#curl refresher spray

[swenexusllc]

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[pricetagged]

raft of the leucothea

A little Kyle piece for the Gaz lovers 💖 to tide you over while I work on the Nikolai and the Price stuff.

Shipwrecked. Washed ashore, injured and sick, and thankfully not alone. A man called Kyle Garrick has washed ashore with you.

No big warnings, just some ever-so-slight dubcon naked cuddling (for survival!).

----------

The harsh, salty spray stung your cracked cheeks. Like clay left to bake in the sun, you felt the cracking and peeling of stinging flesh. But you felt it, that was the important thing.

Sunshine seared through your eyelids, a high noon wake-up call. Glowing ember-red, turning the sands to hot coal beneath you. You only had a second to process it before you rolled over, cramping muscles seizing in a paroxysm of a crawl as you hacked and coughed briny, burning seawater.

Alive then.

You were scared to open your eyes. You could pretend that they were crusted shut, sand and grit and god only knows what flaking over. Irritating, painful. A conjunctivitis of caustic circumstance. If you opened your eyes, it was real.

No, it was better as you were. A temporary balm to a blistering scald. Eyes-wide-shut, blind to the horrible damp marl and putrid air burning through your smarting nostrils. Sea life and smoke; pungent enough to turn your stomach once more.

You moaned as you collapsed on the shore, skin-fever hot and itching. Grit and shell-shards dug in, piercing your sensitive flesh. Clinging, burrowing. Discomfiting. Like the discordant memories swimming to the surface, all driftwood and screams and kicking, aching feet.  

There was no more screaming.

The waves lapped at the shore, a gentle balmy breeze carrying the soft sloshing of surf. Hazy popping and crackling accompanied it, a paradisiac white noise that scrambled your sluggish thoughts. Your eyes fluttered open. Temporarily blind from solar glare, you blinked moisture back. Tried to, at least. You were parched, eyes-dry and throat drier.

Perhaps you expected to see devastation. Destruction. Flotsam and jetsam and bodies strewn along the beach. There was a fire, yes, but it was not from the casket of the ship. Debris visible, but neat. Collected and organized into tidy little piles by a great smoking fire. Through the heat-haze of the flames, you spotted a flash of green: fresh leaves. Gaseous white billowed up; perfect for maximum visibility.

"Ah, you're awake." A shadow fell over you, gentle hands supporting your back until you were somewhat upright. "Here, you'll need this."

You grimaced as your cracked lips crinkled around the fruit, harsh little fibres stabbing in. But the relief–

Light, nutty, refreshing. You guzzled it down, big greedy slurps as your hands raised to cup it closer, throat constricting as you lost your breath–

"Hey, hey, slow down," the stranger spoke, easily plucking the coconut from your shaky fingers. "You'll make yourself sick. Again."

"Thanks." You could at least croak out your gratitude, squinting to get a better look at him. "The others–?"

He was gorgeous, dark eyes and eyebrows slanted into the perfect expression of concern. He looked surprisingly normal, given the circumstances. Only a slight split on his full lips, a smear of sand crusted into his curls, marred his handsome face. You watched as his mouth twisted, as he rolled his neck glanced away. A grimace, more telling than words.

"Just you, me, the sand and the coconuts. Paradise cruise, eh?" He finally spoke, nose scrunching as the joke came out a little flat.

It wasn't a shock, but it was jarring all the same. Though you swallowed, your voice came out thick. "At least you're here. Wouldn't have gotten this open by myself."

It was feeble, words half swallowed as survivor's guilt and gallows humour met and warred. A dysfunctional marriage of relief and self-reproach curdled the coconut water in your stomach. A third player entered; unease. Anxiety, sending your heart rate spiralling high as your breaths grew shallow. Something stung your eyes, and you couldn't entirely blame the smoking fire–

"Hey, hey, look at me," You couldn't look away, not from his steady, unwavering gaze. Beautiful. Like sunlight filtered through whiskey, warm and soothing. "Breathe as I breathe– in, out, in– hold it– okay, out. That's right, that's perfect–"

He talked you through it, brought your trembling, clumsy fingers to his chest as he breathed in counts of eight. Kept his palm over your hand, cupped it against the rise and fall of his ribs. You could feel the firmness of his muscles beneath, feel the way his heart beat a steady rhythm just below your fingertips, and slowly, you relaxed into it.

Your cheeks were wet. You realised that around the same time you realised his other hand was rubbing ataractic circles on your back. A shameful emollient, setting you at ease but lowering your gaze. Here, in the arms of this stranger, who were you? Troublesome castaway, retching on the beach as he built a signal fire. Slurping down the fruit that he offered, then crying in his arms–

"Stop that," His hand paused between your should blades, chin tucked as he leaned down to catch your gaze. "You're doing so well, love. Bit of a fucked up situation we're in here."

"How are you so calm? How are you so organised? I feel like I'm going to drift away like–like–"

The hand at your back pushed you forward, pressing until you were draped across his lap. He rocked you, stubble against your temples as he shushed and soothed. Analgesic whispers that slackened your tight limbs, sent eyelids fluttering until you slipped into slumber. Mind numb, docked in restful harbours.

-----------------

When you woke up, you were hot. Shivering, teeth-chattering, but hot. You could no longer smell the fire, but you could feel it against your bare skin. Toasty, crackling embers smouldering and making you sweat.

The fever slowed your mind, too. Thoughts turned to sluggish, sticky mulch as you nuzzled into the strong bicep supporting your neck. His skin was smooth, slightly tacky where it met yours, and you whined a little as you tried to pull away.

But moving sent your head spinning, aching muscles seizing until all you could do was cry.

"You're alright, just sleep. Don't move–"

"My clothes," you slurred the words, heavy and sticky on your tongue. Crystallising like spoiled honey, you tried to spit them out faster, but they just dripped. Molasses-slow, and murky. Confused. "I'm not– my clothes are– what–?"

"I took them off you–shh, shh– They were tattered anyway, we'll need to dig through the piles and see what we can repair." You felt his arm flex below you, rolling your head until it was resting on the pillow of his chest. You tried to open your eyes, but the image was hazy. Like looking through seaglass. "It's cold here at night, freezing. The fire's good, but body heat's best."

"'m too hot– feel too–"

"Yeah, noticed you weren't just cold when you wouldn't stop shivering," his forearm banded around your squirming body, pinning you to his. "I know, baby, I know. It's not nice. Gonna try to sweat it out of you. Don't exactly have the luxury of good food and medicine."

His voice was pitched low, sweet. It made you want to cry, mind adrift and body at his mercy. Holiday turned tragedy, swallowed up by the sea and spat up on the beach like refuse. Control slipped through your fingers, finer and more fickle than the sands below and all you could do was cry.

You felt his fingers, whisper-soft, stroking through the ends of your salty, parched hair. Your tears dripped down, soaking into your flushed cheeks and the sparse, scratchy hairs on his chest. He paused for a beat, fingers swiping over your damp forehead. Whisps pushed away until you felt a butterfly kiss against your clammy forehead. Quick and gentle and fleeting.

Small waves kissed the beach, too. Susurrus, splashing caresses that almost sent you drifting off again. The rumble of his voice tickled your cheek, made you blink slowly until you could make out his face through bleary eyes.  

"It's just you and me and this island," He spoke it softly, sting mollified by surety. Bittersweet ointment for a distressing prognosis. "I've got you; I'll take care of you. I promise."

Your answer was faint. "What if no-one comes for us?"

His arms curled tighter around you, twisted until you were splayed atop him. In another time, another place, you'd be flustered by the open splay of your legs, bare against his lean waist. Here, shame withered away, fizzled out. Ephemeral as seafoam.

"I told you, I'll take care of you. Rescue or not, it's you and me now."

Later, you'd blame delirium, fever dream-fugue, for how the words echoed in your mind. 'Just you and me.'

You and him, and the island.

-----------

[xinfinityl0ve17]

Klaha [MALICE MIZER]

●Klaha

“I'm not as delicate as everyone thinks. I've got pretty thick nerves.”

PROFILE

(From left): yu~ki (B), Mana (G), Klaha (Vo), Közi (G)

The band name, MALICE MIZER, holds the meaning of “malice and tragedy.” Their concept driven songs soaked in a medieval gothic atmosphere, and their live performances transcending mere “shows” are truly worth experiencing

“I've been influenced by the other members in a lot of ways.”

- Klaha who joined MALICE MIZER as their vocalist last summer had already known the members for some time before officially joining the band. But what led him to make the decision?

“I’ve never really been interested in the band scene. What I’ve always cared more about is simply wanting to sing. But I felt like, if it’s MALICE MIZER, they could help elevate my singing and that my singing might also deepen their musical expression. To me MALICE MIZER is a solitary presence radiating a unique, lonely aura that you can’t find anywhere else.”

- For Klaha joining the band didn’t just affect him musically it also had a major impact on his fashion sense.

“We actually go shopping together sometimes (laughs). Before that, I always wore all black like, even in summer I’d be wearing long sleeves, sometimes even a coat. But after joining that started to change thanks to the other members. These days I’m into more natural styles. Since MALICE MIZER delves into such a fantastical world, I think it's more interesting to keep things natural in daily life. The contrast feels really refreshing.”

- Klaha is currently exploring a fashion style he’d never embraced before. Naturally, that comes with some missteps…

“When I only wore black i could tell what suited me without even trying it on. But now, even when I’m sure something looks good I’ll try it on at home and the collar will look weird or something. I mess up a lot now (laughs).”

- What about his hair styling habits?

“Well i put some styling lotion in and wrap the ends of my hair around my fingers to give it a wavy look, like natural curls. But if I zone out, I end up curling it the wrong way inward instead of outward. When that happens, I just spray more lotion, run my fingers through it and mess it up like, ‘Whatever, good enough!’ Honestly, I can’t even draw a decent circle, I’m that clumsy. So if it’s not working out, I just give up and move on (laughs).”

- A great cook and athletic too. But a bit of an airhead!? Tall, slender and quiet, he might come across as delicate and highly sensitive. But Klaha’s real personality is surprisingly relaxed and easygoing.

“People assume I’m terrible at sports, but actually I’ve got pretty good reflexes. If there were a sports festival for visual kei bands, I’d totally want to join (laughs).”

- One of his talents is cooking—he says he can make almost anything without even looking at a recipe.

“I haven’t cooked for the other members or staff yet, so they’re all kind of skeptical about it. But what really gets to me is when people say I’m an airhead. They say the way I talk is kind of offbeat, but I’m like. What exactly about it is off? As far as I’m concerned, I’m explaining things logically. It all makes perfect sense to me totally perfect, actually (laughs).”

[ninibeingdelulu]

Beach date ✧

Plot: A date at the beach with your grumpy boyfriend after one of his big games.

.part two.

Even though he loathes anything involving sand, surf and sweat, you somehow still managed to wheedle Sae into this "relaxation outing" with your pleading pouts and promises of indulging his every grumpy demand.

That signature scowl etched deeper into those striking features the second his restless soles hit the gritty shoreline.

"This is already the last damn time," Sae grumbled under his breath, squinting against the bright sunrays glaring off the turquoise waves.

You simply grinned, tugging him further down towards the water's edge knowing full well it was an empty growl.

While Sae stubbornly insisted on laying out that ratty old beach towel, you immediately stripped down to your swimsuit and raced into the refreshing shallows with a joyful whoop.

Splashing around like an excitable puppy until those cold droplets sprayed his exposed skin, earning you a murderous glare that only widened your cheeky grin in response.

"Come on , Sae! Just dip those toes in for me?"

That dry monotone somehow conveyed simmering irritation despite the lack of inflection. "I'll deteriorate into salt and misery, thanks."

Laughter tinkled from your parted lips while giving an exaggerated pout specifically to nettle him further.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Sae dragged himself into the gentle surf with a weary sigh - arms hanging sullenly at his sides even as you circled him in teasing loop-de-loops.

Every few passes, you'd ghost those pruning fingertips along the taut cords of his neck and abdomen just to delight in Sae's visible shiver.

The creeping blush prickling high across his cheekbones when stealing not-so-subtle glances at your glistening, bare curves.

"Eyes off the merchandise, baby." you crooned with no bite, relishing the scathing scowl you received in return despite his appreciative leer lingering a bit too long.

Eventually coaxing him to lounge chest-deep in that sublime bath while tucking your delicate frame against his front.

Pillowing your head into the cradle of Sae's sturdy shoulder as those strong limbs subconsciously moved to cradle your lower back and thighs underwater.

His mouth remained pressed into that perpetual hypercritical line, though the tiniest sparkles returned to those jaded chips the longer he sat absorbing your serene surroundings and warmth.

Well aware this was precisely the type of simple, intimate moment his thundering spirit craved - no matter how stubbornly Sae refused to admit it.

At some point, you noticed his free palm blindly combing through the foamy shoreline in search of something. Eyes half-lidded while simply absorbing the rise and fall of your entwined figures caught in that gentle rhythm.

Until finally, Sae's fingertips resurfaced curling around some sand-caked treasure he silently brushed off before holding it up for inspection.

A petite pink conch shell with subtle striations and a mesmerizing iridescent interior that immediately reminded you of Sae's captivating irises.

Gazing upwards, you noticed the barest hint of a softened look clouding those very same eyes as the shell turned slowly in his calloused grip - brow smoothed into something almost tender before flicking that intense stare sideways to meet yours.

"...it reminded me of that mouthy little smile you're always wearing like an idiot."

Sae's sardonic tone attempted hiding the tiniest curve peeking out at the corners of his mouth while depositing the conch treasure into your waiting palms - maybe allowing the ghost of delight to play across his stare too before tucking you snug into the shelter of his throat again.

No further sentiments necessary beyond you silently tracing those intricate swirls with your thumb, mouthing 'I love you too, grouch' against the salt-tinged skin warming your cheek until he absorbed that affirmation with a low grumble vibrating clear to your bones.

Sae might swear he loathed these tender, peaceful interludes...but you recognized that lie reflected in the contentment etching his guard-less features and iron grip refusing to let go.

Staying firmly anchored to his tranquil island for as long as these stolen pockets of paradise allowed.

[artofdeductionbysholmes]

Hi Sherlock, may I have some tips on how to take care of wavy hair? I used to wear my hair very short but recently I have let it grow. Wow, every morning when I get up, my head looks like a mushroom cloud. Just overwhelming. Thank you!

Hello.

Maintaining wavy — or, in my case, curly — hair requires more than just effort; it demands precision and discipline.

It's important to use high-end products to ensure your hair is always well-nourished and keeps its natural shine. I am talking about salon-grade shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for curly hair.

I have a very detailed hair washing process, including multiple rinses to ensure every product is fully removed. I leave the conditioner in for the exact recommended time.

Letting my hair dry naturally, makes it look messy. Therefore, I use a high-tech hairdryer with a diffuser attachment. Be aware that too much heat could damage the structure of your hair.

After that, I use a combination of curl creams, leave-in conditioners, and light gels to define the curls without making them too stiff. Each product is applied in small, precise amounts, and I take my time to distribute them evenly to avoid build-up. When circumstances allow, I'll section and hand-twist individual curls to fall exactly where they should.

I finish with a mist of a lightweight hairspray to keep everything in place.

This is something I do every 3 to 4 days.

In the mornings, upon waking, I use a hydrating curl-refresh spray to prepare my hair for detangling any knots or kinks caused by sleeping. I don't use a comb, only my fingers to loosen the hair enough to reshape it without disturbing the overall structure.

I then use a curl-cream to provide a bit of hold and definition. As a finishing touch, I run my hands through my hair one last time, shaking it out to create a natural messy, yet styled look.

Some may think this routine excessive (I'm sure John has his opinions on the matter @johnhwatsonblog), but I believe in attention to detail. Appearances, after all, can be useful when weaponised properly.

So, for anyone looking for a shortcut to dealing with curly hair — I suggest cutting it short. Otherwise, accept that precision takes time.

SH

[amnesiaguy]

i’m leaving out all of phil’s trinkets in case they wanna do this :-)

[theevergorgeous-asmo]

*knockknock*

Hey, um...Asmo? It's Ash

I was wondering if you could...um...help me out with my makeup...? I have no idea what I'm doing, and you always look so put together, so maybe a few pointers would help...?

Hmm!! Kay!! General Makeup Tips for a Flawless Look! Like myself ✨

1. Start with Skincare-

Cleanse, tone, and moisturize.

Apply a primer suited to your skin type (mattifying for oily skin, hydrating for dry skin).

2. Base/Foundation Tips-

Choose a foundation that matches your undertone (warm, cool, neutral).

Use a damp sponge for a natural, skin-like finish.

Blend into the neck to avoid a mask effect.

3. Concealer Strategy-

Use a shade slightly lighter for under eyes.

Spot conceal blemishes with a shade that matches your foundation.

Let concealer sit for 30 seconds before blending for more coverage.

4. Set Strategically-

Use translucent powder on oily areas or under the eyes to prevent creasing.

Avoid over-powdering if you want a glowy finish.

5. Blush, Bronzer & Highlight-

Blush: Apply to apples of cheeks and blend upward.

Bronzer: Warm up the face by applying around the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline.

Highlighter: Apply to high points (cheekbones, bridge of nose, cupid’s bow) for a glow.

6. Brows-

Light, feathery strokes mimic natural hair.

Use a tinted brow gel to set and add volume.

7. Eyes-

Primer helps shadow last longer and appear more vibrant.

Stick to matte shades for depth and shimmer on the lids for pop.

Curl lashes and apply mascara for lifted eyes.

8. Lips-

Exfoliate and moisturize first.

Line your lips to define and prevent feathering.

Apply lipstick or gloss based on the look you’re going for.

9. Setting Spray-

Use a setting spray to lock in your makeup or refresh it throughout the day.

Quick Bonus Tips-

Mix foundation with moisturizer for a tinted look on minimal-makeup days.

Use cream products for a dewy finish; powders for a matte look.

Use white or nude eyeliner on the waterline to make eyes look bigger.

[blackcherryvelvet0909]

Tomato Basil (Lilia x GN!Reader)

Note: Reader is an adult for obvious reasons

“This looks like a good spot!” Lilia stopped a short several feet from the shoreline, just where you could feel the sea spray whisp across your skin. It was quite refreshing. The sunset backdrop was equally perfect, the stars just starting to peek out over the horizon. With a flourish, Lilia laid out the large, soft blanket he’d been carrying. He tilted his head up to eye you as he asked, “Which side would you like?” 

“Any is fine,” you replied with a smile. “I’m not picky.”

“Then let’s sit facing the sunset,” Lilia suggested. “Watching the sun sink below the sea’s edge is always a pretty sight.” 

That was, indeed, a nice idea. You sat on the right side of the blanket and Lilia sat on the left. You placed the wicker picnic basket you’d been holding in front of you both and opened the top. Inside were wheat crackers, various types of cheese, multiple sliced veggies, small fruits, two little plates, and a few utensils. Beside the basket now sat a mini cooler, which had been another object Lilia toted out to the beach. Within were two thermoses, one filled with tomato juice and the other filled with [drink of choice]; there was also a small box of popsicles. You and Lilia had quite the spread before you. 

“I hate that Silver couldn’t come with us,” you lamented as you helped Lilia unload the plates and utensils from the basket. “Malleus and Sebek, too. They seemed so excited.” 

“I know, it is a shame. Malleus was looking forward to doing some mundane activities.” Lilia glanced over and gave you a reassuring smile. “But worry not! We have another week of our school trip - plenty of time to picnic again.” He let out a soft chuckle. “Maybe this will teach Malleus not to eat so much ice cream in one sitting.” 

Ah, yes, the thing that prevented Malleus from coming: A stomachache. One of the worst he’d ever experienced, apparently. The last time you saw him, the prince was curled up in his king sized bed, blankets wrapped around him so thoroughly only his horns peeked above the surface. His dead silence was only interrupted by a painful grunt every now and again. According to Lilia, that was the calmest Malleus had ever been about such an ailment. Truly, the prince had grown much since his tantrum-having childhood. Lilia commented to you on your way down to the beach that he was quite relieved about that. 

As for Sebek and Silver, the two were also back at the hotel. Sebek was adamant on remaining at Malleus’s side - to be at his beck and call throughout the entire ordeal. Silver, on the other hand, was sound asleep in Lilia’s bed. He’d attempted to stay up along with Sebek; unfortunately for Silver, his narcolepsy won out. It was cute how Lilia tucked him into bed, brushed his hair behind his ear and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, before you both set out. Silver looked so peaceful then…hopefully Sebek would spare him a lecture when he woke. 

“But let’s not fret about that now,” Lilia said, knocking you out of your thoughts. “I’m starved! Let’s dig into our snacks, shall we?”

Lilia didn’t seem too worried about the boys. He was the one that raised them (in Sebek’s case, at least in part) - if he thought they would be alright by themselves, you shouldn’t worry either. So, with a smile and a nod, you, too, began to sort through the food. You put your thermos next to you before filling your plate. Of course, you were not surprised when Lilia placed a near whole tomato on his plate. “You really do like tomatoes, huh?” you mused. 

“They are quite refreshing,” Lilia concurred. “I could eat an entire bag if I were particularly famished.” He let out a small laugh. “You should have seen the look on Kalim’s face the first time he saw me bite into one, like you would an apple. He was flabbergasted! I don’t think he’s ever seen anyone do that - nor Cater, for that matter.” 

“It isn’t a very common thing to do. I would have been just as surprised if I saw you do that.” 

“What’s life without a little surprise - a little oddness?” Lilia laid a few red cherries next to his tomato slices. “I find both most entertaining.” 

As you began to eat your own food, you examined Lilia’s own spread. You saw almost nothing but red: Red apple slices, red tomato slices, red cherries, little red grapes. Your brows furrowed as you observed this pattern. Lilia noticed and teased you with, “Now, what has you ogling my plate so?” He tittered as he continued with, “Do you think I eat too much for my age?~” 

“No, not at all!” you earnestly denied. “It’s just that, well…you seem to eat red foods more than other colored foods.” 

“Do I?” Though Lilia feigned innocence, you had a feeling he already knew that. “Well, red is my favorite color. While every shade catches my eye, deeper hues - like crimson and rouge - hold a bit more favoritism.” He shrugged, “I suppose it’s just a subconscious habit of mine, being drawn to foods and other things that are red.” 

Yeah, you guessed that made sense. It wasn’t your intention to, your eyes focused in on his fangs as he bit into a cracker, stacked with cheese and tomatoes. They disappeared from view as he closed his mouth to chew; the fae hummed in delight as the many flavors melted on his tongue. A silly little idea came into your mind - you tried your best to stifle your giggle. As Lilia swallowed his bite, the corner of his mouth tugged upwards along with his eyebrow. “Goodness, laughing now? What’s so funny, hm?”

“It’s nothing, really,” you assured as you tried to calm down the laughter bubbling in your throat. 

“No no, now you’ve tickled my curiosity.” Lilia scooted a little closer, crimson eyes narrowed and lips quirked into a smirk. “Come on, let’s hear it.” 

For a split second, you wondered if it’d be rude to voice your little imagining aloud. Would he be offended by such a thing? No, likely not. This was Lilia Vanrouge you were talking to. If there was anyone who could take a joke, spin a wild thread, it was him. “I was just thinking how you resembled a vampire.” 

“Oh really?” Lilia seemed quite interested in your comparison. He set his half-eaten cracker down on his plate and placed it on the blanket. His full attention was now on you. “Go on.”

“Well, I mean, like you said, you like red a lot. To the point you even eat certain foods,” you gestured to his thermos of tomato juice, “drink certain drinks, that are red. You don’t like sunlight because it tires you out - though I’m not sure why that is.” 

“The Valley of Thorns is a particularly shaded continent,” Lilia interjected. “Most of its terrain is covered by thick trees with large canopies. The brightest of days are fairly tame compared to those in other countries. Despite spending most of my life in the military, my eyes have always been a little sensitive to bright light. That, and the only place that is really hot in temperature there are the few volcanoes spotted throughout the land. Other than those ghastly places, it's typically a cool place.” 

That made sense. You wondered if Silver, Sebek, and Malleus also had some type of heat intolerance. You’d have to ask that later. “I can see why you’d hate the heat then - and the sun.”

“Well, I don’t hate it. A little warmth and sunlight are nice - just not too much, not too bright.”

“Mm-mm,” you nodded. “Still, that is similar to how a vampire is. You also can summon little bats at will, you can hang upside down-”

“Anyone can hang upside down, [y/n],” Lilia chuckled. “Whether by magic or physical capability, it’s an action anyone can partake in.” 

“You want to hear the rest of my answer or not?” you scoffed, though a laugh hid beneath your mild scolding. 

Lilia held up his hand in a mock defense. “Goodness, such a temper! Feisty thing, aren’t you?” He let out a little laugh of his own. “Alright, alright, my lips are sealed until you finish.” 

You almost expected him to tease you further and begin to speak just as you did. When you silently opened your mouth to test that theory, you were proven wrong. Lilia sat there and uttered not a word; he simply looked at you with a smile, blinking every few seconds. Deciding he was through with his jabs (for now), you continued. “You’re hundreds of years old, despite looking like you’re no older than most of our classmates. You have pale skin, red slitted eyes, and,” you pointed to his mouth, “you have fangs.” 

“I most certainly do.” Lilia opened his mouth for a brief moment to showcase the sharp canines. “Almost all fae get a pair. They come in such good handy when biting into things.” 

“If I didn’t know better, that would sound ominous,” you joked. 

Lilia’s eyes narrowed again - those crimson orbs nearly glowed in the dim light. You hadn’t even noticed the sun had nearly disappeared behind the horizon. “Do you though?” he asked. 

You were clearly puzzled, brows furrowed and smile disappearing as you tried to gather what he meant. “Do I what?” 

He leaned a little closer to you, to where you could just barely feel his breath ghost over your skin - your lips. “Know better?~” 

Lilia’s gaze held yours - you were absolutely mesmerized. Though you never really bothered to look, you now couldn’t help but notice how handsome Lilia was. His looks were rather boyish and youthful, yes, but there was a maturity within his features. The way his voice took a small octave downturn as he spoke those two words…there were no sun rays to blame for the heat that spread to your cheeks. 

“Father!” 

In quick succession, you and Lilia leaned away from each other and turned your heads in the direction of the voice. There was Silver, dressed in an open tropical shirt (Lilia had gifted it to him the weekend before), chestnut brown shorts, and black sandals. His hair was a little messy, a little out of breath as he approached you two. “I’m sorry for being late! I accidentally fell asleep - again. I shouldn’t have-” 

“Silver, it’s alright!” Lilia beckoned Silver to come down - the boy followed without hesitation. As Lilia straightened his son’s hair for the second time that day, he reassured him with a chuckle. “You’ve had a long day; I’d expect a boy of your age to fall asleep after such an adventure. That, and we’re on vacation,” he patted Silver on the head and gave him a cheery smile, “it’s okay to be tardy on vacation.” 

“Yeah, it’s okay, Silver.” You gave the man a smile of your own. “You’re not too late, either. We’ve only been here for about…” You looked back at the sea, the sun now fully gone, the moon having taken its place in the sky. “Uh…maybe fifteen minutes?” 

“Twenty,” Lilia corrected. He patted the space adjacent to him on the blanket, next to the small cooler. “Come, sit! I brought your favorite popsicles~” Lilia brought the box out of the cooler and shook it to entice Silver further. 

Silver finally seemed at ease. He sighed and, with a soft smile of his own, sat down on the blanket. “If I’m really not intruding…” 

“Intruding on what?” Lilia glanced in your direction. “[Y/n] and I were just having a fun little conversation about how I resembled a vampire!” He turned his attention back to Silver. “What do you think? Should I start sleeping in a coffin to really send the comparison home?~” 

“I don’t think that’d be very comfortable, Father.” 

The conversation and atmosphere turned fun and lively, paired with the cozy warm of a fire Silver started a little further into your picnic. It was a truly wonderful time! Though you couldn’t keep your mind from wandering back to that moment between you and Lilia just before Silver appeared. How close he’d been, the way you could see those fangs of his peek out from under his upper lip. How a part of you wished he would have given your bottom lip a nibble…would his lips taste like tomato, perhaps paired with the basil from the crackers? Did he notice the blush that crept up on your cheeks? 

You suddenly had the urge to bury your head in the sand.

[takecareluv]

꒰ how to feel like a princess this summer ꒱ؘ ࿔*:･ﾟ

`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ you don't need a castle, a fairy godmother or a team of helpful little mice to make you feel like a princess in your day to day life. all you need is your sweetest, most confident self and you are good to go .ᐟ here are a few tips & fun activities to do by yourself ( because a princess always enjoys their own company ! ) or with a friend, whether it's the furry kind or a fellow princess.

✧ ˖ ° ₊ ⊹ : ˚ ೀ ⋆

⨾ first things first, while a princess loves to spend their days frolicking in nature and soaking up the sun, they always protect their skin using spf. so whatever adventures you decide to take on this summer ( and all year round ) , be tedious about applying sunscreen. i promise, your future self will thank you for it.ᐟ

⨾ princesses have a natural glow about them. whether it be from the graceful manner in which they carry themselves, their beautiful smile that lights up a room, or the radiance of their skin - a princess takes care of themself, inside and out. so, to feel like one, be sure to prioritize self care & self love. create a skincare routine that works for you. keep a rose water spray with you for a quick refresh throughout the day. wear light, glowy makeup like cream blush, a lip tint, and a good mascara to emphasize those doe eyes. and find a signature scent people will remember you by.

⨾ wearing soft and light fabrics - like lace and linen - will keep you as cool as possible, while also feeling cute during these hot summer months. whether it's flowing dresses or light linen pants ; sandals or sneakers ; florals & pastels to more natural, earthy tones - wear whatever makes your inner princess shine .ᐟ

⤷ plus, adding little accessories such as frilly socks, ribbons, pearls and other dainty jewelry can be a fun, but simple way to add an extra bit of delicacy to your day to day look.

⨾ try putting your hair up in loose styles - such as a braid - or keep it down and flowing with beautiful, bouncy curls. and again, the simplest style can be elevated to 'princess level' with little details like decorating your hair with flowers, butterfly clips or a headband; tying ribbons and bows into your up-do, or even adding a satin scarf.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ જ⁀➴

✿. summer can be the perfect time to find a new passion, or perhaps reignite an old one .ᐟ for example : taking up a language , learning about greek mythology , writing & reading poetry , learning to sew or crochet , or learning to play an instrument ( piano, flute, violin, etc. ) - there are so many different hobbies to try this season.

⤷ and even better, with the warm weather, you can do them all outside surrounded by the beauty of nature - birds chirping in the distance, a gentle breeze dancing through the trees, and the sun shining down on you.

✿. like i mentioned earlier, a princess's best friend is mother nature. they love to spend time engaging with any and all of nature's elements. here are some ways you can do the same . . .

✿. start your very own garden .ᐟ

whether it be filled with an assortment of vibrant flowers, or even a mix of fruits, veggies and herbs, a garden is a perfect way to create a serene and magical place to spend your summer days. you can even add a chair or maybe lay out a blanket for a quiet little reading spot. plus. . . with a garden in your midst, you can pick as many flowers as you'd like to create your own bouquets or make flower crowns for yourself and friends .ᐟ ⤷ filling your space with flowers will definitely make you feel like you are living in a fairytale 𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒

✿. visit a farmer's market or go berry picking .ᐟ

🍓 picking your own strawberries, blueberries, or any other fresh fruit & veggies can be a cute way to stock your fridge and find the ingredients for your next recipe. 🫐 baking is another great hobby to pick up - especially for during those stormy summer days you have to stay inside. breads, muffins, cakes, and jams - there's so many things you can make using the fruit you hand picked; and an added bonus, it will keep your kitchen smelling super yummy .ᐟ

✿. have a picnic .ᐟ

take yourself on a date or round up a group of friends for a picnic at the park or on the beach. you can pack a basket of macarons, sparkling cider, and any of your other favorite treats ; find the perfect spot to lay your blanket, and maybe even bring some reading material or a journal to write in .ᐟ

✿. feed the ducks .ᐟ

if you have a pond nearby, you can take a walk & bring something to feed the duckies, turtles, or any of the other sweet creatures swimming around in there. if not, you can also make homemade bird food and treat those hungry little birdies singing outside your house every day. it could also be fun to take a trip to a local farm or petting zoo and feed some animals that way .ᐟ ⤷ if you do any of these things, please remember to do your research on what foods are good for our little friends, be respectful, and clean up after yourself. princesses don’t litter .ᐟ

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ જ⁀➴

if the sun is not shining or you are looking for other ways to spend time like a princess, here are a few more ideas to add to your summer bucket list. . .

ᥫ᭡. take a trip to a museum and wander its halls, admiring the magnificent artwork in all its beauty.

ᥫ᭡. visit your local library or bookstore and spend the day picking out your next read.

ᥫ᭡. play dress up with your closest friends and have a tea party.

ᥫ᭡. try painting pottery. you could even paint & personalize your very own tea cup or jewelry box .ᐟ

ᥫ᭡. send a handwritten letter to a loved one or a pen pal. and while you’re add it, you can get some practice writing in cursive .ᐟ

ᥫ᭡. pamper yourself a little extra with a bubble bath - adding in rose petals, filling the bathroom with candles, and treating yourself to a plentiful amount of ladurée macarons - in good ole blair waldorf fashion.

࿐a princess always walks with their head held high. they know what makes them feel like their most confident self, and they don't shy away from it by trying to be anyone else. with that being said, always be your true, and authentic self - don't change just to fit a certain 'aesthetic' - take what you like from it, and leave the rest. it is important to do & wear whatever makes you feel comfortable, because in turn you will also feel your most beautiful - as a princess always should .ᐟ

xoxo, meg ♡

[choco-worms]

can we get a curl routine your hair is so scrumptious

Thank you!!!!!! I sure can!!!

I wash my hair once a week, i dry brush my hair before i wash it, which probably isnt the best choice but im impatient.

I do a good olde shampoo and condish with hairitage:

I leave most of the conditioner in my hair when i rinse and i do a little detangling with my fingers.

Then i section my hair (i usually do it in 2 or 3 sections, i am so lazy) and brush it out with the first brush in this pic.

Then i add some product, i really like these Miss Jessies one!

Then I brush my hair out with that wide toothed comb. I then let my hair air dry (sometimes i blow dry with a diffuser when im in a hurry).

Once partially to mostly dry i give it a tease with the wide toothed comb! Then behold!!!

Curls!!!!!!

I sleep with my hair in a loose pony tail on the top of my head and a silk bonnet :). When my hair needs a touch up i give it a damp detangle (wet the brush and brush it out) and then spray some refresher spray (a mix of water, my styling cream/gel, and conditioner) and once that dries im good as new!

Thanks for asking!

[baekuras]

I literally refreshened it and all this morning to in an effort to reduce frizz and make my curls come back more-and it worked! bUt 2 hours later the frizz still came back because it was humid af

Literally looking back at haircare routines again and I can't do more other than change products again apparently or just deep condition every day i GUESS just break my whole hair and scalp-who needs natural oils anyway

tfw you literally adopted a whole new hair routine just to please your coworkers to possibly define curls more and reduce frizz(it works no worries) and you get 1 frizzy day due to humid air+thunderstorms+wind+mixed weather+just bad hair day and your boss immediately comments on that(maybe) in the vaguest words possible aka "....your hair looks different than usual today-you should look after it more.....maybe just check before going to work if you are ready" bits and like

i am just

confused

this makes it sound like i rock up to work with the grace of someone who crawled out the sewers whatthefuck do you MEAN

[daphnedauphinoise]

how do you care for your hair when you use heat on it? Like what steps/routine do you follow? Not necessarily products (although they're very welcome). It's hard to know what's good and what's not since your hairdresser, just like influencers, are most likely selling you something.

I changed my haircut recently and started using heat (it's kinda curly so I straighten it and then try to curl it a little) and it really changed me and got told so much that I had a glow up, so I think that's my best look and will try to keep doing it since it looks great on on me but I want my hair to be and stay healthy so that's why I'm asking you.

Thank you for this question, I loved digging through to make this post x

I am going to talk about prevention and solutions so you can fully protect your hair. Starting with protection, and I have to say it, don't use heat regularly. Ideally you would take a minimum of three/four day break between each use of heat and this is only if your hair is healthy. If the condition of your hair is not that healthy then I would suggest going even longer (once a week, every other wash etc) between each use. To further reduce how much heat you are using, I would reccomend not using heat to curl your hair. You can easily do heatless curls and because they have been so popular, you can find easy tutorials anywhere. You can use a bonnet/ protective hair styles to keep your hairstyle for longer to widen the gap between each heat usage.

Futhermore, I would look into learning how to refresh your style so you are not having to consistenly go back and redo your hair.

You said that you straigthen your hair more so I am presuming you are using iron for that. If you are, use heat protectant made for heating irons as they can differ from standard heat protectants.

Proper use of heat protectant:

Spray the heat protectant in sections. A lot of people just spritz heat protectant on the hair that is on the top and the whole section underneath has not been protected.

You can also spray teh heat protectant on your hairbrush and brush your hair with that. Make sure to cover your entire head, I find it works better to do this just before the section you are applying heat to.

For further scientific details here is a post by a chemist that I follow on the scienece of heat protection.

I would also invest in some split end serum/ smoothing serum to help nourish the ends of your hair and help prevent breakage. I highly reccomend the Kérastase Nutritive Nutri-Supplement Split Ends Serum. I have been using for a while and it has made my ends so much smoother and less frizzy looking. This is more preventative and it saves the tears of realising that the only thing that will save your hair is a big chop.

Aftercare

You need to make sure that you are getting rid of all the product build up in your hair and making sure it is clean. I would use a clarifying shampoo every second/third wash, depending on how much product you use and whether you live in a city etc... I find that using it every 4-5 washes works for me but that is because I barely use any product on my hair.

When it comes to coniditioning, there are two types: protein and moisturizing. A good routine has both but how much will depend on the porosity of your hair. Protien hair masks help with elasticity, whereas moisturising masks help with length and shine.

I have seen chemists and hair care specialists reccomend fully deeply conditioning your hair before heat styling and for that a good moisturizing mask would do the trick. After this the general rules of hair care apply.

(further links)

How to know if your hair needs protein or moisture?

Testing the porosity of your hair

Daphne

[mrsjellymunson]

If You Go Down to the Woods Today…

Summary: Strangeness occurs in a forest

WC: ~2.4k

CW: Suitable for all. Implied threat, very mild innuendo, food mentions and consumption.

A/N: Okay this is a total departure for me because this is not Eddie or ST-related, but I thought it would be fun to share a little Halloween tale that I wrote for my small offline gaming group. Before I stumbled into this place I would never have imagined I would write anything, let alone an actual sort-of original story, and much less share it, but here we are, and it’s all thanks to you guys. Happy Halloween!!! 🎃👻🦇🤍💀🖤🍄🧡🕯🕷🌲

Background (please read so it makes even the smallest amount of sense 😆): This is a medieval murder mystery. The characters have been thrown together to investigate, and have recently met for the first time in a tavern. Flavia is a low-ranking soldier who’s been unexpectedly promoted to de facto mission leader. Blossom is a chef and knife enthusiast who has a penchant for ‘charming the gentlemen’. Amelia is an inquisitive, rational alchemist with limited social skills and an intelligent/trained rat companion named Pancetta. The orphans, Ursula and Urchie, are two young street urchins who have recently become acquainted with the party. The story is wielded and guided by our Games Mistress/GM. The group is discussing heading into the forest, parts of which are said to be dominated by the mysterious Fae, to commence their investigations.

The noise and general clamour in the tavern steadily increases as the afternoon wears on, as more and more soldiers, guardsmen and assorted military types finish their duties and seek refreshment and relaxation.

Amelia is feeding Pancetta some small pieces of cheese, sharing the remains of their lunch, and Blossom is cutting up more cake, the others wondering quite where she’s managing to keep it all stashed. The latter comments, as nonchalantly as she can,

“So, does anyone have any thoughts about these forest people rumours?”

Flavia hefts her new weapon in her strong hands, feeling the weight and inspecting the workmanship.

“I think it’s just old customs. Tradition, y’know? I heard something about hangings, and a few most likely over-embellished stories regarding…” She clears her throat and tries to say the next two words as quickly as possible,

“blood sacrifices. But I’m sure it’s all gonna be fiiine.”

She spreads her arms wide, forgetting for a moment that she’s still holding her sword. Amelia ducks, narrowly avoiding receiving an accidental haircut, and the alchemist eyes her companion sideways, before stating,

“I do hope you’re right. One really shouldn’t undertake potentially dangerous investigations without at least a modicum of accurate information.”

Blossom speaks through a mouthful of cake, spraying crumbs across the faded tablecloth.

“Yes, I’m sure it’s all bluff and bluster. They’re just trying to keep outsiders away from their villages, that’s all. I’d be the same if people wanted to study me, or saw me as some kind of… curiosity.”

Flavia and Amelia eye each other briefly, before eventually nodding in agreement.

The three continue their discussions as Pancetta hops off Amelia’s forearm and makes her way to Blossom’s side of the table. She gathers the largest of the abandoned cake crumbs before settling into a crouch near the cruet set and beginning to feast with gusto, squeaking happily.

— — —

Myths forgotten and wheelbarrow packed, the investigators make their way into the forest. It goes reasonably well at first, barring unfortunate altercations with some shepherds, a boar (which did, advantageously, provide the party with a welcome addition to their rations) and the much-mourned loss of said wheelbarrow.

The intrepid band bed down for the night under the forest canopy, after a good meal of roasted boar meat and foraged berries.

A light mist is rolling in, chilling the air, and Amelia and Blossom offer to shelter an orphan each to share body heat, Ursula curling up with Blossom and Urchie lying next to Amelia, with Pancetta snuggling between them. All the blankets are put to use to help keep the party dry, and Flavia piles the fire high with wood to keep them warm overnight.

All is initially quiet and uneventful, save the snuffling of a few diminutive woodland creatures and the hooting of nocturnal birds.

But then, there’s some peculiar and unexpected noises.

Rustling.

Giggling.

The shuffling of feet.

Flavia rouses first, her finely tuned soldiering senses alerting her to the peculiar changes in their surroundings.

She’s quick to rouse Amelia, however, when it becomes clear that they’re not alone amongst the shrubs and trees.

The alchemist awakes from Flavia’s shove to the sound of low laughter and screeching and she sits bolt upright, taking the blanket with her, much to the disgruntlement of a grumbling Urchie.

Blossom is the next to rouse, blearily rubbing her eyes and absent-mindedly pulling a piece of cake from her tunic and starting to munch lazily as she murmurs,

“Woss goin’ on? Is it breakfast already?”

The noises continue. More shuffling, more giggling, rapid footfalls.

The adventurers glance between themselves, as Amelia states as assuredly as she can,

“Now, everybody just stay calm. I’m sure there’s a perfectly rational explanation for all of this.”

Her voice is steady, but the furrow between her eyebrows and the speed at which her eyes are flicking around their surroundings belies her rational and confident exterior.

The shuffling seems to come closer, and Blossom, ever one to state the obvious, mutters,

“It’s… it’s getting louder…”

Amelia’s eyes are wide as she clutches the blanket, Pancetta now taking refuge beneath it. Her pouch of alchemy supplies is just out of reach, but she reasons she could feasibly lunge for it in an emergency. Flavia fingers the hilt of her sword, and Blossom's palm rests instinctively over her tied roll of kitchen knives. Ursula and Urchie seem more intrigued than troubled, the others surmising that their years of living on the streets in the city was likely quite often scarier than this.

Suddenly, the form of a bipedal figure darts past, illuminated just enough from the firelight to momentarily be seen. It looks like a small creature with a pumpkin for a head, and it’s laughing maniacally.

Following it, there’s a slightly taller figure, covered in what appears to be blood, screaming and pursued by two others brandishing a carving knife and a small hatchet. Yet another figure is covered in fur from head to toe, has raised, clawed fingers, and is growling.

The small figures head in all directions and seem to encircle the small camp. Some are dressed in black with tall hats, others are in rags, yet more are wrapped in what look like torn sheets.

They move towards the camp and begin to chant, low at first but building to a disturbing crescendo,

“Trinkets or Trunks. Trinkets or Trunks! TRINKETS OR TRUNKS!!”

Suddenly, everything stops.

In the silence, and much to her embarrassment, Amelia lets out a small,

“Eep”.

Someone else lets out something different. It’s silent, but deadly…

One of the figures is the first to speak, and in a discombobulatingly light and high voice, asks,

“Come on, it’s Galloween! What’s it to be then? Trinkets? Or Trunks?”

Amelia sits stock still, unmoving, and Blossom takes another nervous bite of cake. Flavia’s communication skills are on top form, as she mumbles,

“Errrrrrr..?”

Two of the figures move closer, striding confidently into the firelight.

The taller of the two states quite matter-of-factly,

“You know, Galloween! Oh, don’t tell me you’ve never heard of it?”

It’s Amelia’s turn to attempt language now, as she looks between the two small figures and mumbles,

“Ummm…?”

Blossom swallows her mouthful of cake, and, suddenly the most eloquent of the three, murmurs,

“Erm, is this a forest thing?”

The smaller figure speaks with the voice of a small boy, as he shifts happily from foot to foot.

“Oh, so you’re not from around here? Now it makes sense! It’s All Gallows Evening of course, where we celebrate all The Outsiders that we’ve put to death on the gallows!”

He cackles and claps his hands, dancing in a small circle, and a few of the other figures cheer.

The taller figure, apparently an older girl, steps across and shoves him lightly on the shoulder.

“Shh, Bobbin! We don’t do that anymore. Do we?”

The boy looks suitably chastised, and clasps his hands in front of him.

“No, Mumpkin. Not anymore… But we still like to have fun! And we shorten it to Galloween now because it’s easier to say.”

Various other figures step forward now, and the party sees that they’re mostly, if not all, children. They speak over each other in a rush to explain.

“Trinkets means you have to give us something fun.”

“Like a toy, or a bell.”

“Or a nice rock.”

“I got a hat once.”

Some of the younger children pipe up,

“Or a scone!”

“Yeah, a scone!”

”Especially one with fruit or bugs in… mmm.”

All the children hum in agreement, and there’s much chatter amongst them all about who’s received the absolute best Trinket prizes.

Ever the inquisitive one, Amelia eventually asks,

“So, what about Trunks? What’s that?”

The small boy, Bobbin, speaks again.

“Well, if you don’t give us a Trinket, we get to take one from your trunk! Or, we hit you with a stick. It used to be tree trunks, but they’re way too heavy to carry around, so these days we just use sticks. See?”

He pulls something from his belt and brandishes a not-very-scary-looking tree branch, swishing it in front of him, making it whistle through the air. The other children ooh and aah, glancing at the boy’s twig like it’s a deadly weapon.

The three adventurers consider this for a moment. Sure, a stick like that could probably do someone a mischief, depending on how close it came to an ear or, especially, an eye. But generally speaking, none of them feel terribly… threatened.

Smirking at each other, they decide to play along.

Amelia screeches, voice comically high-pitched,

“Oh, brave sir, don’t be waving that in our direction!”

Blossom interjects,

“Gosh, I’ve never before seen one quite that big…”

But the pièce de résistance is Flavia, who, still dressed in her amour and imposing military finery, throws herself onto the ground in a shivering crouch and pretends to cower, shielding her face and head with her arms and whimpering,

“Oh, never have I faced such a formidable foe! Please, please, small guardians of the forest, take pity on these weak and lowly travellers. We shall choose Trinkets, and hope and pray that you will allow us to spend just one night beneath your mystical and protective canopy!”

The boy with the stick looks at it aghast, and his friends cheer and clap, one or two slapping him on the shoulder, and Flavia’s performance garners chuckles and even a smattering of applause from both the camp and the conglomeration of figures.

Discussion turns again to trinkets, and Flavia decides to make something, searching the undergrowth for a sturdy stick and using her dagger to whittle a simple pattern on its surface by removing some of the bark and exposing the pale wood beneath.

As she works, Amelia roots in her satchel, pulling out a small, semi-opaque stone. Its internal facets are slightly iridescent, and the children marvel at the multiple colours and the way it reflects the dim light. She spins an improvised tale about it being gifted to her by a powerful alchemist master, and that the children should be careful not to awaken its devastatingly powerful magical aura, to which they nod furiously, taking everything very seriously indeed.

Blossom offers a small object carved from bone. It looks like it could be an animal, possibly a horse, although it’s not entirely clear how many legs it has. Nobody asks and nobody comments, reasoning that only having kitchen tools available for such artistic endeavours not only limits one’s dexterity, but also allows the creator access to myriad forms of weaponry, should any offense be taken. The children don’t seem to mind, and immediately begin racing it up and over each other's shoulders and across the moss-covered rocks, making a variety of similarly unidentifiable noises.

Tension entirely dispersed, Amelia spends some time talking to the children and making notes about their costuming and customs in her leather-bound book. There’s much chatter as Pancetta feels brave enough to come out and perch on her shoulder, and the children delight in sharing some of their already-accumulated treats with her.

Flavia finishes her crafting by carving a smooth divot into the top of the piece of wood, turning it into a thumb stick, and Bobbin, still holding his twig, casts it aside without a thought as she offers it to him. She explains that it’s not for hitting, but rather for walking and trekking and going on journeys to make great discoveries.

He beams so hard it splits his face in two, and he stands up straight and marches around the clearing as if he’s leading a grand expedition. Some of the other children stride behind him, swinging their arms and chanting some variation of ‘hup, two, three, four’ but in a language none of the three women have heard before.

The children seem more than pleased with these simple offerings, passing them amongst themselves and cooing. Even Ursula and Urchie have been accepted into the throng, laughing and dancing and making animal noises along with them. The three travellers look on fondly, wondering quite how long it’s been since they’ve behaved like this. Like children.

As Bobbin strides past once again, he huffs, slightly out of breath,

“Next year you’ll have to come back to the village and have some special Galloween food!”

Blossom perks up significantly at this, and the children are excited to tell her all about the spread that awaits them. There’s candied turnips, mashed swede, onion and honey sweet biscuits, and if they’re especially lucky, squirrel burgers.

They explain that there’s also a special drink made from rotten fruit that only the grown ups are allowed to have, the children commenting that it smells weird and ‘makes them all dance funny’.

It all sounds delightful, and the three investigators decide there and then that wherever the next year takes them, they’ll reconvene to make a special journey this time next year. They’ll bear trinkets aplenty, and are already planning to justify it to their various superiors as a fact finding mission and cultural exchange.

As the children are winding down their antics and Ursula and Urchie are beginning to tire, there’s a bellow from within the forest.

“Gracie Groggington and all the rest of you Grogglets, you get your backsides back to camp this instant!”

One girl in an especially pointy hat gasps loudly as all the other childrens’ eyes widen, and they all leap to their feet as Amelia questions,

“Who’s that?”

Mumpkin explains,

“That’s Jiemme, she organises our playtimes, but we kinda went off track a little bit tonight…”

Bobbin adds,

“She’s good fun though. Comes up with all sorts of cool adventures for us.”

Another boy interjects,

“Yeah, she sometimes takes our Trinkets off us, mind you.”

Mumpkin continues,

“Well, to be fair Old Man Groggy did give Tiny Pete a flick knife for his third birthday, soooo.”

Bobbin nods knowledgeably.

“Yeah, you usually have to be at least 4 to get one of those.”

He turns and begins running into the darkness of the forest, waving as he goes.

“It was fun meeting you, and thanks for the Trinkets!”

The other children follow suit, and soon the clearing is as quiet as it was before, the only evidence of this most unexpected of shenanigans being some packed earth bearing small footprints, and a moderately impressive twig discarded off to one side.

Just as the weary adventurers are settling back down into their blankets, there’s yet more rustling from the foliage, and the exhausted team are almost too tired to care, assuming it's one of the children coming back to find a lost possession, or perhaps to play a practical joke.

Until there comes the disturbing rumble of a very loud, very guttural belch…

Afterword: this leads on to another adventure where we meet a drunken NPC with digestive issues… 😉

As always, I’d love to hear what you think of this. Especially as it’s so far removed from what I usually share 😙

Tagging my general list (open), but feel free to ignore if this doesn’t interest you 🤭 @joejoequinnquinn, @jamdoughnutmagician @guiltyasquinn @madaboutmunson @airen256 @sunshinepeachx @the-unforgivenn @skrzydlak @comeonatmebruh @jamiecb66 @80s-addict @abellmunsonmovie @definitionwanderlust @sheneedsrocknroll92 @munson-blurbs @wonderlanddreamer @daisy-munson @maedesculpaeusoubi @kurdtbean @mediocredreams @in2tswft @micheledawn1975 @littlebebebunny @12thatsanumber @alastorssimp @the-baby-angel @eddie-is-a-god @wolfqueenxxx @sassidykassidy @richter-raccoon @1deverland @bettyfrommars

[bun-lapin]

A Breath: Azul Ashengrotto

Summary: You swim with Azul

A/N: More action writing practice with a short scene featuring you and Azul! This one was inspired by me finding my sign language dictionary in a box of books today while listening to songs about the ocean <3

CW: underwater scene, ASL, romantic imagery, Azul merform

"Everything is in order now. Shall we begin?"

The small, wooden boat you sit in rocks gently on the warm summer sea. The waves are calm and the sparkling color of sunset. You lightly clasp the side of the boat for stability, your hands damp with sea spray, and you nod silently to Azul with quiet excitement rising in your smiling face. Sitting across from you in the boat, he smiles back at you with gentle pleasure and then extends a closed hand out towards you. His fingers are delicately curled around a small glass vial sealed with a cork stopper. The pale, opalescent liquid inside of it swirls in the same languid motion as the ocean around you. In a fluid movement, your hand reaches out to receive and then open the vial. With no hesitation, you drink the liquid inside and the glittering taste of magic, refreshing as starlight, washes over your tongue.

You eyes open wide as a sudden feeling, like a curtain of bubbles, rises to the top of your head and Azul laughs softly, appreciatively. Gently taking your hand in his, he turns to the side of the boat to look down into the water. You turn to look as well, mirroring his actions. He glances at you from the side of his eye, a smile of anticipation dancing over his lips, and he gives your hand a small squeeze. With simultaneous grace, the two of you dive over the side of the boat and plunge deep into the waves.

After the initial rush of water in your ears has settled, you tentatively open your eyes. Looking up, you see the rays of the setting sun flickering in scales of light across the ocean waves far above you. Your body feels weightless yet there is also a sense of slight, even pressure on every part of you. You hold your breath and put your hands against your head as you start to become a little disoriented from the sudden shift of environment. You feel a brief, gentle touch on your arm and you look over at Azul, floating in the water an arm's length away. With tender concern on his face, he spreads both hands across his chest and slightly moves them outwards, then back again. Next, he points his palms downward, fingers angled towards you, and moves his hands down in a calming motion.

Breathe. Calmly.

Keeping your eyes focused on the cool gray color of Azul’s eyes, you take in several deep breaths and slowly lower your hands to relax weightless at your sides. Azul smiles, satisfied and relieved, and his eyes sparkle brighter than treasure under the waves. Breathing easily now, you take in the sight of Azul’s form and feel your eyes grow wide with wonder. You see the way his pale hair dances weightless across his cheeks, the endless curving and smooth motion where his stiff legs used to be. With only one thought in your mind, you slowly point to Azul. You then raise your open hand with fingertips pointed up, thumb pointed to your chin, and you circle your hand clockwise around your face, ending the motion with your fingertips closed against your thumb and pointed to your chin.

You’re beautiful.

Azul smiles with shy pleasure, the joy in his eyes a reflection of yours. He raises a deliberate hand to point back at you. Then, he raises both hands palm down, with the sides of his index fingers pressed together pointed to you, and the remainder of his fingers pointed back at him. He separates his hands slightly and taps them together twice.

You also.

[starlingsstars]

an ode to the angel on the sidewalk

i adore walking in the dark, alone and dark and quiet, bundled up to the point i’m barely humanoid: a blurred form and shape, created from clumsy child-like hands. it’s refreshing, to not be perceived the way clay given form is. i always find myself walking the same path: up toward the lighted street, center of my little square of the world, around and up, down to the ravine and the coyotes, all tangled in the underbrush and teeth. and so it’s startling to see her, on the far corner of my cake slice square, drenched in sugar and burning at the edges. fur matted down around her face, lines crying out that she was just enough for this world, and in return it let her down, and pushed her to the brink. the street lamp on the back streets is illuminating her from behind, and from this angle, she could almost be holy. a halo of cloud cover and baby’s breath. soft, browning fur, curling around her eyes and down her back in the form of wings. she is alone, perched on the side of the road like an angel ready to take flight. so i mourn alongside her, with her closed eyes and cold body, i gather flowers and storm cover to bathe her with; to hide her from the watchful eyes of a god who failed to protect her. i mourn the angel on the sidewalk, body tossed from a car window so her skull fractured and splintered onto the pavement, a spray of reddened bleak sun. i mourn this cat on the side of the road in the image of girls with form and angels no longer protected and blinded for their god.

[neverthelesshex]

Muse pt.3

!!Content warning there will be intoxicated smut in this chapter in which both members are intoxicating so there is no r4p3 involved it's just sex between to tipsy and very high people smut scene will be indicated and ended with ***** so if you're uncomfortable with that stuff skip ahead enjoy!!!

You get back to your dorm later that day. Putting on some music and starting to take a shower, you shave and use scents on your body like refreshing strawberry and deep vanilla, along with notes of Carmel, you step out and start drying your hair putting in heat protection spray in and grab your Dyson air wrap, curling your bangs and putting your hair in a high fluffy ponytail with a star claw clip. You carefully put on a baggy white and grey radio head shirt with a size to big deep navy leather jacket with two white stripes near the underbust and some very light grey cargo pants you add some jewelry and start on your makeup. You do some puppy liner do your brows put highlighter on the coners of your eyes and your nose a d finish it off with some tinted gloss you do a final check in the mirror and grab your phone and tote bag and leave your dorm seeing ted in his car

"Heyyy y/n, never thought you were gonna make it, damn you look good, ready to go?" He appealed

You nod and smile with a hint of blush peaking through your makeup

*time skipppp*

You arrive at the frat house seeing tons of cars yet a nice clean front yard you walk in to some cool music schlatt walks up to you and Ted

"HEY WHATS UP MY DUDES" he slurs with a light stumble

"Are you already drunk schaltt-" ted grumbles pinching the bridge of his nose

"Whaaaaat- no wayyyy" he giggles

You walk away from the group going over to the drink table mixing up a fruity yet strong drink and sitting on an empty love seat before ted joins you holding a red solo cup

"How you liking the party so far?" He hums

You take another sip of your drink your throat slightly burning "I mean there's alcohol so it's lit" you smile

"Just wait until they start beer pong then we get to smoke some weed" he groans happily

"Wait really?!?!" You exclaim in excitement

"Yeah it should start here in around 5 min but until then wanna dance" he ask getting up and holding his hand out

You put your drink down on a table and start to dance with ted softly yet surely grinding your body against his as the weekend was playing specifically often by them ted let out heavy breaths anytime your ass grinded against his clothed dick his hands gripping into your hips before jschlatt yells

"Beer pong in the dining hall!!"

You and Ted walk over there and jschaltt hands ted a joint

"Now ted you and y/n better share" he jokes

Ted lights it and takes a deep breath of it handing it to you and you taking a deep breath of it holding it and blowing the smoke in his face he laughs and grabs the joint again, you too go bsck and forth taking hits before the weed finally takes over your brain your knees start to buckle

"Hey jschaltt ima take y/n upstairs her pretty knees ain't working right" he chuckles before picking you up bridal style and bring you upstairs laying you on the bed

***********

Before you can think you grab him by your shirt collar and start to kiss him he starts to kiss back holding your cheeks softly brushing your side peices behind your ears, you pull him closer causing him to stumble and causes him to straddle you you too kiss for awhile you're soon bucking up your hips wanting more,

"Want more m'please ted" you whine trying to get some friction.

"Mmm you sure babydoll" he drunkenly groans

You nod he starts to kiss on your neck bitting and nipping at your sweet spots causing you to moan and gripping onto his shirt, he takes off his shirt and starts to remove your jacket and your shirt messing up your hair he kisses around your bra leaving hickeys from your neck to your tits and removes your bra kissing,sucking,and nipping at your nipples you scratch his back and moan at this your cunt getting soaked at this, he kisses down you until he gets to your stomach that has slight stretch marks

"You are so God damn beautiful-" he growls before until un buttoning your pants and pulling them down with your underwear

"God is everything about you this beautiful?" He questions

Before softly kissing your clit and you letting out a small hiss

He takes off his pants and boxers and let's his cock spring free it's 6inch hard and decently thick the tip blushy

He slides it up and down your folds a few times causing you to throw your head back before he pushes it in and you let out a choked out moan

"F-mm-fuUck" you hazily moan

"That feel good princess?" He groans

"Y-yeah mhm mph" you gutter out

He starts a slow place causing choked and guttered moans from you and slowly starts to go faster

"Fuck fuck fuck" you cry out eyes loling back into your head he softly wraps his hand around your neck squeezing on the sides of your neck lightly causing you to reach your peak

"Fuck ted m'gonna cum m'gnna cu." You mumble out as your eyes fully roll back and your cunt convulses around his cock your legs softly shaking he pulls out after you calm down from your high and strokes his dick a few times before Cumming on your stomach

He gatheres the little bit of cum left on his cock with his finger and shoves it in his mouth swallowing and gets dressed

******

"Hey sweet thing, ima go grab you some water and go find your tote bag I have a small draw of pj's here for when I sleep over here sometimes so I'll go frat those for you then we can cuddle okay" he rants

You just nod not understanding half of the stuff he just muttered out

You lay there muscles feeling sore and still high and tipdy just like ted

Ted's pov

I walk down stairs the party quieting down as many people have left

"Hey is y/n okay??" Jschaltt questions drunkenly "woah wait....did you two fuck-" he says almost in a hurt tone

"Uhhhh yeah-" i states still high and tipsy

"On my bed??" Jschaltt asks grossed out

"No no dude the spare bedroom I usually spend the night in also are my pj's still in there" I hun grabbing her tote bag from the cabinet she hid it in

"Yeah yeah-" he grumbles

I go to the closet and grab a rag and go back to y/n I go to the connected bathroom and run the sink on until the water is warm dampening the cloth and walking to y/n wiping off my cum from her I walk over to the draw pulling out a pair of boxers pajama shorts and a shirt and help her put them on then I change into my own pajamas I get us under the cover and cuddle her as we fall asleep

*time skip*

Y/ns pov

I wake up groaning my body aching terribly I turn over to see ted and memory's come flashing back

"Mmmm goodmorning pretty girl" he hums deeply "there's a water bottle and Tylenol on the bedside table"

"Did we fuck??" I ask not minding if we did I may have a slight thing for ted

"Yeah we did and it was pretty awsome" he laughs running a hand through his hair

"Was it just like a pitty fuck or" I questioned

He softly grabs my face "no not at all y/n if I was sober I'd still have sex with you, if I'm being honest I really like you y/n-" he says

I lean in and he softly kisses me

"But I need you to take that medicine because we have to go back to our own dorms hon" he hums

I take the Tylenol

"So you like me" i say putting on my shoes on

"Yeah" he reply

"So do you wanna be my boyfriend" I nervously ask

"Can i be your boyfriend-" he smiles

"You're so cheesy" I say rolling my eyes

"Let's go back to the dorms y/n" he smiles