#based in the fall started in the summer posting in the winter

[kitasgloves]

if you're writing more of your 'comforting your insecure boyfriend' series maybe I suggest Hinata and Yamaguchi? My boys deserve it.

comforting your insecure bf

part 1 . part 2 . part 3

— ♬ NSFW, MINORS DNI, gn reader, based on this post

— ♬ omg i'm sorry this was late anon i was in a deppression but this brought me back to life. and yes, our boys deserve some comforting too ;)

— ♬ Hinata Shoyo

You and Hinata Shoyo go way back in high school. You and he were from different schools and had a fateful encounter during training camp in his second year. You were already in your third year when you met him. You were the kindhearted and quiet manager from one of the rival teams. What captured Hinata's interest was initially your looks, he might be exaggerating if he said you're the most ethereal person he has ever met.

You had glistening bright eyes, a lovely smile, and a melodic laugh. Not to mention, you happened to be taller than him! Your personality was in contrast to his. You were calm and collected, preferred to listen than talk, and genuinely enjoyed quiet moments. Unlike Hinata, who was a burst of energy and always searching for something new to try, especially when related to volleyball.

Despite his outgoing personality, Hinata found himself beyond shy when interacting with you. Perhaps, it had something to do with his silly crush on you. He'd avert his eyes away when you greeted him, stammer a reply, and dash away from you. Fortunately, you didn't interpret this as him having a particular dislike for you. If anything, you found it undeniably adorable.

So, on the last day of that fateful training camp, you approached him for the first time. Hinata went short-circuited as you stood in front of him. His heart was palpitating and he was afraid he was going to explode like a ticking timebomb at any second.

"Hey"

"H—Hi"

"Do you want to exchange phone numbers?"

What?

You were holding your phone while you suppressed a laugh when the shorter male's face burst into color. God, you just wanted to pinch his cheeks. Immediately, Hinata fishes for his phone in his pocket.

"Sure!"

You and the spiker had been texting each other nonstop since you both exchanged your numbers at training camp. You updated each other with even the tiniest things over the passing seasons, it was beyond endearing. You both couldn't deny there was a hint of growing affection as time flew by. Hinata was so refreshing and he fills you with a burst of energy, like an energy drink. It was after the new year when you and Hinata agreed to meet each other in person.

With flushed cheeks, you and he met each other dressed in layered clothes because winter had recently passed. You two visited the shrine, talked, and got food. The longer Hinata looked at you, the more he realized he was inevitably falling for you. Before the wonderful day ended, Hinata gained the courage to wrap you in his scarf and took your gloved hands. Your cheeks felt warmer than summer that day.

"I like you, [Name]"

He confesses. You could not contain yourself because you threw your arms around the smaller male and kissed him on the cheek. Hinata almost fainted on the spot. After that day, both of you decided to start dating. It was a year later when you both became official. Somehow with you in college and him in his third year, you both made it work.

Hinata was the perfect combination of a gentleman and a sweetheart that it made you swoon. Despite the height difference, he always carried you with ease. He gave you thoughtful gifts during your birthday and anniversaries. And your parents adored him so much too. You truly felt Hinata was the missing half of your soul.

"I'm going to Brazil"

You turn your head to look at him but Hinata avoids your eyes. Both of you were overlooking the sea after a fun date. You raised a brow.

"Why?"

You asked and he explained how he wanted to train in outdoor volleyball in a different country, he told you how he wanted to try different things, and he said that he wanted to find more ways to grow as an athlete. You chuckled. Yep, it was definitely something Hinata would do and you do admire him for that quality. Yet, you couldn't deny the ache in your chest thinking about how you'd be separated from him for god knows how long.

Hinata's lip wobbles when you reach down to clutch his hand, he can tell how hurt you will be because of his decision. However, you reassure him with a smile. All you want is what's best for him and what makes him happy. And this fills his heart to the brim.

"I'll be back before you know it"

"I'll be waiting for you, Sho"

You kissed him. Hinata realizes you were wearing the scarf he gave to you after he first confessed how he liked you, and he goes teary-eyed. Eventually, you accompanied him to the airport and gave him the tightest hug and longest kiss you could offer. Hinata couldn't wait to return to you. As you two talked over before, video calls were frequent. Even if over time it wasn't often, you two always maintained a connection.

Brazil seemed to be a fitting place for your boyfriend. All the pictures he sent to you of his progress showed how happy he was and you couldn't be more proud. He'd tell you about his journey with outdoor volleyball and learning Portuguese during video calls. One time he sent a picture of him and Oikawa Tooru coincidentally meeting there.

Although you felt lonely without Hinata by your side, you pushed through, because you knew he was bound to come home soon. Soon enough, Hinata returned to Japan and played in his new team the MSBY Black Jackals. You immediately got tickets to see him play against Adlers. You couldn't believe your eyes when Hinata made his entrance in the court after many years apart, tears welled up in your eyes when your boyfriend grinned at you.

He was here, he's finally home.

But god, it was hard to focus on what was going on with the match. Hinata looked so much hotter that it made you involuntary drool. First of all, the tan looks so good on him. And his muscles? Oh man, you couldn't wait to get some alone time with your boyfriend. You couldn't help the shameless ogling since you've been separated from him for so long.

You didn't mind who won the match, you were proud that your boyfriend was having a blast on the court. But when MSBY won, you leaped up from your seat and clapped for your boyfriend. Immediately after the match, Hinata went searching for you.

"Shoyo!"

"[Name]!"

You laughed as you ran up into his arms. Hinata scoops you up effortlessly and spins you around like you weigh nothing. You cling to him tightly with your arms around his neck while he presses tender kisses against your face. It felt like coming home. People watching the scene whistled and giggled with each other.

"I'm home, babe"

"Welcome home, love"

You two walked hand in hand as Hinata introduced you to his team. They all cheered and gave him wolfish grins. Hinata tries to shush them down with a blush when they invite you to go out for celebratory drinks. Your boyfriend's eyes bulged out of their sockets when you accepted the invitation.

So here you were, dancing in the club with a drink in hand. Sure, you were tipsy but you were far from drunk. You vibed with Bokuto Koutaro and Miya Atsumu from Hinata's team. Your boyfriend admittedly had one too many shots than he planned. He finished another round of alcohol before settling down near the bartender. His teammate, Sakusa Kiyoomi was there scolding him with a frown.

He spots you within the crowd dancing with Bokuto and Atsumu, he had the sudden urge to join too but his vision was beginning to spin. God, he hadn't drunk this much since his first year in Brazil. He tries to sober himself up with water from the bartender. From the looks of it, you were having the time of your life with his two teammates.

Slowly, a disgusting feeling rose within Hinata. No, he didn't feel like vomiting. He frowned when Atsumu spun you around on the dancefloor. It felt vague but familiar. He later realizes it was jealousy. Hinata sat up straight in his stool, that was childish! He's no longer a high schooler! He shouldn't be feeling green with envy. But he couldn't stop watching you laugh with Bokuto and Atsumu.

That envy eventually melted. Damn, he hated drinking because it made him emotional! Hinata thinks back to you and thought how lonely you must've been without him. He thought about how unfair it was for you to leave you for his improvement. You were probably aching with yearning for his touch and love while he was on the other side of the globe. You must be frustrated when you couldn't video call him often because of the different time zones.

Hinata's breath hitches. You're probably thinking about replacing him. God, what a horrible boyfriend he was! He's so selfish and you had every right to feel angry about it. Sakusa watched the shorter male stumble up from his seat and exit the club, he was about to follow him out but he hesitated. When you go searching for your boyfriend, Sakusa informs you that he has left the club.

You left multiple missed calls as you tried to contact Hinata. You sat outside the club with the rest of his teammates, worrying for half an hour. You almost collapsed with relief when he texted you "hotel" after so many attempts.

Hinata was lying on top of his hotel bed with his eyes puffy from sobbing. He felt so bad for abandoning you and making you worry. You truly don't deserve him. Suddenly, there's a soft knock on the door followed by your voice softly calling him. Hinata didn't respond as he sulked on his bed.

"Please, love. I just want to talk"

You pleaded. Unable to resist you, Hinata pulls himself up and trudges towards the door. You swiftly cupped his face in your hands when you saw the dejected look on his face.

"What's wrong, Sho?"

"I think we should break up"

Your heart comes to a screeching halt but you furiously shake your head. You can smell the alcohol in his breath and you know he was only intoxicated. Hinata didn't stop you from entering his hotel room as you shut the door and ushered him back to bed.

"Babe, we're not breaking up. You're just drunk"

"But I'm a horrible boyfriend!"

Hinata buried his face against his hands and the sight made your chest ache.

"Shoyo, you're not"

"Yes, I am. I'm so...selfish! And! And cruel! I left you here in Japan while I was being happy in Brazil"

You sighed as you picked his hands off from his face and held them tightly in your hands. You gave him a stern look.

"That's not true, Sho"

"Yes, it is! You should leave me and be happy with another guy that won't leave you. Find someone who's...*hiccup* taller! And better than volleyball!"

He turns to you with teary-eyes

"You should go date UshiWaka instead—OUCH!"

You scowled as you pinched his ear, harshly. Hinata winced as he saw the look on your face. You had enough of his drunken nonsense.

"I'm not going to break up with you, you idiot! And I'm not especially dating UshiWaka!"

You yell and your boyfriend whimpers at your scolding.

"You're drunk and none of those insecure thoughts are true!"

For emphasis, you force him to look at the mirror near the bed by grabbing his jaw and twisting his face towards the mirror, Hinata sniffs.

"Look how hot you are! You got a tan and you look more...beefier!"

"But I left you—"

"NO YOU DIDN'T, YOU DUMBASS!"

This time you smacked him in the head, which you immediately regretted. Was there any way for you to convince your dumbass boyfriend that he's the best in the world? While Hinata rubbed the place where you smacked him in the head, his heart froze when he saw a dark look on your face.

Oh no, was he in danger?

Nope, he was way far from danger. Hinata's safe, in your arms, sobbing, half-naked, and with his rock-hard dick in your hand. You were positioned behind him with your face buried against the crook of your boyfriend's neck. Hinata's breath was labored as his vision went hazy from pleasure.

"[Name]—ah!"

He whined and involuntarily bucked his hips upward when you began massaging his cockhead. Your cheek rubs against his right temple as you place chaste kisses down his neck. Hinata shudders. It seemed like he was suddenly sober with the way you began jerking him off in front of the mirror. There was no way he could've predicted this at all.

"Look at the mirror, look how pretty you are, Sho"

You purred against his ear. His eyes met his reflection and he nearly rolled his eyes back. He was half-naked with his legs spread and his orange locks were disheveled. He positively looked like a hot mess, moaning and sweating while you gave him a mindblowing handjob from behind. Fuck, your hand felt like magic around his cock. He let out a strangled moan when you started playing with his balls.

"Oh? Does my beloved boyfriend like it when I play with his balls?"

"[Name] please—"

"Do you want me to go faster?"

"Yes, hah—please"

When the pace of your hand turns faster, Hinata goes cross-eyed. He can feel his orgasm approaching and it's stealing his every breath. Your free hand grabs his jaw and forces him to watch himself fall apart in front of the mirror.

"You're the sweetest and kindest boyfriend in the world, Shoyo"

You whispered against his ear. Hinata whimpers as tears begin to gather in his lashline. The look on your face was sincere and tender and it soothes the ache in his heart.

"You always make me smile with your funny jokes and your cute smile"

"You have a heart of gold"

"My boyfriend is so sweet, loving, hardworking, and talented"

You showered him with compliments and it makes Hinata lightheaded. He feels like he's getting drunk again from the pleasure of your hand vigorously pumping his cock and from your affectionate reassurances. Suddenly, the pace of your hand slows down as you look at your boyfriend in the eye through the mirror.

"Do you want to know what I was thinking about when I heard you were coming home?"

Hinata inhales sharply as he catches his breath, his hands were clutching on both of your thighs as he gripped on for dear life. He gulps.

"Wh—what?"

You chuckled darkly as you went in to bite his earlobe with a devilish smile.

"I was thinking about you bending me in half and fucking me in your hotel room until I couldn't walk for a week"

With the confession, it plants a lewd and tantalizing imagery in your boyfriend's head. Fuck, were you thinking about that all along while you were waiting for him to get home? All this time, you just wanted Hinata to dick you down? Oh, he loved that thought as much as it embarrassed him. He does want to bury his cock in you until you saw stars—

"Ah, ah, ah! [Name]!"

Hinata screams your name as his orgasm crashes down on him. You watched your boyfriend burst through the seams with a choked sob as he threw his head back. Spurts of his cum coat both your hands and his abdomen. You gently guided him through his release. As soon as Hinata's vision re-focuses, he sees you smiling at him through the mirror. He couldn't help but smile back.

"How's that? Did that get rid of those stupid insecure thoughts, Sho?"

"It did, thank you, [Name]"

He reaches to kiss you on the cheek and you giggle. You were prepared to help Hinata clean up and cuddle to sleep with him but he suddenly grabs your arm. You flinch and look at your boyfriend, your heart skips a beat when you recognize a carnal look in his eyes.

"...Can I bend you in half and fuck you until you couldn't walk?"

Hinata asks politely. You can't even answer because he's already tugging your pants down with an eager grin on his face.

— ♬ Yamaguchi Tadashi

You perceived Yamaguchi Tadashi as a modest and hardworking co-worker. Some would say he's a cute guy and you'd agree. He'd show up early for work and would greet everyone with a smile. It was because of that smile that urged you to wake up early so that he could greet you. Your closest colleges would tease you during lunch break about your tiny crush on the guy, it felt silly blushing about it because it made you feel more like a high schooler than an adult.

Sooner though, you tried to make subtle advances on Yamaguchi. You'd begin to dress nicely for work and he'd notice and then compliment you. If you got to work earlier, you'd buy him coffee which he was grateful for. You began ditching your friends during lunch break to ask him if he wanted to eat lunch with you. And you and he began hanging out outside of work.

You continued for a month and became close with Yamaguchi. In return, he would share snippets about his life. He offered you glimpses of his interests like his favorite kind of Onigiri and how he used to play volleyball back in high school. After a long period of denial, you recognize that you have become head over heels with Yamaguchi.

Naturally, you panicked. You didn't know how to deal with these affections for your co-worker. You began to overthink. Would he ever return your feelings? Should you confess? Is he even your type? These thoughts send you into a frenzy that you can't sleep properly at night. One day, you arrive at work with a fever. You didn't recognize it at first until you found yourself unable to perform any work that day.

"[Name]? Are you okay?"

Yamaguchi peeked at you and saw you with your head resting on top of your desk. Your skin was flushed so he instinctively went to check your temperature by pressing the back of his hand against your forehead.

"You caught a fever! You should go home!"

He insisted. You groaned as you cast a tired look at him. Yamaguchi was sending you a concerned look that made your skin more flushed at the thought of how he must've genuinely cared for you. So, in a feverish delirium, you suddenly confessed to him.

"I'm in love with you, Tadashi"

Yamaguchi momentarily froze. Eventually, he gently leads you by the hand, wraps you in his jacket, and takes you home. You couldn't forget how he took care of you. He bought you medicine and cooked you soup. He constantly checked on your temperature. It was no surprise that you had a quick recovery. You were eternally grateful for his kindness.

"Oh, how will I ever repay you, Tadashi?"

"Go on a date with me"

He replies and your heart leaps out of your chest. It turns out, Yamaguchi reciprocated your feelings. Your romance with him began smoothly. You and he became famous for being the co-workers who fell in love with each other and started dating. There was an onslaught of teasing and bantering for a while from both of your colleagues.

You and Yamaguchi became official six months later. He took you out on cute dates and never missed an anniversary. He introduces you to his closest friends from high school and you introduce him to your family. Everything felt like a picturesque love story, that's what you thought.

Although Yamaguchi was happy with you, he didn't feel worthy of everything. He used to have trouble with accepting his worth even back when he was playing volleyball in high school. He had doubts about his abilities and took a long time of encouragement from other people to help him believe in his capabilities. But for some reason, it's beginning to feel bad again.

Somehow, within himself, Yamaguchi finds it difficult to accept how ordinary he is. Perhaps after being surrounded by extraordinary and talented people such as his friends back in high school, he's convinced that there isn't anything special about him. He's just...ordinary. And he's afraid that you'd grow bored of him or expect something from him that he couldn't offer.

Your boyfriend has been quiet during the following days. He's been reassuring you that he was okay or that he was just tired from work, but know him well enough that something was bothering him. Now, you're cuddling under the sheets with him while a movie plays in the background. You were relaxing with Yamaguchi after a stressful week at work. Usually, you and your boyfriend would talk or joke around during peaceful moments like these, but he's uncharacteristically quiet.

"Babe? Are you okay?"

"...Yeah, I'm good"

He answers distractedly and it bothers you. Yamaguchi sees you sitting up and your hand reaches to touch his cheek. He instinctively leans against your touch, but the look of uncertainty etched across his features. He felt guilty for not sharing his troubles with you, after all, you wanted an honest relationship with him. But his insecurities were preventing him from being open with you. He was afraid that you would leave him if you found out he was lying to you. Yamaguchi takes a sharp inhale.

"...[Name], do you think I'm boring?"

He asks. You raised a brow at him and tilted your head.

"No, why would you think of that?"

"I know you said we should be honest and...and I just want you to tell me if you're getting...bored of me"

"Babe, I'm not bored of you"

You rolled your eyes. Yamaguchi averts his gaze as he peels himself away from your touch. Concern flashes through your orbs.

"Tadashi? What's wrong?"

"I...I think I'm not the right guy for you, [Name]"

Your boyfriend replies as he faces away from you. There was an offended look on your face, you crawled towards him and embraced him from behind.

"That's not true, honey. I knew you were the one for me when you took care of me when I was sick"

"But...but what if..."

"What if...?"

"What if you grow sick of me?"

You frowned. Yamaguchi sounded like he was on the verge of sobbing and it honestly sent an awful feeling in your chest.

"What if you grow sick of me? What if I can't give you what you want anymore? What if I can't be enough for you? What if I'm stuck with being ordinary?"

He began to ramble and you have to stop him by grabbing his shoulders and shaking them. You shook your head and gave him a stern look.

"That's stupid. I'll never be sick of you, love. And what's wrong with being ordinary?"

Yamaguchi doesn't seem to be reassured when he turns away and stares at his reflection in your large mirror by the bedside. He takes in his features, his ordinary features. There were dark bags under his eyes, his complexion was pale, and his lips looked dry. He buries his face against his hands and feels his eyes grow wet. The sight of your boyfriend in despair because of his inner demons was heartbreaking for you. If only there was a way to comfort him, to knock some sense out of him, to...

An idea spawns in your head. Your eyes trailed on your boyfriend's hunched figure. You gulped. Out of all the ideas possible, an...inappropriate one has to be the one that seemed foolproof. You wanted to hold back thinking Yamaguchi wouldn't be okay with it, but the idea seemed so...attractive and tempting that your mind screamed for you to give it a try. Who knows? Your beloved boyfriend might enjoy it.

Puzzled, Yamaguchi can feel your hand wrapping around his waist. He was about to pull them away until your hands began to pry on the waistband of his sweatpants. His breath hitched as you positioned from behind him and pulled his pants down. An embarrassed yelp exits his mouth when you expose his lower half.

"[Name]! Wh—what are you do—doing—oh shit!"

You wrapped your delicate hands around his dick and he hisses. Yamaguchi's heart begins to palpitate wildly against his ears. He scrambles as his hands reach out to grab the sheets. His breath comes to a halt when you begin to give languid strokes on his cock. When your boyfriend melts under your touch you take it as a sign to continue.

"You doing good, baby?"

Yamaguchi nods as you smiled and ran your hand on his cockhead to smear the forming pre-cum all over his length. He shudders at the intoxicating sensation. He whimpers when you experimentally began toying with his ballsack. One of his hands went to grab your thigh. You leaned your face against his ear and exhaled.

"God, look at you, Tadashi"

Reluctantly, Yamaguchi trails his eyes to the mirror by the bedside. His eyes went wide at the lewd sight. He was half-naked with his fully-erect cock in your hands while you stroked him from behind. Sweat gathered all over his body and his skin was flushed. He looked pathetically submissive under your touch. It would be a lie if he said he didn't like it.

"Does my boyfriend want to cum?"

"Oh fuck—yes, please"

With his plead, your hand around his member speeds up. The pace sends him whining out loud and throwing his head back. Suddenly, you grabbed his jaw and forced him to look towards the mirror.

"I want you to look at yourself when you cum like a good boy"

You whispered hotly against his ear and his breathing just stops. Yamaguchi goes cross-eyed when you began to jerk him off even faster.

"When I look in the mirror, I don't see an ordinary man. I see my sweetest boyfriend in the world"

"It's heartbreaking to know you see yourself as boring when you were everything to me, Tadashi"

"No ordinary man would be more capable of stealing my heart than you, darling"

Yamaguchi gazes at you in the eye through the mirror and his heart simply melts. He knows you meant every word and at that moment he never felt so loved. You laugh as you playfully bite the shell of his ear.

"With you moaning like that babe, I think I want to call in sick tomorrow so you can fuck me until the morning"

Oh fuck

The idea was enough to send Yamaguchi to the edge. You watched with satisfaction as he wildly bucks his hips up with his eyes rolled back, completely at the mercy of his release. His rich cum landed on your hands as you stared with fascination. After his earth-shattering orgasm, Yamaguchi goes limp in your arms. You wait until he catches his breath.

"How is my hardworking, handsome, and sweet boyfriend doing?"

He chuckles as he sits upright and regains his composure. Your boyfriend turns around and gives you a tender kiss. He gently strokes your hair.

"Thank you, [Name]. I needed that"

"Anything for you, Tadashi"

You smile brightly up at him. The movie in the background ended with the credits rolling, Yamaguchi glances at the clock and hums in thought.

"I think I'm going to call in sick tomorrow"

"Huh? Why?"

There was a suggestive look on your boyfriend's face that it sends an exciting shiver down your spine.

"How about we both call in sick tomorrow and let me fuck you how you like it, yeah?"

©kitasgloves (do not steal or copy)

[patchouii]

Yet more post-fall murder husbands headcanons of mine because those two live in my brain and don’t pay rent…

Now that they don’t work, they both sleep in a lot. Hannibal doesn’t need much sleep due to his psychopathy-adjacent condition, especially after training himself to need even less to go hunting, but he likes laying with Will as he catches up on much-needed rest.

Instead of buying rings when their bond is far beyond the usual, they agree to a more primally permanent symbol. The bits of scarring on either side of the napes of their necks from the other’s canines and incisors look tiny and innocent unless you know the story.

Now that he’s free from his self-imposed shackles, Will’s empathy flourishes. He frequents markets and other busy places to hop his empathy from stranger to stranger, entertaining and grounding himself with more mundane minds than those of killers.

When Will starts killing and his demeanor changes when he does, Hannibal worries Will is using the mentalities of killers he empathized with so it doesn’t feel personal. Will tells him the unique mindsets are just mediums for his design, he’s choosing the brush for the art.

During their first winter together, Hannibal made a batch of astounding European-style hot chocolate. Will quickly grew relentlessly fond of it. He has Hannibal make it for him all year and puts it on ice in the summer (which Hannibal always grimaces at).

After three long years in the BSHCI, surviving by existing in his memory palace instead, Hannibal sometimes drifts off and loses touch with reality. Will is his paddle, but Hannibal can’t fault him for finding the vulnerability too compelling not to prod at sometimes.

Due to his exceptional sense of smell, Hannibal sometimes rubs kitchen herbs and spices that he’s assigned associations on things to serve as invisible scent-based reminders. Will finds it fascinating even though he teases Hannibal about his “nose code”.

Will can play both the guitar and the piano like a natural— he had a piano in his house, but he hadn’t used it in a long time. Living with Hannibal and all his creative habits inspires him to play some music again, much to Hannibal’s joy and surprise.

[octobobble]

GGG Gods holiday headcanons and such. Mostly just a general overview with some like examples and/or ideas. Y’know

Mitternacht - Winter holidays, I think she’s the main one I’d give a Christmas holiday equivalent to but I think her holidays would be very “spend time with loved ones” focused. Starts getting overlap with Spring once King ascends

Inspekta - Doesn’t really have a season association, his holidays are much more community service focused. Think like grove wide volunteer days to care for plants and everything. Maybe even something like a BBQ day if I wanna sneak in my own little experiences and such.

Cobigail - Autumn association, these change the least. She literally has two canon holidays (Cob O Ween and The Harvest) so like she’s doing great man

Thespius - Summer association, revelry holidays. It’s all about the love and passion baby! You can find a bit of talk about the Summer Solstice holiday I’ve given him in an older post or even read the fic Jathis made based on it :]

Click Clack - no season association, his days are rest days. Guy who needs to take a break so bad that that’s what his holidays are. Todayborday is laborday

Huzzle Mug - No season association BUT I think spring and fall are pretty important to it as the “in between” seasons. Huzzle Mug holidays can seem nonsensical, and that’s kinda the point. Things like a buzzhuzzwide food fight or a Burning Man Festival equivalent. Even its holidays have to be avant garde lmao

Bauhauzzo - no season association BUT summer and winter are important to him as the sorta “still” seasons. Sorry lack of a better word yknow. Bauhauzzo holidays are very much remembrance and observation holidays. Remembering your past, looking towards the future, and cherishing the here and now. Quiet and solemn but important all the same.

King - Spring association. I think she shares New Year’s Eve with Mitternacht and likely has a Valentine’s Day equivalent. She deserves one with how heavily associated she is with letters and how important her romance with Mitternacht is.

[spoonsloot]

I saw a post referring to spring as Gaz's season and I want to expand upon that in a sense. There's 4 of them; each one gets a season based on vibe.

Spring: Gaz

Kyle gets spring. He reminds me of warmth but not so much it's overwhelming. He's the melody of nature as it starts to grow. He's the smell of honeysuckle, and rain. He's the soft sunsets at 7pm; the dark blues and the pastels of orange and pinks. He's the pretty blossoms and the sun that helps them flourish. He's the storms that lull you to sleep, despite the danger of it all he is the calmness that sends you into tranquility. He's the perfect balance of all things. And when he's gone, you can't wait for him to return.

Summer: Soap

Johnny gets summer. He's loud, with bright colors that make you smile. The afternoon sun shows him best; he is sunshine afterall. He's the ocean breeze as you walk the beach, the way it sticks to you even after you're no longer there. He's the smell of mowed lawns and sweet fruits. He's the fun activities and the joy you feel. He's the hurricane as it rips through, nothing calm about him, and you remember him for years to come.

Fall: Price

John gets fall. He's the chill in the air as it nips at your nose; never enough to make you cold but enough to know it's soon to come. He's the smell of warm cider and fallen leaves as they settle around. He's the warmth of burnt orange and deep maroon. He's the fairy lights at the festivals and the chatter of "what's next?" He fits right in, and you never want to leave.

Winter: Ghost

Simon gets winter. He's the dark blues and purples that cover the sky before 6. He's the frigid cold that makes you want to bundle up but not enough to push you away. He's the snowflakes when they fall; each one unveiling a complexity of uniqueness that builds to the bigger picture of him. He's the smell of the evergreens. He's the quiet as everything slumbers. He's the warmth of the fireplace as you're snowed in, and you wouldn't want it any other way.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Do you know what season each of the books takes place in? Also, when does Grim start his own club? Was that part of a vignette or was it part of the main story? I can't really find any information about it on the wiki so...

Based on context clues:

Autumn — prologue and book 1 (September; Yana confirms this is the beginning of the school year), book 2 (probably October, since this is when homecoming games usually are held irl), book 3 (most likely November, as this is when most fall semester finals would be administered + winter break is shortly after)

Winter — book 4 (winter break, probably mid-December to early January to cover the span of the holidays), book 5 (opens on the new year and there’s roughly a month of training), book 6 (happens shortly after book 5 and lasts a few days total)

Spring — probably book 7 (takes place an unspecified amount of time after book 6, but characters express surprise when Malleus’s bad mood makes it snow, so the winter-time weather must be over by now); it is explicitly stated that 6 months have passed)

Summer — technically, the main story’s timeline has not even hit summer yet (otherwise the students would be going home for vacation)

As for Grim and his extracurricular (Gourmet Foodies Society/Gastronomy Research Club), it's definitely not explored in the main story since it holds no relevance there. The founding of it isn't really covered in the current vignettes or bonus materials either, it's just casually mentioned every now and again, such as in Ortho's College Gear vignette (where Ortho is exploring potential clubs to join). Since Ortho's College Gear vignette is tied to post-book 6 events, Grim must have founded/joined the Gastronomy Club before this point in time. Most schools irl tend to have club fairs to promote their extracurricular organizations early in the semester to get new members, so... My guess is Grim likely got his start in the club all the way back in early autumn, just off-screen/not explicitly shown to us.

[pesky--dust]

I never thought I would be writing something like this, but talking to a few people has made me realize that a lot of fannibals have no idea about Red Dragon Con!

For disclaimer: I do not work for Starfury. I just trying to give this convention some recognition with this post, basing on what I know and what I experienced.

What is Red Dragon Con?

Red Dragon Con is NBC’s Hannibal-themed convention that has been held annually in London since 2015 (although it didn't take place in 2020-2023 due to the pandemic). The first few editions took place in winter, however now it takes place in summer.

Where and when is this year’s Red Dragon Con?

July 4th – 6th 2025

Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow

there are still some tickets left!!

What can you do at Red Dragon Con?

First of all, the biggest thing, I believe, is meeting Hannibal’s actors.

Last year we had Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal Lecter), Caroline Dhavernas (Alana Bloom), Tao Okamoto (Chiyoh), Tom Wisdom (Anthony Dimmond), Jeremy Davies (Peter Bernardone) and the Julian Richings (prisoner of Lecter Estate).

This year’s guests are: Hugh Dancy (Will Graham), Kacey Rohl (Abigail Hobbs), Lara Jean Chorostecki (Freddie Lounds), Jeremy Davies (Peter Bernardone), Demore Barnes (Tobias Budge), Ricky Whittle.

On Friday there is registration, where you collect your entry badge. In the evening there is a meeting with the actors for golden ticket holders, as well as the opening ceremony.

On Saturday and Sunday there are photo ops with the actors, meetings with the actors, panels during which the attendees ask questions, and the autograph sessions.

You have to pay for the photos, and prices range from 35-75£

Regular ticket holders are guaranteed autographs from all regular guests

Golden ticket holders are guaranteed autographs from all regular guests and one bonus guest. This year’s bonus guests are Jeremy Davies and Ricky Whittle

Everyone has to pay for an autograph from an extra guest (this category appeared this year) — this year’s extra guest is Hugh Dancy

You have to pay for fan meets too (last year the highest price was £375 for Mads Mikkelsen, this year it's much lesser for Hugh Dancy)

On all three days there is a disco in the evenings. On Saturdays there is a cosplay competition with actors as the jury. On Sunday there is a closing ceremony.

What is my personal experience?

Red Dragon Con 6 was my first convention ever. I was nervous, but it's a small convention (last year there were about 700 people, this year it will be about 400) and the people there were so lovely that I knew I would want to come back. Fannibals were exchanging handmade goods, bringing some homemade cookies, fans (because it was so hot), going shopping together, and so on.

I will never forget when my friends and I were returning to another hotel at night and someone accosted us. This person said that they were sorry for following us, but their battery was dead and they had to get to the bus stop and they saw the flower crowns so they felt safe.

There was also a Hindu wedding held at that hotel. So half the people were in traditional Indian wedding attire and the other half was in flower crowns. People thought we were a cult (lol).

Caroline Dhavernas accidentally broke the flower crown I had for her, so in the photo she stands with her arms raised, holding it. (lol)

My favourite was definitely Jeremy Davies. Someone lent me a rat stuffed animal for a photo, and when I approached Jeremy, he immediately started acting like Peter. It didn't matter whether it was during fan meetings, photos or autographs — he tried to devote so much time to each one single person that in the end the staff had to hurry him up because the schedule was falling apart.

The closing ceremony was also delayed because of Jeremy — he was talking to both Bryan Fuller and the staff because he wanted to connect us with Bryan somehow. We ended up singing a made-up song to the tune of Happy Birthday and he sent it to Bryan (which he posted on Twitter).

It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but yes, I am coming back this year for the seventh edition of the convention.

Once again, I am leaving here the link to the event page: https://seanharry.com/home/red-dragon/

If anyone has any questions or needs help — I do not bite and I can try to help in some way.

[pubbamoon]

Western Astrology vs. Vedic Astrology

Hi and welcome! Happy Pride Month for everyone who celebrates that, by the way. Also, I want to say something before I get into the topic. You know I thank you on almost every post I make for the support you give me. I got over 100 followers and over 1000 notes after just a week of posting astrology stuff here on Tumblr. This rapid growth of my Tumblr account really tells me that someone actually can resonate with my observations and that I'm doing the right thing. Now let's get into the topic! This post is going to be about the differences between Western astrology and Vedic astrology and there's a lot of them. I've been studying Vedic astrology for a year now and I can say that both types of astrology make sense and are accurate, but they're also too different from each other. I'm gonna explain further on this post which differences are present here.

Disclaimer: This post will be based on my own opinion only. I don't force anyone to think like me or to follow certain type of astrology and to judge another type of astrology. My goal is to share the knowledge I've gained for years and to expand someone's horizons if it's needed. That's what my Tumblr account is actually about.

Western astrology is a heliocentric type of astrology where the Sun is placed at the center of this system and that's why the Sun represents our zodiac sign. The natal chart of Western astrology looks like a circle and it reminds of the heliocentric system as well. Western astrology is also a geocentric, because those type of astrologers use the horizon of the planet Earth and they analyze each planet's move while looking at the sky. There's 12 zodiac signs and 12 months.

The Western astrology mostly depends on the seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter) and the signs whose season starts at the beginning of the season (Aries starts the spring, Cancer starts the summer, Libra starts the fall and Capricorn starts the winter) are considered as cardinal signs and the leaders of the zodiac.

The fixed signs are the ones which continue the season (Taurus continues the spring, Leo continues the summer, Scorpio continues the fall and Aquarius continues the winter). That's why these signs are always described as stubborn and undesirable for changes.

The mutable signs are type of signs whose season start between the end of the one season and at the beginning on another season. (Gemini ends the spring, Virgo ends the summer, Sagittarius ends the fall and Pisces ends the winter). That's why they're mostly perceived as adaptable to the almost every situation they're into.

The signs in Western astrology are also divided into a fire signs (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) an earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn), an air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) and a water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces). They're also divided into a masculine (fire and air signs) and a feminine signs (earth and water signs).

Keep in mind that Western and Tropical astrology are synonyms, two different words, but have the same meaning. You can use planets from Sun to Pluto in this type of astrology. Same with the house system, such as Placidus or Whole Sign, you can use any other house system you want in Western astrology.

On the other hand, Vedic astrology is based on the fixed stars, constellations or nakshatras. They are all synonyms. There's overall 27 nakshatras with the 12 signs and each sign has three nakshatras. The Moon and Ascendant (Lagna) are the most important things in someone's Vedic birth chart (Rashi chart or D1 chart) and then the Sun comes after when it comes to the importance of planets. The Moon represents our zodiac sign and our birth nakshatra in Vedic astrology, not the Sun. Each planet rules over the three nakshatras in Vedic astrology. Every nakshatra has its own deity, yoni/animal, symbols and planetary ruler.

The signs go 24 degrees backwards in Vedic astrology, but it depends on which Ayanamsa is used. Vedic astrologers mostly use Lahiri which is the classical and the most used Ayanamsa. You can have Taurus Sun in tropical natal chart, but Aries Sun in sidereal natal chart. Or you can have Taurus Sun in both tropical and sidereal natal chart. It's not always black and white. Mind you that Vedic astrology and Sidereal astrology are synonyms too.

Degrees are so important in Vedic astrology, because the planet with the highest degree in our vedic birth chart is one of the most important planets and it represents our life purpose in general. This planet is called Atmakaraka. The planet at the second most highest degree represents our career and profession and it's called as Amatyakaraka. The planet at the lowest degree represents our partner and future spouse and it's called as Darakaraka. The degrees are important here because of the nakshatras too.

This is how the North Indian style of Vedic birth chart looks like. This is a style of vedic birth chart I use the most, 'cause it's the easiest style for me to analyze someone's natal chart.

This is, on the other hand, the South Indian style of the Vedic birth chart. You can use whichever style of the birth chart you want.

Those are the objective differences of the Western and Vedic astrology. Now I want to get into the subjective differences I personally saw while using both types of astrology.

My personal difference between Western and Vedic astrology is that the Western astrology is generalizing and more obvious, while the Vedic astrology is a little bit deeper and more complex. The Sun represents our external presence and how we behave in outside world, maybe that's why the Western astrology is so obvious and why people from the western society are so egocentric and success-oriented generally. Vedic astrology gets more deeper, because the Moon is the most important planet there and it's associated with our inner world, emotions, mind, home etc. The placements from the Vedic birth chart describe more what we are inside, while the Western natal chart describes what we are outside.

Another difference I see is that the Vedic astrology uses religion and mythology, mostly the Hindu one, while the Western astrology doesn't use religion, especially the modern type of the Western astrology. Like I said previously, each nakshatra has its own deity and mythology, while this doesn't apply to the Western astrology at all.

Okay, that would be it. I hope you enjoyed it and see you very soon. Have all a wonderful day!

Best regards,

Paky McGee

[outofangband]

Flora, fauna, geography and environment of Arda Masterlist

Here are a collection of headcanons for an anon who asked for more environmental headcanons for the region of Nargothrond! I can do more in depth flora and fauna posts with specific categories; I’ve actually already started one for flowers!

More in the Nargothrond tag!

Disclaimer: I’m going with the likely climate and environment based on what information we have about the surrounding regions however, I’m always happy to do posts with ideas about what environment or ecology could be based on real locations like the one I did for the havens based on Southwestern Australia

Given that Tolkien was inspired in his plains and grasslands of a wide variety of places, everywhere from China to Britain to Northern Africa and the US, I’m imagining a wide range of biodiversity here in this plateau especially given the proximity to these two rivers. I don’t think that all of his grasslands have life from all these places necessarily but I do think there is the potential for more biodiversity. 

I have some headcanons about bioluminescence in the caves of Nargothrond here and about the environment of western Beleriand more generally here!

-While the ecology of the Talath Dirnen or other parts of the region of Nargothrond is not described, we get some descriptions of the trees and plants around Amon Rûdh which is slightly northeast of Talath Dirnen.

-Average temperatures in fall and winter are one to twelve degrees Celsius or thirty to fifty five degrees Fahrenheit. Spring to summer are about twelve to twenty five degrees Celsius or fifty five to seventy eight degrees Fahrenheit

-The climate is temperate with cold winters and warm summers. Snowfall is typically an average high of six to seven inches or fifteen to seventeen centimeters

-Temperature is more stable within the caves though there are additional measures used for warmth during the coldest weather including expanding insulation

-As parts of the river Narog is underground, there are many unique species found there including salamanders like olms, cave amphipods, species of subterranean  Nemacheilidae, Viviparous brotula, and Ictaluridae (cave dwelling fish) and roosting bats (mostly in the far uninhabited passages) as well as a variety of more invertebrates. 

-The area surrounding Nargothrond is mostly prairie like grassland steppe and forested hills. The species of grass are primarily wheatgrasses, fescue, junegrasses and other species from the poa family

-The hills and open plain are made up of a variety of species including apera, Coleanthus,  reed sweet grass, melica, veldtgrass, sages,  weeping alkaligrass, and many species in the daisy family. Wild strawberry and musk strawberry, hawthorn, thistles, and meadowsweet are more possibilities for the more shrub like areas around the hills. 

-We know from descriptions in The Children of Húrin that mountain ash grows in the surrounding areas. Rowan trees, also called mountain ashes. These trees are ecologically important in that their fruits feed a huge variety of animals including red foxes, spotted nutcracker birds, song thrushes, dormice, redwings, roe deer and other cloven hooved creatures, and more. 

[varlaisvea]

winterhold in the second era

i saw an old post about winterhold’s climate and food resources in the fourth era, and i wanted to say i’ve been writing a lot of 2nd Era (ESO) Winterhold, which is ~1500 years before the Great Collapse. so, i’ve been thinking a lot about how different the city would be in those times, and how much the Great Collapse changed the climate and geography of the area. here’s some ~headcanons about 2nd Era Winterhold

if you look at the land around Winterhold in the 4th Era, it appears that the Collapse also took out a whole bunch of the coastline east of (what’s left of) the city—much of which was probably the city itself. You can also tell that the college sat on a hill or rise—it’s significantly higher than everything else around it. The climate as it is in the 4th Era would not have been able to support a large College and bustling city. So, imo, Winterhold in the 2nd Era was protected from the worst winds off the Sea of Ghosts, situated on the sheltered side of a ridge or rolling hills. The College was on the western side, at the highest point in the city, on a hill.

obviously, though, it was still quite cold—the farmland that existed was in the eastern part of Winterhold hold, and was mostly used for hardy winter crops and short-season summer crops—pretty much just enough to feed a large city when heavily supplemented by fishing and whaling. the climate was mild enough that most residents could support some chickens or goats, a vegetable garden in the summer, and maybe grow some gourds and stuff in the fall.

The fact that the city produced just about enough food for everyone meant that most residents, including students at the college, would participate in harvests and processing catches from fisherfolk and whalers. No one wanted for food, but everyone felt they had a stake in its production—hard to take food for granted once you’ve experienced a long, dark winter in Winterhold.

The College was there first—its location was painstakingly selected based on multiple natural, mystical, and political factors. The city gradually grew around the College over the course of a few centuries.

One reason the College was built there: a natural warm spring at the top of that hill. In the 4th Era, one wonders why you’d ever build a massive, drafty stone structure at the edge of a bitterly cold sea, but it made a lot of sense when the college was built. The natural thermodynamics of the place warmed the stone walls and floors, and kept the College habitable—if still drafty— in the wintertime, and pleasantly cool in the summer months.

that’s also how they got enough water to the top of a hill to supply a whole college—there were actually bubbling springs accessible at several places on the campus, similar to the magicka wells that are still there in the 4th Era. the water springs, of course, were destroyed in the Great Collapse.

thanks to the warm spring and the strong magicka flow, the central courtyard of the college did not freeze in the winter, and could support an impressive alchemy garden, with plants from all over Tamriel.

in the 2nd Era, Winterhold College is just starting to come to prominence, having a reputation for being a place of openness and experimentation, in contrast to the Mages Guild or Shad Astula.

Nords tend to be wary of mages and magic, but over the years, the College has built itself as a part of the community—they have to, if they want a share of the harvest! About half of the student body is Nords, so the College shuts down at harvest time to allow those students to help bring in the crops. The non-native students also help with fishing and farming harvests, or other tasks like repairing equipment. All of the students are known to the residents once they’ve attended the school long enough.

By now, a good chunk of the city’s economy is centered around the College. For example, Winterhold supports several inns and bunkhouses, and has shops that import specialty food and supplies so that foreign mages can have a piece of home. For a city in the north ass of nowhere, residents are surprisingly worldly, regularly coming into contact with people from all over Tamriel (and even beyond) who come to the city for business at the College.

A small free clinic was built on the campus, so that the College’s world-class healers could be easily available to the people of Winterhold. The College also hosts seminars and classes on basic mystic topics for the residents of Winterhold. The College being so open to the community is not popular with everyone—some of the more old-school students and faculty wish for a time when mages got to stay in their mysterious wizard towers.

One of the big themes in my wip is a mage should never be sundered from the wages of their power. In the 2nd Era, the mages of Winterhold are in close contact with the wages of their power; in a magic college smack-dab in the middle of a bustling city, mages personally know the people who would be harmed if they use magic irresponsibly, or if an experiment goes wrong. In my story, mages who are sundered from the wages of their power are responsible for the Great Collapse.

[forest-and-fauna]

Saving Seeds

Happy New Year! Today I'd like to talk about seed saving. Since annual crops die at the end of their season, it's important to save their seeds so that you can replant them the following year. This is a great way to practice sustainable gardening, allowing you to get the most out of your yearly harvest and spend less money on seeds.

In the photo shown above, I have seeds from six different plants: pea, sunflower, kale, habenero, cayenne, and jalapeño. We're going to go over how to collect, dry, and store each type of seed.

When saving vegetable seeds, remember to choose open-pollinated varieties instead of hybrid varieties. Open-pollinated plants will produce seeds most similar to the parent plant. You also want to choose seeds from your healthiest plant in order to produce the best possible genetics.

Peas

Peas are ready for harvest when the pods have dried out and turned a pale yellowish brown. The pod should feel dry to the touch and the peas inside will be hard. You will need to leave a few pods on the vine so that they can mature.

Once they're ready, harvest your pea pods and and break open the shells. The color of the peas will range from green, yellow, and light brown. Remove the seeds from shell and place them on a plate or saucer for drying. They should be left alone to dry for about a week.

For storage, place the seeds in a glass jar, a plastic bag, or an envelope. Store in a cool, dry place. I keep mine in the fridge.

Unfortunately I didn't get to save too many seeds from my pea pods because I kept eating them. Right off the vine.

(Note: Drying and storage will be the same for all seeds mentioned in the post, so I will skip mentioning this step for the following plants.)

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are ready for harvest once they have drooped their heads and dropped their petals. The leaves will be yellow, and the seeds will look plump. The plant will start drooping a week or two before it produces seeds so it's important to be patient. Once you catch birds and squirrels snacking on your sunflowers, you can be sure that they're ready.

To harvest, remove the head at the base of the stem using pruning shears. Hold the head over a large bowl and rake your fingers over the seeds to dislodge them from the head. Remove any debris and insects. Dry and store.

Peppers

Peppers always change color when they are ready for harvest. Jalapeños and cayenne will turn red. Habeneros are usually bright orange or red when they are ripe, but some varieties produce different colors. It's important to know which type of pepper you are planting and what color you should expect once the fruit is ripe.

Cut open the peppers to reveal the seeds. Remember to wear gloves, especially for hot peppers. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds onto a plate. Avoid drying on a paper plate or paper towel. They will stick. Dry and store.

Kale

Kale is a biennial plant, so in order to save seeds you will need to keep your kale plants in the garden over the winter. You would be planting the kale in the spring, harvest the leaves during the summer and fall, then ignore the plant during winter. Finally, you can collect seeds during the following summer. This can be time consuming and takes up usable garden space, so I may not save kale seeds again next year.

Allow the kale to flower and produce seed pods. These pods will be elongated and green. They are ready for harvest once they are dry and brown. Keep an eye on them while you wait for seeds to mature, as the pods are brittle and will sometimes open up and release their seeds before you can collect them.

Once the seed pods are ready, cut them off the plant, carefully open them over a bowl or plate. Dry and store. Even though collecting kale seeds takes patience, I would say it's worth it because they produce a lot of seeds.

Further reading for seed saving:

The Complete Guide to Saving Seeds: 322 Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs - Robert Gouche and Cheryl Moore-Gouche

The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Saving Seeds - Seed Savers Exchange, edited by Lee Buttala and Shanyn Seigel

Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners, 2nd Edition - Suzanne Ashworth

[karizard-ao3]

Just saw your Hallmark post on bluesky. How do you think a Hallmark NGE story would play out?

Oh, the repost! I was like, "what Hallmark post?" and had to go check 😂

Okay, so, first, please forgive me if I miss any common tropes. I don't tend to watch that kind of movie so most of what I know is from spoof skits and what other people have said about them.

I think the first thing we have to do is pretend the second impact caused winter conditions instead of perpetual summer. Otherwise, we can't have beautiful, snowy winter scenes.

Asuka is a big city woman with a big city career who has to fly out to another big city for a work thing. Unfortunately, her flight has a layover and, oh no! During that layover the planes get grounded for bad weather!

No, no, no! Absolutely not! Asuka must get to her big work thing!!! She rents a car, determined to drive the rest of the way there, and make it to her Christmas meeting. (She volunteered for this unfortunately-timed meeting because it's a great career move and she's the only one on staff who absolutely HATES Christmas!)

Unfortunately, Asuka does not make it. The blizzard starts blizzarding as she's arriving in a picturesque small town and they close down the roads.

Asuka is pissed! But, fortunately, there is a room available at a charming little bed and breakfast, owned by Misato Katsuragi. (There's a whole side plot with her and Kaji, a Christmas tree farmer. They broke up, he still loves her. They get back together at the Christmas tree lot when he gets her with a grand gesture of some sort. Maybe they had a very fundamental disagreement about the best kind of conifer for a Christmas tree and, to show Misato he loves her, he has started raising his detested white spruce for her.)

The snow clears up over night, but it's going to take a while before the snow plows can clear the roads out of town. Since Asuka arrived too late to put in her breakfast order with Misato the night before, she goes to the local restaurant/ coffee shop for breakfast, where she meets the owner and operator, Shinji Ikari. She criticizes him for having such hearty down home fare on his menu. She can't eat this crap! She's trying to maintain her figure!

Shinji refuses to make her an egg white omelette and they are instant enemies.

Unfortunately, Shinji's coffee shop is the only restaurant in town and Asuka doesn't know how to cook! Also, Misato caters the breakfasts for her b&b from Shinji's, which Asuka discovers when she goes back to Misato's to put in her order for the next morning.

Asuka is stuck eating at Shinji's. They begin to build up something of a rapport after she borrows his phone to call her boss and let her know she's trapped in a small town and may not make the meeting and, in the process, mentions how much she hates Christmas. Shinji asks her about it and they get a little closer.

Asuka is bored out of her mind with no Wi-Fi and no cell service, so she tries ice skating. She's terrible at it and almost falls, but Shinji, who just happens to also be at the skating rink (it's the place to be on a cold December night) catches her and skates around with her, holding her hand. She gets chilly and he takes her back to the coffee shop and makes her a hot cocoa. (The coffee shop has no other employees and is opened or closed based on what suits the narrative. There is no rhyme nor reason to it.) She hasn't had a real hot cocoa in ages. It melts some of the ice in her heart. She gets some whipped cream on her nose and Shinji wipes it off. They share a moment.

Eventually it is revealed that Shinji also has no one to spend Christmas with because his dad is a piece of shit developer that wants to raze this small town (which he owns) and replace it with a ski resort and Shinji is too shy to invite himself to anyone else's house. He asks Asuka to spend Christmas with him and she agrees. They kiss.

BUT!! The roads get cleared and Asuka leaves for her Christmas meeting, leaving Shinji behind. She is torn between her career goals and her new appreciation for small town life. She doesn't know what to choose so she goes with what she's always known. Shinji discovers she works for a chain of ski resorts and accuses her of only coming here to scout out the area. He wishes he had never given her that comprehensive tour of the area, or taught her to ski.

When she gets to her meeting, Asuka recognizes Gendo from the photo Shinji showed her and she realizes that she can't bring herself to destroy that beautiful homelike town. She tanks the deal, perhaps by making an impassioned speech about the beauty of Christmas and neighbors and the love of a good man who makes you eat eggs with the yolk. Near tears, she gets back in her car and races back to Shinji's.

Distance has no meaning in the Hallmark Christmas world. She arrives in no time and bursts into the coffee shop. She holds up the development contract and rips it up, telling Shinji that she's giving up her career to help him run his coffee shop, if he'll have her. She doesn't really have a choice. She just ruined the biggest deal her company has had in ages.

For a moment it seems like he'll turn her down, but then he leaps over the counter and kisses her. Everyone in the restaurant cheers and claps.

Asuka worries because Gendo could always sell the town to another ski resort company.

Kaji comes in and reveals that thanks to stocking white spruce, he's made enough money at his Christmas tree farm to buy the town from Gendo so that no one can ever try to turn it into a ski resort again. Everyone cheers and claps some more.

Shinji proposes to Asuka for her Christmas gift and everyone lives happily ever after.

[jokerislandgirl32]

This might be such an odd thing to ask but what do think Zach/Violet’s scents are? Maybe other characters too if you want to add those too!

Hi anon (I know who you are 😉)! This is absolutely not an odd question to ask at all! I am a person who associates scents with people, so this is something I’ve already considered for all the Wild Kratts Crew Members and the Wild Kratts Villains! Below you can find the links to the scent profiles I wrote up for all of the canon Wild Kratts Characters!

Here are the Wild Kratts Crew members!

And here are the villains! I just changed Zach and Paisley’s scent profiles in this post, so please check that out if y’all would like to see the updates! Zach’s profile is one I’m more comfortable smelling now (the original one I wrote for him had a scent that’s now triggering to me thanks to the ex), and I updated Paisley’s scent profile to reflect her new role as Paisley Planter!

I also consider this to be a good interpretation of Zach’s scent profile. It’s an amazing response I got from a f/o reblog game a while back!

As for Violet, I am more than happy to explain her scent profile! To make it easy on me, and since she is my self insert, Violet has my scent profile! Since I go in depth with the explanation, it’s below the cut!

Violet’s hair smells like mint or Bergamot, Jasmine, Vanilla based on which shampoo and conditioner she is using: she alternates between Nioxin and OGX Extra Strength Biotin & Collagen shampoo and conditioner. Violet also smells mildly of lotion, her go to lotions are Jergens Ultra Healing lotion for her body and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for her face.

But Violet overwhelmingly smells like the perfume she uses. Violet’s preferred perfumes all have top notes of blackberry and/or raspberry or pomegranate and similar fruits, and middle and base notes of vanilla, various flowers, and sandalwood or other types of wood.

The one perfume that Violet wears most often, and the one that Zach associates with her is Bath and Body Works’ Gingham Vibrant. A perfume that smells of blackberries, vanilla, and candied violets! Zach legitimately sees burying his face into her clothing and inhaling this scent as a form of therapy.

Violet does like to switch perfumes between seasons. Gingham Vibrant is her spring and summer scent. For fall, Violet prefers Bath and Body Works’ Amber Blush. It’s more of a woodsy scent, but just a sweet and beautiful as Gingham Vibrant.

A two perfumes Violet loves to use in the winter are Bath and Body Works’ Forever Red and Ariana Grande’s Sweet Like Candy. Forever Red is the scent Violet uses depending upon events, this one is utilized for date nights between her and Zach, or for special events at Varmitech Industries because it has such a smoky and spicy scent. Violet likes the sweet and fruity smell of Sweet Like Candy for everyday “winter wear” because it makes her think of sugar plums and fairies, it just makes her think of the winter season!

And Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift is a perfume Violet likes to use in the spring or summer alongside Gingham Vibrant. It has many of the same fragrances as Gingham Vibrant, but it’s a bit deeper and sensual. More often than not, it’s reserved for very special occasions…like her prom, their wedding ceremonies, their honeymoon. This is just a very special perfume for them because they can associate it with the major events in their relationship. It unintentionally becomes the “special event” perfume, but they both love it so they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Finally, I feel like she has an underlying scent of either sea breeze/the ocean or wood smoke before she starts working with/living with Zach. As that was the scent within her home and it just clung to her, for lack of a better term. And once she starts working with Zach, she adopts his underlying scent of metal, cleaning supplies, and cologne/body/hair products (basically everything I listen in his scent profile). It’s subtle, but it’s there, mixed in with everything else 😊.

I hope this answers your question! Sorry it took ages to get back to, but my trip to Bath and Body Works yesterday inspired me I suppose!

[covid-safer-hotties]

NYC COVID cases up 250% in 2 months — and this variant's harder to duck

Published July 4, 2024

Also posted on our archive

New York is experiencing a bump in COVID cases that might put a damper on people’s summer plans.

Cases have been rising nationally and locally for about two months, driven by so-called “FLiRT” variants — versions of the virus that have evolved to evade immunity.

Mandatory COVID mitigation measures have largely been waived, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased its recommendations for how long people should isolate themselves after getting sick. But there are still precautions people can take to avoid getting COVID or spreading it to others.

Here’s what to know about the latest COVID wave.

How big is the current COVID wave?

New York City data shows an average of 687 cases of COVID reported per day during the week ending on June 22, 250% higher than the amount reported two months prior. That same week, there was an average of 53 COVID-related hospitalizations each day — primarily involving older adults — and one death, according to city data.

A decline in testing means COVID case counts don’t necessarily show the full picture, according to public health experts. Based on state wastewater testing data, New York City appears to be experiencing a bump in COVID similar to the increase seen last summer. Current levels of the virus, however, are far lower than what was detected during a surge last winter.

Infectious disease experts say COVID is starting to follow a predictable pattern, with a surge in the fall when temperatures start to drop and people gather indoors, and a smaller bump in the summer.

In the summer, “there are family gatherings, there are weddings,” noted Dr. Jessica Justman, an epidemiologist and professor at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. And while people are more likely to spend time outdoors, where the virus is less likely to spread, “we also spend time indoors when we have a heat wave like we had last week.”

What do we know about the FLiRT variants?

Many people have developed some level of immunity against the virus, either through vaccination or past infection. While “FLiRT” variants can slip past that immunity, having some immunity still tends to make symptoms milder, said Andrew Pekosz, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who researches respiratory viruses.

“Overall, disease severity is dropping,” he added.

Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of the medicine department and chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau, agreed that the current strains of COVID that are circulating do not appear to be causing serious illness in most cases.

“It's the typical COVID presentations,” Glatt said of patients he’s seen. “They have a cough. They may have some upper respiratory symptoms like a cold, runny nose.”

Glatt said he has seen more severe cases where people are experiencing shortness of breath, and is still concerned about older patients and those who are otherwise at high risk for severe disease. But he said it’s now rare for COVID patients to need to be placed in intensive care units.

What should I do if I get sick?

Until recently, the CDC recommended that people who tested positive for COVID isolate themselves for several days. But in March, responding to declining cases and disease severity overall, it revised that guidance to instead focus on a given individual’s symptoms.

The latest guidance — which applies to a variety of respiratory illnesses — calls for sick people to stay away from others until their symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours and they haven’t had fevers for at least 24 hours.

In the five days after isolating, the CDC suggests practicing good hygiene, wearing a mask and not standing too close to other people.

The CDC notes that a COVID test can give a “rough approximation” of whether someone is still infectious, but advises that people should follow the same guidance regardless of whether they're sick from COVID or another respiratory illness.

Glatt said people in recovery should use common sense, including avoiding visiting older relatives or people who are at high risk for severe COVID.

“When you're starting to feel better, I would certainly let the other people around you know, ‘I recently had COVID,’” he added.

Where can I get tested for COVID?

New York City's once ubiquitous dedicated COVID testing sites have largely disappeared. But tests are still available at NYC Health and Hospitals locations, urgent care centers and other medical providers.

Many New Yorkers are now more accustomed to reaching for home testing kits, but they are also more likely now to have to go to the pharmacy and pay for them out of pocket. Insurers may cover home testing kits but are no longer required to since the federal COVID public health emergency expired in spring of 2023. The federal program distributing free COVID tests has also ended.

The city previously distributed free kits as well, but that program ended in March after about 150 million free rapid tests were handed out, according to city health department spokesperson Patrick Gallahue.

Those who do take home tests should remember that it can take a couple of days after exposure to test positive. It’s possible to report home-testing results online here.

When should I get my next COVID shot?

Although the CDC says adults over 65 can get an updated COVID vaccine every four months, Glatt said once a year is likely appropriate for most people.

Pekosz said the vaccines that are currently available are not very well-suited to the strains of COVID that are circulating, and people who are looking to get a shot should likely wait until updated vaccines come out in a couple of months.

“This coming fall's COVID vaccine will be a better match, although again, it probably won't be perfect,” since the virus continues to evolve, he said.

[calliopescorner]

New Rome rewrite!

Hello! I wanted to post this about New Rome before I start to write about the Roman gods as well, because while the Greek demigod sanctuary bears a fair amount of resemblance to its book counterpart, New Rome is completely re-imagined. So let’s talk about that!

LUPA’S WOLF PACK:

Lupa’s pack functions as a way to bring Roman demigods to New Rome. The pack travels with usually very experienced demigods, and they make trips with Lupa to pick up different Roman demigods around the country and world. They act as ambassadors for New Rome, and can communicate with the demigod (and in some cases, their mortal families). The demigods are given the ability to communicate with Lupa, and the journey gives the new demigods a way of getting used to the dangerous life of the mythical world. However, the wolves they meet also swear to protect them, instead of trying to actively kill them.

CLAIMING:

Claiming is done through the process of bringing demigods to different temples based on what powers they display. At the temples, they can make a sacrifice to specifically summon and talk to their godly parent, and thus they can be claimed. There are many places around New Rome to get supplies to show their godly heritage, like pins, patches, shirts, and tattoos.

JUPITER ACADEMY:

Jupiter Academy is a school-year based program to help teach demigods about the myths, monsters, and tools they need to survive. It also teaches them a lot about history, basic healing for when in combat, and many different fighting styles. Demigods can also go into tracks at the age of 15, where they can choose what kind of position they want to have. These tracks end when they are 18, and thus they can take up a job in New Rome, or go back into the mortal world. Also, with the school functioning during the fall, winter, and spring, demigods can spend the summer with their families. The academy uniform is a purple sweater with the SPQR symbol on it. 

The tracks include a combat track, a research track, a medical track, a craftsmen track, a religious/theology track, and many others that fit into things that are needed both in New Rome and in the outside world. The students are given badges for their grades and skills in school, though if a demigod wants to go into the outside mortal world again, they can sometimes struggle to catch up with mortal systems of education.

All the demigods stay in dorms, usually with demigods of the same age group and/or track. They are able to customize the dorms, and it offers them a lot of safety and peace and quiet.

NEW ROME

Many demigods go into the combat track, which leads them to become the main source of defense for the city. While New Rome is blessed by Janus, it does not have the same magical barriers that Camp Empeiria does. Thus, it needs guard patrols regularly, as monsters attack quite frequently due to the amount of demigods in the same space. Combat track demigods can hold positions similar to the ancient Roman military system, which can also grant them some political positions in New Rome as they get older. The other, much rarer track of religion/theology offers demigods in it a similar political position. 

Tattoos and piercings are common for demigods in New Rome, but they are never required. 

Demigods that retire (who can retire after 5 years) are usually able to go into a different craft if they please, and many are given houses around New Rome.

I hope this makes sense, and really makes New Rome feel unique (and not just a slightly odder clone of Camp Half-Blood from the books!).

[oldfashionedmorphine]

Hiiii!!! 4, 15, 18, 26, and 49 💕

hey! :)

4. What detail in [insert fic] are you really proud of?

hmm going with “i’m a wreck (without you here)” and just cause it’s relevant to my most recent update, i’ll say the whole coma dream sequence with nancy! i like to think you can read it as a spiritual connection to her and the idea that she’s going to be okay/at peace in the afterlife OR mike just dreamt it all up to give himself closure :)

15. What’s your favorite AU that you’ve written?

i’ve only ever really written one au and that’s “on the same frequency” which is also one of the most favoritest things i’ve ever written. i think it’s underrated based on the comments i’ve received—but i get it, the tags can be intimidating. honestly i think i was too cautious with the tags cause the byler big bang rules said to tag for the most potentially triggering stuff, but whatever. i promise it’s a happy ending guaranteed thing (super fluffy ending actually) and it has vibes similar to canon except that there’s no upside down and timeline wise it’s close to season 3 as far as character ages and such.

one of my fav comments i’ve received for the story:

18. If you wrote a sequel to [insert fic], what would it involve?

picking iawwyh again—definitely will’s pov but with the speed i write these days i’ll probably never get to it. but it already exists in my brain 😔

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue?

no dialogue! i would get lost if it’s only dialogue. i need to be reminded who is speaking after a while and it helps set the scene. but if it’s just no dialogue then it’s not as big a problem.

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

currently working on what’s left of “i’m a wreck (without you here)”!! 😊 roughly 4 more chapters to go!! (but ch 24 is getting super long and i may have to split it lmao)

but here’s a snippet of what i wrote last night;

“Hey. You know that I am here for you, right?” El says. “I always have been and always will—just like that one song,” and then she starts singing, “Winter, spring, summer, or fall—all you have to do is call—and I’ll be th—”

Mike covers her mouth with his hand. “Okay, okay—I get it—please stop singing.” Mike drops his hand back onto his lap, and now they’re both laughing. 

“Honestly,” he says, “I still can’t believe you like singing and karaoke. ‘Cause I swear to God, I thought you hated it—or was it just my voice or something that you couldn’t stand?”

“I never said I hated singing. I like it very much actually. And also, I don’t remember thinking your voice was bad—even when we did karaoke after the funeral I thought your voice was very good…but I do remember…that whenever we used to make out back then, that you would always stop and sing along to whatever song you insisted we listen to and I just wanted to kiss you. It was so annoying.”

“Oh.”

She giggles. “Yeah. But now, I think that maybe you just didn’t want to kiss me.” 

tagging @daydreams-in-the-moonlight (since you said you want to be tagged for anything i post for iawwyh and this has a wip for it in it lmao)

[911buddieweek]

Hi everyone! I saw that there hasn't been a Buddie Week in a few years and that the account hosting this hasn't been active. I tried to get in contact but they never responded. Weeks dedicated to ships were always my favorites in different fandoms, so I decided, why not try to host it myself?

I am aware this can me stressful to do on my own, but I am giving it a chance! Besides, it'll be in 2024 so I'll have time to prepare.

That said, I want to ask YOU for some help figure out when this week should take place. This will happen in different polls.

First: today (November 3rd) this post will contain the first poll which season this week should be held:

Based on which season has the most votes, I will do another poll which month would be your favorite choice (unless December wins). Then when a month is chosen, there will be a poll which week should be used.

I might also do a poll which form of the week. Personally I use Monday-Sunday, but I know there are also people who use Sunday as the first day of the week.

Once we have chosen a week, we can start doing prompts! A form will be up for several weeks where you can suggest prompts. Then the most sent + my own favorites get put in a new form where you can vote.

There will be a poll to see if you want alternate prompts, multiple prompts a day to choose from, like @whumptober does for their events, or only 7 promps - 1 for each day. Then based on the amount of prompts needed, the ones with the most votes will be put in Buddie Week 2024.

Buddie week is for everyone!

You can do anything: Fics, gifsets, collages, video editing, picture editing, podcasts, playlists, podfics, art, poems. Whatever you want to create, you can do it!

EXCEPT THE USE OF AI IS FORBIDDEN!

AI technology steals from fellow artists and therefore it is against the rules to use AI to create something for Buddie Week.

I hope this is all the information you need to get excited! And I really hope to see people join to celebrate Buddie for a week!

Please share! You have my permission to share this post on other media like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, anything. I hope to reach as many people as I can!