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hai7ani · 4 months

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os ventos do amor ᡣ𐭩 ー haitani rindou

the five times rindou shows you he loves you (tries) & the one time he finally tells you about it.

( the winds of love ) friends with benefits + colleagues au, mdni

一 · in his kitchen (prequel)

The first time Rindou tries showing you he loves you, you're busy slurping noodles in his kitchen, and he's creasing his brows ironing your stupid little blouse in his tiny laundry room.

"Need some help?" You tease from the table after swallowing.

Usually you'd let him do it himself in peace, with no mocking, as per his own request to iron your clothes for you whenever you stay the night. But he's been at it for the past 20 minutes now just ironing one stupid blouse, and you're starting to grow impatient, because he'd promised to share this bowl of ramen with you but it's almost finished now.

Your voice echoes in the living area and he doesn't reply, but you know he heard you. You put down the chopsticks and sigh, "you know, I could've done it myself. No need for the trou-"

"Here."

You cock your head to the side and you see him, finally, out of the laundry room, with some sweat beading on his forehead and he's padding towards you, holding out your white blouse to you by its hanger.

He's still frowning when he stops before you at the dining table and you can feel his deject before he even says his next words:

"It's a stubborn crease, 'n I coulda done better. But I don't wanna burn through your shirt." He hands you your blouse and you immediately soften at it, fingers gently running over the said crease and you can tell he's done his best ー he did a great job, because if it were up to you, you would've chosen to give up halfway through.

"And sorry I ripped your skirt. I'll buy you a new one this weekend." He apologises through a mouthful of ramen and you reach a thumb up to wipe away some soup dripping down his chin.

Your eyes flicker to the said skirt sitting on the edge of his couch ー a black linen pencil skirt with a little slit running up your knee is now a big slit running up your hip, and the sight makes you want to laugh. You'd stripped it off and threw it there upon entering his house ー a little angry and upset that he'd ripped through your favourite skirt to wear for work out of eagerness to fuck you in the backseat of his car without getting you both home first, and he'd offered to iron your shirt for the next day out of guilt.

And now you're left in nothing but your undies, still not yet showered (you're waiting for him together), and you notice it's a little red on the tip of his ears. But your fury has died out long ago and seeing him like this ー somewhat embarrassed and you think he's kind of stupid for apologising because deep down you know he knows you don't mind at all, but he still says it anyway ー makes you want to grab him by his cheeks and place a fat smooch on his lips. But you don't, and you continue to watch as he swiftly finishes up the noodles before turning to wash the dishes.

"...Thank you, Rin." He doesn't see it but you're smiling when you say it to him ー shy, rosy lips a little pursed, the apple of your cheeks rose high, and he resists the urge to turn around and cup your cheeks with soapy hands.

"Whatever. 'N the noodles were disgusting. Remind me to never buy it again."

"Okay."

二 · in the office

The second time is when you catch him in the printer room the next morning.

He's photocopying documents by the printer, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows and he has one hand manning the machine with the other supporting his body. His fingernails tap beats against the hard surface as he waits for the next batch of documents to finish printing.

Rindou doesn't notice your presence and you don't make yourself known either, choosing to watch him by the door as he makes quick work of counting and organising and stapling together freshly printed documents while making sure they're all in the correct order for the team meeting later ー and you think it's so bad of you to be ogling at his exposed arms with indecent thoughts of doing many things to him floating in your mind as his muscles flex under the light with his every move.

But you don't let your thoughts consume you, and he looks up at you ー now standing beside him with your arms tucked behind your body and a cheeky smile planted on your face.

Rindou focuses back on his work, obviously in a rush to complete everything, but he still acknowledges you nonetheless.

"You're up to something." He sighs while stacking together the stapled documents.

You feint a pout.

"...'M not." (He interpreted this as "I am.")

Rindou has never once told you this but he always thought that you had somewhat of a close resemblance to a cat. A very annoying Siamese cat that behaved like his previous one, constantly following him around and begging him for attention while also pretending like it isn't.

But it's nothing new. Rindou had come to a conclusion a while ago that you like to keep him guessing, and you particularly enjoy acting nonchalant when it's so obvious to him right now that you want something, anything that can keep you going for the day.

"What, you want a kiss or somethin'?"

"...Kinda,"

Bingo.

"But I want to use the machine more than I want a kiss."

He smirks, though he doesn't give it to you just yet, and you begin to count and prepare your own documents in silent when he doesn't reply. (You think he's ignoring you and it's awkward.)

But Rindou doesn't step away even when he's finished and you're confused. And unlike yourself, he doesn't have a knack for keeping you guessing. He speaks before you have the chance to ask.

"How many?" He grabs at your papers and lays them face-down on the machine before closing the shutter. His thumb hovers over the screen, eyes unwavering against your own as he waits for your reply.

"Um, ten copies." Your smile slowly widens when he finally presses 'print' and steps back for you to take over. He doesn't collect his documents to leave, however, and you raise your brows in confusion when he moves to close the door gently (and locking it, too) before shutting the blinds altogether.

"What're you doin'? Aren't you in a rush?" You question.

He shrugs and makes his way over to you.

"I've got time," he says it while trapping you against the machine with his two arms, lips quickly hovering against your own and you can smell a hint of the peppermint gum he likes to chew on from time to time.

"The machine's all yours," he licks at your bottom lip, "and now, for your kiss..."

I've always got time for you.

You think it's a great thing that the printer room doesn't have a CCTV.

三 · at the mall (shopping for your skirt)

Rindou has a good eye for things. You knew it the moment he'd picked out a pair of Daiso's reindeer-printed socks for you as your Secret Santa a few Christmases ago.

(You've always liked reindeers, but Rindou simply bought it for you because he didn't know what you liked.

You'd jumped in happiness the moment you opened your present and Rindou thought you were actually the prettiest girl alive.

You'd pounced on him in excitement, yelling out your gratefulness for everyone in the party to hear.

He'd decided that he wanted you then.)

So you're in Aeon browsing through skirts without him even though you came out here together. You don't know where he is, and you've given up on looking for him after phoning him a few times and wandering around like a lost child looking for its parent.

But you hear a cough behind you and you turn around, only to be greeted by the sight of a really pretty dress hanging from his finger.

You admire it from top to bottom ー a really nice coral pink dress with large hibiscuses printed all over with a little slit running up the thigh ー and Rindou moves it closer to you.

"Whatchu think of this?" He asks, nervous eyes a little dodgy against your mischievous ones, and you smile a little when taking the hook off his finger.

"I wanted a skirt, not a dress." You comment, obviously poking fun at him and Rindou immediately reddens like a tomato. "Forget it, then."

He reaches a hand out to snatch it from your own but you take a step back away, clutching the dress to your chest tight.

"Didn't say I don't want it, though." You jut your chin out and he snorts.

"I need to make a call," he fishes his card out from his wallet and hands it to you. You grip on the flat plastic tight, afraid of losing it while also in shock because why did he hand you his card? He's acting like you're both a married couple now.

"Text me when you're finished." And he shuffles away with his phone pressed to his ear.

四 · during the phone call with his brother

"Yo, Aniki." Rindou greets the moment his brother picks up the phone. After eight rings, what the hell is this idiot even doing?

"What?" The older man answers from the other line, phone tucked between the shoulder and his ear while he's rushing to prepare his daughter's dinner.

"You busy?" The younger boy asks. He shuffles his weight from heel to toe while standing in front of a wall full of different mugs and bowls at the home appliances department.

Pink is nice. She likes pink. Or should I get red? It's almost Valent-

"Uncle Rin-rin!" His niece's voice booms through the speaker, cutting Ran off and Rindou immediately smiles at it. "Hi, sweetie."

And Ran takes over the phone again. "What's up? Speak before I hang up. I'm a very busy man." Rindou resists the urge to snort at it ー he has a favour to ask, after all.

"How do you..." The younger pauses, oddly feeling a little too nervous to continue. Though it is his own brother on the other line that he knows although very annoying, he would still be there to help, Rindou finds it a little embarrassing to be asking him about this. He's never done this before, and he's not very big on asking his brother for favours too, and Ran is surprised at the sudden question shot that's been left hanging.

He looks up at the ceiling and sighs. He knows Ran will never let this go if he asks, but he decides to screw his ego because in the end, it is for you.

"How do you, um," he taps his foot on the ground.

...Fuck it.

"How do you chase a girl? Or something like that. Whatever it is."

"...Chase a girl? What girl- Oh. The one you've been sleeping with."

"What the fuck? Not in front of my niece, dude."

"Relax, I put her down a while ago."

"You're fucking annoying, you know that?"

Ran only laughs boisterously at Rindou's annoyance, but he doesn't leave his brother hanging.

He's always here for him, no matter what.

"So what're you thinking? Any options?" Ran asks. Rindou grabs at a white mug with pink flowers painted on it before replying. "Mugs."

"Mugs? Like for drinking, mugs? You're not serious, Rindou? You're buying mugs to chase a girl, are you insane?"

The younger clicks his tongue and puts the porcelain back on the shelf albeit a little harshly. "Why else do you think I'm asking you, asshole? Just tell me what to buy. I really don't know."

"I can't tell you what to buy for a girl you're chasing, dude. And I don't even know what she likes. What does she like? You tell me."

He ponders for a moment. "Dresses. Pink stuff." His mind travels back to the night you first met, at work, as clerks, when you'd included your hobbies into your introduction and one of it was gardening. "And like, flowers."

"Then just get her flowers, you already have your answer." Ran deadpans from the other line, but Rindou only hisses. "Yeah, but I already got her a pink dress with flowers printed on it. What else?"

"I'm talking about actual flowers. You can get them anywhere, and most importantly, never fails to make a pretty girl smile. She already likes flowers anyway."

"...'Kay, thanks. You're useful for once."

"Fuck off." Ran clicks his tongue. "...And red tulips, if I may suggest. And remember, tell me how it goes-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

五 · aftercare with you

Remember when I said that Rindou wanted you the moment you'd hugged him in excitement after seeing some lame reindeer-printed socks wrapped up nicely in a little box tied with a pink ribbon on top?

Yeah. He'd wanted you since then. But instead of starting off as friends from colleagues before getting to know you better and then asking you out on a date when he feels the time is right ー like a normal, sane person ー the both of you had gotten into a mutual agreement of becoming friends with benefits.

You don't remember exactly when it started, how it started, who initiated it, and neither does he, but you don't really care. Not when he's busy rubbing soft circles on the bruise forming on your hips for some comfort while he pecks you again and again on your forehead as you slowly fall asleep beneath him. He'd lost focus for a bit and gripped you a little harsher than he should've, but you really don't mind, yet he still feels bad.

And Rindou thinks you're prettiest like this ー neck and chest painted in hickeys that he'd sucked (out of adoration), eyelids droopy with your bags a little red from the tears of bliss you'd shed, and the back of yours fingers are gently caressing his left cheek. Your room smells of sex and lemongrass and a quiet 'sleepy?' is all he asks when your eyes finally close.

You hum out a lazy response of 'yes' before moving the same hand down to rest it on his nape, playing with the ends of his mullet a little, and you push him down to rest on your chest.

It's heartwarming. It feels intimate. And despite your abnormal relationship title with the man, you don't reject the sudden swell of your heart and neither does he.

So he presses a soft kiss to the top of your left boob ー right where your beating heart resides ー and you hug your legs a little tighter around his waist. It's nothing sexual and you both know it. It was all just to bring him closer to you, for you to feel more of his warmth in the coldness of your bedroom paired with the chill of February.

"Sleep then." He assures, voice gentle and lulling, and you smile a little at it.

Rindou is always softer at times like this, you realise ー when he'd fucked the life out of you after a particularly long day, when he'd made you moaned out melodies that he swore belonged to heaven, when he'd spent hours between your legs lapping up everything you have to give him.

Though you don't let yourself go at his words, and he watches amusedly as you try your hardest to fight back dear sleep in his arms. You don't think you're ready to sleep yet. Something feels out of place, oddly, even though you're sure you have completed everything that was in your checklist today.

Laundry, washing the dishes, prepping for Monday's meeting... You've done it all, and yet you still can't pinpoint what it is that is missing.

Until he moves up to silently place a warm kiss on your neck ー where your pulse beats against his lips ー and he realises his life hasn't really started until recently, until the day he'd met you and he thought you were such a breathtaking girl. Colours had burst into his world and your smile was the first thing that had lightened up.

And while you're happily drowning in his attention, Rindou silently wonders if the two of you were perhaps lovers in your past lives.

He wonders if you'd be willing to catch him. To be there, holding your arms out and yelling to him that you're here and to not worry; for him to just fall into your arms and he'd be safe ー you'll catch him.

Because he is falling. Hard. And he doesn't know how to tell you about it. He hopes that for the past few days his gestures were enough to tell you a portion of his love...

Just a portion, though. Because he wants to tell you the rest when he finally gets to call you his. Under the moonlight, at dinner with his brother and his family, before his parents at their graves every anniversary, or in front of your dog that's pawing at your door asking to be finally let in... Whatever it is, he wants to show the world that he loves you.

So when you smile sweetly up at him as he grows hard against your thigh ー a silly little love boner that you must've thought was just him getting horny to you massaging his sore backー Rindou's become a little more certain that the two of you must've met one way or another in the previous lifetimes and have fallen in love with each other when you gently trail a finger down his abdomen, before finally wrapping a hand around him.

Rindou wonders what it'd feel like to be yours in this lifetime.

And he gives in to your touches. He buries his head into the crook of your neck and lets you play with him as you please.

He thinks it's kind of cute that even as friends with benefits, you've already engraved a piece of yourself onto him.

Like the extra sets of pencil skirts and blouses that you leave hanging in his wardrobe in case of last minute plans that he swears are a hassle to iron because he can never get the creases right. But he never complains, and he would always offer to iron your clothes each time you stay over at his house. Or even when you don't. Because he would always find your stuff sitting in the basket when he's doing his laundry. And he'd have to iron them neat for you, before hanging it up in his wardrobe for you to wear the next time you stay the night.

Or like your toothbrushes hanging next to each other on the wall in his bathroom ー pink and purple facing each other by their bristles because you'd insisted out of the blue on a random Monday morning, at the start of your "relationship", with foamy toothpaste in your mouth and your hair poking out in every different direction it can go.

And sometimes your shoes bring him joy too, whenever he would get up to check on the door while you're falling asleep in his bed and he'd spot how your black pumps are always somehow scattered messily next to his own neat dress shoes by the entrance, and he'd have to squat down and rearrange them nicely.

He looks back up at you with ragged breaths and a coil in his abdomen that's threatening to break anytime soon. You're still giving him the same smile that drives him nuts every single time, and he leans in closer to give you a little kiss on the lips that you very much love.

And Rindou comes to a sudden realisation that he wants to tell you he loves you now. He needs you to know that he's all yours. You're his sweetheart.

So he does what he thinks is right ー what he feels is right. He reaches over your body, towards the marble vase on your nightstand that your mother had gifted you as a housewarming present, and he picks a fresh flower out of it after careful consideration. You don't move from your spot, only trying to kiss whatever skin of his that your lips can reach from your position ー his shoulder, his bicep, his arm, his neck... And a familiar smaller-sized tulip appears before your eyes. You raise your brows a little at it.

"Pretty fuckin' girl," is all he murmurs before pushing himself into you.

"I'm all yours." He whispers.

A peaceful winter night and Rindou fucks you again in missionary with so much love bubbling in his chest and a red tulip tucked behind your ear.

终 · during breakfast together

"Do you want eggs?"

"Sure."

"Okay."

You kick your feet and watch from the bar as he cooks you both breakfast in your kitchen. You're covered in one of his shirts that he'd left sitting on the back of your chair, your tired eyes scans over his half-tattooed back covered in scratch marks, and you feel oddly proud to be the one to have done all that.

But you know it is not right. And you're not stupid ー you're aware of the things he's been doing these days, and if you were a forgetful fool you would've missed the rule you made with him at the start of your intimacy.

Never catch feelings for each other.

...But you were no forgetful fool, and the ache in your heart is too painful for you to ignore. You'd seen the way he looked at you last night ー the way he'd fucked you like you were the finest thing personally handcrafted by the hands of God. And because you treasure your friendship, you know you shouldn't be doing this to him. You think he's a good person, and you want to remain friends with him.

But you don't want to let him go.

"Hey, Rindou." You call out. He's in the midst of scrambling your eggs with butter when you do so. "Yeah?"

"Rindou," he hums again.

Ever so patient, but I have to break your heart.

"...We should end things, Rindou-kun."

Saturday morning and it feels as though his world is falling apart from your simple sentence. Like you've ripped apart his beating heart that pounds solely for you and threw it on the ground.

You are so cruel.

So much for all that last night, he thinks. So he turns around after hurriedly switching off the gas. The wooden spatula covered in eggs is still in his hands when he faces you in agony and you want to break down and cry.

You feel like a villain. The evilest villain of them all.

"Why? Was I too rough on you last night? I- Or were we too open about it? Tell me." He's worried. He's so worried that it almost makes you want to crumble into pieces.

Purples flicker between your own and your lips wobble. You grip the hem of his shirt tight in your hands and look down.

"Please, tell me." He pushes again, so you decide to tell him truthfully.

Be a big girl, don't cry. You've survived 25 years of life, cutting things off with your FWB should be easy.

"...I've caught feelings."

Except it's not.

A lone tear makes its way down your cheek and you wipe it away quick. "Sorry, I broke the rule. I caught feelings and I- I don't think it's right for us to continue this any further." Your voice cracks with every word you speak and it makes you want to cry even further, because he's not saying anything.

And despite the strong stance you've presented to him, Rindou knows you're putting on an act for him. So he puts down the spatula and shuffles to you. He stops before you and tilts your chin up with his finger.

You'd half-expected him to be upset about this as much as you are, because you know the feeling's mutual, but you respect the rule of your relationship more and you don't think it's right to continue on.

Except he isn't, and he's so fucking smug about it.

Rindou's got a huge grin on his face when you look up at him. Hair a little messy, a hickey on his jaw, and you're sobbing into his arms now.

"You like me." He states.

You kick him a little and continue to cry.

"You like me, huh?" He repeats again.

Rindou has an arm wrapped securely around your waist with the other hand smoothing the back of your head as he shushes you gently, rocking you both side to side and you hit him a little on the chest.

"Do you think this is funny? It's not funny. I'm being serious." So you try pushing him away in hiccups but he only laughs as you struggle against his strength.

"Why do you wanna end things?"

"As I've said, I broke the rule. It's not right anymore."

He snorts at your reasoning. "You know, rules are always meant to be broken."

"So you don't respect me enough to follow my rule?" You're trying to pick a fight but he doesn't quite buy into it, choosing to kiss your forehead instead as you continue to wiggle your way out of his hold.

"I've never been one to follow the rules anyway." Rindou mutters against your hair as he presses another kiss to your crown. You're too endearing to let go, he thinks, and he holds you anymore tighter to himself at that.

"And who said if it's right or wrong? Screw rights and wrongs. We both like each other, the feeling's mutual. There's no point in letting each other go." He wipes your tears away with his palm and cups your cheeks with them. "I know you don't wanna let me go."

You swat his chest again at that and he only laughs harder at your reaction. He thinks you're the most precious thing in life. In his life. In the universe. You're the most precious thing ever.

"I like you a whole lot, you know." Smooch. "More than you'll ever know." Another smooch. "Let me be yours."

You pout as you look into his eyes. Purple orbs sucking you in deep and you have no choice but to fall. Purple orbs that tells you these arms will catch you if you do. And another kiss to your soul that tells you everything you need to know.

"Okay."

You'll catch each other.

"I love you."

You're already catching each other.

😅😅😅😅😅 been mia for so long bc i've been working on this. Its been in my drafts for soooo long LOL and this was supposed to be a valentines day special but i didnt make it in time cus i was bz sleeping.. but i hope you guys like this a lot ^^ listen to the playlist if u have time! And i tried a new layout too i hope it looks nice.

Reblogs are appreciated! Thank you for reading <3

#寫作 #rindou x reader #rindou haitani x reader #haitani rindou x reader #rindou haitani #haitani rindou #rindou smut #tokyo revengers x reader #tokrev x reader #tokyo revengers fluff #tokyo revengers smut #tokyo revengers #haitani brothers

716 notes · View notes

marsdreamworld · 9 months

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Electric Love - CL16 x reader

mars’ notes: First off, wtaf??? i’m so so so happy that you guys liked my lando blurb that much, i was half distracted and incredibly anxious when i wrote it, so the fact that so many people like it is absolutely insane to me jnfruncr - anyways, here’s a cute little (not so little) Charles fic i had bouncing around in my head :) thank you @love-belle for listening to me ramble!! please please lmk what you think, any and all feedback is greatly appreciated <333

summary: 4 times Charles almost told you he loved you, and the one time he did.

warnings: none!! super fluffy (again)

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The first time Charles almost let those three precious words slip from his lips was during an unassuming pasta date the two of you had planned. You had gone to the grocery store earlier in the day, and had remembered the old, silver unused pasta maker that was stashed in the back of yours and Charles’ kitchen cabinet, and decided that it seemed like a good day to finally teach your boyfriend how to properly cook the Italian staple. You’d come home in a flurry of excitement, bags dangling from your arms and a bright smile on your face, stating that you were going to teach him how to cook so well that he’d rival Yuki Tsunoda, teasing that maybe that way he’d be able to get Pierre over to his house for a dinner date as well. He’d smiled, grabbed the bags from your hands and set them down on the kitchen counter, before winding his arms around you and kissing you softly, telling you that he missed you and couldn’t wait.

You were too full of excitement to wait any longer, turning on the old radio in the corner of the kitchen, the sound of an old 1950s love song filling the space whilst Charles got two glasses and a bottle of red wine from the rack in the living room. Once your glasses were full and your hands had been washed, you’d dragged him over to the kitchen counter and thrust a “kiss the cook” apron into his hands, instructing him to put it on so he wouldn’t get flour all over himself. He’d asked whether you had a matching one, to which you replied that you’d done this far too many times to spill any flour and that your outfit would be ruined with it. He’d let his eye roam your figure, taking in the sweatshirt you’d stolen from him yesterday, claiming it smelt like him, along with the cute giraffe print pyjama bottoms you adored so much; your hair clipped back messily, sleeves pulled up to your elbows, and Charles swore he’d never seen anything as beautiful.

He was elbow deep in dough before he knew it, hands sticky with egg yolk and flour, the substance sticking to his skin despite how hard he was trying to pull it off. You were standing next to him, your own ball of dough perfectly rolled and kneaded, hands free of any lingering blobs of dough. A piece of hair had fallen into your face, and you’d used your shoulder to attempt to push it back behind your ear again, huffing when it returned to block your vision. Something had just felt so right - he could imagine doing this after a hectic race weekend, coming home to you making a fresh batch of pasta to go with his favourite white sauce, love songs in the background and wine glass in hand. He thought of you standing at this very kitchen counter, flour smudged on your face as you taught a mini version of you how to knead dough, and how to use the pasta machine that he knew was going to come very close to sucking in his fingers.

“Charlie? You ok, my love? Pasta isn’t that hard to make, baby, you just need more flour.”

You’d looked over to catch him staring at you, cheeks red and eyes glazed, and it took everything in him to not spit out how much he loved you. He wanted to scream it from the rooftops, post it on every social media platform, say it over and over until your heart was beating as fast as his was. He watched as you leaned over, sprinkling more flour onto his hands, and all he could do was smile.

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The second time Charles almost confessed the inner workings of his heart was during a race weekend - Spa, to be exact. Spa was a race that was heavy with memories, good and bad. Antoine’s ghost still lingered at every corner, and the cheers of the 2019 crowd still rang in his ears during his track walk. It was a weekend that stirred up a plethora of emotions, contrasting and deep, and it weighed on him. He’d made it a point to leave flowers for his friend every year, joining Pierre alongside the track when they went to pay their respects. This would be the first time you would be by his side, at your insistence. He’d told you countless times that it was he was perfectly fine with just Pierre for company, that you didn’t have to drag yourself out there with him and get soaked, but you wouldn’t back down.

“I don’t care whether it’s storming or if people are passing out from the heat, Charles Leclerc, I’m coming with you, whether you like it or not. You’ve gone through enough on your own, and I’m not letting you do it again, not while I’m here.”

He’d stood in silence, gaping at you until your expression faltered and your hands fell from their resting place on your hips. You were halfway through stammering an apology, explaining that you just didn’t want him to be going through that alone, that you were always there for him when he surged forward and kissed you, hands cradling your face.

He was so overwhelmed in that moment, thoughts of Antoine floating through his head, a tiny voice in the back of his head telling him that it could be his turn this weekend, that he’d never get to tell you how he feels. He pulled back, thumbs brushing over your delicate cheeks, lips forming the words, when suddenly,

“Charles! You have a press conference in 5! Get a move on!”

Fred’s voice broke through the bubble, and you both jumped, startled by the shout. A weight settled in his chest, Charles desperately looking back at you, hoping that what he didn’t have a chance to say was evident in his eyes. You smiled back at him as if to say “me too”, and that was the end of that.

————————-

The third time was during family dinner. His mother had invited the two of you, along with Arthur, Lorenzo and their respective partners, over to her cosy house in Monaco for an evening meal. You had spent the last thirty minutes stressing over whether or not you looked good enough to meet “the woman who gave birth to the prince of Monaco” and thirty minutes before that stressing over which wine to take, if any. Once a good enough Chardonnay had been chosen (a 20 year old bottle you had been gifted by your boss and had deemed too fancy to just open over a plate of pasta at home), and your hair curled and make up painted to perfection, you turned to look at Charles, smiling, shooting him a “What’s cookin’, good lookin’?” and he couldn’t help but laugh.

The drive to his mother’s house was fairly uneventful, with him humming along to a French song playing on the radio, one hand on the wheel and the other situated on your thigh, slipping in between the slit of cherry red, silk dress you had chosen for the occasion. The windows were down, the wind whipping through your hair, and you were smiling and singing along with him, a pretty picture of contentment.

You had calmed down by the time the two of you had reached the front door, confident enough to greet his mother with a hug and a kiss to the cheek, laughing when she said that you looked “absolutely amazing, chèrie”. You had bantered with his brothers, giving as good as you got, helped set the table and pick the music, and had even taken over Arthur’s babysitting duties, spending time playing dolls with his little nieces. Looking at how well you fit in with his family made Charles’ heart beat out of his chest. He felt a hand on his arm, and turned to see his Maman standing next to him, a light smile on her lips.

“She’s the one, my boy.” she said, and all Charles could do was nod in agreement, quietly saying the words,

“I think I love her, maman.”

Pascale simply smiled, and turned to walk back to the kitchen.

————————

He actually got through the first word and a half the fourth time. It seemed like whenever Charles actually got the opportunity to tell you he loved you, something or the other interrupted him, and this time was no exception. He never thought he would end up here, in a dingy club bathroom, wine stain on his brand new white shirt, and you standing by the sink laughing at him.

He had just won the Australian GP, Carlos coming in a close second, and Daniel stealing the third step of the podium. The season had started well for the team, and in natural Ferrari fashion, they had all gotten dressed up and found their way to the nearest club. Drinks flowed, partners were found and dragged to the dance floor, sweaty bodies pressed so close that it was hard to figure out who was who. He had been walking back from the bar, his and your drinks in hand, making his way back to his fellow drivers and you in a pretty black dress you’d picked out earlier in the day, when someone had bumped into him, wine spilling and staining his shirt. You’d turned at the noise that escaped his throat, an embarrassingly high-pitched squeal, and had kept a straight face for all of three seconds before you were laughing.

You’d taken the now empty glasses from his hands, set them down on the table and looped your arm through his, pulling him in the direction of the bathrooms.

“You know, now might not be the best time for a quickie, mon ètoile, my shirt is soaked.”

You had simply looked back at him, and told him that that was “even more reason to get that shirt off him”, your tone insinuating that you wouldn’t be doing anything of the sort. Once in the bathroom, the door locked and lights on, you’d beelined for the tissues, soaking them in a little water and soap before turning back to him with a determined look in your eyes. Instructing him to hold still, you’d taken to trying to scrub the stain out, armed with tissue that was on the verge of disintegrating. He knew the stain wasn’t going to budge, a voice that sounded like his mother’s telling him that he’d need hydrogen peroxide or vinegar at the very least, but he let you grip his shirt regardless, perching himself on the lip of the sink and pulling you closer to stand in between his legs. His eyes roved over your face, taking in the slight crease in between your eyebrows, and your teeth biting at your lower lip. There was something so endearing about the way you looked trying to rub something as stubborn as a wine stain out of his clothes that made him want to never let you go.

Tell her now, you idiot, who cares if you’re in a club bathroom, it’ll make for an interesting story to tell your kids later, he thought to himself.

“Ma chèrie?”, he waited for you to look up from his shirt before continuing, “I lo-“

“Charles! Did you manage to get that wine out yet? We’re waiting to order the next round of shots, mate, hurry up!”

The banging on the door, combined with his teammate’s voice, had interrupted him, the moment well and truly over. He grumbled to himself, something about never having a moment of peace, before looking up at you, nodding his head towards the direction of the door.

There was always next time.

————————-

It had been a quiet moment, just you and him somewhere on the coast of Monaco, yacht rocking with the waves, peaceful. The day had started the way it usually did, the sun streaming into his eyes as you curled into his side, screwing your eyes shut in a vain effort to try and sleep a little longer. He’d kissed you, slow and soft, before whispering a hushed good morning, smiling when he got a sleepy mumble in response. He’d pushed himself up to lean against the headboard, with you whining as he jostled you, only quieting down when he pulled you back into the warmth of his arms. The two of you had stayed there for another half an hour, drifting in and out of consciousness before your stomach rumbled, effectively declaring that it was time to get out of bed and start working on breakfast. Charles knew you didn’t usually like to eat in the mornings, claiming that it made you feel slightly nauseous, but that you were an absolute sucker for a good cup of coffee and waffles, so he set out to make exactly that whilst you were in the shower.

It was not going well, to say the least. He’d even pulled up a waffle recipe on his phone, specifying to Google that he needed one that was beginner friendly. It had started out well, with him grabbing all the ingredients listed, even going so far as to grab the measuring cups you used when you baked the vanilla cookies he loved so much; and then he actually had to start putting everything together. He’d ended up cracking the first egg with far too much force, causing it to spill all over his hand, with slivers of the shell ending up in the bowl below. Once he had fished out the infuriatingly small pieces out of the egg mixture and added the milk, he got to work measuring out the flour, only to misjudge how heavy the bag was, and spilling it all over the counter and himself. He was stood stock still, face stuck in disbelief when you had walked in, freezing as you took in the scene unfolding in your kitchen.

“Oh, my love” was all you’d managed to get out, before you were making your way over to him, brushing your thumb across his cheek and saying “You’ve got a little something there.”

Once the breakfast disaster was cleaned, and you had taken over to make edible waffles, the two of you had migrated to the living room, curling up on the couch under your favourite fluffy blanket, armed with snacks to start a movie marathon. Sundays during summer break were reserved for snacking on salted caramel ice cream and brain-rotting romcoms, and it was tradition for you and Charles to bicker over which movie was put on first. Charles knew he would give in after the first minute of arguing, when you pulled out the big guns and flashed a sweet smile at him, and today was no different. He was glad it was no different.

The day had passed in a haze of kisses, sweet fruit and good wine. The weather was beautiful, wonderfully warm with a light breeze, and Charles had stated that it was the perfect night for a picnic under the stars on his yacht, ushering you in the direction of your room, telling you to get dressed. He grabbed a few more bottles of the wine you had been loving in the last couple of days, cutting up fruits and cubes of cheese for your impromptu picnic, before packing it all up into a small basket you could take with you. You’d come out of the bedroom in a white summer dress, and Charles felt his heart stop at the sight of you. You looked ethereal, like his own personal angel, and he told you as much, before gently taking hold of your hand and leading you to his car, picnic basket in hand.

You had been out on the water for an hour or so when you had leaned into Charles, your head resting on his shoulder, arms wrapped around his. He’d looked down at you and smiled, all dimples and warmth, before leaning down and kissing you softly, his lips just brushing over yours. You’d settled in and were sharing your second bottle of wine, looking up at the stars and talking about everything and nothing, the topic of your conversation ranging from who could find the most constellations to new recipes you wanted to try out the next time you had the chance. Charles was watching you ramble about a new cake recipe that you’d seen (or was it pie? He was hardly paying attention, too caught up in the way your eyes lit up and the way your cheeks flushed) when he just blurted it out.

“I love you.”

You had stopped midway through your sentence, words suddenly sticking to the inside your throat as you gazed up at him. He was looking at you with glazed eyes, the stars reflected in them, and panicking because what if you didn’t say it back? What if he had misread the situation so badly and had ended up ruining a perfectly good day because he couldn’t keep his thoughts to himself like-

“I love you too.”

And just like that, the breath was knocked out of his chest. You loved him. Him, Charles Leclerc, you loved him. He wanted to hear those words every single day, every morning when he woke up, every night before he went to sleep, every day for the rest of his life.

“Say it again”, he begged, needing to make sure you were really saying that you loved him, and this wasn’t just some sick, twisted dream, a figment of his imagination. You repeated it in hushed whisper, again and again, watching as the dimpled smile you had come to adore grew on his face, before pushing yourself up and kissing him again.

Yes, today had been the perfect day.

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materialsscienceandengineering · 1 month

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North Carolina State University researchers have demonstrated a technique that allows people who manufacture metal machine parts with 3D printing technologies to conduct automated quality control of manufactured parts during the finishing process. The technique allows users to identify potential flaws without having to remove the parts from the manufacturing equipment, making production time more efficient. "One of the reasons people are attracted to 3D printing and other additive manufacturing technologies is that these technologies allow users to quickly replace critical machine components that are otherwise difficult to make outside of a factory," says Brandon McConnell, co-corresponding author of a paper on the work. "And additive manufacturing tools can do this as needed, rather than dealing with supply chains that can have long wait times. That usually means using 3D printing to create small batches of machine parts on demand." McConnell is an assistant research professor in NC State's Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

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wumblr · 6 months

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could you link to that post where you talked about/talk more about credit card fraud? if you even remember what i'm talking about? i love reading about that kinda stuff

sometimes, if you're lucky, or unlucky, there are unauthorized duplicates of your credit card made during the production process. maybe the wrong color tipping was loaded into the embossing machine, or maybe the mailer was loaded into the printer upside down so your address printed illegibly over a patch of preprinted background color. and when this happens, the embossing machine operator has to take the duplicate cards to the locked gate of the the high security area inside the high security area (the vault) in order to get it voided out, where they lock the duplicates in a cage, until they're ready to take a large batch of them to the high security area inside the high security area inside the high security area (the shred room). and sometimes, in the middle of the night, you can hear it rumbling all across the factory floor because the shred machine is really loud and kind of broken and they're shoving literally thousands of unauthorized but fully functional duplicates of real people's credit cards into it

this really brings the fiction of the whole thing into relief: a credit card is a piece of plastic that has numbers encoded onto the magstrip and the emv chip that link to a bank account without arousing suspicion at the point of sale, much in the same way that a forged coin that fools experts must be real. we're always talking about the best way to pull off a heist at the factory, but i'm always saying you should go big and try to get out with one of the embossing machines and a pallet of gift card blanks

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siliconcat · 3 months

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Hiii I love your art! What website do you use to make keychains/phone charms?

Hi! There’s 2 I use primarily, Zap creatives and Vograce.

Zap (based in England) has better value for small charms, and sometimes you can get discounts depending on what you order. Both sites do this rotation of sales every 3 days, so with the right timing, you can get things very cheap. However, Zap is not without a lot of downsides. For one, it has a charge for every additional design after 6, and you can only pick between total count quantities of 1, 25, 50, and so on. Economical shipping can take up to 12 weeks, and courier shipping is like $25. Also, (very recent problem, just happened with this batch) the colors vary after reordering even if the same artwork is used, in the right photo below, new is on the left, old on the right. The colors are very bold which I like, and discrepancies from the original artwork are normal and to be expected, but not at this scale. Very noticeable in characters with brown skin 🤨. Also I submitted a complaint ticket and didn’t hear back until a week later and after I had to bother them.

Vograce (based in China) is better for the 2.5 in, and generally has very good public communication and care for their customers. The price for the 1 in. option and 2.5 in are about the same, so it is slightly more expensive per unit (don’t be fooled by the initial ppu, there’s a ~50% discount after orders of like 25 or something I forget exactly). However, you can submit as many designs and quantities as you’d like, I usually link a google drive for them. I have noticed the dpi is not as high, however I am comparing their 2.5 to the 1 in from Zap so maybe they have that capability idk. Color wise, they recently just made a big deal about upgrading their machines and I can say they are pretty spot on. They tend to be slightly more saturated (notice Marisa’s boots and patchouli’s hair below), and a little darker (you can’t tell the difference between dark red, dark blue, and black). Shipping is also better, the middle option for shipping is much better and only extends the time by like 2 days from the rapid transit.

Vograce is the company I use for stickers as well, as their fancy glittery metallic whatever ones are the same price as the regular ones and go for about $3 for 10 stickers. Very good value, I have no idea how water resistant they are but they are coated.

I’ve been kinda mad at Zap lately especially for the Marina blunder so I’m thinking of switching to Vograce even though it’s pricier. I just need to check their printing resolution and all that.

#asks

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vintagecandy · 1 year

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OK so!

I've made the dork squad ( BTAS jervis,jon,ed ) sticker set, and finally got around to updating the Joli Love sticker set ( which I've been saying needs updating with it being the oldest designs in the shop )

BUT... I can't move forward with selling any stickers right now! I'm short on supplies after testing out a ton of new printing materials and unexpected school expenses and I'm just not happy with the quality of any of the extra paper enough to use it to sell. ( no waste, it'll all be used on shipping labels over time ). So, to get the sticker machine back on track I am going to be making

Adopts! @vintage-muses So look out for those coming in possibly a week or two. Probably an average batch of a few for around 30$.

Just selling one adopt will be enough to fix the problem, I'm only barely short, and I can't open commissions because it would just be too much stress for mid-semester, so I do think just selling a few adopts is ideal?

However, if you want to speed up the process of me reopening my Etsy, you can donate to me on my Linktree using the tip jar!

Future Dork Squad sticker set designs seen below!

You'll be able to buy them separate or as a set, including a variant with a laminated surface if I've tested these new materials properly lol.

#commissions open #not art #announcement #( I am posting this late again hhh i'll reblog it a few times )

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whymaige · 3 months

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🌷 WhyMerch Shop Updates 🌷

Posting general updates about current orders and a bit of future merch!

Some items are not listed anymore, but product pages have a "✿ Shipping ~" in description since orders are processed by batches

Putting them here for your reference!

✨ Holy Charm and Lilybell Standee P.O. ✨

‼️ New ETA: May-June 2024 ‼️

I've had two rounds with production of correcting the items sent over. Currently, they seem to be having problems with printing so they are fixing their machines. I'm following up best I can

🍊 Ponkat Merch P.O. 🍊

‼️ 4 Orders Left, should be all sent by May ‼️ ✨Re-Run: Mid April 2024/Soon

There was a lot of orders for this set. Thank you! 🙇‍♀️ Orders are processed by batches and production slowed by a few weeks due to lots of holidays. Limited Time Re-Run soon!

☄️🔥 'MUT IN A SUIT - Shirt 🔥☄️

‼️ Shipping should be until June ‼️

Shipping should be on time for this (May-June). If there's any delays that would move it to be sent out on July 2024, I will be sending out e-mails (with the add you put in the order form)

🌸 Other Items 🌸

Should be following the indicated Shipping ETA. There were two orders of the Shadow Lillies Hoodies that had the Shipping listed a little too early (it should be June 2024). I'll be sending out an e-mail about that 🙇‍♀️

🔻 Future Merch 🔻

Patrons already know about this, but there's upcoming merch designs! (one is still a lineart aughgu)

Focusing on having most of current orders sent out first before moving on to these

They will all be for Pre-Order, aiming for around/after mid 2024!

Thank you for the support and helping our cats through this! 🙇‍♀️

I'm always on the top of communications with production, making sure your orders are quality and worked on!

Thank you for your patience as we process a bunch of the Pre-Orders above 🙏🌷

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #ff14 #final fantasy 14 #why maige

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total-drama-takes-takes-2 · 9 months

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ttwt character profiles - batch 4 (final)

McLovin

What's your best quality? I make a pretty great friend! Most of the time... Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

R&B

Yellow!

8 Mile

Banana muffin. Or a spicy sausage pattie between two slices of cake. It's awesome, trust!

Describe your craziest dream. One time I dreamed that I was the Statue of Liberty. Best memory from childhood? The first time I went into a corn maze without getting lost. My mom used to tape color-changing LED lights to my shirt in case I got lost and they had to send out another search party Most embarrassing moment at school? I have too many to count. Luckily, the good outweighs the bad most of the time! Describe the first job you ever had. I worked at that one hot dog stand after Joner quit. It was awesome! Free dogs and 10 dollars a day! Ten years from now, what are you doing? Sitting in a castle-slash-boat-slash-racecar. Yeah, I'm inventing one My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? My boyfriend Sha-Mod, obviously! Learning how to water skii or climbing that hill behind the Wal-Mart It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

Hang out and chill

Peter

What's your best quality? I think I'm a lot wiser than people give me credit for. Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

Music... I guess alternative, or indie

Pink and blue!

Tough choice... maybe J'ai perdu mon corps

Salted almonds

Describe your craziest dream. I have so many, and I never remember them Best memory from childhood? Making friendship bracelets at summer camp. I didn't want to go but that was one of the best ways to help me adjust! Most embarrassing moment at school? Every awkward conversation ever... especially when my friends are fighting. Describe the first job you ever had. I can't imagine having a job on top of everything else Ten years from now, what are you doing? I don't know- hopefully something I love! My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? My girlfriend. I'd take her to the aquarium, then to dinner at a nice restaurant, and maybe give her something nice and hand-made! It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

Reminisce

Sha-Mod

What's your best quality? I'm Sha-Awesome! Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

Sha-Power ballads

Fuchsia

Hm...

Dinosaur chicken nuggets. I'm not ashamed to admit it

Describe your craziest dream. I was having tea with a human-sized monarch butterfly. Made me scared of butterflies for months Best memory from childhood? Moving snails off the pavement after the rain Most embarrassing moment at school? Winning a class award and having my face printed in the paper. What a Sha-Nightmare! Describe the first job you ever had. I sold biscuits door-to-door to afford my first PlayStation. Would do it again, if it was a viable career option. Why can't you go to university for biscuits? Ten years from now, what are you doing? Mm... biscuits... My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? Hm- oh, yeah. McLovin, my guy! Probably picking snails off the pavement again. It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

Chill.

Scruffy

What's your best quality? I'm a non-stop kick-ass game-winning machine! Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

I mostly listen to the TDWT soundtrack. And Heather's new podcast. Has anyone here heard about it? It's about-

Green

Movies take up too much time, in my opinion

Baby carrots. They're good for energy, and portable

Describe your craziest dream. I wouldn't call it "crazy" but I'd love to win TTWT. World Tour is my favorite season of all time, so it'd be like a dream come true. Best memory from childhood? Watching my first episode of Total Drama. It was ROTI, episode 9. I'm planning on getting a tattoo for it- 4x9 on my shoulder. Most embarrassing moment at school? Apparently, pouring over training and mentally and physically conditioning myself is "weird", so I got my fair share of crap. Who's laughing now, Stephanie Parker?! I bet you can't even diffuse a live bomb! Describe the first job you ever had. I don't need a job. Ten years from now, what are you doing? Living off my TTWT winnings and running my own reality TV gossip mag. My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? Jules, probably. Off-camera, doing anything anywhere without being bothered. It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

Honestly? Panic.

Staci

What's your best quality? Not to pat myself on the back but I'm kiiiiiind of a genius Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

Industrial metal, duh

Pink!

Bridge on the River Kwai... or like, Mean Girls is pretty good, too

Pork gyoza

Describe your craziest dream. I've had so many kin dreams, I couldn't even begin to list them off. Best memory from childhood? I... don't really want to talk about that. Most embarrassing moment at school? I had a bad habit of not really realizing when people were making fun of me, so I got bullied through all of primary without even knowing it. After that, I kinda got a little reactionary to perceived slights Describe the first job you ever had. Never had a paying one! Running my blog is kind of a job in itself. Ten years from now, what are you doing? Um... something cool, hopefully! My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? I'd love to hang with any of my distant relatives. They seem pretty cool. It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

Give my friends a hug

Scary

What's your best quality? Not being a total moron, probably. Faves? (music, colour, movie, food)

None.

Black.

None.

Describe your craziest dream. Dreams are just a product of our minds trying to simulate situations, to increase preparedness. Well... that's the theory I believe, anyway. Best memory from childhood? Winning my first ever science fair. Most embarrassing moment at school? Losing my first ever science fair. Describe the first job you ever had. I've only really done interning. Ten years from now, what are you doing? Receiving awards and accolades. My dream date would be with ___________, doing what? Nothing and no one. My dream date would be me, Einstein, and Hawking, all in book form in my living room. It’s the last day on earth. In five words or less, what would you do?

This is a ridiculous hypothetical

#ttwt #and that's everyone... I think

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autoprint · 9 months

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Batch coding Machine

UV coating, also known as ultraviolet coating, is a transparent, lustrous liquid coating applied to printed materials. This coating is a popular printing technique for protecting items that are handled often during delivery. The coating is a type of coating that is applied to printed material.

The batch coding system is crucial for quality control, traceability, inventory management, and compliance with regulatory standards. It ensures that essential information is clearly and accurately displayed on the product packaging, allowing manufacturers, retailers, and consumers to easily identify and track individual batches of products. This information is particularly important in industries such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and consumer goods, where product freshness, safety, and quality are paramount.

Batch coding machine

Uv Coating machine supplier

Die Cutting Machines

Die Punching machines

#Batch Coding machines #Die cutting machines #die punching machines #printing machines

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nexgendryingsystems · 6 months

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Coding and batch Printing machines Pune India

Discover cutting-edge Coding and Batch Printing machines in Pune, India, exclusively brought to you by Nexgen Drying Systems Pvt. Ltd. Our state-of-the-art machinery ensures precision and efficiency in coding processes, catering to diverse industrial needs. Contact us at +91 95943 53681 or reach out via email at [email protected] or [email protected] for inquiries. Explore our comprehensive range of innovative solutions on our website http://www.nexgendrying.com/. Nexgen Drying Systems Pvt. Ltd. is your trusted partner for advanced coding technology, providing reliable and high-performance batch printing solutions tailored to elevate your production processes.

#Coding and batch Printing machines Pune India

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somediyprojects · 8 months

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DIY Wool Felt Pot Holders

Project by Brett Bara:

Add a little fall flair to your kitchen with these quick and easy wool potholders. They’re super simple to make — just cut out the leaf shapes, add the decorative stitching and you’re done! You can finish one in an hour or less, and they’re a great beginner project for those of you still afraid of your sewing machines. (You know who you are!) Keep these cuties for yourself or pass them along with a homemade pie or a jar of apple butter as a sweet hostess gift. — Brett Bara

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

Materials

about 1/2 yard each of three colors wool felt (Note: be aware that felt made of synthetic fibers can melt when it comes in contact with high heat, so wool felt is recommended here. A good source for a wide range of wool felt colors is www.purlsoho.com.)

sketch paper to draw a leaf template, or a picture of a leaf to use as a guide

sharp scissors

pencil

contrasting thread

sewing machine

Instructions

1. Create a leaf shape.

To begin, draw or trace a simple leaf shape about 8″ wide and 8″ tall. Don’t worry about making it perfect — an imperfect shape adds to the charm! You can use a real leaf as a guide, or look for a leaf shape in a free clip art collection. You can also print out my photo above and trace it (enlarge it on a copy machine, if necessary).

2. Cut all three layers from felt.

Cut one piece of felt from your leaf shape, then lay it on top of another color of felt. Cut out the second piece just slightly larger than the first, then repeat with a third color of felt. You’ll have three layers of leaves, each slightly larger than the previous layer. Again, don’t worry about making them perfect!

3. Make the hanging tabs.

Cut a strip of felt about 1″ wide and 4″ long.

Fold it in half lengthwise, then stitch down its center using a zig-zag stitch.

Fold the strip in half and pin it to the bottom edge of the largest leaf piece.

Stitch it in place about 1/2″ from the raw edge of the leaf, using a straight stitch.

4. Add the veins.

Layer all three leaf pieces and pin them together. (Be sure that the raw edges of the hanging loop are sandwiched inside the layers so that they’re not visible on the finished pot holder.) Set your machine to a slightly longer than average stitch length. Beginning at the base of the leaf, sew a line all the way to the tip of the leaf.

When you reach the tip, raise the presser foot, pivot and sew back to the base. Repeat this to make several lines of stitching along the same path.

Repeat to sew another vein up each section of the leaf, always returning to the same beginning point at the leaf base. You can add all of this stitching in one continuous line, constantly sewing back and forth and always returning to the same beginning point.

Continuing in the same manner, add smaller branches off of each main line.

And you’re done! That’s all there is to these simple pot holders. Now go cook up a big batch of something warm, and put them to use! (I highly recommend apple pie.)

#diy #crafts #home decor #x

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sombersummerskies · 1 month

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A Champion's Love: Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Interference

Word Count: 4005

CW: None

Want all the chapters? -> Masterlist

~~~ <> ~~~

“Alright fellas, we’re doing laps today! Sword training’s been fine, but what you lot need to work on is endurance! Let’s go!”

You’re stood atop one of the walls of Lookout Landing, looking down at the soldiers you were working on training. It had begun after the attack on the fortress, you’d worked with the Lucky Clover Gazette (Traysi’s newspaper, which she was currently printing from her small home in Hateno Village) to put out flyers all across Hyrule. Soon you began to get people pouring into the landing searching for work and asking to be taught by you.

Now, three months later, you had a formidable set of soldiers. Many of them were showing natural skill and proving their work ethic to you by training day and night. You weren’t cruel, of course, you’d allow them days of rest. You’d organized them all into separate groups and would cycle out who you’d be working with on a day-to-day basis. Admittedly you had a bias, as today’s group consisted of your favorite trainee: Link.

Of all your ‘students’ Link was showing the most promise, immediately adept with sword fighting. After some practice, he proved to have good aim with a bow as well. You watched as he, along with the rest of his unit, jogged laps around Lookout Landing.

You hear your name be called out and turn. Peering over the edge of the wall you see Purah waving up at you. She grins, “hey champ! How goes training?”

“Well enough, once I get their lazy butts off the ground,” you reply jokingly, “how about you? How’s the Purah Pad coming along?”

The Purah Pad, the latest project of the small scientist. With all of the Sheikah technology being dismantled, it included the old Sheikah Slate as well. Now all of the tech was being repurposed into new machines, and the first Purah was working on was a new handheld tablet with a working map and runes.

“It’s okayyy,” she drawls, shrugging her shoulders, “still needs quite a bit of calibration before I even want to try testing it out. But soon I’ll have it working in a snap! Oh, by the way, let your platoon know that breakfast is ready in the shelter!”

“Will do!” you shout back, giving her a thumbs up before you turn back to your soldiers.

Once they finish your laps you get their attention, letting them take a break to eat. The majority seem grateful, attempting to catch their breaths and hide how red their faces are from the running. You take count of each of them as they descend into the shelter, ensuring everyone is accounted for. The last person in line is Link who gives you a smile as he wipes the sweat off his face with his tunic.

“You alright?” you ask him, “a little jog won’t put you out of commission, will it?”

He shakes his head and grins, signing back to you: I - feel - great - but - need - water.

“Better stay hydrated, soldier,” you chuckle, teasingly pointing a finger at him before he descends down the ladder.

Eventually, you hop down into the shelter as well. You can’t help but smile at the sound of conversation amongst all your trainees. It reminds you of when you yourself were a soldier in training for the army. You take your portion of breakfast, which today appears to be veggie rice balls and a slice of meat pie.

As you eat your lunch you idly chat. Some people ask you about your experiences as a knight, others talk to you about traveling around Hyrule. With the resident chef you ask for cooking advice, and with the shelter’s nurse you arrange to place a new order for medical supplies (as some of your soldiers are more prone to injury than others).

“Oh, look, a new batch of papers from the gazette,” someone says.

Slowly the pile of newspapers is handed around the room, everyone interested in reading it taking their own copy. Someone kindly hands one to you, knowing that you’ve made a habit of reading every edition that Traysi publishes. When you turn the papers over, however, you’re shocked by what you see on the front page.

An illustration of Prince Sidon has been printed on the paper, one depicting him at the entrance to Zora’s Domain. Ceremonial Trident in hand and with a wide, cheerful grin on his face. In bold text at the top of the page it reads Zora Prince Returns To Hyrule. Your eyes quickly skim over the small text of the article, containing details of how the domain celebrated the prince’s return and how beloved he was, being one of the important figures that helped fend off Calamity Ganon.

Your fingers trace over the drawing, a small smile sneaking its way onto your face.

When you look up you see a multitude of faces looking back at you, cheesy grins on all of their faces.

“At ease,” you instruct your soldiers, “and keep yourselves out of my business. I should have you each do fifty push-ups for being so nosey.”

They respond with a symphony of ‘yes ma’am!’s ‘sorry’s and ‘please forgive us’s, all of which make you laugh and roll your eyes.

“I’m joking- partially, do make it a habit to not pry into my personal matters,” you respond, “however, you can count yourselves lucky. I’ll be ending training early today and making my way to Zora’s Domain. Just make sure all of our weapons are sharpened before we have our next sparring session.”

As you make arrangements for your journey East it’s hard for you to contain your excitement. You’re giddy, it’s been half a year after all since you last saw the prince. Did you look presentable? What should you wear? Should you bring a gift? What do you even gift to a prince who has all of the luxuries one could ask for?

You ponder these questions as you ride horseback on Persephone, thoughts swirling as she gallops toward the Lanayru Region. As you think about gifts, something on the side of the road catches your eye. You tug on the reins, bringing your steed to a stop.

In the grass was a group of blooming flowers, a mix of blue nightshades and violets.

‘A gift,’ you think, kneeling in the grass.

You pluck the flowers gently to keep their stems intact. Once you gather them all into your arms you walk down the path on foot, whistling for Persephone to trot beside you. Your fingers work deftly, looping the flowers together and tying knots out of the stems. As you walk you pluck more plants, adding armoranths to the mix.

Eventually, you’ve crafted a wreath of flowers large enough that once you see the prince you’d be able to place it across his shoulders.

‘Perfect,’ you think to yourself as you climb onto Persephone’s back once more.

“C’mon Persie, let’s go visit Sidon,” you murmur, patting the side of her neck.

…

Your boots pad against the smooth floor of the palace. You’d left your horse at the end of the bridge, allowing her to graze in the grass. It was the evening now, the sun just having set behind the mountains. You’re greeted by many of the Zora, all of whom seem to be in good spirits.

There’s a grin on your face as you say hello to everyone you pass. The flower wreath is draped over one of your arms as you walk. You make your way up the large staircases, past the goddess statue, and up to the throne room- only to be shocked when you find the room empty.

Your smile drops a little. “Maybe he’s in his chambers,” you mumble to yourself, turning on your heel and descending the staircase. As you attempt to enter the inner hallways of the palace, you’re suddenly stopped in your tracks by two elder Zora. You recognize both of them from a few months prior, one resembling a squid and the other a sawfish.

“Ah- Hylian-” one of the councilmen pipes up, “why are you here today?”

You feel your eye twitch but attempt to maintain your composure, “I’m here to see Prince Sidon, I’d like to welcome him back after six months away.”

“He’s busy,” the other elder shoots back dryly.

“O-oh,” you reply, “may I ask with what?”

“I should think that it is none of your concern, Hylian, it’s royal matters after all.”

You clear your throat nervously and nod, “I see, of course. Could you at least let him know that I’m here and would like to speak with him?”

The two men share a glance before one curtly nods his head, “of course, we will make the prince aware of his guest. Now please, vacate these halls, you have no purpose down here.”

There’s an odd tone to his voice, but you choose not to question it. You bow your head and reply with a quick thank you, even though internally you want to do nothing more than scream at the councilmen. You retreat from the halls and make your way up the stairs once more, eventually finding yourself at the tide pools beneath the throne room.

With a sigh you take a seat, removing your boots so that you can dip your feet in the cool water. Gently you set the flower wreathe aside, ensuring it isn’t damaged. You want it to be in pristine condition for when you present it to Sidon.

You aimlessly kick your feet as you wait. The occasional Zora who passes by stops to hold a conversation with you, the majority of them asking about how you’d spent the last half a year. Eventually, some of the children come to keep you company, Tumbo and Laruta excitedly talking your ear off about their various shenanigans.

The smile doesn’t leave your face as you chat with the kids, but internally you can’t help but worry.

Sidon was nowhere to be seen.

You’re not sure exactly how much time passes, but it’s enough for the Zora to enjoy their suppers. For the children to be called home. For the guards to swap to night watch. For the luminous stone lamps to glow brighter. For the moon to cross the sky.

Hours. Hours pass.

And Prince Sidon never shows up.

The tears start before you can stop them. One falls, then another, and very soon you have your face buried in your hands as you silently sob. You count yourself lucky that all the Zora had left for bed, meaning no one was around to bear witness. You curl in on yourself, hugging your knees as you weep quietly.

What had changed? Could six months possibly be enough time for him to forget about his affection for you? You understood that he had his princely duties, but to not even come and say hello.

Perhaps this was normal? You’d never been in love before, let alone in a relationship. Perhaps you were acting naive.

Sniffling you stand, grabbing your boots and the flowers and walking away from the tide pools. You move silently, walking to the front of the palace. The nighttime is quiet aside from the trickling of the various waterfalls. You pause.

The centerpiece of the plaza, Mipha’s statue, smiles down upon you.

“Am I doing something wrong?” you whisper, casting her a forlorn look, “was I expecting too much?”

There’s no response, of course.

You sigh, taking the wreath and placing it on the ground in front of her, arranging it delicately. Then you tug your bots on and hug your arms to yourself, walking away toward the bridge. You can’t bring yourself to look back at the palace, the tears threatening to fall again.

…

Unbeknownst to you, the prince had been in the Pristine Sanctum; a private chamber hidden behind one of the many waterfalls of the domain, known only to the royal family and its council.

“Father, an arranged marriage?” Sidon pleaded, looking up to the king with concern on his face, “how could you never have told me? Why must I have found out in such a way?”

King Dorephan sighed deeply, a frown on his face as he leaned back in his chair, “I apologize, my son. I hoped that it would never have to come to this. Had I known that Sola would be so diligent in pursuing this outcome, I would have informed you sooner.”

Beside the king, Muzu stands with guilt written on his face as he casts his gaze downward. He had been the one to tell Sidon about the arrangement- though the prince had never informed anyone of the conversation he heard in the first place.

Prince Sidon stubbornly confronts them both, “I will not go through with this. I will not be forced into a marriage.”

“But sire, the alliance,” Muzu retorts, “we have a long and storied partnership with our fellow settlement, it would be a historic upset to sever that!”

“Is there no other way to maintain our ally?” Sidon challenges, “is a marriage truly the only solution?”

Dorephan answers, “our standing was severely weakened after the calamity. With the heir to the throne, Mipha, dead, and Hyrule as a whole beaten down by Ganon, our allies saw no benefit in keeping their ties with us. The settlement Lady Yona hails from is our last Zora alliance. If we do not remain connected with them, we risk losing our connections to our history and culture. King Sola demands a marriage- he knows that our bloodline stems from ancient times and is well-respected. He believes that an engagement will heighten not only Yona’s legitimacy but his own as well.”

Sidon shakes in anger as he stares up at the king. “Father, this is not fair,” he responds, voice tense with emotion, “you chose your queen. You chose her out of love and compassion. Why can I not choose mine?”

“... every king must make sacrifices for the sake of fulfilling their duty,” the king replies sadly, “I fear that this must be yours, my son.”

“You expect me to sever my relationship? To sacrifice the love that I have for _____?” the prince says with gritted teeth, “you would like to see me heartbroken? To see me in despair? You expect me to break her precious heart as well?”

“Son-” Dorephan sighs woefully, but Sidon does not relent.

“I will not allow this, I will not lose someone whom I love so dearly again,” he argues, “I will find a way around this, I will find another solution.”

Before either of them can attempt to stop him, the prince turns and marches out of the sanctum. Even the coolness of the waterfall does little to calm his anger. As he walks out he’s surprised to see two of the councilmen awaiting him; Luve and Morato.

“My liege,” Luve, with the fins of a sawfish, says as he bows out of respect, “I trust that your meeting went well.”

Sidon’s shoulders tense but he forces a smile onto his face, “it was fine, thank you, gentlemen. If you excuse me, however, I will be on my way.”

“Ah, but sire!” the other, Morato who resembles a squid, pipes up, “you are needed in the library, you must write about your diplomatic travels for the archive.”

The prince does his best to hide the disappointment that he feels. “I understand, and I will do my due diligence to archive my journey, I promise. However, I’ve made arrangements to travel to Lookout Landing. I intend to visit Princess Zelda and the Hylian Champion.”

Luve and Morato exchange looks with one another as if they’re having a silent conversation that Sidon cannot interpret. “The Hylian knight is actually quite busy” Morato retorts, crossing his fins, “we hear she’s preoccupied with training the new army, and we suspect she is not accepting visitors at this time.”

Sidon feels himself grow more frustrated by the second and attempts to reply, “yes, I understand, but-”

He’s swiftly interrupted by Luve, “Your Royal Highness, we insist you maintain your responsibilities. The archives need to be updated as soon as possible, this is not a matter which can be delayed.”

Prince Sidon takes in a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm before he says something he may regret to the two elders. “... Understood. I will go to the library. At the very least, could one of you get in contact with Captain Bazz? I would like for him to forward a message to the champion for me.”

Luve and Morato smile keenly, nodding their heads at the prince. In truth, neither of them intends to relay any kind of message. Just as neither of them had intended to inform the prince of your presence in the palace.

Thus, Sidon spends his evening in the domain’s library, unaware that you were waiting for him at the tide pools. Hours pass as he diligently writes on the parchment paper, documenting his journey to the allied settlement. He describes fanciful feasts, exciting festivals, and his thorough exploration of their cove- but he does not document the arrangement between the kings. He refuses to make note of the supposed engagement between himself and Lady Yona.

Once the prince feels satisfied, he rolls up the parchment and places it on one of the many shelves the library maintains. As he retires to his private chambers for the night, he is none the wiser to your presence- or the fact that at this same moment in time, you were walking away from the palace.

Sidon sighs as he sits in his room, placing his chin in his hands as he thinks. Why had the councilmen been so insistent? Documenting his diplomatic trip was important, yes, but it could have been done at any time. He would have far preferred to spend those hours traveling West toward Hyrule Field.

He misses you so dearly. After months away he longs to see your face, hear your voice, feel your touch. He can’t help but pine for you. “I will make my way to Lookout Landing tomorrow,” he whispers to himself, “nothing will delay me any further.”

The next morning the prince is in the plaza, the owners of the Seabed Inn and General Shop having requested his presence. They discuss inventory as Cleff, owner of the shop, seems particularly interested in establishing trade with the new landing in central Hyrule. As the three Zora converse, some of the children come running by.

“Finley,” the inn owner, Kayden, chastizes his daughter, “please be more quiet, we’re having a discussion.”

Sidon chuckles, waving a hand, “it is fine, I implore you, let the young ones have their fun.”

“Prince Sidon, Prince Sidon!” Laruta cheers, drawing his attention, “did you see the champion? She was here yesterday!”

His heart skips a beat, eyes widening as he listens to the child’s words. “Pardon? Did you say that the Hylian Champion was in Zora’s Domain?”

This time it’s Tumbo who speaks up, “yeah, at the tide pools! I was telling her all about our new game, where I pretend to be a big scary monster, and Finley and Laruta and Keye have to try to beat me up, and-”

As the young Zora rambles Sidon feels his heart begin to race. He looks up at the two owners and bows his head, “forgive me, there’s something I must attend to. I will be sure to reach out to the head of Lookout Landing to establish that trade!”

He quickly turns and spots Bazz at the entrance to the Great Zora Bridge. The prince immediately walks over and catches the captain’s attention, pulling him aside for a conversation. “Sidon?” Bazz asks, confused about the sudden urgency.

“Did you have a chance to send that letter to the champion?” Sidon asks, “if not, there’s no need to bother yourself with it any longer, I will be going to central Hyrule myself.”

Bazz stares back blankly, a look of confusion finding its way to his features. “... a letter?” he replies.

Now it’s Sidon’s turn to be confused. “Yes, the letter, did the councilmen not inform you of it yesterday?”

The captain shakes his head, “prince, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Prince Sidon pauses, shutting his eyes and sighing. He puts together the puzzle pieces in his mind, hands clenching into fists and a frown forming on his face. “I see,” he sighs, “it appears that there is some interference at play here.”

“Interference?” Bazz repeats, tilting his head, “how do you mean?”

“_____ was here yesterday, I can only assume with the intention of seeing me. However, I was never informed,” Sidon explains, “at the same time, I had asked the elders to contact you and have you send a message to Lookout Landing. It appears they deliberately ignored me.”

The captain sways to the side nervously, leaning against his spear, “well. This is certainly a predicament. You don’t think that… they’re trying to interfere with your courtship, do you?”

Sidon’s gaze, full of anger, is cast downward, “I fear this may be the case. If it is, I will confront the elders about it later. For now, however, I will be traveling Westward to the landing.”

Bazz salutes his friend, “good luck to you then, prince. Don’t let anyone stop you.”

The prince replies as he casts his gaze upward, eyeing the throne room, “I don’t intend to.”

…

“_____? Are you feeling alright?”

You groan, tugging the bedsheets over your face, wanting to hide from the world.

“Come now, you must eat something. It’s nearly lunchtime, and you’ve been in bed all day.”

With a grumble you tug the bedsheets off, looking up at the figure beside you. The princess gazed down at you with a face of concern. The both of you were in the soon-to-be laboratory, Purah having been kind enough to let you sleep here to avoid the communal shelter.

“Will you at least have some water?” Zelda asks.

You allow yourself to be dragged out of bed and guided to the table. You’re handed a glass of water which you sip on slowly, throat sore due to the fact that you’d cried yourself to sleep the night prior. Zelda stands behind your chair and you feel her fingers begin to pull your hair apart, likely attempting to make your bedhead appear more presentable.

The princess fills the silence by talking, letting you know about the progress with the schoolhouse in Hateno Village. You blink the sleep from your eyes as she speaks, grateful that she wasn’t seeking any responses from you. There’s a plate of pastries on the table and you reach out to grab a nutcake, which seems to please Zelda.

“The soldiers were awaiting instruction, so I’ve told them to spar for the time being,” she explains, pulling her hands away from your hair, “they were admittedly a tad worried about you, but I said that it was a personal matter… do you still not want to talk about it?”

You shake your head silently.

Zelda sighs, but nods her head, “alright. I will not pry. But whenever you’d like to talk, I’ll be here for you.”

This brings a small smile to your lips. You’re eternally grateful for her friendship. It helps to soothe all of your confusing and upsetting emotions, even if only a little.

‘Might as well make myself useful today,’ you think as you stand, ‘trainees are waiting to hear from me, after all.’

You wordlessly get dressed, tugging on your tunic and armor, strapping on your gloves and boots, and securing the Master Sword’s scabbard around your torso. You splash your face with water, hoping to get rid of the evidence of your tears and tireless night. As you dig through your travel pack you hear a voice outside the door.

“Hey champ!” Purah calls out, “you’ve got a guest!”

‘A guest?’

~~~ <> ~~~

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#botw #breath of the wild #totk #tears of the kingdom #loz #fanfic #x reader #reader insert #female reader #prince sidon #prince sidon x reader #sidon x reader

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