#it's such a fun way to engage with a poem

[mortalityplays]

Unprintable: Artists Against Authority

I am absolutely beside myself with excitement to announce the launch of Unprintable.

Unprintable is an online free shop, where original artwork and arts resources are released into the public domain.

Everything listed here is free to use, copy and remix any way you like. You can print off hi-res artwork to decorate your apartment, or to use in your own projects. You can use the writing in your own zines, anthologies or performances. You can put it on a t-shirt. You can read it on the radio. You can paint it on a truck. It's up to you, entirely and forever.

The collection will be updated continuously, on an unfixed schedule, with contributions from a wide range of named and anonymous artists and activists. You can read the FAQ for a full rundown of what Unprintable is and why it exists, but these are the really important parts:

Can I download/print/use the work listed here? Yes. Can I use it for [X]? You can do whatever you want with it forever. But what if I want to [Y]? You can do whatever you want with it forever. Why do this? A few reasons: 1. We want a space to just share things, no strings attached. We recognise that copyright is an irrational system that was designed to protect the profit interests of publishing middlemen and IP hoarders. In fact, copyright is often weaponised against the creators it pretends to protect. As long as it exists, we are unlikely to win any other form of protection for our work, and we are profoundly limited from engaging in the kind of communal artistic and storytelling practices that were the norm around the world for thousands of years. 2. Radical art is often unprintable. Profit motives make people cautious. A lot of print-on-demand or local print shop services will refuse artwork with controversial, sensitive or political content. This is very frustrating when these themes are the focus of so much of our work (and indeed our lives). Rather than waste any more breath trying to explain why a trans artist might want to print the word ‘faggot’, we can give our work away for free. Got a printer? It’s yours. 3. It feels good. Sharing is joyful. It’s the reason we love making things in the first place. We don’t write poems because we look forward to filleting them for consumption, or layer colours so that we can sell a canvas by the ounce. We have only ever wanted to be able to support ourselves so that we can make, but that relationship is deeply dysfunctional under capitalism. We made these things, and we want you to have them. It doesn’t need to be complicated.

I'll write up some more posts introducing the launch collection soon. In the meantime...be free, enjoy, explore, have fun!

https://free.mortalityplays.com

#free art #anti copyright #public domain

[francis-writes]

How does evening look with them? (SFW)

Including: Nere, Raphael, Cazador, Gortash, Abdirak

Nere

Bad news: as you drink wine, Nere keeps talking about his duties and complaing about his servants and it requires a lot of effort to convince him to focus on lighter topics and to separate work from private life.

Raphael

He is a busy man, you see, and usually he spends a lot of time making deals and plotting schemes. But even fight for power doesn't make him forget about you and he tries to find a few hours for you alone everyday. Usually you relax in the House of Hope, sipping wine and talking about recent events. Sometimes Raphael reads for you or recites some poem.

Gortash

Evening with Gortash can go two ways. Either you relax at home or you engage in some illegal activities, shenanigans and wreaking havoc - for your own entertainment or because of your gods' orders. If you stay at home, you probably just lay on the bed, h*lding h*nds and resting after tiring day of pleasing your deities.

Cazador

You often visit lavish banquets and parties organized by elites of Baldur's Gate so Cazador can establish his social position but that doesn’t mean you don't have fun. He dances with you and whenever he leaves to discuss some political matter, you can easily find other company.

Abdirak

If don't worship your goddess in spare time (yeah, for Abdirak every time is good for some pain), then you just take care of each other’s wounds, cuddle and chat. If you have a hobby then he engages in it or at least observes you. Despite his love for torture, Abdirak is the sweetest caring boyfriend.

#bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #raphael x reader #nere x reader #true soul nere x reader #gortash x reader #gortash x tav #abdirak #abdirak x tav #abdirak x reader #cazador szarr x reader #cazador x reader #cazador x tav #nere x tav #true soul nere x tav #true soul nere #raphael bg3 #raphael x tav #cazador szarr #bg3 cazador #bg3 nere #enver gortash

[vvh1sk3y]

Please a humble request! Can I have relationship HC’s with König! Much appreciated 💜💜💜

hehe of course ♥️

character(s): könig, gen!reader

warning(s): mentions of anxiety, könig's got it rough

könig is very much the shy one in your relationship. it takes him quite some time to feel comfortable engaging and asking to do certain things. he'll often beat around the bush or wait for you to make a move.

he needs constant reassurance. the poor man overthinks everything. if you look at him the wrong way he'll probably cry in the bathroom because he'll think you're mad at him. he is always worried there is someone much better than him out there that you'll leave him for.

he has absolutely no experience with relationships. no one ever liked him growing up, and the one time he asked a girl out he was purposely led on, manipulated, and then made fun of. after that, he found himself too scared to even attempt to flirt, never mind ask anyone out.

könig is so unbelievably touch-deprived. no one has ever touched him romantically in his life and the last time he was held or comforted by someone was as a young child, so small things like a hug or hand-holding will make his entire day.

he is a very large man- i imagine him to be 6'9 or so-, and of course that draws a lot of unwanted attention to him. people will sometimes stop and ask him tall he is or just stare. he feels much more comfortable with you by his side if he ever goes out. having you there to squeeze his hand and silently reassure him that he is okay means the world to him and makes life a bit easier.

he likes to be held, even if it's hard because of his large size. he likes resting his head on your thighs or your chest and having you pet or play with his hair :)

an ideal date for könig would be going to a botanical garden, when it's not busy that is, or going somewhere with lots of plants or wildlife. he knows a lot about nature and likes to tell you random facts about animals or plants he sees.

he likes to write you romantic poems and letters, he has a hard time telling you how he feels (he gets very very nervous and embarrassed) so instead, he'll slip you a paper with something he wrote and will go in the other direction. for your birthday, he wrote you a very long and elaborate letter in a card and was beat red and fidgeting as you read it.

he can be quite romantic at times. he likes to set up little candle-lit dinners at home and share an expensive bottle of wine with you.

könig is a huge nerd, he is a big fan of all things fantasy. lord of the rings, dungeons & dragons, etc. it was one of the many things he got picked on for growing up, and because of that, he kept it a more private interest until he felt comfortable enough talking about it with you. you'll randomly ask him questions about it just to see his face light up and to hear him talk.

likes calling you schatz (treasure) or liebling (darling) :,)

he taught you some german once thinking it would be fun to have you learn, but it makes him so flustered to hear you speak it.

#könig x reader #könig #könig cod #könig modern warfare #konig x reader #konig #konig headcanons #könig headcanons #call of duty #modern warfare #call of duty modern warfare #cod #modern warfare 2 #modern warfare ii #codmw #mw2 #call of duty modern warfare 2 #call of duty modern warfare ii #codmw2 #codmwii #call of duty headcanons

[imarealnugget]

Toge Inumaki, who...

Feat. Toge Inumaki

TW. fluff, headcanons, Toge Inumaki x female!reader

Words Count: 0.4k+

Toge Inumaki, who loves diving into exotic culinary adventures with you, exploring food markets from various cultures. His unique ability to craft delicious dishes using only words adds a magical touch to these culinary experiences, transforming every meal into an unforgettable experience. From communicating with vendors using his linguistic power to procure fresh and special ingredients, to preparing unique and tasty dishes together, every moment spent in the kitchen becomes a time of deep connection and joy with you.

Toge Inumaki, who enjoys immersing himself in action movies and having fun with the funny dubbings he creates using his linguistic power..

Toge Inumaki, who finds great pleasure in taking you for walks in the parks, where you can connect with nature through his "Natural Dialogue." Communicating with trees, birds, and wildlife using only words creates a unique and intimate experience for both of you, allowing you two to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and strengthen the special bond they share.

Toge Inumaki, who enjoys challenging you in videogames to create fun and innovative language games that keep you mentally stimulated and add a new dimension to your communication..

Toge Inumaki, who loves starting the day with a morning run, where you can connect with nature and the surrounding environment. He uses his linguistic power to communicate with the birds and animals they encounter along the way, adding a magical and unique touch to the experience. 

Toge Inumaki, who's favorite activities is to attend theatrical performances and concerts. Thanks to his linguistic skills, Inumaki is able to fully appreciate the magic of live performances, creating a unique and engaging experience for both of you. You get lost in the beauty of music and art, sharing emotions and special moments that remain etched in your hearts forever.

Toge Inumaki, who with his sophisticated taste and ability to order delicious food using only sounds and words, Inumaki always amazes you with unique and memorable culinary experiences..

Toge Inumaki, who loves surprising you with impromptu trips to mysterious and adventurous destinations. With an open agenda and a sense of adventure, you get lost in spontaneous adventures that take you to unknown and exciting places.

Toge Inumaki, who finds joy in moments of silence with you. In these moments, you can communicate and understand each other without the need for words, only through affectionate glances, hugs, and gestures of love and affection. 

Toge Inumaki, who loves surprising you with small romantic gestures that show his love and devotion. From creating unique flower bouquets using only words to describe them, to writing personalized poems that express his feelings in a unique and special way, Inumaki always strives to show you how important you are to him..

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jjk fluff #jjk headcanons #jujutsu kaisen headcanons #toge inumaki #toge #inumaki #toge inumaki jjk #inumaki toge jjk #toge jjk #inumaki jjk #toge inumaki headcanons #toge inumaki fluff #toge inumaki x reader #toge inumaki x female reader #toge inumaki x female #toge inumaki x yn #inumaki toge x reader #inumaki toge x female reader #inumaki toge x female #inumaki toge x yn #toge x reader #toge x female reader #toge x female #toge x yn #inumaki x female reader #inumaki x female

[ipostdumbthings]

Romantic Headcanons for Bard Reader with BG3 Companions

Astarion

Well, won’t you be the easy target? What could be easier to seduce than a bard? Honestly, he probably could just wait for you to try to seduce him first. Too easy. At least that’s how he thinks about it at first.

It’s not hard to choose you to seduce, of course, not only are you capable and competent, you also provide a little taste of civilization and creature comforts in the way of making camping more pleasant. Your music and aesthetic skills are the sort of luxuries Astarion loves to indulge in whenever he can.

In some ways he’s a little more guarded with his feelings around you, at least to start with. Bards have a reputation, and he finds your company just so pleasurable, that he realizes how easy it may be for him to slip. So until he is forced to confide in you, you’ll find he defaults to flowery praise of your talents as a tactic to avoid having any meaningful discussions.

When he does have to actually let you in, the thing he feared, being connected meaningfully with you proves to be almost immediate. After all, he just enjoys you so much. You’re fun. When you accept him for all the struggles, he finds himself vulnerable in a way that he may actually enjoy. He quickly becomes more willing to have these conversations with you.

While playing your music in camp, you’ll often spot him just watching you with the most lovely smile on his face.

Shadowheart

Shadowheart distrusts you, well, she trusts you initially because she has no choice, but she’s aware you have expert skills in deception. Something she herself trades heavily in, and that being the case, she knows she has to be careful taking you at your word. She does respect you for it though, she respects a well executed lie more than anyone.

Actions help her trust you, but honestly what really does it is being on the same side of the deceptions. She often finds herself fancying you as a partner in crime of sorts, you two having the same interests and needs has made you someone she can count on.

She doesn’t seem interested in your music at first, in fact, she’s often hanging in her tent while you are playing for everyone else. She can hear it from there, and does very much enjoy it. Just privately.

Once you two are on the path to romance together, though, you’ll find she’s the first to ask you to start playing. It’s one of the rare things that gets her happily interacting with the rest of the team.

She’ll tease you for it, but she does genuinely love the songs you write for her. Especially if they’re dark and mysterious sounding, it makes her feel understood and flattered. But to reiterate, she won’t actually tell you that. You’ll just have to realize it from the look on her face as you perform for her.

Gale

Gale finds himself smitten by you quite quickly, as a matter of fact. He’s a verbose man, and there’s few skills outside of magic that he respects as much as verbal cleverness.

So he quickly seeks you out during the evenings at camp for stimulating dialogue. You’ll likely have to endure quite a bit of him prattling endlessly about his passions, but if you engage with him on those subjects enthusiastically, he falls hard.

He may come off condescending about your magic at first, he kind of is, but the more he hears of your experiences the more impressed he is with what it is to you. For you magic is your art, it’s an expression of passion, skill, and freedom. He finds that so very charming.

He’s a bit shy at first sharing his poetry with you, more so than he’d be with others. Afterall, you’re sort of an expert on such matters. In the same breath, your approval of his work carries so much more weight. You’ll never see his chest puff out with so much pride as you do when you tell him you like one of his poems.

The next several he writes are all about you.

Lae’zel

Lae’zel finds you frivolous at first, and why would she not? She’s carving through the enemy with blades while you play an instrument.

It doesn’t take her long to figure out just how talented and useful in fights you are though. Be you casting a quick spell to patch up an ally, or rendering your opponents weak with a well delivered insult.

In fact your devastating burns are the thing she may find most appealing about you. You can do with a few well chosen words what others have to do with weapons. That’s a skill she doesn’t take lightly.

It’s this that causes her to reassess all your talents she’d deemed worthless to begin with. The way your fingers pluck at a lute speak to a dexterity and an expert level of skill. While she may not appreciate music the way others do, she often finds herself watching you play with admiration for your well honed craft.

She’ll tell you as much when she’s trying to entice you into sex, she’s always quick to highlight your talents as proof of your worthiness.

Wyll

Before there’s even the hint of feelings caught on either side, Wyll makes it known he’s very much a fan of your work. And that means the music, the magic, the skills, all of it. You’re a person that has a solution to almost every problem, and that’s something truly special about you. You’ll get no bard jokes from him.

He finds himself quickly picturing adventures with you. Imagine the tales of a bard and the Blade of the Frontiers! It’s just so easy to see a future with you where the two of you ride off into the sunset, righting wrongs and saving the day.

He actually finds himself nervous of your response when Mizora turns him, wondering if that could jeopardize that wonderful future with you. Your acceptance of his new form means more than anyone else’s. 

In fact he feels similarly about the dancing, a bard's disapproval of his skills would cut so much deeper than anyone else’s. You are worth the risk though.

Karlach

Finally, someone to actually perform the music for her dances. She adores you the second you first catch her dancing and immediately pull out your instrument for her. It even encourages her to test out new dances to see what songs you supply in response to them.

You are her fun, you are the lightness and the joy that she so desperately thrives on while dealing with such horrific circumstances. In that way, you’re her safety from the misery. 

Whenever you two are connecting and discussing those horrific things, she always asks you to play a nice song when she’s ready to move on from the subject. When you do, the softness in her eyes make her affection for you all the more obvious.

She’s very defensive of your instruments, she won’t let anyone in camp touch them when you aren’t around. She’s sweet about it. But firm.

Her favorite moments in camp are when everyone’s around the campfire while you play your music and laughs are easy. Those will be the moments she turns to when she handles her most trying moments.

Halsin

Halsin makes it clear very quickly how highly he thinks of your musical abilities, especially since it’s something he lacks. He’s quick to thank you for songs you play, and he always stops what he’s doing to listen and enjoy your music.

In fact, he finds the most beautiful and romantic moments between the two of you to be when you take your instrument for nature walks. He loves to find a place to sit and enjoy nature, as well as your talents. He could honestly do that for hours, especially if you’re cuddled up beside him while playing.

He’s just as impressed by your charm and magical talents. He loves watching your games of verbal chess in situations, and is honestly just so impressed with how much you can accomplish with your wit alone.

He’s probably the one that first most respects and values what bards are truly capable of, and he considers you a fine tribute to the profession. He has fewer preconceived notions about bards and their antics, and as such you find it easy to simply be yourself around him.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #astarion #shadowheart #gale of waterdeep #gale dekarios #lae'zel #wyll #wyll ravengard #karlach #halsin #Romance #Fluff #self insert #bg3 headcanons

[breelandwalker]

Cold Moon - December 26, 2023

Bundle up, witches! It's time for the Cold Moon!

Cold Moon

The Cold Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of December, particularly appropriate this year as the full moon will occur late in the month, smack in the middle of the bleak midwinter.

This will be another month when the moon appears full for two nights in a row, so we'll have a full moon for Christmastime, with peak illumination on Dec 26th at 7:33pm EST. (A perfect aesthetic for those who are fans of the classic poem "A Visit From St Nicholas" aka "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Personally, I'm holding out hope that we'll have the snowy conditions to match, though it's a long shot.)

Like most full moon names, the Cold Moon takes its' moniker from an English translation of a traditional name used by one or more North American indigenous groups. There are a number of indigenous names that reference the wintry conditions when this moon occurs, including Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee), Winter Moon (Tunica-Biloxi), Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), and Long Night Moon (Mohican). More evocative names include Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree) and Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), both of which refer to a phenomenon which occurs during extreme cold, when the sap inside a tree freezes and the expanding pressure causes portions of the bark or even entire limbs to "pop" with loud cracking sounds that can be heard for miles.

Other names for the December moon include Yule Moon (Norse origins), Oak Moon (Celtic origins), and Bitter Moon (Chinese origins).

What Does It Mean For Witches?

The year is winding down. It's time to wrap up our projects and put aside what we haven't finished or no longer need. Rather than berating ourselves for the things we didn't finish or didn't accomplish, this is a time to give ourselves some grace and celebrate our successes and triumphs and the things we DID accomplish.

With only one page left on the calendar, many of us are already looking ahead to the new year, making plans and setting goals. This is a good time to brainstorm and engage in a bit of broad-view planning. Sketch out the things you'd like to see or do or try in the new year. Give voice to your dreams and start thinking of ways to make them happen.

The Cold Moon also falls soon after the winter solstice this year (Dec 21), which could be a boon for anyone looking to time their seasonal rituals in optimal fashion. A working could be begun on the solstice and built up to culminate on the night of the Cold Moon, just before the start of a new calendar year.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Have a small supper gathering with friends or family (holiday themed or not, it's up to you) to share joys and fellowship and enjoy good food and drink. Make wishes together for the new year. (Wish jars can be done individually or as an informal group ritual. Sharing wishes anonymously can be a fun party game.) A "White Elephant" gift exchange with inexpensive or homemade witchy goods for your circle could be fun too!

Make a wish jar for the new year on the winter solstice and put it out to charge under the Cold Moon. Cleanse any of your tools or crystals or accoutrements that you use moonlight for one more time this year.

This is the perfect time for divinations and goalsetting for the coming year. Pull out your favorite divination tools and your 2024 planner and sketch out the coming year. You can also try candle wax divination with holiday candles, if that's something that interests you.

Also, save those seasonal bayberry candles for future use! They're great for debt repayment and money-drawing spells.

If you need some ideas for a fun family activity, you can feed the birds for good luck, either with scattered birdseed or pinecone birdfeeders. String dried fruit slices, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, holly leaves and berries, and other seasonal faves to make garlands. Stick apples or oranges or clementines full of cloves in pretty patterns to make pomanders.

Use those fibre arts skills to create a special piece to keep your home warm and safe and well-supplied until spring. It doesn't have to be anything big - a simple weaving or single square will do. Crochet or cut out snowflakes for your home decor. If you want to get fancy, pick up a ball of cotton warp thread and look for old doily patterns - they look great as hoop weavings hung on the wall (or make a witch web in winter colors).

Make one more batch of moonwater to carry you through to the new year. If it happens to snow or freeze where you live, you can save clean snow or icicles for special (non-drinkable) elemental water, which can be a fun base for moonwater as well.

And speaking of elements, make sure to remember in all your seasonal decorating that fire safety is paramount. Be careful with your candles, warmers, light strings, plugs, extension cords, and cables. DO NOT "daisy chain" your extension cords or power strips. Never leave candles or wax warmers or simmer pots unattended, and turn off your holiday lights before bedtime. Safety first, witches!

Thanks for joining me for this exploration of full moon magic. See you next year!

Happy Cold Moon, witches! 🌕🧊

Further Reading:

Additional Lunar Calendar posts

Moon Rise Calculator - The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Cold Moon: Full Moon in December 2023, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Full Moon December 2023: Illuminating the Cold Moon's Spiritual Meaning, The Peculiar Brunette.

How Do Trees Survive The Winter?, National Forest Foundation.

How to Make Pomander Balls, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Fun Kid's Activity: Winter Pinecone Bird Feeder, Audubon Southwest.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

#witchcraft #witchblr #full moon #cold moon #lunar magic #pagan #winter solstice #lunar calendar

[1dcommunityficrecs]

Fake Dating Rec List!

List number four is here! I asked (in what I'm sure was a very dignified and reasonable way that did not involve tearing my hair or beating my chest because I love fake dating a completely normal amount) and you guys sure delivered! So below, we have 16 amazing fics (plus one Honorable Mention), ready for your reading pleasure.

It's Fine To Fake It 'Til You Make It ('Til It's True) by Sunflouwerhabit (150960, Not Rated, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Harry dreads an impending visit to his hometown, where he’ll be forced to reunite with a newly engaged ex-boyfriend, a childhood best friend turned near stranger, and a family who never understood just how desperately he needed to leave. In the midst of it all, a ludicrous Twitter proposition brings him to Louis.

Reccer says: Their characterizations and chemistry in this fic were greats

Sun Means Sky'll Be Blue by Pearlydewdrops (91152, Not Rated, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

As the only singleton under thirty attending his cousin’s five-day wedding, Harry is desperate to find a date, or at least a reason to get people’s questions about his love life off his back. So when Louis, Harry’s old uni roommate and fellow wedding attendee waltzes back into his life, Harry seizes the opportunity, pretending Louis is his ex-boyfriend and that it’s a sore subject not to be mentioned.

Reccer says: I enjoyed the hate to love aspect of this fic, and how they dealt with their feelings. It was also fun to read about all of the dramatics with the wedding and Harry's family.

Escapade by Dolce_piccante (146241, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson)

CEO Louis / Jack McQueen Harry

Reccer says: Everyone knows Escapade (I hope!) but it's impossible not to mention her. It’s the standard-bearer of fake dating fics!

Mistletoe’s For Two by Crimsontheory (90901, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson)

Advent fic, Harry and Louis pretend to be boyfriends. Or not...

Reccer says: The perfect advent fic I think, the kind you'd see in a Christmas movie.

The Games We Play by wishingforloushair (50000, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post Warnings: Gun violence, blood, violence in general, a bit of ptsd-like symptoms

Harry and Louis are MI6 agents who have hated each other since basic training but now have to go undercover as a married couple

Reccer says:

keep you like an oath by alnima (18102, Mature, Zayn Malik/Louis Tomlinson)

A supercute Zouis fake dating non-famous American AU with a wild Louis and awkward Zayn!

Reccer says: I love Zouis and this fic gets their relationship dynamics perfectly.

MARRIED FOR A WEEK?! by gravitycentered (20000, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Louis is a YouTuber, and asks his friend Harry to join him in a "Married For A Week" challenge. Neither of them wants it to end.

Reccer says: I love the depth of the story, the layers to their friendship and their history and their care for each other. There's also a really interesting interplay of Louis' YouTube videos with Harry's photography projects, and the ideas of what to capture or share and what to keep just them, what's posed or acted and what's real.

kiss me on the mouth (and set me free) by tempolarriefics (47000, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

When Harry can't afford to finish his university degree without financial aid, Louis volunteers to marry him in order to help him qualify. Of course, that decision is complicated by the fact that Louis has been secretly in love with Harry for years.

Reccer says:

like a moth into a flame by we_are_the_same (5397, Teen, Zayn Malik/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

A student writes Zayn a sex poem. The only logical conclusion is for Louis and Zayn to fake date.

Reccer says: Everything!! Zayn and Louis' relationship, the whole trope: everything!!

On the Horizon by FitzAndLarry (261051, Mature, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) Warnings: Minor PTSD, Anxiety themes

Pilot Louis meets Doctor Harry on a flight & end up fake dating on a two week cruise

Reccer says: Its just lovely! The way the characters are written, and their interactions with each other are done wonderfully.

The Greatest Thing by infinitelymint (163789, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson)

semi-cannon accidental marriage in vegas

Reccer says: The highs and the lows are captivating.

For Better, Worse And Mischief (I'm All Yours) by RedOrchid (37513, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson)

Harry and Louis get married. PR made them do it.

Reccer says: It was a cute read!

Like Candy in My Veins by Littlelouishiccups (31867, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson)

“Um…” Harry said slowly after a moment. “Okay. That’s… this is… Let me get this straight.” He lifted up a hand and swallowed. “You told your family that you have a boyfriend… and my name was the first one you thought of?” “Harry Potter was on TV, alright? It wasn’t that much of a stretch.”

Reccer says: Picture this: two outspoken, stubborn, pining idiots. Record store owner Louis, bakery owner Harry. Christmas, A/B/O, fake dating, too many pies, a “stolen” parking spot, a flooded bathroom, and puns!

Faking It by TheCellarDoor (46173, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Best friends in Uni, fake dating to escape unwanted advances—it’s perfect.

Reccer says: The fake dating fic I keep coming back to! It’s sweet and hot and so fluffy.

And Then A Bit by Infinitelymint (158824, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Or, take a parallel universe where Louis and Harry were never together, mix in a two year hiatus and an impending comeback, pour in a dash of lost fans, two tablespoons of strong friendship and a Modest! employee with a good idea. Add a squeeze of pretending to be a couple, lots of kisses and a tattoo or two. Stir. Serve: the mother of all publicity stunts.

Reccer says: One of my all time favorite fics! I just love how genuinely happy they are to spend time together, how sweet and soft they are at the beginning. And it’s lovely to imagine this as the 1D reunion we all want.

Just Pretend by Kingsofeverything (90207, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) - fic post

Divorced dads + teenage daughters = pretending to date to keep their kids happy.

Reccer says: I love older Larry—and kingsofeverything writes them SO WELL.

And our honorable mention -- this fic has been removed from AO3, so I didn't feel comfortable publicly sharing a link outside the writer's control or wishes (though I'm sure folks can find copies if they go looking), but I couldn't not mention this absolute classic which is one of my favorite fake dating fics ever.

Pull Me Under by Zarah5 (140140, Explicit, Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson) Warnings: Homophobia, paparazzi harassment/stalking

Louis is a famous footballer outed against his will, Harry agrees to be his fake boyfriend to quell stereotypes and speculation.

Reccer says: Pining, emotion, beautiful writing... a fandom classic. Watching the delicate dance as they get to know each other and trust each other and learn from each other is beautiful. Zarah always does miscommunication so believably and realistically, where you can see exactly where things went awry but you still want to shake them because OH MY GOD YOU BOTH LOVE EACH OTHER

Read, reblog, kudos, and comment to your heart's content.

New category announcement coming soon!

#fake dating #category 4 #rec list #one direction #louis tomlinson #harry styles #zayn malik #liam payne #niall horan #1dficvillage #1dsource #1d rare pairs #allwaswell16 #alwaysxlarrie #ficsfor4am #hlcreators #hlficlibrary #tracksintheam #trackinghome

[poetrysmackdown]

some informal thoughts

hello! hope the holiday season has been kind to all of you. and i hope all my jewish followers had a lovely hanukkah! anyways, since i said a few months ago that i’d pick poetry smackdown back up sometime around this time of year, i thought i should make a post. the gist of it is that i’m still quite busy, i have a break that’s about three weeks shorter than I was planning on, and i don’t currently have the mental bandwidth required to read, contemplate, and sort through poem submissions in a way that does justice to them, even if i were to recruit some friends to help out. since running a tournament format requires at least five weeks of continued engagement once it’s underway, and since i’m not at capacity to offer that right now due to the change in my schedule, i’m gonna have to bow out for now. sad bc i was looking forward to it!

my hope is that i’ll have some more time over the summer to hunker down with it, in which case you’ll be hearing from me. it’ll frankly depend on the kind of job i land in for the summer, but i find that my unemployed spirit can typically keep me doing stupid shit regardless of workload...to a point. i don’t want to make any promises because i don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up just to let them down again LOL. i do admit the amount of exposure the first tournament got has made me feel like more of a perfectionist this time around, doubly because i don’t feel that i’m very suited to being a public online presence (even a relatively quite small one)—i’m bad enough at responding to emails for my own real life responsibilities, let alone tumblr asks for the silly responsibilities i invent for myself lol. that’s not to say i no longer want to do it, or i don’t enjoy it, or even that i don’t feel capable of making a really interesting bracket—just that if i am working to put something new together, and if people are taking the time to submit poems they care about, then i don’t want to half-ass it.

my second admission is something like this. I made the original bracket as a celebration of poetry and our relationships to it. yes it was silly and competitive, and the poems were very tumblr, but still, celebration was the intention—I wanted to have conversations about poetry. I stand by the bracket format as a fun and valuable way to foster conversations about poetry, but truthfully, the poems i’m wanting to have conversations about right now—the poems that we should be talking about right now—are ones that i'm not comfortable putting in a bracket. I reblogged The Baffler’s Poems from Palestine collection on here earlier, and Najwan Darwish’s “Who Remembers The Armenians?”, which I still often find repeating through my head when I'm traveling from one place to another, walking home or riding the bus. I came across this beautiful thread recently where people have been translating Dr. Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” into their own languages (this just makes my translator's heart sing!!!!!!). @havingapoemwithyou has been posting some great poems from and for Palestine as well—check out their tag here.

There's always more to add, and I'll be posting more on here as I come across it, but that's what I feel anyone should be focusing on right now when it comes to poetry. i think poetry can be an escape but it should never be a distraction. does that make sense? i wouldn't be against doing a one-off poll here or there, but it feels weird to be making a tournament for poetry right now, or anytime soon. i feel like what free time i have right now is still best utilized helping my friends with organizing in the real world. and god, a bit off-topic but while I'm talking, fuck poetry foundation—I have so much respect for all the poets keeping up the boycott, because while i think it's a simple decision, it's not always an easy one (Aurielle Lucier discussed that here).

anyways, if you read all of this, thank you for your time!! I could go on and on, but really this was just meant to be a message telling y'all that there won't be another tournament for a while lol. even so i'll be trying to use this small silly platform as best i can until palestine is free because that's the absolute least i can do.

#not a poll #also i'm closing my ask box for now because i know i don't have the bandwidth to answer anything rn. sorry :( #but feel free to reply here with your thoughts and any resources and i'll do my best to respond #or even messages might be fine. something about the ask format just gives me anxiety sometimes lmao #cannot stress this enough i am so so so bad at responding to things #even when i want to or enjoy doing it

[averageallogene]

During the banquet at this year's Lantern Rite, Zhongli lets it slip that he's married.

Cue astonished exclaims, shocked gasps and incessant questioning.

After the banquet, Xiao wonders out-loud if he should call Adapti!You 'mom'.

Xiao ☆⊹˚ Mortal customs (SFW)

fem. reader (3rd person) ; fluff. Zhongli x reader is a thing. Traveler’s gender is not specified so the reader can imagine either Lumine or Aether!

2k words.

notes. Sorry for the wait there! It’s been a rough couple of days but now I’m back, even if still under the weather.... I had a lot of fun writing this one up though. Xiao deserves the absolute best and this idea lets me channel just that  even if by a small portion <3.

The current situation inside the chosen restaurant had Xiao questioning why he’d agreed on attending. Despite both Rex L- Ahem, Zhongli and the traveler attending, he still found himself rather tense with all the other unknown presences surrounding him. The adeptus simply couldn’t understand the ways of mortal interactions, for making small talk wasn’t exactly the forté of a soldier like himself. His golden eyes would, more often than not, not wander far from the plated food before him, wondering if he should even try anything. His mind raced wildly, trying his hardest to think if what he was doing would be deemed inappropriate - after all, he’d been invited to attend the dinner, surely eating the food would be a sign of appreciation. Yet, not accustomed to anything other than almond tofu, he found himself hesitating. 

Why was Xiao trying so hard? Well, he found himself curious about trying to approach the ways of mortal living in his exiled instance. The yaksha was rather short-tempered when it came to understanding something so foreign and so mundanely complex as that to him, yet for Zhonlgi to seemingly seem so… Happy, so free as he lived as a mortal, surely there were a few benefits he was misunderstanding. And to tackle the topic, it eased him the reality that to his side sat the traveler, a companion he’d grown to cherish through the time they had spent together. Xiao wasn’t one to voice his thoughts a lot, but he hoped his thankfulness for the patience shown to him was known. 

He’d winced quietly upon the sudden arrival of the bard, his face gleefully smiling as he was properly introduced to the Funeral Consultant. He couldn’t even look, his chest bubbling with the unknown emotion that many would explain as second hand embarrassment as the two archons attempted to act civil to the other attendees. The young man dressed in green, Venti, was quick to showcase his lyre as he joined them in their feast, him and the organizer of the dinner discussing poetry as the other mortals joined in on the topic. In his seat, he could only pick at his food as the traveler engaged in small talk with him, inquiring if there was anything else he’d like to try that was at the table.

Xiao could only remain semi interested in the ongoing conversation, unintentionally letting his mind wander to his own duties as his ears focused in and out of what the others spoke of. In fact, the only times he’d fully focus were whenever Zhongli had something to share with their table, his gaze finally lifting to eye him directly before once more shying away to any other corner of the room. He couldn’t exactly help himself, his respect for the man surpassed his otherwise shut off personality. Well, it wasn’t as though anyone could question it, anyway. Most were either too focused on the interesting conversation Venti had with Zhongli, or deeply respected the Consultant in their own way that the idea of focusing on anything he had to say wasn’t considered an odd response. 

However, out of every intriguing fact he’d shared with them that night, one seemed to catch everyone off guard.

“Xingqiu, that poem you’ve just recited is most intriguing. In which book did you read it, again? My wife would absolutely enjoy such fine literature.”

The table seemingly froze still, everyone taking a long moment to try and process what they’d just heard. Whilst Xingqiu, Chongyun and Xiangling seemed mostly receptive to such a concept, the rest of the table’s reactions made them question such mundanity. Hu Tao was still up from her seat, her gaze locked to the back of the head of her Consultant as she processed the news and beyond. The traveler gazed at Xiao slowly, watching as the adeptus himself seemed taken aback to such news. Paimon appeared to freeze mid air, for once not saying anything as her eyes squinted at the idea of a married Zhongli. Venti, on the other hand, couldn’t help the way his eyebrows raised, a sly smile making its way to his face as he finally broke the silence.

“Ho ho? So mister Zhongli has a wife? Well isn’t that the most wonderful news! Certainly something that this bard couldn’t have predicted, that’s for sure.” He chuckled in the end there, serving his own cup with more wine as Zhongli quietly took a sip of his tea.

“Mhm… Is that so?” He responded, his tone calm as if he hadn’t just dropped a meteor of information on everyone. 

“My my, Zhongli! Why didn’t you tell me so earlier?” Hu Tao gasped, utterly flabbergasted as pieces of the puzzle began to connect inside her brain. “So that is why there was a ring invoice brought directly to the parlor that one time!”

 “I thought I had explained myself regarding it, Director?” The man inquired ever so calmly, contrasting wildly with the way his superior gesticulated wildly.

“Simply explaining it to be an heirloom definitely isn’t enough to fully capture the picture!” She retorted.

“But it is precisely that. It’s intended to become an heirloom for years to come.”

“Ooooh Mister Zhongli, you’re quite the romantic!” The bard proclaimed, leaning forward on the table as he rested his chin on his hand. “Well, who is this lovely wife of yours anyway? You can’t just leave it at that, you know!”

“Yes, I do have to agree with our friend here.” Hu Tao mused, hands on her hips as she gave him a side eye. “I wish to know why this wasn’t brought to table prior to me booking our seats, for had I known you had a wife, I would’ve invited her as well, of course!”

“I wasn’t aware this was such a grand deal, my apologies.” Zhongli defended himself, serving himself more tea as he cleared his throat. “My wife, [F/N], just has a lot on her plate and said she couldn’t possibly attend tonight. So, I left it at that. Oh, but since we’re on the topic, she voiced her wishes for everyone to have a wonderful Lantern Rite.”

“Ah, but you’re saying that now?” The Funeral Director sighed, arms crossing as she shook her head. “Aiya, Zhongli. How could you not mention something as important as this before?”

“... ‘As important’?...” Xiao had murmured to himself, his gaze lowering as he attempted to still fully understand the situation. No one but the traveler had heard his voice, the gears in his head practically being envisioned as he tried to once more grasp something that differed to a grand degree between mortals and adepti. 

“Everything alright, Xiao?” The traveler had asked, gaze twisting with slight worry as a small smile graced their lips. 

“Uh, yes, you needn't worry.” He cleared his throat, though his eyes betrayed the rest of his body. 

Between the ruckus of Zhongli being thoroughly questioned about his married life, the two could quietly chat for a brief moment, Xiao being able to have his doubt clarified as the traveler had grown quite good at reading his troubles.

“I too was surprised at the news,” They’d explained with a quick laugh, before inquiring Xiao. “Is it because it’s out of the norm for adepti to marry?”

“N-No, it’s not that,” He responded in a quick breath, his sharp eyebrows furrowing slightly as he thought of the few adepti he’d known to find a spouse. “I suppose it’s just that… I don’t understand how it can be the cause of such a ruckus. Even if I myself am surprised.”

“Oh, I see,” They nodded their head with an understanding hum, quickly deciphering what he really meant. To the traveler, it would’ve seemed that the way adepti viewed marriage was as something more natural and perhaps rational, as opposed to the grand reactions humans would typically have whenever one announced they were married. “Well, I think it boils down to how human life is far shorter than that of an adeptus, so every opportunity of celebration is cause for a grand reaction. You can rest assured they’re just happy for Zhongli, though.”

“I see… I suppose that makes sense.” He’d nodded his head quickly before stealing a quick glance to Zhongli, watching as he attempted to respond to every question thrown his way. 

How they had met, how it had developed, who proposed and when… The consultant responded to every inquiry with patience and fondness, and Xiao almost felt guilty for never truly realizing Zhongli had found someone special. Even worse, strangely now he felt… Curious, to meet this woman. Would she be a mere mortal, or perhaps someone of adeptal blood? Either way, for Zhongli to have chosen her, she had to be someone of exceptional grace and excellence, someone that deserved his utter respect no matter what else. It was as though he’d already made his mind up, now only having to have the courage to ask if he could meet her. 

“Say, if I plan another dinner in the future, will you introduce her to us?” Hu Tao had seemingly read his thoughts, smiling with expectancy as everyone eyed Zhongli for his response.

“I see no reason not to. She would surely love to meet you all.” He responded without much thought, the corners of his lips raising into a small, warm smile. “You’ll all see, [F/N] is a wonderful woman with the most radiant soul. I’m most lucky to have her as my beautiful wife. Ah, perhaps I can ask if she’d be willing to share her own poetry with you. She underestimates her choice of words too often, yet I’ve never before listened to such fine-”

“Yes, yes, we get it,” Hu Tao cut him short, smiling with humor to watch her Consultant with such hearts in his eyes. “We would definitely love to meet her, as well.”

“Please do not forget to invite me when that dinner does occur! I’ll ask our lovely traveler to ensure the date reaches me, lest I be forgotten.” Venti winked playfully, turning to Zhongli with humor. “I would not want to miss meeting such a beloved person of mister Zhongli after all.”

“Right… Of course.” It was the Consultant’s turn to murmur with slight hesitancy, yet he still sighed softly and let it be. Even with someone as brazen as the bard present, he’d like to introduce his beloved [F/N] to all the others. He’d ensure no boundaries were ever crossed, of course.

And just like that, the dinner ended with everyone still pressing Zhongli to ensure his wife attended the next gathering Hu Tao prepared. They nearly made the man sign a contract for it, his superior joking about it before finally allowing everyone to leave. He could breathe easy upon reaching the cool air outside, eyes gazing ahead as he found solace in the night sounds of Liyue Harbor. All he had to do now was to get back to his humble abode, waiting for his [F/N] to return before they could retire for the evening. His daydreaming was cut short as the traveler bid them goodnight, waving politely as he watched them disappear with Paimon into the distance. Before long, all that was left were him and Xiao, and knowing the young man as well as he did, Zhongli knew there was something he wished to inquire if he had remained around. 

“How have you been faring, Xiao?” He had politely asked, his arms resting behind his back as he eyed his pupil with a warm expression.

Xiao always felt comfortable around him. There had always been a sense of easiness around the man he couldn’t always explain, all his problems seemingly disappearing for a moment as he basked in the security Zhongli provided. Even if he was no longer an archon, Xiao always felt safe around him, like there was no evil to be purged, like there was no war inside his mind. The yaksha knew he could confide absolutely anything in the man, for there was no fear in being judged, no fear of being rejected. Yet, he respected him so much, it almost felt insulting to even confide such trivial matters. His mind jumped back and forth even after hearing Zhongli ask about his wellness, his gaze lowering for a moment as he pondered for a moment longer.

“Z-Zhongli.” He’d cleared his throat, correcting himself before he’d call him by the name he used during his active godhood. It definitely felt strange, yet with the way the man calmly hummed for him to continue, he figured he had the approval to continue. “I wanted to ask for something, if I may?”

“But of course. What’s on your mind?” He patiently asked, slightly humored. After all, Xiao had never been one to request anything. During the long time they’d been allies, he’d always been the one to read the young yaksha’s mind and figure out his wishes. It was a welcomed change of pace for him to take initiative, he had to admit.

“I was wondering if…” Xiao paused for a moment, before finding the courage to continue. “If, before this… Dinner, the Director spoke of, I could perhaps meet [F/N] by myself?”

Zhongli’s expression softened, his eyebrows raising with a hint of surprise. He couldn’t help the smile from raising to his face, finding the curiosity of the adeptus rather endearing. He let out a soft chuckle, before nodding his head prior to Xiao being able to grow hesitant of having asked such a request.

“But of course. When would it be a good time for you?”

“I… I’m not sure, i-it’ll be alright either way. I hope she doesn’t quite mind-”

“[F/N] wouldn’t ever mind, Xiao. She’s expressed interest in meeting you before.”

“Really?” He breathed out softly, a little surprised as he watched his role model nod his head.

“Indeed. I’ve spoken of you, after all.”

Xiao couldn’t help but feel his chest tighten, a feeling of flusteredness growing within himself as he simply hummed in response. He could only hope [F/N] would not only accept his presence, but also not be affected by it. After all, his karmic debt was always something that deeply worried him whenever he was to be around mortals. 

“You needn’t worry over anything, Xiao. I’m certain she will be instantly fond of you.” Zhongli placed a warm hand on his shoulder, one that radiated an easing sensation throughout his worn out body. The yaksha, who despite all the doubts swarming his mind always put his trust in Zhongli above, nodded his head upon hearing so. 

“I… I’ve heard of a few mortal customs through Verr Goldet…” He mumbled quietly, more so becoming lost in his own thoughts than speaking to Zhongli's direction. “Hmph, mortal etiquette is so overly complex, but… What was it…”

The former archon couldn’t help himself but remain quiet, letting his pupil be engrossed in his thoughts as he thought aloud. It was different from the ever silent yaksha, so Zhongli had no reason to stop him. If anything, he was proud of watching as he grew more comfortable to ever voice his own thoughts aloud.

“It was something regarding familial bonds, I believe.” Xiao explained, his fingers resting softly against his own chin. “Would it be… Too cold of me, to call [F/N] by her name alone? Perhaps I ought to call her ‘mother’ instead?”

Zhongli’s expression shifted, the man taking a mere moment to process the information. It was his turn of being surprised for the night it would seem, the information hitting him deep in his chest with an endearing warmth. He couldn’t help but chuckle quietly, ripping the yaksha out of his thoughts as he eyed him incredulously. It would’ve seemed that he really hadn’t intended on actually speaking it aloud, the tips of his ears gaining the same vivid red shade of the jueyun chili. Zhongli however, was quick to beat him to the punch and spoke before he could take anything back.

“I’m sure [F/N] would love that.” He replied, much to Xiao’s embarrassment. “In fact, I’m certain that doing so will be the quickest way to earn your spot in her heart.”  Ah, Zhongli has never recalled seeing Xiao teleport away as quickly as he did. The man was left to laugh quietly by himself, smiling as he thought back to the moment time and time again as he walked back home. Now he surely wanted to have the yaksha meet his lovely [F/N].

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin zhongli x reader #zhongli x reader #genshin fluff #genshin impact fluff #yoko drabbles

[jellys-compendium]

V - SFW Alphabet

Rating: T

Cw: none A/n: Here are some SFW thoughts on our poetic, melancholic, and edgy boy, V. This was a lot of fun and I was happy to show him some love.

V - NSFW Alphabet

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

V is selective with whom he shows his affection, whether it be platonic or romantic. V is not overtly affectionate overall, but he does show care and concern for the people that he deeply treasures. How V shows his affection is also subtle, but at the same time can be a little dorky and poetic. Scribbling you little poems and sticking them in places for you to find later, gently wrapping his fingers around yours whenever the two of you are standing close, staying up late with you into the night just so he can spend more time talking with you. These are the ways V shows his affections.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

V is one of those quiet best friends that you don't really know everything about, but still share that deep sense of trust with. He is that kind of best friend that you could simultaneously share deep conversations with or sit with him in silence for hours without it feeling awkward. The two of you just enjoy being in each other's presence. As for how a friendship with V would start, I think it would spark either due to similar interests, or there is something about you that V just finds alluring.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

V does like to cuddle, although you wouldn't find this out well into the relationship. V adores the feeling of your warm skin against his and the softness of your embrace. When V is comfortable with you, he's not at all shy about cuddling, and he will happily wrap you in his arms and pull you close whenever you ask. V also loves it when you cuddle him back. To him, the soothing feeling of your hands gently stoking up and down his back is sweeter than any prose.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

I imagine that V has secret little fantasies about settling down. While he doesn't often get much time to think about it, whenever he sees you happily engaging in one of your domestic chores or hobbies, he always gets that little pang of longing in his heart. Some nights he dreams about stealing you away to a place where he can have you all to himself. A place where it can just be the two of you peacefully living together. When it comes to household chores, I'm going to be totally honest, V is not really the best at these things. He's often aloof when it comes to chores and the man can't cook to save his life.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

V would be heartbroken, but in the end I think he would be straightforward about it. I don't imagine him abandoning a partner without saying something. Likely, V would pull you aside to tell you that his feelings have changed and that he's ending things. However, if he's doing it to protect you, I can see the breakup being very teary and messy. V would be so torn, but his willpower is formidable and if he's set his mind on protecting you, then that's exactly what he's going to do.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Oh this man is committed. Once V realizes that he loves you, that's it. His body, heart, and soul are yours. Whether or not that means he will share his life with you in the traditional sense, is another thing. Being who he is, there are many obstacles in the way, but that won't stop V from adoring you, even if it's from afar. As for marriage, I think that V isn't particularly one to jump into such a thing right away. He probably would only do it to make you happy. To V, the feelings he harbors for you in his heart are far purer and more powerful a reflection of how much he treasures you. I have to say though, he would write the most beautiful and tear jerking wedding vows.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

V is a gentle soul, both physically and emotionally. His touches feel like the cool summer breeze, his kisses are like velvet, and his voice is like the morning sun trickling in through curtains. Emotionally, V is quite introspective and sensitive towards both you and himself. V always seems to have a sixth sense about how you're feeling and will comfort you however he can when you need it.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

V is not really the biggest fan of hugs (except those coming from you of course). I wouldn't say that he outright hates them, but he feels awkward and doesn't really know how to feel or respond whenever he receives them from others. V's hugs are very soft and gentle. He's not one to wrap you in a lung splitting bear hug. Instead, he elects to gingerly wrap his arms around you and pull you into a comfortable embrace.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Saying those three little words "I love you" out loud takes V a very, very long time. V knows he has fallen in love with you long ago, but funnily enough even though he is lover of words, he can't seem to ever find the right time to say it aloud. Instead, V tells you that he loves you through his poetry. The breathtaking verses he writes in which he so tenderly and carefully illustrates the depths of his love for you, speaks more than those three words ever could.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Jealousy is not an unknown beast to V. This man does have a tendency to get jealous of those who possess the qualities, relationships, or life he desires. However, being as introspective as V is, he does come to realize this about himself and so will strive to have it affect his actions as minimally as possible. If V were to ever get jealous over someone trying to steal your attention and/or affection from him, I can see V mostly being quiet about it. But that acidic bile will seep into his tone, the sharpness of his gaze, and the harshness of his words. Luckily, it usually only takes a comforting word from you to pull V out of it.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

V's kisses are as ever changing and moving as the clouds in the sky. Sometimes his kisses are soft and tender. Other times they are passionate and desperate. V's kisses are a mirror of the emotions in his heart, and while he can control his words and mannerisms for the most part, V finds he has a difficult time concealing how he really feels whenever he kisses you. That being said, V loves to kiss you. It's his favorite way of physically showing his affection towards you. With reverent lips V adorns your mouth, hands, throat, shoulders--every inch of you he can reach with worshipping kisses. As for where V likes to be kissed, he always melts whenever you kiss his cheek. There is just something so pure and loving about those kisses that makes his heart squeeze pleasantly in his chest.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

I'm going to be honest, I don't think that V is all that great around children. His solitary and more introverted nature makes him come across as standoffish and that doesn't always lend well to his interactions with young people. In addition, V can come across as unempathetic when a child is whining over something. However that being said, there is a rare breed of child that finds V's mysterious aura intriguing, and they will often seek him out just to talk with him or listen to him read. They are intrigued by him, and he in turn is intrigued by them. The way V's voice softens and the tiny little smile that pulls at his lips whenever he is around those particular little ones is one of the sweetest things you've ever seen.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

V is absolutely not a morning person. Rising with the dawn he does not. Typically, if you want to get V up in the early hours of the morning, you will have to roll him out of bed. That or bribe him with multitudes of kisses. If V had his way, he would spend every single day cuddling under the warm blankets with you until noon. The demons can wait.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

V's a night owl. He likes the quiet hours best, and finds the peaceful solitude of that time both inspiring and comforting. V enjoys spending nights relaxing with you. Lounging on the couch with you curled up in his arms as he reads you poetry. The nights he gets to spend with you like that are his favorites.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

V is guarded to a certain extent, but he also has a vulnerable side to him. V will keeps things about himself hidden at the start of any relationship he has, but once that bridge of trust has been built, he is surprisingly quick to open up. He genuinely wants to make meaningful connections with the people he cares about. In your relationship with him specifically, V started to open up to you once he realized that he could trust you with his feelings and fears.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

It takes effort to anger V...with a few exceptions. He maintains a cool calmness most of the time and he is very much of the "live and let live" mindset. However if finds himself facing something that reminds him of the trauma he has endured, or if you are harmed in anyway, V's anger erupts. With the help of his familiars, V will tear the target of his anger to pieces.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Ohohoho. Listen. V remembers every single little absolute minute detail about you. Is there something that you mentioned in the briefest of passings 7 months ago? He'll remember it like it was yesterday. V adores you, and he is diligent in committing to memory the little details and intricacies that make you, you.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

V doesn't have a specific moment that he considers a favourite over others, because he treasures every single moment with you. V knows that he's not long for this world in his current state, so he savours every glance, every word, every touch, and every second that he gets to spend with you.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Very protective to say the least. V will put himself between you and harms way without a shred of doubt. The unfortunate thing is that V isn't exactly in the most ideal position to protect you from the powerful demonic threats that the two of you face. His body is decaying and he is vulnerable without the help of his familiars. This bothers him exceptionally. When it comes to himself being protected, V won't turn down help when he needs it. But he would be lying if he didn't say it burned him deep inside. In his heart, he feels he should be the one protecting you.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

V likes to put in effort into his gestures of affection. While he is not one for grandiose displays, V does very much enjoy showering you with small little tokens of his love for you each and every day. Slipping a flower between the pages of the book you were reading, going on a date to a place with beautiful scenery for the two of you to admire, leaving little love notes and poems for you to find, dancing with you to the melody of a sonata. V loves you above all things and he wants to make you feel cherished and appreciated.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Unfortunately, V doesn't take very good care of himself. Lets be honest, his sleeping habits are terrible, he doesn't eat much or drink enough water, and he is continuously pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. Thank goodness he at least bathes and is good in the hygiene department.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

I think V is vain to a certain extent. He does want to look good and charismatic (at least to your eyes). However, I should say that he's not so vain that V would sacrifice anything important for the sake of his looks.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Without a doubt. V is a sentimental man. If you were to ever leave, he would feel like a part of himself left with you. A part that V knows he'll never recover so long as he is without you.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Underneath the mysterious, edgy boy layer, V surprisingly has a dorky sense of humor. He often makes inside corny jokes with you and will reference them on occasion while in the company of others. V loves making you laugh with a private little joke the two of you share, and he is not in the least bit bothered with the confused glances the others send his way.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

I think that V is adverse to people who are extravagantly loud, brutish, and/or abrasive. People who have no moments of quiet, or who have no sense of appreciation for literature, music, and art. While V doesn't necessarily hate these personality types, he finds he doesn't have the energy to be around those kind of people for very long.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

As I indicated before, V has absolutely terrible sleeping habits. He typically doesn't sleep more than a few hours at a time, and when he does his sleep, he is quite restless. Nightmares are common, as is him jolting awake in the middle of the night covered in a cold sweat. Since sharing a bed with you however, V has found that being able to feel the warmth of your body beside his has helped to ease his mind considerably. And even if he has a bad night, V will ask you to help him make up for it by dozing with you through the mornings.

sfw alphabet template

#devil may cry #dmc 5 #v dmc5 #v #dmc v x reader #dmc v x you #v x reader #v x you #jellywrites

[raisinchallah]

huge shame we never got a kira and jadzia holodeck episode like station is in danger they gotta save everything i feel like it would be fun they would do like a famous piece of epic poetry from bajor that dax has loved for a few hosts now and kiras like ok maybe this will be more engaging if i know the source material but shes still having a hard time getting into character as like this roving warrior priest and jadzia is like playing the farmer travelling companion who eventually becomes a great queen but kira keeps critiquing the holoprograms interpretation of the poem and jadzias like trying to keep it entertaining then like oh no disaster they must roleplay their way out of station explosion etc and kira keeps trying to tell jadzia how best to embody a bajoran farmer lots of silly oh no now we must clasp each other closely or fight side by side things and impress the local king with our answers to these riddles three and some fun exploration of bajoran culture and history as well :)

[broomsick]

Hey norse pagans! *Leans close and whispers*

Reconstructing historical festivals and holidays is especially tough for us, isn’t it? Because there’s just so little evidence of anything, and even though Håkon the Good gave us a pretty good idea of some historical practices, it’s far from enough to have a clear idea of the actual celebrations, right? Plus, I bet your schedule’s tightly packed and that at least twice a year, you find yourself going: “Is it already [insert holiday]???”, and “crap, I forgot to prepare this or that for [insert holiday]”. Well my friend, let me tell you two important tips I’ve learned from years of trying to keep up with the proverbial wheel of the year. The first: holidays aren’t mandatory, especially not if you practice paganism alone, and especially since we know so little of holiday celebrations within germanic tribes, and during the Scandinavian Iron Age. Second *leans closer*: there’s nothing keeping you from making up your own festivals! If history hasn’t left us a lot of evidence on how your main deity/deities was worshipped, who’s to keep you from picking a spot on the calendar and going: “this day is all about [insert deity]”. You’ll have the possibility of listing out pre-determined rites and offerings. Are you going to sing songs? Recite poems? Decorate? Is there a symbol that’s prominent on that day? There are many ways to honor deities, and it’s fun to give oneself a chosen structure to follow when it comes to deity worship. Plus, it’s all the more rewarding to celebrate the seasons according the weather in one’s own area! I’m usually not in the mood to celebrate the coming of spring when it’s still -30 Celsius outside. In that regard, I give myself the leeway to diverge from historical practice and to celebrate the coming of spring when its does actually start to feel like spring! The crops are reaped a bit earlier than the 31st of October, in my area. For this reason, my Álfablót usually happens halfway through that month, and is spread out onto three days (the first for the ancestors, second for the álfar, and third for Freyr). So don’t hesitate to think up your own little holidays, and play around with the freedom it gives you! Just to give you guys a few ideas of where to start with this, I’ll add a little “holiday starter pack” right below!

Step one: choose the date! Is there a day of the week that’s associated with your chosen deity/deities? A season, or type of weather in particular? Maybe a time of day?

Step two: figure out the general “mood” of the holiday. Do you want it to be a time to party? To be grateful? To connect with loved ones? To be at peace? Or a time of self-reflection and silent introspection? (Every year, I dedicate a full day of silence to Víðarr.) What’s the goal of the holiday? What are you celebrating?

Step three: think of some ritual offerings! It’s no big deal if, for whatever reason, you can’t actually offer them up: the idea of these offerings will suffice to help you define this holiday better. Will you be offering a specific food, or drink? Or a particular craft, or a depiction of an animal?

Step four: will you be decorating? If so, what’ll serve as the theme for decorations? Are you going to buy them or make them yourself?

Step five: is there an activity, or activities that you would want to engage in to honor the deity/deities on this day? If so, what’ll it be? I love to cook to honor Freyr, for example (this year, I made a seasonal pumpkin soup in His honor)! You could also go swimming for Rán and Ægir, or take a walk in the woods for Jörð. What do you think would please the deity/deities this day is dedicated to?

Step six: will you be inviting someone, or people over? It doesn’t matter if they’re pagan or not: if you want to celebrate with friends or family, any excuse is good to invite people over! Still, even if you celebrate alone, you’re certain to have lots of fun! So don’t worry about this last step if you feel uncomfortable with it.

#heathenry #norse paganism #norse gods #deities #deity work #spirituality #polytheism #norse polytheism #tips #paganism #festival #pagan holiday #rituals

[northwindow]

How do you choose what to read based on the syllabus? Is your syllabus related to work or school or is it something personal?? Also, how do you organize what you learn form those readings? I used to love when you curated monthly readings and I loved your arena account so I'm curious, I'm really sorry if these are too many questions I understand if you don't want to answer

thank you, it means a lot to me that you like the syllabi! they're personal/for fun. i approach them as a total amateur in any given topic and am not trying to be comprehensive at all, just poking around a concept that interests me. i wrote a little about how i find the readings here. it started basically as a way to “research” creative writing projects-- at the beginning, they all had personal writing prompts attached to them (my envy syllabus had an accompanying envy journal, the color and seeing ones were related to poems i was writing about those topics, etc). one time i synthesized a more cohesive piece of writing about one of the syllabi and published it, but the rest of the thoughts they’ve produced are diffused across a bunch of journaling and poem drafts that will likely not see the light of day.

i’m trying to restart my process after a year off! i thought i'd have one up this week but am running behind... if anyone wants to share any reading/other content they’ve enjoyed that engages with beauty, i’d love to check it out 💗

#syllabi

[readsofawe]

Announcing #ReadsOfAwe 2023! I cannot express how excited I am!

FAQ below:

When is it? Sunset 9/15 to sunset 9/25, from the beginning of Rosh HaShanah to the end of Yom Kippur, also called the Days of Awe (hence the name) Who can participate? Anyone! Jews, non-Jews, big readers, one-book-a-year types, and anyone in between.

What’s the goal? To celebrate Jewish stories during this holiday season! And to encourage folks to read a little bit more. If you would normally read nothing this week, pick up a short story or a poem! If you would normally read one book, try for two. If you would normally read five, try for seven! The hope is that, no matter your reading speed, interests, or knowledge base, there’s a way for you to participate and honor Jewish writing.

What is a "Jewish book"? Now that's a question! For our purposes, we'll define it pretty broadly: anything with a Jewish author, themes, and/or characters. Feel free to engage in heated debate in the comments about what counts!

How do I participate? There's a ton of ways! 🍎 Read Jewish books! You don't even have to tell anyone about it :) 📚 Follow the prompts on the bingo card, and post how many squares you fill 🍎 Share your TBR, reviews, and book photos on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, and/or Twitter with the hashtag #readsofawe

📚 Pick up our Buddy Read, The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero, and share your thoughts 🍎 Join our live reading sprints!

What’s the deal with the bingo board? It’s a fun challenge to encourage people to read widely within Jewish literature! Download or screenshot the board and mark off squares when you get them. Feel free to use one book per square OR mark as many squares as apply to each book! Go for a single square, a bingo, a blackout, or just a random pattern! And don’t forget to post your marked-up board when the readathon is over.

What’s a Buddy Read? Everybody who wants to reads the same book—in this case, The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero—and we talk about it! There will be a live discussion on 9/27, and you can also post your thoughts and feelings as you read with the same hashtag, #ReadsOfAwe

What are Reading Sprints? When we all read together on a livestream. Usually they will use the Pomodoro method: 30 minutes of reading, 15 minutes of chitchat, then reading again. Come hang out, it’ll be fun!

What is frum representation? The word frum (literally pious) refers to a variety of Jewish practices and religious movements that prioritize certain kinds of observance—most visibly, modest dress, eating Kosher, and avoiding all work on Shabbat and holidays. For our purposes, frum rep includes characters who are Orthodox, Chabad, or Haredi, or are from historical contexts where those labels don’t apply but their style of observance is similar.

What are MG and YA? MG is Middle Grade—so, books aimed at 8-13 year olds. Think Percy Jackson. Similarly, YA is Young Adult—books aimed at 14-18 year olds. Think The Hunger Games.

What is a TBR? The acronym TBR stands for “To Be Read.” Those are the books you’re planning on reading in a certain period of time—in this case, during the Days of Awe!

If you've got additional questions, feel free to reach out!

#reads of awe #readsofawe #books #readathon #jewish #jewish books #days of awe #amreading #rosh hashanah #yom kippur #lmao i never know what to tag things

[dreamwritesimagines]

Enamored [28] - Friends

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback my loves, you’re amazing!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please let me know what you think, thank you! ❤ And as always, thank you @theskytraveler for helping me with the chapter and the story❤

Summary: Rebuilding a friendship requires effort.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules.

Word Count: 5100

Series Masterlist

 The wedding retreat had only taken a couple of days for you but it felt as if it had lasted years.

Returning to London after that was interesting for sure. Your brother and your best friend had stayed behind for their honeymoon that was supposed to last a week at Stormview before they would be back and of course now that everyone was back in the city, the rumor mill had started spinning again.

Well.

Not that you would know.

You had taken the decision to stay away from gossip and not read anything about it once again. Though you knew it probably wouldn’t last long, you still hoped it would be longer than before.

After all, you were going strong for five days now.

“I must admit, I have missed London a little,” Aunt Lavinia said at the breakfast table and the Duke pulled his brows together, tilting his head.

“Did you?”

“It’s fun, I keep running into old friends,” she thought for a moment. “Well…friends is a big word for them I suppose. I didn’t like most of them years ago and that apparently hasn’t changed.”

“I wish papa could be here too,” Iona heaved a sigh and Kenneth shrugged his shoulders.

“He has responsibilities back home Iona. Besides, he’s seen here numerous times, it’s not like he is missing anything.”

“Uncle Duncan doesn’t like London?” you asked and Aunt Lavinia shook her head.

“He likes Glasgow more, much like Kenneth,” she said and turned to him. “I still do not know why you changed your mind about spending the rest of the season here by the way. I understand why Iona wanted it but you?”

Kenneth stole a look at you and you tried to control your expression.

“It just sounded like an interesting idea,” Kenneth said and you lifted your tea cup to your lips to hide your grin.

It had to be because of Hugh, because Kenneth wanted to spend the rest of the season closer to Hugh.

“Who have you run into so far?” The Duke asked and Aunt Lavinia waved a hand in the air.

“Lady Oakley…”

“Oh she has an illegitimate grandchild!”

“Y/N.”

“Does she now?” Aunt Lavinia asked, ignoring the Duke. “From?”

“Her son and a kitchen maid,” you answered. “Her son refuses to acknowledge them though.”

“Mm, I knew Priscilla wouldn’t be able to raise a proper gentleman,” Aunt Lavinia said. “I also know the mother of that poet that tried to marry you Y/N. Louisa Sinclair.”

Kenneth repressed a chuckle, while the Duke just looked entertained.

“It is upsetting that he is heartbroken,” Iona mused. “Hopefully his heartbreak does not keep him from writing more poems.”

“Hopefully it does,” you and the Duke said at the same time and you bit down a smile before pushing at the food on your plate.

“And I also met the um..” Aunt Lavinia snapped her fingers. “This season’s diamond, the one your brother almost married.”

“Miriam?” You grimaced. “What is she doing lately?”

“Apparently she got engaged three days ago.”

Your eyes widened. “Miriam got engaged?” you asked. “To whom?”

“Earl Hayward,” The Duke said and you and Iona turned to him.

“Wow, Uncle Percy you know everyone!”

“I just hear things here and there,” The Duke said and you tried to put a face to the name but failed.

“Hayward?” Aunt Lavinia asked. “Any relation to Earl Hayward who was caught with another woman at his wedding breakfast?”

Your jaw dropped. “What?”

“That was his father Lav. He died a couple of years ago.”

“And this Earl Hayward that Miriam is getting married to?” you asked and the Duke shot you a small smile.

“People say he took after his father,” he said. “I doubt they’ll like each other much in that marriage.”

Aunt Lavinia hummed. “It’s beyond me how people willingly get married to people they are not in love with.”

“She’ll be a countess,” Kenneth pointed out. “That seems like a good motivation.”

“Getting a title in exchange for a life in misery?” Aunt Lavinia said. “No. That’s a terrible bargain.”

“But you’re a countess too mama.”

“I would’ve married your father even if he had no titles Iona,” Aunt Lavinia said, making you aww and press your hand to your chest.

It was quite saddening that you were never going to get this, but it still made you happy to see people in love.

“So we’re all meeting at the picnic today?” Aunt Lavinia said and you nodded.

“Absolutely! I just need to go to the modiste with Eloise and since I’m there, I will check on Cecily’s new wardrobe but after that we will join you—Iona, are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

Iona beamed at you. “Well I do want to actually but I already promised Ken and Lord Trenlove.”

“We will join you at the picnic,” Kenneth added hastily. “Hugh—Lord Trenlove mentioned this place I think Iona will really like, I want to show her there.”

“Percy?” Aunt Lavinia said, making him look up from the newspaper.

“Yes?”

“You’re coming as well.”

“I have things to do Lav.”

“You can do them later!” Aunt Lavinia said, “We’re all going as a family, you don’t have the luxury to lock yourself in your study today. It’s such a beautiful day out there.”

“Yes Uncle Percy, you should enjoy the sun!” Iona said, and the Duke suppressed a smile, heaved a dramatic sigh, then shrugged his shoulders.

“Alright then,” he said. “I suppose I could join for a short amount of time.”

Iona clapped her hands together happily and you and Kenneth grinned at each other while Aunt Lavinia sipped her tea.

“Honestly Percy, you’re such a recluse,” she said. “You’re lucky I’m here.”

“Mm hm, I feel very lucky Lav.”

You checked the clock on the wall, then pushed at your plate and stood up.

“I will see all of you at the park then?” you asked and Iona nodded.

“Yes!”

“Great,” you said and smiled at Kenneth. “Do give Lord Trenlove my best, Kenneth.”

Kenneth’s grin widened and he raised his tea cup as if toasting you, making you giggle before you walked out of the breakfast room.

                                       *

When you got to the Bridgerton house with Lucie, Lady Bridgerton, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth were outside but the rest of the family was in the drawing room. Anthony was sitting in an armchair and reading the newspaper but as soon as he caught the sight of you walking into the room he sat up straighter like someone had just pricked him with a needle. Benedict was busy with drawing, Colin was reading Lady Whistledown and Eloise was writing a letter by the table but they all turned to look at Anthony as he jumped on his feet.

“Y/N?”

“Hello everyone,” you smiled slightly and waved, then turned to Eloise. “Are you ready Eloise?”

“Almost, I just need to finish my letter.”

“What’re you…?” Anthony trailed off, staring at you as if he couldn’t believe you were there and Eloise grinned.

“Oh did I forget to tell you?” she asked. “We’re going to go by the modiste, and then have a picnic at the park.”

Colin put the Lady Whistledown issue that he had been reading on the table to grin at you. “Oh well, isn’t that the lady who shoots through London’s marriage market like a comet?”

You grinned back and wiggled your fingers in the air. “Maybe.”

“And destructive as such,” Benedict commented. “Did you reject anyone’s proposal and ruin their dreams of matrimony with you today?”

“It’s not even noon so I haven’t got the chance yet,” you played along, crossing your arms to lean back to the wall and Colin raised the paper in his hand.

“Have you had a chance to read today’s issue?”

You blinked a couple of times. “Colin, I hope you realize what a terrifying sentence that is.”

“She wrote something about you,” Eloise called out, still busy with her letter and you groaned.

“Are you serious?” you asked and walked to Colin to get it from him before your eyes darted over the lines.

“Third paragraph,” Colin said helpfully and you tilted your head.

“It is to this author’s knowledge that Lord Gillingham was very much taken by Lady Y/N after their dance and is now planning on courting her. It seems that there’s another rival to—” you stopped reading as soon as you saw Anthony’s name and lowered the paper but Anthony’s brows pulled into a frown while you heaved a sigh.

“Who even is Lord Gillingham?”

“You literally danced with him at Elias’s engagement ball,” Eloise said and repressed a smile. “After the waltz, if that rings any bells.”

You thought for a moment, and shrugged your shoulders. “Ah.”

“I heard he says he wants to propose and waiting for Elias to come back.”

“Dear God Elias is going to shoot someone by the end of the season, I just hope there will not be a huge injury so that we can get him out faster.”

Anthony scoffed, glaring at the Whistledown issue as if it had personally offended him.

“May I?” he motioned for it and you handed it to him, then went to sit on the couch while he sat back down on the armchair.

“So I take it you’re not going to say yes?” Eloise teased you and you rolled your eyes.

“Well no, I’ve recently decided to become a spinster,” you announced and Anthony’s head shot up from the paper, Eloise finally looked up from her letter and Benedict stopped drawing.

“You?” Eloise said, her voice full of doubt. “You will become a spinster?”

You nodded and Anthony swallowed thickly, then pursed his lips as if he was trying to keep the words in.

“Well, I was actually going to become a nun,” you said. “But apparently I’m too vain for that.”

A silence fell upon the room and you looked around.

“Really? No one is going to disagree?”

“No.”

“Why would we?”

“Sounds like a legitimate reason.”

“Not even you?” you asked Anthony and he shrugged his shoulders.

“You get mad if I lie to you.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, then turned to Benedict and Colin who both looked very entertained.

“So yes, I’m going to become a spinster, and go after my calling.”

“Your calling?”

“I have a talent in matchmaking, I’m planning to do that with all this spare time I will have.”

Eloise blinked a couple of times. “You will be a spinster while chasing for love for other people?”

“History is full of people who get couples together but stay unmarried,” you said. “So is literature. Take Shakespeare for example.”

Eloise scoffed. “Yeah, you’re a classic Juliet.”

“Apparently I’m not. I’ll just be…” you waved a hand in the air. “I’ll just be the priest. He was the one who married them after all.”

“He was also the one who got them killed,” Anthony pointed out. “Are you sure that’s your favorite play? Everything you’ve said about it so far just makes me think you didn’t read the ending.”

You rolled your eyes at him and turned to Eloise. “Eloise are you writing a book or a letter?”

“I’m about to be finished,” she said, still scribbling and you walked to take the Whistledown’s paper from Anthony’s hand to take a look at the paragraph again.

“I honestly don’t remember this Lord Gillingham, who is he?”

“Tall—”

“Debatable, he’s not that tall,” Anthony stated before Benedict shook his head.

“Light hair, blue eyes, a lot of ladies find him charming.”

“He’s not charming.”

“He likes working with horses—”

“That’s what he claims.”

“Anthony, do you want to describe him or will you let me?”

“It’s not my fault if you’re giving wrong information.”

“It doesn’t matter,” you interrupted their banter. “I’ve made up my mind, I am to be a spinster.”

“Alright I’m done.” Eloise said and sprinkled some sand on the paper, then blew on it and took it from the table. “We can go.”

“Do you two—um—” Anthony said, standing up again. “You two need a chaperone right?”

“Not really, Lucie is coming with us.”

“My maid is coming with us as well.”

“I can accompany you,” Anthony said in a haste. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Good for you,” you deadpanned and Eloise repressed a smirk before turning to Anthony.

“There’s no need for you to come with us,” she stated and Anthony took a deep breath, shooting her a look.

“Eloise, do you remember that meeting in the city you wanted to attend to? For that book club with the other ladies?”

“Yes?”

“Do you still want to attend that?”

Eloise shot him a grin and turned to you. “On a second thought, he could come with us. You don’t mind, do you Y/N?”

You could feel your heart skip a beat but you shrugged your shoulders. “We will go by the modiste first though.”

“Not a problem, I can wait there.”

Benedict and Colin exchanged glances.

“You know what?” Benedict said. “Let’s all go to the park, that sounds like a good idea. We can stop by the modiste.”

Eloise frowned. “I thought you said—”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Benedict said, stealing a look at Anthony before clearing his throat. “Yeah, let’s all go. Should be fun.”

                                      *

It was such a lovely day that apparently the rest of the ton also had the idea of going to the park to enjoy the pleasant weather. As soon as you got there after the modiste, Penelope and Eloise wanted to go on a boat ride and managed to convince Benedict and Colin to go with them. Iona, Kenneth and Hugh were on another boat but Aunt Lavinia and the Duke said they wouldn’t, seeing that they were swarmed by other people who were trying to talk to them.

Since you got seasick whenever you were on any kind of boat or ship, you had refused to join the rest on the lake, instead you and Lucie went on a stroll around the park. You stopped by the bridge to read the rest of the latest Whistledown issue while Lucie enjoyed the scenery, and it was only when your eyes found a familiar name in the lines that you tilted your head, your brows furrowing.

“I figured I’d find you here.”

Your head shot up from the paper and you turned to look at Anthony whom Lucie was glaring at.

“You didn’t join the others?” you asked and he shrugged his shoulders.

“Wasn’t in the right spirits I suppose.”

“Are you ever in the right spirits to have fun?” you asked back and he leaned back to the bridge railings, his dark eyes fixed on you while a fond smile played on his lips.

“The urge does strike me from time to time, now that you mention it.”

“And you wait for it to go away?”

“Most of the time, yes,” he said and stole a look at the paper in your hand. “Trying to find more information about Lord Gillingham?”

“I’m trying to catch up,” you said. “I’ve made sure not to read it since I came back and apparently a lot happened—which reminds me, what is a brothel?”

Anthony started coughing all of a sudden while you patiently waited for him to get his breath back and he cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry?”

“What is a brothel?”

“Where did you hear that word?”

You held up the paper. “It says here Pierre was seen leaving a brothel. What’s that?”

Anthony ran a hand over his eyes. “Jesus Christ.”

“Is it some sort of a park?” you asked. “Because if it is, you must tell me where it is.”

“…Why?”

“I don’t want to run into Pierre,” you insisted. “It will be so awkward if I do, so you must tell me what it is and where it is, so that I can avoid it.”

“It’s not a place you’d ever go, Y/N.”

“How do you know?”

“Because…” Anthony trailed off. “You— it’s not an establishment you’d be interested in.”

“Oh it’s not a park of some sort?”

“No. Nor is it in any part of the city you’ve been to.”

“But you know where it is?”

The tips of his ears went pink and he bit inside his cheek, nodding. “Uh huh.”

You tilted your head, curiosity urging you to ask more.

“What happens there?”

“I can’t answer that question.”

“Then I will walk away and find someone else to answer it if you don’t,” you said. “Hugh is still around, so I’m sure—”

“No!” he cut you off. “No. Don’t ask anyone else, least of all Trenlove.”

You raised your brows, looking him in the eye. “Then?”

“It’s a place of…” he trailed off. “Transaction.”

“Like a trade?”

“Mm hm.”

“What do they sell?”

Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, averting his gaze from you. “Ent—entertainment.”

You frowned. “Entertainment?” you repeated. “Why can’t I go there then? I want to be entertained too!”

“Y/N—”

“You must take me there!”

“I’m not going to do that.”

“Well, you don’t have to join if you don’t want to, you can just watch me have fun.”

“Please stop saying that,” he muttered as if he was being tormented and you rolled your eyes.

“I’ll find a way,” you told him and clicked your tongue. “I suppose Pierre is not heartbroken if he is having fun though.”

“Do you want him to be heartbroken?”

“Not really,” you said. “I mean I knew he wouldn’t be terribly heartbroken, I could tell when I turned him down. It’s good that he went to that place to be entertained, perhaps he will find love in someone else.”

“Quite literally.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing.”

You pursed your lips, fixing your gaze on the lake while trying to ignore the ton’s glances on you both.

“You know you being here is just going to fuel more rumors?” you asked and he stole a look at you.

“I can leave if you wish.”

You frowned, then shook your head, making that hopeful light appear in his eyes again.

“No?”

“Do you want to leave?” you asked back and he paused for a moment.

“No, but it doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do.”

You could feel a warmth spreading inside your chest but you forced yourself to ignore it as you turned to look at his handsome face.

“I don’t think avoiding each other will help,” you said slowly. “You’re Elias’s best friend and I’m his sister, so it’s very clear we will see each other a lot.”

His eyes searched your face. “Is that all?”

“What?”

“Is Elias the only thing that connects us?”

No.

No, Elias was not the only thing that connected you. What connected you was your hopeless, endless and naïve love for him.

Even after everything that had happened, you were still completely in love with him, and it wasn’t going to go away, you knew it.

No matter how much you pretended, it wasn’t going to go away, but living with heartbreak was in your blood after all.

Your mother could do it, and now you were going to do it.

You took a deep breath and shrugged your shoulders.

“Regardless of what connects us, I think we can become friends in time.”

And surprisingly enough, that hopeful light in his eyes didn’t disappear. It was as if that was still an improvement for him, he stared at you before he nodded fervently, a small smile appearing on his face and for the hundredth time you couldn’t help but notice just how irresistible he looked, even more when he was smiling.

“I mean that is if…” you trailed off, trying to bite down a smile. “If our—what was it? Our undeniable attraction doesn’t prove to be challenging for our friendship?”

He blinked a couple of times as if he couldn’t tell whether you were serious or not.

“I’m not the best at proposing as it seems?” he said carefully like trying to test the waters and you raised your brows.

“One could say it was a humbling experience.”

“Humbling?”

“For you,” you pointed out. “Not me. I was just standing there.”

He stared at you but a look of relief crossed his eyes as you shot him a grin, making a bright smile appear pull at his lips. He hesitated for a moment, then cleared his throat.

“Very humbling,” he played along. “Do you have any advice you would be willing to give me to improve?”

You hummed as you caught the sight of Iona, Kenneth and Hugh’s boat coming back to land and Hugh jumped down, and helped Iona out of the boat as well.

“Well, my mother always used to say that it’s a strength to know your weaknesses, so perhaps you should just swear off romance and become a priest like I wanted to become a nun,” you said, making him chuckle.

“Oh that’s your advice?”

You pushed yourself off of the railings you were leaning against, then heaved a dramatic sigh.

“You’re right, it’s not a good advice,” you taunted him. “You wouldn’t make a good priest at all, you’re too vain for that.”

With that, you walked away from him to go to Iona, Kenneth and Hugh, with Lucie following you suit.

                                                        *

Elias and Cecily were supposed to arrive in London before noon but apparently they were going to be late, because their carriage was nowhere to be found in the afternoon. It was a hot day, so Aunt Lavinia wanted to spend time in the backyard while the Duke had shut himself in his study again, claiming he had documents to go over. Kenneth was outside with Hugh and you had decided to join Iona and Aunt Lavinia in the backyard, enjoying their conversation.

“I’m telling you, we must throw a ball when Cecily and Elias comes back,” Aunt Lavinia said, “It will be Cecily’s first ball as a marchioness, and the whole ton is waiting for it already.”

“Oh that would be fun mama,” Iona said, “I wish I brought more gowns with me.”

“Iona we can get them done!” you told her. “We can go to modiste today if you wish, after Cece and Elias arrives. And if you want, you can check my wardrobe as well, I have more than enough ball gowns I haven’t got to wear yet.”

“I’d love that!” Iona said, “I like your gowns, you have amazing taste.”

You pressed a hand over your chest. “Aw Iona, you’re the sweetest.”

Aunt Lavinia’s gaze found someone over your shoulder by the house and turned to you.

“You have a caller as it seems.”

“What? No, the Duke was very clear—” you started as you looked over your shoulder and the second your eyes caught the sight of Anthony descending the marble stairs to the backyard, you felt your heart skip a beat. You stood up from the picnic cloth you were sitting on, and offered him a small smile.

“Lady Ashdown,” Anthony bowed when he reached you. “Lady Iona. Lady Y/N.”

“Viscount.”

“Good afternoon,” Iona said. “It’s lovely to see you again!”

“Lord Bridgerton,” you greeted him as he smiled at you.

“My lady.”

“I wasn’t aware you were coming.”

“Oh I just wanted to drop by to bring my wedding gift and see y— say hello.” he corrected himself, motioning back at the house. “And I thought Elias and Cecily would’ve arrived by now.”

“I thought the same,” you admitted. “They’ll be here at any moment I think.”

Anthony gulped down and stole a look at Aunt Lavinia before turning to you.

“Would you like to walk around the garden while we wait?”

You blinked a couple of times, your heart beat getting faster but you scolded yourself in your mind, then nodded.

“Of course,” you looked around for your fan but realized you hadn’t brought it to the yard, so you grabbed the latest Whistledown paper to fan yourself with in case it got too hot while you were walking. You smoothed down the skirts of your gown, and Aunt Lavinia cleared her throat.

“Walk where I can see you, Y/N,” she said. “Lord Bridgerton, do try to stay away from anything that can break please. We do not want another accident.”

You bit down a smile and the tips of Anthony’s ears got pink before he pursed his lips and nodded.

“Of course Lady Ashdown,” he said with a bow of his head before you both started walking side by side and Anthony rubbed the back of his neck.

“You’d think she would’ve forgotten about that by now.”

“I’m planning on asking her for more embarrassing stories,” you pointed out, making him chuckle.

“Don’t you dare.”

You let out a laugh and looked up at him.

“I didn’t know you got Elias and Cece a wedding gift,” you said. “What is it?”

“A fine china set.”

You narrowed your eyes at him playfully. “No really, what did you get them?”

“I’m serious, I got Cecily a fine china set.”

You pressed the Whistledown paper on your lips just so that you could hide your smile but of course Anthony could tell from your eyes as he shot you a mischievous grin.

“More of a gift to your father rather than Cecily, but…”

A giggle climbed up your chest and you shook your head, then bit on your lips as you fanned yourself with the paper and he stole a look at it, still grinning.

“Anything interesting?”

“Not really. Just that um— Earl Buxton is marrying Lady Tabitha and there’s supposed to be this huge ball for their engagement.”

Anthony hummed. “Finally he asked, I suppose.”

“You know him?”

“From gentlemen’s club. He has been planning to ask her for a month now.”

“Ah,” you said. “A love marriage?”

“Mm hm.”

You let a small smile curl your lips. “So I scored a point then?”

That made him stop dead in his tracks as if he couldn’t believe his ears, that light glimmering in his eyes again as he let out a breath, mirroring your smile. You raised your brows, looking at him in anticipation for his answer.

“…You certainly did,” he managed to say and took a deep breath, trying to pull himself together. “But I’m scoring a point soon as well.”

“You’re that sure of yourself?”

“Lady Miriam and Lord Hayward. Match made in hell.”

Your head shot up. “What makes you say that?”

“I know Hayward.”

You pointed at him with the paper. “You need to tell me everything right now.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, Lady Miriam probably chose him because he’s an earl, he chose her because she’s the diamond.”

“And it’s a match made in hell because…?”

“The only reason he’s getting married is because he needs a legitimate heir, but he has a mistress in the ton. That, and Lady Miriam’s dowry I’m guessing.”

You made a face. “Well, she always wanted to have a high title,” you muttered. “I can’t believe if it were up to you, you would’ve supported Elias marrying her.”

He held up his hands. “I saw the light later on.”

“More like I made you see the light.”

His gaze on you was soft and full of fondness.

“Yeah,” he said after a beat. “Yeah you did.”

“We’re back!” Elias’s voice reached you, making both you and Anthony turn your heads and you gasped, then lifted your skirts a little to run at them at full speed before throwing yourself into Elias’s arms. He caught you mid-air and hugged you tight, making you giggle as he laughed.

“Welcome back!”

“No one proposed in my absence, did they?”

“No!” you said as you pulled back and hugged Cecily, making her laugh. “I missed you!”

“I missed you too, so much!”

“Elias, I decided to become a spinster!”

“Jesus Christ—”

“Welcome back my dear,” Aunt Lavinia said and Elias beamed at her before hugging Iona, then turned to Anthony.

“It’s okay, you can admit that you missed me,” he said with a grin that Anthony returned before he pulled him into a hug to slap his back.

“Took you long enough.”

“Cece, your wardrobe is only half ready but I will show it to you!” you said, holding her hand to pull her into the house much to Elias’s protests but you paid no mind to them. Cecily giggled, running with you upstairs.

“How was your honeymoon?” you asked her breathlessly as you reached the top of the stairs and she shot you an abashed smile.

“Absolute perfection,” she said and you pulled your brows together.

“Why were you late?”

“We um, we woke up late.”

“Will you tell me—”

“I cannot,” she said, fanning herself as if her face was on fire and you gasped.

“Cece!”

“I will tell you when it’s time for you to get married, deal?”

“Oh I will never get married, I decided to become a spinster,” you said and she ran a hand over her face.

“You’re not serious.”

“I am!”

“And what was Anthony doing here?”

“Well he—” you paused. “Wait a second. Anthony? You never call him by his name, you always call him the rake.”

Cecily shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, he’s Elias’s best friend so I decided to give him another chance,” she said. “So? What is he doing here?”

“He came to bring your wedding gift.”

“That’s all?” she asked. “He didn’t look like he was busy with my wedding gift when we got to the backyard.”

“Oh, we…” you trailed off. “I decided that since I shall be a spinster—”

“You will not.”

“Yes I will— and since he’s Elias’s best friend, we will be seeing each other a lot. So I’ve had a conversation with him the other day.”

Cecily pulled back slightly, her brows furrowing.

“What kind of a conversation?” she asked. “Please tell me he didn’t propose or said something foolish again.”

You shook your head. “No,” you said. “No, I just— I told him that we could become friends in time.”

A smile full of disbelief curled Cecily’s lips and she tilted her head.

“Oh?” she said. “Friends? You and Anthony will be friends?”

“Well, I think I will always be in love with him but I—” You paused before waving a hand in the air.

“Enough about me and my heartbreak,” you said as you held her wrist and pulled her deeper into the hallway. “Let me show you your new gowns, Marchioness Westcliff.”

Chapter 29

#anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton #bridgerton

[cringefail-clown]

would.love to hear your thoughts on house of leaves, been looking at picking it up for my self 👀

just finished off chap IV of the navidson record part of the book and gonna stop for today. need to marinate with it for a little while

i didnt get to the crazy editing part of it yet, but my first impression is that its very good. definitely requires a ton of attention from the reader - its not an easy lecture. got my phone ready to search any words i dont know the meaning of or real life poems and works referenced in the text. the heavily academical language used throughout some parts is hard to get through and it gave me flashbacks to me writing my own essays on ethics in highschool for the competitions lmfao. i dont even remember the thesis, just my teacher telling me i didnt use 'the right words' for these types of papers. so many revisions. shudders.

i gotta say, if you want to read it you should go with as little information about the plot as possible. i learned about this book existing through the house.wad doom video essay of all things, and had it on the backburner, avoiding spoilers like a plague until i could get my hands on it. its way more fun this way. so, in short, if you wanna read it, go for it, and do it blind for the best experience! from the first 40 pages its an engaging read, id definitely recommend it so far!

#well see how it goes from now. there are. so many pages left #though from what i gathered when i flipped through it many of em have little to no text so maybe its not as daunting as i thought itd be #i mean its still daunting it really is a hard to read book #but not as long ig???