Tumgik
#serenate 4ever
taylanaracie · 5 months
Text
In gossip girl it was always portrayed that serena was the it girl. That every guy who serena couldn't help but fall for her. Even blair herself said that all the guys looking in their direction wanted serena
But throughout the series blair was the one that every guy fell in love with. I mean people literally destroyed themselves because of how much they loved her. It was like blair had this magnetic force that captured all of their attention.
And it wasn't even just the guys. Every girl wanted to be blair waldorf (noteveryonecanbe) and not serena van der woodsen.
40 notes · View notes
enihk-writes · 3 months
Text
[at the end of a burnt wick]
pairing: tang bo x afab!she/her!reader
NOT exactly an x reader because i didn't want tang bo and reader's relationship to be romantic, tried to make them platonic / co-workers like ah-duo and the emperor from the apothecary diaries + implied tangchung because all roads lead to old men yaoi
summary: anthology of a married pair
content warning: archaic wedding practices mentioned (i.e. having to consummate a marriage against the will of both parties) // stillbirth and child loss (disconnect with traditional expectations of parenthood)
word count: 6.66k
author's note: my roman empire lately is about how i used to audition to nijisanji and only niji at least 3-4 times (didn't even pass the first stage lol) before i got really fixated with rotbb.... maybe one day i will try my hand at vtubing and streaming again... for now it's fanfiction time ragggghhh!!!!! fictional men 4ever!!!!
[PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION! I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TRIGGERS CAUSED BEYOND THIS LINE]
═══════════════
FIRST MEETING
the first time the young tang bo met her, was when he was a little over fifteen.
she was also just as young as he — a wee lass that had yet to lose the childlike roundness of her cheeks, round eyes that seemed to sparkle in wonderment at all the grandeur around her. tang bo didn't understand what was so special about the surroundings, he'd grown up here all his life and had already seen most of anything money could buy. this girl was weird.
he didn't find out until much later that this was the first time she had ever left the four walls of her room, much less her own home.
he thinks that it was no wonder she had looked so amazed with everything she saw back then. he can't imagine a life where he had to live constrained to one place, going through the same routine everyday would have bored him to death.
he wasn't looking forward to future conversations with that girl — he was certain she would be utterly dull and boring.
═══════════════
ENGAGEMENT
tang bo was furious that the elders had went and signed off the engagement contract without even asking for his approval. he had been meeting with countless hopefuls for a few years by now, and he'd been able to fend them all off by acting in ways that had all these well-bred ladies huffing and puffing in indignation. crying to their fathers that they would rather die than marry a man like he.
so who was it that agreed to this!
tang bo mutters under his breath, teeth gritted, fists clenched. he had to see with his own two eyes the woman who was stupid or desperate enough to let herself be wed to the likes of him.
elder!
the young man throws open the doors to the main hall, not caring one bit about the guests sitting inside. the elders and the patriarch in question frowned at his behaviour, biting their tongues from chastising him in front of strangers.
his gaze lands on a familiar face, a little older and a lot less naive, but familiar nonetheless. he didn't know that a person's demeanour could change so drastically in a few years.
tang bo's hands fall to his sides, he shuffles towards the end of the table, plopping down on the empty spot across his soon-to-be betrothed. he eyes her figure, chewing on the inside of his mouth, trying to come up with something to insult her with.
tang bo—
the patriarch didn't even get the chance to finish his sentence when the young man scoffs at the girl's face, the corner of his mouth pulling up into a sneer.
really? her?
tang bo glances over at the heads of his family, finger pointing rudely in the girl's face. they all sigh, knowing what was about to come from the impudent boy. they could only hope this girl wouldn't take his jabs to heart.
hey you.
he juts his chin at her.
all my other candidates looked prettier than you. hey, did you even bother to put in any effort when coming to meet me?
she ignored him, sipping on her tea serenely. the girl's guardians shift in their seats nervously. ah, this young master has yet to face their mistress' infamous anger.
tang bo clicks his tongue.
oi, did you even — hey!
he didn't expect her to splash the remainder of her drink onto him. the warm liquid splatters across his face and drips down his now damp hair, even the front of his robes were now soiled from the tea.
he looks over to the elders of his family in surprise, hoping that they'd stand up for him but none met his eye. he felt betrayed when he catches some of them trying to hide the twitch of their mouths suppressing their laughs.
they all thought that it was about time someone put this boy in his place, talented and intelligent as he may be.
needless to say, the rest of the meeting went on smoothly. and it ended with the confirmation of the two's engagement. much to tang bo's despair and the girl's indifference.
═══════════════
FIRST 'DATE'
he really tried his best to drag his feet that day. the elders had arranged for an evening dinner in the newly established inn downtown with his bride-to-be and tang bo really did not want to go. he was kicking up a fuss with his clothes, this one was too dull, that one is too bright, it's too rough, it's too short... and so on. but when he finally ran out of excuses and the attendants tiredly managed to dress him appropriately — the sun was beginning to set.
tang bo perks up. perhaps he didn't have to go out with her after all!
he steps out of his room, surprised to see that there was no one in the courtyard. he shouldn't have felt a jolt of worry then, but he did, and he wondered if something was wrong.
where is she?
he asks to no one in particular, heading to her room three doors down from his, footfalls heavy on the lacquered wooden planks of the corridor. he hears panicked voices muffled behind the doors and throws the doors to her room open.
she sat in the middle of the room in nothing but her undergarments, surrounded by the tang estate's maids and piles of unworn clothes. she had her back facing him, and all he could see were the maids hurriedly hiding away the containers of makeup all shying away from his scrutinising gaze.
out.
the maids didn't have to be told twice. they all scurried out of her room like mice, tails between their legs and faces pursed in anxiety at being caught in the middle of something they probably shouldn't be doing. tang bo sighed heavily. to think the woman he was to marry was getting bullied, by mere maids too? he felt ashamed on her behalf. he didn't like people who were fine with others taking advantage and stepping all over them. he hated that they didn't have a backbone to stand up for themselves.
kicking off his shoes, he entered her room — nose scrunched up instinctively at the suffocating dust in the air. he looked around to see all the windows shut tightly, there were no gaps for even a sliver of light to shine inside.
how has this girl been living so far, for her to be fine with this treatment?
tang bo coughed, stumbling over to open the windows, lightheaded from the lack of breathable air. he waves his hands to chase the dust outside, coughing even harder when the little particles get all up in his face.
he hears her giggle. much to his growing annoyance, what was so funny anyway.
he sits in front of her, letting the pile of unworn clothes cushion him from the hard floor. under the orange glow of the setting sun, he sees her for the first time today, all dolled up in the most garish makeup that would have certainly humiliated her, and had he not barged in she would have had to go around in public like that.
you look uglier today.
she chuckled and hummed in response, she looks around in search of something. grabbing a rag from under the clothes, she proceeded to wipe off her painted face, only to have tang bo take it out of her hands with a soft, let me.
he holds her chin between his fingers, rubbing off the white powder that contrasted starkly against her skin, making her look sickly. he rubs off the crudely drawn-out eyebrows and the thick rouge that sat on her lips. he can't help but notice the way her lashes fluttered as she tried to keep her eyes closed. maybe his fiancee was a little cute.
with her face now bare, the girl lets out the breath she had been holding. but tang bo wasn't done yet.
where are you facing. turn back here.
he ordered pointedly, and she couldn't help but to go back into her prior position. lips and eyes squeezed shut, much like a puppy getting told off for misbehaving.
picking up a brush out of the many lying haphazardly over the vanity, tang bo dipped it's tip into the little porcelain jar left ajar. it was lipstick in a shade deep red, the type that would have looked lovely especially on her.
he holds the girl's now bare face in one hand, the brush in the other, outlining the shape of her lips with the new rouge. the feathery touch of the brush tip was ticklish, moreso with how tang bo had been holding it in an uncharacteristically gentle way as though he were a potter painting intricate patterns on a cup before he sent it off to the burning fires in a kiln.
he pinched the brush, smudging the tint against his fingers and drawing faint circles at the outer corner of her eyes.
tang bo leans back to admire his handiwork. he couldn't help but feel proud of the results. not only was he good at martial arts and medicine, he had an amazing eye for aesthetics too? where would anyone find a better husband then he?
the girl opens her eyes cautiously, her gaze meeting his. he looked pleased, boastful even.
hmph. you look more presentable now.
he hands her a mirror, and as she looks at her reflection against the shiny bronze surface, she had to agree. her fiance had done a good job with her face. maybe he wasn't all that awful.
thank you, young master tang.
the girl smiled, her eyes crinkling upwards in a smile. tang bo scoffs and looks out the window, hiding his embarrassment at her sincere words. thinking back now, this was the first he'd heard her speak, wasn't it? maybe he should pay more attention once in a while.
heh. of course you should be thanking me.
the sky and grown dark. lucky him, he didn't have to go out to that dinner with her after all.
═══════════════
THE FIRST REAL DATE
tang bo felt a little irked that she had been walking behind him even when he had slowed down to match her pace. it's almost like she had been deliberately hanging back.
you.
he grabs her wrist and pulls her towards him. she stumbled over her feet and falls over with a startled squeak.
you're my fiancee. so stand proud and walk beside me.
he declares with a hand on his hip, the grip on her wrist with his other not once loosening. he walks again, just as slow as he had been earlier, feeling a little happy that the girl no longer lagged behind.
he'd started to warm up to her, no longer seeing her as the stranger living in his house, one day to become his wife. she was more akin to a little sister he'd have to babysit.
no, actually she was more like an apprehensive kitten left on his doorstep that he'd grown to like taking care of.
buying her sweets and spoiling her with accessories she might not even have a chance to wear just because he thought she'd look cute in them has been one of his favourite hobbies these days.
why was he so anxious about getting engaged before? ever since she became his fiancee, he didn't have to go out and meet with any more annoying noble ladies clamouring over each other trying to win over his affection. the best part was that she kept to herself, and minded her own business unless it was time to visit the elders and the patriarch for afternoon tea — which he didn't mind since having her as his own personal walking event reminder has really saved him from getting scolded even more by the old farts.
ah! look! they're selling meat skewers over there! come on, let's go get some! i'm sure you'd like those too.
tang bo giggles and drags the girl over to another street vendor. ah, lucky him. he's hit the jackpot with the whole engagement game — a tolerable and cute wife-to-be, could a boy ask for anything more? guanyin-ma really was looking over him after all.
═══════════════
FORTUNE TELLER
after two seasons of living under the same roof, the heads of the tang clan decide that it was time for the two to meet with the fortune teller. set up an auspicious date through the tung shing, and be wed on the right phase of the moon and the best placement of the stars in the sky.
the young master is lucky to have found someone this compatible. it is hard for children born in his year to find a suitable partner. they say snakes rarely get along with the other zodiacs.
says the old eccentric woman who proclaimed herself to be the best fortune teller in sichuan and the one who had been checking the birthdates of all the potential brides that had been introduced to tang bo thus far. the boy felt the urge to get up and fight that hack, respecting his elders be damned, so she was the one sending him all those insufferable girls his way.
he feels a hand grab at his arm. fingers digging into his flesh enough to keep him seated. he looks over at the girl sitting next to him, expression unchanging, her body angled to lean a little closer to his.
his hand reached over discreetly to peel her fingers off him, bringing her hand down to hold his under the table, fingers intertwined. she seemed to relax a little, tense shoulders falling ever gently, her jaw growing slightly more slack.
to the untrained eye, the girl's expressions were the same. but to him, he's watched her long enough, even if it wasn't every day, to spot the subtle changes whenever she expressed herself. tang bo pats himself on the back for being such an attentive fiance.
his attention shifted from the conversation between the fortune teller and the elders to the girl's hand. they were soft and smooth, as expected of a lady of noble birth. his on the other hand were calloused from training, the tips of his fingers were starting to turn darker from the constant exposure to poisons. shit, he might have to start wearing gloves.
the girl hadn't been paying attention to the conversation going on either, spacing out until the elders called on the two. stifling their startled gasp, the two youngins stared at their elders, a confused expression painted on their faces, not one bit guilty for ignoring everything that was being said.
ah, it's good they are getting along well.
the fortune teller chuckled with a knowing glint in her eye trying to suggest something, but both tang bo and the girl didn't seem to catch her drift, the old woman's point flying over their heads.
the elders soon turn back to their discussion, talking about the best days that would suit the two.
look here, since they are both born as snakes, their auspicious numbers are two, eight and nine. i'd suggest we hold the wedding...
tang bo nudges at the girl.
hey.
she looks up at him. he leaned down next to her ear, wanting to ask her about her birthday, too embarrassed to ask about it outright in front of the elders. he didn't want to seem like an incompetent fiance to his future bride.
she hides a growing grin. it was nice of him to start paying attention to her. little steps, little steps. she wriggles her hand out of his grasp and writes down the date with her finger on the surface of his palm.
good thing their hands were under the table, or people would know about the cause of the redness dusting the back of his ears.
the meeting dragged on until late in the evening. it ended with the agreement that they were to be wed on the eighth day of the eighth month on the eighth year of the emperor's reign.
truly the most auspicious day for a union.
═══════════════
A BRIDE-TO-BE'S DRESSING ROOM
the long-awaited day came by later than expected. the previous emperor passed before he even got close to the eighth year of his reign. not wanting to change the numbers of the date, the elders decided to push the event back until the current emperor had reached his eighth year.
by then, the two had grown into a man and a woman, a lot older than the common age to be wed. but it was no matter. who would dare speak up against the tang clan's young master and his wife-to-be?
the day, hell, even the night before had been hectic. tang bo slipped past his attendants to take a peak at what was going on in her room. traditions be damned, who cares about the groom not seeing his bride until they were at the altar? that was so outdated!
what are you doing here?
she had been left alone to rest from the non-stop preparations since before dawn. tang bo walks in, careful not to make too much noise as he slides the door shut behind him.
why? can't i visit my wife?
i am not your wife.
yet~
his teasing voice moved behind her. he picked up the brush to comb out the knots that were all tangled up — the maids had put on extensions to lengthen her hair. she hadn't been able to grow them to the expected length, much to the annoyance of the maids. they hadn't been nice when attaching the accessories, she could still feel the burning sensation on her scalp.
there was no need to kick up a fuss at this point. especially in front of tang bo. this guy would have kicked out all the attendants who had been treating her poorly, but that felt like too easy of a punishment. she wanted to deal with them herself when the time comes, sorry for that, young master tang.
the leather gloves he wore were cold, and the feeling of his fingertips scratching against her scalp was soothing, enough to draw out a quiet purr from the woman. much to her shocked embarassment.
oh?
she leans away from him.
...please ignore that.
but how could he?
my wife... how can you be so cute~!
i need you to shut up right now.
═══════════════
WORLD'S MOST BORING CEREMONY
if it was any consolation, the two had agreed that this whole affair was a pain in their ass.
wife, do you know when this will end?
what makes you think i have the answer to that?
tang bo thinks his bride was lucky to have that red veil over her face. if she wanted to shut her eyes and sleep, none of the guests nor elders would be any wiser. poor old him. they should have made a veil for the goom too, which smartass decided otherwise anyway? if he ever met that person, tang bo promised he would pummel the other to the ground.
wife.
she hums in acknowledgement, bowing her head at a guest who had come up to the front to pay their blessings to the pair.
wife.
tang bo called out again, his tone getting a little impatient. wincing when he felt her pinch the skin between his thumb and index finger. he tried to smile at the strangers passing them by, feeling drained and completely spent from the day's activities. it didn't help that the noisy chatter of everyone around them was making him feel worse.
wife, you should tell the elders that you're tired and want to rest for the night... i'm sure they'd listen to you.
why me? you go!
huh? me? nuh-uh, you go!
the back and forth lasted for a bit until they both agreed to ask the elders together. after all, having a partner-in-crime to take the fall together with you was way better than facing backlash alone.
perhaps the atmosphere of a wedding had put the elders in a carefree mood, perhaps it was the result of a dozen empty wine bottles. they think it might be both, but no matter, they received permission to get out of there.
the best news either had ever heard today.
scurring away quickly, the newlyweds giggle amongst each other like kids up to no good even as they were well into their twenties. the guests and elders cooed in amusement, talking about how nice it must be to be young and in love.
though that second part was so far from the truth, when the two talk about it again in their later years, it had grown into a funny story they liked to reminisce about over a midnight drink.
═══════════════
THE FIRST NIGHT
tang bo glanced over at his wife, carrying the same grimace as she did. it was hard not to cringe at the overtly crude decorations in their now shared room.
right. that was how it was in these parts. they were now husband and wife so the elders are probably expecting the results of the two carrying out their marital duties within the next year.
i don't want to do that...
me neither...
now sitting across each other on the floor, they discuss how to trick the maids who would certainly check the bedding the next morning. if nothing happened tonight then they would be under more scrutiny. but who's to say that there won't be any surveillance after? ugh! this was all so annoying!
tang bo watched as the woman before him let out a big sigh, dropping her head into her hands. he felt sorry for his wife, it must be hard living as the new daughter-in-law of his family.
should we get this done and over with?
he suggested finally, after exhausting all their options. his wife makes a face at that, but she can't argue.
awkwardly he hands over a vial, an all-purpose antidote of sorts, in case she gets accidentally poisoned while coming into contact with him. the head had passed it to him sometime during the ceremony earlier, tang bo had been hoping he didn't have to use it, at least he held himself back from throwing the whole vial at the wall when it was given.
he didn't say it at first, but he could hear the eyes and ears surrounding them grow careless every few moments, revealing their presence by accident with an unintentional movement or sound. how uncouth of them to be watching the two newlyweds like this. it seemed she'd also noticed their presence, with how she'd glance out the windows whenever a small rustle was heard.
i'm so sorry.
he murmured an apology as he kissed her cheek — he didn't have to look to know she had a faint look of disdain, directed to no one in particular yet still stung through his heart.
it's not your fault.
so she says. but it might as well be. to him at least.
the consummation wasn't a pleasant process. neither could look at the other in the eye. the knowledge that people were standing outside the room to listen in on the completion of their marriage made this whole ordeal so much worse.
wife...i...
tang bo feels his hips stutter, his face burns in shame as his hoarse voice tries to speak.
her hands reach out to brush his hair out of his face, fingertips lightly smooth out the crease of his furrowed brows. she'd resigned herself long ago, knowing this whole process was inevitable from the time she reached adolescence. to think her own husband did not...
she felt a slight twinge of pity. the young master tang was a lot more sheltered than she had thought.
when it was all over, they scrambled to get away from the other, each sitting at the furthest end of the bed — letting what had conspired sink in. how many more times would this have to happen in the future?
she was the first to collect herself. getting up, she shuffles over to tang bo, her hand reaching out for his.
my husband, we should go and clean up.
he nodded, taking her hand in his wordlessly as she led him to the tub hidden behind the partition. after dipping the dry towels in the now warm water to wipe their bodies clean, slipping into clean nightgowns and peeling off the soiled bedspreads to throw them aside, they finally crawl under the covers, yawning tiredly.
sleep came over easily, surprisingly enough.
═══════════════
DIAGNOSIS
the questions that hung around in the air at this time of the year were all about babies, children, the next generation. everyone wanted to know which of the wedded members would be expecting soon.
most eyes were turned on tang bo and his wife.
unfortunately.
their marriage had happened over five years ago, almost ten, and all this time their other relatives who had gotten married later than they were popping out one offspring after another — yet none were to be seen for the young lord and his lady. the elders often lamented on the silence of their side of the estate.
rumour has it that their relationship was on the rocks, with how neither shared a room nor did they spend a night together like all the tang spouses — save for the occasional times they'd go to visit the other's quarters every two to three months. to scratch an itch as one might say. after all, they were still young and quite healthy, so such urges were still common occurrences. might as well do it with someone familiar rather than do that with a stranger.
the relationship between tang bo and his wife was actually far more amicable than anyone could have guessed. it was hard to describe the solace they'd found in each other's unspoken commanderie within the household. they'd been living together long enough to know virtually everything about each other, yet there was always a line drawn between them to keep the distance.
today, she wasn't here for any of their usual arrangements. tang bo had came back to find his wife nursing a cup of tea in one hand, resting it on top of a propped-up leg. she had set out a game of weiqi on the table, next to a steaming teapot and array of snacks.
looks like someone's got news.
his teasing voice called out to the woman, settling down on the seat across her. he hums in thought, contemplating his move as she places down her white bead on the board.
your uncle came over to see why we weren't having kids yesterday. he's given me the results this morning, right after you left.
the woman holds out the folded paper, a little crumpled from being kept between the layers of her robes. tang bo takes it, opening it to read what his so-called uncle had diagnosed his wife with. talk about elder butting into a youngster's business for no good reason.
this...
he says that i'm barren.
she looks down with a small smile,and it looked a little bitter. of course, how could she not be? after all that had happened those few years back?
to say that she's unable to carry a child after all she had gone through back then was such a cruel prank from the heavens. he knows his wife wanted to be a mother more than anything, to give that little baby all her love in the world or along those sentiments — as did he. so if that's not going to happen... then, what now?
they were silent as they moved their beads across the game board. contemplating their next moves and what to say to the other.
there's crab stick snacks here, you should try some.
as always, she breaks the silence first. grabbing a few sticks of the salty treat to nibble on before handing the container over to her husband. tang bo reached for the food mindlessly, thinking about how nice it'd be to have these with some sweet wine.
ah, but his wife wasn't much of a drinker so that's a bummer.
═══════════════
ONLY CHILD
he should have heard the cries of the baby.
it was quiet inside, and out where he was waiting too. the nurses and maids walked out of the room with buckets of soiled, bloody rags with their heads down and mouths drawn into a thin line — something was wrong, something had gone terribly wrong.
tang bo felt his feet move, walking towards the bedroom where the doors were still shut tightly. he weaved past the attendants trying to hold him back, all telling their young master to go back and wait.
wait? why did he have to wait when he didn't know what was happening to his wife right then? she needed him. and she needed him right now.
the midwife slides the door open just as he was about to open it himself. they both take a step back in surprise.
young master... the lady is alive and well. she is waiting inside.
the older woman bowed and scurried away from the scene to join the others in the courtyard outside.
his wife lay on her back on top of fresh bedsheets and a clean nightgown. she had a sickly pallor, lips were chapped dry with red marks of blood from where the skin ripped open. hair that was riddled with sweat stuck onto the sides of her face, the untied tresses splayed over the top of the bed. her eyes were unfocused and blank, staring straight up at the wall, mind elsewhere. her cheeks were still stained with the remnants of her tears, the evidence of what transpired within these four walls.
wife...
tang bo called out cautiously. she didn't respond, barely even moved an inch to acknowledge his presence.
next to her on the bed was a small swaddle, the stillness of what was supposed to be alive unnerved him. the child's dull skin, probably in some shade of grey, eyes that were never to open, oh.
he sits by her bedside, back facing her. he too, did not know what to say to her at that moment. he was the last person that could have possibly comforted her. well, it was his child too but they were both not lovers so this was an offspring born out of necessity rather than a genuine want. and at this point in his life, tang bo wasn't actually too thrilled about the prospect of fatherhood. not that he would resent that kid, it's just he might not have loved them like he should.
his wife, she's mentioned her anticipation of motherhood but once in a while, he'd catch glimpses of the unreadable expression she had when no one was looking — all while she rubs her growing belly. it made him think that perhaps she wasn't always telling the truth.
once there was a patient who had came to the tang estate to treat the growing tumors in his intestines and since he was a rather important guest, most of the members of the main family, the two of them included, had dropped by to greet him and wish him well for recovery. tang bo could never forget the intensity of her absent gaze at the patient's stomach, her balled fist tightening over her shawl ever so slightly.
perhaps it's good that she's dead.
tang bo feels his eyebrows rise up in shock.
you're not too keen on fathering a child either, are you?
he shakes his head.
well, that makes the two of us. the heavens must be looking out for her, keeping her away from parents like us who can't give her the love she needs.
his wife sighed deeply. her tired face falling to the side to look at him, a lopsided smile making its way onto her lips as if to ease the heavy tension of her words away. she might be right. perhaps, it was better this way. tang bo closes her eyes with his palm, patting her to sleep the way one would with a feverish child.
their daughter would later be the two's first and only child.
═══════════════
SWORDSMAN
the woman wondered how one-sided her husband's relationship with his friend was. the man was a rather expressionless fellow — his sentences were short, curt and straight to the point. her husband didn't seem to mind, with now he was almost always all over that man. ah well, she's just happy tang bo has an actual friend.
rather than worry that he was drunk off his rocker out on the streets past midnight doing who-knows-what in who-knows-where, at least now he's causing trouble with someone she could easily track. apperently, the man was a troublemaker in his own home too.
the first time she met the older sect brother of her husband's friend, they shared a look of silent understanding. ah, so you too have an oversized child to deal with.
watching tang bo come home staggering on his feet together with the man, leaning on the other for support used to riddle her with worry but now she just ushers them both into a spare room prepped with the necessary herbs to concoct a hangover remedy and hope for the best. her husband was a capable man, he would never let himself falter and die in a ditch.
in hindsight, she might have been too confident in his abilities.
the swordsman was the best thing to have happened to her husband. and it was not an exaggeration by any means. not when he looked at his happiest for the first time since she'd known him. even if they were both past their fifties and sixties.
how nice. she thinks to herself whenever she spots them together. to find your other half, your kindred spirit in this word before you died... it must be nice.
she can't find it in her to be bitter. really.
═══════════════
FIRST CHIPPING
if he were to look at what society deemed as a bastard husband, then that requisite would have had his face plastered as a prime example. the type of husband that any aspiring groom should not ever become.
though for those who were in the know, mainly his wife and himself, there was more to their marriage than what everyone saw. it didn't take long for either of them to recognise that this union had been a discreet way for them to hide away from what kids like them were supposed to act like in this rigid society.
they've stuck by each other as the only people who would have understood each other the best. so now that tang bo was finally finding the happiness he should have sought after all this time, he was always feeling the guilt of leaving her behind on her own in that house that had always been too big for just the two of them.
she has yet to utter a word of displeasure to him. that's how she was — the quiet one who kept to herself, letting things happen until the worst had passed over. it was one of the little things he detested about his wife.
he can't bring himself to really hate her. there was a time when he had opened up his heart and confided in her about some things he's been scared to come to terms with. the type of realisation one has from a very early age and has buried deep within themselves to fit into society and the expectations people had of him.
his wife had held onto his hand wordlessly, squeezing it ever so often to assure his nerves. he's never been this vulnerable before. he never thought things like this could be so frightening.
she had something to say too. but not right now. this was his moment, she's not so tactless to take it away. she can't stop thinking that if they'd been more honest earlier, then perhaps they wouldn't have hurt the other unknowingly all these years.
the walls they'd built between them were starting to come down a little — who would have thought they'd find out something new after decades of marriage.
═══════════════
COMING TO TERMS
she couldn't really understand why her husband was loudly crying into her shoulder. her good robes were getting wet from his tears and snot. how did this almost seventy-year-old man have no shred of shame — in front of the attendants no less?
she had given him her blessings earlier today, and he was now free to pursue the swordsman so why was he not going off to sweep his beloved off his feet and ride off into the sunset or whatever those romance novels say?
wife, you know you aren't obligated to be bound to me any more right? if you wish, you are also free to love someone else...
tang bo managed to say between sobs.
...thank you for your consideration.
she hesitated. what did he mean by her being free to love someone else? she can't think of a time when she'd ever felt that kind of emotion, at least not the one that every person around her was chasing after, even back when she was in her youth.
there was always a disconnect whenever the other wives she'd corresponded with ranted and raved about their husband's infidelities or little annoyances. they were always on the verge of hysteria, driven to that point out of love for their husbands they said. and she'd think about how foolish it was.
thank goodness her relationship with tang bo had not been built on a foundation that flimsy. rather, it was one based on mutual respect. which was far better—
ah but. he must have felt trapped in this marriage. not everyone in the world was like her. not everyone had been born with the inability to be like everyone else and it was unfair how they all just instinctively know what romance and lovers-love is. so to have held him back in this loveless situation for this long was a cruel thing.
the good wife, the understanding wife, the kindhearted wife. it's all that she's been the majority of her life. she doesn't know what else there was to her now that she's let-go of these titles. she's free to do what she wants. but what does a caged bird set free know?
she had packed lightly, the clothes on her back were lighter and less showy, the stark opposite of what she used to wear as the daughter-in-law of the tang family. there was not much hesitation as she donned the weimao — it's white veil falling past her knees. she looked at the darkened courtyard of their estate.
she's received enough goodwill in this lifetime. she prayed at the ancestral shrine one last time, asking them to look after everyone now that she's going off.
═══════════════
MORNING AFTER
tang bo awoke to the frantic bustle of the maids outside his room. turns out his wife had gone missing overnight without anyone noticing. he walked out of his room, wandering around the family estate until he reached the main halls where it was quieter. no one was allowed in here outside of events except for the elders and the main family.
he picks up the tattered note that had fluttered to his feet — eyes widening as he takes in the words written on it.
tch, that woman could still pull some tricks at her old age huh. he didn't think she'd still know how to surprise him. the paper was burned away on a candle flame. he wonders if he'd see his wandering wife on his travels with his taoist-hyung. would they all share a drink at the teahouse when they do? oh he hoped so. there's not much things to look forward to at this age, so at least give him some stories and a meal.
ah. he should let his taoist-hyung know about this too. before it slipped out of that old head of his.
33 notes · View notes
rowdycloudyart · 1 year
Text
Howdy! It's cloudy welcome welcome ☁️✨
Tumblr media
Rowdy: out-going, unhinged, spontaneous, intense Cloudy: serene, melancholy, calm, introverted
Rowdy and Cloudy are two characters created on the balance between the intense rowdy gal and the serene cloudy girl ☁️
Hi, I'm Adri the artist & aspiring Art Therapist here documenting my progress! This is my art blog where I post fan art, and personal projects, and talk about my overall struggles as an artist & psychology student. I'm currently 25, my pronouns are she/her, and I struggle with depression/anxiety. I decided to "label" depression w/ cloudy & anxiety w/ rowdy bc I've noticed these are the 2 character tropes I tend to draw & relate to. Drawing has always been therapeutic for me, and I think it can help others even if you "suck at drawing". Creating art & documenting my thought process is my main goal for @rowdycloudygal and I hope to connect with you soon! :D read below for more personal likes/dislikes
Instagram my tweets Patreon Youtube ko-fi TikTok
Anime/entertainment:
JOJO I'm fully indulging in my Jotaro obsession
Avatar the last airbender zutara 4ever
Pokemon & animal crossing (only games I'll play)
Korrasami
omg i used to be "teamvegeta16" online HAHA food i like:
miso soup or any SOUP YES
coffee w/ oatmilk
mmm chicken salad
seafood! ceviche, sushi, crab YUMM
kiwi ...um.. is it weird that i eat the skin??!?!
Dislikes:
Drawing HAHAH sometimes it's hard to get into it
impatient entitled Karen-type customers/drivers UGHH
when my cat leaves the room when i wanna cuddle :(
that one hair that grows out my mole AHH
cold soup :'-(
random Unpopular opinion: celebrity obsessions are weird to me-- yet I can be completely obsessed with an animated fictional character LMAO Any other questions, or drawing requests, or if you'd like to open up & tell me about YOU feel free to send a DM so we can connect :D
11 notes · View notes
raven-blends · 2 years
Text
Day 11- Cat/Dog
Day 11 of @mil-kis Lookbook Challenge- Cat/Dog
I just had to base this sim off of a Dalmatian, no question.
CC list below the cut.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Here is the CC list and my gallery ID. CC can be found mostly on TSR and Patreon but I recommend just using Google to find each piece. Some may be VIP on TSR:
Everyday: Madlen Mara Shoes Coffeemoon Wet Lashes Pixelunivairse Andreya Skirt Myobi Cowgirl Necklace Peachyfaerie Glimpse Collection Oydis Make or Break Sofiya Rings R TwistedCat Spite Eyebrows TwistedCat Comet Eyes Non Default Myobi Cowgirl Socks Halla Lemon Cake Eyeshadows CloudCat No Bite Nose Tattoo Pralinesims Eyeliner N122 Amusement Park Pralinesims Lip N234 Poison Love Desimny Serene Skin Blend Kamiiri Libra Hair Joliebean Ballerina Nails Matte EnriqueS4 Earrings Valentine V2 Pralinesims Blush N81 Star Shower V2 Sadgirlsclub Ruched Bust Cow Print Top CloudCat No Bite Ears Sims3melancholic Francesca Skin MsBlue Skintone Set V3 Obscurus Eyes Presets 5f StretchSkeleton Nose Preset 03 Obscurus Lips Presets 7f
Formal: AH00B Juliet Hair Rusty 220203 SS 2015 8 Dot Ruffle Gown II Pralinesims Eyeliner N121 Maze Rusty 210816 Jewelry V11 Earring + Necklace Crypticsims Elm Street Eyeshadow ShakeProductions Bohemian Wedding Sandals 3 NorthernSiberiaWinds Lips N21 MMSIMS Eyelash v4 Glasses IzzieMcFire Shanty Blush N58
Athletic: Pixelunivairse Biker Short Short Arethabee Alex Sneakers Kamiiri Rae Hair Trillyke Stalker Top
Sleep: Trillyke Teddy Bear Slippers Kamiiri Bonnie Hair Trillyke Lemonade Top Trillyke ASAP Set
Party: Pralinesims Lip N232 Paradise Arethabee Ava Dress Crypticsims 4Ever Eyeshadow Kamiiri Leda Hair EnriqueS4 Earrings Valentine V3 4w25 Blush N7 Dreamgirl 3D Lashes
Swim: Saurus x BoP Equinox May Hair GoodChillsStudio Swimsuit Beach Collection Taurus
Hot: Arethabee Jenny Skirt Kamiiri Beth Hair Angissi Lips P05 Arethabee Lani Shoes Casteru Lace Tank 130421 TwistedCat Wedding Kit Eyeshadow IzzieMcFire Shanty Blush N58
Cold: Lady Simmer My Valentine Blush Pralinesims Eyeliner N120 Palace Madlen Trix Jeans AdrienPastel x Daphne Cardigan Simandy x IR Hime Hair EA TwistedCat Pyrite Residue Lipstick HUIEN Cozy Boots
Blender scene by @slfj-creative
ID: revengelovers Feel free to also add me on Origin!
7 notes · View notes
dimple14 · 10 months
Text
Tumblr media
Noritake Serene Garden 21pc Dinner Set | Krishna Crockery
Serve your family and guests with our range of dinner sets and crockery sets. And these make great gifts too. Dinner sets availabel in top brands notritake,Natchman,denow,alda,cello,laopala,corelle,4ever,servewell,dinewell,danktowa,deol and many more. Material include opalware(glass),melmoware(melamine),porcelian,bone china,Ceramic,crystal.
1 note · View note
sbknews · 10 months
Link
0 notes
georg7na · 10 months
Text
navigation through georg7na’s rchive ! ✮
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
☆ seren, estj 3w4, gemini sun, scorpio moon, gemini rising
aeskz ult, kim seungmin lover, nct djj discography stan, typology nerd 4ever (estj3w4postergirl reference), future creative director of some brand (?), certified-mini-skirt-wearer, samyang noodle consumer (my tummy hurts), girlblogger, retail therapy, miu miu gyal, not so frequent manga reader (rip to my tr phase), not so casual bsd liker, lady bird timothee chalamet saying “good girl” for one hour, danceracha (lino, hyun, fefe) my dance inspo, pink vaseline over laneige, slight ed tumblr, academic validation + dance coach validation, 5star over all else, victoria’s secret pajamas (never ending beef), casual xg stan / tokki / fearnot, now that i’m writing my stan list i realize how much it’s skznct + ggs, either in my missing dance or hating dance phase, dance moms (earlier szns), kuwtk (earlier szns), the office (earlier szns), watching waack basics on yt (but never practicing), fav styles of dance: masc hiphop / pop&lock > jazz / vogue / femme hiphop > contemp / ballet. more to come!
ser! so silly! shitposter
fashion struggles
THOTS&ANALYSIS
1 note · View note
windenbluffs · 2 years
Text
FEBRUARY CC HAUL 💙🌊
Tumblr media
🦋 cc links under the cut 🦋
Released for public access on or before 24 February, 2022
1:
Luna hair by @miikocc
SWAK bodysuit by @joliebean
Cleo skirt by @arethabee
Hailey boots (knee high) by @ikari-sims
2:
Jade hair by @oakiyo
Amor bra by @serenity-cc
Bombshell bottoms by Joliebean
3:
Tasia hair by @qicc
Florentis dress by @thepeachyfaerie
Leather mules 03 by @jius-sims
4:
Elena hair by @simstrouble
Heartstrings cardigan by @okruee
Dolly skirt by @kumikya
Platform leather sandals 03 by Jius-Sims
5:
Penelope hair by @aladdin-the-simmer
Michelle suit by Ikari-Sims
Kumiko socks and Rei boots by @trillyke
All / Other:
Val earrings by @ravensim
Chipped nails by Arethabee
4EVER eyeshadow, U Up eyeliner, Darling blush and Love Cosmos highlight by @crypticsim
Shimmer lipgloss by @twisted-cat
Toenail polish from the Base Game
Thanks so much to these amazing CC creators!
@s4lookbookgallery @mmoutfitters
Last month's haul
200 notes · View notes
eternityunicorn · 4 years
Text
🌷; tag game
RULES: answer 20 questions, then tag 20 bloggers you want to get to know better.
I was tagged by @darknightfrombeyond! Thanks! 💕😊💕
Name: Sadie
Nicknames: None
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Height: 5'4″
Languages Spoken: English
Nationality: American
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Flower: Tulips
Favorite Scent: Blueberry, just blueberry
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Animal: Lions and Orcas
Favorite Fictional Characters: Elijah Mikaelson, Klaus Mikaelson, Lady Amalthea/The Unicorn, Queen Serenity, Usagi Tsukino, Baymax, Kurama Minamino, Loki, Tony Stark, & Steve Rogers
Coffee, Tea, or Hot Chocolate: Chai Tea, Iced Tea, and Hot Chocolate
Average Sleep: No idea, but ranges between 6 and 12 hours
Dog or Cat Person: Cats (I have 3)
Number of Blankets You Sleep With: One
Dream Trip: Japan, Pompeii, or Belfast (Ireland)
Blog Established: No Idea, but I started using it for it’s intended purpose January 2019
Followers: 542
Random Fact: My favorite color and my birthstone (Amethyst) are the same by chance, not by choice.
*************************
Tag List: @elejah-wonderland @elejahforever @inmylifeilovedthemall @missnmikealson @klaroline-4ever @esclisa @wings-of-an-angel @ggonzalez303
3 notes · View notes
Note
Hey Tay, I would love it if you wrote a fic of Royality and the prompt "Your safe here because the sun never sets here
Hey Damion! I shall do my very best. Patton and Roman are the two most difficult sides for me to write so I apologize if this is OOC! Also, sorry this is so late!
The Sun Never Sets
Pairing: Royality (can be read as platonic or romantic)
Warnings: Talk of nightmares, panic attack (if there are any others that I missed, please let me know)
Summary: Patton has a nightmare, and who better to protect him from the dangers that lurk in the dark than a dashing prince?
Moonlight filtered through the blinds covering Roman’s open window, spilling onto the floor in a pool of shimmering silver. The gentlest of breezes blew through the room and brushed across the sleeping creative side’s cheek. His face twitched ever so slightly but the man remained asleep. Serenity coated his features as vivid images danced through his never-stilling mind. His brow furrowed, however, when he sensed a darkness clouding the edges of his unconscious. Fierce brown eyes snapped open and the prince summoned his sword as he leapt from his bed. There was a foe somewhere within the mindscape. Somewhere within the dreams of his companions. As the keeper of Thomas’ dreams, it was his responsibility to slay the beasts that corrupted the whimsical fantasies he crafted. There would be no nightmares this evening. Not on his watch.
Roman stalked down the hallway, his sword at the ready. His first stop, Virgil’s bedroom. More often than not, when there were nightmares, they originated from the emo’s room. But when he silently pushed open the door, there Virgil was. His bangs were plastered messily across his face as he lay in what looked like an incredibly uncomfortable position, but he was indeed sleeping quite peacefully for once. The ghost of a smile tugged at Roman’s lips as he gently closed the door and resumed his search. Next up, Patton. A short while ago, he wouldn’t have even considered that their perpetual ray of sunshine could ever spark a nightmare but after their exploration of the father figure’s room, his eyes were opened to just how much Patton hid.
Roman needed to show him that he never had to hide ever again.
As he approached the moral side’s door, he nearly froze in his tracks at the sound of muffled sobbing. Newly motivated, he rushed toward the room, his sword vanishing as he did so. This was not a situation where bursting through the door swinging a sword would do much good. Ignoring the ice that was seemingly flowing through his veins, pushing through the fear that pulsed through his body, Roman twisted his hand and flung the door open.
Stepping into Patton’s room, the prince was shocked to find himself enveloped in a darkness so complete that the dim light from the hallway seemed to evaporate once it passed the doorframe.
“Patton?” Roman called into the void, unsure of how much the nightmare was distorting the dimensions of the room. The sobbing, which had abruptly stopped when the door opened, began again.
“Ro-roman?” Patton’s whimper came from somewhere to the prince’s right. Roman made his way farther into the room, his boots clicking loudly against the seemingly wooden floors. It wasn’t like he could see them anyway.
“Patton, I need you to keep talking darling, I cannot see in here. Where are you?”
“I-I’m on my bed, I think you’re to my left? Keep-um, keep…” the fatherly figure paused momentarily, a shaky breath echoing through the silence, “keep walking forward.”
Roman pressed onwards, following the sound of Patton’s frightened voice. Suddenly, his knee struck a soft surface and he stumbled, collapsing onto the moral side’s bed. Patton gasped at the sudden movement and the prince struggled to right himself.
“Hey Padre, can I touch you?” He asked softly. After a moment, the frightened side gave a noise of assent. Roman slowly reached out and brushed his fingers against his companion’s arm. The uncontrollable trembling of the man next to him struck concern into his very core. Patton quickly flung himself into Roman’s arms, tears streaming down his face and soaking the prince’s clothes. Roman knew that Patton could not stay in this room at this particular moment and, gathering the shaking man into his arms, sunk the two of them out of the darkness.
Sunshine struck his eyes, creating patches of brilliant light that danced across his vision. Blinking against the sudden brightness, he looked around at their new surroundings within his realm. Rolling hills covered in lush grass stretched as far as the eye could see. Patches of stunning flowers dotted the hillsides with splashes of bright red and pale blue. The sun was directly overhead, unmoving in the neverending sky. The gentle breeze rustling through the grass was the only sound.
It was beautiful.
“Patton? Do you want to talk about what happened?” Roman interrupted the near-silence, his voice low as he continued to cradle the other man in his arms.
“It was so dark Roman. I couldn’t-I couldn’t see anything and…and…I hated it so much Roman I was so scared! I could feel a presence in the dark but no matter what I did…I couldn’t see them and I’m still so scared.” The moral side sobbed, his breath coming in short, quick gasps. The prince remained silent, slowly running his hand up and down Patton’s back while they sat in the grass. After a long moment of comfortable silence, during which Patton’s breathing began to even out, Roman spoke.
“Patton, you’re safe. I promise you. You’re safe here because here, the sun never sets. You never have to be in the dark again. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
Tags under the cut:
General Writing Taglist: @virgil-my-diamond @ajdraws0430
Fanders Blog: @fandersfic-royality
Romantic Royality Taglist: 
@pandagirl0730
@nyxwordsmith@starlightlogan@logan-exe@potterlover394@logically-sided@kentato-kenart@deathbyvenusftw@siriuswhiskers@milomeepit@thepusheenqueen@funsizedgremlin@katesattic@johnnyboylaurens@multi-fandom-trash-x9000@trashypansexual@poundland-twoface@deadinsidebutliving@purpleshipper@saphirestrike@inkwasalwaysherere@allthemetalsoftherainbow@ashbash-the-trashcash@minamishipsit@catsandrandomness@too-precious-to-process@depressed-alone@silversunshine2012@k9cat@romanssippycup@paxtonlovestea@voices-and-stardust@starry-eyed-haiku-dreamer@asalwayss@angeliclogan@AskolotlQuestions@vulnerablevirgil@micha-like-you-find-in-rocks@urtrashhq@katatles-the-fish@migraine-marathon@skylagamingfea@kurna-kovite@emovirgil@candiukas@XxxxWitlee@nymphaedoratonks@evilmuffin@minshinxx@cashmeredragon@clueingforblogs@too-random-for-me@cinderlunarcyborg@thecrimsoncodex@cinquefoilelove@theanxietyofbeinganxious@sanderssides-deathangel@musicphanpie-b@pansexual-cat@ive-given-up-on-it@planetsanders@robanilla@thestoryofme13@virgil-has-a-houseplant@mollycassmith@the-feels-are-coming@faacethefacts@rptheturk@theshipqueenarrives@lana–22@muontsy2@shadow-walker-1201@the-prince-and-the-emo@prplzorua@shygirl4991@pearls-of-patton@rose-gold-roman@thats-so-crash@hamster-corn @dementeddracon@mercythemermaid@jade-dragon226-fan@pansexual-cat@pieces-of-annedrew@artistictaurean@faithhopefelony@superintrovertfangirl@jughead-is-canonically-aroace@sanders-trash-4ever@ocotopushugs@heythereprincey@thomas-must-get-to-sleep@grey-lysander@savingshae@nightly-illustrator@yourhappypappypatton@lei-brokeit@treblesanders@musicsavedmefromdeath@redundant-statements-for-400@storytellerofuntoldlegends@magicmapleleaf@fandergecko@aph-roma@trashfireiplier@violetmcl@confinesofpersonalknowledge@pinkeasteregg@proudhufflepuff@reba-andthesides@strangerthings-and-phan@ill-interested@sanders-sides-things@patchworkofstars@all-these-trees-stealing-mah-o2@radioactivebread@purplepatton@thesilentbluesparrow@ono-its-ryane@cripplingchips@theworldismysupernova@baileystarsketches@strangerthings-and-phan@thegreyacefromspace@do-rey-me@notveryglittery@sanders-fam-ily@spacenerrrd@unknownsandersfan@on-lock-like-attica@tree4life25@angered-turtle@a-blog-just-for-sanders@theworldismysupernova@asterias-confused-writings@toujours-fidele@karmicmayhem@the-optimism-of-the-ostriches@hanramz-the-fander@ace-v-p-d@anonymouseandkeyboard@captain-loki-xavier@thought-u-said-dragon-queen@smokeyrutilequartz@thisisshien@justmyshitandmoreshit
Platonic Royality Taglist:
@royallyanxious@tree4life25@acrobaticcatfeline@emovirgil@muontsy2@aph-roma@unknownsandersfan@yourmomsafalsehood@v-blue-writer@lei-brokeit@the-optimism-of-the-ostriches@nymphaedoratonks@lowkey-logicality@artistictaurean@starlightlogan@completelyclevername@urtrashhq@ive-given-up-on-it@dementeddracon@kickthenavi@virgilisaneternalmood@ladynikitablack@theworldismysupernova@hikariyukino@multi-fandom-trash-x9000@kentato-kenart@sandersfanders@yourhappypappypatton@thisisshien@thought-u-said-dragon-queen@paxtonlovestea@magicmapleleaf@thesilentbluesparrow@pinkeasteregg@reba-andthesides@ill-interested@emokittenlikesgore@jughead-is-canonically-aroace@theroyalramen@ace-v-p-d@pattykrabbies@ocotopushugs@a-blog-just-for-sanders@happypappypatton@anony-phangirl@saphirestrike@theworldismysupernova@grey-lysander@mercythemermaid@justmyshitandmoreshit
117 notes · View notes
Text
Deanna Braids Sam’s Hair
Characters: Uncle!Sam x Niece!Deanna, Mommy!Reader, Daddy!Dean (mentioned)
Word Count: 1,176
Warnings: all the Sam fluff here
Summary: You and Dean need a few days for yourselves and you asked Sam to watch his niece which he accepts happily. He needs some time alone with his niece. 
Author’s Note: Sorry for not having a requested fic out. I hope you like this series and if you want to see anything with Dean and Deanna or even her uncles or aunts, let me know! I will be tagging both Dean Beans and the Sam Fam for this one. 
Wanna be a Queen or a Dean Bean or apart of the Sam Fam, all you have to do is ask! If you loved it, tell me why! If you hated it, tell me what I can do better!
Feedback the glue that holds my writing together
Tags at the bottom
Tumblr media
“Hey, Sam,” You said, popping your head in Sam’s room where he sat at his desk, typing away at his computer. He looked up at you when he heard you call his name. “Look, Dean and I need to go out and we would really appreciate it if you could watch Deanna for us.”
Sam looked at you, thinking about it. He really needed to get done what he was doing on his computer but he barely had time with his niece and wanted to spend more of it with her. Ever since you and Deanna came back to the Bunker, Deanna has been spending time with her dad, just like everyone expected but he wanted some time with his only niece.
“Yeah, sure, I can do that,” Sam said finally, smiling at your relieved look.
“Oh, thank you, Sam. I owe you.” You said, disappearing from his line of view. He frowned and got up, following you out of his room.
“Hey, wait, where do you and Dean need to be?” He asked. You stopped and turned around, giving him a guilty look.
“Look, Dean and I need a break. I love my daughter but she is a handful. Dean and I haven’t had time to ourselves lately. You don’t mind, do you?” You asked, feeling bad for dumping this on him when he could be doing something better than watching a seven-year-old.
Sam looked at you and noticed bags under your eyes and your hair a little matted. He knew you could use a few days away from the Bunker and Sam was more than happy to help you out.
“Have fun and get lots of sleep. You look like you need it.” Sam said with a smile. You smiled in relief and walked to Sam, hugging him.
“Thank you so much, Sam. Really, Dean and I owe you one.” You said, pulling away from him. Sam nodded and he smiled, watching you walk off to tell Dean the good news. Sam walked over to his niece’s room, peeking inside. She was playing with her dolls, brushing their hair and playing with it.
“Hey kiddo, looks like it’s going to be me and you for a few days,” Sam said, catching the attention of the little girl. Deanna looked at Sam and smiled, getting up. She walked over to him and grabbed his hand.
“Come on, Uncle Sam,” she said, bringing him into her room. She didn’t even seem fazed by the fact that her mom and dad were leaving for a few days.
“What are we doing?” Sam asked, sitting on Deanna’s bed while watching her gather some things from around her room. Her room was messy, like any kid’s room should be. Dolls and other girl toys littered the ground, taking up most of the space.
Ever since moving into the Bunker, Dean wanted her to be happy always and got her whatever she wanted. While you were living on your own, you did give her toys but money was running low and you had to think of food and rent and the other things she needed before toys. But it was like that all went out the window when you two moved into the Bunker.
“We’re playing hairdresser.” She said, showing him her brush and a pair of fake scissors. Sam chuckled, relaxing when he knew she wouldn’t be able to actually cut his hair with those scissors.
“Do I get to do your hair?’ Sam asked.
“No, I’m the hairdresser, you’re my customer. I’m doing your hair.” Deanna said like it was obvious.
“Oh, right, go ahead, hairdresser.” Sam nodded in agreement. Deanna climbed her bed and she got behind Sam, setting the scissor on the bed. She gathered Sam’s hair in her tiny hands, brushing his hair with her brush.
“So, tell me about your day,” Deanna said, acting like a real hairdresser. Sam smiled and he pretended to be in her little world before getting into character.
“My day was okay. I went for a run and got back home where I’ve spent my day researching.” Sam spoke the truth.
“Research for the monsters?” She asked.
“Research for the monsters.” Sam nodded. Deanna smiled and set the brush down after brushing his hair and started to part it at the top. She started to make a French braid on his hair since his was so long anyway.
“What are you doing up there?” Sam asked, tipping his head back slightly as if he could see what she was doing.
“No! Look straight! You’re going to mess it up,” Deanna said, making Sam put his head back to where it was before. “I am doing a French braid on your hair. You’re going to look so pretty!”
“How do you know how to do a French braid?” Sam asked, not stopping her from doing what she wanted.
“I do it to mommy’s hair all the time. Your hair is long, not like Daddy’s.” Deanna informed Sam, working the braid down his head.
“Right, silly of me to ask,” Sam said, thinking of something to talk about while she did his hair. “Do you like it here at the Bunker?”
“Yeah! It’s very big and Daddy and I like to play hide and seek. He almost always finds me but I have a hard time finding him sometimes.” She babbled.
“Well, maybe next time, I’ll help you find your dad.” Deanna got to the bottom of his hair and moved the braid to around his neck so he could hold it.
“Hold it for me please,” She commanded and Sam did as he was told to. She jumped off the bed and ran to her dresser, getting out one of her tiny elastic bands that were meant to hold braids together. Not those big elastics, but something tiny and rubbery. She ran back to her bed and jumped on it, grabbed the braid from Sam’s fingers. She tied it quickly around his hair and beamed at her work.
“There! It’s done!” She said proudly, getting off the bed to give Sam a mirror to look at her masterpiece. Sam grabbed the mirror and he chuckled at the braid she created. She did better than he thought she would. Suddenly, she started giggling and Sam looked at her.
“Why are you laughing?” He asked.
“You look like a girl.” Deanna beamed, covering her mouth as she continued to giggle.
“Oh, I look like a girl?” Sam grinned, a mischievous look in his eyes. He dropped the mirror on her bed and grabbed her, lifting her as he tickled her. She squealed out in laughter, trying to squirm out of his arms.
“Yeah! You look like a girl!” She gasped out in short breaths, laughing as Sam kept tormenting her. He smiled and took a good look at the happiness on her face. He never thought he would have a niece he could protect but he loved Deanna with all his heart. Dean is a lucky man with a daughter like Deanna.
The Queens:
@mogaruke @whit85-blog @inlovewithbja @spn67-sister @kdfrqqg  @jarpadandjensenaremyheroes  @roxyspearing @mishamigose  @cobrakai1967 @essie1876 @crispychrissy @laqueus-ludovicus @nostalgic-uncertainty @jerk-bitch-and-an-angel  @potterhead1265  @starswirlblitz  @untitled39887 @ta-n-ja @notnaturalanahi  @tahbehonest @stay-in--place @posiemax @donnaintx  @vonthesupernaturalwriter  @alexandriajanae4 @li-ssu  @just-another-winchester  @obsessivecompulsivespn @emoryhemsworth @newtospnfandom @mizzezm @goldenolaf25 @jessikared97  @wh1sp3r1ng-impala @charliebradbury1104  @becs-bunker  @atc74 @theshaychronicals  @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @lady-lebkuchen  @kristaparadowski  @alex-zeppelin
The Dean Beans:
@akshi8278 @mega-mrs-dean-winchester @winchesterandpie @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester @carribear31 @dont-you-dare-say-misha @oreosatmidnight @not-naturalfangirl @missselinakitty @iam-a-cutiepie @kristendanwayne @milo-winchester-4ever @jensenackesl  @codyshany316 @pheonyxstorm  @helllonearth  @juniorhuntersam @pouterpufftrain  @ruprecht0420  @carriemichelle2012 @aubreystilinski  @sandlee44  @gucci-leto  @posiemax @whimsicalrobots
The Sam Fam: 
@serenity-sam @xxno-wayxx @saxxxology @lokis-queendrivesa67impala
178 notes · View notes
prayforstorms · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
We left in the predawn but later than I wanted to, not that it wasn’t early, or I had a goal that would require us to depart at such ridiculous hours. It was more that if I didn’t leave several hours before the sun was even attempting to rise, I was a failure. I lacked the discipline and resolve to wake at the hour needed and that fact cast our trip into a shade of failure already. This was nonsense perpetuated by my brain that was already needily consuming the caffeine that I had begrudgingly provided.
              This aside, the sunrise found us just across the Utah border in slightly better spirits. We hurtled down the interstate at speeds that seemed like they should be illegal, especially in the vehicle that I drove. Sliding past green river the wave that seemed ready to crash as it rose out of the Utah skyline that was the San Rafael Swell arrived before us in its cold beauty.
              We probably should have stayed here, to be honest. Toughed out the cold and found some nook in the sandstone wave to explore, but the cold was ever present and the temptress that was warmer weather further south was just as so. A quick jaunt up a canyon that some people had probably spent their entire lives in a few hundred years ago, only to leave some faint etchings as marks that they even set foot here. I traveled far more lightly upon the landscape than they did, in some manners, only taking photographs and leaving but a few footsteps across the few miles we plodded through before departing. This being said, the traces of people like me are not as faint, for Kevin and a few others felt the need to scrawl their names next to those who did so far longer ago with much more intention. I wonder if the “Kevin + Julie 4ever” means that their still together, or if even one other person other than fucking Kevin and Julie care about their name, or just look upon the defacement sadly as I do.
              These thoughts seeped out of my mind and across my lips as we drove away and parallel to the swell, our trip soon becoming that spent moving, restless, across the landscape. More of a survey for things to further study in depth than observing an isolated wonder as I was hoping.
So, we drove, fleeing the cold in our unpreparedness for the hope that we may just stay warm in our tent that night. It was my girlfriend, my dog, and I, all cramped with too much gear into the cab of a truck. This was in no way our first foray like this, but the first one lacking the old green truck that had served me so well on many an adventure and whose camper shell I had called home on occasion. Instead, we had the new steed, claimed to be mightier but yet unproven. Bright red and lacking the warmth the camper shell had provided, leaving the gear to collect and bounce in the bed.
              It’s always odd to be cold in such an environment and it’s easy to forget that the wind bites to your bones from the inside of the cab in front of the heater. The red hues seem to radiate the heat that the engine pumps through the vents, yet when the car stops and all comes to a rest, it creeps back in through the cracks until the door opens and the wind provides a presence that cannot be ignored.
              We drove through the winding roads surrounded by the rattle and hum from the car and stereo respectively. The landscape was red and composed of long stretches of flat separated by a barrier that the road cleaved a path unto; this black scar upon the landscape so vast yet divided by this path that conquers the open ground and then carves its way up, though, and over any obstacle. Yet even in a small manner the road is limited by the land and therefore the water, as this landscape more than any other was defined by it. Such irony that in a land where there is little of that juice for life, its presence, or even just whispers, memories, or the echoes of yells still exist across every surface. The water still moves here, just as it does everywhere else, but it hides until it can scream with chaos. A dichotomy of serenity punctuated by violence, promised if not always present.
              A lonely drive if it not for the company with me, yet constantly perplexed and awed with the way the land is carved and sculpted into cliffs and canyons. We have set monument valley as the goal, with a roundabout drive from the swell, its several hours by car and spared us from the chill. Yet as we drive through this barren land, a canyons path goosenecks into the soil and rock parallel to the road. It is cut into a flat landscape in a way that it could easily be missed, and its true sinuosity can only be appreciated by those that fly above it. We were on some numbered highway in the southern stretches away from the population, truly empty.
              An old ford winds down a rough BLM road and goes across the canyon bottom, through a drainage under the highway and seems to magically find its way up the cliff to where my truck hurtles past. This old road to nowhere seems to be an untouched secret ripe for capture. A hidden gem in the Utah badlands that perhaps I can find, a piece of special past that I can touch and relish in for a moment, knowing that I have seen a sight that few others have. A narcissistic feast of awe at the land.
SO, I turn around and enter where this fellow drove out. As I drive past him, I give him a smile and a wave and turn into this road to a hidden treasure and expect a jaunty return as us two travelers pass, but instead I receive a stare of animosity and the bark from a dog in the back of his truck. Putting this from my mind and continuing down from here I catch a glimpse of perhaps why. Painted upon the entrance to this exists a message few who pass this road could ignore: “stolen lands from the Dineh, Ute, Zuni” and “Fuck U.S. land management” indicating that I too am a trespasser upon this canyon and once again, long ago, it had been claimed as home.
Yet I couldn’t resist a road not yet driven into the wild, so venturing up the road to the other side of the canyon my truck protested though, we continued to only have our path barred by a gate that looked older than the collected years of the truck, molly, Maeve, and I together. I had driven through perhaps a dozen gates just today, it was how the Utah backcountry worked most times, as cattle were frequent. But this gate had the same animosity as the old man.
The sun cast an amber hue of sunset soon to come even though it was only a few hours past noon as I pondered this gate from the driver’s seat, not yet committing to opening it or turning around, just contemplating this hostile landscape and a sense of unbelonging.
Perhaps some treasures are better left for those who will actually treasure them.
We decided the highway had more to offer than this empty landscape far from anything and upon turning I saw the highway and the old blue truck we had passed on it. The old man was watching me decide what to do and where to go. I’m not sure what he wanted to know and I’m not sure where the gate lead, but I think I made the right call in leaving some wonder in the back of the canyon for those that knew it better than I.
Later that night, with the faint glow of a propane heater that was, perhaps inadvisably, the only source of warmth in the tent, I would think back upon that man’s animosity, the animosity of the land, the cold, and the desert in general and wonder why we do this? Drive headfirst into the unknown only to suffer. I don’t have any worthwhile answers to leave you with, but when the sun rose and I found myself in a warm car drinking shitty coffee from a McDonalds in the middle of a town I can’t remember the name of, I certainly appreciated it more than the cup of coffee I had the morning before in the routine of my home.
1 note · View note
floraone · 6 years
Note
Do you have any favorite episodes of Sailor Moon? Original or Crystal!!!
So, I’m sorry this took me so long to answer, love xDThe short answer is: I am very bad at picking favorites xD.
But, so … instead, I decided to do something out of your ask that I’ve been wanting to have but not found a reason to make so far: Make a list of the episodes I value the most. So, I’m not sure which of these are my favorites, but I love them for Reasons, which I’ll be telling you.
(And let me warn you, first. Because I’m a very visual person, and animation style does play a major role in this list, lol.)
Aaalso, this is gonna be a LONG post, so more under the cut.
So, first up: Crystal. This is gonna be short, because it’s THE ENTIRE INFINITY ARC.I mean, it gave us shots like THIS.
Tumblr media
I know some people weren’t big fans of the style. But hands down, it’s my favorite. It’s what I try to recreate in most of my fanart, because it’s FRIGGIN GORGEOUS. And also, it gave us Mamoru as part of the team AND family and instead of just Usagi’s boyfriend who nobody really knew outside of that. So there is that xD.
Before that, I would have to say episodes 6 (Tuxedo Mask) and 7 (Mamoru Chiba) - because those are such perfect renditions of the Manga chapters in my books, and the chemistry between Mamoru and Usagi in those represent pretty much the reason those are my OTP.
I love Crystal, totally, but I do also love the 90s anime. It had some crazy giant plot holes, and some really stupid changes that I love to pick apart in fanfic, but I grew up with that shit. I taped that shit every episode as a kid, and re-watched those episodes until the VHS broke and I taped them again when TV circled back to them. As I said, it’s hard to pick favs, and the 90s anime belongs to Sailor Moon in my heart as much as the Manga and Crystal do.
So, here’s a list of the Classic episodes that I appreciate the most:
Episode 28. That’s the one with adorable painter Yumemi Yumeno, who gets visions of the SilMil cause she’s a Rainbow Crystal carrier, and forces Usagi and Mamoru to sit for her. Mamoru is being an obnoxious ass, but you kinda see a little chemistry for the first time in my books, and it’s crazy adorable. Plus, his locket is being casually handed over in this, and this is hella cute. Plus, its animation director here is Kazuko Tadano, who was easily among my favorites in Classic.
Tumblr media
Episode 40. This, actually, is a kinda surprising pick for me. Because it’s a Masahiro Ando episode - the animation director I liked the least. An episode by him had to be REALLY good if I liked it despite of that, and this one kinda was. It’s the episode where Usagi is on a family retreat in the mountains, onsen-ing and ryokan-ing and yukata-ing away, and the youma this episode is not a youma, but a legendary star-crossed ghost-y couple, that Evil!Endy decides to wake and then not be very evil about it. In fact, this episode would fall under the category of “MOST UNUSED POTENTIAL” for me, because there is so much in it, and so much feeling, and so much… ugh. It could have been so perfect, this episode. I’ve been meaning to write a fic surrounding it, but I’m still lacking the inspiration for it to get as perfect as it should be in my head.
Episode 44. Short reason: Our first complete glimpse we get of the SilMil, when the girls Sailor Teleport to the moon and Queen Serenity tells us how the SilMil ended. Also, Hisashi Kagawa is an amazing animator.
Episode 46. The last episode of Classic and I bawled when Usagi was left behind, and I bawled when Usagi held that locket out, and I bawled when Mamoru died, and I bawled when Usagi stood there as Serenity and the ghost hands of the girls helped her out. BAWLED.(Also Kazuko Tadano again.)
Episode 49. This has one reason, and one reason alone: It’s the song that played in the german dub in this episode (“Dort im Regen”), instead of “Anata no Sei Janai” (Makoto’s image song) in the original. It’s the same melody, and it’s friggin BEAUTIFUL, and I held my cassette recorder to our TV set when I was 9 to record that song, and listened to it so long and so often that even now, 20 plus years later, my MOTHER still knows the german lyrics by heart.
Episode 51. This was hanami school trip, Umino The Burrito, Usagi’s adorable scene with Luna, and her power up and badass-ness. Also lots and lots of cherry blossoms, and Hisashi Kagawa’s animation was bloody GORGEOUS.
Tumblr media
Episode 56. It’s the snow white episode and it was so, so, so very silly, and where do you suppose you suddenly got those “friends” from that you talk about here, Mamoru, but I love it.
Episode 61. The break up episode. And god how I curse that break up arc all the time (or more correctly, its execution, not its existence, because that’s some sweet torture). But, let’s face it. This episodes hurts. And it’s GOOD.
Tumblr media
Episode 69. The one other break up arc episode that I really, really like. The Sleeping Beauty. And surprise, surprise, it’s the one other episode where Mamoru shows some emotion about it, and we get to see how much this breaks him apart. (Also it has motorcycle and Unazuki, so yeah.)
Episode 91. The rod of looooove. Also adorable little kitties and a Mamo-chan that thinks the funnest, best date ever is a broken down house and several dozen stray cats.
Episodes 110 and 111. Those are the ones where the Talismans come together, where Uranus and Neptune sacrifice themselves and Pluto comes to save the day, and Usagi transforms into Super Sailor Moon for the first time and it’s animated by Ikuko Ito who’s just a friggin amazing artist.  (Also 110 is the episode with that hand HaruMichi hand-dance. so there.)
Episode 125. Ikuko Ito strikes again. I talked about this episode a couple days ago, in the ask that lovely @queenrisa14 asked. It’s when Usagi is literally being purer than the purest heart crystals, and transforms into Super Sailor Moon to save Saturn. And it works. And she comes back with a baby. And it’s wow. And it’s one of the two most emotive scenes that I could name when I was asked about them.
Episode 136. NINJA USAGI. AERIAL BUTT. NINJA USAGI IN NINJA OUTFIT THAT FITS OVER HER ODANGOES.
Episode 141. Because Minako two times two ASSHOLES and then kicks their butt.
Episode 152. This is the most random filler episode. The one with Rei’s little fan, who tries to look like her. BUT IT’S THE MOST GORGEOUS EPISODE OF THEM ALL. Ikuko Ito was always amazing, but to me, never better than here. Randomly.
Episode 159. Because Chibs looks friggin gorgeous in her Serenity dress and her Pegasus wings in that dream sequence. Because Mamoru interogating Chibs on who’s that boyfriend is friggin awesome. Because Mamoru hangs out with the girls and we never get to see that otherwise. And because of Ikuko Ito.
Episode 166. BECAUSE OF IKUKO ITO.
Episode 167. It’s the first episode of the first Stars arc, and it’s GORGEOUS because Katsumi Tamegai has turned into a friggin animation god by the time Stars came around, and it starts with that scene where baby Hotaru sits in between Sakura blossoms and dreams of Eternal Sailor Moon, and end with baby Hotaru being bad-ass, powering the Outers up and skipping toddler-hood altogether.
Episode 172: Last episode of Nehelenia, and Usagi is the Usagi I remember here. Warm and wise and forgiving and redeeming, and she turns into Eternal Sailor Moon for the first time and that transformation is so much prettier than what came after for her.
Episode 173. Let me say something first, here, maybe. Because I FRIGGIN LOVE STARS. Stars is my fav season. I hate that it had no Mamoru, but I loved that shit. And this was bye bye Harvard episode, that at least gave us a promise ring, and a dorky meet cute for Usagi and Seiya.
Episode 174. Three Lights join the girls’ class. It was adorable.
Episode 180. Albert von Garajan. Michiru’s concert with the Three Lights. Usagi being cute. You guys know I love this episode, I referenced it in Yugen so  much.
Episode 181. Doki-doki date! C'mon guys, that shit was CUTE. Also Usagi x Takoyaki 4Ever.
Tumblr media
Episode 184. Usagi is home alone, Seiya comes to house-sit, and everyone, EVERYONE joins. C'mon guys, even if you may hate Seiya, that episode was comedic gold and I wish the 90s anime would have had more episodes like that, AND WITH MAMORU IN IT. It’s the kinda Sailor Moon comedy that I’m TRYING to aspire to whenever I try to be funny in my fics. (Also Minako Ito is ALSO a friggin perfect animator)
Episode 194. Sailor Tin Nyanko knows Usagi is Sailor Moon, and that fierce protection the girls give her breaks my heart. As does Usagi, missing Mamoru, in the rain, with Seiya breaking down and so many people hating him for it. (I’m not gonna rant about that again, lol. I already defended him for it here.)
Episode 200. There. That’s my Usagi. Saving the world with her love and her hope. Also Serenity with wings. Also Mamoru is finally back. Also Katsumi Tamegai.
AND THEN THERE’S THE R MOVIE AND IT MIGHT BE MY BIGGEST LOVE OF ALL.
So there you go, love. I was thorough ;)
24 notes · View notes
multimuse-online · 6 years
Note
🌙 : seeing your muse outside alone during nighttime; maybe like in the wastelands? [ sry i'm taking 4ever to reply 2 our thread
All knew when he had entered the Wastelands. The ground shook hard enough that the dark sky above might crack in two; the sound of a door closing and echoing through the landscape. Following came an ethereal roar, load and pained like an animal begging for death. It echoed and carried to the ears of all souls that resided there. And those familiar with that sound immediately began to run in fear of it. Monsters that once took pride in their devious nature now crawled into the darkest and smallest of places to hide from that which could erase their existence. The first monster to have ever existed. Even in their hiding places they could hear the heavy paws and hooves pressing into the dead soil, crunching leaves and branches. 
The Wastelands looked far different from Purgatory. It was split between the ashes of a burnt forest, trees barely hanging onto life resting in a curious canopy over those that resided there. The other half, dark rocky terrain for as far as the eye could see. And in this realm lay a door that if one could find it, they could return to their life once again. Many had tried... And many had gone mad from it, their souls distorting much like this monster’s own into something unrecognisable. The monster wondered as it walked, what had become of her? The young woman with a fire in her chest that pushed her to fight even when all seemed hopeless. It was for that reason, that it was here. 
It did not approach her immediately. Instead it watched her from afar, single red and golden eye watching her from its hiding place. It seemed she had taken time to rest but that did not mean she was not cautious, it could see makeshift weapons at her side. But with the presence of such a beast near her, it was unlikely that much would approach her here. It was only once the monster felt it had watched long enough that it stepped from its hiding place, revealing itself in its splendor. 
It stood tall, taller than most trees. It had front end of a black lion, front paws digging and clawing at the earth as it walked. Its back end was that of a goat, cloven hooves pushing into the dirt and creating large imprints. Its tail, a live snake that coiled and spat at anything that came too close, its little eyes stared at the woman in scrutiny as it swayed back and forth. And finally, upon the back of this magnificent beast lay a pair of black wings. They were damaged, flesh torn from bone in places and they looked positively painful to watch. Feathers were missing and what feathers remained were caked together like oil on a bird. But it did not seem bothered by this, it was something it had dealt with for a long time. 
It took a seat in front of the woman, calm and serene; a familiar air around it. Its eyes looked down at her, one red and one golden. Suddenly, a booming voice came, echoing inside of Caroline’s head; coming from the beast whose lips moved not. 
“So... You have survived this far, Caroline”. 
1 note · View note
dilaysjoker · 4 years
Text
Tumblr media
Ma Roket Was Born In Aug 8th ‘19 On International Cat Day n He’s da Member Of Our Family Since Oct 4th ‘19 World Animal Day 😃💀😺🌍🌈 That Time, He Was 2 Mnths Old But We’ve Been 2getha For 1 Yr 💫 So Now He’s Over Age 1 Cuz He’s 14 Mnths Old Handsome Boi 🐈 Hope We’ll Be Happy 4ever Rokieyco 💙 I Wish Happy World Animal Day To U & All Our Cute Besties In Life 🥳🎉🚀🏆🐶🦅🦄🐥🦮🐲😁 Luv Ya So Much Rocket 😻 U’re Ma Serenity 🤣
İşte Bu Hayata 8 Agustos ‘19 Dunya Kediler Gunu’nde Gelen Bnm Roket’im 4 Ekim ‘19 Dunya Hayvanlari Koruma Gunu’nde Bizim Ailemizin Bi Parcasi Oldu 😃💀😺🌍🌈 Tam 1 Yildir Bizimle Olan Bu Yakısıklı O Zaman Daha 2 Aylikti, Ama Simdi 1 Yaşını Gecmis Tam 14 Aylik Bi Delikanli 💫🐈 Birlikte Sayamicagimiz Kadar Mutlu Anlarimiz Olsun Insallah Rokieyco 💙 Senin Ve Yeryuzundeki Butun Sevimli Dostlarimizin Dunya Hayvanlari Koruma Gunu’nu Kutluorm 🥳🎉🚀🏆🐶🦅🦄🐥🦮🐲😁 Cok Seviorm Seni Roket 😻 Huzurumsun 🤣
0 notes