#and then also I'm busy outside because I spend time in the snow on and off through the day so I get distracted by that too

[lucalicatteart]

Poll adventure (paventure? lol) Day 9: read the small story tidbit below the poll for more details, OR just vote based on initial impression

(✦ see past poll results + further information HERE (link) ✦)

Yesterday's poll helped The Adventurer build his raft...

"After two hours of fumbling about with tangled rope and tree branches, he's finally produced something that at least.. mostly, looks like a normal raft. He attaches a few extra flowers for decoration, loops his cat into a makeshift safety harness (so they can't get lost in the water), then gives everything one last check before deciding it's all ready to go, nervously pushing off into the river...

Surprisingly, it floats just fine. As long as he doesn't make any sudden movements, the raft doesn't threaten to flip over, or even wobble nearly as much as he expected. There's no way to really steer or paddle, but he does have a large stick he occasionally uses to push himself away from rocks or other obstacles. Luckily, the current is very slow at this section of the river, and hopefully will remain so for his entire trip.

Just lazily floating around, he estimates he should travel about 4 hours to fully get past the blocked road and end up at the next area on his map. Though the raft is too small (and too lumpy) to comfortably lay on, he can still recline slightly, bathing in the near afternoon sun, watching the scenery slowly drift by....

About 30 minutes into his first ever sailing adventure, he feels the water shift as a larger boat comes near. He can't see it clearly yet, but it seems to be nice - polished wood with painted sections and little flags draped along the sides, presumably some sort of actual steering and propelling mechanisms, and about 10 people lounging on the surface, maybe having some sort of party..? It's been very quiet so far, these are the first other travelers he's seen in the entire area today... Should he attempt to make contact with them? "

--------

Additional details -

Boat Make-up : Based on the results of the last poll (where people helped him make a boat by choosing the amount of materials) -- With 30% branches and 21% rope, there's only a 9% difference between them, so both are in pretty close amounts, which means there's a TON of rope. (normal ratio would be like 65% wood and 10% rope lol). I probably should have even added more, but it's so visually busy, just pretend there's extra rope wrapped under the boat too.

30% branch and 15% fabric means there's about half as much fabric as there is wood, which is also A LOT for just a little side decoration, so I made the flag huge, and a square of fabric for the cat to sit on. 10% berries means that there's enough ink for 1/3 of the wood to be entirely covered in purple designs. The least amount was the twigs and leaves for padding, which would cover a little under 1/3 of the wood (laid on top). then a little over 1/3 of the space is flowers for decor, which are just kind of sitting in a pile on top, with a few actually tied down onto the flag or other areas.

Since the branches were pretty close in percentage to all other things (not like 80% branches and 20% all other materials), the raft is fairly small, as not much wood was used.

main goal: follow his map to reach the abandoned castle ruins and see the rare animal specialist about the mysterious egg he has

#paventure posting #polls #choose your own adventure #hghnhh... yes.. this is very late lol #I'm trying for every other day at least if not daily but.. you know lol.. Life #It snowed here which like YEAAAAAAA my favorite weather ever!! but it's also always annoying because of transportation #I hate how car-centric america is and how it's no necessary to drive to get places #I loooooove the snow so much but I also hate driving in it or anyone I know or any of my roomates or anything having to drive #in it. because the day after it snows everything always freezes into a flat sheet of ice at night and nobody can drive on it #because this area is not used to it and it's very hilly so then it just ends up being A Thing where everyone gets stranded on the #road side or cant make it up a hill and people are just out there sliding around anyway risking their lives #because everyting is always like a 20-30 minute drive away and most poeple cant just walk to their work or the market #and the public transport system is not robust or reliable enough to get them around instead. #which lukcily I dont have to deal with too much but every time it gets really snowy and icy I still get nervous and unfocused and #distracted by the threat of the possibility of me or my roomates having to go somewhere lol #and then also I'm busy outside because I spend time in the snow on and off through the day so I get distracted by that too #I've probably walked an hour a day or more the past few days just because I HAVE to go out and be in the snow #I love the feeling when it's like 26 degrees outside and it's windy and yersterday's snow is like blowing everywhere in little clouds #and there's like ice on your face and you can just plop down into a pile of snow and lay on your back looking up at the sky #Which I do try to be careful but I probably will stil lget frostbite at some point in my life. I take it seriously and try to bundle up but #I cannot resist just being out in the cold. If not for the aspect of trasnportation woes and the occasional power outage it would #be paradise. I think because I'm so warm natured I just feel less sick. less achey. less dizzy and weird when I'm cold #Whatever health things I have going on with me it seems to help them. And is just beautiful and perfect #ANYWAY.. I finally focused enough to get one of these done. I'm still trying to work on other things and ease back into a normal #schedule if I ever can.. be productive for once. The past month or two has been so weird and hard to accomplish things because I just #keep having physical issue flare ups or schedule disruptions or etc. hhrghghh #but here he is! on his boat! Still trying to get to the Innkeeper's brother's abandoned castle ruins lol. but it was mentioned #it'll be a long journey. he probably has to make it a few more days before he's close to there (if he even makes it there) #It's all part of the journey!

[twirlingsmilingwriting]

Can't you see the Starlight? || Finnick Odair X Reader

"Look at you worrying to much about things you can't change, you'll spend your whole life singing the blues if you keep thinking that way"

Getting dragged to a capital party to satisfy your mothers wishes could not have gone any better when you get asked to dance with the capital darling, Finnick Odair.

Warnings: Fluffy, mentions of death, kissing, dancing, fem! reader, alcohol mentioned, Finnick getting humbled A LOT

Word Count: 4.7K

A/N: I knowwwww I know yall have been asking for more Coriolanus Snow content but I needed some Finnick fluff in my life I love him so much. Might write more parts to this if yall like it :D

The music was so loud I swear I would be able to hear it ringing in my ears for the next days to come. Everyone was dressed to the nines and other girls scurried past me in large, sparkling, extravagant gowns shaped like cupcakes. Awkwardly, I stood there watching the people dance and talk.

This was my first time going to a capital party. My mother decided I spent enough time locked in my room and decided to drag me along to the party.

She had barged in that morning and said, "Y/N it is not normal for a girl your age to have no other friends other than her dog. You're in university. You should be in the club but instead your here. I'm sorry Sweetheart but that is just sad." I understood where she was coming from. It's not even that I don't like being outside, I love it actually. I love going on walks and watching the birds in the trees or even reading in the park and watching the leaves fall. All of that stuff is so much fun. The thing I don't like is the constant judgment from the other people in the capital. My family used to be incredibly wealthy, so much so my father had a hand in a big part of the economy of all of Panem. He was also deeply tied to political affairs in Panem, often having meetings with President Snow. My mother said they went to school together. But when my father died suddenly and mysteriously, our business had plummeted. My mother, bless her soul, tried to step up and handle things but our financial status had gone down significantly.

In all truth, we weren't doing well at all and the pretentious shallowness of the other capital citizens only viewed you as the numbers in your bank account. My mom could barely pay the tuition for the University I'm attending. I felt like an imposter at this party. I know these people think less of me and it's so uncomfortable. It's not even the stares, it's more the lack thereof. I wasn't perceived at all because the other people at this party didn't think I was worth their time. I played with the fabric of my silk red dress awkwardly while I watched my mom chatter with another woman her age at a table across from where I was. Sighing heavily, I closed my eyes and pretended to be anywhere else.

Suddenly, I was pulled out of my daze by a hand on my left shoulder and someone's breath on my right. I jumped and turned around, my gaze being met with the most marvelous pair of sea-green eyes. The man took a step back.

"I'm sorry, did I frighten you?" he chuckled.

I didn't respond, just gave him a confused, almost disgusted glace. He scoffed a little and let a smirk run across his face while extending his hand out.

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance Ms..." He looked at me with curious eyes, wanting me to finish his sentence. Cautiously, I reached my hand out to meet his, never breaking eye contact.

"Y/N, Y/N L/N."

He shook my hand shortly and firmly. His smirk turned into a charming smile, exposing his charmingly crooked white teeth and dimples. I squinted my eyes at him, examining his face. I felt like I knew him from somewhere, he looked so familiar. His smile started to fade, I think he was a little offended by my glares.

"I'm sorry but do I know you from somewhere?"

A loud laugh left his mouth.

"I'd be more surprised if you didn't haha, do the Hunger Games ring a bell?"

"Gasp... Peeta Mellark?!"

Excitement started to rush through my veins. My eyes lit up and I started to get all giddy. I loved Katniss and Peeta's games. They just finished last week actually. It was really the only one I tuned into and actually paid attention to, I was too invested, enthralled even with their romance. God, I was such a sucker for romance. Peeta looks so different in real life. A lot taller actually. Blond as ever though.

"I- no... Finnick. Finnick Odair." He looked at me a little offended and confused. Now this was awkward. I calmed myself down and shook my head.

"Hmm, I can't say they do Mr. Odair." I glanced around and noticed the number of eyes that were on us, "Though from the amount of girls around here who look like they want to tear you apart, I'm going to assume you're famous or something."

"Ha, well I guess you can put it that way, what a way to humble someone Ms. Y/N... Anyways, I came to ask you a simple question, may I have this dance?" He bent at the waist slightly like a prince, his hand reached out for mine waiting for me to accept it, his stunningly green eyes never leaving mine. What a charmer. I laughed a little and looked around again. There was still a few eyes on us but just as many people were enjoying themselves. Something about the joy buzzing off of the other people just gave me this sudden urge to do something I was always taught not to do; let a stranger who just seemed to have the sharpest jawline, dimples, boosted ego, and the absolute deepest sea green eyes take me by the hand and lead me somewhere with even more strangers in a strange place. I'd say the stranger-danger aspect of it all was worrying but the pros of, "ooooo hot man" seemed to outweigh that.

"Well Mr. Odair, it's between that or sitting here for more painstakingly long minutes so I guess I'll dance with you," flirtatious sarcasm was dripping from my voice but I shot him back a smirk like the one he was giving me. I placed my hand into his and took mental note of how big and rough his hands were compared to mine. In one swift movement, he stood up straight again and interlocked his arm with mine.

"I'll make it worth your while," He joked and I rolled my eyes in response. For being an outdoor event, the area felt so claustrophobic with the amount of people around. The heat radiating off of everyone was unbearable, the aroma was sticky. Finnick held my arm close to him, afraid to lose me in the crowd. I could feel my face getting hot and I couldn't tell if I was flustered from the sudden male attention or if the heat was getting to me. Soon enough, we reached a small clearing, just big enough for the two of us and I felt Finnick let go of my arm and spin me around so now I was facing him. The way he was looking at me made me feel all warm and gooshy, ugh I hated it. With half-lidded eyes and that smirk that was starting to become oh so familiar, he placed one of his hands on the small of my back, pulling me close to him, and the other interlocking with my hand, extending them outwards.

I tried to pull every amount of falsified confidence out of the depths of my soul when I placed my other hand to meet his shoulder. In theory, this should've gone smoothly but I was so nervous my hand was shaking on the way up, none of my fake confidence could cover that one up. He started laughing and I cringed so hard. I looked down at the ground and my legs wobbled a little when I felt my posture start to slip in these heels. I wanted nothing more than to melt into a puddle of nothingness.

"Oh Ms. Y/N... you sure have a lot of bark for a girl who can't even stand up straight. My presence must be too intoxicating for you to handle."

"Ha. Ha. Ha. And you sure have a lot of confidence for a 'Famous' man I didn't even recognize."

"Ouch, dear let's hold off on that one, now please..." his hand lifted off the small of my back and I felt his fingers under my chin, lifting it to look at him.

"Look at me when I talk to you, it's rude not to"

His hand returned to my back and I stared at him flabbergasted. This man had such a hold on me, literally and figuratively, and I had just met him. This was crazy.

"Oh you're dangerous Mr. Odair," I whispered a little too loud for my liking. He heard it and started to laugh again. God that laugh was like the best sound I've ever heard.

"Trust me darling, I'm a daydream. Now, are we gonna start dancing or are you just going to sit here and stare at me while I get lost in your eyes."

Oh, this absolute weenie. Now I knew I was blushing. His facial expression was the embodiment of pride. It was like he was so accomplished in getting me so flustered. Suddenly, the reality of what was happening sank upon me and so did the remembrance that I didn't know how to dance. Smiling awkwardly at him I started to try and uncomfortably sway our bodies in an off-rhythm pace. His mouth formed an 'O' shape of realization like he just read my mind.

"Just follow my lead,"

He started to move his feet and I followed along one step behind him. I was fumbling over my self a lot but he whispered little encouragements into my ear over the party music. Soon enough, I was working in perfect rhythm alongside him and things started to get a little more fun.

"Look at you, good girl. You caught on so fast,"

Oh god, how can someone be so charming? His presence was almost intoxicating. I turned my head again to avoid eye contact. If I stared into those green eyes for a moment longer I would surely fall into the depths of them and never be able to get out.

"Don't get shy now, darling. Come on," he teased before pulling me closer. My chest was pressed up against him and my eyes widened. Looking up at him slowly, I simply hit him with a shining smile. "Who me? Shy? Never, I'm clearly the most outgoing and social girl out there, that's exactly why I was standing at that table by myself for so long," I joked sarcastically and he rolled his eyes. The song changed and blasted through the speaker and played yet another slow dance song. I groaned and his ears perked up. He swooped in to take that as an oppertunity to ask,

"Are you bored yet?"

"Do you want the honest answer or the delusional one?"

"I'd rather us start our relationship with honesty so I'll go with the first option."

I swear, did this man ever stop smiling?

"Relationship? You're talking crazy Mr. Odair... but to be honest, I'm a little bored... Just a little."

He chuckled a little and continued to lead our bodies elegantly across the dance floor.

"How about we get out of here after this song? There's a lake a short walk down from here, we can go watch the stars."

"Oh Mr. Odair, you better not be trying to murder me... it's okay you don't have to drop everything for me. Clearly, you're enjoying the party."

"Don't worry... You can trust me and it's less that I'm enjoying the party and more that I'm enjoying you"

"You tease~"

"And without giving away too many details... You'd be doing me a favor getting me out of here," he spoke with a changed demeanor, a slightly grim and sad one at that. I brushed it off and nodded.

"So it's a deal?"

"Deal."

He smiled and then pulled away from me, lifting my hand. I understood the assignment and did a little spin, feeling my dress float a little around me. I giggled and spun back into his arms. While my dancing was still quite stiff, I felt so happy. He pulled me close and we helplessly gazed into each others eyes. The song ended and the music dwindled and he pulled away, smiling uncontrollably.

"Stop looking at me like that~ you're giving me the creeps," I teased and giggled, playfully hitting his slightly exposed chest from the V-neck of his white flowy top. He threw his head back laughing before extending his hand out to me again for the second time that night.

"Creeps? I'm sure you mean "Oh Finnick, stop killing me with that beautifully charming, elegant, and stunning smile"'

I huffed and rolled my eyes.

"Are we heading out now?"

"After you."

Words just seemed to roll right off his tongue like honey dripping off a warm spoon, shockingly sweet and smooth. His eyes never left mine. Ever. His hand reached for mine once more and we interlocked fingers while I started to try and find a path off the dance floor. Once we were free from the sweaty dance floor, I turned to Finnick with wide eyes ready for him to lead us down this 'short walk to the lake'. He gladly accepted this task and we walked out the gates of the capital party, not caring if anyone saw us.

As soon as we stepped out of the area I paused for a moment to take a deep breath in. "Oh man I swear it is so hard to breathe in there"

"Oh absolutely. Especially over the heavy perfumes that smell so strong yet can't cover the smell of B.O." Finnick laughed.

"Eww when you put it like that it makes it seem so much worse"

"Oh, but it is that bad let's just be honest here. Like I said earlier, I want this relationship to be started on a foundation of honesty, though, I do love a good secret."

I scrunched my face at his comment and laughed, interlocking my fingers with his again as we looked up ahead of the night in front of us.

"The lake is right down that way," he pointed off to the distance to where we were met with a little stone and dirt path leading. Logically thinking, now was really the time I should be using stranger danger logic. Good thing I wasn't thinking. I grabbed onto Finnick's arm and he started to walk me down the moonlit path. The misty coolness of the nighttime felt so nice on my skin while I cooled off from the party but the warmth of Finnick's arm against my body felt even better. The sound of the music from the party started to get fainter and fainter in the distance.

"So Mr. Odair,"

"Please, just call me Finnick, we aren't around all those fancy people anymore. We can drop the formalities."

"Hmm okay Finnick," I liked the way his name rolled off my tongue and from the way Finnick was grinning and the path in front of us, I think he liked it too. "Where are you from?"

"Wow... you really don't know anything about me huh?" He asked, genuinely so shocked.

"Oh I'm sorry famous-capital-man. How dare I not know how lucky I am to bask in your glory," I rolled my eyes at him.

"Ah that's- that's not what I mean... It's refreshing in a way. It's like with you my reputation doesn't precede me." His tone was open. Honest. He spoke slowly in his last words as if he was searching deep within that beautiful brain of his to pick the right words to say. I didn't respond. On one hand, I was very flattered to see him be so honest. On the other, that sentence was setting off a few more red flags in my mind. What could his reputation be that he finds it enlightening that I don't know who he is? Either way, I brushed off that idea. Finnick seemed like an honest man.

Now that we were alone with just the two of us it felt like his whole demeanor had changed. Inside the gates of the capital party, it felt like he was masking himself a little. It was like he was playing a character, a charming playboy who only had one goal but here, he was still charming but in a different way. His presence reminded me of sitting on the warm sand of a beach watching as the ocean waves crashed into the shore. It draws you in, gives you warmth, and is stunning to look at. I hadn't realized that I had been standing there in silence, lost in my own thoughts, for longer than was comfortable until he continued.

"I'm actually from District 4," He said with a soft smile, a little different from the smirk that usually rested on his face but a lot cuter.

"Really? District 4... So do you like fishing?" Dumb question. I felt the instant cringe rattle my bones after I let those words out. He didn't make a big deal out of it at all though. He laughed a little, "Yeah actually, I don't get around to doing it anymore but I was very good at fishing when I was younger. I'm quite talented with a net."

I feel like there's a joke I'm missing here. I didn't have much more time to psychoanalyze the man because soon enough, we made it to the lake. The moonlight reflected down upon the lake allowing for the beautiful ripples of the water to be seen. The moonlight also shined down on us, being the only source of light in the darkness of this twilight hour. I took a moment to bask in its tranquil beauty as I watched the fireflies dance through the tall grass like little stars that had just dropped down to earth.

"Here it is..." the words left his lips softly and I could feel his eyes staring at my face, trying to read my expression but I was too busy being astonished by the beauty of nature.

"I have lived here my whole life and I have never even heard of or seen this place before..."

He took my hand and led me down to a little clearing in the grass, right above the shore of the lake where we sat down and continued to look around. His head hung down and he looked at his lap, laughing a little before saying, "You must not get out much, huh? Why? I mean, you must have money, why don't you leave and have fun more often?"

"Eh it's not as simple as that, I just... I really can't stand the environment or the attitudes of the people in the capital. They can always find a way to dehumanize another person. After my father passed, my family lost a significant amount of our income and we practically became invisible to the others in the capital. When other people treat you as lesser than or inhuman and like they can do whatever they want to you it's disheartening. The shallowness of other people gets to me too. How am I ever supposed to make friends if they don't care to get to know me? My family just keeps getting hit with trouble after trouble I'm just... I don't know."

I felt a little pathetic rambling on to Finnick. I'm sure he wasn't ready for that kind of trauma dump. My fingers tangled with the hem of my dress and I looked down, examining how my nail polish had chipped at some point during the night. Finnick was silent for a moment. I started to feel even more embarrassed. I didn't need to give him that much information. I was about to open my mouth again to talk about something else but he beat me to it.

"Y/N... Honestly, I understand that on so many levels. Especially as a person who isn't from here but always has to be here for business, I understand fully what you mean but, not everyone is like that and in a way, you're sort of doing the same thing if you're generalizing other capital people like that too... Not to say that you're at fault or anything though but... think about it this way. The way they act is because they were raised that way, truly if you hadn't gone through what you went through you would end up the same way they are,"

His words made me flinch. The idea of being just as shallow as them scared me, deeply. He looked at me, laughed a little, and continued.

"I know I know... This is kind of a hard thing to say, I mean, it's easier to say than to do but, every barrier we cross is another lesson learned. The things we go through turn us into the people we are today and it's our job as people to be people, good people. There is a lot of bad in this world, the least we can do is try to make light with the small things we do. If you spend your whole life worrying too much about the things you can't change, you'll spend your life too stuck in the past and miserable. I was dealt a pretty shitty hand in life but I'm trying to make the best of what I was given and hey, my shitty ass circumstances led me here, with you right now and that seems pretty cool to me"

My heart skipped a beat and I moved my head up to look at Finnick. He was now laying on his back staring up at the sky, head turning to make eye contact with me. I swear this man had a way of reading just the deepest parts of my soul. Deep green eyes met my own and I saw a glimmer, a shine in his eyes that hadn't been there before. A warm smile tugged at the corners of my lips and we sat in silence for a moment, just staring deep into each other's eyes.

"I'd have to agree with you on that one Finnick..." I whispered. He chuckled then turned back to look at the sky.

"Y/N... come join me, the stars are beautiful tonight," He said and patted the ground next to him, ushering me closer. I followed and lay right beside him looking up at the twinkling stars. Normally you can never see the stars so clearly in the capital because of the amount of air and light pollution was so dense but right now, they were shining bright. Maybe things just looked brighter with Finnick next to me. I looked back at Finnick's face, he seemed lost in thought, staring up at the stars.

"Don't you see the starlight? Isn't it crazy to think about how something so far can still be seen be seen by us here? They shine so brightly so that they can bring joy to the rest of the universe. I want to make a change in the world that significant one day. Do something so great that it will bring great joy to everyone for years to come... like even when I die I will be happy knowing there will be happiness after me because of me... I don't know maybe I'm just unrealistically daydreaming right now," Finnick rambled on so confidently but pulled back on that last line. I turned onto my side to look at him, hand coming to stroke the side of his face.

"I- I think you can do it... you're meant for something greater than this Finnick I can feel it..." earnestly, I spoke. While I had just met the man I could just feel this energy radiating off of him. "Sorry if this is sort of sudden but, you have such a pull to you Finnick... You seem to make everything feel like magic when I'm around you. I'm so enchanted by the life you bring to the room and it's actually insane to me. I have been having a great time tonight and I know I wouldn't have had the tiniest bit of enjoyment if I didn't get to meet you tonight. Finnick, you shine brighter than the whole sky and I'm sure you'll make the whole world feel your warmth too."

Finnick didn't speak, maybe I word vomited a little there but I meant every word I said. I swear I could see tears welling up in his troubled eyes before he closed them hard and started to speak. "Truly... those are the kindest words anyone has ever said to me y/n. You don't have any idea how much your sincerity means to me. Thank you" He propped himself up on his elbow to turn to me too. I can't describe what took over me when he finally opened his eyes again. With piercing green eyes and just the hint of a smile on his handsome face, I subconsciously started to lean forward and to my surprise, he was mirroring my actions. It happened so fast, his warm lips were on mine and his free hand found its way to my cheek. The moment was magical, our lips moving in a rhythmic pattern. He pulled away slowly and looked deeply into my eyes while we took a moment to catch our breaths.

"Finnick..."

"Yeah?"

"I think I like you... a lot." My face grew more red with embarrassment while my eyes searched his face for a response. He smiled at me, lips slightly parted before he leaned back in, kissing me a little harsher, lips burning with passion. He lightly placed me on to my back and we continued to share this moment of innocent intimacy while he hovered over me. My fingers tangled in his soft, blond hair and his weight pressed against my body, one of his hands on my face, keeping me close to him, and the other propping himself up. I knew I had to stop myself before this went too far but I really didn't want to. I wanted this night, this moment, to go on forever. Unfortunately, that decision was made for me when he pulled away and looked down on me. The gold shark tooth necklace he was wearing dangled down in front of my face. He smiled again at me. "We should head back to the party now before it gets too late... It'll be more fun I promise," he leaned down to kiss my forehead then came back up, "They play faster-paced music at the end of the night because that's when all the old people go home. You know they might have a heart attack once the bass kicks in," We shared a laugh and he leaned closer to me again, he nuzzled his face into the nook of my neck and placed a soft kiss on my collarbone that sent shivers down my spine. Goosebumps pricked at my skin and his breath tickled as it brushed against my my ear before he whispered, "I like you too y/n... a lot."

I was a blushing mess at this point. He kissed my cheek before sitting back up. He hit me with that charming smile and I pathetically tried to cover my face with my hands but he grabbed my wrists and stopped me.

"No no none of that, I like seeing how flustered you are it's kind of funny."

"Oh boo you asshole," I joked, sitting up and playfully punching his arm. He laughed hard and stood up to his feet, extending his hand out to help me up. Taking his offer, he helped me onto my feet.

With arms linked, we walked away from the lakeside shore and back to the capital party. My eyes searched the room to see if my mom had noticed I left and from the looks of the third empty glass of liquor on the table she was at and the way her eyes were lit up while she continued to chat with the other women her age, she didn't notice a thing. Finnick's hand squeezed mine tightly and gave me a reassuring smile and we walked back onto the dance floor.

By the end of the night, I couldn't tell if it was the intoxicating spirit of Finnick or the amount of times I had spun around the dance floor but I was so dizzy. I could barely think straight but there was only one thing on my mind.

When could I see him again?

#the hunger games #fanfic #fanfiction #fluff #x reader #finnick odair #finnick x reader #finnick imagine #thg series #thg finnick #finnick x you #the hunger games trilogy #finnick #thg fic #hunger games catching fire #hunger games fic #finnick odair fluff #finnick fanfic #finnick x y/n #finnick odair x reader #finnick odair x you #hunger games

[otakusheep15]

Winter Holiday with Twisted Wonderland

Hi everyone! It's been forever since I made an actual post. I've been trying to write for the past month, but the world just does not want me to lol. But I made it through 2023 and now it's the new year, so I thought it was time I post something again.

This is basically little blurbs of how I think the boys would spend their winter holidays. I'm trying to keep everything ambiguous since I don't know what they celebrate, and I also want everyone who reads this to feel somewhat included at least, so this is me trying my best. If it feels a little rough, that's largely because I'm still trying to fight the writer's block lol. Still, I hope y'all enjoy!

First Years

Ace Trappola: He mostly spends his time relaxing. It's not much different for him than any other season. He enjoys the vibes of winter, but he's not the biggest fan of the cold, so he does his best to stay inside. A big secret of his is that he'll secretly binge all of the cheesy romance movies airing around this time. He'd never admit it though.

Deuce Spade: A lot of his time is spent with his mom, as per usual. Lots of shopping days and going to winter farmers' markets. They also spend time at home drinking hot cocoa and watching holiday movies. He does also enjoy a good afternoon jog through the snow if it's not too much.

Jack Howl: He loves the winter very much. It's his favorite season. He spends most of his days outside playing in the snow with his siblings and enjoying the cold air. The one thing he dislikes his how he grows a double coat to keep him warm, meaning he sheds a lot more than usual. Other than that, he's having fun. Anytime it snows, his tail is going wild with excitement.

Epel Felmier: From dawn until dusk, he's either in the fields tending to crops or out in the crowds selling products. When he's done with work, he likes to curl up in front of a warm fire and work on his carvings. His hands always have to be moving, even when he's meant to be relaxing.

Ortho Shroud: He's spending time with his brother. Idia is not the best at socializing, so he does his best to make sure Idia has someone during these months considering how bad seasonal depression can get. He's also trying to help Idia get more out there, and enjoy the festivities of the season, even if he knows it won't work.

Sebek Zigvolt: He spends winter the same way he spends the rest of his time, with Malleus. Or, that's what he wants to be doing. Instead, he's given a vacation, much to his displeasure. So now he's spending time with his family. It's a little awkward being gone from his station for so long, but he will admit (to himself, begrudgingly) that it is somewhat nice to have a break.

Second Years

Riddle Rosehearts: Winter is always a bit strange for him. He's so used to spending it at home under strict conditions that it takes him some time to get used to the freedom he now has. He likes to spend his time sitting by a fireplace with a book and some tea. Now that he's independent, he likes having this time to relax instead of worrying about family.

Ruggie Bucchi: He spends time back in his childhood home. He visits his grandma and helps take care of the neighborhood kids. They're full of energy and like playing around when it snows, so of course he joins them. He'll also spend time cooking warm meals with whatever ingredients he can scrounge up.

Azul Ashengrotto: Winters are a busy time for him. It's the season of giving according to some, so he's taking full advantage in any way he can. He's striking deals with anyone he comes across and just generally doing the same shady things he usually does. However, he is also consciously taking breaks and making sure to spend time with his family, or at least calling them if he's above the surface.

Jade Leech: He's tending to his terrariums. Winter is not the best for a lot of his plants, so he has to give them extra attention lest they wilt. It's a lot of hard work, but he's very dedicated to them and he's willing to put in the effort. He also begins working on winter-specific plant life and fungi as well so that he can grow his collection.

Floyd Leech: He gets the winter zoomies. The cold makes him extra hyper and excitable, so he's running around a lot more than usual. Ever since discovering snow, he's loved it, so he's spending most of his time rolling around and playing in it. He also loses whatever loose sleep schedule he had and just passes out whenever his body physically can't anymore.

Kalim al-Asim: He prefers summer, but winter is fun too! While he is busy helping his dad and getting trained to succeed him, he still makes sure to take time to have fun. He and his siblings will go out and play around in the snow and just have fun however they can. He can't always handle the cold like his siblings can, but he does his best to keep up with them.

Jamil Viper: He's given a vacation on the request (read: demands) of Kalim, so he's relaxing. For once he has no responsibilities, and he's living his best life. He's making warm curry for himself and catching up on books he's never had the chance to read. He does have the urge to go back to work early, but he forces those urges away.

Silver Vanrouge: He's spending time with his father. Winter makes him extra tired, so he spends a lot of it inside sleeping. Lilia stays with him for a lot of it, and they bond. He'll cook warm meals and they'll watch movies together. They also make sure to visit Malleus often so that he isn't lonely.

Third Years

Trey Clover: The bakery is busy this time of year, so he's mostly occupied with that. He's baking, running the store, making deliveries, and keeping up with orders. There's very little free time, but the time he does have is spent with his siblings. They play in the snow together, watch movies, and drink warm cocoa by the fire. His parents will also join in if they have the time, which is even less common than him.

Cater Diamond: He's keeping up with all of the winter trends of course. He's taking selfies in the snow, reviewing all of the winter exclusive products available, and blasting classic winter music. He loves this time of year because of how festive and fun it is, but it also drains him very quickly on the inside, so the seasonal depression hits quick as well. He won't let it show though, at least until he's alone.

Leona Kingscholar: He does not care. The only difference is that winter is cold which makes him more tired than usual, but that's it. He might stay inside more to avoid the snow, but when you live in a castle, there's plenty to do inside as well, so he's fine. Cheka might force him outside, but he's not enjoying it at all. The snow bothers him and so do the festivities.

Vil Schoenheit: Most likely, he's working on a winter-themed project. A movie, play, photoshoot, something along those lines. It's tiring work, as per usual, but it's what he's required to do, so he does it. What he would like to be doing is relaxing, however. He actually quite enjoys the wintertime, so it'd be nice to spend it alone and without stress. If he could, he would relax at home, maybe even with his dad if he were free. They could finally spend time together and just be normal.

Rook Hunt: He's spending time with his family. It's so rare for all of them to get together, so it's nice to be able to see everyone at once like this. They are also a very competitive family, so many days are spent playing games and having fun competitions amongst one another. Board games, games in the snow, or just random games made up on the spot. It's fun for everyone.

Idia Shroud: He is, as expected, by himself playing games. He may go back to S.T.Y.X. if his parents request it, but he's not leaving his room. In his own way, he is being festive. He's playing winter-themed games, watching anime that takes place in the winter, etc. etc., but that's as far as he'll go. He's not the most fond of the winter festivities because that's normie behavior, but he might be convinced by Ortho to come outside and be festive at least once, as a treat.

Malleus Draconia: Usually, he's alone. Winter can be a lonely time for those without family. However, this year, he does have a family. He has Lilia and Silver, and Sebek too. They all make sure to visit him whenever possible, even if they can't be with him all the time during winter. After all, they do get their time off, so they're allowed time to themselves. However, they still visit him, and that makes him happy. He also spends time with his grandmother when she is available. Still, for a good majority, he finds himself alone, wandering the halls as usual. Sad.

Lilia Vanrouge: He's spending time with Silver at home, mostly. He makes an effort to visit Malleus when possible, but he's mostly relaxing on his own. He and Silver have fun bonding together, something they don't get to do often. He also makes sure to see Sebek and his family too. He tries to cook some hot meals for Silver, but Silver will not let him in the kitchen, so he's upset, but he's still having fun with his time off.

#twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland headcanons #riddle rosehearts #trey clover #cater diamond #ace trappola #deuce spade #leona kingscholar #ruggie bucchi #jack howl #azul ashengrotto #jade leech #floyd leech #kalim al asim #jamil viper #vil schoenheit #rook hunt #epel felmier #idia shroud #ortho shroud #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #silver twst #sebek zigvolt #headcanons #scenarios #imagines

[teenage-mutant-ninja-freak]

Heyo! Love your work btw *chef kiss* I'm obsessed with your poly turtles stuff. Could you maybe do some Christmas poly headcannons? Seasonal Activities they do with their s/o, possible gifts they receive, fav cookies/treats, fav Xmas music. Idk just some festive stuff? If you're busy that's cool 😎 your poly turt stuff has me needing more haha. Thanks!

Ok, I'm pretty sure I got this before Christmas and it's now May. I'm so sorry. I won't go into all the reasons I haven't really been writing because it's a lot but I want to get back into it so here goes with this very unseasonal post lmao

and thank you everyone for you patience as I get back into the swong of writing for my blog

Raph

This big hunk of red and green first

He's very seasonal if you think about it

He's also super (secretly) into the holidays

catch him doing his rendition of rockin' around the Christmas tree very loudly when he's off his tits on eggnog

((side note I think he would hate eggnog but would drink it solely because it's festive))

He's secretly super sentimental and he knows you love this time of year so he really puts his back into it

I'm talking it's the 1st of December and he wakes you up in a full Santa outfit and white beard (that he knitted himself) yelling "Ho Ho Ho!" and asking if you've been naughty or nice

it's like 6am so you, naturally, tell him to piss off

to which he makes a big show of trying to shove you into his Santa sack because "Someone needs a trip to the North Pole to learn the Christmas spirit"

He's also pretty good with crafts

obvs you guys can't go outside and be seen so he creates a whole winter wonderland in the lair (without telling the others, Mikey was the only one who appreciated it tbh)

also he's a great cook so you spend evening after evening baking sugar cookies and decorating them, sipping hot chocolate with a candy cane in it and whipped cream on top, making warming winter soups.

In terms of gifts, he gets you anything and everything he even thinks you might like

real big spender this one

handmade too items like a scarf he knitted for you because your old one was a bit worn, handmade card, he even did a little snow globe that he made with figures of you and him inside of it

he'll say "I know it's lame" or "It's not the best but I tried" but it means the world to you

Leo

Big boy blue up next

I see him loving a very traditional, old fashioned, classic Xmas.

His big thing is that he loves to decorate the tree with you

but you would always bicker about how it should look

"No, I think a gold and red theme would look better!"

"But, Leo, we have all of these cute glass candy canes I wanna hang!"

"But I have a vision!!"

so this year he decides to buy like 6 trees (and by buy I mean forage, steal or cut down)

so you can both have your own trees and decorate them however you want

this, obviously, becomes a Christmas competition

your very unwilling judges are Leo's brothers and even Splinter

they have never looked more uncomfortable than when you and Leo are very passionately stating your case for why your tree is better than the other's and it ends in you both throwing baubles at each other

about half an hour and a lot of tinsel lying everywhere later you decide that maybe you're both a little too competitive

but Leo reassures that "That's why I love you"

He's so big on quality time with you

lot's of sitting by a crackling fire, sipping coco and letting soft Christmas songs play

he's made a playlist of v gentle ones like Eartha Kitt's Santa baby, Conventry carol and god rest ye merry gentlemen.

it's all about the mood w/ Leo

as far as gifts, it's has to be something personal and sweet

a pressed flower in resin from the first day you both met, a silver heart shaped locket with a pic of you both in it, some sort of talisman that's supposed to keep you safe in ninja superstition

Mikey

Time for chaotic good to come to play

Mikey just manages to capture that almost childlike enthusiasm and wonder for the season

He has a funny habit of wrapping your gifts to look like something else

last year you were certain he'd gotten you a rocking horse but it turned out to be a new phone and headphones

"How long did it take you to wrap it like that?"

"Don't ask questions you don't wanna know.....3 hours to make the horse part look right"

normally he gets you silly but sweet gifts

lots of sticking filler things

oh and he gets you an actual stocking too, but like a comically oversized one to fit all the gifts

stuff he's made too

one year he made you 50 hand cut paper snowflakes with 50 reasons he loves you written and drawn on them

also stuff you guys can do together

video games he knows you'll find fun, stupid interactive games that you can play, that kinda stuff

he does a special Xmas scavenger hunt for you each year that the others pretend is stupid but it keeps getting more elaborate as time goes on and even they are started to get invested in the ending

there's a theme and everything ranging from polar express to murder at the Christmas party to Santa's grotto....

he also never fails to dress up as Mrs Clause every year (because Raph insists on being Santa and at first Mikey just wanted everyone to laugh, but now it's kinda a tradition)

Donnie

oh my sweet gadget boy

he's super big into cocktails, the sweeter the better

and you always get to name them together but you both have a warped sense of humour so the names are getting out of hand

you pick a fave each year as well

last year was "The abominable snowman's frozen left nut" and the year before was "Mrs Clause putting glass shavings in Santa's food because he came back with the clap"

I told you they were bizarre....

his gifts are always thoughtful and so romantic

I HC Donnie as being a super romantic guy

whether it be a painting he made of the constellations and planets in correct placement on the night the two of you first kissed

or a wreath of dried flowers and plants to hang on the door that came from the field behind your childhood house

but this year it's a scrapbook filled to the brim with every detail of the two of you, all dated and with a little annotation telling a story as to why it's in there. photos, cards, handwritten letters, magazine cut outs, diary entries.... it's all in there and it's enough to make you cry.

He also sneaks you out on Christmas eve every year without the others knowing (they'd flip if they came to know that he was stealing you away at that time)

but he takes you up to the rooftops to sit on blankets and drink hot chocolate (spiked with a little rum, it's Donnie after all...) and look at the lights and snowflakes and people bustling home to their families and you sit and feel at peace and laugh as you make up backstories to each individual you see scurrying home

you lean against his shoulder and every year that he does this it feels more magical than the last

#tmnt #tmnt mikey #tmnt donnie #tmnt leo #tmnt raph #teenage mutant ninja turtles #christmas #poly #poly edition #christmas edition #tmnt x reader #tmnt/reader #tmntxreader

[nobodylikety]

hello again nyul, I just rewatched 2wice date series and got a idea of SaChaeng x reader picnic date at han river and having a little mini date with flowers and cakes and a surprise bike ride (lets just say there is a triple bike set)

Hey, hello again! How are you? <3 Sorry for the delay, I was a little busy during the New Year, but here it goes! I hope you like it ;)

🌸✦ In spring flowers bloom, but so do hearts

Idol! SaChaeng x College! gn reader!

tags: based in 2wice date series, SaChaeng episode!

Summary: With the arrival of good weather, a spring date at the Han River is the best idea to spend quality time with Sana and Chaeyoung.

After the winter season, the snow has given way to the beautiful spring; and although there are still somewhat cold days, encouraged by the still slightly fresh breeze, the city is once again illuminated by sunlight, especially the Han River, whose flow runs like a kind of liquid silver, giving a beautiful glow that is a gift in sight. That's probably why you, Sana and Chaeyoung decided it would be the best place to go on a date.

“The mat is beautiful,” Sana comments with a smile, as she carefully spreads the mat on the grass, barely damp from the early morning dew.

Chaeyoung utters an affirmative ‘uh-huh’ as she takes the wicker basket and places it on the mat, which is the signal for everyone to sit around or near it.

“It looks good, can we take a photo?” You ask as you grab your phone. You look at the screen for a moment, the wallpaper you have is a photo of Sana and Chaeyoung. You smile slightly, continuing to do so as you unlock the phone to press the camera icon. “Wait, Sana. I better take a photo of you! I think it will turn out nice, I'm sure.”

Sana is helping Chaeyoung take the snacks out of the wicker basket, but she raises her head when she hears you speak to her, making it the perfect moment to take an unsuspecting photo—which, according to you, are the best—. The photo is really beautiful, it perfectly captures the beauty of Sana's smile.

The breeze blows through the trees, rustling leaves and petals, giving them a slight chill. As she is the eldest, and moved by a kind of protective feeling, Sana searches through the basket and takes out a blanket.

"Are you cold?" Sana asks, pulling the blanket over your and Chaeyoung's shoulders, covering both of you.

“It's windy and cold, but it's so nice to be outside,” Chaeyoung assures with a smile, as she takes a bite out of a freshly opened package of Bungeoppang.

“It's been a while since I've been outside for so long,” You comments as you look—almost wistfully—at the Han River for a moment, whose flow runs without any concern, and a light smile appears on your lips. Then you look back at Sana and Chaeyoung, and the twitch on your lips takes on a shy tinge. “Y'know, it's because of Uni. Normally I don't have time to take very long walks, I almost always have to study.”

“Uh-huh, we know” Sana seems to notice the shyness in your smile, and she places her hand on top of yours. She gives you a light squeeze, hard enough to comfort you.

“That's why you haven't been able to hang out with us so much,” Chaeyoung continues. It is not a reproachful tone; Her eyes are gentle, and like Sana, she tries to comfort you in her own way: resting her head on your shoulder. “We have also had very tight schedules, sometimes it happens.”

“When did Chae become so mature?” You ask with a giggle, which spreads like wildfire between Sana and Chaeyoung and infects them with your silly sense of humor. The question seems to be funny or adorable enough to lighten the mood.

“That's what I've been saying, Chaeyoung has become very mature!” Sana smiles, giving Chaeyoung's cheek a loving touch.

The atmosphere lightens again; It is not an issue that due to time or agenda differences the girls and you have not been able to meet as much as you wanted. It is something out of your control, and you have always known that things would be this way. Also, do you think that one of the best feelings is when you meet someone you love again, and you realize how much you have missed them. It makes you want to hug them very tightly, to make them feel how much you missed them and love them.

“Sana is right. You have become very mature, especially in the way you think” You add, with a smile.

Maybe it's because you haven't seen her in a while, but you really think that Sana is right about Chaeyoung's acquired maturity. You can't help but admire, with a smile, the self-confidence that she exudes, how she is now able to know 100% what she likes, and how, being able to describe it in detail. You see before your very eyes how she has grown older. Your eyes practically shine with pride.

“Oh my god, I’m so touched” Chaeyoung comically and dramatically puts her hand on her chest, which makes Sana laugh. When she wants to, or maybe without noticing it, Chaeyoung is quite expressive.

You chuckle as you open one of the Korean snacks Sana and Chaeyoung picked out at the store, something you identify as Butter Waffles. You take a bite and it feels pleasantly crunchy, although as you take more bites, the crunchy sensation becomes mushy, almost melty. You've never tried it before, but it turns out to be delicious.

“Even eating, Chae and you are pretty” Sana sighs, with a dreamy expression. Oh my god, she's so in love. “I like looking at you two.”

You half choke, in a mixture of 'gay panic' at the compliment, and laughter. Sana is so random and confident in her flirting!

“Aw, come on!” Chaeyoung, for her part, covers her mouth with her hand, hiding her silly smile. Her cheeks turn red, embarrassed.

“Well, all the members are pretty, but I also really like looking at you, Chae. I save your photos more, in addition to Sana's, compared to the rest of the members” You admit with a smile, taking an enthusiastic bite of the Butter waffle.

“Yeah, they're always saving your photos” Sana nods, poking your sides with her fingers, teasing you but also wanting to make you laugh.

“Oh shush, like you don't,” You playfully roll your eyes, shaking your head, returning the teasing with a tap on her arm using your knuckle.

You and Sana are poking and shoving each other in an argument of 'who saves Chaeyoung's photos the most'.

“Woah, you two really like me, huh?” Although she's still blushing, Chaeyoung manages a cocky little smile. Sana taps her on the nose, lovingly.

“Yes, you are very pretty!”

“Sure, and you too” She responds without stopping smiling, leaning down to steal a bite of your butter waffle. "It's good"

“Uh-huh, very good. I think it tastes better because we're together. Even though it's a little cold, the Han River looks beautiful, so do you, and I feel like everything is fine." You take another bite of your snack, chewing reflexively. “I just remembered. You like riding bikes, right?”

“I wouldn't say I'm a professional, like I'd ride in the Tour de France or something like that, but I like bikes,” Sana comments, covering her mouth a little to finish chewing. "Why do you ask?"

“I saw that a little further on there are sets of double and triple bikes. Maybe we could rent one?”

The proposal flips a switch of sorts for Chaeyoung and Sana, especially the latter. Sana is very excited about the idea. You'd say she's too excited.

"IT WOULD BE GREAT!"

“You really know how to make a date fun, mhm?”

“Maybe” You shrug, with an innocent smile.

Who would think that to be happy, all you need is a date at the Han River, snacks, and a set of triple bikes with the people you love the most.

#sana x reader #chaeyoung x reader #sana twice #chaeyoung twice #twice imagines #sachaeng x reader #twice x reader

[niemernuet]

i honestly don't care which blossoming romance prompt you chose just give me the franjo/arnaud content i'm in such dying need of i'm begging you🫠🫶🏻

Thank youuu so much for your prompt. 🥰😍 Your genius truly is unsurpassed! I chose nr 22 "playful teasing", and while it's just a short text I really think I'll have to continue it at a later time because these two are just too sweet. But first of all:

And now:

The last remains of the ski slopes lie like white ribbons wrapped around the brown mountainside. The artificial snow has withstood the spring sun another day, and only the brown patches further down in the valley reveal the constant struggle to keep it that way. It is long past the operating hours of the ski lifts, and all the tourists have been chased off the mountain because tonight the restaurant at the top is closed for the public. Outside, on the big terrace overlooking the vast summits, most of the younger club members are waiting for dinner, some with a cheap little plastic trophy in their hands, some smoking, and all of them drinking. Justin and Daniel intercept Arnaud just as he steps out of the warm restaurant with another bottle of chilled wine.

“Perfect,” Justin says, and holds out his glass. “Just what we need.”

“Actually this one’s for…,” Arnaud says and points towards the group at the other end of the patio but Justin does not let him finish.

“They don’t seem to be lacking,” he says over the shrieking and laughter wafting over from the other side, and cocks his head with a pleading smile. “Meanwhile look at us!”

 Arnaud grins, and with an exaggerated sigh fills their glasses. “I apologise. I know it’s hard for older people to walk the long distance to the bar. I hope they’re not too heavy in your hands. Do you need a straw?”

“I always forget what a funny guy you are,” Daniel answers, and clinks his newly filled glass against Arnaud’s. “Have you thought about switching to slalom? We could have a blast together.”

Arnaud laughs, though the joy in it is missing a bit. “One: Why are you even here? This is not your ski club. And two: I might actually take you up on the offer, so don’t tempt me.”

Justin and Daniel shoot each other a quick glance before Justin plucks the bottle out of Arnaud’s hand, and puts it down on the nearest bar table.

“To answer your first question: Partners are invited too,” Daniel says. “Maybe if you’d make an effort you could also have someone next year.”

Arnaud snorts into his white wine. “Yeah, right. We’re not all as lucky as you two.”

“Damn, I guess you received the list for next season’s groups as well?” Justin asked.

Arnaud puts his glass down. The sun has set behind the mountains, and the soft yet cold wind manages to creep underneath his thermal undershirt. “Am I so easy to read?”

“Only when you’re wallowing in self-pity,” Daniel answers. “Come on, it can’t be that bad. I’m sure Alexis will still be there, right?”

Arnaud’s shoulders slump as he laughs. “Of course he is but he will be more than busy with whatever is going on between him and Gilles and Elian…” He breaks off, and with a frown stares into the distance.

“Are they…” Daniel begins cautiously.

“I don’t know!” Arnaud exclaims, and throws up his hands. “I’m not even sure they know themselves. Also, they’re nowhere near the worst part of next season…” He stares at them with barely hidden desperation as his sorrows burst out of him:

“We’re getting another Bernese! Can you fucking imagine, another bore like Lars? I mean, he’s a nice guy and all but he has no problems to spend an entire day in silence, and you know who has to be silent with him when Ralph’s off facetiming his kids for the hundredth time and Alexis and Elian and Gilles are off who fucking knows where doing who fucking knows what? Exactly, me! And now imagine there’s a second guy next to Lars and it will be just the three of us and every time I will try to keep a conversation going I will only hear ‘huh?’ because apparently my accent is so very difficult to understand.”

The first people are filing back into the restaurant and throw curious glances in their direction but Arnaud does not care. Not when he finally has someone who understands what he is going through.

Justin laughs, throws his arm around Arnaud’s shoulder, and softly guides him towards the door. “Let it all out, kid! We have all night.”

-----

Lodgings for the second groups, with the athletes not part of the national team yet, usually have to do with less.

“But this is a new low,” Arnaud mutters to himself as he leans deep into the closet, one of the shelves wedged between his foot and the wall, and pulls at the rusty bracket. The musty smell that lingers in the entire room fills his nose to the brim in there, and he can feel the dust bunnies under his fingers as they press against the wood.

“FUCK!” he yells when he slips off the bracket again. He pulls out his head, and inspects the damage to his skin. A short knock at the door is the only warning he gets before it bursts open, and a mountain of bags tumble inside.

“Sorry, this stuff is killing me,” the guy following behind pants as he pushes through the door, and drops his things at the foot of Arnaud’s bed. He puts his hands on his hips as he catches his breath. A few strands of his long bangs cling to his sweaty forehead.

“Third floor without a bloody elevator, are you kidding me? We really have to make it into the national team this season, this is unacceptable. Hi, I’m Franjo.” His eyes turn into two narrow crescents as a big smile spreads over his face. He holds out his hand, and Arnaud only has to extend his because the room is not big enough to keep a reasonable distance anyway.

“Arnaud,” Arnaud says after a moment that is just a tad too long.

“I know,” Franjo says, still smiling, and begins to kick his suitcase and bags towards the other bed.

Arnaud blinks at him. He is wearing shorts, and the shirt with their organisation’s logo has wrinkles where the backpack pulled it up.

“I’m sorry, I thought I’d be with Lars again?”

Franjo looks over his shoulder. “There was…a change of plans…as I understand it.”

Arnaud frowns, and Franjo rolls his eyes.

“Don’t tell him I told you but he doesn’t want to bunk with you anymore because you talk too much. He’d rather be with Ralph because he says he talks a lot too but only to his phone…or the kids in his phone, I don’t know.”

“Oh.”

“Though I can’t say that you do, at least so far.”

Arnaud blinks again, his mouth still hanging half open. “You’ve been in here one minute,” he finally manages.

Franjo stops kicking his bags, and opens the zipper of the biggest one. “True, I give you that,” he concedes. “Also I’ve heard you yell ‘fuck’ out in the hallway so I guess I’ve interrupted at a very inconvenient time. Sorry about that.”

“I did not…,” Arnaud exclaims, sputtering indignantly until he realises that Franjo is laughing.

“Very funny,” he mutters, and hopes that the ancient, unsightly drapes keep enough of the sunlight out so his burning cheeks are not too visible. His hopes at his embarrassment staying hidden shatter though when Franjo turns around, and steps right next to him.

“Thanks,” he smiles, and takes in the large gap between the shelves in the closet. “Is there something wrong with it?”

The faint smell of his aftershave cuts through the mustiness emanating from the closet, and it takes all of Arnaud’s self-control to answer within a socially acceptable time. “It wobbles and tilts back as soon as I put a stack of clothes on it. I think the brackets aren’t on the same height but I can’t get them out.” He looks at the superficial scratches along his index finger, and the small scab that is already forming over it.

“Oh no, what happened to your dainty fingers?” Franjo asks, and again Arnaud sucks in air before he recognises the wide grin on Franjo’s face. “Let me try, this looks like a job for a pro.”

“Of course, as soon as I find one,” Arnaud snorts, though he does take a step back until he bumps against the nightstand.

“Ha ha,” Franjo says, his head stuck into the closet. “I’ll have you know you’re…come on you little bugger…aha!” With a triumphant laugh he stands up straight again, and holds up the rusty piece of metal that used to carry one corners of the shelf for the last few decades.

“See?” he says, and holds out his hand towards Arnaud. “That’s why you need a carpenter for a job like this. Though I don’t think we can put this back in, it is totally rusted…” He sticks his head back into the wardrobe, and examines the other three brackets. “I’m sure one of the service men will have a pair of pliers to get the rest out. And the supermarket’s still open, if we’re lucky they’re carrying a box of those…and if not we could go to Sion tomorrow after the training…”

“You really are one?”

Franjo breaks off, and tilts his head until he can look at Arnaud from the inside of the closet. The hair on top of his head is longer than the rest, and falls over his eyes.

“A carpenter?” Arnaud asks.

“Of course,” Franjo answers. “And what are you? Other than a fast skier.”

Arnaud shrugs, and awkwardly crosses his arms in front of his chest. “I work in a bank part-time in spring and summer.”

“A banker?” Franjo laughs, and takes a step back, away from the old hole in the wall. “That’s good, you can calculate the depreciation of the new brackets, and whether they fit in our budget while we go to the supermarket.”

Arnaud laughs, staring at the rusty piece of metal in Franjo’s palm. For a second he wonders what it would feel like if he put his own hand in his, and again takes too long to realise that Franjo is staring at him.

“Unless you want to stay here?” Franjo asks. “But it’s not like we have to be anywhere until dinner.”

“No, no!” Arnaud hurries to say. “I’d love to come along.”

With a grin, Franjo turns around, and tears the door open. “Cool.”

#thank you thank you thank you ♥️♥️♥️ #also boop! #answered #alpine skiing #franjo von allmen #arnaud boisset

[fledglingmaster]

I don't like putting a lot of negativity out and I prefer balance...so I'm going to highlight the good that has happened as well lately. (Mostly talk of birds.)

My stress relief is being in nature. After last week I needed to spend time outside. Plus, I need to get back into the habit of walking. Most of the snow has melted for now.

A few days ago I went for a walk. The place I usually go has some main paved trails that take you around but there are also more natural paths in wooded areas. I enjoy walking both.

There's a local witch that likes hiding crystals for people to find and keep every once and a while. It's just a nice thing to do and it's business promo. She puts them in areas that people usually walk, so not super tucked away. Because of this I haven't found any myself, early bird gets the worm as they say. But I did find a tiny pink dyed heart! I believe it's quartz though it could be agate. Such a small thing but I about cried.

Then I saw my first wild bald eagle. I was seeking a pileated woodpecker, they're fairly elusive around here. I spotted one some months back. My mom also spotted one a few days prior around the same area. As I was looking for a woodpecker, maybe a hawk if I was lucky as they like the same area, an eagle flies over my head! I was in shock! I'm nearing 32 and I've never seen one in the wild, let alone have one fly over. I didn't get a photo but I had the experience, it meant a lot considering everything I've recently gone through.

I continued my walk and ran into the herd of 5 deer that I've been missing dearly. (Thank you, I'll see myself out.) I was able to get pretty close. I think I took my best deer photo yet from one that decided to rest in front of me. I felt so honored. As I'm walking back on the paved trail I hear the eagle vocalizing. If you know what bald eagles sound like, it is the weirdest, dolphin-esque, "that is not a bird" sound. In media, for whatever reason, most birds of prey you hear are actually dubbed over with the cry of a red-tailed hawk. I mean their screams are impressive...still I'd rather hear the bird's actual call. Anyway, the sound came from the river. I've been sharpening my location skills, I'm decent at finding where sounds are coming from. I was able to follow along the river and spot the eagle on the other side. As far away as the eagle was, my photos are poor quality. But once again, just seeing the eagle was magical. I haven't taken the pictures off my camera yet, once I do I'll post them on here.

With all of that happening in one day, I'm taking it as a sign that things are going to be okay.

So yesterday, I went back hoping to see the eagle or deer. If not, just being in nature is lovely. I did find the deer again. I swear it's like they have a gps on them as I'm just pulled to where they are. Deer energy is different from any other animal or human. I never knew how much I connected to them until this summer. After I spent some time with them I heard a woodpecker knocking. I followed it hoping for a pileated but expecting a downy as we have many of them. They're very cute. It was neither! It was a red-bellied woodpecker. They were too high up to get a good photo, but I was able to positively identify them. I'm starting to think I should have an official list to check off for birding.

-

Also, I'm so close to being done with work on my teeth. I'm really hoping I can have my smile back by summer. If not, at least I'm closer and I should have my denture this year for sure.

#personal

[pbandjesse]

I am exhausted. I did not sleep well and I very very much just want to sleep tonight. I have been struggling to fall asleep and last night was not different. But I also woke up a whole lot. I let myself have an extra half hour but it only helped a little.

James was right here when I woke up and would wait for me to get ready before they left. We left together. I appreciated them waiting. When we got outside I was thrilled to see that almost all of the cups and mugs we put outside were gone! There's a few left but the majority have been taken and I'm so glad. I hope they are loved.

We said goodbye. And I drove to work. It was very cold but there was no traffic. I listened to music to try and wake up more. And got to camp about when I thought I would.

I didn't have a ton to do today. My ideas for things I could be working on is running a little dry. I would have a few things I came up with but I just tried to take my time because I did not want to be bored.

I watched (listened) tiktoks while I typed. A really interesting interview came out with Katt Williams and I think he's hilarious, but also just so real, so it was a really good interview. And I was doing good on my program writing and organizing.

I wrote two programs for CITs for evening programs for their social and emotional development. I used chatgbT for ideas again and it is very helpful for giving me a starting point. I think there is a time and a place for tools like AI. And I think if you use it like a tool then there isn't a problem with it.

Elizabeth would come in next. Followed by Sarah. Alexi was soon in too. Heather stayed home.

As I was finishing printing a few things out I got an email from the mortgage company. The title process is going well and we had a letter about what they have found. And I discovered something a little dark.

In Maryland there is a system called ground rent. Where basically you don't own the land the house is on and you pay a small fee each year to someone who's family bought it 100 years ago. It's not always the case but to it true for the majority of the places we have seen. So I was expecting it. I was under the impression we did not have it with this house but it seems that the brokerage that we are buying the house from bought the ground as well. But are only selling us the house. It's the same name on the land as the company listed as the sellers. So I looked into them more and they basically own the entire neighborhood's ground. A holding company in Delaware. Dark. They are taking in thousands a year for nothing.

We also discovered a weird thing with the water sewage bill that they had been paying but we will figure that out as we move forward. It was interesting to have these things to sort through though and it's exciting that things are moving along.

I would go up to arts and crafts to bring the bead boxes I had been using for Christmas presents and put those away. And hung up my hammock to lay there for a half hour because I was tired. It was very cold in there but I was fine enough. It made me feel a little better.

I would spend a lot of the afternoon just poking around online. Doing some research. Typing some stuff. Eventually Chloe came in and it was nice to talk to her.

The office was really quiet though. Joe would come in and said when I wasn't busy if I could please help him out and move the bus and I'm like Joe I am not even a little busy I am looking at pictures on the internet. And I went to drive the bus up the hill in case it snows this weekend. If Sarah didn't already do it I will also move the gator tomorrow but at least half the task is complete.

Around 3 Alexi told Sarah about a filing task and I was like. Please let me do it. I am so very bored. So I would collect all the responses from last year's staff to create an alphabetical list. And then tomorrow I will go though all the files in two banker boxes to pull out what we have on them for Alexi because rehire interviews are soon! I really hope we get some good people this year.

I would pack up to leave after Lou clowned on me for working at my desk with a squishmallow in my lap. She keeps my posture up!! I said goodbye to everyone and headed home.

People were driving stupid but I got home pretty fast. We had two packages waiting outside. Excellent. One was the new electric fish tank vacuum I got. Which is like the one I had forever ago and I'm not positive I love it but it's fine. I need to set it up differently then it came but it had lots of attachments.

James would come home soon after me. And I was just so stupid tired. I didn't even want to do my knitting. I just recorded the temperatures and laid on the couch.

I had Mac and cheese and nachos for dinner. A very yellow meal. And James had their podcast, with Dante and Leon (from camp) as guests. And I just rested and tried to not feel so dizzy tired.

I am very sleepy though. James just got out of the shower, and I am going to go take one now. And hopefully I can fall asleep early so I can feel better tomorrow.

I hope you all sleep good tonight I love you all.

[takaraphoenix]

If you really meant it... *blinking up from under her eyelashes* May I get a nice little Drew/Percy/Nico and something with snow, or cold outside, warm inside - something cozy and wintery? 🥺 Thank you, my dear 💙

I hope this brightens your day some, dear <3

--

Percy wasn't even entirely sure how he had ended up in this whole situation. There'd been activity in the mountains, they'd sent a regular quest of kids and the kids had gotten home, nearly frozen solid and hurt. Which was the point where Percy insisted on sending in veterans.

Because Percy was now working as a counselor at camp and he wanted to make sure that the young kids wouldn't get traumatized too much. However, most other adult demigods were either at home or at college; enjoying the perks of New Rome and the more normal life that offered.

So there hadn't been many others to pick from. First to volunteer had been Nico, which was a bit of a surprise. The even bigger surprise was his other volunteer though.Drew Tanaka, who really wasn't a fan of going on quests. At all. But after Nico had volunteered to go, she had too. And then there had been a whole lot of glaring between the two alphas. And Percy meant a lot.

And that wasn't even the worse yet. What they had encountered was some kind of shadow-eater – name still pending. That was why the other demigods had been so drained, because leeching off their shadows affected their lie-force. The problem was that Nico had a much stronger connection to shadows, so this affected him even more than Drew and Percy and Percy had been too busy trying to battle the elements. Sure, he controlled water and snow was technically frozen water, but snow was also snow. It's own thing. So harder to control for Percy. The only logical next step was a tactical retreat and regroup. They were in the mountains and it was deep winter, snow everywhere. So they needed shelter too. Shelter had come in the form of a cabin they'd broken into. The snow storm had only picked up ever since. And, worse of all – for Percy, anyway – was the fact that he was stuck here with two alphas he really, really liked.

“Percy, why are you pacing like that?” Drew asked, frustrated. “This won't help.”

“Well, it helps me,” Percy glared at her, baring his fangs just a little bit. “I don't like being cooped up. I don't like sitting still. And I especially don't like not knowing what we're battling.”

“Once I'm recharged enough, I'll shadow-travel us back to camp and we can tell Chiron all we know so he can help us figure out how to fight this. We'll just have to wait out here.”

Grumbling to himself, Percy turned to face the two alphas. He'd had a crush on Drew for years, he used to spend so much time at Aphrodite Cabin because of Silena. And Nico. Maybe because or when Nico had confessed having a crush on him? It had kicked something loose that made Percy reconsider every single interaction they'd like ever had. So. Here Percy was, with his two crushes.

“Percy. Will you stop fidgeting too?” Nico asked this time, watching him closely.

“I will not,” Percy glowered at him and continued fidgeting with the pillows and blankets.

“What...” Drew trailed off, her eyes widening in realization. “Wait, are you building a nest?”

“Don't judge me,” Percy glared and pouted at the same time. “I'm in a foreign territory that I don't know, so I'm trying to comfort myself. You two aren't helping.”

That gave both Nico and Drew pause, making them look at each other. “What?”

“You and your... your... hostility! The constant glaring and I don't even know why! This is just making me feel even more cage-y and frustrated, you know.”

And again, Nico and Drew looked at each other, with doubt and confusion. The looks changed. Like they were holding a whole conversation without speaking. Which only irritated Percy further and made him build his nest a little more aggressively. Nico growled and Drew made a snarling sound.

“Enough with that,” Percy put as much authority into it as he could. “I am ordering you two to a cease fire while we're stuck in here. Don't look at me like that, yes, order. I am the Omega of camp, and the leader of this mission so you two will damn well be civil and listen to me.”

Well, now he had both alphas' attention and they were both staring at him with... something. Percy couldn't pinpoint it, but it definitely made him a bit uncomfortable. Not really in a bad way though.

“We're not at war, we don't need a cease fire,” Drew heaved a sigh and crossed her arms. “We are... in a healthy competition. Completely normal for two alphas. Who like the same omega.”

“...Huh?” Percy paused in his nesting to stare at them both in confused. “This is about a guy?”

“This is about you,” Drew offered a dramatic sigh. “You're the omega we like. How are you this pretty and yet this dense about it? You're usually very bright, but when it comes to people being romantically or sexually interested in you it's like you wear earplugs and a blindfold.” Drew paused for a moment. “Well, that'd actually look very good on you.”

Still in the middle of trying to process this all, Percy stared at her. And blushed horribly. What?

“I had a crush on you. I just... didn't stop,” Nico looked as flustered as Percy felt. “I tried getting over you, but it proved impossible. And then there was Drew... also liking you.”

“Huh...” Percy blinked repeatedly, looking from one to the other. “I didn't think either of you liked me. I mean. Like that. And now you're telling me both of you like me? What... do I do with that?”

At least now Nico and Drew looked as lost as he felt. “We kind of assumed... choose one.”

“I don't like choosing,” Percy wiggled his nose cutely. “And... I like you both.”

“Well then,” Drew looked incredibly pleased as she walked over to Percy. “Don't choose. I don't mind. As long as you're mine, I wouldn't mind you being his too. What? Polyamory isn't a new concept. Especially not for a daughter of Aphrodite, hello?”

Oh. That was an option? Huh. Percy stared doe-eyed from Drew to Nico, trying to see what he thought. Nico also walked over to Percy, until the alphas came to sit on either side of him.

“Can... we help with this?” Nico's voice was soft, his hand resting on the pillow that was still in Percy's lap. “With this nesting? Or your irritation? Or anything?”

“I mean. I would accept kisses and also cuddling. It soothes me, I'm a physical person.”

The nest moment, he could feel kisses being pressed to both his cheeks and then they all settled in together. The nest he had built was nice and comfortable, since the little cabin had provided much warm bedding that he ended up using. The bed itself was comfortable and large enough. Well, a bit of a tight fit for three, but then that made it perfect, in Percy's opportunity. Because it meant more cuddling. With Drew on one side and Nico (though he looked more begrudging than Drew) on the other side. That wasn't something Percy had even considered as an option, to have both.

“You smell content,” Nico whispered pleased, nosing Percy's neck.

Didn't get much more comfortable than in a big bed, with his two alphas holding him. Snow days were nice, he'd always liked the fluff of snow, watching it dance. And that view was even prettier when he got to enjoy it from the warm safety of a bed and two hugs. Purring softly, he rested his head against Drew's chest and let Nico spoon him from behind. Yes. This was definitely nice.

~*~ The End ~*~

#ABOverse #Nicercy #Percy x Drew #PJOverse #Fanfiction #Fluff #Phoe's Tumblr Drabbles

[sohemotional]

I'd give you a Finn baked good if you wrote the Baker!Finn AU where Rachel stops by to buy cupcakes and pastries all the time. Wait no, 2 Finn baked goods.

Aww this is a cute prompt! They live in NY in this AU. Also posted this here on AO3

Carole's Cupcakes was all Finn had ever known. He had grown up as a small boy learning recipes straight from his mom as she spent all of her time preparing huge batches of cakes, cookies, pies and other sweets. The boy had a giant sweet tooth and getting to taste all of the treats was half of the fun for him. He also liked the bonding time with his mom, as she was the only family he had. He also liked how methodological and scientific everything about baking was, as he had to measure out the perfect ratio of every ingredient.

It was sometimes difficult when business was slow and Carole could barely afford to pay her bills but somehow they kept the bakery going. Since he was a teen he had worked there as a pastry chef and he loved his job, even though spending all of his early mornings baking bread definitely killed any social life he could have had.

They just couldn't seem to bring in any customers lately. It was just a few days before Christmas and Finn noticed how exhausted his poor mother looked as she walked around the shop early that morning, putting the finishing touches on a fresh batch of snowman cupcakes and Christmas tree shaped sugar cookies to set out on the display shelf. He wished there was a way to make things better for Carole.

Rachel Berry was walking briskly in the direction of the theater, speaking into her phone in a loud voice that made several other pedestrians nearby flinch, or give her strange looks.

"No, please I'm on my way. I'm sorry, you know I'm literally never late in my life. This medication I took made me oversleep and my limo was in an accident... I'm literally two minutes away!"

The woman was distracted and yelped as she slipped on a patch of ice. Her day was already a mess and it just got much worse. A few people nearby stopped to help her up but her ankle already felt twisted. She groaned in frustration and noticed a bakery nearby that seemed to be open. She was shivering in the bitter cold and decided anything was better than staying outside as the snow continued to pile up. She had seen the sign for this store many times but hadn't gone inside.

She hobbled into the bakery. It seemed to be a tiny, family-run hole in the wall shop and Rachel suddenly remembered how hungry she was, her mouth watering as she saw all of the sweets on display. Rachel never usually ate anything with flour or sugar but she was so stressed out that there was nothing she craved more right now than a cupcake.

She was embarrassed when she tripped on the way to the counter in the middle of staring at those baked goods. At least no other customers were around to see her. A tall man with a friendly, boyish face who she thought might have been the owner held out his hand to her with a smile. Rachel fell silent, noticing how handsome he was and she had never seen eyes that were such a light brown, bordering on gold or warm amber. She thought he looked cute in the apron he was wearing and her cheeks flushed.

"Hi there, are you okay?"

"No, not at all!" She complained, wincing as she stood up. "Thank you for your help. My ankle seems to be injured and I am terribly late for work."

"I'm sorry to hear that," He said in a warm voice, helping her into a chair. There was a middle aged woman standing in the background wearing an apron and Rachel could tell from their features that she was related to the tall man. "Can I get you anything, Miss?"

"A coffee and one of those... snowman cupcakes, please."

Rachel's eyes widened because it was one of the best cakes she had ever had and she was so hungry that she quickly devoured the entire thing. The boy with the broad, friendly face was grinning at her.

"You hated it, right?" He joked.

"It's the best I've ever had in my life!" Rachel announced dramatically.

"Here's a little surprise on the house... just for you!" Finn pulled out a cupcake with bright green icing that resembled a Christmas tree with a little star on top from behind his back. Rachel gasped. She loved stars but this boy had no way of knowing that.

"Oh no... I really couldn't, I mean I'll pay for this, I couldn't ask you to... but I'm supposed to be watching my diet and these are too good to resist."

"C'mon, I know you want to try it," Finn added mischievously, ignoring her protests. "It's totally on the house."

"You're bad for tempting me so much." Rachel joked but gave in, her eyes rolling back as she bit into the cupcake. The mint chocolate of the cupcake was so rich and she loved the crunch of crushed candy canes. There was something so nostalgic about this shop that brought her back to her childhood and her mood was already lifted. She was starting to warm up and the coffee was also great.

The two of them fell into easy conversation as he took a seat next to her for a moment since they were no other customers around to attend to at the moment. Rachel was surprised but delighted as it had been such a long time since she had ever been able to connect with a complete stranger. They were both in similar situations of working extremely long hours and having not much of a social life.

Finn chuckled at her expression as she stared lovingly at a red velvet cupcake then he looked at her for a long moment. He recognized her face and distinctive voice. She was a very pretty, striking girl and Finn had always had a thing for tiny brunettes with brown eyes so it was difficult to stop himself from being smitten. Suddenly it clicked... he looked over at a pamphlet on the counter for a show that was now playing in town... this girl was a huge Broadway star! Finn suddenly felt very nervous and he gulped, wondering what he should say.

"You're Rachel Berry?! As in Funny Girl's Fanny Brice Rachel Berry?"

The brunette girl nodded with a huge megawatt smile. Finn couldn't believe that he and his mom had this star who had been in all of these musicals in their humble little shop with its tacky wallpaper and old, breaking down furniture that had been there since the sixties.

"Did you make these cupcakes yourself? They're amazing." She told him, giggling after he had remained in stunned silence for what felt like forever.

"I did," He admitted bashfully, feeling his face turn red. "I'm Finn, by the way. Finn Hudson. Sorry for not introducing myself properly before."

"Well Finn, I'm going to have to order five cases of these for my co-workers. Actually we'll need those cakes and cookies as well for one hundred people."

Finn looked over at her in shock and saw his mom's eyes widen at the same time because of what Rachel was offering like if it was no big deal that she was asking for hundreds of items.

"Sorry, I hope that won't be inconveniencing you and your mother. Will that be alright? Will you need additional time?"

"More than alright. We'll have everything delivered to you." Carole shouted to her. She was happier than Finn had seen her in a long time.

Rachel grinned, winking playfully at Finn who was still staring at her in awe while she went up to pay for everything. Everything about her gave off the impression that she was ridiculously rich.

"I must be going, Finn but you've certainly made my day a little more special."

Finn beamed, wondering if he was just imagining the flirtatious tone in her voice. He was amazed that a guy who was as completely ordinary as himself had attracted someone as interesting and important as her into his tiny little shop. She was so friendly even though she had no reason to be. They both felt reluctant to part from each other when the time came for her to go.

"You're welcome. Rachel I... I hope we see you again. You're always welcome here."

"I hope so too, Finn. Merry Christmas."

She kept gazing at him as if expecting something more after they shook hands. He kissed her on the cheek quickly and Rachel seemed stunned, touching her face constantly on the place he kissed as he smirked at her teasingly while she blushed. From then on, it became a tradition for Rachel to pop by before or after, or sometimes even during her workdays to chat with Finn. Sometimes he even got her to give in to eating a cupcake. He got a new customer... and somehow, he thanked his lucky stars... a new girlfriend.

#Finchel #Finn Hudson #Rachel Berry #Glee #my fics #Finchel AU #Glee fanfiction #Christmas fic

[sonsband]

Heyyy it’s ur Monbebe Secret Santa 🎅🏼 Yes, it’s been a nice busy!! Mostly been hanging out with friends, but now all my social events are done and I will be in hibernation mode until the New Year 😌

Fatal Love was my first ever kpop album because it was also the first comeback I was around for! It was also on sale hahaha so I thought ‘why not.’ I agree, it’s a solid album and it’s just so sexy that they did that. I have some such a random assortment of albums, tbh! 8 of them are GOT7 related (a mix group/sub unit and solo stuff, they’re my favourite group), 2 twice albums (1 group and 1 solo), 2 seventeen albums (I love them so much too, one of the first groups I got into!!) and 3 B.I (Kim Hanbin) albums because I love his entire discography! I think this is where my collection will stop growing lmao I’m running out of space 😂

I am soooooo excited as well, I’ll also be losing my mind regardless! I hope the title track punches me in the face 🫡

What are you watching on tv these days? :) What other groups are you into?

hello again!

oh that sounds great! I've been overwhelmed busy recently, but tomorrow I'm going to spend a week with my dad and go into hibernation mode as well haha. does it snow where you live? I love when it's snowy outside and I'm bundled up inside.

that's just such a good first comeback. Love Killa blew us all away. Shownu's little body-ody-ody-ody hip move and Minhyuk looking stupid good through the entire era... it really is so sexy of them.

ooh good taste! what did you think of Jackson's new song? while 100 Reasons was, is, and always will be queen, I've really been enjoying his experiments in this new sound. and B.I... so iconic of you. "BTBT" is so good, and one of the few songs where that jammed in line that doesn't really fit the previous rhythm ("cause I don't really do this") really, really worked. his other stuff is good, too, obviously, but oof that one...

I hope the title track puts me in a coma, but also the Changkyun and Wooki produced song?!?! I am LOOKING.

I'm so boring,most of the television I watch is stuff I can watch with half my brain and not get distracted since I watch it at work while I'm doing the tedious stuff OTL so it's not good. but I'm slowly working through "Reboot" and the most recent season of "What We Do In The Shadows" at the gym. how about you? what good stuff would you recommend?

other groups? it's me and Shim Changmin in a constant standoff. I love his music but he can meet me in the Hague. other than that, I'm still such a boy band lesbian. Seventeen, TXT, Forestella (ignore "Utopia") WayV, and Woodz are some of my not Changmin faves.

and if I'm in an Ateez-but-not Discord where we had to put them in containment (a secondary channel) so as not to spam, and also so my bestie/nemesis and I can have one conversation excited about something they're doing while at the same time having another conversation dunking on each other for liking Ateez... then what of it...

#mbbss22

[chellyrps]

What are your biggest reflections, lessons learned, and gratitudes for 2023? What are your intentions, goals, and dreams for 2024? Pass this on to 3 blogs you follow!

these are such beautiful questions !! i really wanted to sit down and give these a long hard think, so thank you nonnie ♡ this past year, i did a lot to challenge myself - especially in terms of my career. i was able to land an awesome && unexpected promotion, totally outside of my comfort zone, and it's been going really well. maybe even better than i had initially figured. i've had some stumbles, but all within an environment that has allowed for my growth, and for that i am truly thankful. i'm thankful for all of it tbh. it's meant a lot, getting to work in human services, and it's reminded me to count my blessings. even when things have been bleak, i've always had support, and not everyone can say that. i've been taught many lessons in gratitude this year, but also in patience and acceptance ... because my siblings really let me down this past year, but i've made some real peace with that. i came to understand that they're just doing their best from their own ends. i know that there are going to be more opportunities to show up for each other, so i'm thankful for that, too. i really do believe that we are all just doing our best with what we have at the time. as for 2024, oh man ... i have a lot of hopes. i'm not necessarily calling them goals, because i'm working on managing my own expectations in 2024, but i have hopes. things i want to accomplish, but won't be too hard on myself if i don't. i think that's going to be very important for me, and probably for many of us, this year !! i want to have a great first year at this new job, and i really want to be able to implement some of the changes that i can see being beneficial to our department. i'm going to do some more part-time work with a small business and help get their feet off the ground in my area; i have some serious hopes for what that will turn into. all of this to continue building my skills && my savings so that i can hopefully, and pls i'll need a prayer circle for this lmao, move into a nicer space, maybe even get really lucky and buy a house with my partner. in this economy ... i know, i feel it too, these are hopes for a reason !! improvement, in all areas of my life ... even small betterments - that's really what i want for myself this year. i'm starting to feel my age, which is beautiful, as it's a blessing to age !! but alas, i am, and i want to be able to give myself more sure footing if i can, and i really believe that i can. which, speaking of, i've got to start making more home cooked meals because i was pitiful with that during the week in 2023 so here's to summoning my inner julia child in 2024 !! i've also been spending SO much time with my friends lately, and that is something i really need to continue into 2024 because they are my favorite, and the community we have built is truly everything to me !! wow, thank you for sending this to me, nonnie !! i think i needed this today after we just got like 12 inches of snow LOL i had more time to reflect than i probably otherwise would have. and please let me take a moment to thank everyone on tumblr dot com who has been with me this year, even just in notifications, because you've also made me so happy ♡ i left this blog on ice for a while, but it feels so heckin nice to be back and enjoying it. here's to an amazing and gratifying 2024 ♡ if anyone ever needs some support, i'm always here.

#asks #( answered. ) #just a ramblin gal #nothing new

[dolphs-world]

August 10th, An actual Redux

Decided to return to my deleted post early. Talked about 3 things I liked about 'Citizen Kane'. 1. The Cockatoo. I like slow movies, a movie can be slow and paced well, especially given how fast a lot of newer videos on the internet are. But, by 90 minutes in, I was a little tired. The Cockatoo woke me right up. 2. 'The Simpsons'. It was cool seeing just how much of the film 'The Simpsons' referenced, especially with Mr. Burns. The Vaudeville number? Wow. But it was also interesting seeing what had escaped general pop culture. Last year I watched 'The Planet of the Apes', LOVED IT, and found it really interesting that the first quarter, the human sci-fi exploration part, was never referenced. Less so with 'Citizen Kane' given how it is the most overanalysed film, but I thought it was going to be focused a lot more on politics. Didn't know it was going to be non-linear and a focus on the ethics of journalism, which as we all know was what gamergate was really about (sarcasm). So yeah! 3. Plot Hole. In 'Toy Story', Buzz is a toy who doesn't think he is one. How does he know to act dead when a human appears? This is a plot hole I hear mentioned a lot. I have 2 things to say about it. a) It's very easy to rationalise. If you were on a strange planet, would you act like the friendly locals in a situation you perceive as dangerous to mitigate said danger? b) I'm a very particular person, I can focus on minor details like this that can take me out of the movie a bit. But if you can rationalise it with one line like I have, does it really ruin your enjoyment of the film? Does this ONE detail ruin it? I don't think so. The first scene of 'Citizen Kane' features the titular character dying. He says "Rosebud", drops a snow globe, and the nurse comes in later, covers him up, and takes him away. Who heard him say "Rosebud"? The Butler did. He said so right before telling his story. Granted, this happened right before the Cockatoo so it's easy to forget. But to have this kind of criticism you'd have to engage with the film pretty deeply and for the most overanalysed film, it's kind of embarrassing that this is a common criticism. Again, it's one detail. You're going to let THAT ruin your enjoyment? That was the first half. I think it was 3 times longer but c'est la vie. Anyways, the next section needs the start otherwise it doesn't make sense. I can't remember how I led into it so it's going to be a bit jarring.

We might have to move house at the end of the year. I really don't want to. My mum says that it won't change anything but I severely disagree. It will change everything, travel, interaction etc. It makes all the effort she's put "renovating" the house the past year or so pointless. But without a second full-time income we just don't have the resources to pay. I've offered to give half of my income but she doesn't want me to spend do that because I'll be worse of the future. I understand that but I'd still like to help out. I don't think having to move is fair. I really hope if we do have to move, it's still within this district. Recently, I started a new job. It involves working with children and I love it. I think I get along with people outside of my age range. And besides for a few people at my employment level, everyone is outside of said range. It's a much better alternative than lounging about at school, hoping that a friend has some time off from their "busy" schedule. My friends at Tertiary school I made back in Secondary school. They are all STEM students and all they do is complain (I get the irony). But they put themselves in this situation. No one forced them. The ones who have been pressured by their parents are the ones who don't complain. And it's so hard to have a conversation with any of them. Either they complain about school work, or they can only talk about one specific interest. It's like being forced to attend a lecture on a topic is uninteresting and told in a way that is unengaging. I don't mean to sound like a dick. I don't need to talk about the themes of 'Catcher in the Rye' or Hegelian Dialectics, but fucking rocks?! There's a friend of mine who for a month straight, whenever there was a moment of silence he would just talk about the different types of rocks. And that was it. It would be like if I just described how much screen time each Simpsons character had. And that's it. There's no meaning. And I know this guy can be a really engaging speaker. He did a 20 minute talk on how science can be hard to initially engage students. Beforehand, I did not care about the plight of the scienceman but by god if it wasn't one of the best things a peer did. But just talking about rock types or the different costumes of a Genshin character does not cut it for an engaging conversation. And I think part of it has to do with their hatred of English and the Humanities. I am often the butt of jokes because of my choice of studying, how easy it is, how childish it is. They often envy my life (I guess? don't know how else to phrase it) because of my "lucky" timetable. It wasn't lucky, I carefully planned it out so I had enough time to work and also have fun outside of both avenues of work. And I love my job! My friends envy me on a surface level. They see me walking about without any stress and they say "oh, wow I wish I could be as care-free and innocent as you". And then I describe the work I have to do for school, analysis of media sometimes, and my job and they say "oh, I could never do that". I know you can't! You're you and I'm me. I made my choices and I am happy with them. Why can't you be? Anyways, that's it. I will have more to say on their hatred of English another. Also forgot to reinclude my random thought about if video games are high art, another thing I will discuss at a later time. This isn't the end though, my previous entry is the "conclusion" to this. Now I got to run along and write a gratitude letter for someone. Lame!

#dear diary

[margolovescoffeeandbooks]

me too. we’re going to the uk this year (my uncle bought us tickets to come visit him, it’s a bit weird because we haven’t seen him in years) so i’m ticking some of the other places off my list at least!! i really hope your trip goes well, your brain is just being mean.

what are the polish mountains like? our mountains are beautiful but i’m guessing you guys have a lot more snow than we do

it’s really lovely swimming there, but we haven’t been to the east coast since early 2020. we were actually there on holiday when the covid lockdown was announced. the water where i live is really cold because the main current carries water up from antarctica, but i still love swimming here.

i was in my neil perry era lol. no i’m kidding, it was stressful but i learned a lot so in hindsight i’m kind of grateful for it. i wouldn’t do it again though

how old is he? my history teacher is definitely just an unfulfilled athlete, he tends to invest a lot of time in the rugby and athletics kids. it’s a bit weird tbh

it’s more like what haven’t they done, honestly. one girl in my grade (she was a prefect) was arrested for shoplifting last week, and another one assaulted a bus driver two or three weeks ago. the other kids keep getting into fights, vandalising stuff, etc. i think my class is the only well-behaved one in our year tbh.

and yeah! we have to pay to wear our own clothes! the amount differs depending on what they’re using the money for. the last time we had to pay 30 bucks, which is about 7 złoty (idk if i’ve got the currency right, is there an abbreviation? do you guys use euro or is google lying to me? is there another currency? idk please advise). that isn’t really a lot but it’s still annoying. and they’re using the money to build another hockey field, which is gonna cost millions, but they don’t want to spend a few thousand and buying more microscopes for the science department, even though that’s objectively more important than building a sports field that we don’t actually need!! it makes me so mad

we have teachers stationed outside the bathrooms to make sure that the kids don’t vape, but they still find ways to do it, i hate it so much. your former dealer sounds like quite an interesting character. did he drop out to deal drugs full time or did he leave because his academics weren’t good enough? he sounds like he was very smart but you never know. our old one sounds a lot like your current one, he also wasn’t very hygienic. about anything, actually, i’m surprised he managed to get customers at all. i’ve never touched drugs but for some reason people keep trying to sell them to me? i think it’s because i look like the “broody rebellious rule breaker” ( a dude called me that once, it was weird). i’m not though, but i think it might be my hair that’s giving them that impression lol.

(no problem!! i would also apologise for taking so long to respond but i think it’s gonna keep happening to both of us, we’re both very busy. when school start again for you?)

that's so cool! i've never been to the uk, but it's placed quite highly on my bucket list. yeah, i hope so too, you're probably right. my brain gets like this sometimes.

yeah, snow always comes there first and is the most violent. at least that's what i've seen in the pictures. i've never actually been there in winter, only in spring. the landscapes are stunning. i will probably remember the views from the peak we climbed for the rest of my life. the food and the tradition there are also awesome. all regions in poland have their own culture, but the highlanders' one seems the most distinctive. i'd attach some pictures, but i can't really find any good ones :/

yeah, no surprise you love swimming there. if i lived next to the beach, i wouldn't pay attention to temperature either.

wow, it was that intense? i'm sorry you had to survive through that. but it's good that you at least had a chance to learn a few things. the silver lining in every bad experience is that they always make you a little wiser.

he's about 55. oh okay? that is weird...

wow! i understand now. my class has the worst reputation in the whole school. but my classmates could never compete with the kids at your school. their biggest crimes are smoking, underage drinking and using their phones during classes. so as you can tell, they're not very dangerous.

this sounds insane! do you pay for individual pieces of clothing or for the entire outfit? how does it work? (yes, this is our currency! and yes, there is an abbrevation, it's zł. no, we don't use euro. they wanted to introduce euro a few years ago, but the plans never got carried out.) personally, i think it's quite a lot, but the reason i view it like this is probably because i've always been free to wear my own clothes at school. gosh, this is so absurd! school literally exists so that we can learn, not to play games. sports are important, sure, but in this case, it's a secondary matter. i'm mad with you.

yeah, they came up with a similar solution at my school, except it's not the teachers who are looking out, but the janitresses. it's not a very effective solution. the kids vape anyway. he transferred to a worse school to have higher chances of passing the matura exams (the teachers at that school let kids cheat during the exams). he was humanities smart, but suprisingly, he didn't take any advanced humanities classes. he took advanced physics, because i quote, "i already know everything about history so why would i take advanced history? i take physics to learn something new." it didn't turn out too well for him. he couldn't understand physics for shit. nobody has ever tried to sell drugs to me. it's probably because i, on the other hand, look like teachers' favourite who never causes any problems. which is well, true. teachers like me and i keep away from drama. actually, "broody rebellious rulebreaker" has a ring to it. i would've taken it as a compliment if i were you.

(i'm so sorry it took me so long to respond. i'm in the middle of the most intense period at school and it's been a while since i had a break that would've lasted more than half an hour :/ i think the day you send me this ask was my first day back at school.)

#asks #beloved mutuals