#well give back to the community toi and do some volunteer work

[thewholeavocado]

I need to go to bed but I wanted to write some thoughts down.

I've been thinking a lot about what I want in life and happiness, or at least for the next 5-10 years. Its sort of funny because a lot of what I desire has been reflected in what I enjoy being around and what I read.

I definitely have a loose 5 year plan, including paying off debt, getting married, starting a family, ect.

But part of it also is to embrace the softness and joys of life.

I want to have a family, one that I've always wanted that's full of love, kindness, and understanding. A family that hold you accountable but loves you unconditionally. A family that enjoys your presence and appreciates the efforts you make.

I want to be a stay-at-home mom so I can provide, love, and teach my kids all day. I can teach them the ways of the world and explore with them, teaching them to kind and thoughtful humans, while having fun. We can squish in the mud in the garden while I teach them about the natural world and how we can take care and appreciate it. We can cook and bake together and find silly things to do to surprise their dad when he gets back.

I want to find the joys in living a simple life for a while and enjoy having a garden in the warm months. I want to preserve our work and efforts by freezing and canning good, wholesome food that will sustain us in the winter and while the cycle starts anew. I want to bake my own bread every week and have the house smell like heaven. I want to have a flower garden and have fresh cut flowers every week, as well as helping the bees. Bonus points if we have some chickens to wander around and provide eggs for breakfast and desserts.

I want to have a nice, clean, safe house so full of joy and laughter. I want it to be a place of solace and refuge, with lots of sunlight streaming through the lace curtains. I want to have people over to join for dinner or lunch, and maybe have the neighbors over for a picnic lunch while the kids play in the yard.

I want to wake up early and make pancakes to surprise the family. I want to see my future spouse's sleepy face and have soft kisses while I make sure I don't get distracted and burn my hard work. I'll recruit him in slicing some fruit so we can say we're being healthy as I finish up the pancakes and help get the kids set up.

I want the house to be filled with music. I still want to teach while I raise a young family and give music lessons to local kids for cheap. I want my own children to appreciate music and the joy it brings as I practice for my quartet and be involved in a community orchestra.

I mostly want a soft life filled with joy and love. Domestic bliss.

I know it won't always be easy and things are challenging, I'm not delusional of that

I'm excited of having a family of my very own, and one that we can treat each other right. One that isn't built on arguments, lies, and abuse.

I'm excited that this sort of life, even a fraction of it, is actually possible and maybe obtainable within the next 5-10 years.

[cosmictyto]

(Movie) Nimona Winter/Christmas Headcanons:

Experiencing a literal snow squall rn and it’s making me think of Khrismuh Time. So have some thoughts.

First: In terms of the Trio™️ and where they generally stand regarding “Holiday Spirit”

• 🎄 •

Ambrosius: Absolutely loves it. He naturally runs cold, but at the same time he loves wearing winter clothes. Sweaters, cozy socks, scarves, you name it. And his biggest “giving” love language IS gifts. (Meanwhile his “receiving” LL is physical touch. Dude wants cuddles.) So this holiday ticks all the boxes for him. He’s wants to celebrate the whole month long, wants to go do little traditions like sleigh rides and snowball fights, and he always had a couple decorations he put in his dorm at the Institute every year. Like he is IN it. And he’s totally the kind of guy who’s working on a list for Bal the whole year. Yes, he knows the season isn’t JUST about material goods. But he also absolutely loves the look on Bal’s face when he gets something he genuinely loves, or when Rose catches Bal wearing/using something he got him. It just makes him really happy.

• 🎄 •

Ballister: Moderate Christmas enjoyer. He naturally runs hot, so he doesn’t bundle up nearly as much as Ambrosius does. Usually only in a tshirt and some gray sweatpants (another reason why Ambrosius likes winter ayooo~) And maybe a turtleneck when it gets really cold. The gifts are nice, but he’s always been a quality time kind of guy. Which, works out perfectly. There was always a Christmas Break for cadets so they had time, + Bal n’ Rose could go out and do all those traditional little activities and have a good time. He used to have a hard time with the holidays when he was a kid for various reasons. For starters, the winter weather in the Danks can be a bitch. Along with general food insecurities plus a cultural emphasis on family and friends when you don’t have any doesn’t lead to anything good. Even despite the various charities that try to make that time easier. But, after starting his training, he had a stable home and food situation, he had a best friend who did his damndest to make sure he had a good Christmas, and yeah the Queen always invited him to spend the actual day with her (since she didn’t really have anyone, either.) So over time he’s built up good memories and associations with the season.

I also see him as 100% being the kind of guy who goes to do volunteer work as part of his traditions. (Not even just for christmas, I imagine he and Ambrosius do community work year-round because they’re both genuinely good, generous guys- though he definitely MAKES time for it during the holidays) Mainly because he knows how hard it is out there when you don’t have anything. And he’s benefited from things like soup kitchens, blanket and clothes donations, as well as toy drives when he was small. Now he’s an adult with the means to help and give back. Why wouldn’t he do that?

• 🎄 •

Nimona: She. Hates. It. The Grinchiest Grinch who ever Grinched. For starters, I wanna put down a Richard Adams quote, because it definitely applies here and how Nims would feel about winter overall:

“Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it. For them there is no winter food problem. They have fires and warm clothes. The winter cannot hurt them and therefore increases their sense of cleverness and security. For birds and animals, as for poor men, winter is another matter.”

The years she’s lived as various animals gave her enough reason to dislike the season. There are PLENTY of times where she’s hibernated as a bear or flown south to avoid the cold. Though when she’s stayed in the kingdom, she just does not have a good time. She’s had a lot of the same issues Ballister had as a kid, but she’s never had anyone to alleviate them. She’s just had to endure for literal centuries. Plus, the holiday’s messaging about “peace, love, goodwill towards others,” and all of that feels incredibly fake considering everything she’s been through. It’s hard to get in that christmas spirit when you’re just trying to survive in a kingdom that would happily hunt and kill you. Plus, she’s seen how the holiday itself has succumbed to commercialization. So it feels even MORE cheap and fake to her. She just doesn’t like it. (She’s more of a Halloween person anyway.) It’s just a bad time of year, with a boatload of negative emotions/baggage attached to it that lasts even after the events of the movie, and she’s more than happy to treat it like “just another day.” (I also imagine she deals with seasonal affective disorder. Get this girlie a uv lamp so she can bask under it as a lizard.)

That first christmas after she comes back from the canon incident? When she starts living with her boss and his boyfriend? She’s a complete grump. She sees Ambrosius (who is still “Nemisis,” “Goldielocks,” and “Goldengroin” in her mind) decorating the place during, like, the first week of December and she’s reacting like an angry cat. Quietly slinking into her room and avoiding everyone. Maybe even playing loud music to drown out the sound of cheesy movies and music. Ambrosius is pretty oblivious to why she’s being so sour about everything, but Bal immediately recognizes what’s going on and empathizes. Already forming a plan to give her some good experiences. And, like, they don’t really convert her into a christmas enjoyer within the year. But with each passing holiday they do help ease her out of hating it. It’ll never be her favorite holiday, but she stops dreading winter and christmas eventually.

[lovecarisi]

Mistakes We Knew We Were Making

Chapter 7: Fever Dreams

Being back home in Greenwich is strange but beautiful. Two hours from your Brooklyn neighborhood and it feels like a different world, a different time even. The worst part is that people on the street know you, whether you like it or not, and you have to be accommodating and approachable, always. Your family is well-known in town, your father, a prominent lawyer himself, your mother, a former showjumper turned homemaker who has been active in the community all her life, the most charitable woman you’ve ever known. 

One could say you were a spoiled child given the wealth of your family but your parents had taught you that self-worth, confidence, values and morals, had nothing to do with your economic status. If you wanted something, you had to earn it, proof that you deserved it first, it wasn’t just handed to you—You wanted to take up horseback riding? Well, you had to get up every morning at 6am for months to clean out stables first to show that you were serious about it. Even during your summer holidays. 

Your parents had supported you financially, yes but you were taught to never take it for granted. Although you had domestic help around the house, they were to be treated with respect, as part of the family, not your personal servants. You were to assist them with chores around the house and garden, run errands with them and your mom, and your older brother had to do the same. You joined your parents for volunteer work in your free time, you learned early to part with toys and clothes to donate them to children who were less fortunate. It was just how things were done in your family. Material things never meant that much to you, and apart from a few family heirlooms, you don’t own anything really expensive, even though your mom insists you should go shopping for a few designer suits and dresses for your job. It’s the least exciting thing you can think of. 

Your brother Levi is the only one in your family who knows about Dominick. The two of you have no secrets, and even if you did, he is too damn nosey. He thinks Dom is very dreamy and incredibly handsome and you’re stupid for not getting serious with him. And you gently remind him that he’s never had a serious boyfriend in his life so he shouldn’t really be giving you advice. And he argues that all the good men are straight, apparently, referring to Dominick. You have to give him that. Your brother being gay was never a big deal in your family. Your parents knew from a very young age and embraced it, and you had always been proud of him, supported him in whichever way you could. Against bullies at school, narrow-minded folks in town, assholes who lived in the dark ages. You had gotten into physical fights over it in junior high. Luckily, things had started to calm down by the time you were in high school, and it helped that your mom and dad made it clear to everyone that if people messed with their kid, they would ruin their lives. And they meant it. 

You spend the days with your family doing all your favorite things: eating seafood, bitching about your conservative neighbors, going for long horseback rides with your mom, and discussing your dad’s biggest cases with him until way past midnight with a bottle of Whiskey. And of course, more talks about Dominick with your brother. Which makes you miss him, even though it’s only been a few days but you resist the urge to call or text. It’s just two more, come on, you tell yourself. Don’t be such a Hedonist. What did Shakespear write in All’s Well That Ends Well? My poor body, madam, requires it: I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives. Oh yes, you finally figured it out. You’re a Shakespearian comedy. 

Maybe it’s all the stress of the last few weeks or just the beginning of the annual summer flu you seem to catch every year for some reason but by the end of your last day with your family you don’t feel so good. Your parents beg you to stay but you hate how they fuss and you need to get back to the city, ill or not. As you sit on the train back to New York you are shivering, even though it’s 90F outside, and by the time you get back to your apartment you definitely have a fever. Fuck. 

With the bags thrown down in the hallway, you strip off your clothes, just to dress in your warmest pair of pajamas, and head straight for your bed where you wrap the covers around yourself tightly, still shaking. You have a banging headache and your throat feels scratchy but you really can’t be bothered to get up again to make yourself some tea or find some medicine to combat it. Your entire body is hurting. For now, all you want to do is sleep. Yet before you can even close your eyes, your phone rings. It’s Dominick.

‘What?’ you answer, realizing you’re already losing your voice.

‘Damn, you okay?’ he replies, car’s honking in the background. ‘I’m on my way.’

Oh no, you had forgotten. The day before you had texted him your ETA back in the city and you had agreed he would come over. That was before you started to feel like fucking death. 

‘Shit, Dom. I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m like…dying, I think. Pretty sure I got the flu or something. I’ll call you when I feel better, okay? Sorry, babe.’ You really are, you were looking forward to seeing him. 

‘Fuck, it’s okay. Feel better, yeah? Let me know if you need anything.’ he says and you think it’s sweet how concerned he sounds. 

All you can manage is a ‘hmm’ before you hang up and pull the blanket over your head again. In a way you wish he was here so you could snuggle up to him, his warm body. His arms around you would make you feel better, and provide some comfort. But you don’t have this kind of relationship, you take care of each other in other ways but not like this. 

You bury your face into the pillow and sigh, if either of you would want to change it, you could. All you want out of this relationship is what you have and that’s it. And you finally drift off to sleep, curled up into a ball.

The doorbell wakes you. You curse and whine and look at the clock; you’ve only been asleep for 45 minutes. Can’t a sick girl get some rest? For a moment you consider ignoring it before it rings again and you decide you can’t. Everything feels like slow-motion as you unwrap the blanket from yourself and get up, making your way to your door where you can already hear a soft knocking. Ugh, maybe it’s your old lady neighbor looking for her cat again, that beast always escapes and you have let her in on occasion to feed her some canned tuna. You open the door a crack to peek out and it’s Dominick, smiling at you. Oh, what the fuck? Seriously? What part of ‘I’m dying’ did he not understand? You really aren’t in the mood for his shenanigans right now. 

‘What are you doing here?!’ you ask, voice even raspier than before and it hurts to speak but he ignores you, pushing his way past you into your apartment. 

‘I don’t want to hear any protesting or whining, just do what I say and let me take care of you, okay?’ he says and you notice he’s carrying two huge bags straight into your kitchen. 

What is happening?

You follow him, confused as to what in the world is going on right now. He puts the bags down on your kitchen island and starts unpacking. Containers full of what looks and smells like chicken soup. Bottles of Pedialyte and ginger ale. Four boxes of tissues. Ibuprofen. Cough syrup. Nasal spray. Decongestants. Disinfectant. A warm water bottle. Biscuits. Honey. Fresh fruit. At least four different kinds of tea. All your favorite snacks. The latest editions of your favorite magazines. There’s so much stuff you can’t even register all of it. It truly looks like he went and robbed a CVS. You look at him in awe, in fact, you’re aware that you’re pretty much staring at him in shock.

‘You forgot to get yourself one of those nurse outfits from the costume store. I’m sure you’d look pretty hot in one.’ you say, shaking your head. You have to make a joke about it, otherwise you might start crying. 

‘Yeah well, they were all sold out but if I order one on Amazon it might be here by tomorrow.’ Dominick replies with a smile.

This can’t be real life, you think. This must be a fever dream. That’s right. You fell asleep wishing he was there and now you’re dreaming that he showed up in your kitchen ready to nurse you back to health like a superhero doctor hybrid of a perfect man that you never knew existed. He can’t really be here, doing this. Doing all this for you. Your mind is racing and you can feel yourself getting emotional but he gives you no time. 

‘Right, sit down. You’re gonna eat some of this soup, take some medicine, and then back to bed with you. Have you checked your temperature?’ he feels your forehead. ‘Yeah, you definitely have a fever. Here.’ He pours some of the soup into a bowl and grabs a spoon from your kitchen drawer. 

The sight makes your stomach turn but you know you have to eat, and Nurse Dominick will make sure you have a few spoons full at least. So you sit there, absolutely astonished by this whole scene, trying to sip the soup while he is leaning against the counter watching you, with a worried look in his eyes, like he’s somehow responsible for you and your wellbeing. When he heard your voice on the phone, telling him you weren’t well, he instinctively acted, not even thinking. It was such a boyfriend thing to do and he wasn’t your boyfriend. Maybe it wasn’t appropriate, maybe it was blurring the lines but he didn’t care. The thought of you sick in bed all alone had been too much for him. Nonna Carisi had taught this boy well.  

After making sure you’ve had enough to eat, drink, and had taken the meds, Dominick tucks you in and you’re surprised when he settles next to you with a book. It’s only then you notice his backpack in the corner of your bedroom. 

‘You planned ahead, huh?’ you say, looking up at him.

‘Well, I have to make sure you get better. And work is slow but I brought my laptop just in case. I can stay for a couple of days.’

‘I’m gonna get you sick too.’ you cough into the blanket.

‘Ah, don’t worry. I hardly ever get sick. And if I do, you’ll feel better by then so you can take care of me. How about that?’ he reaches out to gently stroke your cheek and you welcome his touch. 

‘Deal. But I’m gonna make sure I have that nurse outfit.’ you reply and he giggles.

‘I’m sure you will look a lot better in it than I would.’ 

It still feels crazy to you that he’s here. That he has gone above and beyond for you like this, is now by your side to make sure you have everything you need. You feel overwhelmed by what he’s doing for you, no man has ever cared for you like this and you’re not even together. Obviously you care for each other in a lot of different ways, it’s true, that you are important to each other, that you do mean a lot to each other. Even if it isn’t love. You share more than your bodies with one another. It’s more than just fucking. It’s just not enough. 

‘Will you read to me until I fall asleep?’ you ask, and he agrees.

You love his voice. It’s so soothing. And you snuggle up to him and he reads from White Nights by Dostoyevsky, how perfectly ironic. 

______________

The next day you feel even worse. The fever has taken a hold of you and you’re shaking like a leaf even though Dominick has gotten two more blankets out of your storage closet and wrapped you up in them, in addition to the warm water bottle he bought. He kept checking on you all through the night like a worried mother hen, making sure you had enough to drink and your temperature didn’t get too high. All you can do is apologize because you truly feel bad and he tells you to stop over and over again. And you sneeze for the hundredth time, exhausted, and he grabs a fresh box of tissues and clears away the mess of used ones you left on the nightstand and the floor. He must truly like you a lot.

‘I bet you don’t think I’m so sexy anymore.’ you croak from your nest of blankets and he laughs, kneeling down next to you.

‘Believe me, nothing can make me think you’re not sexy. Nothing. You’ll always be sexy.’ Dominick assures you, kissing your head.

‘You have a snot fetish I don’t know about?’ 

‘Maybe I do, who knows. I’m just glad you still have your wicked sense of humor, so I know I have nothing to worry about.’  

He disappears into the kitchen and warms up some soup for you and you thank him a thousand times even though you only manage a few spoons before you grimace and he puts it away. 

‘Just know I’m gonna take you to plenty of barbecues and feed you steaks and potatoes for weeks once you feel better.’ he warns but you’re already half asleep again. 

The day goes by and you don’t know what time it is; you wake and fall back asleep, and wake and fall back asleep. Dominick is there, feeding you whatever it is you might need, handing you tissues and medicine, rubbing your back, cooing you like a restless infant. Even though you honestly feel like utter shit, you enjoy him babying you, in fact, you absolutely revel in it. 

You curl up to him like a cat, your whole face pressed against his arm, holding on to it like he is your last lifeline. In that inbetween state of dreaming and fevering you’re not sure what you’re muttering to him but you’re sure it’s something that doesn’t make sense or makes all the sense. And he either takes it or leaves it. Perhaps it’s all the things you’ve always wanted to say to him but have kept unsaid until now, things even you have been unaware of. Or perhaps it’s simply the same excuses you have been repeating to yourself for months. 

Either way, he doesn’t let go. He tightens his grip. He tells you it’s okay.

‘I promise, my sweet. I’ll make it better. I’ll make it all good.’ he whispers, and back to sleep you drift.

_____________

It takes you another day to feel a bit more normal again. Dominick never leaves your side. You find him in the kitchen making himself a cup of coffee as you get the next morning, finally free of the fever. 

‘Well look at you.’ he smiles, apparently happy to see you made it out of bed.

‘No. I’m pretty sure no one wants to look at me, Dominick. Not even you should have to. I need a shower. A bath, actually.’ you say, sniffing yourself.

‘Yeah, might be necessary.’ he agrees with a smirk.

‘Just say that I stink.’

‘You don’t stink, you just…don’t smell as deliciously as you usually do.’ he shrugs and sips his coffee while you blush, feeling slightly embarrassed. 

That’s your cue to walk away and draw a bath. 

‘I would still eat you out!’ he calls after you and you roll your eyes.

‘You’re disgusting!’ you call back and hear him giggle. 

And fifteen minutes later he’s sitting next to you as you soak in the hot water, watching you scrub away the sickness. He could have gone home by now but for some reason he‘s still here, making sure you really are alright. You thank him sincerely for taking care of you for the past few days and he says it‘s no big deal, acting all coy when he knows it‘s had an impact on you, on you both. The many unspoken words between you could fill their own dictionary, all hanging in the steamy air of that tiny bathroom. You‘re aware you will rewind the tape and it will be of no significance in the long run. 

Because there is no long run. 

You‘ve accepted the impermanence of it all by now. Yet you savor it when he runs the soapy washcloth over the skin of your back while humming some Johnny Cash song you don’t quite recognize, and you wish this was your daily routine—and then he washes your hair and you love how his fingers massage your scalp even though it’s something you never enjoyed when someone else had done it before. You feel like a new person as you climb out of the tub and he wraps you up in a warm towel before dragging you back to the bedroom, where a fresh and clean bed awaits you. 

‘Can I…now?’ he asks and you’re confused for a second.

‘Can you now, what?’ you ask back and he pushes you down on the mattress, grabbing your legs and pulling you towards him as he kneels down at the edge of the bed in front of you. 

‘Eat you out.’ he smirks, kissing the inside of your thigh and you shudder. ‘Unless…you’re not well enough yet.’ 

‘Oh, I’m well enough!’ you reply enthusiastically and he laughs, making you laugh too.

And it’s only when you feel his tongue on you that your laughter turns to moans, and you involuntarily flinch at the sensation. He wraps his arms around your thighs to hold you in place in a strong grip, burying his face in your cunt, murmuring ‘Hold still, my sweet.’ before flattening his tongue on you again. You can feel your arousal dripping out of you already, and he laps it up, his mouth trailing through your folds. Your hand wanders down, grabbing his hair, pressing his face tighter against you and you can feel him smile, proud to see you come unglued. 

‘I promised to make it all better, didn’t I?’ Dominick breathes against you.

‘Yeah,baby, you did. You did.’ you breathe out.

He delves his tongue into you, seemingly worshiping your taste and all you can do is hold on to him, the bedsheets and let that feeling take over. 

‘God, I love that pussy. So pretty, so tasty.’ he moans, spreading your legs a little more, his mouth so hungry on you. 

‘It’s all yours, Dominick.’ you whisper, biting your lip as he looks up at you, his face wet with your juices, a feral look in his eyes. 

He sinks two fingers into you, slowly fucking you while his tongue plays with your clit, sucking hard, then softly, making you gasp, then pant. It makes you giggle just how fucking greedy he is for you.

There you are, from a post-flu mess to his sexy vixen again within an hour. It’s that easy with him. And the noises he’s making, like he’s eating the most delicious meal of his life, makes your pleasure even more intense. His fingers curl inside you, exactly over that spot, and you whimper his name, your voice shaky. 

‘I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you. Fuck, someone will have to drag me away.’ Dominick admits, kissing and licking you as your whole body begins to tremble at his words and actions. 

You don’t know what to say in response to that. In all honesty, you know it’s true. You’ve had the same thought so many times. Hearing him say it makes it so much more real. So much more painful. But it’s always such a fine line between pain and pleasure. Frantically, you push him away from you and sit up to kiss him, tasting yourself on his lips. You grab his erect cock through his sweatpants, stroking him, begging him for more and he pulls off his shirt, getting rid of the rest of his clothes in record time. 

The sex is tender, and it feels like he’s still taking care of you in a way and you let him. 

------------

thank you so much for proofreading this chapter @eltrujillo <3

[elizabethplaid]

a few more knitting notes for the night

Well, I didn't clean off the whole couch like I planned, but I at least sifted through the in-progress yarn bin.

I counted my deflated (not-yet-stuffed) pumpkins: 2 large and 7 mini. That's all the stuff I've knit since the last "stuffing spree", back in August. So 9 back then, 9 now = 18 pumpkins.

Next step is to tidy the yarn I've worked with over the summer. Some already went back in the big bin. A couple skeins need to be rewound. I need to separate a two-ply novelty yarn, to separate the eyelashes from the pom-poms. (It looks like clown pox, I stg.)

The leftover yarn bits from the Pantone hat were also loose in my bin. I don't want to start the 2nd hat yet, because Caron (the yarn company) really made the hanks look amazing. I'd like to display that next to the hat I made, so people can see why the colors are like that.

------------ I showed my dad the "harvest" of deflated pumpkins, along with the stuffed ones I've stashed away. (Also showed him the group photo from August.) He asked about pricing, and I said $10-15 for the smaller ones and $20-25 on the larger ones. He made a face and implied the prices were too high. I said Neighbor-G would fuss at me if I priced them too low, and I'm going to offer a discount for people buying multiple items.

If anyone wants to do a trade or partial trade, I would absolutely love that. Craft fair aside, K (from the library) and I have already discussed trading work between us. I plan to knit her a hooded scarf, and she will help me out with some quilting things. LL-J has destashed a bunch of yarn on me, so I don't mind giving her discounts or gifts. (I gave her 2 or 3 pumpkins last year.)

I know I won't sell everything, especially the pumpkins. I didn't make many cowls for that exact reason. It's 3 cowls (I decided to sell the dark green one), 2 scarves, the pumpkins, the cat-toy mice, and anything else will be display. (eg the Pantone hat, Harmony's sweaters, my leaf and mermaid shawls, etc)

Ugh, semi-irrationally, I'm pissed. Like, of COURSE I know pricing is tough. Appropriate for time-effort-materials versus what "sells", without alienating potential customers. I'm not trying to make a living, but I also know that whatever's left might make me feel discouraged.

Thank god for Neighbor-G being so supportive of me. She's the one that got me to attend (just displaying stuff for fun) in 2019. She's already jokingly warned me about pricing myself too low. She feels like the encouraging female role model that I really need, especially because she knows crafts and pricing and such. And dad trusts her, after working together in the community for many years.

2020 and 2021 were really rough for me, after a few years of decline. (I think I was really out of it by the end of 2017, but 2016 was still really good for me.) I still haven't taken doll pics in ages, but I'm so happy to be crafting again. Volunteering at the library and befriending LL-J made a huge difference. I'm so incredibly proud of my progress - stuff that's easy to show off to other people, rather than just my own personal victories.

With rejection-sensitive-dysphoria, a little stumble or set-back can throw me off for quite a while. Example: The Pantone hat ended up being too small. I got pumpkins stuffed within a week or so, but I think it took another month before I really got back into knitting. (That was also when I was getting into the cell phone games, oops.)

My point is that bringing up the pricing issue is another RSD trigger to me. It feels discouraging to think of how much -won't- sell. And if it's not selling solely because of my pricing, that'd be a big pain. Again, I want to bargain and trade with folks. I'd rather stuff gets taken home by other people, rather than ensuring I make a big profit. And it might not even be for other craft fair items. Like, "hey, run to the store and fetch me a snack" or something.

I think K and my counselor would say that's good for networking and building a presence in the community.

-----------

HOLY FUCK, I just remembered I had a biscornu (embroidered pin cushion) I was supposed to sell! I set that aside, because I have to sew the panels together and stuff it. Holy fuck, holy fuck, that's hilarious. Like, I started that thing last October!

*sigh* I have 2 weeks. It doesn't have to be done all at once. I could probably stuff pumpkins while I man the table, and people would love it.

[karanseraph]

Allegedly, when my dad was young, my paternal grandmother told him "all men have a dark side." I think she meant well. She was born in the early 20th century, she came over frome Ireland on boat as a child. She had a stepfather who was from another immigrant community. Families were large. There was a lot of poverty and alcohol. They were Catholic, so they also took "original sin" as a concept seriously.

I think this did my dad harm. He actually is a person who struggles with empathy. Now, it's apparent he's neurodivergent from multiple traits he has and that this probably runs in the family, but no one we knew was diagnosed back then. He views criticism as personal attacks. It's difficult for him to see difference between people (like his difference) as positive of a challenge to accept and accommodate and instead thinks (in his darkest moments) that he's broken. Or that I also am someone who needs to be fixed.

But, somehow, I'm sure from conversations most of my siblings including my brothers voted blue and genuinely are able to care about others and will try to help.

And, to clarify, my dad has done volunteer work a d actually helped some people a lot. He is in no way evil. He's human. He is a product of his time. He was indoctrinated, arguably, by nuns, and Jesuits, and the Knights of Columbus, by bullies, and every bit of 1950's US government propaganda about scary different people and the importance of conforming and being "American". He says he didn't know that he was poor as a child because everyone was like that around him. He had a moment in the late 80s where he was arguably upper middle class. But he's also one of those older people now who don't really have wealth in the oldest sense but have pension/retirement tied up in stocks market scrap and keep mortgaging their house when they need cash.

Anyway, this is long.

But what I'm trying to say is people are flawed and human and make mistakes, but they aren't born or made evil or good. I think it's more harmful to say to kids that they have darkness or sin inside them from the start than to focus on choices going forward and the possibility that when one does make a mistake they can also make amends.

So, we should try to tell kids that.

Model good behavior and choices for kids as much as we can. Communicate that humans of all ages can make mistakes. Get rid of the concept of authoritarianism and infallibility in any individual or organization. Embrace differences. Talk about our feelings when we feel hurt by another's choices or actions so we can understand or compromise.

Just do our best and be excellent to each other.

And, specifically, for those boys some are worried about - I know lack of funds can impede this - but give them lots of room to play, give them books about all different people and experiences, take them on trips to see how real people do their work, let them engage with all the dramatic play props and costumes and clothes and dolls. Let them have building toys and action figures they choose. Let them use telescopes and microscopes to shift their perspective. Let them draw and paint and write. Let them compete and measure, without focusing on the win itself.

And let all kids do those things (but above posts were about boys).

And if there's a financial struggle to provide all this, try libraries or a device that can stream old episodes of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, or Reading Rainbow, or Sesame Street, etc.

Because, going back to my dad, he wasn't really able to model the most typical social-emotional behaviours or interactions for me, but I could see Optimus Prime or Fred Rogers interact with others.

And my brothers turned out pretty OK possibly because our dad was able to provide many books but also because he decided with my mom early on that girls could play with cars and boys could play with dolls.

And how/why he decided that when he was such a product of past generations and watches a certain news channel three or four times a day now I can't explain. But he did.

So, we know, I think, how to help kids. I worked in early childcare education for a time myself. People know how to help kids. But...there's also a struggle for any service to be profitable which means the teacher-student ratios can get stretched and that teachers can get stuck with so many assessments and standardized testing requirements that they aren't just spending time with the kids.

But we know.

And, unfortunately, there are some in the world who have differing goals. Right? Like do you want healthy men who can work together with diverse groups of people in cooperating to better the world? Or do you want obedient workers? Soldiers? Slaves?

Men themselves are not the problem. Boys aren't a problem.

It's young people growing up with divisivness and poverty and war and demand of conformity and obedience, etc.

So, probably the best we can do foe young men is to try to understand that they aren't evil by nature. Probably Patriarchy hurt them. But because of that, they don't want to admit it to themselves, because that would be weakness.

We need to keep showing them that there are places for men (again, all people need attention, but above posts were about boys and men) in the society we want.

We can say it to men we know. We can say that we really liked when they did math homework with us, or played Lego with us, or played us music we liked, or organized a tabletop game, or built us a bookcase, or cooked chicken the way we like, or taught us how to draw our eyeliner, or even expressed a desire to defend us against another man. (These are just some examples from my life, yours are likely different.)

It would be nice if we didn't also have those negative influences in the world, but we do and we can't stop them overnight or by ourselves.

So, we do our best to model and encourage the behaviours we want and to protect institutions that help like our public libraries, and to ask for policies that will (actually) improve schools.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[kanisema-blog]

To Whom It No Longer Concerns

Chapter 2: To met you again.......is.............

The morning sun was bright, filling the community center with warmth as I sorted through the donations we’d collected. Today was about giving back, and I could already feel the buzz of excitement in the air as families arrived, their faces lighting up at the sight of the toys and clothes we had gathered.

“Anicka! Look at all this!” Eunice called out, her high-pitched voice ringing through the room. She was busy arranging items on a table, her enthusiasm palpable as she chatted with other volunteers.

“Yeah, it’s great!” I smiled, watching her as she bounced from one person to another, her energy contagious. She always had a knack for getting people excited about helping others. “You really love doing this, don’t you?”

“Of course! Helping people is the best feeling!” She flashed me a bright grin, her eyes sparkling. “I used to play the piano just for fun, you know? But this? This is something else. It feels like I’m making a difference, even if it’s just a little bit.”

“Your piano skills must have helped you with that,” I said, moving closer to help her organize. “The discipline and dedication…”

“Oh, don’t get me started!” she interrupted, her laughter ringing out like music. “You know me—I was always the loudest one in class, banging away at the keys like I was performing at a concert. My teacher used to say I could wake the dead!”

I chuckled at the memory of Eunice, the girl who could fill a room with her laughter and make even the most serious of moments feel lighthearted. “I can totally picture it.”

As the laughter faded, I felt a sudden need for fresh air. “Hey, I’m going to step outside for a bit,” I said, wiping my hands on my apron. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay! Don’t take too long!” Eunice called after me, her voice echoing as I slipped through the door into the crisp morning.

Outside, I took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs. The sounds of laughter and chatter faded behind me, replaced by the chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to center myself, when I heard a familiar voice that sent a chill down my spine.

“Anicka? Well, it’s not that surprising that you’re here,” Gerald Ackhurst said, stepping into view.

The sun seemed to dim as my heart dropped. I hadn’t seen him in years. “Gerald,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I know how you love to donate,” he continued, his tone teasing, but there was an edge to it that sent a wave of tension through me.

“Right, well… we used to donate together,” I said, the memories flooding back—moments filled with laughter, the way we used to plan events like this. But they were tainted now, forever shadowed by betrayal.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed casually. “You always had a big heart. I remember that.”

“Yeah, well, it got broken once,” I replied, bitterness creeping into my voice before I could stop it. “Some people just don’t understand the value of trust.”

Gerald’s expression shifted, the smirk fading slightly. “I—”

“Save it, Gerald,” I interrupted, my voice firmer now. “I’m not here to relive the past. I just wanted to help.”

“Fair enough,” he said, his tone turning serious. “I didn’t mean to bring up old wounds.”

Before I could respond, I heard Eunice’s voice calling out for me, cutting through the tension like a knife. “Anicka! Where are you?”

“Over here!” I shouted back, relief flooding me as I turned away from Gerald. I didn’t want to engage in this awkward conversation any longer.

“Hey!” Eunice appeared, her bright smile returning as she took in the scene. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly, glancing back at Gerald, who now had a thoughtful look on his face. “Just catching up with an old friend.”

“Oh!” Eunice’s eyes widened, and I could tell she was eager for details, but I wasn’t ready to share. “Well, we’ve got more families arriving. Let’s get back to work!”

“Yeah, let’s,” I replied, my heart still racing from the encounter. As we turned away, I could feel Gerald’s gaze on my back, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over.

I walked back inside, trying to push the memories away, but they lingered, haunting me as I immersed myself in the act of giving, hoping to drown out the past.

[rainbowuniversepageantsys]

Inner Beauty Tip Piggyback: Have A Baggage Policy!

When we go on a trip we have to pack for a trip and that means we will have baggage. And when we get to our destination, we drop off our baggage in our hotel room and hopefully unpack some of the stuff. So if we unpack our material stuff it is even more important to unpack our figurative baggage. That type of baggage contains all of our experiences in life up until this point and our trauma, emotions, pain, and everything we have been through. If we carry this baggage with us all the time it will cause us to become burdened down with emotional turmoil. When I worked at Bank of America years ago as a Customer Service Rep my supervisor told us to take our backpacks off before we entered the door which was the equivalent of baggage and it helped us focus on our job more than our personal problems so we could do a good job. So it is very important to unpack your baggage at least once a month. If you don’t you are setting yourself up to: 

Be rude 

Be disrespectful 

Be tard 

Have an attitude problem 

Be poor 

Be emotional 

Be arrogant 

Be narcissistic 

Be pessimistic 

Be mean 

Feel heavy 

Have a sour day 

Be ignored 

Be ugly 

Get fired 

 

What does our baggage usually consist of: 

Resentment 

Regret 

Broken hearts 

Sadness or depression 

Abuse 

Emotions 

Plots and schemes 

Addictions 

Behavioral problems 

Mental health issues 

Weight problems 

Lies we tell ourselves 

Psychological disorders 

Disease or illness 

Truth we ignore or hide 

Other medical problems 

Family issues and foibles 

Mishaps and mistakes 

Relationship messes 

Possessions (demonic and material) 

Rose colored glasses mindset 

Too tight boundaries 

No boundaries at all 

Money problems 

Brain chaos or damage 

Stick in the mud attitude or excessive stubbornness 

 

How do we unpack this baggage so our inner beauty can shine?: 

Pray and talk to God on a daily basis (have a spiritual regimen) 

Meditate 

Learn to let go – have closure ceremonies 

Forgive 

Move forward and accept or embrace change 

Get over ourselves 

Be interested in others 

Care about others 

Pay attention to your season and work on it or work through it 

Bloom where you are planted 

Be ready for the uproot when it shows up 

Have a growth mindset 

Value your job, school, teachers, friends, connections, significant others, pets, home, possessions, yourself and everything that means something to you and you want to keep it 

Talk to a therapist, counselor, pastor or life coach 

Be open 

Be careful and circumspect 

Be mindful 

Have a plan for everything like we have an earthquake preparedness kit or like volunteer put together care packages 

Use money smart skills 

Accommodate for what you missed out on in childhood (keep it safe and healthy) 

View baggage as too heavy or too ugly so you can change it 

Schedule in play time (have a toy box of stuff you can unwind with or have fun with) 

Create a wellness regimen and routine] 

Have a daily regular routine (even if you stay home and are home-schooled or work at home) 

Treat people the way you want to be treated – you will have less baggage to unpack 

Pamper and spoil yourself at least once a week (especially if you have kids) 

Pay it forward and give back to your world or your community 

 

Exercise: Burn Your Story/Rebirth – write down all of the things that you carry in your baggage (hurts, disappointments, loss, abuse, trauma, sadness, pain, sickness, etc.). Read it out loud and then say a pray that you are going to release all of this baggage. Light a match if you have one and set that paper on fire in a safe place and watch it burn (an alternative would be to tear it up into tiny pieces and flush it down the toilet). You just burned your story. Now take that pen and paper and write a paragraph or two about what you now need to renew your life and move forward with your plans after unpacking all of that baggage. It’s not realistic to think you won’t revisit this baggage from time to time. It’s normal to remember the past and think about good or bad things that happened to us but the idea is to keep from holding on to it so you won’t accumulate anymore baggage or the same baggage and that means don’t let it hold you down or weigh you down or hinder you from moving forward. Also, a great way to move forward is to visualize what you want now and in your future by creating a vision board with pictures and words of things you want in your future, and you can set goals to reach that vision. Here are some examples of vision boards you can check out and get some ideas from  

Have a baggage policy, unpack it monthly and be beautiful! 

[ismailelnaham]

Tips for Giving Back to Your Community

Community involvement is an opportunity for citizens to contribute their skills, time, and resources to build their communities. It uplifts others, builds resilience, and strengthens community bonds. It also cultivates compassion, gratitude, and mindfulness in the giver. Thankfully, there are several ways to give back to your community.

Volunteering is a powerful way to make a difference in your community. All you need to do is identify local organizations or social causes you’re passionate about that could use your talent, expertise, or skill. It can be a food bank, animal rescue center, hospital, youth group, or home for the elderly.

If you cannot donate your time, consider donating your resources. You can donate anything from cash to foodstuff, clothes, toys, and books. Even a single blood donation can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

It may not seem like much, but shopping at a local store is also a form of community involvement. Local businesses depend on people like you to thrive. The money you spend with a local business is reinvested in the community through taxes. It also boosts the livelihood of the people employed by local businesses.

You can also contribute to the community by participating in community events. Be it sporting events, local festivals, local events, or funds drives, community events bring people together. They also offer a platform to discuss community challenges and opportunities.

Beyond the fun gatherings, there are also civic engagements, like town hall meetings and advocacy campaigns. You can help share the message on social media and inspire others to participate. You can also join a community board and share your expertise.

Speaking of sharing expertise, mentorship is another way to get involved with your community. If you run a business, think about the people just starting out who could benefit from your insights, experience, and skills. The beauty of mentorship is that you do not need to be an expert. You just need to identify someone who is a couple of steps behind you and hold their hand.

Giving back doesn’t need to be a grand gesture to count. Sometimes something as simple as checking up on an older couple and having a brief chat with them can make a huge difference in their lives. You can even take it a step further and help them with their laundry, grocery shopping, walking their dog, or mowing their lawn.

Another simple way to give back to your community is to clean up your neighborhood. You could be taking an evening walk and decide to pick up trash or do some yard work. You could also join a community garden. Such spaces help beautify the community and support the environment by combating climate change.

Perhaps there isn’t much going on in your community. In that case, take the initiative and come up with a community project of your own. If you love reading, start a book club. Share your books and you’ll be surprised where the conversations lead.

Finally, community involvement isn’t just about what you can do—it’s also about what you do not do. You may not be in a position to join the local cleanup crew, but you can choose to make their work lighter by not littering. Strive to leave the places you visit better than found them, and you’ll already be well on your way to improving your community.

[chloeunitfive]

Barnsley Hospice Retail Hub:

We can arrange collection of larger items – in good condition – from the local area. Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., you may drop off donations and shop at the Retail Hub. They provide free parking for our customers, and you can drive your car up to the shutters to make donating as simple as possible. They take men's and women's clothing, as well as children's clothing, toys, books, and trinkets. As well as bigger objects such as furniture and functional electricals. Please contact ahead for furniture donations so that they can confirm their availability. Their committed team of workers and volunteers comb through each bag of contributions and categorise them for labelling. These are then sold or recycled, creating revenue for the hospice while also benefiting the environment! At the hub, they promote sustainability, so nothing goes to waste! Any donations that cannot be sold are recycled, frayed, or given to other local charity. Donating stuff and purchasing secondhand are excellent ways to help the environment and your local community. Encourage sustainability at the hub to ensure that nothing goes to waste! Items are then displayed on our shop floor or on our online selling platforms such as eBay and Vinted. These sales play a huge part in supporting the services we provide for the people of Barnsley, and helping us to raise the £3.5 million we need to raise each year.

Did you know that buying second-hand clothes reduces your carbon waste by 80%? (Source: American Apparel & Footwear Association)

The Retail Hub isn’t just about supporting Barnsley Hospice, we also champion shopping sustainably and adding more pre-loved outfits to your wardrobe.  We get some fabulous rare and vintage finds in our donations, so you can look stylish whilst doing your bit for the planet!

Asked Questions:

Where are you located?

We are located on the Fall Bank Industrial Estate, Dodworth, opposite KDA. Our postcode is S75 3LS.

When can I drop off donations?

You can drop off donations throughout our opening hours – Monday to Saturday between 9 am and 4 pm. We do ask that you refrain from leaving items outside the hub when we are closed as they are likely to get damaged and we are unable to sell them.

Do you accept electricals?

We do accept most electrical items in working condition. There are a few exceptions to the electrical items you can donate, such as printers, which we cannot accept. If you are unsure whether we can accept your donation, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01226 240 908.

Do you accept furniture?

For all furniture items – small or large- we ask that you please give us a call on 01226 240 908 and send us a photo before donating to the hub via our Facebook page. This helps us establish what we have room for and whether it is in saleable condition, which means we don’t have to turn anyone away when they arrive with their items!

Please note, all soft furnishings must come with the fire retardant label intact. Due to limited space in our warehouse, we may have to decline furniture items – we hope you understand.

Do you accept broken items?

Please refrain from bringing broken items to the hub. Disposing of these items comes at a cost to us, which means less money goes toward funding the specialist palliative care Barnsley Hospice provides. The only exception to this is clothes that can be ragged, which we are happy to recycle.

Do you have accessible facilities at the hub?

We are accessible to wheelchair users with a ramped access and an accessible toilet is available.

Social media:

Reference:

[ngatawaschools]

 How The Best Academic Schools Nurture Student Growth?

When it comes to the Best academic schools in new zealand, you want a place that ensures student growth and development. A school should be able to meet your educational needs and provide opportunities for personal growth.

In this blog post, we outline what some of the top-rated colleges and universities do differently from other academic institutions.

Holistic Approach to Education 

A holistic approach to education is one that focuses on the whole person, and not just their academic performance. It's about helping students develop their passions, interests, and skills outside of the classroom as well as inside it.

A good example of a school with a holistic approach is Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers students many opportunities for personal growth such as extracurricular activities like clubs or sports teams; internships at companies around town; volunteering opportunities with local non-profits; study abroad programs; research projects with professors--the list goes on!

Highly Qualified and Dedicated Faculty 

When you attend one of the best academic schools, you will be surrounded by faculty members who are highly qualified and dedicated to teaching. This is true whether you're in a classroom or online course.

Most professors have advanced degrees from top universities and have published their own books or articles on their specific topics of expertise. They also have years of experience working with students and conducting research in their fields--they know what it takes to succeed at an institution like yours!

The very best educators don't just teach subjects; they inspire learning through their enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with others. 

They want every student who walks into their classroom or virtual classroom (if applicable) ready to learn something new each day because they know how exciting that feeling can be when it happens to yourself!

Comprehensive Extracurricular Programs 

At many of the country's best academic schools, extracurricular activities are considered a vital part of the college experience. 

These programs help students develop skills and interests that they can use in their future careers while also helping them build relationships with other students and faculty members. 

Students may find a niche in extracurricular activities that they hadn't realized existed before enrolling at their university, or they might find out about an area where they want to focus their studies more closely after participating in an activity for just one semester.

Regardless of what type of program you choose (or whether or not there are any available), make sure that your choice provides opportunities for growth and learning while also giving back to your community; if these two criteria aren't met, then it probably isn't worth joining!

Focus on Character Development 

Academic schools focus on the development of character. Character development is important for success in life, and it's also a key component of academic success at school. Character traits like honesty, integrity, compassion, and perseverance are developed through activities such as service-learning projects or volunteer opportunities. 

These activities can include helping out at local schools or hospitals; working with animals at an animal shelter; cleaning up trash around town; donating clothing or toys to those in need--all kinds of things!

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to note that the best academic schools contribute to student growth. However, we believe that a holistic approach to education and a focus on character development will go a long way in helping students reach their full potential.

Source by: How The Best Academic Schools Nurture Student Growth?

[musette22]

Local museum volunteer Chris explaining all the items and history facts to teacher Sebastian and his 20 kids on a school trip or to single dad Sebastian and his twins (one who is really into it and ask a lot of "but why?" And the other one who just sticks his fingers up his nose and yawns lmao)

Okay so I was just on a walk and I started thinking about this ask again (I am so so so sorry for how long it took me to reply to this, I suck wow) because I couldn’t get that new pic of Seb looking like a literal DILF out of my head, but I couldn’t remember the specifics so what came out is slightly different from what you suggested but not much – hope you still like it (I personally screamed into my fist multiples times while thinking about this – I’m furious at how cute this little scenario is, thank you so so much for this!)

Disclaimer: I literally wrote this just now so it’s unbeta’d and probably riddled with nonsense, but I hope you guys like nonetheless!  <3

*********************

“Hi, guys! Welcome to the Concord Museum. My name is Chris and I’ll be your guide this afternoon.”

Chris eyes the little family – a father and two young kids – standing in front of him in the entrance hall of the bite-sized museum, then makes a show of looking around the otherwise empty hall. “Seems like it’s a quiet one today, so you’ll have me all to yourself!”

The father smiles, his sparkling, blue-grey eyes crinkling in the corners in a way that Chris shouldn’t be thinking of as ‘adorable’, but does nonetheless.

“Fantastic,” the man says warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Chris. This is Margot,” – he gestures to the girl of about eight standing next to him – “and this little guy here is David,” he adds, lightly bouncing the three or four-year-old, curly haired boy on his hip. David gives Chris a wide eyed look before promptly burying his face in his father’s neck. “He’s a little shy,” the dad says fondly.

“That’s fine,” Chris tells them. With a smile, he ducks his head to try and catch David’s eye. “You’re not the only one, kiddo. I’m a little shy myself sometimes, you know.”  

“I’m not shy,” Margot pipes up.

“No,” her dad agrees with a chuckle, “you certainly are not.”

Chris turns his eyes back to their father’s face. “And your name..?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the man says, “I’m Sebastian.” He holds out his hand for Chris to shake, warm and dry with long, elegant fingers that fit nicely against Chris’s own, studier ones.

Sebastian, Chris thinks. Perfect name for a perfect guy. The term ‘DILF’ flashes unbidden through Chris’s mind – wildly inappropriate, given the circumstances, but oh so accurate. Sebastian has a sweet, charming smile, incredible bone structure, and dark, wavy hair, swept up in a quiff-like style that manages to make him look both sophisticated and a little boyish at the same time. There’s a hint of grey at his temples as well as in his beard that has Chris placing him at maybe two or three years older than himself.

“New York?” Chris guesses, as he reluctantly lets go of Sebastian’s hand.

“That’s right,” Sebastian nods. “Well, formerly, anyway. We just moved to the area, actually.”

“Oh, really? What brought you all the way out here?”

Sebastian runs a hand through his hair; a nervous habit, perhaps. “Oh, um. My ex-wife got a job in Boston last year, and I didn’t want to be too far from her and the kids, so I decided to follow suit. Only moved down here last month. This is my first full weekend with these guys at my new place, so I thought I’d take them out to do something cultural, learn a little about the local history, y’know?”

“Well, we’ve got plenty of that here,” Chris assures him. “In fact,” he adds sheepishly, “that’s kinda all we've got.”

Sebastian laughs, causing Chris’s brain to glitch, which is probably why the next thing that comes out of his mouth is – “Divorce, huh? I’m sorry, that must’ve been tough.”

When Sebastian doesn’t answer straight away, Chris wants to kick himself for running his big, stupid mouth. As usual. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes hastily. “That’s none of my business. Just tryin’ to make small talk, but I always seem to forget I’m really bad at that. Just forget I said anything.”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Sebastian assures him, flashing Chris a quick smile. “Thank you. These things are never easy, but it’s better this way, you know?”

“They’re not fighting or anything,” Margot chimes in again, from a few feet below. “Mommy and daddy only got divorced because mommy’s a girl and daddy likes boys better than girls. Right, daddy?"

Well. Chris tries not to be too obvious about glancing at Sebastian’s face to see his reaction to that bombshell his daughter just dropped, but he’s not sure how well he manages.

Sebastian closes his eyes for a moment as if praying for strength. “That's right, sweetheart,” he says with a grimace. “But I'm sure Chris doesn't need to hear about all that."

Chris begs to differ – he’s actually extremely interested in hearing about all this, but before he has a chance to say anything in reply, Margot squares her jaw and crosses her football jersey-clad arms.

“Why not?” she asks defiantly. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Some girls just like girls and some boys like boys, it’s totally normal. It’s not prola- probu –" She sighs in frustration, looking up at her dad, who’s watching her with something like pride on his handsome face.

“Problematic?”

“Yeah,” Margot concurs, “not probametic.”  

Chris hums in agreement. “It’s not, you’re absolutely right. I’ll tell you what,” he tells her conspiratorially, “I happen to like boys better, too.”

Margot’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You do?”

“I do.”

Suddenly, Margot’s little face lights up, her shrewd eyes flitting to her dad’s face for a second, then back to Chris. “Do you like my dad?”

“Margot,” Sebastian cuts in, a hint of exasperation in his tone. “That’s enough, honey.” When he tuns back to Chris to give him an apologetic look, Chris can’t help but notice the slight blush coloring his cheeks. “I’m sorry about that. She’s gotten it into her head that she needs to find me the perfect man ASAP, or I’ll waste away or something.”

Chris laughs, throwing back his head in genuine mirth. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine,” he assures them, then claps his hands together to change the precarious subject. “So, who’s ready to learn a little bit about what living in Concord was like over a hundred years ago?”

******

Chris always enjoys volunteering at the museum – it’s nice to give something back to the community that’s been his home for his entire life, and to chat to visitors from all over who have come to visit the land of Little Women, among other things – but what Chris likes best is when he gets to show kids around the place. Some of them need to be won over (after all, a dusty old museum isn’t quite as exciting as a trip to Disney World), but others are instantly captivated by the strange objects and old-timey atmosphere – Sebastian’s kids, fortunately, seem to fall in the latter category.

There’s one room in particular that’s an invariably a favorite with kids – the one that houses the old children’s toys. Trains, dolls and dollhouses, most of them made from wood, all arranged in a colorful parade, with a few screens set up in front of the glass display cases on which kids can watch animations of the toys being used. To Chris’s delight, Margot and David are both immediately taken with the display, David pressing his nose against the glass while Margot fires off question after question that Chris answers patiently and to the best of his ability.

“You sure know a lot about them,” Sebastian remarks, not without a hint of admiration, once Chris has finished explaining the mechanics of the miniature train set.

“Ah.” Chris rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess you could say I’m something of a toy enthusiast myself. I’ve actually got a carpentry workshop – that’s my real job,” he explains. “I’m just a volunteer here – and I dabble in some toy making sometimes, too.”

Sebastian’s eyes widen. “You’re kidding. I used to want to be a toy maker when I was a kid, you know,” he says wistfully. “Probably just saw Pinocchio one too many times, but it just seemed like the best job in the world to me, at the time.”

“It kinda is,” Chris grins at Sebastian, getting lost in his dancing grey eyes for a moment. “So what did you end up doing for a living, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m a journalist. I love it, don’t get me wrong. It’s enriching, challenging. But there’s just something about working with your hands, creating something tangible, something useful…”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Chris nods. He bites his lip, hesitating for just a moment before deciding to bite the bullet. “Hey, I don’t know if you guys have plans after this, but my shift ends in a few minutes. I live pretty close, maybe a ten minute drive – if you want, I could show you my workshop? Maybe the kids can try out some of the things I’ve been working on, see if they’re actually any fun to play with?”

There’s an excited collective gasp from the kids, both of them immediately turning big, hopeful eyes on their father. “Oh, daddy,” Margot pleads, tugging on his sleeve. “Can we go see the workshop, pleaaase?”  

Chris tries to ignore the way his stomach drops when Sebastian visibly hesitates.

“I don’t know, guys.” Sebastian looks back at Chris. “I don't want to intrude. It’s almost dinner time on a Saturday. I’m sure you’ve got plans, maybe with your partner..?”

Oh, Chris thinks, chest expanding with hope. He shakes his head. “No partner,” he says, holding Sebastian’s gaze. “Just a dog.”

“A dog?” Margot squeals. “Oh my god, daddy, he’s got a dog. We have to go.”

Sebastian chuckles, rolling his eyes. "They've been hounding me about a dog for months, excuse the pun. I want one too, but I'm just not sure I'm home enough.”

Chris nods sympathetically. “Yeah, it can be tricky if you work full-time, but there’s usually a solution for this kind of thing, in my experience.”

“What’s your dog’s name?” Margot interrupts, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.

“He’s called Dodger,” Chris tells her, unable to keep the pride out of his voice as he talks about his beloved, four legged-rescue.

From Sebastian’s other side, a small voice suddenly joins in. “Like the one from Oliver?” asks David. His big, brown eyes are wide as he stares up at Chris.

“That’s right,” Chris confirms, dropping to his haunches to level the playing field a little. “Exactly like the one from Oliver. You like that movie, huh?”

David nods, looping one arm around one of his dad’s long legs while clearly fighting the urge to hide behind him completely. “It’s my favorite,” he mutters, then quickly sticks his thumb in his mouth to signal the end of the conversation.

“Really?” Chris asks, beaming at him. “It’s my favorite, too!”

David actually smiles at that, doing an excited little wiggle on the spot. “Daddy, can we go see Dodger, please?” he asks his dad, not bothering to remove his thumb from his mouth.

From his spot on the floor, Chris looks up Sebastian too, probably looking just as hopeful as the kids are – maybe even more so.

Smiling, Sebastian shakes his head. “Sure, buddy,” he laughs, ruffling David’s hair. “How could I resist all these cute little faces, huh?”

There’s a chorus of cheers from the kids that gives Chris a much-needed moment to recover from the euphoria of hearing Sebastian call him cute. Well, sort of.

“Alright,” Chris says, getting to his feet again. “I’ll just go grab my things. Meet you guys in the parking lot?”

“Sounds good.”

Chris nods and is about to head in the direction of the staff room, when Sebastian halts him with a hand on his arm. Chris stops in his tracks, swallowing as he tears his gaze away from Sebastian’s elegant hand on his bicep, back to his face.

“Thank you,” Sebastian says, giving him a look from under his eyelashes that can only be described as coy. “I really appreciate this, you know.”

Holding Sebastian’s gaze, Chris lifts a hand to cover Sebastian’s with his own, giving it a quick squeeze. “It’s my pleasure,” he replies honestly. “Trust me.”

Smiling, Sebastian bites his lip, no doubt noticing the way Chris’s eyes flicker down to his mouth when he does. “I do.”

Chris’s foolishly romantic heart can’t help but skip a beat.

“See,” Margot says suddenly from beside them, breaking the moment and sounding awfully smug about it, too. “Not prolametic at all.”

Chris barks out a laugh while Sebastian covers his eyes with his hand. “Whatever you do, never have kids.”  

“Oh, I dunno,” Chris chuckles, giving Margot a wink and David’s hair a quick ruffle. “I kinda like yours.”

Sebastian clears his throat. “Alright, guys. Let’s go find your jackets and we’ll go see what Chris has in store for us, huh?”

[backtoyuta]

NCT 127: How they would be as coworkers in a shitty office

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

❁ [Taeil] King of the welcome wagon; If it was your first day working in a small dinky business, Taeil will make it his sole responsibility to make the environment as inviting as possible. After all, the business wasn't some glamorous well known company, nor was it an exciting new start up, so Taeil made it his mission to paint the office as pretty as he could before you could decide if the job was too boring to keep. If you ask any of his co-workers they'll tell you nobody put him in charge of welcoming the newbie, but it seemed everybody but you noticed him do a double take at the receptionist's desk where you waited to be shown around. Soft moments included him making you a coffee every time he left to make his own, making a point of clearing a little space in the communal fridge for your lunch and hanging around while trying to maintain a respectful distance in case you had any queries so he could be the first to answer them. If you were low-key dreading your first day, you kinda forget about the nerves quickly because of his kindness and tells you cheerfully "See, we don't bite." Will make sure you have everything you need, down to the last sticky note and ball point pen, and smiles bashfully at you when you go to thank him.

❁ [Johnny] cheesy office romance; It was quite impressive really, the fact that Johnny managed to unlock every single office romance cliche you could think of and he wasn't subtle about it either. Though there was no policy really about dating co-workers, the whole situation was a tiny bit embarrassing given the blatant flirting from the titan walking around in his shirt and tie, always throwing devilish smiles from over the photocopier. Even if his desk was miles away from yours, there would always be an excuse to stroll by your work space to drop off some paperwork personally, or remind you of the meeting happening in the afternoon despite the email reminder going around. Johnny really put his bladder through it since he now took too frequent trips to the water cooler that was so conveniently placed next to your desk. The whole office gagged when you finally agreed to go for drinks after work. The hours were spent buying each other pints and admiring him with his tie loosened and shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing the delicate tattoos that decorated the skin there before calling it a night and letting him kiss you on your porch after walking you home. You kind of became the height of office gossip, which Johnny thrived in, but you couldn't really be mad when you were dating that tall glass of water after all.

❁ [Taeyong] The receptionist with first aid training; Stapling your finger was embarrassing enough, imagine the heat flooding your cheeks when the receptionist appears at your desk clutching the first aid kit, big kind eyes glancing at your finger empathetically. Taeyong was the first face you saw when you walked through the door, that alone making a wonderful first impression, also he was a very diligent worker. He never made a fuss when you asked him to fax something, make a memo or photocopy, and when you had to ring the office because you left your keycard and needed to be let in, he laughed that off with you too while assuring that it happened all the time. On the blasted day you aimed the stapler at your paper but instead caught your finger, Taeyong was the first to perk from behind his desk at your exclamation of "Ow!" and was by your side before you knew it. He apologised profusely at the sting of an anti-bacterial wipe and wrapped your finger gingerly in a plaster, his chair scooted towards you and your knees bumping occasionally. You were pretty sure every female in the office was crushing on him and you were one of many, but you couldn't help the blush when you received a private IM chat asking if you wanted to get coffee after work: "Date? :)" he wrote at the end of the message. You wasted no time typing on your computer a reply, sneaking a glance at his face from behind the desk and exchanging a smile before looking busy once again.

❁ [Yuta] The guy that lowkey terrified you; Yuta was the co-worker that, whether it was on purpose or not, pushed you away with sheer intimidation and sinfully good looks. When you first encountered him in the office you were sure he was a model undercover, and when that was debunked you were sure he must have had a much higher level and higher paying job than you. His presence read corporate, the cologne you sometimes caught a whiff of smelt expensive and you could easily picture him in a big leather chair in a tall glass building barking orders at people. What surprised you was behind the intimidating aura, lay the humility of any of your other co-workers. All it took was one painfully awkward conversation in the break room and with the power of pointless small talk you learnt that his weekend plans didn't involve a modelling side hustle like you expected, but rather being a homebody, watching animated movies and cooking dinner for one instead. When you did finally enter an established relationship with him, expect impulsive moments like being tugged into the copier room so he can press his lips to yours and run his hands through your hair, or intense staring contests when other male co-workers demanded your attention. Overall, he was terrifying, but his redeemable qualities involved making dates after work so you had something to look forward to, buying your favourite cake during office parties and volunteering to do overtime with you so you would always be entertained.

❁ [Doyoung] The manager that scares you shitless; For the position of local branch manager, Doyoung exuded way more power and intimidation than what was probably warranted. Maybe that was why he managed to get the branch performing so well, everybody dreaded being called into his office for "friendly chitchat" after making a small mistake. When you first arrived, you steered as clear from him as possible, only venturing near his office when absolutely needed. What you didn't see was the way he would watch you intently in your little office nook, always appreciating how hard you worked and how cute you looked in your office get-up. You often squirmed at the amount of eye-contact he gave you when he ran meetings and you would glance around to see if anyone else was experiencing the same thing. Nope, just you. When he did call you into his office that one time you were quaking in your shoes. You had already convinced yourself you were fired before you had even reached his office door, but the feeling was replaced soon enough with confusion when he did eventually speak to you. "I just wanted to ask... would you be interested in.... this corporate training program?" He rushed. My god, your boss was just as awkward as the next bumbling guy. It would be a while before he asked you on an official date, dinner for two, also quite a bit of paperwork to fill out with HR, but you would come to realise his icy exterior wasn't all that icy when he wasn't in work-mode.

❁ [Jaehyun] The temp that never left; Jaehyun was fresh from university, now venturing into the world of work but still had the boyish aura that set him apart from the rest of the men in the office. From the way he spoke to you over lunch in the break room you could tell he was full of ambition, but also didn't seem to be in any rush to leave this job any time soon. Jaehyun was the guy who you initially tried not to get too close to, since you were under the impression that he would be leaving after completing the temporary placement and when he left it would hurt like a bitch. However, you could have sworn his placement ended like a month ago, but eventually you learnt that he somehow managed to talk himself into a full-time position. "Oh that, yeah, I guess I just realised I had more reasons to stay." He shrugged as casually as he could when you asked about it. You couldn't deny that you were happy, not when you saw his smiling face in the conference room saving you a seat, hearing his outrageous stories from uni and always being the two to get a little too drunk at corporate parties and being sent home in a taxi of shame. Romance blossomed when you remembered that one drunken kiss in the backseat and you both bonded when your boss gave you the cold shoulder after arriving to work a little more than dishevelled and with a hangover.

❁ [Jungwoo] Desk buddy; Honestly, who could hate their job when they had a sweet Jungwoo sitting at the desk adjacent to theirs. You kinda scored when your boss appointed you this specific desk because Jungwoo took to you almost embarrassingly quick. It made your heart swell looking at all the little knick knacks on his desk; toys to fiddle with and colourful sticky notes, this was just one part of his persona. You were a little shocked when he offered you a cigarette during the lunch break, kind of exposing a duality you didn't know existed, but nobody could be that wholesome of a person. Monday to Friday 9-5 was filled with Jungwoo ping-ponging back and forth between these traits, any off handed comments he would mutter to you when the boss was giving an announcement or the conversations you would overhear him having with a friend over the phone would remind you he wasn't a total puppy of a human being. However, the way he always offered to share a snack and would flick paper and notes at you playfully was also very much him being himself. You always fluttered a little at the smirk he would throw your way when your manager was talking something boring or ridiculous, it seemed those smirks were only reserved for you. It didn't take long before he became your best friend in the office, if he wasn't in that day you were in the right mind to just call it quits yourself (and vice versa), he was the guy that made the long hours that much more bearable.

❁ [Mark] The bumbling intern; When it came to responsibilities in the work place, you tried to delegate as little of that as possible to Mark the intern. It was cute really, the guy put in 110% effort into his tasks and yet when it came to coffee orders, photocopying or sending out a memo, something nearly always went wrong. You couldn't help but admire his enthusiasm, also that he made an effort to know everybody in the office, including the cleaners. Mark was one of the first people to greet you when you joined, waving around a little notebook of Starbucks orders and a company card to splurge, urging you to write down whatever you wanted. A simple task right? Rookie mistake. Bless him, you would never tell him how his mistake of getting full dairy rather than the soy you requested led to a night on and off the toilet, but that just scratched the surface of his office blunders. Somehow, he never cost the company too much, but there was a reason why the poor boy never got promoted beyond intern. He wasn't deterred though, he'd lean up against your desk while you made idle chit chat and he'd tell you that he liked his job and he didn't aspire to be the best in this business. Where he really proved himself was during company functions, you'll never forget during the annual employee bbq when he asked you your favourite song so he could sing it melodically accompanied skilfully with a guitar. Mark's contributions to the work place were always a little unpredictable, but he kept things interesting and people, including you, genuinely enjoyed having him around.

❁ [Haechan] Probably the reason you get fired; Even in the workplace, Haechan can't deny himself a bit of mischief. He made a stellar first impression by rocking up half an hour late, sending your boss a half arsed apology and plonking down at the desk across the room from yours. To be honest, he kind of annoyed you at first, his attitude came off immature and you didn't appreciate how distracting he was when you had work to do. However, things started to change at some point. Haechan was the guy that convinced you to ditch the office party and sit on the rooftop with him to watch the city lights, the guy that sent out ridiculous memos just to catch you smile and the guy eventually became the reason for you own demise after he started picking you up for breakfast most mornings. When the manager called you in his office after being late the third time in a row, you ducked your head and mumbled something about traffic while hiding a croissant wrapper in your pocket, Haechan covered a laugh with a cough and apologised on behalf of both of you. When you asked him about why he never seemed to give a shit about anything, you learnt that it was because he had a taste for adventure; "Don't tell me you wanna stay and work here forever? Don't you wanna do something more... exciting with your life?" He asked you incredulously, like the answer was obvious. He kinda got you, no, you didn't want to work in a dingy office for the rest of you life. To be honest, when he painted a picture of moving to a big city, or taking a road trip, or just fucking off to the suburbs you didn't hate the sound of that either. When you were both sat there in your manager's office, signing off on a severance package, you weren't even mad. You didn't have time to be, Haechan was already clasping your hand and leading you to his car and laughing about finally being free, tugging his tie from around his neck whilst driving no where in particular- the start of an adventure.

[couldyouspeakmyname]

Shishigumi and the reader who has adopted children

You know I'm a sucker for blended families

-Maeve

Ibuki

Already is kind of a dad to the rest of the Shishigumi and Louis

While Ibuki is initially really nervous about adopting a child, as soon as they hold them, all his fears melt away.

If they’re an older child, he’ll let them call him by his name if that’s more comfortable. He doesn’t have to be called “dad” to be a parental figure. 

Ibuki is very supportive of his child, and has a lot of patience. 

Ibuki may actually be prone to adopting a child out of the baby stage. He may even adopt an older child who just needs a home (even if they’re almost of legal age to live on their own).

Ibuki would be great with troubled kids. He has the patience of a saint, and has seen a lot of bad in the world, and been a lot of that bad.

Ibuki allows the child to adjust at their own pace, and never pushes them to fit or meet a standard,

Ibuki cooks for them, and listens when they talk. 

Ibuki wants them to be comfortable, always. 

He enrolls them in the best school he can, and goes to every major event. 

He allows them to style their own room, even if he doesn’t always understand what they like. 

He’s adamant that at least three nights a week you all have a family dinner. 

He tries his best to help with homework or any problems they may have. 

Free

Free is freaked out at the idea of adopting a kid. It probably takes a few years for him to be comfortable with the idea.

Honestly? He’s just worried he’s going to be a terrible father. He’s already kind of a menace, he’s not even sure why you’re still with him.

Then again, Louis turned out great and Free likes to think he had a hand in that. 

After some time he finally comes around to the idea. Why not? He can do this. 

When Free and you adopt a child, it’s probably going to be an infant or a younger child. 

It only takes a few hours before Free is a doting father figure, and labels your new child as ‘His’.

Free loves playing games with his kid. If they’re a toddler when you two adopt them, he’s probably going to go crazy at the toy store with them (who needs ten nerf guns?). Free had it rough growing up, he wants his kid to have the childhood he didn’t get to have.

Free isn’t great at homework, but he tries.

Free teaches them self defense early on, just to make sure they can protect themselves when he isn’t around

That dad that plays any game his kid comes up with, and makes forts out of blankets and pillows. 

Dolph

Dolph is actually on board with the idea of adoption

I could see Dolph adopting an older kid, maybe even a pre-teen or teenager. They’re more difficult than a younger child, but Dolph is okay with that. He’s patient, and knows how wild kids can be. He was in a gang, there’s not much trouble a kid could cause that would come anywhere near the trouble he dealt with in the gang

Dolph is big on education, keeping his child in school and having them graduate is important. 

Dolph is calm and collected, and he listens and gives advice where it’s needed.

If he did adopt an older kid, he’s okay with working with a phycologist. Sometimes you just have to talk without worrying about getting in trouble.

Dolph wants his kid to always feel safe and secure. They will always have a room and a place to come home to. 

If they’re worried about someone taking their stuff, Dolph will install a lock on their door. This way they can lock the door and have peace of mind. It is their room. Dolph isn’t going to take things from them.

Same thing with food. If they’re more comfortable keeping snacks and need a mini fridge so they know they wont go hungry, he’ll do what he has to to make them feel secure 

Helps with homework and attends school events. 

 Doesn’t hold his kid to unfairly high standards. If they get a ‘C’, he’s fine with that, as long as they gave it their all.

He’s strict, and has rules. Don’t be out late, don’t do drugs, have dinner with the parents at least twice a week, homework before video games. It’s basic rules, but he’s ridged about them. In a way, that gives his child structure. 

They don’t have to call him dad, but if they do it makes him all emotional

Makes them ask you before they do something

“Dad can I-” 

“Go ask Y/N”

Agata

Agata would probably do best adopting a small child or a baby

He has a lot of anxiety, and he’d do better parenting a kid from the beginning 

Agata raises his child with his whole heart. It doesn’t matter that they were adopted, there’s no question that Agata would die for his child. 

Agata puts the needs of his child above his own, without question. 

Agata is honest when his kid asks if he’s adopted. Agata isn’t going to hide that from them. He will answer any questions they have, and let them know that you don’t have to be blood related to love someone

Agata is that ‘cool’ dad that plays video games with his kid. Agata lets them win.

Agata also beats any levels they get stuck on. 

Agata doesn’t like the PTA, but will go to all school events, and is there for all milestones

Agata tries his best to make sure his child is confident in themselves, and knows that Agata will always be there to back them up

Agata is kind of a softie, you’re going to have to be the rule enforcer

Not to say Agata can’t get strict, he can, but he doesn’t want to

Agata will always make sure his child knows their home is a safe place to go to

If his child ever wants to know their biological parents, Agata will help them. 

Miguel

Age doesn’t matter for Miguel. He’s willing to take any kid that needs him, and is a good fit for you two

He quickly establishes a healthy lifestyle. He wants them to live a long time, and fuel their body properly 

Cooking may actually be how he bonds with them initially, if they’re older. If they’re really little, he’ll bake cookies with them

Miguel is at all school events, and may even be part of the PTA

Miguel may be pretty quiet, but he’s not one to hold back praise when a child does something good. He’s big on positive reinforcement

Rarely raises his voice. Instead, he talks everything out.

He’s very patient, and quickly learns his adopted child’s personality, and adjusts accordingly

That big beefy dad that’s having tea/playing pretend with his child

He can and will switch his child out of a class if a teacher is unfair. A lot of adopted children may have a hard time adjusting, and not all teachers know how to handle that. If they can’t, Miguel will find someone who does. 

Miguel is going to be overprotective of his child. He chose to adopt his child, and it’s his job as a father to make sure his child thrives. He’s not going to allow anyone to drag his kid down the path Miguel himself once walked.

Miguel is that dad that doesn’t talk a lot, but you can talk about anything with. It doesn’t matter what it is, he’s going to listen. 

Sabu

Sabu doesn’t care about age when he adopts a kid. He would be prone to adopting a child that’s mute or deaf, or a child with another disability. 

I have a headcanon that Sabu doesn’t talk much, but knows sign language.  

He’s also very quiet and patient,  and not much phases him. He’s also very flexible, and is willing to make big changes if that’s what his child needs

Sabu is also very involved with schooling, even if most of the staff find him unnerving. It doesn’t take long for them to warm up to him though. Sabu has a good heart, even if he makes a bad first impression. 

Sabu helps with homework, and is fine with taking breaks and coming back if his child becomes frustrated. 

He will totally get a side car for his motorcycle 

If the kid he adopts doesn’t know sign language, Sabu teaches them.

Sabu loves for his child to be passionate about their hobbies. 

Sabu likes it when his child expresses themselves, even if it’s not always traditionally.

If Sabu has a kid, and they want to do his mane, he’ll let them. He doesn’t even mind going out in public with it if his child is particularly proud of it.

Never is afraid of telling his child he loves them, or that he’s proud of them.

Jinma

Jinma would do better adopting a child that was a smidge older.

He does a lot of research before adoption, and tries to find information on what to do, what you two need, and problems that may come up

If they are older, Jinma is going to get them a psychologist if they need one. If they’ve been in the system for a while, they may need a third party to talk to

Jinma is also going to make sure his child has no siblings out there. If they do, he’s going to do his best to reunite them. If they’re not adopted yet, expect Jinma to try and adopt them as well.

Jinma is big on school, so he tries to learn what kind of schooling works best for his child. Are they a tactile learner? A reader? Once he knows, he works in that learning preference for homework. 

Jinma is great at communicating with his adopted child, even if they aren’t a great talker. 

Jinma doesn’t need his child to call him dad, but if they do, he’ll be thrilled.

Dope

Dope could adopt any age of child and be happy

Dope is great at reading body language, so it’s easy for him to understand what is child is saying, even if they don’t want to talk initially. 

Dope is also very big on schooling, but he tries to find a school his child is comfortable with.

If his child was close with their foster parents, Dope is fine keeping them in their lives if they’re also okay with it. 

Dope reads to his kid every night. He will also never say ‘no’ if they want books from a store (but they have to be paperback)

Dope is the dad who will le their kid crawl into bed if they have a bad dream. He also gets up so you can sleep. 

Dope finds the best way to communicate with his kid, and loves spending time with them. 

Dope is what teachers fear. Parent teach night involves Dope trying to figure out lesson plans, accuracies in education, and making sure his child is set up to succeed. He’s both a pain in the ass for the teacher, and a blessing, since he will always be there if they need chaperones or any other volunteers. 

Hino

Hino would rather adopt a child that’s younger, but they don’t have to be a baby (he’s fine if they are though)

Hino puts all his love into his child. It doesn’t matter that they’re adopted, they’re his

Hino loves styling his child, but is fine when they pick out their own outfits (even if it hurts his inner fashionista)

Loves doing family activities with all of you together

If they have a nightmare, and need dad to be there, he’s going to fall asleep in their room

That dad that has waaayyyy too many pictures of his child. He screensaver is you and your child.

Hino is always there for any event, but avoids the PTA. 

That being said, he will volunteer for events, and weaponize his good looks. 

Builds up his child’s self-esteem. No matter what species they are, they’re beautiful. Not only that, but they’re smart and capable. Hino wants them to know there’s so much more besides looks. 

[hournites]

A lot of ways to love you (teach me through your eyes)

Hournite Week Day 7: Love Languages 

Summary: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, Touch. Or, Rick, Beth, and their many languages of love.

Thank you for coming along on this first HN week journey with me! ❤️

~.~

Words of Affirmation

  Beth found Rick by himself at the corner of their shared history class, carving his initials into the desk. She didn’t understand why he’d put himself there. It was like a brooding corner to be miserable. 

  “Hey,” she said, taking the seat in front of his desk. “What’s wrong?” 

  Rick dug deeper to splinter the wood. “They think I cheated on my chem test.” 

  Without asking, Beth unzipped Rick’s bag to pull out the test. Rick let her. 

  She gaped at him as she scanned over the F and comments from the teacher. He always treated Beth kindly when they passed in the halls, but she never actually had Mr. Geralds. Chemistry wasn’t her strong suit like Rick, but there wasn’t a doubt that she’d given some of the same answers with a great grade from the other science teacher. “Are you serious? That’s crazy. You’re going to contest that, right?”

  “You’re not going to even ask if I did?” 

  “I know you didn’t, you’re too smart.” 

  “I used to steal shit,” he muttered under his breath and dropped his pencil. “Haven’t heard you say I’m too smart for that.” 

  Beth slipped his test into her folder to return to at a later time, right now focusing on Rick. 

  “Hey, that’s not fair.” When Rick wouldn’t meet her eyes, she leaned in closer. “Look at me.” 

  Rick did. 

  “You know you deserved a good grade. And you’ve done what you did to get by.” She glanced at the vandalism briefly. “There are people here who know you’re better than what the majority of the town thinks.” She lowered her voice to keep her next words between them. “You’re a hero. You’ve helped save everyone in this town. So show them who you really are.” 

  She smiled when he let out a small huff, she knew he was listening. “I’ll go to the principal’s office with you, and we can get Pat to vouch for us. We both know that for Chem you should be in AP.” 

  “It’s really not that big of a deal,” he lied, shifting uncomfortably from all her nice words. 

  “If it weren’t a big deal, you wouldn’t have done that.” She pointed at the roughened mess he’d made of the school desk. “I know you better than you think.” 

  Act of Service 

  “Has anyone seen Beth?” 

  Rick walked around the main area of Pat’s cabin. It was after 2 AM. Barbara and Jennie were making late-night comfort food in the kitchen. Pat was manning the first aid station, tending to Mike, Jakeem and Yolanda’s injuries from Sportsmaster. Courtney was bonding or something with the staff in some strange ritual she had after a life-threatening mission. Rick just stepped out of the shower, washing the grime from his arms and face. 

  “She’s upstairs, I think!” Yolanda called, holding her ribs from her seat on top of the table. Rick shook his head when Pat admonished her not to yell. Rick made it up the stairs two at a time, stopping when he found Beth with her packed school bag on the floor in front of the couch. She was searching through papers, openly crying. She hadn’t even taken her cape off yet. 

  Rick crouched down beside her. “Hey,” he said softly. She looked utterly exhausted. “Are you okay? You said you didn’t get hurt.” 

“I’m not hurt.” She hiccuped, flipping through more papers, a little hysterical. It looked like it was for school. “I can’t find my math assignment. It’s due tomorrow morning.”

  “Did you finish it?” he asked. 

  “I don’t remember.” She wiped at her tears as she cried harder. “I might’ve left it at home, I can’t find it. I’m too tired, I can’t think.” 

  “Yeah,” Rick agreed. His bones were weary but he had always felt the least affected after battling it out with the ISA. He suffered plenty of superficial cuts and bruises, but he hardly felt them because his hourglass really protected him. He couldn’t imagine the hit the night must’ve taken on Beth’s body. Pat was going to be driving them back to main Blue Valley at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning to get them back to school. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a random Wednesday. It’s not like they had a choice. 

  “Did you ask Chuck?” 

  “No.” Her lip wobbled, face contorting into another sob. Rick regretted asking. It was clear she was far too drained. It would’ve been simple to have asked Chuck to scan her bag to find out, but she hadn’t thought of it. 

  “Okay, okay,” Rick said. “Go to bed. You’re not going to be able to do the homework now even if you found it.” Rick got up to get to the top of the stairs, calling down for Barbara. 

  When he returned, he helped her up and managed to get her to let go of her school bag. “We’ll look for it before we leave, okay?” Rick ran a hand through his damp hair, his own eyelids started to droop. “I promise you’ll get it done before school.” 

  Barb joined them upstairs and coaxed Beth to change out of her suit, leading her downstairs with her regular clothes and a promise of a warm bed and tea. 

  Rick followed to grab Chuck when Beth wasn’t looking, turning him on once alone to help identify if this alleged math homework was even in her bag. Together they found what she was talking about. Ten problems of pre-calc. She was right. It was rushed and not done. 

  Rick sighed, tucking it under his arm. He said goodnight to the rest and retired to his assigned room. He turned on the lamp on the desk where he first solved the code of his father’s journal, spreading out the assignment and using Chuck as a calculator. It dawned on him an hour later as he rubbed at his tired eyes how he would be staying up all night to finish homework that wasn’t even his. 

  Gifts 

  Beth was immersed in her book when two hands landed on her collarbone. She looked down, touching the skin at the opening of her shirt when she felt the weight of something new at the base of her throat.

  “What’s this?”

  Rick murmured in her ear from behind. “An early birthday present.”

  She let out a soft gasp when he finished with the clasp. A tiny brass hourglass pendant with sand just like Hourman’s trickled steadily beside her rainbow pendant. 

  “Woah.” She glanced up at him. “You got me an hourglass?” She bit down on her lip, dread creeping into her mind when she realized this had to be expensive. She struggled to voice what she was feeling out loud, but Rick must’ve caught the complicated expression on her face. He smoothed his hand along the sleeve of her cardigan and reassured her the cost didn’t push him into any kind of financial ruin. 

  “Did you not realize I’ve been working for Pat before school? I had some spare cash. Trust me, there’s nothing better I’d spend my money on.” 

  The puzzle clicked into place. Beth had been meeting Rick at the Pit Stop every morning before school for what felt like months now. It made sense he was there to work on the cars. Beth felt her face heat up at his implicit soft-spoken confession. “Thank you,” she said in a whisper, still in awe. The necklace was beautiful and she felt fuzzy ever since his hands were on her neck. “I love it.”

  His eyes, usually hardened and defensive, skilled at warding off unwanted attention, now creased at the corners. Gentle, quiet, yearning, he watched her accept his gift. “I’m glad.”

  Impulsively she asked, “Could you unclasp the rainbow one?”

  Rick did. The chain pooled in her palm. She shook her head, pushing it to his chest. “You should have it.”

  His brows furrowed in response. “You want to give me your... rainbow necklace?”

  She flushed when he said it like that. She toyed with her new one, looking at him from beneath her lashes. “Well…” she said. “I have something of you, now you can have a symbol of me.”

  Rick let out a small laugh. Beth was pretty sure if this were anyone else he’d say it was stupid, so she couldn’t help the surge of pride when he nestled her necklace around his own neck. 

  “How does it look?” 

  It was actually twisted. She flattened it so it would look the way it was supposed to over the collar of his shirt. Rick didn’t complain, but it was bright and cheery and clashed with his entire self. Beth bit her lip, withholding another laugh, and took pity on him, changing her mind to tuck the necklace underneath. “Perfect now.” 

  “Beth, I hate to interrupt this moment but you will be late for school if you don’t leave the Pit Stop in the next five minutes.”

  Chuck broke them out of their weird double transfixion. They both found themselves smiling shyly at each other, neither truly wanting to move. 

  “Come on,” he said after another few moments of them smiling at each other without moving. “Put your bike in my trunk. I’ll drive you.”

  Quality Time

  When Rick stopped by at Beth’s locker, she was talking to Charity, a new close friend she made over the summer volunteering at the Blue Valley Community Centre. 

  “Hey,” Rick greeted, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, waiting for Beth to visit. 

  “Hey,” Charity said back. She swept her blonde bangs out of her face to continue their conversation. 

  “Charity had a great idea that we should enter for the sustainability case competition,” Beth filled in.  

  “We’re going to need at least a month to prepare. I was thinking we could meet Tuesdays and Thursdays after school?” 

  Rick stuck a hand in his pocket, sullen. Thursdays were their days, unofficially. Not that they’ve ever said so out loud, but with JSA training afternoons the rest of the week, Beth working on a case competition their days off basically meant not getting to see her. Which was fine. It happened. Rick just wishes it didn’t have to. 

  “I can’t on Thursdays,” Beth told her. She glanced up at Rick to give him a smile. He straightened up, meeting her gaze with obvious surprise. “Those are our nights.” 

  Charity paused, watching the two with curious eyes. 

  “We can cancel,” Rick found himself saying and actually meaning it. “You don’t have to stay on my account.” 

  Beth’s nose scrunched up as she shook her head, mind already made. “Nah. Sorry Charity, Thursday doesn’t work for me. Take out your schedule, maybe we have a shared free period somewhere.” 

  “Oh, yeah, sure! Okay!” 

  Rick ducked his head to hide his smile as Charity fished through her bag for her agenda.

  Touch 

  When Beth stumbled out of the cell she’d been bound in, she hadn’t realized just how long she’d been gone. She was hungry and exhausted and felt horrifically dirty in her soiled Dr. Mid-Nite suit, but then she got a glimpse of Hourman nearly pushing the others in his rush to get to her all she could feel was relief. 

  Rick cupped her face, eyes squeezed shut as he held her close, his thumbs brushed along her cheeks, under her dry eyes. She felt the buzz of adrenaline rushing through him just by being so near, but the way he touched her was gentle, so gentle.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he whispered, a startling unfamiliar word to fall in succession like that, coming from Rick. His hands flew to the crown of her cowl, tugging it down to kiss her forehead again and again. “Thank you.” 

  I’m okay now, she tried to comfort him, though her words were choked, smothered out by the crushing weight of it all. He was crying as his lips brushed over her face. It wasn’t his stamina. The buzz, she felt. Rick was shaking. It hit her then, that maybe he wasn’t sure Beth was ever going to come back. Beth had scared him. He was scared.  

Beth vaulted with her tired, numb legs, reaching to wrap her arms around his neck. Her mind went calm for the first time since before they left home, muscles relaxing as she let Rick scoop her up. 

  She was safe. She was home.

Beth was loved. 

[ravenadottir]

non fluffy alphabet: tai

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

extremely caring. he has this habit of holding you close, kissing your forehead as he lies behind you, taking the role of the big spoon. hearing your breathing as you slowly fall asleep, or the way you mumble your answers when he asks you something, are the things that breaks this man into a big grin.

he always has water on his nightstand and he will force you to have a big gulp. “you lost a lot of water there, beautiful.”

his arm goes under your head so he can snuggle closer, covering your back entirely with his own. he also loves nuzzling in the back of your neck, catching the scent of your hair before falling asleep.

B = Body Part (His favorite body part of their partners)

everything that relates to the bottom half of your body.

ass and thighs have a different impact on this man when the imagery is you moving in a way that displays them properly. the waving of your hips, the top of your thighs’ muscles contracting as you grind on his lap.

he adores running his fingers on your skin, or leaving a trail of kisses. an occasional slap is always part of it. digging his fingers on the crease of your hip bones.

he can’t take his hands off your body and that, to him, signifies closeness during sex.

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum)

tai loves the intensity of the moment and how to make it even more heated.

he mostly prefers to cum inside of you. to him, it’s much more raw and real for when it happens. and he knows you love the look of his legs trembling when he lets go and do it.

D = Dirty Secret

none.

he is openly bisexual. “out and proud” as he once said, and he likes talking about sex, preferences, past experiences. he won’t hide anything from you, it’s part of his personality to be open and sincere.

and he appreciates if you’re open to him as well. he likes knowing everything about you, and that wouldn’t change when it comes to intimacy.

E = Experience (How experienced are they?)

relatively experienced.

he’s had serious relationships, but also one-night stands. to him, numbers aren’t relevant. not on his end nor on yours. i wouldn’t guess hundreds, but definitely dozens.

he doesn’t take too much time to decide if he wants to spend the night with someone, caring about pleasantries or “rules”.

if he has a feeling it’s going to be fun, he goes for it.

F = Favourite Position

you on all fours, on the bed.

the way your body moves while he thrusts behind you makes his mind travel. everything about the outlines of your back and hips, when you rear up and gyrate against him messes with him.

your ass, your legs spread, the possibilities are endless.

he also likes bending over to kiss your shoulder blades, to bite the back of your neck, to pull your hair and whisper in your ear how much he adores you just like that. he will call you beautiful at all times.

tai has a firm grip on your waist and if you take the lead and move against him, he melts. to him nothing beats the motions you make while in that position. nothing is sexier and he has to control himself to not cum so fast.

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in bed? Or are the humorous?)

tai can be both. his natural self is usually playful, chuckling when you black out from an orgasm, sharing smiles as you move together.

he can also be intense if the occasion asks for it. but that’s not his default.

he would rather have fun and sexiness over intense stares and muted moans.

H = Hair (Are they groomed down there? Does the carpet match the drapes?)

trimmed, very taken care of.

he does his best to keep it tight and pretty. the guy feels more comfortable with less hair and knows how sometimes can be unpleasant to some people.

the sensation of having a ‘haircut’ is satisfying to him.

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, are they romantic?)

sex to tai is something he shares with someone he feels comfortable with. in one way or other, he has to have that level of connection before it can happen. when he’s in love, he’s extremely caring, passionate and romantic.

he wants that moment to speak for itself, and whatever he can do to make it special, he will. he doesn’t care much for ambiance, but about what you do together before, during and after.

J = Jack Off

if you’re away, he loves phone sex.

to picture you touching yourself as you moan his name softly is one of his favorite things in the world. not to mention how your voice messes with his head and senses.

to him, it’s the sexiest sound in the world, and that’s when you’re speaking normally. he might even have seconds while talking to you.

as for jacking off by himself, i believe tai likes compilations of girls and boys having real orgasms. the whole trembling, rinding, grinding shebang. he doesn’t last very long when he has those on.

K = Kink

hair pulling, for the both of you. he needs his hair pulled as much as he needs to pull yours (if possible, of course).

he also likes slapping and biting. if it’s your ass, even better.

from time to time the control stays in your hand, but he does appreciate torturing you with lingering nibbles and slaps while you ride him, or he rides you, so to speak.

L = Location (Favourite places to do the do)

you already made his dream of the waterfall come true. i think if tai could choose, a balcony with the view of the beach would be the perfect spot for him. the waves crashing on the shore, the salty wind refreshing you both while you’re biting your lip from screaming each other’s names, the rails you’ll grip on while he’s behind you.

everything about the beach view excites him.

at home, the couch. he likes placing your knees on the edge of the seat while he grabs your shoulder, rolling his hips, grunting your name.

M = Motivation (What turns him on? What gets him going?)

you and your smile, the way you tease and goof around with each other.

to tai, sex starts before foreplay and kissing. the way you understand each other and how he can be himself with you is his major turn on.

but he’s also the type of guy that has “boner on command”. if you walk around in shorts, or just your underwear, he can’t take his eyes off you. he follows your every move and if you bend over to pick something, he’s ready to go.

N = No (Something they wouldn’t do.)

the one thing i’m certain about this is that tai is open to try anything once. there’s not a lot he would put a limit to, and he’s open to most things.

he’ll try, but if doesn’t like it, don’t expect him to sugarcoat it. he’ll be blunt and honest about it, and he appreciates when you do the same.

O = Oral (Do they like to give or receive? Are they skilled?)

tai skills while going down on you is to almost die for. what contributes to him being so good at it is that he knows communication is key. he can’t guess what you like, so he lets you set the pace, the location, the speed, intensity.

it relies on you to tell him what to do. everyone is different and the sooner you have this experiment, the better.

on girl, he loves swiping his tongue, feeling the back of your legs on his shoulder. when you moan a little louder you can see his smile reaching his eyes. his fingers might tease their way in while your hips roll against his mouth.

on boys, he swirls his tongue on the tip while in his mouth.

he works it nonstop, and won’t cease his work until you cum. that’s the one thing you can expect from him. oral is not a way of foreplay, it’s as important as the act itself.

P = Pace (Are they fast and rough? Slow and sensual?)

his default is rough and slow.

the speed increases as time goes by, but the intensity of his kisses, the way he touches your body, his bites and slaps stays the same.

he’s the kind of guy that likes to hold your gaze while inside of you. that only shows him how he’s at the right place, at the right time, with the right person.

Q = Quickie

volunteer of the year!

before leaving to work, in the morning. before parties in friends’ houses. during those parties on a hidden cupboard somewhere in the house. in the car on an empty parking lot after doing some shopping.

you name it. tai won’t back out from a quickie, and it often happens by him pinning you on a wall.

R = Risk (Do they take risks? Are they willing to experiment?)

absolutely. he’s open to new things. when it comes to intimacy, he’s willing to experiment.

“how do you know you don’t like it if you never tried it before?”

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for? How long do they last?)

he can last long or not, depending on what you need since he’s pretty selfless when it comes to it. if it’s his choice, definitely taking his time is the way to go.

he enjoys watching your body tremble, and he goes for the 4+ goal every time. you’re there to have a good time and to enjoy each other’s company.

besides, tai’s default is to last longer than usual. with him on your bed every session is a rollercoaster. he’s changing positions after every orgasm, flipping, turning, rolling. it’s wild and fun, all the time!

T = Toy (Do they own toys?)

that’s where his cruel self might make an appearance. one of his favorite things is to watch you writhe with whatever he’s doing.

he knows the intensity and speed you like on your toys, and has zero shame in whipping one from the drawer. he might hold your legs on each side of his hips and hold a magic wand on you until you ask for mercy.

the thought of dominating you in that way is something that makes him go crazy.

he combines toys with his mouth or fingers, or even when he’s inside you, he can use a suction vibrator on you. there’s no stormy insecurity with him when it comes to accessories.

U = Unfair (How much do they like to tease?)

such a fucking tease!

he will touch your skin with his mouth, from your ankle to your waist and make sure he skips the most important part, and while at it, a stupid grin will stay on his lips.

he loves hearing you pleading and huffing when he doesn’t give you what he wants, licking his way up your legs just to go straight to your breasts or lips, to plant another kiss.

he also likes swiping the tip on your wet skin. almost masturbating you with it, long enough to have you throwing him on the bed and sitting astride him.

and even then, he might hold you, physically, stopping you from getting what you want.

V = Volume

vocal and loud.

he says what he wants, he gives your orders, tells you to grind, to ride, or simply how much he loves having you like that.

doesn’t hold back his moans, and they happen usually when you’re on a slow pace. but when he’s about to cum, or is having a hard time to hold back, he can’t help grunting your name, repeatedly. this is how he communicates.

tai also hisses and speaks through his teeth. not in an aggressive way, more in a pleading manner, trying to hold back as longer as he can.

W = Wild Card

if not in a serious relationship, open to it. he might even be the one bringing it up. boy or girl, he doesn’t care. the important thing is that he likes the person he’s about to share you with.

but if he’s committed to someone, i can’t say it would happen. he would be taken aback if his partner suggested it, even a bit insecure. there’s definitely some limitations about sharing the person he loves with someone else, even if he gets to be with the third person as well.

X = X-ray (What’s going on down there?)

so much girth. length. our boy is P-A-C-K-I-N-G and he knows it. he displays big dick energy and it’s not for nothing.

it might even hurt your shoulder if you stroke him for too long.

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

my god, he’s driven!

he craves your touch at all times. it’s the way he knows he’s found the person he’s supposed to be with. and there are many ways to show someone how in love you are with them, but the most practical to him is sharing the bed. or the couch. or the wall.

Z = Zzz (How quickly did they fall asleep?)

he falls fast after so much exercising.

tai goes hard when in bed, so the effect it brings is just as intense. he wants to make sure you’re ok, taken care of and hydrated. once those bases are covered, it’s snoring time for tai.

[neonthewrite]

Sleepover at Adrian's

It's time for the final prize from the 2021 Trust Contest! This is set in the A Little Bit of Family AU (DA) (Ao3), also known as the Adopt Oscar AU. It's just full of good feels and happy moments for itty bitty Oscar.

Charlie, Sawyer, and Elisabeth belong to @creatorofuniverses and she was consulted in the making of this story!

Reading time ~10mins

~~~

Oscar had a list. Lists helped him keep calm about otherwise stressful things, things with too many steps to count on his hand. Even exciting things could be overwhelming. His list was meant for one of the more exciting things.

"Hey bud, whatcha got there?" Sawyer's voice broke Oscar from his thoughts.

Osar held up the paper so Sawyer could see it. “Hi dad! It's my, it's my list for the sleepover! I gotta make sure I bring everything I need when I go visit Adrian!"

Sawyer scanned it, humming thoughtfully. “Looks good, kiddo, but you forgot one thing.”

"Huh?" Before Oscar could check his list again, Sawyer swept him up into a squeezing hug and planted a kiss on his cheek. Instead of concern, Oscar overflowed with giggles.

"Now you have everything," Sawyer announced.

Oscar had to calm down from his giggles to retort. "I didn't forget! I'm gопnа give hugs an’ kisses before I head out! Th- the list is for what I need in my bag!"

Sawyer gasped, playing up his realization. “Ohhhh, I gotcha. Then I guess this-" he kissed Oscar's cheek again, really smushing his face with the action, "-is just for fun. I gotta take what I can get before you head off with your auntie."

Oscar squirmed so he could wrap his arms around Sawyer's neck in an earnest little hug. As he did, Charlie returned from the storage room, where he'd been working off some nervous energy by tidying. Oscar waved at him.

"Mom! I finished makin' my list! Dad looked at it. I'm gonna have all the stuff for my sleepover!"

"Very good, love," Charlie said, making his way over. In some wordless communication, Sawyer handed Oscar off and gave Charlie's shoulder a gentle squeeze. Charlie grinned at Oscar. "You've gotten so good with your lists. Very responsible."

“I like having ‘em, just in case,” Oscar agreed. “Maybe I’ll have an idea for a list to make while I’m visitin’ Adrian.”

Charlie chuckled. “If you do, remember you can ask Adrian or your auntie for help with the spelling,” he reminded him.

“What am I spelling?” Elisabeth chimed in, causing both Charlie and Oscar to jolt in surprise. When Charlie turned, they found Elisabeth had come in via the storage room entrance, and she wore a teasing grin. Her bag, slung over her shoulder, was just as full as Oscar’s, no doubt due to her own list of necessary sleepover supplies.

Oscar giggled again as Charlie set him down. “My list! If I make a new one,” he explained. Then, he pointed at Elisabeth’s bag. “Did you make a list for your stuff too?”

Elisabeth shifted the bag on her shoulder. “I didn’t,” she admitted. “Guess I’ll need your help remembering everything tomorrow. Are you ready to go?”

Oscar looked over at his bag, which sat by the hacky sack chair. It bulged with a spare set of clothes, his pajamas, and some toys. His trusty teddy bear leaned against it, guarding his things. “My bag’s full,” Oscar assessed. “An’ my list is all checked.”

“It’s a start, poppet,” Elisabeth chuckled.

Oscar nodded, then turned to Charlie and Sawyer. “I promise to be good, an’ I’ll write you a letter, just like when I stay at auntie’s, okay?”

Charlie and Sawyer grinned, endeared as ever by their son’s dutiful insistence. Even with Charlie’s quiet worry about him being away for a night, they trusted Adrian and Elisabeth to look after him. They knelt down to pull him into a squeezing hug anyway, Charlie planting a kiss atop Oscar’s head. “We can’t wait to read it, love.”

“Have fun, kiddo,” Sawyer added, giving them both a squeeze.

Oscar giggled, but soon enough he’d gathered up his bag and his teddy bear, stuffing his folded up list in with the rest of his things. He took Elisabeth’s hand and they shared a grin before heading out.

His grip tightened on her hand as they left, nervous excitement settling in. He’d stayed at Elisabeth’s a couple times. He had fun in spite of his nerves for being away from home - he missed his bed and the familiar rooms that he’d helped his parents build.

This time, the plan was to spend some time with Adrian, their human (the friendliest human ever, if Oscar were to decide). Oscar hadn’t taken much convincing. He had fun with his art lessons with Adrian.

Still. He couldn’t have worked up the nerve to ask if Elisabeth hadn’t volunteered to come along.

“I-I wonder if we’ll surprise him,” Oscar mused; they were on the way to the living room entrance above the human’s desk. “Dad still surprises him sometimes.”

Elisabeth snickered. “Well we can certainly try,” she suggested. She gave him a playful grin and a light squeeze of his hand. “We’re quite sneaky, aren’t we, poppet?”

Oscar giggled and squeezed her hand right back. “Yeah,” he whispered. “W-we’ll try!”

At length, they found their way to a door leading onto a shelf above Adrian’s desk. Oscar and Elisabeth peeked out with the door open only a crack to survey the room. Even with a friendly human, they couldn’t ignore those habits. Humans were dangerous to them and the viri couldn’t forget that.

With a couple major exceptions, one of which sat at the desk absorbed in a sketchbook.

Adrian never paid much attention to the door up on the shelf - he had a cup of pencils in the way, and made an effort not to bother the viris' entrances. It made the perfect spot to catch him by surprise. Even after all this time, Sawyer could still sneak up on him.

Oscar reminded himself of those stories as he crept out into the open. He sent Elisabeth a conspiratorial grin over his shoulder, squeezed his teddy bear close for a beat, and then stepped around the pencil cup. "Hi, Adrian!"

Adrian tensed and his gaze whipped up to the shelf. A smile broke over his face. "Hey, you made it! Didn't even hear you come in!"

Oscar giggled. "Yeah! Me an’ auntie are sneaky just like dad. It's time for our sleepover to start! Whatcha drawing? A building?" He sat at the edge of the shelf and leaned forward for an upside down view of the sketchbook.

Adrian chuckled and turned the book around, angling it up so the viri could see it. A few pencil drawings of regular old household objects adorned the page. "No buildings today," he admitted. "It's good to practice all kinds of subjects."

Elisabeth joined Oscar on the edge of the shelf. “Those are lovely. Oscar's been practicing drawing all kinds of things too, haven't you, poppet?"

"Uh huh, I've been drawing made up flowers, an’ um, some animals, and I, I drew some clothes, too!" Oscar announced proudly.

Adrian nodded, everything in his expression encouraging. “That sounds great, Oscar. We should draw more tonight too. I’d like to see how your practice is going.”

Oscar grinned. He’d been counting on Adrian wanting to do an impromptu art session. His lessons were some of the most fun Oscar had. Adrian had all kinds of art supplies. “Yeah! We’ll make lots of fun pictures!” he declared.

Elisabeth chuckled. “What else do you plan to get up to?” she asked, leaning into Oscar to nudge him. “Does your list have an agenda on it?”

“Oh, um,” Oscar stammered. “I didn’t wanna, I didn’t think we needed to plan too much, auntie,” he admitted, some warmth growing in his cheeks. Truth be told, Oscar wasn’t fully sure what the options were. It would surely be different from the times he spent the night at his aunt’s.

Adrian came to his rescue. “That’s alright, we don’t need to worry about that like we do with lessons.” He turned his sketchbook around and closed it up as he spoke. “You’re here to hang out for the whole night, and that’s a lot more time to fill than just one art lesson. We’ll make it up as we go along,okay?”

“That sounds fun,” Oscar agreed. He looked up at Elisabeth hopefully. “Is that okay?”

Elisabeth laughed, then abruptly wrapped Oscar up in a hug. “Of course it’s okay, poppet, I was only teasing,” she assured him. “We’ll go with the flow, it’ll be fun! You just have to decide what you want to do first!”

Even with some of the pink lingering in his cheeks, Oscar laughed along with her. “I was, I was thinkin’, I did have an idea,” he stammered out. Looking at Adrian, he asked, “Could we, could we try hide and seek? I mean, out in the rooms instead of in the walls where I usually play? Auntie an’ mom used to play it when their humans were gone, but maybe it’d be fun to play hide and seek with our human!”

Adrian raised his eyebrows. “I bet it would be very different from your usual games,” he agreed. “We can definitely give it a try, so long as we all know the rules first.”

~~~

It didn’t take too much time for the three of them to work out the ground rules of their game. Adrian would wait in his bedroom for five minutes. Oscar and Elisabeth had that time to find a place somewhere in the living room to hide - they wouldn’t go into the hallway or the kitchen. After some thought, Oscar determined that he and Elisabeth would hide together. His teddy bear would keep watch from the shelf up on the desk; Oscar didn’t want to drop him out in the middle of the floor in all the excitement.

With their rules decided on, Adrian retreated to the other room, his phone ready with a timer. He promised he’d call out every minute that passed so they knew how much time they had left. Oscar practically buzzed with excitement.

“Careful, poppet,” Elisabeth warned, though there was an endeared chuckle coloring her voice as she hooked her climbing string to the edge of the desk. “Don’t get too antsy to climb your string!”

“I won’t,” Oscar promised, preparing his own hook and string with the yellow button tied to the end. “I’m just excited!”

True to his word, he was careful as they made their way down from the desk. The wide open room might make them nervous in any other apartment. Here, it was a safe expanse where the resident human would be mindful of them.

It was also full of good places to hide. Oscar scanned the whole room avidly as soon as his feet touched the carpeted floor. “Maybe the couch? O-or the bookshelf? What about the curtains?”

Elisabeth grinned. “All very good places,” she agreed. “It’s too bad we aren’t hiding in the kitchen, hmm? I could show you my trick with opening the drawer!”

Oscar nodded. He loved the stories of Elisabeth’s antics with Charlie when they were kids. It was a glimpse of a family history that Oscar was grateful every day to be a part of. “Maybe, um, maybe after this one,” he mused.

“Four minutes left!” echoed down the hallway from the bedroom, and Oscar jolted.

“Come on, auntie!” he insisted, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go hide under the couch!”

Elisabeth laughed and let him lead her across the floor. Oscar sent her a few glances over his shoulder, always sporting a mildly mischievous grin. They were going to make Adrian work hard to find them in their hiding spot for certain; Oscar could hardly wait for the reaction they would surely earn. Adrian hadn’t even called out the three minute mark before they ducked out of sight under the colossal furniture.

While Oscar had been content to merely hide under the couch, Elisabeth, slightly stooped under the low clearance, pointed up at one of the thin support struts that kept the whole thing more sturdy. It was in easy reach for her, and there was a narrow space between it and the lining under the couch. The two of them could easily slip into that space if they stayed lying down.

Oscar’s eyes widened and he nodded, silent even though the human was rooms away and couldn’t possibly hear them. He let Elisabeth hoist him up under his arms so he could reach, and soon had scrambled his way up onto the board. Elisabeth was close behind, wriggling into place . “Don’t let your legs hang over the side,” she teased, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Oscar snickered, keeping his voice as low as he could. “He’s gonna be so confused!”

“Ready or not, here I come!”

Adrian’s voice stopped any further whispers. Soon enough, his gentle but unmistakable footsteps returned down the hall, slowing as he reached the living room. Adrian tended to move carefully even without knowing a pair of viri hid somewhere around, waiting for him to seek them out.

“You guys have a lot of options in here,” Adrian mused aloud, his voice somewhere overhead and muffled by the couch. Oscar heard the smile in his tone. “I might be looking for you all night. Past dinnertime, even!”

Oscar gasped, scandalized. Beside him, Elisabeth put her finger to her lips, though she looked like she wanted to giggle herself.

Adrian meandered around the room, occasionally moving a few things around on the shelf or coffee table. He took his time with it, and Oscar’s grin only grew. By the time the human crouched down to peer under furniture, Oscar had a hand over his mouth to hold back any giggles. He shared a glance with Elisabeth as Adrian’s gaze scanned under the couch, right past their hiding spot.

When Adrian was about to push himself back off the floor, Oscar finally gave in and released a giggle. Then, he squeaked when the human’s gaze returned, this time zeroing in on them. “Oh!” Oscar blurted, trying to duck back out of sight.

Elisabeth laughed too. “Ah, he found us, poppet! Guess we won’t miss dinner after all!”

Only half of Adrian’s face could really be seen from under the couch, but his amusement was clear. “I wouldn’t have let you miss dinner, Oscar, promise,” he said. “This is a very good hiding spot, though, I never would have noticed.”

“I got too many laughs in me,” Oscar admitted. Beside him, Elisabeth wriggled free of the support strut and hopped down. He let her help him down to the floor too. “But next time I’ll keep quiet! I got all my laughs out now.”

Adrian snickered. “I don’t mind if you laugh, it makes my job a lot easier,” he teased. “But we can get through plenty of games either way, and we won’t even miss out on dinner. Wanna try again?”

Oscar nodded eagerly. “We have time for at least a little more hiding and seeking.”

Elisabeth ruffled Oscar’s hair as the pair of them made their way back out from under the couch. “We have all the time in the world, poppet.”