#guilty-pleasures-abound

[masterjedilenawrites]

Take Me Out

Bad Batch x Reader Exchange 2024

Crosshair x fem!reader | 4.7k words

Content: drinking, light angst, introspection, fluff, light humor, crushes, relationships, friendship, mentions of war and death, weapons (practice setting)

Prompts: "What am I even looking for?" - "I don't know" & "Sometimes I think some work on your communication skills wouldn't be such a bad idea."

My gift is for the event host - @ghostofskywalker! I was so excited to draw your name and I really hope you enjoy the fic. You put so much work and care into hosting these events for the fandom, it really is appreciated 🤗

I've actually had this story concept in mind for quite a while. I love that pretty much all of your prompts/wish-list items were able to fit in! We've got some platonic Hunter, romantic Crosshair, a little angst, a bit of fluff... Perfect!

Oh, and to keep things spoiler free (on my blog and for the event), this takes place before Order 66 and Omega.

Please go check out the @cloneficgiftexchange blog for all the other contributions to this great event! Fics are being posted all throughout today (4/13/24). Spread the love for fandom writers/creators by reblogging!

Vandor-3. Clone training facility: recreation sector. Winter.

You sat slumped over the bar, a drink cradled in your arms. You took lazy sips at the liquid, long past its effervescence, in between chewing on the straw. You could smell the evidence of your waning hygiene, being curled in on yourself like this. It disgusted you but not enough to do anything beyond self loathing. To say you were miserable was an understatement.

"Morning, Captain. A bit early for a drink, isn't it?"

The husky voice of the bar's newcomer was unmistakeable in who it belonged to. There were clones abound on this small moon, hundreds of identical-sounding men. But every once in a while you had the pleasure of hearing the one that was different.

You sluggishly swiveled your head and gave Sergeant Hunter a mock salute. He leaned against the bar beside you, seemingly torn between being amused and concerned by what he was seeing.

"Back so soon?" you asked, ignoring his own question. Though your speech wasn't slurred, your voice still betrayed some of the numbness you were working to surround yourself in. Which helped your friend make up his mind on how to feel.

"Easy mission," Hunter shrugged off the topic. "You okay? Did something happen?"

"No," you sighed and forced yourself to sit upright. Best to appear more in control and not give him reason to drag you to the med bay. "That's the problem. Nothing's happened."

Hunter frowned and slid onto the barstool next to you. You caught a whiff of soap as he did, a harsh contrast to your own odor that made you even more upset.

"I don't understand."

Your hands cupped around your glass, condensation pooling around your fingers, and you stared at the melting ice wishing to be as frozen and unfeeling.

"I don't understand, either," you whispered. "Why I'm still so... alone."

"Ah." Hunter placed a sympathetic hand on your shoulder. "That's right, you had that date you were going on. Another dud, then?"

You nodded, still refusing to look away from the ice cubes.

He hummed in thought. Your poor friend. How many times had he now had to come up with some sort of reassuring comment after another one of your failed attempts to find love? At least you were grateful you had such a friend, though. Where others would have made you feel guilty for admitting to loneliness, would have insisted they were company enough and all you had to do was ask for it, it's as simple as that, how dare you feel lonely when you aren't actually alone... Hunter was the one who always saw through to what you really meant. You were not what the other wanted, but you were both wanting, craving that kind of deep, romantic connection that seemed to allude you both. For Hunter, it was obviously his schedule that got in his way. For you... well, that was the mystery.

"You have to keep looking," was the sentiment Hunter settled on this time. He rubbed at your shoulder a bit, as if trying to smooth out your misery.

You huffed. His attempts to comfort were sweet, but not enough. You couldn't help but protest. "But with everyone I meet, I just find out what I don't want. What am I even looking for?"

"I don't know," Hunter shook his head sadly. "I don't know if anyone knows until they find it."

You groaned and slumped back forward, facepalming the bar top and wishing you could sink right into it. Sink down, down, down until you disappeared completely.

"Sorry, Cap," Hunter's now muffled voice attempted to chuckle, lighten the mood. "If I could track down your soul mate, I would. You know I would."

That comment was sweet enough. You forced yourself to stop sinking, lift yourself up again, and face your friend properly.

"I know. And I appreciate that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be such a bummer today. It's just... it's been getting harder, is all."

He nodded and you nodded back and nothing further needed to be understood on the matter.

"Were you needing something from me?" you changed the subject. "Or did you come to day drink as well?"

"Ha, ha." Hunter started to get up. "Yeah no, I just wanted to let you know we were back for a few rotations, see if you'd have some time to finally come out and meet the boys."

You lifted up your glass and shook it a bit. "You're too late, I'm afraid. If I'd known you'd be back so soon, I wouldn't have started on this journey of self destruction."

Hunter titled his head at you, some of that trademark concern still showing. "This isn't going to be an all week thing, is it?"

You shrugged. Truthfully, you had no idea what to do with yourself. Making decisions even a day in advance seemed like too big of a commitment in your fragile state.

"I'd rather not meet any more new people right now, if it's all the same to you."

"I wouldn't consider them new. You've heard enough stories about each other by now. It's starting to get weird that you're not meeting, quite frankly."

You wanted to laugh, but the thought of introductions, stiff pleasantries, awkward small talk... It reminded you of every first date that never turned into a second, every dating app chat thread that went nowhere, every high hope you watched turn into disappointment. Even with a group like Hunter's brothers, the Bad Batch, with a reputation of being unconventional, who you'd only be making friends with just like you had with Hunter and every other clone on this moon... it was still too much for you to stomach.

"Sorry, maybe next time."

Hunter frowned, but he didn't overstep. "Suit yourself. Door's still open though. You know where to find us."

He made to walk out but paused to turn back to you for a moment.

"And hey, don't lose hope. We'll find our people soon enough. In the meantime, take care of yourself, alright?"

You waited until the bar doors closed behind him to let your tears fall.

* * *

Vandor-3. Woodland outskirts. Spring.

You were here. Finally.

You weren't able to pinpoint exactly where the turning point occurred, between crying yourself to sleep every night and being able to wake up with a smile on your face. A small one, of course, but a smile nonetheless. You weren't even sure it was something that had happened overnight. Slowly, eventually, the frost over your heart melted, the shadows in your thoughts grew thinner and lighter. Without even realizing you were drawing back the curtains and dusting off the shelves and each day being a little more open than you were the day before.

Your loneliness still existed. It came and went in waves, so while still devastating at times, you were at least afforded with periods of relief. Periods where you could smile again, find fulfillment in your work, and even dare to allow yourself to dream again. And not to mention taking more regular showers. It was always the little things that made the biggest difference, wasn't it?

And now here you were, standing in the early morning sun out in one of the training fields, the Havoc Marauder silhouetted against the sunrise as you shook hands with its crew in a meeting long overdue.

Hunter's stories had done the boys justice. Wrecker was just as larger than life as you'd pictured, aptly choosing to push past your outstretched hand and go in for a bone-crushing hug instead. Tech, who you'd come to know as the brains of the batch, only spared a second to be properly introduced before returning to fidget with some gadget. Echo was all politeness and disciplined respect, with his scomp-salute and ma'ams. And Crosshair... well, he was still on the ship asleep, which you supposed fit with the few facts you knew about him, too.

Hunter beamed beside them, clearly happy you had finally made the effort to meet his squad. His family, really. As a Captain overseeing drill training for the GAR, you knew better than anyone the close bonds these clones formed even before they stepped foot on a battlefield. This meant a lot to him, you being here. You felt awful for postponing so many times.

Once introductions were out of the way, and some pleasant conversation had passed, you eventually ventured out to the part of the training field that actually housed elements for training - your excuse for coming out here to meet everyone. A munitions crate full of shiny new blasters was carried between you and Wrecker while Hunter ran ahead to set up some targets. Tech and Echo went back to the ship to work on repairs.

"Aaaaugh. Only blasters?" Wrecker lamented upon opening the crate.

"Sorry, more budget cuts. This was all I could scrounge up for you guys."

Hunter was much more excited by the new weapons, though Wrecker still picked one up to try out. You held one as well but only used it to demonstrate different techniques. Just because you were good at training didn't mean you were the best at actually fighting.

The three of you picked off the various bottles, pots, and pans that Hunter had set up amongst the tree branches at the edge of the field for a short while. And on more than one occasion you found yourself pausing to breathe in the air and remind yourself that life was good. Maybe not how you wanted it, but it was still good and you'd need to continue to work on appreciating what you had.

After about an hour, there were only three bottles and a pan left, all proving tricky targets due to distance and angle. Hunter had even tried slinging a few knives to no avail.

"Okay I'm calling it," Wrecker announced with a huff. "One more missed shot and I'm blowing them up."

"I'll take that bet."

A new voice, one you'd never heard before, carried across the field. It was delicate and drawling and confident. Hunter chuckled and Wrecker rolled his eyes. And you... you had no idea that everything was about to change.

It was like he was moving in slow motion. Your surroundings blurred as the lanky figure caught the corner of your eye, your heart rate slowing as you turned and took him in. One confident step planted firmly in front of the other as he inched across the field. A sniper rifle perched on his shoulder. A toothpick between pursed lips. An eye surrounded by a reticle and narrowed in determination. He didn't even spare you a glance, and thank the gods, because if he had, you were sure your heart would've stopped beating altogether.

He squared off as soon as he reached the marks, bringing his rile forward to aim in a swift and careful motion. His head rested against the shaft, his tattooed eye squinted through the scope. You imagined him taking this stance a thousand times in his short life. It looked as natural a position as curling up on a couch might look for you.

You couldn't look away, not wanting to miss a single second of whatever this mesmerizing man was about to do. He was still for a moment, impressively so. You realized you were holding your breath as you watched, not wanting even your exhale to interfere with his process.

And then he fired. Once, twice, threefourfive times. Bang, bang, bang. Each in a different direction but no less precise than the one before. The first ricocheted off the pan and hit the green bottle, just as the second hit the red bottle. The three-shot volley was aimed at the branch the bottles sat on, causing it to crack and dangle even closer to the ground. And just when you thought the show couldn't be more over the top, the sniper swiveled his rifle toward the sky at a passing bird, clipped its wing with a shot, and then whipped out a pistol from his hip and fired at the remaining blue bottle just before the branch snapped and fell to the ground.

A few seconds later, the bird tumbled on top of the pile of shattered glass and splintered wood.

"Aaaand training is now over," said Hunter with a nod of his head. He raised his voice as he called out to his brother. "You'd better clean that shit up!"

The sniper flipped him the bird before sauntering off to clean up.

"Uh, you alright?"

Hunter paused in his own packing of gear to give you a concerned look. You were still staring after the newcomer, undoubtedly the lone Batcher you had yet to meet. Crosshair. Your brain had short-circuited with what you had witnessed him do, yes. But it was more than that. There was something about him. Something intriguing and attractive. Different than anyone you had ever known, and yet, somehow feeling so real and comfortable at the same time.

After a few waves of your friend's hand in your face, you snapped back.

"That," you breathed.

Hunter cocked a confused eyebrow.

"That is what I'm looking for."

* * *

Vandor-3. Clone training facility: recreation sector. Summer.

You were insanely busy. Separatist activity was ramping up in almost every corner of the galaxy and the GAR was responding to each new threat with full force. Rotations of new clone units were frequently arriving at the facility, one after another. You'd cycle them through a few trainings to get them certified on whatever was needed and then ship them right back out. And in between were all the additional tasks that needed to be taken care of. Piles of paperwork and coordinating schedules and ship inspections and updated security debriefings.

And yet through it all, you still had time to entertain the one thought that buzzed in the background of your mind: Crosshair. Every meeting, every meal, every training sim, first thing in the morning and last thing at night. He was there. Crosshair, Crosshair, Crosshair. On your mind, in your heart, driving you absolutely mad.

In the beginning you'd pretended it wasn't about him, specifically. You were simply happy to know what you wanted now, that you had a type and it existed. That was all. Hunter had turned up his nose, completely bewildered as to why that would be your type. You hadn't been able to give him much at the time; it would take you many rotations more to start describing the details of your newly discovered attraction.

But over time, it became harder to push aside the nagging thought that you hadn't found what you were looking for, but rather who. Specifically. Exactly. Why try to find someone like him when you already liked... him?

Oh there were plenty of ways you could answer that question, all of them self-deprecating and none of them productive. You could count on one hand now the number of times you had been in the same room as him, let alone interacted with him. The Batch may be frequenting the place more often as the war picked up, but not nearly as often as you needed to gauge whether someone like Crosshair would, could, or honestly even should be as interested in you as you were in him.

Today they were back on the grounds so Hunter could fill out some paperwork, and your heart had not stopped racing all morning. It was practically threatening to punch right out of your chest and run away. You weren't sure why, considering you'd probably only end up seeing Hunter this time. The rest of the Batch usually didn't venture into the facility unless they were staying overnight. But it seemed even knowing Crosshair was on the same planet as you got you worked up these days.

You carried Hunter's stack of paperwork with you now, intending to drop it off to him in between some meetings you had. As you hustled down the halls, you rehearsed a few ways you could subtly ask him how Crosshair was doing.

But as it turned out, you would have the opportunity to ask him yourself. If you could get over your frazzled shock at finding him in the rec room instead of Hunter.

The room was conveniently empty, making the silence between you that much more potent. Crosshair was standing awkwardly to the side, just behind one of the battered sofas, as if he had already been confused about what he should be doing before you pushed through the door. He stared at you and you stared at him and the moment only lasted for a few seconds but it felt like an eternity.

"Oh, um. Hi. Crosshair." You averted your gaze, despite having prayed the past several nights that you could see his face again soon. "I was... expecting Hunter."

That didn't sound right. You hoped he didn't take that to mean that you'd prefer if Hunter was here now. Obviously you didn't.

"He stepped out," Crosshair responded in that cool, even tone of his. Your eyes couldn't help but snap back to his as he talked. You wanted him to say more but he never did.

"Oh, okay. I just had some paperwork to give him."

Crosshair only hummed at first. You shuffled your feet a bit, debating whether you should make an attempt at small talk, try to coax more out of him, maybe even hint that you were interested in him. The thought terrified you, but not as much as the thought of being alone. You couldn't complain about that if you continued to let these opportunities pass by without at least trying to make a connection.

You shifted your weight again, intending to keep your feet planted so you wouldn't make a run for it, and Crosshair uttered your name hurriedly.

"Wait," he said. He'd thought you were leaving. You widened your eyes at him, waiting to hear what he'd wanted to tell you first. He seemed to hesitate before finally saying, "I was wondering if you knew what soup they were serving today?"

"Oh. Uh, potato, I think."

"How boring."

You smirked. "I know, right? They could at least serve it with some hot sauce."

Crosshair hummed.

The silence settled back in, though now you felt better about things. You'd practically had a conversation. Learned a little more about each other. It was a good start. 

Your commlink suddenly beeped at your side and you blanched, remembering the meeting you were supposed to be heading to.

"I uh, I've got to go. It was nice talking to you."

It pained you to cut off your moment with him so quickly, but alas you were left with no choice. You shuffled back out into the corridor, though you only made it a few steps before realizing you still had Hunter's paperwork and could just leave it with Crosshair.

The rec room had an old school door that swung in and out on hinges. It was slightly ajar from when you passed through, and already in the few seconds since something was happening on the other side of it. You could hear more voices.

"...the kriff was that?" First, the deep tones of Hunter, equal parts annoyed and weary.

"That wasn't the plan." Then, the resolute voice of Echo, backing him up.

"What?" Crosshair bit back at them.

"You were supposed to ask her out," Hunter clarified.

"No, that was not the plan," Crosshair countered. "I needed to lay some groundwork first."

"You call that groundwork? You were talking about soup."

"And she agreed. No one ever agrees with me on the soup around here."

"What a special connection," Echo said.

Hunter sighed so hard you swore you could feel the breeze through the doorway. "You know, sometimes I think some work on your communication skills wouldn't be such a bad idea."

"What?"

"Never mind. Do what you like. Keep pushing away anyone who tries to love you and see where that gets you. Just know that it's exhausting, watching the two of you dance around each other like this."

"And kind of pathetic," added Echo.

You were against the wall by the door, holding in your breath for so long you were about to pass out. Or maybe it was the euphoria of knowing Crosshair was interested that made your head sway. Regardless, you had mere moments to make a move or let the opportunity pass. You dug into your pocket, fished out a pen, and scribbled a note on the top page of paperwork. Was it professional? Absolutely not. But the GAR would get over it. You left the papers by the door, making sure your note was turned to face it.

There's better soups on Coruscant. Let's go out sometime.

* * *

Vandor-3. Woodland outskirts. Autumn.

You were alone, standing in the middle of the training field, the early setting sun behind you casting a dim shadow across the remains of your latest training exercise. A chill was just starting to set in, causing you to tug at your jacket and pull it around you a bit tighter. You liked these moments, rare as they were recently. A quiet time to yourself. Not even to think, but simply to be. Present and comfortable. And you.

The wind picked up and sang through the taller blades of grass as a ship approached for landing. Your moment was over, but a new happiness settled in its place. Minutes later, the Havoc Marauder was opening its hatch and spitting out its soldiers.

"Captain," Hunter gave you a two-finger salute as he passed by.

"Sergeant," you returned with a smile.

Echo was close behind, giving you a respectful nod. Wrecker hauled a munitions crate in one hand and hit you up for a high five with the other. Tech was oblivious as he hunched over a data pad.

They filed by, one after the other, headed straight for the barracks, and what you hoped were the showers. They all knew not to linger, that you'd catch up with them later. This was your time with Crosshair.

The sniper was leaning up against the hatch opening, arms folded across a plastoid chest and a toothpick lazily perched between slightly curled lips. He took you in for a moment and you could feel yourself glowing in response to his soft gaze.

"Showing those clankers who's boss, I see," he said as he made his way down the gangway. He nodded his head toward the mess of scrap metal behind you.

You gave a half shrug. "My reaction time is getting better, but I still can't get the angles right with those pucks."

Crosshair inched up to you, gently resting his hands on either side of your waist. "Have you been doing the breathing exercises like I showed you?"

You nodded. Your hands instinctually came up to his run along his arms until they found the crook of his elbows, the only place not barring your touch by armor.

"And using the laser sight?"

You nodded a little slower and Crosshair tsked.

"I want to be good without it. Like you." You added a little extra honey to your words so he wouldn't reprimand you too much. It had been an adjustment for the two of you at first, he stepping into a training role and you stepping back to receive instruction for once. Thankfully the frustrations seemed to diminish the more your relationship progressed.

"You have to be patient," he said, giving your waist a slight squeeze to accentuate his point. "You aren't like the regs you train. You're building your skills, taking care of yourself."

You hummed, more in thought than agreement. "Will I ever have to use these skills someday, do you think? Is it really getting that bad out there?"

You tried not to think about how many soldiers you had trained only to be sent to a battlefield to die. How many of the shinies you were drilling right now would likely be killed soon. How many more would be brought in to take their place. You'd thought you'd known what you were getting yourself into with this job. But the relentless cycle of it all was getting to you more and more, especially as the Republic continued to be challenged in larger scales and higher stakes. It never seemed to end.

"It's hard to say," Crosshair responded. "We have to prepare for the worst."

You hated that answer, but you wouldn't let him see it. Not yet. Your fears and your displeasures, anger and sorrow, were things yet to be fully explored in this new relationship. All in due time. So you simply smiled, plucked the toothpick out of his mouth and tossed it aside. 

"And hope for the best, right?"

He smiled back, or at least moved his mouth in the direction of a smile, as much as you could usually get from the reserved man. "Yes, of course."

He leaned forward and rested his forehead against yours. You both closed your eyes and breathed each other in. There was warmth in his embrace. A promise in the steady hands he held you with. Vulnerability in the skin that gently touched yours. To have someone this close, someone who was still more stranger than friend, though no less beloved, was what you had always wanted. And for once, what you wanted was just as lovely and fulfilling as you'd hoped. No catch. No deals. No unintended consequences. Just you and him and happiness.

All too soon he pulled away. His hand sought yours as he turned in the direction of the barracks. The longer you stayed behind, the worse the teasing from the others would be. They were only respectful of your relationship to a point, and after that it was fair game for a laugh. So you willingly followed.

"Crosshair?"

"Hm?"

"I was thinking about Hunter...."

The sniper glanced at you suspiciously.

"Well, you know he and I have been friends for a while. And he's confided a few things in me before. About what he wants. Or thinks he wants. He's changed his mind a few times on the specifics. But all in the same gist."

"Where are you going with this?"

"I don't know, I just feel like I owe him for helping me get through a tough time. And if it weren't for him, I wouldn't have ever met you. So--"

Crosshair cut you off with a groan. "If you're trying to get me to play matchmaker..."

"It would get some of the attention off of us," you quickly offered. "If Hunter had someone he was bringing around, too. Or even just interested in."

Crosshair frowned in thought. "There was a bartender on Scarif he kept checking out..."

You grinned and squeezed his hand affectionately. "See? Just keep an eye out and nudge him a bit. Who knows what could happen."

You could tell he was trying not to roll his eyes for your sake. Instead he squeezed your hand in return. "Or you could come with us and nudge him yourself?"

Your walking slowed, right as you were about to cross the facility boundary line. You would have to let go of his hand once you crossed it, keep a professional distance, share your company with others. And once the Batch's business here concluded, then you would have to let him go and watch him disappear into the sky with all the prayers you could possibly send with him. And then you would be on your own. Waiting, waiting, always waiting. And maybe he would return, and maybe he wouldn't.

And heaven forbid you would ever end up alone again.

"Or you can stay," he said. The quietness of his voice betrayed what he really meant, what he really wanted. 

And you knew what you wanted, too. Without you realizing, it was getting easier and easier for you to define your desires. And not only that, but to pursue them, too. To know your happiness was worth the risk of disappointment. It was clear to you now that you were not only worthy, but also capable. The man standing before you, holding your hand, gazing at you like nothing else mattered, was proof enough.

And so you said, "Take me with you."

Every Character Tag: @dangerousstrawberrypie, @justanothersadperson93, @arctrooper69, @sleepycreativewriter, @techie-bear, @theroguesully, @cw80831, @cdblake1565

Bad Batch Tag: @kaijusplotch, @rebel-finn, @lucyysthings, @marvel-starwars-nerd, @nekotaetae, @severalseashellsbytheseashore, @lackofhonor, @flowered-bicycles, @foodmoneyandcats, @nahoney22, @dangraccoon, @lulalovez, @aconstructofamind, @skellymom, @the-mom-friend-dot-com

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[greghatecrimes]

BRING OUT ALL THE HCS OR I WILL CRY 😭 (if u feel like it 💞💞 ly!!)

it will take me a while to like, make a whole big post with all of them because my brain is very eepy right now but I want to do sth like that eventually!! for now since you insist (and thank you for insisting, you enable me so much. mwah!) i will start with... the extremely self indulgent, guilty pleasure crackfic idea that's been rotting my brain for over a month now. i've even started a doc for it and i'll slap it onto ao3 as soon as I finish the first chapter. here's the premise: chase and thirteen get magicked into their teenage selves (memories intact, just back in younger bodies). thirteen is, well, thirteen, and chase is sixteen, and house gets stuck with them staying in his apartment until they can figure out how to turn them back. many many many soft dad moments and grumpy dad moments and hilarious sibling moments will abound!

(one of the softest/most comfort-filled moments i have planned for that fic is house and 16 y/o chase both immediately going straight to 13 y/o thirteen when she wakes up screaming in the middle of the night from a nightmare about what happened in last resort. she never sleeps well because of nightmares/stress/etc, but that moment is the first time she's ever cried out in her sleep since they've been staying at house's, and it gives house and chase heart attacks. protective dad and big bro activated and ready to force thirteen to accept some love and comfort for once in her damn life!!!)

[duamuteffe]

re that post about asking ppl about their writing and ideas and such - you said you’ve been working on a novel for a while right? :0 i’d love to know what it’s about, and what kind of things you like to write

(u can answer this publicly or privately, however u like ^^)

Hi there! Public is fine; I've been bitching about it in public for a couple of decades now, lol. It's wildly unfinished, but I've been thwacking away at a pulp novel since I was twenty or so. There's a hundred pages, maybe, and it's an alternate earth with steam tech and magic and a ton of worldbuilding that will probably never see light on the page, but it's there, chugging away in the background lol. The novel is basically an excuse to indulge in everything I love about the pulps; adventure, swordplay, gore, reluctant heroes, mercenaries, weird magic, a mix of gods, the works. I hope to finally finish it before I'm retirement age, but eh. Raymond Chandler was in his 50's when he started writing, so I'm still ahead of the game lol.

Other than that, I write a lot of self-indulgent stuff to please myself, and that stuff doesn't get posted anywhere because I doubt it would interest anyone but me. I do have one ongoing series on ao3 I write for some friends (if you're reading this @guilty-pleasures-abound I swear I've got another piece under construction!) called New Boots and Contracts, and it's a Reader fic that is actually super fun to write because I'm not into either character Reader's involved with and it makes it, I dunno, a nice exercise in trying to make a fic as inclusive and fun as possible.

[luminous-letters]

silver + dress becoz... he is my light... my love...

treasure....

(bonus if it's the aurora dress from the dancing in the woods scenario)

hehe have fun~! feel free to reject a request if it feels to burdensome~~~

mannn. i'm sorry it took a while for me to get back to answering asks for the event 😭. school's back and i'll be spending more of my time on studies so i might only update on weekends.

anyways, here's ur silver fluff 💛✨ I hope you like it 💛

The rain was a guilty pleasure. It was peace, silence. Moreso for a lone couple that rested far beyond the mountainside, inside a stout cabin.

You needn't worry about the noise of civilization. The rattles and clangs of busied townsfolk were traded for the songs of birds and the rustle of leaves against the wind.

Of course, cottage life wasn't all about sweet tea with vines and flowers. It too demanded its fair share of labor and patience.

There were animals that you had to tend to and the grain that you'd sown. The house, old and rickety, always had a thing or two that needed refurbishing. And don't forget about the vines and weeds that you had to regularly trim, lest they root themselves somewhere they could cause serious damage.

But you and Silver had attuned to this sort of lifestyle through the years. The scent of earth and the dirt on your boots, and your muddied clothes and hair matted from sweat. All of that work was made easy with each other's comfort.

"MC," a voice called, pulling you out from deep thought.

"Mm?" You asked him.

"I found something when I cleaned the closet. I thought that maybe you'd like it," Silver sounded excited.

You looked from the window to Silver. Your vision floated to what he was holding, a dress.

It had been a few years since you last saw it, yet time seemed to have no effect. It looked the same as you last worn it.

A white, collared top, paired with a flowing length of warm gray, both held together by a black corset in the middle. The dress had a noticable stitch at the bottom, where it looked like cloth had been torn.

They were the same garbs that you wore that day when you ran deep into the heart of the unknown forest.

"Can anyone hear me?" You called, almost howling.

The bright, blue skies of your hometown faded into the gloomy dark green atmosphere of the forest.

There were no signs of life to be found. The trees were dead, the path was dim, and silence abound.

Like frightened prey, you ran aimlessly. The thickening fog of the woods began to mess up your mind. Sounds and words began to snake itself into your mind, furthering you into a pit of fear.

Your mind screamed for you to run, and run you did. As far as your legs carried you, as far as your lungs could handle. You didn't even care that brambles tugged at your clothes. One thought repeated itself in your mind, and that was to escape.

For one stricken with fear, each second seemed to be eternity. The mind could not comprehend time, for it abandoned rationality for the primal instinct to survive.

Just when your mind was at the brink of collapse, a voice called from the shadowed foliage.

"Calm down, deep breaths," the voice instructed.

"Who are you..?"

"Someone you can trust."

"I... I..."

"You can calm down now, you're safe here. Now, deep breaths..."

You followed the stranger's instructions.

"There we go."

All fear dissipated from your body, and waves of relief washed over you. Relief to have found another soul amidst a land of thorns and shadows.

The two of you sat on a fallen log by the river, where the sky was clear and free of the dark. There you told stories of yourselves to pass the time. It helped ease your nerves, as well as help you rest.

"I got lost. I was wandering by the edge of our home, then the next moment I was here," you explained, twirling the hem of your dress around your fingertips.

"How about you?" you asked him. He was no older than you. His hair was silvery and had a sheen to it. It reminded you of the swords you saw back home.

"I was sent here by my father to train," he looked at you, enthusiasm in his eyes. They were the color of aurora, the myriad of colors that you've read in various prose.

"By yourself? Don't you get lonely? I sure would."

"It doesn't bother me. All of this leads to something in the future— to become a worthy retainer."

"Well, I don't know what a retainer is but I'm sure you'll turn out to be the best one day."

"Thank you."

It was getting dark. Dusk began to ease its way through the sky, with the waxing gibbous moon following shortly after.

The wind had picked up the pace, sending the long fabrics of your dress to flow freely in the wind. The wind was uplifting. In childish glee, you twirled and attempted a ballerina's pirouette.

Your audience gave you a thumbs up for your performance, offering you a soft smile.

"I set up camp nearby, it's best that we take shelter before it gets any darker."

"Lead the way."

And the rest was history.

[autisticempathydaemon]

For the Redacted match-up! ^_^

A song I’m currently fixated on: “the lakes” by Taylor Swift. The whole song is just so beautiful and wistful. 😭 And something about the melody of these lyrics just hits so right.

Specific lyrics: “I want auroras and sad prose/I want to watch wisteria grow right over my bare feet/Cause I haven’t moved in years/And I want you right here”

Enneagram type: 6w7. (And just for fun, I’m an ISFP as well)

YouTube essays: I don’t think I can focus my attention on a video for that long, tbh. It’s the same reason I can rarely get through movies in one siting. 😂

Imaginary childhood friend: I think her name was Amy? Don’t remember much else, though.

Falling asleep: I always sleep with my fan on, no matter the weather. I have to have the white noise, otherwise it’s just too damn quiet in my room. Usually I’m propped up by two pillows, cuddling one of my stuffed animals or something. If find that I can’t sleep, or just want something to fall asleep to, I’ll put on one of Redacted’s sleep-aids.

Name change: Cheesy as it sounds, if I didn’t have my current name, I’d love to be named Juliet. It just has such Main Character Energy™️ (and I mean that in a good way) and is freakin’ romantic as hell to me. (And yes, I’m aware that the play is a tragedy, not a romance. 😂)

Favorite Redacted audio: If I had to pick one, I think “Serenity Daemon Helps You Relax and Sleep”. That video is just so freaking comforting and sweet, and it’s knocked me out more times than I can count.

Redacted boi with no appeal: Regulus. Yanderes just aren’t my thing, and he legit scares me. 😅

Book/Movie/TV show you could quote entirely: I’ve watched The Breakfast Club so many times, I could quote it forwards, backwards, and sideways.

Redacted BFF: Elliott. Take away the “Lovers” aspect of his relationship with Sunshine, but keep all the playfulness, teasing, and banter that they have together, and I’d be perfectly happy. 😊

(It’s also a really perfect coincidence that Eli’s said he’s the “Protector” type, and I just so happen to like being protected. XD)

Go-to tired ramble: Most of the time when my any of my friends and I would have a sleepover and it was late at night, we’d just get really deep and start talking about life.

Go-to gas station combo: I try to avoid gas stations when I can, just because I hate the smell of gasoline. But I’d probably get a plain Hershey bar and a bottle of water. (I know, I’m boring. 😂)

Favorite playlist: Do you mean Redacted, or just in general? Because the answer depends.

For a general answer, Jacksepticeye’s play through of Night In The Woods. That game is honestly such a comfort one for me, and I can watch that playlist a million times over and never get tired of it.

In terms of Redacted, Ollie’s. If there’s angst abound on the channel, or I’ve just had a bad day at work or something, I can run to his playlist and feel like I’m getting a big, warm, metaphorical hug. 🥰

Guilty Pleasure: I still read, and love, young adult novels. I don’t care that they’re “predictable”, and that I’m “too old to be reading them”. You can pry those fluffy, romantic, cheesy-ass books from my cold dead hands. 😆

Anything else about me:

I seriously think I’m the biggest Swiftie I know. When I say I’m obsessed with her music, I am not kidding. 😂

I’m a huge musical nerd. And coupled with that, I love, love, love to sing. (Provided I know that no one’s listening, anyway.)

I’m a total introvert, and am pretty shy/quiet in general, unless I’m around my friends.

My love languages are quality time and physical touch.

I maaaaay or may not have a slight candle obsession. (Bath and Body Works ones, specifically.) Seriously, I have like, four unburned 3-wick candles sitting on my dresser, and I’m convinced I just like to collect/look at them as opposed to actually lighting the things. 😂

I’m a cat person through and through

This one’s random, but I felt like adding it anyway. I basically live in one beat up pair of combat boots. There are not a lot of shoes in my closet.

I have this thing where I either tear through a TV series in like, a few days, or I don’t touch it for months. The same with books. I don’t know why I do that. 😂

My favorite colors are blue and purple 💙💜

Well, if you’re a cat kind of guy (gn), you know that’s gonna make things easy for me! Though it might not be the boy you think, because I’ve got a case to make for you and Milo Greer.

What I really like about y’all is how the things y’all like (other than cats) contrast and how cute that contrast is. Like, I don’t think Milo’s a Swiftie but man shows up and shows out to take you to her Eras tour. The Breakfast Club isn’t his favorite movie, but he’s seen it with Marie; he’ll say the iconic lines with you when y’all watch it for the hundredth time. He doesn’t really love musicals but he can hum along to Alexander Hamilton with the best of them because that’s an ensemble piece and you need a backup singer.

Milo’s just a really great boyfriend who shows love with a combination of Quality Time and Acts of Service with little sprinkles of Gifts. It’s not just time spent with you, it’s time spent engaging in the things that interest you and make you happy. It’s the time thinking of you when you’re apart and bringing home fun, new candles he saw at the store. Although he is definitely not opposed to physical touch- y’all have a lot of cuddle nights, just you and him and Aggro.

Song:

However big, however small/ Let me be part of it all/ Share your dreams with me/ You may be right, you may be wrong/ But say that you'll bring me along/ To the world you see/ To the world I close my eyes to see

Now, I said Milo’s not really a musical man. You know what he is? A bisexual king with good taste, which means he loves you and a good Hugh Jackman flick especially since Zac Efron is involved. So I think he’s a big fan of The Greatest Showman and of singing the addictive, earworm-y songs with you. A Million Dreams is the sentimental choice, but y’all go fuckin hard to This is Me.

Runner-Ups:

Guy is absolutely a Swiftie and a musical theater kid, okay? Erik hasn’t confirmed it, but I know it in my spleen to be true, so he’s a fantastic runner-up for that reason. Vincent is a runner-up because he adores but despises that you stick to one pair of torn-up shoes and constantly showers you in luxury footwear. I think that’s cute.

note: I understand you completely candles are not just scent pieces they are decor

Read this post and send me an ask if you’d like a match-up of your own! 💌

[goldenngore]

layer 001 : the outside.

name: loras tyrell

eye colour: molten gold

hair style & colour: mid back length, loose curls, mid brown shade.

height: 6ft as of twow.

clothing style: typically wears various shades of green, but sea green is particularly his shade with some gold thread decal that is usually more leaf than flowers in pattern. his personal arms are often the only flower decal he wears aka three golden roses. But he wears a lot of silk and thin cottons since the reach has a very warm climate, and he often forgoes jackets etc. His personal style is actually quite casual compared with expectation. He dislikes stuffy movement limiting clothing...like the kingsguard uniform.

layer 002 : the inside.

fears: failing those he loves, losing those he loves, not having a good death, being without love, losing himself, not leaving a legacy of sorts, not being the best... aka more than I thought.

guilty pleasure: none. he doesn't believe in guilty pleasure, only pleasure. tis the reach way.

biggest pet peeve: stupid people.

ambitions for the future: killing stannis. 🤷‍♀️

layer 003 : thoughts.

first thoughts waking up: I'm still alive. I hate it here ( kings landing ). I wonder how my brothers are.

what they think about most: staying alive aka avoiding Cersei.

what they think about before bed: I'm still alive. I hate it here ( kings landing ). I wonder how my brothers are.

what they think their best quality is: his quick thinking when danger is abound, his sword arm and his undying loyalty.

layer 004 : what's better?

single or group dates: single (more intimate that way!)

to be loved or respected: loved and respected.

beauty or brains: beauty and brains to a degree.

dogs or cats: cats.

layer 005 : do they …?

lie: not usually, no. Loras tends to be brutally honest. Just not in kings landing. He lies to survive there.

believe in themselves: Yes. He's always been his own best advocate.

believe in love: forever and always.

want someone: yes.

layer 006 : have they ever …?

been on stage: yes! If tourney's count...

changed who they were to fit in: yes, but not voluntarily. once again, it's to survive kings landing.

layer 007 : favorites.

favourite colour: sea green.

favourite animal: cat or horses.

favourite book: non applicable lol

favourite game: come into my castle.

layer 008 : age.

day their next birthday will be: october 31st

how old will they be: 21

layer 009 : finish the sentence.

i love: love

i feel: guilt

i hide: myself

i miss: renly

i wish: for the past

[yo-its-matt]

thoughts on guilty gear

I have absolutely no idea what guilty gear is but I could definitely make some shit up about it.

Is it like Stephen Galaxy where people have a special NSFW name for Metal Gear Solid because it’s their GUILTY pleasure? Is it some turn-based anime videogame with a bunch of blue haired swordsman? Who knows, mysteries abound.

[hyliascommonwealth]

Describe their cozy night in. (Uli and Gilbert)

If it’s at Gilbert’s place, Uli insists on cooking for the household, it’s a must and he’s glad to do it, bringing Hylian spices, and herbs, as well as some special ingredients.

Though after dinner it’s usually a chill time once Uli and Gilbert get a bit of time alone, Uli enjoys humming and massaging Gilbert’s back (mainly for his reactions) if Gilbert decides to read, there are usually blankets pillows abound!

Though a lot of the time Gilbert will want to show a movie, a new favorite or an oldie but a goodie, usually an old guilty pleasure, a silly silent era film, or possibly one of the worst movies of all time, Rob snider as “the hot chick” ( there’s no follow through on watching this one however, as it is exclusively to get a rise out of Uli who’s seen it once before with Alfred and swore it off for good.)

They’ll usually fall asleep during the film if it runs too late, and like the old men they are, they’ll wake up achy in the morning from sleeping on the couch all night. But laugh it off over some good breakfast.

If they stayed over at Uli’s home.

Gilbert knows it’s mandatory to have a warm meal, fresh baked bread, and a bath before they get anything else done, Uli insists especially since the travel through Hyrule can be long and tedious since most transportation is pretty rudimentary.

But the soup, bread and warm bath always makes it worth the trip, and once he’s all cleaned up, dressed down in comfortable Hylian wear (supplied by Uli for comfort and to minimize strange looks from the locals should they go out) it usually devolves into warm cuddles and listening to the radio (it’s new) maybe dancing if a good song catches the fancy, star gazing, and talking about life, waxing poetic about how nice it is to feel small and finite sometimes.

Once it gets too cold to stay out, they’ll go back inside, and get ready for bed. Uli still instinctively goes to set up his cot downstairs by the oven before Gilbert reminds him that they can share (along with mild friendly teasing and snickers)

X

[hunting-songs]

Latin Phrases: Senritsu DöneBold what applies!

from the greater to the smaller. ╱ from the smaller to the greater.╱an absent person will not be the heir. ╱ let an omen be absent.╱ abundant caution does no harm. ╱ misuse does not remove use. ╱  no one ought to excuse himself except in the presence of god. ╱  mortal actions never deceive the gods. ╱   deeds, not words. ╱ the act done by me against my will is not my act. ╱   the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind should be guilty. ╱ to the stars through difficulties. ╱  in order to appeal to a crowd.  ╱   to the greater glory of god.  ╱   to the perpetual memory.  ╱  in order to achieve what has been undertaken.  ╱  for one’s own use. ╱ to victory.  ╱ correspondence of the mind and reality. ╱ conformity of our minds to the fact. ╱ do not speak against the sun.  ╱ a sick man’s dreams.╱   on an eagle’s wings.  ╱  nourishing mother. ╱ let no man be another’s who can be his own.  ╱ a sure friend in an unsure matter. ╱ victory favors care.  ╱   victory conquers all.  ╱   an eagle does not catch flies. ╱ the stars incline us, they do not blind us.     ╱   boldness is our wall,  action is our shield.  ╱  fortune favors the bold.   ╱ i hold a wolf by the ears.   ╱  either by meeting or the sword.   ╱ either kill or be killed.   ╱ they will stand together or fall together.  ╱ either to conquer or to die.  ╱ blessed is the man who finds wisdom.   ╱ in good faith.   ╱ truly countless bodies.  ╱ the pen is mightier than the sword.   ╱ i think, therefore i am.  ╱  i drink,  therefore i am.   ╱ they condemn what they do not understand.   ╱ no herb grows in the gardens against the power of death.╱   we shall accomplish the mission assigned. ╱   the descent into the cave of the rabbit.   ╱  sacred to the ghost-gods.   ╱ god save the king.  ╱  a sleeping dragon is never to be tickled. ╱ fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling. ╱ let  the light shine out from all.   ╱  the light shines in the darkness.   ╱ from faith comes strength.  ╱ from knowledge, truth. ╱  i depart from life as from an inn, not a home.   ╱  an army without a leader is a body without a spirit.   ╱  i’ll make you remember me.   ╱ it is impossible for a deed to be undone. ╱  family over everything  /  happy is he who can ascertain the causes of things.   ╱ let justice be done, though the world shall perish.  ╱ the end of life, but not love.   ╱  the brave may fall, but can not yield.  ╱ i once was what you are, you will be what i am.  ╱ heavier things remain.  ╱  here lions abound.   ╱  here  there are dragons.   ╱  a garden in the city.   ╱ therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war.   ╱ in the absence of light, darkness prevails.   ╱ in the place of a parent. ╱  i shine, not burn.   ╱  valor becomes feeble without an opponent.   ╱ remember that you will die. ╱ nothing dries sooner than a tear.   ╱ i am not led; i lead.  ╱  newly risen, how bright you shine.   ╱  peace of mothers, therefore peace of families.  ╱ be patient and tough, someday this pain will be useful to you. ╱ danger is my pleasure.   ╱ we are dust and shadow.   ╱ he who wants everything loses everything.  ╱  she who has earned the rose may bear it.   ╱ we gladly feast on those who would subdue us.   ╱ without surviving children.  ╱ a coward’s mother does not weep. / Save one, (in order to) Save all / There is no life without death

[adultingunscriptedblog]

Beyond the Heart-Shaped Balloons: Navigating Valentine's Day with Love & Self-Care

Date Debacles & Discoveries

Valentine's Day: a day painted in hues of rose, red, and...sometimes, a tinge of bittersweet blue. Whether you're basking in the glow of a new love or navigating the single life, this day can trigger a rollercoaster of emotions. But amidst societal expectations and commercial hype, remember one thing: your healing journey is uniquely yours.

Don't get swept away by the pressure to conform. Take a deep breath and acknowledge your feelings, whether it's the joy of budding romance or the pang of past heartbreak. Healing isn't linear; it's a winding path with unexpected detours and moments of vulnerability. Embrace them all.

Some days, the lovey-dovey atmosphere might feel like a punch to the gut. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. But remember, love is a potent force that transcends romantic relationships. It exists in the laughter shared with friends, the warmth of family support, and even the quiet moments of self-discovery.

A remarkable woman once told me: "Find someone who loves you for you." True love embraces your flaws and quirks, not despite them, but because they make you, you. Don't settle for anything less.

Being Single is a Gift, Not a Curse:

Society might pressure you to couple up, but being single isn't a waiting room for a relationship; it's an exciting opportunity for self-discovery and growth. Ditch the self-deprecating jokes and embrace your independence. Unleash your inner explorer, reignite old hobbies, or finally take that pottery class you've been eyeing. Remember, you are whole and complete just as you are. This is your time to shine, discover, and define yourself on your own terms.

Self-Love: The Ultimate Power Move:

Amidst the external connections, don't forget the most crucial one: the one with yourself. Surround yourself with love, but prioritize self-love. Delve into your values, desires, and dreams. Self-love isn't a luxury; it's the fuel that propels you towards a fulfilling life.

Wishing Your Ex Well (Even if it Hurts):

Letting go is never easy, but holding onto resentment only hinders your own healing. Wish your ex well on their journey, even if it's just a silent thought. Forgiveness is a necessary step for growth it isn't about condoning their actions; it's about freeing yourself from the emotional burden.

Love Will Find You (When It's Ready):

Don't force it. True love thrives when you least expect it, and it definitely doesn't need a Hallmark holiday as a catalyst. Focus on building a fulfilling life you love, and the right connections will naturally blossom. Love is real, and it awaits you when the time is right, not as a replacement, but as a beautiful new chapter.

So, this Valentine's Day, ditch the dating apps, don't call your fuck buddy, fight the ex-texting temptations, and silence your inner critic. Instead, create a personalized celebration of YOU. Treat yourself to a self-care ritual, indulge in a guilty pleasure, or connect with loved ones who truly see you.

Recite these affirmations like a mantra:

I am worthy of love and respect.

My happiness is in my own hands.

I am strong, resilient, and evolving.

Love abounds in unexpected places, and I am open to it.

Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Embrace the love around you, nurture the love within, and know that you are loved, cherished, and deserving of all the happiness this world has to offer. Happy Valentine's Day, to you and the incredible being you are!

/ Winging it, but still making it.

[werspinna]

Latin Phrases: Wolfgund Waidmanns Bold what applies! Tagged By: Walter von der Vogelweide ! Tagging: You !

from the greater to the smaller. ╱ from the smaller to the greater.╱ an absent person will not be the heir. ╱ let an omen be absent.╱ abundant caution does no harm. ╱ misuse does not remove use.  ╱  mortal actions never deceive the gods. ╱   deeds, not words. ╱ the act done by me against my will is not my act. ╱   the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind should be guilty. ╱ to the stars through difficulties. ╱  in order to appeal to a crowd.  ╱   to the perpetual memory.  ╱ poison in the tail   ╱   in order to achieve what has been undertaken.  ╱  for one’s own use. ╱ to victory.  ╱ correspondence of the mind and reality. ╱ conformity of our minds to the fact. ╱ do not speak against the sun.  ╱ a sick man’s dreams.╱   on an eagle’s wings.  ╱  nourishing mother. ╱ let no man be another’s who can be his own.  ╱ a sure friend in an unsure matter. ╱ victory favors care.  ╱   victory conquers all.  ╱   an eagle does not catch flies. ╱ the stars incline us, they do not blind us.     ╱   boldness is our wall,  action is our shield.  ╱  fortune favors the bold.   ╱ i hold a wolf by the ears.   ╱  either by meeting or the sword.   ╱ either kill or be killed.   ╱ they will stand together or fall together.  ╱ either to conquer or to die.  ╱ blessed is the man who finds wisdom.   ╱ in good faith.   ╱ truly countless bodies.  ╱ the pen is mightier than the sword.   ╱ i think, therefore i am.  ╱  i drink,  therefore i am.   ╱ they condemn what they do not understand.   ╱ no herb grows in the gardens against the power of death.╱   we shall accomplish the mission assigned. ╱   the descent into the cave of the rabbit.   ╱  sacred to the ghost-gods.   ╱   a sleeping dragon is never to be tickled. ╱ fates lead the willing and drag the unwilling. ╱ let  the light shine out from all.   ╱  the light shines in the darkness.   ╱ from faith comes strength.  ╱ from knowledge, truth. ╱  i depart from life as from an inn, not a home.    ╱   the fire tests the gold ╱  an army without a leader is a body without a spirit.   ╱  i’ll make you remember me.   ╱ it is impossible for a deed to be undone. ╱  family over everything     ╱ happy is he who can ascertain the causes of things.   ╱ let justice be done, though the world shall perish.  ╱ the end of life, but not love.   ╱  the brave may fall, but can not yield.  ╱ i once was what you are, you will be what i am.  ╱ heavier things remain.  ╱  here lions abound.   ╱  here  there are dragons.   ╱  a garden in the city.   ╱ therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war.   ╱ in the absence of light, darkness prevails.   ╱ in the place of a parent. ╱  i shine, not burn.   ╱  valor becomes feeble without an opponent.   ╱ remember that you will die. ╱ nothing dries sooner than a tear.   ╱ i am not led; i lead.  ╱  newly risen, how bright you shine.   ╱  peace of mothers, therefore peace of families.  ╱ be patient and tough, someday this pain will be useful to you. ╱ danger is my pleasure.   ╱ we are dust and shadow.   ╱ he who wants everything loses everything.    ╱ we gladly feast on those who would subdue us.   ╱ without surviving children.  ╱ a coward’s mother does not weep.

[akaraboonline]

9 Romantic, Traditional Courtship Ideas That Will Win Him Over

Everyone has read about the elaborate displays of affection. 9 Romantic, Traditional Courtship Ideas That Will Win Him Over On jumbotrons, boyfriends make proposals, or they hire planes to carry banners. Exotic holidays and pricey restaurant dinners are planned by lovers. So what do you do if you lack the funds to impress your loved one with a media-worthy stunt? Why not try a sincere, conventional strategy?

Here are nine sweet, old-fashioned courtship ideas that'll make him swoon:

1. Make a card Do you have any memories of crafting your mother Valentine's Day cards in elementary school? Did she not love them? Maybe they're still attached to her refrigerator with tape. A handwritten card is something your partner will treasure. There are many materials available at craft stores to make papercrafts. You can look for inspiration on Google. You may make a unique token of your affection with just one trip to the craft store and an hour or so of work. 2. Give her a locket Are you in love with a Jane Austen enthusiast or a hopeless romantic? Think about presenting her with a locket that contains your photo. Add a hairpiece from your head for more impact. Lockets do not need to be costly. They are simple to locate on eBay, Etsy, or Amazon. You'll both feel happy knowing that she cherishes you both! 3. Write a poem You can write a sonnet or a haiku, or you can write it free style. For creating poetry, there are many internet resources available. Yes, what matters most is the thought. You can duplicate a poem if you genuinely like the concept but don't think you have the talent. Some of the best love poems are by Rumi and Pablo Neruda. Or search for "romantic poems" on Google. Search Google Photographs for some images. Publish it on quality paper. Better yet, frame it. Voila! You have produced yet another keepsake that will be cherished always. 4. Bring her dandelions They are technically weeds. But to 6-year-old boys, they represent love, or at the very least, like. Possess you a crush? Send her a bouquet of dandelions with a lovely bow. If picking them is permitted, wildflowers can also be used. Remember that some men enjoy receiving flowers as well! It's not the gift but the gesture. 5. If you’re musical, write a song If you have the skills, you can compose the music yourself. Or, create your own lyrics for a song you already know. You can either record it so your significant other can listen to it often or play it live in a romantic atmosphere. Being perfect is irrelevant when you love each other. 6. Read a book together Read aloud each chapter in turn. Choose a Jane Austin book or a romance film like Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Alternately, pick a best-selling work of fiction like The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney or Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty. For every category, the website Goodreads has excellent lists. Find a comfortable, peaceful location. Enjoy a cup of cocoa or a glass of wine. Cozy up and take pleasure. 7. Whip up something sweet Most people enjoy sweet treats. It's much nicer when it's produced just for you by the one who brightens your day by day. Everything is delicious: cookies, brownies, and strawberries coated in chocolate. Make a dessert to be shared at work if you want to go all out. Let them tell the world how much you adore them. 8. Leave love notes Leave these in discreet locations so they can be found on their own. beneath a cushion. within a lunchbox. in a briefcase or wallet. into a screensaver, typed. Remind them in small ways of your love for them. or pen a romantic letter. 9. Take them out on romantic outings Picnics. candle-lit meals. walks through the forest or beside the water. a rowing trip through Central Park a canalside bicycle trip. dancing under the full moon. a trip to a gallery to view the Renoir paintings Romantic getaway suggestions abound in Victorian literature. Romantic excursions go well with other acts of affection. In the midst of Central Park, present her with a locket that contains your photo. Sitting on a log in the wild, slip him a love letter. Rephrase your offer. The outcome is immeasurable. The simplicity of these dated concepts makes them lovely. They are genuine and sincere. Additionally, they are free or almost so. The amount of love and care put into doing something unique for the one you love, rather than the amount of money spent, is what defines real love. The human race has been doing it for a very long time. There is no charm like kindness of the heart, as the Jane Austen character Emma put it in the same-named book.   Read the full article

[dolllikelove]

Should I feel bad for still wanting to have sex now I am 87?

My wife and I have slept in separate bedrooms because of my snoring for 30 years. But I still want us to have sex – which she thinks is odd. Is she right? I am an 87-year-old man and have been married for 40 years. My wife, also in her 80s, and I have slept in separate bedrooms for 30 of those, due to my snoring. Even so, we had a good sex life, though less frequently than I would have liked. I still have the urge to join her in bed (though I have erectile dysfunction now), to make her orgasm. But my wife has never been demonstrative; I have always been the one to initiate a cuddle or words of endearment. She cannot understand that a man of my age still gets some excitement at the thought of intimacy with her; she finds it strange, even. But, when she reluctantly agrees to share her bed with me (once every two months maybe), she is quickly turned on and I can make her have an orgasm in minutes. I feel so embarrassed, even odd, when she turns my request down to join her in bed. It even causes an argument, about which I feel guilty … So what is the answer? Am I odd? You are not odd, and only those with very old fashioned notions about sex would think you are. Unfortunately, there are still people who buy into the prejudices that abound regarding sex in later years, and believe that sexual interest automatically disappears after a certain age. On the contrary, it is entirely normal and healthy for you to want to be intimate with your wife at any age. Even if challenges such as erectile difficulties develop (and, by the way, that can be treated) there are still many styles of intimacy that people can still enjoy – as you have found. The pleasure, eroticism, soothing, fun and connectedness that are to be found from even non-penetrative, non-genital forms of partner sex – including touching, kissing, caressing, hugging and erotic conversation – are powerful contributors to a happy and fulfilled life for young and old alike. Pamela Stephenson Connolly is a US-based psychotherapist who specialises in treating sexual disorders. If you would like advice from Pamela on sexual matters, send us a brief description of your concerns to private.lives@theguardian.com (please don’t send attachments). Each week, Pamela chooses one problem to answer, which will be published online. She regrets that she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions. Comments on this piece are premoderated to ensure discussion remains on topics raised by the writer. Please be aware there may be a short delay in comments appearing on the site. Continue reading... http://dlvr.it/SVKXNw

[reportjute9]

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[rhodochrosite-love]

College Ford x shy! male! reader

Hi! Dedicating this to @lantern-light-and-starry-skies and @guilty-pleasures-abound for the great idea!  I hope my writing suffices, it’s a lil angsty ;n;

Title- Hopes for the Hopeless

Pairing- Ford x reader, Backupsmore Ford x reader

Characters- Stanford Pines, You, Fiddleford McGucket, unnamed professors, unnamed students

Summary- You live in your own little world, full of fantasy and surprises.  What happens when campus genius Ford Pines makes his way into your bubble?

Tags- Heartbreak, angst, sorry guys it’s sad, male!reader, though nothing’s specifically pointed to you being male, it’s fine, shy!reader, fluff, Ford x reader

Backupsmore University was a land of missed opportunities and disappointment.  If you were gifted, it didn’t matter.  You were in the deep, dark maw that was Backupsmore and there was almost nothing you could do about it once you were enrolled.

Almost.

If you partner up with the college’s 2+2 program, it got you out of there within two years with the credits necessary to take the next level of courses in your major somewhere else.  It was a win-win for both the college and the students, for obvious reasons.  

That’s why you were here.  You double majored in Art and Creative Writing, which always seemed to bore more than half of the people who asked (most being family).  You always assure them, however, that you are the best in class.  After all, you were told so by the one and only brainiac on campus; Stanford Pines.

When you first met him, he struck you as a bright-eyed, wildly curious geek.  Not to say that you weren’t a geek yourself-- the Tolkien books weighing down your book bag certainly proved that.  But the way he challenged the professor at least once every class period struck you as both odd and fascinating.  You had always wondered what it was like to be that enthusiastic and curious, like many were once.

So when Stanford had been urged to observe his classmates as per instruction (don’t just pursue yourself, compare yourself, Pines!), and had leaned in to glance at your work, you were surprised by how much interest he had taken into it.  “This linework is impeccable, how did you manage to get that consistency with that pen?!” or “Your shading style compliments the negative space of the page very well!”

It was safe to say that after that, you were smitten with him.

Your desires to transfer to another school were slowly being abandoned with the hopes that he would notice you, poor ol’ you, in any way possible.  You tried wearing something other than your jeans and sweatshirt for something a little catchier, but he didn’t seem to notice.  You tried casually flirting with him, which turned into you just blabbering on and on about naked mole rats, which was awkward for the both of you.  You even tried to read up on books that could potentially teach you how to ‘catch a man’, but anything like that was classified as cheesy romance novels that all the middle-aged professors and freshman girls were checking out from the library, so you were left in the dust.  To simply daydream in your own little world, what it would be like to hold his wonderfully weird hands, to see him smile just for you, to lean in for a kiss at the same time and feel the affection radiating off of him… 

“Y/N?  Are you with me?”  Your thoughts were interrupted by Ford, who was walking beside you up a short flight of stairs.  You flushed red, and quickly reassured him that you, in fact, were.  And totally not dozing off.  Not at all.  

The genius chuckled, “Well, I certainly hope not!  I wouldn’t want you passing out, especially on the stairs!  What an awful place to fall...”  You nodded, your cheeks a pretty pink now.  That’s right, you were going to Ford’s dorm.  Not for anything scandalous!  The two of you were studying for quite a while at your apartment just off campus.  And seeing as though you didn’t want him to stress about his term paper that ‘still needed reworking’, you wanted to drive him back. You’ve been there, totally stressful…. Although you couldn’t help but wonder what may have happened if he decided to stay the night?

“Glad ya’ could join me, Ford, at…”  A southern voice sounded from the darkness of the room, “... 1:47 in th’morinin’.  Where’ve you been all darn night, huh?”  “Certainly not at any jug-band concerts, I’ll have you know.”  Ford responded hastily, turning to set up the table in the corner to continue his term paper.  

You turned to Ford’s roommate, offering a small wave of hello.  He perked up at the sight of a guest, and smiled fondly.  “You’re Y/N I presume?”  You’re cheeks went pink again, and asked the man how he knew you.  He laughed, “Ford talks about ya’ sometimes!  Y’seem like a real nice fella’, is all.”  He reaches out a long-fingered hand for you to shake, “Fiddleford McGucket.  Pleased t’meetcha!”  You nod in agreement, a few moments later finding yourself looking around on Ford’s side of the dorm before quickly saying goodnight to the both of them and exiting.

You had become more embarrassed by yourself than you ever had before.  You had imagined all sorts of both innocent and lewd situations with the brainiac and yourself there in his dorm… They were all so vivid that you could almost reach out and make them all reality.

You came to a logical conclusion.

You were gonna get a haircut.  

It wasn’t all that intense, really.  Before, your hair ended at about shoulder-length and was often unkempt, but now it widened out, exposing your ears and brushing your bangs off to the side ever so carefully.  You looked in the mirror that afternoon and finally decided on what to do… You were going to tell him how you feel.  

The following day, when 9:30 rolled around for Drawing and Painting class, you wore your best duds-- high waisted slacks with a button up shirt with two, no THREE, buttons undone from the top, and the sleeves rolled up to your elbows.  All complete with sleek, dark shoes and a casual belt with a silver buckle, you felt like you could do anything you wanted!  It had to go positive when you looked this good, right?

“I’m sorry… I’m afraid I don’t feel the same.”

You leaned away from Ford.  What did he say?

“I… I don’t feel the same, Y/N.”

Shit, you said that out loud?  Fuck.  Why did this happen?  Why does this always have to happen…

You always get your hopes up with a guy, don’t you?  You always end up being disappointed by what you can’t have-- Correction, by what you’ve never even had in the first place.  You really thought it could be possible to love someone, even after your last breakup?  Stanford was different, but apparently not, according to the situation at hand.  Fuck, how could you be so stupid?!

“Hey.. Hey, please don’t-- Don’t cry.  I’m sorry, I really am!  I’m not looking for a relationship right now… I thought you knew that, please don’t cry.”

You both stood there now, outside the classroom, 3 feet apart from where you were; your hand was on his arm, the other hand close to your chest.  Now they were both clenched against each other, trying to find some way to escape your body as hot tears flew from your eyes like someone turned on a sprinkler.

You hadn’t even realized you were crying until he pointed it out to you, to which you turned away from his gaze and avoided it.  You apologized, too, mostly on instinct, and promised that you’d never bother him again, quickly turning to leave.

Ford suddenly grabbed your arm after a single moment of hesitation, “Y/N, wait!”  You turned to look at him-- your eyes beginning to puff up and turn a shade of pink, letting your tears drip down off your chin, you waited for him to say something (anything!) before shaking him off and running to your car.

After throwing yourself in the driver’s seat, you started up the engine, both hands clenched on the wheel.  After holding in everything from the previous moment to the wheel, you finally let go.  Wailing and weeping, similar to a child.  However, you would think that would be associated with selfishness or with tantrum.

No, you cried like a child who’s dreams were crushed.  Who’s hopes were burnt like the cheapest wood in the forest.

You wondered how long the heartbreak would last this time.

If you made it to here, I thank you!  This certainly isn’t my first time writing but it was fun to do!  Leave a comment or a like and I’d love to talk to anyone about our favorite boy!

[hivebreed]

@guilty-pleasures-abound​ asked: 📂

If you look very closely, you can see a distinct difference between the empire’s insignia and the symbol Tak and Baby wear. Tak chose to bear that circle and triangle because she imagined it when staring at the stars one day and thought it suited her more. Consciously, she hadn’t had any thoughts of disrespect or rebellion. However, later on, after she defects from the empire and does her research on Old Irk, she realizes that it is a symbol that represents the clan of Yura. The circle is the moon, and the triangle beneath represents the night goddess’s followers.