markus’s palm, holding onto the claw tipped fingers that held him in place.

“Come on. We gotta go before they stop giving out candy!” Timmy said, slapping Markus’ fingers as he pointed down the straight. “Oh, Please.” He added, catching the sight of James’ raised eyebrow.

“At least he said please,” Markus chuckled out, a deep rumble before he made his way along the street. Earning a shaking head from James as the draconic brother followed, remind Markus to watch his step as the titanic brothers' march shook their tiny neighbourhood. And though James and Markus didn’t know how they became huge behemoths, nor what they were going to do tomorrow. Albeit, James mentally reminded himself to speak with Jolene again when he spotted the older woman’s house, and his improved eyesight catching the sight of Old Woman Jolene waving to him from her window.

But for now, the gigantic men were just happy to help their small brother out. Especially since having two giant monsters at your door really encouraged the owners to give their best treats to the skeleton clad Timmy.

[eternalremorse]

A Brotherly Christmas

Summary: Garreth Weasley and his older brother, Oscar, have had to spend Christmas at Hogwarts due to their family being away. This is the first time Garreth has ever been away from his family over the festive season, and he is very upset about it. Oscar tries to come up with a plan to help cheer up his little brother.

Word Count: 1.8k

Notes: Oscar Weasley is an OC I created and is not canon in the Wizarding World. In this story Garreth is 12-years-old and in his second year and Oscar is 14-years-old and is in his fourth year.

[Read on AO3]

“See you soon, Garreth!” Leander Prewett called out as he made his way to exit the Gryffindor common room, pulling a suitcase full of clothes and belongings behind him. “Have a good Christmas!”

“Yeah… bye, Lee,” Garreth mumbled, as he wistfully waved his best friend goodbye. He watched Leander walked through the portrait and out of sight. It was Christmas Eve, and most Hogwarts students were leaving to return home for the holidays.

Garreth Weasley and his older brother, Oscar, were only a handful of Gryffindors staying behind. Their parents and other siblings were going on an extended trip abroad to visit family, and since they wouldn’t be home in time for the boys to go back to school, their parents made the collective decision to keep them at Hogwarts. It wasn’t uncommon for some students to stay behind, and several others from different houses were also staying.

Garreth found himself feeling sombre and emotional, as this would be his first Christmas away from home and family. He was already missing them so much!

Ever since Garreth could remember, when he and his siblings arrived home from Hogwarts, they would pick one present each to open, decorate the homemade gingerbread, play games until bedtime, and then finish the evening with a hot cup of cocoa. Christmas was Garreth’s favourite time of year, and he was devastated when he received the owl informing him of staying at the school. He’d been dreading Christmas ever since.

Oscar looked up from a book he was reading and glanced at Garreth. He was sitting in front of the fireplace by himself, biting his quivering bottom lip, and his eyes looked glassy – clearly, he was trying his hardest not to cry! Oscar felt a tug on his heartstrings seeing his brother look this way, as he was usually such a jolly person, especially at this time of year. Sometimes he would get annoyed at how too happy Garreth could be, but deep down, he loved it really.

Oscar gave a sad sigh to himself and placed the book down on the table. He got out of his chair and slowly made his way to his little brother, noticing that a couple of tears had shed to his cheeks. Garreth looked at Oscar coming this way and quickly turned his back to wipe away the evidence.

“Gar, it’s okay to be upset in front of me,” Oscar said delicately as he sat down next to him. He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Will you look at me, brother?”

Garreth sniffled before shaking his head. “No, I don’t want to. I just want to go home. I want mum and dad.”

Garreth’s voice cracked as he began to sob. Oscar gently rubbed his shoulder in aid to comfort him. “I miss them too, Gar. At least you won’t be alone, and we can spend Christmas together-“

“It’s not the same!” Garreth snapped as he quickly turned around to face Oscar. His cheeks were flushed a crimson red and glistened from the fireplace. “I wish our parents never made the stupid decision to go on holiday! Why did they have to go now? They could have gone any other time! And now I have to spend Christmas with you in this old castle.”

Oscar was taken aback by Garreth’s interruption and felt a little hurt at his outburst. He frowned. “Do you really think I want to be here too? I’m sorry I’m not mum and dad! But there’s no need to take it out on me!”

Garreth folded his arms in frustration. They were both silent for a short moment before Oscar stood up. “I’m going out. Don’t wait for me.” He grabbed the nearest broom and swiftly left the common room, not looking back or saying another word more.

Garreth watched him leave. As soon as he was out of sight his bottom lip began to tremble once again, breaking out into another sob. He quickly dashed to his dorm room and dived under his bed covers, letting out all the sadness and frustration he’d been holding in.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Garreth awoke and realised he must have fallen asleep after crying, he rubbed his eyes and slowly pulled away the duvet from his head. He let his eyes adjust for a moment and peered into the half-empty room that he usually shared with Leander and fellow classmate, Eric Northcott. The room was emptier than usual, not just from the lack of bodies, but the strewn clothes that were often on their beds or furniture were packed away to be taken home.

He sat up and squinted at the grandfather clock opposite his bed, it was just past three o’clock in the afternoon – he had been asleep for a few hours. A groan escaped his throat as he didn’t mean to nap for so long, and he now felt quite lethargic from it. Garreth pulled away the covers and stretched. Even though he was still a bit sleepy, he felt better emotionally. Maybe he could find Oscar and apologise to him. He sat on the edge of the bed and laced up his shoes, grabbed a thick coat, his worn Gryffindor scarf and made his way out of the common room.

As he walked through the double doors that lead to the Bell Tower Courtyard, he looked around eagerly for that familiar head of fiery hair whizzing away on a broom. Oscar was a Chaser in the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but he was training to become a Beater and was planning on trying out for the position in the New Year.

Left and right Garreth looked, squinting to see if Oscar was possibly farther in the distance than the school grounds, but he saw no one, only the odd bird or two that would fly by. He felt rather disheartened and guilty after what had happened earlier, and all he wanted was to apologise and try to spend the remainder of the holidays together as happy as they could be, given the circumstances.

As Garreth entered Central Hall, he realised he could and ask Aunt Matilda if she had seen him anywhere. She was their relative after all and had graciously volunteered to stay behind in the school to help keep an eye on the remaining students (not to mention to try and keep both Oscar and Garreth out of trouble).

Garreth made haste to the Transfiguration classroom and opened the door, he sighed in relief when he spotted his aunt sitting at her desk, scribbling away on some parchment. She looked up as soon as she heard the door creak.

“Garreth! I was planning on checking up on you and the others in the Gryffindor common room before dinner. What can I do for you?”

“Have you seen Oscar in the last few hours at all? He took a broom, so I assumed he went flying, but he’s not outside and he’s not in the common room.”

Matila’s eyebrows furrowed; her mind whirred over the short list of possible places he could be. “I haven’t Garreth, but he could be anywhere, quite frankly.”

Garreth let out an exasperated sigh and Matilda sensed his disappointment. “Is everything alright, dear? You look troubled.”

“Yeah, I guess. Just… please tell Oscar I’m looking for him if you see him.”

Matilda gave Garreth a soft smile and nodded once. “I shall. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

As Garreth made his exist, he trudged his way back through the Transfiguration courtyard, he figured the one thing that could help lift his spirits was practicing brewing a potion or two in Professor Sharp’s classroom. He wasn’t quite sure if he was really allowed to, but what’s the worst that could happen? Well, he could blow it up and set the classroom on fire, but today he was feeling rather sensible, for once.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

It was 5 o’clock, and Christmas dinner was being served in the Great Hall. Only one table was set-up for the students and teachers staying behind. Oscar didn’t show for dinner, and Garreth was growing more worried. Somehow, Aunt Matilda didn’t look concerned, and was eating and chatting as if nothing was wrong.

Garreth didn’t eat a lot of his food, he wasn’t feeling hungry as he usually does from the guilt he was still feeling. As he stood up, Aunt Matilda made haste to his side. “This is for you.”

She handed him a folded piece of parchment. Garreth frowned slightly. “You might want to open it now,” Matilda said with a wink before escorting the students from the Great Hall to the common rooms.

Garreth folded out the note:

Garreth,

Please come down to the kitchen after dinner. I have a surprise for you.

Oscar

A note from Oscar! Garreth felt relieved! He quickly ran out of the hall and down to the kitchen door, but before he could tickle the pear to enter, the door swung open and one of the kitchen elves stood there smiling up at him.

“You must be Garreth! Please come in,” the elf said cheerfully. Garreth followed the elf and could smell something familiar, something that almost… reminded him of home.

As he stepped further into the kitchen, he could see Oscar carefully pulling trays of something out of the oven and carefully placing them down. He looked up and saw Garreth, his face slightly bewildered.

“Garreth… I’m so glad you’re here!”

Garreth nodded slowly, not sure how to react. “You… wanted to see me? What is this?” He gestured his hands to the table that was messy with flour, egg shells and other ingredients.

“Oh, I… I wanted to apologise and make it up to you. For storming out like that earlier. After my broom flight I bumped into Feenky.” Oscar gestured to the kitchen elf next to Garreth that opened the door for him. “And I told her about what had happened between us. She suggested that maybe I could make some gingerbread for us to decorate. Just like how we do every Christmas Eve with mother and father and our siblings.”

Oscar paused for a moment. Garreth felt his eyes get watery again, and a smile began to creep up on his face. He couldn’t believe it! Oscar has never done anything like this before!

“Now, Gar, don’t get all soppy on me,” Oscar chuckled. He then opened out his arms. “Come here, brother.”

Garreth didn’t need telling twice! He immediately ran and almost knocked over Oscar with how hard he jumped into him. They both laughed for a moment whilst in their tight embrace.

“I’m sorry too, Os. It’s not your fault Christmas is different this year.”

Oscar smiled and ruffled Garreth’s hair. “It’s okay. Now will you help me decorate the gingerbread? We can take them up to the common room afterwards and open a present from our stockings. Maybe even squeeze in a game or two of Wizard’s Chess before bed. How does that sound?”

Garreth didn’t let him go as he looked up to his big brother. “That sounds perfect!”

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

M6 with MC who's passionate in culinary and cuisines, love to take their lover to food trips and cook for them a lot, even testing out their new recipes to M6

dont feel pressured to take this request, have a lovely day you lovely human being

(also i wanna share a little headcanon of mine; Lucio is big on cuisines, he probably grew up with eating limited variations of foods so when he became the count he was so excited to try out new kinds of food and developed a little passion for it)

The Arcana HCs: M6 with a foodie MC

~ as someone who grew up internationally and makes their own bread and cheese instead of buying it, this is a request that makes me grin. thanks for the smile, anon! - brainrot ~

Julian

We already know how comforting Mazelinka's homemade soup is for him (magic or otherwise)

We also know that he's terrible at remembering to eat regularly, or choose things that taste good

If he walks into the kitchen to see you, his greatest love, cooking a nutritious and delicious meal to share with him, he may propose on the spot. Or melt. Or both

That said, his palate isn't very well refined, so if you're looking for detailed culinary feedback you won't be getting much

However, he can be quite the poet. When it comes to praise, he'll be groaning out compliments between each delicious bite and raving about it until the next homemade meal

Delighted to go on food trips with you, he knows all kinds of questionable shortcuts

It will become apparent that he can't follow most of the conversation (palate cleanser? I don't even know her!) but he will try his best

Is very good at making friends with whoever you're interacting with. You get a lot of extra samples because of him

Randomly brings people home to eat your cooking because according to him it's so good it'll cure any and all problems

Asra

They're a pretty decent cook themselves, which is a lot of fun when you get to take turns introducing your favorite foods to each other

He's also the type to regularly try recreating dishes he's eaten on his travels without any reference or recipe

It never turns out right, but it always tastes good

They love trying new things and are your most eager taste-tester. No matter how intimidating the culinary process is, they are wholly fascinated and invested

Food trips are his favorite thing

They'll happily take you to all the places they've visited, dragging you to the hole-in-the-walls that only locals know about and avoiding the places that gave them food poisoning previously

When he's on a solo journey, he'll keep an eye out for any ingredients you've mentioned and bring them back for you

As well as any remotely food-related thing that tickled their fancy

Did you want a stone mill taking up space on your roof? Not necessarily, but you have one now, and he's really excited to try making flour (and then bread) with it at least once before you get rid of it

Nadia

Fully supportive of your culinary endeavors

She has a taste for fine things herself. If those fine things were made by her beloved MC? She's all for it

Tries not to show too much excitement when you express a love for exploring other cuisines, she misses Prakran food so badly and can never find it made right

Regularly takes you to eat dishes prepared by Vesuvia's finest chefs

When you mention a food trip she pounces on the opportunity to eat all of her favorite Prakran delicacies with you

She may or may not pay her favorite spiced swordfish cook to give you an afternoon of lessons on how it's made. Only after you've said you would like the opportunity, of course

She's not much of a cook herself (she's always had in-house chefs) but she has a very well developed palate. Her culinary feedback is immaculate

It's hard for her to make the kind of time necessary to go on regular food trips with you, but that doesn't stop her from ordering all sorts of treats

She'll wait until you're relaxing in the garden with her to pull out the most recent delivery so she can watch your eyes light up

Muriel

The opposite of a foodie

That is, until you get your hands on him

One of your first positive interactions is getting him to try Selasi's bread and savoring the flavor together

He still has to shake himself out of the "food is fuel that I can't expect consistent access to" mentality, but you being around really helps

Nothing makes the hut feel more like home than watching you painstakingly put a meal together, playing with ingredients and spices like they're fun and not something to be scarfed down

Happy to go on trips with you, not so happy about all the human interaction that comes with the food part

But he loves fueling your interest, so he will start researching all kinds of cuisines based around foraging

Cooking becomes so much fun like this - he'll show up with a pile of foraged ingredients that he can tell you all about

And then you can tell him about all the ways you'll turn them into a delicious meal

Discovering that he has food preferences is really fun, until he also discovers the foods he really doesn't like and you have to learn to cook without them

Portia

Oh, you two are unstoppable

She bakes. You cook. She cooks. You bake. And then you feast and feast and feast

She has her fair share of wanderlust, so food trips are going to be a mutual delight for you two. She makes the best itineraries

She's also got her fair share of dishes from Nevivon that she likes to make for and teach to you (though some recipes are passed-down secrets that you'll need to earn)

You generally alternate cooking duties, so each of you has a day to cook and a day to savor

She's also friends with the palace chefs, and can convince them to let you watch them cook and share some tips with you

Ambassador trips are so much fun. If you go with her, the two of you will sneak out between meetings to hit up the street food stalls

If you stay with the shop, she'll collect all the recipes for you and bring back so many ingredients and spices

You being already trained in magic makes it easy for you to pick up Mazelinka's wonderful soup recipe once she's finally ready to teach it to you. The first time you make it for Portia, she cries

Lucio

As earlier suggested, Lucio grew up eating only what his parents and later he could hunt. In the army, he only had whatever was provided

Like his love of luxurious and shiny things, he developed an interest in cuisine after being taken in by the old Count

It was also one of the main attractions of his crazy masquerades

There is a reason why the first thing he wanted after regaining a body was food. It brings him joy!

He was ready to go back to the simpler food of his younger years when he gave up being Count to start a new life with you. It had even become something he associated with his old vices

So when he sees the stuff you manage to create over a campfire, he falls in love with you all over again

Regularly plans new jobs around culinary hotspots so you can wander and sample new food together

Prioritizes lodging that gives you a comfortable cooking space

He's not a chef, but he's a decent swordsman. He's cautious around anything that isn't grilling but he'll happily chop ingredients for you

[filmbyjy]

A request for more imagines/reactions of a poly relationship with Jaywon plz

a/n: hmm more jaywon😏 so you guys do have to agree they’d be the best duo for poly relationships. since you didn’t specify, I think headcannons would be the best for this! unless you want an imagine then you know where to come back😉

P.S; i had to write this on my computer or else it would mess the 'read more/keep reading' up🥲

what is like dating jaywon?

how did you, jay and jungwon meet? a short story by filmbyjy

as idols, it was hard for jungwon and jay to really go out as normal people without being noticed. however, they did one day manage to find a small coffee shop that was pretty secluded. surprise surprise, you were working there.

— placing this in case the read more messes up —

"good afternoon! welcome to 'jewel bean'. what would you like to have?" you happily say. they were surprised to see the enthusiasm coming out from you since it was a simple and boring afternoon.

there wasn't much people in the small shop but you were still optimistic about it. it makes them smile. they quickly scanned the menu.

"can we have the green tea frappuccino and java chip frappuccino?"

"to go?"

they turned to each other, "uh, yes."

"alright, that will be $15.50." the boy taps his card. you quickly tapped on the buttons and hand him the receipt.

"oh right, so sorry. may i also have your name?" you asked them.

"it's jongseong."

"alright, the drinks will be done in a minute." you say. jay nods. he watches an older lady exit out of the supposed staff room.

"sweetie, don't you have classes soon?"

"i'll just finish this last order and then get to class, mom." you say. your mom nods and pats your back. she spots the two boys.

"oh my, sweetie. why didn't you tell me these two young men came in? they look really skinny. dear, let's give them a cake on the house." your mom says. you turned to your mom. the two boys blush.

"oh. no, it's okay." the boy in the beanie shyly says. you shook your head while giggling. you simply started packing a slice of cheesecake and red velvet cake into a box. you knew your mom wouldn't give up.

you placed the two drinks and the box of cakes on the counter in front of the both them, "i'm so sorry about my mom, unfortunately she doesn't take no as an answer. so here you go. she made these cakes so they are homemade. hopefully, you'll like them."

they looked at each other and then shyly smiled at you.

"thank you."

ever since that day, jay and jungwon started visiting your cafe more often. moreover, it was also secluded and not many people came here. they became quite close to you too since they started opening to you more. you found out that they were both idols in the same group so it was a little shocking that they even found out about your family's cafe.

"so, do you need help?" jay asks. you shook your head.

"jongseong, i'm fine. you aren't even studying for this." you tilt your head.

"i took biology in high school if that helps?" jungwon snorts.

"you went to hanlim and graduated in practical dance, there was no biology in there. if this is your way of flirting hyung, it didn't work." jay shoots daggers at jungwon.

you blushed, "flirting?"

"jay hyung likes you and he keeps talking about you, noona." jungwon says.

"what do you mean? jungwon uses the picture we took together as a wallpaper for our chats. he likes you too!" jay folds his arms.

the blush playing on your cheeks reddens even more.

"so the both of you like me?"

"yes."

"well, i like you both too."

and that’s how it started…

what are dates like with jaywon?

very laid back

jay likes staying at home and cooking for you and jungwon

he also likes clothes shopping/grocery shopping with you and jungwon. he gets to see his two favourite people run around aisles and getting whatever you’d like

jay especially likes to see you dress up bc he likes whenever you doll yourself up! put on a cute dress, skirt, top etc. whatever you like, jay likes.

jay also likes fancy dinner dates but those are saved for special occasions like a 1 year anniversary.

jungwon likes amusement park dates, arcade dates, movies dates. classical and cliche romance novel dates.

and there will be a picture booth for you to take pictures with your two boyfriends. since both jungwon and jay love keeping memories in forms of pictures. jungwon also has a scrapbook of all the fun dates you guys had.

oh another classical date I think jaywon would like beach date/picnic date! they like the idea of lounging around with you. like cats :D

affection?

they are like cats. it’s a push and pull thing

there are times where they get really clingy and other times where they don’t cling much (especially if there is college work to do)

jungwon does like clinging more though. he likes cuddles and head pats. makes him feel loved.

jay on the other hand, loves kisses and hugs. he likes back hugging for sure. he does it to you, you do it to him. vice versa.

jungwon likes spooning, whether it being you are little spoon and he is big spoon or the opposite. he just likes having you close to him.

oh oh oh!! jungwon does this thing where he nudges his head onto your arms like a cat to get your attention or jay’s attention. kinda like what ni-ki did to get jungwon to continue playing with his hair! it’s really adorable trust me.

sleepover with them

at night, these two boys are the epitome of cats

as if you guys didn’t know it😀

they will wrap their arms and legs around you so you have no personal space

they just love waking up tangled with you

they also love how they get to see you still sleeping bc they find it adorable.

since jungwon wakes up the earliest, he decides to always wake you up first. he does so by like pecking your lips and forehead over and over again. which in my opinion...let me give you hugs and kisses won🥺

then you wake jay up by kissing all over his face bc he loves it when you do so.

one thing about jay: if he is the first one awake, he will stare at both you and jungwon. he likes looking at people he loves. this is rare though since he is usually in deep sleep.

what are their love languages?

jungwon likes quality time and acts of service.

quality time being he just likes to spend time with you and acts of service bc he likes to help you out. he doesn't really voice out how much he loves you rather he does it through his actions. he is a little shy when it comes to these types of things.

he also like physical touch when it comes to being alone with you.

he doesn't do much when you come over to the dorm and there are other members. he feels a little shy doing it.

though, i do think if he really misses you...he doesn't care if the other boys watch him being babied by you.

jay likes words of affirmation, physical touch and giving you gifts. actually he can be all of the 5 love languages at different times.

jay especially likes to express his love for you by words and giving gifts. it doesn't have to be big gifts. just small ones like clothes and sweets.

physical affection for jay would be like backhugs, kisses (read: neck kisses)

words of affirmation for jay, i think just suits him. he really great with his words. he knows how to comfort you.

IN CONCLUSION

as i've said before, jaywon are just the perfect candidate for a poly relationship. they are both givers in a relationship. they prioritise their partner's happiness over theirs and in turn this also makes them both husband material.

jay and jungwon would never demand for things rather, they are both chill and laid back. as we know, jungwon loves paying attention to small details and still listens attentively. as for jay, he puts his whole attention to you and only you (or jungwon).

in other words, jaywon best boys!

P.S, jaywon cat agenda?

taglist[perm]: @ja4hyvn @ahnneyong @milklix @kar0ki @sugarsunoo @http-gyu @simpforniki @vatterie @victoriazynui @myu3ki @jhopesucker

-

[emmy-dekarios-bg3]

Heart of the Weave (Part 2)

Sequel to my fic Heart of the Weave on Ao3. Must read first fic!

**WARNING: this chapter is NSFW**

Chapter 2

Seeing our friends was a well-needed time, and we got to eat some delicious food! Shadowheart and I will definitely be seeing each other every tenday now, and Astarion will also be coming by to hang out with Gale for some necessary guy-time; they could both use it. 

   Gale has to work tomorrow, so we couldn’t stay super late, but he plans on bringing Jenevelle with him in the baby wrap; the students have been begging to see her. Since he only works four hour days, it isn’t an issue. Neeve starts her first day of daycare tomorrow at the Academy, which Gale and I both agreed would be good for her since it may help her control her magic. Plus Gale told me “I want you to be able to have time for yourself.” Tomorrow, I’ll be able to set up my booth at the markets and sell fruits and vegetables! 

  We make it home finally and after both babies are nursed — yes Neeve still breastfeeds, and I’m trying to wean her — we put them to bed and I start baking Gale’s favorite homemade danishes. 

  “You didn’t have to bake these for me,” he murmurs in my ear as he wraps his arms around me from behind as I bake. “But thank you.”

“You deserve a little treat!” I feel his lips kiss the side of my head, so I turn to face him with bright encouraging eyes and a lively smile. “I love you more than anything the Gods and stars have to offer…besides our kids, I love them just as much.”

“I feel the same way, baby. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you put the stars to shame.” 

  After the desserts are served and fully devoured within minutes, Gale and I sit on the sofa with full stomachs and a book in our hands. I quickly fall asleep with my head on his shoulder, and I don’t recall ever moving a muscle. In fact, when the run rises, I find myself on the couch still but with my head in Gale’s lap. 

  “Mr. Dekarios! You’ll be late for work if you don’t move your tush!” Tara shouts as she flies on his head, waking him up. I bolt off the couch and get the girls ready while Gale gets dressed, nursing them, changing them, and getting them in matching onesies. 

 “Ma-ma!” Neeve says as she shoves her binki in her mouth. “Goo-gooooo!” I hand her off to Gale after he places Jenevelle in the baby wrap. Her first day of daycare at the Academy… Gods, I hope she will be alright. I throw two bottles in the bag and some diapers, then hand it off to Gale. What will I do with myself while I’m all alone? Then I remembered: the markets. God, I’m so scatterbrained, even without my kids. 

 “Have fun getting some time to yourself today, love. I love you so much,” Gale says as he plants a kiss on my lips, then bolts out the door. I stand here in silence, sighing as I observe the quiet room that surrounds me. I guess I better take advantage of it! 

I decide to clean the house, pick some various fruits and vegetables, and cook a delicious breakfast for myself (and it’s possible I shared a little bit of it with Tara). After doing all of that, there’s still quite a bit of time left to myself, and I’m honestly not sure what to do other than practice my violin. I’ve been slacking heavily on my music ventures. I pick it up from the closet downstairs and blow the dust off, realizing it really has been a long time. I’m ashamed of myself really, but family comes first. I close my eyes as I begin to play, performing the first song that came to mind that I learned as a kid. A Sailor’s Promise, it was called, and my stepfather wrote it for me. Occasionally it gets stuck in my head and it’s a miracle I can still play it on the violin.

After several minutes of playing my instrument, which I hope to continue to do as long as I'm alive, I lie on the sofa and rest my eyes for a few moments to allow myself some peace and quiet before the babies get home. Morena, Gale’s mom, will be coming by for a visit tonight to watch the girls while Gale and I have a lovely date at the fine eatery on the Waterdeep docks, so that will be beyond nice. 

The front door opens and I struggle to open my eyes as he steps inside, Jenevelle asleep in the baby wrap and Neeve asleep in his right arm.

 “Hello, my love. I take it you were asleep?” He chuckles as I stand up to take Neeve from his arm. “The tower looks wonderful, thank you for cleaning. Though I wish you took a whole break to yourself, you need it. Cleaning could've waited.” 

“You know me… I get in a huge rush and once it hits me, I can't stop. I just keep on going.” I smile and hold my sleeping daughter against my chest. “How was her first day?”

“Well…” he hesitates for a moment, trying to find the correct words of how to explain it. “She summoned a tiny frog in the classroom somehow. When she wanted her bottle, she summoned it herself. According to her teacher, she's very gifted but she's most certainly a wild magic sorceress. So we really need to be on our toes.” I hesitate, wondering how that is even possible. Can it be true that one of us has it in our bloodlines somewhere?

“Well, that complicates things. Let's just hope she doesn't do anything to Jenevelle. I'm going to put Neeve down for her nap and get ready for our date. That's so nice of your mother to come and see us so we can see our friends. Kid-free for once.”  Gale and I both head to the girls’ room and place them down for a nap while we get ready for a night ahead with our friends. It will give all four of us a chance to unwind and talk about life. Halsin will be watching Shadowheart and Astarion’s son, so no issues on their end luckily. Gale shuts the door and we quietly tip toe to our bedroom down the hallway, where I immediately strip myself of all my clothing. Gale’s eyes study my bare body as I expose myself to him, and he bites his lip desirably. I stand there for a moment, letting him observe me before I attempt to put on new clothes. Key word: attempt. 

“You know what you're doing,” he teases as he approaches me closer and places his hands on my naked waist. “You beautiful tease…my goddess.” I stare him down seductively with my eager brown eyes that hunger for every inch of him. I brush the brown strands of hair out of his face as he removes himself from his teaching robes. 

“Something about you in those robes does something to me.” My voice is hot and heavy as I observe every inch of his chest, where the fatal orb once had a home in. When we first met, a sexual encounter like this could have killed him if he got too excited. Now, I can have every part of him and we can get as intense as we want. He places his soft lips on my neck, gently  nibbling the skin with his teeth as his hands stroke my breasts. I lean my neck back, exposing more skin so he can kiss every inch of it as he goes lower on my body. 

“On the bed,” Gale growls, his eyes and voice hinting that he wants more. I smile and lay down on the bed, my nude body on top of the maroon comforters waiting for him. “I have a surprise for you.” My heart throbs with anticipation as I watch him stroke my thigh with his hand.

“Wh-what?”

“Spread your legs.” My eyes widen in alignment with my smile as I realize exactly what he means to do. I spread my legs open and he holds them in place, leaning in to press his lips between my inner thighs, kissing me and using a gentle motion with his tongue. My body only squirms a little bit but in the best way as his tongue strokes every inch from top to bottom. 

“Oh fuck,” I moan as he continues, his head buried deep between my thighs. “This is….” I can't even finish my sentence for the pleasure is overtaking my body, and it's so hard to describe the sensation I’m feeling. His hands squeeze my upper thighs as he brings his head back up to the surface, a cheeky grin smeared across his face. 

“How was that, my love?”

“How can you do all that and look me deadass in the eye, saying ‘my love'? Because honestly, I'm about to get riled up again.”

“As if you ever stopped,” he teases and lies next to me, our naked bodies touching intimately. “I have more in store for you later. You'll have to wait.”

“I've waited for you before and I'll do it again.”

“MR. DEKARIOS! YOUR MOTHER IS HERE!” I have never heard Tara be so loud before in the entire time I've known that crazy tressym. Gale and I exchanged a confused glance; she wasn't supposed to arrive until much later. I quickly put on my comfy outfit while Gale slides back into his robes; getting ready can wait. We bolt downstairs, trying not to wake the babies, and there she stands: my beautiful mother in law just waiting, a smile curled on her face as she awaits us. 

“My lovelies…my favorite people. My boy!” Her and Gale exchange a comforting hug, lasting a while, but I can't blame either of them. He leans down to kiss the top of her head. “Oh, how I've missed you so much. Emmy, my beautiful girl!” We exchange hugs as well and she rubs my back gently, bringing a sense of comfort in the embrace. 

“Hello Morena. We missed you dearly, how are you?” I ask, feeling my cheeks become numb from the consistent smiling. This woman brings joy to my heart. 

“Much better than I'm here with you two! Gah, I can't believe it. Emmy, I've been enjoying our tea dates so much. Mind if we have a cup again soon? It's been a little too quiet at home, and I'm in need of some company. Gale, my son, where are my grandbabies?” Gale chuckles and crosses his arms as he smiles at his precious mother, then heads to the kitchen to make her some tea. 

“The babies are asleep, but you'll get plenty of time with them tonight. I promise. One of them is barely walking, can you believe it?” Morena gasps lightly and follows Gale into the kitchen with Tara by her side the entire time. 

“Oh I love them so much. Thank you for giving me such beautiful babies! They're both such unique little girls. A forever baby who looks like her father and acts like her mother, and a young toddler who looks like her mother yet acts like her father. Hilarious!” Gale pours her a teacup of her favorite dandelion tea with honey, and hands it to her as she sits on the sofa. 

“I am going to get ready while you two catch up,” I chime in enthusiastically, kissing Gale on the cheek. Morena touches my shoulder delicately. 

“You won't need to be in there for very long, you already look so put together,” she murmurs, her voice so soft as she looks into my eyes. As I feel her comforting touch, I come to the realization that she really is a mother to me…maybe my new mother. Gale was right; she loves me like her own. 

[soclonely]

Whenever you gwt a chance if you're up for it

The clones as which episode of bluey made them emotional

HELLO IT IS I. I AM BACK, AND HERE AND READY FOR SOME CLONES AS! Ironically I am watching Bluey with a group of little ones as we speak and had to hold back a few sobs a moment ago:'))

Rex- Daddy Dropoff: It's Dad's turn to get the kids ready for school and kindy, but Bluey and Bingo aren't making things easy! Dad tries to keep everything on track, but can't help playing along with their games, making them all late… again!

Echo- Camping: Bluey is on a family camping trip, where she makes a new friend, Jean-Luc. Even though Bluey and Jean-Luc don't speak the same language, they teach each other how to camp, plant trees and hunt a "wild pig"

Fives- Bike: Bluey struggles to learn how to ride her bike, but finds inspiration when she watches her friends' determination with their own tasks.

Jesse-Curry Quest: Bingo and Dad must brave a swooping magpie protecting its nest, when they go on a curry swap to Mackenzie's house through the park.

Kix- Rug Island : On Bingo and Bluey's Rug Island, a pack of felt pens can be anything: bananas, campfires, even a snake. But Dad will need to embrace his inner kid if he wants to make it his home.

Tup- Sleepytime: Bingo wants to do a Big Girl sleep. As she drifts away into a dreamy adventure with Flopsy, will Bingo make it through the night and wake up in her own bed?

Dogma-The Show: When Bingo accidentally spills Chilli's Mother's Day breakfast in bed, Bluey decides they should put on a show to make her feel better.

Hardcase- Army: Jack is the new dog at school and the newest recruit in Rusty's Army. Jack struggles with following instructions and always forgets his hat, but Rusty will make a soldier of him yet.

Coric-Bumpy and the Wise Old Wolfhound :Bingo is sick in hospital, so Bluey and her Dad make, and send her a homemade video to lift her spirits. It tells the tale of Barnicus' quest to heal her spotty dog named Bumpy.

Bly- Onesies: When Mum's sister Brandy comes over for a visit, she brings the kids onesies as a present, which has an unexpected effect on Bingo.

99- Flatpack : Bluey and Bingo turn flatpack boxes into a whole new world while Chilli and Bandit struggle to assemble the furniture itself. it is the symbolism of its final scenes that hit home as we see Bluey pretend to become a mother of her own and watch her own child head into adulthood.The show tenderly depicts her passing as she heads to a heaven-like Utopia alongside her own parents as she watched her ‘daughter’ live on.

Cody- Charades: Bluey and Bingo want everyone to play Charades, but Muffin and Socks are too young to understand the rules, which threatens to derail the game. But Nana has her own special rule so everyone is happy!

Waxer/Boil- Bingo : When Bluey has a playdate at Chloe's, Bingo must learn how to play by herself. But all the games she knows need more than one person! Luckily, Dad has a problem that needs solving.

Wolffe- Stories : Indy thinks she's no good because her model horse looks like a cow, but Calypso encourages her not to give up, so she tries to fix it with a little help from Winton.

Boost/Sinker- Butterflies : Playing Butterflies in the backyard is great fun, until Bluey runs away with Judo leaving Bingo all alone. Now poor Bingo's heartbroken and Bluey needs to make it better.

Hunter- Baby Race: Mum reminisces about Bluey and Judo as babies. Bluey learnt to roll over first, but Judo was the first to crawl, so then it became a race to see who would walk first.

Wrecker- Handstand: At a party, Bingo is desperate to show off her handstand skills, while Nanna can't find a way to make herself useful. They're both feelings bit lost, until they find each other.

Tech- Mum School: Bluey plays mum to a brood of bouncy balloons, including an irrepressible floater named Greeny. But she soon discovers that mothering is much harder than she imagined.

Crosshair- Space : Mackenzie, Jack and Rusty are playing as astronauts on a mission to Mars. But during their journey, Mackenzie keeps going missing and no one knows why, not even Mackenzie.

Omega- Bin Night: Bluey, Bingo and Dad always take the bins out. Over a few weeks, Bingo tells dad about a new kid at kindy who is mean to her and Mum offers some good advice.

Howzer- The Decider: Bluey and Lucky's families get together to watch the big game!

Fox- Copycat: Bluey's having fun copying everything Dad says and does, but the game takes a serious turn when Bluey finds a hurt budgie, and they have to make an emergency trip to the vet

Gregor- Grandad: Grandad is supposed to be resting, but when Bluey and Bingo go to visit him, he makes a run for it with the kids and takes them on a madcap adventure into the bush.

[curious-sootball]

I have been thinking about Victoria's interactions with the main cast and I have a lot to ramble about

Customary deadlands campaign spoiler warning

First, just how much more Victoria knows about the main cast than she lets on? Croyd's Wrath is established as a very small town, there's no way she missed everyone's shenanigans there unless she put active effort into ignoring those – in particular, Delacy shooting No Security Deposit Bill in the knee and Silas scaring Arlo into cutting down the bribe(also the bartender from the town saloon to the lesser extent - he got away unharmed, just terrified beyond reasoning). Like, those people live right there, in town, and the gang stayed there for at least a week and a half, most likely a little more – between Silas having a messed up shoulder after a sasquatch fight, Delacy getting non-fatally shot in Dead Man's Worth and Edie resting and healing after both her bounty hunting trips. General store visits would've gotten pretty awkward. Imagine Victoria politely, but firmly establishing house rules on things like not casting Infest or checking if the Coup is working inside of her house.

I know the packed lunch bit was mostly for laughs, but rewatching it with the ending(and the Q&A) in mind turns it genuinely heartbreaking. On one hand, Victoria at that point is established as unfailingly polite, if a bit distant - so, her making packed lunch for her tenants/hired bounty hunters when they ask for it sounds like her being polite. On the other hand - Edie mentions that she expected to receive snacks, not a full-on packed lunch, and Silas goes straight to polishing off the pot of homemade hummus that he was given: Victoria clearly given them more than what they've expected to receive. Also, Silas sounded like he was joking around when he asked for packed lunches - implying that he either expected snacks, like Edie, or didn't expect anything at all(which isn't illogical; most people in such circumstances would either make their own packed lunches or skip a lunch altogether, not ask someone to make one for them), and then Victoria went ahead and made packed lunches for them both anyway without saying much about it. This hits very different after both "I came to consider you my friends" and "The other Horsemen were her family": this bit reads like a genuine moment of kindness to me, because Victoria already gave the gang one hell of a motivator to work with her at that point(2000$ for each bounty), she didn't really need to keep convincing them. Also, note that the second person who asked for packed lunch is Edie – who has shown compassion to Victoria when she shared her backstory. Think about it: from Victoria's point of view, she's reliving the greatest failure of her entire existence – failing to properly start the Apocalypse, getting betrayed by people she considered her family(as much as such concept can be applied to them) and having her powers sealed away; then, Edie, at the moment basically a stranger, swoops in and says "you say you aren't strong, but for surviving all this, I think you are pretty strong". I am unwell about this scene.

And when (almost)all is said and done, during the final confrontation, Nate drops this line: "Never make friends with people you're paying; they will not respect you". I know, Delacy's "We already killed four horsemen. We can kill a fifth" while making eye contact with Victoria is iconic, but I think it was Nate's line that emotionally destroyed Victoria, though Edie's monster hunter speech and "She wants you to become [a monster] as well" "That's even worse!" are close contenders. Think about it: she thougt she finally found strong, capable candidates to replace the original Horsemen(who had betrayed her), she considered them friends, and one of them just up and said that it never was the relationship she assumed it was. That it had no chances of becoming that relationship from the start.

[divinedomesticity]

Bringing Back the Homemaker Schedules of the Past: A Guide to Organized Living

In our fast-paced, modern world, the art of homemaking often feels like a lost treasure. Yet, there's a timeless wisdom in the routines and schedules our grandmothers and great-grandmothers followed. From the 1950s housewives to the Amish communities of today, having designated days for specific tasks can bring structure, efficiency, and a sense of accomplishment to our daily lives. As homemakers, adopting these traditional schedules can help us get organized and reclaim the joy of a well-managed home.

The Timeless Wisdom of Daily Routines

In the 1950s, homemakers had a specific rhythm to their weeks. Each day was dedicated to a particular household task, creating a predictable and manageable routine. This approach not only ensured that all chores were completed but also brought a sense of order and purpose to each day. The Amish, known for their simple and effective lifestyles, continue to embrace these structured schedules, allowing them to maintain their homes and farms efficiently.

Embracing the Homemaker Schedule

By reintroducing a daily schedule into our lives, we can transform the way we manage our homes. Here’s a sample weekly schedule that reflects this traditional approach:

Monday: Laundry Day Start the week by tackling the laundry. Sorting, washing, drying, and folding can be a daunting task, but dedicating one day to it ensures it doesn’t pile up. Involve your children by teaching them to sort their clothes or fold simple items.

Tuesday: Baking Day Set aside Tuesdays for baking. Whether it’s bread, cookies, or muffins, baking can be a therapeutic and rewarding activity. Plus, it ensures you have fresh, homemade goodies for the week ahead. Get your little ones involved by letting them help with measuring and mixing.

Wednesday: Cleaning Day Deep cleaning can be overwhelming, but dedicating one day to it makes it more manageable. Focus on different areas of the house each week or tackle one major chore, like vacuuming, dusting, or scrubbing bathrooms. This routine keeps your home sparkling clean without feeling like an endless task.

Thursday: Errands Day Reserve Thursdays for running errands. Plan your grocery shopping, post office visits, and other out-of-the-house tasks on this day. This way, you can consolidate trips, save time, and reduce stress by knowing exactly when you’ll get these tasks done.

Friday: Organizing Day Use Fridays to organize and declutter. Tackle a different room or area each week, whether it’s the pantry, closets, or kids’ play areas. A little weekly organizing goes a long way in maintaining a tidy home.

Saturday: Family Day Dedicate Saturdays to family time. Plan fun activities, outings, or just relax together at home. This day is about bonding and creating cherished memories without the pressure of chores.

Sunday: Rest and Plan Sundays are for rest and reflection. Take it easy, enjoy a slower pace, and spend some time planning for the week ahead. This can include meal planning, reviewing your schedule, and setting goals.

Why This Approach Works

Predictability and Routine: Having a set day for each task creates a predictable routine that helps manage time and reduces stress.

Efficiency: Focusing on one major task each day prevents overwhelm and ensures that everything gets done without last-minute scrambling.

Family Involvement: Involving your children in daily tasks teaches them responsibility and the value of contributing to household chores.

Sense of Accomplishment: Completing specific tasks each day gives a sense of accomplishment and order, making homemaking more enjoyable.

Bringing It Home

Adopting these traditional schedules might seem old-fashioned, but they can be incredibly effective in our modern lives. As homemakers, we have the power to create a harmonious and organized environment for our families. By bringing back the schedules of the past, we can reclaim the art of homemaking and enjoy a more balanced, peaceful, and fulfilling life.

I hold it in my heart to share the wisdom of our grandmothers and the simplicity of the Amish. We can all create a beautiful schedule and enjoy the blessings of a well-ordered home, finding satisfaction in the daily rhythms that make homemaking a true labor of love.

With warmth and dedication,

Kimmi

[morg-among-the-stars]

"Where do you see yourself in ten years?"

I'll answer that question easily.

I see myself married in a little house with the love of my life.

With sunlight sprawled across our well-worn, tangled bedding in the morning of every brand new day.

A cat, maybe another one, will be at our feet, sleeping soundly (in my mind, we have a cat named Percy, after Percy Jackson, but we'll cross the cat-naming bridge when we get there).

We'll both have our little jobs of which to make our money from, and we will come home tired, but we will come home to each other and our safe bubble.

Our safe bubble with plants and flowers in the windowsill.

With soft lighting and softer couches to lay on together and plush throw-blankets to get comfortable under. (With time, you could chip away at making a homemade blanket if you wished to do so).

With a guest room for any friend who needs it, or for my sister to visit and bake something nice with us.

I see us with a wooden porch and a swing, where we sit together on warm mornings when we have some extra time, listening to the world wake up slowly. Or on cool evenings when the stars come out and frogs croak somewhere far off.

A kitchen pantry filled with any sweet-treats we've ever wanted.

Pictures lining the walls of your childhood and mine (Little Morg and Little Emm can be honored, they deserve to be honored), and the life we build together of all our achievements and adventures.

A closet with my clothes on the left and yours on the right, though we can always mix and match; without a doubt, we'll steal each other's jackets and shirts and flannels.

A big bed that we retire to at the end of every tiresome, wonderful, day, or the one we retreat to at the end of those long-winded, draining days.

The one where we fall into each other, truthful and raw and caring.

Fingertips tracing over spots of vitiligo on your thigh, or the small, dark hairs across my stomach.

Soft sighs against softer skin; the push and pull, the ebb and flow.

Falling into bed and falling into each other.

Falling more in love.

Falling and having a place to land.

A safe bed.

A safe house.

A safe home.

That is where I see myself in ten years.

With the love of my life, made of sunlight and the biggest heart I've ever seen, in a safe, comfortable home.

In a safe and soft love.

[thepropertylovers]

Why We Stay in Our Little Town Instead of Moving Away

My mom and I were talking on the phone the other night…

As we were talking, she said she had plans to mow her lawn that evening and was going to see if the kids could come over and help her pick up sticks (her yard is pretty big), but something had come over her and suddenly she was too tired to want to do anything, and was now laying down resting.

At this time it was 5 o’clock, so I understood where she was coming from. She had been working all day, she was tired, and it was time to finally relax. PJ was doing the exact same thing on the couch next to me. But I felt a tinge of sadness wash over me at the idea that her lawn would go un-mowed when it desperately needed it, and especially because it was going to rain the next day, which meant she would have to wait even longer to cut it.

So after we hung up, I told the kids to get their shoes on because we’re heading to Sitto’s. I asked PJ if he wanted to come and he said he would love to but he had also been working all day at the farm (which included building a fence, burning wood, mowing, etc.) and was too tired. Again, I understood. So I told him we’d be back as quickly as we could to enjoy the rest of the night together.

We made the short half mile drive over to surprise my mom. We knocked on her door and the kids ran in yelling “We’re here to help!”

She started laughing and thanked us for coming. I told the kids to go straight outside and start picking up every stick they could find in the yard. My mom changed clothes and came out to help, much to my dismay. “We will take care of everything, you rest!” Not happening.

We all began picking up sticks, an activity the kids were really into. I have found that when they feel like they’re truly helping someone and brightening their day, our kids don’t complain about work.

If I ask them to help me pick up the house before PJ gets home because I don’t want him to come home to a messy house after working all day at the farm, they happily oblige. But if I ask them to put their clothes away for no reason other than trying to keep a tidy house, they’re so not into it. Go figure.

Once all the stick were picked up, I put my AirPods in and began mowing. It was a perfect spring day- not too hot and not too cold. It felt good outside, and it felt good to help out. A little while after I started mowing, I look up and see a man walking on the street in front of my mom’s house, and I do a double take.

It was PJ!

My eyes grew wide when I realized it was him and I mouthed, with the biggest smile on my face: “Oh my goodness!!” He decided to come after all!!

He told me he was bored at home by himself and wanted a little exercise, so he ran over. He and my mom immediately began talking about all her plants and flowers and then moved on to playing ball with the kids while I finished up the yard.

After about 45 minutes, the yard was mowed and it was time to relax.

PJ and the kids were playing baseball and running around (which, thank goodness, because the kids had been arguing with each other all. day. long. since getting home from school, and they desperately needed this release of energy) and my mom and I sat on her back porch and watched and talked.

It was so nice. All of it: PJ’s surprise visit, being close enough to my mom to come over at any time, her sending me home with homemade tahini (!), the kids running and laughing in her backyard that’s luckily big enough to accommodate them (very different from our yard). I just felt so grateful for it all.

And that brings me to the question we get all the time from people: Why do we stay here, the same town we grew up in, when we could move away? I mean, we can technically do our job from anywhere, and there seem to be a lot more opportunities in bigger cities like LA and New York City. Why don’t we pack up, sell everything, and move somewhere “better”?

Because somewhere else doesn’t always equal better. Somewhere else doesn’t have our moms right down there road for us to be there for them when they need us and vice versa. Somewhere else doesn’t have the house I grew up in that we’re now raising our own children in. Somewhere else doesn’t have our family, which we’ve come to find is the most important part of life. Somewhere else isn’t here, and we desperately love here.

So while my family played and laughed in front of me and my mom talked and smiled beside me, suddenly the world felt like simpler, better place. If only we could do this every night, I thought, then everything would be right in the world. Of course, that’s not true, but it’s how I felt in the moment; like all of life’s problems could be cured if we just spent more time playing, laughing and being together.

That’s why we stay in our little town. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

[yandepostal-fanfic]

YandePOSTAL - Chapter 0 "Prologue"

First Blood

“Damnit, he's dead.” said the Young Dude, as he held a bloodstained Pipe in his hand.

“We can work through this, Dude.” Said a Young Woman standing next to Dude. “Even then, I dunno if we had much choice about saving ourselves.”

This young woman was Dude's college Sweetheart, supposedly named Janet Kobayashi. Dude & Janet had just killed a man trying to attack them in an alleyway near an EZ-Mart.

“Are you kidding me?!” Dude exclaimed in slight disbelief. “You're handling this a bit too well, considering we just took a guys life…!”

“Damn it, I don't see you panicking either, Dude!” Janet shouted.

In that moment, both Dude & Janet realized something else they had in common - they both have committed murder before.

The couple sat down back in their car for a smoke that lasted about 15 minutes, until Dude broke the silence.

“I actually killed someone after leaving High-School, trying to protect my dog." Dude confessed. “What about you…?”

“My name isn't Janet Kobayashi…” Janet spoke softly, but very clearly. “It's actually Ayano Aishi.”

“How come you didn't tell me…?” Dude asked, genuinely curious.

“I wanted to start a life here in America, as New as I can make it.” Ayano explained in slight hesitation. “Back in Japan, I've… been through these situations way too many times than I could count.”

Ayano then told Dude her story. Back in her High-school days, Ayano had killed many of her classmates for the affection of her former crush. Eventually after the two graduated, that very young man that Ayano loved had discovered her misdeeds & confronted her through a Bloody, Steel-Swinging duel. Ayano ended up as the last one standing, but it was all too bittersweet - countless classmates whose lives were taken for the Affection of a Young Man that ended up being added to Ayano's brutal body count.

Dude & Ayano held each other tightly for a while before bringing the corpse into their trunk to be cremated elsewhere.

Double Kill - Some Years later

Dude & Ayano had their first Child - a little girl named Emira. On top of that, Dude is having success with his new job at a Radio News Station. As joyous as the occasion was, the couple had underlying worries on their minds - they were apparently being stalked.

Thankfully, Dude had a friend of his visiting to make sure him & his new family were safe. This friend was named John Murray, & he had been Dude's best friend since Elementary School. And for the sake of Extra Safety, Dude also brought his Little Step-Brother from Russia, nicknamed Corkscrew, who looked almost just like Dude, but with Fluffier Hair & a slightly larger forehead. Dude arrives out of the Kitchen & into the Living Room, carrying a plate of homemade Sandwiches with Gruyere & Chicken Katsu.

“Man, I've been wanting to try these for a while!” John says, as a small grin of comfort forms across his face.

Dude sets the plate on the table, as Ayano holds a sleeping Emira closely while John opens a can of Cola. Dude's pet dog, Champ, arrives to beg for a bite of their food, but is at least well behaved enough to sit & wait patiently, albeit whining a little bit here & there.

“Nyet Champ, you can't have Human food!” Corkscrew says to Champ in a thick Russian Accent.

The doorbell then rang. The light mood of the entire house turned into a slowly creeping shadow of dread.

“Dude… you're not expecting anyone else aside from me & Corkscrew, right…?” John shuddered.

“I'm pretty sure I'm not.” Dude responded with vigilance. “Everyone Stay here.”

Dude went for the front door & looked through the peephole. He saw a Stocky blonde woman holding a baseball bat in her Hands & a Katana on her waist - the Handle was wrapped in white leather & red straps, & the tsuba was Gunmetal Black.

“Oh shit…!” Dude gasped while rushing back to the living room. The woman Dude saw at his door was the one stalking him & his Family, known by others as… The Bitch.

“Guys, it's her; that stalking Bitch is here!” Dude exclaimed as he made it back into the living room, desperately catching his breath.

“Oh shit, this is bad.” Ayano shivered as she handed Emira over to John. “John & Corkscrew, keep Emira Safe!”

Suddenly, a sound echoed through the house that made the tension extreme - the front door was kicked down.

“Come on out, Dude~!” The Bitch taunted. “Shit, bring your wife out too, since I know she would love a good Sword Fight, like old times for her!”

“You gotta be fucking kidding me! How does she know who I was?!” Ayano snarls defensively, before turning back to Corkscrew & John. “Nevermind, both of you, hide in the attic with Emira & be ready to run if things get a lot worse.”

Corkscrew & John both rush to the Attic, Emira in Corkscrew's Arms. Ayano rushes to the front door searching for Dude, only to see him on the floor covered in pieces of destroyed door in front of a figure that made Ayano’s blood run cold. Towering above Dude's unconscious body was a Ghoulish Franken-Dragon of a Man in Ragged Clothes with a Foul Odor of Rotten Flesh & Sea Water.

“Did you miss me, classmate?!” Spoke the ghoul in a raspy, devilish hiss - like he was speaking while being waterlogged.

This Revenant was Taro Yamada, Ayano’s former crush & second-to-last victim.

“No…! You're supposed to be dead!” Ayano Shuddered, grasping her sword, ready to attack. Suddenly, The Bitch Grabbed Ayano & kept her restrained from Behind. Ayano struggled to get herself free, but The Bitch’s arms were as unyielding as a crocodile's mouth.

“I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU ALL OVER AGAIN IF YOU LAY A SINGLE ONE OF YOUR ROTTEN CLAWS ON MY HUSBAND!” Ayano screamed in fury. Taro then picks up Dude by his Neck & pierces his skull with the tip of a Claw. “What Husband?” Taro Taunted. “He won't remember a thing.”

Ayano struggles more until she stomps on The Bitch’s Foot, freeing herself & allowing her to charge forward. Taro then catches Ayano mid-charge & Throws her to a wall.

“Stupid Crone!” Taro shouts, as he stabs Ayano's sword into her abdomen, pinning her to the wall.

“You think you could escape to another country, become a mommy, & turn a new leaf?! I won't let you have it.”

Taro then grabs Ayano's face & opens his Mouth, revealing several rows of razor sharp teeth, oozing with venom that looked like Magma. Taro bites Ayano’s neck, as his Glowing orange Venom coursed through her body & solidified her flesh into Stone, turning Ayano into a Statue.

As all of this was going down, Corkscrew & John were in shock. Dude will never remember his dear brothers. Before Corkscrew thought of intervening, his shirt was grabbed by John as the two boys & infant escaped.

—

Corkscrew & John decided to hide at a nearby hotel.

“H-he turned her into a fucking statue, John…!” Corkscrew sobbed, with his shoulders held by John's Arm, with Emira in the other arm. “THAT SUKA & HER MONSTER WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT!”

“CORKSCREW, STOP!” John hollered. “There's nothing we can do - at least right now.”

The two boys looked at the Infant girl, who fell asleep, albeit whimpering & with tears on her face. It was then that John & Corkscrew made a plan for the Many years to come for Emira's Life - they would train Emira to be a fighter & eventually reunite with her family at some point.

[kendrawontfindmehere]

turnip greens are delicious and you can’t tell me otherwise

the ones i’m currently eating taste like swimming in the YMCA pool with my mother when i was little- lukewarm, hydrating and the red pepper flakes burn my tongue the way the chlorine used to burn my big hazel eyes

food has always been a source of love and nostalgia for me.

i was eating a burger at Sonic when i found out Paw’s girlfriend had passed away. i really liked her. she was sweet and always gave me soft mints when we visited because she remembered that peppermint makes me sick.

i left a big container of homemade tuna noodle casserole at my sister’s back door before we stopped talking 3 years ago. she’s become a mother since we last spoke.

my dad liked my spaghetti better than his wife’s- “i salted the noodles while they boiled in the pot and i added minced garlic to the sauce!” i had proudly declared as i watched a frown settle into her face.

my friend constantly makes food for us and i love them for it because it’s how they say “i love you” when the words simply don’t measure up.

some nights, my mom used to cook Jamaican pork chops just for me and her. they were spicy and sweet and she would pair it with a veggie she bought with our food stamps and we’d sit at our little table for two, not being quite in the living room or the kitchen and it was peaceful when it was just us and our hopeful little meal. she’d bring me food from the African neighbors above us who had all sorts of foods that tiny, picky me wasn’t willing to even remember or make note of- however, the rock candy was good in my book.

my sister and i used to eat seaweed snacks together and go out and get milkshakes then have a little spa night to ourselves in our room.

i realized i was going to marry my husband the first time we cooked together at his mother’s house- the way we moved around the kitchen, stepping around each other and knowing where to reach out for, like choreography.

i cook for everyone that comes over and i concoct syrups and jellies and teas and pretty drinks and soups. i always toss a piece of my soul into everything i create, food and everything else.

food holds so much, it’s absorbent like a sponge and keeps every memory and ingredient in its broths and sauces so we can relive every time we consume our nostalgia.

[corndoggod]

The Way to Glacier

VALENTINE

Today, we embark on the long-awaited, much worried about road trip. First stop: Valentine. Graham told us about a spot in the Anderson Wildlife Refuge and promised us complete seclusion. He was sort of right. 

We delayed a day because we weren’t ready, and because we were having too much fun. I clocked off and threw my phone in a fish bowl and we took Lucy to the dog park, then to visit my Dad, and finally to the Saltdog’s baseball game. The next morning, we went to the farmer’s market where you tried homemade root beer, kettle corn and Filipino egg rolls. 

The Sandhills reminded you of Ireland (this would come up time and again) and me of home, though I’d never seen them before. We were subsumed by a great stillness, caressed in a sea of grass. Blown-out tires torn up like the seamed guts of a baseball lined the highway. We pulled over, taken with the view, and each other. 

We drove down a long dirt road in my Mom’s brand-new car, past a gang of young Mennonites, all of whom were bearded and dressed in overalls. Upon arrival, we were ambushed by ticks. The tiny bloodsuckers were everywhere -- in our socks, laced in our shoes, tucked in our cuffs. Once we expelled all the buggers from our body and tick-proofed our tent, we took a mushroom cap and blasted off. 

The Niobrara swam through the sunlight, molting into glass and melting back into itself. Our legs dangled free, and we felt free. It had been a trying year between housing struggles in New York, giving up your studio to try something new and my Dad’s second stroke. But all of that was far away now. It was just me and you and the golden hour and we did a little photoshoot like that 2009 Levi’s commercial. 

“Come my tan-faced children.

For we cannot tarry here, 

We must march my darlings

Pioneers! O Pioneers” 

An electrical storm interrupted the night. At first, we couldn’t figure out what it was. We saw flashes of light, but no thunder and no boom. When we finally ventured out of our tents we saw an opera in the prairie sky as lightning scarred the sky, lighting up mighty thunderheads. I felt a deep peace and longed for more summer storms in the Heartland. 

THE BADLANDS

We bought 36 cent coffee on the res and saw the decimation a century of government removal and control can inflict. But we also saw spotted horses and endless horizons that captivated you. 

“I’ve never seen that far in my life,” you said as we crested another modest hill. “Just look. So vast. It’s amazing.” And it was true. You could see for miles. There wasn’t always much to see, but you could see, and coming from New York that was rare. The emptiness was welcoming and peaceful. 

We saw a wild buffalo in the Badlands. He just appeared out of nowhere, but of course he had always been there. He was black and grey, as if he belonged not only to an older generation but an older time and it was a glitch to see him here. We scampered through the brush for a better look, but he slowly trundled away and disappeared behind a butte. 

We took another cap that night and watched the last light from a big dirt mound we came to call Big Rock Tater Mountain. Later into the night, squirreled away inside our tent, blind to the world and at the mercy of the wind, that song would save us from ourselves. 

The wind played mind games with us. Cocooned in the dark, we imagined all kinds of terrors -- a pack of coyotes, an inquisitive porcupine, a coiled rattlesnake, a return of the buffalo. “Don’t worry,” I said. “If you hear breathing, then you should be alarmed.” This was a terrible thing to say, and I was beginning to worry too, especially when I remembered we had loads of food on us. 

DEVIL’S TOWER

The lording rock cannot be explained, so I will say no more. After a nice couple hijacked our evening by inviting us to dinner and disclosing a very personal family history including incest, sexual abuse and drug addiction, we excused ourselves to watch the sunset alone. I watched you drink in the valley and saw the sun freckle your face. 

We had our first hot meal at Wall Drug, which mastered the art of billboards. I regrettably ordered the house special -- a roast beef sandwich on white bread plus a scoop of whipped potatoes all smothered in a dark, tasteless gravy. 

BIG HORN COUNTRY

It’s so blue out here. The grass and the distance conspire to make something as sweet as the sky that we can walk upon. This is a lush West I’ve never known. I’m sure it’s tough up close, but from the highway, it is vibrant and soft. 

We sailed 8000 feet over the Big Horn National Forest, which was a sleeper hit. We saw meadows, wildflowers, gulches, a pair of elk and a moose slurping from a pond with its big, hidden beak.

We could’ve camped up there, but it was too cold and a storm was rolling in. Plus, we were in bear country now. So we drove on to Powell, Wyoming, where, educed by a soft bed, hot showers and a local guide, we made the mistake of staying an extra day.

TOP OF THE WORLD 

We drove to the top of the world, a thin place with snow and motorcycles and speed goats and one country store, and then neutraled back down to oblivion where concrete lives. 

We stopped for lunch in Red Lodge, Montana, a cute tourist trap straight out of rah-rah America. We ate at Provisions, a James Beard nominee, and stopped at a candy store for some treats and a cafe for nice coffee beans to gift Mark and Diana for their hospitality (they drank a gallon of coffee a day). 

Mark regaled me with stories of my Dad, most of which involved weekend-long benders and more tabs of acid than I can remember. He told me about the time he found my Dad perched in a tree holding a bag of Wendy’s after a 48-hour rager where they walked around with a sheet of acid handing out tabs to any and all. “The hell you doing up there?” Mark asked. In response, my Dad held up the Wendy’s bag and said, “Potato?” 

And then he told me about the time my Dad somehow maneuvered a footballer's moped into a tree. I didn't bother to ask why there was a moped in Lincoln or it was the same tree or if acid was also involved. 

Mark was sure my Dad would write a great American novel. “I don’t know of anyone who’s read more than your old man. I was sure he was going to do something great, but I think he was afraid.” I carry those same fears and ambitions in my hearth. They smoke out my eyes and scald my throat. I must write for the fire.

HEART MOUNTAIN

We hiked the summit of heart mountain, rested briefly, and ran back down in record time. You realized sage grouse was the chicken-looking bird with boobs and we sang for the bears. I confessed that, if confronted with a bear, I would probably die out of embarrassment. Meaning I would be too shy to scream, and we both had a good laugh.

ERIC’S SHED

It was nice seeing our old friend Eric who we met at Vermont Studio Center, which is also where we met. A brief aside: I love our story, especially our beginning. In that overpriced snowglobe where everything sparkled, I found you and you found me. I felt an ease around you unmatched by anything in this world not of my blood. And the magnitude of that feeling has only grown since. I will always caress your beautiful face like that first night. You talked about going on a road trip then, solo, and now here we are, doing it together in places we’ve never been 

Anyway, a beer meet up turned into an all-night hang, a path well trodden by me. We went to an art opening, critiqued Eric’s shed and talked about the difficulties of leading a creative life over a fire and smores and more tall boys. 

Making a living had consumed Eric’s life and ours too. I freelanced until I hated reading and writing. You sewed until sales dried up. Eric, like me, had a deadend comms job he loathed. But we all still have the fire, and the guilt, to keep us going. If we attend to the lighthouse, ride the lonely nights and drink in the long hours, a galleon will surely come bearing the world's cross and the people's crust. 

We both came at Wild Crumb, the dankest bakery in all the West. We dropped $40 on the flakiest croissants (almond, ham and gruyere, spinach and feta), a cardamom knot, pecan teacake, chocolate covered macaroon and a petit baguette to be sensible. 

VIGILANTE CAMPGROUND

First night in bear country. We arrived, as usual, at 6pm with three hours of daylight to set up camp, make dinner, get weird and make a fire. We do not take a cap. We take our chairs to Trout Creek and bury warm beers and seltzers in the cold creek carrying melted runoff. We sit quiet and write in the honeyed light. And then we get naked and take disposable photos we won’t see until wintertime. 

I’m happy its just me and you again, doing as we please, quietly shuffling between the car and the site as we prep a meal and whatnot. We work well together and already we have something of a routine and a system. We could go on like this, across many states, for many weeks. 

GLACIER

Glacier is my new favorite national park. It is a matter of scale and purity, which is to say untouched by man. We crawl like ants on the edge of God’s chalice, drawn by the scent of century-old pines and rivers clear and cold as ice. I have never seen waters so unsullied. Clear of sediment and chemical, you can see the stone they sculpted below. There are waterfalls wide and tall and many rivers strong. Clouds shielded the peaks from our eyes, preferring the company of eternal gods to us mortals. To consort with them, we’d have to brave their sharp, slick edges. 

At our modest cabin, we walked down a skimpy trail and collected rocks to skip. I went for the smooth ones, polished by a thousand waves. Your stomach is like river rock - cool and smooth and kind to the hand that reaches beneath. All week, we’d been listening to Circe and we invented river gods and challenges to win their favor. 

With no reservation, we had to rise before dawn to enter the park. I was wide awake despite the brutal alarm. It could’ve been the thin mattress but it wasn’t. It was the challenge awaiting me: a twelve mile out and back to Iceberg Lake. 

The park was even more glorious alone in the first light, and it was scarier too, being nearly alone in all that wilderness. We clapped rocks for unseen grizzlies. We’d come to an understanding of bears after many states and the same question: What to do if one sees a bear? We learned bears preferred meadows to densely wooded areas because it was easier to move. We learned a horn was nothing to rely on and to carry spray within easy reach. The very same spray, if unleashed inside the car, would render the car unusable. 

The Iceberg’s path was lined with wildflowers and the rock was red with iron. We saw another waterfall by a hairpin turn and inched down close as we could with our pack and enjoyed a snack on less precarious ground. A band of horses passed by and you wanted to ride with them. But we hoofed it on our own two feet. Thankfully the path was majority flat after a steep climb in at the beginning. Cupped in a crater was the bluest lake I’d ever seen. We wolfed down our lunch and made it back to the car before noon. 

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH RV PARK. THERMOPOPOLIS, WYOMING. 

I woke up to a long train screeching by just after dawn. Pink eye after last night’s dip in the natural hot springs, and there was fresh bird shit on my towel. I felt mildly cursed. 

We drove all day yesterday. Try as I might to equally distribute the fun in an engaging loop, the return journey is always a bit sad. But we were ready to be back in our new home in Brooklyn on Prospect Pl. The paint had barely dried there before we packed our bags and left West.