#hobbit ear jade

[antichrister]

^ each of these are about 3 weeks apart, some changes are quite noticeable

this, however, is just a week difference. echeveria Perle von nürnberg is quite light hungry and apparently quite dramatic given how quickly the rosette closed up!

[dglvr1760]

LOOK AT WHAT MY GMA GOT ME, EEEEE

@echoed-reaper-is-anxious

[capsuletomars]

Two new plants I repotted today! Bunny Ear cactus and a Hobbit Jade

[sjsmith56]

Finding Jade - Chapter 3, The Sanctuary

Summary: The Avengers rescue Ma and Ben from the Sanctuary. On the way there Jade thinks of the physical chemistry she felt when Bucky taught her how to fire a gun. After their return to the Bunker she enters his room, intent on convincing him that they have something worth pursuing.

Length: 4.25K

Characters: Steve, Bucky, Jade, Wanda, Ma, Ben.

Warnings: grumpy, angry Bucky, brief sexuality (skin on skin contact), feelings of guilt.

Author notes: This is the first time we actually feel the presence of the Others and how much fear they instil in people. They take no chances when they are in Others’ territory. In later chapters they will learn more about the two species that make up the Others, information that Jade and Ma have both felt from their telepathic contact with them.

<<Chapter 2

🛌

Ma was still meditating when she became aware of Ben watching her. At almost eleven years old he had mostly been in the company of Ma, his grandmother, and Jade, his mother. His father had died when he was still a small child so he had no memories of Dad himself, just those his mother and Ma shared with him. He sat watching Ma, wanting to ask her a question but he knew that he couldn't interrupt the meditation until she told him so. So he waited and watched. Eventually she smiled and gave him her full attention.

"Go ahead, ask," she said. "I know you want to voice it."

"Are the Heroes coming for us?" he asked.

"Yes, they are," she replied. "One of them has a dog and he has already become friends with your mother. I'm sure he will be friends with you as well."

"Will they like me?" he said. "Or will they think I am strange?"

"They can think you are strange and still like you," she replied. "But I don't think they will find you too strange. Just different because you haven't been raised as other children."

"I dreamed of one of the Heroes," he said. "Mom shared her dream with me. I think she loves him."

"Your mother has some clairvoyant abilities," she said. "But it's not a sure thing. He is considered strange himself. His past is complicated and was filled with pain and then sadness. He's a watcher like you so you have that in common. Just be yourself."

"I'm going to read," he said. "What book should I bring with me?"

"The Hobbit," said Ma, smiling. "Definitely The Hobbit."

And the fire in your eyes keeps me alive

I'm sure in her you'll find sanctuary

                    She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult

The two vehicles bounced through the rough ground of the Badlands. Jade sat in the front seat of the modified Crown Victoria driven by Steve. Bucky sat in the back with Wanda. The second vehicle was driven by Clint with Peter riding shotgun, Maria in the back and Sam flying overhead. He deployed Red Wing watching for signs of the The Others. All of them were armed, even Jade. Bucky had come to her a few days after her arrival and asked if she knew how to fire a gun. She said no and Bruce let her go with Bucky to learn. She knew that wasn't the only reason he wanted to teach her. This was a way for him to get close to her and she liked that. He was a big man, with broad shoulders, a well-defined torso, and muscular legs. Jade barely came to his shoulder and he had leaned into her to show her how to hold the rifle properly. The recoil pushed her back into his chest and he held her by her arms to steady her. She liked how he spoke to her. His voice was calm and steady, never angry or disturbed. When she scored a bulls eye on her eighth shot he praised her and she felt like she accomplished something. After the session was over he took the rifle from her then removed her ear protection and looked down to her. She looked up at him. Ma had always taught her to look everyone in the eye so there was no mistaking your intentions, or theirs. She had showed him the image of them kissing, just a flash of it. For a moment she thought he would but he stepped back and put the headphones back on her head for the next lesson. When he taught her to shoot a handgun the same thing happened, except he had touched her hand with his when he positioned her hand on the gun.

Now, back in the car, she knew he was looking at her. Wanda noticed and they had a conversation in their minds about him.

"He does like you," said Wanda. "But he feels disloyal to Lily about liking you."

"He shouldn't," said Jade. "She wants him to move on."

"I would feel the same if I became attracted to someone," replied Wanda. "I still love Vision too much."

"But you haven't been attracted to anyone since he died," said Jade. "Bucky is attracted to me. He should follow through."

"You're right," said Wanda. "Give it some more time. He'll come around."

"Thank you for coming back," said Jade. "You and Ma are going to get along so well. With three of us making a coven we can find that queen. I know, technically Ma and I aren't witches but historically women with our abilities have been lumped in with witches."

Wanda laughed. "I'm okay with being in a coven with you. You're right, we are more powerful together."

"Which way, Jade?" asked Steve. "The wash splits here."

"The left one," she replied. "Tell Sam to be on extra guard here. Some Others have explored this area."

Steve touched an earpiece and relayed the message to Sam. They bounced around some more as Steve drove over the dry creek bed. Good thing they had spent time reinforcing the undercarriage of their vehicles otherwise they would have already had serious damage.

"How is it you have gas for your vehicles?" asked Jade. "Especially this far out of a populated area?"

"They aren't gas powered," said Steve. "They're powered by something called an Arc Reactor. Howard Stark invented them and his son improved on the design. We found blueprints for miniature ones to power vehicles and adapted them to these vehicles. They never run out of power."

"That's amazing," said Jade. "No pollution, either, right? Isn't that amazing Bucky?"

She turned around to look at him, flashing her full green eyes on him. He smiled and agreed with her then looked out the window. Wanda gave her a little shrug and a smile and Jade turned back to look out the front. They turned a corner in the dry river bed and Jade instructed Steve to go up the slope on the right. He followed the instructions and drove another mile then Jade told him to stop. Wanda leaned forward.

"Others," she whispered. "Very close. Jade, I can give them a false sighting and send them on a wild goose chase. I would rather do that than have a firefight this close to the Sanctuary. We are close, aren't we?"

"We are," said Jade. "Can I boost your powers?"

"No, I can do it alone," she said. "You tell Ma and Ben to get ready. Steve, you and Clint need to turn your vehicles around when I tell you."

Wanda put her hands together and conjured the familiar red glow between them. Steve powered down her window and she put her hands out into the air and released the ball. It flew through the air then exploded into a vision of them racing over the far riverbank away from their location. She counted to twenty then told Steve to drive forward a hundred yards and turn around. Jade nodded and sent a message to Ma and Ben. A shimmering appeared about twenty yards behind them. Bucky got out of the back seat and watched as a white haired woman and brown haired boy wearing backpacks started running to them. Sam hovered above and the others in the other vehicle were all hanging out the windows with guns.

"They aren't going to get here in time," said Bucky and he sprinted for them.

Jade watched in amazement as he ran faster than any man she had ever seen. Scooping up both Ma and Ben he ran back and put them in the back seat with Wanda. Then he told Jade to move over and he sat next to her. Putting his arm around her shoulder he looked in the back seat and told Ma and Ben to buckle up. Jade was already buckling up Bucky.

"They're coming back!" yelled Wanda and Steve pressed the accelerator. With the Arc Reactor powering the car they were able to get to top speed in seconds. Steve followed the GPS that had recorded the way in for the turns to get back out. Bucky kept looking behind and finally turned his head forward. His arm stayed around Jade's shoulder.

"They aren't following," he said, then he pressed his comms. "Sam, keep watching our rear."

An hour later they pulled up to the bunker and they spilled out of the vehicles as Sam landed. Bucky watched with a smile as Jade hugged her son and mother, laughing and crying at the same time. She came to Bucky and motioned for him to put his head down, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for saving Ma and Ben," she said. "You were so fast and it made a difference."

"You're welcome," he replied, touching her arm. "Come on, I'll help take their backpacks in."

When the Bunker had been designed it was meant to be a backup facility only. Things had been kept very basic. The walls were concrete, windows were little more than narrow strips across the top of a room to let in natural light and it was almost completely underground with an exposed sunken courtyard. Being underground kept it at a constant temperature of about 65 degrees. Pipes had been driven deep underground and a heat pump drew up warm air to bump the temperature to 72 degrees year round. Solar panels and batteries provided the power and a deep well provided the water but they still conserved it so as not to adversely affect the water table. Tony Stark had designed a suite for himself and Pepper with two bedrooms and a shared bathroom between them. Even though the Bunker was built in the year after he died they kept the plan the same out of respect for him. Everyone else had a single bedroom, sharing a bathroom with their neighbour. Bucky had lived in the suite when Lily was expecting but since her death had stayed in a single bedroom unit like the others. The suite had been used for meetings since then but now that there was a family they were turning it over to Jade, her mother and son. He opened the door to the suite and dropped their packs on the couch, then showed them the bedrooms and the single bathroom.

"We eat all of our meals in the common room," he said. "There's no set timetable except for supper which is 6 pm. Once a month we go on a food and provisions run to Albuquerque so if there is anything you want put it on the list on the fridge. I'll let you get settled in."

"Bucky," said Ma, coming forward with her hand out. "Thank you for helping us. I knew the Heroes were good people but you're better than I thought."

He touched her hand, expecting a psychic connection but Jade had already warned her of his uneasiness and she kept it turned inward. He nodded and started out the door then stepped back.

"Ben, we have a library here," he said. "There's all sorts of good reading material for a boy your age. Check it out when you have a chance. There's Lego as well, as Peter is kind of into it."

Ben smiled and thanked Bucky. Out in the hallway Bucky leaned against the wall trying to catch his breath. That was the most he had talked to anyone other than Steve, or Bruce in months. His anxiety was high and he took deep breaths trying to calm himself before he went back down the hallway to the common room. Sam had already made a comment about him watching Jade and he assumed everyone thought he was in love with her. When she first arrived there a week before he would have put them straight but now, he knew there was something there. He knew it when he could smell her freshly washed hair in the shooting range. He knew it when he gripped her arms after the recoil pushed her into his chest. He knew it when he wanted to kiss her after he took her ear protection headphones off. He really knew it when he put his arm around her in the car today. Sighing, he decided he had time for a workout.

He changed into shorts and a long sleeved T-shirt for his workout. Steve always told him to just wear a regular T-shirt for workouts but he was still mindful of the arm. Wanting to get rid of the anxiety he felt he started hitting the heavy bag, the reinforced one that Steve used. He was so intent that he didn't notice Jade was in the gym until he turned around and saw her standing there, watching him.

"Hi," he said, unsure of what else to say.

"I wish you would just kiss me already," she said simply. "You're in my head and it's hard to sleep sometimes."

"I'm in your head?" he smirked. "Little girl, you're in my head."

"Only when I've shown you those two images," she answered, walking around the perimeter of the room. "Since I saw your thoughts on Lily, I've stayed out. Anything else is coming from you. And I'm not a girl, I'm thirty one years old."

"Well, you're a girl to me," he said firmly, pulling the gloves off. "I'm a lot older than you. Why are you here?"

"Because you're alone," she said. "I mean that literally and figuratively."

"You spoke so simply when you first woke up and now you're using all sorts of big terms," he said derisively. "I'm alone by choice. I don't let people in."

Her path around the perimeter of the room had brought her right to him. It had been so subtle he hadn't even noticed. Now she was right in front of him, just like in the shooting range. He drew a ragged breath. She didn't touch him, just looked at him with those jade green eyes, set in her delicate face, surrounded by her pale blonde hair. She was beautiful in a strangely different way that appealed to him.

"I can be a sanctuary for you," she said softly. "I can stop the nightmares, be your confidant, and your lover. I've seen it but it's up to you. If you want that, just let me in to your heart."

He stepped back, breathing heavy, trying not to look at her then he gulped.

"I don't...deserve it," he whispered. "People I love die. Steve came back to this for me but he lost his love when he did it. Lily died. The baby died. I'm...poison."

She stepped closer to him and touched his face by placing her palm against his cheek. He pressed into the cool of her hand and it was just her hand, nothing more.

"I thought I was evil when the Children of Adam cast me out," she said. "They called me an abomination, said I would bring destruction upon them. A doomsday cult afraid of a six year old. They made my father ride me out on a horse to the middle of the Badlands and leave me there. He was crying but he still did it, he just left me there with no water, or food. I wandered for who knows how long. At night I shivered as I watched the stars fly over me but it was so beautiful I was entranced and I accepted that I would die."

"You were six when they did that to you?" he said, looking earnestly at her. "They were the abominations."

She shook her head. "They were afraid. I was different, not dangerous, but they didn't know the difference. Ma found me. She was different, too, and had cast herself out to live in the desert. She accepted her gift and taught me to accept mine. I'm offering my gift to you because I can help. I want to help you because even though you were dangerous before you're different now. I love different. I love you."

He looked down at her, put his hand on hers and removed it from his face. Every sense in his body was ramped up to its highest level as he looked at this strangely beautiful, ethereal woman who was offering everything she had to give to him. The instinct to run away was so strong but the pull to rest his head in her arms was growing. She said nothing, verbally or mentally, proving to him that it truly was his decision. Just as he was about to say no, he heard a whisper in his mind.

"You need her," said the voice and he recognized it as Lily, his dead wife. "Be with her, my love."

"Did you do that?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.

"I heard her but it wasn't me," she said, softly. "I wouldn't manipulate you, Bucky."

He felt the truth in her words but now he couldn't decide what to do. He was saved by the door being flung open and Sam coming in for his workout. Noticing Bucky and Jade standing so close to each other he stopped, raised his eyebrows and hesitated before speaking.

"Sorry, was I interrupting anything?" he said, with a bit of a grin.

"No," said Jade, with disappointment. "I was just leaving."

She turned away from Bucky and left, looking at him once with sad eyes as she walked out into the hallway. Sam started making a comment about awkward moments and Bucky turned on him.

"Shut the fuck up," he snarled and stomped out.

"Shit," said Sam, as Bucky left the room. "I did interrupt.”

Bucky didn't come to the evening meal and people commented about how he seemed to be in a surly mood again. Steve watched Jade and her family as the gossip about Bucky flew around the common room. She seemed as unhappy about it as he did. They made eye contact and he jerked his head slightly to the hallway.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I went to see him, alone," she said. "I want him Steve, and I told him but he wouldn't accept me. Said he was poison, that everyone he loved died or lost someone because of him."

"My wife didn't die because of him," he said. "She came back with me and the Others got her. He blamed himself because I could have stayed in the past with her."

"Why didn't you?" asked Jade.

"Because he was right to come back for me," he said. "The Others, it was too much for them and I knew I could make a difference. Peggy died because she made a mistake and the Others took advantage of it. Not because Bucky came to the past to get me."

"I'm supposed to be with him, Steve," she said. "I've seen it, although Ma says my future viewing is faulty at times. But I do love him, and I've kept out of his mind since that first day, respecting his privacy. I've kept out of everyone's mind."

"His room code is 1917," said Steve after a moment thinking. "Go to him, now, while everyone is at dinner. You won't be interrupted. Only I know the code."

She smiled and touched his arm briefly then went down the hallway to Bucky's room. Entering the code she heard the door unlock and she stepped inside. It was dark and it took her a moment for her eyes to adjust. As she stepped further in she heard the sound of a gun safety being unlocked.

"You have two seconds to tell me why you're in my room before I fire this thing," said Bucky's voice, still sounding sleepy but deadly serious.

"Bucky, it's Jade," she said, calmly. "Steve gave me the code to come in. I just want to talk."

She stepped further in to where the light from the window slits illuminated her face. Bucky was in bed, pointing a gun at her. He put the gun on the bed and buried his face into the pillow scrunched up below him before looking at her again.

"I could have shot you," he said. "Everyone knows they don't come in my room when I'm sleeping alone because I could do this. It's a holdover from when I was the Winter Soldier, always on alert, even when I'm sleeping."

She stepped forward and he told her to stay where she was. He got out of bed and Jade saw him nude. Turning around she gave him privacy. She could hear him chuckle behind her.

"I had a shower and didn't get dressed," he said, "It's safe to turn around now. Sit on the chair."

"I'm sorry," said Jade, sitting down. "I shouldn't have come here but Steve said we wouldn't be interrupted."

"He's right about that," said Bucky, who was sitting on the edge of his messy bed, with just his shorts on. "They're all too afraid to come in here. Steve does when I have a nightmare but he's the only one who's stronger than me. I suppose Wanda could handle me as well. Alright, I'll admit Peter kicked my ass before. That's not the point. Why the hell are you here, in my room?"

"To finish our conversation," she said. "You were about to decide when Sam interrupted us."

"I was going to say no, then I heard Lily," he said. "I thought you were manipulating me."

"I wasn't," she said. "In fact, Lily's gone. She's moved on."

"What do you mean?" Bucky's eyes flashed a combination of fear and anger. "Moved on where?"

"To the next life, I guess," said Jade. "I've never followed anyone that far. But I reached out to her and she's not where she was anymore. I think she let you go."

"You're lying," he said.

Jade stood up and offered him her hand. Reluctantly he took it and was in a place with no colour, or sound, just a soft mist all around.

"Call to her," said Jade. "Call Lily."

"Lily?" he said. "Are you there?"

There was no answer and he said she could be making it all up. So she asked him to call someone else, someone recently deceased. He hesitated then called out for Peggy. The mist swirled and a beautiful dark haired woman walked out of the mist.

"Bucky," she said. "Is everything okay with Steve? Is he safe?"

"Peggy, I...I'm sorry," he said. "I brought you both back and you died. It was my fault. I should have left you both there."

She smiled a sad smile at him, then touched his cheek. "No, it's not," she said. "When you told him what was happening he knew he was coming back and I knew I was coming with him. What happened was meant to happen. I'll wait here until he joins me and then we'll move on, like Lily and Jimmy, that's what she named him."

Peggy turned seeing Jade and smiled at her. "Show this to Steve," she said. "Tell him I still love him and will wait until it's his time. We'll have eternity together."

She touched Bucky again then walked back into the mist. Jade dropped Bucky's hand and they were back in his bedroom, in the dark. She stood in front of him, watching and waiting. Slowly he stood up and looked down at her upturned face. Hesitantly he brushed the side of her face with the back of his fingers. Leaning his face towards hers he kissed her softly at first, then as their arms enclosed the other it became more passionate and their primal instincts kicked in as Bucky lifted her shirt off. Their skin hunger was strong and they both caressed the other, his hands on her breasts, hers on his chest and shoulders. Just as he was about to unzip her jeans Jade stepped back, pushing him away with both hands on his chest.

"If we do this now I will get pregnant," she said, "unless you have condoms here. I don't think you're ready for a baby with me yet.

Bucky went to the bathroom he shared with Steve and started looking through drawers and the medicine cabinet, returning to the bedroom empty handed.

"In the 40s when a girl I was dating was having her period we just necked and caressed," he said. "I think I can control myself for now. But I do want you and as soon as I find out who has condoms I'm coming for you."

Jade laughed and it sounded like music to him. He picked her up in his arms and they laid on the bed together, kissing, touching and talking. Bucky wanted to make her come with oral sex but she said no, that she wanted to wait until he had those condoms. At one point Ma sent a thought to Jade, asking if everything was alright. She responded that everything was good and she would be staying with Bucky overnight. The response she got back from Ma was full of love and support for both of them. When they finally slept Bucky was spooned behind her, his right arm under her with his hand cupping her left breast. His prosthetic arm came over her body with his hand protecting her belly. She felt as if she was in a loving, warm cocoon. He slept without having a nightmare.

Part 4>>

Series Masterlist

Please like, comment, or reblog if you enjoyed this chapter.

[woltemath]

Happy Earth Day from my succulent crew and I!

[psapfos]

some propagation experiments. after almost a month, my Hobbit Jade (her name is Marie Antoinette... bc i cut off her head...) is finally growing new plants on its stem! the head of the plant grew roots a while ago and has been planted, but the leaf cuttings have done nothing so far. hopefully my other leaf cuttings will have more success!

[gorskysuccs]

Only took eight months , but we finally got some growth going on with the ripple jade 🤘🏻

[oakenlup]

Hello this kinda my first time asking/requesting since I’m so used to just writing prompts so idk if am at the correct spot

I have a request if your interested, it’s a Legolas x reader, where the reader is a bold savage warrior constantly fighting to get stronger then she already is. She’s also half elf and half uruk-hai or orc so she has a very strong and big body like a orc but beautiful features and soft long hair like a elf! She wears an animal skull as a mask to appear more fierce and threatening! L

Aww, I’m so honoured to be one of your first requesties! And yes, this is the right place! This is such a cool and creative trope like, I wish that was me hehe. <3

Legolas x reader: Fluff

gif creds go to the owner

Legolas was twirling an arrow on his finger, his pointy ears about to fall off due to Gimli’s bickering. Gimli better be glad the elf didn’t throw him into the fire infront of them.

However, the chatter was cut short, as leaves and branches began to creak, notifying the fellowship someone or something was near.

Drawing his bow, Legolas aimed it towards the trees. It was dark, but his elf eyes could make out a faint figure of something big, burly.

“Who goes there?” Aragorn states, drawing a sword from his left side, seeing Boromir shield the hobbits from any danger.

With a ruffle in the trees, your figure is visible now in the fire-light. A dirtied goats skull with broken horns appeared first, followed by a set of light green arms that shot up saying “I’m friendly, don’t shoot!”

The fellowship didn’t lower their weapons though, too busy taking in the jade coloured skin that was heavily decorated in strong muscles and a few scratch marks here and there. “Show yourself!” Gimli shouts, axe in hand, ready to pounce.

Lifting one arm up, you pull your mask off and plop it to the ground, letting your long silky hair cascade down the sides of your large form.

The fellowship began to lower their weapons; this person didn’t seem dangerous?

Legolas lowered his bow, but kept his eye fixed on the figure he was seeing. It was a woman!

Everywhere Legolas has been in his thousands of years in middle-earth, all the woman have been dainty or scared of battle, but not this one, this one is freakin’ gorgeously fierce!

“I’m here to make peace and join you all, Gandalf must of mentioned me?” Your surprisingly soft voice penetrated the air, followed by the crackling of the fire.

The fellowship’s faces frowned at the mention of the wizard, which notified you immediately on the situation.

“Oh”

“Come, sit with us, maiden” Aragorn asks, dropping his sword to the ground, but only getting a huff in return from the woman.

“Maiden? I assure you little ranger, I am no maiden. I’ve fought wars bigger than middle-earth itself. I’ve chopped off more heads that are present here right now. I have lifted a horse’s carcass, with my bare hands!” You say proudly, two green hands resting on your equally as impressive hips.

Legolas, was drooling.

“Well, you’re going to make a fine addition to our team then aren’t ya lassie? Haha, get the woman a drink dammit!” Gimli said, his laugh breaking the tense air.

Half a rabbit meal later, and you and this elven fellow have made good bonds. Sitting on a log facing away from the sleeping crew, you both make small talk on every adventure one another had been on.

“Your ears, their like mine” Legolas says, your ears now fully visible after being hidden by your glossy hair. “Yes, I am half-elf,” you say, giving them a little wiggle. “I see, and half orc, I presume?” Legolas says, taking in the rest of your orcish features. “That’s right, mother was a burly orc, and father was a soft elven warrior from Rivendell, they both died in battle” you retort, going off on a tangent on how both your parents managed to make you as strong as you were today, which made Legolas frown at their fate, but marvel at how you became this goddess you are today.

“My father would not approve of this, but you are a very beautiful young lady, your stature is admirable, better than every man or elven body I’ve seen... and your features are, stunning, like a swan or beautiful dove” Legolas states shyly, was he being too forward?

You laugh, who knew this privileged prince would be able to see something beautiful outside of his status quo. Yes, you were half-elf, but your battle scars and muscles bigger than Frodo himself did not resemble that, only your soft, delicate face and hair did.

“Well thank you, little one” you reply, taking in how Legolas was significantly smaller than you in muscle mass.

“To make this watch duty a little more interesting, how about I re-braid your hair? It must of gotten tussled in all those battles” Legolas quirked, seeing as the conversation had simmered down.

“So I can keep it out of the blood of my enemies? That would be grand!”

Although it was not the response he thought he’d get, Legolas couldn’t help but oblige to this powerful woman he had the fortune to sit next too.

————————

Why do all my fics end with Legolas and braiding LMAO. @imhereiguess420

[blazinbeautywrites]

Man Crush Monday

Note: Due to the rampant uprising of plagiarism on this site and others I am stating once and once only that this is my ORIGINAL work. If I find out that you have stolen/taken any part of my work I will handle you and the situation the way I see fit.

None of the pics or gifs I use belong to me unless stated otherwise. Full credit goes to the originators of said gifs and pics.

A/N: I know this is a lil late lol but this is part of my Smut Week writing challenge which you can find here. Hope yall enjoy Producer Zab!

Length: 1,431 words

Genre: Smut

It was a rainy Monday night when Jade was scrolling through her IG feed. Just when she was bored of the app, she got a notification that her favorite producer, Zabdiel posted to his page. Clicking on it, Jade was met with the best site she’d ever seen. There he was, in all his sweaty glory, in his custom home gym. Jade moaned at the site and decided to be a little bold. She clicked on the post share button and posted him to her story with the caption “Mmmmm looking fine. #MCM” Unbeknownst to Jade, a fellow fan who followed her, saw her post and decided to screenshot it and tag him and Jade both. Jade was a singer with moderate fame and a small following on various social media sites so it was a big deal when she posted other celebs. Jade decided to call it a night and soon was off to sleep.

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The next morning she awoke to the incessant buzzing of her phone and a missed facetime from her bestie Malina. She didn’t bother with her notifications but chose to return Malina’s call.

“Malina girl what’s up.” Jade spoke as she sleepily rubbed her eyes.

“Well judging by your calm ass demeanor, I guess you haven’t been on ig or twitter?” Malina said.

“Uhhh no. Did something happen?” Jade asked.

“Girl! You’re blowing up! Apparently some fan accounts of Zabdiel caught your story and posted it on their pages. Well Zabdiel saw it and reposted it.” Malina said. Jade damn near short circuited when Malina said that last bit.

“Malina, imma call you back.” Jade hung up and immediately checked her instagram. She had thousands of notifications. She checked her dms and almost passed out. There on top was a dm from Zabdiel himself.

“Hey sorry if this is weird but I saw the post and I’m flattered. I’m going to this industry party later on tonight and I saw your name was also on the guestlist and was wondering if we could meet in person. 

Jade had to compose herself before she responded or else she’d definitely make a fool of herself.

“Shit I’m just now seeing this. Yeah I’ll be there tonight and I’d love to meet up. See you tonight!

Jade was just about to exit her dms when she saw he replied with a smiley face. She liked his response then sat her phone on her side table and decided to get ready for her day.

                                                 _______________

She arrived at the party a little late due to her indecisiveness. After she tore her closet apart, she finally settled on a simple black long sleeved crop top with a red plaid skirt, and some black doc martens.

She walked into the venue and was immediately hit with the smell of weed. She also took note that there was a group of ppl doing lines of coke at a vip table. Jade made her way to the open bar and ordered herself a watermelon whisky sour. Zabdiel spotted her as soon as she walked in thanks to her posting her look on ig beforehand. He made his way over to her and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Jade?” Zabdiel asked.

“Zabdiel! Hey!” Jade said. Giving him a hug. She marveled in his sweet, cinnamon scent.

“You’re better looking in person, well you fine as hell so I don’t know what I was expecting.” Zabdiel spoke.

“And you’re taller in person. Gotta admit, I was expecting a hobbit or something.” Jade joked. Zabdiel was amused, especially since he towered over her.

“Well I’m glad I could disappoint you.” He joked back. Their banter went on for a bit before they found a vip table to sit and talk. They talked about music and Jade was taken aback when Zabdiel admitted that he listened to her music.

“Wait really? Quick, what’s your favorite song?” Jade inquired.

“Oh that’s easy. Don’t Tempt me is by far my favorite song of yours. Your vocals were like fucking butter on that shit. I wanted to remix it when I first heard it.” Zab said.

“Well what stopped you?” Jade asked.

“I wanted you to sing on it.” Zabdiel said. Jade smiled at that and finished off her drink. After talking for a little bit more. Zabdiel and Jade made their rounds then dipped from the party. 

                                            _______________

Jade and Zabdiel were jamming out to some of his unreleased tracks in his home studio. Jade insisted on hearing some more of his music and Zabdiel happily agreed. They were going back and forth posting each other on their ig stories, causing a frenzy amongst their fans.

“I bet our fans are dying right now.” Jade laughed. A new unreleased track played and Jade got hype. She loved songs that made her wanna shake her ass and that’s exactly what she did. What she didn’t know was that Zab was filming and posting a video of her twerking to his ig story.

“Did I tell you how fine you were already?’ Zabdiel said as he moved closer to her. Jade smiled at him and turned to face him. She ran her finger down his chest and smirked.

“You did but I don’t mind you telling me again.” Jade smiled then leaned in, planting a soft kiss on his lips. She pulled back and smiled at him. She got up to move but he grabbed her and hoisted her up. She wrapped her legs around him as he trapped her between his warm body and the wall. Zabdiel kissed her, more passionately this time. He slipped his tongue in her mouth, making her moan as she sucked on it. They made out for a bit before Zabdiel fell back onto a sofa in his studio, Jade in his lap. She was grinding on him, feeling him get hard. Zabdiel moved his hand so that it was positioned near her warm heat. He started rubbing languid circles on her clothed pussy. Her moans were music to his ears. He sped up his movements until he felt her wetness seep through her underwear. Jade was a mess and he loved it.

“I wanna fuck you so bad. You want me to fuck you babygirl?” Zabdiel asked.

“Yes. I want you to fuck me so fucking bad.” Jade moaned. Zabdiel didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed his pant’s down just enough for his dick to pop out. Jade was mesmerized. He was bigger than she was used to but she was gonna take it like a big girl. Jade jerked him off a few times then spit on his dick. She pulled her underwear to the side and sank down on his length. She marveled at the fullness she felt. Zabdiel almost bust right then and there. 

“Fuck you’re so tight. You feel so good wrapped around my dick baby.” Zabdiel sighed. Jade started bouncing on his dick, biting her lip to conceal a loud moan that threatened to escape her mouth.

“God you feel so good inside me…...fuuuuuuuck.” Jade moaned. She got into a squat position and rode Zabdiel’s dick. He was in heaven and felt himself about to cum. He lifted her shirt, revealing her bare breast. He took her left one in his mouth while he played with the right. As he continued sucking on her left nipple, he moved his other hand to her clit and rubbed quick circles. Jade felt herself about to burst. Her movements got sloppier as her orgasm came crashing down upon her. Jade sat fully on his dick, attempting to milk him for all he was worth.

“Yes that’s it baby, ride this dick. Fuck I’m cumming shit…..shiiiiitttt.” Zabdiel moaned. Jade hopped off of him and got down on her knees. She caught every last drop of cum as it shot out of his dick. She stuck her tongue out to show him that she’d swallowed it all, Zabdiel smiled. She was a keeper.

                                            _____________

“You should produce my debut album.” Jade said as she laid on Zabdiel’s sofa watching him work.

“Damn. Dick was so good you're giving me jobs now?” He laughed.

“Don’t get cocky. I’ve always wanted to work with you but my management wouldn’t let me reach out to you. Thank god you slid in my dms though.” Jade said, giving him a smile.

“I’m glad too. If you really want me to, I'll produce your shit, on one condition though. You go out on a date with me.” Zabdiel said. 

“Hmmmm………..okay.” Jade said.

“So it’s a date?” Zab asked.

“It’s a date.” Jade smiled.

[simsbyjcw]

T.S.R. Shopping List 9/27/21 Part 3 All Categories

[elenothar]

Tolkien Gen Week Drabble #7 -  Valinor, after

Written for @tolkiengenweek. The last of my vaguely connected seven character studies of Finrod Felagund, who I have far too many feelings about.

DAY SEVEN: free choice (aka, the happy ending)

The festival to mark the occasion of the last (awaited) ship from Middle-earth arriving was already in full swing by the time Finrod arrived with Nerdanel, having rather lost track of the time while debating the merits of various methods for shaping jade.

“Looks like the feast started without us,” Finrod observed with a grin, earning an eyeroll from his companion.

His aunt had never been one for social gatherings. In fact, his visit to her workshop today had been prompted by his mother strongly hinting that someone should make sure Nerdanel actually came to the festivities. Finrod had volunteered cheerfully, as he got along rather well with Nerdanel. Though they hadn’t bene close before the Noldor rebellion, they had spent a fair bit of time together after his reembodiment – she because she was desperate for news of her sons even as she struggled to hear of their deeds, and he because he occasionally needed a less smothering ear confide in. Not that he begrudged his parents their care, had in fact needed it badly just after his return from Mandos, but eventually he had needed a bit more breathing space.

Neither Fëanor nor any of his sons had yet returned from Mandos, but the burden on Nerdanel had lifted a little of late. Talk of forgiveness of asking the Valar for further pardons (incited by Elrond Peredhel no less) had grown louder. Finrod, for his part, welcomed the possibility, though he knew that not all his mother’s kin were equally as enthusiastic at the notion of releasing the ringleaders of several kinslayings.

But tonight was for joy, not maudlin contemplation.

“Come on,” he urged when Nerdanel looked like she was about to turn tail entirely, and started heading towards Finarfin and Eärwen.

Both his parents smiled at him as he approached, still always so pleased to see him even after many years of living together once more. It was more humbling, his parents’ love, than Finrod had ever dreamed of comprehending when he was young.

Though in this case, his father also looked like he was badly in need of a distraction. The Vanyarin choir sang beautifully, but people kept coming up to the High King of the Noldor anyway and while Finarfin had always born the crown with grace, he was still unhappy that his older brother had flat-out refused to take it back once he returned from the halls. Fingolfin claimed it was because Finarfin was doing such a great job – and besides why upset things now? – whereas his younger brother maintained that Fingolfin just didn’t want to deal with the headache that came with being in charge of such a disparate group of elves as the Noldor had become.

Finrod kept well out of that argument, safe in the knowledge that Finarfin was unlikely to die here in Valinor, leaving him quite safe from possible succession. (He tried not to remember that Fingon had also thought such, once upon a time.)

“I apologise for our tardiness,” Finrod said merrily, “we – ”

“ – got distracted,” his parents chorused alongside him, equally amused and indulgent.

Eärwen turned to Nerdanel, her cheeks dimpling. “What was it this time, sister?”

“Jade carving,” Nerdanel grunted, her eyes on Elrond, who was sitting under one of the tall trees ringing the clearing on the lower slopes of the Pelóri they’d chosen for this celebration, deep in conversation with Gil-galad and Celebrimbor. The little stream that ran along the edge of the trees carried a familiar echo of Ulmo’s power – although Finrod would of course never voice such an opinion aloud, Ulmo was his favourite Vala, for the care he’d shown the Noldor in exile as much as the gift of Nargothrond’s location. If some of the Vala’s spirit lingered here to observe the festivities, Finrod would not begrudge him the proof of his efforts to once more reunite the Eldar and the Blessed Realm.

“Very fascinating,” Finrod put in helpfully, as his father raised an eyebrow. Finarfin had always tended more to disciplines of the mind and small jewel-working than larger projects such as sculptures.

Finrod helped himself to a glass of clear peach wine before sitting next to his mother. Nerdanel snagged something rather more alcoholic and excused herself to join the group around Elrond.

Taking an appreciative sip – they never had managed to produce quite such good alcohol in Beleriand – Finrod leaned back, his elbows cushioned by the lush grass and observed the gathering. The House of Fëanor’s absence was glaring as always, but most of the House of Fingolfin and Finarfin were assembled, alongside many Vanyar, Amarië among them, and more Teleri than usual. Círdan was surrounded by long-lost family and looking stoically pleased about it. Galadriel had dragged Angrod and Aegnor to talk with many of her husband’s kin. Fingon was cheerfully discussing something with Idril and Tuor, who as yet was not showing any signs of succumbing to the doom of Men. Another group of Gondolindrim, including Ecthelion, Duilin, and – much to Finrod’s amusement – Turgon were being interrogated with great earnestness by one of the two hobbits that now dwelled in Valinor. The older one, Bilbo, who rarely went anywhere without a quill and notebook.

Frodo the Ringbearer was sitting near them, a small smile on his face on his face as he watched his Uncle consternate and charm elves of legend in equal measure. He was alone. Finrod hummed to himself and stood.

Time to meet a hobbit.

[unclestoveysfarm]

6/23/21 Gollum Jade/Shrek Ears/ Hobbit Jade

New Buy Was excited to run into Hobbit Jade at Walmart and even happier to find out I have the red trim on the edge making them officially Shrek Ears. The second plant that was on my intention list and got him much sooner than expected. The best photo of it looks like mutated grass.

New BuyWas excited to run into Hobbit Jade at Walmart and even happier to find out I have the red trim on the edge making them officially Shrek Ears. The second plant that was on my intention list and got him much sooner than expected. The best photo of it looks like mutated grass. ited to run into Hobbit Jade at Walmart and even happier to find out I have the red trim on the edge making them officially Shrek Ears. The second plant that was on my intention list and got him much sooner than expected. The best photo of it looks like mutated grass.

Fuck A Froto!!, Sammybaby!!!!

[overtrolled-liveblog]

several short takes

[2127]  “After your accident, she would use your dreams to teach you to detect the world around you without vision.” Smell is not a sense that I normally associate with dragons, but a dragon smells someone they can’t see in The Hobbit, so there is precedent

[2134]  “You once had a number of INTERESTS, which in time you have LOST INTEREST IN. You seem to recollect once having a fondness for ARCHEOLOGY, though now have trouble recalling this passion.” Depression sure is a bitch. I remember reading this bit in 2014, and i was in a bit of a bad place myself, feeling dead, and this was very relatable.

[also 2134] “He has tentatively named the game SGRUB, which is a word that is NOT TERRIBLY ELEGANT.” the sequence “sgr” does not occur normally in english because /g/ is what’s called a voiced stop, and consonant clusters that begin with /s/, an unvoiced fricative, take unvoiced stops (/p/, /t/, or /k/). the way that an anglophone ear would like it to sound is something like /skrub/. This voicing phenomenon is also why a lot of English speakers pronounce disgusting as “diskusting” (g -> k) or dizgusting (s -> z) so that the voicing stays the same.

[2136] the ouija board has normal numbers ‘flipped turned upside down’

[2139] 

GA: Hi Again Aradia AA: 0h n0000000 GA: So I Guess Tonight Is The Night You Blow Everything Up AA: 0_0 GA: Is There Nothing I Can Do To Change Your Mind AA: n0

This is a parallel to the first convo we see between Jade and Karkat, except this time it’s Kanaya the jade blood playing Karkat and Aradia playing Jade. her reaction to Kanaya is also uncharacteristically emotional.

[2144] 

AG: Hey speaking of which, that loser isn't going to 8e on the 8lue team is he? AA: which l0ser AG: Your old team 8uddy! AA: n0 AG: Oh thank fucking goodness! Talk a8out dead weight. You made the right choice, leader! I mean co-leader. AA: i didnt exclude him f0r that reas0n AA: 0r at all AA: y0ure just n0t getting it AA: y0u never listen AG: Man, now I've got this huge 8eefgrub lodged in my nook just thinking a8out him. AG: I'm going to go give him a hard time.

“Huge beefgrub lodged in her nook” huh. how much ‘Tavros has a big dick’ subtext can there be?

[mongrel-eyes]

Everything I Read in 2019

In total, I read 45 books of my own accord in 2019, and there were probably about one-fourth as many that I started but never ended up finishing. A loose goal for myself (which I formed in the later half of the year as I realized that I had read quite a lot) was to reach 52 books so that I would effectively have one book per week of the year. That obviously didn’t happen, but it’s not something I feel was of great importance. Last year, I read 10 books (I think I may have read a few more than that, but I don’t remember). That was more than all the books I’d read in the past 7 years added together. The past decade has been a rollercoaster, but this final year has brought something of a conclusion, closure, and some healing. It’s the end of one novel of my life - time for the next.

2019 Booklist

The Slow Regard of Silent Things // Patrick Rothfuss

I have read all of the books published for The Kingkiller Chronicle thusfar; however, The Slow Regard of Silent Things honestly trumps both The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear for me (and I do not say this lightly because I think both novels are fantastic, and I was practically drunk and grinning from ear to ear after reading “A Silence of Three Parts” for the first time). Auri’s quirks and the way she sees and moves through the world is nearly identical to what I have experienced for much of my life. The first time I read this book, I wept because I saw myself so vividly written in its pages. Though it is short, and I think many would deem it as not particularly exciting or significant, I understand it very deeply. As Rothfuss writes in his end letter: it is not a normal story for normal readers; it is a story for the storytellers and the dreamers.

The Magician’s Nephew // C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe // C.S. Lewis The Horse and His Boy // C.S. Lewis Prince Caspian // C.S. Lewis The Voyage of the Dawn Treader // C.S. Lewis The Silver Chair // C.S. Lewis The Last Battle // C.S. Lewis

I grew up reading C.S. Lewis’s stories of Narnia. One of my earliest memories is of listening to an audiotape recording of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I remember exactly where I was in this memory, and the exact sentences of the book being read to me through the car speakers. Narnia has always and will always hold a special place in my heart, and it was good to visit again after such a long time away. Thanks to a variety of health problems which had all but wiped out my long-term personal memories, I remembered only an echo of the enchantment of these books, and when I picked them up again early in the year, I was not disappointed.

Educated // Tara Westover

Educated was a hard book for me to read. It was raw and powerful, and I know a fraction of the pain and circumstance Westover describes. In one portion of the book, she writes that believing you are not hurt is sometimes the way in which abuse hurts you the most. I understood that, and by the end I felt so proud of this strong young woman who challenged her entire world. It wasn’t always pretty or heroic (oftentimes it was ugly and lonely), but it was true.

Bridge to Terabithia // Katherine Paterson

I grew up 10 miles away from the small town which served as the inspiration for Lark Creek. It has been a powerful and significant story in my life from the time I first read it early in 2009. Again, due to failing memory, I only recalled an echo of what it really was. One spring morning, I walked outside, hung in my hammock and didn’t budge until I had read this book from cover to cover. It was like reuniting with a very old friend.

Mortal Engines // Philip Reeve

I became interested in Mortal Engines because of the trailers for the upcoming film that kept showing up for me in Spotify. I was thoroughly warned by the internet to steer clear of the film (I still would like to see it at some point, but I don’t have high hopes), but my friend highly recommended that I read the book. I actually listened to the audiobook recording from Hoopla. Barnaby Edwards is a brilliant narrator, and I loved every minute of it. It was not the kind of story that struck me to my absolute core (personally), but it was powerful and captivating all the same.

Where the Forest Meets the Stars // Glendy Vanderah

I picked up this book because I liked the title, nothing more. It turned out to be a beautiful story of the making of a beautiful family (it also made for a beautiful hardcover). It was unfortunately triggering at one point, but despite that I enjoyed the story and the characters and the cleverness crafted into Ursa’s character.

Perelandra // C.S. Lewis

In the Fall/Winter of 2018, I listened to Out of the Silent Planet on my commutes to and from school. Many years ago (I can’t even remember how long), I had read Out of the Silent Planet but had quite forgotten anything about it other than that the main character’s name was Ransom. After returning to it at the end of last year, I listened to Perelandra in late May. Out of all of books in the Space Trilogy, I found this one to be the slowest and least interesting. However, that is not to say that I did not enjoy the book. Lewis’s descriptions of the world on Venus were riveting and vivid, and listening to and analyzing the debate/war between Ransom and Weston was of particular interest and importance to me.

That Hideous Strength // C.S. Lewis

Following Perelandra, I immediately listened to That Hideous Strength. It surprised me later to learn that this third installment of the Space Trilogy was received with the least positive appraisal of the three. I found it to be my favourite of them all. I see many echoes between this fiction and the reality which we face, and that was somewhat intriguing, frightening, and comforting all jumbled together. I have a theory (or more accurately, a hypothesis) which I refer to as “the mortal gods.” I won’t go into any details of it here, but I felt in That Hideous Strength that C.S. Lewis understood my mortal gods. He just called them by different names.

Night Flights // Philip Reeve

I listened to this book on Hoopla, and though it was short I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the character of Anna Fang. This story provides details on how she rose to become the notorious Wind Flower plaguing the cities from Mortal Engines.

I Rode a Horse of Milk-White Jade // Diane Wilson

I first read this book when I was younger than 9 years old. Even back then, I loved this book, and when I returned to it this year, I loved it again. I had not even touched it for over 10 years. When I was very young, I had a great respect for the Mongolian nomads; and, of course, since this book brought those people to life, it became and is very special to me.

The Bible (English Standard Version)

Though I was raised in a religious household, I had never actually read the Bible from cover to cover (although I had read the majority of it in bits and parts throughout my life and been lectured on it for countless hours). It took me 3 months to slog through it, but in the end, it wasn’t just slogging. I found that if I put aside everything I thought I knew about this book and read it as if it was historic mythology instead of whatever rigid, legalistic stories and verses I had been led to believe it was when I was younger, it came alive in the way the story of Icarus comes alive every time you read a new rendition or see a new painting. C.S. Lewis described it as “true myth,” and I am inclined to believe that approaching it as “myth” is perhaps the most accurate of all the different ways in which I see people trying to describe or understand it and failing in their attempts to squash a god (seriously, the thought of a god in and of itself is mind-bending if you really stop to think about it) to fit into the tiny boxes of their mortal lives.

The Wanderer’s Journal: A Journey Through the Heart of Hallownest // Kari Fry & Ryan Novak

Saying I loved the game Hollow Knight is an understatement. Of course, when Fangamer announced they would be publishing a wanderer’s journal in collaboration with Team Cherry, I had to read it. I’ve always loved field guide-esque books (specifically, Dragonology), so of course I was especially delighted while reading the journal.

The Hobbit // J.R.R. Tolkien

Previously, I had only listened to The Hobbit as an audiobook. Once. That was over 10 years ago (probably closer to 13 or 15 years). This summer, I finally read the words written on the pages myself. Middle Earth is home to me, and it was good to be home.

The Book of Three // Lloyd Alexander The Black Cauldron // Lloyd Alexander The Castle of Llyr // Lloyd Alexander Taran Wanderer // Lloyd Alexander The High King // Lloyd Alexander The Foundling // Lloyd Alexander

I remember I was in the car with my mom and sister on the way to Nowhere one day. I was reading a book of my own in the back (I have a vague recollection that it might have been from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques) when my mom announced that she had a new series from the library that she wanted us all to listen to together in the car. Initially, I was annoyed because my mom did not always pick out the most interesting of books (there had been occasions where I was bored to tears when she picked something), but I grudgingly gave in. Of course, it was The Prydain Chronicles. I returned to these books this summer and barreled through them within two days (during which I had been excused from work with a doctor’s note due to a curious situation). Middle Earth is home, but Prydain (alongside Narnia) has to be a close second.

Native American Myths // Diana Ferguson

I have held great respect and admiration for the Native Americans and their cultures for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I’ve read books on Norse, Welsh, English, German, Greek, Egyptian, and Sumerian mythology; however, finding good books on Native American mythology seemed almost impossible (at one point I did find a book of Native American myths centered around Raven in a used bookstore but it was 60USD, and while I did want it very much, I was a poor student who couldn’t afford expensive second-hand books). Ferguson’s compilation of myths was fascinating to read. Some of the stories I had heard echoes of before in various places, but Ferguson also provided anecdotes and insights of how these myths were woven into the Native American tribes and cultures. Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed learning even a little bit more about these people whom I have admired since I was a small child.

The Fellowship of the Ring // J.R.R. Tolkien

[ See The Return of the King ]

The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen // Lloyd Alexander

I started out reading this story expecting it to be one thing, but it turned out to be something else entirely. I had read it before a long time ago and gotten it mixed up with a different story I have been able to vaguely recall but unable to find for 10 years and counting. Jen’s story is captivating and lovely in its own right – simple and enchanting, like a dandelion wish.

The Two Towers // J.R.R. Tolkien

[ See The Return of the King ]

Tolkien and Lewis: The Gift of Friendship // Colin Duriez

Despite having read the vast majority of Tolkien’s literature and a good amount of Lewis’s, I had never read a biography of either of them. I found this biography addressing both authors and their unique friendship. I enjoyed learning more about both of them and how their relationship formed and affected each other’s work.

The Return of the King // J.R.R. Tolkien

[Unlike Narnia and Prydain, I felt I couldn’t lump the titles of The Lord of the Rings together and still maintain the chronological list; therefore, the first two titles received no paragraph, but here is a summary for all three.]

In lieu of how easy it is to just watch Peter Jackson’s film adaptations, it’s easy to forget how deep and rich Tolkien’s writing really is. I can say this with honesty and without judgement, because I forgot too. Relearning the depths of Tolkien and rediscovering why I came to love and live and breathe Middle Earth in my childhood in the first place was powerful and healing for me. If you’ve only watched the movies, you’re honestly really missing out. Yes, Tolkien loves to talk about plants and trees and forests to no end, and maybe that’s not your thing and that’s okay; however, these stories are pure magic – tried and true.

The Raven Boys // Maggie Stiefvater The Dream Thieves // Maggie Stiefvater Blue Lily, Lily Blue // Maggie Stiefvater The Raven King (+Opal) // Maggie Stiefvater

I had tried to listen to The Raven Boys on Hoopla earlier in the year and become bored to tears – the narrator was just that bad and I felt the whole thing was just doomed to become a terrible love polygon. Several months later, a friend encouraged me to give it another try. I did (this time reading it straight from the page), and I was delightedly surprised. I had heard of The Raven Cycle for years but been too scared to pick it up (honestly, love polygons can be terrible things), but I’m glad that this year I finally did.

Carry On // Rainbow Rowell

I heard of Carry On while in the midst of reading The Raven Cycle. I found it to be highly amusing: reminiscent of Percy Jackson, but perhaps with better writing (in my personal opinion; I still have a fondness for Percy).

Comet in Moominland // Tove Jansson

I have seen screenshots of the 90’s Moomin show for years but never bothered to truly figure out where they came from until recently. I learned that Moomin originally came from a book. I thought it would be a picture book, and I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that Moomin actually came from a book book. I found Comet in Moominland to be heartwarming and cute with beautiful illustrations and words that can speak to the oldest soul, despite being a children’s book.

Call Down the Hawk // Maggie Stiefvater

Ronan was my favourite character from The Raven Cycle because I felt I understood him the most, which is a rather amusing sentiment to me on the surface level since I am probably one of the least edgy people you will ever meet. Learning more about Stiefvater’s world of Dreamers was particularly interesting and important to me (dreams have always been important to me, and dreams have shaped a good part of my life, actually). Chapter 3 (starts on page 19 of the hardcover copy) was very much like reading The Slow Regard of Silent Things for me: I understood, and I felt understood.

Tales from Moominvalley // Tove Jansson

A collection of cute short stories from Jansson’s Moomins. These were amusing, but at this point Moomins are important to me, so the book was very special all the same.

Six of Crows // Leigh Bardugo Crooked Kingdom // Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is a significant book to me. I remember when it was first published in 2015. I heard of it and immediately wanted to read it; however, there were many circumstances and unfortunate happenings which led to me not being able to read it until this year. The duology is now ranked among the stories which made me. To me, it’s a victory song.

The Moomins and the Great Flood // Tove Jansson

I had heard talk of the Great Flood in Comet in Moominland and been slightly confused from it being out of context. This book provided the context for this flood and is somewhat of a prequel to the rest of the Moomin books. As always, it’s a cute story with wonderful illustrations.

Shadow and Bone // Leigh Bardugo Siege and Storm // Leigh Bardugo Ruin and Rising // Leigh Bardugo

After finishing the Six of Crows duology, I learned that it was actually a sequel series to Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy. I finished Ruin and Rising last night and while I didn’t enjoy the trilogy as much as Six of Crows, it provided context for some of the characters featured in the duology, and I enjoyed the characters of Alina and Mal as well as learning more about Bardugo’s Grishaverse.

Other Reading

For school, continuing education, etc… Basically stuff I was compelled to read in one way or another.

Gilgamesh (English version by N.K. Sanders)

“The sleeping and the dead, how alike they are, they are like a painted death.”

The Song of Roland (translated and with an introduction by Robert Harrison)

I’d read this long ago, and re-reading it would have been a better experience if I wasn’t being pressed into writing a paper about it for a professor who was Machiavellian in behaviour but only intelligent in his own pride (these are gentle words).

The Prince // Niccolò Machiavelli

I seriously hate this guy.

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People // Oscar Wilde

I read this for a compare-contrast essay between the original play and the 2002 film adaptation. I thought it would be annoying and tedious to re-read, but I actually enjoyed it because the professor was simply a delight to work with.

A General Introduction to the Bible // Norman L. Geisler and William E. Nix (8th printing, 1975)

I’ve always been interested in how the Bible came to be compiled because almost no one talks about it (asking questions on this topic basically got me excommunicated when I was 12 hah). I read this book to find the answers to the questions I suffered for asking. I found some answers and a whole lot of data (seriously, these people aren’t messing around).

In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens // Alice Walker

A beautiful short story – perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces of writing I have ever read.

[sometimesiwrite]

A Pinter Pause (2/2)

Part 2 Summary: Terence and Katherine find themselves connecting on a deeper level than they had anticipated after re-kindling their acquaintance during an opening night reception at the theatre nearby. They hastily head back to Terence’s apartment to continue the evening.

Content Notes: Smut, condom use, oral, m/f intercourse, slight mention of BDSM/rough sex, discussion of emotional availability, fluff, explicit language.

Word Count: ~3,000

Again, I didn’t intend this as an imagine/fanfic piece but as with the previous story, but who am I to tell you how to use your imagination ;)

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Katherine climbed the stairs to the second floor, nerves fluttering in her stomach as she approached the top of the stair case and paused, realizing Terence still had the key. He squeezed past her on the stairs, taking a little extra time to linger across from her. How is he so...ugh! Katherine was both infuriated and incredibly attracted by his composure, meanwhile here she was with clammy hands, sweaty armpits and knees that made her feel like a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time. Terence grinned, “Chanel, isn’t it?”

“Dior,” she answered back, a playful edge of defiance in her voice masking her desire to scream How is this happening?! in his face. She followed Terence the rest of the way up the stairs, trying desperately to stop the feeling of becoming increasingly less sexy. His apartment was tastefully decorated and mostly what she would have expected from the home of a well-dressed urban bachelor. The floors were a varnished honey-coloured hardwood and were warm underfoot as she removed her shoes, wincing a little as she let them spread back to their full width after being confined all evening.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked, also removing his shoes and blazer, and loosening his tie.

“Vodka soda with lemon?” she asked, hoping it might combat some of the dryness in her mouth.

“Coming up! Feel free to have a look around, I’ll be back in a second” he called out on his way to the kitchen. She wandered into the living room area which was cozy-yet modern with an abstract shag carpet in front of the sofa and a few larger potted plants flanking the door to what could only be his patio. A desk and some tall bookcases filled a square of the living area which he had clearly claimed as a kind of makeshift office-library with a an easy chair under a reading lamp and a coffee table next to it. She made her way over to the bookshelves to have a look at his collection which proved to be wonderfully eclectic: A Picture of Dorian Gray, a bunch of old DC and Marvel Comics, notably Hawkeye, Justice League, and Spiderman, The Collected Works of A. A. Milne, Wuthering Heights, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, a few other fantasy novels she didn’t recognize by an author whose name looked Scandinavian—Sap…Sapkowski? Her eyes continued to scan the shelves. There were a fair number of playwrights featured in his collection as well, Beckett, Pinter, David Mamet, Sam Shepard, Hanna Moscovitch, Judith Thompson… So much for learning about a person from what they have on their bookshelves. What doesn’t this guy read?

In the kitchen, Terence took a stiff drink of whisky from his glass before pouring Katherine’s drink. He wasn’t nervous, per se... more than anything he was having a hard time believing that a woman of Katherine’s caliber was not only in his apartment, but wanted him, at least for the night if nothing more. Steeling himself, he left the kitchen half expecting her to have left, though he didn’t know why.

He found her in the living room and brought her drink over. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted ice so I gave you a little.” His finger lingered on hers as she took the glass from him, basking in the colour of his eyes, a clear water-y blue. “I see you’ve found my bookshelves,” he said, standing close behind her holding his own drink in his hand. She could feel the warmth of his chest radiating against her back. Again, she was impressed at how incredibly at ease she felt despite her nerves. Sure, he wanted her, absolutely he wanted her, if for nothing more than one night… but he didn’t need anything, didn’t have to have anything from her, which made her hope, at least somewhere in her jaded soul, that perhaps he would be interested in more than an evening.

“They say you can learn a lot about a person from their bookshelves...”

“What have you deciphered? Surely your clever mind has come up with something.” He gently stroked her arm.

“Well...”She leaned back against him and tilted her head to one side, a subtle invitation. “You’re a bit of an enigma, Terrence. You’ve got everything from early 20th Century romance to superheroes and Winnie the Pooh.” 

He moved his drink to his other hand and gently swept her hair back. “But if you were to hazard a guess?”

“I would say that you’re very interested in people’s minds—” 

His nose lingered at her ear for a moment as he leant down to kiss her neck, breathing warm air onto her and inhaling more of her perfume, and with it more of her. 

“—and are probably more vulnerable than you let on.”  

Terence chastely pressed his lips against the tender skin of her neck, felt her pulse quicken under the surface as his arm wrapped around her waist, a thumb just grazing the bottom of her underwire. “If all that were true, would you still want to stay the night?” Katherine turned around and took Terence’s drink out of his hand and walked to the coffee table where she set both drinks down. He watched with the smallest hint of concern on his forehead, wondering whether she had lost interest. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You bet I do,” she gave him a wide and reassuring smile, playfully biting her bottom lip.

Terence brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “You really are stunning,” he said, an earnestness settling in his features. Katherine’s eyes softened for a moment as she gazed at the man standing across from her, her internal monologue just as speechless as she was. They pressed together slowly, completely immersed in each other’s warmth as passion mounted and swelled inside them. It had been ages since she’d been kissed like this, Katherine thought, as firm hands circled the back of her neck and waist, pulling her close. Before she knew it, her fingers were in his hair and their kisses turned all tongues and teeth as they hungrily proceeded, buttons haphazardly fumbled with as shirts were worked open on their slow journey to the bedroom.

Terence turned on the lights. “How about a little ambiance,” he said, dimming them until a warm glow honeyed his soft blue-grey walls. “Better.” He smiled at her for what felt like the hundredth time that night and paused to read her face, his eyes scanning for signs of hesitation, but all he saw was Katherine smiling back at him. He plunged into a fresh kiss, stubble leaving her lips tingling, smearing what was left of her lipstick away. They reached the last button at the same time, peeling the offensive layers from each others bodies. Katherine ran her hands across Terence’s smooth cotton undershirt, his chest warm and firm under her touch as she tugged at the hem, wrenching it from the waistband of his pants. Realizing she was wearing a slip, Terrence skillfully unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the floor at her feet. Katherine firmly grabbed a handful of backside with a playful smile on her face and he raised his eyebrows at her. Terence returned the favour, except his hands were much larger and his arms much stronger. “Two can play at that game,” he quipped, and pulled her off her feet as she let out a shriek of surprise, laughing as he walked them toward the bed.

“Well, here we are,” he said matter-of-factly. “What should we do now?” She laughed gently as she tightened her legs around him.

“I’m really asking,” he said, lowering her to the bed and straightening up to remove his pants. “I want to know what you want. Because, thing is,” he continued, sitting down on the bed, “I can accommodate a wide range of preferences.”

She looked at him quizzically, wondering whether she was on the cusp of something she hadn’t expected. “I don’t, um… I mean I’m not into… at least I don’t think I am, but—”

“I enjoy sex with people who are enjoying themselves, plain and simple. No strings attached, no tricks. I’ll enjoy myself if you’re enjoying yourself. It’s just kind of how I operate. So: beautiful, charming, intoxicating woman, what would you enjoy, darling?” He playfully rubbed his hardened front against her and she inhaled heavily. He smiled as he felt her desire for him dampen the fabric between them, but he still waited for her answer. “I’m pretty sure my only kink is a man who knows what he’s doing,” she laughed, pulling him close.

“That is a need I can most definitely accommodate, at least so the reviews have told me.”

“Hmmm, I’d like to follow up on that, is there a reference I could contact?” Katherine teased.

“No, but there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee: if you don’t finish, I don’t finish.” Terence quipped, his voice muffled in Katherine’s neck.  

“What do you want?” Katherine asked, seriously.

“Honestly?” Terence paused, “I would really love it if the neighbours heard you all the way from wherever the hell they are.”

 "I think I can work with that,” Katherine replied with a hawkish grin. Terence immediately took off his shirt and helped remove her slip, revealing a black lace bra which he unhooked with one hand and let fall away. 

“You’re already more proficient than 99% of the people I’ve been with,” she laughed. 

 “Let’s see if we can’t beat that last 1% shall we?” He pressed two fingers against her last remaining undergarment. “You’re so wet, darling, I can feel you through your underpants.”

He lay her back on the mattress, slowly tugging at her underwear. He kissed the margin where fabric and warm skin met, looking at her with a question on his face. She nodded enthusiastically. “Please,” she panted. He returned on top of her and she noticed he had removed the last of his clothing as well. She swallowed thickly at the sight of his naked body lowering on top of her. “Not too fast,” she murmured in his ear.

“Darling, I wouldn’t dream of it,” he reassured her, softly caressing her curves as she grew accustomed to his touch. He slowly kissed his way up her legs, teasing at the borders of her dark curls with his thumbs, listening to her hold her breath with anticipation. “If you want me to stop—”

“Don’t you dare,” Katherine blurted out, eagerly meeting his lips.

 Terrence smiled against her as his fingers slowly found their way to her centre and dragged languorously to her tip where they circled slowly. She let out an exhilarated gasp followed by a gentle moan as she pressed lightly into his hand. Terence felt a rush of gratification at how responsive she was to his touch. He teased a finger at her opening. Katherine drew a sharp breath as she felt his finger slip inside her. She clumsily reached out with her right hand searching, looking to give him something in return. She found what she was looking for.

Terence let out a satisfied moan and kissed her hard, swallowing Katherine’s sounds of pleasure. He gently pulled himself out of her hand as he shifted himself back between her legs, “There’s plenty waiting for him later.” With that, he disappeared, his tongue and fingers now proficiently navigating her most intimate topography. Katherine pursed her lips trying to control the sound that was escaping from her unbidden.

Terence raised his head briefly and kissed her luxuriously on the thigh. “The neighbours won’t hear you if you don’t let your beautiful voice out.” He smiled at her, memorized the expression on her face—a mixture of pleasurable agony and astonishment—and then returned between her legs. A wave of icy heat shot through Katherine’s body as she began to tremble, her voice grew louder as her fingers clutched the sheets on either side of her. She fell silent in the last moment before full release shot through her. Terence emerged from between Katherine’s legs and the puddle that had formed beneath her, an impressed, slightly amused expression on his face. “Very impressive. There really is a first time for everything,” he panted as he gazed down at Katherine’s trembling body. “Fuck,” she panted, looking up at him trying to recover, “oh jesusfuckingchrist.” She laughed, realizing what he had just said: “Wait. Wait. You mean you’ve never had a… I mean no woman’s ever…”

“Cum all over me? No, I can’t say I have.” They both laughed as Terence settled himself down on top of Katherine, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes that said they weren’t done yet. He kissed her passionately, buried his face him her neck, found every soft and sensitive patch of skin he could caress with his lips, his fingers tangled gently in her hair.

“I take it the customer is satisfied?” He teased.

“I don’t think I’ll be asking for a refund,” Katherine laughed breathlessly.

“Well, hopefully you’re not too satisfied just yet. You see, that was just the test drive.” Terence grinned a wolfish grin and pressed his body against hers.

“You should be careful, Terence,” Katherine warned, half serious. “I could really get used to this.”

Playfully, he urged her back to the task at hand, eager to connect more thoroughly. “Permission to proceed further?”

“Permission granted,” she answered, gutturally as she locked eyes with him. He raised an eyebrow and the rest was a blur—gasps, shudders, and moans filled the room as the two became a tangled mass of hair, legs, and hands. Sweat gathered on their glowing skin as they basked in sensation, drinking each other in, grasping at each other wherever they could as if there were too many molecules of air separating them, as if they could always be a little closer and him a little deeper. They were completely lost in pleasure, moving from one position to another, Terence changing pace just often enough to keep them both teetering on a knife’s edge. Finally, Katherine felt a hand come to circle her sensitive bundle of nerves and she felt everything shake as her hips faltered in their rhythm. Her voice was full and round with pleasure as Terence felt her body turn on a dime, felt her start to clench around him, her voice and breath shift as she started to call out with every swear word she could think of as she felt everything go white hot. They came undone at the same time, pressing hard against one another, still somehow not close enough.

They stayed there, panting on one another for a little while as they got their bearings. Terence shot Katherine a goofy expression as he tied their condom in a knot and threw it in the trash. Finally, Katherine got up to pee and they both cleaned themselves up before flopping back into bed, gulping cool water from the glasses Terence had brought back from the kitchen. Finding a dry patch to lie on, however, proved difficult. “Come here,” he said, opening his arm for her to nestle into the crook of his shoulder. Katherine sleepily obliged, crossing a leg over him, tracing a circle on his sternum with her finger.

“I wasn’t kidding about me getting used to this, Terence. You should be careful.” Katherine joked.

“I guess we both should be careful, then. Because I think I could too.” Katherine’s eyes snapped to meet his, trying to see if he was joking, but all she found was sincerity and tenderness. She raised her palm to the side of his face and he leaned into its warmth before kissing it: “I mean it, Katherine. You’re magnificent in every way.”

They both lingered for a moment in the realization that this was likely more than just one night of passion and indulgence, simultaneously hoping it might be more but not wanting to say so and risk an uncomfortable conversation.

“I must say this was a pleasant surprise, to say the least” He left a lingering kiss on the top of her head as he inhaled. Exhaled.

“Something tells me you encounter ‘pleasant surprises’ on a regular basis.” Katherine hoped she was wrong but tried to sound casual.

“No, actually, not often at all. Only when I want to connect with someone which isn’t always easy for me… hence my efforts to be... accommodating. So that when I do find an interesting person, there might be less of a barrier.”

“So you’re very physically available…”

“But am I emotionally available, you wonder?” Terence was quiet for a moment, and Katherine raised herself up onto her elbow to see his face. He looked up at her, his eyebrows baleful. He sighed and Katherine felt her stomach sink. “Let’s just say you were right about my bookshelf.”

She looked at him quizzically. “Impenetrably enigmatic?”

“I’m more vulnerable than I let on,” he admitted with difficulty. “It’s—been a long time since I’ve been... open to someone. In that way.”

Katherine nodded, her jaw tightening as she broke eye contact and looked away. She was grateful for the connection they had shared, the chemistry, the banter and company—not to mention excellent physical compatibility. But... 

“But,” he said, sitting up and placing a hand on her shoulder, “if you can bear with me a little bit, I could very quickly get back up to speed.”

Katherine smiled at him, relieved and surprised, affection swelling in her chest. “I would like that.” She settled back onto his chest and Terence rested his lips on the top of her head once more, feeling a piece of himself deep within crack open that had been shut tight for a very, very long time.

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@iloveyouyen

[growingsucculents]

Please, what is the difference between a hobbit and gollum jade? I keep seeing conflicting photos and information!

Sometimes both names are used for the same kind of plant but i think this is the explanation (i could be wrong though!):

1 Hobbit: fat leaves that are kind of curved backwards a bit.

2 Gollum: smaller, the typical Shrek/ ogre ear shape

My plant has both type of leaves so tbh 🤷🏼‍♀️