#Xavier: Spring Letter

[moonsavior]

By Your Side - Tender Moments (that I like in no particular order)

Planned Crush

Spring Letter

Close Feelings

Shining Light

Dreams Within Reach

[thatharemlifestyle]

PoC Edits of 4stars by CybillaFräulein

Rafayel: Scarlet Invitation

Xavier: Spring Letter

My MC Latoya Touya

Random 4* PoC Edits by CybillaFräulein

Edited for my delulu, now you can delulu too

[zaynes-nieve]

Spring and Flowers Banner Ranking 🌷

Obvious but spoilers for all 5 cards and their stories, this is also purely a personal ranking!

Honestly this was really tight, all 5 cards were great I don't think any wasn't a banger so I'm really looking at the smallest details for this one. Things that made me personally happy. I'ma do a quick overview of all the cards and then break them down what I liked about them the most. Starting off with our newest ML,

Caleb: Floating Floraletter

Caleb's card was great! I really enjoyed the Kindled. I'm not a Caleb girlie so I don't know if this was when it was confirmed but all the nicknames and just plane jargon was basically confirmed in this one. Also OMFG THOSE LETTERS?! 😭 THAT HURT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE WROTE HIS LAST WORDS EVERY TIME HE WENT ON A MISSION?! WHY DID THEY INCLUDE THAT CLIP AT THE END TOO? IT WAS DIABOLICAL 😭😭😭. This card is docked a point for the Liam mention cause every time I see him I get sad thinking about his wife and kids/jk But damn it was good. I also really love Lotus Flowers and I love the Boat

Sylus: Valleydream Bloom

Y'all this one definitely had one of my favorite stories. I loved the little date at the beginning in a public mall. Sylus was showing off his rich side remaining us, he has an at home theater lol and that he is super tall, Sylus's Black Card™ was also popping off this card. What do you mean he bought a whole ass castle?! Having a The Most Dangerous Game-esque mission was kind of crazy? Or would it be more similar to like Gladiators. Also Myth Lore y'all? They brought back the Dragons. The Dragon remains are a wild place to have a date high key but it was PRETTY 😍. The story was beautiful.

Xavier: Inflorescence Imprints

This is a personal thing but I love me some old cameras. I have a Polaroid and I love it. Definitely enjoyed them adding that into the story also, the sheep and the sheep dog taking out both Xavier and MC was hella funny. I also loved the scenery and that swing?! Beautiful.

Rafayel: Wisteria Waltz

I love flowers bruh and like all of them have flowers but this one is cool, a plant that blooms on the ocean?! And we get to name it. The date was cute and I will definitely say that out of the 5, Rafayel had the best interactive camera angles, coming in very close second is Sylus. Seeing Talia is always a win and knowing Thomas is the happiest person when Rafayel actually shows up for an exhibition is forever gonna be funny. Also Wisteria and Purple in general is a favorite of mine. It helps that it matches Rafayel so well, the card was beautiful 😍

Zayne: Fragrant Possession

Finally. OMFG. This card. THIS STORY. HUSBAND AND WIFE FUCKING CONFIRMED LETS GO!!!!!!!!! MY FAVORITE STORY BY FAR. I loved EVERYTHING. WERE AN IT COUPLE! A POWER COUPLE. We also win an award!!!! Go us! Rookie Hunter of the Year!!! The speech training with the plushies we won was also crazy LMFAO how did they know I almost have max plushies with this man XD. Also Zayne buying 20 copies of the same magazine and also buying out that bookstore owner is so crazy I'm crying 😭. It's the fact that he wasn't even off on that count, Tara immediately asking him for one made me laugh. HE IS ALSO GIVING COPIES TO HIS PARENTS?! We are so married guys!!!!! That interviewer also clocked us immediately bruh. We also got a jealous moment from Zayne due to some college boys from the University? Academy? Is being a hunter like an degree or more like an ROTC? We also find out that Zayne was on a best selling magazine which ofc he was XD. I also want a copy of that one too!!! Best Camera Man. I do wish we got a bit more from the interactive camera and idk what we needed the flower in the middle of the kiss that was a weird creative choice unless I'm just missing something but omfg this card was amazing.

All in All not a single card is bad bruh, they were all amazing and worth the money 💰 but I gotta rank em.

5th is going to be Caleb, His card was great and I really loved the Kindled, but the story was a bit lacking for me, it seems like that is always the general story for Caleb and MC, I would have liked to see something new, but the letter were definitely a shot in the gut.

4th is Xavier, Very beautiful visuals and the story was interesting, definitely seen more of the appeal recently due to getting his Lumiere Myth cards and story. Like the tie back into the Free 5 Star story especially since I got that card before I got Lumiere's Rerun. But also I feel like angst is coming up bruh there is like a level of foreboding.

3rd is Rafayel. Rafayel had both a great story and the best overall Kindled in my opinion. The Lumerian culture is always fun to see and honestly It's less that this card couldn't be ranked higher and more like personal preference for certain things was checked off for our final 2.

Honestly I say this everytime and it's true but you can essentially ignore Zayne's ranking because I don't think it's ever going to drop. So technically the real 1st place though he is ranked 2nd is Sylus. I loved the story so much, the interaction in the movie theater, MC constantly getting Sylus out into real society with her. That is so much fun. Them meeting up "by chance" at the castle and working together flawlessly. Rafayel's Kindled was in my opinion the best but this one was literally only off by 1 point. It was beautiful and I loved tying back in Sylus's Myth.

Finally our Winner 🎉🏆🙌 is Zayne!!!!

Zayne had hands down my favorite story. It felt natural everything made sense, MC and Zayne are so in a settled relationship there is no doubt or questioning. He is by far the greenest flag and it definitely shows. Also it checks out that his outfit that he got was gifted to him, I would have never thought it was something he would own and that is right XD. Bless for that Interviewer fr fr. Setting us up with that outfit! We're the married couple and I love that fr. Like I mentioned earlier I wish the kindled had a little more and censoring the kiss scene so blatantly is a little eh but the Kindled was also extremely beautiful. Felt like I was in a K-Drama!

Well that is my rankings for this banner, I'll be dropping the Male Lead Rankings after my college finals, wish me luck!

[abunchofshenigans]

Xavier Expanded Memory: Spring Letter

[ourlittleuluru]

asdfghjkl (/ω＼*)……… (/ω•＼*)

I can't even with this new memory~ ahhh it's so sweet <3 gotta love me some memories with Xavier and MC going on a trip~

But Xavier is so lost??? He's that directionally challenged??? I don't recall it ever being mentioned anywhere else, but that's kinda cute. Especially if it gets written into a scenario like in this memory (❤´艸｀❤) that ending is 👌 in my books (it's making my drawing fingers itchy but i have a full work day to go throughhh ToT)

spoilers under the cut~

MC... did you already forgot how Xavier brought a whole backpack full of snacks on that one spring trip from the Spring Letter tender moment? 🤣

And this is how we learn about him being constantly lost...

Is... Please don't tell me this is how him and his Backtrack team got lost (´。＿。｀)???

(jkjk obviously that event was a lot more serious than this)

The way these two just ends up having a picnic, a chill time under the stars... (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ love love love it~ the ending was so sweeeeeeet~ urgh kokoro be constantly in pain due to the amount of sweet short fics that gets posted and then this memoryyyyy

Last but not least... This may have happened way before the other screenshots... but~ the best for last~~

Look at him... Look at his face. and smile. HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING!

(also am I just being blur? The classic fade to black strikes again but MC's hand is over his mouth... so did they not... kiss? or did they and she reacted only after????)

It's way too early in the morning and there's a meeting for work but thanks for the energy Xavier~ Now, time to wait til after work to start spamming the in-game screenshot button 8D

[love-and-deepspace-wiki]

Moonfall Bay

Location: described as "a nearby town"

Details:

Moonfall Bay is a location mentioned during Xavier's birthday event. While the protaganist was planning Xavier's birthday celebration, she received an anonymous letter in an unsigned envelope. The envelope was yellowed with age. The letter itself was written in Xavier's handwriting and bore the date of October 16th (one of his past birthdays). The following lines were still legible:

"Change is a fickle friend. Construction sites sprout faster than flowers bloom. Even this post office will be closed down."

"Maybe I'll be in the process of finding a new place to live in next spring."

The postage stamp revealed that it came from a nearby town, Moonfall Bay.

Business & Locations:

the Time Post Office

[hananoami]

[07/29 - 08/12] Senior Hunter Contest

New Senior Hunter Contest season! This one will last from 07/29 to 08/12.

Stellactrum Requirements

Team A: Silverbay Division ( 5 ) Pearl memories + ( 1 ) Emerald memory

Team B: Goldbird Division ( 4 ) Amber memories + ( 1 ) Emerald memory

Team C: Soaria Division ( 3 ) Sapphire memories + ( 1 ) Ruby memory

Seasonal Bonus Memories

Bonus Memory DMG boost: 10% for each 5-Star, 30% to the most; 5% for each 4-Star, 10% to the most.Assisting Memories apply to all stages of current level.

5-star Memories

☆ [ Xavier: Lightseeking Obsession ] — Emerald / Solar ☆ [ Zayne: Forever Sealed ] — Sapphire / Solar ☆ [ Rafayel: Deep Sea Promise ] — Violet / Solar ☆ [ Sylus: Captivating Lesson ] — Pearl / Solar

4-star Memories

☆ [ Sylus: Wild Gaze ] — Violet / Lunar ☆ [ Xavier: Spring Letter ] — Sapphire / Lunar ☆ [ Zayne: Secret Fairytale ] — Sapphire / Lunar ☆ [ Rafayel: Scorching Rain ] — Amber / Lunar

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Josh Marshall at TPM (07.16.2024):

This spring, HHS finalized new regulations under HIPAA to limit law enforcement access to medical records tied to reproductive health. The rule was first proposed in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision as a way to limit the ability of state and local law enforcement agencies to access medical records to stymie or criminalize access to legal reproductive health services, most specifically abortions, but not only abortions. It also applies to contraception and the full range of other endangered reproductive care.

So for instance, consider the ability of a woman from an abortion-ban state to travel to another state to get a legal abortion, or her ability to receive legal abortion drugs through the mail. The news has been filled with proposed or actual laws which would attempt to restrict travel to receive abortions in other states, charge those who travel or criminalize those who might facilitate such travel or facilitate the legal shipment of prescribed abortion drugs through the mail. Of course, local police agencies might simply take it upon themselves to pull records to see who had unexplained disruptions to their menstrual cycles. Your local sheriff might just want to know. And so does JD Vance, it turns out.

But to enforce these laws or know when there’s something to enforce you really need access to medical records. You need to know and be able to prove when a woman was pregnant and then, before the end of normal gestation, stopped being pregnant. So if you live in Texas and you’re pregnant, can you go to your OB-GYN or will that be held against you if you’re found to have ceased being pregnant after a visit to Kansas? Does your OB have to report you to law enforcement if they believe there’s a real and present risk that you’ll go out of state to get an abortion or seek a prescription from an out of state doctor for mifepristone? And what about contraception, which some states are now also making moves to limit? Or how about IVF? This was the context of the HHS rule which was proposed in spring of 2023 and came into effect this spring. It applies to all of those questions.

Now when this rule was first proposed back in 2023, a group of 28 members of Congress wrote to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding he withdraw the proposed rule “immediately.” (I was reminded of this letter when I saw this write up this morning.) They argued that the proposed rule “unlawfully thwarts the enforcement of compassionate laws” and “creates special protections for abortion that limit cooperation with law enforcement, undermine the ability to report abuse, restrict the provision of public health information … erase the humanity of unborn children” and “interfere with valid state laws protecting life.”

Ohio Senator and Trump VP Pick J.D. Vance (R) supports a menstrual surveillance regime that would make anti-abortion extremists happy.

This is why no one with a brain should vote for Trump/Vance.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 11.13

Holidays

Actor’s Day

Advocacy Action Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Brassiere Day

Canterbury Day (New Zealand)

Caregiver Appreciation Day

Day of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops (Russia)

Geographic Information Systems Day

International Day of Huntington’s Disease

International Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome Awareness Day

Lhabab Duechen (Bhutan)

Madder Day (French Republic)

Mister Rogers Cardigan Day

National Community Education Day

National Dream Destination Day

National Hug a Musician Day

National Japanese Culture Day

National Mom’s and Dad’s Day

National Reread Old Letters and Magazines Day

National Saddle Hunting Day

National Sunflower Day (South Africa)

Njegos Day (Montenegro)

Odd Couple Day

Odd Socks Day (UK)

Quasihomosexual Pride Day

Sadie Hawkins Day [also 11.15 & 1st Saturday]

Start a Rumor Day

Swiftie Day

Symphonic Metal Day

Tree Festival Day (Tunisia)

Tree Day (Macedonia)

World Kindness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Frankfurter Day

Indian Pudding Day

National Bread Pudding Day

National Chicken Nugget Day

National Roast Dinner Day (UK)

National Sea Salt Caramel Day

World Mediterranean Diet Day

Independence & Related Days

Politzania Independence Day (Klaatu)

2nd Wednesday in November

Blue Wednesday [2nd Wednesday]

Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer; Bavaria, Saxony) [2nd Wednesday before 1st Sunday in Advent]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Pathology Day [2nd Wednesday]

National CTEPH Awareness Day [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 13 (2nd Full Week of November)

Geography Awareness Week (thru 11.17)

World Kindness Week (thru 11.19) [Week Starting 11.13]

Festivals Beginning November 13, 2024

Cairo International Film Festival (Cairo, Egypt) [thru 11.22]

Country Living Christmas Fair (London, United Kingdom) [thru 11.16]

Rock the Bells Cruise (Miami, Florida) [thru 11.17]

Feast Days

Abbo of Fleury (Christian; Saint)

Agostina Livia Pietrantoni (Christian; Saint)

Arcadius and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Barneveldt (Positivist; Saint)

Benny Andrews (Artology)

Bertel Thorvaldsen (Artology)

Brice of Tours (Christian; Saint)

Charles Simeon (Church of England)

Chillen (a.k.a. Killian; Christian; Saint)

Chuang Tzu’s Day

Constant (Christian; Saint)

Cranberry Sparkle Cake Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Dangerous Dragon (Muppetism)

Death-Watch (Celtic Book of Days)

Didacus (Diego) of Alcalá (Christian; Saint) [Cooks]

Epulum Iovis (Festival of Feronia, Juno, Minerva and Jupiter; Ancient Rome)

Eugenius II of Toledo (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Feronia (a.k.a. Epulum Iovis; Old Etruscan and Roman Fertility Goddess)

Feast of Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgia)

Feast of the Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Roman Catholic)

Festival of Feronia (Ancient Roman Goddess of Wildlife, Fertility, Health & Abundance)

Festival of Jupiter (Ancient Rome)

Fontinalia (Festival to Fons, Spirit of Springs; Pagan)

Fortuna Primigenia (Fortune of the Firstborn; Ancient Rome)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Christian; Saint)

George V. Higgins (Writerism)

Homobonus (Christian; Saint)

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgian Orthodox Church)

Ides of November (Ancient Rome)

John Chrysostom (Eastern Orthodox, Repose)

Kilian (Christian; Saint)

Leandro (Christian; Saint) [Spain]

Maxellendis (Christian; Virgin & Martyr)

Mitrius (Christian; Saint)

Nicholas I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Otis Campbell Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Quintian of Rodez (Christian; Saint)

Rivkah (Artology)

Robert Louis Stevenson (Writerism)

Saints of the Benedictine family (Christian; Saints)

Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Christian; Saints)

Stanislaus Kostka (Christian; Saint)

Stephen Baxter (Writerism)

Talk to Birds Day (Pastafarian)

Tooth Collection Days begin (Fairies; Shamanism)

William Gibson (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Day of Darkness, Evil & Misfortune (Medieval Europe) [13th Day after Halloween)

Prime Number Day: 317 [66 of 72]

Premieres

Aladdin (Animated Disney Film; 1992)

An Arrow Escape (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Beauty Shoppe (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1940)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Film; 1992)

The Bush Pusher or Beri Beri Who’s Got the Berry? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 178; 1962)

Caroline Lamb (Writerism)

Double Danger (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #9; 1964)

Downhearted Duckling (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1954)

Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man, by Aleksandr Ostrovsky (Play; 1868)

Fantasia (Animated Disney Film; 1940)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Stop Motion Film; 2009)

The Forty Thieves (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Hairied and Hurried (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad (Novel; 1902)

Laundry Service, by Shakira (Album; 2001)

Laura, by Vera Caspary (Novel; 1942)

The Lightning Bugs or Nuts and Volts (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 177; 1962)

The Line, The Cross & The Curve, by Kate Bush (Short Film; 1993)

Lionheart, by Kate Bush (Album; 1978)

Lose Yourself, by Eminem (Song; 2002)

Mountain Mover or Boris Sneaks a Peak (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 72; 1960)

An Old-Fashioned Love Song, by Three Dog Night (Song; 1971)

1, by The Beatles (Compilation Album; 2000)

Out of the Past (Film; 1947)

Out of This Whirl (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Porky’s Double Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rocky and the Rock or Braver and Boulder (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 71; 1960)

The Saint in Pursuit, by Fleming Lee (Short Stories; 1970) [Saint #43]

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Movie; 1988)

A Short History of Decay, by Emil M. Cioran (Science Book; 1949)

Silent Night, recorded by Bing Crosby (Song; 1935)

Ski for Two (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1944)

2012 (Film; 2009)

War and Remembrance (TV Mini-Series; 1988)

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (Children’s Book; 1963)

Whistler’s Father, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 33 & 34; 1965)

Yellow Submarine (Animated Film; 1968)

Today’s Name Days

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus (Austria)

Brcko, Brickije, Didak, Dobroslav, Homobonus, Ivan, Mitar, Stanislav, Stanko (Croatia)

Tibor (Czech Republic)

Arcadius (Denmark)

Krister, Kristjan, Kristo, Risto (Estonia)

Ano, Kristian (Finland)

Brice (France)

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus, Rene (Germany)

Chrysostomos, Damaskinos, Hrysostomos (Greece)

Szilvia (Hungary)

Brizio, Diego, Omobono, Paterniano (Italy)

Eižens, Jevgēņija, Jevgēņijs, Taida (Latvia)

Arkadijus, Eirima, Norvydas (Lithuania)

Kirsten, Kirsti (Norway)

Arkadiusz, Arkady, Brykcjusz, Eugeniusz, Jan, Mikołaj, Stanisław, Walentyn (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Stanislav (Slovakia)

Diego, Leandro (Spain)

Krister, Kristian (Sweden)

Brice, Bruce, Bryce, Bryson, Stan, Stanford, Stanley (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 318 of 2024; 48 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 46 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 18 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 13 (Xin-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 12 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 11 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 18 Wood; Threesday [18 of 30]

Julian: 31 October 2024

Moon: 93%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 10 Frederic (12th Month) [Gustavus Adolphus]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 52 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 21 of 30)

[debrasmithauthor]

Meet the Animals of Nature’s ABCs

Are your children curious about animals? Do you want your children to learn more about animals and their natural habitats? It is possible with Nature’s ABCs!

One of the most exciting parts of Nature’s ABCs is discovering all the amazing animals that fill its pages. From well-known creatures like Deb the Dog to rare and surprising ones like Uma the Uguisu, each alphabetic letter introduces an animal with unique abilities and diverse characteristics.

Take Emmanuel the Elephant, for example. Most children know that elephants are large, but they might not know that they have a highly developed sense of touch, smell, and hearing. Emmanuel can consume up to 330 pounds of plants every day, and he communicates not just through sound but also through touch and smell. His ears serve an important purpose. They help regulate body temperature, keeping him cool under the hot sun.

Then there’s Ollie the Octopus, a master of survival. Ollie can change colors to blend into his surroundings. With his ability, he can camouflage himself in the surroundings, making it almost impossible for predators to see him. If that’s not enough, Ollie can also release a cloud of ink to confuse attackers and escape. He’s also incredibly smart and can solve puzzles, open jars, and even escape from enclosures!

Another fascinating animal discussed in the book is Sean the seahorse. Most animals rely on mothers to carry their young. But Sean is different. Despite being a male, he’s the one who carries the babies! He can hold anywhere from 100 to 1,000 baby seahorses at once in a special pouch. Children enjoy learning about this special parenting role, and it leads to fascinating conversations about the diversity of nature.

And let’s not forget about Iggy the Iguana. Unlike many animals, Iggy has a third eye on the top of his head! This special, third or partial eye doesn’t see shapes or colors. Instead, it detects light and movement, helping him stay alert for predators. Iggy also has an impressive ability. If he loses his tail, he can grow it back! This built-in survival skill helps him escape danger and regrow his missing limb over time.

Even birds have incredible talents that are presented in this book! Uma the Uguisu, also known as the Japanese bush warbler, for example, is famous for her beautiful singing voice. She sings mostly in the spring, and in Japan, her song is often associated with the arrival of cherry blossoms.

Not all animals in Nature’s ABCs are well-known, which makes learning even more exciting. Xavier the X-ray Tetra is a tiny fish with a body so clear that you can see right through it! His transparency makes him one of the most unique animals on Earth, and children are often amazed by how different he looks from regular fish.

In the end, through each letter, Nature’s ABCs introduces children to the incredible diversity of the animal world. From Zena the Zebra’s unique striped pattern to Vinnie the Vulture’s role in cleaning up the environment, every animal has some unique characteristics that children will enjoy and be amazed to learn and discover. It has to be a story to tell to every child, as the educational facts presented in this book teach children about animals and encourage curiosity, wonder, and appreciation for nature.

By making learning interactive and fun, Nature’s ABCs is the perfect way to inspire a lifelong love of reading and wildlife. Whether children meet Anne the Armadillo, Bradley the Bunny, or Quentin the Quail, every page of this book is filled with excitement and discovery that will only benefit your children for years to come.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVHYD17C.

[glubandeepspace]

Xavier—Tender Moments: Spring Letter

[brookston]

Holidays 11.13

Holidays

Actor’s Day

Advocacy Action Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Brassiere Day

Canterbury Day (New Zealand)

Caregiver Appreciation Day

Day of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops (Russia)

Geographic Information Systems Day

International Day of Huntington’s Disease

International Schinzel-Giedion Syndrome Awareness Day

Lhabab Duechen (Bhutan)

Madder Day (French Republic)

Mister Rogers Cardigan Day

National Community Education Day

National Dream Destination Day

National Hug a Musician Day

National Japanese Culture Day

National Mom’s and Dad’s Day

National Reread Old Letters and Magazines Day

National Saddle Hunting Day

National Sunflower Day (South Africa)

Njegos Day (Montenegro)

Odd Couple Day

Odd Socks Day (UK)

Quasihomosexual Pride Day

Sadie Hawkins Day [also 11.15 & 1st Saturday]

Start a Rumor Day

Swiftie Day

Symphonic Metal Day

Tree Festival Day (Tunisia)

Tree Day (Macedonia)

World Kindness Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Frankfurter Day

Indian Pudding Day

National Bread Pudding Day

National Chicken Nugget Day

National Roast Dinner Day (UK)

National Sea Salt Caramel Day

World Mediterranean Diet Day

Independence & Related Days

Politzania Independence Day (Klaatu)

2nd Wednesday in November

Blue Wednesday [2nd Wednesday]

Buß- und Bettag (Day of Repentance and Prayer; Bavaria, Saxony) [2nd Wednesday before 1st Sunday in Advent]

Hump Day [Every Wednesday]

International Pathology Day [2nd Wednesday]

National CTEPH Awareness Day [2nd Wednesday]

Wacky Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Watermelon Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Website Wednesday [Every Wednesday]

Workout Wednesday [2nd Wednesday of Each Month]

Weekly Holidays beginning November 13 (2nd Full Week of November)

Geography Awareness Week (thru 11.17)

World Kindness Week (thru 11.19) [Week Starting 11.13]

Festivals Beginning November 13, 2024

Cairo International Film Festival (Cairo, Egypt) [thru 11.22]

Country Living Christmas Fair (London, United Kingdom) [thru 11.16]

Rock the Bells Cruise (Miami, Florida) [thru 11.17]

Feast Days

Abbo of Fleury (Christian; Saint)

Agostina Livia Pietrantoni (Christian; Saint)

Arcadius and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Barneveldt (Positivist; Saint)

Benny Andrews (Artology)

Bertel Thorvaldsen (Artology)

Brice of Tours (Christian; Saint)

Charles Simeon (Church of England)

Chillen (a.k.a. Killian; Christian; Saint)

Chuang Tzu’s Day

Constant (Christian; Saint)

Cranberry Sparkle Cake Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Dangerous Dragon (Muppetism)

Death-Watch (Celtic Book of Days)

Didacus (Diego) of Alcalá (Christian; Saint) [Cooks]

Epulum Iovis (Festival of Feronia, Juno, Minerva and Jupiter; Ancient Rome)

Eugenius II of Toledo (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Feronia (a.k.a. Epulum Iovis; Old Etruscan and Roman Fertility Goddess)

Feast of Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgia)

Feast of the Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Roman Catholic)

Festival of Feronia (Ancient Roman Goddess of Wildlife, Fertility, Health & Abundance)

Festival of Jupiter (Ancient Rome)

Fontinalia (Festival to Fons, Spirit of Springs; Pagan)

Fortuna Primigenia (Fortune of the Firstborn; Ancient Rome)

Frances Xavier Cabrini (Christian; Saint)

George V. Higgins (Writerism)

Homobonus (Christian; Saint)

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (Georgian Orthodox Church)

Ides of November (Ancient Rome)

John Chrysostom (Eastern Orthodox, Repose)

Kilian (Christian; Saint)

Leandro (Christian; Saint) [Spain]

Maxellendis (Christian; Virgin & Martyr)

Mitrius (Christian; Saint)

Nicholas I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Otis Campbell Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Quintian of Rodez (Christian; Saint)

Rivkah (Artology)

Robert Louis Stevenson (Writerism)

Saints of the Benedictine family (Christian; Saints)

Saints of the Premonstratensian Order (Christian; Saints)

Stanislaus Kostka (Christian; Saint)

Stephen Baxter (Writerism)

Talk to Birds Day (Pastafarian)

Tooth Collection Days begin (Fairies; Shamanism)

William Gibson (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Day of Darkness, Evil & Misfortune (Medieval Europe) [13th Day after Halloween)

Prime Number Day: 317 [66 of 72]

Premieres

Aladdin (Animated Disney Film; 1992)

An Arrow Escape (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1936)

Beauty Shoppe (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1940)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Film; 1992)

The Bush Pusher or Beri Beri Who’s Got the Berry? (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 178; 1962)

Caroline Lamb (Writerism)

Double Danger (Animated TV Show;Jonny Quest #9; 1964)

Downhearted Duckling (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1954)

Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man, by Aleksandr Ostrovsky (Play; 1868)

Fantasia (Animated Disney Film; 1940)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (Stop Motion Film; 2009)

The Forty Thieves (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1932)

Hairied and Hurried (WB MM Cartoon; 1965)

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad (Novel; 1902)

Laundry Service, by Shakira (Album; 2001)

Laura, by Vera Caspary (Novel; 1942)

The Lightning Bugs or Nuts and Volts (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S4, Ep. 177; 1962)

The Line, The Cross & The Curve, by Kate Bush (Short Film; 1993)

Lionheart, by Kate Bush (Album; 1978)

Lose Yourself, by Eminem (Song; 2002)

Mountain Mover or Boris Sneaks a Peak (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 72; 1960)

An Old-Fashioned Love Song, by Three Dog Night (Song; 1971)

1, by The Beatles (Compilation Album; 2000)

Out of the Past (Film; 1947)

Out of This Whirl (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1959)

Porky’s Double Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1937)

Rocky and the Rock or Braver and Boulder (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S2, Ep. 71; 1960)

The Saint in Pursuit, by Fleming Lee (Short Stories; 1970) [Saint #43]

Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Movie; 1988)

A Short History of Decay, by Emil M. Cioran (Science Book; 1949)

Silent Night, recorded by Bing Crosby (Song; 1935)

Ski for Two (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1944)

2012 (Film; 2009)

War and Remembrance (TV Mini-Series; 1988)

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (Children’s Book; 1963)

Whistler’s Father, Parts 1 & 2 (Underdog Cartoon, S2, Eps. 33 & 34; 1965)

Yellow Submarine (Animated Film; 1968)

Today’s Name Days

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus (Austria)

Brcko, Brickije, Didak, Dobroslav, Homobonus, Ivan, Mitar, Stanislav, Stanko (Croatia)

Tibor (Czech Republic)

Arcadius (Denmark)

Krister, Kristjan, Kristo, Risto (Estonia)

Ano, Kristian (Finland)

Brice (France)

Eugen, Livia, Stanislaus, Rene (Germany)

Chrysostomos, Damaskinos, Hrysostomos (Greece)

Szilvia (Hungary)

Brizio, Diego, Omobono, Paterniano (Italy)

Eižens, Jevgēņija, Jevgēņijs, Taida (Latvia)

Arkadijus, Eirima, Norvydas (Lithuania)

Kirsten, Kirsti (Norway)

Arkadiusz, Arkady, Brykcjusz, Eugeniusz, Jan, Mikołaj, Stanisław, Walentyn (Poland)

Ioan (România)

Stanislav (Slovakia)

Diego, Leandro (Spain)

Krister, Kristian (Sweden)

Brice, Bruce, Bryce, Bryson, Stan, Stanford, Stanley (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 318 of 2024; 48 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of Week 46 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Hagal (Hailstone) [Day 18 of 28]

Chinese: Month 10 (Yi-Hai), Day 13 (Xin-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 12 Heshvan 5785

Islamic: 11 Jumada I 1446

J Cal: 18 Wood; Threesday [18 of 30]

Julian: 31 October 2024

Moon: 93%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 10 Frederic (12th Month) [Gustavus Adolphus]

Runic Half Month: Nyd (Necessity) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 52 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of November

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 21 of 30)

[stxaviershighschool49]

When to Apply for Pre-Nursery Admission in Gurgaon for Your Little One?

As a parent, determining the best an entrance to apply for pre-nursery confirmation can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. This is the main power step in your child’s instructive trip, and you really want to guarantee you finish everything well. Assuming you live in Gurgaon, lady luck has blessed you! The city is home to a combination of nursery schools in Gurgaon, offering fabulous instructive open doors for your little ones. In this blog segment, we will investigate the timeline for pre nursery admission in gurgaon, give insights into what to look for in a school, and feature probably the most ideal choices open, including St. Xavier’s Secondary School — CBSE School in Gurgaon.

Understanding Pre-Nursery Education

What is Pre-Nursery?

Pre-nursery is a youth instruction program designed for youngsters commonly matured 2 to 3 years. It focuses on developing essential skills, including social, close to home, language, and mental abilities. The point is to give a nurturing climate where kids can learn through play and investigation.

For what reason is Pre-Nursery Significant?

Enrolling your kid in a pre-nursery program can have several benefits:

Interactive abilities Movement: Children have the chance to interact with their friends, which assists them with fostering interactive abilities and find out about sharing and participation.

Early Learning: Pre-nursery programs introduce fundamental ideas like numbers, letters, and tones, laying the foundation for future learning.

Independence: Being in an organized climate assists jokes with becoming more independent and sets them up for the progress to formal schooling.

Routine and Construction: Pre-nursery gives an organized routine, which is critical for little children as they figure out a good method for adjusting to timetables and assumptions.

When Should You Apply for Pre-Nursery Admission?

General Timeline for Admission

The admission timeline for pre nursery admission in Gurgaon ordinarily starts around six months before the scholarly year begins. Most schools report their admission dates in the first quarter of the year, by and large around January to Spring. Here is an overall timeline to assist you with planning:

Research Schools: Begin your search for suitable nursery school in gurgaon as soon as six months before the admission process starts. Search for schools that fit your instructive philosophy and values.

Check Admission Dates: Watch out for the admission announcements for various schools. Most schools will publish their admission dates, models, and the quantity of seats accessible.

Plan Documentation: Whenever you have selected a school, try to set up the necessary documents, such as your kid’s introduction to the world declaration, confirmation of residence, and some other requirements specified by the school.

Visit Schools: In the wake of shortlisting schools, consider visiting them to figure out the climate and teaching methods. This will assist you with making an informed decision about where to apply.

Submit Application: Applications are usually acknowledged among January and Walk. Ensure that you submit your application on opportunity to increase your chances of securing a spot.

Interviews and Assessments: Some schools might direct interviews or assessments for kids and parents to understand their needs and expectations. Be ready for this step.

Affirmation: After the application process, schools will tell you about admissions by Spring or April. Assuming that your kid is acknowledged, you should finish the enlistment process.

Choosing the right nursery school for your kid is essential. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Educational plan

Search for schools that offer a balanced educational plan focusing on both intellectual and fundamental abilities. The best schools will incorporate play-based learning and various activities that advance inventiveness and decisive thinking.

2. Instructor Qualifications

The qualifications and experience of the teaching staff are basic. Ensure that the teachers are trained in youth schooling and have a genuine love for teaching small kids.

3. Facilities and Infrastructure

Visit the school to actually look at the infrastructure, including classrooms, playgrounds, and safety measures. A decent nursery school should have a perfect, safe, and stimulating climate for kids.

4. Student-Instructor Proportion

A low student-instructor proportion allows for more personalized consideration for every kid. This is significant for their profound and social turn of events.

5. Parent Involvement

Schools that energize parent involvement frequently make a supportive local area. Search for schools that offer opportunities for parents to participate in school activities and events.

[luzdaydreamer]

Event: Timeless Days

Xavier’s birthday: Chapter 2, part 2

Xavier: These aren't just any photos. They're photos of us. Each one is unique.

Even though Xavier sounds convincing, I notice something's off with his actions.

MC: Xavier, are you hiding something from me?

Xavier averts his gaze as if I exposed his secret. And since the opportunity has presented itself, I quickly take the photos from him. My eyes widen as I look at them. In these photos, l either have my eyes closed or I'm making a funny face. I'm even blurry in some.

MC: Xavier, why are you keeping all these unflattering photos of me... Didn't you agree to delete them?!

Xavier: Eh, actually, I made another copy of them. Besides, they're not unflattering at all. They're vivid and dynamic.

MC: …

Meeting my gaze with assurance, Xavier exudes an air of conviction. It makes me believe he's genuinely praising me. It's hard to hold onto my anger in moments like these. Still, I tuck the photos into my pocket and pretend to be annoyed.

MC: I'll hold onto them for now.

The first stop of the birthday party is almost done in terms of preparations. But the event after is what's important. Unfortunately...

MC: Where should we go? What will we do once we're there? Xavier is hard to figure out.

As I toss and turn in bed, my mind racing, a knock at the front door interrupts me

once more.

MC: Is it Xavier again? Should I just ask him directly?

Yet what I get at the door is a letter. I sit cross-legged on the bed, inspecting the unsigned envelope that has yellowed with age. It's clearly been around for a few years.

MC: Weird. The address is correct. But who would write a letter to me in this day and age...

Even more surprising than getting this letter is that it's Xavier's handwriting. However, most of the ink has bled through the paper, leaving only two lines barely legible.

"Change is a fickle friend. Construction sites sprout faster than flowers bloom. Even this post office will be closed down.”

“Maybe I'll be in the process of finding a new place to live in next spring."

The letter bears a signature date from the past-October 16th, one of his previous birthdays.

MC: (But why would he send it to me? Was it a mistake? What is he trying to say in this letter... Did he want to tell me something?)

The two lines before me provide little information. I cannot grasp the meaning behind this letter. Yet, an inexplicable feeling of solitude intertwined with the passage of time emanates from the paper and envelops me. As my gaze shifts to the bottom-right corner, the postage stamp indicates this letter came from a nearby town. After thinking about it, I decide to explore this town on my own.

[hirayaea]

all the times xavier knew what he was doing (a series)

—part 1

—a masterclass in being sly to get the girl you want

[ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ]

note: I’m going to do this 3-5 cards at a time because it would be an insanely long post otherwise—that’s just how much of a mastermind xavier is

tender moments - kind words

here we see xavier book a 2 bedroom suite instead of 2 actual bedrooms. he said it’s because the view was nice. we believe him. he probably has no ulterior motives ever given how this card went

here we see him deliberately use the gifts the universe gave him to distract us. also, he knows he’s distracting us

ahem he just likes rewards there are definitely no ulterior motives here

.

.

.

tender moments - shimmering sunlight

yes he does remember minute details like that. also, he definitely bought those sandals for us. why would he have women’s sandals…

as someone who has guest sandals in my house (context: here in jp we remove our shoes by the front door and switch to house sandals upon entering... I think other parts of asia are the same), I assure you most people usually have unisex guest sandals... because that just makes more sense, right? the fact that xavier very specifically has women's sandals and declares that "no one else passes by" means he bought those for MC

.

.

.

tender moments - spring letter

he wasn’t even trying to hide it that much here... straight up admitted it was an excuse! but it’s ok seiya I ran out to see you anyway, I wanted to see you too... gosh just be honest next time

notes: ok that’s it for now but I will return

[unknownjpegs]

burr

She knocks and waits at the front door for five entire minutes. 

…And patience might not be one of Saha’s virtues, sure. But she’s not usually this bad about it. She could stand to wait a bit longer. Anybody else, and she might be inclined to do just that.

Except this is Benji’s place and he’s invited her in the first place, so it’s pretty fucking strange that he’s not at the door faster. 

Or, really, that Xavier’s not.

When she visits, it’s usually him there first. Throwing it open with such rabid excitement that the knob knocks against the wall — there’s a spot there that Benji’s had to patch over at least three times now. Saha would manage guilt about that, it’s just that Xavier has got the sort of I am entirely focused on you! energy that makes her forget how to feel anything but appreciated. 

So, when those five minutes pass and she’s not greeted with a crushing, spinning hug or Benji’s quirked grin, she knows something is wrong. 

Fuck. No, she knows something is up, all right? Can’t go there just yet.

She tries very hard not to let the panic rise too high. Could be all manner of things. Stepped out for a moment (he would have texted her though) or back at the pond (they would have heard the car pull up).

Saha fishes for the key she keeps on a beaded keychain. It’s an old, scraggly bracelet Benji’d made her when they were kids; ancient strand of fraying thread that she’ll cry hysterically over the day it breaks, blue and orange spheres framing two sun-faded letter beads: B & S. 

She lets herself in. Rubs the smooth, bumpy strands between her fingers to soothe her anxiety as she steps into the foyer and finds it empty. 

“Morning,” She hesitates, coat shrugged off as she sets her bag down. “Benj? Xavier?”

Saha rounds the corner, one hand pressed to her chest where her heart’s gone off, already beating rather hard. Kitchen empty, kettle on the counter steaming as if it’s just finished, but unplugged.  Xavier has got his jacket hanging on the rack by the door; Benji’s boots are, of course, kicked messily in the hall. There’s some music going on the television, Benji’s car in the drive, so… so she knows at least someone’s here.

What if they’re not, her brain hisses. What if they’re dead! They could be dead. Someone could have killed them. What if they’ve gone without saying anything. What if you never see him again. What if what if what if — 

Saha shakes her nervous hands out as she moves through the living room, slips down the hall towards the back porch. 

Which is, thankfully where she finds him. Of course. 

Sharp words with appa? Goin’ out. Little row with mum? I’ll be outside. Let off on her because she’d said something that caught him in the wrong way, at the wrong time? Don’t fucking follow me out, Saha.

Even though it’s already near ten in the morning and the breeze is just shy of spring-warm, Benji’s not even dressed properly. Old sleeveless band shirt she remembers buying him from some shifty online shop and a pair of too-big sweats. Cuffed several times, because he’d slip on them otherwise — Xavier’s, then. 

He’s sat at the bottom stair, back to her. Knees up, head tilted and propped in his hand. Other one’s got a cigarette near-done, which is very him. And there’s a fresh looking pack open with more than a few gone, which is very him. 

Don’t even do it often, he’d said the first time she’d caught him with one, nineteen and mopey just like this in their mum’s garden, home on his first proper leave. Only when I’m stressed.

You’re always fuckin’ stressed, dickhead. Saha had shot back. Angry at him, but it had been tinged with a cold, unfamiliar dredge of fear. Concern like she’d not yet known, when it came to him, something frigid and real in a way that monsters under the bed and bruised knuckles from a nasty fight had never been. That icy fear is what had made her grab the lit cigarette from his hand, made her toss it aside. And then they’d gone at each other, of course, spitting and childish and certainly loud enough the neighbors’d heard, until appa had come out to break it up.

Now, she just watches him pull on it. Still thinking, uh oh, but the panic ebbs into relief. It’s not happy body language — not for anybody. Benji’s well fucking reserved, unreadable at the worst of times. So the the fact that he’s got such a morose little slouch going says nothing good; what it communicates is enough. Because Saha knows how he gets when he’s really in his head, and that’s more frightening than this.

Well, here we go then. She takes a deep breath, steels her shoulders. 

“A’right, Benj,” Saha greets, taking a spot a few steps up from him. Keeps a bit of space, but knocks her knee against his shoulder. He doesn’t move, doesn’t swat at her. Face forward, looking out over the pond. 

She glances around. No big redhead sprawled out in the grass, not crouched down by the shore laughing himself silly at the ducks, not rounding the side of the house to be gross on her brother. 

Uh oh, she thinks again. What’s it this time? 

Because they get into proper fucking fights. Not even just regular little rows, but nasty ones. She knows because she’s been on the receiving end of both sides a venting, frustrated rant.

From Benji: swear to god there’s concrete up there, so fucking hard-headed. From Xavier: sahaaaaaaa he’s being stubborn again.

She smothers the smile down just in case he turns to see it. Would send him right over the fucking edge again.

“No.”

“Well, obvi.” She snorts. “And?”

“Got into it.” Benji says. He’s got that even, cold tone that tells her he’s not yet shaken free of the anger. Still pissed, might snip at her if she goes about it wrong.

“Come on, Benji. I figured. Bad, I reckon?” She asks, watching as he lifts the cigarette and blows smoke. 

He laughs humorlessly. Dull. Waves the smoldering now-filter, as if the empty space beside him is explanation enough. 

She could roll her fucking eyes at that. Dramatic little pisser. 

“What’s it been then?” His hair is soft under her palm when she rests it atop his head. That he lets her is a good sign. “He trip over your mess again and laid into you about it?”

Benji looks up at her, at that. Sometimes he gets this haze to his eyes she doesn’t recognize, and it frightens her. Not that she doesn’t recognize him, but that there’s something they don’t share. That he won’t ever share with her, she knows. 

Because she’s seen Benji at his everything: sky-high and dirt fucking low. Witnessed all his swinging moods. Seen him riled angry at some shite out somebody’s mouth, seen him euphoric behind a kit and slamming away like he was meant to be there, seen him child-scared at eight, teary at a snake on the path.

But this? Whatever deep, bone-ache hurt that’s there is wholly unfamiliar to her. Sure, he keeps it that way. But also that, even if he shared she might not get it, because she hadn’t been present. It’s something taken up in the muddy years, the in-between moments where he stuffs them all in a closet and turns to face whatever he does when he’s out there. When she’s not there with him.

Every single second, she wishes she had been.

She’s not stupid. She knows the source and that kills her. Makes her want to go back in time and get more in his stupid teenage face about it than she had. Shake him by the shoulders until the vapid, world-blind idealism sprinkled out. But then…could anyone have convinced him that loyalty could be shown in other ways? 

Dunno. But I should’ve been more angry. I should have let you see it. Should have stopped you.

Thinking of Benji and what he’s been through, what he’s been through alone, causes this helicopter whirr feeling in her chest. Like someone’s taken a whisk to her insides and mixed her up. It’s the thing she always gets when he so much as pouts — fix fix fix fix fix — wanting to hover and buffet away the shadows that creep up on him. Keep him safe, because that’s Benji. 

Little fucking arsehole of a brother, really gave her more trouble than she deserved, but that’s Benji.

“Yeah,” Benji says. His chin jerks (about to cry, Saha notes) when he tears his focus from her face. “Yeah, tripped over my fuckin’ mess.”

Saha sighs, eyes to the sky at his tone. “C’mon, Benj. Don’t twist. Get off the stage.”

“You’ve said it.” He shrugs, puts the smoke out next to him. They both watch the little gray bits flutter off in the slight breeze. 

“Sure but,” Saha moves forward until she’s standing directly behind him. Benji tips back reflexively to lean back on her shins while she pats his head. “Are you hearing what I’m saying or are you hearing what you wanna?”

Benji groans, looking at her upside-down a moment before dropping his gaze forward. “Need another if you’re gonna start going therapy on me.”

Saha swats him on the side of the head lightly. He grumbles and reaches out for the pack, but the audible stomp of her boot over it makes him pause.

“N’vermind. Guess I’m done.”

“Yep,” Saha chirps, and then drops down next to him. Rather, above and to the side, few steps up. “Sure are.” Her knee knocks into his shoulder.

They’re both quiet a long moment, nothing but birdsong and the taptaptap of Benji’s knuckles on the porch. Wind picks up like it’s about to rain, so Saha shields her eyes and looks up. 

“He’s gone where, exactly?”

Benji shrugs, but he glances side-long out past the pond towards the thick treelined edge of the property. “Dunno.” 

“Wanna let me know what it was about?” He hesitates, then shakes his head. “M’kay. Wanna talk about how you handled it, then?” 

He starts to do it again, so Saha firms her hand and pushes his head up-down in a forced nod. “Boss, Benj. Real proud of you for communicating.”

She slips down another step, scowling as a loose nail catches the hem of her skirt. She yanks, scoffs at the soft riiiip of fabric. “Awh, shit. Anyway. Were you listening or —“

“Fuck off.”

Ignoring him, raising her voice over his grumble: “Were you being an active participant and a partner, or were you in a debate.”

Benji scoots over and twists to glare at her. 

She stares back, eyebrows up. Waits him out, then: 

“Fuck off.” 

“Yeah,” Saha laughs. “That’s what I thought.” 

He stares off into the woods, brow furrowed. He’s tapping his foot now, too.

“I thought it’d be easy, y’know. There was just so much fuckin’ —” he huffs, disbelief evident. “It was hard all the time. Not — not with him. But the rest… Saha, I ever tell you the first time we kissed, it was in an active combat zone?” 

She must make a horrified face, because he nods, laughs.

“Yeah, right? Real normal shit. And Xavier’s…he’s got this through-and-through, bleeding everywhere. And I’m patchin’ him up.” Benji cups his hands together, splays them out in a helpless gesture, and then threads his fingers. Looks a bit darker on his cheeks, which makes her smile. “So he kisses me. And I’m thinking shit, you know? Shit, if this is the only one I get, I’m gonna be right fuckin’ pissed. Pissed forever.”

Saha snorts. Means for it to just be that, the single noise, but they both end up descending into big, guffawing laughter. Off-set the seriousness of his story with their humor, in the way they’ve always done. 

“Big fuckin’ bomb just drops out of the sky. Little whistle noise, how it goes in cartoons? Wooooooo-splat.”

He tosses his head back. “Exactly. Splat. Just my luck, y’know?” 

Hearing him say it, for some reason, sobers her. The reality of the situation slithers into the corners of her mind, and all Saha can think about is how she’d be sobbing and too ill to properly treat somebody with a bleeding wound. A bullet wound; so then she’s thinking of Xavier even paler than he already is, gray, and then she thinks of him in black and white, all the color drained out like an old photo. And she feels sick.

She’s got no idea how Benji manages it, medic shit. Can’t imagine blood. Can’t possibly imagine how it must have felt, blood and medic shit and Xavier.

 “That is proper fucking scary.” Saha says, because it’s true and she lacks the words to describe the feeling in her gut otherwise. “That’s awful, Benji. I mean, that’s…that is just awful.” 

“I know. I know, fuck. S’not even the worst of it,” he says, and then groans and shoves a hand through his hair. Makes it stick up all funny, so Saha reaches out and smooths it down. 

“Wish you hadn’t stepped on those. Could use one.”

“Tough.”

He shakes his head. When he tips his chin back, he looks like appa out in the garden, early-hours, taking sips of tea in between poses. Head always tilted up, serene and present. Except Benji’s real distant now, and he’s not got the bushy, silver-streaked mustache their father has worn for as long as Saha can remember.

“We weren’t together all the time,” Benji says after a moment. “Apart more of it, really. And I was always thinkin’, what if it’s just this one kiss? Then,” he breathes out a shuddering, shaky breath, so she puts a hand on his back. “Y’know. Then I was thinking, what if I don’t see him again? What if —” He glances over at her with wide, wet eyes. Saha’s own vision blurs. Always does, when she sees him cry. More than empathy tears — like the strand that connects them shares emotions, as well. 

“Fuck.” She looks towards the trees. “Are you worried that he’s not coming back, or something?”

“No,” Benji says immediately, wiping the back of his wrist over his face. “No, fuck. It was bad but he always — he’s always back soon. It’s not that.” 

She waits, palm moving in circles on that thin, familiar, threadbare black shirt. 

“I mean, what if it’s…s’posed to be easy, isn’t it?”

“Benji.”

His head jerks again, the motion angrier. “Nah, but listen. What if it’s supposed to be easier? Saha, he’s… like, why’s this just another thing? Shouldn’t it be a good thing coming ‘round? He’s fuckin’ gone through it and I don’t know anybody — it should be easy.”

“It is easy,” Saha forces a laugh, trying to break up the waver and crack in his voice, in the air. “Have you heard yourselves? Fuck, you are annoying. Literally talk circles and never breathe about it, swear.” 

Benji’s deep frown softens slightly.  

“I wish I knew where everything was going.” He waves his hand. It’s shaking. “Thought I knew where I was going, ended up there. Was fuckin’ hard, so hard that I thought I would —” crack, a barely audible whimper, and she squeezes him. “And I ended up here. And it’s just…it’s easy, and then it’s so fucking hard, and I’m just waitin’. I wanna know if it’s temporary, if the good is just a bit and then the rest comes in a lot, ‘cuz I’ve…fuck. Wouldn’t even be shocked, because it should be easy always for him. He’s just been through —“

It takes a lot to get him to talk that much, and it’s not the easiest thread to follow. But Benji tosses it out like a hook on the end of a line, and Saha will always pierce herself on the end and be pulled to shore, for him. 

“Benj. You have too.”

She sees the violent, sudden spasm of his throat on the noise strangled in it. Shuffles closer until their sides press together and she can sling an arm around his shoulders. 

“You have too, Benj. And that’s — that’s shit, yeah? Wish it weren’t that way. But listen to me. Xavier is…he’s quick.” She points fingers behind her head, wiggles them. “Fuckin’ sixth sense, you know? You’d be out here alone if that radar dinged wrong.” She squeezes at him, never failing to be shocked that this man is the hundred-pound soaking wet kid who blubbered at her if he didn’t get his way.

“I mean, you have gotta realize that sometimes people are here for you.” She scruffs the hair above his ear, uses that to press their temples together. “Get it from appa, I know, but you’re not meant to be perfect. You’ll get good and easy and you’ll get proper fuckin’ bad and hard, but that don’t mean you, like, didn’t deserve the good in the first place.”

Saha purses her lips, swallowing whatever else of the rant. She’s gotten out the important bits, anyway. 

“Benj?” She asks, when he’s quiet. He sniffles. “Aw, fuck. Sorry.”

“M’fine,” he tilts his head and rubs his face on her fluffy sweater. Dutifully, she howls with disgust, but does not pull away. “You fucking suck, do you know that?” 

“Sure fucking do.” Saha chirps. “Part of my job. That and worrying. Speaking of.” She inclines her head.

On cue, the woods at the far end of the property line part. The bushes spit Xavier out like he’s trudged from the bowels of the earth and it didn’t appreciate his taste.

Both siblings watch as he stumbles away from the thicket, scowl clear even from the distance. He plucks a twig from the crown of his head, tosses it aside with a stronger than necessary throw. Saha wouldn’t be surprised if he’s cursing into the wind.

“Fuck’s sake,” Benji sighs, yet there’s a smile woven delicately through. “If he’s got burrs in his hair again m’not lettin’ him hear the end of it.” 

Saha pictures Xavier whining as Benji brushes him out and laughs. When he joins in, she takes this as clear permission: she leaps a bit into the air as she stands, unable to hold back the big grin and bubble of excitement as she lifts a hand.

Xavier’s scowl disappears so quick that another raucous noise bursts out of her. Partially a chuckle, partially a hey! and partially his name. Sometimes he reminds her of a house lit up from the inside without the curtains drawn, his face the big transparent window hiding none of the furnishings. He throws both long arms in the air and waves in big sweeps. 

Then a glance over at Benji, and he drops them to cross over his chest.

“Ooh,” Saha snickers. “Looks miffed still.” 

“Dickhead.” Benji scoffs, but the smile in his voice grows louder. He’s stood as well, shuffled a step closer to her. He’s got goosebumps up his bare arms, and Saha’s eyes trail across the fading, blown-out lines of a pair of tattoos near his inner elbow. 

An old instant camera, the kind they used to walk to buy from Poundland — nick from Poundland, in his case. Her name in careful, loopy blocked letters in place of the camera brand is barely recognizable after ten-plus years. But it’s there. It’s there on his arm, in his skin, right next to a shitty and inaccurate bird sporting high-heels and a wonky beak. Maran, she knows, is the other time-blurred name Benji’d meticulously dotted down one of its spread wings. 

That’s not even the worst of it.

“C’mon,” Saha says, clearing her throat. She balances an elbow a bit meanly atop his head. He scowls up at her, still grinning, and pulls away. He used to shove her if she did that, when they were kids. He hasn’t roughhoused her in years — not since they were kids. Not since he enlisted. Benji would always be that gangly, gap-toothed boy. Clear sense of justice, utterly lacking the self-preservation that would prevent him from fighting dickheads twice his size. 

And the loss of that, the annoying little brother shove, fills her with the same inexplicable sense of mourning as the camera on his arm, the wonky-beaked bird. It’s the yearning homesickness of nostalgia, somehow weighed twice heavier. The them of before, sitting wherever old selves sit. Blurred nearly unrecognizable, but there.

Saha swallows down the sudden lump in her throat. “Go throw on an episode of that show he likes, yeah? When he comes in, you’ve got something to say so it’s not so fuckin’ awkward.“

Benji stares up at her, his dark eyes glossed with unshed tears. Then he yanks her into a quick hug. “You’re a genius.”

“Fuck’s sake,” she sighs, patting him on the back. “Finally some recognition.” Benji darts back into the house.

Just in time: Xavier’d been moving slow and hesitant, but now he rounds the edge of the pond in a jog. Bounds up the stairs, all five steps, with a big leap that nearly brings him crashing into her.

All of him is anxiety-tight, as he stands there. Not even the big toothy grin he’s plastered on can hide it. 

“Xavier.”

He glances over her shoulder towards the house. Relaxes. Shoulders hunched a bit in that reprimanded, lonely animal sort of energy. Makes her just as sad to see that as it does Benji’s tattoos, his near empty pack of cigarettes.

 She holds her arms out.

That posture corrects immediately. He lopes over all funny, that way that makes Benji roll his eyes and look away with a grin threatening. Xavier wraps her up in a hug. He’s cold on the outside from the wind, from traipsing around the woods, but still warm underneath. 

Saha envelops him in a nice tight one because they’ve not seen each other in a bit. And then, whisper-quiet,meant just for him: “I’ve well ragged ‘em out, ‘kay? Go give him one of these, too. Pout enough and we can get a proper breakfast out of it.” 

“Stop plotting.” Benji grumbles, suddenly standing in the doorway. Nosy.

“Fuck off,” Saha fires back, flipping him a finger between Xavier’s shoulders. “We are having a moment.” 

In the end, they watch four episodes of a shit visa-catfish-dating scheme show. Xavier suffers dutifully through the expense of many, many jokes. By the end of the last one, Benji has adjusted himself to drape himself over Xavier. It’s tense, when he moves, and then it all dissipates into that thoughtless normalcy when Xavier drops his forehead against Benji’s shoulder hard. 

Fuck you. Forgiven. Love you. She’s gotten good at picking up their patterns, because a disgustingly sweet amount of it happens non-verbally.

And in the end, Benji makes more than enough food for the three of them. So much of it that Saha’s send off includes a stack of full glass food containers. 

Better for the environment, Xavier says earnestly, and sometimes it really is hard to think about him hurting people at all. She thinks about how months ago, he’d been just about a burglar in this house. She thinks about what a successful break-in that had been — got a pleased, softened glimmer to his eyes, hands tucked into the pockets of one of Benji’s hoodies, and a warm bed out of the deal. 

*

I’m so fucking happy for him, Saha’s thinking as she drives off, eyes trained on the two of them stood in the door through her rearview. Xavier’s doing his two-armed wave, Benji’s got his middle finger outstretched nice and high so she can see it. I am so fucking happy for them.

And then she remembers suddenly that she’d forgotten to mention getting the business licensing sorted for a studio. That she’s been broaching the subject of stepping back with her agent. 

A hand drops from the wheel to her pocket, thumb tracing the corners of two business cards: Which one, ‘cuz I like the gold letters, personally, but the border is nice on this, she hadn’t asked. 

And there’s no bitterness in the next thought, because when she glances back in the mirror at them, she better understands her mum. Better understands the kids at the door returning empty plastic ware, borrow sweaters, CDs, and toys with their big, wet eyes.

 She loves them so fucking much, so desperately, and they deserve to have a proper fight. Deserve to work through one and come out better for it. There’s no bitterness, because it’s absolutely impossible not to light up chest-warm with abject joy when she spends time around those two fucking idiots.

But there is a tiny, distant, prickling stab of envy slid between her ribs like a knife:

Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone gentle their fingers into your hair and pluck out burrs?