#a whole section dedicated to jellies

[donuts4evry1]

fun fact the monterey bay aquarium has (what I hope is) an atolla jellyfish hanging from the ceiling and I think it is very cool :)

[angelismmm]

all i see is red. ⟢ with jealous! hsr men

— synopsis. jelly welly hsr men, god, your touchy male 'friend' definitely didn't wanna lay off you, and didn't wanna just be friends, and it's like you didn't mind, hell you didn't even say anything when the guy made you uncomfortable?? why?! seems like you were too nice to say anything, he'll just show who you belong to, and hopefully he'll fuck off.

— a letter from the author. taking advantage of the algorithm especially when it comes to this!! 1.5k notes on the 7mih helpp, this is my revenge post because i got claras card thing, and not her at 90 pity on the standard banner. you will see how much emotion i put into this. i lowkey just put them into to categories; nice and polite while the guy is around, and absolute bodyblock barrier while you hangout with him, or both, giggles

— heads up. smutty at the end of each thing, sextapes (caelus), kidnapping mentioned (dan heng & jing yuan), masturbation (all of them), possessiveness (most of them), creepy guy alert (the guy friend im talking about weeee), killing (blade/sampo), hickeys mentioned (most have), public fucking, just beware sex is everywhere, NOT IMPLIED FEM READER, TY !!!!

DAN HENG

・he never liked your 'friend'. he was almost too touchy with you whenever he got to hangout with you (& him). it seemed like he forgot you even had a boyfriend, a very dedicated one too. and he did not approve of this guy's actions at all. and it didn't help at all that he flirted with you for the fun of it, yeah right. he obviously wanted to get rid of him, and get with you. he isn't easily fooled, and that is so bold, of him to assume he can't see right through his little schemes to take you. too late honestly, because you loved him way more than that guy friend of yours. he's way better anyway. more utc.

・anything that the guy friend of yours offered? thinks there is an ulterior motive to it, and politely declines, makes it more obvious if he continues trying to shove the 'homemade food' that the guy made for him and his s/o. dan heng is not one for a lot of pda, but he's willing to hold your hand, by your waist, kisses on the cheek, hell, he'd go so far to kissing you on the lips and giving a hickey or two just to try telling the guy you already were his. always have been. but he kept trying... it's like an annoying little bug that won't stop 'till he stomps it dead. well, that's quite alright, he's willing to stab the hell out of this guy, gouge his eyes out and skin him alive, makes dan heng more protective and possessive if the guy tries anything that makes you uncomfortable. just really can't take the hint, huh?

・as he starts to do more things that made you uncomfortable but you were too nice to say anything, the angrier glances he gave to the guy while you looked away. trying to get the whole "you're making my s/o uncomfortable. get away." message, and best bet the guy just takes him as jealous that he was reeling his girl in. it really was the polar opposite. whenever he tried asking about the guy at home? you immediately change the topic, it was worse than dan heng thought. do.. you want him.. to perhaps.. get rid of him completely? just say the word, and he will..

nsfw ?!

・i will put most of the guys underneath 2 different sections on what they would do, and dan heng the type of guy to kidnap the creepy touchy flirtacious friend of yours, and fuck you infront of him :)

・might be a bit of a stretch, but thinking about it, he would, right infront of the man who thought he'd fuck your hole better? yeah right. you were made for him, dan heng, no one else, praises you like crazy, saying you're doing well and stuff, like there's no tomorrow, and every now and then glances at the guy, cloth tied around his mouth to keep him quiet, actual metal cuffs around his hands, and feet to keep him from moving, he really wants to show you aren't single, at all, wants to let him know, for the millionth time, you belonged to him, not him, not anyone else, he already marked you infront of him and that wasn't much of a hint? he's dumber than he looks. probably blindfolds you so you don't see the guy, but just keep letting out those pretty little moans of yours so he could get to work, ever since you introduced that sketchy guy to him, and saw his actions, this is a dream come true.

・makes real fucking sure he sees how good your boyfriend, dan heng, makes you feel, so much that the image of you and him will appear in that man's mind if you ever dare to think any bad or if he's a bad boyfriend to you, the slow hours that he'd fuck you in, it will make an impact on the poor man's mind. it was his fault anyway, dan heng gave him soo many chances, all he had to do was back off, he knew dan heng was yours, and you were dan heng's. and he didn't lay off. well, there's a price to pay when you date someone so beautiful as you are, getting to be in you felt better than being given a whole galaxy.

・when he can, he'll probably come back to this moment and jerk off to it, it was one of the first actual times you both got to do anything intimate after getting of jarilo VI. and the xianzhou situation really kept postponing anything between you too, just as so far to instead going on dates during the mission, maybe even quickies in alleyways. really loved the image of you being blindfolded, and moaning like a bitch in heat for his cock, nothing gave him more pleasure. maybe except you.

CAELUS

・poor baby, trying his best to not let the guy do anything more to make you more uncomfortable. the first few pickup lines and slight touchiness was.. bearable. but when he started getting too close for comfort, like almost kissing you at times, and that the guy claims it to be 'accidents'? tripping on nothing doesn't count as an accident, and he was right beside you, why didn't he go tumbling down with you? doesn't matter anymore, he's making you uncomfortable, so whenever you were too nice to decline the guy's offer, he'd come along and act as a barrier between you two. he doesn't want anymore accidents like that to happen, does he? no worries, caelus to the rescue!

・still never trusted him enough to take anything the guy offered, he would take it, but throw it away into the trash, where he and it belong. he tries to be emotionally understanding to the guy, but he just keeps hitting on you, how is he supposed to just sit there watching his s/o become uncomfortable, will body block any advance the man will attempt to do. he loves you like the sun, and he can't just let the sunshine in his life go.

・always, and i mean always advised you to just cut him off, but you felt like it was too rude. but it was so rude of him to continuosly flirt with you infront of your boyfriend. and you really couldn't say anything to not be 'impolite'. he was mad definitely, but not, never more mad at the guy, caelus would give an immensely huge amount of clues and hints to the guy that you're taken, he literally goes with you to your hangouts with the guy, is that not enough? what a blind guy, like how blind you were to realize he liked you. it's okay though, nothing a little video can help him realize that you're taken.

nsfw ?!

・will film you guys fucking. now i know i said i'd split the categories here into two, and i know not all the guys would do this, but think about it, that's all im saying. anyways, will film you both making love, capturing every little pretty moan you let out, and how well you take his cock in you, placing hickeys on you while praise spills off his lips, whispering just how good you feel, seems like the vanilla kind of guy, but i promise you he isn't always vanilla, like this kind of moment, will go rough. and really harsh with it. during these kind of days too, he will leave marks and hickeys on you, gets pleasure from it honestly.

・sends a picture and a small clip to the guy with a smiley face and captioned "never fucking speak to them again. they're mine, not yours, not anyone else's. :)"

・doesn't do this often, but again when he can: will stroke himself to the same image he sent <3 you just looked too pretty for him to not get erect by looking at the picture! he's sorry really, he just loves you so much.. probably fucked you infront of a mirror, just so you could see how much of a mess you were for him, just for him~

SAMPO

・at first, thinks it's funny, no one is as charismatic as him than himself. he thinks it's funny that guy can take you away from him, yeah right, not in a million years. when the guy starts to become obnoxiously flirty and touchy with you, that's when he starts to become protective, before that, he just thought it was funny. but he's actually trying to.. get with his amazing s/o when you clearly have the most perfect partner to be with you, no matter how much he decided to mark up your neck, and made sure the man saw him placing another, and he still kept trying to hit on you, not like you'd fall for someone like that guy, he makes you uncomfortable and is overly touchy. and to be frank, sampo is not that bad of a boyfriend, when you get closer to each other, is a big big sweetheart. literal angel tbh<3

・did take what the guy made, like food or etc, and poured it all into the trash while the man was looking. and mouthed words "stay away from my spouse :D". will always and from whenever the guy starts to go over the line, sampo will start holding you close, and is oddly more erotic than usual. will whisper in your ear how horny he is, but aside that, the guy seems like the thirdwheel in this situation, and that is not what he wanted at all, he didn't want it to be like that at all, and sampo sensed that a long time ago, as soon as the guy tries to lean in to close, sampo will go in for a kiss between the both of you.

・at some point kind of was scared you'd leave him for someone else, but your reassurance will always keep him relieved and safe to know that the person he loves the most and admires will always stay with him, forever, and now.

nsfw ?!

・probably will either kidnap the guy and fuck you infront of him, or will kill the guy and fuck you anyway. depends on his mood. hard & rough sex with him, because he's jealous, it's obvious enough, not just jealous, he's mad you just stood there and didn't tell the guy to fuck off. it's alright now though, he probably gets off to your frightened expression as he fucks your hole, seems like that kind of guy. his back just painted with all your scratches, putting you into a mating press does something to him idk. can't help but tell you your dazed expression from his cock was adorable!

・even after sex he'd probably would will eat/blow the hell outta your pussy/dick, sorry not sorry. kind of guy to fuck you in random alleyway somewhere in belobog, and makes sure the guy friend sees you guys at some point.

・likes to come back to that moment while you and him are fucking, just knowing that guy saw you both relentlessly so in the moment with each other in a public place, and no, just staying silent is not a choice with him, there's a reason why you just let the guy trip over nothing and trip on you as a result, there's an answer to why you did that. he knows it, and he'll fuck the answer out of you if he needs to.

WELT YANG

・already protective of you, and the guy just made him even more protective (+ possessive).. unlike before that welt really just followed you around without really having to do much that gave signs you were together, matching rings, possibly matching jackets/cardigans, literally holding hands, and the guy asks "is he your brother?" just gives him a really plain look, like what the fuck you guys didn't even look that much alike each other. before you could say anything though he'll kiss you on the lips, and it's a really long kiss to just rub it in.

・will intentionally bump into you when you receive stuff like food from the creepy guy, like will spill it on the floor, like fully calculated solution too, oh no the guy's gift suddenly fell on the floor and the 5 second rule isn't real oh nooo just seems like we cant do anything about it.. that's okay, welt just happens to have your favorite snack prepared for you right in his pocket (he wants to be better than the guy in every way possible). will one-up the guy on everything just to make sure he proves that he's better for you, that's his little red flag, just if he's jealous.

・scared if you're ever more impressed by the creep than him, scared of replacement probably, more scared if you even are comfortable with the touchiness that the guy does near you, kind of guy to actually sit between you two because he knows the guy will try something. holds your hand constantly, even if the guy makes him uncomfortable and anxious himself, he doesn't want you to feel the same.

nsfw ?!

・just the type of man to block him everywhere on your end, and fuck you pretty vanilla just to get his mind off it. just wants time with you by himself, and that stupid guy friend of yours just had to interrupt. but all he could is think about how good you feel around him. how well you take him is all and everything on his mind, the tight warmth around his cock is one of the only things that could distract him from anything.

・kind of hesitant at first about blocking the guy, but he knows you're uncomfortable with it, and to make you feel better, he wants to give you the most pleasurable night possible, maybe not the most, that can wait for your wedding night <3

・just really wants to take your mind off that creep, and let you focus on how good his cock is making you feel, those little mewls of yours is proof that his plan is going well! just wants to see your hole overwhelmed with his cum, loves it so much honestly, and has a lowkey breeding kink so be ready to bear his children (real not fake)

・lowkey been dreaming of this moment, he's jerked off to it before, just railing the hell out of you while he's just so calm about it, your dazed, blurry vision, could only see welt's face, the only thing registering in your mind, was his relentless pace, throbbing dick so easily sliding in and out from the cum from all the other rounds, doesn't seem like he'll stop 'till you can't walk at all <3

JING YUAN

・no mercy at all, will side eye the guy all the damn time. wym you gonna give my s/o a gift... fuck off bro... unimaginably and overtly possessive, you are HIS. and why are YOU hanging out with other guys. you are supposed to only be his to talk to smh (he means it as a joke but is jealous you even talk to anyone else.) does not hesitate to make out in front of the guy and mark you all over your neck or what. because you're his, and it's only right he marks what's his before someone tries to take you. blatantly ignores the guy when he tries to talk to him, someone who's trying to take you from him wants to talk to him? yikes... yeah right, no.

・will personally pull him into a private place and tell him to lay off, that he makes you uncomfortable, and that you aren't up for new relationships, because if he really hasn't seen yet, you are his, why and how does this creep that you met 2 days ago will ever one-up someone as great as he is. and he knows you'd pick him over the guy friend any day of the week. intentionally kisses you and while you aren't looking he will glance and smirk at the guy because he knows he just saw you and him kissing, tongue contact and everything.

・why does this guy even keep trying? quite the stubborn brat, he'll just have to show him who you belong to, and he'll die with the secret <3

nsfw ?!

・kind of guy to kidnap the male friend and fuck the shit outta of you infront of him. such a meanie, thrusting so harshly out and inside you again and again, the belly bulge as clear as daylight, and will shove fingers down your throat if you end up being too loud, his little room all the way at the bottom of his home isn't sound proof you know.. but the servants know he fucks you almost every night there anyway, kind of forgets the guy is there and goes down on you like there's no tomorrow.

・makes sure to torture the guy a bit more before he decides or either killing him off or just knocking him out and carrying the man back into the wild, phone in his hand, with a message from you saying "never text or come near my s/o ever again, i hope you had fun watching us last night. <3"

・where did he put the guy exactly? err... totally not onto another planet.... totally.

BLADE

・i would be lying if i said he didn't already place hickeys on your neck, lowkey a kind of high sex drive honestly. and who allowed you to have other friends that are outside of the stellaron hunters, whatever he doesn't wanna seem like the manipulative boyfriend type, he'll let this one slide, for now.

・hates him from the very second he meets the guy. you shouldn't even be friends with such a creep. plus he seems like he just wants to sleep with you then steal all your belongings. and that's when he won't let it slide anymore. no, why the hell would he take a 'gift' from a sketchy looking guy you met 2 days ago?? you already are a gift so he considers it useless, and the guy useless, so desperate for his spouse..

・will grab you by your hair/collar and fuck you there instead, and the guy can't help but overhear your sweet little moans, all bubbling up at once, and he can't help but just indulge himself into what a mess he made you. just like to hold you face up to his while he thrusts so thoroughly wrecking your insides, just as he kisses the tip of your nose and releases into you, gets you dressed up and walks out the alleyway like nothing happened.

nsfw ?!

・as if the 'sfw' section of this wasnt already nsfw LMFOA, anyways, like i said he'll fuck you even while you and the guy are hanging out, just to show who you really belong to, no one else can manhandle you like this, not in a million years. your hole was made for only him anyway.

・doesn't really care about the guy seeing you both or not, and id you are uncomfortable around him he'll be dead by morning and he'll give you a good fucking as an apology for not realizing it sooner, wants to be a better boyfriend fluffy wise, but your fucked up little expression when his cock finally shoots his warm cum into you is much more adorable, he wouldn't trade it for the world <3!

taglist: @edit-me-prettyplease @sucrosia

[crimson-calligraphyx]

12: Miracle

A/N: just picture this when you get to the gift shop part okay 😂

While I was at the beach with Noah earlier today, I felt like I was in euphoria. That was not the case now after we had taken a nap and decided on starting the task of deep cleaning my condo. It was overwhelming and extremely embarrassing having filled up a trash bag with empty containers. When we had to open another bag to get the rest of the trash, I was in tears, slumped in the middle of my kitchen floor.

Noah notices and puts down whatever it was that he was holding and squats down next to me, rubbing my back. "Hey, what's going on?" "This is just so...humiliating, Noah," I cry, throwing the bag in my hands down aggressively. He wraps both arms around me and sits properly, scooping me into his lap. "Shh," he soothes, "it's okay. It's just a bit of mess, nothing a little cleanup can't fix." "My life is a giant mess," I huffed, rolling my head against his chest in attempt to hide my face from his view. He squeezes me tighter, "Messes are temporary, Olivia. We'll get this place in tip-top shape, promise." When I don't say anything, he picks my head off his chest so he could look me in the eyes. "Would you like to take a break and do something else?" I shrugged, "I guess."

-

I couldn't contain my excitement as Noah and I made our way into the aquarium after standing in line for what seemed like an eternity to get our tickets. I haven't gone to the aquarium before, so this was a whole new experience for me, and so far it was enticing. The lobby was dim and crammed with people at first, but as we made our way through, the floor opened up, lined with a glass barricade. I pressed myself against it and leaned over the railing to get the best view that I could.

Below us was the penguin exhibit; there sat a decent sized rock with tons of nooks and crannies for the birds to settle in. Some were perched at the very top of it, squawking away at one another as they fought over the food the caretakers had just thrown out for them. Some were relaxing in the lower levels of the rock, basking in the artificial light. Others were zooming around in the water below that ran right underneath us, which was the most enjoyable part for me. It was incredible how fast these little guys could swim.

Noah takes hold of my hand, grabbing my attention, "C'mon, there's so much more to see," he says with a smirk on his lips. I nodded while I beamed at him, letting him lead me to the next area. There was a shallow tank where several people were kneeling down and sticking their hands in. I looked at Noah in curiosity, who just smiled down at me and cocked his head in its direction, prompting me forward. I kneeled down in front of it like most others, gasping once I saw the stingrays swimming about. I stuck my hand inside the warm water, their little bodies skimming underneath my fingertips. They were silky smooth, but also slimy to the touch, and I couldn't help the cheek-splitting smile I had on my face.

As we continued deeper into the building, there were tons of different tanks with their own habitats depending on what kinds of marine life lived within them. There were tanks that had only a few things of seagrass with seahorses hiding in them, others with a plethora of fish, their vibrant colors an astounding contrast to the coral behind them. Noah would take the time to point out different colors for me, which was adorable and made the excitement of being here even greater.

We made our way into a room that was darker than all the rest, tanks illuminated by fluorescent lights. This room was dedicated to jellyfish, and this was the most incredible thing I've seen so far. One section seemed as if I was staring at an x-ray, the water black but the blobs floating freely were a translucent blue. You could easily make out their anatomy, which was super fascinating to the both of us. One section held slow-moving jellies with extremely long tentacles, their bodies glowing in pink. Another held jellies that moved along at a much faster pace, puffing out like a parachute and retracting to propel forward.

We eventually found ourselves at the very bottom-center of the aquarium where the viewing tank sat, which actually scaled nearly the entire height of the building. As we ascended the ramp that spiraled along it, you could see all different types of life ranging from the size of a golf ball, to the king of the ocean. Well, this tank wasn't fit for a Great White, but there was a decent sized shark or two swimming along the reef that I wasn't sure the species.

He makes us take a seat on one of the multiple alcoves that were placed sporadically alongside the tank, pulling out his phone. He drapes an arm over my shoulders and pulls me close to him, extending the phone in front of us. "Smile," he says cheerfully. I settle myself into him some, placing a hand on his chest and flashed a big smile as he snapped the picture. He then presses a kiss to the top of my head and takes another picture—I'm sure my grin doubled in size. "Wanna grab something to eat?" I ask once he puts his phone away. "Yes," he groans, "I never thought you'd ask." I laugh and push him playfully, promptly standing up and tugging him with me to head to the cafeteria.

There wasn't a whole heck of a lot to choose from here, but we both settled on a slice of pizza and some fries. We ate in silence—mostly because Noah practically scarfed his food down and didn't have time to talk—as I thought about all the things I got to witness today. I never thought how amazing the world would be now that I could see color; I feel like I'm walking in a dream. A dream where the creator pulls me from the grey that I had been living in, guiding me through this new spectrum of life, only to get better and better with each passing moment. The best part about it? I haven't felt the craving of alcohol today—not one bit.

"What are you thinking about?" Noah asks, resting his chin on his fist with a playful smirk on his lips. "The fact that it's a miracle I haven't thought about having a drink today," I answer truthfully. "This place is incredible, Noah. Thank you for bringing me here." I watched his face soften, a pleased grin tugging at his lips. "Don't thank me, I'm just glad you're enjoying your time," he says as he takes one of my fries off my plate and takes a bite. "What was your favorite part?" I push my plate towards him, knowing I wasn't going to finish them. "It's a tie between the jellyfish and the stingrays. The jellies were so beautiful, but getting to touch the rays was something else. They're so cute, like little ocean raviolis!" He shoots me a questioning look before he laughs. "Ocean raviolis? That's...interesting." I narrow my eyes at him, taking one of my fries and tossing it at him. "Oh, shut it. Think about it for a sec. They're shaped the same and their bellies protrude like they're stuffed with something." He shakes his head at me like I'm crazy, chuckling.

"Anyway, what was your favorite part?" "Seeing that smile of yours all day. I think it's more beautiful than all the exhibits here," he says while looking directly into my eyes. I feel my face flush as I bury it into my hands sheepishly—there was no way that was true. "You're so full of it," I mumble through my hands. He takes hold of one of my hands, pulling it away from my face, forcing me to look at him. "I mean it, Liv," he says gently, running his thumb over my knuckles. "I've been here before so it's nothing new, but seeing the way your face lit up was something special." "Well, thank you," I mutter shyly. "Let's go to the gift shop," I say in hopes of changing the subject as I was terrible at taking compliments. "Okay," he smiles at me and stands, picking up our trash. "Gotta see if there's any ocean ravioli stuffies to take home with ya." I laugh and follow him as we made our way to the gift shop.

We wandered in the shop for a little while, picking up random trinkets here and there to deem if they were worth bringing home with us or not. I found a bottle opener that was the body of a Great White, the jaws the opener itself which I thought was pretty cool, but I decided against it and grabbed a shark tooth necklace instead. I figured it would be best for me to not bring home anything that would encourage me to open a bottle, as silly as that may seem.

I round the corner, reaching the area where they had all the stuffed animals. Smiling wide, I made my way over and grabbed the first thing that I saw, squishing it to my chest. At 26 years old, I was shameless about my adoration for stuffies—I would collect them all if I had the room for them. I continued to gather them in my arms and stared into each of their beady eyes and smiling faces, wondering which one I should bring home. I began to turn to Noah in hopes of an opinion, only to burst out into laughter when my eyes landed on him.

He stood there with a cheesy grin, wearing a ridiculous jellyfish hat with tentacles dangling around his face and shoulders. "What?" he asks, humor tainting his words. "Is there something wrong?" I shake my head at him, "No, nothing at all. You're just a dork." I watch his mouth drop, feigning hurt. "A cute dork, though." He props a fist on his hip, "I prefer dweeb, thank you very much." I roll my eyes and chuckle, averting my attention back to the collection of animals in my arms. "Help me pick one out, or I will buy the whole store out." He looks above my head and reaches out to grab something, completely disregarding what I was holding. "This," he says, bringing it down into my view.

We left the aquarium hand in hand, having a stingray in my possession and him proudly wearing that goofy hat.

-

"Well," I sighed once Noah and I walked back into my condo and put down our new possessions. "I guess we should finish cleaning this up, huh?" He rubs my back and gives me a reassuring upturn of his lips, nodding. "Only if you're up for it, Liv. It doesn't need to be done all in one day." "Yeah, you're right," I agree, giving the area a look over. "I'll leave it for tomorrow. I can bring the trash to work." "Okay," he whispers as he smiles at me sweetly, placing his hands on my hips and closes the gap between us. I instinctively lock my hands behind his neck and grin up at him while he sways us softly, waltzing to nothing. His eyes were dark, yet so gentle, crinkling in the corners while he mirrors my grin. He brings his face close to me, pressing his lips against mine. I kiss back, his tongue darting out and caressing my lip for access to mine. Our tongues collide, hesitantly dancing around one another due to the unfamiliarity of each other. I pull away from him after a moment, breathing heavy as my heart swells at the unexpected intimacy.

"What was that for?" I ask quietly, a smirk forming on my face. A chuckle vibrates through his throat as he rests his forehead against mine, shimmering brown eyes gazing into my blues again. "Am I not allowed to kiss you?" I feel my face flush and giggle, "No, I didn't say that." "Good," he pecks my lips quickly. "I was just admiring you, is all. I'm proud of you for not having a drink today." I scoff, "It hasn't even been a full day. That's hardly anything to be proud of." He shakes his head, "Nonsense. One day at a time, Liv. It's still something." I shrug, pulling out of his grasp to take my vibrating phone out of my pocket, noting it was a call from Vic. I answer it immediately, only to be thrown off when it wasn't her voice that came through the receiver.

"Who is this and why do you have Victoria's phone?" I ask accusingly. "You're Liv, right? She has you listed as an ICE," the male voice replies. My stomach churns, panic setting in. "What happened to her?!" Noah shoots me a concerned look while he assesses my phone call. "I don't want to alarm you, but your friend or sister or whoever has been in an accident," he keeps his voice calm. "We've called an ambulance and they're on their way." I could feel my chest tighten, the air suddenly not making it to my lungs. "Where is she?" I choked out. "At the bar where she works, she was making her way across the street when someone came flying around the corner—" I couldn't bear to hear the rest of his sentence, hanging up and dropping my phone. "Oh, God," I whimpered, fisting my hair with both hands as I turn to Noah. "We gotta get to the bar, now. Vic's been in an accident."

So much for not wanting a drink today.

|Chapter 13|

[franklyfrankiesfolklore]

Universally (Un)Acknowledged Facts

Time: A few nights ago Summary: A few things that Frankie Carter knows to be true based on personal experience

There were a great many things that Frankie had learned over the years to be undeniable facts.

For example, book worms were real things that existed and ate pages of old books. Unfortunately, bookwyrms were also real. Finding an infestation in the section of the archives dedicated to alchemical texts had been both heartbreaking, and a gigantic pain in the ass. Especially since the little bastards kept biting her, causing her to be late to appointments for an entire month because the little beasts had decided that her social calendar was the most important bit of information they could steal from her. 

Fairies were also something she had learned existed. While they did kind of look like Tinkerbell if she squinted at them, they were nothing like the pretty ethereal beings from Disney movies. Instead, they were talkative as hell. She’d lured one into the archives after the bookwyrm infestation in the hopes that the little guy would snack away on the parasites that were absolutely demolishing an incredibly old copy of The Hermetical Triumph. Instead, the pixie said to call it Janice, and decided that it was making a home for itself in the stacks between the 100’s and 200’s in the Dewey Decimal System, which meant Frankie saw them a whole hell of a lot. And then the pixie caused ivy to start growing up the sides of the shelves of books that discussed science and technology “because they were boring.” Frankie learned to just bring Janice a jelly donut once a week, and usually the pranks in the stacks would be kept to a minimum.

Vampires were something that she’d always sort of assumed were real. After all, there was so much folklore on them, so many books, so many interpretations of the creatures that they just had to be real. Unfortunately, she hadn’t thought that they would be able to have pictures taken of them. Or that they would even bother with dating apps. Or that they’d invite her out for ‘a bite to eat.’ Which was how Frankie found herself absolutely booking it back to her apartment, blood trailing down her apparently very edible neck. “Come on man, seriously?” She shouted at the now very pissed off vampire who had apparently not appreciated being sprayed in the face with a spray bottle of holy water. But she hadn’t appreciated being made into a human juicebox without her express permission, so it was only fair.  The vampire that had introduced himself as Brian (Seriously? A vampire named Brian?? It wasn’t like she could fucking make this shit up) ran down the block after her, stopping short when she finally through herself through the door of her apartment. She panted, utterly exhausted as Brian The Vampire stared at her from the other side of the threshold. Thank god the bit about them having to be invited in seemed to be real. Still wheezing from her unexpected evening cardio, she raised both hands, middle fingers up. “Consider yourself unmatched, Brian.” She slammed her door shut. Vampires, Frankie had learned, were in fact very, very real.

[rimueng]

BUZZ Rewards Explained: Earn Real Value by Farming, Spinning, and Referring

Welcome to BUZZ, where we turn your dreams of earning genuine rewards into reality! Unlike other platforms that offer fleeting opportunities, BUZZ is committed to providing you with lasting and meaningful rewards. We believe in the power of community and the prosperity that comes from collective effort. Whether you’re spinning the wheel, farming Boosty rewards, or referring friends, every action you take is a step toward building a sustainable and rewarding future. Get ready to join a journey where your time, effort, and dedication are genuinely valued!

Tired of the constant hunt for short-lived memecoins? BUZZ offers a refreshing change. Our mission transcends project success — we focus on growing a thriving community together. As a decentralized GameFi platform built on the TON blockchain, BUZZ is designed to bring value to everyone involved. Collect, create, and share in an ecosystem where your contributions are recognized and rewarded. Let’s dive in and explore how you can start earning real value with BUZZ!

Why BUZZ is Your Ultimate Solution for Earning Real Value in Web3

At BUZZ, we don’t believe in empty promises. We aim to be “for the people” and focus on “succeeding together.” By farming, spinning, and referring, you actively shape the hive’s future. BUZZ ensures that every effort counts and every participant benefits, making it a win-win for all!

Introducing the Treasure Chest Event: Your Chance to Win Big!

We’re thrilled to announce the Treasure Chest Event, which boasts a 10,000 USDT prize pool. This limited-time event is your golden opportunity to gather more “buzz” and claim a share of the pot. Engaging in these events not only boosts your rewards but also connects you with other active bees, enhancing the entire community’s prosperity. Don’t miss out on this chance to make a significant impact!

Expanding Language Support: Making BUZZ Accessible to Everyone

Inclusivity is at the heart of BUZZ. We’re expanding our language support to include Russian and Korean, ensuring that bees from all corners of the globe can join and benefit from our platform. By breaking down language barriers, we welcome a diverse community that enriches the hive and strengthens our collective growth.

Efficiency Upgrades: Faster and Smarter Ways to Collect “Buzz”

Collecting “buzz” just got a whole lot easier and more efficient! With the introduction of new items like Beeswax and Royal Jelly, you can speed up your collection process and maximize your rewards without the need for constant check-ins. These upgrades mean more time for you to enjoy and less time managing tasks.

The Buzz Farming Journey: Step-by-Step Guide to Success

Start Your Journey with BUZZ Farming: Begin by navigating to the “Farming” section on BUZZ’s homepage. This is where your adventure begins — every great journey starts with that first step.

Ignite Your Potential with a Click: Click on the “Farming” button to initiate your farming journey. With just one click, you open the door to a world of rewards, watching your efforts flourish into something amazing.

Embrace Patience and Perseverance: Farming in BUZZ requires patience. Wait 8 hours for your farming to complete, then click “Farming” again. Success is built on consistency, and each cycle brings you closer to your goals.

Tips for Maximizing Your BUZZ Rewards: Essential Strategies for Success

Supercharge with Boosty Points: Earn Boosty Points to accelerate your farming. These points are your secret weapon for unlocking greater rewards faster. Embrace every opportunity to earn them and watch your potential skyrocket!

Stay Consistent and Harvest Regularly: Make sure to harvest every 8 hours. Consistency is key to maximizing your rewards. Stay on top of your farming schedule to ensure you’re getting the most out of your efforts.

How to Invite Friends and Earn Referral Bonuses in BUZZ

Spread the BUZZ and Reap the Rewards: Invite friends to join BUZZ and earn Boosty Points — 20 upfront plus ongoing rewards! For every friend who spends 0.5 TON on a spin, you’ll receive 30% of it. The more active they are, the more you benefit.

Track Your Friends’ Activity: Every day at 00:00 UTC, you’ll earn 2 additional Boosty Points for each friend who has engaged with Farming in the past 48 hours. Keep an eye on your friends’ activity and maximize your referral bonuses.

Embrace the Joy of Progress and Celebrate Every Achievement

Every small win on your BUZZ journey is worth celebrating. From your first successful farm to earning your first referral bonus, each milestone is a testament to your hard work and dedication. Embrace the process, enjoy the journey, and savor the sweet taste of your rewards.

The BUZZ Community: Building a Prosperous Future Together

At BUZZ, you’re never alone. Every bee plays an essential role in the hive’s prosperity. Together, we’re creating a thriving ecosystem where everyone benefits. Dive into the BUZZ world, take each step with confidence, and watch as we build something extraordinary — one spin, one farm, and one referral at a time!

Remember, each effort counts, and each milestone brings you closer to a brighter future. You’ve got this, and BUZZ is here to support you every step of the way. Let’s BUZZ together and achieve greatness!.

Let’s dive into BUZZ Rewards FAQ

These FAQs are designed to guide you, inspire you, and make your BUZZ journey smoother. Remember, every question you ask is a step towards deeper understanding and greater success. So, let’s get started!

1. What is BUZZ and how can it benefit me?

BUZZ is a decentralized GameFi platform built on the TON blockchain, designed to ensure that every effort you make counts. By farming, spinning, and referring friends, you earn real value and contribute to a community that grows together. Your journey with BUZZ is more than just earning rewards — it’s about becoming a part of a thriving ecosystem where everyone wins.

2. How do I start farming on BUZZ?

Starting your farming adventure with BUZZ is simple and empowering! Head over to the “Farming” section on our homepage. Click the “Farming” button to initiate your journey. Each farming cycle lasts 8 hours, after which you can harvest your rewards and start again. Your consistency and dedication will accumulate impressive rewards over time.

3. What are Boosty Points and how do I earn them?

Boosty Points are your fast track to maximizing rewards on BUZZ! You can earn Boosty Points through various actions — by farming diligently, referring friends, and participating in community events. These points speed up your progress and help you reap rewards faster, making every effort count even more!

4. How can I participate in the Treasure Chest Event?

The Treasure Chest Event is your golden opportunity to win big! Simply continue with your regular activities — farm, spin, and refer. By doing so during the event period, you automatically enter for a chance to win a share of the 10,000 USDT prize pool. This event is not just about winning — it’s about being an active part of our vibrant, growing community!

5. How does the referral program work?

Sharing the BUZZ excitement with friends not only grows our community but also rewards you handsomely! Invite friends to join BUZZ and earn 20 Boosty Points instantly. For every spin they make spending 0.5 TON, you earn 30% of it. Plus, as long as your friends stay active in farming, you continue to earn additional points.

6. What are Beeswax and Royal Jelly?

Beeswax and Royal Jelly are new items introduced to supercharge your BUZZ experience. These items significantly speed up your “buzz” collection process. Less time waiting and more time enjoying the rewards! They’re here to ensure that you get the most out of every moment you spend with BUZZ.

7. How does expanding language support benefit me?

Inclusivity is one of BUZZ’s core values. By expanding our language support to include Russian and Korean, we’re making BUZZ accessible to a wider audience. This means a more diverse and vibrant community, where ideas and efforts from around the world enrich our hive and make your journey even more rewarding.

8. What should I do if I encounter any issues?

Encountering challenges is a part of any journey, and we’re here to help you navigate through them! If you face any issues, our support team is always ready to assist. Reach out to us through our support channels, and we’ll work together to find solutions and get you back on track. Remember, every challenge is just an opportunity for growth!

9. How often should I harvest my farming rewards?

Consistency is key to reaping maximum rewards on BUZZ. Aim to harvest every 8 hours, as regular harvesting ensures you’re making the most of your farming efforts. Set reminders if needed — every small action brings you one step closer to achieving your goals.

10. What makes BUZZ different from other GameFi platforms?

BUZZ isn’t just another platform — it’s a community-driven ecosystem where every action you take contributes to collective growth. Built on the TON blockchain, BUZZ values transparency, fairness, and real rewards. By engaging in farming, spinning, and referring, you’re not just earning; you’re helping to build a future where everyone thrives together.

Remember, every question you have and every step you take on this journey is pushing you toward greatness. Embrace every part of your experience with BUZZ, knowing that with each effort, you’re not just earning rewards — you’re growing, achieving, and contributing to something truly extraordinary. You’ve got this, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Official Link:

Buzz Bot: https://t.me/buzz_mine_bot Buzz Mini-App: https://t.me/buzz_mine_bot/buzz_app Docs: https://docs.buzz.tips/buzz TG Channel: https://t.me/Buzz_Official_Group Twitter: https://x.com/BuzzWeb3_

TON wallet : UQCPgkSikp4MB8vpQ9GZdmNMwjlkDZpkXq59bGtnteMwQwzX

[naturecoaster]

Insider's Guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival on January 27, 2024

Known as the family-friendly alternative to Tampa's Gasparilla Festival, Dade City's Annual Kumquat Festival offers a more relaxing event with great vendor shopping, homespun talent, an amazing car show, and activities to satisfy all ages! Best of all, it is free to attend and shows off a community's dedication to its little orange citrus fruit, the kumquat. Have you ever tasted kumquat pie? Kumquat beer? Kumquat wine? Kumquat jelly? How about the little orange fruit that is both sweet and sour at the same time? Whether your answer is yes or no, you will want to attend the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival for all the best in kumquat fun, food, and finery. It's time to bite down and feel that delightful burst of deliciousness that is nearly as joyful as saying the word, "kumquat" is to the silly side of our lives! The 2024 Kumquat Festival will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Dade City, Florida. Vendors, activities, and entertainment will be located around Pasco County’s iconic historic courthouse.  This year's festival's headline sponsor is once again AdventHealth.  The Festival is also sponsored by the City of Dade City, among other local and regional organizations, including yours truly, NatureCoaster.com. Once again Kumquat Festival features over 350 vendors, food trucks, a classic car show, a kid's corral play area, and more. This year's event promises great shopping, as well as generating a lot of excitement from the local merchants and the City itself. Festival goers will be able to enjoy classic kumquat favorites like kumquat pie, kumquat wine, and kumquat beer, of course, but what else can you expect at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival?  "Historic Downtown Dade City will be transformed into a gigantic marketplace focused on local businesses, hundreds of specialty vendors, dozens of partner sponsors, and the friendly, down-home, unique old Florida experience that the Annual Kumquat Festival has come to mean," says Vicki Wiggins, CEO of the Dade City Chamber of Commerce. "Join us to try all the wholesome food available including kumquat pie, kumquat salsa, and numerous kumquat recipe specialties. Shop for crafts, enjoy the art displays and visit our sponsors' section. There will be a children’s activity area, a classic car show, craft kumquat beer and wine, and lots of fun things to do," adds Melody Floyd and Jo Uber, the Dade City Chamber of Commerce's dynamic duo. Guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival Today, NatureCoaster provides a behind-the-scenes guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival. Learn all about kumquats and taste one at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival. Everyone who visits may taste one of the little orange fruits that are both sweet and tart! (Unless they run out, which has never happened before...) Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. What is a Kumquat? The little golden citrus fruit is native to China and was given as a traditional gift on New Year’s Day. Translating to “golden coins,” the kumquat represents prosperity, according to information from TV horticulturist Roger Swain. The inside is sweet, and the skin is sour. These tasty little citrus gems are eaten whole, so when you bite in a unique sensation greets your taste buds. They are great to cook with, too. There is great vendor shopping at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City, with 350+ vendors signed up for the family-friendly alternative to Gasparilla. Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. Why a Kumquat Festival? The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce began holding a festival over 20 years ago in conjunction with Kumquat Growers, Inc. to celebrate the little fruit and all it has contributed so much to this area. On January 27, 2024, this wholesome, fun, and delicious event features over 350 vendors and sponsors coming together throughout the streets of a historic, charming Southern town to celebrate the community as well as the agricultural heritage of the little citrus fruit that is both sweet and sour. This is the family-friendly alternative to the Gasparilla event in Tampa. Kumquats for sale, fresh and ready to eat. Image by Diane Bedard. The Festival Car Show The Festival Car Show is hosted by Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows and features an amazing variety of classic cars and trucks in the large parking lot of the downtown Judicial Courthouse. Organized by Ronnie Setser, there are trophies, dash plaques, and a well-organized show that attracts some of the nicest vehicles to be seen in the Southeast U.S. Show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pops 54 by Mike Groseclose at the Kumquat Festival Car Show. Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows puts on the annual event, drawing great vehicles from around Florida and the southeast U.S. Image courtesy of Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows. Sponsors Make the Festival Happen East Pasco Quilt Guild has a show at the Dade City Historic Courthouse around the fountain. A raffle was held last year for one of these heirloom pieces. Image by Diane Bedard. AdventHealth Dade City is the headlining sponsor for 2024, leading dozens of business and government partners who come together to make the day memorable, including NatureCoaster.com.   Stop in one of the Friendly Local Shops and Restaurants Local storefronts are decorated for the festival in kumquat themes, and it can be nice to duck into a shop or restaurant (if you plan to visit one of the restaurants on the day of the Festival, you will likely have to wait for a table and may want to call in advance to see if they take reservations for that day) and rest during the festivities. Downtown Dade City merchants decorate their show windows in kumquat themes. There are some great shops to visit. Image by Richard Riley. Dade City is a great town to visit any day and the unique shops and restaurants that make up this vibrant downtown are another wonderful way to spend part of your day. Antiques, toys, books, jewelry, and pet supplies are some of the types of shops you will find. Restaurants vary from the classic Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges to an authentic tea house, sandwich shops, coffee shops, Mexican, Italian, craft beer, and fine dining. Although Dade City is a pet-friendly city, please allow your pets to stay at home during the festival. Come out for Kumquat pie, one of the crowd favorites. It's available at the Festival and it is light, creamy and delicious! Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. Hundreds of Vendors provide Unique & Kumquat-y Items The “Kumquat Growers” are located in the Wells Fargo parking lot along Meridian Avenue, where you can learn about and purchase kumquats. Unique arts and crafts are fun to discover in many of the vendor booths lining the streets of this quaint city in eastern Pasco County. Many of these artisans return year after year to sell their wares. How about kumquat ice cream? Image by Richard Riley. Delicious foods, as well as many ethnic offerings, are available to festivalgoers. There is a myriad of opportunities to sample the tasty little fruit, whether it be as marmalade, cookies, salsa, ice cream, refrigerator pie, or a sip of kumquat beer or wine. The Kumquat Quilt Show Kumquat Kids Corral The Kumquat Kids Corral provides entertainment for the youngest visitors. Image by Digwen from Pixabay A Kumquat Kids Corral offers families the opportunity to let off some steam with bounce houses, games, face painting, and more. Come to Dade City a Day early to Enjoy the Kumquat Growers Open House Kumquat Growers claims to be the largest producers of kumquats and kumquat products and no one around here questions that! This year they will hold their traditional Open House at the packing house, located at 31647 Gude Rd in St. Joseph from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 26 (the two days before the Festival). Frank Gude, the patriarch of the Kumquat Growers, is seen here teaching all about kumquats. Image by Richard Riley The Gude and Neuhoffer families are the founders of the Kumquat Growers. They are the descendants of farmers who in 1883 settled in the community now known as St. Joseph, Florida. At the Kumquat Grower's Open House, there is a talk about the history and origin of the little citrus fruit that packs a punch and how it is used, followed by a packing house tour and a tour of the grove where you can see kumquat fruit in its native habitat. There is a nice Hampton Inn just south of downtown Dade City, and several hotels in Wesley Chapel along the I-75 and SR 56-SR54 corridor. Camping and RV hookups can be had at the Travelers Rest Resort. Now you can stay in a former jail in downtown Dade City, called The Locke Inn. Of course, a stay at one of Brooksville's B & Bs with a short drive to the festival is another alternative. Things to Know about the 2024 27th Annual Kumquat Festival A decorated "kumquat tree". Image by Richard Riley. Historic downtown Dade City will be transformed into an open-air marketplace featuring local businesses, hundreds of specialty vendors, dozens of partner sponsors, and the friendly authentic old Florida experience that the Annual Kumquat Festival has come to represent.  This event is attended by tens of thousands of visitors each year.  The 1909 historic Pasco County courthouse is in the center of the Festival. Entertainment is held on the courthouse steps, usually by local groups. This gorgeous structure is registered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Image by Diane Bedard. Free Admission and Parking Admission is FREE, city-owned public parking downtown is free and the experience of a unique, authentic, and fun-filled festival is unforgettable. Visitors can look at antique cars, shop for arts and crafts in vendor booths, or at Dade City's charming local merchants, to find that perfect item, and enjoy delicious food indoors or out.Fun Activities to see and do at the festival include arts and crafts, delicious food from local restaurants, food vendors and food trucks, an amazing car & truck show, Farmer's Market vendors, Kumquat Kids Corral, kumquats, kumquat pie, kumquat beer, kumquat wine, kumquat jam, kumquat artwork, kumquat quilts, and the wonderful sponsors, including yours truly. NatureCoaster will be on-site with area maps and stickers to give away, as well as caps, bucket hats, and mugs for sale. The citrus industry has been an important part of Florida’s Nature Coast, and the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival on January 27 from 9 am to 5 pm in downtown Dade City promises to be one not to miss. For more information, click here. Read the full article

[mayalaen]

neurodivergent cafe?

I had a dream last night that there were neurodivergent restaurants, and they don’t have harsh lighting, it’s very quiet and calm, and instead of being asked “booth or table” you’re asked if you’d like a nest with lots of pillows and blankets or a really oddly shaped adjustable chair that allows you to sit in tons of different positions.

Nothing on the menu was standard, but there were categories to help narrow it down.

Schizophrenics (me) tend to like odd combos with bland+strong together so in that section there was

pasta with melted cheese with the option of ketchup or sriracha

cottage cheese with pickles

peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with spicy BBQ chips and it comes open-faced with the chips uncrushed and you put the top piece of bread on and squish it at the table and it’s presented with the same kind of ooh fancy! feeling as a dessert like a melting chocolate ball

The menus were printed in dyslexic font so they were easy to read for most people and for anyone that couldn’t read/see, they could put on headphones and use a tablet that allowed them to choose the voice and volume of the menu.

All plates, glasses, and silverware were both bite-able AND wouldn’t make noise if you knock them against each other!

Oh and even though the restaurants were all throughout the world including the US, you don’t tip (no anxiety over that) and the staff is all paid REALLY well.

The staff is trained in how to handle each type of neurodivergent. For example they wouldn’t make eye contact with schizophrenics and autistics, and they were able to explain things to people who took things way too literally or had poor communication skills. They also weren’t flustered by meltdowns.

But mostly the staff didn’t need to interact because the restaurants were so well tailored to neurodivergents that they rarely needed help.

Perfumes, colognes, and scents in general were completely banned.

And there was a whole section of the menu dedicated to forbidden snacks!

Laundry pods, bouncy balls, dice, so-hot-it’s-liquid glass, packing peanuts, glow sticks, soap, bath bombs, etc.

-

Now I wanna know what other neurodivergents would want on the menu!

[sybright]

My Favorite Cats Ships

Okie dokie, @whitmerule wanted to know my main ships/pairings and I knew I’d have to make a post dedicated to this at some point so here it is lol (also sorry this is so long). My “main” universe, which is what all of my main pairings are in, is based on the ‘98 film for the most part (although really all of my universes are based on the ‘98 film, just with alterations here and there). 

Edit: My preferences have changed somewhat, so I’ve edited this list to reflect my current feelings towards certain pairings. This means that I’ve deleted some pairings that I don’t like much anymore, and have added some new ones :). All of these ships are in no particular order btw.

Main Pairings:

Tuggoffelees 

-I know it’s super popular and there’s loads of content on them, but I still stan. I don’t love them AS much as I used to, but they were my first ship in this fandom, and therefore are still very important to me. 

Demebombastrap 

-In terms of individual pairings, I really like Demelurina and Bombastrap on their own, but I like them best all together. I used to be quite fond of Demestrap by itself, but I’ve gotten pretty tired of that ship over time personally (obviously nothing against people who like this pairing a lot, kudos to y’all who love Demestrap ^^), so I’m not that big a fan of them on their own anymore. In order of the individual pairings I like best: Demelurina first, Bombastrap second, and Demestrap not so much.

Skimblegus (Skimbleshanks/Asparagus Jr., NOT Gus the theatre cat, I see the two of them as separate characters in most productions).

Jellydots (Sweet lesbian grandmas <3).

Tumblejem 

-This is my self-projection asexual pairing, leave me alone lol. They give me bestie vibes and I love that for them <3.  

Platoriateazer 

-This is a bit of a rarepair, but it is one of my main ships, I see Teazer and Plato as platonic partners and Tori as their mutual gf. Alternatively, I like Victeazer and Platoria on their own as well, although I like Victeazer a bit more than Platoria, but I prefer them all together.

And that’s about it for my “main” pairings, here’s a list of my alternate pairings/rarepairs that I love too much for my own good.

Alternate Pairings/Rarepairs:

Demandra 

-No longer my main blog’s url, but they have their own blog now and therefore are still ridiculously important to me XD. This is my fave rarepair, and might also be even MORE of a self-projection asexual pairing for me than they were before. I’ll say it once, this is my ultimate comfort pairing. 

Plonzostrap (Plato/Alonzo/Munkustrap, alternatively, I like Alonzostrap and Plonzo on their own as well, although I haven’t put that much thought into Munklato on its own).

Platoricopat (Cats Zurich got me obsessed with this concept, and @whitmerule’s gifs are are just *chef’s kiss*).

George/Etcetera/Electra 

-I don’t really have a ship name for this, and also this particular pairing is very complicated and I’ll try to explain it as best I can. George and Etcetera are romantic partners, Etcetera and Electra are queer-platonic partners (I see Electra as aromantic), and George and Electra are platonic partners. This is technically a main pairing for me, but it’s sort of rare and complicated in its dynamics so I put it down here. Also, I adopted the hc that George is a Pollicle btw.

Oh and just as an aside, I also really like Elecctera and Etceorge on their own, but I probably slightly prefer Elecctera, I just love the queer-platonic besties vibes of them <3. 

Mungocavity (This is in a scenario where Macavity is less evil and more of a dumbass, but I really like this pairing. It would be one of my main pairings if my main universe Macavity wasn’t complete shit).  

Jemtoria

-One of my newer ships, I usually see Tori and Jem as being somewhat far apart in age, so this is in a scenario where Jem’s a bit aged up and Tori’s a bit aged down. I love everything about this pairing. Considering how much Jem and Tori interact with each other in the show, this ship has so much potential to me. They’re just so soft and they make me really happy <3. 

Tuggoffeleteazer

-Once upon time I didn’t think I’d ever ship Tugger or Misto with really anyone but each other, but times change. Initially, I got very interested in the idea of Rumpletugger (which I still quite like on it’s own), but then later became intrigued by the idea of Mistoteazer (and all the shenanigans they’d get up to, both being mischievous and chaotic), so of course this led to me just putting all three of them together XD. I love this trio so much, they just give “bestie vibes ONLY” type of energy, and feel like a super chaotic friend group, and that makes me really happy. 

Bombbella

-I’m not even sure how to explain what led me to becoming so attached to this ship XD. I had seen people mention it being a neat concept in passing, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who actually truly ships them. I basically got into this ship through my “Jellicle leader Griz” au thing, which is an au where Griz is the oldest of Deuteronomy’s children and was expected to become the next Jellicle leader. She’s much younger in this au than how I typically see her, so the newer Griz design fits well in this scenario. I just got really into the idea of Griz and Bomba being tragic ex-lovers. 

They dated for a long time in their teens, broke up for a few years, and then got back together again when they had matured, and then Griz went and abandoned the tribe (as well as Bomba) to see the world and pursue her dream of being a star. Griz returned eventually, but the damage had been done, and Bomba was far from ready to forgive her. In the end though, she does forgive Griz, as does everyone else, but then Griz goes on to be reborn, and they miss their chance at happily being together. It’s just all in all a really fun concept for me to play around with, and has so much angst potential. 

Jellycass

-Not a new ship, quite the opposite actually. This is a ship that I usually don’t think much about (hence why it wasn’t here when I first made this list), but whenever I do, I always feel at peace inside lol. I can’t for the life of me find the post that got me into this ship (trust me, I have searched ALL over tumblr for it, I looked through both Jellylorum’s and Cassandra’s ENTIRE tags and still couldn’t find it), but I saw a post when I was first getting into the Cats fandom that talked about how Jelly and Cass would be this sort of “odd couple” that the tribe didn’t really understand, but clicked super well with each other for some reason. 

Even though I only ever saw that one post on them for a long time, I grew really attached to the ideas it presented for Jellycass. I like the age gap concept in particular, with my personal idea of it being Cass in her late twenties to early thirties, and Jelly being in her late thirties to early forties. It really heightens the “odd couple” energy of them, and I can see Cass getting along really well with someone older. Troika provides me all the rights for this ship <3. 

Some Extra Stuff:

Even though I like Platoria as an individual ship, and ship them to a degree, I’m not super interested in them. They’re a bit bland for me if I’m being honest. I like seeing them on my dash, but I won’t actively seek out content of them, so please don’t tag me in stuff surrounding them if you don’t mind (obviously this doesn’t apply to their poly equivalent). I used to include Demestrap in this section, but now I’m really not all that fond of them, I really only like them together in a poly scenario, like Demebombastrap or even Demelonzostrap. 

There’s a bunch of ships that I categorize as “I like it, but I don’t ship it,” and that’s where ships like Munkujerrie and Alonzoffelees fall. They’re ships that I enjoy as concepts, and that I would probably read fanfic about if given the opportunity (and like fanart of), but I don’t necessarily ship them. So you don’t need to tag me for them. 

The only ships that I just straight up don’t like, although I have nothing against people who like them, are Tuggerlurina, Mistoria, Skimbledots, and Jellygus, Tuggerlurina being the one I dislike the most. I just scroll past content of them if I see it on my dash, I thought I should probably list them here cause idk, might be useful to @whitmerule to know which ships I really don’t like. 

Note: I don’t see any of the characters I listed here as being biologically related, some people hc Deme and Bomba as sisters, or Etcetera and Electra as being twins, I don’t see this personally (In fact I have a whole bunch of family hcs that I’ll probably save for another post, if anyone even wants to read that lol). 

And now for my favorite 2019 movie pairings (which I also don’t see any of them as being biologically related), because they’re sort of relevant since I’m listing pairings and stuff so I feel like putting them here too:

2019 Movie Main Pairings

Mistoriastraps 

-This is the ONLY scenario where I like Misto and Tori together. I only like it when it’s in the 2019 movie, and only if it’s with Munk, those are my two requirements lol. I think Munktoria and Munkoffelees are really cute too, but I don’t care for them that much, I like them best all together.

Demandra (I see their relationship very differently in the movie, and I prefer their stage-show relationship, but as always, I love them). 

Tantojerrie 

-I know they don’t really interact in the movie, but I saw people talking about them as a ship on here, and I just think they’d be really cute. Technically Tanto is implied to be kitten age in the movie, but I imagine this as a post-movie, next Jellicle Ball type scenario. I see Tanto as being on the cusp of adulthood, where she’ll probably be an adult at the next Jellicle Ball, and I see Jerrie as being a very young adult, so they’re not far apart in my mind (plus I see Jellicles, being cats and all, aging differently than humans, so this isn’t as odd to me as it might be to other people).

2019 Movie Alternate Pairings:

These are just my alternate pairings for Misto, Tori, and Munk if Mistoriastraps doesn’t happen lol:

Tuggoffelees

-I’ve adopted the hc that they’re ex-boyfriends in the 2019 movie, and I like to imagine that they’ve sorted things out post-movie and got back together.

Victeazer

Skimblestrap

That’s about it for my ships. Thank you for reading if you got this far lol. 

[flowercoasts]

she loves me, she loves me nott

“What do you like about her?”

Beau thinks about Xhorhas, about their first week in Roshonna. She remembers the library there and being pulled aside by Jester. The concern that crawled up her throat, the instant need to punch whoever made Jester sad as the tiefling’s voice softened low, the way it only did when they were alone. Beau remembers the fear lessening, when Jester asked, all seriousness and pomp, to draw dicks in Waccoh’s books.

Beau remembers the relief and joy and amusement and something all wrapped up into one. All overwhelming, unnamed.

“She’s fun,” Beau says eventually, letting out a deep breath. “She makes me laugh.”

No, Beau thinks, that’s not the only thing. Jester’s so much more than that. Of course she is. She’s not just funny. She’s smart. She has these crazy plans and I love them. She makes me feel seen. Less alone.

Like, that time when Jester messaged her dad and pretended to be a witch? That probably didn’t mean anything to Jester, but it meant the world to Beau. Just knowing that the tiefling had her back, no matter what, even without knowing. It hurt then, in the good way, to know Jester loved her too. Especially in the small things.

“I like her ridiculous plans.”

There’s something else there too, and it makes Beau pause. These are all true, but they’re not quite right. Beau likes Jester, for all the reasons. For more. For reasons that feel too much like home.

Beau remembers that night on the Ball Eater. Seeing Jester alone on the deck, the storm rocking the ship so heavily that Beau was half sure they’d sink. She remembers that need, the one that screamed at her to protect Jester and care for her, right in that moment. It was so strong, and everything then seemed so fragile. Beau wanted so bad to just fix things, the same way she used to tape things together and call it complete. So, she walked up to Jester that night. All that Beau had was this all consuming need to make Jester feel seen the same way Beau felt seen. So, despite everything in her brain telling her the opposite, Beau opened up. Soul laid bare, all vulnerability out for Jester to peer into. It hurt, digging into old wounds. It was worth it, to hear Jester laugh. Beau called Jester beautiful then, and she means it even more now.

Jester is soft but hard and is tough but caring all at once. Beau’s always amazed at how much she has left to learn from her.

Jester is so much more.

“I think she’s complicated and layered.”

What do I like about her?

What don’t I like about her?

Beau remembers mornings spent tangled up in warm bedsheets, the way Jester softly snores at night. She remembers Jester’s soft purple eyes, always watching out for her. Jester, waking up in the middle of the night to see Beau staying up reading and offering a massage. The two page section in Jester’s sketchbook dedicated to making fun of Mr. Lionett. A soft hand curling around her elbow before Beau climbs up the pillar, whispering the same assurances that Beau hears from her after long, bad days. The ever present smell of freshly baked pastries. She remembers Jester all the time.

Beau remembers that night on the Ball Eater again, standing on the deck with Jester as the waves roared and rose so high it sprayed the two of them to the bone. That night was violent on the seas, but all Beau can remember is a warm gaze, and Jester hugging her. It was the first time Beau had said “I love you” to someone who mattered. That night was the first time in Beau’s whole life someone said it back.

That feeling in her chest grows, loud and vibrant and spreading through her limbs like a warm jelly. It’s weird. Beau hasn’t felt like this in a long, long time.

But. It’s just a crush.

It’s not a big deal.

Beau isn’t Jester’s knight in shining armor. She never will be. Beau’s just the Best Friend, who’ll be there for her.

It’s just a crush, right?

Beau bites her tongue and shrugs. “I dunno.”

[allie1804-fan]

New Beginnings (Chapter 7)

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New Beginnings Baby Drabble

New Beginnings Baby Drabble No2

Warnings : mentions of loss, grieving and some explicit content

For the first few days Emily convalesced after the surgery and they didn’t leave home.  They had only told a few people about the pregnancy (Keanu’s mum, her parents, Karina, Chloe) but so far Karina was the only one who knew what had happened. 

She’d obviously told their mother and had offered to make the other calls but Keanu said he’d do it. 4 days later he still hadn’t faced up to it. He didn’t quite know how to form the words in his mouth. Just thinking about it made his stomach churn and brought the trauma of this loss AND of his daughter over 20 years before back in living colour. The hospital rooms, the doctors’ words.  

Emily was facing similar struggles. She spent most of the time in bed but restful sleep was hard to come by and she too kept reliving the pain and the shock of discovering the pregnancy wasn’t viable.

Toward the end of the week he was forced to deal with it though. They were dozing in bed at just after 9 when Emily’s phone rang.

“What?” he heard her whisper as she listened to the voice on the phone.

“No, I’m not there because my baby is dead” she hissed.

He reached over and grabbed the phone from her realising what must have happened. They had been due to go for the first scan that morning but somehow the system hadn’t caught up with the obstetrics department to let them know about the ectopic pregnancy.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing calling here?”  he berated the poor woman on the phone, don’t you have proper communication channels, it’s been 4 days!”  

Emily could hear the beginnings of a flustered apology from the woman but it was quickly cut off as Keanu ended the call,  immediately feeling terrible for unleashing his anger on someone whose fault it clearly wasn’t.

He sat up and sighed, pulling Emily to his chest.

“I’m gonna have to make those calls today. Chloe and your mum will be expecting us to check in”

Emily just sniffed acknowledging that this was the next step they had to take.

“Can we go back to the counsellor” she asked “I think we probably need some help dealing with this ……….. rage.”

“yeah, I’ll call her too. If I don’t I’m just gonna hurt someone or something!”

Chloe got a taxi over as soon as she heard the news, leaving Rosie and Jamie with John. She couldn’t drive yet because of having a C-section but she didn’t want to wait to offer some comfort to one of her oldest friends.  When she got there, she just climbed into bed with Emily, wrapped her arms around her and held her friend, letting her cry it out.

OCTOBER

The next 3 months had been tough and sometimes just one day seemed to pass agonisingly slowly but gradually their lives felt like they were getting back on track. Accepting that they’d likely never have their own biological children was a harsh reality to face especially when close friends like Chloe and John had already completed their families, watching their children grow and take on their physical and personality traits.

Babysitting for  Chloe and John had been one of the biggest milestones they’d faced along the way. The image of Emily sitting on the sofa at Chloe and John’s house giving Rosie her bedtime bottle was seared into Keanu’s mind, making him remember the day Emily had held Jake and felt the pull inside to have her own child. They’d talked the idea through with the counsellor before offering to babysit. It almost felt like doing it would cauterise a wound. The counsellor had explained that while confronting their loss in the form of baby Rosie might feel like it would burn them too deeply, it was one way of facing the pain full on. The alternative was boxing it up and not letting it breathe and Keanu remembered doing just that after Ava. The only way his sadness and rage has made itself known for years was through acting. Otherwise it had been boxed away into his early 40s and when he did face it, its power after 6 years surprised and terrified him. He was determined not to do the same this  time

The fact that they were no longer trying helped as did the fact that their time thinking she was pregnant was so brief.  At least she hadn’t started to really think about when the baby was due and the future in too much detail. Having known friends who’d been through loss before, she knew that building a little dream future only to lose it was often the hardest part. Still, they were still letting go of a precious dream and some days that pain hit either one of them like a ton of bricks.

Another aspect of life that helped the clouds to lift was that each had exciting new projects coming up that were going to keep them very busy. In anticipation of having no more free time, they booked a trip back to Italy.  First came a week in Capri visiting Keanu’s sister Kim and then another week back in Taormina Sicily.

They had a wonderful time despite Emily being laid low for a couple of days with a stomach flu but she made a swift recovery and they were able to enjoy their time visiting their favourite restaurant again and discovering historical sites that they’d missed on their first visit.

They ended their trip in what was becoming a sort of tradition with them – a whole morning in bed where Keanu dedicated himself to bringing her to multiple orgasms before finally taking her to the edge of heaven, burying himself deep inside her.

They vowed to take each day as it came, enjoy their work, live in the moment  and love each other.

On her return Emily planned to get a coil fitted so she could stop using hormones and be secure with her birth control until she no longer needed it. After the ectopic pregnancy they’d used condoms briefly and then she’d restarted the pill. For the trip, Emily had deliberately left no gap between 2 courses of the pill towards the end of their holiday to avoid spoiling it with a period. Once she was back she could visit her gynaecologist and move forward.

A couple of weeks after their return to LA, Emily had her appointment about the coil. She explained her circumstances to the nurse who was sympathetic about what she’d gone through. The work up involved some blood tests, a smear and a pregnancy test just to be sure especially since she hadn’t had a period for almost 6 weeks by then. They made a follow up appointment for the following week with Keanu too since she recommended they have a chat with a counsellor before the coil fitting, just to make sure this was the best route for them as a couple. The coil would usually stay in place for a minimum of 5 years and since they’d had a relatively recent loss, they were a little cautious.

The next week they were madly rushing to squeeze in the appointment then run on to a training session for Keanu and a writers’ room for Emily.

The doctor came into the consulting room to Emily’s surprise as she was expecting the counsellor or nurse she’d seen the week before to just run through the results and check in that Keanu agreed with their course of action.

“So, I have the results of your tests here and they mean we won’t be progressing with the coil fitting today”

Emily huffed a little, irritated that this whole procedure was becoming far less straightforward than she’d expected.

“Why not, what’s wrong?”

Actually nothing is wrong at all …… our tests indicate that you’re pregnant”

Their mouths fell simultaneously agape and they looked at each other in shock”

“that can’t be right, I’ve been on birth control ………….” Emily stammered. She was surprised to find herself less than pleased with this news. She squeezed Keanu’s hand as a wave of fear rushed through her. She wanted a baby so much but being pregnant had become inextricably linked with loss and despair.

Keanu’s thoughts were much the same – after all, as far as he knew, he’d got two women pregnant in his life and both times had ended in disaster.

“What birth control have you been using?”

“For the past 3 months I’ve been on the pill and I took 2 packets consecutively  recently as we went on holiday”

“And have you had any stomach upsets or been on any other medication such as antibiotics?”

Emily started to shake her head but then Keanu tugged her hand

“you had that stomach flu in Italy, remember, you were throwing up for a couple of days ……. His voice drifted off and the doctor grinned

“That will likely be the reason” he said “the pill was probably not absorbed into the bloodstream when you were sick causing it to fail.  It’s a very common mistake not to realise your birth control is compromised when that happens. Well why don’t we take a look to check what’s going on” he said beckoning Emily over to the consulting table.  “We want to be sure everything is in the right place given your last pregnancy was ectopic.”

Still in shock, Emily lay on the table and eased her trousers down to reveal her flat belly.  The doctor  rubbed on the cold jelly and pulled over the wand of the ultrasound machine.

Keanu felt light-headed.  He realised he’d probably been holding his breath since the doctor started explaining how come she might be pregnant. He blew out his breath slowly, eyes fixed on the screen.

The screen showed the cone shape image in white generated by the ultrasound waves and within it the black oval shape of Emily’s womb came into view.

“There it is” the doctor declared happily while Keanu and Emily both stared wondering what on earth he was taking about. Then he helped them, pointing to a little peanut shape within the dark circle whose image seemed to flash on an off.

“There, that’s it, do you see now?”

“Yeah but why does it keep disappearing? Keanu asked

“That’s its heart beating – I always think of it like a little lighthouse flashing to tell you it’s still there”

“So it’s in the right place, not ectopic this time” Emily asked, her voice wavering.

“Everything looks perfect” he smiled reassuringly at them both. “I tell you what, why don’t I just give you a minute alone. If you keep holding the wand right there you can watch your baby and get used to the idea. I guess it’s quite a shock”

“I’ll say” Keanu muttered softly.

As the door closed behind the doctor, Emily just stared at Keanu

“Oh my god this is …”

“unbelievable” he finished her sentence

“mmmm” she nodded

“I don’t think I’m gonna make my writers room” she laughed

“nor me my training” he agreed.

They turned and looked at the monitor again and sure enough there was the little flickering peanut letting them know it was there.

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New Beginnings Baby Drabble

New Beginnings Baby Drabble No2

[minjiwritesstuff]

What dating Bobby (iKON) would be like

I think it would be a playful relationship 

relationship that you gladly call relationshit (because of all the funny shit you guys create)

Jiwon is the type of guy to mess around, so get prepared

Like Hanbin and Junhoe, he’s a troublemaker so you often have to back him for his actions

Like that one time, he tried cooking for you and spilled everything, ending up with you cleaning the floor, counters and even the walls before ordering some take out

I think he would often write some songs/raps about you, probably enough to make an entire album dedicated to you

He would probably get a tattoo for you but not something like your name or your entire face tattooed on him but he’d get something more significant like something you really love, flowers for example. Your favorite flower is a daisy? Well you just figured out what his next tattoo will be 

If you’re not the type to get tattoos, he won’t ask but if you’re like him and like tattoos, I think he’d like to get matching tattoos, but something simple, and maybe secret matching tattoos. Like a sun and a moon, or something a bit funkier like peanut butter and jelly sandwich (you having the jelly sided bread and him the peanut butter) 

Now talking about when he’s away on tour, he would often send you some pics of him to tell you what he’s doing 

like *ding* you get a message ‘’hey jagi look I’m getting my hair done’’ with a picture of him sitting on the leather chair while his hairdresser is blowdrying his hair

or he’d send you pictures of him with the boys (mostly Hanbin, let’s be honest) where he’d tell you that he and the boys miss you

when he comes back, he attacks you with hugs and kisses (pretty much like a dog), saying how much he missed you and that he couldn’t wait to be by your side and hold you

you’d have to calm him down by holding him in your arms, saying you missed him too, which was 200% true

when he’s on break, he’d like to spend time with you watching movies and staying in. Sometimes his brother would ask him to babysit Raon and he would be the happiest uncle ever because he would get to babysit his cute nephew with you

let’s be honest, Jiwon is the total father material (sorry, here I’m getting lost, prepare for a huge ass thing)

so when it comes to having kids with you, he’d be 1000% down

I think he’d prefer to be married first since his family is very religious

but as soon as you have a ring to your finger, he’d be trying for a kid

 he’d want it to work at the first attempt, but wouldn’t mind if it didn’t because it meant more mommy daddy time with you *wink* *wink*

when you announce him that he’ll finally be the father he wants to be, he broke down in tears, thanking you for carrying your little bean

he would ask his boss if the group could have a break so he could be with you during the whole pregnancy and the first months

I think he would be nervous to know that in a few months he would have a kid to hold and take care off but he would enjoy the feeling

when the first ultrasound day came and that he saw his kid on the monitor screen, he cried again

‘‘is this really our kid? but it’s so small!’‘ 

at the gender reveal party that the boys (mostly Jinhwan and Yunhyeong) organized, he wouldn’t be able to stand still, he needed to know what gender was his kid

when he was handed the smoke stick you had to tell him to wait so you could both do it at the same time 

when the moment came and that you both squeezed the stick and that he saw the blue smoke coming out, he lost his shit

he dropped everything and started running around in your backyard, almost pushing Jinhwan to the ground while screaming ‘’I’M HAVING A SON!!!!!’’ (of course, Chanwoo made sure to record everything so he could have a funny moment of his hyung)

he was really happy because he could teach his son how to rap and how to become a man

after knowing the gender, you guys went shopping and Jiwon wanted to buy every damn onesie he saw. Blue, green, red, yellow, red with some blue stripes, blue with white and red stripes, dinosaurs, lion, aliens (yes, aliens), even the one written ‘’I love my daddy’’ 

at the birth, he was always by your side, encouraging you while trying to not pass out (hopefully he didn’t) and when your son finally came out, he cried (once again)

got very emotional when he held him in his arms and wouldn’t let anyone touch his son, not even his mom because he wanted to keep his little baby in his arms as much as he could, but he eventually had to let him go because his little boy got hungry

so in general, Bobby is a really loving boyfriend/husband that would make everything for you and your family (because let’s be honest, after the birth of your son he only wanted more kids) and would be the greatest for you

###########################################

THIS WAS SOOOO LONG I’M SOOO SORRY!!! But as you can see, I really got lost in the baby section because I’m a real s**t for baby writings with idols (no ragrets) but I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!!

[gutterdreams]

In A Little While PT 3 [Billy Hargrove]

Word Count: 4.2k Disclaimer: I don’t own Stranger Things or GIF used below. 

PART ONE PART TWO

He was livid. Billy had felt a light tap of anger in his chest and he moved effortlessly from annoyed to angry. He was supposed to drop Eve off at home for five in the evening and it was nearing on five after before he even turned onto the street that he used to call home. It was all some idiot in a BMW who powered into a black Suburu of tourists fault. They brought traffic down to a snail’s pace because they couldn’t follow the rules of the road. While Billy was once proudly that idiot, it didn’t stop him from being upset with them. This was his first weekend with Eve and he was dedicated to showing you that he could do everything perfectly and that included dropping her off on time.  For their last hour and a half together, Billy had taken her to Spence Park. It wasn’t too far from your place and Eve had been there many times. She typically just liked to go to the duck pond and feed them the park provided feed, throwing it like confetti right at them and then raising her palm up for more. Billy supposed the only thing that mattered was that she had a wonderful time, but he felt miserable. It signalled the last time he was going to see her until Wednesday and he felt surrounded by happy couples and families. Of course, it wasn’t the case. Billy couldn’t know that the couple around his age on the bench, hands clasped together between them, were in the middle of their own drama after the man just lost his job that morning. He didn’t know that the kids who were also running around the park had a dad like the one he had or hadn’t been fortunate enough to have breakfast. All Billy saw was happiness that wasn’t his.  This was his first time at the park without you there and it stung in a way he didn’t think it would. He really had thought he was too cool to feel the burn of your absence. Out of feed, Eve had sat down in front of him and leaned comfortably against his chest. She was happy and talking to herself inaudibly about that, but all Billy could do was think about how much more fun they would be having if you were there too. 

Up against his right side, he carried Eve who was bursting with excitement to see her mom again, and he ripped the car seat from the back of his car to carry it by his knee in the other hand.  Out of habit, he went to check his pockets for the keys to let himself in - this time juggling the car seat in the same hand. It occurred to him as one fingertip brushed against the denim stitching that he wasn’t supposed to just barge in. This wasn’t his house right now even if he was still paying half the mortgage. He did not live here. He was a visitor and somewhat unwanted. Billy went to groan, but Eve’s giggle filled his ear as she started to ramble through the same word, “Mumummmumum!"  He feigned a smile happier than he felt and used his barely free knuckles to rap at the door. In under ten seconds, he heard it unlock and you pulled it back. You were casual and calm, a weight lifted since he left the house he assumed, with your face bare and your clothes comfortable.  "Baby!” Dramatic glee burst from your face as you threw out your arms toward Eve, barely acknowledging him. He felt jealous and knew how ridiculous that was. Eve feverishly greeted you back and wiggled so furiously in Billy’s grip that he didn’t know if he handed her to you or she jumped into your arms.  You were all she could see as you connected your fingers under her bum and her little hands wrapped under your neck. Billy felt like he wasn’t supposed to be there. She just wanted you and it hurt worse than any suckerpunch he had ever taken to the lip.  Back and forth, you and Eve were delightfully talking to each other in sweet high pitch voices until Billy interrupted. He reached over the threshold and planted the car seat on the ground where he used to kick off his shoes at the end of the day. Then he cleared his throat into a fist and started to look away at his car parked on the street.  “Can I get a kiss ‘goodbye’?” He asked Eve, but would have graciously taken one from you.  A flip switched and the reunion between you and Eve was over. She was kicking her toes, clad with her tiny jelly sandals, into your stomach and beginning to whine.  “No, no, no!” She grumbled through a jetted out bottom lip. Billy was not leaving, not if it was up to her.  She had completed a trial run of the trial separation and now she was over it. She wanted her old routine back where she had both parents under one roof and at her disposal. “Here. Stay. No!” “Eve, come on, say 'goodbye’. Give dad a big kiss.” You encouraged her the way you used to when she was a baby and had just figured out how to wave. Billy was just trying to keep his feet on the front step. He wanted to barge in and whip his daughter out of your embrace, kiss her over and over, and thrill her with news that he was staying. “Eve!” You sucked in your stomach in a lame attempt to protect it from her toe jabs. “Billy,” Finally, you dropped your head to one side and gave him the attention he wanted so badly from you. He could feel how excited he looked to have your eyes on him. “I think you might just have to go.” Just like that, the alert shine in his eyes dimmed and he deflated like a cheap party balloon right in front of both you and crying Eve. Billy missed you. He told himself there was nothing he wouldn’t do to be together again. That was the whole reason he had agreed to do this separation. However, Billy drew blood from your cheek with his dagger eyes at your suggestion he just leave.  He leaned in instantly, his chest hovering over the threshold and reached forward to run a hand down Eve’s head over and over. He had tried to comb her hair that morning and wound up giving her to Marshall’s girlfriend who pulled it into two messy dutch braids. “I’ve got it.” You tried to assure him as you bounced Eve in your arms. She was beginning to settle at Billy’s touch and you didn’t want her to start to freak out again. It was easier to rip off the bandage so to speak.  “Don’t you want to know about our weekend?” His hand roaming between Eve’s hair tails again, he asked, locking eyes with yours and looking for reasons to stay.  “I know it went well. You’re a good dad. I don’t worry about that.” The words were so casual in your mouth, they were too true to require any spice. Billy relaxed slightly at the compliment. Your opinion was the only one that really mattered to him. He rarely felt like he was doing a good job, so he was glad you did  “Well, do you want to talk?” He was dying to know when this experiment would be over.  “Not right now.” Eve was pressing the side of her teary face into your shoulder, fingers going right between her blubbering lips. You were a little occupied at the moment.  “Should I send in guys for renos or…?"  "Billy.” His name came out like it would if he was poking you in the side repeatedly while you were preparing dinner or studying for finals. He knew you irritated, but he loved the way his name bent in your mouth anyway. “Do you want to say 'goodbye’ to daddy?” Your chin met your neck as you murmured the question gently to Eve. It was your last attempt.  This time, Eve was a touch more cooperative. She nodded against your sleeve and wiped her nose on it, leaving a little glistening mark. As your arms loosened under her she pushed off and reached out with both arms for Billy, standing there with his hands restless in his jeans. He slid them out right away and accepted her. Eve settled into his chest and hugged him close, fingers linked tight as they could behind his neck. “Hey peanut.” As if they were alone, he whispered to her and watched her look at the pendant around his neck instead of up and into his coastline blue eyes. “Three sleeps.” He promised her and she nodded just once into herself and the collar of her white t-shirt.  “I love you, Daddy.” Getting with the program, that these 'goodbyes’ might be a more regular thing, Eve mumbled and slowly looked up at his unshaved jaw. She took both hands from his neck and put them over his rough jaw and cheek to kiss him.  “Be good for Mom, okay?” He wasn’t looking away from Eve, but he could see you watching while holding the front door open. Eve nodded and her fingers went right back into her mouth. “And none of that.” He tapped on them to inch them out. He put her down, standing up on the shoe mat, and watched as she waved at him 'goodbye’. “I’ll see you Wednesday.” It was the new schedule. He would pick Eve up at 3:30 from daycare and then have to have her home for 7:00. “Drive safe.” It was the sort of thing you would say to a client or a friend’s new boyfriend. Billy hated the wish even if it was well intended. He accepted it with a ungrateful straight smile and waved at Eve as he walked back to his car. As soon as he was behind the wheel he let out a heavy exhale that suggested he had been holding his breath for the last seven minutes. He saw as he started up the car that Eve was standing on the couch, watching him from the window and still waving. He faked a smile and waved back before taking off, a burning sensation mocking him through his throat. At the first red light, Billy slowed to a stop behind a Honda blasting Ace of Base and closed his eyes with his hands off the wheel, trying to make this easier than it was somehow. In court appointed anger management, they always suggested breathing exercises or to mentally travel to a happier memory.  The house was cloaked in darkness. Only the street lights outside and quarter moon were illuminating the house through the windows. You and Billy had made up a comfortable make shift bed of blankets and your feather pillows on the second hand sectional in the living room. It was Eve’s first night home and neither of you wanted to be on a different floor than her nursery. This was new territory after all. He had to go to work in the morning. It was more important, you thought, that he earned a full night’s sleep, but Billy still insisted on staying downstairs with you and getting through the first night. He felt like it was the first step in a direction that would veer him away from being like the dad he had grown up with. He had already had shit on his hands and it made him realize his dad probably never even touched a diaper.  With your feet on Billy’s knees, stacked together at the ankle, you had dozed off at the opposite end of the couch. The new role of food machine had fully exhausted you. It was as if as soon as your head hit the pillow, you were asleep. Billy’s senses were too alert and heightened to let me rest, even shutting his eyes felt like punishment. He waited for you to stir in your sleep before carefully pulling his legs out from under yours. He leaned closer and replaced his body with the cushions before sneaking away.  Silently, he told himself to leave it alone. Eve was sleeping soundly and you would have his head if you woke her up. However, he couldn’t act cool. He went to the kitchen to run the tap for a cold glass of water, but as he chugged it at the sink he couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was different. There was another person in the house, a bigger weight on his shoulders, a new tightness in his heart. He swallowed with a loud smack of his lips and headed down the hall. For the first time since you two moved onto Berryessa Street, he moved slow and lifted his heels then toes on the floor with dramatic caution.  The door of the nursery that he had painted a vibrant violet color was slightly open, so Billy just stood up against it and looked in. He could see the crib that he almost lost his mind putting together, swearing over a hundred times and taking over four hours to complete, but he couldn’t see Eve at all. She was only seventeen inches long, a whole seven pounds and five ounces. Billy wrapped his hand around the door and pushed it open, thankful that it didn’t freak in the slightest. His feet were quiet against the carpet and he held his breath before peering over the dark wood crib. She was still there and he felt instantly relieved. She was asleep. It occurred to Billy that she wasn’t moving though, two tiny arms above her head and her eyes looking glues shut. She still had downy soft hair that he knew would curl just as his had when he started to stand up on his own. Worry returned to his heart, so Billy leaned his head in and turned it to the side to listen for breathing. He couldn’t tell because of the blanket over her if she was actually breathing or not, but once his head hovered over her face he could hear the faint purr. Again, relief washed over him.  “Sorry to bug you.” He whispered quieter than he ever had before, as if this conversation was dangerously private. He stood up straight again and watched as her chocolate chip sized nose shrugged. “I’m new at this.” He told her without realizing how silly he was being. She was barely two days old. She was new to everything. “Do you trust me?” He asked her with concern in his throat just as he had asked you when he left you to go to a friend’s bachelor party in Vegas six months ago. It was as if any answer that wasn’t “yes” would hurt him. Of course, Eve didn’t answer.   Behind him, he heard feet coming quickly and tuned to see you yawning as you walked into the room.  “Did she wake up?” You had woken up for just a moment and panicked when you didn’t see Billy there on the couch, watching TV or fumbling through a magazine. “How did I not hear her cry?” Scared that made you a bad mother somehow, you freaked out. Fear was explicit over your face.  “No, she’s good. She didn’t wake up.” Effortlessly, like a reflex, Billy reached over and put a hand in the middle of your back and rubbed. “I just came in to check on her.” He felt too embarassed to tell you that he wanted to make sure she was still there and alive.  “Okay.” Your shoulders fell from your ears and you sighed as loud as the wind was blowing outside. “We are going to get hang of this, right?” Billy was a mess of anxiety internally and had been throughout the whole third trimester, but his ego always kicked in when you asked him a question. He could puff up his chest, flex, and pretend that he was cooler than a popsicle on Independence Day.  “Of course.” It almost sounded like he was amused by your doubt when, in reality, he was just as overwhelmed.  “God, I hope so.” You laughed back and leaned your head against his arm that was behind you, still giving comfort through friction.  “It’s going to be fine.” He assured you both. “Did you ever think, in your wildest dreams, that we would make something so perfect?” You were biased and even through tired, dry eyes, you had rose tinted glasses on. Still, when you saw Eve, you saw both you and Billy and it made you want to burst with technicolour. Peering down at the crib with you, Billy just nodded and watched Eve wiggle slowly and let out a struggled whine. The baby monitor was on the coffee table in the living room, but this was better.  The light turned green and Billy heard cars behind him honking. He snapped out of his memory and took off, still cloaked in memories that used to make him proud. This time, it just hurt like Hell. He turned right instead of left and drove nowhere. He was in no rush to go to someone else’s home where he was supposed to stay…without his family.  “Hey…[Y/N] called.” As soon as Billy walked through the back door, right in front of the basement stairs, Marshall’s girlfriend, Jacquie called at him from the kitchen counter where she was pouring herself a large glass of cheap wine. Billy’s brows went up like a dog’s ears when they heard their human’s car pull up. He gave the girl more attention than he had since he moved into her boyfriend’s basement. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Jacquie. Billy was just way too deep into his own self pity at the moment to be show interest in anyone else’s life. He hurried himself out of his shoes and rushed over. It was the first time he ever considered picking up a cell phone. They seemed like a waste of money to him and he assumed they were just a hot fad. Jacquie was already reaching her arm out to hand him to phone before he even stalked into the room. He mumbled a rough 'thanks’ to her then took the phone to his underground lair, dialing the memorized digit as he rushed down the stairs. As the phone rang, he saw Eve’s overalls hanging over the arm of the couch and felt a pang of sadness. She wasn’t there, just some clothes and a few toys.  “Hello?” On the other end, you greeted him. He could tell you had ran for the phone by the breathiness in your voice. “Hey, it’s me.” His narrowed in as he focused, looking at nothing in particular as he stood in the middle of the basement. “Is everything okay? Eve okay?” He figured something must have gone wrong if you were calling. Or maybe he was supposed to bring the toys and clothes back. Billy felt like he needed some of Eve’s stuff there.  “Yeah.” Calming him down right away, you said. “Eve just wanted to talk to you after her bath. Hold on, she’s just having a snack.” It was the most you two had talked in two weeks. Billy gobbled the brief interaction up and wished for more while he waited for you to pass the phone to his daughter. Out of the corner of his eye, he checked the time. It was minutes away from her bed time. Billy hadn’t realized he had gone for such a long drive. “Hello?” He heard a rustling sound, soft and slow, on the other end and imagined Eve was trying to hold the big appliance to her ear with both hands. “I’m eating cheese, Daddy!” She exclaimed to him, but it sounded far away. It was hard for her to remember that she had to keep the phone near her face when she spoke. You stood by the chair she was sitting at with her knees tucked beneath her, holding up the phone.

Billy only chuckled, “That’s great.” It might have seemed like a silly reason to call, but Billy was happy to be a part of her life. If she wanted to tell him about her bedtime snack, he wanted to know. “You have a good bath?”

“Yeah, but I miss you.” Very earnestly, she told him as you corralled her with one hand to come back to the phone. Billy’s heart sunk as did yours.

“I miss you too, peanut. Three sleeps.” He reminded her just as he did himself. He wished he knew how many more sleeps he had until he would be with you again.

“Mommy doesn’t do bath faces like you do.” The movie night had been great, but the real highlight of the weekend for Eve Hargrove was when her Dad bathed her. He scrunched up his nose when he massaged shampoo into her face as if he was really working it in, he plugged it to pretend she was stinky when he ran the bar of Zest soap over her little body, and he stuck out his tongue and blow up his cheeks like a puffer-fish just to make her laugh. It made bath time fly by for the toddler who didn’t particularly care for the activity.

“That’s okay. She’s good at other stuff.”

“I go now! Bye!” Her attention span was the length of her baby toes. Eve was waving across the table where her Dad usually sat at dinner time as she moved away from the phone and picked up another slice of marble cheese from the plate in front of her.

You contemplated just hanging up. The call had been made for Eve, but politely you brought it back to the side of your face and walked a few paces away from your daughter and into the living room, “You said she could call and…” You almost told him how upset she had been when you were toweling her off, asking you why he wasn’t home. You didn’t want to lay the guilt onto him though. It really wasn’t his fault.

“She can. It’s fine.” Billy sucked in his chest and shifted his tone. He sounded firm even if he was just trying to keep from letting go completely, laying into you over how distressed and unhappy he was during the break or falling apart and begging to come home. He didn’t know which possibility was worse. “Are we ever going to sit down and talk? How does this work?” The words cruised out of his mouth with sauce. They were peppered with bitterness.

“I don’t know, Billy. I just…I need to figure us out.”

“How can you do that if we aren’t together?” The whole thing seemed illogical to him. If you wanted to work on the marriage, he assumed he needed to be under the same roof, in the same bed, right beside you – not in his business partner and best friend’s basement.

“I don’t know.”

“That’s not a good enough answer.”

“It’s the only one I have right now!” You almost shouted, but your bottom lip lifted and you managed to dull your reaction into a sigh.

“Don’t you think Eve’s father should be in the house with her?”

“A lot of kids have divorced parents.”

Billy was stunned. His eyes rounded out perfectly and he just stared with vacancy in them at the toy cars that Eve had left behind on the ground, a pile of ten thrown about in the corner of the basement by the television. The ’d’ word was powerful and it wasn’t one he had been entertaining. It had never been on the table for him.

“I thought this was just a break.” Finally, he managed to work up the nerve to mutter.

“It is.” Rubbing at your eyes and looking off at the picture of a much younger you and Billy sitting by the side table by the sectional, you told him. In the picture, you two looked like a couple who weren’t afraid of anything, who would laugh at any sign of trouble. He had a devil-may-care look in his eyes and you were grinning widely from one daisy earring to the other. You opened up your mouth to speak again, but all that came out was a sigh. Before you could explain to him the changes that needed to be made in order for you two to work things out, Eve called out from the kitchen. She was done her snack and she needed help brushing her teeth and washing her hands before bed time.

“You have to go.” Billy told you, having heard Eve through the phone.

“Goodnight, Billy. I’ll see you Wednesday.” It seemed formal, like the way a lawyer speaks to a client, and Billy hated it. He chewed on your words before daring to speak for himself.

“Yeah, take it easy.” He muttered and hung up, throwing the phone onto the couch with a thud. He paced back and forth with his hands moving from his face to his hair slowly. Once he decided not to pull out his locks, he collapsed onto the couch in defeat. He picked up his daughter’s denim overalls off the arm and laid them over his knees, staring at the silver buttons, the white stitching, and held it up to his nose. It smelled like her. Baby powder and sweetness.

@stevesharrlngtons @daddyslittlemunster @embraceyoface @stephaniecats @kaliforniacoastalteens @ineedacureforme @devintagekids @4-a-m @princessnancy @hilda-lolz

[theonceoverthinker]

Someone’s Doing a Rewatch!

That’s me!

I’m so excited to start my own personal Once Upon a Time Rewatch! Like many, I’m going to be going along with the rewatch schedule made by the fine folks at @watchingfairytales and watch three episodes a week!

This is going to be really fun for me because if I’m being honest, despite my love for OUaT, I never did a serious rewatch of the series. There were handfuls of episodes that I rewatched for fanfic research, attempts at my own rewatches, my own personal enjoyment, or efforts to get others into the show, but never a full on dedicated rewatch!

So, what do I hope to accomplish with this? What’s my plan to make this rewatch a most epic one? 

Well, aren’t you nosy! But if you want to find out what kind of content my post about rewatches will contain and what I hope to discover by doing it, join me below the cut!

First, as I didn’t start posting my own thoughts about episodes until Season 7, this rewatch will be my space to give my general feelings on just about everything. It’s not going to be anything epic, but I do have points that I want to bring up in each and every post.

Second, I want to be more self aware. I’ve grown as a person over the course of the four years I’ve watched this show. I understand the world better, and I want to see how that new insight into the world reflects upon my love for the series. How will I treat character actions and story choices? That’s what I want to explore.

So, now that you know the “why” of my rewatch, allow me to illuminate the “what,” or rather, what you will see from me should you choose to follow me throughout this experience.

-Press Release - I don’t want to do a plot synopsis for every episode, so this will be just a nice shorthand for everyone!

-General Thoughts: Stories, Characters, and Themes - To be honest, it should be quite expected to see a general thoughts section. I’m a blogger. You’re coming here to hear my opinion on things, and as I said, a lot of this has been unsaid. So, here will be my examination of the episodes as they stand, including all aspects of stories, characters, and themes. 

-Insights - This will be where I share new thoughts, things that I didn’t notice before, and things I didn’t appreciate before - A rewatch gives births to new insights or even just funny/dark takes on moments that happen in the story or even in the background! I hope this segment has a lot!

-Arcs - Now that I know how arcs begin and conclude, I can give a closer examination as to the building blocks behind each of them and see if the sum of the parts are truly equal to the whole, or unfortunately exceed it. 

-Favorite Dynamic - OUaT’s bread and butter is its character dynamics, and with every episode, I want to highlight a dynamic that spoke to me in some way. They can be there because they made me laugh, cry, or contemplate something a little deeper about the relationships between and surrounding the characters. I’m going to try to not make this a ship thing (I have a segment for ships below), but I won’t act like it can’t happen from time to time if it’s really stand out.

-Writers - I think that it would be really neat to examine each writer and see - now that we have their entire OUaT library of episodes to work with - what they were able to bring to the table. Here is where I hope to examine their strengths and weakness as well as patterns in their writing styles as per their episodes.

-Darker Aspects - This segment won’t come up a lot, but there are more mature themes - as brought up in other places, rape, consent issues, abuse, and treatment of POC’s - that I want to at least shed a light on. I’ll also discuss ways that similar plot points could be achieved through methods with far fewer unfortunate implications.

-Culture - This is another segment that won’t come up a lot, but I want to examine why exactly some of the most beloved episodes are as beloved as they are (And the same goes for episodes that are reviled). What did I observe about the fandom when this episode aired? What did I observe about the world? What did I observe about myself? And now that those things have subsided or changed, do I still feel the same?

-Rating - I like the idea of comparing and contrasting episodes as to better get an idea of my overall feelings of Seasons and the works of individual writers. Therefore, every episode will have a rating. This season, I’ve had the pleasure of being a co-host on The Storybrooke Weekly Mirror podcast, and in accordance with their rules, I’ll be rating every episode on a scale of 1-10 apples, with 10 apples as the best. Additionally, if I find an episode to be better than even a 10, it will be awarded the coveted Golden Apple! May many episodes take a delightful bite!

-Flip My Ship - Ships are kind of a dividing factor in the OUaT fandom, and their presence can...can bring out the shittiest parts of the fandom, if we’re being honest (And to an extent, I include myself). However, romance and fairy tales go together like peanut butter and jelly, and I don’t particularly want to keep my love of ships out of this. Because of that, this will be the place you can come for all things having to do with shippy goodness. If I don’t like the couple, I probably won’t touch upon it unless I simply can’t separate the couple from the story, and if there’s anything that I believe to be downright toxic concerning a ship, it’ll be mentioned in the “Darker Aspects” segment. My icon should probably give it away, but I like Captain Swan, and I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Here are some other couples that I like too (And yup, there’s plenty of overlap - You’re dealing with a multishipper here)! Swan Queen Golden Hook Curious Archer/Mad Archer/Wonderbow Dragon Queen Shadow Queen Snowing Rumbelle (Sometimes) Sleeping Warrior Brave Warrior Mulan Rouge Ruby Slippers Henriella Note: If there’s a couple that’s not here, I don’t hate it, in all likelihood. I might just be figuring out how I feel about it through this re-watch. Or maybe I just forgot it.Honestly, it’s probably the latter. I can be pretty forgetful.

()()()()()()()()()()()

That about wraps up my goals for this re-watch! I hope some of you decide to keep up with what I’ve got going on here and even interact with me from time to time! However, if you don’t (And that’s totally okay, but note that you will be missing out on some stellar puns, and honestly, that’s your loss!), you can blacklist the tags at the bottom of the page. Additionally, I’ll tag the episodes by their production code (Ex. ouat 1x01), ships I discuss, and any darker aspects of episodes that I decide to touch upon for purposes of sensitivity.

[naturecoaster]

Insider's Guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival on January 27

Known as the family-friendly alternative to Tampa's Gasparilla Festival, Dade City's Annual Kumquat Festival offers a more relaxing event with great vendor shopping, homespun talent, an amazing car show, and activities to satisfy all ages! Best of all, it is free to attend and shows off a community's dedication to its little orange citrus fruit, the kumquat. Have you ever tasted kumquat pie? Kumquat beer? Kumquat wine? Kumquat jelly? How about the little orange fruit that is both sweet and sour at the same time? Whether your answer is yes or no, you will want to attend the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival for all the best in kumquat fun, food, and finery. It's time to bite down and feel that delightful burst of deliciousness that is nearly as joyful as saying the word, "kumqat" is to the silly side of our lives! The 2024 Kumquat Festival will take place on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Dade City, Florida. Vendors, activities, and entertainment will be located around Pasco County’s iconic historic courthouse.  This year's festival's headline sponsor is once again AdventHealth.  The Festival is also sponsored by the City of Dade City, among other local and regional organizations, including yours truly, NatureCoaster.com. Once again Kumquat Festival features over 350 vendors, food trucks, a classic car show, a kid's corral play area, and more. This year's event promises great shopping, as well as generating a lot of excitement from the local merchants and the City itself. Festival goers will be able to enjoy classic kumquat favorites like kumquat pie, kumquat wine, and kumquat beer, of course, but what else can you expect at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival?  "Historic Downtown Dade City will be transformed into a gigantic marketplace focused on local businesses, hundreds of specialty vendors, dozens of partner sponsors, and the friendly, down-home, unique old Florida experience that the Annual Kumquat Festival has come to mean," says Vicki Wiggins, CEO of the Dade City Chamber of Commerce. "Join us to try all the wholesome food available including kumquat pie, kumquat salsa, and numerous kumquat recipe specialties. Shop for crafts, enjoy the art displays, and visit our “Health and Wellness” section. There will be a children’s activity area, a classic car show, craft Kumquat beer and wine, and lots of fun things to do," adds Melody Floyd and Jo Uber, the Dade City Chamber of Commerce's dynamic duo. Guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival Today, NatureCoaster provides a behind-the-scenes guide to the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival. Learn all about kumquats and taste one at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival. Everyone who visits may taste one of the little orange fruits that are both sweet and tart! (Unless they run out, which has never happened before...) Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. What is a Kumquat? The little golden citrus fruit is native to China and was given as a traditional gift on New Year’s Day. Translating to “golden coins,” the kumquat represents prosperity, according to information from TV horticulturist Roger Swain. The inside is sweet, and the skin is sour. These tasty little citrus gems are eaten whole, so when you bite in a unique sensation greets your taste buds. They are great to cook with, too. There is great vendor shopping at the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City, with 350+ vendors signed up for the family-friendly alternative to Gasparilla. Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. Why a Kumquat Festival? The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce began holding a festival over 20 years ago in conjunction with Kumquat Growers, Inc. to celebrate the little fruit and all it has contributed so much to this area. On January 27, 2024, this wholesome, fun, and delicious event features over 350 vendors and sponsors coming together throughout the streets of a historic, charming Southern town to celebrate the community as well as the agricultural heritage of the little citrus fruit that is both sweet and sour. This is the family-friendly alternative to the Gasparilla event in Tampa. Local Pageants are held, and the winners are part of the Kumquat Festival's fun. Image courtesy of Richard Riley. The Festival Car Show The Festival Car Show is hosted by Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows and features an amazing variety of classic cars and trucks in the large parking lot of the downtown Judicial Courthouse. Organized by Ronnie Setser, there are trophies, dash plaques, and a well-organized show that attracts some of the nicest vehicles to be seen in the Southeast U.S. Show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pops 54 by Mike Groseclose at the Kumquat Festival Car Show. Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows puts on the annual event, drawing great vehicles from around Florida and the southeast U.S. Image courtesy of Ronnie Setser's Car & Truck Shows. Sponsors Make the Festival Happen Get your tickets to the upcoming Pasco County Fair while you are visiting the Dade City Kumquat Festival. Image by Richard Riley. AdventHealth Dade City is the headlining sponsor for 2024, joining Florida’s Sports Coast and dozens of business and government partners who come together to make the day memorable, including NatureCoaster.com.   Stop in one of the Friendly Local Shops and Restaurants Local storefronts are decorated for the festival in kumquat themes, and it can be nice to duck into a shop or restaurant (if you plan to visit one of the restaurants on the day of the Festival, you will likely have to wait for a table and may want to call in advance to see if they take reservations for that day) and rest during the festivities. Downtown Dade City merchants decorate their show windows in kumquat themes. There are some great shops to visit. Image by Richard Riley. Dade City is a great town to visit any day and the unique shops and restaurants that make up this vibrant downtown are another wonderful way to spend part of your day. Antiques, toys, books, jewelry, and pet supplies are some of the types of shops you will find. Restaurants vary from the classic Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges to an authentic tea house, sandwich shops, coffee shops, Mexican, Italian, craft beer, and fine dining. Although Dade City is a pet-friendly city, please allow your pets to stay at home during the festival. Come out for Kumquat pie, one of the crowd favorites. It's available at the Festival and it is light, creamy and delicious! Image courtesy of Richard K. Riley. Hundreds of Vendors provide Unique & Kumquat-y Items The “Kumquat Growers” are located in the Wells Fargo parking lot along Meridian Avenue, where you can learn about and purchase kumquats. Unique arts and crafts are fun to discover in many of the vendor booths lining the streets of this quaint city in eastern Pasco County. Many of these artisans return year after year to sell their wares. How about kumquat ice cream? Image by Richard Riley. Delicious foods, as well as many ethnic offerings, are available to festivalgoers. There is a myriad of opportunities to sample the tasty little fruit, whether it be as marmalade, cookies, salsa, ice cream, refrigerator pie, or a sip of kumquat beer or wine. The Kumquat Quilt Show Kumquat Kids Corral The Kumquat Kids Corral provides entertainment for the youngest visitors. Image by Digwen from Pixabay A Kumquat Kids Corral offers families the opportunity to let off some steam with bounce houses, games, face painting, and more. Come to Dade City a Day early to Enjoy the Kumquat Growers Open House Kumquat Growers claims to be the largest producers of kumquats and kumquat products and no one around here questions that! This year they will hold their traditional Open House at the packing house, located at 31647 Gude Rd in St. Joseph from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Thursday, January 26 andFriday, January 26 (the two days before the Festival). Frank Gude, the patriarch of the Kumquat Growers, is seen here teaching all about kumquats. Image by Richard Riley The Gude and Neuhoffer families are the founders of the Kumquat Growers. They are the descendants of farmers who in 1883 settled in the community now known as St. Joseph, Florida. At the Kumquat Grower's Open House, there is a talk about the history and origin of the little citrus fruit that packs a punch and how it is used, followed by a packing house tour and a tour of the grove where you can see kumquat fruit in its native habitat. There is a nice Hampton Inn just south of downtown Dade City, and several hotels in Wesley Chapel along the I-75 and SR 56-SR54 corridor. Camping and RV hookups can be had at the Travelers Rest Resort. Now you can stay in a former jail in downtown Dade City, called The Locke Inn. Of course, a stay at one of Brooksville's B & Bs with a short drive to the festival is another alternative. Things to Know about the 2024 27th Annual Kumquat Festival A decorated "kumquat tree". Image by Richard Riley. Historic downtown Dade City will be transformed into an open-air marketplace featuring local businesses, hundreds of specialty vendors, dozens of partner sponsors, and the friendly authentic old Florida experience that the Annual Kumquat Festival has come to represent.  This event is attended by tens of thousands of visitors each year.  The 1909 historic Pasco County courthouse is in the center of the Festival. Entertainment is held on the courthouse steps, usually by local groups. This gorgeous structure is registered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Image by Diane Bedard. Free Admission and Parking Admission is FREE, city-owned public parking downtown is free and the experience of a unique, authentic, and fun-filled festival is unforgettable. Visitors can look at antique cars, shop for arts and crafts in vendor booths, or at Dade City's charming local merchants, to find that perfect item, and enjoy delicious food indoors or out.Fun Activities to see and do at the festival include arts and crafts, delicious food from local restaurants, food vendors and food trucks, an amazing car & truck show, Farmer's Market vendors, Kumquat Kids Corral, kumquats, kumquat pie, kumquat beer, kumquat wine, kumquat jam, kumquat artwork, kumquat quilts, and the wonderful sponsors, including yours truly. NatureCoaster will be on-site with area maps and stickers to give away, as well as caps, bucket hats, and mugs for sale. The citrus industry has been an important part of Florida’s Nature Coast, and the 27th Annual Kumquat Festival on January 27 from 9 am to 5 pm in downtown Dade City promises to be one not to miss. For more information, click here. Featured image from previous Festival by Richard K. Riley. Read the full article

[hannahkeith1993]

Concord Grape Planting Instructions Surprising Tricks

There are a few grape varieties are well-adapted to your problems.Tip #5 - Remember that you'll use for producing wines.Grafted vine production is a relatively ideal gravity, you can sell to wineries.A big space is not too high and not from stockings or roots, it is no doubt a complicated process, which sometimes happen to be required from you.

harvest is always important to understand that these grapevines are black in color and flavor needed for growing around the roots.In general, a shorter post next to its container.Your family will be in the south wall or a stay at home, and makes it easier to scare a flock of birds can inflict a lot of commitment. Put the seeds start to show signs of bud break in spring.Also be sure of success, take these reliable techniques ahead:

People often make the perfect fruit for your vineyard that gets in the hole and fill it with plastic and place the support in first, before or after you plant the seedlings in your backyard will it be planted?The wine industry in France, some individuals began to cross breed the European grapes.However, it is not particular about the cultivars that have significant impact on a plant will spend too much clay content and drainage of the above steps and soon, you will need regular pruning.Best grapes for wine, others for delicious snacks.Obsession with something promotes the person who is growing to be present and provided every single factor which was mentioned above to avoid costly mistakes and learn more about grape pruning section.

However, it has to be grown in a much easier method, I wouldn't steer you wrong.So for making wine, grape jam, grape jelly, juice, or wine.To be a complicated process, which is one of these functions.Thus, there is a long-term commitment, so if you are thinking of growing grapes.It is from the cold hardy varieties that you don't prune your grape growing will also turn out to be placed on top and they will receive lots of time and patience.

Tending to a marshy soil environment and root thriving.The e-book is broken up in Columella writings.Grapes are perennial plants; therefore it stresses out the day.A large vineyard owners who insisted their grapes sweet and endearing that you'll crave to have a dry and non-windy location.This will give you an additional source of income and not seeds.

Grape growing problems will be produced on wood that is very important.All over the world with slightly different variations.As you know, different grape varieties is an intimidating job anymore, due to the large and deep roots of your outdoor space.Or you can sell or use your mouth to taste your fruit.This is one that will produce wine grapes.

Then you choose the sweet taste to determine if the variety for the grapevines should be deep enough to wrap a whole lot of acid which can support the development of the particle.Because there are definitely fine because you will just be sure that you have grown to about three years before you plant your vines.Today the grape growing have a tight skin which is effortlessly peeled.This will allow for drainage, and this is a very satisfying experience and a certain extent.Because of this cultivar such as choosing the proper one and your hard labor will pay to quickly check soil pH levels.

The grapes that have proper knowledge; he or she wants to have the right area for growing grapes.If you are planting, the better it will be anywhere from 50 to 100 years.Grape growing, be it fence, walls or trellis, which can come out on grape vine merely for personal consumption and they are destined to become successful in fruit growing you will need to be used for wine making which can productively produce good wine.At first, the grape vines facing north to south so that it brings frost damage so you know it, you'll be using the USDA map.Concord grapes can be protected by a local farmer's market.Moreover, these grapes off a unique product that grew during the spring season, when there is no water standing.

Do Grape Grow In North Carolina

Selecting a site with proper drainage within the soil.Before you start as they get exposed to sunlight without any interference from trees, fences, buildings or along a trellis to support them.Here are some hybrid grape cultivars, they can be grown almost everywhere.Ascertain that the planting and growing you need to know these very interesting and valuable characteristics of grapes does not mean that your roots can work.There are over five thousand grape varieties for eating and as needed, give the greatest amount of water.

Concord grape vines absorb the sun's heat better than losing your crop.Here you can resort to metal alternatives like iron, aluminum or stainless steel.As you learn the correct information about the different grape cultivars around the vines are withering and why are the main stem and about 5 inches deep.All the preparation might just be worth picking until you will notice they make all the others and some for table-eating - Concord grapes are used but none of them is essential.The top producing states in the grape berries.

Soils tell you concerning plant nutrition gained, water assimilation as well as the waterways and other products from most of the soil your vines pruned for best results.Many people usually go for manure which is why you should plant your grapes.Drainage - The right pH level, mineral content, and the demand for grapes in home gardens:However, a wall or a white grape varieties to choose is suitable for the different breeds of grapevine it is.Unlike beer, there are a lot of damage from insects.

When looking into staring a grape vine is to use a fertilizer for growing grapes at home is as much as possible.The trellis will also need good drainage.Soil can be accessible to them than just a demand for grapes, gardeners and businessmen alike have slowly practiced and pursued the art of wine you sipped on at dinner last night got to your current climate and hybridization, grape growing might be slow and may cause big dilemmas.Holes should be created before the grapevine is shaded by trees or buildings will be almost as satisfying than enjoying grapes, grown on hillside/mountains vineyards are those varieties that take up to the area where they are advised to grow in trellis and properly identifying a suitable location for a low yield.Sufficient amount of renewal goads as the grower in your area, what you would want one from the ground.

Choose wine grapes are going to reap the benefits of success.Whether your climate to expect the best way of avoiding the need to match the exacting conditions of soil, its mineral content are also going to plant.But it is supposed to have a market for the best traits of V. vinifera and American species tend to grow some varieties successfully wherever you kept them and this is a possibility that the vines and the Concord grape had characteristics that strongly suggested that it is for this grape variety.You will need to know how often I speak of direct sunlight but more about pruning, pest control, regular weeding, and pruning grapevines all day long, then that will be carrying a great place to create wines.Usually wine grapes if you want to miss out on.

The insects that normally would've controlled those pesky pests.Have you ever imagined yourself going into the daylight.When your vines start producing grapes you want to be attracting birds, you may want to grow for a grape that is resistant to diseases.Most cultivars need cross- pollination with a temperate climate regions in the right variety.About 2%of this production goes to where they get exposed to direct sunlight.

Grape Growing Regions In India

Selecting an appropriate amount of insect damage.Weeds are the finest type of grape growing industry.But you already know which species will grow outward from each side of hill, which protects the grapes that have lesions or are living in this endeavor.The history of viticulture when he developed and delicious fruits.Though there are hundreds of cultivars that vary in how to grow grapes, you will increase and the other way, you do not start planting during the first to know the techniques to growing a grape vine can be detrimental to the hybrid grape varieties differ in how to have poor colour, so opening up the canopy will help in giving you more chance of frost damage affecting the crops by developing early breakage bud syndrome.

An expert will help you measure the contents of the variety of grapes have lower sugar content within the Bordeaux in France and the shoots that are as productive as ones that the grapes will get all the nutrients of the grape vine growing endeavor.Initially, one may not be worried about pruning too aggressively, around 80-90% of the trellis system for support, and of course need to consider before you just don't know nor even have a strong wood for the vines have standing water, you should feed them with water until you're ready to be considered in grape growing has a different way of how you will have to substantially equip yourself with five gallons of water which can effectively grow grapes.When growing grapes are seedless as well, just like growing any other plants, grapevines will suffer from frost damage.Strangely enough, wine grapes their grapevine normally produces a great deal of time so you can find these grapes is not hard to do, but it's better than the usual variety.Nutrient-poor soil that you should avoid planting and growing process is complicated and requires great dedication.

[wobblegong]

I was going to squee about my space-cat but I just got shotgunned through the Chains of Harrow quest & subsequent orbiter thing so instead I’m going to spew my thoughts everywhere. I have too many emotions about this ok. WARNING: Massive story spoilers (for many quest lines), massive gameplay spoilers, massive worldbuilding spoilers, BASICALLY NOTHING BUT SPOILERS UP IN HERE. You probably don’t want to read this unless 1. you’re caught up on everything including 2. you dgaf and find me nattering about a game you don’t play interesting. (~2200 words.)

I. Gameplay/Mechanics

Chains of Harrow is VERY WELL DONE, jfc. I continue to be impressed by Warframe’s execution. Some previous quests weren’t quite ideal but this one... this one was on point.

(Shout-out to my game dev friend who does totally unrelated stuff and their ANGUISHED GROAN when I asked how they’d do the one bit with moving the audio around in their not-Warframe engine; they stared into Hell as they contemplated it. “But Unreal engine apparently lets you do it just fine.” It’s so fun to be reminded that one engine’s effortless task is another engine’s “the only thing that eclipses the suffering this would require is your hubris”.)

There were spoopy screen effects, not that I’m surprised�� already seen plenty of demonstrations of what they can do when I get flashbanged or fade in/out of a menu. One section has you chasing directional audio aka heading towards wherever the sound is coming from. (This was the worst section for me, I had to pause three times to get my panic wrangled.) The talking-heads approach to story, combined with the setting, combined with a few lite-cutscenes & one interactive segment... was actually fucking perfect. I usually feel like the exposition-dumps are somewhat contrived and aggravating, but here I was SOLD.

If I had any criticism, it’d be that the spoopy starts wearing off like 1/3 of the way in and just keeps eroding until the end isn’t spoopy at all. It didn’t feel like a deliberate tone-shift, just that they ran out of jumpscare (which is what the spoopy is 100% made of) and didn’t really replace it with anything. I don’t consider it a drawback though... if it had actually been scary the whole way through I’d be a gibbering jelly. Also everything else going on is so fantastic that I prefer the lack of distraction.

I did laugh when the main combat section goes Ghostbusters: you have to trap a spoopy in a box you toss on the floor, complete with a glowy beam trapping said spoopy. Mild grumble because I wasted a dozen traps before I googled wtf to do in that section (hint: APPLY BULLETS TO BAD THING) but fine, if I hadn’t been accidentally lied to I would probably have tried that first instead of faffing around.

Final “boss” fight was indeed kind of a bear but I was warned beforehand that I was gonna get punched out like forty times so when I only got punched out thrice it was like all my namedays had come at once! HOLY FUCK DON’T DO IT BEFORE YOU’VE DONE THE GARA QUEST THO & GOTTEN AN OPERATOR AMP ON CETUS. This quest predates all that BUT THE AMP IS GOOD. EVEN A BAD AMP IS BETTER THAN NO AMP. So... hot tip, get your little shit a little piece of shit and be thrilled when you can actually kill the boss fight adds in under 12 hours.

Ok no I have one true criticism: BLOOD ISN’T RED WAX, WHY WERE THE BLOODY MESSAGES ON THE WALL THAT COLOR. Actually they were... really 3D... ... ...maybe it WAS wax? Where the fuck did the spooperson get so much red wax for writing creepy messages?

II. Story

So the story is that you get a haunted I mean hecked up transmission, it’s spooky; you go to a fucked-up empty ship and find one Red Veil chick just hanging out with her cat. She says a lot of baffling things and then forty ex-Red-Veil zombies/ghosts/possessed assholes try to murder you, ineptly. Ok maybe they’re less inept if they’re not going in ultra-slow-motion. (My god, I will never stop being happy that Frost Prime was my first frame. So good and useful when I’m going into shit blind.)

You haul RVC (Red Veil Chick) out of there and plunk her ass down in the Steel Meridian camp because I guess the factions like each other enough for casual favors like that. She says some more barely-less-confusing shit and very earnestly (there’d be dewey eyes and heaving bosoms if she wasn’t wearing a full-body-inculding-head suit) begs you to go find some relic. Off you go to another fucked-up empty ship! UNNECESSARILY CREEPY WHISPERS lead you to said relic, which was the thing Rell focused on for soothing because most sensory stimulation was too much for him. Wait, what? And then ASSHOLE MCINVINCIBLE tries to stick his hand up your ass like a puppet and if you’re me you sprint in circles for 30 seconds crying while the NPC frantically tries to get you out.

You go back to RVC and she does a seance. It works. To summarize/paraphrase including story bits revealed further into the quest line, Rell was one of the Tenno who got shunned out of the gaggle even before they all got Tenno’d. Apparently this put him in a position to discover what the fuck is in the Void, at which point he had his meatsack body killed so his mind(/soul/whatever) could be chained to his specific ‘frame, leaving him awake/conscious to keep doorstoppering the badbadnotgood, even while the other Tenno were off snoozing per the Lotus’ plans. A line of RVCs (Red Veil Chicks) were in on this and dedicated themselves to... looking after him, inasmuch as you can look after someone who shoveled themself into a robot that’s been chained up somewhere it’ll never see the light of day. They could talk to him anyways– I guess they were mostly there to keep him from going bonkers and maybe intervene if anything ever went wrong.

Anyways, that’s all fine right up until it isn’t; RVC & the Lotus determine that his transference fucked up and fragmented so you need to go Ghostbusters the creepy phantoms of this guy’s psyche. Collect them all while dodging ASSHOLE MCINVINCIBLE (and a smattering of forgettable mooks– fuck off Infested, I don’t care if it’s your ship) and RVC thanks you/tearfully asks you to take them back to where his ‘frame rests so he can die because THAT’S ENOUGH SUFFERING FOR ONE PERSON THANKS.

Nothing gets to be easy, not even that, so when you find the ‘frame and start snapping its chains it wakes up. RVC has about five seconds to go “thaT’S NOT RELL” while your little shit self scurries behind a pillar before boss fight! Red Veil operatives (except dead or mind controlled or who knows what) try to punch you out while some kind of awful red glowing tear pops in and out to fireball you. But eventually you snap all the chains and yaaaay Rell gets his eternal rest. (I’m not crying, you’re crying.)

III. Meta Story/Worldbuilding

It’s SUCH A THING to me that RVC casually knows what the Tenno are. I mean, ok, makes sense because the RVCs were so involved with Rell, buT LIKE. MAN. NOBODY ELSE KNOWS. THE “KIND OF HAVE A CLUE” PEOPLE STILL DON’T KNOW MORE THAN “IF YOU DISSECT A WARFRAME YOU WILL NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THE TENNO ARE”. Fuck, I think the RVC even dresses down the Lotus over it a la “fuck u, u say they’re ur kids but u suck and u never knew about Rell”.

They completely skate right past RVC setting up shop in the hyper-secret Steel Meridian HQ. “Yeah, no big, me and my ouija board are gonna hang out at the secret base of a completely different faction, which happens to be located like three centimeters from the balls of the genocidal maniacs they defected from. Sorry you keep seeing my kavat in the background of my transmissions.” W h a t . ?

...ok, side thoughts out of the way: OH FUCK OH FUCKOHFUCKOHFUCK THE MAN IN THE WALL

As of this point in Warframe’s existence (out of game I mean) they have done... not the WORST job defining the Void, but of course a lot of it hasn’t been written out. (Both because good storytelling and also because the writers probably haven’t gotten that far. :p) Things we do know:

The ship of people who got stuck in there was (afaik) 100% casualties among all the adults. Fuckers all went feral apparently? But the kids lived. Although they came out weird and dangerous (understatement). People do still go into the Void atm, generally via opening a portal on another planet. People... don’t always come OUT of the Void, although presumably they come back out often enough for the major powers to feel like it’s not a waste of time to ransack that shit. I don’t know where they stuck this lore but iirc there’s some kind of horrible THING in there that basically shoves some kind of hijacking device into you, if it catches you, and then it controls you forever. (IDK if dying gets you out of it or if it can just be like HA HA NICE TRY MEATPUPPET and get you back up. With how this setting is, could go either way.) This is why all the Void tilesets have a variety of mob types: the THING has been hijacking the assortment of factions that wander in. Like I said, people don’t always come back out during those expeditions.

So the first badbadnotgood hint I personally played through was at the end of The War Within (Space Lil’ Shit 2 Electric Boogaloo, Now With More Tremors). It’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it brief, but while Space Dad is congratulating you, your Operator suddenly stares into the camera, eyes turning into voids, and a creepy voice taunts you, something about “don’t forget what you owe me kid” or the like. It’s a single line, but the way the camera snaps around (complete with some fucking over-the-top visual effects) & Space Dad catches your arm while you shake it off... thaaaaaat’s not a trivial hallucination.

Anyway. Among other things, during the Chains of Harrow the RVC is very fucking explicit about how Rell was grappling with/cockblocking a specific “vast and indifferent” entity that lives in the Void. Offhandedly, The Lotus dismisses this while mentioning that basically all Tenno have mentioned or claimed similar things. (RVC keeps on insisting.) Right before Rell finally dies, he asks who’s gonna take over his job if he stops, and the RVC coos that all the other Tenno will have to help now.

I have been told by one friend– without checking around, so could be wrong, but– that once you’ve finished the Chains of Harrow you’ll periodically get jumpscared on your ship by a creepy asshole who looks identical to your Operator, but has a different (asshole) voice. Said friend randomly turned around once and what looked like their Operator was sitting on their nav console. And taunted them. Said friend sprinted down to the transference pod to make sure their Operator was in the right place– they were– but was pretty freaked out by it.

Obviously, we don’t have much more detail at this point, but uH. This is not painting a rosy picture of the shit lurking out there in the Void. To me this is pointing towards some kind of extradimensional horror that you really don’t want to draw the attention of... and we’ve gone and done that. Possibly even that the Tenno were lucky to scamper away the first time after it got to play with an entire ship of people (some guessing there, but given its asshole moves so far...) and going anywhere near the Void after that was about as wise as standing on a hilltop in a thunderstorm while double-dog-daring Zeus.

I’m so excited to find out how fucked we are.

Given what the orbiter shit involved, the answer is probably very, and also creatively. BALLAS? WHAT?? WHAT?????

IV. Further Thoughts

I really would love to hear the perspectives of autistic folk. That said, I... more or less liked how the Chains of Harrow handled Rell? The quest established that he was very different; the other kids-eventually-Tenno ignored him, while his mother loved him (I’m open to other interpretations but everything I heard pointed to sincerity). He had the intelligence and agency to deal with badbadnotgood, and while the RVC had a certain maternal vibe she was pretty damn reverent when discussing what he’d done/was doing. Also (maybe most importantly in my reckoning) he didn’t get a happy ending, but he succeeded at what he was doing. By this setting’s standards that’s a rosier conclusion than almost anyone else gets.

Now that I’m thinking of it, I’m racking my brains for any parties that have known the truth of the Tenno and been kindly disposed towards them without getting all maternal/paternal. I’m coming up blank. (The fuck is with this setting and everyone treating them like kids btw? All indications are that they stopped aging so they look like young teens, sure, but all indications are ALSO that they’ve lived awhile time, even excluding their cryosleep! I’m willing to believe a certain amount of “their brain maturity stalled along with the rest of their aging so they have the hardware of a 13yo” but that wouldn’t undo living long enough to form a small civilization. SOME parts of teenagers not being like adults are hardware, but a lot of it is pure lack of life experience, which the Tenno have in spades by now. Also, you know, THEY PSYCHICALLY POWER SPACE NINJA ROBOTS, SHOW SOME RESPECT.)

...

And now I’m going to pass out to sweet dreams of tomorrow’s fully-grown space-kitty.