#white duck taco

[oldnorthcarolina]

Apologies for the low quality. I'll have to see if I can get these in a better format, but these are some photos I was sent of the River Arts District/Riverside Drive area taken recently.

Apparently the White Duck location was cleared out before the flood. Not sure if they'll return.

[mikkomacko]

i need a blurb of reader & the boys having a sleepover at her & nicos house. gossiping, snacking, watching tv i need the fluff!!!

i love love love how you write each character so much!!!

smooches x

It was like a scene out of a movie. The entire living room was turned into one large bed, air mattresses covering every inch of the carpeted floor.

Thick blankets, fluffy pillows, random stuffies you’d collected over the years strewn about in a way that looked messily placed. Soft fairy lights were strung up on the ceiling and around the mantel the tv hangs above.

The rest of the house was dark, save for the light that led to the dining room table where a feast of snacks welcomed everyone. You had everything; popcorn with Jacks favorite Parmesan cheese topping salt. Twizzlers and red vines because Luke and Mercer disagreed on which licorice was the best. Some kind of Italian soda and cannolis that Johnny loves, the ones with chocolate shavings on the ends. Mini Reese’s cups, the unwrapped ones, for Holtz because he likes them bite sized but he hates the foil wrapper.

And even though Nico would heavily frown, you’d ordered pizzas, Taco Bell, and McDonald’s for all the boys.

They all looked like kids on Christmas morning as they dropped their overnight bags by the door, kicking off their shoes and scrambling into the dining room. You did a head count, made sure all of them were accounted for before shutting the front door and turning the alarm system on.

“No freaking way!”

You followed after them, biting your lip to keep your excitement at bay as they all gathered around the table to find gifts at their respective chairs.

Fluffy slipper socks, red and black plaid pajama pants, and white t-shirts with red Devils horns. You’d even personalized them, adding in small fancy letters on the sleeve each of their nicknames amongst the group.

“We match!” Jack exclaims, having already stripped of his shirt and tugged on his pajamas. You proudly show off your own set that you’re already wearing, smile beaming as the boys all chatter over each other and scramble to get their pj’s on.

“Oh fuck yeah,” Mercer laughs, shirt half on as he grabs a bag of Twizzlers. He ducks by you, pressing a kiss in thanks to the side of your head before moving back to the living room.

One by one they all change and gather their snacks, following after Mercer into the living room. Johnny is the last to go, eyes moony and warm when he stacks a pile of cannolis on his plate.

“Cara,” he sighs, dramatically holding his hand over his heart. “Nico better hold onto you before I go out and buy a diamond ring.”

You and him both snicker, collecting your own snacks and following the others. They’ve all taken over the air mattresses, sprawled out with their food in their matching pajamas. That leaves the couch for you and Johnny, both snuggling under under the king sized comforter you’d taken from yours and Nico’s bed earlier.

“Alright what are we watching?”

Jack is flipping through Netflix, browsing the movies and you’re about to suggest a cartoon when your phone dings with a text from Nico.

Why is my doorbell cam showing hoards of boys at my house?

Giggling to yourself, you text back.

When the boss is away, the children will play

“Ooh boss likes that one!”

You look at the tv, see the square lighting up around Sex and the City the movie, and you realize Luke is talking about you, not Nico. Your cheeks warm.

“It’s a chick flick but it’s fun.” You comment, and that must be enough because a chorus of agreements rings out just as Nico texts back.

I only agreed to Alex coming over.

The boys all shush each other, Mercer climbing up to dim the lights before slipping back into the recliner.

I guess you’ll just have to come home and kick them out yourself….

Tonight is the one night a year that the original four Devs pull an all-nighter at the cafe. Something to do with plans and contracts for the upcoming year and instead of spreading it out weekly, they make themselves miserable for one whole night.

But you hate staying home alone so Nico agreed you could let Holtzy sleep over. But you couldn’t say no to Johnny either and then slowly but surely all the boys wanted to sleepover and what were you supposed to do? They want to hang out, watch out for you while Nico is gone for the night.

Before Nico can respond you double text, telling him the movie is starting and you’ll talk to him in a bit. Then you put it on silent and settle under the blankets, intently focused on the film.

You and the boys get through the first film and the first season of the show before you decide you need a break. Mostly because Luke and Jack are arguing over whether Big is actually hot or not, but you eventually swap the HDMI to the switch and pull up Mario Kart.

The game turns into a tournament, one you get knocked out of too quickly. So you slump onto the losers couch, Holtzy following you when he loses in the next round. And it’s not until he’s curling up into your side, thighs pressed together and your head resting on top of his that you realize how exhausted you are.

Slipping out your phone, you see it’s almost 3 am and that you’ve got a stack of unanswered texts from Nico.

What movie are you watching?

Ok I know it has to be over by now

Baby please I’m bored

Jonas makes really bad espresso shots and my tummy hurts

I want to be at the sleepover

They better not be in my bed btw

Fine, I’ll see you in the morning. Love you baby ♥️

Sleepily, you smile and text back.

Goodnight Nico, miss and love u

~~~~

Nico comes home in the early hours of the morning, sun barely rising in the sky. He’s exhausted and grumpy, just wants to curl up in his bed with you and sleep forever when he stops in his tracks.

All six of you are still in the living room, the Mario kart title screen on the large tv. Luke is half on a mattress, mouth open and hands clutching a controller to his chest. Johnny is next to him, his own controller laying on his stomach as he snores.

Jack and Mercer are both star-fished on the mattresses, Jack buried under almost all the blankets to the point that all Nico can see is his face.

He finds you next, lying on the large couch under the blankets from your bed. Alex is by your feet, his hand stretched out like at one point you had been holding it but now you’re just squeezing a pillow to your chest.

You look cute. Lips parted and hair messy, pajamas matching the boys and he can’t even be annoyed by the fact that you’ve deconstructed his bed and brought it down here. He just peels off his shoes and clothes until he’s in just his boxers, pushing his hair out of his face as he navigates the mattresses and limbs to get to you.

He pries the pillow from your hands, dropping it to the floor and slipping under the blankets next to you. It’s a tight fit, but even in your sleep you fit yourself into his chest.

Pressing a kiss to your head, Nico closes his eyes and settles into the cushions. He’s on the precipice of sleep when Alex’s hand finds his and Nico huffs, wrapping his fingers around the younger boys and squeezing just once.

He’ll have to remember to tell Alex never to mention this again. But that can wait until later.

[what-even-is-thiss]

european here (genuinely curious): in reference to your “american home-cooked food isn’t just fast food, it’s a lot like french/italian food” post, could you give some examples? I don’t know what foods are american home staples, but your post piqued my interest

Well stews and soups for one. When I read recipes for stuff like beef bourguignon it’s quite familiar to me. Less wine perhaps but the principles of the dish are similar.

Italian-American food often also makes for easy quick food on weeknights. Pasta is something that can be just as easy or complicated as you want. You can make it from scratch at every step or just make sauce from canned ingredients and boxed pasta. Tomato paste, flour, pasta, and dried herbs are staples in most kitchens. Pretty much every household has their own way of making pasta sauces.

Roasts are popular during the winter. Both roasted veggies and roasted meat. Potatoes are popular year round but in the summer things like potato salad or fries or bagged chips are more common than stewed, mashed, or boiled potatoes.

Americans commonly cook with butter and olive oil, though canola oil is cheaper. In recent years though there’s been health questions about canola oil and some people only use it for deep frying now.

French cream sauces are pretty similar to American white gravy which we make with cream instead of milk. We do also make white sauce too and will put it on most things. I find it especially good on pizza instead of red sauce. A lot of people also put it on pasta or vegetables.

A lot of the way we eat potatoes is pretty similar to some French dishes. What we call scalloped potatoes is very similar to a French dish called potatoes au gratin. Not identical, but extremely similar.

Stuff like French onion soup and duck a l’orange is also decently popular here even if not everyday food and are things you’d more commonly make yourself than buy from a restaraunt.

French style breads and pastries are also quite popular here. Baguettes are common things to cut up to eat with dip. Croissants with coffee are common things to eat for a small breakfast or an afternoon snack. French style breads both sweet and not are also common breads used for sandwiches. Italian style coffee is also more and more popular these days but that wasn’t true until relatively recently.

A lot of similarities really lie in the ingredients we use. We often cook things in butter for example. Or add flour to stews to thicken them. Or add milk to things. Or use wine to deglaze pans for the flavor.

A lot of home cooking in the US is affected by other immigrant populations. Tacos or curry are staples in my diet for example. But when you get down to more traditional comfort food it’s potatoes, cream sauces, stews, herbs, roasts, and pasta. Stuff that’s not identical to French or Italian cooking but is very heavily influenced by it.

TLDR: It’s butter!

[necroromantics]

What I think the Creeps would listen to

Jeff - Black Metal, but he’d be fucking annoying about it with a huge superiority complex and very gatekeepy. Mayhem, Burzum, Emperor, Immortal. Also artists like Marilyn Manson and Black Sabbath too, Cannibal Corpse, Mortician

Nina - 2000s pop like Kesha, Katy Perry, Pitbull, with some scene music thrown in like Falling In Reverse, Hollywood Undead, S3RL. She also listens to Melanie Martinez

BEN - Exclusively old internet music like Raining Tacos, Chocolate Rain, Caramelldansen, The Duck Song. Would probably dip into EDM, Dubstep, and video game soundtracks

Jane - R&B and Hip Hop. Destinys Child, Mariah Carey, Usher, Nelly, Rhianna, Ashanti and also some rock like Evanescence

EJ - Linkin Park, Nirvana, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Rage Against The Machine, and bands like Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies

Toby - Wide range of music, from gangster rap to punk rock. Green Day, NWA, Harley Poe, ACDC, Three Days Grace, Motley Crue, Modern Baseball, Blink182, Thousand Foot Krutch

Clockwork - Rock, country, grunge. She would listen to mostly female artists. In This Moment, Jack Off Jill, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kittie, The Pretty Reckless, Destroy Boys, Hole, Three Days Grace, Seether

Tim - Old class rock, he thinks anything else is garbage. Motley Crue, ACDC, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, KISS, Guns N Roses

Brian - White guy music. Backstreet Boys, The Offspring, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, probably throws some Michael Jackson into the mix for spice

[chasing-that-jackson]

Look, I didn't want to be praetor. Or be responsible for people, but here I am!

Hey, before you ask. Yes, my dad's the famous Percy Jackson, yes, my mother is Annabeth Chase. But I'm not going to live in their shadow! I'm making my own path! But before all the epic monologues, I'm Charlotte Sally Jackson, but you can just call me Charlie. Or anything other than "Da Big C" (I WILL fight you, Cassie). I'm the praetor of New Rome, along with Ambrose Asher! Now here's some stuff about me !

Name: Charlotte Sally Chase - Jackson.

Alias: Charlie, Char-char , Goldfish (come on, dad.), Praetor Jackson, Jackson, Lottie.

Age: 16 Sexuality: Bisexual :D

Weapons: a trident named "Thalassa" (the sea) given to her by Poseidon. It can change shape at will, as it is made of pure water, her mother's Yankees cap.

Relations: Perseus Jackson (father) , Annabeth Chase-Jackson (mother), Cassandra Hestia Chase (sister), Sally Jackson (Grandmother) , Poseidon, Athena.

Personality: changeable like the sea" and hard to predict — with the important exception that she is extremely loyal to her friends and family. Sarcastic and goody at most times, but works great under pressure. Doubtful in her own skills but she believes a hell of a lot in others. The occasional temper is present, of course, but she wouldn't be a Jackson without it, amirite?

Fatal flaw: Overly giving/overly dedicated. She gives every part of her to a task, to a person. Even if she doesn't have anymore to give. She'll die trying.

Relationship with family: HUGE daddy's girl, but they always just roast each other. Loves her mom too, of course, but sometimes she's just too..overbearing. Too strict. Gets along great with her sister, who is 1 year younger than her. Her relationship with her grandma and grandpa (Sally and Paul) is also pretty good, they spoil her rotten (in a good way!). Vibes with Poseidon, kind of vibes with Athena until..a certain event. Now she's steely towards her. She's fond of Hestia and Apollo as they resonate with her.

Fears: small spaces, loss of loved ones/family, tests, drowning.

Sexuality : Bisexual, demiromantic

Hobbies: playing the guitar, occasional drawing, surfing, listening to audiobooks, joking around and learning new things. My sister, Cassandra is 15!

"You are too giving. You will give yourself to save others, to make others better, to make others feel better, even if you are great danger. In pain, you smile at those around you because you know they'll hurt if you dont. And in the end, legacy of Poseidon, it will be your downfall."

Songs that play constantly on my battered headphones (dad, buy me new ones , please :()

Seven nation army - The white stripes

Teenagers - MCR

Run, boy Run - Woodkid

What's up danger? - Blackway and Black Caviar

And many, many more! Feel free to come ask for song recs, because my music taste is as amazing as my fighting skills, haha.

People I know!:

@percy-jackson-xxx - My super amazing cool dad whose kinda stupid .... (I love you please don't throw me into the pool 😔)

@ineedtoescapefromreality - Echo and Rosalyn Mclean! (Rosalyn, teach me how to be as cool as you :[ and Echo just like. High five, dude ✌️), Auntie Piper and Shel's kids!

@daffy-not-a-duck - Daphne (I am not writing your complete name dude it's so long???) Uncle Nico and Will's daughter! (I like your parents, but you?? ew..........)

@iggy-mini-miny-moe - IGGGGGGYYYYY AYYYY (adhd bestie frfr, let's go commit arson) Uncle Leo and Jason's son! (Uncle Leo's tacos are amazing btw) @violent-cinnamonroll - Aria!( i appreciate chu bestie <333) Auntie Clarisse and Silena's kid! (Auntie clarisse scares me. pls dont pummel me to ground :()

@olivernotfound - Ollieeee! (Better than his sister :D) Uncle Nico and Wills second kid! (Who I like a lot more. High five, bro)

@notwillingtobefound - Will Valdez!! (Bros music taste is top tier?? How??) Uncle Leo and Jason's kid! @the-poison-and-the-sky - Belldonna Jackson-Chase! My older sister! (she hears everything/j) @daredevil-larue - Lucine La Rue ! Auntie Clarisse and Auntie Silena's other daughter! (super cool blue hair hehe <33) @praetor-ambrose-asher - Ambrose Asher, My fellow praetor! (muscles. end sentence. thats it. MUSCLE-)

Ooc notes:

Occasionally, other characters will appear on this blog as I imagine them. This will include Percy , Annabeth, and Cassie! (Any post by them will have their name at the end)

Tags:

praetor charlie on the chase - Charlotte ic

cassie snoops around - notes from cassie

parents are parenting - notes from Annabeth or Percy

the jackson two - both Cassie and charlie together!

In the praetors- ooc

Duck tales- with the idiotic (and pretty) Daffy Duck

Fireboy and watergirl - w/mah bro Iggy!!! We besties fr (stop burning down my freaking kitchen??)

Deathboy and Skatergirl - w/mah other bro ollie!! (Stop being so oblivious because Iggy clearly l- *gets slapped*) the ultimate cool girls - w/super cool girl, Rosalyn! awkward silence - w/ echo (quiet, but awesome)

Please remember, this is not a multi character blog, but just appearances by others! Thanks for reading. No nsfw . I'm a minor 😎.

So, that's me! Ever need anything, I'm always up in the praetors office, or around the stables. Till we meet again, this is Charlie signing off!

That was so cheesy, Char. - Cassie

[rosexhart]

Waiting For Sunset

————————————————————

Gekko x Reader

• Accidentally running into the agents of Omega Earth, you are taken hostage. Hostages aren’t common for them, but you seem to be the exception. So much for your first time in L.A.

Word Count: 1.4K

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

————————————————————

The day was already beginning to warm up. I was visiting L.A. to see if I would like the colleges here rather than back home. A lot of them having very interesting programs so it was time to see them in person. I took the trip alone despite the protest of those around me. The whole First Light event made everyone anxious still. It didn’t bother me though.

I walked around three colleges, all of them huge, and all of them way more than I could ever dream of. It was going to be tough picking between them. I sat down outside of a boba shop and sighed out. It was then that I noticed it. One of the places of the radianite explosions occurred. Parts of the building affected, free floating in the air, which meant the crater was also nearby. I decided it might be worth trying to go see it. Even if I got caught I could feign ignorance. I stood up and started towards the building. The sun was beginning to set in the distance, not quite yet providing that golden hue. It was a bit of a maze getting closer to the building. Only able to use it as a landmark to guide myself. Finally I spotted a taco stand, long abandoned, and smiled to myself. What I wasn’t expecting were five people standing in a small grass circle right near by it. I ducked down, hoping to not be noticed. They whispered among themselves. They seemed strange, like they weren’t meant to be here. I stayed hidden as one of them disappeared in a haze of purple smoke right before my eyes. I glanced around looking for them only to have a hand grasp my arm tightly.

A slight yelp escaped me, as they pulled me to a stand and threw me almost effortlessly forward towards the other four.

“A spy,” The voice was low, and toned in a way that unsettled me. Chills racing down my spine.

“I doubt she was sent by them. She doesn’t even seem Radiant.” One said kneeling in front of me. She had long dark black hair that was tied up into a pony tail.

“We can’t risk it regardless.” Another woman with white hair tied up in a short pony tail.

“Agreed. Tie her up, we can deal with her after we detonate the spike.” The long haired woman stated as she stood to her full height.

“Hey, wait! Look I’ll leave I was just trying to see the area.” I argued but the five didn’t seem to care. A woman with red hair pushed you down and held you while a lady with slicked back black and pink hair, zip tied my hands. They sat me back up and took a triangular looking object away with them as they went down a path on the left. Leaving me sitting in the grassy circle they previously occupied.

Gunshots rang out from the direction they went. Some were in more rapid bursts, others slow, calculated and loud. After a while, everything became quiet again. Then the same man who had disappeared into purple smoke came running towards me. A large gun in one hand, the triangular device hanging from their hip. They came over to me. Picking me up roughly. Their shoulder oozing a bit of blood as they did.

“Change of plans. You’re collateral now.” Their voice said and I stumbled forwards towards the right instead of the left like they did before. He pushed at me, making me go forwards as I rounded past a phone box, and up a slight gravel incline.

“Listen, there’s got to be a better way of doing-“ I started but was quickly cut off.

“Quiet.” They said as we rounded a corner by a box. A gun shot rang and the person pulled me flush against their body like a human shield.

“Hold fire!” Someone called out from the crates far in front of us.

“You shoot at me again and I’ll make sure you shoot them instead.” The voice garbled out. There was silence as we continued onto a hard metal surface. The figure shoved me behind a technician box and then took the triangular device and started fiddling with it. I couldn’t just sit here. I swiftly kicked at the device and watched as it spun out their hands. I smirked at my achievement as I heard footsteps behind me. The person disappeared in a haze of purple smoke and I backed up quickly, trying to prop myself up using the box. Gunshots rang out and I held my place behind the box for a minute as the voice I had come to know cried out. Then a rush of footsteps.

“Are you alright?” The same woman with long black hair came from around the box. I backed up.

“Get away from me,” I said moving backwards best I could as a small creature came running at me. It was yellow and tilted its head at me.

“No, no, we are the good guys.” I looked up to see a man with neon green hair, holding a small blue creature with some type of shell on its back. The small yellow creature garbled out something.

“Hey, dude come on. It’s not their fault.” The man said as he picked up the creature.

“Who are you people?” I questioned and the black haired woman took a breath and came closer. Cutting the ties at my wrist with a knife.

“We are Valorant.” She said helping me to stand.

“And you were not suppose to be here.” The same voice from before said coming around the box next to the neon haired man.

“What the hell,” I growled out

“Hey, it’s a lot to take in. Sage, we should take her back.” The neon green haired man said.

“I agree. She has seen too much.” The woman with the black hair said. I suppose she was Sage.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I started but I didn’t get much of a say as a neon blue haired girl rounded a corner.

“Can we go? I’m tired of just sitting around here.” She stretched out her shoulder.

“We have a situation.” Sage said

“Relájate chica,” The green haired male said to her.

“You relax after having to run through fire to get their Skye out.” The blue haired girl said

“Enough,” The purple smoke person said.

“We are probably confusing her more.” Sage said, helping me to stand.

“Do you want me to handle her?” The smoke person said as he came closer.

“Probably for the best. We will meet you back on the helicopter.” Sage said and the person grabbed my arm roughly just like the other.

“Hey hands off!” I cried out before I felt the world disappear around me. There was a haze of purple smoke, and I felt like I was weightless. As if I was in my dream like I was falling from some great height. When it came to an end we were on a helicopter bigger than I had ever seen. The person sat me down and strapped me down in a chair.

“Get off! I’m not going anywhere this is kidnapping!” I yelled and tried to keep them from continuing. They held my wrist tightly and came close to my face. Three slits of light stared back at me.

“It’s not kidnapping if you were breaking the laws.” They said and my blood cooled. I was strapped in and I suppose they were on some type of locking mechanism because I couldn’t release them. Soon enough the others came aboard. Sage, the neon haired male, the blue haired female, then someone I hadn’t seen yet. Another male with jet black hair, and a blue jacket.

“Yo, Yoru, you got lucky. I was one away from beating you.” The green haired male mentioned to the guy in the blue jacket.

“You can never beat me Gekko. I always am on top.” The male- Yoru, said.

“God you guys are insufferable.” The blue haired female said.

“Where are you taking me?” I questioned and they all looked at me.

“Who the hell is this?” Yoru questioned looking around at all the different people.

“Uh.. I don’t think we ever actually got a name.” The neon haired male said.

“(Y/N),” I stated pulling at the belts again.

“(Y/N), welcome to Valorant.” Sage said before the helicopter took off. They placed a headset on my head but silenced it. They all took turns talking but I couldn’t hear much of anything beyond the drone of the helicopter. I sat back. Realizing there was nothing I could do. So much for those colleges.

[cgunderwearstories]

The Revenge of Team Tighties

After the unforgettable game where Team Tighties found themselves in a shredded mess of tighty-whities, the group agreed to a hilarious, albeit slightly humiliating, bet. The losing team had to don something even more ridiculous for the next match. Unfortunately for them, Team Tighties lost again. And so, with laughter and groans, Team Tighties became Team Thong for the upcoming game.

The sun was just as relentless on the day of the next match, but the mood was light as both teams gathered on the court. There were nervous chuckles and sideways glances from Team Thong as they stripped down to their, now very revealing, game attire.

Team Thong consisted of:

Ryan, still the de facto leader, sported a black leather thong that hugged his waist tightly and barely covered anything else. His toned body made the sight both comical and surprisingly fitting, though he was clearly uncomfortable, tugging at the waistband every few minutes.

Mark, the muscle-bound gym enthusiast, opted for a bright red thong. It was small, really small, barely containing his muscular behind. The thong seemed to vanish between his well-defined glutes, and every move he made flexed and emphasized his physique in ways that had the rest of the team trying hard not to laugh.

Jake, the strategist, went with a neon green thong that was as eye-catching as it was tiny. It didn’t leave much to the imagination, and his somewhat lanky frame only made the thong seem even more out of place. He had a nervous grin on his face, clearly regretting the bet but too proud to back out.

Brad, the jokester, of course, had to go with something outrageous. He was wearing a leopard-print thong. It was a riot, and Brad played it up, strutting around the court like a runway model, much to the amusement of everyone watching.

Steve, ever the planner, went for a classic white thong. It was simple, but on his slightly stocky frame, it highlighted every curve and crease, making him blush every time someone looked his way. He kept trying to adjust it, but the more he adjusted, the worse it seemed to fit.

Frank, the quiet, intense player, wore a dark blue thong. It was surprisingly tasteful, as far as thongs go, but his larger, muscular build made it look almost comically small. He moved with his usual determination, though the thong definitely added a new and awkward dynamic to his movements.

On the other side of the net, Boxer Brigade was ready to go, still in their boxers, but with a whole new set of funny designs:

Greg had switched to boxers covered in tiny rubber duckies. The bright yellow ducks seemed to float across the blue fabric, and every time he jumped, they appeared to quack in unison.

Tony was wearing boxers with a superhero theme again, but this time it was a mix of comic book sound effects—“BAM!” “POW!” “ZAP!”—scattered all over. The colors were loud, and they matched his energetic personality perfectly.

Mitch had on a pair of boxers that looked like they were made from an old pair of jeans, complete with fake pockets and a printed-on belt. They were a perfect fit for his wild and unpredictable style.

Dave, the quiet one, had chosen boxers with a nighttime sky theme—dark blue with little stars and moons. They were calm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually surrounded him.

Sam was sporting boxers covered in cartoon tacos, with little faces and sombreros. It was unclear if he loved tacos or just wanted to mess with everyone’s focus, but either way, it was a hit.

Oliver had boxers with little palm trees and coconuts, giving off a beach vibe. Given his tall, lanky frame, the tropical theme looked almost comical as he towered over the net, his boxers swaying like a lazy day at the beach.

The game was about to begin when Jake, still blushing in his neon green thong, pulled out a volleyball from his bag. It was the same one Tony had used in the previous game, the one with the mystical markings. But Jake, always one for strategy, thought it might bring them some luck—or at the very least, even the playing field.

“Why not give it another go?” Jake suggested with a mischievous grin, tossing the ball to Greg, who caught it without hesitation.

As the game commenced, the cursed volleyball once again began to work its strange magic, but this time, it wasn’t Team Thong that felt the effects. Instead, something peculiar started happening on the other side of the net.

It began innocently enough. Mitch, after a particularly good spike, gave Tony a playful pat on the back, and then, without really thinking, a pat on the rear. Tony laughed it off and returned the favor, a little harder and with a wink.

Greg, noticing the camaraderie, joined in, giving Oliver a friendly smack on the behind after he made a great save. Oliver, a bit surprised, chuckled and did the same to Sam, who laughed and returned the gesture. Before long, the Boxer Brigade was filled with a series of light-hearted pats and smacks, all of which seemed perfectly normal—until they weren’t.

The pats became more frequent and more lingering. A hand would rest a little too long, a touch would be a little too tender, and the playful atmosphere began to shift into something else entirely. The Boxers Brigade members found themselves exchanging knowing looks, and the air around them thickened with an unexpected tension.

Mitch, catching a spike from Ryan, landed with a graceful step, only to find Greg standing close, much closer than usual. They locked eyes, and Greg reached out, brushing his hand across Mitch’s arm in a way that felt…different. Mitch didn’t pull away. Instead, he smiled, a warm, inviting smile that said more than words could.

On the next play, Tony dove for the ball and ended up tumbling into Oliver, who caught him mid-fall. Their bodies pressed together, and instead of pulling apart, they stayed there, looking at each other with a newfound intensity. Tony, always the bold one, leaned in and planted a soft kiss on Oliver’s cheek, which quickly turned into something more.

The other members of Boxer Brigade were experiencing similar feelings. Sam and Dave, usually the quietest, found themselves standing side by side, their hands brushing together as they waited for the serve. When Sam looked over at Dave, there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. They leaned in closer, until they were sharing a kiss, right there on the court.

The spectators, as well as Team Thong, watched in disbelief as the playful gestures turned into full-blown displays of affection. The game was all but forgotten as Boxer Brigade members embraced, kissed, and caressed each other in a way that went beyond mere friendship. The cursed volleyball had done its work well, weaving a spell that had transformed competitive energy into romantic passion.

Jake, realizing what was happening, looked down at the volleyball in his hands. The markings were glowing faintly, just like before. “Uh…guys?” he called out, but his voice was drowned out by the sounds of laughter, kisses, and murmured sweet nothings.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of awkwardness and suppressed giggles from Team Thong, Tony, still wrapped in Oliver’s arms, noticed Jake’s horrified expression and the glowing volleyball. With a sudden jolt of realization, he broke away from Oliver, shaking his head as if to clear it.

“Jake!” Tony shouted, pointing at the volleyball. “That thing’s cursed!”

The spell was broken. Boxer Brigade members blinked, looking around at each other as if waking from a dream. They quickly disentangled themselves, their faces turning a deep shade of red as they realized what had happened.

“Uh…yeah,” Greg said, scratching his head awkwardly. “So…that happened.”

The laughter that followed was uproarious, filled with a mixture of relief and embarrassment. The Boxers Brigade quickly returned to their side of the net, their previous playful rivalry restored, though the memory of their unexpected affection lingered in the air.

“Well,” Ryan said, grinning as he looked down at his leather thong, “at least we’re not the only ones who got caught in something weird today.”

The game ended with more laughter than actual points, and by the time the sun began to set, both teams were too exhausted from their laughter and antics to care about the score.

As they packed up, Greg turned to Jake, eyeing the volleyball warily. “Next time, no cursed volleyballs, okay?”

Jake nodded, chucking the ball into a nearby trash can. “Agreed. I think we’ve all had enough of strange magic for one lifetime.”

And so, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the two teams walked off the court together, united not just by their ridiculous outfits, but by the bizarre experiences they’d shared. The story of Team Thong and Boxer Brigade would become a legend among their friends, a tale of curses, thongs, and unexpected kisses that they’d laugh about for years to come.

[fandomsnstuff]

One of these days ill post at a reasonable time

@taznovembercelebration

Day 22: silly

Lup's birthday is coming up, and the present from her long distance boyfriend is haunting her in all it's wrapped glory. Doesn't help that her brother thinks her boyfriend is fake.

Read it on AO3

Dearest Apologies

From: barry.j.bluejeans@gmail.com

To: luptaaco@gmail.com

Good morning Lup,

I would like to deeply apologise for being unable to provide you with the goodnight text you were expecting last night.

Turns out, it is unwise to use one's phone above a pot of boiling water when one is easily startled. According to the respectable phone repairman in my local mall, the damage is fixable and the repair will be cheaper than a new phone, but I am without said device until wednesday. In the meantime, I shall send my missives to you by electronic mail of the g variety.

I hope you slept well. I stayed up far too late, as usual. I write to you as I await the energising effects of my coffee.

Have a wonderful day, my darling.

Yours,

Barry

Re: Dearest Apologies

From: luptaaco@gmail.com

To: barry.j.bluejeans@gmail.com

Barry,

I suppose I can forgive you, given the harrowing phone experience you've gone through. I pray for your phone's survival.

I did sleep well, I had many dreams of you. I miss you more every day.

I would scold you for staying up late, but alas, I have done the same. But I suppose I have stronger coffee than you, as I'm already set to face the day.

I received the parcel you sent me. You're far too clever, putting a note on top telling me not to open it until my birthday. You're also a cruel lover for it. You know I adore packages, I long to tear it open and see what's inside. But I adore you, so I shall follow your instructions.

Forever yours,

L

“What're you writing?”

Lup jumps out of her skin as Taako's suddenly standing behind her. “Jesus fucking christ, maybe warn a girl next time?!”

“I made so much noise walking over here.” He grabs her phone from where she dropped it. “What's got you smiling like a fool?”

She snatches the phone back. “Nothing!” She finishes typing her name and sends the email. “It's just a silly thing with Barry.”

Taako groans. “Not this again. Lulu, I'm not stupid.”

Kravitz pokes his head out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth, “who's Barry?”

Taako gives her a look that says, go on. Lup sighs irritably, “Barry's my boyfriend.”

Kravitz's eyebrows go up. He ducks back into the bathroom, presumably to spit his toothpaste out, then says, “since when do you have a boyfriend?”

“She doesn't,” Taako interjects, “there's no way he's real.”

“He's real! I've shown you pictures! He sent me a birthday present!”

“You one hundred percent just googled pictures of white men and showed me one.” He looks to Kravitz, “she said his name is Barry Bluejeans. Tell me that's not fake.”

“Your name is taco twice.”

“Thank you!” She says. “See, Kravitz thinks my boyfriend is real.”

“Now I didn't say that.” She glares at him and holds up his hands defensively. “I have some followup questions.”

She crosses her arms. “Fine. Shoot.”

“Where does this guy live?”

“Connecticut.”

“On the other side of the country? How the hell did you meet him?”

“Conferences. We've been flirting for years.”

“Years, Krav!” Taako exclaims. “And I never heard a word about him, until a month ago! She went away for a week and came back with a boyfriend.”

Kravitz looks between the two of them, then says, decisively, “he's fake.”

Lup throws her hands up. “I get texts, I get calls, I get emails, I got a package, but he's fake! Sure!”

“I'm just saying it sounds a whole lot like the fake Canadian girlfriend I had in middle school before I knew being gay was an option.”

She pouts up at Taako, “I thought you wanted me to be happy.”

“I do, but this is closer to delusional.”

She sticks her tongue out at him then stands up. “Fine,” she says, marching to her room, “believe what you want, but one of these days you're going to feel real stupid!”

A few days later, her phone lights up with a text.

🐻E👖

> Hello

> I've returned to the modern world

> How are you?

Lup ❤️

> welcome back

> im trying to bully taako into letting me help plan the menu for my birthday party tomorrow, but he won't let me

🐻E👖

> how rude of him

> Are you going out for it?

Lup ❤️

> nah, it's cheaper and honestly more fun to stay in with the crew and be stupid than going out and being stupid

> other people's stupidity can interfere with our

🐻E👖

> I can understand that

> good luck bullying him, I gotta run

> I love you

Lup ❤️

> love you too, bear

> also when can I open my birthday present

🐻E👖

> I'll let you know

Lup ❤️

> mean

🐻E👖

> you'll love it, promise

Lup's birthday party is in full swing. There's lots of finger foods and cake, the games are as unnecessarily competitive as always, and Lup's having a blast. But she can't help but check her phone a little too often. Barry called her last night, and sent her a happy birthday text in the morning, but he said he'd be busy all day and wouldn't be able to talk until later. It's later, and she still hasn't heard. He hasn't even told her that she's allowed to open her gift yet, which has been sitting in her room taunting her for days now. She even shook the small wrapped box, but the faint rattling gave her nothing.

She's halfway through a very intense round of poker when she vaguely registers a knock on the door. She dismisses it, far too focused on watching every microexpression on Kravitz's face. Then she hears Taako say, “well I'll be damned.” He calls to her, “Lup! You've got a visitor!”

Confused, she turns her attention away from the game to the door. All her guests are here. Who else–

She practically knocks over her chair as she scrambles up and tackles Barry in a hug. She kisses him hard and says, “what are you doing here?!”

He laughs. “I wanted to surprise you!” His cheeks are tinged a little pink. “I hope that's okay? I don't want to intrude. I have a hotel room, so I can go if you–”

“No!” She fists her hands in his shirt and pulls him into another kiss. “You're not going anywhere. If anything,” she leans in close and lowers her voice, “you'll take me back to that hotel room later.”

“Yeah– yes. Absolutely.”

“Lulu, you gonna introduce me?” Taako says from behind her.

“Taako,” she extracts herself from Barry's arms and stands next to him, linking their arms together, “this is Barry, my boyfriend whom you and your boyfriend so rudely assumed was fake. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“Glad you're not a figment of my sister's imagination, my man. Come on in, we have hors d'oeuvres.”

Barry slots in seamlessly with the group. It's around a game of Monopoly that he says, “oh, Lup, your gift.”

She perks up, “can I open it now?”

“Yeah, I almost forgot after all the travel.”

She goes and gets it from her room, already tearing into it as she sits back down beside him. She lifts the lid of the box to reveal a folded piece of paper. She takes it out and unfolds it. It's booking confirmations. She turns to him slowly. “Did you book us a trip?”

He's gotten sheepish now. “I did. I thought… you know, you said you'd never really been on a proper tropical vacation, and you wanted to go to an all inclusive one day, and I had the money, and we're together now, so… yeah.”

“Barry, this is… holy shit. The only travel I've ever done is for work conferences.”

“I know. I've wanted to do this for you for a while, but it felt inappropriate as just a work conference friend that you flirt with. It's not until next year, so there's plenty of time to book off work and whatever. Otherwise, it's all taken care of, all you have to do is show up.”

“Thank you,” she breathes, still scanning over the page in her hands. She looks up and across the table, “a fake boyfriend couldn't do this, could he, Taako?”

[v011d]

WHAT ARE YOUR MUSES AESTHETICS?

BOLD any that applies to your muse and italicize any that kind of applies to your muse. feel free to add to the list.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 .red. brown. orange. yellow. green. blue. purple. pink. black. white. teal. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. violet. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. bubblegum pink. sky blue. pale jade. amber. tan. copper. bronze. magenta.

𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒. fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. thunder. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. darkness. shadows. nature. aether. quintessence. blood. life. death.

𝐁𝐎𝐃𝐘 .claws. long fingers. fangs. teeth. wings. tails. lips. bare feet. neck. back. shoulders. legs. freckles. unseen bruises. canines. scars. scratches. wounds. burns. fingernails. spikes. feathers. webs. eyes. hands. sweat. tears. feline. chubby. curvy. short. tall. muscular. piercing. tattoos. athletic. hair. fur. sleek.

𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒 .scythe. fists. legs. sword. dagger. spear. lance. bow & arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. baseball bats. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. claws. teeth. stealth. strategy.

𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒 .gold. silver. copper. platinum. titanium. rose gold. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. rust. steel. glass. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. ribbon

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 .grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. sunflowers. tulips. lavender. petals. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. fungi. ocean. river. frozen lake. meadow. valley. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. snow. mist. pond.

𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐒. big cats. wolves. foxes. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. crocodiles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. penguins. deer. crows/ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. monkeys.

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃/𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒 .sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. vodka. beer. coffee. sake. tea. water. spices. herbs. apples. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. lollies. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. surf ‘n’ turf. burritos. tacos. pizza. ambrosia. eggs. milk. ramen. chips. ice cream.

𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒 .music. art. watercolors. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. baking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. CDs. records. vinyl. cassettes. piano. strings. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. flute. bells. exploring. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. sleeping. climbing. running. jogging. parkour. studying. video games. comics. manga.

𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄. lingerie. armor. cape. dress. tunic. vest. shirt. boots. ankle boots. heels. leggings. trousers. jeans. skirt. jewelry. earrings. necklace. bracelet. ring. pendant. hat. beanie hat. crown. circlet. helmet. scarf. brocade. cloaks. corsets. doublet. chest plate. gorget. bracers. belt. sash. coat. jacket. hood. gloves. socks. masks. mittens. cowls. braces. watches. glasses. sunglasses. straw hat. visor. eye contacts. makeup. ribbons. hoodie. sweater. converses. tennis shoes. boxers. briefs. boxer briefs. shorts. cargo. cropped pants. crop top. cuffed pants. overalls.

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂 . balloons. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. growth. decay. war. peace. money. power. percussion. clocks. mirrors. pets. diary. journal. fairy lights. madness. sanity. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. suffering. family. friends. strength. comrades. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. kisses. spring. summer. autumn. winter. farmland. countryside. suburban. village. depression. longing. sloth. pride. envy. wrath. greed. gluttony. lust. melancholy.

TAGGED BY. No one.

TAGGING. @wickedslip @dgrayd @wieldsgravity @burninq @cardsknight and anyone else who sees this.

[ender-niffler]

Sharing my TCD headcanons!! And revamping old ones soon, but these are mainly for some of the characters! :]

Some of these may have minor spoilers for pretty much…every season of Tcd? So be wary!

Nick [

Nick is 22 years old! When the apocalypse started he was around 18-19

Nick has amnesia, he can’t remember much from before he woke up in the literal apocalypse. But he occasionally can remember very blurred memories. Someone with glasses, a house- some old stores here and there with no names to match…odd

Nick is NOT aloud to cook anything, he can bake sure! But he somehow burned WATER. So Shark refuses to let Nick ANYWHERE near the kitchen or the stove. Shark is very protective of his kitchen.

Nick adores animals and helps out any of the ones he finds, there’s a cat that wanders around the cdc who’s been named Smokey! Nick found Smokey during a blizzard, Nick also has a few chickens and ducks he’s somehow found and adopted? I mean..everyone gets free eggs from the chickens so win win!

Nick collects dinosaur bones, specifically ones from museums near by. By his words (as AK once asked him why he had a taco skull in his bag) Nick responded with “I mean..they’re just sitting there? Who’s gonna stop me from taking one or two fossils here and there”

Nick, wayyy back when it was just him, Ghetto and Jorden. Broke his leg when they jumped off of the boat to escape from the walkers, Ghetto patched him up but Nick was pretty much stuck on the couch for a few months- his leg never healed properly. And he has a minor limp that kicks up when he’s been walking around for too long

Nick is Gay, because I said so- (there’s no way that man is NOT fruity. Idc what canon says) he’s also ace! ]

Ghetto [

Ghetto is 23 years old, only a couple of months older than Nick- when the Apocalypse started he was also around 18-19!

When the apocalypse started Ghetto had gone to check in on his friend, and he won’t tell Nick this..but Ghetto had found his friend just….not how he use to be…at least he doesn’t get to see what the worlds come to..

Before the apocalypse Ghetto use to work at a Shelter for pets! He’d do minor veterinary work here and there. So he knows how to handle a few medical procedures..nothing major. He can stitch people up and can help brace a broken limb. He’s the one who helped patch up when Nick broke his leg- and would help the others with minor injuries.

Ghetto also learned a few medical tricks here and there from his older sister! Since she had grown up to be a doctor- (he’s…still not sure where she is. But he hopes she’s okay.,,)

Ghetto, after being bitten/healed by Ross. Seems to have grown sharper K9’s, and the whites of his eyes gained a greenish hue to em. It doesn’t affect his vision at all..,but it is a constant reminder of what he almost became. He also keeps a piece of cloth to keep the bite mark scar hidden. If he doesn’t have his jacket on.

Ghetto has a moon shamed necklace that was a gift from Nick, Nick said it reminded him of the time Ghetto mentioned he liked astrology! Ghetto never takes it off..ever.

Ghetto is Bi! He’s even on both ends, but occasionally finds himself leaning towards one side more than the other- kinda flip flops here and there? ]

Ak ]

Ak is around 23, when the apocalypse started he was around 19-21.

Ak had been off to visit some family, specifically Jorden’s family! He is the best friend to Jorden’s mom and is Jorden’s god father/best babysitter. He was in town when the outbreak happened and spent half that time trying to find jorden. He had to keep the kid safe, it was his parents last wishes…his best friends last wish. And Ak was going to die before he’d let anything happen to Jorden.

Ak…fully regrets when he had eaten his first teammate back in the early days of the apocalypse. He was desperate for food and had no idea what had come over him..he refuses to tell the others but worries that Red may know…red always knows. How does he always know??

Ak is a decent tech guy, infact he’s the main guy the crew calls in to help repair the generators! He also shows the others how to clean out their guns properly, taught them how to properly shoot, even taught them smaller things like to not touch your face after firing a gun due to the gunpowder.

Ak refuses to take his mask off, let alone around anyone else. He’s only ever done it once or twice. Mainly around Shark, Ghetto, or Nick. Since they’ve been together the longest

Ak HATES red with a burning passion. Not only for killing off the only person left from before, but for bringing harm to his friends, his family..his found family. He will have reds head on a stick. One day..

Ak is pan! ]

Shark ]

Shark is around 23, being around 18-19 when the apocalypse started.

Sharks gf had been visiting for the summer when everything came crashing down. They had been sticking together for awhile but…Sharks GF hadn’t been paying attention and..had gotten bit..a few days later Shark was on his own again..

Shark was apart of the group of bandits that had been raiding seaport ages ago, though he luckily had decided to book it out of their days before Nick and Ghetto took out most of the bandits. A few hours later and baddabing badda boom! New party member :]

Shark wears sunglasses 24/7 cause the sun hurts his eyes. Even inside it can be a bit too much, and other lights like candles and such can cause minor irritation. So he wears the sunglasses to protect his eyes!

Shark before the apocalypse did nothing major, he was studying up to become a detective, had a stable job at a local diner, it wasn’t perfect but it was nice! And he could actually afford things.

Sharks mama is Hispanic! She was this sweet woman who had adopted shark when he was around 7-10! He was the oldest kid there, and Since older kids don’t really get adopted she wanted to give Shark that chance. Shark adored his mother and forever is grateful for her! (She luckily passed before the apocalypse had started.)

Shark is Bi! Leans more towards dudes! ]

[slothgiirl]

leo messi drabble

It starts raining halfway through her walk. Which isn’t unusual for the Netherlands as far as she’s aware. Or Holland. She was never great at geography. 

What matters is she’s in Utrecht for the day from Amsterdam. It’s not far, but given the only two people she knows in the continent of Europe stayed back, it feels like she might as well be on another planet. Another planet with similarly Flemish style buildings and a map the size of a4 paper: the better to hide the most obvious sign of her being a tourist. She doesn’t really have a plan other than exploring the city aimlessly; a plan the rain’s putting on hold.

She shoves her map into her bag, glancing around the street to find somewhere to duck into while the worst of the rain passes. 

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Last summer when she’d been planning this with Rocio and Yadira it had been the dream girl's trip. A month in Europe going from hostel to hostel before taking on university. They’d fit in museums in the afternoon with late nights bar hopping. Yadira had written some useful dutch phrases, carefully copied from the yahoo page that had taken ages to load. 

Then Yadira had pulled out. Her friend had decided to put the money into university tuition over a graduation trip. 

And Rocio’s solution was to bring her boyfriend along.

So now she was a third wheel. 

Javier was fine. 

But it wasn’t the same. 

She didn’t mind when they went to museums, even at clubs it was nice to have a guy around, just in case. It was at restaurants when she felt like the odd one out. 

Maybe she was being too sensitive. 

Ducking into one of the many pubs with their neon colored Heiniken signs and terrace tables filled with smoking patrons ambivalent about the rain. She drags her shoes over the mat, cleaning off her shoes before glancing around.

The place was filled with guys who might have finished school alongside her with questionable hairstyles that ranged from hippie-long to gelled to the point it might hurt to touch. Tourists then, she thought. Or some travel group. She’d seen plenty of those at the Rijksmuseum. It had been a battle of endurance to wait while an entire school group from the states walked down the stairs in the Anne Frank House. 

Some were even cute. 

With glasses of beer in hand, they were definitely celebrating something. 

She beelines to the bar. A coffee sounded amazing but she would settle for a beer. Rest while the rain passes and just enjoy the view of the street. Traveling made even streets interesting. The streets were even cobblestone instead of the cracked pavement and pothole stricken streets around Veracruz. 

Still, she’d have traded anything for a taco. Even just the warm tortilla cooked on the woodfire stove would beat any meal she’s had here.

“Un cafe,” she leans against the bar, “coffee, koffie?” The words sounded foreign on her tongue. She usually tried English first, as she was more familiar with it. But years of instruction in school still left her fumbling, the pronunciation garbled in her mouth. 

Well, they sounded similar enough.

“Twee vijftien,” the bartender’s an older man, maybe a decade older than her parents with cauliflower ears. He plots the paper receipt in front of her. 

It’s a fumble of coins: digging them out of her purse and figuring out which coins were how much. 

She sets her euros on the counter, trying to make eye contact to make sure he knows she paid while he helps one of the guys. 

His t-shirt is blue with blocky white font reading Argentina. (It’s a safe bet where they’re all from.) The shirt is too large, and his jeans are just as wide legged. She’ll never understand why guys loved to buy jeans that were too large only to get a belt. 

His hair was long and mousy brown as he patiently tried to order which was a complicated matter when the bartender didn’t speak spanish, and the guy clearly only spoke in spanish to him. 

“Birra. Una birra,” the guy waves his hands trying to communicate. 

“Beer,” the barkeeper raises a brow, “Yes.” He points at the pint, “beer.”

“No,” he sighs dejectedly, “de-una caña?” 

He had church boy-help old ladies with their grocery bags written all over him. 

“Como corona?” She butts in. 

It wasn’t rude if she was trying to help.

The guy looks over at her, smiling kindly in a manner that is contagious. “Si. De cristal. Vidrio? Nunca se con eso que el castellano cambia de pais a pais.” 

“Verdad!” She nods, mirroring his easy going smile, “o mas bien, che vos.”

He takes her light teasing in stride, looking down at his shoes and laughing. His cheeks turn pink in a charmingly sheepish way. 

She tries to get the message across. “Beer,” she mimes with her hand, “in…bottle?” 

“Ah,” the barkeep nods, and fetches an amber glass bottle. It’s a random dutch brand, but better than nothing. He also hands her her cup of coffee. 

“Leo,” Leo extends his hand like he’s going through motions. 

She shakes his hand, introducing herself.

Whatever easy moment passes as he can’t hold her gaze for long, a thread of self consciousness in his stance. 

“Are you here with school,” she asks.

This makes him snort, “no-a. . .work actually,” which only seems to amuse him more.

“Really?”

“Well,” he tilts his head. “The world cup. Sort of.”

“Isn’t that next summer?”

“Under 20,” Leo rubs the back of his neck, “but it’s still a world cup.”

“That’s cool as fuck.” She looks him over again, trying to imagine him playing semi-pro, pro(?), either way, it was crazy to think about when he seemed so normal. Football players came off pretty arrogant in the press clips but then again, she didn’t follow any team that closely. 

“I keep waiting for it to feel real but even benched for Barca,” he shrugs because Leo can’t put the feeling into words. It was bigger than that.

“Did you win?” 

Leo meets her wondering gaze. His amber eyes twinkle with mirth, “just a little.”

“Ha! Trying to be humble?”

“It was close,” he says seriously, “I’d rather be honest than humble.” 

“So you play pretty well?”

“I love football.” He shrugs as in a what can you do about it before taking a long drink of his beer. 

She wets her bottom lip, before remembering her own drink and looking away. 

“And you?” Leo fidgets with the beer cap in one hand. 

“Just. . .touristiando. Taking in the sights before I hit the books.” It sounded woefully inadequate compared to playing at any level of a Fifa world cup. Had she already failed at life? She was only eighteen but already she was falling behind. 

Her grip tightens on the coffee cup.

“See anything good?” He asks leaning into her.

The pub feels cozy now. Not as loud as when she entered. She doesn’t mind having to put her walking on hold.

“The canals. Some ancient tower. I think this isn’t a tourist centric city. Must be why it’s a day trip,” she tells him truthfully. “I had lunch in the park. That was really nice. It’s been nice just to wander around.” Not every vacation day had to be jam packed. 

“Do you want to get dinner,” Leo says suddenly, going still. “With me.” He swallows.

It was nice, skipping the whole song and dance and just getting to the point. She liked that about him. She liked Leo. And she was on an entirely different continent. Why not? 

She was an adult. She was going to start uni soon. 

Her gaze kept flickering over Leo. Like an optical illusion, he looked like a guy she might have shared a class with yet more attractive than any guy she knew. 

Why not?

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

She giggles.

Leo ducks his head.

She was glad it had rained on her day trip.

[icleanedthisplate]

Dine-Out Meals of January 2024, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

A solid showing by restaurants in Huntsville, Alabama and Wichita, Kansas this month.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Cream of Asparagus Soup, Artisanal Cheese Platter (shared), Pan-Seared Gulf Yellowfin Tuna. The Bottle Restaurant. Huntsville, Alabama. 1.10.2024.

Combo Marino, Plantains, Flan. Gabby’s Peruvian Restaurant. Wichita, Kansas. 1.25.2024.

Italian Beef Bene, Cinnamon Roll (shared). Raduno. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.14.2023.

Beetroot Salad, Salmon, Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. The Revivalist. Huntsville, Alabama. 1.11.2024.

Pork Ribs w/Collard Greens, Mac & Cheese, Banana Pudding. Wright’s BBQ. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.4.2024.

Jinya Bun, Jinya Tonkotsu Black. Jinya Ramen Bar. Wichita, Kansas. 1.24.2024.

Tuna Tacos, Pan Seared Black Seabass, Curry Duck Breast, Poblano Mac & Cheese Casserole, Honey Soy Brussels, Sticky Toffee Cake (shared all). Table 28. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.13.2024.

Bleu Burger w/Duck Fat Fries. Dempsey’s Burger Pub (Clifton Square). Wichita, Kansas. 1.23.2024.

Feta James, Mr. Nice Guy, Apple of My Eye (shared dessert). Leverett Lounge. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 1.17.2024.

Harissa Avocado Bowl. CAVA. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 1.17.2024.

Assorted Sushi Rolls (Rainbow, California, etc.). Fujiyama Express. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.19.2024.

Local Mix w/Grilled Chicken. Urban Cookhouse. Huntsville, Alabama. 1.12.2024.

Baleada Con Todo w/Carnitas. El Sur Street Food Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.8.2024.

BLT-AE Sandwich w/Grilled Veggies, Jolly Green Juice. HomeGrown. Wichita, Kansas. 1.26.2024.

Chicken Scratch Salad w/Rotisserie. Waldo’s Chicken & Beer. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.6.2024.

Grilled Salmon (Snappy) w/Grilled Veggies, Rice & Beans. Flying Fish. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.19.2024.

Shrimp w/rice, Steamed Veggies. La Chingada. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.5.2024.

Egg White Grill, Yogurt w/Fruit. Chick-fil-A. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.10.2024.

Petit Jean Ranch Salad (to go). Zaza Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.22.2024.

Bacon Cheeseburger w/Onions & Mushrooms, Fries. Vanilla Milkshake. CJ’s Butcher Burger Boy. Russellville, Arkansas. 1.18.2024.

Green Chile Stew, Crispy Ahi Tuna Taco. Local Lime. Rogers, Arkansas. 1.23.2024.

Tortilla Soup. Chuy’s Chuy’s. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.20.2024.

Whipped Feta & Prosciutto App (shared), Salad Lyonnaise. Wild Fork. Tulsa, Oklahoma. 1.26.2024.

Chicken Livers w/Okra, Mashed Potatoes, English Peas. Cindy’s Place. Corinth, Mississippi. 1.10.2024.

Grilled State Bird Sandwich w/Fries. Hill Station. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.31.2024.

Chicken Salad Sandwich w/Chips. McAlister’s Deli. Wichita, Kansas. 1.24.2024.

Ark-Mex Enchiladas w/Tomato-Cucumber-Mint Salad, Pinto Beans. Heights Taco & Tamale. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.30.2023.

Yogurt & Granola w/Fruit Compote. Mylo Coffee Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.31.2024.

Fattoush Salad w/Salmon. Meddys. Wichita, Kansas. 1.25.2024.

Green Goddess Salad. Newk’s. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 1.18.2024

Ham & Cheese Croissant. Starbucks. Conway, Arkansas. 1.17.2024.

Ham & Cheese Croissant. Starbucks. Wichita, Kansas. 1.25.2024.

Ham & Cheese Croissant. Starbucks. Fayetteville, Arkansas. 1.18.2024. (No photo)

Meat & Cheese Plate (shared), Pork Ribs w/Beans, Slaw. Charlie Vergo’s Rendezvous. Memphis, Tennessee. 1.12.2024.

Bangkok Noodles w/Shrimp. Bangkok Thai Cuisine. Little Rock, Arkansas. 1.3.2024.

Ham & Cheese Croissant. Starbucks. Wichita, Kansas. 1.24.2024.

Ham & Cheese Croissant. Starbucks. Conway, Arkansas. 1.23.2024.

Red Pepper Sous Vide Egg Bites. Starbucks. Huntsville, Alabama. 1.11.2024.

[mechatiqe]

⠀

TAGGED BY: @wickedserpent , ur so real for that

— TAGGING: @91cmspoilers @more-than-a-princess @quickdeaths @heartheaded @magescheer @the-ultimate-muses + anyone that wants to try: pretend i tagged you and go for it

《 𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏 𝙄𝙎 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙈𝙐𝙎𝙀’𝙎 𝘼𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙏𝙄𝘾 ? 》

BOLD any that applies to your muse and italicize any that conditionally applies to your muse.

⠀

[ 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒. ] red. orange. yellow. green. blue. pink. purple. black. white. teal. brown. silver. gold. grey. lilac. metallic. matte. royal blue. strawberry red. charcoal grey. forest green. apple red. violet. navy blue. crimson. cream. mint green. sky blue. pale jade. copper. magenta. rainbow.

[ 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒. ] fire. ice. water. air. earth. rain. snow. wind. moon. stars. sun. heat. cold. steam. frost. lightning. thunder. sunlight. moonlight. dawn. dusk. twilight. midnight. sunrise. sunset. dewdrops. darkness. shadows. nature. aether. quintessence. blood. life. death.

[ 𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒. ] scythe. fists. legs. sword. dagger. spear. lance. bow & arrow. hammer. shield. poison. guns. axes. throwing axes. whips. knives. throwing knives. pepper sprays. tasers. baseball bats. machine guns. slingshots. katanas. maces. staffs. wands. powers. magical items. magic. rocks. mud balls. claws. teeth. stealth. strategy. robotics.

[ 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐒. ] gold. silver. copper. platinum. titanium. rose gold. diamonds. pearls. rubies. sapphires. emeralds. amethyst. metal. iron. steel. glass. rust. wood. porcelain. paper. wool. fur. lace. leather. silk. velvet. denim. linen. cotton. charcoal. clay. stone. asphalt. brick. marble. dust. glitter. blood. dirt. mud. smoke. ash. shadow. carbonate. rubber. synthetics. ribbon.

[ 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄. ] grass. leaves. trees. bark. roses. daisies. sunflowers. tulips. lavender. petals. seeds. hay. sand. rocks. roots. flowers. fungi. ocean. river. frozen lake. meadow. valley. forest. desert. tundra. savanna. rain forest. caves. underwater. coral reef. beach. waves. space. clouds. mountains. snow. mist. pond.

[ 𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐒. ] lions. wolves. foxes. eagles. owls. falcons. hawks. swans. snakes. turtles. crocodiles. ducks. bugs. spiders. birds. whales. dolphins. fish. sharks. horses. cats. dogs. bunnies. penguins. deer. crows. ravens. mice. lizards. werewolves. unicorns. pegasus. dragons. monkeys. tigers. parrots.

[ 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃/𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒. ] sugar. salt. candy. bubblegum. wine. champagne. hard liquor. vodka. beer. coffee. sake. tea. water. spices. herbs. apples. orange. lemon. cherry. strawberry. watermelon. vegetables. fruits. meat. fish. pies. desserts. chocolate. lollies. cream. caramel. berries. nuts. cinnamon. burgers. burritos. tacos. pizza. ambrosia. eggs. milk. ramen. chips. ice cream. cereal.

[ 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒. ] music. art. gardening. smithing. sculpting. painting. sketching. fighting. writing. composing. cooking. baking. sewing. training. dancing. acting. singing. martial arts. self-defense. electronics. technology. cameras. video cameras. computer. phone. movies. theater. libraries. books. magazines. CDs. records. vinyl. cassettes. piano. daydreaming. strings. violin. guitar. electronic guitar. bass guitar. harmonica. harp. woodwinds. brass. flute. bells. exploring. playing cards. poker chips. chess. dice. motorcycle riding. eating. sleeping. climbing. running. jogging. parkour. studying. video games. comics. manga.

[ 𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐂. ] balloons. comedy. bubbles. cityscape. light. dark. candles. growth. decay. war. peace. wealth. power. percussion. clocks. mirrors. pets. diary. journal. fairy lights. madness. sadness. happiness. optimism. pessimism. loneliness. suffering. family. friends. strength. assistants. co-workers. enemies. loyalty. smoking. drugs. kindness. love. hugs. kisses. spring. summer. autumn. winter. poverty. farmland. countryside. suburban. village. depression. longing. sloth. pride. envy. wrath. greed. gluttony. lust. melancholy. fate. soulmates.

⠀

[reddragon-cowboy]

BASICS

bio --> here

status: alive (don't know what I'm suppose to put here tbh)

full name: niah foxx

nicknames: baby girl, dove, sweetheart

date of birth: march 1994

zodiac sign: take a guess

theme song: Yuna- Mannequin

occupation: librarian

species: human, mortal

APPEARANCE

height: 5'0"

body type: curvy. athletic

eyes: brown. sepia. coffee/cocoa colored. honey in sunlight. bourbon/whiskey

hair: long to medium length. kinky/curly texture. sometimes wear crochet braided/dreads/twists hairstyles.

piercings: in both ears

tattoos: n/a

style: classy, modest, and sophisticated styles - tank tops. t-shirts. sweaters. elegant puffy long-sleeved shirts. corsets. high split shirts | high-waist jeans. high-waist shorts. flare out pants. gym shorts. | long coats. jackets. shawls.

PERSONALITY

traits: quiet, reserved, observant, modest, self-worth issues, honest, awkward, loyal, warm, friendly, daydreamer, generous, mature, adventurous, open-minded, intuitive, introspective, insightful, mild, meek, peaceable, emotional, loveful. cynical. realistic. stubborn. moodiness.

labels / tropes: INFJ. Beware the nice ones.

mental health: anxiety

physical health: exercises occasionally. lungs a bit sensitive to cigarette smoking

likes: nature. stars. earth. midnight walks. reading. gardening in her backyard. giving away free food and flowers from her garden. romance movies. animals (wolves, doves, deer's, bunnies, etc). bird feeding. comforting others. being affectionate. amusement parks. feeling wanted. feeling understood. old school & 90's & early 2000's music.

dislikes: liars. dishonesty. spiders. being ignored.

phobias: getting lost in space. being forgotten. abandonment. the great unknown

hobbies: poetry/ writing/ roller-skating/ long-boarding/ gardening/ stargazing

pet peeves: feeling lips become dry

FAVES

ice cream flavour: pistachio flavored !

day or night: night

weather: quiet summer nights

breakfast food: eggs with pancakes with sausage on the side. waffles. toast. oatmeal.

dinner food: noodles/pasta. sushi. peking duck. chow mein. mussels. chicken. pizza. tacos. lobster. green beans. peas. mashed potatoes. white/brown rice. eel. tuna. salmon. soo much!

colours: tawny brown. baby blue. sky blue. jade

movies: dances with wolves. bambi. titanic. the mask of zorro. the shape of water.

silver or gold: gold

tagged by: stole from a mutual >:3

tagging: whoever wanna do this

[commander-chaoss]

You have pet birds? If so, what species etc?

28 actually. I have backyard chickens, and ducks. ATM we have 3 baby chicks in the bathtub because they are too small to go outside, hence being in the bathroom with the birds.

More info beneath the cut because I love my babies but don't want to list all of them and clog people's feeds when no one cares lol

Edit: nevermind I have no idea how to add a cut and Google lied to me

I have

Chicky-chick (black sex link)

Regina George (black sex link)

Taco Bell (black sex link)

Bobbi (black sex link)

Peggy (buff orpington)

Eliza (buff orpington)

Presley (ameraucana)

Harriet (ameraucana)

Beans (ameraucana)

Priscilla (dominique)

Sam-I-Am (olive egger)

Ramona (olive egger)

Barbara (barnevelder)

Hazel (barnevelder)

Beatrice (silver laced wyandotte)

Caspian (silver laced wyandotte rooster)

Peter (svarthöna rooster)

Edmund (svarthöna rooster)

And the chicks, Susan and Lucy (white orpington) and.....an unnamed rhode island red.

Then there's Frankie, an absolutely massive Pekin, Percy Quackson, James Madison, Meg and Jo (black swedish) and Beth and Amy (blue swedish)

Here is pictures not of my specific birds, they aren't cooperative enough for that, but of their breeds and roughly what they look like

I can't fit pictures of duckies also so I will rb with em

But Priscilla is my precious baby and the first of our animals to show empathy to me, which is weird, because chickens aren't really supposed to show empathy at all? Even within their flocks they don't really show empathy. They'd rather eat each other alive. And we have animals that DO show empathy to humans. Dogs and cats, even goats are more affectionate at least, but no, it was the chicken. I was crying and she climbed onto my lap and cooed at me. None of our birds would do such a thing, none but her. I love her.

[property-of-me]

@its-not-an-s

Clark finally finds somewhere to park his car not too far from the restaurant he was supposed to meet Bruce at. He notices a commotion ahead of him and sighs, glancing around and not spotting anywhere for him to duck into to ditch the glasses and tie for his cape and tights. As he sees a crook running in his general direction with a purse he makes the quick decision to be as clumsy as possible, tripping over his own two feet on purpose so that he bumps into the guy, who takes instant offense and punches him, though as Clark quickly reaches to cover the broken glasses frame and eye that should be bruised but isn't, the guy ends up looking pretty weak as he cradles his now broken fist. "Hey, now, that's not very nice. It's not like I meant to bump into you, stranger," Clark says, lying but it's a white lie so it's ok. The crook, thoroughly confused by Clark, drops the bag and runs as he hears sirens. Clark keeps pretending to be injured as he picks the bag up and glances around for the owner

Harley pops out from around a corner.

“That’s right you’d better run f***er!” She exclaims bat slung over her shoulder.

“I’ve got a gift card for tacos in- oh my gosh!” She startles as she sees Clark. “Oh shit- your glasses, lemme guess you ain’t from around here? You tried to step in?”