#It's like 10cm long...

[kaddyssammlung]

Vessels Belt Appreciation Post.

It was matching his outfit.

Hmmm XD Tough one to make. Don't want to turn this into something weird so....here is his belt :)

sources: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

[hychlorions]

living my best life and making dolls again :3

[xofemeraldstars]

not a mole cricket crawling from the soil where I'm weeding 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[just-a-simple-dyke]

Kwon jeong yeol and ha hyun woo are on opposite sides of the spectrum for singers who always surprise me when i go to their wiki and see their age

[teaboot]

Prediction: you have strong opinions on shoe comfort

If I can’t stand in them for 8 hours OR sprint when needed then I’m not buying them. I prefer a low, wide heel, but no heel hurts to walk in so 1cm-6cm MAX is my limit, 10cm max FOR SHORT EVENTS. Almond-toe or rounded-toe is fine but nothing pointed. No open-toe at formal or business events. Avoid stiletto at all costs. If a thin heel MUST be worn I prefer it to center under the ball of the heel to properly support weight and do a walk test to be sure my ankles don’t wobble. The sole from the ball of the foot to the big toes should be able to bend, maybe not a full 90° but maybe 75-80° in my preference. Was broke growing up so I’m used to shoes fitting a little tight, hate it when they’re too loose, so try to be sure there’s at least 1-1.5cm from my longest toe to the inner toe of the shoe. Best soles are Vibram for daily wear. Gel insoles are nice but I don’t like how they wear down, so I go for memory foam when possible. Again we love the broke lifestyle so if the shoe is maybe a size, size and a half too big but a damn good deal I may use an insole and alternative lacing pattern to fit them better. Got a thrifted horsehair brush, microfiber towel, a tin of boot polish, leather conditioner, and scuff repair for my work boots, some leather wipes and lotion for my off-work boots. You cannot make me wear crocs. My best summer shoes are low ankle-high gladiator sandals made of leather with a slightly raised rubber heel and good tread for long distance walking. Oh hey shit I didn’t know I had this many thoughts on this damn

[stickyfrogs]

There is some Very Exciting News today!

Two New Friends have joined the Stickyfrogs house! 🐸🐸

They are Great Barred Frogs (Mixophyes fasciolatus)! They are a few months old and about 3cm long, when they are adults they will be 10cm long! They like to burrow during the day and come out at night for snacks!

You can read about their species here!

[scarletwinterxx]

won't let these little things slip out of my mouth - jeon wonwoo imagine

i have a confession... i cried while writing this. now i'm sad no one will ever propose to me this way, why oh why did i even write this BUT I LOVE IT SO MUCH🥺🥺🥺🥺

A/N: I HIGHLY SUGGEST PLAYING SPRING SNOW BY 10CM WHILE READING THIS. or not if u don't want to cry like a baby (like me🥹)

for my other svt fics, check them here

All works are copyrighted ©scarletwinterxx 2024 . Do not repost, re-write without the permission of author.

(pics not mine, credits to rightful owner)

The cold winter air nips at your cheeks as you walk beside Wonwoo, his camera slung over his shoulder as always. The streets are adorned with twinkling lights, festive wreaths, and the hum of Christmas carols drifting from nearby speakers. Despite the chill, you feel warm. Maybe it’s the cozy scarf he insisted you wear or the way his hand occasionally brushes yours as you walk.

He’s been unusually quiet tonight, though. You steal a glance at him, noting the slight curve of his lips as he stares ahead, the golden glow of streetlights reflecting in his dark eyes. He’s up to something. You just know it.

“Jeon Wonwoo,” you say, breaking the silence, “what’s with the secrecy? You’ve been grinning like a kid who knows something I don’t.”

He chuckles softly, the sound warm and familiar. “Patience,” he teases, his tone as smooth as always. “You’ll see soon enough.”

He leads you to a quaint little gallery tucked away on a quieter street. The windows are frosted, but you can see the soft glow of light inside, illuminating what looks like an intimate exhibit. Your curiosity piques as he holds the door open for you, the bell above jingling softly.

The gallery smells of wood and faintly of pine, and the atmosphere is calm, almost reverent. Wonwoo leads you through the first room, where a variety of black-and-white photos hang on the walls. They’re beautiful, sure, but they don’t hold your attention for long. Not when you can feel Wonwoo’s excitement radiating beside you.

“Come on,” he says, tugging you gently toward a smaller, dimly lit room at the back. “This is the part I wanted you to see.”

The moment you step inside, your breath catches. The walls are lined with photographs, but these aren’t just any pictures. They’re familiar. Too familiar.

“That’s... Wait, that’s from our trip to Jeju!” you exclaim, pointing to a shot of you laughing on the beach. Another photo catches your eye—a candid of you staring in awe at cherry blossoms during spring. And then another, of you holding an umbrella, your face lit up with laughter as the rain poured down.

You turn to Wonwoo, your heart racing. “What is this?”

He’s smiling, that soft, shy smile that always makes your knees a little weak. “Keep going,” he says, nodding toward the other wall.

You walk further into the room, and your chest tightens as you take in rows and rows of photos. All of you. Every angle, every expression, every moment he managed to capture. There’s one of you napping on a park bench, another of you squinting at a map, and one where you’re mid-bite into an enormous burger, ketchup smeared on your cheek.

You burst out laughing, tears pricking your eyes. “You didn’t!”

The walls of the gallery feel like they’re closing in as you walk further into the room, your gaze darting from photo to photo.

Each one is a piece of your life together—your smiles, your laughter, even your messy moments. You pause at a picture of you trying to eat an ice cream cone that’s melting faster than you can keep up with it. You remember that day vividly, how Wonwoo kept laughing and snapping pictures while you tried (and failed) to salvage the cone.

“Wonwoo,” you say softly, your voice trembling as the weight of it all settles over you. “You’ve been collecting these... all this time?”

“Every moment I could,” he says from behind you, his voice warm and quiet in the stillness of the room.

You move to the next photo. And then the next. They’re all you, and it’s overwhelming in the most beautiful way.

Then your eyes catch something different.

The very last photo on the wall.

It’s simple—a close-up shot of a ring nestled in a velvet box. The light glints off the delicate band, making it shimmer in a way that feels almost magical. Your breath catches in your throat as you take a step closer, your heart pounding in your chest.

“Is that—” you start, but the words die on your lips when you turn around.

Wonwoo is there, down on one knee in the middle of the gallery, holding that same velvet box in his hand. The air leaves your lungs as your gaze locks onto his, the vulnerability and love in his eyes almost too much to bear.

“It’s just us,” he says softly, as if he’s answering a question you didn’t ask. “No distractions, no one else. Just you and me.”

You cover your mouth with your hand, trying to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. He takes a deep breath, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

“I’ve spent so much of our time together trying to capture every moment, every expression, every laugh, because I never want to forget a single second with you. But the truth is, none of these photos come close to how I feel when I’m with you. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen—through my lens and in my life.”

He opens the box, revealing the ring that you’d just seen immortalized in the photo. It sparkles under the soft lights of the gallery, but nothing shines brighter than the love in his eyes as he looks up at you.

“I want this to be my last photo project,” he says with a small, shaky laugh. “Because after this, I just want to live the moments with you. Will you marry me?”

The world tilts and rights itself again as you nod furiously, your tears spilling over. “Yes! Yes, of course, I’ll marry you!”

Wonwoo grins—one of those rare, wide grins that you know he reserves for the moments when he can’t contain his joy. He slides the ring onto your finger, his touch gentle and sure, before standing and pulling you into his arms.

The silence of the gallery wraps around you both like a warm blanket. It’s just the two of you, the faint glow of the photos on the walls casting soft shadows.

You lean back to look at him, laughter bubbling up through your tears.

“You seriously used a picture of the ring for the big reveal?” you tease, your voice trembling with joy. “Couldn’t help yourself, huh?”

He chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “It’s a story, isn’t it? And now it has the perfect ending.”

You rest your head against his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath your ear. “Not an ending,” you whisper. “The perfect beginning.”

And in that moment, surrounded by the story of your love etched in photographs, you know you wouldn’t want it any other way.

[alphynix]

In the late 18th century a strange fish fossil from the Monte Bolca deposits in northern Italy was described and named as Pegasus volans. This name had actually already been assigned to the living longtail seamoth (today known as Pegasus volitans), but despite this the fossil continued to be referred to as "Pegasus volans" for well over 200 years.

Now, finally, it's been redescribed and given a proper genus name of its own: Dibango volans.

Living during the early Eocene, around 50-48 million years ago, in what was then a warm shallow reef in the western Tethys Ocean, Dibango was probably around 7-10cm long (~3–4"). It had a long flag-like first ray of its dorsal fin, a very reduced and compact abdominal region, an extremely elongated pelvic bone that appears to have supported an exterilium (external gut), long pelvic fins, and a long slender tail.

This bizarre combination of features is often seen in fish larvae, but Dibango's level of skeletal development shows it was fully grown – suggesting it was actually an unusually neotenic fish, retaining its larval anatomy all the way into adulthood.

This also makes it very difficult to figure out what kind of fish it actually was, with the current best guess being "some sort of percomorph".

———

NixIllustration.com | Tumblr | Patreon

References:

Davesne, Donald, and Giorgio Carnevale. "An enigmatic teleost fish from the Eocene of Bolca (Italy) with unusual larval‐like features." Papers in Palaeontology 11.3 (2025): e70017. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70017

Volta, Giovanni Serafino, et al. "Ittiolitologia veronese del Museo Bozziano: ora annesso a quello del Conte Giovambattista Gazola e di altri gabinetti di fossili veronesi; con la versione latina." Verona, Italy: Dalla Stamperia Giuliari (1796). https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/163554

Wikipedia contributors. “Dibango volans” Wikipedia, 20 May 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dibango_volans

[bluecomputerfics]

1x1x1x1 x Shadow monster!GnReader

CW/TW: None!

You were a killer, and a silent one at that. The survivors always dreaded rounds where you were in them, easy to get away from but hard to get out of when lured by you. Most maps have shadows, or fairly dark so It was good for you. Survivors in shadowy areas, not expecting you to kill them is always such a beauty to see the survivors collapse to you. 1x1x1x1 generally didn't pay you no mind, you didn't talk much and just hid away for the most part. You were 2D or 3D as well, 1x1x1x1 was born from 4D origins so very different realms of this world. She thought of you naturally, a being of shadows that kills was admirable. But the only thing that annoyed him was that strange feeling of being watched all the time due to you. She could be training in her personal limbo and just felt the weird stares behind his back. But one day she found out why that was the reason, you chose to hang out in her limbo. He saw your glowing eyes in the shadowy parts of her limbo, which was a darker version of crossroads. There were a lot of shady spots, and darkness to the realm. One time she was fed up with this, he walked over to you to assumably tell you to leave his realm but you disintegrate in a way just appearing somewhere else. He didn't know the reason why but it came from her light, he generally immitted light as well.

He huffs, and walked away. She wouldn't tell anyone this, but she was fairly a bit scared of you. You kept watching her at times, just hardly saying anything. He didn't even know were you were most of the time, and that was fairly scary. She takes this as a lost cause and went to her sleeping quarters, which was in the thieves den. It was a completely dark area if there wasn't much light seeping in. But 1x1x1x1 didn't mind due to her own light, she laid on her makeshift bed expecting nothing from it. He tried to fall asleep, till she felt a strange shift. Opening her eyes once more, just to see you hardly even 10cm away from his face. Your hair that was h/l long, your silhouette was feminine in nature yet he hardly ever noticed that till now. 1x1x1x1 closed her eyes back, after this incident 1x1x1x1 has found a new liking to you even if they were a bit scared. As time went forward and it was in between the rounds, in his limbo she would talk about shedletsky a lot more. You fairly didn't understand why but you listened, sometimes you reply to her monologues and she couldn't help but love that. You listen to his sudden speeches, and she would stare at you more than you staring at her. With that, he enjoys your voice. It was like the wind, not deep like his. " Could you tell me about yourself? " She asked you, a question he had yet to ask. You look to him with your white eyes, humming. " Well, what are you looking to know? " you ask, and she thought long and hard. " Do you feel hatred to any of the survivors? " She questions you, and you answer her which made him even more interested in you. Maybe 2D, or 3D wasn't all that bad.

[pshcomforts]

➳ spring snow | psh.

bestfriend!sunghoon x fem!reader

“cause i’m falling slowly in love with you”

synopsis: you came down with a cold and your best friend, sunghoon, has offered to take care of you.

warnings/content: written in third pov. fluffy fluff! tiny bit of angst. best friends to lovers. a little bit of idiots in love. nicknames like ‘idiot’ ‘dummy’ and ‘loser’ used. down bad sunghoon <3

comments, likes, and reposts are appreciated :)

word count: 4.6k

a/n: self-indulgent bc i’m sick right now, and currently obsessed with lovely runner </3

༘˚⋆𐙚｡masterlist⋆.✧˚

current song playing: spring snow by 10cm

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

0:39 ───|──────────────── 2:42

a cough erupted out of y/n as she fought for her life. her nose was stuffy, and her throat was aching from the cold she randomly caught.

she heavily sighed, cursing to herself for missing an important lecture.

“i should’ve gone..,” she softly whimpered.

as she fumed a little longer, a sudden notification had caught her attention.

sunghoon <3:

Where are you?

Are you running late?

panic spread across her face when she read her best friends texts, quickly typing back with quiet coughs leaving her throat.

y/n:

sorry, hoon! i’m actually not feeling good so i decided to skip the lecture for today…

sunghoon <3:

Are you lying, or are you really sick?

y/n:

why would i lie to you about this..

sunghoon <3:

So you don’t have to hear my scolding? 😒

y/n:

i swear, sunghoon, i’m sick! do you want me to send an audio of me coughing or something..

sunghoon <3:

.. No

the girl breathed out a laugh once she found no more texts from him. she widely grinned as she thought about the handsome boy, easily imagining his displeased look in her head.

her heart fluttered and butterflies erupted in her stomach. she fisted her hands to stop the sensations forming around her body as she shook it off.

“stop it, y/n, he’s just a friend.” she murmured to herself, unable to make the imaginary hoon in her head disappear.

“this cold is really getting to me…,”

y/n huffed out a sigh before wrapping herself in her warm blankets.

“maybe a nap will do..,” her voice squeaked, body already falling on borderline exhaustion. she yawned out a little more before resting her eyes and eventually knocking out.

.　 . • ☆ . ° .• °:. *₊ ° . ☆

about a half hour had just passed and the girl was still sound asleep when a few knocks had been heard at the door.

she grumbled out a sigh before checking the time.

“who’d even be here at this time?” she sighed, still finding the sun brightly beaming down on every view she could find.

the knocks had been heard again and she quickly checked to see if anything could be related to whatever was outside. indeed, she found a few missed texts from her beloved friend.

sunghoon <3:

Open the door

Are you asleep??

Hello..?

she exhaled a breath as her stomach flooded with nervous bubbles.

“why is he here..?” she muttered under her breath.

the girl dusted herself, and though she was sure she still looked like a train wreck, she couldn’t be too bothered with how much her sickness took over.

she slowly cracked the door open and found an adorable sunghoon patiently waiting.

“finally!” he shouted. “took you long enough, i was almost gonna call you.”

maybe not that patient.

y/n scrunched her brows in confusion. “why are you even here, hoon?”

his heart slightly dropped at her questioning, but he only nervously laughed it away.

“you’re sick, dummy. you need to be taken care of.” sunghoon murmured, pinching one side of her cheeks.

she quickly swatted the hand away as she still remained puzzled.

“you’re gonna take care of me?” her voice mumbled, causing him to shyly nod. “but you never do this..?”

hoon only sighed as he joked, “well do you want me to leave? because i still can.”

“no, no.. i’m just a little shocked right now.”

y/n’s heart was about to burst. he was fueling her delusions about the potential thought of them being together, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

she heard him give a chuckle when he set his backpack down. “i care about you, y/n. are you that shocked?” his simple grin sent heart throbs, making her tired body tingle even more.

“well you always tease and make fun of me so.. yeah, i’m shocked.”

the girl sniffed away her snot that ran down from her cold as he laughed again.

“don’t be too surprised that i’m a caring person.” sunghoon uttered, shaking his head while hiding his huge smile away. “i’m usually nice to you anyway.”

y/n guffawed out a scoff, sending a soft smack towards his arm as she muttered, “yeah right! you weren’t nice when i asked for the lecture notes 40 minutes ago, and you said no!”

the male giggled as he thought back to their texts, heart melting at his friends stuffy voice. “well who told you to stay home? that lecture was really important!” he teased back, lips instantly curling at her gasp and eye roll.

“if you’re just here to bicker with me then please leave, hoon. i’m too sick to argue.” she huffed, shaking her head.

“okay, okay, fine, i’m sorry.” he slightly pouted, causing her to softly smile. “i really am here to take care of you though.”

sunghoon ruffled her hair, letting it run messy everywhere as his eyes twinkled in the scene of his friend struggling to leave his teasing act. his lips coiled again, unable to hide his facial expressions with how much he adored her.

“sunghoon!” the girl yelled, pushing his hand away.

his heart pounded at the sound of his name leaving her lips, making him stop the ruffles.

“your friend is sick and you’re really doing this to her!”

hoon chuckled at her words before the word ��� ‘friend’ — hit him. his heart stung a little and he retracted himself back, officially putting a stop to all of the teasings as y/n still huffed with hair pieces around her face.

“can i go back to sleep now?” she mumbled, throat immediately running dry.

sunghoon clicked his tongue, shaking his head while replying, “what’s the point of me being here if you’re just gonna sleep?”

“you volunteered to be here!”

“exactly, which is why you need to stay out here while i reheat my moms soup for you!”

the girl wore a frown, but her stomach betrayed her when it rumbled at the mention of food, causing her friend to chortle out a laugh.

“see? your stomach wants me to stay.”

he wore a shit eating grin, making y/n playfully roll her eyes and nudge him. “now go stay on the couch, i’ll reheat it up for you.” he sweetly muttered like a boyfriend.

her heart instantly raced and a few coughs suddenly bursted from her as the thought of him being a well-mannered boyfriend flooded her mind.

“get a hold of yourself, idiot.” she said under her breath.

“did you say something??”

her head whipped up at sunghoon and she quickly shook her head. “no! um.. just don’t burn my kitchen down… please.. i know you suck at cooking.”

he scoffed out a ridiculed laugh. “it’s just reheating soup, how bad can that get?”

bad, because within seconds, the boy let the pot heat up on the stove too long, making the cold soup instantly smoke up when he added it in.

the alarms rang off the hook and y/n’s ears rang like crazy; and if that wasn’t enough, sunghoons deep voice screaming at the steam was the cherry on top.

“sunghoon!!” she shouted, giving a faint scold as she fanned beneath her smoke detectors.

his cheeks flushed and his ears instantly became red while he stood in the kitchen like a six year old getting yelled at.

“sorry…,” his soft voice murmured, feeling self-conscious with the way he embarrassed himself in front of his friend.

“i didn’t know there was a time limit with how long the pot had to heat up…,”

y/n huffed out a sigh, instantly dropping her slight annoyance when she came face to face with the boy who was softly pouting. a laugh escaped from her and she only shook her head.

“you’re an idiot, you know that?” she joked, causing a faint grin to be placed on him. “of course it’s gonna smoke when you leave it on high heat for 10 minutes.”

“stop it, y/n… i’m embarrassed, you don’t have to acknowledge what i did wrong.” sunghoon covered his face with his hands, blocking off every facial feature but his ears that were still brightly colored red.

the girl chuckled, grin widening as her sickness almost left her when he remained shy in his actions.

“i don’t know if i should trust you in my kitchen ever again..,”

hoon rolled his eyes and smiled. “okay, it wasn’t even that bad!”

“you literally set off my smoke alarms!”

“okay.. but nothing caught on fire!”

y/n shook her head, hearty coughs still leaving her throat as she heaved her chest up and down.

“you were supposed to take care of me, but stressed me out instead!”

he seethed air through his teeth in guilt, head low while he chewed on his lips. “sorry…,” the male muttered. “i swear i was trying so hard not to do anything that’d make you get up!”

she laughed at his words and replied, “that’s sweet of you, hoon, but you did.”

“i know…, i’m still embarrassed.”

he placed his hands over his face once more, but peeked his eyes through separated fingers to catch her reaction. y/n wore a huge smile, eyes creasing into half moon crescents that caused butterflies to flutter in his stomach.

he softened his gaze once he felt it and they instantly twinkled with a deep warmth that was only for her.

the remaining words that spewed out of the girl had quickly been deafened as he continued to stare at her, making her snap at him — “sunghoon?? did you even hear me?”

“oh.. um… yes!” he tried to cheese a grin, but she obviously wasn’t convinced.

“and what did i say..?”

“something about… your cold being worse..?”

he pressed his lips into a firm line, forming a bread smile as her tongue clicked in disappointment.

“you weren’t listening.., what’s even distracting you?”

her, but he couldn’t say that.

y/n folded her arms while she awaited for an answer, making him gulp.

first, he invited himself inside. second, he almost burned down her kitchen. and now, he wasn’t even processing whatever she had to say.

“um..,” he swallowed down a lump in his throat, trying to find whatever could be distracting. “your snot, y/n! it’s uh.. dripping! yeah, that!”

the girl felt her heart drop and she immediately ran around to find tissues. what dumb luck did hoon have that she actually was dripping with snot?

he breathed out a sigh of relief, hand clenching onto his chest with how close he was to getting caught.

y/n quickly came back, cheeks slightly tinted pink. “back to what i was saying… how about i just heat up the soup myself?” she suggested, causing him to widen his eyes and shake his head.

“no, you’re sick. i can’t have you walking around when you should be resting.”

her brows scrunched and her head slightly tilted as a soft laugh escaped from her. “hoon.. you literally made me run around my apartment to stop the alarms…,”

sunghoon thought back to her constant feet pattering he heard not too long ago, and sighed. “anymore. i won’t have you walking around anymore,” he firmly corrected himself.

she took a sigh as well, finally falling to defeat as he proudly pushed her toward her couch.

“don’t stress about it.., soup will be in your much-needed tummy soon!”

y/n couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at his words, but eventually let him continue with how eager he was to do something so sweet.

with the man in the kitchen, she felt her pupils dilate whenever she laid her eyes on him, heart almost jumping out of her throat with how quick it was beating.

sunghoon was instantly looking like a boyfriend to her, and she couldn’t fight those thoughts anymore — his tall figure, the oversized hoodie perfectly fitting him, his pretty face gleaming at the bubbling pot.

of course, he did almost burn down her kitchen, but he was redeeming himself right now.

the girl was almost soaring with how much she was falling for him. though she was still fighting for her life, sunghoon being there for her was already making her feel better — even if he stressed her out for a second.

but she swiftly shook it off once the friend had turned around with a proud look spread across his face.

“it’s done! this soup will instantly make you feel better when you eat it.” he murmured, lips still curling at his final success attempt of reheating his moms soup.

y/n softly reflected his grin back as she sat across from him. “your mom’s the best, hoon!” she quickly dug in, heart melting and tummy warming at the soothing broth.

sunghoon tried to hide away his obvious beam but couldn’t help it. his eyes were glistening, his fangs were flashing, and his mind was going crazy with the girl he liked in front of her.

was this how it’d always be if she got sick, and he’d offer to take care of her? (yes)

his heart swelled with the possible future in his hands as the girl continued to eat.

“you don’t want to eat any?” she murmured, but he fully shook his head and pushed the bowl further to her — “it’s all yours, loser. my mom packed it specifically for you.”

she quietly coughed at the sudden nickname, scowling back a look while he only chuckled.

“you didn’t think i’d grow a soft spot for you just because you got sick, did you?” he teased mercilessly.

y/n playfully rolled her eyes before going back to chomping. typical sunghoon. one minute he was sweet, the next he was just a guy who loved to tease a little too much.

he continued to wear a huge grin though as she munched, making the girl fully unaware of how much love he held in his eyes.

once her stomach was full, hoon forced her to sit on the couch with a blanket wrapped around while he cleaned the dishes.

the feeling of him taking care of her was strange, but she liked it. it was something she could get use to if he liked her back (idiot).

when sunghoon finished, he plopped directly next to her on the couch with an idiotic grin, eyes full of hearts and stomach bubbled from feeling nervous.

“um, sunghoon?” y/n poked. “shouldn’t you sit a little further away? i can get you sick.”

he scoffed and laughed as if she told the funniest joke ever. “if i didn’t want to risk getting sick, i wouldn’t have chosen to come over… dummy.” he chuckled at the name he gave her while rubbing her cheek with his thumb.

“do you want me to move?”

her face instantly flushed with a hue of pink and she subtly tried to turn away from it. “no.. you can stay if you want.”

“do you want me to stay?”

sunghoon’s heart quickly thumped with every surge of confidence he got from her shy reactions.

his eyes flickered at her turned head, tilting his own in confusion before muttering, “are you that sick that you can’t look at me?”

“i can! my throat’s just.. itchy so i don’t want to cough in your face,” she tried to shoot back.

he huffed out a slight laugh at her lame attempt of an excuse. “is it that hard to stare at my handsome face?” he asked, knowing that she’d face him right after.

“what!” y/n’s hoarse voice spoke. “i can!”

she quickly laid her eyes back onto him and almost instantly, the two felt their hearts explode with fireworks.

sunghoon took a noticeably large gulp, blinking repeatedly with how quick their nose tips touched. she was much closer than she should’ve been, and the boy was flustered.

“y/n.. you’re um…,” he swallowed another lump, adams apple bobbing as every butterfly in his stomach multiplied.

“see! i can look at you!” she yelled, honestly unaware of how flushed her friend was becoming.

“yeah, you win.” he replied, nudging her forehead away before she could hear his loud heartbeats.

hoon held onto his chest, trying to calm his nerves when y/n only clicked her tongue.

“tried to challenge me but lost instead.. idiot.” she mumbled to herself, giving crunchy coughs afterward.

a grin plastered onto his face after her words processed. “yeah.. i lost” — but he didn’t, because he felt like a winner with how close her nose tip accidentally grazed over his.

he bit his bottom lip to hide away another smile as he muttered, “i think it’s time for you to take some medicine.”

y/n’s face scrunched in disgust. “i know i’m sick, but i hate taking cough syrup.”

“well you need it because you’re coughing like you’re on your death bed.”

an audible gasp was heard from her and she quickly smacked his arm. “sunghoon!” she yelled, earning a laugh from him.

“i’m just stating the obvious!”

he flashed a heart-throbbing grin and she almost melted at it, vision quick to lose sight with how alarmingly charming it was.

“you didn’t need to say that..,” she scowled.

his fangs were still brightly shown as he murmured, “come on, just take the medicine. it’ll benefit you.”

his hands offered a cup of the cough syrup that y/n hated. she downed it quickly but her lips pursed together like she tasted lemon.

sunghoon hollered out another laugh, eyes squeezing shut at how she shook her head in disapproval.

“that was gross!!” she exclaimed, making happy tears well up in the boy. “stop making fun of your sick friend, she doesn’t appreciate it, you know?”

he continued his laughing streak until he deemed it enough, wiping away a tear drop as he watched y/n roll her eyes.

“okay, sorry, hoon is acknowledging that.” he replied, giving a little play on her third person usage.

her lips coiled into a smile as she sent another soft hit to him. “you’re stupid.”

“and you’re sick, so get back in your blankets.”

before she could protest, sunghoon was quick to wrap it around her, giving her no time to react at the way his arms enclosed them together.

he tugged the sheets around her shoulders, gaze completely concentrated on the amount of blankets that covered her.

his face was leaned in, close to the point where her lips could ghost over his cheeks for a soft peck.

she felt her face heat up at the very thought, mind instantly craving for that moment while she watched his thick, dark brows scrunch for complete focus. she couldn’t help but linger her gaze down to his other pretty features.

being this close to her handsome friend felt mind numbingly crazy.

when the boy had finished, he gleamed a half smile before pulling away, proud of how he was able to ensure every blanket had securely been wrapped around her.

she quietly gasped for air after hoon’s brows raised in satisfaction of his work. “there! now you’re warm!” his voice yelled. “you can go to sleep now.”

y/n flickered her gaze to him, watching the way he softly patted his shoulder. she let a puff of air slip by her lips in disbelief as she shoved him.

“why are you being so sweet right now?”

was it not obvious to her that he wanted to feel her rest her head on his shoulder?

sunghoon’s lips pursed together while trying to find the right words. “you’re sick, y/n, why wouldn’t i be sweet right now?” he awkwardly laughed, stomach rupturing in butterflies. “i don’t want my friend to get bad treatment while she’s sick.”

he cheesed a grin and she only shook her head, eventually complying to his offer and laying on his shoulder.

his heart instantly raced at the little bump her head made against him, and he couldn’t help the huge smile that took form on his face from it.

“what should we watch?” y/n mumbled, unconsciously cuddling closer.

“what are you feeling?” sunghoon softly gulped as he forced his attention to stay on the device in front of them.

“mm..,” she thought. “oh! wanna watch lovely runner??”

he raised his brows in confusion. “lovely.. runner?”

“hoon, you need to watch more series…,” she scowled back at him. “let’s watch it!”

the boy was about to make a remark but stopped himself, agreeing with her suggestion since it was her sick day after all.

the drama played, episode after episode as the two stayed glued on the couch, holding each other close — both forgetting that they were just friends.

when another episode had finished, sunghoon’s eyes carefully watched the end credits. he chuckled, excited to start on the next one.

“should we watch another?” he murmured, waiting for an answer when nothing from y/n had been heard.

another minute passed and soft snores had finally erupted out of her.

he scoffed out a laugh, lips quickly curling at her quiet noises before turning his head.

“you’re really asleep?” the boy said, voice kept small to not wake her.

in seconds, the episode was paused and sunghoon carried his sick friend to her bed with ease.

laying her down carefully, his movements were slow and steady. the only thing audible were y/n’s continuous little snores and hoon’s heavy breathing.

the girl was finally set down, wrapped in blankets as he glanced at her state. his heart was pounding in his ears and his fingernails were scratching his palms to calm himself.

even when she was sickly pale, she was still someone who caught his attention timelessly. he loved her, and every little thing that complimented with him.

his lips curled at her, gaze softening as he quietly murmured, “i like you, dummy. can’t you notice me?”

sunghoon sighed, feeling stupid at how he confessed to his friend who still remained asleep. his heart began to shatter, shards painfully stabbing him as he started to head for the door.

however, a hand grab was quick to stop him, holding him back from moving any further. his heart dropped at the fast realization, mind instantly going through scenarios of y/n rejecting him.

slowly, he turned with a fragile mindset, ready to be declined from his crush.

“y/n…,” the male gulped.

she only beamed a half smile when she sat up as her eyes still drooped in fatigue. “i do notice you, loser.” she admitted with flushed cheeks. “because i like you too.. i like you a lot, actually.”

hoon’s face lit up in shock, eyes being blown wide as he felt adrenaline rush through his body. “you like me??” he questioned, falling in disbelief of her words.

y/n bit her lips, hiding away her smile while nodding. “i’ve liked you for a while now… and honestly, you taking care of me made me fall in love with you even more.”

her gaze trailed up to his face, watching how he proudly wore his wide grin made her heart flutter.

“stop looking at me like that..,” she uttered, softly pushing his shoulder, but he couldn’t help it. the girl he’s longed for finally said the words he’s been wanting to hear.

sunghoon flashed his charming fangs at her as he smiled in delight. “what else can i do? my friend’s in love with me.”

“i said like, not love!” she defended.

“i heard love…,” he teased back, causing her to scoff and roll her eyes.

he gave another chuckle before leaning in, lips yearning for hers when she dodged away.

his head tilted in confusion and she only laughed at that. “i’m still sick, hoon. i don’t want to get you sick.” y/n muttered, earning a ridiculed taunt to come from him.

“you think i care about that? the girl i’ve loved for so long has just confessed to me so i’m gonna kiss her.”

sunghoon quickly leaned in again, close to kissing a flustered y/n when she pulled away once more. he softly pouted, face frowning as his gaze stay locked on her lips.

“sunghoon,” she called, but he didn’t answer. the boy continued to be mindlessly stuck on the sight of her lips.

she sent a soft hit to his broad chest, finally catching his attention as his eyes grew hungry.

“i seriously don’t want to get you sick,” she mumbled, face scrunching to emphasize her worry.

hoon only scoffed, biting his lips as he replied — “and i seriously don’t care.”

before she could say more, he swiftly crashed his lips against hers, swooning the girl in seconds. she gasped, earning an entrance for sunghoon as he smiled against her — enjoying the shocked reaction he was able to receive.

his hands firmly held her cheeks, cupping them so she could stay put while she held onto his arms, softly gripping onto his hoodie with the evidential crave in his kiss.

y/n finally pushed against his chest, giving him the signal to pull away and he did. his face continued to linger near hers, eyes searching for flushed cheeks.

“sunghoon!” she quietly scolded, earning a chuckle from his attractive voice.

she felt his lips softly curl against hers and she couldn’t help but to smile as well.

“now you’re gonna get sick.”

her gaze peered into his, making his heart melt while he raised his brows. “i guess you’ll have to be the one to take care of me now.”

he grinned as she rolled her eyes, cupping her cheeks once more for sweet kisses on the lips. he gave soft pecks, continuing on and on before y/n turned her head away.

“i know you like me, but i’m still sick! don’t kiss me right now.” she huffed, trying to swat him away.

sunghoon chuckled. “you should’ve told me that minutes ago, now i don’t want to stop kissing you.”

he leaned in again but the girl dodged her head away. “no, sunghoon!!” she giggled, attempting to push at his chest.

“just one!”

y/n sighed before complying, pushing herself closer for a soft peck on the lips.

“one more?”

her face morphed in disbelief, eventually leaning in for another. a quick plant on his lips was made and he only smiled.

“another?”

“hoon… no.” she folded her arms and shook her head. “my throat is hurting and i’m about to cough if i lean in again.”

sunghoon raised his thick brows mischievously. “so i’ll lean in then.” and so he tried, closing his eyes and expecting a kiss on the lips when he met her cheek instead.

“why don’t you want to kiss your new boyfriend?” he softly whined, becoming clingy within seconds.

y/n scrunched her face as she grinned and nudged him. “because your new girlfriend is sick and wants to rest.”

his lips pushed together and presented duck lips, pouting while wrapping his arms around her. “fine then, let’s rest, hm?” he murmured.

the two laid beside each other, facing one another as his eyes twinkled with love, mind in complete disbelief of how he was able to get his girl.

“i’m so lucky,” his voice uttered in the silence.

“hm?” sleepy y/n replied back.

“i’m lucky you fell in love with me.”

“and i’m lucky you loved me back, and also didn’t burn down my kitchen.” she murmured, voice almost gone from her cold.

sunghoon chuckled and let a huge grin plaster onto his face as he leaned in once more, placing a longing kiss on the tip of her nose.

“get to sleep, pretty girl.” he whispered.

y/n yawned, nodding her head and complying without an insult with how exhausted she was.

he pulled her closer into his arms, engulfing her into his soothing embrace as he muzzled his head on top of hers.

she breathed in his scent, feeling at home when she easily rested her hands at his chest.

the two cuddled, holding each other close to their dearest hearts with a new relationship that just unfolded.

✩ ‘all my life is you’ ✩

★・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・★

[macaronipress]

Fanbinding of The Humbling River by mysterycyclone on ao3

link to the fic

The book is an a4 quarto, so is about 15cm x 10cm. It is 528 pages long and is about 3.5cm thick.

This one was my first attempt at rounding a book, which I think is now my preffered way of doing things. It makes the book look more elegant and professional. I also attempted painted edges for this one as well, I just used watered down acrylic paint, with a layer of silver to start and then speckled some black and white on top. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

The endbands were also a first attempt at using more than 2 colours, which did make things more complicated but I like how it turned out so I think it was worth the extra hassle.

The text paper for this one is 75gsm sugarcane paper, the endpapers are handmade pastepapers and the cover material is heritage metallic buckram. The heritage buckram is my new favourite bookcloth, it's such a lovely material to work with and has a lovely texture to it.

For the body text I used the font courier new, title font is powderfinger and the chapter headers are powderfinger type. I felt like these fonts somewhat went with the vibes of the fic, they give it a nice feel as well.

I enjoyed reading this fic a lot and I really enjoyed making it into a physical copy, it'll now be taking its place on my bookshelf :)

[isa-beenme]

Whispers of Secrets and Starlight

Sooo... Who could guess I am a big hater of how SJM made all of Rhysand's effort to change his Court, useless? 😁😁😁😁

Here we also dive a tiny bit into the past of miss gurl let's hug her collectively

Warnings: Use of Y/N, ACOTAR rewrite, female main character, 2% book following I'm destroying the original story atp, mentions of PTSD, mommy issues, daddy issues, lots of trauma, mentions of war, Rhysand 😚

Whispers of Secrets and Starlight - Masterlist

Chapter 10: Cold

A few weeks had passed when the Night Court finally sprang their trap. Azriel’s network had been flawless, and Lucien’s deception had worked perfectly. Tamlin’s forces, along with a significant number of Hybern’s soldiers, had walked straight into the ambush.

The battle had been quick. The Illyrians overpowered them with precision, and before Hybern even realized what was happening, their troops were bound in magic-dampening chains, kneeling before the Night Court’s generals.

Tamlin’s soldiers had cracked easily. Cowards, the lot of them. They’d spilled everything they knew. From Hybern’s plans to their next movements, even details about where the rest of Hybern’s forces were hiding. Hybern’s soldiers, however, had been harder to break. They were loyal. But not unbreakable.

You were still absorbing the news when Rhys brought you to the interrogation chambers. You expected Azriel to be inside, coaxing the truth out of them in his cold, merciless way. The way the rumors had been tailored for him around the Continent. But instead, you were met with a sight that startled you: Azriel standing in the corner, silent, unmoving, while two other spies worked in his place.

You frowned as you stepped closer to Rhys. “Azriel isn’t doing it?”

Rhys crossed his arms, his violet eyes scanning the room. “No. I didn’t want him to.”

You glanced back at the spymaster. He was listening, his shadows curling around him like a second skin, but he wasn’t the one delivering the pain.

Rhys sighed. “Azriel has done more than enough in his life. The things my father made him do…” His jaw clenched. “He doesn’t need to relive those memories. So, many decades ago, he trained a small group of trusted individuals to handle the worst of it. They are mostly from the Hewncity, they like what they do. Azriel only steps in when he wants to. Mostly when it’s personal.”

You blinked, processing that. “So, all this time… I thought Azriel was still the one—”

“He listens,” Rhys cut in. “He gathers the information, watches through the shadows. But he doesn’t have to be the one with the blade in his hand anymore. Unless he chooses to. We decided to let this information out for… you know, reputation and the likes of it. It's easier to fear only one person and not expect more.”

Your throat tightened. The idea of Azriel being forced into that life again, forced to become the weapon Rhysand's father had trained him to be… You were grateful. Grateful Rhys had made sure he never had to relive that unless he wanted to.

Rhys must have noticed the shift in your expression because he reached for your hand, squeezing it gently. “Come,” he murmured, “let’s get some air.”

☆

He winnowed you to a quiet clearing in the forest, far from the war camps, far from the screams echoing in the underground chambers. A picnic had already been set up. Rhys must have planned this beforehand.

He sprawled onto the blanket, arms behind his head, watching you as you settled beside him. For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The sounds of the forest surrounded you, birds chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze.

Then, softly, you asked, “What other changes have you made?”

Rhys turned his head, his violet eyes locking onto yours. “You mean besides making sure I don't become my father?”

You nodded. “You’ve been High Lord centuries, Rhys. And I know you’ve changed things, especially reading all the reports we've been receiving the past months. But I want to hear it from you.”

His gaze softened. He reached for your hand again, threading his fingers through yours. “Alright,” he murmured. “I’ll tell you.”

As the evening sky stretched into twilight, the peaceful sounds of the forest surrounding you and Rhys settled into a comfortable rhythm. Rhys' eyes stayed on you as you relaxed beside him, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

“I’ve been High Lord for over three centuries, and in all that time, I’ve tried to push for changes that matter. The end of wing clipping was one of the first steps, but it wasn’t easy. Some of the old males that used to do the clippings are still alive, so it's harder to convince the newer generation that they're wrong. Some still hold onto that hateful tradition, the belief that clipping female wings makes them.more obedient. But I’m hunting them down. Slowly, but surely, those who do it for pride are being removed from positions of power.”

You squeezed his hand in acknowledgment, and he continued, his voice steady, thoughtful. “As for the warriors... I've made it clear that every male and female has a choice. No one is required to fight if they don’t want to. Of course, most of the males still take pride in their warrior status, but the decision is theirs. And now the females have the same freedom.” His gaze softened as he looked at you. “It's important for everyone to know that their worth isn’t tied to what others expect them to be. You’ve seen it with Feyre. She didn’t have to fight, but she chose to. I want everyone to have the same choice. Even if that means changing centuries of tradition.”

You nodded, appreciating the way he spoke with such conviction and care. “I’ve seen that in action already,” you said softly. “I've received letters from the commander of the female division. The fact that she's able to learn and decide for herself… it’s really different from how things were before.”

Rhys smiled, leaning back on his elbows, stretching his legs out in front of him. “And there’s still more to come. Every war camp is getting more investment, more resources, but they have to follow the rules. If they don’t, they lose it. This is how we’ll ensure we keep some semblance of order in place when everything is so chaotic. Plus, we’ve been working on mapping fatherless and motherless children. Cassian’s past doesn't need to be repeated, most of those kids don't have the same strength or luck. We can’t let them grow up without guidance, without structure. The future depends on how we raise these kids.”

His words were a weight, a reminder of the trials and tribulations he’d faced over the centuries and the legacy he was trying to build for the future. You could feel the love and hope in his tone as he spoke of the children.

“And what about the Court of Nightmares?” you asked, the mention of it bringing a slight frown to his face. You’d notice the changes there based on how polite Keir tried to be in his reports, the subtle shift in how things were being run.

“That’s a more complicated matter,” Rhys said quietly. “The Court of Nightmares... it’s still a dark place, but it’s not the nightmare it once was. Yes, there are still terrible people there, but there are also many good ones, merchants, artisans, people who have nothing to do with the cruelty of the court’s history. Those people are protected, but the ones who still live in the shadows, pulling the strings of violence, they know the rules. They lock their games inside the mountain and leave everyone else out of it. Let them play their games as long as they stay there. We play along, obviously. They know we are not the cruel crazy people they see there, but at this point I think they just enjoy the show. They think they are degrading me but the whole act turned out fun for me too.” His jaw tightened as he spoke, but his voice was calm. “The important part is that we’ve made it clear. If someone crosses the line, it’s dealt with. There’s no tolerance for cruelty against innocents anymore.”

You thought for a moment before speaking again. “Velaris, though... it’s completely different. When did you open it for the rest of the Court?”

Rhys' smile returned, more fond now. “Velaris is a city that represents everything we’re working toward. Open, free, thriving. It’s only open for the Night Court citizens right now, but we’re slowly working to integrate it with the rest of Prythian one day. We trade with every city, every faction, bringing in the resources we need and giving out what they want. It’s not perfect yet, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

You could see the pride in his eyes when he spoke of the city. “There’s still a lot to do, of course,” he continued, “but I’ve tried to do my best. To change things where I can. It will take time, but I believe we’ll get there. And it helps to have you by my side. To know that you’ll be here with me as I keep pushing forward. And also, a few Lords were getting mad at me for not having a wife and ensuring heirs. I guess that's a problem I can solve in a few years too.”

You breathed out a laugh but didn't deny him. You met his gaze, the sincerity in his voice settling deep within you. The weight of his words, the burden he carried for centuries, was something you understood now more than ever. You reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead as your fingers lingered on his skin.

“You’ve done more than enough, Rhys. And I’m here, always,” you whispered softly, your heart swelling with a pride that mirrored his own.

Rhys’ eyes softened as he stared at you, a smile curving on his lips. “I know. And that’s what keeps me going.”

The sun had set, casting long shadows over the blanket as the quiet of the forest embraced the two of you in peaceful contentment. You leaned into his side, letting the stillness of the moment wash over you, grateful for the changes that were being made, for the future that was being shaped, and for the love that had flourished amidst the chaos.

Rhys’ expression softened as he looked at you, his violet eyes searching yours with a mixture of curiosity and concern. The two of you had been sitting in silence for a while, the peacefulness of the moment lulling both of you into a comfortable quiet. But then he spoke, his voice gentle and earnest.

"Tell me about your childhood," he asked. "What was it like for you, before all of this?"

For a moment, you hesitated, the memories rising like a tide, bringing with them a heaviness you didn’t always like to face. But Rhys’ steady gaze gave you a sense of safety, a quiet encouragement to speak your truth.

You let out a breath, looking at the few stars above, feeling their stillness against the turbulence inside. "It was... hard," you said finally, your voice low. "My mother... she was a very dictatorial person. She had this vision of who I was supposed to be, who I had to become. Sometimes, it bordered on cruelty."

Rhys’ brow furrowed, but he said nothing, just letting you continue.

"She hated that I was half-blood," you said, the words bitter in your mouth. "She made sure I knew that every single day. It wasn’t just that I wasn’t pure fae, it was like she couldn’t stand the reminder of what I was. My father’s blood in me was something she despised, and she would say terrible things... about how she wished my father had never made her pregnant, that I was a burden she didn’t want, that I was ‘the mistake’ she’d never planned for."

You swallowed thickly, pushing down the emotions that tried to rise. Rhys was still listening intently, his expression both pained and supportive, urging you to go on.

"She tried to 'fix' me," you said softly, the word ‘fix’ carrying all the coldness it had been intended with. "She wanted me to be perfect for whatever purpose she saw fit. Training me in everything. Music, art, history, fighting, hunting, speaking… everything. I had to be the best at all of it, at everything. She wanted me to be some sort of weapon. A perfect, molded piece to be used for war, politics, balls, anywhere I could be useful... but never to be anything for myself. She wanted me to disappear into the shadows of existence, to never be seen for who I truly was. She never wanted me to be just a half-blood, just an accessory to whatever plan the world had for me. No… she prepared me to not be overpowered but, at the same time, not grab the spotlight."

You fell silent, the weight of the memories threatening to choke you. Rhys reached for your hand, his grip firm but gentle, the touch grounding. His voice was steady when he spoke again.

"You had to carry all of... all of those expectations and cruelties?" he asked softly, his voice filled with disbelief, as though he couldn't quite imagine the depth of what you’d endured.

You nodded slowly, the ache in your chest growing heavier as the words spilled out, as if they had been waiting to be spoken for far too long.

"I was never allowed to be myself. I had to be everything for someone else, never for me. I was trained to be a tool, something to be used in whatever way would serve her... and when I wasn’t perfect, when I didn’t meet the impossible standards she set, she’d remind me of how worthless I was. A mistake. A half-blood." You shook your head, the frustration from years of it building in your chest. "I never knew who I was meant to be, only what I was supposed to do."

Rhys was quiet for a moment, the weight of your words settling between the two of you. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet but firm, tinged with an anger you knew he held for anyone who had treated you that way.

"That’s not who you are," he said, his tone resolute. "You are not a tool. You are not a weapon for someone else’s cause. You're more than all of that. You always have been."

You met his eyes, feeling his sincerity wash over you like a balm. A small part of you, a part that had long tried to be buried, wanted to believe him. You wanted to believe that there was more to you than what you'd been trained to be.

"Sometimes I don’t know who I am," you whispered. "Not really."

Rhys’ expression softened, and he leaned closer, brushing a lock of hair away from your face. "Then let me help you find out," he said, his voice gentle but insistent. "You don’t have to be anything for anyone anymore. You can be whatever you choose, whoever you want to be. I’ll help you figure that out, one step at a time."

The sincerity in his voice struck deep. For the first time, the idea of being more than what had been drilled into you began to feel possible, like a faint but steady light in the darkness.

"I’ve seen what you’re capable of," he continued. "Not because you were molded into it, but because you are already so much more than what anyone has ever told you. You are strong. You are smart. You have a heart that is bigger than most. A human heart."

You held his gaze, the walls around your heart finally beginning to crack, just a little. For the first time, it didn’t feel like you had to hide, or be perfect, or be something you weren’t.

"I just want you to be happy," Rhys said, his voice soft now, as he placed his hand on yours. "And I want you to know that you don’t have to be anything for anyone ever again. You only need to be you."

You squeezed his hand, feeling the weight of his words, the warmth of his promise. You could feel the quiet relief spreading through you as the weight of your past began to shift, if only just a little.

"I’ll try," you said softly, the first glimmer of hope beginning to take root.

Rhys smiled, his gaze never leaving yours, his fingers brushing over your knuckles in a tender gesture. "That’s all I ask. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But I’m here, and I always will be."

In that moment, with the stars above and the night stretching around you, the weight of your past seemed a little less heavy. Maybe, just maybe, you could start to carve out a future that was all your own.

As the words about your mother lingered in the air, the complexity of your feelings weighed heavily on you. You exhaled softly, a faint sadness in your eyes, as you looked at Rhys. "She was cruel, yes. But at the same time... I think she always wanted what was best for me, in her own twisted way. She pushed me hard, sometimes in ways that made me feel small, but I know she believed it was for my own good. She wanted me to be perfect, to be everything, so the others wouldn't have a reason to put me down because of my blood. In a strange, broken way, she cared for me."

Rhys' gaze softened, his expression understanding. "I can relate," he said quietly, the pain in his voice evident. "My father... he was cruel too. But in the end, he thought he was doing what was best for me. It didn’t excuse the way he treated me, but it made me understand, in a weird way, why he did what he did."

You nodded, the sorrow mingling with a strange sense of understanding. "I grieved for her, you know? Despite everything. I loved her, even if she was everything I feared and resented. Losing her... it was hard."

Rhys reached out, his hand gently brushing against your cheek. "I understand. It’s complicated, but that’s what family is, isn’t it? It’s love and pain all wrapped up together."

A sudden thought made you smile, and you leaned in closer to him, brushing your lips against his cheek softly. You wanted to show him, in your own way, that everything he had done, everything he was, meant something to you. "One kiss," you whispered softly, as your lips brushed against his cheek. "For every little thing you’ve changed in me. For every way you’ve made me feel seen."

His eyes softened, and he let you continue, not speaking but understanding your intent. You kissed his forehead, your lips lingering there a moment longer. "For every way you’ve made me feel heard, even when I was lost in my own pain."

You trailed a kiss to his lips, gentle at first, a simple brush of affection. "For making me believe I could have a future," you whispered against his lips, before moving down to his neck, pressing another soft kiss there. "For making me feel safe when the world has always felt so dangerous."

Your hands reached to his chest, brushing against the fabric of his clothes before planting a kiss over his heart. "For showing me that I can trust again, that I don’t have to hide who I am." You moved to his ear next, your lips tracing its edge. "For being patient with me, and showing me that my heart has worth."

Finally, your lips touched his hand, your kiss delicate and full of admiration. "For everything you’ve done for this world, for your people, for the ones you love. For proving that it’s never too late to change and to fix things."

Rhys watched you with a soft smile, his eyes dark with emotion. And then, as if drawn by the same desire, he began to kiss you back, his lips pressing gently against every part of your body that he could reach. He kissed your cheek, your forehead, your lips, your neck, and every place where he had witnessed the strength of your spirit, places where you had shown him who you really were, free from expectations and from the past.

His voice was low, almost a growl, as he whispered against your skin. "One kiss for every part of you that refuses to let the world break you. For every time you chose to be yourself, no matter the pain."

The warmth of his touch, the softness of his words, and the tenderness of his kisses filled you with an overwhelming sense of connection, like something deep inside of you was finally being healed.

Eventually, the two of you broke apart, both needing to breathe, though you remained close. Rhys chuckled softly, his fingers running through your hair as he looked down at you. "You know," he said, his voice filled with affection, "we’ve spent so much time kissing that we’ve forgotten about food."

You laughed, a sound that felt foreign and free coming from you. "I suppose so," you said with a teasing smile. "But I think I could go without it for a while."

Rhys shook his head with a smirk, pulling the food toward you both. You sat back, letting the laughter linger between you before the conversation shifted to more mundane matters. But even as you ate, you were keenly aware of the intimacy that had passed between you.

And as you sat together, sharing a meal, there was one unspoken rule you both knew you had to honor. Neither of you passed food to the other, there was no accidental sharing that might ignite the bond between you too soon. You both knew that the moment would come when you were ready to accept it, to claim it fully, but not yet.

For now, it was enough to simply be in each other's presence, to share small, beautiful moments that built a foundation for something even deeper. And that, for the time being, was all you needed.

☆

Cassian had returned from Illyria a few days ago, vibrating with excitement, even if the situation wasn't the best. Rhys had told you Cassian always came back from the camps with his energy renowned. The moment he stepped into the training ring where you and Rhys were lounging, his sharp gaze landed on you. He walked with his usual swagger, but there was something else in his expression, a certain hint of curiosity.

"So," he drawled, arms crossed over his chest. "I hear you’ve been trained. Ever fought before?"

You raised a brow, amused. "I have."

Cassian smirked. "Then I think it’s time for a test."

Rhys chuckled beside you. "Cassian, I don’t think she needs to prove—"

But Cassian ignored him, already stretching out his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Come on, sweetheart. I just wanna see where you're at. We’ll keep it simple. Just me and you."

You stood, stretching a little, rolling out your wrists. "Fine."

Azriel, who had been quietly observing, leaned against the railing of the training ring, his shadows curling around him. "This should be interesting."

Cassian grinned, twirling a practice sword between his fingers before tossing one your way. You caught it easily, spinning it once in your grip.

"Alright," Cassian said. "Come at me."

You tilted your head. "Are you sure?"

Rhys let out a low laugh, recognizing the glint in your eye, but Cassian only grinned wider. "Give me your best shot."

You didn’t hesitate. You surged forward with speed that Cassian hadn’t expected, forcing him to block at the last second. The force of your strike sent him back a step, and his grin faltered slightly. He adjusted, attacking with a quick sequence of slashes that you dodged with practiced ease, deflecting each one with a sharp clang of metal against metal.

Rhys and Azriel watched intently as you fought, their amusement turning into intrigue. Cassian grunted as you landed a hit against his ribs, not hard enough to bruise, but enough to prove a point. He barely had time to react before you twisted away and struck again, forcing him on the defensive.

"Alright," he muttered, shaking out his hand. "Maybe I underestimated you a little."

You smirked. "You think?"

Azriel finally spoke. "What if we made this more interesting?"

Cassian looked at him, then at Rhys. "You want in?"

Rhys grinned, standing. "Why not?"

And just like that, the game changed. Now it was Cassian, Rhysand, and Azriel against you. Rhys had barely raised a hand before you attacked. You moved fast, too fast to what they were used to. You feinted toward Cassian before shifting at the last second, sweeping Azriel’s legs from under him. He caught himself with his wings, barely avoiding a full fall. Cassian lunged, but you anticipated it, twisting under his arm and elbowing him in the ribs before blocking Rhys’s incoming strike with the flat of your blade.

"Mother above," Cassian muttered, rubbing his side.

You danced between them effortlessly, your fighting style sharp, efficient, and familiar.

"She’s almost fighting like an Illyrian," Azriel noted, breathing slightly heavier than usual as he dodged another hit. His eyes narrowed. "Where did you learn that?"

You deflected Cassian’s sword and flipped back to create some space. "My mother trained me," you said simply.

Rhys shot a look at Cassian. "It makes sense. She wanted her to be prepared for anything. And since Illyrians are known as the best warriors, why not use their techniques?"

Cassian exhaled, rolling out his shoulders. "Alright. But there’s one thing we haven’t checked yet."

You raised a brow. "And that is?"

Cassian suddenly lunged forward again, this time using his wings to gain extra speed. You barely managed to sidestep, but then Azriel was behind you, and Rhys cut off your escape.

Pinned. Or at least, that’s what they thought.

At the last second, you dropped low, sweeping your leg out and taking Rhys’s feet from under him. He grunted as he hit the ground, and before Cassian or Azriel could react, you winnowed behind them, kicking Cassian square in the back before grabbing Azriel’s wrist and twisting it behind him, forcing him to yield.

Silence. And Rhys groaned from the ground. Cassian turned, rubbing his spine, while Azriel simply let out a long breath, clearly impressed.

"You have got to be kidding me," Cassian muttered.

Rhys, still flat on his back, just laughed. "I think we just got our asses handed to us."

Azriel gave a small nod. "Definitely Illyrian training."

Cassian narrowed his eyes at you, then let out a low, appreciative whistle. "I’d love to know who exactly trained you because I need to hire them for the camps."

You sheathed your sword and smirked. "You’d have to raise them from the dead for that."

Cassian shook his head, but a grin spread across his face. "Alright, alright. I admit it. You’re terrifying."

Rhys finally sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "That was unexpectedly humbling."

You grinned, offering him a hand. "Don’t worry, High Lord. I’ll go easy on you next time."

Cassian laughed. "Oh, I like her."

Azriel just gave you a long, considering look before murmuring, "I think we all do.

You stretched your shoulders, rolling out your wrists as you met Cassian’s gaze. He was still catching his breath from the last fight, but there was a glint of excitement in his eyes.

"Another round?" he asked, tilting his head.

You smirked. "Unless you’re scared."

Cassian let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, I like you even more every second." He cracked his neck, stepping back into position. "Alright, sweetheart. Let’s see what else you’ve got."

Azriel and Rhys exchanged glances before shrugging and taking their places beside him. Three against one. Again. You lunged first.

Cassian blocked your initial attack, but you moved too fast for him to counter, slipping under his defenses and landing a sharp elbow to his ribs before twisting away from Azriel’s incoming strike.

As you moved, you spoke. "My mother had an estate near the Illyrian Steppes," you said, ducking under Rhysand’s outstretched hand. "She used to help females who ran away from the war camps."

Cassian grunted as he barely dodged your next hit. "Your mother?"

"She was cruel," you admitted, spinning away from Azriel’s shadows. "But she wasn’t evil. She saw what was happening to the females, and she decided to help them."

Rhys aimed a kick at you, but you sidestepped effortlessly. "And how does that tie into you knowing how to fight like this?"

"There was a male," you said, stepping into Cassian’s space and sweeping your arm up to block his next attack. "One of the few who actually helped those females escape. My mother made a deal with him, he would train me, and in return, she would continue helping those who fled."

Cassian’s brow furrowed as he adjusted his stance. "So he taught you the Illyrian way?"

"Not exactly." You ducked under Azriel’s punch, spinning behind him. "He taught me how to beat Illyrians."

That made them all pause for a fraction of a second. You took advantage of that hesitation. You winnowed behind Cassian, kicking the back of his knee to force him down before using his shoulder to launch yourself up and over Rhysand, landing lightly on the balls of your feet.

Cassian cursed. "What do you mean ‘beat Illyrians’?"

You smirked. "You fight full force, power, brute strength, reinforced defenses." You dodged Azriel’s blade with ease, twisting around to block Rhys’s next move. "But I’m smaller. Slimmer. That means there’s less of me to hit."

Rhys narrowed his eyes. "So instead of matching an Illyrian in force, you use speed?"

"Speed, angles, redirection," you clarified, sidestepping Cassian again. "I don’t hit where you’re strongest, I find your openings and hit where you’re weakest."

Azriel suddenly changed tactics, dropping his stance to try and grab you from below, but you saw it coming. You twisted mid-air, using his shoulders as leverage to flip behind him, landing softly.

"That male trained me to exploit Illyrian weaknesses," you continued, parrying Rhys’s strike. "Your wings, too big to move quickly in tight spaces. Your center of gravity, higher because of your muscle mass. Your attacks, strong, but predictable. Illyrians fight like battering rams."

Cassian grunted, rubbing his ribs. "And you fight like a fucking dagger."

You grinned. "Exactly."

Azriel, to your surprise, let out a quiet chuckle. "No wonder we can’t pin you down."

Rhys shook his head, amusement in his violet eyes. "I think Cassian just found his worst nightmare."

Cassian groaned. "Remind me to never underestimate you again."

You smirked, adjusting your stance. "Don’t worry. I’ll remind you every time I knock you on your ass.”

You barely had time to recover before launching into another round, dodging Cassian’s relentless strikes as you explained further.

"Illyrians are powerful, but after learning your ways it becomes predictable," you continued, parrying Azriel’s blade before flipping over Rhys’s sweeping kick. "Your wings are an advantage in the sky, but on the ground, they slow you down. If someone knows how to use that against you—" You feinted left before slipping behind Cassian and jabbing at the soft spot near the base of his wing. He hissed and stumbled forward.

"Shit," Cassian muttered, shaking it off. "That’s a dirty move."

"You should teach it to your soldiers," you countered, stepping back. "Better they learn it from each other than from an enemy on the battlefield."

Azriel, observing, nodded in approval. "What else?"

You dodged a punch from Rhys and continued, "Illyrians tend to overcommit to an attack. You strike with force, assuming your opponent will buckle, but if they evade too fast, your momentum leaves you wide open. Instead of lunging full force, feint more often, leave room to recover if you miss."

Cassian frowned. "We usually don’t miss."

"You usually don’t fight someone like me," you shot back with a grin. "And you probably won't for a while. But someone will figure this out one day. Better to be prepared."

Cassian smirked, clearly impressed. "I’ll make sure the war camps hear about this."

Rhysand was about to respond when a voice echoed across the training ground.

"RHYS! CASSIAN! AZRIEL!" All four of you turned as Morrigan sprinted toward you, her golden hair wild, her face twisted with urgency. "Hybern attacked Adriata" she shouted. "Tarquin is begging for help”

For a single heartbeat, everything was silent.

Then Rhysand was moving. "Get the others," he ordered. "We leave as soon as possible.”

☆

The moment you arrived in Adriata, the scent of blood and smoke filled your senses. What should have been a thriving city of shining white stone and flowing canals was in ruins. Buildings collapsed, homes burned, bodies — Summer Court soldiers, civilians, and Hybern’s invaders — littered the streets. The sea raged against the shore, as if mourning the destruction.

Azriel barely took a second before vanishing into the shadows, his siphons glimmering as he gathered intelligence. Rhys turned to you, his violet eyes dark with fury.

“Assess the battlefield,” he ordered. “Tell me where we hit first.”

You scanned the chaos before you, breaking it down into patterns of movement, weaknesses in the enemy’s formation. Your mother could be as cruel as she wanted, as restraining as she could, but she always taught you how to find your enemies weakest points.

“Hybern spread their forces too thin trying to claim multiple areas at once,” you noted, pointing to a key road where a large group of soldiers were forcing civilians into a corralled area. "They're using that plaza as a control point. If we take it, we cut them off from their strongest foothold."

Rhys nodded, already barking orders. “Darkbringers! Secure the plaza and eliminate all Hybern forces. I want no prisoners. The rest of you, clear the civilians and get them to safety!”

A low murmur rippled through the ranks, Night Court wasn’t known for aiding other courts. But when Rhysand’s power flared, swallowing the battlefield in darkness, the hesitation vanished. The army surged forward, weapons drawn.

You turned to another front where Hybern’s forces were moving toward the palace. “Az, I need your spies to take out the commanders. Without orders, their soldiers will fall into chaos. They are killing machines, but they don't use their brains as their own.”

A flicker of shadow, and he was gone. Then you saw Tarquin, standing at the city’s edge, trident in hand, watching your forces winnow in. His face was wary, unreadable.

But then he heard Rhys’s voice booming over the battlefield. "Take Hybern down. Protect the civilians. Leave no survivors among their ranks."

Tarquin’s surprise was brief. Then, with a roar, he raised his weapon, and the sea itself answered. A wave crashed into the docks, swallowing Hybern’s reinforcements whole. Just then the battle truly began.

You darted forward, slicing through Hybern soldiers as the fight spread. You moved through the fray like a ghost, reading the battle as if it were a book laid open before you. Hybern’s forces fought with brute force, but they were slow. Sloppy. You took down a general with a precise strike to his exposed side, then winnowed just as an arrow flew past where your head had been.

A soldier lunged at you, sword raised, only to be blasted into oblivion by a dark tendril of power. You turned to see Rhys hovering above, his wings spread wide, darkness writhing around him as he cut through enemy ranks like a god of death.

Not far away, Azriel emerged from the shadows, blood dripping from his blades, his expression unreadable as the enemy commanders fell.

Then Cassian’s forces arrived, Illyrian wings blotting out the sun. The tide of battle shifted. And Hybern was about to regret ever setting foot in Adriata.

Taglist: @rcarbo1 @raisam @itsinherited @romantic1stories @nebarious @mystirica-18 @willowpains @xelladarlingx @lucilia9teen @lifetobeareader @hjgdhghoe @carmenadkins78 @ireadsstuff @oiolabomdia

[stewpidcheescatarinabluu]

Snowfall.

Synopsis: On New Year’s Eve, you find yourself lost in the crowd—and in your thoughts of Karina, the girl you let go. As midnight strikes, fate pulls you back together. One quiet walk, one soft kiss, and suddenly, the new year doesn’t feel so cold. Maybe this time… you’ll get it right.

Word Count: 1,290

Karina X Male Reader

It was New Year’s Eve. The snow fell elegantly, blanketing the world in white—pure, untouched, almost poetic. Everything looked peaceful, like the universe was giving you a clean slate. 2025 was drawing its final breath, and 2026 loomed just on the horizon.

You and your friends stood at the Altar, already partaking in the rituals—tying up fortunes, making quiet wishes, ringing the bell for luck. The air was crisp, filled with distant laughter, clinking charms, and the soft crunch of snow under heavy boots.

But your mind wasn’t completely present.

It wandered—to her.

To Karina.

It had been a month since the breakup. A stupid argument, really. Something as simple and solvable as time management. You both let pride talk louder than love that night. You told yourself you accepted it. That maybe she wasn’t really meant for you after all.

And yet.

A piece of you still waited.

Maybe she’ll come back.

Maybe.

If the year was ending, maybe the pain could too.

If new beginnings were real, maybe yours still included her.

“Hey, Y/N,” one of your friends said, nudging your shoulder. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about Karina?”

You gave a small scoff. “Nah, not really.”

Another one chuckled behind you, patting your back. “Come on, I know that face. You ain’t fooling anybody.”

You exhaled, fogging up the cold air in front of you. “I mean… our relationship didn’t get the justice it deserved. It felt like it ended way earlier than it should’ve. Not that we ever knew when it would end. It’s just… I don’t know. A gut feeling, I guess.”

They didn’t say much after that.

Some things didn’t need replies—just quiet understanding.

You and your friends continued walking through the soft glow of lanterns and the chatter of other visitors. The scent of freshly made street food lingered in the air, mixing with the sweetness of roasted chestnuts and hot soup. You took a sip of hot chocolate—thick, rich, comforting. A perfect match for the freezing night. For a moment, the world felt okay. Quiet, even.

Until you saw her.

There she was, framed by soft falling snow like a memory you hadn’t asked for.

Karina.

She looked the same—and somehow even more breathtaking. Her long dark hair tucked into a cream-colored scarf, cheeks slightly flushed from the cold, eyes crinkled in laughter as she giggled with her friends. She was bundled in a winter coat and mittens, the kind you once teased her about for being too oversized.

She looked warm. Happy.

Untouched.

You felt something stir in your chest—something heavy, something tight. Had it really not affected her? Had she really moved on that easily?

She’s smiling. She’s fine.

You tried to shake it off. Composed yourself. Pushed your hands deeper into your coat pockets and forced a breath through your nose.

The countdown was coming.

The bell was about to toll.

Everyone was starting to gather toward the center of the shrine grounds, eyes lifted to the sky, counting the final seconds of the year.

And you?

You kept your eyes down.

Telling yourself you were over it.

Telling yourself you were ready for something new.

Even if your heart was still stuck on her

You told yourself to let it go.

Ignore it. Don’t look again. She’s not yours anymore.

So you smiled at your friends’ jokes, laughed where you needed to, nodded as they handed you another hot drink—but you weren’t really there. The thought of her clung to your ribs like frost, quietly aching.

The crowd had started to grow thicker. More people filled the shrine grounds, lanterns bobbing gently as people moved closer to the main square. Breath became mist, and excitement filled the air like static. Everyone wanted to be close when the new year struck.

“Don’t get separated!” someone shouted behind you, but it was already too late.

The crowd swallowed you whole.

You turned once, twice—your friends were gone. Just faces. Coats. Scarves. Cold air. The swell of voices counting down, scattered and out of sync.

10...

The bell began to ring, echoing in waves over the snowy air.

9...

You spun, trying to find a familiar face. Anyone.

8... 7...

More people passed, brushing your shoulders.

6...

A glint of soft brown hair caught your eye. Your breath hitched.

5...

Your heart thudded.

4... 3...

She turned.

And there she was.

Karina.

2...

You stood still, the whole world narrowing down to her eyes meeting yours.

1...

The bell rang.

The new year began.

And somehow, in the middle of a thousand people and frozen air, she stepped toward you like no one else existed.

“Y/N...” she breathed, barely above a whisper, like she’d been holding your name in her chest this whole time.

And before either of you could say anything else—

She hugged you.

Tight. Like a sigh. Like a home she missed.

The world erupted in cheers around you, but in that small, sacred space between your arms, everything was quiet

Her arms wrapped around you like winter wasn’t cold anymore. For a moment, neither of you said a word. Just held each other.

Eventually, Karina pulled back slightly, her hands still on your coat. Her eyes shimmered under the soft golden lights, searching yours like she was trying to read your silence.

“Can we talk?” she asked gently, almost shyly.

You nodded.

The crowd buzzed around you—people laughing, fireworks in the distance, friends cheering, confetti tossed into the sky. But you and Karina slipped through the noise, away from the shrine, down a quieter path lit by faint lanterns and falling snow.

Your footsteps crunched in rhythm.

Neither of you rushed to speak. There was something comforting about just… being. Walking beside her again. Breathing in sync like old times. You could feel the warmth of her shoulder close to yours, the soft sound of her exhale as she finally whispered:

“I didn’t think I’d run into you here.”

You gave a small smile. “Yeah. Me neither.”

She glanced up at you. “You look... good. Different. But the same.”

“You too.”

She laughed under her breath, then tucked her hands deeper into her coat. “I kept wondering if I’d see you again tonight. Not just hoping. Wondering. Like… what would I even say if I did?”

You looked at her carefully, heart softening with each word.

“You just did.”

Karina stopped walking, the lantern light brushing the snow in her hair like a crown. She looked at you like she wanted to say more but didn’t know where to start.

You stepped closer, gently brushing a snowflake off her cheek.

“Happy New Year, Karina.”

She smiled at that, a little sad, a little relieved. “Happy New Year, Y/N.”

Silence stretched again. Not uncomfortable—just fragile.

And then, finally, she whispered:

“I missed you.”

Your throat tightened.

“I missed you too.”

The words hung in the cold night air—soft, real, tender.

“I missed you too.”

Karina looked up at you, her eyes glassy, lashes catching the snow. Her breath came out in a slow cloud between you, and for a second, neither of you moved.

Then she took one small step closer.

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Can I...?”

You didn’t need to answer.

Your hand found hers, fingers brushing like old memories falling back into place. She leaned in slowly, eyes fluttering shut, and you met her halfway.

It was a small kiss—hesitant, soft, like a question.

But when she didn’t pull away, and you didn’t either, it deepened just enough to say all the things you hadn’t in weeks.

Snow drifted around you.

And when your lips finally parted, her forehead rested lightly against yours, eyes closed, a faint smile curving her lips.

Your story the next day.

“too much for comforting you Y/N!”

“what a surprise!!”

“new year same girl?”

[aayakashii]

Can I please get a 29❤️ and 33❤️ fluffy for Haku please?

29❤️ A kiss to the back of the hand

33❤️ A kiss to a scar, birthmark, injury, or other marking

I got to use the cute gif I wanted!! >:D *rubs hands together*

Urgent!!

I am being stalked!

??????

What?? Are you okay, Haku???

Who's stalking you??

Come meet me at the courtyard and I'll show you

... you'll show me? Your stalker?

Yes

Save me please?

... okay...? I'm going

My hero <3

As you hurriedly walk towards the courtyard, your head turn left and right, looking for Haku. The heavy bag on your back slams against you as you jog back and forth, frantically searching for Hotarubi's vice-captain. After all, even though his messages had been a little weird, you didn't want to risk not taking something as dangerous as a possible stalker seriously.

You stop in your tracks once you hear a nearby voice call out your name, and, quickly turning around on your feet, you manage to see Haku's yellow eyes peeking from behind a tree.

Maybe he was trying to hide from someone, you thought.

Swallowing hard, you try to walk quietly towards him in order to avoid any unwanted attention.

"Thank you for coming to save me" Haku say nonchalantly, smiling at you from his seat on the ground and against the tall tree.

You look left and right and wipe the sweat off your forehead, your eyes wide and alert.

“Where are they? Your stalker?” you whisper anxiously while you sit beside him, and Haku’s lips form an ‘o’ before he chuckles as if he had just remembered a hilarious joke.

“Right, the stalker. There it is” he points to the space in front of him.

“What? Where?” you crane your neck, trying to look at whatever was in the distance.

“No, no” he taps your shoulder “It isn't far away. It's really right there. There. Look.” he wiggles his finger, as if it would make you see better.

You squint, looking at the grass. That was all that was in front of him at that moment. Until you see a flash of dark brown jump up and down on the spot, and finally you manage to make out the so-called ‘stalker.’

“That's... a tanuki?” you widen your eyes in surprise after you manage to properly make out the silhouette of the little animal that rolled around between the blades of grass, almost unnoticeable with a little leaf on its head. 

It is a tiny little thing. And very round too. Is every cute anomaly round like that?, you think. But then you turn around to face Haku and raise one eyebrow, looking at him in disbelief. 

“THAT'S your stalker?”

Haku shrugs.

“It's been following me everywhere the past few days, you know? It’s even trying to sleep on my pillow at night and now I have to be careful not to roll around so I won’t smush it to death. It’s a serious problem, believe it or not.”

You roll your eyes at how Haku smirks while he explains his ‘terrible’ predicament to you.

“Well, why don't you take it to Jabberwock?” you ask. He hisses, as if you had just asked a hard question, and bashfully scratches his cheek

“It wasn’t a lack of trying” Haku then shows you the back of his left hand, where you could see a long and nasty red cut opening the skin. You gasp loudly.

“That tiny thing did this?!”

Haku sighs, nodding as if he also didn’t believe what had happened to him.

“It's a feisty little guy.”

“I can definitely see that” you gaze at the small tanuki with a bit more caution, brows scrunched up in surprise. “Well, first let’s take care of this awful wound and then we think of the rest. Can’t have you dying of tetanus because of a 10cm tall tanuki.” you say, opening your backpack and pulling out a medkit from its confines.

Haku whistles.

“You always carry that with you?”

“Of course. Have you ever spent more than a minute with the other ghouls? I literally need to be prepared for anything.”

This time, Haku laughs genuinely.

“Fair enough.”

You take your time to carefully disinfect his cut, apply one of the many anomalous anointments you had picked up at the general store and then you wait for it to dry before bandaging his hand.

After a few moments of silence, with Haku most definitely basking in the feeling of your hands cradling his, you can't control your curiosity anymore.

“Okay but uh…” you stutter, lightly touching the ointment and then grabbing a clean bandage once you noticed it was dry. “Why did you ask me for my help? I’m just a human.”

Haku looks up, in thought.

“Well, I know you have a way with these little guys. Peekaboo loves you, doesn’t he?”

You hum, not fully convinced.

“But what if it scratches me too?” 

Haku leans towards you, suddenly looking serious.

“Then I'll kill it” he murmurs, with a tinge of darkness in his voice.

You gasp loudly, startling the tanuki that had began to take a nap under the sun and in front of you.

“No!!!! Dont!!! It's cute!! Don't kill it!!!” you almost yell, clutching Haku’s hand tightly while you stare at him, eyes wide as saucers.

“Pffftt! Hahaha! It's okay, I was joking. I won't kill it.” he laughs, leaning back against the tree.

You scrunch your brows, looking at him with suspicion, not completely sure that he was just joking right there. You then tap his now bandaged hand lightly and sigh.

“Okay, it's done.”

Haku tilts his head to the side and pouts.

“Aw. Can’t I have a little kiss on my wound to make it better?”

You glare at him for a moment, before pulling his hand towards your lips and kissing his fingers, avoiding the bandage for safety.

You turn your head away quickly so he wouldn’t see you flustered by your own actions. You end up missing the way his jaw hangs low, completely taken aback by you. 

Haku clears his throat and scratches his cheek again, embarrassed.

“Well, now I really can't kill it. It got me a kiss. Maybe it's my new lucky charm.”

“Stop it.” you gently slap his shoulder. "Okay now... The anomaly." you mutter, more to yourself than to him.

You shift your position, sitting on your feet while you lean towards the lazy tanuki in front of you. The little thing was having the time of its life, warming his round belly under one of the sun rays that peeked through the large tree’s foliage. You stretch your arm towards it, the palm of your hand facing up so it’d climb on its own. You were just guessing what would be the right way to deal with that anomaly, but, much to your surprise, it slowly got up on its stubby little legs and walked towards you, quickly plopping on your hand and resuming its nap.

You get up from your seat carefully, mouth open wide in pure awe while you frantically motion for Haku to get up too. He snorts at the sight of your enthusiasm, also getting up.

“Let's take this guy to a place where he'll be safe.” you murmur, staring at the anomaly that was fully relaxed in your hands.

“Oh, it's okay, no need to take me anywhere. I'm safe with you” Haku said, smirking. 

You finally snapped your head towards the man beside you, feeling your cheeks tingle at his teasing.

“Haku!”

“Hahahaha! Sorry.” he chuckles, raising his arms in defeat. “Yes, let's give it a place to live.”

As you two make your way to Jabberwock, Haku suddenly pouts, feigning hurt while he looks at the creature you were so carefully holding.

“I can’t believe a tanuki managed to take a nap on you before me. You really have a way with conquering us, monsters.” 

You sigh. There was absolutely no end to this man's teasing and his flirting, you think.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say” you mumble, exasperated. He just laughs, pleased at your reactions.

I tried to make parallels between the smol tanuki and Haku, basically like: they're both lazy and they both quickly like you ;w; I hope it was easy to notice that lmao

[allpiesforourown]

Me: I think 12 inches (30cm) is the perfect length for a strap on because thats how long a ruler is, so you can also use it to measure stuff. Like if something is half the length of the strap, it's 15cm and if it's a third, it's 10cm. And you could say "12 inch strap on for scale" which would be really funny

Scientists taking notes: ah... I see...

Me: can you let me out of this glass enclosure now

[villagesmartass]

Labor was by far the hardest most strenuous and scary thing I’ve ever done. I labored at home for 12 hours and once they were 3-5 minutes apart and I was puking we went to the hospital and they checked me I was only 1cm dilated. A lot of moms can get up to 5cm before contractions even start so I had a long way to go with already intense contractions because I was at least 100% effaced but they would check me every couple hours and I stayed at 1cm for hours. I already felt like giving up and felt hopeless as to how I was going to handle more pain than I was already feeling. I was ready for an epidural but they can’t even give you one until you’ve dilated a bit and I kept puking so i needed to be on an iv drip just roughing it through the contractions for a few hours. My doula saved me and got me moving and doing these torturous positions that got me bleeding which meant i was opening up and getting closer. She got me from 1cm to 3 to 5 really fast and by the time i was able to get an epidural I was in transition which is the most painful part of labor, 7-10cm. I was nearly convulsing I was on another planet but as soon as I got some relief I was able to sleep for a bit until she’s ready to come out and I had to start bearing down, at this point I’m feeling most of the contractions again they are harrrd but I pushed her out in 45 min rather than 2-3 hours. I was really ready to be done and meet her. I thought pushing her out would feel more abstract or broad like a poop or a fish but I felt every piece of her nose shoulders knees and toes and the biggest relief of my liiiife hearing her cry and being placed in my arms. Andrew was right there with me the entire time encouraging me and washing me and warming me and delivered our baby and cut the cord and kissed me to heaven