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blackboujeebeauty · 4 years ago

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Stacking Your Coins 101💰✨

As 2021 comes to an end you may be coming to the realization that

Maybe you didn’t save up as much money as you may have hoped for in the beginning of the year

You want to go into 2022 with a better understanding of your finances or getting that aspect of your life under control but you may have a hard time finding a saving method that works for you consistently.

Or you simply wanna save for something specific in mind

One of the valued aspects of life for the BlackBoujeeBeauty brand is Financial literacy and Financial Freedom. Financial literacy is having the set of skills and knowledge that allows you to make informed and effective decisions with your financial resources. Having control of your money is so important for ones' self development by separating ourselves from old habits and creating new routines and methods that not only work and benefit us but that we enjoy doing.

Having money coming in whether it be from your day to day job, investments, business ventures, partnerships and brand deals, assets and inheritance is a luxury that we should not take for granted but knowing how to make your money work for you and knowing where your money is going is an even bigger flex. In today's blog post we are featuring saving methods you can try as well as some tips and tricks on how you can always stay ahead of the game when it comes to YOUR money.

Repeat after me.

"IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO START SAVING MONEY"

Now in my early 20's I sometimes find myself thinking damn I could have started saving way earlier then I did. If I would of have started saving that lunch money and Elementary book fair my parents would give to me then just maybe I would be up there with Miss Robyn Fenty herself in the coins department. Okay... maybe I'm exaggerating just a wee bit but a girl can dream right? Unfortunately we still have yet to develop the technology to time travel soooo I had to get a grip and teach myself financial literacy.

Tips for saving $$

The first step to getting on the road to creating a better relationship with your money is, Knowing how much money you have available to save and knowing how much money you are actually willing to save. Going over your monthly income, expenses and bills is a good start on knowing how much you are able to save based on those factors. If you currently don't have any bills, Lucky you! but also keep in mind that a bill can also be something so little as those monthly subscriptions you don't even realize that you're subscribed too!

After you reviewed everything over and get a solid range on how much you feel comfortable saving find a method that works for you of where exactly that saved money will now be allocated. There are so many methods on how to allocate your money and I'll be sharing a few that I have personally tried myself some that have worked for me and others that may work for you.

Savings Challenges

Widely popular on Pinterest and accessible templates that can be found all over the internet are Saving Challenges. Saving Challenges can be based on daily, weekly and monthly deposits. These challenges usually should be started at the beginning of the year so that you can see the growth of your money throughout the year and what a gratifying feeling that is! These challenges are great if you are a beginner when it comes to saving as you can find a challenge that works for your budget and eventually move onto the challenges that require you to save even more money in a certain time frame. One of my favorite money saving challenges is the 52 Week Challenge where you deposit the dollar amount the reflects the number of the week in the year that it is leaving you with a cute coin at the end of the year. These challenges are great if you have a savings goal in mind for saving up for a vacation, trying to pay off some debts, building up your emergency fund, whatever it is that you want to save for these are a great way to start. These Challenges are fun as you can do them with friends and family that may have a similar goal, create your own Savings Challenge that works within your budget. Having people around you that are working towards a similar goal can be more motivation for an individual to achieve said goal.

Out of Sight out of Mind

One method of saving that I have always found to work for me for years and also requires the least amount of work is the Out of Sight out of Mind rule. A reoccurring issue that I found myself having is that when all my money was in one bank account with a Personal Checking account and my Savings account that I had easy access too I would dip into my Savings account if my Checking was lacking in funds, I had to come to terms that I could not handle having easy access to my savings so setting up an additional savings account with a smaller bank or credit union that I didn't have easy access to helped me build my savings back up because I couldn't constantly dip into it. If you find yourself having that issue as well this method could be helpful if you also have an impulse spending habit. Having Direct Deposit set up with this method is best because the money is automatically designated to the account that you chose so you don't have to move money around so much from bank to bank.

Piggy Banking

I know you're probably like a Piggy bank? really? but lets bring it back to the basics for a moment. Piggy banks, money jars and whatever else you were able to get your hands on as a kid are some of the first ways we are taught to save money. Obviously as the years have gone on and the piggy banks have been broken into, sometimes starting a routine that we are already familiar with can be helpful as well. Money is money whether you find a dime on the street that holds value. If you have spare change lying around or loose dollars that may be sitting at the bottom of your bag try investing in a piggy bank, mason jar anything that can hold money put those nickels, dimes, pennies away because over time as you continue to pour more and more into it you are accumulating money that can one day be used for a big purchase. So don't count out the coins you may have lying around because those coins can turn into dollars and eventually Franklin's.

Envelope Stuffing

Currently one of my favorite ways to save money for specific goals and budgeting my bi-weekly expenses is cash stuffing with envelopes for my short term goals and sinking funds. This method does require the most discipline and consistency in order for you to see your hard work pay off as well as doing a little bit of math here and there but is is also a fun and cute way to see your money grow as well as getting you into the habit of not only saving but budgeting as well, because there is a difference. This method does require you to look at your income first. I budget by my bi-weekly income as I also work full time and get paid bi-weekly. Once you have your bi weekly income logged down you then want to subtract your bills (ie: car payment, rent/mortgage, gym membership, subscriptions, credit card bills) that will be deducted from your account during that time period, from that amount you then look at what you have left. This amount will be what you use to budget your reoccurring expenses (ie: groceries, gas, out of pocket medical cost, housing, etc) once you have dispersed your budget amount to the different areas of expenses what is now left over will be what you use for your short term goals and sinking funds.

Short terms goals: shopping trip, beauty items, nails, restaurant outing, birthday gifts.

vs.

Sinking funds: Saving up for a home, purchasing a car , paying a debt, school tuition, vacation.

The money that you put into your sinking funds should be for a long term goal that you have that will take a longer time to fulfill then your short term goals. I like this method because my money is broken down for a specific purpose in each envelope. I can track my progress and log when money is coming in and going out. This method has really taught me about disciplining my self to create a budget that is realistic while still allowing me to enjoy the fruits of my labor but not over spending or impulse purchasing. A con to this method is that if your income is deposited directly to your bank this method does require you to go to the bank to take out the cash that you will need to stuff your envelopes. This can be time consuming if you use more then one bank. To get a better understanding and visual of how you can do this at home check out @TaylorBudgets on YouTube!

Purchase your Mean Girls inspired Budget Burn Book here!✨

Debt Payment Tracker✨

Bi-Weekly Budget Planner✨

Cash Stuffing Envelope Inserts✨

Reading

Reading is what? FUNDAMENTAL. To get a better understanding of why something may not be working for us and how we can improve on that, reading is a great source for getting different perspectives on a subject. Some Financial Literacy books that have helped me understand the importance of preserving money are

"Broke Millennial" by Erin Lowry

"The Black Girls Guide to Financial Freedom" by Paris Woods

"Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche

Investing

Investing your money is a great way to also grow your money over a period of time by making your money an employee of yours. Looking at your money as employees puts into the perspective that you must make your money work for you by giving it a specific job. There are many ways to invest your money into different accounts that will grow your money based off of an interest rate. These accounts are great for long term saving and setting up your future.

Stay tuned for an Investing 101 Blog Post 📈📉

If you decided to start a new journey of saving or fixing your relationship with money please remember this.

"Be patient with your coin" this saying has stuck with me from the moment I heard it and it serves as a constant reminder for me to be patient not only with myself but with my finances. I heard this saying from content creator @jnaydaily on YouTube who makes amazing content for self development, furnishing your space, branding and so much more!

Be consistent. You've probably heard this saying a million and one time but Consistency is very important in anything that we do. When we set goals for ourselves it can be hard to see the end of that goal due to lack of motivation, procrastination, self sabotage and even just life may get in the way of the things that we want to accomplish. Affirming to yourself to continue to be consistent and patient with yourself will help boost your confidence and get you to the goals that you set!

Affirmations. I got into the routine of saying affirmations everyday which has also elevated my mind by being kinder to myself through the practice of writing down my affirmations, saying them aloud or having them visible in my most personal spaces. You can also find our Daily Affirmations on Pinterest as well!

Money Affirmations

✨I am wealthy.

✨I am an abundant being.

✨I have many streams of income that support the life I want to live.

✨Money continuously flows to me.

✨My money will support generations and generations to come.

Get in the habit of saying these at least once a day for twenty one days straight and see how your mindset transforms.

Manifest

"See it. Say it. Sow it"- BlackBoujeeBeauty

Manifesting the life you want by visualizing it, speaking it into existence and planting that seed helps to create a healthier mindset and image of yourself that eventually you will grow more and more comfortable showing up as that person that you dream of being.

I hope you have found these tips helpful and that they serve you along your journey, because we are what? STRIVING FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM. You got this, I'm rooting for you sis!

#blackboujeebeauty #blog post #self development #savingmoney #finances #income #budget #motivation #affirmations #blackgirlswhoblog #black tumblr #black girl magic #women in luxury #black woman

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hagoftheholler · 3 years ago

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Why is community important for folk magic?

I've mentioned a few times in the past that community is a significant aspect of folk magic. No, I do not mean covens or anything like that. Community can be anything from the people of your town to a discord server. With the internet available to us, finding communities online makes things like this easier to do. Why is community so important for folk magic, though?

We have to go back in time a little bit to grasp what I'm talking about. Prior to the internet and other technological advancements humanity has developed, community was the most important thing to people. People would go out of their way to help the people of their community, so long as those people weren't the troublesome type. When I say help the people of their community, I mean they would help in any way they can.

Men would help build and repair homes. Shopkeepers would have their wives use embroidery on sacks made of cloth; that way women taking home goods could reuse them to make pretty clothes for their children. People would share all kinds of tips, tricks and goods. This goes for old folk practices, too.

Many of the old folk practitioners were midwives, doctors or just people you go to when you wanted a less mundane way of getting things done. What you'd call those people depends on the culture they're from. People with "the gift", as some would call it, would trade their methods with other people who had the gift. That's why you often find similarities in different folk practices.

This is why community is so important in folk magic: much of it is not something you find written in books. Much of it is oral tradition; things passed down throughout the generations. Folk magic has always been a means for survival, and regardless of how much of an introvert some of us may be... People need other people to survive in one way or another.

Now, something to keep in mind that folk magic is deeply personal to each individual. There are families who have been keeping up with the old ways for generations, so naturally those families have their own personal practices they don't want to share with outsiders. When it comes to family-specific practices in folk magic, they are closed. You likely won't learn of those unless the person teaches you personally, and if they do you best keep your mouth shut about them. Don't share people's family traditions with others without permission.

How do I find a community open to these practices, though?

Unfortunately, we live in an era where the younger generations stopped listening to their elders. This can make it hard to find people nearby that are interested in folk practices, especially if a regional folk practice is dying with little recorded information.

The internet is a thing, though. These days it is easier to find community online because you have more opportunity to communicate with people living in different places. It's pretty easy to make a social media post asking "hey, if anybody practices [insert specific folk practice here] can you interact with this post?" and go from there.

Community doesn't nesecarrily have to be those living around you. People make discord servers to build up communities. People use their social media platforms to grow their communities and find like-minded individuals. How you choose to find your community is up to you.

#folk witch #folk magic #folk witchcraft

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thebibliosphere · 4 years ago

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Hello! I hope that you are well* (*As well as can be, in spoonie terms). I'm writing to ask if you have any Spoonie Advice on how to keep going with house repairs when it seems like your house invents new ways to be inaccessible every week. I had to move recently, and meeting the rising tide of accessibility challenges in my new apartment is daunting and tiring. Any tips, tricks, or words of wisdom? (No pressure to answer though, if you don't have the spoons or wouldn't like to!)

Hello, thank you <3 I hope you're doing well too. (With the same caveat of course lol)

My advice would be to do what is immediately available to you to improve your life and help you preserve energy for the big things.

When we first moved into our house, I was suffering the worst of my fatigue. Yet foolishly, I did very little to make my life easier. I was stuck in the mentality of not wanting to spend money on temporary fixes that would make my life easier because we would eventually redo the entire space.

So why bother to invest in a shower chair so I can sit down and preserve energy while I wash? We were going to redo the tub soon. Why bother with mobility aids that suction to the wall and don't require drilling? We're going to be installing permanent ones at some point. Why waste $20 on an ugly piece of plastic that I eventually won't need?

I did the same in our apartment. Why bother to do XYZ to the space when it would never be our permanent home? I could manage, I could cope. I didn't need to make minor accommodations when we would eventually make major ones.

Was there some internalized ableism going on there? More than probably. Was I justifying denying myself aids that would improve my life because I was suffering under the idea of being more efficient and cost-effective in the long run? Absolutely.

So yeah, when everything seems overwhelming, look around your space and try to assess what can easily be helped with a quick trip to your local Walgreens or Home Depot, or a quick look at Amazon and browsing through the accessibility options.

Would a shower chair help you preserve energy in the shower? Great! They can also double as extra flat storage space at the side of the tub/shower when not in use.

Would temporary suction cups bars help your stability in the shower? Also great. And the good thing about temp ones is you can take them with you if you wind up going somewhere where you're not sure your accessibility needs will be met.

Would extra laundry baskets help you pre-sort your laundry, thus removing an extra step from the executive dysfunction chain come laundry day? Awesome.

Would removing cabinet doors help with executive dysfunction so you can see where everything is? Cool. Most are easy to unscrew and set aside for putting back on later if/when you move on from a rented space.

Same with labels? Would labeling things help you find stuff? You could buy a label maker, or you could get some crafting tape that peels off from (most) finishes easily and write them by hand.

Would something like the 15-minute pick-up help you keep on top of your cleaning routine and make it easier for you to tackle? Fab. I bought a bunch of cheap buckets and baskets from Ikea to keep things contained. Helps with my dust allergies and reduces tripping hazards in the house.

Can't reach the storage space in your house? We bought low-down sorting bins for me to use that don't require a lot of upward mobility. You can get some pretty stuff at Ikea too if you're able to build things or have someone who can help you with them.

If the counters in your kitchen are too high, are you able to place a table you can comfortably sit at for food prep, or can you bring a chair into the space you can use to boost yourself up the counter height?

What about your utensils? Would tools designed for mobility help save energy/reduce injury? (Some good examples when searching Amazon for 'knives for arthritis'.)

I don't know what your specific needs are, but if you would like to discuss examples with me, I can try to help troubleshoot them and lighten the mental load. That’s the benefit of having a diverse disabled community around you. We get to share our experiences and our life hacks. And they're usually more helpful than "install an entire pulley system of ropes and sliders across your basement staircase to do your laundry in the basement" when you're talking about waiting to install a washer and dryer on your main floor lol.

(I love all of you. It's just mentally taxing when people all keep suggesting the same thing repeatedly. Especially when that thing involves major structural work that isn't actually as simple as it sounds.)

Of course, these are all steps that require money, but that is sadly true of most accessibility steps. The world is not built with us in mind, so it always costs extra for us to function in it. But from experience? It's money well spent, even if you have to do it gradually and if the goal is to replace them with "better" things in the end. Tackling things in little steps helps. And honestly, sometimes you don’t realize how much the accumulative weight of minor problems is weighing on you until you pick them off one by one.

A kilo of feathers still weighs the same as a kilo of steel. Just because one is softer and not as hard looking doesn’t make it any lighter to carry.

#chronic health tag #disability tag #I hope this was helpful #and again hmu if you're scratching your head over something #I'm getting pretty good at hacking my house together

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peonycats · 5 years ago

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Do you have any tips/resources for researching lesser documented cultures? I'm trying to learn more about African nations and tribes but there's not that much information on the internet about them,,, what is your strategy for research?

hmmm okay so I’m approaching this question from my primary experience researching African cultures and ethnic groups, so this might not apply to all situations and stuff yknow (especially with language barriers)

(obligatory disclaimer that these tips do come with the standard “check your sources, see who wrote it and when, and keep in mind the biases and perspectives of the people behind it as well as your own” warning, and that these tips do intersect and overlap)

1. General/Beginning Sources

If possible, I usually like to begin my research by starting at wikipedia and Britannica, or similar sources designed for outsider audiences. They’re pretty good for gaining a basic understanding of a people/nation and its history, and to avoid getting overwhelmed at first. (Though, try Britannica then Wikipedia because some of the pages on Wikipedia can be hella long and detailed) There’s also history videos on youtube, which will vary greatly in scope and perspective, esp when it comes to African history.

(hehe time to plug some fave channels I watch- I would really recommend HiddenHistory for African history and archaeology and New Africa for current events, geopolitics, and history)

2. Media produced by People from that culture

This is probably the most enlightening and most useful, particularly for culture. For African ethnic groups in particular, most in my experience usually have public social media pages where they discuss things and share news (Facebook is a popular one). For certain groups, like kingdoms, they have one social media page where they make announcements or report on cultural or sociopolitical events. Local journalism also does that, and I would really recommend reading both their articles and comments section to see what people think!

There are also social media accounts dedicated to posting and educating about a certain culture- I cannot recommend them enough because one of the biggest issues with online research on culture is verifying sources (especially images oh god), and a high quality, accurate social media account is great for learning about the details!

Canada’s Cultural Information Center is very useful for learning about other countries’ cultures, especially because they have both a local perspective on how local mannerisms and nuances work, and a western perspective as well. That way, you gain an understanding of how both outsiders and insiders understand a culture.

3. Old Academic and Historical Texts

I use these mostly for lesser known historical events, archaeology, and past foreign policy, cuz generally not many people are looking for 1960s foreign policy analyses or the Kanem Bornu Empire’s outreach attempts to the Ottoman Empire in the 1500s, so that kinda stuff is usually locked up behind a pay wall.

There’s also stuff dating from the late 19th century to mid 20th century written during colonialism that offers some valuable (though... with all the prejudices and poorly aged language of the time) information and perspectives. Old newspaper clippings and reports written are pretty helpful in doing history you know

I’m lucky that I have institutional access to JSTOR, but I believe they currently let you view around 100 free articles per month during the quarantine if you have an account? Granted, you are still barred from certain articles, but still, you can access a lot! (Before the world ended it was like 10 or so articles a month I believe but I just took screenshots of the articles and saved them for later reading lmao)

Academia.edu is also a really good one for accessing research! A lot of the articles are free to download and read and you can send a nice message to authors!

Books and other published texts are really great as well, but I know that they’re not always financially available to people (if you’re looking to spend less, check out your barnes and noble sale section as well as used book stores and garage sales) But I know a handy trick called googling “[Book Title] pdf”- it gets you a lot of places lmao

#Anonymous #ask #woof that was long #but yeah hope that helps!!#thoughts tm #long post #tips

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watchmelightshitonfire · 3 years ago

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To preface this blog:

● no animals or people injured during any point (except myself occasionally)

● All available safety measures are taken

● All fires are regarded and handled with safety

● LGBTQIA+ and MOGAI safe

● NSFW blogs dni

● I'll probably just be posting pictures of my endeavors as well as tips and tricks for setting fires (always remember to do so safely and with great regard to people, animals, and property)

● Feel free to ask any questions excluding personal things such as my location, etc

● Hate will be blocked

● Don't use any of the photos that are my own

● Feel free to rb

● Don't get weird in the asks or I'll have to turn off anonymous

● Don't go around breaking the law, I know im not much of a role model obviosuly when it comes to that but remember laws are there for a reason, don't break them <3

About me:

● I use mirror pronouns

● AroAce

● Quoigender (that may change)

● I quite like fire if you couldn't tell

● You can call me whatever nicknames you want, I can't think of any and I'm not going to share my real name

That's all for now, keep in mind I might update this in the future

Enjoy <3

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nctaezen · 4 years ago

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Happy valentine day aka both the lovey dovey holiday and our bday bpy himself, I saw your gifset and 100/10!! Amazing work, please frame that gifset in a museum pronto!! It sounds like your valentine's day was fun ^_^

But yes I am from Chicago haha, it doesn't seem fancy to me being in Chicago with how expensive downtown can be at times (but then again, when is downtown in ANY big city not expensive?) But it is a lovely place nonetheless, granted don't come now because its cold like the northpole xD but very much recommended the spring time personally! I do hope you have the chance to come to Chicago when things calm down

Ooohh same lol, I can do my nails like a pro but eyeliner ??? I struggle lol. I watched videos on tips but I still can't figure how to not stop my hand from shaking =/ (if any of your followers know a trick do share! Help this noob anon out, i will pay with cookies!) I can do it decent line but its always thick for some odd reason lol. It starts off good in the beginning with a nice thin line but then I go full raccoon mode xD I have big eyes as well so technically not good for my eye shape but it is what it is haha. I do prefer pencil since its easier but I do enjoy the liquid eyeliner look. My current makeup look is eyeliner, mascara and some lip product. I do eyeshadow if I want to be fancy haha but for sure need to look into getting some better products. The ones I do have my eye on are nyx because we love a good mix of free of animal products and cheap, bare minerals is nice as well as well as color pop! For the pricier end fenty and rare beauty are on my list (especially rare omg the lipstick shades are so, so pretty! Especially the color you mentioned ^0^) but ooh we love pinks and orange shades! We love the soft, spring romantic vibes! For me. I like a bit of everything but i do find myself leaning into red, pink, orange shades with a mix of dark tones like a dark wine shade or even black djaksja. My favorite lippie i own is this beautiful orange/brown color? Idk if that is the right way to describe it but it is a pretty color! Jdkandks @ that large lipstick collection, respect haha. I enjoy the old school lip gloss look because i like pretending to feel like an Bratz doll lol.. bb creams are good and I may go with one in the future since it seems a good product to use if you don't want to dive into foundation and such c:

Now skin care wise, I agree! Not all pricey products are better. You can find good products for half the price that works for your skin! It is a trail and error sadly but eventually you will find something that works best for you c: and ooohh i think i have heard of those brands! I'll look at them later to see what they have so thank you for the suggestion!! Lol maybe that's a good thing the brand isn't around where you live xD but true, it is best to not continue with using the products so I will sadly throw them away. I feel bad since I did spend money but if it isn't doing me good skin wise well why ruin my skin more? Garnier is great for sure! I love their micellar water so I may invest in some of their other products! When I will do that, not sure because my parents are a bit strict when it comes to makeup/skin care stuff *sigh*

Oof I do feel like there have been alot of romance plots so we do need a break with some other plot ideas like a good mystery drama for example like let me feel like Sherlock when watching the episodes haha. But ahh it be like that xD sometimes you start off watching a video or two and then you are spending half the night watching funny edits of nct lol and idk how he can be calm like jaehyun is so calm in the most chaotic moments. Like he didn't even flinch when the boxes exploded in nct world!! Teach us your calm ways jaehyun. But I do love his dad ways from the humor he has or his dad sneeze (I will admit some fans do take the "jaehyun dad" narrative a bit too far sometimes or maybe its just me? Thoughts love?)

Oof until april!? Oh no D: I hope the numbers slow down during then, sending good vibes to your family as well during these times! You also stay safe! As for me, yeah just have been staying inside. Not much to do sadly but I'm being well fed with kpop so not complaining haha

Hey hey! How was your week/days so far since Valentines?

Well I had a lot to do and I was mainly busy with work (once again). I am remodelling/redecorating my room as well and I still have lots of plans on it, let’s see how the things end up because I will do it all alone (wish me luck).

Happy you loved that set and I hope you will anticipate my Ten set as well (it’s a secret, not secret anymore but I still haven’t started with it yet I have lots of notes and ideas saved, I just need the courage and time for it).

Oh yeah I knew it hehe as far as I know Chicago looks very modern and seems a bit luxurious, indeed should be a bit expensive in the downtown, but even in my country, downtown is something I usually avoid for hanging out because it’s super super pricy.

I came across a few fun videos on tiktok and there was a girl doing her eyeliner in one go, like less that 1 second and I was like?? she’s not from this world. I had the chance to try my new bb cream and corrector from nyx and so far I love it, it doesn’t feel heavy or itchy on my skin, also knowing it’s cruelty free, it’s something that stands on my top buy makeup brand list. I used to love lipgloss when I was a child/teen, but not anymore, I wear my hair down and if go out. Forget about it, especially since I live in a windy area. And now with masks I can only wear a no-transfer lipstick or simply lip balm. A brand I think I will try soon will be Cerave, I heard only good things about it and Wayv also promoted it in the past. At that time the brand wasn’t available in my country, now it become quite popular and if the lockdown ends next month, I’ll go to a pharmacy to test the products and (hopefully) buy some.

As for my drama experience, I started to watch Vincenzo since it’s on Netflix it’s much easier to watch but I didn’t expect the whole comedy twist, I thought that drama was based on a dark-crime-mafia plot, yet I was once again fooled by the trailers. Anyway he looks sooo good for his age, I thought he was in his twenties, just wow! We’re a decade apart, and man! he looks so young, maybe even younger, insane! I should drink more ginseng tea for infinite youth haha Anyway the drama is a stay because I love him so much, he is a very talented actor and hopefully the plot will change as the history will go on.

About Jaehyun and that dad narrative, well yes. Things go out of hand for everyone else not only for him, especially in cases when these words are shoved right into their faces, I would never dare to comment anything like that under their social media or even on personal-interactions, it just seems uncomfortable on many levels. If someone looks hot and sexy, this is what he is and this is what we call them for, magazines and articles describe idols a lot these days with these words and that is ok because it means they have an attractive image that everyone wishes to have or achieve, yes I do get jealous sometimes even if they are men so 😂 but those type of whatever role-playing words, no, niet, nein, não, non. Out of question.

Meanwhile a few comebacks happened and I was excited for it, Shinee’s title song is sooo good and I love the savage lyrics. The rest of the album is also amazing, I have like 3 top favorites. Now I am waiting for Wayv comeback that will happen soon, hope SM won’t disappoint with another low-budget MV, I know we are in a pandemic situation rn but even inside the box, a MV can look stunning. SM take notes from “Make a Wish”, that was simply beautiful and almost everything was shot indoor, stunning effects I want to see again.

And I don’t think I had the chance to ask you, how did you like 127′s Japanese album? I love all the songs and there is non I skip when I play the whole album. I love how different hits from their Korean albums, there is something alluring about it, well the lyrics also suggest that so- I couldn’t miss that huge album that looks like an A3 portfolio so I already ordered one, hopefully by the end of the March I’ll get my hands on it, I can’t wait because the pictures are simply stunning!

Hope so far you have been fine, stay healthy and take care of yourself, and hope to hear from you back soon ❤️

#anon #glitch anon #reply

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matchaball · 8 years ago

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inking indigo | 6 |

Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6: Lupines, for the truth in imagination

AN: It’s been a very long while, and I’m so terribly sorry about that! Life happened, as it does. To those of you who stuck around so very patiently and continue to enjoy this story, thank you, thank you, thank you :’)

(I also recommend re-reading chapter 5, as I’ve rewritten a bit of it to fit better with the story!)

( Fanfiction.net ) ( AO3 )

It takes Marinette a few weeks to find the time to visit her parents' place for the weekend. She has sleep to catch up on, a dozen clients to tattoo, a myriad of teases and questions from Alya to answer (or dodge), and an uneasy curiosity growing in the pit of her stomach to poke at.

Her overactive imagination feeds her curiosity without reserve as her thoughts inevitably turn back to Adrien, soaked in sunlight and covered in flowers. For how soft he seems, she doesn't know why his touch is so sharp upon her nerves. Why his presence lingers in her skin long after, a buzzing that sits close to her bones.

It's a little familiar, that sensation. Growing up immersed in gymnastics and track makes fatigue a familiar friend; pain, even more so, though it was never cuts or bruises or blisters that bothered her. Sometimes, an ache would build, then knot in an elusive hiding place on her body. Marinette spent hours absentmindedly prodding her muscles and joints, seeking bruises she couldn't see but only feel.

They were never where she expected them to be. It'd be the spot beneath her wrist bone. The spot on her side, right along a rib. The spot on her shin, off center. She was always covered in them, phantom black under the flushed red of her skin.

Adrien's impact leaves a similar mark on her, somehow. Visiting him sporadically at the flower shop in the past few weeks helps prod different spots in her, but a recent influx of clients wanting new tattoos keeps their meetings brief and their friendship confined to texts. It's not the same, but the distance helps her think.

She'd find the spot, wherever the curiosity has planted itself within her.

"Something the matter, Mari-berry?" Tom's easygoing voice breaks through her thoughts effortlessly. The childhood nickname transforms her to a kid of six, small pudgy hands mushing fondant like clay, instead of a young woman with strong, capable hands currently slamming bread dough relentlessly into submission on the kitchen table.

"A lot on my mind, papa," Marinette admits, grimacing as she unsticks her fingers from the goopy pile of dough. "It's just been a busy month."

Tom levels a considering gaze at his daughter, before taking in the number of pastries crowded on every available surface of the kitchen. Three intricately decorated pies rest on the small round table like plates set out for dinner. Cupcakes frosted to look like roses bloom across the plains of the countertops. Even little turtles made of matcha bread with chocolate crackled shells peek out over the top of the microwave and the fridge.

Marinette only ever baked so much when she was stressed or thoroughly preoccupied with a problem. Her hands could never stay still for long.

Tom asked, "Anything you want to share with your old pa?"

"You're not old," Marinette counters immediately, the words jumping out from age-old habit. The trick works though, and Tom's answering chuckle prompts a smile to rise on her face. She sprinkles more flour onto the kitchen table, picks up the slab of dough, and slams it down again. As she folds the dough over and lifts it up to smack down, she adds, "It's nothing, I think. Won't Louis and Camille need you downstairs?"

"My assistants can manage ten minutes without me, especially when you look like you're beating the air out of your dough instead of adding it. What has that bread ever done to you?"

"Nothing," Marinette mutters. "Absolutely nothing."

The frustration in her voice is much more telling than her words. Sensing that he was getting close, Tom guesses, "If it's not the bread, is it about your tattoos?" As Marinette's head shoots up to stare at him, eyes wide like she's been caught in headlights, he laughs, "I might not've noticed when you first got your ears pierced, but I can sure see the new ink on your shoulder."

Marinette's hand lifts automatically to cover the white anemones capping her shoulder. Her fingers press down on the deep blue centers, feeling for that bruise.

"I feel all- jittery," Marinette admits, searching for the right words. "Like... like I've got growing pains again."

"Maybe you'll finally be taller than me," Tom chortles, merely laughing away the blob of bread dough that Marinette smears onto his cheek. "Growing pains eh? Maybe your body is getting used to having new tattoos?"

"I've never heard of that happening before." Marinette's frown focuses on her pile of dough as she throws it down in thought. "Did you ever get pains?"

"Not that I can recall," Tom says. He hums and strokes his mustache as he thinks, planting his elbow solidly on the table to bare the pillar of his forearm.

No one has tattoo sleeves quite like her papa. Marinette's childhood is stitched onto his skin in outlines of dragonflies, astronaut dogs, twirling dancers, dinosaurs, and masked heroes. His tattoos came to life in a completely unique way. Under the patient colouring of her markers and wandering narration of her imagination, they'd become so vibrant that they seemed to move. They never actually did, but Tom would bear her artistic masterpieces with such pride and humour that it never mattered. He enjoyed entertaining curious customers with the stories she made up.

The drawings sit on his skin now, still and empty. Marinette always wondered how his tattoos would react if his soulmate ever did touch them. Would they colour themselves in with his soul, like she once did for him with her markers?

She wonders if they'd ever find out, but the curiosity is faint and fleeting. Tom loved her colourings as much as any effect he'd get from a true soulmate. He called her artistic efforts perfect, and perfect his tattoos have always been to her ever since.

"Your first tattoo never gave you any trouble?" Marinette asks.

The tattoo sleeves came after she was born, but the laurel leaves inked across his collarbones were Tom's first. These are solid black, stark and strong against his skin- a tattoo he'd gotten on a whim, but grew into as he realized his ambitions as a successful baker and pastry chef.

"Nope," Tom chuckles, tapping his collarbone. "I remember this one. I wanted to be outside with my friends instead of sitting in that chair waiting to be stabbed over and over again by a tiny little needle."

Marinette bursts out laughing, lifting fingers covered in flour and bread dough to poke at his arm over and over in a mocking imitation.

"It's not that bad!"

"It took forever," Tom sighs dramatically, playing up the memory. "Master Fu was slower than a turtle. So no, I never got pains, but I sure was scared of growing old in that chair."

"If you'd gotten old, Master Fu would've been a fossil," Marinette laughs. She slaps the ball of dough down on the table, applying the proper amount of force this time.

Tom nods in approval. "It would've matched his tattoos at the very least."

He watches Marinette knead the dough, hands ever in motion, before motioning for her to move over. As she relinquishes her task with a puzzled expression, Tom takes over, expertly folding the dough over and continuing the process.

Before Marinette can protest the loss of her bread, Tom says, "Anyway, if it's tattoo problems you're having, maybe try talking to your mom." Correctly interpreting her stubborn silence, he comments, "You can't avoid the problem forever."

"I'm not avoiding," Marinette protests. "I'm… I'm thinking."

"About?"

A frown furrows Marinette's brow as she looks up at him; in the blue of her eyes, he can see a dozen thoughts soaring by, her mind somewhere far away where he can't reach.

"About why something hurts," she says slowly. Then, quietly, like a thought she meant to keep to herself but escaped in her exhale, "Why do I hurt?"

It's jarring and not just a bit upsetting that the normally cheerful and confident shine to Marinette's bright eyes are shadowed by an uncertainty and just a hint of fear that Tom doesn't understand. It makes her look paradoxically both much younger and older- and for a frightening moment, Tom doesn't recognize the young woman in front of him.

Who is his little girl growing up to become?

"If what hurts?" Sabine asks, her voice floating ahead of her steps as she comes down the stairs from Marinette's old bedroom. The question had been at the tip of Tom's tongue too.

A ripples of emotion pass through Marinette's face as she tries to define her issue, but in the end, she simply points to her new tattoos. The pleading look Marinette gives Sabine is one Tom hasn't seen since Marinette was a little girl, forever asking her parents for answers to the million and one questions she had burning in her precocious mind.

"I see," Sabine says gently. Tom's glad at least one of them apparently does. He can't make heads or tails of what Marinette's trying to say. "Who is it?"

Marinette reddens. "A new friend." She reddens even more, the freckles staining her nose like sunspots, as Sabine smiles knowingly.

There was a leap of understanding taken that saw Sabine to the other side where Marinette was waiting, but Tom is still stuck across the divide. He glances between his two girls before decisively collecting the bread dough into his hands.

"I'll finish this downstairs." He motions with glob in his hands as Sabine and Marinette look over to him. Confusion creases into the corners of Marinette's puzzled frown but it's Sabine's single nod that encourages him to leave rather than stay. "I can't help with your pain, but I can definitely help you with your pain."

Laughter lights the room as Sabine chuckles and Marinette groans good-naturedly at his pun. Tom leaves on that note, carrying Marinette's lighthearted smile with him rather than the fear that had turned her into a stranger. His faith in Sabine's ability to help her though, is absolute. He knew it the moment she walked in the room and only needed to ask a single question.

Just like Sabine, to get right to the heart of the matter.

"So, a new friend," Sabine comments as she fills the kettle with water for tea. She delicately maneuvers around the dozens of baked goods Marinette's crammed onto every available surface. "It wouldn't happen to be someone from the Catmint Print now, would it?"

Marinette looks more resigned than surprised at her mother's intuition. "Alya told you, didn't she."

"I don't need Alya to tell me there's someone special when you've always come back from that store with a smile on your face and more flowers than you paid for. But not just a smile," Sabine observes, reaching over and cupping Marinette's cheek gently. "You're uneasy about something."

Sabine's hand falls away as Marinette moves to take a seat by the counter. Marinette's fingers find the peonies tattooed on her wrist, smoothing over them thoughtfully.

"Why do we need tattoos?" Marinette eventually asks.

The kettle whistles into the air, giving Sabine a moment to think about her answer as she pours two mugs of tea.

"It's to let the soul breathe," she says slowly as she sets a mug down in front of Marinette. "A tattoo is like opening a window."

"A window works both ways," Marinette points out as she wraps her hands around the ceramic. "You can reach out and someone could reach in."

"Yes," Sabine concedes. "That's how we find our soulmates. In that way, tattoos are also an invitation."

"For a human connection," Marinette clarifies.

"Yes."

Quiet falls over them as Marinette turns a thought over in her mind.

"So what does it mean," she finally says, "if someone doesn't have any tattoos?"

"Oh, that's simple," Sabine smiles as Marinette takes a sip from her mug. "They haven't got a soul then."

"Wha-!" Marinette chokes, nearly spitting her tea out. She groans as Sabine starts laughing.

"My darling, you think too much here-" Sabine knocks on Marinette's head "-and not enough here." She taps Marinette's heart and smiles fondly.

"You and papa," Marinette finally laughs, shaking her head. "I'm gonna get you back good for that someday."

"Someday," Sabine chuckles indulgently. "But someone who doesn't have a tattoo? Like a child?"

"No, my age," Marinette corrects. The cup twirls in her hands as she thinks.

"Hmm." Sabine taps her chin in thought. "I've only heard of very rare cases like that. Like I said, tattoos let your soul breathe- and I mean that literally. It balances out the yin and yang within the body and self. We take the dark within us- the yin- and give it light and colour- the yang."

"The souls are dark?" Marinette asks as she sits up straight and leans forward with vivid curiosity. "This sounds a little like magic."

"Maybe," Sabine laughs. "It's what I learned from Master Fu, and he from his teacher, and what has been passed down from tattoo artist to tattoo artist throughout generations. This is why what we do is so important, this balancing, even if other people may not realize it. It's a necessity, but it's also a gift. Whether or not it's magic, it's ultimately about the yin and yang within ourselves. And with each other. We are social creatures after all. Our most powerful relationships transform us."

"It's why our tattoos can move?"

"Precisely," Sabine smiles. "What can the dark do, but give the light a place to shine? And what gives shape to the light, but the dark? When you find that balance, that's when you make a home of yourself."

Even when coached as a lesson, Sabine's words fall as soft and familiar as a storybook tale. Marinette's childhood was saturated by the stories Sabine used to tell her. Some were myths, some were made up, some were read from books, some explained her tattoos, but they were all masterfully and artfully told by Sabine. If imagination had a voice, young Marinette always imagined it as her mother's.

The graceful lines of Sabine's hands lead up to her arms, bared by her t-shirt. If Tom's tattoos were Marinette's childhood colouring book, Sabine's were her picture books. Circles the size of large coins march a straight line from Sabine's wrist to shoulder, each encapsulating an exquisitely rendered scene from Wenzhou, China.

Marinette remembers visiting Wenzhou once when she was little, but her own memories are merely faint echoes of crowded streets, long ferry rides, and relatives plying her with more food than she could consume in several lifetimes. But even if her own recollections are hazy, each of Sabine's tattoos are as vivid and dimensional as miniature dioramas; looking at each scene really does feel like peering through a window into another world. Marinette can almost hear the overlapping cries of vendors yelling across the market of bright, delicately inked fruits and vegetables on her mother's arm, or smell the warm salt of the impossibly blue waters of Nanji Island as they lap against the rocky cliffs. The tattoos of the lush green mountains of Wuyanling appear soft as a watercolour dream, but Marinette knows them to be truly like that thanks to Sabine's stories, her memories.

The tattoos are of a different time and place of the same woman who makes Marinette crêpes when she's sick, who exchanges quick volleys of jokes and well wishes with the easy fluency of one born and raised in Paris, and who strolls along the Seine and tucked away back alleyways alike, utterly at home. And despite the life built upon the tattoo shop then the bakery, Sabine's tattoos are an everlasting reminder of her heritage, keeping her memories close and fresh as the day they were collected, no matter how long ago.

Marinette understands then, what her mother means when the soul needs to breathe through their tattoos. All that history, all that life in her soul should have the chance to shine through somehow, somewhere.

A frown crinkles Marinette's brow as she remembers her original problem. "So, if you've got no tattoos…"

"If there's no outlet," Sabine muses, "I suppose there's no telling what could happen."

A chill runs a light finger down Marinette's spine. Lightning, she remembers. A sudden possibility alights in her mind, one she's never considered.

"Could- could a soul make its own window?" Marinette suggests slowly. "Like… break out?"

Now Sabine frowns, worry clouding her expression. "I don't know. I've never had an experience with something or someone like that. Master Fu might be able to help you more." She watches Marinette twirl her cup faster and faster, tea rising over the lip and breaking upon its edge. She stops the frantic motion with a gentle hand. "You should keep an eye on your friend and make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else around him."

"I felt him. It," Marinette blurts out. She releases her mug and juts her wrist out, pointing at the peonies sprawled over her skin. "Here. I felt- something, like, something coming through me and trying to find a way out."

"Is that why you got these too?" Sabine asks, her hand rising as if to touch the silver and blue anemones peeking out from the apron straps on Marinette's shoulder. Her fingers stop just shy of contact. "To provide another outlet? To help him?"

Profound shock eclipses every other emotion in Marinette's expression.

"I…" she starts, but trails off as her thoughts scatter. She finds them again as she remembers her fingers sunk in cool earth, of enveloping sunbeams and accidental static electricity, of the difference between perfection and happiness.

Her emotions have been a mix, a constant surprise around Adrien, but her actions have always been clear- even if they didn't immediately seem so to her at first.

"Yes," Marinette says simply. The realization, the admittance tastes strange in her mouth. She doesn't know what to make of it. "Whenever we touch, it's like…"

A sharp bang of the front door opening strikes between their conversation, making them both jump. Marinette's tea finally succeeds in sloshing over the edge and splashing down over the countertop as she starts.

"Like that," Marinette whispers.

The faint approach of footfalls is overshadowed by Sabine's hum as a look of intense thought creases her face.

"That's not how a soulmate is supposed to feel right?" Marinette rushes into the pause. "But that's also not how a normal person should feel either."

"No," Sabine answers thoughtfully. "It's not. And he didn't touch your tattoos?"

Marinette shakes her head. "He didn't have to."

"But you felt him." Sabine frowns. "So how did he get in like that then?"

"You speak friend!" The earlier interruption pokes his head in, the wide smile on his face undimmed by the shadow of his baseball cap. "And enter!"

A stunned silence greets Nino as Marinette and Sabine start, unprepared for his sudden appearance.

"Uhh." Nino's eyes widen sheepishly as he takes in the spilled tea, Marinette's preoccupied expression, and the thought creased deeply into the lines on Sabine's face. "Bad time?"

"Nonsense." Sabine recovers smoothly, rising up from her chair and coming forward to peck his cheeks in greeting. She bows around a familiar basket hanging from his arm. "You know you're always welcome here."

"Thanks," Nino grins, stooping down to kiss her cheeks back. "By the way, Tom asked me to ask you if you could come down and help him decorate the special order? I'm assuming he means the thousand and one tarts that's invaded the back kitchen."

"Oh dear. I better go," Sabine sighs, setting her cup down in the sink and wiping her hands. She levels a measuring look at Marinette, still clearly turning over the problem in her mind. "We'll talk later, ok?"

"Yeah," Marinette answers distractedly, her gaze locked on the basket swinging innocently from Nino's arm. "You should save papa before he stays up all night decorating them to perfection."

"He does like to get things just right," Sabine laughs. "Make yourself at home, Nino."

"Thanks," Nino grins as he sets the basket down on a patch of bare counter space. As Sabine heads down, he turns to Marinette and adds, "You definitely get the perfectionism from your dad."

Marinette narrows her eyes at him suspiciously. "Thanks?"

Nino merely raises an eyebrow and looks meaningfully at the rose frosted cupcakes, the matcha and chocolate turtles, and the large pies overcrowding the kitchen.

The thought of telling him that the quantity of baked goods is a result from overthinking rather than perfectionism dances at the tip of Marinette's tongue, but she lets go a good-natured laugh in defeat instead.

"Anyway… 'speak friend, and enter'?" Marinette asks, an eyebrow quirked as Nino slides into a seat next to her at the counter.

"Adrien and I binged through all of Lord of the Rings this weekend," Nino explains. He reaches up to rub tired eyes, knocking his glasses askew in the process. "The extended versions, too. I totally forgot so many details in the movies. Did you remember that orcs are born from that gross goopy mud? Although, speaking of…"

He snags a used mixing bowl and collects a chunk of cookie dough with the swipe of his finger. He looks at Marinette and pauses, a finger in his mouth and an uncomfortably knowing twinkle in his eye. "Are you wearing Adrien's apron?"

"Don't insult my baking like that," Marinette evades, trying to laugh the jibe about orc goop off instead of answering his sharp observation. "Especially if you've just come here to mooch."

"I would never," Nino deadpans, bringing hand over his heart in mock hurt. As if he didn't spend most of his childhood and adolescence gleefully chowing down every treat Sabine and Tom always left for him, Alya, and Marinette to consume after school. He quirks a smile. "You're definitely wearing Adrien's apron. It's got the flowershop logo on it."

Marinette's cheeks heat up and she hastily stands and bustles to the sink, grabbing a dirty mixing bowl to scrub clean.

"I just haven't had the chance to return it to him," she defends, not meeting Nino's eyes. His gaze is always the one that catches her unaware, at times she never expects so can never prepare for. "And it's the only clean apron I've got at the moment."

"Uh huh." The dryness of Nino's tone isn't one she can fight against. Sometimes, Marinette thinks he knows her weak spots better than even Alya. He softens and relents. "Though speaking of, Adrien asked me to bring this back to you."

He nudges the basket on the countertop with his elbow, uttering a soft "Oh shi-" as he accidentally knocks a turtle off the edge. He catches it just by the tip of his fingers as he lunges for it, saving it from a crumbly demise upon the floor.

Marinette pauses, bowl and sponge dripping from her hands, before setting them both down in the sink and wiping her hands dry on her apron. A small sound of surprise escapes her as she draws the basket towards her, finding it heavier than she expected.

NIno comes up, turtle in hand, and watches expectantly.

The lid folds back under Marinette's hands, and a soft sea of blue and purple lupines greets her. She plucks a single stem up, watching as the tall spike waves up with the weight of the numerous blooms spiraling around the long stalk. The blooms at the tip remain closed still, still green and growing, graduating into full bloom towards the lower end of the stem. Marinette's fingers hover over the fully opened flowers at the bottom, just shy of touching a violet rich and vibrant enough to taste.

She lowers the flower to place on the countertop and changes her mind halfway, tucking it instead into the pocket of her apron. When she closes the lid of the basket, her hands are shaking. The mashup of her emotions churn in her mind, whirling faster and faster and faster until-

"He bugs me," Marinette blurts out.

Nino freezes mid-bite, the turtle pastry dangling precariously from his fingertips. He looks, wide-eyed, at Marinette. "Uhh…"

"No no no, ugh, that came out wrong." Frustrated, Marinette runs her hands through her short hair until it stands on end. "I like Adrien. A lot! Like, maybe indecently sometimes. Wait, maybe that's too much info..."

"I'm getting mixed messages here."

"Arghhhh!" Marinette groans. She topples forward until her forehead clunks down on the countertop. "Shouldn't this, whatever this is, be easy for me to figure out? Or like, simple at least? He's a great guy and a great friend."

Slowly, as if not to startle her, Nino says, "I mean, I've known Adrien long enough to tell you that he's got issues like any other person." He takes off one of the turtle's legs in a large bite. As he chews, he continues, "But all things considered, he's really chill."

"He is!" Marinette rolls her head so her cheek rests on the counter as she looks up to Nino. "That's why I don't get why I'm so jumbled around him?"

"You like him?" Nino suggests bluntly, taking off the turtle's head next. He snorts as Marinette puffs her cheeks and petulantly blows flour off from the countertop up at him. "You've never been very subtle or smooth when you've liked someone, Mari. You're usually barely coherent."

"Thanks Nino. I knew I could count on you to lift my spirits and help me out. Where would I be without you," Marinette deadpans.

"I could channel Alya instead and use your cell to phone Adrien so you could ask him out. Right now."

"Oh god please, no," Marinette laughs. "You're the worst."

"Maybe I'd be doing you a favour," Nino shrugs. He finishes the rest of the turtle with a decisive chomp and reaches for another. "You think too much in your head sometimes. You should just go with the flow."

"You know I don't do improv well. I'm a planner."

"You're an overthinker. Still a perfectionist either way," he teases. After a moment's thought, he starts laughing. "Yeah… you really don't do improv well."

"That was one time," Marinette protests loudly as she guesses what's on his mind, "and we were both like, thirteen! Asking you out through a phone call was Alya's idea."

"Was rambling on about homework for fifteen minutes in the beginning her idea too?" Nino raises a brow, a shit-eating grin on his face. "I loved the part where you called me a 'cool dude'."

"I was nervous!" Marinette throws her hands up. "I panicked!"

"My favourite bit," Nino chuckles, "was when you phoned back right after hanging up because you forgot to actually ask me out the first time around."

"No wonder you said no."

"Hey, I panicked too! Alya gave me such a hard time about it…"

"Yeah, she really ripped through you afterwards," Marinette laughs, remembering. "That's ok, our timing was never really right. We always kept missing one another. And then you and Alya found out about each other…"

"Hey," Nino interrupts, voice gone soft. "Alya might be my soulmate, but that doesn't make what I felt about you any less real or any less… well, less. I always felt really lucky, that you liked me too." A faint smile steals over his face as Marinette leans over and pecks his cheek. As she draws away, she feels the what-if strung between them, hanging for a weighted second. It slips away when he continues, "I know Adrien would feel like the luckiest guy too, if he knew how you felt about him."

"I don't even know how I really feel about him," Marinette points out, sighing as she leans down on the counter with crosses arms. The lupine presses against her hip as she rests against the counter, suddenly making her self-conscious of who's apron she was conspicuously wearing.

"Don't you?" Nino looks pointedly at said apron. "C'mon now."

Marinette chews her bottom lip in thought and resists the childish urge to pluck out a lupine and jab it into Nino's face, more to evade the whole conversation than anything else. If only it was as simple as merely liking Adrien.

"Alright," she says. "Maybe I do. You've known him for a while, don't you find him easy to like? And I don't mean because he's a famous and ridiculously good looking actor or model or something. There's something… else to him."

A thoughtful look steals over Nino's expression as he helps himself to another shortbread turtle. He plays with it between his fingers as he slowly pieces his thoughts aloud. "You know how some people are really attractive, but the more you talk to them, the less attractive they seem to get? Like there's just no substance underneath. Maybe they're rude, or bigoted, or whatever. And then there's sort of the opposite. There're people who only get better the more you get to know them, like their personality shines through and their face becomes something... else. Something more." He looks at Marinette and says, easily, "Adrien's probably one of the most beautiful people I know."

"... dang Nino," Marinette breathes. "Are you sure you guys aren't soulmates?"

"Nah," he chuckles. "Well, at least not for me. We checked. Can't say for him though since he hasn't got any tattoos. Although…"

The way Nino's brow suddenly furrows as a question enters his expressive eyes has Marinette leaning forward and prompting him with, "What?"

"Well, you know my tattoos. And you know what happens when Alya touches them."

"Mmhmm," Marinette hums. His first tattoos had been just two simple thin lines running parallel down his back, years ago when they all got their first tattoos. Since then, he's come to her for an expansion, turning two strings into a geometric symphony across his back and down his arms in sweeping curvilinear lines that run the entire expanse of his back like a music staff given wings. They reach down to his forearms, looping over and over until they converge and end in a single point on his wrists.

She'd teased him on how he turned his compositions into math like a nerd, but even though she suffered multiple hand cramps and fierce headaches from the intense concentration of maintaining so many clean lines, she thinks his tattoos may be one that she's proudest to have done.

"The strings vibrate. I've seen it."

"Yeah." Nino runs a hand over his head, as if bracing himself, then taps the visible ink on his arm. "But that's only half of it. I hear it, in my head, the different notes and sounds that Alya can bring out when she touches my tattoos. I guess like synesthesia. But the thing is, I sometimes hear- I think I hear echoes when I'm around certain people, like you or Adrien. But it's nothing definitive, it's just… a resonance. And that frequency can sometimes change, like it's being tuned. Like when I first met Adrien, nothing. Now I get… it's weird, it's like a dissonance somehow, but it's still something. It's like my tattoos are telling me, there's a maybe."

Marinette frowns. "A maybe? Soulmates are a sure thing Nino. Either you know, or you don't."

"All I'm saying is, maybe things can change," he argues. "I like to think it can, anyway."

"Like away, but soulmates are fact. They're predetermined. That's not something that just changes."

"Who says they can't?"

"Like, everyone."

"Well I volunteer as tribute then, to be the first to prove you all wrong," Nino chuckles. "I know what I hear. What I feel. Even now, sitting here next to you, there's- something." His fingers ghost over the lines on his forearms, as if playing them like an instrument.

"Maybe you're reacting to something else," Marinette frowns.

"Feel free to check me yourself, and see where we stand," he offers with an easy grin. "I promise, no matter what my tattoos do, nothing will change unless you want it to."

She's fairly certain she knows the answer already, and the temptation to actually know makes her fingers itch. Still, she shakes her head and emphatically replies, "No."

Nino shrugs, easy-going, but doesn't quite let her off the hook this time. "I know you don't like anyone touching your tattoos but… why again?"

"I don't want to know," Marinette frowns. "I don't want something that's supposedly predestined to be confirmed. I want to do things and choose people my own way."

"I get that," Nino comments thoughtfully as he helps himself to a cupcake. Instead of immediately biting into the delicate flowers iced on top, he carefully traces a petal with a gentle finger. "But I don't think that's entirely it."

"What do you mean?" A strange, sinking sensation twists in her stomach, the sort of gut feeling that tells her she won't like what she's going to hear.

"I think," Nino says, looking up and squarely into her eyes, "that you don't like being vulnerable."

The words come at Marinette like a blow. She takes the punch, even as it bruises her pride with its truth, and rallies back, "Who likes being exposed? So many people get hurt that way."

"Yeah- like you," Nino points out.

His simple observation hurts, like pressing a bruise she never realized she had. She's spent so long thinking of others, of drawing boundaries so she wouldn't hurt them, that concern for her own well-being hides so cleverly and carefully behind those walls. She doesn't like to admit that selfishness has a part in feeding the roots of her actions.

"And what," Marinette frowns. "You're M. Invincible now, are you?"

"Oh hell," Nino laughs, of all things. "Mari, I'm always scared. My imagination has enough running around in there to make me anxious all the time. I'm always vulnerable."

"That sounds terrible," Marinette retorts. "I'd hate feeling like I couldn't do something about that."

"So your way of 'doing something about it' is to keep everything a secret? That doesn't make you invincible either. What makes you think that someone like Adrien's not feeling the exact same way?"

"Annoyed?"

"Scared."

The lupine in Marinette's apron pocket bows into her hand as she reaches for it. Her hand involuntarily closes into a fist as she grips its stem. When she brings it up to light, she can feel the purple petals staining her palms like phantom bruises. Adrien's marigold apron suddenly feels strange on her body, like wearing a skin that's not quite her own. But in some ways, it's similar, familiar in a way she's always known. They both know how to hide behind their jobs, the duty of it.

It's a defensive position, at best. But the game Adrien plays these days is very different, open among the flowers and under the sun. And maybe that's all happiness really is: something heady, encompassing, and ultimately ephemeral. Even sunshine can't last forever.

Her hand unfurls, revealing fewer stains among her fingers than she expects. The lupine falls to cover her entire hand, its tip pointing away like a compass. She doesn't need much imagination to wonder where- or who- it'll take her to.

"I guess the risks wouldn't really be worth it," Marinette murmurs, the weight of Adrien's kindness balanced in her palm, "if you didn't have something to lose."

AN2: It’s been nearly a year!! Dishonour on me, my cow, etc etc etc. Two big things happened: I graduated, and I got a job!!! It’s been crazy fun and intense and exciting, but incredibly time-consuming and energy-draining. At the end of most days, I cook lunch, walk my dog, then fall right into bed.

Regardless, a million, million, million apologies for how long this chapter took! This story was always lowkey slow cooking in my mind no matter how busy I got, and tbh, I think a long simmer was what I needed for this story to go through. For both plot and personal reasons. I do realize that the long chapters and long wait between chapters makes this slow burn painfully slow, but I hope you’re enjoying the ride nonetheless :’) The unbelievably sweet, supportive, patient, and encouraging comments kept this story alive for me, and continues to do so when I’m sitting in front of a blank page thinking, I can’t do this. But I can, and I will, because this story is still wonderfully fun for me to write, and because it’s such a joy to find it makes other people happy- even now, after so long :’)

(Now here’s hoping I can get chapter 7 out before Christmas!)

Tom’s tattoos. Sabine’s tattoos. Nino’s tattoos.

And also an enormous thank you to-

♥ @jesuisunjardin (for this lovely adrinette sketch) ♥ @kwamikwami (for this gorgeous moodboard) ♥ @larvesta (for this INCREDIBLE comic of chapter 3!) ♥ @chiumonster (for this perfect adrinette moment in the flowershop) ♥ @lunecake (for a fabulous cosplay, and two wonderful drawings) ♥ @12hues (for making me cry. TWICE.) ♥ @qookyquiche (for this darling adrinette drawing) ♥ @maaarble (for this beautiful Marinette moment in chapter 3) ♥ @goonlalagoon (for a great rendition of Luck be A Lady and the Catmint Print)

#mlfanfiction #miraculous ladybug #adrinette #miraculous ladybug fanfiction #fanfiction #inking indigo #to those who thought this story was abandoned: SURPRISE #i'm still alive and kicking here :')#(and i hope some of you are too! it's been so long i wouldn't be surprised if this story was just #singing to an empty opera house at this point)#but here it is! do take a look if you're interested :)#happy reading!#matcha writes

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texanredrose · 8 years ago

Note

That "Keep talking and I'll cast a silence spell." line is definitely something Weiss would say to Yang (or Blake if she was in a teasing mood). I hope I'm not bothering you with this...

Nope, not bothering me at all. Took a few liberties; used Pathfinder as a base, except treating silence as a point spell instead of AoE. Also, might be a point of contention on the classes, but I’m being very loose here with some of the requirements.

Weiss squinted, mentally cursing the slowly fading light as she dug through the chest. Her dancing lights spell was nearing the end of its effectiveness, which meant she either had to find a standard lantern or cast another, neither option particularly appealing at present. While the mage didn’t typically object to easy coin, they’d spent the better part of a day mucking their way through a decrepit castle crawling with all manner of foul pests and she felt exhaustion creeping into every limb. They’d handled every hobgoblin and kobold crawling through the sprawling estate, plus the drake that had taken up residence in the far corner of the lower dungeon, and while it wasn’t enough that she wished the rest of their party was present, casting her spells repeatedly drained her energy. She scrubbed at her eyes, forcing them to focus in the dim light. For whatever reason, the creatures that had taken over the castle hadn’t gone through any of the rooms in the upper levels, sticking to the ground floor and dungeon, so it made sense that they might find something of use. Anything that would ease the burden of lighting their way would be a boon.

“Uh, Weiss. Your spell’s fading.”

“Yes, Yang, I am quite aware.” Her irritation showed in her voice, brows pinching together as she scrubbed at her eyes again, not bothering to look at her companion as she entered the room. She should’ve heeded the monk’s advice and not spent so much energy maintaining that protection spell; the woman could withstand blows much harder than the ones the drake was even capable of, but her fear had gotten the better of her.

It was a patently bad idea and she’d acknowledged as much from the start. When she left the Academy and became a registered Mage-for-Hire, Weiss had three rules she maintained above all else to ensure things went smoothly. Demand at least half of the her share of the reward up front, never hesitate to freeze an ally if they threatened her, and keep everyone at arms’ distance; it protected her from being drug into abysmal situations and kept her paid and free, two things that were intensely important now that she didn’t have her family’s money to flaunt. Bending to her father’s will and becoming an instructor at the Mage’s Academy never held the appeal to her that traveling across Remnant as part of a band of adventurers did, so she made the trade effortlessly. The first few years were trial and error, learning to discern between the inexperienced gold chaser and the practiced sell-sword, but things changed when she was hired by the cheerful leader of their little group, a talented ranger with a promising future.

The first thing she relinquished was demanding her portion; Ruby rarely asked that on any job they took and originally paid the mage from her own gold to satisfy the requirement. After the first few quests, Weiss accepted that the younger woman was too honest to attempt stiffing her, so she let it slide. Continuing to ask just seemed crass and beneath her. Next was her sense of self preservation, because of course they took nothing less than the most dangerous feats available, going up against monsters she’d studied while at the Academy with no plan on ever encountering them in person. Dragons, golems, a hydra- really, after surviving all that, being threatened by Blake during a heated argument felt like nothing. She didn’t believe for one second the rogue meant it and her own harsh words rang in her ears continuously for months afterwards, making her feel awful even after they’d made amends. Casting an offensive spell on them, even in self defense, now seemed like a betrayal instead of a pragmatic method of protecting herself. The last tenet, the one the mage thought she was clinging to stubbornly despite traveling with her companions for well over a year, slipped away without her notice. It didn’t matter how much she denied it, how often she tried to let her frosty exterior ward them off; each of them had become close to her heart in their own way. Ruby was too cheerful, too simple in her view and absolutely dedicated to it to be deterred, and Blake met her step for step until they’d acclimated to one another, bonding over an appreciation for the quiet the rest of their group didn’t share.

Yang was different, though- and of course she was. The loudest monk to ever exist, with enough rage to put the barbaric warriors in the south to shame, and the blonde was nothing short of immensely proud regarding both those qualities. There existed no more mild a word to describe the buxom blonde than ‘different’ and she didn’t stop there. Brash, cocky, exuberant, fiery, gorgeous, strong, selfless, gentle, caring… loving. The mage had always thought love was something she couldn’t miss, an obvious overflowing of affection she would notice immediately, but that wasn’t the case at all. For all the times Weiss snapped at the bare knuckle brawler, and chided her, and tended to her wounds, one would think that resentment would be the chief emotion in regards to the monk, but no. Somehow, the woman had undermined her defenses without even trying, just throwing her a smile or a wink of those vibrant lilac eyes every now and again, soft words of encouragement dropping just as often as those ridiculous puns the mage had grown to love.

It was a very bad idea to enter into a relationship with one of her traveling companions… and it was beautiful, too.

“Hey, Frosty, you okay?” Yang appeared at her elbow, one large hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “You kinda went into a trance.”

“Huh?” Blinking, the mage noticed she’d paused in her quest to find a suitable light source, her fading spell casting even less light as it neared its end. “I’m fine. Were you able to find a lantern?”

“Not in this junk.” Her lips quirked into a frown. “Seriously, you seem pretty out of it.”

“We’re about to run out of light; there are better uses of our time.” She tried to pull away only to find the monk stepping in front of her. In the dying lights, her hair looked nearly aflame as she peered down at Weiss.

“Why can’t we walk by moonlight?”

“It’s a new moon. There is no moonlight.”

“We’ve got the stars and the road back is pretty easy going.”

“You are being insufferable,” she said, huffing out a breath. “We’d first need to get out of the castle, which is much harder to navigate.” Really, if they hadn’t opted to go through the rooms in search of items to sell down at the market for a bit of extra coin, they wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. “But I suppose I can cast one more spell. Come on.”

She tried maneuvering around the blonde again only to be stopped once more. “You’re still not very good at lying, Frosty; you don’t have the strength to cast another spell. Why don’t we just bed down here for the night?”

Weiss blinked. “You’re joking.”

“Nah, I found a bed that’s in pretty good condition and some sheets. It’s way more comfortable than the usual tavern bunks.” Then her lips quirked up into a lascivious grin. “Plus, we can share.”

That was still a point of contention between them. They were stuck in a cave nearly a year ago, separated from the rest of their group, when honesty won out over discretion. At the time, Yang promised to keep their relationship a secret from the other two, both because they didn’t want their companions doubting their commitments to whichever mission they took and because Yang had a habit of not informing her sister about her love life. Thankfully, Ruby was either too dense or too innocent to notice when they slipped up and the rogue too amused to do anything other than watch quietly, a knowing little smile on her lips. It should be infuriating but she couldn’t hold it against Blake, not when she would provide just the right excuse to distract the ranger and give them some much needed alone time. Their affections, however, were either hidden from sight or disguised under whatever pretense they could manage. Sleeping together? Next to impossible, especially when they booked only a single room to save on gold.

Lately, though, the blonde’s thoughts on the matter had changed, and she was actively trying to get away with a little more than their established boundaries allowed. Most of the time, Weiss allowed it- relished it even- but now wasn’t one of those times.

“You’re being ridiculous,” the mage replied, crossing her arms over her chest. “We are not sleeping in a castle we spent the whole day clearing of foul creatures. For all we know, more could be lurking in the corners.”

“You already cast your evil detection spell six times, Frosty. There’s nothing in or around this castle that’s going to bother us.” Her smile widened. “And we can always lock the door.”

Before she could object, Yang produced a key from who-knew-where, twirling it between her fingers so it caught the flickering light. “I send you to find a lantern, and you instead find a key.”

“You sent me to find something useful, and I did.” She tapped the key against the tip of Weiss’ nose lightly. “Priorities.”

“Why couldn’t you prioritize finding a way to return to town?” Her brows furrowed, her lack of energy combining with her irritation to make her sound even more cross.

“Because the town’s not going anywhere and you’re almost dead on your feet.” The blonde chuckled. “Seeing as I’m not a necromancer, I had to find some other way to bring you back, and a good night’s rest will probably do the trick.”

“Give me one good reason we should stay here instead of heading back.”

“Cuddles,” Yang replied instantly, leaning closer with that insufferable smirk on her lips. “Or more, if you catch your second wind.”

“Don’t be crude; we haven’t the time for this ludicrous argument.” Blue eyes flicked to the dimming orbs. It wouldn’t be much longer now. “We need to find a lantern.”

“Well, there’s a finite number of ways for you to shut me up.” She raised a brow. “I suggest a kiss for max effectiveness.”

“I’m being serious, Yang.”

“So am I.”

“If you’re not going to help, stop talking.” Weiss tried again and succeeded in slipping past the other woman, though not without brushing against the brawler’s arm, that little bit of contact lending more strength to the ridiculous argument. They could simply call it a night… but, no, they should get back. That was the plan. "I’m going to find a lantern.“

"You know, we really don’t need it. You already light up my life!” Damn. She was starting with the puns, keeping one step behind as the mage tried to make use of the sparse light remaining to continue her search. “No, really; with you around, my eyesight’s so much better, I can even see my future! And it’s right in front of me!”

Double damn, now she was mixing in that ridiculously effective sweet talk, too. “Yang.”

“And you’re just so smart; seriously, you’ve gotta be the brightest person I know!” And there it was, the obnoxious compliments.

“Yang.”

“I mean, what’s the point of finding a lantern? You’ll still be more radiant.”

“Keep talking and I’ll cast a silence spell.” She turned around, jabbing a finger in the blonde’s face. “I mean it! Do not push me, Yang Xiao Long! Help me find a lantern and not one more word!”

The monk- the insufferable, lovable, terrible woman that she was- leaned forward and laughed. “Sorry, I was blinded by the shine in your eyes. What are we looking for again?”

Oh, that did it. Her frustration boiled over, hardly a second passing before she called forth the last little bit of her magical strength to hit the blonde dead in the chest. She didn’t even flinch and, as the light died and plunged the room into darkness, Weiss caught sight of the woman’s smug smile and mischievously glinting eyes. That was the moment she realized she’d walked straight into a trap.

Triple damn.

“Yang. Whatever you’re planning, you’d better stop right now.” She warned, blinking to try and force her eyes into adjusting faster, but her previous estimation proved correct. Without the moon, there was very little light to see by, and she could only vaguely remember where the door was relative to her present location. “I’m serious.” The sudden lack of sound from the other woman, though, sent a bolt of panic through her, her own breathing inexplicably louder in her ears. It wasn’t so much the prospect of being alone- that much would be easy to handle, considering the way she was raised- but not being able to see or hear the monk… it worried her. What if they’d missed a kobold and it got the drop on the blonde? She wouldn’t be able to call for help, and Weiss couldn’t see her- even tripping and falling proved dangerous. If she got hurt because of this… “Yang?” She stepped forward, attempting to reach out in front of her to find her companion but forced to throw her arms to the side instead to retain her balance. Her head was swimming, throwing her off, and the mage had to consider that moving around too much might make things much worse for her, nevermind the other woman. “Y-yang?”

And then there was a presence, something solid appearing beneath her arm a moment before a hand landed on her hip, sliding across her back to rest on the other side. Even without sight and sound, she could feel the monk’s unusual warmth radiating from her, a comforting aura that she missed dearly whenever it was gone. Weiss immediately sagged against the other woman, reaching out to grab hold of her tunic even as Yang buried her face in snow white hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. It was both a warning and a reassurance, the prelude to the woman bending down to hook her other arm beneath the mage’s knees and lift her off her feet.

It was strange and unsettling. This wasn’t the first time she’d pushed herself to exhaustion, prompting the monk to carry her somewhere, but usually there was the woman’s steadily beating heart to lull her into calm, the even tread of her gait, and puns, jokes, or teases to distract her. Now, there was nothing but the darkness, and without Yang’s reassuring warmth and strong grip, she might think herself deceived.

All doubts were laid to rest when, without warning, the little golden dragon pendant the monk wore started glowing. Immediately, the mage felt foolish; how many times had she remarked on the exquisite craftsmanship of the enchanted necklace? Too many to count, yet she’d entirely forgotten its existence when it would’ve been most prudent.

“You knew I wouldn’t be able to make it back to town,” she said, silently cursing herself for not realizing it before. “You baited me on purpose.”

The blonde bent her head down, lightly nuzzling against the top of her head in apology.

“Don’t; I’m sorry I was being stubborn.” Yang shifted her pointedly and she sighed. “… sorry I was being stubborn again. Happy?”

The quick press of lips to her forehead mollified her, the monk setting off towards the door now that there was ample light to see their surroundings. She had to admit, the woman certainly knew how to plan ahead, having left the door ajar to ease their way out and turning down the hallway resolutely, allowing Weiss to see the open door just a little ways down the hall. While the mage spent her time searching for valuables and a lantern, Yang likely used the time to find a suitable room for the night, and that theory was proven correct when the blonde brought them both through the open door. The windows were open, allowing cool, fresh air into the room, and the nearest surface looked like it had been wiped down, the dust removed in preparation. Some of the furniture looked rearranged as well, push well away from the bed, which sported fresh linens and a few well fluffed pillows.

With great care, she was laid down on the bed- which, true to the woman’s word, felt like a cloud compared to the stiff, thin mattresses they used while traveling- and Yang wasted no time in removing the light boots she wore and her belt, setting both aside on a table, likely positioned so it would be within easy reach. Her mages robes were eased off and she helped as much as she could, feeling somewhat childish being undressed like this. However, the moment her brows began to crease in annoyance, the blonde sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss her expression smooth, running a hand along her side in a soothing gesture.

It’s okay. I don’t mind.

“Maybe I mind,” she replied, her eyelids growing heavy as she acknowledged that she could only guess at what Yang was saying, if she was trying to convey anything at all other than comfort. “I can’t even return the favor.” The blonde’s shoulders shook in silent laughter before she stood, leaning over to plant another kiss on the center of her forehead. It felt too much like a good night kiss, though, and she couldn’t take the chance, clumsily reaching out to grab hold of the other woman’s wrist. “You promised me cuddles, remember?”

Yang paused, as if she hadn’t intended on actually sharing the bed, before nodding. The light of her pendant gave her an ethereal appearance but there was nothing but that soft kindness reflecting in lilac eyes that only emerged when looking at her. At least, Weiss liked to think so; it wasn’t the same sort of fondness the blonde had for her sister or even the rogue. It was different, deeper, special, and she felt a tired smile spread across her face when Yang sat back down and took off her own boots, unlacing her cestus and bracers, and pulled her tunic up and over her head. Her own items were removed with less care, probably dropped into a puddle beside the bed, but it meant that she took less time to slide over and pull the thin sheets over both of them.

The mage made no protests as she was carefully helped to lay on her side, the other woman quickly scooting over to press against her back. Any worries about the sheets being too thin for the chill in the air were immediately dispelled as Yang’s warmth began seeping into her body, setting her at ease. It still felt so very wrong not to hear the blonde’s breathing in her ear or her motions as she shifted to get comfortable, but it was only temporary, and the steady pressure rising and falling against her shoulder blades dulled the sensation somewhat.

“You’re too good for me,” she said, her voice soft and thick as the promise of sleep entreated her to slip into unconsciousness. The bed shook with the woman’s silent laugh before another kiss pressed just below her ear, an arm slipping around her waist holding her tenderly.

Nah. I don’t think so.

Summoning what strength she still had in her, Weiss turned her head, begging for a proper kiss. Her request was granted, one of her hands slipping around Yang’s neck to lightly tease through luscious golden locks, a privilege only she had earned. “Goodnight, Fireball.”

The monk lightly bumped their noses together. Goodnight, Frosty.

Settling in for bed, the mage allowed herself to drift off to sleep, muttering faintly. “I love you.”

Her dreams were filled with bright summer days and shining lilac eyes.

This turned out fluffier than I’d intended. Hope you enjoyed!

#Freezerburn #Freezerburn Friday #TRR writes

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