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"backstage at a live event" is perhaps my favourite human collective emotion ive ever experienced. From running through the creepy empty school hallways before a theatre show, to the staff only breakroom at a convention or event where youre running a stall, to the bridal suite getting ready before your bestie walks down the isle.

Theres a little wall between the guys who are 'in on it' with you, whatever it is, and your audience or customers or guests or just all those people who are *not* in on it. Youve got a wallkie talkie, or a backstage pass, or an exhibitor badge, and youve never felt more alive

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the little guys. they are in my brain. rotating about like little rotisserie chickens. spinning around like rocks in a tumbler. all their backstories in a little rolodex.

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Smiley Pride, Bells Hells! 🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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huge shout out to this little kid for writing my favorite poem

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Story Starters #3

Found Family Starters (for the ones who thought they’d always be alone—until someone stayed)

✧ They said "I got you" like it was no big deal. But no one’s ever said that to me and meant it. ✧ I didn’t know I could belong somewhere until I walked into that kitchen and someone had already set a plate for me. ✧ We fight. We yell. We steal each other’s snacks. And still, they show up every time I need them. That’s love, I think. ✧ I used to flinch when someone raised their voice. Now I roll my eyes and throw a pillow at them. That’s growth. That’s home. ✧ They know what my silence means. They don’t push. They just sit beside me until I’m ready. ✧ I told them the worst parts of me. They stayed. That’s when I knew. ✧ We don’t say “I love you” out loud. We say “text me when you get home.” “Eat something.” “You can crash here.” ✧ I’m still learning how to trust it. How to not brace for abandonment. But they haven’t left. Not once. ✧ I never believed in unconditional love. But now there’s this couch, and this blanket, and this messy group of weirdos who make space for me. ✧ They’re not blood. But they’re mine.

Cold Girls, Soft Hearts Starters (for the sharp-edged girls who love quietly, fiercely, and would rather die than admit it)

✧ I don’t do soft. But they smiled at me like I was worth something, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. ✧ I pretend I don’t care. But I remember their coffee order, their favorite color, the way they hate pickles. ✧ I rolled my eyes at their dumb joke. Then laughed. Then hated how much I meant it. ✧ I pushed them away and they still came back. I hate that. I love that. I don’t know. ✧ I said “I don’t need anyone.” But my voice cracked on the last word and I know they heard it. ✧ I tell them to shut up. I mean “don’t go.” ✧ I’m the tough one. The reliable one. The emotionally constipated one. And I’m so, so tired. ✧ They hugged me and I stood there like a statue. But inside, something broke open. ✧ I made fun of them for being sappy. Then went home and replayed everything they said. Twice. ✧ I’m not scared of being hurt. I’m scared of wanting something I can’t protect myself from.

End-of-the-World Vibes (for stories where something big is ending, and something small, and tender, is beginning)

✧ The world is ending and all I want is to feel their hand in mine one more time. ✧ Everything’s falling apart and they’re still making me laugh. How dare they. How beautiful. ✧ If this is the last sunrise, I want to spend it with them. Quiet. Close. Real. ✧ I thought I’d be afraid. But with them here, I’m just… present. And maybe that’s enough. ✧ They looked at me like I was still worth saving. Even now. Especially now. ✧ We kissed like we were running out of time. Because we were. ✧ I wanted a big moment, but instead it was this—my head on their shoulder, the silence stretching soft around us. ✧ We said goodbye like we’d see each other tomorrow. We both knew that wasn’t true. ✧ Maybe the world doesn’t need a hero. Maybe it just needs someone who won’t leave when things get ugly. ✧ I don’t know what comes after this. But if they’re next to me when the lights go out, I think I’ll be okay.

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"...Respectfully."

-Critical Role Campaign 2, Episode 110, "Dinner With the Devil"

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 Grumpy x Sunshine – Romantic Gestures They’d Actually Do

GRUMPY’S VERSION OF ROMANCE (Spoiler: It’s Feral and Subtle)

They’re emotionally constipated and probably communicate in grunts, but when they fall? They fall hard. Their gestures are quiet, practical, but deeply telling.

╰ Acts of Silent Protection They walk on the outside of the sidewalk. They check your tires. They hand you your umbrella without a word when it rains. They love you like a bodyguard with a soft spot.

╰ “I Noticed You’re Tired, So I Took Over” Energy They won’t say, “You deserve rest.” They’ll just do the laundry, make sure you eat, and leave you alone with a hot drink and a blanket like a cryptic little caretaker.

╰ The Reluctant Vulnerability Gift “I saw this and thought you’d like it. It’s dumb.” (It’s not dumb. It’s a first-edition copy of your favorite book. And they had to talk to a bookseller. The horror.)

╰ Jealousy in Microdoses The way their jaw tightens when someone flirts with you. The “I’m fine” that clearly means I will fight for your honor, please let me.

╰ Being Soft Only for You Sunshine gets to see the grumpy one laugh, maybe cry, maybe be human for once. If they fall asleep on you mid-rant, that’s basically a marriage proposal.

SUNSHINE’S VERSION OF ROMANCE (They’re Basically a Walking Hallmark Card)

They love big, loud, and with no chill. Their gestures are joyful, sometimes chaotic, and always from the heart.

╰ Loving the Grump Out Loud Compliments like confetti. Constant check-ins. Arms flung around them in front of people, daring them to pretend they’re not affected. (They are. Deeply.)

╰ Baking When They’re Sad “Oh, you’re mad? Here, I made brownies shaped like hearts. Do you want to talk about it or just eat six?”

╰ Pet Names for DAYS Babe, sweetie, honey-bear, muffin. Even “angry cloud man.” Sunshine will name their grumpy love interest like they’re a collection of Build-A-Bears.

╰ Surprise Playlists and Stickers on Their Laptop “This song made me think of you!” / “I put a little cartoon possum sticker on your laptop because it looks like you when you’re mad!”

╰ They Bring the Spark Back Sunshine doesn’t just love. They light up the relationship, especially when the grump forgets what it’s like to feel safe or wanted. That’s not just cute. That’s healing.

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me when i cant comprehend that different continents have different animals

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Ppl will be like “end the stigma around mental illness uwu” but still judge you if you’re unemployed or single or not completely self-sufficient or healthy or perfectly groomed or still live with parents and don’t see the hypocrisy in that whatsoever

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People with low spoons, someone just recommended this cookbook to me, so I thought I’d pass it on.

I always look at cookbooks for people who have no energy/time to do elaborate meal preparations, and roll my eyes. Like, you want me to stay on my feet for long enough to prepare 15 different ingredients from scratch, and use 5 different pots and pans, when I have chronic fatigue and no dishwasher?

These people seem to get it, though. It’s very simple in places. It’s basically the cookbook for people who think, ‘I’m really bored of those same five low-spoons meals I eat, but I can’t think of anything else to cook that won’t exhaust me’. And it’s free!

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Being sensitive to changes in barometric pressure is crazy what do you mean my problem is that the wind changed direction. What do you mean it's the fuckin clouds

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ashton telling fearne “remember all the reasons why I’m a terrible idea, and I guess what I want is I want to make sure, knowing you and knowing me – I’d love to be around you. I love every moment around you. you are fun, and you are dangerous, and hot, and funny, and probably going to get somebody killed, probably me. and I am down for whatever. I am happy to be a friend, I am happy to be a friend with benefits, I’m happy to see what you want, but what I need is for you to want – I think I need you to be thoughtful about it.”

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And then it just kind of morphed into a decades long attempt. to figure out what a real childhood is like and still attempting to figure it out.

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He wants me to be steady, like the river. But it's not steady at all!

POCAHONTAS (1995) dir. Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

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Water Lilies painted by Claude Monet (1840 - 1926)