#I REALLY APPRECIATE IT 💜💜💜💜💜

[xtaleunderverse]

3 DAYS LEFT

I really appreciate all the love and support you've given to this campaign! mwah mwah! 💜

X-EVENT PLUSHIE:

SUBJECT VI & OWOSTER PINS:

[chantilly8]

Help Chante move out

Hi. I've decided to attempt moving out of my parent's place. It's going to be stressful, but I think I can make it work. My goal is to earn enough in order to move hopefully by the end of the year. I am still looking for a regular paying job, something difficult to me as I am autistic, however comms are still my biggest source of income. So if you can commission me or donate to my tip jar I would really appreciate it.

My comm options are:

Icons 30USD

Portraits 50 USD

Illustrations 100USD

If you're interested in a commission my email is

sikbau7@gmail.com

If you are unable to donate, I'd really appreciate a reblog or share 💜Thank you for reading this far.

[lovedeluxe92]

hello all. i really hate to do this again, but i have no choice. i’ve had to miss a lot of time off work lately due to extremely personal issues and health issues. i’m going to the doctor’s next month, etc but ofc that’ll cost me. i just need some help getting sustainable groceries, paying my energy bill which is is over $200, and getting my car fixed!! if anyone can help i would super appreciate it 🫶🏼💙 as always, stay safe out there. share if you can and i will take this down as soon as i reach my goal! thank you all 🩷💜

0/200

[rooks-dagger]

Ship Sleep Dynamics

Saw this tag done by @mythals-whore (here) and @flowersforthemachines (here) and thought it looked cute! This was such a fun way to explore these characters, and it gave me yet another opportunity to yap about Neverook 😊

No-pressure tagging @dudewheresmynug @dancing--lights @themildmahariel @in-the-drowning-deep @master-of-the-elements @curiouswisp @litchigaming @hedwigoprah @antivan-sprig @casa-dei-corvei @fenrelmercar @amellderiva @jouskaroo @etherealancientmusings @caughtnyact @griffongrey @thatgaymerguyb if you'd like to play! 💜

can we also take a moment to appreciate how jacked ember is? 🙂‍↕️ thank you.

Ember "Rook" Mercar + Neve Gallus ⚔️❄️

How often do they sleep together?

Every few days at least, every night if they can manage it. It’s highly dependent on their wild ass schedules, but that gets easier after the events of Veilguard when they’re both living in Dock Town.

But early on at the Lighthouse? These two were lucky if they could even nap for a few hours together.

Where do they sleep?

It takes some time for them to start sleeping in the same space together. Their options are really just the barebones cot in Neve’s study or the horrible green chaise in the meditation room. Neither are made for two people, and both are decidedly uncomfortable. But misery loves company, right? So they’ll cuddle up. Out of necessity (mmhmm riiight)

This usually means Ember will practically drag Neve down to rest on top of her or that the two of them will be spooned up tight to keep from falling off (“Rook, I swear, if you push me off this couch, I’m going to take you down with me.”) Honestly, the forced proximity of these shitty beds worked in their favor. Or at least, neither one is complaining about the end result.

Once they’re back in Dock Town after the game, they immediately get an ACTUAL bed for their apartment. Thank the Maker. Their backs were killing them.

How do they prepare to sleep?

Ember winds down with some stretches, brushes her teeth, and she might deign to comb her hair. Then she does a quick sweep around whatever space they’re staying in to lock up for the night (It’s an old habit. She doesn’t care if it’s paranoid. Her little patrols have stopped at least one cook-plate fire, foiled the plans of two assassins, and kept a demon-possessed rat out of the kitchen.)

Ember will then review Veilguard missives in bed, make note about key things she has to do the next day, etc. This has the side benefit of acting as a buddy system/forcing function to encourage Neve to at least start making her way to bed with her case notes if she’s not in full deep work mode. The two of them will also chat about a case or their day or just banter about, their conversations becoming sillier and their sentences tapering off as they start to fall asleep. Ember almost always falls asleep first (there are some nights when she’s convinced Neve is playing a twisted game of sleep-chicken.)

Meanwhile, I just know that Neve has terrible sleep hygiene and barely any routine to speak of. I’d be shocked if she even takes time to remove her makeup most nights tbh (my darling disaster girl). But she definitely reviews her case notes in bed, and she keeps a notebook on her nightstand for when she needs to jot down any stray thoughts. Ember also keeps a notebook and pen on her nightstand for when Neve inevitably misplaces hers under a mountain of papers. She’s become a pro at blindly handing it over (still half-asleep) to Neve in the middle of the night.

Neve probably has some small ritual to take care of her prosthetic / leg, too (e.g., a moisturizer or massage for her leg, a quick scan of her prosthetic to make sure it wasn’t damaged from the day’s adventures, etc.) and this becomes more consistent once they’ve moved back to Dock Town post-game.

What do they wear to sleep?

Ember: boxers/sweats and a tank top/t-shirt/sports bra. Similar to the in-game underwear. Basic, functional, the type of thing you'd find in a value pack at a big-box store lol.

Neve: an oversized shirt (watch it be the equivalent of a Cida Ciconia band t-shirt lol) and her underwear. She doesn’t seem like someone who’d bother with actual PJs. She’s been known to just strip and collapse into bed (at the apartment) or fall asleep in whatever she wore that day (at the lighthouse or office)

Do they cuddle?

Yes!

As mentioned earlier, this started because their bed options at the lighthouse were not made for two people. So, unless they wanted to part ways and sleep separately, or one person was willing to take the floor, they had to share. Not that they minded. It actually worked in their favor to have a set “reason” for being that close that didn’t require them to openly admit they wanted to cuddle (lol these idiots.)

I also just see Neve and Ember as being very physically affectionate with their loved ones. Sure, Neve will keep some distance in public to at least try and keep a target off Ember’s back, but in private (or among trusted friends) it’s all fair game. Meanwhile, Ember positively beams at their proximity no matter what. Dork.

What are their preferred sleep positions?

Ember will usually sleep on her back or her side, and always with the door in her sightline (yet another reason she hated that green chaise). She particularly enjoys having Neve resting on her chest while Ember holds her close. And she loves loves loves being the big spoon.

Also, Little Spoon!Neve supremacy. I will die on this hill 😤 Neve also likes resting her head on Ember’s chest because she finds her heartbeat soothing. Or she’ll curl up against Ember, tangling their legs together. I suspect Neve breaks away a few times in the night as she tosses and turns, but even so she tries to keep some physical contact with Ember.

How easy do they fall asleep?

It depends.

Ember can usually fall asleep quickly, anytime and anywhere. She’s got that military technique to be out like a light within minutes of closing her eyes down to a science (much to Neve’s disbelief. She tested just how asleep Ember was the first few times to see if she was faking it. Ember did not appreciate these experiments lol.) But Ember starts to have trouble sleeping once Solas is in her head during the events of the game. Plus, ya know, all the stress of leading the team in an apocalypse. It gets better post-game, but it’s never quite as easy as it had been. Could be a lingering effect of the blood magic idk (Ember shrugs it off, but Neve is determined to find an actual answer.)

Neve does not fall asleep quickly or easily. Her mind continues to chew on whatever case she’s working on. But sometimes she will push herself to the point of exhaustion and just collapse onto the bed and conk out. She and Ember continue to debate on whether that counts as “falling asleep” or “passing out.” 🙄

However, Neve does find it much easier to fall and stay asleep with Ember nearby. No, she will not elaborate. Unless you’re Bellara. And Bellara has sworn the sacred girl’s-night secrecy pact. Her oath to Neve is so strong even Ember can’t weasel anything out of her (and trust me, she’s tried.)

Do they toss and turn a lot?

Ember can, if she’s having a nightmare. These flare up after the final battle and will have her thrashing around until she jolts awake or Neve wakes her up. Luckily these nightmares become less frequent over time, only popping up during times of stress. Otherwise, she doesn’t move much in her sleep beyond readjusting her position around Neve if her arm starts going numb or something. 

Neve tosses and turns every night. She’s a fitful sleeper to begin with, even at the best of times. She’ll settle down a bit if she’s the little spoon, but it rarely lasts the whole night. Sometimes she’ll grow so agitated at not being able to fall asleep (whether it’s due to her racing mind, a bad dream, or pain in her leg) that she’ll just get up and go back to work.

Do they snore?

Neve has a very soft snore when she’s deep in sleep, which Ember thinks is adorable. Neve denies this slander outright. She absolutely does NOT snore, thank you very much.

Rana can back Ember up here. Neve snores and has done so since they were kids.

Who hogs the blankets?

NEVE. To be fair, she’s not used to sharing a bed with someone. And all her tossing and turning drags the blankets along with her. But if she wakes up in the middle of the night, she will notice and try to redistribute the blankets more fairly. Though there’s hardly any need since Ember is usually cuddled up close to her anyways.

What do they dream about?

Ember doesn’t remember most of her dreams. Sometimes they’re just silly things thrown together ("Lucanis and that cat Ferdinand had a cook off to see who Hal's assistant should be... but Ferdinand lost because kept eating the fish. Too bad. I think his recipe would have won 😔”) But more often it’s nightmares about being trapped in the Regret Prison, some of her more harrowing gladiator fights, etc.

Neve doesn’t usually dream but sometimes her cases blur together nonsensically in her mind, which she finds more annoying than anything. Or they’ll start mixing with current day anxieties - usually ending with bad things happening to people she cares about. Needless to say, she’d rather just go to sleep and wake up without having to deal with dreams or the Fade at all.

How easily do they wake up?

Ember wakes up easily and quickly. Years of being woken unexpectedly for a fight, an arena match, or some emergency forced her to become a light sleeper. She’s also naturally an early riser, but Neve can persuade her to stay in bed a while longer without much difficulty.

Neve CAN wake up quickly if she has a breakthrough in a case that she has to write down, or if she hears anything “off” (i.e., dangerous) in the usual Minrathous lullaby, but it’s a jarring transition and she will be grumpy after she’s dealt with the situation. She does not appreciate being woken up for anything short of an actual emergency otherwise.

How awake are they afterwards?

Ember is up and at ‘em once her eyes open, alert and ready to start the day. She'll attempt to make her half of the bed (she’s long given up on getting Neve to pick up that habit lol) and then go off to brush her teeth, make coffee, etc. She might even fit in a run or some training exercises in the morning.

Neve is… less enthused lol. She takes her time to gain her bearings and get out of bed. And she will want her coffee asap. She’s still trying to crack the case of how Ember is so damn chipper in the morning. “It’s called having an actual sleep routine, Neve,” Ember laughs. Neve pointedly ignores her.

[thewizardapprentice]

I'm not crying I'm not crying I'm not crying...no, I'm crying!😭💜 Thank you so much for such kind words, they warm my heart and soul🥹 You have no idea how pleased I am to receive such a comment, so much so that I'm ready to print it out and hang it above my desk so I never forget. I really appreciate it, really. You made my day brighter, thank you so much💕💕💕

I finally passed all my exams for this semester and can take a little rest! Yaaaay!

In the meantime, here's some art and a little sketch for Chapter 104 "Infinitely Ordinary" from "Great Decisions" by @rydoesartandstuff.

I wanted to draw this when the chapter first came out, but studying took up all my time😭

Hopefully I'll have more time to draw now. I definitely need to practice this more to improve my drawing skills of trolls😁

I really like Hickory's "redemption" arc in the Trolls village and I really hope he stays there for a long time. Our guy deserves a good life! And I just love Hickory 😆 By the way, it was really interesting to see the song "Run It" there! I've loved it since Sonic 3 came out! So...how can I refuse to include it in my drawing(?)))

[prettyiwa]

(Previous) Relationship: Sakura Haruka x Florist!Reader Content Tags: Fluff, Pink appreciation post, Light flirting, Hanami, Not-Quite-Date, Unexpected cherry tree lecture, Talks about hanakotoba, Sakura is afraid to reveal the existence of his romance sensor, References to ch. 63-66/s2 ep9 Summary: When Sakura comes to you in the middle of your day and asks if you want to go hanami, how can you possibly say no? (There are perks to being your own boss in between holidays). Word Count: 3.4k

A/N: The unexpected sakura rabbithole I found myself in for this chapter was. I don't know why it was unexpected. But I feel that I wildly underrepresented the sakura variety available in Japan. There's so many and they're all so cool! You should look them up!! Otherwise, a fun tidbit is that, so far, Sakura has been very careful to avoid romantic topics, encounters, or anything in the presence of the Florist because he doesn't want them finding out about his romance sensor (nor does he want people (Suo in particular) commenting on it in front of them). So Florist simply thinks that he's reactive/poor at hiding his feelings (it's endearing, alright), which is true, but it means they have no idea why he blushes so much around them. Tagging @owoasis & @kweenkatsuki-fics 💜

Pink.

It wasn’t until eleven months ago that you really started enjoying the color. As a florist, you certainly had an appreciation for it—the mauve of certain snapdragons, a rose’s blush, the magenta of your favorite orchids—but it was never your favorite. Even as the beginning of you favorite season had everything turning inordinately pink, it had never received more attention from you than any other color.

But this year, as you stand amongst a sea of blooming sakura that gives even the atmosphere a light blush, you think it’s the most beautiful color of all.

Another gust of wind blows through, losing momentum shortly after hitting the trees, though it’s enough to shake loose the delicate blossoms that are the star of the day. The air is punctured by pink and white, swirling together and around people as they pass through the park. Reaching your hand out, you feel as they dance across your skin, escaping before you manage to catch any.

A chuckle carries on the breeze, pulling your attention behind you. As you turn, you’re graced with a soft smile before it’s replaced by a lovely rouge and a slight pout.

“What’re you lookin’ at?” Sakura asks, ducking his head incrementally.

Unable to contain it, you crack a smile, wide and encouraging as you wait for him to catch up. “You, obviously.” His blush deepens, spreading, and you love the color even more. “You’ve got some petals in your hair.”

His eyes flick up, though he’ll only be able to see a couple of petals, and you’re tempted to reach up and brush them off for him, the subtle itch in your palm seemingly urging you forward. Instead, you close your fist, bringing it to rest above your heart as he shakes out his hair.

“So, uh… Are you having fun?” There are still a few petals now buried beneath the first layer of hair, but you’ll leave them be. He walks forward, keeping you going down the path.

“I am.” It’s been a number of years since you’ve been able to enjoy the sakura in full (since before you left for university, honestly), much less with a friend. But your enjoyment of the day would’ve been guaranteed with your company alone. “Are you? We can do something else if you want. It is your birthday.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, he knocks loose one of the remaining petals. “This is fine. ‘M havin’ fun.” The words sound like a reluctant truth, but you know he means them.

The wind kicks up, warmer this time, the flowers highlighting its movement as it circles on the ground to your left. He pauses, mesmerized by the hanafubuki, and you circle around, stopping in front of him. Immediately, his eyes flicker to you, considering you from his peripheral before you both turn to watch the dancing flowers.

After a beat, you ask, “The guys have something planned for tonight, don’t they?”

It takes a moment for him to process your question, the susurration of the trees offering a distracting melody. When he turns to you, his eyes focus, becoming unclouded. “Huh? Oh. Yeah, we were gonna gather at Pothos then head to Hiragahara for drinks.”

“That sounds like fun,” you lilt, imagining Kotoha’s face at hosting the group. Will she be joining them later? “What time should you be heading over, then?” It’s barely past two, but you hadn’t anticipated Sakura wanting to do hanami today, meaning his gift still sits at home.

A child’s sharp giggle pierces the air as she waddles forward, hands outstretched toward the sky. She draws your attention, along with the parents that follow behind. When you look back to Sakura, you find him similarly watching, leaving you to appreciate his lighter profile, white hair swaying with the wind.

“Not for another couple hours,” he answers, still watching the family.

Thats… not very descriptive.

“Do you mind swinging by my place before you take off?” It’s out of the way, Pothos sitting between the park and your home. If anything, it’d probably be easier for him to come over on his way home, but you don’t know what the guys have planned in Hiragahara.

Swinging his head in your direction again, you catch the wrinkle between his eyebrows before it disappears. “What for?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Turning on your heel, you walk ahead, sure he’s following. “I just made you something. I know you don’t like it when I spend money on you—” his scoff interrupts you, bringing a smile to your lips as you duck your head and turn before continuing, “—which kinda limits what I can do for your birthday. I didn’t want to get you more flowers—”

“Knock that off.” Looking over your shoulder, he’s fixing you with that look he’s been giving you lately whenever you turn the slightest bit disparaging. “I like your f-flowers.”

It’s been a year of him accepting your flowers and every now and then you assume an inability to tell you no. It shouldn’t come as a surprise—Sakura is so authentically himself that if ever he finds himself in situations, it’s of his own doing—and yet…

“Yeah?”

“Y-Yeah.” His nose turns pink before the rest of his face follows and he scratches his cheek. “I mean… They’re nice. And you like ‘em which makes them… I dunno. Kinda cool?” He shrugs like it’s no big deal, like he didn’t just silence your minute insecurity with a handful of words.

Your heart kicks up, pattering in your chest and warmth blooms across your face. “Would you believe me if I said that was probably the sweetest and best thing you’ve ever said to me?”

“It’s not like it’s a big deal or anything!” There’s a hitch in his voice, slight panic in his heterochromatic eyes before he shoves his hands in his pockets.

“To me it is. I’m glad you like my flowers. It means the world to me.”

Like a bashful teenager, he grunts before turning his face away, chewing the inside of his cheek as red spreads across his face. Sparing him, you continue forward.

“Anyway, instead of buying you something or giving you more flowers, I made you a treat. Though… I guess if you’re going to Pothos, it’d ruin your appetite, huh?” Learning he enjoys sweeter treats, you made him something you picked up during your time in America, wanting to give him something unique to you. It’s a bit selfish and silly, but it’s not hurting anyone.

“Could always swing by after.” His voice is closer than you expected, leaning in as he comes to join you at your side. When you glance over, you spot the telltale signs of his excitement—the sparkle in his eyes, the singular focus.

“You could, yeah.” Does he mean to keep himself from drinking? If not, you hope it’s Nirei who accompanies him to your place tonight. “Are you planning on drinking with them this time? Or will you be playing babysitter?”

“I ain’t playin’ babysitter,” he says with a huff. “That’ll probably be Hiragi.”

“Hiragi?”

“Yeah, one of the Four Kings I was tellin’ you about.”

That was months ago when he was sitting with you on the engawa with your amado open. He was tipsy, drinking beer with you and the others as they exchanged stories of the history of Bofurin and its evolution. You hadn’t expected the impromptu lecture, nor Nirei’s exuberance.

“Right! Wow. So is tonight a Bofurin reunion, or is it a smaller gathering?”

“They always turn it into a big thing. Bigger than it needs to be.” Despite the way he grumps, his ears give away his excitement.

Your lips pull into a smile. “I’m glad.”

He freezes beside you, eyes darting to yours before dropping to your grin. “Hah? Why’re you glad?”

“What, I can’t be glad my favorite person in Makochi has so many people who want to celebrate his birthday?” You press your fingers to your chest in faux offense, laughing at his exasperated exhale.

“Shaddup. Don’t say that; I’m not your favorite. That’s probably Kotoha or Suo or someone.”

A sensation like ice water pours through your chest, dripping between your ribs as it extinguishes your warmth. “Rude.” Sakura flinches at your tone, his quick dismissal earning him a rare rebuke. Rather than continue chastising him for it, you continue as though the interruption never occurred. “But you didn’t answer my question.”

“Which one?” he asks, voice subdued.

“You’ll be drinking tonight?”

“I dunno. Maybe.” His eyes keep flicking to you, and you nearly feel bad for your reproval.

“You had a good time with me.” Maybe if you direct him toward happier memories, he’ll come back to himself.

“That was different.” Was it?

With a deep breath, you lean into the topic. “Are you afraid they’ll find out you’re a lightweight?”

It does the trick, the edge of melancholy tainting his expression making way for the same flare of vexation that Suo pulls from him. His shoulders rise and his voice grows loud, attracting some attention. “I’m not a lightweight!”

“It’s okay because I am, too.” Your laugh seems to lift the mood, his shoulders slow to relax.

When he doesn’t respond, you don’t feel the need to push the conversation, figuring he won’t give you an answer. It doesn’t matter if he does; he said he’d show up tonight, so he will. Whether that’s with a chaperone or two makes no difference. Instead, you take to walking toward the trees, hoping to find flowers and branches you can use in seasonal arrangements.

He trails behind, only half-watching the way you interact with the world, and it isn’t until you return to him with a couple of blossoms that he says, “I had fun drinking with you.” It’s a low confession, as most of his sincere sentiments are.

“Yeah, but I’m not going to be there tonight.” You keep your eyes down as you take his hand and place the Somei Yoshino blossoms in his awaiting palm.

“You could be. If— if you want to.”

When you look up, you realize he’s holding his breath. That lovely blush dusts his cheeks when you smile. “Would you like me to?”

Even without knowing the rest of the Bofurin guys, you’re aware of the commotion it would likely cause—your interactions with Suo, Nirei, Kotoha, and Umemiya have communicated enough. Beyond holding each other in high esteem, they all seem to have a soft spot for Sakura. Getting to know him over the last year, you doubt he does this often, invite another friend to a get together, especially one celebrating him. The thought fills you with as much warmth as it does dread.

He seems dissatisfied with your non-answer, his lips turning into a tight line as he watches you. Shifting his attention to the dainty flowers in his palm, he says, “It wouldn’t… be the worst thing.”

“Are you incapable of saying, ‘Yes, I’d have fun if you were there?’”

The light blush sparks, turning from a small ember into a dancing flame, turning the rest of his face red, but he meets your gaze. “I’d… have fun if… you were there.”

“What was that? I can’t hear you.”

“I said,” he starts, leaning in with half a scowl as his volume increases, “I’d have fun if you were there.” When you smile, eyes flitting across his face, he clicks his tongue.

It’s easy to appease his irritation, to bring a hint of a smile back to his face. “Alright. I’ll come along.”

Sure enough, the crease between his brows disappears and his eyes soften as his lips relax. Realizing your proximity, he pulls back, clearing his throat. Glancing around, he tries to find something to distract him, eyes bouncing from tree to tree before turning to the flowers in his hand.

“So… what are these?” Raising your brows, you glance between the sakura and him. He catches your question before you can ask it, sighing as he does with Suo. “You know what I mean! Aren’t these— Don’t you— Fuck. Don’t look at me like I’m crazy! Aren’t there different sakura? You’d know, right?”

You laugh, turning around to let him calm down in peace. “There are. There’s actually a lot of different cherry trees in Japan. The blossoms I gave you are Somei Yoshino. They’re some of my favorite.”

He comes to your side again, falling in step as you lead him toward some of the other varieties down the way. Glancing over, you see him lift the tiny branch, examining the cluster of flowers that will never fruit.

“What makes ‘em different?”

“That’s… Hm.”

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s just… There’s a number of ways to distinguish the blossoms. There’s the petals—Somei Yoshino blossoms only have five petals, then there are Ichiyos with about twenty petals. Yaezakura encompasses the blossoms with more than five petals, but you can get technical with that. Then you have different coloration. I’ve seen some trees change color as the blossoms mature. I’ve also seen yellow blossoms, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen Ukon trees.”

A fleeting thought stops you before you launch into bloom times, glancing over at Sakura to find him looking a little lost. His eyes are wide, lips parted, mind trying to play catch up. Shaking his head, he ends up laughing to himself.

“I… dunno why I wasn’t expecting a flower lesson.” Your laughter dances with his, filling the air before another burst of wind blows through, rustling the trees. “Maybe I shoulda asked… Do you have any favorites?”

“You mean besides the Somei Yoshino?” He nods, turning his attention to the sakura once more. “Mm… I guess I’ve grown fond of the Ichiyos lately. And I’ve always enjoyed the shidarezakura.”

After briefly looking around, he asks, “Are there any around here?”

From what you remember, there are a couple of trees gathered near the center of the park, not too far from where you are currently. “Yeah, we can head there if you want to see them.”

“Why those specific sakura?”

“Aside from their beauty, I suppose it’s because I’m taken by their meanings.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know if you’re familiar with hanakotoba,” you start, though you’re at least eighty percent sure of his answer, secretly pleased when he shakes his head, “but most flowers have symbolic meanings that can be used to communicate. Somei Yoshino are used to communicate exceptional beauty. Shidarezakura on the other hand highlight elegant and deception. Most yaezakura can be used to represent someone who’s educated or refined.”

If you had to put a reason to your growing appreciation of those trees, you could probably trace it to the growing presence of Sakura, Suo, and Nirei in your life.

He’s quiet, slipping deeper in thought, and you wonder whether he realizes that each flower you’ve given him has carried meaning beyond its ephemeral beauty, each flower deliberate. He’s undoubtedly aware of the way you choose each gift with care, but there’s reason beyond that.

The weeping trees come into sight and you’re about to point them out when he finds his voice.

“My first year at Furin, Tsubaki—uh, one of the other Kings—had me and the others come to this old guy’s house. Ito. His wife had died not too long before and he and her helped Tsubaki, so Tsubaki wanted to help him, too. He had this garden… kinda like yours, but without all the flowers. He only had one plant with flowers.”

“Oh?” It’s a very deliberate choice on both your parts—a flowering garden versus a nonflowering garden. Adding a plant of the opposite kind can make or break the flow, so it’s an interesting choice.

“Yeah. Turns out that he and his wife had an arranged marriage or somethin’ and he got it in his head that she didn’t… love him,” he says, almost as if he’s struggling with the memory. He hesitates and you don’t push him, continuing to lead him to the crowd at the base of the trees. “Suo… figured out that Ito had pissed her off cause he got insecure. And it turned out he didn’t even find out she was mad at him until we got there cause she used hanakotoba.”

Laughing, you try to picture the couple, even if you have no basis for the image. Ito… Off the top of your head, you can’t remember whether you’ve had a customer by that name, but you’ll keep an eye out if he ever comes by.

“Do you happen to remember what the flower was?”

“I think… It was a dog… something. It was a tree.”

“Oh, dogwood?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“That makes sense.” Am I indifferent to you? Not many flowers have direct messages like that. “It’s also sweet, in a way.”

“Sweet?” He’s louder than he intends, turning to look at you like you have two heads.

“Yeah. It directly addresses his insult, but it’s also a promise from her. Their love will endure. Honestly… it’s probably something I’d do.”

The crowd shuffles, moving to the next tree down the path, creating an opening for you and Sakura. Despite the way your attention draws to the petaled, drooping branches, Sakura seems glued to you.

“Why communicate like that? Why not be upfront?”

His question demands your full attention, and you give it, finding him intent, studying you like he’s asking something else entirely. It makes you feel woefully exposed, bared to him in a way you didn’t quite expect, an uncomfortable sensation crawling down your arms, settling in your hands.

“There’s lots of different ways to communicate. This is just one of them. But you can’t tell me that communicating via flowers is that surprising for someone like me.” He deserves an answer that doesn’t leave you feeling like Suo, even though his edges dull with the answer you do give. “There’s beauty and romance in the subtle, in things that don’t last forever. But… it’s also a way to protect the heart, I suppose.”

“How’d you figure?”

“If, say, someone was afraid of confessing their love but they still wanted to express it, they might give flowers. They’re safe if they say nothing else when they give the flowers to someone unfamiliar with hanakotoba, but sometimes the flowers speak on their own regardless.”

How many degrees of separation can you apply when you’re talking about yourself? When you are currently doing the same thing? But… you also don’t want to push your feelings onto him. You are happy to have him at your side as a friend. If that ever changes, if that decision comes to change your relationship—in whatever form that takes—you want it to be his decision. For now, you’ll let your flowers do the talking.

“Y’know,” he says, looking up at the tree, the wind carrying one of its drooping branches closer, “Tsubaki would probably like it. Hanakotoba, I mean. All that stuff you were sayin’ about it being romantic.”

“Yeah? Is he particularly romantic?”

Sakura jolts as if experiencing an electrical shock, his muscles going stiff as his skin flushes and he avoids your gaze. “You could say that.”

“Another floral name, too. What, was Furin just collecting teenagers with nature names?” Sakura snickers at your glee. “I think I’d like to meet this Tsubaki.”

“On the basis of his name?” he teases you.

A breeze blows from the south and the shidarezakura loses hundreds of petals. His eyes flicker to the top of your head and you figure it’s your turn to have petals in your hair.

As you start to pick them out, feeling for them one by one, you give him a fake pout. “Maybe. Maybe he sounds like someone who’ll tell me old stories about what you were like before I arrived.”

“Don’t you get enough of that from Suo and Nirei?”

You hum, tapping your chin and tilting your head before shooting him a sly smile. “No, I don’t think so.”

His sigh is lost on the next gust of wind, and this time he’s the one to lead you back toward the other trees. You follow in silence, wondering if you’ll end up meeting Tsubaki at Pothos tonight. Before you can get too lost in thought, Sakura jogs forward, picking something up at the base of one of the trees. He comes forward, staring at your hands until you offer one, palm up. The corner of his lips twitches and he places a bunching of Somei Yoshino blossoms in your hand.

When you look up, you’re met with—

Pink.

Flower Glossary:

Somei Yoshino Sakura: Chaste, Exceptionally Beautiful

Yaezakura: Educated, Refined

Shidarezakura: Elegant, Deceptive

(header credit)

Hanakotoba Masterlist | Wind Breaker Masterlist | Next ❧

[iamashrimp1]

My completely schizophrenic opinion on Tmnt themes

Opinion 2

[I have nothing else to do like this, so I decided to watch the ROTTMNT series for the 999th time and give my opinion on crazy things]

Topic: Donatello 🤸🏻💜✨🐢

If I'm honest, this is one of the versions of Donn that I liked, not only because they removed the fact that he liked April (with all due respect, I feel that this made the 2012 Donatello look stupid jajaja although I clarify, only the moments of interaction between these two ).

In this version we see someone a little more sarcastic and self-centered (although the others sometimes had their moments of madness ✨)

Something funny and that actually became something comical, is the fact that he doesn't like physical affection or things like that.

But BAAM: Even the creators have said that, although he won't admit it, he does like affection—hugs, closeness—he just doesn't know how to express it without feeling uncomfortable, In fact, my dad and I have a joke or an omen: when Donatello 2018 cries, EVERYTHING WENT TO SHIT- (Although it is not always literal)

As an example we have the moment where I cry for Leo after he had been sacrificed (maybe it was hard for him to process and even more so because Raph and Mikey were breaking down at that moment)

Or moments before where he was shocked to see Leo's reaction to Casey for blaming him for Raph being kidnapped by the krang

Among many moments, like when they joined with the sphere (I don't remember if that thing was called Apa or something like that 🏃🏻) At the moment of being thrown and Raph trying to recover the pieces, and he got hit tremendously, everyone went to see him and the tone of voice that Donn uses makes me tender (it really makes me tender 😭💜) Inter alia.

Let's not forget the headcanon that Leo is her twin, and that I love to appreciate all the little moments where they are seen together.

I loved when he lives with Raph, because it seems to me that it is one of the duos that we did not have a chapter focused on these two.

Besides that I love the Donatello and Mikey episodes

His inventions are very Wao, and it is clear that he likes to boast that he knows how to invent.

His relationship with April stopped being romantic and became one of the best friendships.

There is another thing I think we should talk about and that is your shell:

We start with the fact that, so to speak, this one doesn't have a shell,for a turtle, a shell is its protection, its natural defense. Without it, Donnie seems more exposed, more physically vulnerable, Which makes me think that from the moment he learned how to build or how technology worked, he started working on prototypes for his armor.

Something that has been hinted at is that this is one of the characters with the least physical strength, something that reminds me of a fan art comic:

This is about Splinter not letting him enter with his brothers because of his shell.

Perhaps also because he has a more sensitive shell, he developed his gernophobia.

Another thing that I will never tire of talking about is the fact that in the Yokai City chapters, in his chapter (and April's) he said the phrase that at least left me winged "If mystical powers do what technology can and better then why do they even need me?"

At that moment I was like: SOMEONE GIVE THE BOY A HUG PLEASE 😭😭💜

Implying that he felt useless on the team for not having any mystical powers at that time.

In conclusion:

Donatello in Rise of the TMNT is so much more than just “the genius of the group.” His attitude, his emotional boundaries, the way he protects himself — even his physical design, like the absence of a traditional shell — all reflect a character with layers, contradictions, and a quiet but powerful evolution.

He may come off as cold, sarcastic, or distant, but deep down, he feels deeply, cares in his own way, and stands firm in who he is. And that makes him one of the most interesting and meaningful characters in this version.

And let's not forget to laugh about the fact that he's afraid of beach balls (and bees, but I'm also scared of those 🏃🏻)

[stormyoceans]

BABE WAKE U- actually get as much rest as you can sweetie 😌

BUT WHEN YOU WAKE UP!! GMMTV 2024 PART 2 ANNOUNCED FOR APRIL 24!!!

I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN STUCK IN A 5 HOURS LONG MEETING OF DOOM UNTIL NOW AND I COME OUT OF IT JUST TO FIND THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR GMMTV 2024 PART 2 WAITING FOR ME BUT ALSO NO JIMMYSEA IN SIGHT AND GMMTV APPARENTLY HAS DELETED A JIMMYSEA VLOG OF THEIR VIETNAM FAN MEETING AND JIMMY ISN'T GOING TO ATTEND THE XINLONG NUTS MUSIC FESTIVAL ON MAY 2 LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO I HAVEN'T EVEN EATEN YET AND IM STILL ABOUT TO THROW UP WHAT IS HAPPENING

[skibasyndrome]

I hope the student in my tutorial who reacted to me introducing myself today by saying "like Simon from young royals" knows that she's already my favorite student of all time zjsndnsjnsjsjsjsjsjsjndjdjdj

[frownyalfred]

do you ever just open an ao3 email and —

[karver518]

[8/9]

✨️🌙

[the-kipsabian]

[windor-truffle]

Dolphinnnnnn i finished L&L and you’re one of the two people who’s used the Asbel/Lambda tag so pls yell with me about them 🥺

OKAY WELL REMEMBER YOU ASKED FOR IT 😂 Time to raise the age rating of my blog!

I mean for me it's largely the tsundere-isms. Pav can testify that when I streamed Lineage and Legacies for her i was cackling throughout most of Lambda and Asbel's conversations, they always go the EXACT same way and it's so stupidly funny: Lambda shows up to insult/threaten Asbel, Asbel decides to view it in the rosiest tinted glasses in the fucking world and ends up either thanking or complimenting Lambda, and Lambda always IMMEDIATELY leaves with some insightful like commentary "This is foolishness," or "Hmph." That is peak comedy to me, watching a dude set a trap then fall for it himself 😂 "Haha I'm going to ruin this guy's life for fun and oh no, what are these, feelings?? Abort!!"

I know I'm always poor little meow-meowing Lambda a bit, but it's clear the loosely defined "guy" has been loved by exactly 1 (One) person and then that guy was fucking murdered which made Lambda think that love, or anything good really, would never find him again. So for Asbel to show up with unconditional positive regard despite barely knowing him, and forgiveness despite everything Lambda had done... yeah I'd fall for someone like that too 😅 He's such a kind man, it's the trait we love most about him 💜

Personally I'm fine to see Lambda and Asbel written platonically, like in the fic I wrote (which I'm assuming you're referencing in your ask thank you for the kudos 💜) where it's more ambiguous and a little one sided. But ALSO personally I think Asbel should have a harem, EVERYONE'S a little in love with the guy (but that's probably my oh so obvious bias talking 😅) (bonus points if Asbel's contentedly aromantically oblivious to his polycule). Asbel's always radiating beams of friendship, and he believes in people so much it makes them want to believe in themselves. And for characters who feel/have been told they are unlovable and shouldn't exist? Yeah that's how you get partners who are utterly obsessed 😅

But that's the more wholesome take on shipping them... there's also the appeal of more toxic and/or erotic dynamics. I'm not 100 percent sure this is what you're asking for so if the idea makes you (or anyone reading this) feel uncomfy, this is the paragraph to stop reading at.

So the fun thing about characters undergoing potential redemption arcs is that their journey can be nonlinear, or completely unsuccessful. I have no qualms about keeping Lambda in an antagonistic role regardless of Asbel's support. In some ways it makes sense for him to doubt or dislike Asbel's love; after all, it's unfamiliar and uncomfortable. If Asbel is right in his assertion that humans have potential, it means that Lambda was wrong to hurt and attempt to exterminate them, and that's not easy to admit. So it's fun to imagine Lambda doing everything in his power to make Asbel hate him so he can "win" this argument of whether he's redeemable or not. Things like bullying and intimidation like in canon, or more serious stuff like trying to kill Asbel's friends with his own hands :)

But that's barely toxic, in fact that could have a very wholesome ending if so desired. There's also some "fun" dynamics to be had with jealousy and abuse; it stands to reason the being possessing a guy would be, well, possessive 😅 If Lambda latches onto for Asbel for his kindness without actually internalizing it himself, we get into some pretty toxic stuff :) My long fic, though not shippy, does this, blurring the lines of Lambda's possessiveness from "you're mine" into "you're ME, you're an extension of myself and thus have no agency beyond what I permit." He's mistaken Asbel's friendship for unwavering approval and agreement with his worldview and actions, he blatantly violates his boundaries, and he dismisses his protests as "foolishness" or "not understanding reality." In the long fic, this comes to a confrontational breaking point (murder-suicide attempt), but knowing canon Asbel's endless belief in others even to his/their own detriment (like failing to call out Richard sooner during the main arc), I could see Asbel letting himself be abused for far too long under the misguided notion he can still "save" Lambda (good luck convincing someone who's actively benefitting from their actions to stop them buddy 😔).

As for the erotic, there's the sormik of it all... You know, the whole *leans into my imaginary microphone* fellas is it gay to live inside another man? 😅 It's probably not very hard to get someone off if you have direct control of their body huh. In fact, getting back to the jealousy thing and the fact that I'm still a hardcore Richass shipper, I like to think Lambda could get a little jealous of Asbel's arousal at Richard's hands and is like "oh that? I can do that here watch" and picking the absolute WORST moment to demonstrate. So Asbel has to clean himself up and awkwardly explain the reason why he and Richard keep that in the bedroom, beyond just for comfort's sake 😅

In conclusion, I like them :) They can be the most wholesome redemption-through-love pairing, or the most toxic fucked up kinky thing imaginable. Or both! They're fun 💜

[tamagoneko]

I'm sorry about that anon

your art makes me smile every time I see it, it's so cute and fluffy and silly

your happy stimming Branch picture is me every took me I see your art <3

aww ty!! your sweet ;w;//

[prettyiwa]

top 5 books <3333

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I feel the need to inform you that my personal library is close to a thousand books. This feels like an impossible challenge. Going across genres again, which is tough because when we get to non-fiction my taste is varied.

(Also these will be bullet points instead because I cannot in good conscience rank these books)

Victims of a Map: A Bilingual Anthology of Arabic Poetry (Adonis, Darwish, al-Qasim)

An Oresteia (translated by Anne Carson)

Can't Stop Won't Stop (Chang)

Carmilla (Le Fanu)

Devotions (Oliver)

I FORGOT TO LOOK THROUGH THE BOOKSHELF CLOSEST TO MY DESK!!!

If Not, Winter (trns. Carson)

Lavinia (Le Guin)

[stormyoceans]

did you hear the news about smartboom's breakup? very sad😔 the chemistry of this couple was just what was needed

i did hear rumors about it in the past couple of days and then this morning i sat down to read this incredibly helpful summary written by @little-one-eyed-monsters explaining everything that happened (which is: a mess, to say the least)

im honestly just baffled by the levels of incompetence and unprofessionalism being showed by all the companies involved in this and i really don’t know what to say except that im very sad about the entire situation: this should have been settled behind closed doors and without exposing the artists to the backlash that those public statements were obviously going to cause. i wasn’t following smartboom that closely yet (mostly because it takes a lot for me to get interested in artists beyond their work), so this isn’t emotionally hitting me as hard as other people, but i was definitely invested in them as an acting pairing, so much so that they basically shot to the top of my favorites list with only one series together under their belt, and it’s SUCH A PITY that we might be losing so much chemistry and talent and potential just because some money-hungry assholes wants a larger cut of the profit now, instead of investing in them for the future

i especially feel bad for boom, that poor boy has been through hell and back and has tried so hard, so many times, putting so much effort into it, and when FINALLY it seemed like things were looking up for him, this happens. smart could MAYBE recover from it in time, he’s definitely still young enough to have a chance, but boom is already 35, and as much as everyone complains about BLs with actors in their 30s being called ‘old men yaoi’, the truth is that i don’t know how much the industry is willing to broaden its horizons to include both ‘boys’ love and ‘men’ love (we have a lot of actors over the age of 30 who still play characters in their 20s, but what’s gonna happen when they won’t be able to pass for young adults anymore? but i also don’t have enough information about how the industry actually works to get into this, so i don’t want to talk out of my ass)

i do wish this could be all an elaborate PR stunt, but im not holding out too much hope for that tbh (it would also be sleazy as hell, imho). all i care about rn is both smart's and boom's wellbeing, and if we can still have them as a pair in the future all the better, but what matters the most is that they can come out of this without too many losses and knowing that there are a lot of people still supporting them!!!!!